User’s Manual
Dear Parent,
At VTech®, we know that every year, children are asking to play video games at younger and younger ages. At the same time, we understand the hesitation of most parents to expose their children to the inappropriate content of many popular video games. How can you feel confident in allowing your childen to play these games, and still educate and entertain them in a healthy, ageappropriate manner?
Our solution to this on-going debate is the V.Smile™ TV Learning System
– a unique video game system created especially for children aged 3 to 7. The V.Smile™ TV Learning System combines a kid-friendly design, ageappropriatecurriculum,entertaininggraphics,andfungameplayintoaunique experience that your child will love and you can support. The V.Smile™ TV Learning System engages your child with two modes of play: the Learning Adventure - an exciting exploratory journey in which learning concepts are seamlessly integrated, and the Learning Zone - a series of games designed to focusonspecificschoolskillsinafun,engagingway.Bothoftheseeducational modes offer your child hours of learning fun.
As part of the V.Smile™ TV Learning System, VTech® offers a library of game Smartridges™ based on popular children’s characters that engage and encourage your child to play while learning. The library is organized into three levels of educational play – Early Learners (ages 3-5), Junior Thinkers (ages 4-6) and Master Minds (ages 5-7) – so that the educational content of the system grows with your child.
At VTech®, we are proud to provide you with a much-needed solution to the video game dilemma, as well as another innovative way for your child to learn while having fun. We thank you for trusting VTech®‚ with the important job of helping your child explore a new world of learning!
Sincerely,
Your Friends at VTech®
To learn more about the V.Smile™ TV Learning System and other VTech® toys, visit www.vtechkids.com
A Healthy, Balanced “TV Diet”
By Dr. Helen Boehm
Television was long considered the “uninvited” guest in American households. However, today many realistic and caring parents are partnering with television to create electronic classrooms - right in their own living rooms. They are no longer asking if children should watch TV but, rather, which programs and on-screen activities should be part of their children’s TV intake.
The same balanced and structured approach to developing healthy eating habits translates to watching less, different and better television! This “TV diet” gives families a menu for regulating children’s viewing, choosing “healthy” program content and reducing the quantity and potency of television consumed.
So, what does a healthy, balanced “TV diet” look like?
A well balanced diet is best…
Consider a healthy mixture of age-appropriate programming and activities that educate, engage and entertain! A variety of viewing and interactive experiences can turn aTV screen into an electronic classroom for learning and fun.
Trim the fat…
It is important to reduce children’s sedentary behavior and eliminate unhealthy programs that contain violent, aggressive or disrespectful behaviors.
Move out of the candy store…
Parents are children’s first teachers and their most powerful role models.It is difficult to improve children’s viewing when parents are modeling other TV viewing behaviors. Consider adapting your own TV habits as a healthy example for your child.
Plan menus and season to taste…
Whenever possible, eliminate channel surfing and encourage the viewing of specific, pre-selected shows. The PG-TV ratings help parents make more informed selections that take into account the content and ageappropriateness of programs. For example, Y-7 shows are designed for
PARENT’S TV TIPS
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PARENT’S TV TIPS
children 7 and older who can distinguish between fact and fantasy. A TV- Y7-FV rating indicates that “fantasy violence” is present in an episode of an animated program.
Control couch potatoes…
Children benefit from participation in movement, fitness activities and sports. These bodily actions are not only important for a child’s physical growth and development but also to monitor their emotional stability, social skills and obesity. Limit sedentary screen time and blend physical and mental pursuits, like active on-screen games and video activities, into the TV mix.
Starvation diets don’t work…
Many parents have found that restricting allTV-time is an impractical, longterm strategy. It is possible, however, to set realistic limits that are welcomed by both parent and child! Make viewing a choice and not a habit. Eliminate some TV time by setting a few basic rules, such as restricting television during meals or before the day’s homework is completed.
News fast…
The realism ofTV news can be overwhelming and scary for young children and reinforces their profound safety concerns.Exposure toTV news images, particularly without a context for scenes of terrible suffering, can cause vivid and long lasting fears.
Food for thought…
Whenever possible, connect viewing with learning. Many programs and characters are based on books and many on-screen subjects -- from geography to sports -- can inspire a lifelong interest in reading. Choose age-appropriate video activities that encourage interaction and challenge critical thinking.
Dr. Helen Boehm is the author of The Right Toys, Fearless Parenting and many magazine articles on parenting and responsible children’s media. A distinguished psychologist and nationally known authority on children’s development, play, and media, Dr. Boehm headed Public Responsibility and Network Standards at MTV/Nickelodeon and was Vice President of the Fox Children’s Network.
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INTRODUCTION
Thank you for purchasing the VTech® V.Smile™TV Learning System!
The V.Smile™ TV Learning System is a unique video gaming system created especially for younger players. With V.Smile™, children can take off on wonderful journeys to a variety of places such as an amusement park, a cartoon world, or even a magical fairy tale land. As they explore these worlds, children absorb learning concepts through creative gaming and adventure play. Each game universe features child-directed play and hidden surprises, so that the adventure is never the same twice!
Smartridge™ Slot
RESTART Button 
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Smartridge™
Manual
User’s Manual
Smartridge™ Storage
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INTRODUCTION
ON Button
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