My family is a big fan of the LeapFrog brand.
From the fridge magnets and Letter Factory videos to the Explorer personal game system, my kids have used, loved and learned from these toys for the last eight years.
I have consistently found that LeapFrog’s toys are not only educational AND entertaining, but they are also priced right – and provide tremendous value for the dollar.
Which is why I have been so intrigued by LeapFrog’s latest offering – the LeapPad Explorer. A tablet for little ones, the LeapPad is THE toy of 2011.
In fact, it’s so popular that there have been almost no sales on the LeapPad, and it’s been virtually impossible to find it in stock anywhere.
So imagine my jumping-up-and-down excitement when Leap Frog offered to send me a LeapPad for my review… and then, sent me a second LeapPad to give away to ONE VERY LUCKY KOAB READER!
Now, before we get to the giveaway, I want to tell you a little bit about the LeapPad:
- The Leap Pad is targeted to the 4-9 year old set. And while I have no doubt that it can hold the attention of this entire age range – and even older – I also suspect that today’s tech savvy kids (seriously, my two year-old knows how to get to the Dora video on my iPhone) will probably be able to access much of the fun, too.
- The LeapPad is lightweight, but solid – and well protected – so I think it will stand up to some little kid “love” (aka abuse).
- The LeapPad has a built-in camera, which can store thousands of pictures, and a video camera, which can store up to 120 minutes of video. Pictures and video can be uploaded to your computer, as well. The quality of the camera is fine – good even, in decent lighting. It’s not going to rival your 12 mega-pixel SLR, but for a kids’ point-and-shoot, its better than most.
- The LeapPad comes with five preloaded apps – and hundreds (literally, hundreds) more you can download from the Leapster site. Some are free, and some cost a few bucks.
- There are also “readers” for the LeapPad – digital read-along books, including a preloaded one from Cars 2. And, of course, you can download more.
- There are even full-length Leap Frog videos you can download onto your LeapPad – and happily it comes preloaded with The Letter Factory (The A says ah, the A says ah, every letter makes a sound, the A says ah).
- And then there are games. Like the Leapster game systems, the games for the LeapPad must be purchased separately. They run around $30 – $40 retail, or $10 – $20 on sale.
- One of the very best things about the LeapPad is that it uses the same games as the Explorer. So if you already have the Explorer, like we do, you can get started with those games immediately. Too often new technology makes the slightly older stuff obsolete. I’m thrilled that the games we invested in for my son’s Explorer aren’t redundant. Thanks, LeapFrog!
- While the tablet is touch-activated, it also comes with a stylus (which conveniently ties onto the tablet) – and a back-up one as well, for when your kids inevitably lose the first one.
- As for the graphics, I think the LeapPad definitely rivals the Leapster Explorer, and of course, this tablet can do SO much more than the Explorer. Which means, if you’re looking to purchase just one toy – I see no reason not to go straight to the LeapPad!
So… who wants to win a brand new LeapPad??!!
There are six possible entries. The first one is mandatory – leave a comment on this post with your favorite toy as a child.
The other five entries are optional – but the more ways you enter, the better your chances are of winning. To enter, simply follow the instructions on the Rafflecopter below. (Note, if you are reading this post in your email or RSS reader, you will need to click through to the post to enter.)
This giveaway is open only to legal U.S. residents who are 18 years or older. Entries will be accepted until Thursday, December 15th at midnight EST. The winner will be selected and notified on Friday – hopefully giving me plenty of time to get this mailed out in time for Chanukah!
This post reflects my views and opinions and was not reviewed or edited by a third party. I was provided with a complementary Leap Frog LeapPad Explorer Learning Tablet to facilitate my review, and a second copy to give away on my blog. No other compensation was received. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”.
my fave toy was a kid “computer” with all sort of games etc. my mother STILL has it and one of my babies was playing with it when we were there for succos. too funny!
My favorite toy was my doll that I named Arlie. My aunt made it for me!
Legos…keeps kids busy for hours.
I think my favorite “toy” was a plain old fashioned ball. Once I was a little older I had a collection of those small super bouncers 🙂
My favorite toy as a kid was an old school desk our neighbors had given us. My sister and our two best friends and I would spend hours playing “school” in our basement!
my markers
My favorite toy as a child was my Game Boy! It took 13 years to con my parents into getting me one so once I had it I barely let it go!
My fave toy as a kid was a bead bracelet maker. You had to put the bead through the side and turn the crank, I think it broke everytime we tried to use it. My mom must have bought me a few.
My favorite toy as a kid was my “All-Star Baseball” board game. I’m a baseball nut and early riser and I would sit in my room and play this game for hours by myself.
My kids have been begging for this! But I have already bought them all the other deals you have posted! I hope I win this contest!
My favorite toy was my barbie dolls. I built them a dream house out of shoeboxes!
My fave was the computer and the games we played on it. I’m still addicted today 😉
My cooking and kitchen sets were my favorites.
Barbies. I played with those forever!
I LOVED Raggedy Ann!!
Definitely light brites. I wonder if they still make these? I still remember the sound of the vacuum cleaner sucking up the pegs from the green shag carpet. (Am I giving away my age here?)
i loved the gameboy .
I used to love my little ponies and barbies!
My favorite toy as a kid was a Dolly Maker. It came with goop that was put into molds and then baked in a special mini oven and it make little dollies.
I loved playing with our commodore 64 computer which was set up through the TV monitor
My favorite toy as a child was BARBIE – she could be anyone/anything!! she always kept my imagination alive!
I loved my Fisher Price schoolhouse so very much!
sorry, my favorite toy as a child…. i can’t remember! i recall liking holly hobby, barbies, madame alexander dolls, legos, fisher price weeble-wobbles, the fisher price hospital…. oy! (can you cancel the post above so i don’t enter this way twice? i wasn’t trying to cheat!) happy chanukah!!!
Does a baby sister count? 🙂
OK, probably our old-school Nintendo with Mario 1 and the track meet game. The power pad was awesome!
My favorite toy as a kid was Rainbow Brite.
Hard to think of one specific one, but I was always a fan of any kind of baby dolls.
I loved my Fisher Price schoolhouse so very much.
My favorite to y as a kid was my mini record player that i had a disco disney album and the grease soundtrack for. Did i just date myself? Its interesting that record player was so high tech then it was the Ipod of the seventies. I wish i still had it like my friend “CE” still has hers and her record collection.
my fave toy as a child was a stuffed rabbit my mom made me that was taller than i was. it was my other person in games on sundays when everyone else in our tiny town was in church.
My favorite toy as a child was definitely my fisher price record player! my sister and i used to dance to whatever was playing…
My barbie doll that came with a camera. I also loved my record player.
barbie. gotta love the barbie – my grandma knit me clothing for them!
My favorite toy growing up was spin art – I was amazed at how many different combinations and designs I was able to make just by putting drops of paint on the paper!!
its a toss up. i loved my kitchen set and old-school barbies.
My favorite toy was a stuffed (giant) cat my grandma made for me.
I really don’t remember, dolls perhaps. But I really liked books.
my cabbage patch! still have it…
Would love to win for my kids!!! Great giveaway!! I loved to play with my barbie dolls and cabbage patch kids as a kid.
My favorite toys were barbies (I’d have beauty pageants) and my first Apple computer which had simple and fun math games and mazes! I’d also type stories! I also loved cabbage patch kids!
Dawn Dolls!! I’m old:)
my favorite toy as a kid was an imittation cabbage patch doll my aunt made me but gave me with a real carrier . I didn’t know it wasn’t real till I was a teenager
Legos
My favorite toy was the Speak and Spell!
My parents got a me a Tonka dumptruck (the metal ones from way back when) for my 4th birthday.
cabbage patch kid
speak and spell & lite bright
My favorite toy as a kid was the skip it! Wow! SOooo much memories!
Can’t pick just one. My favorite toys as a kid were my Rainbow Brite, She-Re, Jem, and He-Man toys.
My favorite toy as a kid was my bike, I used to ride it all the time out in the sun!! Miss those days!!!!!
My American Girl Doll was my favorite toy 🙂
I loved my cabbage patch dolls and my little ponys.
I loved kerplunk