Hot Dots Review and Giveaway

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial. I applied for this review because I have no clue in going about teaching my daughter, Mary, how to read. I get frustrated very easily, which puts stress on both her and I, causing her to regress. After seeing this item I thought that the Hot Dots learning system could really help out and solve some of my teaching problems.


Hot Dots is age appropriate for children in the learning ages of Pre-K up to 3rd Grade and comes in either reading or math. Each kit comes with two learning books and comes with a Hot Dots interactive pen.

The Hot Dots interactive pen requires two NEW AAA batteries (not included). I stress the new because the pen will NOT work if the batteries are slightly used, the pen will flash once and then not do anything again. I finally had to break down and go to the store after I tried six different batteries that I thought were new, but turned out weren't.

I gave this product to my daughter the day it arrived and she was in love with it. She's a book hoarder, so the books were a big hit, but most of all she loved the dog pen; even when the pen wasn't working she just wanted to play with it (she's pretty easy to please). When I finally had batteries that worked, I put them in the pen, and tested it on the activity book, my daughter was on me like white on rice, like climb over me, near elbow to the face, knee to the spleen kind of excitement.

Once she calmed down and I was able to show her how it works, she caught on fast. To use it you just press down on one of the black dots in the activity books to answer the question being asked. If you're correct the dogs eyes lights up green and he says a word of praise and gets more excited the more answers you get correct. If you're wrong the eyes will light up red and he'll make a sad sound or a try again statement. When Mary realized she got praise for the correct answer and that the dog got more excited, she started thinking about the questions more and taking her time answering.

It's great seeing how much she will relax and think about the question being asked of her now, instead of her saying something random and not caring if she was right or wrong, then running off. Mary will sit down at the table now and concentrate on the activity books and really give it her all.

I definitely recommend this product, my daughter loves playing with it and gets so excited when she gets the answer right and the pen lights up and says she was correct. You can buy a Hot Dots set from Educational Insights website for $24.99, I've also seen them at Toys R Us for around the same price and you can even find them on Amazon, which might have a better price.

Pictures coming soon, my camera is on the fritz

You can find Educational Insights on their:

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Great news, I'm also allowed to giveaway a Hot Dots educational system to one lucky fan! The winner will be able to choose a Hot Dots of their choice (Grades Pre-K to 3rd Grade either Math or Reading). To enter use the Rafflecopter form below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.