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Original poster

I think the leappad is just rubbish

44 replies

emkana · 15/12/2005 22:10

Dd1 who is four has one and two books to go with it - Princess Stories and a Winnie the Pooh one.

Wanted to buy her another one for Christmas but none of them look appealing - they are all based on films she hasn't seen (Nemo, Lion King) or there's Bratz, which I don't like...

Why isn't there anything else???

And then there's the leappad plus writing now, and if you want the books to go with that then of course you have to buy a whole new machine...

a rip-off IMO.

OP posts:
MrsSpoon · 15/12/2005 22:15

My DS1 would love one but I'm not convinced myself. I think they are a waste of money too.

mazzystar · 15/12/2005 22:17

was jsut this moment going to start a thread asking are they any good?

can anyone pls explain basic concept....

feastofsteven · 15/12/2005 22:18

Mazzy - if you go to the Waterstones in Liverpool, they have got one you can try out in the Kids' section! It's an electronic interactive book basically - with lots of noises/songs etc.

hunkermunker · 15/12/2005 22:19

I don't like the concept. What's wrong with books and pencils?

Original poster
emkana · 15/12/2005 22:19

It's an interactive book, you have a pen and with it you can have the book read to you, play games, touch single words etc.

I like the concept, but the reality doesn't live up to it IMO.

OP posts:
mazzystar · 15/12/2005 22:20

so i can basically do it myself?

WeWhizzzYouAMerryXmas · 15/12/2005 22:21

There are the Tad books too with basic letters & reading rather than film characters

Yorkiegirl · 15/12/2005 22:21

Message withdrawn

hunkermunker · 15/12/2005 22:21

I just hate the voices and tinny music on them.

WeWhizzzYouAMerryXmas · 15/12/2005 22:21

DS (5) has several books - he prefers the games that are on each page - I suppose they are educational so not too bad

LUCYlastiKATEdchristmastocking · 15/12/2005 22:22

dd has the dora the explorer one and loves it. she's also got a leapster and is a big fan of that too. she's nearly 4. i know this type of electronic game is not everyones cup of tea, but we do alot of travelling, and they do keep her entertained in the car

Jbck · 15/12/2005 22:22

We went to the ELC try out mornings a few times & DD just didn't take to it although she likes learning about letters & numbers. Met a little boy on holiday who had the Leapster & she loved it so that's what she's getting for Xmas. Although I paid blinkin' £52 see my thread about bargain one's.

misdee · 15/12/2005 22:23

hinker i dont like them either.

mazzystar · 15/12/2005 22:27

is leapster and leappad same thing different brands?

and is it all disneyficated?

feastofsteven · 15/12/2005 22:28

I think Leapster is more game playerish and Leappad is more educational iyswim. There are different books you get for it, so some are disnified, like Winnie the Pooh, and there's other stuff like Finding Nemo, Thomas the Tank Engine etc.

Glitterygook · 15/12/2005 22:30

Jools and I tried one out in Mothercare once and didn't likeit. Just seemed a bit naff and not very good quality.

Original poster
emkana · 15/12/2005 22:30

dora the explorer is not for the leappad though is it? Otherwise I'd get it, as dd loves dora.

OP posts:
Glitterygook · 15/12/2005 22:31

I've got ds1 and ds2 the VTECH console that you plug inot the tv and that has dora and thomas games 9comes with winnie the pooh I think) - not sure if thies will be better but it was recommended.

Yorkiegirl · 15/12/2005 22:31

Message withdrawn

LUCYlastiKATEdchristmastocking · 15/12/2005 22:35

they are both made by leapfrog. leappad we have is the 'my first leappad'. its a spiral bound book with an electronic pen. the leapster is a touch sensitive screen, is smaller, handheld game. the leapster is still educational, dd has the disney princess game and it teaches drawing the letters of the alphabet by following the dance steps of cinderella at the ball

Original poster
emkana · 15/12/2005 22:38

my first leappad has a few books which I like the look of. That's the thing though, they have my first leappad, leappad, leappad plus writing...

so they want you to buy all the different machines to have the full choice of the books, and that p*es me off.

OP posts:
bobbybobbobbingalong · 15/12/2005 23:21

I was so disappointed to discover that the books are just made of paper and aren't all laminated like the display ones. We had one from the toy library, but personally I prefer to read to ds.

Now if they had licensed Hairy Maclary, Gruffalo etc. then I would be a million times more keen.

But Disney? - nah, just watch a DVD with the subtitles on!

skerriesmum · 15/12/2005 23:31

There are Dora Leap Pad books for the My First Leap Pad.
Again, they are good for long car journeys, we couldn't have commuted an hour to work/nursery without Leap!

MARINAtivityPlay · 15/12/2005 23:37

I'm with hunker and misdee.
Pencils, paper and real, non-talking, picture books much better.
Dd was given a flashy baby Tad toy and never plays with it. The voice is just
I do feel that this marketing emphasis on helping a child "learn" is wrong...especieally when the toy talks

feastofsteven · 15/12/2005 23:40

on the subject of electronically talking toys, one thing that really freaks me out is that baby toy ?vtech Alfie where a stuffed animal says "I love you". That just feels a bit wrong really

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