My daughter and I recently had the fun opportunity to review a set of talking building blocks.  These educational interactive building blocks are called Smarcks, and they can do so much more than typical blocks.  As your child stacks the blocks, they are taught:

• Colors
• Counting
• Spelling
• Shapes
• Nursery Rhymes
• Music
• Math
• Good Manners

Check out this video to become more aquainted with these great educational blocks from Smarks:

Smarcks  come as typical building blocks, as wells as, talking blocks.  It is easy for kids to tell which blocks will talk to them, they are the ones with faces.  The sound from the talking building blocks is strong and clear, but not so loud as to drive parents crazy. Smarcks counting and math blocks are especially innovative, indicating the peg count of the blocks they are put on and encouraging your child to count along with the Smarck.

The only block that got on my nerves a bit was the musical one we received, of course that was one of my daughter’s favorites.  I guess it would be my favorite if I was 3 1/2 too.  The cool thing about this though, is that the music blocks are the only ones that are clear plastic, so if mom isn’t up for it, they can be put aside for awhile.

The blocks have a little heavier construction than most brands.  These are high quality building blocks, and they are competitively priced.  I also liked the sturdy container they came in.  Kids can sit on it, without worry.  If you already have a bunch of similar shaped large blocks, they may be somewhat usable with your Smarcks building blocks.  They will not work properly with the more interactive blocks like the counting ones, but my daughters old blocks fit with Smarks well enough, that they could be used together for a larger building project.  If your kids don’t already have a large collection of building blocks, I would suggest sticking with buying all Smarcks, so that there will be no confusion, as to which blocks will work right with which.

As you can see in the picture above, my daughter went right for these blocks (The book in the background was abruptly dropped when she saw the Smarks).

Smarcks talking building blocks can be purchased right off the company website: TalkingBuildingBlocks.com Why buy plain old blocks when you can have talking ones

Smarcks Building Blocks Giveaway (Closed)

Confirmed winner Zenaida.

Warning: Vdobug seems to be out of business, but their order forms are still active on the website.

This giveaway was never fulfilled by company.

I have repeatedly tried contacting this company.  No response to the email contacts I have, and the email listed on the website bounces.  The toll-free phone number listed is now held by an unaffiliated company & there has been no activity on their social media accounts since November 2010.

What is a VdoBug?

VdoBug publishes bilingual picture books which can be interacted with through CDs or  DVDs using the VdoBug remote.  Since the VdoBug software can be used with a typical household DVD player, it is a financially friendly option for families, to present a digital learning format to their children.  The VdoBug remote allows kids the the navigate the the material on the DVDs, much like they were on a computer, but on a big screen, with a kid friendly design.  While a DVD player would be the typical device used by most families, VdoBug products can also be used with PCs and Smartboards, as well.

The products are targeted for kids in the 2-7 year old age range. I would also like to mention, that The VdoBug earned the 2010 Creative Child Magazine Product of the Year and is a Dr. Toy Best Products.

What stories and materials are available for the VdoBug?

Currently, four titles from the Solomon Raven series are available for the VdoBug.  These animated versions of the friendly animal series feature each of the four seasons.

• Fall ~ A Home For Pearl Squirrel
• Winter ~ Lewis Cardinal’s First Winter
• Spring~ Cinnamon & The April Shower
• Summer ~ Mason Moves Away

These interactive DVDs include puzzles, printable coloring pages, videos of the characters in their natural habitat & the music of Grammy nominees Red Grammer & Maria Del Rey. VdoBug also offers CDs and DVDs that cover the topics: learning to tell time, baby Pre-school, dogs, dinosaurs and more to come.

Is the VdoBug hard to set up?

No, it is pretty straight forward.  Check out this video.  It shows all the steps.

Where to buy VdoBug

VdoBug remotes and materials can be purchased directly at the VdoBug store, and are available at select toy and educational retailers.

Disclosure: Product sample provided for purpose of this review, due to technical issues on my end, which had nothing to do with the product presented here, information provided from manufacturer is presented in this posting, rather than personal opinion.

Giveaway

One lucky Blommi reader will win a remote & DVD pack, courtesy of VdoBug

Mandatory Entry (must be done for all other entries to count): Visit the VdoBug website, and tell me which dvd they offer,  is your favorite.

For additional entries:

• Follow this blog via email or RSS
• Follow me through Google Friend Connect
• Follow both @VdoBug and @TwiMommi on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway up to 3x per day (account must be public and have at least 50 followers).  Feel free to use this tweet: ” Win an Interactive educational DVD and VdoBug Remote from @VdoBug and @TwiMommi #giveaway http://is.gd/ivyrM “
• “Like”  Blommi on Facebook
• “Like”  VdoBug on Facebook
• For 2 entries! Grab my button and post it on your blog, or add Blommi.com to your blogroll  -> blog must be public with minimum 25 followers.  Leave a link where it can be found, in your comment. (remember to leave 2 separate comments)
• For 2 Entries! Blog about this giveaway with a live link back to this post -> blog must be public with minimum 25 followers. (be sure to leave 2 separate comments)

One winner will be randomly selected from all valid entries, and will have 48 hours to respond to their prize winner email notification.  If winner fails to respond, within that time period, a new winner will be drawn. Giveaways hosted on Blommi are sponsored by third parties.  Site owner will of course endeavor to see all prizes are fulfilled, but is not responsible for fulfillment, nor for missing or damaged prizes.  Contest ends December 22, 2010 at 11:59 pm CT.  Open to US residents , age 18+.

Confirmed winner Beth S.