Leap Frog
TV ClubHouse: Archives: Leap Frog
Julieboo | Tuesday, November 26, 2002 - 07:13 am     Hi Anyone out there know anything about Leap Frog Leap Pads? I have a 3 year old who loves numbers and letters (moreso than cars and legos). But he has tons of those phonics type toys with the alphabet buttons that ya push for the sounds or the names of the letters. He gets bored with those pretty fast. I was wondering if the leap pads were any better. Is my first leap pad better than the regular? Any opinions would be appreciated. Thanks! |
Wargod | Tuesday, November 26, 2002 - 10:34 am     Ok, Julie....I can help with a techy question....wooo hoooo!!!!! LOL, it happens so rarely I get excited. The Leap Pad is an awesome toy. We bought one for our son last year, and he played with it often. The books that come with it he'd go through in about a couple weeks or so. There was reading, math, geography, music. The nice thing about the books is that if the child is too young to read, they just point the "pen" at the words and it reads the story for them. If they're reading, then the "pen" is helpful when they have trouble with a word...it sounds it out for them and will read the word. My neice is 3 this year...last Christmas she got the My First Leap Pad. She's pretty much outgrown it and is now ready for the regular Leap Pad. I think My First Leap Pad is good for the younger ones who are just begining to learn, but if you've been working with your son (and I think I remember reading you had been working with him?) then you'd probably be better off getting him the regular one. It will grow with him, which the My First Leap Pad won't. I know the regular leap pad does have the books for preschoolers. Really though it depends on your son and you. If he's already learning and your going to work with him, then the regular Leap Pad would probably be better. If he's just starting to learn, then My First Leap Pad might be helpful...but he'll probably outgrow it pretty fast. I've been checking out the Quantum Pad and the Turbo Twist Brainquest toys. The Turbo Twist are for ages four and up...but its math and spelling..While the Quantum Pad is for 8 and up. My son is 6, and won't be getting one til his birthday in May, but I'm thinking we'll go with the Quantum Pad since I think he'll be ready for it by then. It just depends on how ready you're son is. |
Draheid | Tuesday, November 26, 2002 - 11:03 am     Julieboo: Just to throw something out here. If you decide to go this way, and you decide early enough, it might be a good idea to let others in your circle of family and friends know which you decided on. Often people who aren't close to a child yet would like to get them a gift, struggle with gift ideas. Something that has lots of accessories, such as the Leap Frog products, opens up a lot of opportunities for appropriate gifts that can actually be used. Plus it makes the main gift so much more usable at the same time. Just my FWIW |
Julieboo | Tuesday, November 26, 2002 - 11:09 am     Thank you both War and Draheid. Leap Pad (not my first) it is! And my in-laws usually get him kinda dumb things, so asking for the books will be perfect... Any other suggestions and opinions are still welcome! |
Wargod | Tuesday, November 26, 2002 - 11:16 am     Julie, there's nothing quite like walking by your kids room and seeing them enthralled by a learning toy! Caleb now will pick up a book or paper and start reading it..and if the words are too hard he'll work on sounding it out himself before asking for help. It's great knowing you gave them something they love and that gives them that love of learning. The nice thing about the Leap Pad is they are always coming out with new books, so that for birthdays or other holidays they make great gifts too! |
Draheid | Tuesday, November 26, 2002 - 11:38 am     Julieboo: Any older kids you are shopping for? You might reciprocate by asking if there are any gifts like this in their future so you could take advantage of this scenario yourself. Also, if there are any older kids in the family, the entire Leap Frog line is excellent. You should check out their website at Leapfrog.com and see all the products they offer. From toddler to grade school, and the newer products that let you download new material from the internet are amazing. Especially the material that follows along with what is being taught in schools. Good luck and I'm glad we were able to help. |
Wargod | Tuesday, November 26, 2002 - 12:07 pm     You can download material that follows what they're being taught in school??????? I did not know that, now I'm going to have to go look, LOL! |
Jkm | Tuesday, November 26, 2002 - 12:29 pm     Warning -- to download - you have to buy a "Mind Station" for around $40-60 - not sure but on some the products I was looking at - you had so much time "free" then had to sign up for a "subscription fee". I think I was looking at the I Quest -- but it might have been another companies product. |
Draheid | Tuesday, November 26, 2002 - 03:39 pm     I just clicked around on the Leapfrog site and found some information to share. The subscription is based on a per-device cost of $18.00 to $24.00 per year. When I purchased one of the Twist-n-??? units last year, the cost difference between a stand-alone unit and one with the MindSattion (computer interface) was only about $20.00 (39.99 alone or 59.99 w/MindStation). Each unit comes with a 6-month free trial subscription. I would suggest you browse around the website and see what all they offer for the subscription. I think it's a pretty reasonable price considering all that you can get, however, that is just my oppinion. Please take a look before making a decision! LeapFrog.com P.S. I don't work for them either!  |
|