leapfrog

LeapFrog Tag Reader Giveaway

Comment #39 was the random pick for the LeapFrog Tag prize pack. Amy, who commented, “I pledged 20 minutes per day (total time 10 hrs. 20 mins.). I love that a library is going to benefit from this contest, as well. Thanks!” is the winner. Thanks to everyone who entered!

I love to read with my girls but I know I don’t do it nearly enough as I should. In celebration of NEA’s National Reading Month, LeapFrog has launched 1 Million Reading Hours where you can pledge to set aside at least 10 minutes a day to read with your kids.

We reviewed the Tag reader back in the fall and it is a big hit with my girls, both my Miss A, who just turned 4, and my now reading chapter books first grader, Miss C. It’s great for beginning readers, especially, and the magic “pen” brings the special Tag books to life. There are also fun interactive games built into the Tag books and the library continues to expand. Miss A received the Dora Goes to School Tag book for her birthday last week and loves it. There are children’s reading classics in the Tag library of books, too, like The Little Engine That Could and Green Eggs and Ham.

leapfrog-tag

Now for the fun part. You knew there was a reason why I was bringing all this up, didn’t you?

Leave a comment here telling me how much time you pledged in the LeapFrog 1 Million Reading Hours Campaign. I will randomly choose one winner from all eligible comments left by midnight (CST) March 31 to receive a green Tag reader (a 2009 Toys of the Year winner!), five books (chosen by LeapFrog) for your own use, as well as an expanded-memory LeapFrog School Tag reader plus an additional 10 books chosen by LeapFrog to donate to your local library!

Leapin’ Leapfrog!

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.