I-Mat

By Creative Baby, Inc.
Price $79.99
Age 18 mo.+

I-mat is a visually entertaining foam playmat that uses amazing technology to provide fun and learning to your young child. Sprawled across its surface is a colorful, smile-inducing illustration of the great outdoors loaded with flora, fauna, and insects. Dozens of animals and their offspring are labeled by name (cow, sheep, pig . . .). The Voice Pen, a remarkable handheld device, speaks the name of a particular creature aloud when touched to its image on the mat, and makes real animal sounds. There are 3 easy-to-set language options, English, Spanish, and Chinese. Activate either of two games by touching pen to mat, the first of which is finding an animal based on its name. 'Where is the Bald Eagle?' the Voice Pen might ask, then provide praise when you touch the correct image or encouragement if you don't. The second game asks you to locate images by hearing the sound the animal makes. It's marvelously entertaining, and the I-Mat is a potent tool for developing vocabulary and comprehension skills, not to mention introducing second and third languages. A cable connects to your computer for additional downloads and expansions.