Tommy is very, Very, VERY enthusiastic about the LeapFrog LeapPad educational learning tablet for children. Perfect for 4-9 year olds this educational toy for tech savvy youngsters takes over from the Leapster Explorer. You can still play all your old Explorer games on the Leap Pad but the new tablet is head and shoulders above its predecessor. To find out more about the fantastic LeapFrog LeapPad Learning System click the “Click Here For More Info” button.
I have 2 nieces, aged 3 and 4, who are already fully capable of finding their way around the applications on their parents’ iPhone, and the elder child is comfortable using a computer to play her favourite games online at Sesame Street or CBeebies. The reality is that many very young kids today can tackle a computer better than we grownups can. When most of us were growing up a home computer was just science fiction while today they are simply something that kids grow up with.
This is certainly, in my opinion, a good thing but there are a couple of concerns that we parents may have. Firstly, and practically, do we want our children playing with our expensive phones and computers? Unless you are prepared to accept broken screens and keyboards then probably not. Secondly, how useful and educational are the apps and websites that your children are using? Some sites are great whereas other sites are really pretty poor. Read my review of Lalaloopsy Land if you want an example of a website where the games lack any real educational worth.
The LeapFrog LeapPad addresses both these concerns perfectly. Here you have a mini computer JUST for your child. It’s robustly built and will keep them entertained and away from your personal equipment. And as the programmes are bought separately by you and are educational you can rest assured that your child is playing with a game that you approve of. This is essentially, the iPad for your child!
LeapFrog LeapPad Tablet Review
The LeapPad is so much more than just a games tablet and is jam packed with features that you and I could only have dreamt of when we were kids. Priced at just $99 this is a dream gift for you and your child.
Touch Flip Shake or turn
Much like an iPad the 5 inch screen (a good size for kids) is very interactive. Use the touch screen with your finger or the stylus provided. Use your finger to flip over the pages of an eBook. Shake or turn the tablet this way and that to interact with certain games.
Advanced Learning
This clever machine grows with your child and automatically adjusts the reading level of each story, getting more advanced as your child’s reading skills improve. In the Ultra eBooks the words are highlighted as children read along and words can be spoken aloud to help with reading and speech skills. Furthermore kids can touch a word to see an image, read an explanation of the word or have it sounded out to them.
There are over 100 applications to buy and download that will help your child with various skills including learning to read, creating their own stories, improving maths skills, improving writing with the built in stylus, discovering the world, creating art, making animation, playing music and learning life skills.
Built Camera and Video Recorder
The LeapPad has a camera and video recorder built in which are integral for creating photos that can then be used in various applications like the art and story studios which are pre-installed. The quality of the camera is not great but serves its purpose. If you want to encourage your child to discover photography then the Vtech Kidizoom camera for kids might be a better option.
LeapPad Apps
The Leap Frog LeapPad comes with four applications to get you going.
Pet Pad LeapPad Game
This application allows your child to create his own customized pet from eight different animal types. The game teaches your child pet care by assigning them jobs of feeding and grooming to keep them happy and healthy. Blow dry your pet with the built in microphone! Of more educational value are the writing skills included. Connect the dots to form letters and once your child has mastered writing each letter your pet will perform a trick. Write a ‘D’ and your pet will dance.
Art Studio Leap Pad App
This is a great application that lets your child draw and color, express their creativity and then share their works online via Facebook or in an email. With stamps, shapes, different patterned brushes and erasers it’s like a mini Photoshop for kids.
Story Studio Leap Pad App: All About Me
Does anyone remember the Dr Seuss book “My Book About Me”? I still have mine and what a great memento it is, in fact what a great book full stop! Well the LeapPad has an electronic version called All About Me where your child can write their own story about themselves. They can add their photo and name on the front cover and then write stories, add art work from the Art Studio app and even add their own sound bites.
The fourth game is up to you, choose what you like from the 100s of games and eBooks available. The LeapFrog Leap Pad also comes with an extra stylus, a USB cable and a start up CD to download the initial software on to your computer.
The Learning Path
As mentioned earlier one of the real pluses of this LeapPad tablet is the control parents have over the games that their children play. LeapFrog have taken this one stage further and created the Learning Path, a website that parents can sign into for free and then follow their child’s progress with this learning tablet. Once you’ve registered you can create a custom learning path for your child, choosing those skills that are most important to you, and then link the games that they have into this website and watch as their journey of education unfolds. They can play to their hearts content by themselves but you will have a clear idea of how they’re getting on; follow their progress and see where they are excelling or where they may need a helping hand.
LeapFrog LeapPad Learning Tablet
Of course all this new technology doesn’t take the place of good parenting or socialising with friends and play outdoors but given that multimedia equipment is very much a part of all our lives it certainly makes sense to give them something of their own that has educational value.
