Kids and Video Games
You’d be amazed if you saw my little 4 year old play video games. He is awesome at navigating around on the computer, is better than me on some of our Wii games, and has a mind that is constantly soaking in everything around him. Since he likes games so much, it is important to me that he learns while playing. With the Leapster2 from Leapfrog, he can learn on the go, with games that are age appropriate for him.
Pros: Leapfrog is no stranger in our home, and has been an important learning tool for my boys. From dvd’s to toys, I’ve never been disappointed. So I definitely had high expectations when we received a Leapster 2 with a few games to review.
The Leapster2 is appropriate for ages 4 to 8 and teaches skills such as:
- Mathematics
- Language arts
- Reading skills
- Basic science concepts
It’s easy to use and power on. Chandler, who is just shy of 4 can power it on, put cartridges in himself and navigate very easily. Once powering it on, you create a simple profile for your child. You can have 4 profiles at any given time or can play as a guest. This handheld has the regular gaming buttons, but also includes a pen. To see this in action, watch the video below:
When you come to the main screen after selecting your profile, there are 4 options: Downloadable games, Cartridge games, Creativity Castle, and Connect to Computer.
With the Leapster2, you get a software cd that lets you install Leapfrog connect. With Leapfrog connect, you can download games, get demos, get rewards for your child that they’ve earned playing games, and much more. Once you have installed it, you can add other Leapfrog products. The Leapster2 came with a downloadable game which was easy to get and is saved in it’s memory. It’s also compatible with 30+ leapster games, so there’s plenty to choose from.
The Leapster 2 has a headphone jack, usb to connect to your computer, volume controls, and brightness adjustments. It takes 4 AA batteries which you put in the back of the game. It’s definitely durable as well. Over the past month, it has been thrown all around and still works perfectly. I’m sure Leapfrog had this in mind when they were designing it.
Cons: While I am a big fan of this product, I do feel that there are some minor improvements that could be incorporated. If you have the Leapster2 powered on, and you insert a cartridge, the entire handheld powers down. You then have to power it back on and start from square one. I’m not sure what the thinking was behind this, but the first few times Chan inserted the cartridge and this happened, he thought it was broken.
The design of this is also quite chunky and heavy. I can see how this is good for little hands, but it still feels a bit bulky. It weighs in at 1.6 lbs which I think is rather heavy for a handheld gaming system.
I would also love to see an auto-shutoff feature. The first few times Chandler was done playing it, he left it on and the batteries drained quickly. I think it would be nice to see it shut off after 5-10 minutes of inactivity to save battery life. Overall, I think the learning capabilities definitely outweigh the cons.
Leapster2 Games
This is definitely something to put on your Christmas list if you have a child aged 4-8.
Price: $69.99, on sale at the Leapfrog store right now for $59.99
Where to Buy: Leapfrog online, Target, Walmart
Win It
One Babes and Kids reader will win a Leapster 2
Here’s How to Enter: (This entry is mandatory)
- Visit leapfrog and tell me another product that interests you.
Additional Entries
- Tweet about this giveaway. – 2 entries
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- Unlimited - You may enter as often as you’d like on this giveaway as long as you’ve completed the mandatory entry and your comments stay centered around Leapfrog.
Please leave each entry as a separate comment. Contest is open to US residents and will end at 11:59 MST on November 2nd. Winner will be drawn via random.org and has 48 hours to respond to winning e-mail or prize will be forfeited and given away in a live giveaway.
The product reviewed in this article was a sample provided to me by the company or PR representative. These views and opinions are my own and I was not compensated by this review.
Popularity: 5% [?]
Leapster Game Cosmic Math: Rocket into the cosmos on an incredible math mission! Defend your ship from flying space debris and blast away at the cosmic rocks that have the right answers. This stellar arcade game reinforces first- through fourth-grade math tables.
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Leapster Game Scholastic Math Missions: Save the stores of Spectacle City and develop real-world math skills as you complete orders at a candy store, build a skyscraper, and more! Solve hundreds of math problems that build addition, multiplication, problem solving skills and more in real-world environments such as a candy store and a seafood market. Earn money by solving math problems, and then spend your hard-earned cash on three exciting arcade games!
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Leapster Game Kindergarten: Welcome to Carnival Marvel! Step right up to play 6 fun-filled learning games that teach 45 essential kindergarten reading and math skills. Play learning games and you can earn tickets to buy monster parts. Then build a complete monster and bring it to life for the monster theater review!
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Leapster Game 1st Grade: Join Leap, Lily and Tad at the Beach Boardwalk, and play 6 action-packed learning games that teach over 70 essential 1st Grade reading and math skills! Play learning games, and you can earn tokens to race cars at the grand opening of the RC Racetrack!
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Reading skills can grow by leaps and bounds when you join Clifford, Cleo and T-Bone on a giant-size learning adventure in the Leapster game. Help the dog friends gather pages from Emily Elizabeth’s joke book, which were blown all over Birdwell Island by one of Clifford’s huge sneezes.
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Immerse yourself in the magical world of Disney Fairies as you help Tinker Bell and her friends collect Lost Things and rebuild toys for children on the Mainland in the Leapster game Disney Fairies.
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In Tag’s activity storybook “Tinker Bell’s True Talent”, Tinker Bell longs for a new talent that will take her to the Mainland. Read along in this magical tale as Tinker Bell discovers that being true to herself will take her furthest of all. After the story, play learning activities that help build vocabulary and reading comprehension skills.
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With Tag, children can explore classic books such as Olivia, or join popular characters such as SpongeBob SquarePants in new reading adventures. Leveled learning activities in every book adjust automatically to your child’s pace, helping build confidence and a love of reading that lasts a lifetime.
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Get your child’s reading skills off to a masterful start with the two included storybooks in Tag – Kung Fu Panda and Ozzie and Mack – and look for more fanciful tales in the broad Tag library of more than 20 books and games.
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Get ready to lift off to learning with this Airborne Adventure Up Gift Pack for Leapster2!
In the Up game, join Carl and Russell on a high-flying adventure based on the Disney·Pixar movie Up. When Carl’s house takes to the skies, use mathematics and reasoning skills to guide Russell and Carl on their soaring journey and fill an Adventure Book with treasures and travel souvenirs!
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Leapster2 has a wonderful Disney gift pack. Children can become speedway spelling sensations in Cars: Supercharged as they race with Lightning McQueen, Mater, Ramone and Flo in the Radiator Springs Invitational Race. Ratatouille dishes out word building, phonics and matching skill challenges as children help Remy the rat pursue his dream of becoming a great chef. And WALL•E needs to find his place in the universe! Children help him by using their letter recognition, spelling and mathematic skills to blast robots, form constellations and sort recycling stacks.
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In the Leapster2 Star Wars ™ game, embark on dangerous rescue missions as Anakin, R2-D2, C3PO and other Jedi Knights to free members of the Republic imprisoned on federation cruisers. Increase your Jedi rankings you fly to enemy ships, engage in starflight battles and duel with lightsabers while learning basic mathematics and telling time skills. Feel the Force as you play on you cool, black Special Edition Star Wars handheld and help restore the order of the galaxy!
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The Learn to Read Book Set 1: Short Vowels and Learn to Read Book Set 2: Long Vowels, Silent E and Y help children identify letter sounds and understand how the sounds come together to form words. Each set includes six books with exciting, engaging stories and audio to help young readers become more confident in reading basics.
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Tag books work with the Tag Reader (sold separately) to bring books to life like never before. As children touch the Tag Reader to the pages of this specially printed activity storybook, a small camera in the tip “reads” the pages, enabling children to hear words and stories read aloud. Characters, pictures and learning activities spring to life with every touch, immersing children in the thrill of reading.
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Ratta-tat-tat on Cat’s congas and croon with Baboon’s bassoon while exploring the ABC’s! This Tag™ Junior board book springs to life when you touch the Tag Junior book pal to any part of any page. More than 24 playful activities and 150 audio responses encourage little ones to explore while helping build confidence with books. Parents can connect to the online LeapFrog® Learning Path to see their child’s progress and get printable activities to expand the learning!
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Protect your Didj handheld from life on the road with a sleek, stylish case with a high-performance shell. Tailor-made for your Didj™ custom gaming system, the case has a cushion interior with room for your Didj handheld and four game cartridges.
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Your Didj handheld is all about you. Make sure it shows your style with hard working, great-looking skins and jelly. They’ll protect your Didj handheld all the time. They can be changed to reflect your mood anytime.
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The Crammer Customizer is an accessory kit that includes 3 stylizer skins and 1 wrap-around jelly to help kids make their Crammer handheld their own. The decorative adhesive skins cover the Crammer handheld to protect it as well as reflect each kid’s personal style. And the flexible, wrap-around jelly helps provide protection from scratches, scrapes or marks while kids study on the go.
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The Easy Reader Phonics Program brings the magic of reading to life, so your child can build the skills he needs to succeed at reading!
This kit helps your child practice key phonics skills by spelling words using the 12 interactive Smart Cards and activity board.
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http://twitter.com/AStarrAMama/status/5368569865
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2 i follow you, clallen at ntin dot net
.-= Crystal Allen´s last blog ..Silver Savings, Freebies and Giveaways is hosting several great giveaways right now =-.
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1 i follow you, clallen at ntin dot net
.-= Crystal Allen´s last blog ..Silver Savings, Freebies and Giveaways is hosting several great giveaways right now =-.
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2 subscribe by email clallen at ntin dot net
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1 subscribe by email clallen at ntin dot net
.-= Crystal Allen´s last blog ..Silver Savings, Freebies and Giveaways is hosting several great giveaways right now =-.
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the didj interest me too, clallen at ntin dot net
.-= Crystal Allen´s last blog ..Silver Savings, Freebies and Giveaways is hosting several great giveaways right now =-.
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Alphabet Pal has a silly giggle, flashing antennae and comical walk – he’s sure to tickle your child’s funny bone! Four learning modes introduce letter names, letter sounds, colors and music. Pull Alphabet Pal’s string to hear the ABC song! Parents can connect to the online LeapFrog® Learning Path for customized learning insights and ideas to expand the learning.
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Learning Friend Tad makes learning fun as he musically introduces counting, colors and objects on his body. Squeeze him once to hear a counting 1-10 song. Squeeze him again to hear a song about colors and the objects on his shirt. Then with a simple press of his foot, you can switch all of his learning songs to Spanish! Press his foot again and switch back to English.
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Learning Friend Lily makes learning fun as she musically introduces counting, colors and objects on her body. Squeeze her once to hear a counting 1-10 song. Squeeze her again to hear a song about colors and the objects on her shirt. Then with a simple press of her foot, you can switch all of her learning songs to Spanish! Press her foot again and switch back to Englis
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Learn by day, then dream away with cuddly award-winning Baby Tad! A fun learning friend in the daytime, Baby Tad encourages little ones to move and learn to play 10 popular, active songs. Press the moon to change Baby Tad to nighttime mode, and he plays soothing lullabies and provides a soft nightlight. Parents can connect to the online LeapFrog® Learning Path for customized learning insights and ideas to expand the learning.
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wow ends today. leap frog has great products for all ages
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Get in the learning groove with the Learn & Groove® Counting Maracas. Music Play mode encourages baby to explore and create music—inspires creative interaction and open-ended play. In Counting mode, each shake encourages your child to count to 10 in both English and Spanish.
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Steal the show with the learn & groove preschool medley bilingual microphone! Preschoolers can sing and learn along to four groovin’ songs about animals, counting, manners and more, or lay down their own vocals to any of the songs in Instrumental mode. Catchy songs get little bodies moving, while two language modes help develop vocabulary in English and Spanish. Parents can connect to the online LeapFrog® Learning Path for customized learning insights and ideas to expand the learning.
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A favorite among moms and kids alike, the award-winning Learn & Groove Musical Table engages and entertains with more than 40 learning songs, sparkling lights and lots to spin, slide, push, pull, open and close.
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Dig into phonics fun with the AlphaPet Explorer! This portable learning toy features Scout the puppy as your child’s guide to learning letter names, letter sounds and more. Four learning modes extend the fun with letter and phonics games, music and help from Scout! Parents can connect to the online LeapFrog® Learning Path for customized learning insights and ideas to expand the learning.
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Light the way to early writing with Scribble & Write! Children trace the lights to get practice drawing simple shapes and pictures, then graduate to learning upper- and lowercase letters with step-by-step guidance. Fun learning games help reinforce letter recognition and pencil control skills. Best of all, Scribble & Write uses a single retraceable surface for ease of use and portability. Parents can connect to the online LeapFrog® Learning Path for customized learning insights and ideas to expand the learning.
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Text and Learn is designed to let little learners play in a grown-up way! Children can exchange text messages with their puppy pal Scout, check Scout’s planner to see what his week entails and more in the pretend browser mode. Other learning modes offer practice with letter matching, shape identification and QWERTY keyboard navigation through silly animations and sound effects. Children also explore letter names and sounds. Parents can connect to the online LeapFrog® Learning Path for customized learning insights and ideas to expand the learning.
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Tag™ Junior is easy for parents and children to use. Parents can download audio for up to five books to Tag™ Junior, then let their child explore a different preschool skill with each book. Parents can connect to the online LeapFrog® Learning Path to see their child’s progress and get printable activities to expand the learning!
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Using the same amazing touch technology as the Tag™ Reading System, Tag™ Junior brings board books magically to life with playful sounds and fun activites.
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Designed especially for young learners, ClickStart My First Computer provides a safe computer learning environment and features a wireless keyboard, plug-in console, mouse and detachable mousepad that can be adapted for right- or left-handed play.
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ClickStart™ My First computer introduces computer and preschool skills by turning any TV into a child’s first computer.
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The Didj custom gaming system is one of three new LeapFrog connected learning systems that connect to the LeapFrog Learning Path, a free online tool at leapfrog.com that offers unparalleled insights into your child’s learning.
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Kids and parents can also shape the learning online by choosing the math and spelling skills they’d like the games to focus on. Multiplication hard to master? Kids can choose to be quizzed on specific times tables, such as the 6s, 7s and 8s tables. Spelling a stumbling block? Create a custom spelling list from the 10,000- word database and practice for next week’s test. Didj delivers all this, plus the personalized tutorials and self-leveling learning that are signature to LeapFrog gaming systems.
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Kids can play and learn anywhere with characters from SpongeBob SquarePants, Star Wars and more popular shows, and then go online to trade the points they’ve earned for modifications to the game worlds, moves, sound effects, music and more. They can even create their own Didji characters in the online Didjerator.
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The Didj handheld also connects to the computer to offer something no other system has offered: truly customizable gameplay and curriculum.
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Designed for gradeschoolers aged 5 to 10 years, the Didj system offers the action-packed, high-resolution gameplay that kids expect, combined with the robust learning you trust LeapFrog to deliver.
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Inspire a love of reading with the Tag Reading System – and share each triumph on your child’s learning journey.
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You can also see your children’s progress in recent books, get detailed updates on the skills they are exploring and share in their accomplishments by creating a free account on LeapFrog® Learning Path.
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Use the stylish storage case to take the Tag Reading System and up to six books with you wherever you go. Premium plastic casing ensures your Reader and books are protected while you are on the move!
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Amazingly portable and easy to use, the Tag Reader holds audio for up to five books at a time. Simply connect the Tag Reader to your computer with the included USB cable, download the audio for your Tag books and drag-and-drop up to five of your children’s favorite stories onto your Tag Reader.
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Get your child’s reading skills off to a swimming start with the two included storybooks – Disney Princess: Adventures Under the Sea and Ozzie and Mack – and look for more fanciful tales in the broad Tag library of more than 20 books and games.
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As children touch the Tag Reader to the pages of specially printed storybooks, characters, pictures and learning activities spring to life, immersing children in the thrill of reading.
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Perfectly sized for little hands, the Tag Reader is a touch-and-talk reading device that brings stories to life like never before.
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Help your beginning reader fall head-over-heels for reading with this Tag™ Reading Basics Princess Pack!
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Perfect for learning on the go, the included case holds and protects this Pink Leapster2 handheld and multiple games.
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Leapster2 is the only handheld preschool gaming system that connects to the LeapFrog Learning Path – a free, online interactive tool that allows parents to receive detailed updates on the skills, games and even questions their child has been exploring.
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With built-in tutorials and levels that adapt automatically to each child’s pace, the Leapster2 system helps children practice school skills. At the same time, kids will have fun exploring more than 30 games (sold separately) featuring characters they love.
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Celebrate the magic of mathematics, letters and shapes with this New Leapster®2 Disney Princess Pack! Introducing the next generation of learn-everywhere gaming from LeapFrog. The best-selling Leapster learning game system is now connected!
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LeapFrog SchoolHouse sponsors a series of free webinars to help keep educators up to date on the latest trends and best practices.
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LeapFrog School sponsors free educational online seminars so customers can learn about the latest educational developments from leading experts.
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Would an amazing Christmas present!!
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http://twitter.com/AStarrAMama/status/5349350662
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The LeapFrog Fridge Phonics magnetic letters set contains a magnetic base and twenty-six magnetic letters.
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As Tad and his friends work their way through the LeapFrog Talking Words Factory, they focus on individual letter sounds by meeting animated letters, such as the F with wings that flies around, and the C that is ice-covered because it is cold. The individual letters are then placed in the Talking Words Factory machines to form words and sounds.
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The LeapFrog Talking Words Factory learning video is designed for ages three to five.
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The LeapFrog Talking Words Factory learning video is enjoyable for toddlers, and they will get something out of it, even if they don’t begin creating words right away. This LeapFrog learning video is good reinforcement for the phonics sounds toddlers are learning between the ages of three and four.
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all leapster games work with all systems…seriously? thats cool
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The best kinds of toys are the ones like the Leapfrog Fridge Word Whammer Fridge Phonics Set. Your preschooler is learning, but has no idea how or why.
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Finding Nemo is the perfect educational game for kids to play on their Leapster Multimedia Learning System. Your child joins Nemo, Marlin and Dory in this underwater reading adventure. Together, they’ll play games and participate in activities that teach key pre-kindergarten and kindergarten reading and math skills, including phonics, spelling, addition and marine science.
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All Leapster games work with all Leapster systems.
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With the LeapFrog® Learning Path, parents can see what their child is learning.
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Leapster2 players can connect online for extra activities and rewards.
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At LeapFrog, they believe the best way to help children fulfill their individual learning potential is by keeping them engaged with learning.
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The Didj has a very cool, sleek look.
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I subscribe via email #2
.-= Desiree Glaze´s last blog ..Violated =-.
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I subscribe via email #1
.-= Desiree Glaze´s last blog ..Violated =-.
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I follow your blog #2
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I follow your blog #1
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I also think the tag reader looks really interesting!
.-= Desiree Glaze´s last blog ..Violated =-.
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The Didj interests me. It looks like a great learning tool.
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My older son is 6 and I wonder if the Didj might be a bit advanced for him. I think the Leapster is probably a better product to start with, and then work up to the Didj.
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My sons enjoyed leapfrog’s alphabet pal when they were little.
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I’m really interesting in the Leapster game, Jedi Reading.
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The FLY pentop computer comes with a sampling of a wide range of possibilities at hand. Games include FLYmatch, Hang (hangman), and FLY Tones (a music game). The user will also find several tools built in to the FLY pentop computer, such as a calculator, a scheduler, a note pad, and a map of North America. Finally, the package contains special stickers that spring to life when activated by the FLY pentop computer, and a carrying case for the FLY pen.
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FLY Through Spanish Translator – An English-Spanish dictionary that allows students of all ages to write and touch a word in English, and hear it translated in Spanish.
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FLY Through Spelling – an application that incorporates classroom-specific spelling lists and generic grade-level spelling lists to help students learn and practice their weekly spelling lists. This application makes memorization of spelling words more meaningful, resulting in higher test scores, according to the announcement. Included with the product are five spelling games, a 70,000-plus word list, and incentives where students can earn FLY bucks as they play and then cash in for interactive pets at the Spellbot Store. The product includes an 8 ½ x 9 game pad with 54 pages and an information and reference guide.
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FLY Through Math: Multiplication and Division: an interactive math homework pad designed to help students master their own multiplication and division homework. The product provides self-directed help with a student’s math homework and gives real-time feedback on demand. For example, a student will be able to write a long division problem, and the FLY pentop computer will offer hints to help solve it, step-by-step, but will not give the answer. It will confirm when the task is complete. The product comes with a reference guide and an 8 ½ x 11 notebook with 40 pages of graph paper.
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The FLY pentop computer offered a range of innovative applications for tweens (grades 3-8) to learn, communicate, and game.
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LeapFrog Enterprises introduced the FLY pentop computer, a learning platform that combined the power of computer interactivity with the lowest cost classroom media – pen and paper.
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LeapFrog acquired Explore Technologies Inc., which owned a technological process called NearTouch.
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Leapfrog Enterprises believe their products will fundamentally change the way children play and learn for a lifetime.
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Leapfrog makes unique electronic toys that are not only fun to play with but also are great tools.
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Leapfrog is committed to the highest quality educational toys.
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At LeapFrog their vision is to inspire in children and families a lifelong love of learning.
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The Didj learning game system is available in hardware and learning game kits so you can choose the configuration that best fits your classroom needs.
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The Didj handheld brings advanced, handheld learning to skill-building in math, spelling, and language arts.
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With the Didj learning game system, students sharpen the skills they need to move ahead in grades 1–4.
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Students learning letter names, letter sounds, and phonemic awareness skills are motivated through sight, touch, and sound with the LeapDesk workstation.
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Leapster Story Explorers accelerates development of essential language skills to prepare English language learners for literacy and academic success.
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The Leapster handheld PLTs engage students with technology that they enjoy, while providing an individualized learning experience. Leapster cartridges adapt to students’ skill levels and rates of progress, allowing students to work at their own pace, in the classroom or at home.
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The Leapster® Portable Technology Center (PTC) provides engaging, multisensory instruction through handheld personal learning tools (PLTs) that are easy for teachers and students to use as technology stations.
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