Renewed Interest
Written: Jul 23 '02 (Updated Jul 23 '02)
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Pros: Can be used with many different leapfrog toys
Cons: Membership fee, IN ADDITION to purchase of item.
The Bottom Line: Great, very versatile toy, but even after purchase, using it can get expensive.
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| mom2emma's Full Review: Leap Frog: Mind Station - Learning Toy Expansion S... |
This toy is AWESOME!! My daughter has the leappad and the Turbotwist Math. She is 6 years old and will be going into first grade. Earlier this year we bought the Preveiw issue of Leaps Pond at Toys R Us. Inside was information on getting a 10 issue subscription plus the mind station for something like $60. Considering what the Mind Station is I thought that was a great deal. My parents decided they wanted to buy it for her though so ordered it in May to be sure they would receive it in time for her end of June birthday.
Well they received it all right and sooo much more. But since this isn't a reveiw of Leap's Pond I will stick to the mind station.
So it was easy to hook up to our computer's seriel port. I was surprised it required batteries but you can also use an AC adapter (not included) as well. Not having either I borrowed the cord from my speakers and we were set. I then installed the software and registerd online. It included a 6 month free trial that gives you unlimited access to downloads for every product that is compatible with the mind station. I was dissappointed that the mind station retails for somewhere near $50 yet you have to pay $15-$40 a year for membership PER TOY!! to download.
Now that we are set up we started with the Turbotwist. I started with the Turbotwist Math because previously it was a bit hard for my daughter, it asked questions she required paper and pencil (double digit addition and subtraction) for and they took her so long to figure out the toy would time out. So let's see if the mind station solves the problem. BOY does it, we even have options. online are special grade appropriate downloads for 1st through 5th grade. You even have a choice of self paced or 52 week curricullum. The questions for first grade were so much more appropriate. We were even able to personalize the toy to call her by name. Then to top that the cartridges record your child's progress which you can upload to the website and create a progress report with.
Well I certainly don't want to take the cartridge out of the Turbotwist, now the toy seems useless without the personalization. So I go looking for info on additional cartridges. Well the Turbotwist can get away with a .5 MB cartridge but only Turbotwists can use such a small amount and I couldnt locate one at any online store. Every other toy except the iQuest can use 2MB cartridges and I can get them so I go price shopping. The cheapest place they are $12.99 plus shipping. Well after shipping it would surpass the $14.99 I would pay at Toys R Us. So we decide to go with the no wait option and we head to Toys R Us.
OK now we have an extra cartridge so I move onto the leappad. We try the downloadable printable activity sheets and we try the 2 issues of Leaps Pond she has already received. She is LOVING it.
So far we are very happy with the toy. As a matter of fact we love it so much Turbotwist Spelling is already on her Christmas list. Since with the Mind Station you can actually upload your child's school spelling list.
OK let's put the facts down for you now. You obviously need a computer, internet access, AC adapter or AA batteries, and a seriel port to use it.
You can use it with the following leapfrog products, LeapTop, Imagination Desk (I will try this as soon as my daughter gets hers and update then), Leappad for activity sheets for K and 1st grade, Leaps Pond (magazine type subscription), Turbotwists, and iQquest. Counting from the Imagination Desk official age to the iQuest that means this could actually be used from the time your child is 3 until they are graduating High School.
Bad news is after the 6 month trial a subscription is required PER TOY. Though if you have 2 children who both have the same toy the per toy subscription is good for unlimited # of children. Other bad news is you can only download 1 activity per cartridge, even if you have the 5 MB cartridge it is still 1 activity per cartridge so if you have more than one toy or child you will most likely have to dish out the $15-$20 per additional cartridge. The other thing I don't like is it is not compatible with the My First Leappad. Also the activity sheets for the Leappad are only available for K and 1st and Leaps Pond magazine is geared toward children up to age 7. I wish they had something for the Leappad Pro type/upper elementary aged children.
Obviously sturdiness doesn't really apply since kids won't be playing with it. But it is very easy to use.
All in all it is a great toy that will grow with your child. However it can be a money pit between buying new cartridges and buying memberships. If you are buying it for just a leappad I would consider the pros and cons of the price, IE $35 for the Leaps Pond membership would buy you 3-4 new Leappad books. Then an additional cartridge is about the same price as a new book. Also take into consideration other things, like Turbotwists you can buy age graded cartridges already with the material downloaded. The Leappad in my opinion would only be worth it if you use the same cartridge for every activity sheet and/or Leaps Pond issue. The Turbotwist would only be worth it if you use it year after year and take advantage of the progress reports.
Despite the cost, if you can afford it, I still recommend it.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 50
Type of Toy: Educational
Age Range of Child: Kids to Teens
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Epinions.com ID:
mom2emma
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Location: sc
Reviews written: 294
Trusted by: 29 members
About Me:
Shop and researchaholic to all baby and children's products.
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