Leap Pad?

[Flynn]

To all you experienced parents out there, do you have one and did your son/daughter like it?

I want to get DD something she can do during "quiet time" (no more naps these days) for "big girls."

She loves to learn, has a long attention span, and is extremely curious.

She JUST turned four. The box says 4-8 years. I have a few preschool cartridges for her I think she will like.

The "My First Leap pad" seemed too young for her.

Do you have any experience with this toy? Advice? Cartridges that were extra big hits?


Thanks in advance. If it was a dud for all of you I might just return it before the holidays. It's too expensive to just be "okay."

Here's a link to a recent post on the vsmile versus Leap Pad:
http://www.medicalspouse.com/forums/vie ... hp?t=10357

My daughter has a leapfrog desk with the letters on it and spelling cards to learn letter sounds and spelling. I can't find it on their site, though. She had fun with that.

[Flynn]

Nelle...

I think there is a difference between the Leap Pad and the Leapster....but I'm new at all of this.

I didn't want anything attached or associated with the TV -- so I think the Leap Pad is the correct product.

Sigh.

I don't know much about it either. I just remembered that last post. I have seen the vsmile products at the store but haven't seen a child using them.

Bryn liked that letter desk she had (not connected to the TV) but it looks like they don't make it anymore.

[Flynn]

THANKS! Every little bit helps.

It's pretty challenging find a few gifts that will be "hits" and not just buying crap!!!!

I know...especially when it is the more expensive stuff. One of the the nice things about that desk was the volume control! I could turn it down to a level that didn't drive me nuts which is not always the case with the electronic toys.

we were not thrilled w/the Leap Pad. The books required too much attention for the guys -- remembering to touch the "green go circle" each time they turned the page proved too much. Then they would get frustrated b/c the Leap Pad didn't know what page they were on.

The Leapster does not have to be attached to a t.v. Ours is a little handheld unit. It does have a video screen, but the games (which truly are educational) play on it.

[Phoebe]

DD#1 just turned 5 and we got her the Leapster L-Max as a gift last year. It is a hand-held unit that some of the games can be connected to the TV. We haven't used that portion though. My daughter has three different games on it and plays it every night before falling asleep and in the car. She enjoys it very much. It took her a little time to get the hang of it when she first got it, but learned quickly. I would recommend it as most of the games have some educational component to them and she comes up to me now saying all the letter sounds after playing the Leapster. We take it in the car on road trips as well.