LeapFrog Phonics Writing Desk Review

"My 3 year old was having trouble remembering the "ABC song" until she got the LeapFrog Phonics Writing Desk for Christmas.

After playing with it for a few weeks, she could sing her ABC's. Her little brother now knows all the letters of the alphabet by sight, and I think this toy helped him with that.

The letters are very bright, the toy is really pretty and the plastic is nice and shiny. The letters are affixed, so there aren't any pieces to lose. Attached to it is a sort of a pen (not sharp, the point is rather rounded) which is used to write the letter on the little writing pad (it's magnetic - no ink!) There is also a little display where the computer directs the child as he or she writes the letter -- it will say, "A" then the letter "A" is written in the display, so the child can see HOW to write it. You can choose upper or lower case.

There are several levels here - just touch a letter and the voice says it's name and writes it for you. Or the voice says the letter, and you have to find it and push it. The voice is very pleasant, as well.

We are very happy with this toy, but the writing pad has become difficult to use, but honestly, we have 6 kids here and no toys last forever. We had this one about 6 months before the writing pad got messed up, and it has been played with a great deal.

All in all, I think it's a wonderful product. The only thing I would complain about is that it doesn't do letter SOUNDS at all - only letter names, hence the 4 stars for educational value."