My 3 year old’s ability to understand and manipulate any and every electronic device is pretty astounding. He can slide the bar to unlock my phone, shuffle through the applications to find the one he wants and start playing without my assistance. It’s pretty incredible to think about all the electronic skills and knowledge he has at 3! Taking its cues from the mobile devices grown ups use and kids borrow, the brand new VTech MobiGo Learning System is a touch screen device that combines games and learning for lots of fun.
About the MobiGo
Kids explore a world of entertainment and education at the touch of their fingers with the new VTech® MobiGo™. This innovative handheld offers a variety of fun with its touch-screen technology that brings new fun and learning experiences to kids. Young learners mimic Mom and Dad with their very own touch-screen learning system. Major fun meets classic school skills to create the perfect edu-gaming experience.
VTech Demonstration Video
MobiGo Review
The MobiGo is intended for children ages 3 – 8, so my son is definitely on the younger end of the recommended age range. I was nervous that (even with his iPhone experience) Preschool Boy might have a little trouble with the MobiGo, and that he might not be able to manipulate it or that he’d be too young to understand how to play the games. I couldn’t have been more wrong. As soon as I tracked down the 4 required AA batteries and handed it off to him, my son was playing.
Key Features
- Touch Screen: Just like mom and dad use! Games involve touching, dragging and tapping on the screen – a
- QWERTY Keyboard: Similar to a slide open cell phone, the MobiGo slides open to reveal a keyboard. I like for older kids to learn basic typing skills.
- Portable: Powered by 4 AA batteries (or plug it in to the wall using included AC adapter jack). Also comes with headphone jack.
- Easy size for little hands to use: 7″ wide x 3″ tall x 1″ deep. The ends where a child holds are chunkier to grasp.
Touch & Learn Games
The MobiGo can be personalized to greet your child – so when you turn it on you can tap your name or play as a guest. The Touch & Learn Game Pack that comes with the MobiGo is great and is actually six games – three focus on letter and number skills, two logic and reasoning games and one music game. Each game has two levels to make it more skill level appropriate. My son’s favorite game is called “Shooting Gallery” that uses the QWERTY keyboard. As ducks or dolphins swim across the screen with letters on them, he has to push the matching letter on the keyboard. While I really don’t like the name of the game, I do like that he’s practicing his letter recognition and learning where letters are on the keyboard. Another favorite game is “Fantastic Forest” where he uses his finger to connect dots and draw lines and shapes to help a squirrel find his way through the forest.
My son really has a blast playing the various games. He gets very excited when he scores well, but he also gets disappointed when he doesn’t score as well. I encourage him to keep trying, and he does. On the one hand, I know the games are reinforcing his letter, number and reasoning skills. On the other hand, the MobiGo is essentially a gaming system so I do limit how much time he can play with it.
Additional Games
There are currently 11 licensed game cartridges that are sold separately for use with the MobiGo. I know my son would love the Toy Story 2 or Disney Fairies games. In addition, the MobiGo is web enabled so there will be online games and features to further the learning and game experience. My son has played enough that when he logs in now, the game directs him to ask an adult to connect to the internet for a special prize reward.
To Buy or Not to Buy
To Buy… The MobiGo is an awesome little handheld learning and gaming system for kids. I’m very impressed with how easy it is to use and that my 3 year old has taken to it so quickly. It’s definitely easy enough for him to use, but the graphics, QWERTY keyboard and more difficult games make it just as appropriate for older kids. (Including teenagers and adults. When I left the kids with a babysitter the other day, I could hear the teenager and my son arguing discussing whose turn it was to play.)
Or Not to Buy… While the MobiGo is a learning device, it is also a gaming system. I thought I’d have a few more years before my son had one, but at least this means I get my iPhone back!
Shop! The VTech MobiGo launches today and is available exclusively at Toys R Us – in stores and online – for $60. It’s available in pink or blue. VTech MobiGo games are $19.99. Right now, if you buy the MobiGo, games are 25% off. The MobiGo will be available are more stores and www.vtechtoys.com in August.
Win! A VTech MobiGo Touch Learning System!
How to Enter: Leave a comment telling me your favorite feature and who you’d like to give the MobiGo to if you win.
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maribel
August 30, 2010i like that face that it teach the kids with num,letter color,and diffrent cartoon and u can keep theam busy learning new thing and carry with you and have theam entertained so so many learning things to do. i would give it to my 3yr old daughter cause she has no other small kids to play with but mommy and she would be so happy with this i can just see her smileing when she see it
Jeanette Pennick
November 14, 2010I love a few things about this device…firstly the fact that there is no stylet is an age appropriate feauture for three year olds who love to pull off everything! Secondly I love the touchscreen as it mimics my iPhones operation and he loves to slide the bar and flip through pictures. Lastly the keyboard teaches recognition on an actual keyboard. His generation will have more technology than I can imagine, giving him a head start may actually help him. In preschool they teach basic computer skills, it may prepare him to excel. My three year old son Alex would love this learning system!!!
tammie mcentee
December 9, 2010I love the MobiGo because of the touchscreen that they are already used to and that there is a Racing game which my 3 year old son, Ayden loves!
charity
December 19, 2010Does anyone know if the Mobigo play’s the Vtech V.smile cartriges? Thank you in advance for any help.
christina
January 4, 2011It looks awesome, I daughter loves to play it in the stores compared to leapforg. I will give to my daughter that is 2 years old.
denise
January 6, 2011I love the touch screen and that all the games i have seen have been educational,i also love how sturdy it looks. i have a four year old autistic daughter and we saw the mobigo in the store and i didnt think she would be able to understand the game but she took to it quickly. i would give it to her, i know she would love it.