When you think about kids and electronics these days, I can assure you my kids know more about the phones and computers I own than I do. When I got my iPhone last Spring, my 12 year old set it up for me on iTunes. Even my youngest, at 5, can download apps on her iPod Touch. Something we don’t own (yet) is an iPad, and when I heard about LeapPad Explorer from Leap Frog, I thought this is just a kid’s version of such a popular new gadget! At a recent get-together, we introduced the LeapPad, and Tag Reading System, to my kids and their friends thanks to Mom Select!
LeapPad Explorer
Camera/Video Recorder
This tablet just for kids aged 4-9 is amazing. With it’s own camera, video recorder, the kids were snapping pictures left and right taking turns To make even more fun, the pictures can be transformed by stretching, swirling into silly animation. Tons of laughs, sharing, and hilarious products were coming from learning about this feature and I’m in awe how fast everyone picked up the skills. My youngest just lost her tooth, so she was eager to film herself and show off her jack-o-lantern smile! The LeapPad Explorer can hold 30000 photos or 120 minutes of video and can be saved to your home computer.
Apps
Just like on our iPod Touch electronics, the LeapPad came with a set of preloaded activities with over 100 cartridge games, apps, digital books, videos, and flash cards they can add by purchasing them in stores! Great for holiday and birthdays, add-ons can make great gifts! My youngest is an artist at heart, she loved the Art Studio app and making rainbows, houses, as well as practicing the letters and words she’s learning in Kindergarten. All her creations can be saved in the Story Studio: All About Me app that can be loaded onto your computer and shared with family via Facebook or email! My 10 year old got into the action on the Roly Poly Picnic app, mastering all 3 skill levels with mazes and spelling problems, I think he had an advantage though! We’ve enjoyed Tad, Leap, and Lily videos for years and the Letter Factory Video app encourages my Kindergartener to practice letters, sounds, and more. “Mom it’s like homework!” is what I hear and I can’t argue with that!
eBooks
These are really cool. Though we had a Cars loaded book, we’ve already seen my daughter’s favorite movie Rapunzel in eBook form at the store and it’s added to her Xmas list! As you build your reading skills the levels of the story adjust and are remembered from book to book. Talk about smart toys, this is something that is going to grow with my five year old and it’s really a gift/toy that keeps on giving!
When connected
to the computer, you can follow your child’s learning
with the free online LeapFrog Learning Path, view details or review email updates with insights into where your child may need more support and discover new ideas for more fun!
For $100, it’s an investment into fun and learning for you kids. The touch screen mimics the “big kids” and mom’s iPods and iPhone technology as well as the ability to fine tune with the stylus pen. I love that they include a second stylus with tether knowing that the younger kids have tendencies to misplace even their most prized toys! I have to include recently when we took the LeapPad with us on a road trip, my 3 kids (5, 10, 12) literally wanted to sit 3 across the middle row (which never happens) so they could all watch and play together. You can set of 3 profiles to play, customize each profile, and save progress to each independently so no one loses their projects, art, or photos.
Tag Reading System
Back when my middle child was 5, we had a reading program similar to LeapFrog Tag, and it’s really a fun concept to make reading enjoyable and a learning experience. But, with even better technology, Tag helps children learn to read without cartridges to misplace, offers a large variety of books, games, and maps all starting from pre-reading to independent reading. With a glide of the Tag pen you can read words, whole stories or focus on learning sounds, blends, and sight words. With over 40 interactive storybooks that include TV, movie, and classic tales, this LeapFrog toy is a toy that will grow with your child with years of fun.
As a former Kindergarten/first grade teacher, as well as having a K student, I know Tag teaches from simple skills like reading left to right and phonemic awareness, and builds vocabulary, word recognition, and reading comprehension. This is almost like having a personal tutor/teacher in addition to those at school and mom and dad, smart toys with a smile on the child really tells you that you’ve made a great choice with LeapFrog!
I’m geographically challenged while my husband’s brain works like a natural navigation system. I thought the Interactive World Map is an incredible tool for my little one, but especially for my 5th and 8th graders to refer to in casual conversation, or even when needed some quick facts while doing homework. My youngest enjoyed learning how to say Hello and Good Morning in other languages around the world, as well as learning about different animals native to different countries.
The girls and moms at our get together were all impressed by the new LeapPad. A few had the Tag Reading System and believe it was a big part of their start to Kindergarten and their reading skills. Girls made their wish lists for Christmas, moms were thankful for the coupons for purchase and we are all thankful for Leap Frog’s commitment to learning!
I received free LeapFrog products in order to host a Learn, Create, and Share Party. LeapFrog did not influence my opinions expressed here as a result.
Thanks for the helpful information. I’m glad to see that the leappad will be enjoyed at various age levels. I was finally able to find a leappad for my 4yo who is showing interest in the beginning stages of reading. Do you think the tag system would be good to get in addition to the leappad, or does the leappad/ebooks take the place of the tag system for reading development?