My daughter adores Peppa Pig, and is currently learning to read, so this toy, especially at 75% off, seemed too good a deal to pass up.
The toy has 8 games, you move a slider at the top to choose a game.
There are 26 buttons, each with the uppercase letter, lowercase letter, a picture of an object and the object name next to it (an apple for a, a lamp for l).
There are 3 additional keys - one to sound out the entire alphabet in order, one to repeat the prompt, and one that plays a tune
Game 1: Press a key to hear a sound, then Peppa names the object that starts with that letter. For example, if you press "a" you hear an apple crunching. Peppa says "This is the .. Apple"
Game 2: Press a key. You hear the phonic sound, and the object that starts with that letter. For example, if you press "b" Peppa says "buh as in .. ball"
Game 3: Find the object. Peppa prompts "Find the train". Five of the buttons are backlit. If you press the right button, you hear "Well done"
Game 4: Find the first letter. For example, Peppa prompts you to find the first letter of "fish". If you press f, she says "fuh. Well done."
Game 5: Find the letter with the phonic sound. For example Peppa prompts "Find the letter that says luh as in lamp", you need to find "l". You hear well done if right.
Game 6: Spell the word. Peppa prompts "Can you spell the word lamp". You have to press the buttons in sequence.
Game 7: Follow the light. A button is backlit, press it, another one lights up. A bit like whack a mole.
Game 8: Press a key to hear a sound. For example, if you press "a" you hear an apple crunching.
(Note: all the prompts for Games 4,5 and 6 are restricted to the objects next to the letters - so a fixed set of 26)
It would have been the perfect product IF only the phonic sounds matched the national curriculum! In her current nursery (and later in school) synthetic phonic sounds are taught. For example, "s" is sounded "sss", "r" is sounded "rrr" and so on. This makes it easier for children to combine sounds and read. But in this toy, "s" is sounded "suh", "r" is sounded "ruh" etc.
This makes it very confusing for my daughter. Games 2, 4 and 5 - the main educational ones - are pointless now, as the phonic sounds are different from what she learns in nursery. I have to keep talking over and correcting Peppa (which my daughter, quite rightly, finds quite annoying!)
Also, again, no OFF switch! Why on earth didn't they design it with an OFF switch? The delivery person must have had a rough time with Peppa urging him to "Press a Key!!" from inside the package at every bump in the road!
Very disappointed with this purchase. Could have been a fantastic toy if only the sounds were right. Sending back for a refund.
Don't buy if you are looking at educational value at all.