Editorial Review

Designed for children in preschool through second grade, and easily portable, the Leapster multimedia learning system offers educational games, reading exercises, art tools, and interactive videos in one electronic device. Atop an ergonomic silver body sits a 4-inch, 12-bit color backlit display protected by a blue rubber shield. Slide a Leapster cartridge into the slot, and learn letters, sounds, colors, shapes, numbers, and more, using the touch-screen stylus and multi-directional control pad. This unit comes with a bonus cartridge of six learning games; other Leapster cartridges are sold separately. Control knobs let you adjust volume and brightness; there's also a stereo headphone jack. Required are four AA batteries, not included. --Andy Boynton ... Read more

Reviews (293)

Best $$ ever spent-just bought 2nd
I wouldn't be able to praise this toy enough. We gave it to our oldest daughter last Christmas when she was 3 1/2. We were concerned because of the price but compared to a GameBoy we prefered the educational aspect. We have never regreted the purchase. She loves playing with it and has even mastered basic math skills well ahead of time. We had a problem with the screen not responding after about 6 months but it only took a quick email to Leap Frog and they replaced it with our only expense being a few dollars to ship it to them. They have excellent Customer Service. We would have even invested the money to buy a new unit if they hadn't replaced it. <br /> <br /> We have just purchased a unit for our 19 month old daughter because she always wants to share big sister's. I know the age is 4-10 but our little one just loves the characters and even though she doesn't totally understand what to do, she still loves playing. It has helped her to master control of the stylus and she is now much better at coloring too. We have a few extra cartridges and plan on expanding for Christmas. <br /> <br /> We haven't had a problem with battery consumption. This toy definitely hasn't eaten batteries nearly as quickly as others and my older daughter plays with it almost every day. She would play with it more if I would allow it. But we still plan on buying the recharging system too.<br /> <br /> I highly recommend the investment in the carrying case also.<br /> <br /> You just can't go wrong with this toy.

my grandson
I purchased the LeapFrog Leapster for my grandson as a Christmas gift when he was 2 years old. His mom gave it to him when we was 21/2, he absolutely loves it and has learned so much. I like the durability, educational theme and the add ons, it just keeps getting better and better.

Love It
My son was given this on his 4th b-day, he absolutely loves it and so do I! It has taught him alot and the only reason I rated a 4 and not a 5 is because of the battery situation!! Ouch!

Battery Eater!
My son got this toy for his 4th birtday. He truly loves it, but it's a battery eater! I cannot believe how quickly this toy drains 4 AA batteries. Thank goodness they are coming out with a recharging unit soon or we'd go broke!

BEST $ EVER SPENT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I've never written a review before, but feel I have to about this product. It is the BEST money spent on my daughter ever!!!! My daughter got this for Christmas when she was 3 1/2 years old. She has played with it every day. At night we read books to her and then let her do her Leapster for a little while. We just purchased The Letter Factory for our last trip....and she already knows ALL the letter phonics....it is just amazing!!!!! We have never had a problem with it in 7 months...and we just put new batteries in it for the first time. I so highly reccomend this toy!!!!! ... Read more

Editorial Review

LeapFrog is well known for their interactive learning toys and now they've paired with Disney for a princesses' tour of language and math. Cinderella and Belle will help guide your child through various learning activities, such as: letter hunt, spelling games, addition and subtraction games, and number find. Both Belle and Cinderella tell jokes, sing songs, and are generally encouraging with sweet and cheerful voices. If your child decides to stop playing and doesn't turn the laptop off, the princesses ask, "Would you like to play some more?" and if there is no answer, the computer shuts itself off. An LCD screen displays letters, numbers, and other pictures during all the activities. Moms and dads will be glad to note that there are two volumes and virtually no set-up. Requires 4 "AA" batteries (included). --Megan Sullivan ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Best toy in the house
My 2 1/2 year old received this toy as a gift. She ABSOLUTELY loves her "puter". I fill my house with fun and educational toys and this one is hands down the best. She has been playing with it for a few weeks now and can sing her ABC's from A-K. All her friends want to play with it as well. I only wish they had a "boy" version so my son could have one of his own.

Another good one from LeapFrog
My mother and I were having a garage sale and I very much wanted to clean out and get rid of some toys. After explaining the concept to my daughter that if she sold some toys, she could buy some new ones. Well with her money, she picked this out of everything in the huge toy store. She loves it, she takes it in the car on trips, plays with it at the kitchen table while I am cooking. It's great, educational and something to grow with!

A fun "umputer".
I love it and I am 34yrs old.
My 4yr old loves it. And, as far as I am concerned that is all that matters. The sound, the colors, the characters and the keys all all conducive to the purpose that it was intended for.
I bought it for my daughter so she could use it when I was on our family computer.
The only thing (and its not a big thing)is that I wish the screen was bigger.
I would highly recommend it or buy it as a gift.
d

Disney's Laptop by LeapFrog
My daughter Lily got this for her 3rd birthday. We have always loved LeapFrog products. This was her favorite present, hands down. My 6 and 9 year olds even love it! I am really impressed by how many things it does. After playing with it for a day Lily can identify some letters and numbers. The music is great, and I LOVE that there is a high low switch, making it a quiet toy as well as a learning toy!

A perfect laptop for your Princess!
Our 3.5 yr old got this for Christmas and LOVES having "my own 'puter". It is easy for her to open for herself and she loves to hear her favorite characters speaking to her! She likes the activity that sounds out words as you type in letters, and gets so excited when she actually makes a word! She also really likes the counting activity. This laptop has been banged around and dropped several times and it is in perfect working condition. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Did you know that painted ladies (the butterflies, that is) taste with their feet and have 10,000 eyes? You and your kids will be fascinated by all you learn about these beautiful creatures with the Butterfly Garden from Insect Lore. The kit comes with a relatively easy-to-assemble observation chamber; supplies for feeding the butterflies (you provide only sugar and water); an informative booklet of clear instructions and butterfly facts; and a certificate for three to five free painted lady caterpillars. The metamorphosis from larva to butterfly takes about three weeks from when you receive the caterpillar larvae (which arrive in a small container with all the nutrients they need). Your children can watch the larvae increase dramatically in size, form chrysalides, and finally emerge into full-fledged painted ladies (it's suggested that they release the butterflies after a few days of observation). This would make a wonderfulactivity for families with kids of any age, but younger children will need help assembling the observationchamber and reading the instruction booklet. (Note: The manufacturer recommends that butterflies should not be set free in temperatures lower than 55 degrees Fahrenheit.) --Rachel Radway ... Read more

Reviews (62)

So fun I Bought My Own!
I bought one of these last year for my nieces. I also got one for me, and I'm in my 30's. I waited until the spring time to send in my caterpillar certificate. They came in their own little container with just enough food. So you don't need to feed them anything. I tried to put some real food such as leaves from the plants they like to eat in the wild, but they preferred the food that came with them. I think I received 6 caterpillars and they all turned into butterflies. I let them go a day or two after they emerged. Kids are completely fascinated by the process from caterpillar to chrysalis to butterfly. One word of caution, it may not be the best thing to get for Christmas since you may have to wait until spring to get your caterpillars. They will send them in the winter, but I didn't want the butterflies to die on me or freeze to death if I let them go.

Our kids loved this
Our daughters received the Butterfly Garden from their grandfather. The whole family really enjoyed the entire process from catepillar to butterlfy. Very educational for the kids. Unfortunately, though we had three cocoons, only one of the butterflies actually survived. Nevertheless, this is a great gift and one I just bought for my nephew.

Tons of Fun and Educational too!
My daughter received this toy from her cousin. She is 5. At first my son was a little grossed out by the worm looking caterpillars but once they grew and I pinned the paper disc with the attached chrysalides to the netted garden, it was worth it. My 2 kids just sit there and watch. It's better than TV. One caterpillar died but 3 have already emerged. My daughter has named the three butterflies and she loves watching "Crystal" balance herself on the orange wedge that she placed in the hut. I find myself checking on them at least 4 times a day because it is so interesting. We are waiting for the last one to emerge before we set the other three free. My daugher doesn't want the last one to be lonely.

A wonderful combination of fun and education
My daughter had a wonderful time learing about butterflies and watching them emerge. This is a fantastic teaching tool, with clear instructions and easy to use equipment. I can't rave enough about this toy!!!!

WOW! This thing is cool!
I recieved my Butterfly Garden yesterday and boy, was I excited! The pop-up mesh butterfly habita is so neat. I've always wanted one! I sent away for my caterpillars today. If you want to give something or get something GREAT, the Butterfly Garden is a good idea! :) ... Read more

Editorial Review

Outfitted in orange and purple, this electronic learning system for preschoolers plugs directly into a television, and at first take looks a lot like a video-game console. Insert any of Vtech's "Smartridges" into the unit for lessons on language, math, phonics, problem-solving, music, and more. Children can choose between two difficulty levels. Included are a large joystick, adjustable to right- and left-handed kids, and an Alphabet Park Adventure cartridge; other cartridges are sold separately. There's also a storage compartment on top that holds up to six cartridges. The system can run on either three C batteries or an AC adaptor; strangely, neither are included. --Andy Boynton ... Read more

Reviews (11)

your gonna need batteries
the ac adapter is extra, and the unit runs on 3 c batteries! otherwise it is perfect for the school age child...the controller and joy stick is large enough for small hands.. the games may requier parental help at first, but they are quickly learned...my kids love it.

little kid friendly!
my 2 boys (ages 3 & $) received this as a gift and they are fascinated by it. I did find the additional control at Target and bought it along with the SpiderMan cartridge. It is fairly easy to use and very kid friendly for tough little boys who like to use their feet and hands! The cartridges are by age and the levels are very easy. Once they master one level they can move up to more difficult levels. What I really like about this toy is that it is educational and not violent like most of the other video games out in the market today. I like it so much, I'm giving it to several on my gift list for the Holidays. Another retailer (online) is $10 cheaper but you have to pay shipping.

Not impressed
I have two boys, 3 and 4 years old. We also have many video game systems, XBox and Playstations 1 and 2, I was originally going to get the boys a used Super Nintendo, but I saw V.Smile and thought it was more created for their ages and less likely to end up broken as quickly as any other console.<br /> I was upset that the 9 Volt adapter didn't come with the system, I actually think it is because V.Tech is a "rookie" when it comes to game systems like this.We expect to have to buy another remote,like all other game systems make you do, but most game consoles come with the accesories needed to make it run properly. It is designed to be a learning video game system for Preschool age to age 8, but I couldn't imagine a normal 8 year old or 7 year old enjoying it as much as other game systems. <br /> I also was upset and returned the first V.smile I got, because the learning system would shut off and I would play with the batteries replace the batteries and blow in the game and game slot, I noticed sometimes the game would come on even though I pulled it out and it would make my TV screen all disarray. I exchanged it for another and the new one does the same thing. VTech should be more on top of things. I even called the company at 1-800-521-2010 to ask if they have had many complaints. I do not know why VTech would sell the V.Smile without the adapter if it doesn't work properly alone on 3 C batteries. A parent should not have to go in there every 5 minutes or everytime the child changes games. If it is designed to run mostly on an adapter it should say so and include this feature with their product. I do not think it is worth the price, and hassle, but its okay as far as the activitie sthe games play. <br /> All I know is if you think you are going to get your kids to leave you alone for a minute while they play, then you are mistaken, lots of "mommy come help me" because the game has shut off. Even my husband who can fix anything gets annoyed when he plays with it for a while. One of these days, probably after their 90 day warranty expires, the system will probably shut off and never turn back on. Other then that, it is OK, my kids love it, and the games are nice because they are made similar to the Nintendo games, that won't break or scratch like a CD.

Good but.......
The system is great, but......<br /> The extra controller is no where to be found! IT IS NOT AVAILABLE through V-Tech even though the customer service rep said they had 1000's in the warehouse. They can't sell me one because they have no way to take payment. <br /> Try explaining that to twin 4 year olds who argue over the controller and whose turn it is. The adapter was also very hard to find. <br /> Why would a company even consider merchandising something as awesome as this before making all the necessary items readily available? If you have as much trouble as I did locating the adapter, buy yourself a ton of batteries!

extra controller
I haven't actually used this product yet (with the exception of the display in the toy store....loved it!), but I did stumble upon an extra controller in Target. I grabbed it up because I haven't seen it sold anywhere else (and it was the only one on the shelf) and I knew if I waited, chances are I wouldn't get my hands on one until January. ... Read more

Reviews (157)

Great toy
My son recieved this toy for christmas when he was 2 years only. I was amazed to see how much he learned from the songs that the toy plays with each letter. He also learned to sing his abc's from this toy. I would recommend this toy to anyone who wants to give their child a head start in learning

Great Educational Toy
My niece learned the whole alphabet and all the sounds the letters make before she was two years old with this toy. She absolutely loves it.

Great Gift
Best of all, they're too big to get kicked under the fridge!! Fun songs, great volume control, interesting for many ages.

Great Toy
I bought this for my daughters first birthday,she's 2 now and still playing with it, she learned the alphabet,colors like nothing she runs/walks around the house singing her abc's over and over, this is honestly the best educational fun toy I spent money on and she has fun learning.

Great Educational Toy
I bought this for my daughter for her 2nd birthday. She plays with it all the time. It has really helped her learn her alphabet and how the letters are pronounced. ... Read more

Reviews (32)

Too bad Neurosmith is out of business
The Musini is a great toy, but buyers should be aware that Neurosmith has closed it's business. The Magic Wand accessory that came with my Musini doesn't seem to work. I tried their website for support, but it seems to be permanently down, so I called the company phone number in Long Beach, CA for support, and you get a message that they've closed.

Bought it twice -- never worked
Great concept that never delivered on it's promise. We purchased it twice and it never worked...a lot of time wasted. The idea sounds good but they need to work on the result!

My child loves this toy!
I bought this for my 2 1/2 year old and she absolutely
loves it! She didn't understand what to do at first so
I had to show her some of my dancing skills : ) She
got it right away and she can't stop dancing! Great
toy for any age!

Finally got it to work!
I bought this toy for my 4.5 year old son for Christmas because he loves music and motion--seemed ideal. I was extremely disappointed in how low it is--my son is hard of hearing and could not hear it at all unless he held it up to his head. He quit playing with it. Then this weekend, we cleaned out toys and ran across it. I was going to put it in the giveaway bag, but thought I would look into the product first. Once I discovered the volume switch inside the battery compartment (actually through these reviews, which I checked first to find out of other people liked it!), we were set! We have been having fun with it ever since. What a relief to know I didn't waste my money and my kids have a toy they love! And I never thought I'd want a toy to be louder!

This is more fun than it seems at first
Thank goodness for the other reviewers here who told me about the "hidden" volume adjustment in the battery compartment and how to set sensitivity.. start high and work lower....

Once the volume is up and the sensitivity is right this becomes a very fun toy. I suspect Mom will get some extra exercise too.

And we were within two minutes of sending this thing back when I decided to read the reviews. After all, at the lower volume there was no kick to the thing. It seemed like such a waste, how COULD the toy win platinum . Now we agree. We love this toy. ... Read more

Reviews (16)

What a fantastic experience!
Raising butterflies with the Butterfly Pavilion was an experience that my kids and I will never forget. I'm a single parent trying to raise two young kids on my own. I'm busy and don't have much time to take them outside to experience nature. I wanted to give them something that would nurture their respect of nature. Boy did I pick the right item. We mailed our free certificate and about 10 days later, we received our caterpillars. Within about 7 days, they changed into chrysalides. We waited about a week, then suddenly, the butterflies started hatching. In fact, we got to see 4 of them come out within about 30 minutes of each other. It was the most fantastic experience. We kept the butterflies inside the netted habitat for about 5 days, then released them outside. My little 4-year-old girl cried as she had to free her "butterfries", but understood why it was important to do so. We'll never forget this experience and highly recommend the Butterfly Pavilion to everyone.

THE best summer project!!!
The kids have never been so excited about what will happen next. We couldn't wait for the caterpillars to come in the mail...counting the days. They all (10) did what they were supposed to do: eating, growing, spinning web, hanging. One did not turn into a chrysalis, and one chrysalis did not hatch, but we had 8 butterflies. They are easy to care for. They even lay eggs and the eggs hatch into tiny caterpillers. We haven't past the 2nd set caterpillar stage yet, but are hoping...

FUN, EDUCATIONAL AND ENTERTAINING
I AM VERY HAPPY TO SAY THE LEAST. WE GOT THE CATERPILLARS A WEEK AFTER MAILING OUT THE CERTIFICATE. THEY TURNED INTO CHYSALIDES ABOUT 10 DAYS LATER AND IN A WEEK AND A HALF OUR 1ST BUTTERFLY "PENNY" EMERGED. MY 5 YR OLD WAS EXCITED AND ANXIOUS TO SEE HER OTHER BUTTERFLIES. BY THE NEXT DAY THEY WERE ALL OUT. MY 1 YR OLD GOES CRAZY SEEING THEM FLY. WE JUST REALEASED THEM TODAY AND ONE FLEW ON KAELA'S SHOULDER AND SHE WAS DELIGHTED THAT "PENNY" AS SHE SAYS KISSED HER GOODBYE. WE WERE SAD TO HAVE TO SAY GOODBYE BUT LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THEM AROUND. WE HAD SUCH A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE THAT WE ARE ORDERING MORE CATERPILLARS. I MUST SAY THAT IT IS SUPER EDUCATIONAL. MY DAUGHTER LEARNED ALOT FROM THE STAGES THEY GO THROUGH TO THE AMOUNT OF EYES THEY HAVE, HOW LONG THEY LIVE,HOW THEY BREATHE...ETC. I WOULD RECOMMEND THIS TO EVERYONE. ESPECIALLY SINCE NOT ONLY DO YOU EXPOSE YOUR KIDS TO NATURE BUT YOU CAN REUSE THE HABITAT OVER & OVER AGAIN. MY CHILDREN LOVED IT AND SO WILL YOURS.

Spendid
Spendid!! Simply, spendid!! Creative,educational-fun!!
(Coin a new word: Educational-fun!!!) As well as affordable
and very cleve!! Good show!!

I enjoyed this as much as my son!!
Both of us being 'nature buffs', my 6 year old son and I had a wonderful time with this.
We sent away for our catarpillars (every day he would say, 'have they come in yet'?) and when they arrived, put them in the habitat.

When I was a little girl, I caught a bunch of catarpillars, put them in a shoebox, with grass, leaves and whatever else I thought they might eat. I punched holes in the shoe box lid and then covered the box, and basically forgot about it until a few days or so, opened it and saw my catarpillars had made cocoons. Before long, they were moths and I remember how excited I was to see them!

With this habitat, you get to WATCH the whole process of metamorphosis and it is truly amazing AND educational!! When they finally transformed into butterflies, my son was so thrilled, altho a little saddened when we had to set them free.

I'm thinking about purchasing this again, one for my son and myself, and also one for his second grade teacher so his whole class can enjoy the experience.

If your child enjoys the wonders of natures and would love to witness the miracle of transformation of catarpillars into butterflies, this is DEFINATELY well worth the money! ... Read more

Editorial Review

LeapFrog's range of educational toys is exceptional, and this interactive flipbook really has that "wow" factor. In the box it looks like an innocent book, but once assembled it provides absolutely hours of entertainment with a preschool teaching focus. The book reads the text to the child, then its magic pen allows the child to touch the text and reread difficult words. Rather like a computer game, the pictures in the page also respond to touch. Each page has two to three games on it where the child has to answer questions on the text or the pictures. The child only needs to respond with the pen, so children as young as 3 can easily play all the games. LeapFrog has made sure that this two-sided book packs in all the elements of a balanced preschool curriculum. Numbers, phonics, prereading, and numeracy skills come alive through the activities. Both nonfiction and fiction text are included with a variety of musical activities. There is even a volume control on each page for weary parents on those long car journeys! Be prepared with four AA batteries (not included) and a small screwdriver. The instructions included are not specific, but the illustrations on the box are self-explanatory. Perfect for a rainy day or a long journey, My First LeapPad provides great value for the money, as your child will be entertained and educated for hours. --Jo Fitzgerald

My First LeapPad is a sturdy unit with an integral speaker and a magic pen, which reads the spiral flipbook included with the set. Other books and cartridges can be bought and used with the same unit. My First LeapPad flipbook consists of both an interactive story introducing the characters of Leap and his family, and (once you have flipped the book) a selection of interactive games pages which encourage learning of numbers, colors, shapes, and music making. A pleasant and encouraging voice reads the story, which is written on the page, or if just one word is touched, the voice says that one word, encouraging word recognition. In game mode, the voice asks the child to find a specific number, color, or object and gives praise when the child succeeds. The pad is easy to use, provided children remember to always touch the Go button with the magic pen every time they turn a page. If they forget, the pen will read from another page, which causes much confusion! After a few tries, mine soon got the hang of it and could play independently. Everything is worked using the pen, including the volume control, and the pen is impossible to lose as it is attached securely to the unit. In comparison to their interactive PC games, the LeapPad failed to hold my children’s attention for prolonged periods, and although I found it amazing that the pen could recognize so many different words and objects, they were less easily impressed. There is no movement, unlike in a PC game. On the other hand, the unit is portable, so can be played anywhere, unlike the PC. The unit certainly has lots of educational value and is well made and durable. A large selection of interactive books can be purchased separately, so once the children are comfortable using the magic pen, they can try other activities. They can also choose more difficult material, ensuring that the pad grows with your child. --Rachel Elvidge

In common with other LeapFrog products, My First LeapPad is exceptionally well designed to be both educational and fun. The unit itself and attached pen are chunky enough for little fingers, and the single large button, integral carrying handle, and bright color will make it appealing and easy to use for preschoolers. My First LeapPad comes with a ring-bound book and accompanying cartridge which fit easily into the unit (you also need four AA batteries, not included). Placed right side up the book reads through a simple story, and when turned over the reverse sides contain a wealth of activities and games to play. For anyone who hasn’t previously seen the unique way that simply touching the pages with the pen produces voices and noises of all sorts, it seems like a miracle! Even for those who are familiar with it, it is still endlessly fascinating, and each page has lots of scope for discovery. The clear English voices read the story in sentences or single words as well as introducing games and activities involving music and instruments, shapes and color, reading, numbers, counting, matching, and much more. Each picture reveals a whole world of sound effects, voices, and speech from the characters according to the individual touches the child makes with the pen on the page. This makes play genuinely interactive and absorbing, and hugely valuable in terms of learning and pleasure. I recommend this product highly; it is suitable for all levels of learning between under 3 years and over 5, with each age range getting different benefits at different stages of development. --Caroline Parsons

My First LeapPad learning system by LeapFrog is a portable electronic toy incorporating the format of a flip-over book which teaches children to master skills such as writing, basic numbers, ABCs, phonics, listening, and comprehension. The desk layout includes a side handle and a special touch-sensitive pen which gives children the opportunity to develop the coordination required when they begin to write. With the pen the user can activate the different activities such as touching pictures to hear them come alive, touching words to hear them read aloud, playing a game by pressing the lily pad sign with the magic pen, activating a new page, listening to music, or adjusting the volume. The unit comes with an activity book, Leap’s Big Day. Leap is a frog with a happy voice and an English accent who introduces us to his family and different activities on each page. Although the toy is labeled for children aged 3 years and over, the activities are not incredibly difficult and would also suit a slightly younger child. For example, number work only goes up to five, and the page on what Leap will be when he grows up gives the child a number of pictorial choices and they have to select just one answer to say what a firefighter would need at work (hose, hat, boots), or what a doctor would need (stethoscope, white coat, etc.). All activities require use of the pen, which does require a steady hand at times. More books are available to buy separately, with titles such as Leap to the Moon, featuring Leap again, and Pooh's Honey Tree, which features Winnie the Pooh. The books are double-sided with a story side, which is interactive, and an activity side. The battery-powered toy provides preschoolers with a good introduction to interactive learning aids, including computers, and promotes readiness for reading and writing. --Sarah McNamara

This is a nice-sized interactive electronic learning game by LeapFrog. It consists of the LeapPad unit with carrying handle and a small, easy-to-maneuver electronic pen attached. There is a compact microchip unit which plugs into the side and a cardboard flipbook which attaches to the front. The book has two sides: a story side and an activity side. The sound is activated by touching the green Go circle on the page with the electronic pen. On the story side of the book this triggers a female English voice which reads aloud the words on the page. Your child can then touch each word with the pen to have these read aloud, or touch objects and characters on the page to hear them speak. There is a lily pad and a note symbol at the bottom of each page. When touched with the pen, the voice leads your child through games such as finding objects and people on the page. The activity side is centered on learning games such as parts of the body, colors, shapes, and counting. My First LeapPad is designed for preschool children to teach prereading and premath skills. It contains over 30 games and activities and is indicated to be suitable for ages 3 and over. My son will sit and play with the LeapPad on his own for a short time, but is only 3 and a half, and prefers me to help and guide him a little. My First LeapPad is a good learning aid and value for money as the flipbooks can be replaced with different books in the range to keep your child interested in learning. --Julie Illingworth

Learning to read has never been so fun, until now. This interactive system is an ideal tool for teaching various skills important in early years. My First LeapPad teaches ABCs, numbers, phonics, prereading skills, and premath skills. When children encounter the LeapPad for the first time, they may choose to participate in an interactive story book Leap's Big Day (included) or alternatively they may play 30 games and activities. If they choose a story they will be amazed at how involved they can become and how much they will learn. The games and activities on the reverse of the flipbook feature counting and singing songs as well as a section on parts of the body. The LeapPad comprises a spiral interactive flipbook that when used with the integral magic pen enables the story to come alive! The child may touch words and hear them read aloud or if they touch pictures in the story they too will make appropriate sound effects. This system is certainly an innovative concept that makes learning to read exciting while also challenging. --Tiffany Prescott ... Read more

Reviews (195)

The Leapster is better than this
This is frustrating to my daughter, because if the book isn't placed just right on the pad, it doesn't work correctly....if it is a little off, it will give an incorrect answer...when the answer was actually correct. I do however, highly reccommend the Leap Frog Leapster....it is amazing...and my daughter has learned so much from it....including the sound each letter makes. I also recommend the Leap Frog Phonics writing desk.

Great Ariplane toy too!
We purchased this a while back for my son who is now 3. He LOVES it. I enjoy watching match things too and seeing his little thought process at work. He also just went to Disney World and brought this on the plane. IT was GREAT to keep him occupied for the 2 hour flight. He loved showing the flight attendant how smart he is. :) I love the fact that it doesn't get old because you can buy different books to go with it so it's a toy that keeps on changing.

Fun But Not Durable
We bought this for our daughter when she was 2 1/2 years old. She loved it and we only allowed her to play with it when we were sitting with her. We were actively involved in teaching her how to use it. By the time she got the hang of it, just a few months later, it started not reading the cartridges. We would save money to buy additional books and by the time we had 3 the LeapPad was erroring out when reading from the cartridge.

Sometimes we can get it to work by blowing on the cartridge and the contact spot on the LeapPad and sometimes we end up wedgeing a paper in the hole with the cartridge. It seems to be the only way to get it to work.

In my opinion a product of this price should last longer than four months. I was sincerely disapointed to see no help on the website for how to fix this problem. Their warranty is only 3 months for this expensive kids toys.

My daughter has since learned to use the computer and it has served us much better than the LeapPad ever has.

Keeps My 3 Year Old Busy
My 3 year old daughter loves her My First LeapPad. She has spent countless hours playing with it. There are plenty of books to choose from and lots of activites in each book. We take it with on car rides and it keeps her busy. She has learned to change the books and corresponding cartridges on her own so it's not difficult to use. I highly recommend this product.

Junk
It's a real shame that this toy is so poorly constructed. It would be great if it would continue to work for more than a month. My children love it and we are working on our THIRD one and IT just broke. I reccomend skipping this skipping this toy and just investing in a computer and good software. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Sibling to the award-winning Explorer Globe, this junior version can help children become interested in geography before they even start school. The Junior Explorer Globe is jam-packed with fun facts, trivia, and useful information about every aspect of the geographical world. It has four modes of interactive play, ranging from having kids search for certain pictures on the globe to playing regional music from each continent. The globe sits on a sturdy base, which features a dial to the four play functions, an on/off switch, volume control, and the attached penlike stylus. This stylus is the key instrument: kids use it to touch virtually any point on the surface of the globe to hear information and answer questions. --Pam Lauer ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Awesome Globe
This is a great globe for toddlers. My three sons ages 3-6 love explorering the continents and animals. THis globe is geared for the young and to teach them about continents and animals. Don't believe these other bad reviews from anal parents get this globe and your children will love it and by the way not all kids love all products because every child is different.

Watch out for stains on furniture
The toy has little rubber feet on the bottom which will leave little purple circle shaped stains on wood furniture. My son's brand new furniture was damaged and Leap Frog will not pay to have it cleaned. They were aware of the situation, however, they did not issue a recall. They simply changed the rubber feet on the toy for the new production runs, but they left all of the old ones on the store shelves. So which one will you get - the new or the old? This toy isn't worth the trouble. Leap Frogs' customer (dis)service is horrible. I will never buy another leap frog toy again. Watch out for this company - all they care about is making a buck.

BETTER THEN I THOUGHT
When my brother bought this for my 3 year old daughter I thought he had wasted his money, there was no way my daughter was going to pay attention to this globe. I was wrong! My daughter loves it and within 5 minutes she was telling me about the Statue of Liberty and the Great Wall of China. She and I love it so much that I am buying one for my neice's birthday present.

A complete waste of money!
Can't believe Leap Frog, a name associated w/great, educational products would put out such a junker of a product. Doesn't teach even what the United States are, or where they are, Mexico? Don't know where that is. Don't even think about educating your child about where they live and the states, no states even defined, or rivers, or lakes, or mountains, or landmarks. Need I say more. I seriously wish Leap Frog would give me a refund. My mom is really bummed because she's the one who got it for my dd. She was so excited about getting this, "really cool globe" and it's just collecting dust. Big, huge, waste of money....and not cheap, I might add.

Cartoon Globe, Dont Buy It
The Globe has no countries, only continents, no rivers, not even Hawaii (important for American kids), you cant even see the shape of England because of the cartoon of Big Ben over the UK. The information is mainly about animals that live on the continents, and not too interesting facts about them either. The music IS NOT really from the countries of regions its supposed to be from. The globe cannot be rotated to see the South Pole adequately. My daughters first question was 'Where is Germany?' (because we live there) but its not on the globe, then 'Where is Washington?' (where her grandparents live) also not on the globe. My daughter loves globes, maps, time zones, etc but this toy is uninteresting to her and of little educational value. However my 21 month old likes to tough the elephant with the pen to make it roar. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Sally, Stevie, Stanley, Sophie, Stewie, and Sid are six colorful, lightweight bowling pins--each with their own personality--that talk to kids while they bowl. Taunts such as "C'mon!Roll the ball already!" get kids started, and phrases such as "Whew!That was close," keep them aiming for the pins. Bells, whistles, and cheers are heard if a spare or strike is bowled. The tan plastic base has six colored circles to hold the pins in place, but it is not required that colors match up for a game to begin. Silly 6 Pins only keeps score one frame (two balls) at a time, so keep a pad of paper nearby if you're playing as a family. Three AA batteries are required, but not included. --Pam Lauer ... Read more

Reviews (67)

Best Kids' Bowling Toy
As a mother of four, I found this toy great for my 2 1/2, 4- and 5-year-olds. It's extremely durable. The kids can set this one up by themselves. My 4-year-old hates playing by himself, but sets this one up for himself to play everyday. We've tried other bowling sets but the pins fall down before they let go of the ball. It can be set up on carpet. It helps my toddler with her colors. It can be played with alone or with others. All the kids laugh hysterically at the pins' talking and teasing. It's a winner!

Great game!
My son recieved this as a present for his 3rd birthday. He absolutely loves it! I also think it is really cute how the pins move and talk. My son has been playing with it non-stop since he got it.

2 year old proof
I bought this toy for my son this past christmas. It is the only remaining toy he has from his presents. He loves it. The only bad thing I could say about it is it needs more phrases. He loves it though, he lines them all up by the colors and then shakes his hiney with it as the pins shake. It really truly is a great toy.

Great toy
I bought this toy for my 2 1/2 year old daughter and she absolutely loves it. She takes turns bowling with her little friends. It's a big hit at playgroup. She says "gutterball" whenever she misses the pins. She already knew her colors and numbers before getting this game but I think it reinforces her knowledge. It has also helps with her coordination. She used to roll the ball from a couple of feet away but now stands at the other end of the room. Overall, I think it's a great toy.

Great toy!
My three year old daughter loves this toy! She sets it up by herself (color coordinated) and has a blast trying to knock the silly pins over with the plastic bowling ball. The pins tease you by wiggling around and talking. They even snore when you take to long to knock them down! Great for counting, turn taking and color recognition as well as eye hand cooridination. Lots of fun for the tots and grown ups too ;-D ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Disappointed
My 7 month old daughter is strong enough to pull herself up, but she is not strong enough to activate the toy. I have to press fairly hard myself to get it to work. It is a wonderful concept and she loves to hear the rhymes, but it would be nice if she could do it herself. We also have trouble with one of the buttons. It occasionally starts at the end of the song instead of the beginning or says welcome instead of playing the music. I love all of our other Leap Frog products, but this is not one that I would recommend.

EXCELLENT TOY
I puchsed this toy for my neice for Christmas and when I received it I was so impressed I bought one for my 5mth old. Its great for the crib and to take in her car seat.

Not as great as I'd hoped
Leapfrog has a great rep and we received this as a gift. I do think that my 14 month old son enjoys the toy - he claps when the classical music or color songs play, but he gets very frustrated because he can't easily press the sections of the caterpillar. I sometimes have trouble getting them to play - and I shouldn't. It also seems to have a slight glitch where the on/off button and the numbers button do the same thing sometimes - I am guessing it is our particular unit. In all, I think the concept of this toy is great, but it would be nice if it was more baby-user friendly.<br />

Best Value ever from Leap Frog
This has got to be the best value ever from Leap Frog. You get numbers 1 to 5 with cute visuals that go with each number. The plush is soft and easy to hold or squeeze. My 5 month old neice can't put it down. A must have. ... Read more

Editorial Review

This little wheelbarrow is the tool of choice for hauling flowers, grass clippings, toys, and other treasures. Not only does it look like a real wheelbarrow, it is a real wheelbarrow, with a red steel tray, a black triangular steel undercarriage, and finished hardwood handles. The tray has no-scratch edges and is 20 inches long, 16 inches wide, and 4 inches deep. The black plastic molded wheel is 7 inches in diameter and 1.25 inches wide. The wheelbarrow stands 11 inches from the floor and is 32 inches from the front of the tray to the ends of handles. The whole thing weighs a little more than 7 pounds. --Louise Carter ... Read more

Reviews (10)

DURABLE and versatile - a definite "best buy"
This wheelbarrow is just like the ones adults use, but sized for 2 to 5 year olds. It is manufactured really well (not at all like the flimsy plastic ones you'll see at your local toystore) and is easy to assemble. Our children have used theirs to haul snow, sand, rocks, sticks, leaves, water, dolls, blocks, and eachother. Watch their self-esteem and self-confidence grow as they really contribute to outdoor chores by hauling their own load in their own wheelbarrow! This toy is durable and will be around long after my children have outgrown it. (Note - in case this is a gift, be careful where you have it shipped to because our wheelbarrows arrived in the original boxes you'd see in the toystore, with big pictures of the wheelbarrow on the side.) We couldn't be happier with this purchase of a quality Radio Flyer product.

Great Buy
This is so much better than the plastic wheelbarrows. My son has it all - toy blowers, weadeaters, mowers, etc. and this is his favorite because it actually looks just like daddy's! He hauls dirt, flowers, and of course, toys everywhere. We have had this since Christmas and it has lasted well.

good hard to find toy
When I gave this to my 4 1/2 year old nephew the first thing he did was pile his toys in it and give them a ride. I don't agree with the reviewers who think this is small. It looks like my nephew has alot of growing to do before anyone could suggest it was too small for him. My only problem was putting it together which is surprisingly difficult. That is more of a two person job.

Just like Daddy
My husband has been doing lots of yard work using a wheelbarrow. My two year old son tries with all his might to lug that big old wheelbarrow around but of course cannot. I bought this wheelbarrow for him so he could work along beside his dad safely. This is the cutest little thing I've seen! It is a perfect replica of a real full-size one. It is very sturdy and was very easy to put together. However, I will have to agree with another review that the recommended size is not correct. It is the perfect size for a two year old, if maybe even just a tad on the small side for him. This is okay since it makes it so easy for him to move it around safely. BUT...by next year, it will be too small. I believe the recommended age is 3-5 years or something like that. This wheelbarrow would be much too small for that age group. Overall, this wheelbarrow is a real find for a young one who likes pretend play and enjoys working in the yard just like Mommy or Daddy. Like typical Radio Flyer products, I'm sure it will last and last. I even had a friend who planted flowers in hers after her children outgrew it and it was precious.

Item is mislabeled on Amazon
I bought this item for my four year old niece, [as] it was suitable for 3-5 year olds. However, when the box arrived, the label said that it was for 18 month olds and up! This item is more suitable for 2 year olds than 4 year olds.... ... Read more

Editorial Review

Well-designed with lots of terrific detail, Learning Resources' Calculator Cash Register completely satisfies a young child's hunger to play with bills, coins, cash drawers, and big numbers. The chiming cash register features a built-in solar calculator as its keypad, thus allowing kids to act as bankers, shopkeepers, and accountants all at once. A large cash drawer holds life-sized bills in four denominations (1, 5, 10, and 20), and four coin holders make room for embossed plastic pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters. There is even a credit card slot that dings when you correctly slide the faux VISA card through it.A suggested-activities booklet is included. Requires a 1.5V button cell battery (included) to make the chiming noise. No assembly required. Winner of awards from Dr. Toy, FamilyFun Magazine, and Oppenheim Toy Portfolio. ... Read more

Reviews (21)

It's the most popular toy at my house!
This cash register is a favorite at my house! We often have children from ages two to six visiting, and this is the first toy that many of them go to. The calculator makes beeping noises that the kids enjoy, and the cash drawer opens and closes with a satisfying click. I've enjoyed teaching my son the value of money and how to use a calculator with this toy.

Can't Live Without It
We were at a friends house last night and she had this toy for her 3 year old son. My 2 year old daughter could not stop playing with it. She simply loved opening the drawer and handing out the money to each person in the room. She would then collect the money and put it back. This activity kept her busy for an hour and it would have been longer except for the fact we needed to leave. I have bought her other cash register toys but none have been as realistic or kept her interest as long as this one did. I am buying one for her now and can only hope that she loves it as much as she did last night.

This is the funniest toy ever
When I got this toy i played with it for such along time and still do. You only spend $29.99 on it and it is money well spent. You make the right choice if you get this toy. The age group i would say is probably 5-whenever. Let me tell you parents what when my mom and dad got this for me i lovedit and it made me happy for so long.Three words for this toy.
MONEY WELL SPENT!!!!!!!!! FUN
so you should get this toy. KNOW dont think twice get it...NOW
dont forget get the scanner and bar codes* that go with it.
*SOLD SEPARTLEY

A preschool favorite
I'm buying this toy for my son's 3rd birthday because he makes a beeline to it everytime we go to our parent-child preschool class. He usually sets up a toy phone nearby, too. I get to be the customer and bring a basket of toy food to him which he "scans" on the notepad area. It's nice when toys leave something to the imagination. He loves the play bills and coins and pretending to make change. I believe that this toy will grow with my child and still be fun for him in a few years.

I figure that if this toy has survived daily use by multiple 2-4 year olds, it will survive around our house. If it doesn't, then I will update this posting!!!

hits money learning right on the head
I bought this for my daughter five years ago when she turned 4... it is still a household favorite. The design is good and it has held up well despite its being knocked around a fair amount.

The display is large and easy to read. The play money, which was one of my primary concerns, is realistically sized and marked. There is plenty of it to play with and make change too. The credit card is a nice touch which slides into a slot with a beep.

The sticky note space isn't as useful or cool as I thought it could have been, but I think sticky notes tend to just get ripped off of the pad and spread across the room by most children.

Now that my daughter is older, she still plays with it as well as putting it to use while running her punch & shaved ice stand in the summer. I feel like this was a good purchase and I would recommend it as a sturdy playset with high educational potential. ... Read more

Editorial Review

This talking book comes with an interactive "magic pen" that works like a hand-held computer mouse pointer. Children can opt to turn the paper pages and listen to the story read with different voices for each character. Or they can interrupt the read-aloud session to play with the magic pen (permanently attached with a wire). They can point the pen tip to any word on a page and hear it pronounced, or touch a picture and hear a sound effect (such as "Strike one!" for the baseball bat). Very similar to the popular Living Books computer games, this 10-by-11-inch book is more portable than a home computer. Stories in this set include Lil's Loose Tooth, Richard Scarry's Best Word Book Ever, and Winnie the Pooh in A Sweet Good Morning. The set also includes a paper piano keyboard and map and human anatomy games.--Gail Hudson ... Read more

Reviews (365)

Not as great as we thought it'd be...
I got this for my son when he was about 4, and it was a great learning tool before it started falling apart. The quality of it was terrible, and it didn't last more than a year after normal wear and tear. This product was definitely a disappointment, especially after spending a lot of money on books and cartridges shortly before it bit the dust.

fun for all ages
I bought a leap frog for my son when he was 4 and he loved it. He liked the pictures and sounds. It is also great for older kids, the leap frog book that came with his had activities for all ages. It is very educational and a great item to take on trips in the car.

great for my preschooler as well as older childern
I purchased a leappad for my 3 1/2 year old about a 1 1/2 years ago for christmas and it was a hit!! She loved the noises it made and she could write with the pen. The book that comes with the system is broken up into different age groups so the first book didn't have much she could do as for learning, but my older children (then 9 & 11) found a few pages that interested them as well. We soon purchased a couple of addition books that were age appropriate for my daughter and she began to learn numbers, letters and shapes. My sons even got a book to help them in the areas such as bones. My daughter turned 5 yesterday and she still carries her leappad where ever we go. She has moved up to learning sounds and sight words and hasn't even started kindergarden yet. She loves the games and the interaction since it will tell you (or beep/buzz you)when you have made a wrong answer. This product allows my husband & I, as well as other family members, to sit down and spend time with my daughter learning and ITS FUN for us all!! She can even entertain herself when we are unable to sit with her because of how user friendly it is.

We have had NO problems with our leappad and believe me it has been around and used.

I highly recommend it for a child that is eager to learn new things. If I had to find a fault with it, it would be that due to so many different books available, we sometimes misplace the cartridges. I have ordered her a backpack to keep them all together to solve this problem.

Beware Of Leap Frog Products
We are a family of 5. Our 3 children are 6, 3 1/2, and 2. You can imagine how many wonderful Leap Frog products we have in our household. We have a lot. We want to provide our children with a great educational start in life and what better way to do it than with these wonderful Leap Pad products right? Give me a break. Educationally they are great. Durable you ask, no way. Leap Frog only warrants their products for 3 months. We had 2 LeapPads. One still works great, we've had it for almost 4 years. The newer one we bought for our 3 year old stopped working in 4 months. It wasn't product misuse, because my son was only allowed to look at it with an adult. We only used it about 3 or 4 times a month, that's about 12-16 total uses, before the right side of the LeapPad stopped working. Several emails to Leap Frog resulted with no reply from them. They make these products but only warrant them for 3 months. Now I know why. Our Explorer globe flopped out after only 6 months. I will admit that the Leap Frog preschool toys we own have held up great, especially with all the banging around that they get, but their expensive products like LeapPad, Explorer Globe and Leapster have not. I'd look into buying educational products from a company who is willing to stand behind them and has the necessary means to make repair work on expensive products that no longer work. Leap Frog is a company I will no longer spend any more of my hard earned money on.

Fantastic even for age 3
My three-year-old received this leappad for his birthday, which he wanted very badly, and just cannot put it down. He carries it with him throughout the day and it's the first thing he looks for when he gets up in the morning. He saw it at toysrus and just absolutely loved it so he was very excited to get one of his own. He loves learning his abc's and numbers, and loves it when his favorite characters talk back to him. This is such a great tool - if you're trying to decide between this one and the Fisher price one, go for this one. The gal at toys rus said that the fisher price one is just for preschoolers whereas the leappad will grow with the child until age 8. Not bad! ... Read more