to think that the leappad explorer isn't a good present for a young child?

[bytheMoonlight]

Just having a look through top ten Christmas toys and Leappad explorer is number one in the ELC Christmas list and pops up in many other lists as being a top toy this year.

AIBU to not understand how staring at a screen, not interacting with your environment or the people around you can be a positive thing?

I have a 4yo dd and although I understand the supposed educational value of these toys, I would much rather she was interacting and learning through us than becoming obsessed with technology at such a young age.

AIBU, or possibly just missing the point?

Well yes you are missing the point somewhat.

It doesn't have to be either/or when it comes to using this toy and interacting with your environment and the people around you, does it?

You could say the same about reading a book...unless they can chat, ride a bike and read it all at the same time.

Does your child not read books? Or play alone with Lego or dolls?

A Leappad, or any electronic thing is just another toy. Children do not suddenly find themselves cut off from their surroundings the minute they pick them up, or no more so than they would when they become absorbed in some other game or toy.

Mine have DSi consoles, a Wii, access to the internet etc. The oldest is 7, and he seems to be pretty well rounded.

Even small children benefit from time to themselves.

Personal choice, really.

I've ordered one for my DD, age 4 for her Christmas. She has shown an interest in playing with my iphone and they have an iPad at her nursery which they allow the kids to use in five minute shots for education games.

The way I see it, it's probably more educational and useful to her development than staring at a TV. Which she does sometimes, since I think TV in appropriate amountss is absolutely fine, and realistically, there are times when I need to be sure she is safely entertained and out of trouble so I can get on with doing other essential tasts don't involve my interacting with her 24/7.

I do plan to limit the amount of time she plays with it much in the same way I don't allow her to watch unlimited TV. And I don't think having a toy which involves technology is automatically going to result in an "obsession" with technology, any more than occasionally giving the odd lollipop or chocolate biscuit is going to mean she is "obsessed" with junk food.

But young children cannot read a book by themselves worraliberty, even if my daughter picks up a book to look at by herself she will always end up interacting with someone with it as she cannot read the words.

NatashaBee I agree that it is preferable to an Xbox/DS - so maybe I should extend the question to the above. I wouldn't let dd1 have any of these for a long time yet and even the screen time she has in front of the tv is restricted.

As worra says, its not an exclusive activity. My 5 yr old has a Leapster, and it is something he plays with sometimes, and is an easily transportable thing he can play quietly on while in waiting rooms/in the car (but not all the time).

The rest of the time he interacts a lot

I agreee with your original op but not for the same reason.

I was looking at one of these for my dc (as a shared present) but have refused to get one as you can not recharge via a power lead and have to use batteries which i absolutely hate (I use rechargables but still absolutely hate the faff and the toy does not get played with until I get round to doing it. DD has an orginal leapster, when it works it's great BUT it spends half the time waiting to be recharged ....

WRT content the dc love it all three of mine argue over play woith the leapster they are 6.4 and 2 and love it (when working!) It doesn't stop them playimng with other stuff (if it did I would be happy to ration use o weekends etc).

Hmmm see I would have a problem with dd1 sat next to me playing with a console while we waited for the doctors/travelled in the car. I would much rather she was talking to me.

And I think screen staring is different to lego, playing with a dolls house. I consider using and devolving her imagination to be completely different to staring at a screen.

I think the idea of Leappads etc. is that you interact with the game, and use your imagination.

It would be a mighty waste of money if all you could do was stare at it.

My youngest has one - but plays with it very rarely. Great for car journeys though. And can be very useful for phonics practise, numeracy etc.

Tbh I have never used a leappad but I do know from experience that imagination isn't required when playing a DS game. It is very much a case of pressing the correct buttons in the right order to complete the game.

you are definitely missing the point.

These can be used for educational purposes, my son loves going on the laptop or my iphone and there are lots of activities to help develop your reading, maths and english.

They also allow your child to learn how to use a PC, which are invaluable skills once they are older and will be doing homework etc.

As long as there is a balance with other activities, toys and reading I do think there is a place for gadgets for children

I think it will depend on the child. I do see your point, as i have seen how my 3 yr old gets when he has access to Ipads (he plays with relatives ones) so personally would avoid buying any of these type of things for him at the moment as he does get really sucked into it and becomes obsessive about it, but on the other hand some of the games you can get look good and educational so I see the appeal, but in practise it would be a no way for me as if others are similar to mine they would be asking to use it too much and causing a problem when its taken off them. And on the ipad my 3 yr old just wants to watch youtube videos of Thomas having accidents and crashing, over and over again, so even though there is educational stuff on it, can also be a waste of time. So I do get your point, but when mine is older and more able to play with it for a bit then accept going to a different activity, and if he used it for the educational apps, then I would not mind getting something like it

I don't let my DD play with my iphone at times when I want her to be talking to me- I dole it out when I am occupied with something that means I cannot be talking to her just now (like being plunged into the telephonic abyss while inging the gas company to arrange my boiler service.)

I wouldn't be getting one if I thought it was about screen staring or just pressing correct buttons- I think it's meant to be more than that. Also, I might add that it has a camera on it and DD has also shown an interest in taking photos, which seems to me to be a creative outlet.

If you really don't like the idea of it, though, don't get one. I don't think the Leappad Explorer police are coming to come after you. :)

bythe are there really no moments when you want ten minutes? To make a phone call, use the loo, have a drink without a boisterous child trying to grab it? Certainly in the car when I am driving would come under that too, I am not sure it's safe to drive whilest mediating in a conversation which in our world typically goes like; 'Muuuuuuuuuuuuum ds4 wants my ds' (ds3) 'I want a dssssssssssssssssssssssss' (ds4)- on loop (ds3 is 8, but could also easily be 10 year old ds2 or 11 year old ds1).

Now, I know my 3 year old is particularly attention seeking by nature and I have no plans to buy him one at the moment (perhaps for his birthday next year) but he can't be the only one and I can see if used with sense and limits it's a fine toy.

Indeed, a little off topic but relevant, ASD ds3 learned to read not from teaching, or books- got him nowhere: but a screen. So whilst being against over reliance on what Dh calls 'bleepbleep' toys is fine, demonising the toys themselves probably is not.

My 4 yr old loves his!

I do see your point OP.

We recently bought an iPad and DS1 (3.5) was obviously attracted to it. I uploaded a couple of apps and had difficulty getting it off him. He became completely absorbed in it SO fast. He kept asking for it all day, so in the end we just put it away and he seems to have forgotten about it.

YABVU for even thinking about getting a Leappad. A child of 2yo and upwards can easily play with a grown-up iPad. DD has dropped ours several times and it has survived (so far). I do appreciate that iPads are rather pricier...

Anyway, given that you will now be convinced to buy an iPad instead (good choice!):

You can make it an interactive experience. There are various apps designed for teaching children about shapes, letters, numbers etc. You just sit there and play with them, guide them as you would with a book.

You can get apps which are interactive books. I love the old-style Ladybird books. DD can press the pictures and hear sounds, try to read the text herself, or have it read for her. Over and over and over and over...way beyond the point at which my patience has run out!

You also have the option to record audio. So DH can still "read" DD a bedtime story when he's away on business.

And they ALSO function as entertainment machines - DD can watch Peppa Pig or whatever in the car on the way to see the grandparents.

But, of course, you need to be responsible parent and limit screen time. Play outdoors, do arty things, bake, etc. It's part of their overall education.

iPads are amazing things, wish I'd had one as a kid. Just don't bother with the Leappad.

Definitely missing the point.

We have one for DS2(5.5) for Christmas. He has ASD and is non verbal (not reading or writing yet, but quite good with numbers relative to everything else) and I think he might actually get a lot out of it because it gives him both an auditory and visual reward for actually pointing and touching. If technology gives him a way to engage and hopefully, eventually, communicate with the world, then I'm all for it.

YABVU to be so prejudiced against it.

My kids both have Leapsters. DS got his first one when he was 4, then he got a Leapster 2 a couple of years ago and still plays with it sometimes, even though he's now nearly 8 and has had a DSi since last Christmas. He also still plays with his LeapPad. DD is 5 now, so got ds's old Leapster when she was 3. She loves the games like Letterpillar and Word Factory as well the Thomas game. She also has a My First LeapPad, which was ds's and which she got when he got the next LeapPad up. I have to admit I was a little dubious about them initially but they are definitely amongst those limited number of toys from which we have had amazing play value for money.

Of course, the great thing about them is that for younger children they are games consoles but the only games you can get are educational ones, unlike for the DS or PSP.

I think it's probably OK for 20 or so mins a day. More interactive than TV and in a way they are learning skills.

I got my 3 year old DD one for her birthday. She will play it some days (approx 3 times a week) for 20/30 minutes or so, but she likes me or DH to sit with her and go through the stories and games. She has picked up letter recognition really well since we got the console and I think it was a really good investment.

She still loves being read to and playing 'real' games and as skybluepearl says, I'd rather she spent half an hour playing on the game than watching TV.

I think a lot of people buy into this idea it's educational but nothing seems to back that up. And is it a coincidence that adhd is on the rise, when children are overstimulated from a young age and grow accustomed to entertainment on tap wherever they go?

my children would probably love it for the first few weeks, but like the ds, the kiddizoom camera and so many other gadgets it would probably get abandoned. I dont understand dh and I LOVE our gadgets our house it full of them we dont restrict their access and yet they wont play xbox games with me or play the ipad apps i downloaded them. On a more serious note, its just a toy not the work of the devil.

DS was using a computer to write words before he could hold pencils and write, I should imagine like all technology in moderation that it can be a very good educational thing, and uncontrolled it can be negative distraction. Like it or not, the children are growing up in a technology driven world, so there are going to be kiddie versions available. If you want to avoid it, then it's up to you what you buy, however I can see from my experience that you can use them for development as well as any toy that needs imagination.