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A Mom's LeapPad Review

I first became aware of LeapPads in 1999, when they first really started to become popular. At the time, my oldest child was 2 -- but I thought she had to have one. They only made this version back then -- now they make them for very young children. You can see my review of My First LeapPad here.

Years ago...

So I bought her a LeapPad, but at 2 years old, she wasn't ready for it. They didn't have very many books to choose from back then, and what they did have was not aimed at her age group. So the LeapPad sat in the closet for about a year.

A year later when I again approached my daughter with the LeapPad, I got quite a different response. She was very interested, but she had a lot of difficulty playing with it by herself... at first. For about a month, I had to help her with it. After that, she took off.

Today...

My daughter is now 5 years old. She is still playing with the same LeapPad - yes the very same one that I bought in 1999. LeapPad and my daughter have both come a long, long way.

LeapPad has come out with a lot of other products, but this one still continues to be my personal favorite. They have a lot more books available for it now, with new learning concepts, phonics, music, and math. Not only that, but there are also different skill levels within each of these areas....

• Pre-reading, pre-math and essential subjects introduces a child to the essential building blocks of math, reading, and other subjects to get them ready for school. These are the red Leap Start books for ages preschool-kindergarten or children up to age 5.

• Phonics lessons and activities boasts an integrated, step-by-step approach to teaching a child phonics. They learn these concepts while getting the practice with the books. These are the yellow books for preschool to grade 2 or ages 4-7.

• Leap 1 books help your child build a foundation in reading, math, and other essential subjects while increasing your child's vocabulary with engaging stories and activities. These are the orange books for preschool to grade 1 or ages 4-6.

• Leap 2 books introduce your child to chapter books that help strengthen vocabulary and reading comprehension while exploring math, science, music and other essential subjects.

Well, you've heard a lot about what LeapPad has to offer, let's talk about some of the pros and cons. We'll start with the cons.

The original LeapPad doesn't have any kind of a handle. If folds nicely in half like a book. If you have a younger child using the LeapPad, you have to teach them not to drag it around by the pen.

LeapPad is too big for a young child to hold it in their lap comfortably. My kids seem to manage pretty well with it though. Usually they lay it on a flat surface to play with it. Maybe this will help promote good work and study habits, I'll have to wait and see on that one.

LeapPad is very economical. Once you purchase the LeapPad itself, you can purchase additional books for around $12 - $15 each. You could easily spend that much money on books that don't talk to you. In addition, since I originally wrote this review, there are a TON of writing, microphone, and exploration products also available from LeapFrog that extend your LeapPad and it's utility.

LeapPad makes a lot of different books to choose from. There are Disney story books like the Princesses (my daughter's personal favorite) and Monsters, Inc., their own original Leap books, Authur, Bob the Builder, Scooby Do, and many more. There is really a story available for any child to love.

LeapPad is obviously educational. Take a look at the list of learning products and skill levels that I've outlined above. LeapPad is also an award winning toy. Take a look at some of the awards they've earned:

• 2002 #1 Best Selling Toy Sold in Specialty Stores and Top 10 Best Selling Toy Overall (PlayDate)
• 2001 Top Educational Toy, Supplier Performance Awards by Retail Category
• 2001 Winner, Best Vacation Products of 2001, Dr. Toy
• 2001 Winner, Top 20 Toys, KTVU-TV (FOX) Great American Toy Test, San Francisco
• 2001 Winner, Best of Travel Category, Amazing Toy Awards, Babyzone.com
• 2001 Winner, Top 20 Gifts for Kids, Kid Gift-O-Matic 2001- eshop.msn.com
• 2001 3 Stars, Educational Toy, Canadian Toy Testing Council
• 2000 Winner, Best Specialty Item, Play Date 2000 Picks
• 2000 Winner, T.O.T.Y. Toy of the Year Award, Best Educational Toy
• 2000 Winner, T.O.T.Y. Toy of the Year Award, People's Choice Winner
• 1999 Winner, "Only Kidding With You" 5th Annual Toy Test
• 1999 Winner, The Great American Toy Test (Educational Category)
• 1999 Winner, Toy Wishes "Hot Toys for the Holidays" (Hot Pick)
• 1999 Winner, Zany Zenith's "Best Product of the Year Award" (Zany Brainy)

LeapPad is durable. I can only give you anecdotal evidence of this fact. My daughter has a leapPad from 1999 that is still performing as well as it did the first day. My son also uses it sometimes and it has even survived him.

LeapPads and LeapPad books make terrific gifts. These are the kind of gifts that you want your child to receive, instead of the noisy toy that drives you absolutely nuts. (Grandparents are famous for giving the noisy ones!) Everyone wants to give children gifts that they will really use!

LeapPad will keep your kids occupied for long periods of time doing something that will benefit them educationally. Most toys are great when the kids first get them. They play with them for awhile, then they end up in the bottom of the toy box. Not LeapPad. My daughter has played with her LeapPad nearly every day for the past 2 years and shows no sign of slowing down.

LeapPad is an outstanding learning toy that I would recommend to anyone with young children. In fact, I think a child as young as 2 could use a LeapPad. There are a lot of LeapPad products now available that will engage and encourage young children. The most exciting of these is the interactive puzzles that have recently come out (You can read more about these further down the page).

If I were starting from scratch -- thinking about an initial purchase of LeapPad for a child, I would definitely get the LeapPad Advantage. It has everything you need to get the most out of a LeapPad, utilize all the current technology, and keep your child engaged for a very long time. In my opinion, it is well worth the investment. I plan on getting this package for my son next Christmas when we upgrade him from the My First LeapPad that he has now.

If you already have a LeapPad, you may want to consider purchasing a LeapPad Club Kit. It has everything you need to upgrade your LeapPad so that you can download even more activities from the LeapFrog website. Don't buy the Mindstation by itself -- it will cost you more and you get less. You can read more about the LeapPad Club Kit below.

In my final comments, let me say that I fully endorse the LeapPad. My children have used them for years and I can't think of any toy that I would rate as highly. This is a must have for young children. You can read more opinions about all the LeapFrog products here...