Vtech’s V.Smile: Your Child’s First Video Game

By Michele Blandino

I’ll admit that at first, the notion of buying a video game for my three year-old son seemed a little absurd. Like most little guys his age, my son’s attention span - on good days - is in the neighborhood of 30 seconds. As a result, the idea of him sitting still long enough for the game to get past its opening graphics was asking a bit much. Even so, we bought what is now known in our home as The Game.

“The Game” is the Vtech V.Smile. Designed specifically for kids ages 3-7, V.Smile combines the thrill and excitement of videogames with lessons in math, phonics and letter and number recognition. And, with a retail price of around $60 for the game console (the game cartridges cost about $20 each), it is a less expensive alternative to some of the more popular video games.

The Fine Print

That said, parents who are looking for state-of-the-art graphics will find themselves very disappointed with the V.Smile. While the graphics are far better than first generation game systems like Atari, they lack the sharpness and definition that you will find in today’s popular video game systems. Another drawback is in the fact that either three “C” batteries or an AC power adaptor (which is not included) is required to power the console. While some on-line reviewers have complained of short battery life, even with near daily use, we have only replaced the batteries once in nearly four months.

The Appeal

The game comes equipped with one joystick (for two-player play, a second joystick can be purchased for around $15) which can accommodate right- and left-handed players. The joystick is large, but not too large for little hands to maneuver. If this is your child’s first venture into video games, using the joystick might take some practice. It also comes with one game cartridge – Alphabet Park Adventure. There are ten other cartridges currently available, all of which feature popular cartoon characters such as Winnie the Pooh, Spiderman, and Bob the Builder. All of the games are narrated by a friendly voice which provides clear and easy directions making it easy for most children to play independently.

All of the games operate using the same basic premise: in order to advance through the screens, the child must be able to correctly answer the questions. Each game has two or three levels of difficulty which allows the game to grow with your child. Because the game is interactive, it is engaging and tends to keep the child’s interest for longer periods of time. And, although it is targeted specifically for those between the ages of three and seven, our nearly nine year-old daughter enjoys playing it as well.