Hi! I am Erin T. and I run a website called theMomBuzz. Recently I received a LeapPad from LeapFrog to review and I am sharing my thoughts here on Amazon.

The LeapPad has a great 5″ screen. It is large and bright. I didn’t see a way to control the brightness. The screen is larger than the Leapster Explorer Screen, which measures 3.2″. The resolution for the LeapPad is 480 x 272. (The Leapster Explorer was 420 x 420.) It is a touch screen. You can use your finger or the supplied stylus. The stylus is magnetic, but it can be harnessed to the device with a supplied cord. An extra stylus is supplied in case one gets broken or lost. That has happened 3 times to us with other Leapsters – so it is great having that extra on hand.

The LeapPad device is white with green accents. There is also a violet option, which is nice for the girls. On the front of the tablet there is a power button, sound down and sound up button, and home button. There is also a large silver button that can be used like a finger control, to move a cursor up, down, left, right or explore other options.

The LeapPad comes with a camera, video recorder and microphone. The camera can take 30,000 pictures and the LeapPad can record 120 minutes of video.

GAMES & ACTIVITIES:

The LeapPad is similar to the Leapster Explorer in what kids can do with it. They can read e-books, play learning games, enhance art and animation skills, listen to and play music, learn writing, watch videos, and do flash cards. It also has a built-in camera and video recorder, while that requires an additional accessory for the Leapster Explorer.

One thing I LOVE about the LeapPad is that it works with other Leapster Explorer Games and Apps! That means if I download an app for my son’s Leapster Explorer, I can also upload it onto my other son’s LeapPad. And the boys can also share cartridges. And with the LeapPad came a HUGE library of game cartridges and apps to choose from. Most games and apps are extra, though, not included with a LeapPad purchase.

What game(s) do come with your LeapPad purchase?

1. PetPad: Learn to draw letters while teaching a custom pet tricks. Keep your pet healthy and clean with feeding and washing. The Leapster Explorer also comes with PetPad, but with the LeapPad kids can use the microphone to “blow dry” their pet, they shake the device to help their pet JUMP over a pond to pop balloons and they can even tilt the device to move the pet as it follows them onto their home page. You need to connect the LeapPad to your computer to use collected points to purchase food and accessories for the pet. Don’t worry – it won’t die if you don’t do it. But it encourages you as a parent to connect the game to the computer so you can track your child’s learning progress.

2. Story Studio: All About Me: The artwork, photos, writing and recordings kids create all culminate in the Story Studio experience. In the Story Studio, kids create their own book that can be uploaded to view in LeapFrog Connect or shared with friends via Facebook or e-mail.

3. Art Studio: I am SO THRILLED that Art Studio was included with the LeapPad. The Leapster Explorer didn’t have an included Art Program – so my boys were using the Art Studio from Mr. Pencil or Tangled to get creative. The Leapster 2 DID come with an Art Studio, so I was a little sad when I found out the Leapster Explorer didn’t. And whenever a parent asked me what game to get for their new Leapster Explorer, I always said, “Mr. Pencil saves Doodleburg,” because it was educational and creative. But with the included Art Studio, it gives me more options for what games we can get next. With the Art Studio the boys use stamps, shapes, pattern brushes, pencils, erasers (all virtual) to create pictures and express their creativity.

4. Camera/ Video Recorder: The LeapPad has a built-in camera and video recorder. My son used it immediately to take a picture of me. And then I used it to take a picture of HIM for his profile. That’s when I realized that the camera is low-res. He loves taking photos and videos, but he can tell the difference of quality. But it is good for the purpose and helps keep the cost of the product lower than if it was a higher-res camera. With the camera kids can take pictures and videos and then add fun effects.

Additional games, books and videos have to be added either as an app or with a cartridge. Remember, there is a library of over 100 choices. Additional apps and games are separate reviews on theMomBuzz. Please refer to the bottom of the post to connect you to these other reviews.

WHO TO BUY THIS FOR:

The LeapPad is designed for children 4 to 9. I would actually feel comfortable giving this to an advanced, tech savvy 2 year old. (Parents and grandparents will know who I am talking about! So many toddlers can use a smart phone better than an adult. This is a much better alternative to giving a toddler your precious iPad.)

WHY BUY IT?

Why do I suggest the LeapPad for kids 2 – 6? Well, my sons have owned a Leapster since they were 2 and I feel that the educational games have helped them with their writing, science and match skills. It’s a creative outlet. And it’s a great way to disguise learning as fun. I know some parents purchase the Nintendo DSis and other handhelds, but we’ve gotten away without needing to purchase one yet – even though their cousins own those handhelds. My kids have been happy with their Leapsters and the new LeapPad as their handheld and entertainment of choice. And I prefer it to, knowing the games were designed with learning in mind.

Plus, the Leapster Explorer and the LeapPad are great that you can keep challenging them with new apps, they are cross-compatible to take each other’s games and the LeapPad remembers your child’s progress from game-to-game and book-to-book.

Finally, maybe you are trying to decide between the Leapster Explorer and the LeapPad. Both are EXCELLENT devices. I :heart: them both. But with the LeapPad you are getting the camera/video recorder built in, it has a microphone, it has a larger screen and kids will experience a new way of reading with Ultra eBooks, an interactive cinematic reading experience. (I’ll post more about that this week when I review the Cars2 Ultra eBook.)

MORE THAN ONE PLAYER:

The LeapPad does allow for more than one person to sign-on to the game. Only one person can play at a time. But… if my oldest is in school and my youngest wants to play, I can sign-in under his name. So then the LeapPad will know that the younger brother is playing and will adjust the settings to make the games challenging enough for his level of learning.

And I have to say, when I first turned this on (after my 5-year old had been playing for a few hours) I saw that he created a profile for ME. How sweet is that? He had my name, my picture and chose a nice pink background for me. :heart:

RECHARGEABLE BATTERIES:

I am also really excited that this is the first LeapFrog device I own that accepts rechargeable batteries. Previously all the devices stated that peak performance wouldn’t occur with those batteries. But that has changed now! And trust me, your kids will be running down the batteries in the beginning as they won’t want to go anywhere without the LeapPad.

WHAT IT COMES WITH:

When you purchase the LeapPad, it comes with a CD to get LeapFrog Connect on your computer, a USB cord and an extra stylus.

WHAT YOU MAY WANT TO BUY:

* LeapPad Case to keep it protected when not in use
* LeapPad Gel Skin to protect it when being used
* Headphones so you don’t have to listen to the games when traveling or in an office

All accessories can be found at LeapFrog.com.

Technorati Tags: Educational game, electronic games for kids, LeapFrog Enterprises, leapfrog-leappad review, LeapPad, Leapster, Leapster Explorer, toddlers learning toys

Child Learning Toy

As a homeschooling parent one of the most important aspects that you can discover is just how your child learns.

As you begin to refine and define your homeschooling road map, this is a key element that you’ll want to consider. Gaining an understanding of just how your child learns can really shorten the distance of the learning curve and the time you must spend on any one subject matter.

Tailoring your teaching to fit and complement your child’s learning style is one of the great advantages there are to being a homeschooling parent.

In a nutshell, determining your child’s preferred learning style (how they learn and not learn) can be as easy as observing your child and noting how they naturally learn things.

Child Learning Toy

Here is a brief overview of the basic learning styles:

Linguistic: linguistic learners relate best with written or spoken form and learn best through poetry, storytelling, etc.

Logical-Mathematical: are reasoning and logical learners. They like to observe and or ride at conclusions through observation.

Spatial: are visual learners and learn best through drawing, paintings, designs, etc.

Intrapersonal: are thoughtful and reflective, and are expressive of their feelings.

Interpersonal: learn best in a group or working cooperatively within a group.

Bodily-Kinesthetic: these are those who learned via physical movement or touching.

Musical: this type of learning favors learning via tone, patterns and rhymes.

So as you might see, as you become aware of your child’s learning style, the question may become what or how do you use this information?

Child Learning Toy

As an example, suppose your child loves to sing and does really well remembering lyrics and words that have been crafted into songs. You could use this natural learning style to teach your child math by singing math and number songs (of which there are plenty).

If your child loves stories and story books, teaching math would work best by incorporating the numbers into a storybook.

The same correlation will hold true with interpersonal learners who are more social learners… try building something together or head to the kitchen and break out your favorite cookie recipe to study measurements and fractions.

As you begin to grasp your child’s learning, you should also keep in mind a couple of salient points about tailoring your teaching to your child’s learning style.

First, don’t box up your teaching style by catering to just one learning style for your child. Children can certainly have a combination of learning styles depending upon the situation and the environment.

Also, even though your child may have a preferred or dominant learning style (and it is very important for you to use that to your educational and advantage), it will also be important for you to provide a variety of activities that contribute to not only your child’s learning, but the development of their overall personality development as well.
LeapFrog LeapPad Explorer Learning Tablet (Green)

Technorati Tags: child learning toy, Education, Homeschooling, leapfrog-leappad, LeapPad, leappad explorer, Learning, Learning styles, Mathematics, Visual learning

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 Develop Your Child’s Reading Habit With LeapFrog LeapPad Learning System

By Helmy Fatkhur Rahman

LeapFrog is best known for their interactive and educational toys, and one of their most popular products is the LeapFrog LeapPad Learning System. This learning system is designed for children aged 4 to 8. Its dimensions are 3 x 12 x 10 inches and the weight is 3.1 pounds. It comes with a “magic pen” that children can use just like a computer mouse. They can use the pen to point the words on the book page to know how they are pronounced. When children touch a picture with the pen, they can hear an attractive sound effect. This pen is attached with a wire permanently so that it won’t get misplaced. Besides, children can also find interesting stories in this LeapPad such as Winnie the Pooh in a Sweet Good Morning and Lil’s Loose Tooth. This interactive book also offers numerous fun activities that teach your children many things such as reading, music and science, foreign language, math, vocabulary, and more. The activities are designed in an interesting way so that children will find their learning is a delightful process. To operate this toy, you need 4 AA batteries which can be purchased separately.

The LeapFrog LeapPad Learning System is a great tool to develop your child’s reading habit. It teaches children that reading and writing are really fun. When your child plays with this toy, he will not realize that he learns many important things from it. Hence, teaching your child to read won’t be a difficult task anymore. Just trust this interactive learning system and let your children learn to read in a fun way. It comes with different activities for different skill levels so that your children will learn things he should know at his age.

Need more activities to educate your children? If you need new learning apps to improve your child’s skills, it is possible for you to download them from LeapFrog’s official website. Once you have downloaded the apps, you can save them on the LeapFrog Mind Station Blank Cartridges. It is nice to get more activities to overcome the boredom that may come up after playing with this toy for some time.

This interactive learning tool has won some prestigious awards for its great features. Its cool magic pen, colorful images and other great features make the learning experience much more enjoyable. LeapFrog LeapPad Learning System is sold at an affordable price and you may get discounts if you buy it online.

Choose the advanced way of teaching your child to read with LeapFrog LeapPad Learning System. This Interactive Learning System is a fun and educational toy that your child will love.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Helmy_Fatkhur_Rahman
http://EzineArticles.com/?Develop-Your-Childs-Reading-Habit-With-LeapFrog-LeapPad-Learning-System&id=6523072

Technorati Tags: Education, Educational toys, Interactive Learning System, LeapFrog, LeapFrog LeapPad Learning System, LeapPad, leappad learning system, Learning, learning system, Toy

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LeapFrog LeapPad Explorer — The Future of Learning