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 favorite toy growing up were board games (any)
my favorite toy as a kid was the fisher-price dollhouses. We had the old ones! the brown house, blue/yellow house, sesame street house, classroom, garage, airport, and more. I wish they still made it. those now sell for about $200 each on ebay.
Barbies, I played with them till I was 13!
My favorite toy was the Game Boy we got for Chanukah one year. All the older kids fought over it.
My favorite toys were Barbies and all the fun clothing for them.
Barbies!
I loooved Barbies – could play with them for HOURS on end!
It depends on what age you refer to, but going by the 4-9 range of the LeapPad, I’d say my favorite toys were dollhouses and my science kits. (I was both a girly-girl and a nerd.) 🙂
I loved playing with barbie, I also loved the light bright too. As I got older I enjoyed playing with Atari and later Nintendo.
I loved anything you could build with. Favorite was Lego but anything works – Tinkertoys, Lincoln Logs, cardboard boxes…
I loved my cabbage patch kids.
I loved my fisher price record player 😉 I would sit in my room and read book and listen to the record read it to me all day
I had this doll named Snuggles that my aunt (OBM) gave me. The doll had a string in the back and her head moved when you pulled it. It was supposed to be as though she was snuggling into your chest.
I LOVED that doll. She’s still in my parents’ basement and she’s a right mess because I loved her to near-shreds.
My favorite toy was a stuffed lamb called Baby Ba-ba
barbies
my favorite toy growing up was the lite bright and the strawberry shortcake dolls that really smelled like strawberrys… I loved those!!!! and my little pony
Also a barbie gal.
I loved my My Little Ponies and Cabbage Patch Dolls.
matchbox cars
Also Barbies.
My favorite childhood toy was the Pogoball I got for my 9th birthday!
My favorite toy was good ol’ fashioned PLAY DOH! I still love it… the smell brings back childhood memories!
I also loved my cookie lovin’ oven 🙂
Barbies!!
My favorite was a doll that I could cut her hair and then it would “grow” back
My favorite toy as a kiddo… it’s a tossup between the Pogo ball and my cabbage patch kids. I still have the cabbage patch kids.
matchbox cars!
Definitely Barbies, although I am sure I was not my Barbies’ favorite person. I thought that if I wanted them to have “no bangs” then that meant that I should literally cut their bangs off.
My favorite toy was a doll’s house.
My favorite toy as a kiddos were board games! My sisters and I played them off and on all day long!
Spin Art!
My favorite toy was ‘Barbie’ and my Red Rider Wagon. 🙂
My favorite toy as a kid was Barbie dolls!!!
I loved anything “crafty” but aside from that I clearly remember loving a paper cut out doll book that I had, with all sorts of clothing to dress them with- funny yet odd memory thanks for that:)
My favorite toy as a child was my baby Heather doll
my favorite toy as a kid was my stuffed animals/dolls…I loved to play school with them all. I would line them up on my bed (sitting) and “teach” them.
I loved my bicycle!!
My favorite toy was Barbie! I would sit for hours playing with my sister, dressing up and setting up all the Barbie dolls and sets. Imaginations ran wild while we played!
Fisher price little people
I had little plastic animals – all different kinds. Probably about 40 of them. I loved playing with them.
Battling Tops!!
My favorite toy as a child was when I got my 1st cabbage patch kid. I hauled her everywhere.
playdough – we were so rarely allowed to play with it – it became a real treat and highlight of my childhood!
Barbie for sure!
Hotwheels
My favorite toy was a stuffed turtle – he even had a beret with a pom pom on top. When he ripped, I sewed him up (that’s where I first learned and practiced sewing). And I still have him here with us, to play with the girls.
Raggedy Ann and Strawberry Shortcake. Those girls came with me everywhere!
My dolls and all their clothes and cradles, strollers, the whole shebang.
I used to love playing Candyland!
My cabbage patch doll.
My kid size accordion