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 toys were legos
My favorite toy as a child was the Lite-Brite! I used to sit in my grandma’s basement with all of my cousins playing with it and making new designs. It was probably the best toy ever!
My favorite toy was paper dolls.
Cabbage Patch Dolls! I had several!
Barbie dolls!!
My favorite toy was the Lite Brite and Speak n Spell. It’s a shame they don’t make the Speak n’ Spell anymore!
Tiny china dish set was fun.
Model horses!
My favorite toy was the doll Jem. Jem & the Holograms was my absolute favorite cartoon! The only downside was that none of her clothes were interchangeable with Barbie!
My favorite toy was my dollhouse. My dad and I spent hours shopping for the furniture. It now resides in my parents’ house waiting until my niece gets old enough to enjoin it.
i liked my barbies and lego..
My favorite toy was legos. And now my kids love them too!
barbies!!!!!!
My favorite toys were legos! I spent hours building with them.
My favorite toy as a child were cars. I had an older brother and he had lots of these. I actually liked them too!
My favorite toy as a kid: view master and slinky
I loved my Cabbage Patch Doll!
I was a huge outdoors person and tomboy – so I loved my bike and my baseball bat.
Dolls!
My favorite toy as a child were arts and crafts kits, like origami, beads, etc.
My favorite toy was my Barbie Dolls.
Lite brite
Matchbox cars… didn’t matter which ones, as long as they had 4 wheels. I used tons of imaginitive play – created a scene depending on which cars I decided to play with that day.
My favorite toy as a child was my Cabbage Patch doll.
My favorite toy was a giraffe bike I had.
My cabbage patch doll and Alphie
My favorite toy growing up was the Lite-Brite. I used to make a menorah every year and light the candles in my Lite-Brite. One year I made an Israeli flag and left it up for months (during the 6 day war in 1973) Ah the memorable times of my childhood!
Happy Hanukkah to all!
My favorite toy as a child were blocks. Not leggos or fancy things that attached together. Plain old wooden blocks. Hours of entertainment!
My favorite toy was my cabbage patch dolls!!
lego
no questions it was lego!, thanks!
cabbage patch
I think my favorite toys when I was a child were my mom’s vintage Barbie dolls. Barbie, Ken, Midge. I would sit for hours playing with her dolls, loving how well made the clothes were. I can still remember the smell of the cedar chest they lived in. How I miss that chest, those dolls and my grandma’s house.
LIGHT BRITE
I LOVED Barbies as a young girl…between me and my two sisters, we must have had hundreds!
My favorite toy as a child was my cabbage patch doll
A spinning top! They just don’t make them like they used to!
matchbox cars
my favorite toy as a child was tickle me Elmo!!!!
As a child I loved BARBIES!!! They were my favorite, and now my daughter is to the age of loving them too!
My favorite toy as a child was my light brite. I loved it!
As a child… i loved dolls – barbie…or rainbow bright…(depending on the year)
My favorite toy as a child were my Barbies and all of their accessories. 🙂
i loved my rainbow brite dolls
Barbie was my all time favorite toy as a child. I think I played with them from age 4 until I was 11….and now I will pick up my daughters and brush their hair and all my memories come back! Very Nostalgic!!
My sons favorite toy is “Scout”. My nephew who this would be for loves his buzz lightyear.
Wow late and read that wrong. My favorite toy was my big wheel.
My favorite toy was my Rageddy Ann and Andy record player.
My favorite toy was also Barbie. I used to braid their hair for hours! I would change their clothes and act out stories!
Without a doubt, Star Wars figures.
etch-a-sketch
The original big grey gameboy! No color screen, the square discs, and of course the battery cover that never stayed on!