• Stories suddenly come to life with the light tap of the Magic Pen

• The award-winning LeapPad Learning System teaches fundamental reading skills in a way that keeps your child coming back again and again

• The LeapPad Learning System uses a larger platform

• The library is organized by grade to teach reading, phonics, vocabulary, math, science, music and much more

• Thinner pen designed for preschoolers and kindergartners to introduce them to the magic of books and reading

I bought this for my two year old twins who ADORE it!

One problem with twins is the "share factor". Both, however, may enjoy the Leap Pad Learning Center at the same time. Although they must take turns with the stylus, they enjoy the stories and games together.

My only complaints with this product are that it is a paper paged book. As often as my children play with it, the book won't be able to withstand the wear and tear. Also, despite touching the attached stylus (pen) onto the green "go" button, sometimes the reader does not correctly respond to which page you are on. Having to touch the stylus to the green "go" button at every page is a bit annoying, however, with as much use as we've had, it becomes habit. Too, if you do not, the Pad verbally reminds you to do so.

The book sits on the Pad, which must lay flat on a flat surface to work properly. There is much to do on every page. You can turn the unit on or off with a touch from the stylus and raise and lower volume. You can command the Pad to read the page to you or to read to you words that you touch, or alternatively, to sound out the words. Each page also can be commanded to play songs or to play games. You may even touch objects for sound effects.

Another benefit the Pad offers, is that it may "grow" with your child. There is much to do on every page and at different skill or age levels. For example, after the toddler has mastered the states, he/she may progress to distances and populations within those states. This is important to me, as I have purchased educational products which my children tire of after they've learned what it is the item offers and educational toys are not inexpensive, particularly if you are providing for more than one child.

My twins, a boy and a girl, now newly turned three, enjoy the Pad equally, despite their very different interests, which is rare in my household. My son has learned all of the states on the United States map, which is depicted in the included book. Because of the Pad, he can identify them by name and by sight. We are now working on state capitals. Again, my son has only recently turned three.

My daughter prefers "reading" and can sight read a handful of words and is working on sounding them out with phonics. I'm a believer in both sight reading and phonics, so this is ideal. Again, I'm impressed that this Pad provides activites that interest both boys and girls, with varied and different interests and at different skill levels.

The enclosed, included book contains stories with characters familiar to young children, such as Pooh. It includes anatomy, learning skeletal system; Geography, with the U.S. map; Music, with a page with a piano keyboard as well as band/orchestra instruments; And the stories, which promote reading.

The games encourage critical and analytical thinking, noticing details and recognizing letter/sound relationships. The book itself promotes fine motor skills, helps develop auditory and visual discrimination, visual perception and noticing details, in addition to the topics described above.

As a former teacher and a parent, I highly recommend this product. It epitomizes "making learning fun". I haven't seen an adult who has played with ours who is able to put it down either!

271 of 271 found the following review helpful:


My kindergartener loves Leap Pad  Dec 14, 1999
We have Leap Pad for our kindergartener. I was very concerned that Texas kindergarteners are not pushed to read so I purchased the Leap Pad, the Reader Rabbit complete reading system and the Scholastic phonics book system. However, the Leap Pad is my daughter's favorite. She loves to take Leap Pad with her in the car, to babysitters, etc. She can't do this with her computer programs. Leap Pad keeps her attention. And, she can do it all by herself, not like the computer programs where I need to help her. Leap Pad comes with one book. There are other books that can be purchased. There is a series by Richard Scarry and another series by Whoopi Goldberg. There is also a Pooh book. You and your child will not be disappointed with the Leap Pad. It is an exceptional educational toy. I highly recommend this toy for children in Pre-K to about 3rd grade.

253 of 255 found the following review helpful:


Buying one for every kid I know!  Dec 09, 1999
This LeapPad is really cool! I got one as a group gift for my boss' newly adopted child. I almost didn't get to wrap it, though, because all my co-workers wanted to see it & play with it! The only problem that I have with it is the requirement that you tap the "green go" icon every time you switch pages. It's pretty hard for an adult to remember to do that, much less a small child.

The price here at Amazon seems a little steep. I've seen it for less.

The demo book that comes with it will not be enough. It contains materials aimed at all different levels (I guess to show you everything it can do), so most of the stuff will probably not be appropriate for your child right away. Get an add-on book to go with it.

197 of 199 found the following review helpful:


Wonderful Tool / Toy  Dec 15, 1999
They are a wonderful tool to teach reading, reinforcing the relationship between the word on the page and the sound of the word. They will be used by both my grandsons (one of which is slightly behind in his speech development). I do advise getting some of the other books though.

We bought several of the books, the best ones for language development seem (so far) to be the Richard Scarry, Leap Frog & Pooh books. The Learning Life series doesn't have the phonetic or spelling options (on the 1 book in that series we bought).

Design considerations are good too, as it seems I can replace the "pen" with no more than a phillips screwdriver if it gets damaged by an overzealous child. Overall seems nice & well designed. Wasn't too fond of the "Press the green button" bit, but at least it reminded you every time you change the page if you didn't do it right off. Love the headphone jack - I'd advise getting the Radio Shack earphones that are designed to not go too loud & hurt the kids hearing. Great in the car while driving, or on a long plane ride.

228 of 235 found the following review helpful:


Outstanding educational toy  Dec 03, 1999
My son is in the first grade and has had a problem with his reading. Since getting the Leap Frog system, he has taken on a whole new outlook towards learning. His attention span has ioncreased tremendously and he looks forward to playing "Leap Frog" every day after school. He has even taken it to school for "show and tell" and his teacher was very impressed. She is going to ask the school board to purchase 5 programs for use in her classroom.

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