Product Tested By Amelia Fletcher – Brian & Rachel Ages 5 & 6 Years
Amelia Awarded the Braillephun 5/5
I was so pleased with this; it looked like a great way to help my children with their learning. The packaging was suitable for its delivery but we luckily had a large box to store all of the blocks in after the plastic bag was opened. Both of my children really enjoy using this and I think that it has helped them also to find fun in learning together. It’s great for forming sentences and also to do math with! I think it’s great value for money and I should imagine it will be incredibly useful for children with difficulties. Excellent! Amelia Fletcher – Brian & Rachel Ages 5 & 6 Years
Product Tested By Sarah-Jayne WindridgeFrance – Archie & Jem Ages 6 & 4 Years
Sarah-Jayne Awarded the Braillephun 4/5
A superb product! The packaging was OK, but once opened we had to find a large tub. The instructions are great, though we did make up a lot of other uses and challenges ouselves too. This is truly superb for any child to promote learning. It was a little too difficult for my eldest son (who has special needs), but my 4 year old loved it and uses it heaps. We didn’t really use it as communication tool, more of a tool for developing understanding of words, spelling, phonetics and simple maths puzzles. My little boy wanted to make sentences – but we found there weren’t really enough letters, even for simple little sentences. AND 15 of our maths blocks came blanks with no numbers or signs on them!? I think it’s wonderful and I would definitely seek it out – but before I did I think the blocks need to be provided in a large sealable tub with a carry handle… and I would need a few more common letters and vowels! We’ve already been raving about it and if it was tweaked (see above) it could be a HUGE success. Sarah-Jayne WindridgeFrance – Archie & Jem Ages 6 & 4 Years
Product Tested By Laura Wright – Baby Andrew 9 Months
Laura Awarded the Braillephun 4/5
The blocks seem pretty robust; the Braille over-stickers are firmly affixed. A novel solution to letter/number blocks for visually impaired children. The packaging was suitable for delivery, but the blocks would need to be transferred to a storage box. Instructions were in print and in Adult language. I trust that when this item is distributed (eg by RNIB), instructions will also be available in Braille and Large Print. I think this is a good concept – not only for VI children, but also for VI parents with sighted children. The packaging mentions another set with “graphemes” – I assume they mean Braille contractions; this is good as it means the set can grow with the child’s education. My son is too young to use the product so I tested it myself as I have experience with working with VI parents. The blocks seemed very robust, and I liked the design of the interlocking lugs – you can always tell which the top of the block is. I think the stickers would last well too, they have been well fixed. The product is expensive compared to simple card letters & flashcards for sighted children. I would see this as a loan product from a library, rather than a purchase, or as a school product. I think the idea of combining Braille onto letter & number blocks is really good, for both visually impaired children and also VI parents of sighted children. The blocks are robust and will probably last much longer than a single child would need them; for that reason I would see this product being more popular with special needs teachers and toy libraries. Laura Wright – Baby Andrew 9 Months
