I'm just another working mom seeking a few moments of Zen and zinfandel between soccer practice and supper. My former beach bartender husband founded 
My fairy blogmother apparently took pity on me since my last product review was for bleach. Granted it was the sexy Tom Jones of bleaches, but she decided I needed a little excitement in my life, or at least some toys to distract my girls during the holidays. A PR representative for LeapFrog toys e-mailed me before Thanksgiving and asked if I would be interested in reviewing a couple of hot holiday toys. I wrote her back as fast as you can say, “Mama needs a personal shopper and a pitcher of margaritas, stat.” (Although, who am I kidding…a pitcher of margaritas would leave me comatose and subsequently hungover like a freshman the morning after her first frat party.)
The LeapFrog brand toys are already favorites at our house so when the box from LeapFrog arrived it was like Christmas in November. Caitlin instantly took to the Lightning McQueen game for the Leapster Learning Game System (or Lightning the Queen, as she says.) And as I type this review she is playing with the Backyardigans game, which is enabling me to have a few minutes to blog! (Bonus!) I was a little concerned at first that it might be too complicated for her but after about 10 minutes she was glued to her Leapster and maneuvering the controls with ease. It was great to bring along in the car Thanksgiving day while we traveled to see our parents. The only problem is that I have had to limit her time playing with it. But for rainy days or road trips or those times you need a few minutes to yourself, it’s a hit.
LeapFrog also sent us the Little Leaps Grow-with-Me Learning System for Amelia to test drive. It’s targeted for children ages 9 to 36 months. The system works via your television and DVD player and the interactive learning discs come in either baby or toddler level. The controls actually flip over so that the toddler version has a joystick for your child to maneuver the games and the baby controls are colorful shaped buttons. Although it’s geared toward babies and toddlers, even Caitlin has enjoyed helping baby sister play with the First Steps disc, which helps introduce numbers, counting, shapes, and colors.
Now these toys are not inexpensive and the discs and cartridges are also a little pricey (Caitlin already has her eyes on the Dora game). If I had to choose between the two, I’d pick the Leapster, geared toward older children.
p.s. LeapFrog has a great lineup of educational and interactive online games on their website that are free and are quite entertaining.
I LOVE the Leapster toys…truly. My kids (ages 3-7) use them alot. They love them. Oh, and they are great for road trips!
I bought John M. the Grow-With-Me Learning system for Christmas. I hope he likes it! Thanks for the review.
Ohhh, WOW. I’m TOTALLY jealous. What a great great (and totally fun) review to do!
AHHHH, I really REALLY need to remember to LOG OUT. I finally did so NOW when I comment I AM ME. (BTW: I don’t even remember your password or have it anymore. I just forgot to LOG OUT. I’m. A. Dork.)
Previous comment from me, not Jamie’s other personality.
Or is it? Muhahahahahahaaaaaa.
Great review! Thanks for the info, Jamie. I’ve been considering Leapfrog toys for Christmas presents. We may have to get the Little Leaps Grow-with-Me Learning System for Delaney. She received the LeapFrog Interactive Learn & Groove Musical Table from Santa at our company’s children’s Christmas party on Friday night and has been playing with it ever since.
Taking a break
Alright, I’m going to take a break for a little while and do some yard work. Because unlike some of you (and some more of you, I don’t have any slaves kids to do the work for me. Back in…
In case you can’t tell, that picture is a gratuitous cute children picture of Caitlin playing with the Leapster on Thanksgiving morning and Amelia plotting a way to take it from her.
Your post makes one think! Great article. Thanks for allowing me to comment!
I love Christmas great time of the year.
[...] are big fans of LeapFrog toys at our house. Both my girls have Leapsters, we have a Tag reading system, and as babies they spent hours playing with their LeapFrog musical [...]