Does anyone have the leappad explorer? Can you tell me about it?

[CathyComeCamping]

All the reviews say that it eats batteries (that's ok, we have good rechargables) and that the apps and games are expensive (I'm ready for that).

BUT, beyond those two points, is it a good toy? do your children use it a lot, and what might be the best apps and games for a five year old girl?

I would probably go for the version 1 which is cheap as chips at the moment - or is the leapster2 worth the extra?

My DS got one for his 3rd birthday and loves his iPad as he calls it.

Yes it eats batteries but we just recharge them and he understands the process now.

We bought the cars game but haven't really used it yet. He tends to like the camera best. Think he'll start using the games more the nearer he gets to 4yrs. Mr pencil is next on the list.

I got one for ds1 last Christmas when he was 3.2 hE still used it most days. Mr pencil is one of his favourites. It is one of the best value toys I have ever bought once I got rechargeable batteries! It has also helped him to start writing his letters. A recent update means it will also do left handed letters.

I have just ordered this for DS2. Read the reviews on batteries but apparently my DP read some recent review on rechargeable Durcell batteries being brill so hope to combat that issue.

Are there apps to download and are they any good?

Picked this over the vTech innotab cos this has a camera/ video thing. Not bothered about the quality but my DS2 will like photo taking.

Also meant to say has kept my 13 year old DD amused so hoping it's a toy that will be used for a few years.

We bought a leappad for our DS aged 5 last Christmas. We have the Cars, Scooby Doo and Toy Story games all of which are very good.

I agree that rechargeable batteries are the way forward as it does go through quite a few of these but I have not found the games to be expensive as we have bought them when on offer. I have also seen a couple of free apps here on Mumsnet on the promotional codes and vouchers section.

Yes just use rechargeables, get 2 sets so one lot can be charging while the others are in use.

Both my DC have the original leappad explorers (one purple, one green) and although I'd say DS plays his more than DD i.e 24hours a day if he could get away with it, DD does play with it quite a lot too. They are especially useful for long journeys and DD has to attend lots of hospital appointments so she takes it to play while sat for hours in waiting rooms.

DD is 6 but was 5 when she got her leappad and has the Tinkerbell and Tangled games which she loves but also swaps games with DS so plays Spongebob and Ben 10. A downloaded game app that has been a big hit with them both was Pet Pals 2 and also Sugar Bugs and Stretchy Monkey.