Leap your child into reading- LeapPad by Leap Frog
Written: Jan 30 '02 (Updated Jan 30 '02)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Very child friendly, aids your child in learning to read.
Cons: Additional books have to bought separately.
The Bottom Line: LeapPad has developed an interactive and fun way to help teach your child how to read. I highly recommend it.
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| patch3boys's Full Review: Leap Frog Leappad Learning System |
Leap your child into reading- LeapPad by Leap Frog
When I first purchased LeapPad by Leap Frog for my Kindergarten aged child, I didn't realize what a beneficial tool it would become in helping him learn to read. My only motive in buying the LeapPad originally was because I thought it would be fun gift. I thought it would be a neat way for us to read stories together. Well, although LeapPad is definitely fun, it is by far a lot more than that.
What is LeapPad?
LeapPad is the base for interactive talking books. The book sits inside the base and works with a magic pen which is attached to the base. Touch the words with the magic pen and LeapPad will say the word.
The LeapPad comes with one story book. It is called, "Leap into Learning." This storybook will be the only one that does not require a cartridge to work. If you decide to buy any of the other books to use for you LeapPad (all optional), they will each come with their own cartridge that you will use along with that particular book. I only purchased one additional book so far for my LeapPad. It was a Winnie The Pooh book that came with the book and the cartridge. I got it for $14.95 at Walmart.com. I am not sure if all the other books are the same price or not. But I think that is a fair enough price. My son likes to change the two books out every time he reads with his LeapPad. I feel very confident in saying that I definitely will be buying more books in the future. LeapPad is one of the more beneficial learning toys that we own.
How does LeapPad work?
LeapPad has three different ways you can work it. Say it, Sound it or Spell it.
• Say it- When in this mode, all your child has to do is touch the magic pen to a word and they will hear that word spoken. This is the mode you would be in if you are wanting to just go through and read the story.
• Sound it- This mode will allow your child to sound out a word. While in this mode you can either touch a single letter and hear that letter sounded out, or slide the pen slowly through the word and it will slowly sound out the word and then say it. What I thought was really neat is if a word has a silent "e" on the end, it will actually say, "The e is silent." I really liked that.
• Spell it- In this mode you can touch a letter to hear the name of that letter or slowly slide it across a word and it will spell the entire word for you.
Learning Activities-
On each page you will come across certain images that if you touch them with your magic pen, you will be able to play different activities, songs and games. These games are all voiced prompted by LeapPad and guides your child in what to do.
Does my son like it? Has it helped him learn to read?
Yes to both questions. Since the moment my son got his LeapPad he has been intrigued with it. At first he just liked to take his pen through the entire story to hear it being read to him. At that point he didn't realize that the LeapPad did anything more.
Since then, he has took it a step beyond and actually uses it as a way to help him sound out words. This is the same way his teacher is teaching him how to read in school. She has us parents cover everything except the first two letters of the word and then once he puts the sound together for those, she has us move our fingers so that he can blend the beginning sound with the rest of the word. With the "Sound it" function on this pad, he is able to do this very thing. Very smart of LeapFrog to design this toy this way. It works hand in hand with the way child are taught to read in school.
I firmly believe that the fun he has got out of reading with LeapPad has made a major difference in his attitude toward reading. I worked with him on his reading before he got LeapPad and I work with him now and he is much more eager and willing to sound words out and try to read. Reading has become more of a joy than a chore to him. THANK YOU LeapPad, you have helped make my job that much more easier.
Overall Recommendation
Yes, Yes, Yes! I highly recommend LeapPad by Leap Frog. If you have a beginning reader in your household and would like to give them an educational toy that will not only increase their interest in reading but to actually aid in teaching them to read, LeapPad will be a welcomed addition to your child's toys.
LeapPad has developed an interactive and fun way to help teach your child how to read. Definitely a plus for a child who is struggling with reading or isn't putting forth the effort to learn. LeapPad will give your child that extra push he or she needs. It did that for my child and have the progress report to prove it!
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 39.99 (sale)
Type of Toy: Educational
Age Range of Child: Other
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patch3boys
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Location: California
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