Just ahead of the Holiday Shopping kick-off with Black Friday (or Thursday), the folks over at LeapFrog have revealed their “Must Have” toys that are topping kids’ wish lists this year. Though it didn’t make their list (it’s been out for quite awhile), my three-year-old daughter absolutely loves her LeapFrog My Own Leaptop (available from Walmart or Target), which we have programmed with messages from a few different family members. Her face really lights up when she proudly announces that she “has to check email.” And now, on with the list…
Must-have” Kid’s Tablet: LeapPad2 – Purchase from: Walmart | Target
Children will anxiously await Santa’s delivery of their LeapPad2™ this holiday. Offering endless hours of play and learning, the hot new LeapPad2 includes front-and-back cameras and video recorders, a faster LF 2000 processor and double the on-board memory (4GB). Launched less than three months ago, LeapPad2 has already been named a top item among major retailers, included on multiple holiday toy lists and received more than a dozen 2012 accolades from prestigious organizations such as Dr. Toy, Oppenheim Toy Portfolio and National Association of Parenting Publications. LeapPad2 comes with extensive high quality content that is free with purchase: a music player with five LeapFrog Learning Songs, a new Cartoon Director creativity app, an Art Studio, the popular Pet Pad writing game and choice of an additional app from the LeapFrog App Center (MSRP $99.99, ages 3 to 9 years).
Ultimate Learning Video Game System: LeapsterGS – Purchase from: Walmart | Target
LeapsterGS™ is a revolutionary handheld video game system filled with fast-action gameplay. LeapsterGS puts kids in charge of their learning fun with new motion-sensor play, built-in camera, kid-friendly multi-button controls, a touch screen and stylus. LeapsterGS was honored on Time to Play’s “Most Wanted” list and received awards from the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio, Parents’ Choice Foundation and Dr. Toy, and was included on Amazon’s Holiday Toy list. LeapsterGS comes with the new Escape of the Sillies game, the popular onboard Pet Pad writing game and choice of a free additional app from the LeapFrog App Center (MSRP $69.99, ages 4 to 9 years).
A Library Full of Stocking Stuffers
The LeapFrog learning library offers an extensive selection of learning games, eBooks, videos, music and more that provide hours of learning fun on award-winning learning tablets, LeapPad1 and LeapPad2, and best learning video game handhelds, Leapster Explorer and LeapsterGS. The library includes a combination of LeapFrog’s top-quality educational entertainment created in house, and engaging content from the biggest names in children’s entertainment all reviewed and approved by LeapFrog’s highly experienced learning experts (downloadable apps are MSRP $5.00 and up and game cartridges at MSRP$24.99).
Unique to LeapPad tablets, Ultra eBooks are interactive stories that automatically adjust the reading level to challenge kids at just the right pace. Each story is written at three different reading levels, progressing from simple to more complex words and sentences when kids are ready. This year, LeapFrog introduced a new line of Learn to Read Ultra eBooks including Learn to Read: Fairy Tales and Learn to Read:Adventure Builders.
Because younger preschoolers engage in ways that are different than their older siblings, LeapFrog developed content experiences to meet the specific interests and learning needs of children three years and older. Olivia and Jake and the Never Land Pirates are two new games designed to be visually engaging and simple to navigate for a younger audience.
LeapFrog offers a wide variety of action-packed games that get kids in the action. With quick button play or a twist and turn using the built-in accelerometer, Disney Phineas & Ferb and Team Umizoomi: Street Fair Fix-Up are two new learning games that keep kids having fun as they build math skills.
Available just in time for the holidays, LeapFrog has added new holiday-themed videos to the LeapFrog App Center including Arthur’s Perfect Christmas, Barbie™ in The Nutcracker , Merry Christmas Dora, Nickelodeon Holiday Playdates and The New Adventures of Madeline: Madeline Holidays.
Books and More
Using the #1 selling Tag™ Learn to Read System (Available online from Walmart), kids will bring books and more to life with just a touch using a small, sophisticated infrared camera that “reads” letters, words and pictures printed on special dot-patterned surfaces of products in the Tag library. The Tag library features more than 80 interactive books, puzzles, maps and more, organized by series: Get Ready to Read, Early Reading, Read on Your Own and Learn Through Reading. The new Tag™ Human Body Discovery Pack from LeapFrog is an interactive, jumbo two-sided chart and game board that helps children learn about the human body through play. Kids will encounter more than 300 interactive responses and 40 learning activities that bring the chart and game board to life and teach them about the human body, body systems and health and nutrition. Tag The Tag Human Body Discovery Pack is part of the Learn Through Reading series which is designed to help kids apply critical reading skills to explore topics like science, geography, writing and more. Tag Human Body Discovery Pack received 2012 awards from Dr. Toy and the Parents’ Choice Foundation (MSRP $24.99, ages four to eight years).
Tech-Savvy Toys
Touch Magic™, a line of award-winning interactive toys from LeapFrog, is the perfect holiday solution for tech-savvy toddlers recognized by Dr. Toy and The Parents’ Choice Foundation. This new line encourages learning and exploration through intuitive touch technology and gives younger kids the immediate response they have come to expect from every swipe or tap of their finger. Touch Magic was developed with LeapFrog’s learning experts to ensure the curriculum is age-appropriate for preschoolers. These unique touch-enabled toys bring colorful graphics and popular kid themes together to deliver a fun, interactive experience. The Touch Magic line introduces early literacy, musical creativity, numbers and early vocabulary. The launch portfolio includes Touch Magic™ Learning Bus, Touch Magic™ Counting Train, Touch Magic™ Rockin’ Guitar and Touch Magic™ Discovery Town. Touch Magic toys are 2012 recipients of Dr. Toy’s “Best Picks” and the National Association of Parenting Publications Awards Silver seal (MSRP $21.99, ages two years and up).
For more on LeapFrog products, visit http://www.leapfrog.com/en/index.html
