URGENT: If pre-order sales are any indication, the LeapFrog LeapPad Explorer Learning Tablet
is sure to be a hot item for the Christmas season. It does not matter what you call it (LeapFrog LeapPad Explorer Learning Tablet, LeapFrog LeapPad Explorer Tablet, LeapFrog Tablet, LeapPad Tablet, LeapPad Explorer Tablet or any other variation), you should act quickly as this item could sell out early. The original stock was sold out and orders were suspended until production and distribution were able to meet the demand. This was for an August introduction. One can only imagine what it will be like during the holiday shopping season.
History could repeat itself with the LeapFrog LeapPad Explorer Learning Tablet. I can remember searching high and low for Cabbage Patch Kids 
I know I have been there. You may have been there too. That experience and feeling of disappointing your child on Christmas morning because we waited too long to shop hoping for a bargain that never materialized.
If you are looking for a way to bring fun and learning together for your child, take a look at this item to help inspire your child’s creative side. The LeapFrog LeapPad Explorer is available from Amazon and at the time of this post was eligible for free super saver shipping.
The LeapFrog LeapPad Heritage
This LeapFrog LeapPad review will focus on the new addition to the electronic toy and learning systems for 2011, the LeapPad Explorer Tablet. It joins many other products in the LeapFrog line that are designed specifically to help every child achieve their full potential by delivering best-in-class curriculum through engaging and age appropriate technology-based platforms and toys.
LeapFrog was the recipient of two distinguished awards at the 2011 Toy International Association’s Toy of the Year Awards (TOTY). The My Own Leaptop was named the best toy developed for infant and/or preschool children and won the distinction of being the Infant /Toddler Toy of the Year. In addition, LeapFrog Leapster Explorer was named the educational toy of the year describing it as the best toy that through play help children develop special skills and/or knowledge.
Following on the heals of these impressive wins at the 2011 Toy of The Year Awards (TOTY), the LeapFrog LeapPad is sure to be a major contender for the 2012 TOTY.
So What is this LeapFrog LeapPad?
Well, from the press release in February 2011, “the LeapPad Explorer™ is a breakthrough learning tablet built just for kids.” Now you will not have to share your $500 plus IPad with the youngest member of the family.
There is now a device that will introduce them to similar functions and at the same time provide them with hours of fun and creativity.
As a toy, it can handle a bit of rough housing and childhood abuse. As an educational and learning center it can cover a wide variety of subjects, including spelling, phonics skills, mathematics, science and more. The LeapPad comes with a stylus to help your child learn and practice their writing skills.
Who is the LeapFrog LeapPad Designed For?
The manufacturer’s recommended age range for this innovative toy is 4 – 8 years of age. However, as it has now been on the market a short period of time, there are users that believe it is suitable for some 3-year olds. While observing my own 3-year old granddaughter interact with electronic devices in her home, I am convinced she would be on her way to a new level of learning and play with this tablet in no time.
When your child is approaching the upper range of that age scale, it may be time to consider moving them to a device that is a bit more challenging for their level of learning.
What Can Your Child Do With the LeapFrog LeapPad?M
- Take photos on built-in camera
- Create a story in the Story Studio
- Animate their favorite characters in the Animation Studio
- Learn the foundation skills of phonics, math, and spelling
- Explore other areas of learning including music, geography, science and life skills
- Practice writing skills with the child size stylus and the large screen
- Encourage creativity through the use of the built-in camera, video recorder and microphone
- Improve reading skills the use of the interactive reading apps available
Why the LeapPad and not the Nintendo DS?
The Nintendo DS is designed and marketed as gaming system and it could very well be the best-selling video game system in the world. With its wireless capabilities there is the capability of playing popular video games with others in a competitive setting.
The LeapFrog LeapPad, on the other hand, serves as an electronic educational toy and learning system. While it does offer the ability to play games, the games are designed with learning in mind. You will not find the violence so often found with a lot of video games.
In addition, the LeapPad provides access to a wide array of learning games, videos, books, and apps. The LeapPad is backwards compatible with the entire Leapster Explorer Library so that if you already have some of those cartridges you will not have to replace them. Motion based apps for the LeapPad will not work on the Leapster.
The following question was asked in a discussion forum:
Does anyone know if the apps, once downloaded to the computer, can transfer to more than one leappad, or am I going to have to pay twice for the same games?
This was the response:
Yes, you are able to use the code to download the same game on up to two Leap-pad’s so it is well worth the price if you have two or more children.
This way if you have two kids that fall in the suggested age range, you can purchase a second unit without having to repurchase the apps you already have. You can also maintain a level of harmony in the home by preventing the inevitable disagreements over who gets to use the LeapPad.
What Comes in the Box?
- LeapFrog LeapPad with stylus
- Four apps (Pet Pad, Story Studio, Art Studio, and one app of your choice)
- Extra stylus with tether
- USB cable, installation CD, quick-start guide, and instructions
What in the box?
- 4 Double A batteries (required)
- Suggested accessory would be a battery charger and rechargeable batteries
- LeapPad Carrying Case – Available here
LeapFrog Helps Parents
Use the LeapFrog Connect application to keep up to date with your child’s progress. You will be able to see what activities have captured your child’s attention and give you insight as to how to guide their future learning experience.
View the LeapFrog LeapPad in Action
This is a review by a 4-year old user. A bit shaky but you can get an idea of how much he likes it.
Here is a very thorough review of the LeapFrog LeapPad from identifying what is in the package through the application of some of the many apps available. ADVISORY: This video review is over 17 minutes in length, but if you want to see this tablet in action before purchasing it is well worth watching.
The LeapFrog LeapPad Explorer Learning Tablet comes in both green and blue and is available today.
Read What Others are Saying About the LeapFrog Leappad Explorer Tablet
The following comes from an Amazon verified purchaser Michael R.:
Great, Rugged, Educational Toy With Endless Possibilities.
One of the coolest things about the LeapPad is all of the things that allows my son to be creative. Although the games are great and educational, eventually he will get tired of them and want to buy more games, but when he gets bored of the games he can always go to the camera and take photos and pictures and make them look funny, or go to the story studio and make a story or record his voice or our voices for his story. He can pretty much spend an unlimited amount of time (as much as we will let him) on the creative apps just making stuff up and still be entertained.
Go Hereto read Michael’s full review.
The following comes from Amazon reviewer “Woldorf”:
The beauty of Leapfrog Learning Path: if you are still debating about weather or not to buy this toy; let me tell you that I’ve been connecting both the Explorer and the LeapPad frequently so that the learning path tool gets populated. This tool has 3 main areas on the page: ‘At a Glance’ which gives you a quick summary of your childs achievements and lists Top Skill, Great Progress and Needs Practice in recent play. It also lists which games your child is playing the most. The second area ‘Skill Path’ give you a visual overview of the different areas that your child is engaged with and exploring, the ones that he/she has mastered and the ones where he/she may be performing at above grade level. The third area is ‘Play Details’ which gives you a much more detail breakdown of what games has been played, the amount of time and the percentage of correct answers as well as the number of questions given. So in a nutshell, this tool provides you with the right information so that you as a proctive parent can help your child develop the areas where he/she may be experiencing difficulty. Great Tool!
You can read Woldorf’s complete review here.
Go to Amazon for more reviews
See our post comparing the LeapFrog Tablet and the Vtech InnoTab Tablet.
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