An activity that will keep my toddler entertained in the kitchen you say? Where do I get it!!!
While most of my time is spent in front of a computer screen, like most mothers I spent an average of 80% of my life in the kitchen!! Right, you can relate yes! And I’m sure you also find a small person under your feet when you’re washing up, cooking, hiding in the pantry eating crisps?! But what if you had something that would secure their attention elsewhere but still in view so you can get on with dinner and they can …stop whingeing!
The Tad’s Fridge Phonics Magnetic letter set from Leapfrog is perhaps more gift for me than the kids because it gives me 5 minutes peace.
Centred around the interactive apple, the alphabet tiles and a few cute extras can be inserted for some learning fun. The set is aimed at 2-4 year olds though each of my children (aged 2, 4 and 7) have all been drawn to it, enjoying hearing the different sounds each letter incurs and the related words. In fact come dinnertime we play a game where they each choose a letter and once the apple has relayed its sounds, I ask the big kids to come up with other words starting with that letter.
There are three levels of play all designed to reinforce letter names, phonics and word skills and each letter is three dimensional, further helping children get familiar with not only the sound and name but also the shape of the letter.
As for the little for whom it’s intended, it has greatly helped her fine motor skills as she takes a tile and places it inside the cavity just like a shape sorter. She loves the cause and effect experience, hearing the different sounds that can be made when each new tile is inserted.
Tad's Fridge Phonics Magnetic Letter Set, RRP $29.95
For pre-schoolers aged 2-4 years, the Tad’s Fridge Phonics Magnetic Letter Set is available now at Target, good toy stores and online retailers.