new for us friday: leapfrog LeapPad (& giveaway!)

We are indeed a LeapFrog family.  (And that’s not really New-For-Us-Friday news, I know. . . )

We are a LeapFrog family because waaaaay back when, the day the LeapFrog Tags walked into our lives as the first electronic ‘toy’ we invited into our family, we were hooked. And each year, with each new release, the LeapFrog products just keep getting better and better.

We have had the fantabulous new-for-us opportunity to try the LeapFrog LeapPad for the last few months, and it’s seriously awesome.  Seriously. Awesome.

And I am so totally over the moon that I have a LeapPad AND three cartridge games to give away to one lucky teach mama reader. Woot!

This New For Us Friday, we’re sharing the LeapPad love. . .

Here’s the skinny:

• LeapFrog LeapPad: Essentially, we absolutely love this device.  We have tried many of the LeapFrog products–Tag, Tag Jr., Explorer, and Explorer Camera–so I was skeptical that the LeapPad coolness would surpass these, but it does.

 

Maddy works on her story in Story Studio. . .

. . . which includes pictures, audio, video, and her own creative ideas!

 

Don’t get me wrong–as much as Maddy, Owen, and Cora love the LeapPad, they still do reach for the Explorer and the Explorer Camera, and Cora often reaches for the Tag Reader.  And at this point, I’m thankful we have them all. Sharing is getting a wee bit easier.

But what I really love is that the LeapPad is like having a hundred devices in one–with the range of games, apps, and stories they can use with it–on top of the sleek design and tablet-like appearance. And the fact that kids can use the device with or without a stylus makes it seem even more awesome to them, I think–kind of like my coveted smartphone–but bigger.

Believe it or not, with the LeapPad, which comes equipped with a built-in camera, video recorder, microphone, and Story Studio–All About Me, Art Studio, and Pet Pad,

• kids can record 120 minutes of video;
• kids can take 30,000 pictures (which equals one picture a day for 82 years!);
• kids can make 1,548,288 combinations of pets;
• kids can create 15,000 pieces of art;
• kids can create 27,216 story combinations using Story Studio!

Incredible!

Leapster Explorer games are compatible with LeapPad–woo-hoo!

Every single one of the Leapster Explorer games and apps can be used with the LeapPad.  Thank goodness, right?  We had the opportunity to try:

• LeapSchool — So fun.  Focus is on reading and spelling and kids help LeapSchool friends create the coolest yearbook ever.
• PixarPals — Wall-E, Dory & Nemo, Woody & Buzz, and more are part of the fun as kids unlock science and logic puzzles, mini-games, and more, all with an astronomy, ocean science, logic, and reasoning focus.
• PetPals2 — Kids LOVE it and they loved PetPals 1. Focuses on teaching numbers, counting, addition, subtraction, and emotions, and kids get to create, name, and care for teeny, tiny pets.

But there are many, many more incredible cartridge games for the device as well as apps and interactive books that can be purchased and downloaded from the LeapFrog site.  There’s something for everyone.

Maddy works on creating artwork–around her face.

Overall, we especially appreciate and love the following about the LeapFrog LeapPad:

• the quality — this device is sturdy, durable, and kid-friendly;
• the size of the screen, the size, 5″– perfect for kids ages 4-9;
• that it’s slim and sleek–and kids agree that it looks cool;
• the fact that three people can register on one device–and their settings, preferences, games, and scores are saved and available whenever they play;
• that the LeapFrog Leapster Explorer games are compatible!!;
• that it’s got a photo/ video camera built in–and the memory holds TONS of photos/ videos;
• that there’s a story creator (FUN!) where kids can use photos and videos they take and then incorporate into the story;
• that it includes games and books–all interactive, engaging, and exciting, and each with a learning focus;
• that the sounds and noise are not annoying to adults (at least to me, and that’s saying a lot);
• the graphics are awesome, cutting-edge, sharp, and colorful;
• that parents can monitor their children’s progress if they want to–if they don’t want to, and they don’t need to;
• that like all LeapFrog products, it’s designed with kids and parents in mind–the games are fun, engaging, and educationally focused without being boring, and parents can track their children’s learning on the LeapFrog site in seconds.

We wish:

• that it was catered a bit more toward left-handed children the stylus is connected on the right; HOWEVER it can be removed–AND kids can use their finger if they want. Knowing our kids, if the stylus is not tied on, it’ll be gone before we know it.
• that the battery compartment was easier to open–(I could not for the life of me figure it out, but my sister was able to open it on the first try);
• that I had one of these for each of my kiddos–they’re that cool, and having three might avoid some arguments.

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UPDATE — Giveaway closed. Congratulations to Amy of Utah; she has been notified.  Thank you, thank you, thank you for entering!!

GIVEAWAY: One LeapFrog LeapPad & THREE cartridge games–LeapSchool, Pixar Pals, and PetPals2!

Do you want to win one LeapPad and THREE cartridge games??!? (Give it to your kids now or save it for holiday time!)

• All you have to do is leave a comment here (with email address!) explaining who will use the LeapPad if you win it.

For extra entries:

• Tweet this: Win a @LeapFrog LeapPad on @teachmama — just in time for the holidays! http://wp.me/p1NAxy-1ba  #weteach #spon #ece

• Share this post on your Facebook page–very easy!

• Share this post with a friend (just tell me who you shared it with!)

• Pin this post (or another favorite teach mama post!) on Pinterest! (Use ‘pin it!’ button below post and just tell me what you pinned!)

 

By entering this giveaway, you are demonstrating your understanding of and compliance with the Official Sweepstakes Rules.

This contest ends on Friday, November 18, 2011 at midnight ET. Winner will be chosen by ‘And the Winner is. . .’ and will be notified on or around 11/18/11.  Winner must respond within three (3) days of notification or forfeit the prize, in which case an alternate winner will be selected.  All Official Sweepstakes Rules apply.

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fyi: We have had the opportunity to try the LeapFrog LeapPad for the last month, as I am part of the LeapFrog Review Program. All of the opinions here are my own, influenced only by the feedback of my three kids (7, 6, and 4 yrs) and my own experience as an educator and parent. This is an unsponsored post, but my family was given the LeapPad and several cartridge games and apps to review.  LeapFrog will provide the LeapPad and cartridge games to the winner.