Fisher-Price iXL Learning System; The iPad for Preschoolers

A great gift for preschoolers is the Fisher-Price iXL Learning System, their very own ipad. Young children are keeping up with their parents and older brothers and sisters when it comes to technology. They have their laptops, mobile phones and now are able to use a touch screen just like mom and dad. It looks like a toy, but it is a small computer. It has child friendly colorful icons on one side and a colorful speaker and adjust button on the left side. And yes, it has preloaded apps. There are applications called Story Book, Game Player, Notebook, Art Studio, Music Studio and Photo Album software. It's also PC and Mac compatible and has a USB port and an SD card slot.

It makes an excellent birthday or Christmas gift. It's advertised for the 3-6 year old age group. It has become a very popular educational toy for the younger set. And why not? It's affordable and technology is here to stay. Technology is constantly changing and upgraded, and children who are exposed to technology early seem to grasp it easier.

It requires 4 AA batteries (not included) and requires access to a PC or Mac with an internet connection. It comes with a media manager cd rom for easy loading of personal photos, music and software. It can also store multiple files! The base system includes:

• 1 interactive story and activity
• 1 learning game
• writing activities
• art tools and stampers
• music sampler
• sample photo images.

"It's great because it holds her favorite songs and she can draw on her own pictures all while learning... She loves it and I love that she can play with it in the car or while I am using my phone."  Lucia

While available for a few years now, the iXL remains a top selling device for preschoolers. Robert Eckert, CEO of Mattel, Inc. picked it as his personal favorite for the busy hands and minds of preschoolers. "We could not be happier with the product and the overwhelming response it's already received at the Toy Fair." All of the apps are geared towards learning and interactivity. The story book reads out loud and lights up words as they read along. Children can practice their handwriting skills with the Notebook app. A cute little monkey helps guide the children in a few of the apps and lets them know when to turn the page.

Do children really need this technology? There are different schools of thought, but my own personal opinion has changed since being in the preschool classroom. These learning systems do help a child focus and concentrate. They can improve their fine motor skills with the stylus and it does require a certain hand-eye coordination. Technology is part of this information age, and any way we can help our children be prepared for the future can only help. (Kindle is set to release the Kindle Fire HD Kids Edition in Oct. which also promises to be a big hit.) It gives the child something to interact with while in the car, or sitting next to you while you're playing with your own laptop or reading the paper. Children want to learn, and this is one of the better educational learning systems available for the preschool age group.

The Fisher-Price iXL is a popular item and I'm sure many pre-schoolers are already happy owners! There is also a sturdy case designed for the iXL learning system and can be purchased separately for safe-keeping when not in use. Teach your child responsibility along with educational fun!

As with any technology or interactive games, parents need to balance their childrens time in front of screens. Be sure to give them plenty of time with crayons and paper, art supplies and take your kids to the parks. Make sure they're getting outside and learning in nature.

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Disciplining and Parenting Techniques for Young Children

Why Preschool Education Is Important For Your Child