BlackBerry-Like Toy Too Realistic?

Company Coming Out With One For Young Kids That Strongly Resembles Grownups' Device; Is It Learning Tool Or Way To Hook Tots?

(CBS)  Soon, youngsters will be able to play with a toy that bears a striking resemblance to a device many adults can't put down -- a BlackBerry or, as hardcore users call them, a "CrackBerry"!

Educational toymaker LeapFrog plans to release "Text & Learn" in August. It's aimed at kids three-through-six.

Text & Learn is bigger than the real thing, and will come complete with a keyboard and LCD screen.

"What it does," says LeapFrog's Shannon Eis, "is just expose learning concepts, core, very preschool early learning concepts -- letter recognition, days of the week, (etc.)"

But is it wise for kids to use such a toy? Or could it make them more prone to BlackBerry "addiction" later on?

"It does actually let kids engage in sort of a faux texting," Eis concedes, "so they can send and receive messages from Scout, the character featured in the product."

But, she adds, "It's not Web-connected, doesn't have interactivity. It's not letting kids communicate with each other."

On The Early Show Thursday, pediatrician Dr. Lisa Thornton said Text & Learn probably could prove useful -- up to a point.