LEARNING IS NOT JUST A HOP, SKIP AND A JUMP! IT'S A LEAP!
Written: Oct 02 '01
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Pros: educational, fun, easy to operate, safe
Cons: no cons at all
The Bottom Line: HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. Learning should be fun and LeapPad does just that! Helps your child learn AND provides endless fun.
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| Donnie013's Full Review: Leap Frog Leappad Learning System |
Kids these days have a tendency to be much smarter than we were at their ages, so very long ago. It’s not that we were inadequate, but today, there are more learning tools available – learning tools that make learning fun – and everyone knows that you remember “fun times”.
That’s were I give a lot of credit to my daughter-in-law, Donna. She is a wonderful and ingenious mother. As soon as my grandson, Frank, could focus his eyes, she had flash cards in front of them. More often, it was no more than 5 minutes a day, but she made it a fun 5-minutes. By the time, Frank was one, he could recognize and pronounce the names of many wild and exotic animals. By the time, he was two, he could count to 50 and knew his alphabet. By his third birthday, he was doing small addition. Donna’s method was simple. She made learning fun – so much fun, that Frank often asked her to get his “cards”. He wanted to learn. That’s when Donna had another idea.
On his third birthday, she asked me to get him a “special gift”. She requested the LeapPad by LeapFrog Toys.
As soon as Frank opened this gift (before I wrapped it, I placed the necessary 4-double A batteries inside), his mom showed him how to use the magic pen to learn how to recognize new words. Within five minutes, he was “reading” a whole page of a story. I was amazed!
I would love to brag and tell you my grandson is a genius. Logic tells me he is not. He is a normal three-year old who enjoys paying games. The difference between Frank and perhaps a not-as-smart three-year old is the type of games that his mother chooses for him. Donna has always chosen something from which Frank can learn. But she doesn’t stop there. She is with him making the game more interesting in order to prevent boredom.
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With LeapPad, the child uses the magnetic pen to point to the words in the story. Depending on the mode you set, the child will either hear the word, how to pronounce it, or how to spell it. (There is a verbalization computer chip in this toy, that, when activated, will speak the sounds indicated by the magnetic pen.) These modes are located in squares on the bottom left of the pages of the book. All you need to do is touch one with the “pen” and press "GO" it's all set. The “GO” circle is located at the top left.
The “GO” circle must be touched with this magnetic pen every time a new page is turned or activities changed. This activates the page and enables the different modes to work.
While this little device is teaching word recognition, it also teaches an even more important aspect of reading: comprehension. It helps the child understand what is being read. It does this by the carefully drawn graphics within the book. In addition to what each page is about, the drawings show different items that can be touched with the “magnetic pen” in order to learn more about the scene and the characters.
Located on each page of the “electronic” book, are small icons that resemble lily pads. When pressed with the magnetic pen, the book becomes an interactive (game)learning activity program. While you’re in this mode, a voice will ask the child many different questions that can be answered by using the magnetic pen. For, instance, on one page, the child will hear, “find a word whose last letter sounds like mmm.” When the child touches the word “gum”, a bell will sound indicating the correct answer.
When you place this book in the “say it” mode, if you press a word, the word will be pronounced. If you touch the “sound it” square, each letter will be pronounced phonetically. If you touch the “spell it” square, the letters will be sounded as they are seen. Touching the “ear” at the beginning of each page, will enable the story to be read electronically by LeapPad.
On the bottom of each right side page are two triangles indicating the volume. The minus sign lowers the volume and the plus sign makes it louder.
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After the first story is finished, the second phase of this book is called, “Best Word Book Ever.” What this is, is a group of pictures with the appropriate words for them. If you touch the picture, the sound of the activity will be heard. You will hear what the activity is by touching the word (or words) near that picture. In addition to these activities, if you touch the “beach ball” on the lower left page, a new game will begin. The “voice” will ask a question describing a certain picture on that page. When you find “that picture” and touch it with the magnetic pen, a bell will sound indicating a correct answer.
The next phase is one picture showing different parts of the body (don’t worry, there’s nothing here a child can’t see). The same principle applies. Touch the item and a sound will occur indicating what that item is. Touch the corresponding word and that’s what you’ll hear.
The third phase is a new story starring Winnie The Pooh.
The fourth stage shows different instruments and how they sound.
Page 28, has another section called Geography. In this fifth stage, the child can learn where the different states are located, what they look like geographically, their Capitals, population, etc.
You’ll find Stage 6 on page 30: The human skeleton.
Stage 7 is next showing six different activities a child might do at home: eating, reading, listening to music, etc.
The final stage in this book, Stage 8, is completely interactive. There are three instruments shown. Press either and the “voice” will tell you what they are. Then, you can press the “piano” keys and “hear that sound” while making up your own song.
Not only is this a fun book for children. It’s a fun way to learn with adorable characters on every page doing the normal, every day things kids do. It is completely interactive so each page brings new activities and learning capabilities to the child.
Although the age referenced on the box is 4 and up, I have found that it is just as beneficial to a 3-year old, and with the many books that can be purchased for this LeapPad, the learning capabilities are almost boundless!
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The hard-molded plastic case snaps shut for easy carrying from one place to another. There are no sharp edges or pointed corners that can cause injury should a child fall on it.
The cavity that holds the batteries cannot be removed without a Phillips-head screwdriver. The lid also has a lock washer on the screw which prevents the screw from falling out when you open the lid. Not only does it keep your frustration down from having to find another correct-size screw, it means that it’s not left, lost somewhere, on the floor that a child (or pet) can find and eat.
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While this sounds like a great little “tool” for the child, keep in mind that this is NOT a one-time object that will be tossed aside once the child learns about the first book. There are MORE books that can be purchased to fit inside the LeapPad for further learning activities.
This is something a child can use for many years to come. And since it weighs about 2-1/2 pounds, any child of any age can carry it easily where he (or she) goes.
Frank is now 4-years old and is already reading page by page. It has not just helped him learn to read, it has increased his vocabulary tremendously!
This Christmas, Stephanie and Gabriel (who are both 3) will be getting LeapPad from Santa. I can’t think of a more appropriate gift for any child.
It gets a double-thumbs up from me!
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 40.00
Type of Toy: Educational
Age Range of Child: Other
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Epinions.com ID:
Donnie013
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Member: Margaret Brennan
Location: Punta Gorda Isles, FL
Reviews written: 450
Trusted by: 288 members
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