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Author Topic: Thumbs up or down for Leap Pad?  (Read 5060 times)

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Offline litomi

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Thumbs up or down for Leap Pad?
« on: August 06, 2007, 12:14:38 pm »
One mum in our Gymboree class suggested me to buy Leap Pad Gentle Touch for DD (15.5mo). I personally don't like those electronic toys, I really prefer Hands-on stuff for DD.
DH seems to interested in it ::)
Any suggestions? If I buy one Leap Pad, any suggestions for the books?
« Last Edit: August 06, 2007, 12:16:40 pm by litomi »
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Offline Caroline-Charlies Mummy

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Re: Thumbs up or down for Leap Pad?
« Reply #1 on: August 06, 2007, 12:20:49 pm »
I don't like them, sorry.

I'd much prefer ds gets used to books/hands on toys. I think they're just an extension of the things that make the youngest generation now 'need' to be entertained, rather than using their imaginations and entertaining themselves.
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Offline Samuel's mum

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Re: Thumbs up or down for Leap Pad?
« Reply #2 on: August 06, 2007, 12:47:29 pm »
I've turned down one when it was offered to me - just because I love love real books and wouldn't want anything to detract from that.

I'm certain there are people out there who use them creatively and as a complement to real books but I didn't feel they were right for us.
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Offline Tamara

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Re: Thumbs up or down for Leap Pad?
« Reply #3 on: August 06, 2007, 12:53:15 pm »
We have MyFirstLeapPad - and it's ok - not great but not a total washout. 

I bought it for DD when she was 2.5 for a 4.5 hours plane journey - that was no good at all, the colume doesn't get loud enough to be heard above the drone of the plane. 

She's played little with it overall, but seems a bit more into it recently (still nothing major though) as she seems to understand the American accent better and can therefore participate in the games.  We ony have 2 books - doubt I'll be investing in any more.
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Offline Ennypen

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Re: Thumbs up or down for Leap Pad?
« Reply #4 on: August 06, 2007, 13:00:12 pm »
William has one.. and he loves it and although I totally agree its certainly not a replacement for real books (which Woo also adores) it does bring him a lot of joy and it has helped him to look at pages and pictures more closely as he now picks out parts of the pictures and "talks about them".. as the story comes alive.

I bought it when he was about 12 months but it's taken a long time for him to get used to it and its very much something that I have to do with him to get any meaning out of it.. but he enjoys looking at the books with me and touching the pictures. You can set it so it just plays music and sounds when you touch pictures, right up to it speaking about the pictures and playing games around what is happening in the book.

Also with my teacher hat on... its not something I would encourage to be used solely and for parents not to use real books.. but it is good for occasionally enjoying stories and sparking comprehension and imagination with the stories. In terms of a lot of the electronic toys out there.. it doesnt flash and make awful sounds with terrible accents.. its gentle and has nice voices and sounds and can be good fun. I can also see a place for it with reluctant "readers" as it gives that extra bit of support and interest while the child becomes involved in all that books can bring.

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Offline Sylvia.

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Re: Thumbs up or down for Leap Pad?
« Reply #5 on: August 06, 2007, 13:09:27 pm »
i got one for dd1 before she was one, she never uses it, might give it another go this week, if she is still not interested i am going to moving it along to another child, hth
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Offline skatty

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Re: Thumbs up or down for Leap Pad?
« Reply #6 on: August 06, 2007, 17:48:12 pm »
My DD is getting the LittleTouch for her birthday, has anyone got one of them? I wasn't going to use it instead of books but as something interactive we can do together. My DD is growing up in Denmark so anything that will help her english gets a thumbs up in my opinion. Luckily my DD already loves books and DH and I are often reading and take DD to the library every week so reading should naturally be an interest of hers.

Don't they also help teach colours and counting etc?
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Offline Ennypen

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Re: Thumbs up or down for Leap Pad?
« Reply #7 on: August 06, 2007, 19:10:34 pm »
Its the little touch that Woo has... it is a good thing to do together and you can get books for it that introduce a range of educational things like colours and words etc..

H xx
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andibig

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Re: Thumbs up or down for Leap Pad?
« Reply #8 on: August 06, 2007, 21:40:59 pm »
Sasha had the little touch and she wasn't really interested in it.
she however absolutely LOVES books -peppa pig seems to be a fav at the moment!..
i also loved books when i was young and still do if i had the time to read them so i tend to encourage them as opposed to the little touch.
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Offline daniellechiasson

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Re: Thumbs up or down for Leap Pad?
« Reply #9 on: August 07, 2007, 05:05:36 am »
Gaby has the Little Touch one like Woo and loves it. Sometimes she just 'reads' the book without the entire contraption. I recently bought one for my new neice, it was on sale for $7! :o
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Offline xxkaty23xx

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Re: Thumbs up or down for Leap Pad?
« Reply #10 on: August 07, 2007, 10:14:39 am »
I bought both my boys one for christmas - Mikey got my 1st leap pad and Jackson got the baby leap pad - and i think theyve each played with it about 3 times since then, i honestly think dp has played with it more than either of the boys lol, we bought each of them every book possible for them and they just arent interested... they are not 'sit down and concentrate on one thing for more than 2 seconds' type of boys and plus they prefer 'real' books anyway :) I'm considering selling them on ebay actually, complete waste of money for us ::)
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Offline litomi

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Re: Thumbs up or down for Leap Pad?
« Reply #11 on: August 07, 2007, 12:38:05 pm »
Hm... very interesting comments. DD loves books, expecially DK touch and feel books and loves being read-to. She loves reading them over and over with me. She has a 2nd hand interactive Disney alphabet book, she only likes to press the buttons and listen to the sound it makes. I don't think she will really enjoy it now ???
I saw other Leap Frog toys that are interesting: Those Fridge phonics and fridge radio seems exciting. Starting to think about Christmas order now  :P
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Offline Erin (redstarfalling)

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Re: Thumbs up or down for Leap Pad?
« Reply #12 on: August 10, 2007, 19:57:09 pm »
DD1 was given the Little touch leappad as a gift, but never really got into it.  She couldn't do it on her own because she couldn't remember what buttons to press in what order (the lightbulb then the go or whatever), and if I read it with her, she'd keep pressing other things or turning it off so we'd have to start over.  Got irritating.  Maybe now she'd like it better (she got it for her first b-day and we tried it until she was over 2), but she loves regular books WAY better (and they're cheaper!).
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Offline Erin M

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Re: Thumbs up or down for Leap Pad?
« Reply #13 on: August 11, 2007, 00:36:40 am »
We've got the Little Touch Leap Pad too, I think it's just ok.  My dd prefers actual books over the Leap Pad.  It's kind of interesting for them to play with, but I think it takes a lot of effort to help them understand what to do with it.  We do have the Fridge Farm (which is like the Fridge Phonics) which is a big hit over here with both the girls. :)
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Offline riuliani

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Re: Thumbs up or down for Leap Pad?
« Reply #14 on: August 11, 2007, 00:54:41 am »
We have the Leap Pad.  DS isn't really into it at the moment.  Although he really isn't into books period yet.  What I have noticed is most of my friends who have it seem to have children that didn't get into it until they were about 4years.  I think being in pre-school etc. intrigues them about learning through books.  I have seen lots of older children sit and turn the pages, they know which buttons to push and have more comprehension.  Perhaps Leap Frog has just adjusted the ages incorrectly for their toys.

That being said DS LOVES his Leap Frog activity table.  That has been the number one toy around our house.  Lots of interactive elements and then as he gets older it helps teach the colours, numbers, alphabet and such.
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