PowerTouch Learning System

by Fisher-Price

Product Features

• Helps children develop important reading skills
• Lights indicate selected activity
• Progresses through 3 age-segmented categories
• Appropriate for children 3 to 8 years

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 4.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• ASIN: B000062TS8
• Our recommended age: 36 months - 8 years
• Manufacturer recommended age: 36 months - 8 years
• Batteries: 4 AA batteries required.
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #139,836 in Toys & Games (See Top 100 in Toys & Games)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (103 customer reviews)

Product Description

Amazon.com

This purple and silver electronic lap-book looks worth the sacrifice of foregoing afternoon cartoons--and it is. The two included storybooks ("Ernie's Neighborhood" and "School Skills") fit inside the book and, thanks to microchip technology, kids can read, count, talk, and sing along with characters using a handy stylus as a pointer. They can stop the story whenever they like to figure out words, phrases and puzzles along the way. Buttons for letters, words, music, and "surprises" are within finger-distance, and so is a full reference of capital and lower-case letters. There are also 60 or more learning activities stored in the book, designed for kids between 3 and 8 years (or up to the 2nd grade). Activities range from simple (spelling, telling time, music) to more complex (problem-solving, comprehension, vocabulary). Required: four AA batteries. Diane Beall

Product Description

Put the power of reading at your child's fingertips with the Power Touch Learning System. Easy finger-touch activation lets children bring books to life and learn reading, phonics, spelling, music, and math skills. Interactive games encourage children to touch and count things, develop problem-solving skills and explore. The learning system features more than 60 learning activities plus a complete Power Touch library of books in 3 age-segmented categories. Two books included. Compact base electronic unit folds up to carry easily. Includes interactive lights, volume control and carry handle.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

212 of 215 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic alternative to Leap Frog for child under 4, September 12, 2003

By 

KNSudha (Saratoga, CA USA) - See all my reviews

= Durability:5.0 out of 5 stars  = Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars  = Educational:5.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: PowerTouch Learning System (Toy)

First the description: You open it up, slip in the book --simple enough for my son (3 yrs old) to do himself, even changing the cartridge -- and switch it on, you are set! This is an incredible improvement over LeapPad and My First LeapPad for a totally self directed learning experience. He has never ended up frustrated while using this toy.

About the add-ons, I currently have two and he enjoys the I Spy even though he is not in the recommended age group. He is able to follow along anything it requires. The volume slide is so nice and easy vs having to hit + and - symbols with a pen on the LeapPads. The Blues Clues one is for his age group and he loves that too.
Now for more comparisons:
I own both the Leap Pad, and the My first Leap Pad for my now 3 year old son. I would pass on that and go for this toy. After more than 1 1/2 years of owning them, I still need to pull them out for him, and watch over and remind him to hit the GO circle etc. In fact, he probably prefers a paper book to them, given that with normal 2- 3 yr old boy handling, the pen's contacts are iffy, and the pads shut off at random etc after just a few months of use. I have to say, he does truly enjoy the Dora, Thomas, Jay-Jay, Bob the Builder, Bear in the Big Blue house etc. theme books for the Leap Pad / My First Leap Pad also.

And as for Leap Pad Plus, lets just say that the same GO circle, and delicate pen problems still exist for a rambunctious boy :-) I DO like the Imagination Desk, which does get him coloring and sounding out letters and words quite a bit, especially with Pooh Bear, or Clifford. Wish they had a familiar character themed alphabet book too for that as well as the leap pad. If you look at the parent complaining about a stray wrist making other stuff on the page sound out with the Power Touch, imagine a stray pen touch resetting the entire page to some other GO circle. Much easier to teach them to point. At least, here the sounds relate to the page under view always. I pull out the Leap Pad occasionaly if I have a sore throat and can't get through the dozens of books he likes for night time reading. My son pulls out and plays with the Power Touch by himself. Enough said with that...

222 of 226 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A WINNER OF A TOY!!, October 18, 2003

By 

R. Dimatteo "momtodrewandjess" (New Jersey) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

= Durability:4.0 out of 5 stars  = Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars  = Educational:5.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: PowerTouch Learning System (Toy)

We just bought this for my 2-year-old daughter for her birthday after having played with the display at Target over and over again. Her first response was "WOW!". This book is a big improvement over the LeapPad systems as it allows your child to use his/her finger to guide them rather than a pen. It is definitely more user-friendly for the younger kids because they do not need to touch the "go" circle to make the book work; a concept good for the older kids only. It comes with 2 books to get started: A Sesame Street book and a k-2 grade learning guide. If fisher price can get their power touch library expanded to include more titles sooner rather than later, it will give Leappad a run for its money.

129 of 135 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect for my son, September 14, 2003

By 

S. Volpe "christophersmommy" (holbrook, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

= Durability:5.0 out of 5 stars  = Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars  = Educational:5.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: PowerTouch Learning System (Toy)

...First of all this goes from ages 3-8 instead of leap pads two age groups. (my first leap pad only 3-5 and regular is 4-8). Secondly I like that he points with his finger like you would in a regular book. Who reads a book with a pen? I would rather teach him to read without the stylus. It is a great product I am just hoping to see more books especially phonics.