Showing posts with label toys r. Show all posts
Showing posts with label toys r. Show all posts
Tuesday, December 9, 2014
Hello Kitty 11pcs Stationery Value Pack Reviews
I needed a cute, practical gift for a 5 year old girl who is starting kindergarten this year. I found this online and it was exactly what I needed. The price was just right, and I liked that it was something she could actually use instead of a toy.My daughter loved all the items that were included in this Hello Kitty stationary set. She played for hours with this set!
Tuesday, December 2, 2014
LeapFrog LittleTouch LeapPad Educational Book: A to Z Adventure! Reviews
This is my 2nd favorite book of the group. It teaches both phonemic awareness (the sounds the letter makes) and the letters and objects themselves. For example, on level 2 (words/phrases), it will say "buh, ball." It has the objects individually on one side and in a picture on the other so that a child can touch the "ball" on the left and then find it in the picture on the right.
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This book (actually titled, "A to Z Adventure!" as seen in the picture) is a 'must-have' basic for anyone who owns the LittleTouch LeapPad. It's a simple and fun way to learn the look & sound of letters of the alphabet, and the alphabet song which is playable from every page (a couple pages play a 'rap' version of the song really fun & cute). The pictures are inviting to touch for my 14mo son, and the accompanying sounds, words and phrases are fun to hear. He loves to hear Dot's giggle and laughs along! The best thing this book keeps my son's attention. It's great for learning!Best Deals for LeapFrog LittleTouch LeapPad Educational Book: A to Z Adventure!
for toddler learning letters. My 22 month old enjoyed this educational book. A step up from the baby books that go alnog with the LeapPad. It allows you you to use the Little Touch LeapPad for a bit longer.Honest reviews on LeapFrog LittleTouch LeapPad Educational Book: A to Z Adventure!
This is by far our favorite book and it makes purchasing the Little Touch system worth it. One side of each page has the letters and a couple of things next to each letter that start with the corresponding letter. The opposing page has a picture with everything combined from the page next to it. Depending on what setting you have it on, it says the letters, the phonics, identifies the pictures, and sings the abc's. We usually use setting two. When we press the pictures on the picture page it says the sound of the letter that the picture starts with then identifies the picture (ex: "ccar"). It also has a spot on the page you can press and it asks you to find a certain letter. It has some of the same bugs that all of the little touch books will have. For instance, my son constantly is pressing on different places on the sides of the pages and it can make the system think that it is on a different page. That is just one of the reasons that this system is something that should be used with both parent and child, not just the child. This is one of the best products for learning the ABC's and phonics. The book itself is very good and comes highly recommended.Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for LeapFrog LittleTouch LeapPad Educational Book: A to Z Adventure!
Leapfrog are excellent products for getting ahead start on education before entering kindergarden or even nursery school. The items I've gotten from Leapfrog have been very excellent learning tools, plus fun for my 15 month old grand daughter.
Sunday, November 23, 2014
Best Nursery Rhymes Felt Book Deals
I love these felt nursery rhyme characters and scenes. The quality of the felt is good, and the illustrations are detailed and pretty. As noted, the figures and scenes are printed on 2 large sheets of flannel and each individual item needs to be cut out. This process took me 2 hours of tiny cutting. To me it does not lend itself to a book form but rather laying out the scenes separately or for use on a flannel board. However, I love the quiet play it offers for my toddler, and as a former Kindergarten teacher, I understand the value of learning rhyme and its connection to future reading. Overall, delightful product with some work involved.
Tuesday, November 4, 2014
Cheap NINO Wood Ball Stirring Drum with Handle Natural
I bought this for my musician husband for Christmas. He can play any instrument on first try...but..I decided not to give this to him and returned it. There's nothing wrong with the product. Its well made and has a great sound...but...you really gotta love a wooden paneled cup with a ball in the center that has to be jiggled around to pay that much for it. I think I'll stick with string instruments-
Saturday, September 20, 2014
Learning Resources Reading Comprehension Card Set Gr 6+ (LER5504) Reviews
These cards are decent and when there is some free time and kids are done with their assigned work, it's a good diversion--the topics are interesting and I give them quick little candy incentives when they finish all five questions with no mistakes. It would be nice if they went up higher in grade level, though...
Wednesday, July 30, 2014
VTech Go! Go! Smart Wheels Cement Mixer Review
The Go Go Smart Wheels are the perfect size for little hands and each vehicle teaches its function to the child. My grandson, age one year, loves to play with his Vtech cars & garage, The mixer does not rotate automatically, but it does so if manually spun. Same with Henry the Helicopter.
Tuesday, July 15, 2014
FunThinkers Book 3 (Ages 6-8/Gr. 1-3) Reviews
Bought this for the granddaughter and she seems to really enjoy it. It's not her favorite, and she does get bored; however, it does challenge her...and over all it is helping to develop her skills.
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we came across this product in one of the educational fair and my son loves it, but wishes if there is stock for ages 4-6 and 5-7 or even younger....my son is coming to 4yrs old and so I am playing this toy instead :)Best Deals for FunThinkers Book 3 (Ages 6-8/Gr. 1-3)
We have all three of the FunThinkers books. My children love them because they are like playing a game. I love them because they are fun and educational. Each book builds up in skills. Book 1 is a great starting book because the child can quickly build their confidence and then they want to do more. These books cause kids to "think". When they are finished they can check themselves to see if they've done the page correctly. They love to see if they've done it all right. These books are such a hit that I've now purchase 2 sets of frame/tiles. I wish they had more books/higher levels but I recently found out the series has been discontinued.Honest reviews on FunThinkers Book 3 (Ages 6-8/Gr. 1-3)
This is a great toy for young children and for special needs children. My daughter is 12 years old and autistic. (We use both book 2 and book 3) The mechanism of the game itself is so simple and ingenious. There is a hinged plastic grid that is placed over a large page of the fun-thinkers book. You place plastic tiles 1 to 16 on the left side of the gird then the player lifts a tile to match it with an item on the right side. For example: the child lifts a tile and there might be a picture of a cow and then places the tile on the other side over a picture of a farm. There are also exercises with sentences, shapes, face matching, math and so on. My daughter enjoys this game and learns from it at the same time. It's an amazing game!Tuesday, June 17, 2014
Swap The Swift Swapping Switching Slapping Card Game Review
List Price: $9.99
Sale Price: $4.99
Today's Bonus: 50% Off
This card game is awesome! It's sort of like Uno, but with no numbers, just colors. AND instead of wild cards there are swap cards which allow you to change the color to lay down but also force you to swap your hand with one of your opponents. It's really fun with three or more people because of the SLAP cards, which require all players to try not to be the last person to place their hand onto the slap card.
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this is my family's happiest, noisiest game.......just when you think you'll win, someone swaps with you....oh no! ....just when you are almost out of cards, you miss the slap ....and have to collect extra cards.... our family rule that keeps us laughing the most: if you slap the deck when you are not meant to, you have to go around the table and give everyone a hug, saying "sorry, i didn't mean to slap the deck that time" ....... my son TRIES so hard to get others to slap ...... but he's awfully quick to make an accidental slap himself.....great fun.......even the youngest can master it and get in on the antics......Best Deals for Swap The Swift Swapping Switching Slapping Card Game
We have had fun with this game. Our kids range in age from 7 to 11. We have a hard time finding something that they all like to play, this game is definitely it! It rates right up there with UNO! Keep them busy and they don't fight right? Well one can only hope!! But you won't go wrong with keeping their minds busy at least! It is a great FAMILY game for family game night!Honest reviews on Swap The Swift Swapping Switching Slapping Card Game
Bought this game for the nephews, ages 9 and 10, and the 6-year-old niece. The boys love it, especially slapping the discard pile and swapping hands. "Give me your cards!" "Swap! I want my cards back!" This is NOT a game for people who like strategy or thinking. But, it is a high-spirited game for children who enjoy a little chaos and random luck. Children do not need a handicap against adults. The game is similar to Uno. There isn't a lot of reading, so even the niece was able to play. Not expensive -it would be a good stocking stuffer for Christmas.Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Swap The Swift Swapping Switching Slapping Card Game
This game is so much fun, my 7 year old wants to play it all the time so she can "slap" our hands lolSunday, June 8, 2014
Best Hardwood Geometric Solids; Assorted Shapes/Sizes; 12 Piece Set; no Deals
These must be intended for display only, not a hands on manipulative because of poor quality wood.
The educational value of this toy is great, and it has already helped my typically developing 4 year old and Autistic 6 year old learn and identify solid shapes and the differences between shapes. After using this set I highly recommend using a product like this to teach geometric shapes.
My daughter is in kindergarten and only needs to learn 4 geometric shapes. I chose this set over the 6 piece set because I wanted a product that we could use throughout her school years. This is not the product! The wood is too soft for this to be functional. It arrived with damage because there is so much empty space in the tub that the soft wood blocks were scratched, had rough edges, and even splintered edges. If the manufacturer put a little packing material in the tub this problem would have been averted. A fingernail would easily dent this wood. There is no way these could survive being dropped, even on carpet. A hard surface floor would destroy these immediately. The point on the cone arrived a little flattened, and it's obvious that the point on the triangle will not last long. I am not comfortable letting my preschoolers handle these.
As far as the activity suggestions, I had to hunt for them. I expected an insert, not to have to remove the label from inside the container. There are general activities, but one major omission. The shapes themselves are not identified. I was an "A" student in every subject except math, and had to do internet searches to find the names of some of these shapes. My husband and I both would have appreciated a little more parental help.
I have several products from Learning Resources and have never had a complaint with the quality until now.
Initially ordered this and received 6 piece instead of 12 piece, contacted seller and they corrected the error in an extremely expeditious manner.
TL;DR Quality product, would buy again.
The educational value of this toy is great, and it has already helped my typically developing 4 year old and Autistic 6 year old learn and identify solid shapes and the differences between shapes. After using this set I highly recommend using a product like this to teach geometric shapes.
My daughter is in kindergarten and only needs to learn 4 geometric shapes. I chose this set over the 6 piece set because I wanted a product that we could use throughout her school years. This is not the product! The wood is too soft for this to be functional. It arrived with damage because there is so much empty space in the tub that the soft wood blocks were scratched, had rough edges, and even splintered edges. If the manufacturer put a little packing material in the tub this problem would have been averted. A fingernail would easily dent this wood. There is no way these could survive being dropped, even on carpet. A hard surface floor would destroy these immediately. The point on the cone arrived a little flattened, and it's obvious that the point on the triangle will not last long. I am not comfortable letting my preschoolers handle these.
As far as the activity suggestions, I had to hunt for them. I expected an insert, not to have to remove the label from inside the container. There are general activities, but one major omission. The shapes themselves are not identified. I was an "A" student in every subject except math, and had to do internet searches to find the names of some of these shapes. My husband and I both would have appreciated a little more parental help.
I have several products from Learning Resources and have never had a complaint with the quality until now.
Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>
Excelent quality wooden shapes. Makes it easier for the kids to learn the shapes. Good price.Best Deals for Hardwood Geometric Solids; Assorted Shapes/Sizes; 12 Piece Set; no
Bought this as a teaching aid for my daughter, and she loves stacking the shapes. My primary worry was that they would get rough after some play, but so far they are as smooth as the day they were opened.Initially ordered this and received 6 piece instead of 12 piece, contacted seller and they corrected the error in an extremely expeditious manner.
TL;DR Quality product, would buy again.
Honest reviews on Hardwood Geometric Solids; Assorted Shapes/Sizes; 12 Piece Set; no
My 6 year old son has had a lot of fun exploring with these shapes. We are working on naming them. One thing I was a little disappointed with, unlike the description states, there is not a shape chart included. I contacted Learning Resources because I thought mine was missing it, but was informed it does not come with one. An easy search on the computer, but thought it was included.Scientific Method Investigations Activity Book; Grades 5 - 8; no Reviews
Needed help with science because district does not have a curriculum have use this to help support teaching the scientific method and it is a huge help. Buy it.
Thursday, May 22, 2014
Cheap LeapFrog LeapPad2 Disney/Pixar Monsters University Varsity Edition
Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program With an iPad at home, it's often frustrating for everyone to share it the kids want to play games on it, I want to get work done on it, and no matter how hard we try, invariably someone ends up getting upset. The LeapPad2 is a good starter tablet for younger kids to play with instead of your electronics. The apps on here are geared towards kids and educational, the unit is bright and appealing to play with, and for the most part it keeps our kids happily busy.
THE TABLET ITSELF With a 5" screen that's larger than my iPhone 5, but smaller than some Samsung cell phones, the screen is a good size for kids to explore and play on. The display is bright, the sound is very clear on the unit, and the chunky feel of the unit makes it great for younger kids. The plastic is durable and will definitely survive a drop. Things I really like about the tablet itself is that the stylus is tied to the unit, so there's less chance of it getting lost, and that the battery accesses are not screwed down. I hate having to find a screwdriver to open the battery case! The stylus doesn't always stay in the stylus holder as it's held in magnetically, but since it's tied to the unit, it all good. The touchscreen of the LeapPad is also very responsive. Added bonus there is a motion detector in the unit, so it does respond via movement like some iPad/iPhone games.
CAMERA The resolution of the camera isn't great, but it keeps my kids happy. With a camera on the front of the unit, and on the back of the unit, it works similarly to an iPhone. The resolution is far from printable, nowhere near the resolution of my crappy old cell phone, but boy the kids LOVE this thing. I have to note that the camera lenses are kept fairly safe as they are "sunk into" the unit, unlike your standard iPhone or iPad camera.
APPS This unit does comes with 10 apps, but this doesn't mean that it comes with 10 apps that your kids will play with. The apps include Pet Pad, Camera, MyStuff, My Books, Music, Calculator, Calendar, Clock, Notepad, and one app of your choice. This is where things irritate me about the LeapPad. There's only 2 apps your kids will be able to play with off the bat. The remaining apps are stuff that your kids probably won't play with. To add insult to injury, most of the good apps in the app store are $20+ EACH. I did find a few $5 apps, I had to seriously search for them. That said, the gift card you have will probably not go very far. This is where the iPad seriously beats out the LeapPad. I've downloaded a good number of educational games for my kids on the iPad that cost $0.99 or are free. You'd think LeapFrog would offer a few cheaper options.
-Pet Pad: Great game for the kids. It's like a Tamagochi that won't die on you. You can feed, clean, play, and learn with your pet. There is a writing game
included in the Pet Pad that helps kids learn how to write letters correctly. You can also "earn" treats for your pets.
-Camera: The kids LOVE this app. They can take videos or pictures. There's also picture editing software, so kids can add stickers/draw on/manipulate photos.
-MyStuff: This is a folder based app that has links for your pictures, videos, stories, and art. There's no play involved here.
-My Books: If you haven't paid for any books, you won't have anything in here. Unfortunately this LeapPad comes with ZERO books. You'll have to pay for them.
-Music: If you haven't paid for any music, you'll have 4 silly songs included here only. You'll have to pay $5 to download the MP3 player if you want to load
any of your kid's MP3 collection on there.
-Calculator: Works like a calculator. Nothing too special here.
-Calendar: It's a calendar. If you click on a date, it will tell you the date. You can also enter a note on a date. It would make a good diary for kids,
however, my kids don't use it much.
-Clock: This features a digital and analog clock face. It's impossible to tell the time to minute on the analog clock face as there are no minute marks.
There's also a stopwatch button, if your kid wants to time someone.
-Notepad: This is a digital Post-It Note. My kids like to pretend they're writing letters here.
-App of Your Choice: You get to pick one out of 3 apps LeapFrog chooses for you. These are 3 generic apps none of the Disney/Dreamworks/etc apps that your
kids really want.
There is also a "Sneak Preview" app that is a running commercial for your kids to want more apps. I wish I could delete this off the LeapPad. NOTE: I was able to get 2 free apps Alphabet Stew and the eBook "The Book of Super Awesome Stuff" by googling "Free LeapPad2 Apps". You can enter these codes from your parent control panel on your computer and get them downloaded to the LeapPad.
The Book of Super Awesome Stuff (e-book): 5813 1140 1518 1413
Alphabet Stew (game): 5813 0790 4610 4973
POWER SUPPLY This thing runs on 4AA batteries. This doesn't seem like a lot of batteries, but if you have a kid who plays a LOT, you'll be plowing through a lot of batteries. The batteries last anywhere between 7-9 hours according to LeapFrog. There is a port where you can plug in AC 9V power, but unfortunately this package does not come with the charger unit. I lucked out because I have a Bose charger (for the SoundLink Mini) that just happens to fit into the LeapPad. Check your other electronics in the house you just might luck out. If given the choice, I would thrown down the LeapPad2 Power (priced at $99) to get the rechargeable batteries and power supplies.
THE MONSTERS INC. ADD ONS The Mike Gel case fits beautifully on the LeapPad, and has a nice smooth matte feel about it. It doesn't seem to attract much dirt to it either, and has managed to stay clean for the past week. It's very soft and is easily applied, although I do wonder about the long term use of this case. The screen cleaner is a thin piece of cloth...my kids have already lost it. The stickers are nice, but not really necessary. I would have rather seen a battery charger instead of these silly stickers. The add on bonuses for the Monster Inc. pack were nice, but for almost $30 more, I would pass on these add ons unless your kids are really into the movie.
While it's a great toy overall, unless your kid is really into Monsters Inc, it may be a better deal buy to get the original LeapPad2. The only real differences between this unit and the original LeapPad is the case cover, which is blue and features some of the Monsters Inc characters, the gel skin that's shaped like Mike, the stickers, and the $20 gift card. Since I already own an iPad, I can safely say that in the long run that the iPad with a good protective case would be a more logical choice to get your kids. While the price tag is much higher initially, after buying a few apps, the LeapPad would cost just as much. Along with the lack of WiFi, web surfing capabilities, and more advanced apps, it's only a matter of time before we shelf the LeapPad and go back to fighting over the iPad with the kids. Recommended up until about age 6 or 7...maybe. I'll let you know if the kids are still playing with it then.
The most important reason I love LeapPads is because of their educational apps. One of the amazing benefits to any of the LeapPads is the number of apps that come preinstalled. There are plenty of games to play enough to keep a child challenged for months. I see a lot of very small children playing with iPads and as an educator; I'm not sure what benefit they have. Obviously once children are in the upper elementary, iPads become valuable tools to use for education. But up until that point it seems like the educational adaptation is pretty hit or miss. The teenagers who have been in my house the past few years are crazy in love with their iPads but they are playing games.
I now regret all of my complaints about the lack of color involved in the Leap Pads. The green or pink and maybe a lavender cover made it difficult to tell which LeapPad was which. There will be no mistaking that this one is mine. :D. Actually, when the children are playing, they have 15 minutes on one device and then they all switch because not all of our LeapPads have the same content. Then they go out to play because it is still summer here and beautiful. But now it is easier to make sure they have switched LeapPads because they are not all green.
The only complaint I have left is the inability to download purchased apps onto more than one LeapPad. The LeapPad Ultra did allow me to connect and download apps I had purchased previously.
I did have some runarounds with this particular LeapPad. I have an account with a huge number of LeapFrog products attached to it and sometimes they are easy to connect and sometimes not. This one kept telling me it needed an update and then that it already had it, then that it didn't, then that I needed to restart my computer.... Not one of my favorite games. Then I discovered that the update wasn't downloading because before the needed 5 minutes, the LeapPad2 was turning off because it wasn't in use. I just kept doing what it wanted until it downloaded it. In the past, I have bought as many as 6 of a single kind of LeapFrog hand held device and some of them update and some of them play the Update game. It's always interesting to see which will do what.
Another thing that is interesting about what is probably a new lineup for holiday sales is that this one is not much more than the regular LeapPad 2s have been until recently (usually $99). This Monsters U version adds a lot of parts to it and comes with a $20 digital download card.
If you are a first time buyer, you may be interested in buying an LeapFrog App Center Download Card (works with all LeapPad Tablets, LeapsterGS, Leapster Explorer and LeapReader). These fluctuate in price so I leave them in my cart and generally buy them whenever they go below the $16 mark. I've heard other people say they don't buy until it goes below $12 but I have never seen that price.
Another lifesaver is the LeapFrog AC Adapter (Works with LeapPad2, LeapPad1, LeapsterGS Explorer, Leapster Explorer and Leapster2) that works for many of the devices including the LeapPad2s
I had never seen the LeapFrog LeapPad2 Recharger Pack (Works only with LeapPad2) for the LeapPad 2 but this is a necessity. My rechargables never seem to last very long and the LeapPads always end up with regular batteries in them. This is one of the ways that the shut-off is so wonderful. I have also seen that there is a new LeapFrog LeapPad2 Power Learning Tablet Green (includes rechargeable battery $40 value). These are great options. I plan to add one of theRecharger packs in short order and will probably get rechargers for all the children who have LeapPads as a stocking stuffer. They get really excited about batteries.
Yes, I admit it. I love LeapPads.
The only downfall is that it doesn't have a rechargable internal battery. It requires 4 AA batteries, but they do seem to last quite a while, I haven't had to replace them yet, after 2 weeks of almost non-stop play time throughout the day. The students also love the camera capability. They have enjoyed taking "selfies" and also photographing their classmates. The picture quality isn't very good, but it is good enough for the kids..they seem to love it. Overall, this is a a great product for a great price. I think every special education classroom should have access to a LeapPad2.
The games and apps are great-they are age appropriate for 4-7 year olds. They are fun to play, and my 4 year old loves to play them. A lot of the games focus on learning letters and numbers. You can also choose to download more apps that focus on other educational topics depending on age and education level.
The tablet itself is SUPER easy to set up and has the ability to set up 3 different profiles, so you can share this with multiple kiddos. It's thicker than tablets for adults, so it's nice a sturdy and easy for small hands to hold. The touch screen is very responsive whether you use the stylis or not. The stylis also is connected (via a small string) to the tablet itself so you don't lose it).
The reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 stars is b/c it DOES NOT HAVE A BUILT IN BATTERY-it takes 4 AA batteries that are NOT INCLUDED in the bundle. It's just a bit annoying b/c it seems like something that would be easy for them to put in there, b/c lets face it, the last thing parents need is yet another toy that needs more batteries.
Overall, this a great toy, I would recommend this to anyone who is looking for an educational toy for a young kid (about 4-5 is the youngest I'd go with this b/c of the games).
LEAPPAD APPS
One of the nicest things about this set is the included gift card for apps. While it's not going to get you many--it can buy two in the normal price-range--it's helpful in getting you started since there aren't many built-in apps--and it's more open-ended than the fact that you typically have a choice of one in three free apps. You'll also get that free downloadable app from a choice of three, as is typical for LeapPad purchases. The ones I was offered to choose from (I'm not sure if this will vary) were: Scout and Friends and You, Solar Taxi, and Squirrel Summertime Games. Note: From my experience, the free app can only be installed on the ONE new LeapPad, so make sure whatever game you choose is one only the child who uses this device wants, as it cannot be shared with other household members. (Purchased apps can be on more than one device, though, and that includes the ones you pick out with the app card.)
Speaking of which, be sure to look around for the app card! I thought it would be in the front, where it looks like there's a cardboard sleeve for it. Instead, it's packaged behind the LeapPad unit.
Here's a bit about the apps that are included:
Art Studio App--This is like a little Paint program. Unfortunately, this is the app where it's most noticeable that there's a response delay with the stylus. Drawing needs to be done somewhat slowly.
Camera--This is a toy-quality camera and video recorder. It can take photos from the front or back.
Cartoon Director App--Kids can make mini-movies, and can use photos of faces to personalize the characters. Motions are limited and the movies are mostly narrative, but it's still a great way to exercise creativity.
Learning Songs--A few LeapPad educational songs.
Pet Pad--This app helps teach kids how to write letters with the help of a personalized pet. Letters correspond with pet tricks. There are also activities, including bathing, feeding, and making the pet "fly" to collect balloons by shooting it in a slingshot.
Photo Lab--Photos can be manipulated and edited.
Utility Apps--There are also some new included apps that don't appear on earlier versions of the LeapPad2. Those are:
* Calculator that can accommodate eight digits. It adds, divides, multiplies, and subtracts.
* Calendar that has "stickers" for marking important dates, and will also allow for "typing" in notes that get added to it as sticky notes.
* Clock/stopwatch, with analog and digital readouts, along with a count-up stopwatch option.
* Note pad, where short notes can be "typed" onto a sticky note. I'm more impressed with this app than the one on LeapPad Ultra, where they forgot an apostrophe key!
ACCESSORIES
The Mike-themed gel skin is really cute, and so different from the typical ones you can buy. He's even wearing his retainer, and the top is complete with horns. I like this gel skin better than the other official LeapPad ones. It's more pliable plastic, making battery changes easier. I have a difficult time changing the batteries on a LeapPad2 with a less pliable blue gel skin. This gel skin also has a bit more of a texture to it (it's not shiny-smooth).
The seven wallpapers are on the LeapPad (built-in backgrounds), so they're not to decorate the physical LeapPad unit, but there are also two sheets of stickers that can be put on the outside of the LeapPad or (in my opinion!) used on something else. The "frame" around the LeapPad2 is already decorated with a Monsters University theme, including Mike on the left and Sulley on the right.
The cleaning cloth is really basic, but it works well. It features Sulley in the center, along with the words: "Big Monster on Campus." The edging is "pinked" (pinking shears/zig-zagged).
Although this is more expensive, overall, than a basic LeapPad2, the few extras--the cleaning cloth, gel skin, and $20 app card--definitely make it worth a look to anyone considering a LeapPad2. (Although the two sheets of stickers are nice, too, they're not something I would personally want put on the LeapPad.) The blue and lime green colors in the theme are eye-catching and fun! As with any LeapPad product, though, I would recommend this set only if you're willing to spend more to add additional apps.
THE TABLET ITSELF With a 5" screen that's larger than my iPhone 5, but smaller than some Samsung cell phones, the screen is a good size for kids to explore and play on. The display is bright, the sound is very clear on the unit, and the chunky feel of the unit makes it great for younger kids. The plastic is durable and will definitely survive a drop. Things I really like about the tablet itself is that the stylus is tied to the unit, so there's less chance of it getting lost, and that the battery accesses are not screwed down. I hate having to find a screwdriver to open the battery case! The stylus doesn't always stay in the stylus holder as it's held in magnetically, but since it's tied to the unit, it all good. The touchscreen of the LeapPad is also very responsive. Added bonus there is a motion detector in the unit, so it does respond via movement like some iPad/iPhone games.
CAMERA The resolution of the camera isn't great, but it keeps my kids happy. With a camera on the front of the unit, and on the back of the unit, it works similarly to an iPhone. The resolution is far from printable, nowhere near the resolution of my crappy old cell phone, but boy the kids LOVE this thing. I have to note that the camera lenses are kept fairly safe as they are "sunk into" the unit, unlike your standard iPhone or iPad camera.
APPS This unit does comes with 10 apps, but this doesn't mean that it comes with 10 apps that your kids will play with. The apps include Pet Pad, Camera, MyStuff, My Books, Music, Calculator, Calendar, Clock, Notepad, and one app of your choice. This is where things irritate me about the LeapPad. There's only 2 apps your kids will be able to play with off the bat. The remaining apps are stuff that your kids probably won't play with. To add insult to injury, most of the good apps in the app store are $20+ EACH. I did find a few $5 apps, I had to seriously search for them. That said, the gift card you have will probably not go very far. This is where the iPad seriously beats out the LeapPad. I've downloaded a good number of educational games for my kids on the iPad that cost $0.99 or are free. You'd think LeapFrog would offer a few cheaper options.
-Pet Pad: Great game for the kids. It's like a Tamagochi that won't die on you. You can feed, clean, play, and learn with your pet. There is a writing game
included in the Pet Pad that helps kids learn how to write letters correctly. You can also "earn" treats for your pets.
-Camera: The kids LOVE this app. They can take videos or pictures. There's also picture editing software, so kids can add stickers/draw on/manipulate photos.
-MyStuff: This is a folder based app that has links for your pictures, videos, stories, and art. There's no play involved here.
-My Books: If you haven't paid for any books, you won't have anything in here. Unfortunately this LeapPad comes with ZERO books. You'll have to pay for them.
-Music: If you haven't paid for any music, you'll have 4 silly songs included here only. You'll have to pay $5 to download the MP3 player if you want to load
any of your kid's MP3 collection on there.
-Calculator: Works like a calculator. Nothing too special here.
-Calendar: It's a calendar. If you click on a date, it will tell you the date. You can also enter a note on a date. It would make a good diary for kids,
however, my kids don't use it much.
-Clock: This features a digital and analog clock face. It's impossible to tell the time to minute on the analog clock face as there are no minute marks.
There's also a stopwatch button, if your kid wants to time someone.
-Notepad: This is a digital Post-It Note. My kids like to pretend they're writing letters here.
-App of Your Choice: You get to pick one out of 3 apps LeapFrog chooses for you. These are 3 generic apps none of the Disney/Dreamworks/etc apps that your
kids really want.
There is also a "Sneak Preview" app that is a running commercial for your kids to want more apps. I wish I could delete this off the LeapPad. NOTE: I was able to get 2 free apps Alphabet Stew and the eBook "The Book of Super Awesome Stuff" by googling "Free LeapPad2 Apps". You can enter these codes from your parent control panel on your computer and get them downloaded to the LeapPad.
The Book of Super Awesome Stuff (e-book): 5813 1140 1518 1413
Alphabet Stew (game): 5813 0790 4610 4973
POWER SUPPLY This thing runs on 4AA batteries. This doesn't seem like a lot of batteries, but if you have a kid who plays a LOT, you'll be plowing through a lot of batteries. The batteries last anywhere between 7-9 hours according to LeapFrog. There is a port where you can plug in AC 9V power, but unfortunately this package does not come with the charger unit. I lucked out because I have a Bose charger (for the SoundLink Mini) that just happens to fit into the LeapPad. Check your other electronics in the house you just might luck out. If given the choice, I would thrown down the LeapPad2 Power (priced at $99) to get the rechargeable batteries and power supplies.
THE MONSTERS INC. ADD ONS The Mike Gel case fits beautifully on the LeapPad, and has a nice smooth matte feel about it. It doesn't seem to attract much dirt to it either, and has managed to stay clean for the past week. It's very soft and is easily applied, although I do wonder about the long term use of this case. The screen cleaner is a thin piece of cloth...my kids have already lost it. The stickers are nice, but not really necessary. I would have rather seen a battery charger instead of these silly stickers. The add on bonuses for the Monster Inc. pack were nice, but for almost $30 more, I would pass on these add ons unless your kids are really into the movie.
While it's a great toy overall, unless your kid is really into Monsters Inc, it may be a better deal buy to get the original LeapPad2. The only real differences between this unit and the original LeapPad is the case cover, which is blue and features some of the Monsters Inc characters, the gel skin that's shaped like Mike, the stickers, and the $20 gift card. Since I already own an iPad, I can safely say that in the long run that the iPad with a good protective case would be a more logical choice to get your kids. While the price tag is much higher initially, after buying a few apps, the LeapPad would cost just as much. Along with the lack of WiFi, web surfing capabilities, and more advanced apps, it's only a matter of time before we shelf the LeapPad and go back to fighting over the iPad with the kids. Recommended up until about age 6 or 7...maybe. I'll let you know if the kids are still playing with it then.
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Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program This LeapPad2 is just amazing. The Monsters theme is really appealing to children (and adults). I especially like that the case has textures, which makes it much easier to hold on to.The most important reason I love LeapPads is because of their educational apps. One of the amazing benefits to any of the LeapPads is the number of apps that come preinstalled. There are plenty of games to play enough to keep a child challenged for months. I see a lot of very small children playing with iPads and as an educator; I'm not sure what benefit they have. Obviously once children are in the upper elementary, iPads become valuable tools to use for education. But up until that point it seems like the educational adaptation is pretty hit or miss. The teenagers who have been in my house the past few years are crazy in love with their iPads but they are playing games.
I now regret all of my complaints about the lack of color involved in the Leap Pads. The green or pink and maybe a lavender cover made it difficult to tell which LeapPad was which. There will be no mistaking that this one is mine. :D. Actually, when the children are playing, they have 15 minutes on one device and then they all switch because not all of our LeapPads have the same content. Then they go out to play because it is still summer here and beautiful. But now it is easier to make sure they have switched LeapPads because they are not all green.
The only complaint I have left is the inability to download purchased apps onto more than one LeapPad. The LeapPad Ultra did allow me to connect and download apps I had purchased previously.
I did have some runarounds with this particular LeapPad. I have an account with a huge number of LeapFrog products attached to it and sometimes they are easy to connect and sometimes not. This one kept telling me it needed an update and then that it already had it, then that it didn't, then that I needed to restart my computer.... Not one of my favorite games. Then I discovered that the update wasn't downloading because before the needed 5 minutes, the LeapPad2 was turning off because it wasn't in use. I just kept doing what it wanted until it downloaded it. In the past, I have bought as many as 6 of a single kind of LeapFrog hand held device and some of them update and some of them play the Update game. It's always interesting to see which will do what.
Another thing that is interesting about what is probably a new lineup for holiday sales is that this one is not much more than the regular LeapPad 2s have been until recently (usually $99). This Monsters U version adds a lot of parts to it and comes with a $20 digital download card.
If you are a first time buyer, you may be interested in buying an LeapFrog App Center Download Card (works with all LeapPad Tablets, LeapsterGS, Leapster Explorer and LeapReader). These fluctuate in price so I leave them in my cart and generally buy them whenever they go below the $16 mark. I've heard other people say they don't buy until it goes below $12 but I have never seen that price.
Another lifesaver is the LeapFrog AC Adapter (Works with LeapPad2, LeapPad1, LeapsterGS Explorer, Leapster Explorer and Leapster2) that works for many of the devices including the LeapPad2s
I had never seen the LeapFrog LeapPad2 Recharger Pack (Works only with LeapPad2) for the LeapPad 2 but this is a necessity. My rechargables never seem to last very long and the LeapPads always end up with regular batteries in them. This is one of the ways that the shut-off is so wonderful. I have also seen that there is a new LeapFrog LeapPad2 Power Learning Tablet Green (includes rechargeable battery $40 value). These are great options. I plan to add one of theRecharger packs in short order and will probably get rechargers for all the children who have LeapPads as a stocking stuffer. They get really excited about batteries.
Yes, I admit it. I love LeapPads.
Best Deals for LeapFrog LeapPad2 Disney/Pixar Monsters University Varsity Edition
Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program That's what the kiddos in my special education class have to say about the LeapPad 2 Monsters University Varsity Edition Bundle. The school year is off to a great start now that I have this fantastic device. It is used as a "free time" activity that has my students rushing to finish their school work quickly so they can be the first to use it. We also have an iPad in the class, but since this is the 'newest" and most colorful game we have all the kids want to play it. Now, you must remember that I am talking high school aged students with disabilities here. It is an excellent educational tool that teaches and reinforces basic skills. The apps are a little on the spendy side, but I am always willing to spring for activities that help my kids.The only downfall is that it doesn't have a rechargable internal battery. It requires 4 AA batteries, but they do seem to last quite a while, I haven't had to replace them yet, after 2 weeks of almost non-stop play time throughout the day. The students also love the camera capability. They have enjoyed taking "selfies" and also photographing their classmates. The picture quality isn't very good, but it is good enough for the kids..they seem to love it. Overall, this is a a great product for a great price. I think every special education classroom should have access to a LeapPad2.
Honest reviews on LeapFrog LeapPad2 Disney/Pixar Monsters University Varsity Edition
Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program I really love Leap Frog toys and this is another great one! The bundle is great! It includes a rubberized cover, graphics on the tablet itself, stickers, a screen cleaning cloth, and a $20 download credit. It also comes with 8 preloaded apps and one game choice for free. The $20 download card will get you only 1 or 2 additional games b/c of the pricing on the leapfrog webpage.The games and apps are great-they are age appropriate for 4-7 year olds. They are fun to play, and my 4 year old loves to play them. A lot of the games focus on learning letters and numbers. You can also choose to download more apps that focus on other educational topics depending on age and education level.
The tablet itself is SUPER easy to set up and has the ability to set up 3 different profiles, so you can share this with multiple kiddos. It's thicker than tablets for adults, so it's nice a sturdy and easy for small hands to hold. The touch screen is very responsive whether you use the stylis or not. The stylis also is connected (via a small string) to the tablet itself so you don't lose it).
The reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 stars is b/c it DOES NOT HAVE A BUILT IN BATTERY-it takes 4 AA batteries that are NOT INCLUDED in the bundle. It's just a bit annoying b/c it seems like something that would be easy for them to put in there, b/c lets face it, the last thing parents need is yet another toy that needs more batteries.
Overall, this a great toy, I would recommend this to anyone who is looking for an educational toy for a young kid (about 4-5 is the youngest I'd go with this b/c of the games).
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Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program This set is just too cute! There are a lot of details included with the extra accessories. I'll talk about the basic apps first, and then move on to the accessories. If you already know about LeapPads (especially apps) and just want to know about the extras, feel free to skip the first section!LEAPPAD APPS
One of the nicest things about this set is the included gift card for apps. While it's not going to get you many--it can buy two in the normal price-range--it's helpful in getting you started since there aren't many built-in apps--and it's more open-ended than the fact that you typically have a choice of one in three free apps. You'll also get that free downloadable app from a choice of three, as is typical for LeapPad purchases. The ones I was offered to choose from (I'm not sure if this will vary) were: Scout and Friends and You, Solar Taxi, and Squirrel Summertime Games. Note: From my experience, the free app can only be installed on the ONE new LeapPad, so make sure whatever game you choose is one only the child who uses this device wants, as it cannot be shared with other household members. (Purchased apps can be on more than one device, though, and that includes the ones you pick out with the app card.)
Speaking of which, be sure to look around for the app card! I thought it would be in the front, where it looks like there's a cardboard sleeve for it. Instead, it's packaged behind the LeapPad unit.
Here's a bit about the apps that are included:
Art Studio App--This is like a little Paint program. Unfortunately, this is the app where it's most noticeable that there's a response delay with the stylus. Drawing needs to be done somewhat slowly.
Camera--This is a toy-quality camera and video recorder. It can take photos from the front or back.
Cartoon Director App--Kids can make mini-movies, and can use photos of faces to personalize the characters. Motions are limited and the movies are mostly narrative, but it's still a great way to exercise creativity.
Learning Songs--A few LeapPad educational songs.
Pet Pad--This app helps teach kids how to write letters with the help of a personalized pet. Letters correspond with pet tricks. There are also activities, including bathing, feeding, and making the pet "fly" to collect balloons by shooting it in a slingshot.
Photo Lab--Photos can be manipulated and edited.
Utility Apps--There are also some new included apps that don't appear on earlier versions of the LeapPad2. Those are:
* Calculator that can accommodate eight digits. It adds, divides, multiplies, and subtracts.
* Calendar that has "stickers" for marking important dates, and will also allow for "typing" in notes that get added to it as sticky notes.
* Clock/stopwatch, with analog and digital readouts, along with a count-up stopwatch option.
* Note pad, where short notes can be "typed" onto a sticky note. I'm more impressed with this app than the one on LeapPad Ultra, where they forgot an apostrophe key!
ACCESSORIES
The Mike-themed gel skin is really cute, and so different from the typical ones you can buy. He's even wearing his retainer, and the top is complete with horns. I like this gel skin better than the other official LeapPad ones. It's more pliable plastic, making battery changes easier. I have a difficult time changing the batteries on a LeapPad2 with a less pliable blue gel skin. This gel skin also has a bit more of a texture to it (it's not shiny-smooth).
The seven wallpapers are on the LeapPad (built-in backgrounds), so they're not to decorate the physical LeapPad unit, but there are also two sheets of stickers that can be put on the outside of the LeapPad or (in my opinion!) used on something else. The "frame" around the LeapPad2 is already decorated with a Monsters University theme, including Mike on the left and Sulley on the right.
The cleaning cloth is really basic, but it works well. It features Sulley in the center, along with the words: "Big Monster on Campus." The edging is "pinked" (pinking shears/zig-zagged).
Although this is more expensive, overall, than a basic LeapPad2, the few extras--the cleaning cloth, gel skin, and $20 app card--definitely make it worth a look to anyone considering a LeapPad2. (Although the two sheets of stickers are nice, too, they're not something I would personally want put on the LeapPad.) The blue and lime green colors in the theme are eye-catching and fun! As with any LeapPad product, though, I would recommend this set only if you're willing to spend more to add additional apps.
Monday, May 12, 2014
Buy Quercetti Pop-Link Shapes
List Price: $12.99
Sale Price: $11.65
Today's Bonus: 10% Off
I looked at several brands of pop beads before finding these. We are extremely pleased with this purchase.
Pros:
The brand is a quality brand. We have several other toys from this company and haven't been disappointed with any of them.
There are simple shapes and more interesting shapes (moon, star, sun). There are two of each color.
You can make patterns with the beads
They pop together easily. Some other brands are too difficult for young children to pop together and apart.
Cons:
I do wish there were a couple more in the set, but they aren't too expensive so you can always get two sets if you want more.
Overall, I highly recommend these pop beads over other brands for infants and toddlers.
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This set of pop beads has more unique shapes than other sets, but I do wish there were more pieces. My daughter wants to use them to make a necklace, but there aren't enough. You can still make chains though. It's a toy that will be quickly outgrown but is good for babies.Best Deals for Quercetti Pop-Link Shapes
This toy is great for hand-eye coordination, motor skills, and just fun for a little one. The shapes are brightly colored and soft for little hands. The price was also great!Saturday, May 10, 2014
Best Snap Circuits RC Rover Deals
List Price: $74.99
Sale Price: $57.23
Today's Bonus: 24% Off
We love this toy. My daughter has spent many hours assembling the various rover variations covered in the accompanying manual. I highly recommend it for the educational component alone; it is also fun. But the real reason I am writing this review is because one of our components just stopped working. I called the company. "Jerry" took my information and said he'd send it right out. When I pointed out that I hadn't paid for the replacement part yet, he responded, "We support our products." This despite the fact that we've had this rover for many months! I mean, a free replacement part... Actually supporting the product... I about fell over...
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Snap Circuits RC Rover We bought this for our 6 year old grandson. He has another smaller set and absolutely loves it. By following picture instruction he can quickly assemble electronic circuitry that actually performs a task. It encourages him to experiment and gives him a sense of accomplishiment. It's like an electronic erector set that was so popular when I was a kid. Very good desigh and sturdily built, even the case is compartmentalized for neat storeage.Best Deals for Snap Circuits RC Rover
In general, the snap kits are fantastic. My kids LOVE these, and had a fun time putting the rover together. For the most part, I'm a big fan of these kits (I own several)The rover? Well... it isn't all skittles-and-beer. Read on.
The blue color from the tires on the SNAP rover can bleed into painted surfaces, and quickly too. Even leaving the rover on my kitchen table overnight (a white, pottery barn table) left blue tire-prints in the tabletop finish. It's not merely ON the paint, the color actually bled INTO the painted surface. Not even bleach and a scrubbing sponge have been able to remove the marks. I even tried a fine-grained sanding sponge at the risk of further damaging the finish, but quickly stopped, as that didn't seem to be working either. The SNAP rover's blue tires left similar marks on a white pottery barn craft table that my kids use in their play area.
I'd normally give this kit five stars... but it definitely loses a couple for marring the finish on two very expensive pieces of furniture.
Honest reviews on Snap Circuits RC Rover
This product is excellent...far more than a toy, it's a learning experience that challenges a child, yet does not frustrate. Many levels of activity are possible with snap circuits, and the 8 year old for whom it was purchased loved it, along with his parents and brother and sisters! Superior in every way..
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this toy is really cool but it needs 6 double a bats and 1 9v baterieFriday, May 2, 2014
Review of Infantino Baby Girl Animals Twist and Fold Activity Gym and Playmat
List Price: $39.99
Sale Price: $30.24
Today's Bonus: 24% Off
I use this activity gym/mat quite a bit and it is great. My baby girl loves trying to grab for the objects and staring at herself in the mirror. It has handled great with being twisted up and down and being put up and down a lot. It still locks great after daily use.
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My twin girls were about 3 1/2 months old when I purchased this item. At a time when nothing seemed to entertain them, this did the trick! The toys are really cute & the girls are very entertained by the sounds they make. The mat gives them room to play. Love it :)Best Deals for Infantino Baby Girl Animals Twist and Fold Activity Gym and Playmat
Started using it when my baby was a month old... She started cing the dolls first and then in a week's time started hitting the dolls and loves the sound n then slowly cing herself in the mirror n smiling... I can really see may baby's concentration, hearing, seeing develop with this... It's a must have for any new born...Honest reviews on Infantino Baby Girl Animals Twist and Fold Activity Gym and Playmat
My granddaughter loves being on the playmat. Gives her a variety of colors and shapes to kick and watch. The mat gives good protection from the germs of a carget.Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Infantino Baby Girl Animals Twist and Fold Activity Gym and Playmat
Overall the product is very good, very well done just lack some musical item on it. The fabric is very soft and my daughter is enjoing the gym. i recomend this product, th parts are safe so far and the colors are very attrative for my 4 months dauther.
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