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”.
I had a raggedy anne doll that was taller than me. Loved it after I got over being afraid of it.
I loved my beautiful baby carriage and a huge stuffed frog whom I used to make “jump” down the steps. thanks!
I was a child so long ago it’s hard to remember what my favorite toys were, but I know that I used to make clothes for my dolls. My mother taught me to use my grandmother’s treadle sewing machine and i made clothes on that. I can’t remember the name of my doll, but you could give her a bottle and then had to change her diaper. She had really soft curly hair that couldn’t be styled, but felt good to touch.
I was a girly girl … Barbies
I loved my cabbage patch dolls…and I just passed one of them onto my two darling daughters!
My Barbies….I could play with them for hours!
i loved playing w paper dolls!!
my favorite toy was popples!
My favorite toy was probably my dolls. Each stage had a different favorite from Raggedy Ann to Barbie.
Mine was “little people” that my mom collected at garage sales. We still have them.
My favorite toy was my mom’s Revlon doll. It had real hair – which I trimmed.
Nintendo..Sega
I loved my Barbies!
Matchbox cars
i had a portable nintendo donkey kong game and i loved it.
it was pretty cool for back then.
my very favorite toys were my cabbage patch dolls. my little girls now play with them and i love that i was able to pass them down.
I loved cabbage patch kids! I hope my kids love this!
POPPLES!!! I loved them and I had them all!
I loved my dolly named Lolly.
I really liked my American Girl Doll Samantha…now she’s my daughter’s doll 🙂
Favorite toy would be either my stuffed monkey Monk Monk or the home made Cabbage Patch kid my mom made me, Cabby (I know, I was not the most creative namer).
Tinker toys!
My favourite toy as a child was probably my ‘fashion plate’ drawing set (I think it was Barbie!), I spent hours designing and colouring outfits.
My favorite toy growing up was my teddy bear. I grew up in Russia, so did not have a ton of toys, but this was my favorite…
My favorite toy from as early as I can remember was a monkey who sucked his thumb, I sucked mine too, we were such a cute pair 🙂
My cousin’s Lite-Bright!
ok – so I’ll sound really girly but, hands down it was my barbie dollhouse set. I remember being 3 or 4 and playing for hours with friends.
My favorite toys were the Fisher Price Little People. The old version that they don’t make anymore. They are still my favorite and I have a few vintage sets for my kids. The Sesame Street Clubhouse is the best and never fails to entertain!
My favorite toy as a child was the Barbie “fashion plates” to rub the design a barbie’s clothing/ outfit/ hair-do.I could do this for hours! i wish they still made them for my little girl 🙁
Hands down, my favorite toy was a stuffed monkey, whom I called George. I was obsessed with all the Curious George books, and he went everywhere with me.
Chatty Cathy..loved her.
My favorite toy was probably my beautiful “walking doll”, she was a special gift from my uncle & I treasured her.
My favorite toy was a red headed doll with hair that got longer and shorter. I think her name was Chrissy. for a kid with straight hair she was the bomb!
My blue truck.
My favorite toy was Barbie. I was so sad to she was tattooed this year.
Chatty Cathy. I think my parents still have her somewhere. 😉
my favorite toy was barbie and ken 🙂
my doll house
my favorite toy as a kid was cabbage patch dolls
I loveeedd my Polly Pockets. I had a whole Polly Pocket land set up in my room!
I”m getting old and I really dont remember my favorite toy! I know I had a lot of barbies
I guess my favorite toy as a child was my dolls – especially my Cabbage Patch Kids ones (that my mother drove all over the state and waited on insane lines to get!) and then my more “realistic” babies 🙂
My favorite was books. I would read anything and everything. I still love to read, though I don’t often have the time. However, my kids seem to have the same love of books.
basket ball
My favorite toy was the playhouse my dad built for me in the woods.
I loved my brother’s Etch-A-Sketch!
Lite Brite.
I loved my Lite Brite. When I was a little older, I thought Shrinky Dinks were so cool!
Legos
B”H
Mr. Potato Head