droolicious : leapfrog

Giveaway: Win a LeapFrog Tag Reading System + 2 Dr. Seuss Books!

Aaron Burgess — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 16:00:00 GMT

Happy National Reading Month! To help mark the occasion, we're teaming up with LeapFrog to give away 10 of the company's award-winning Tag Reading Systems to lucky Droolicious readers. And since this month also happens to mark another very special event -- the 105th birthday of Dr. Seuss -- LeapFrog has thrown in two classic Seuss titles redone especially for Tag: The Cat in the Hat and Green Eggs and Ham. That's around $78 worth of reading fun altogether!

Read along with the kiddoes, or turn them loose with Tag's interactive talking pen so they can explore pages, passages and individual words in the Seuss classics or the equally fun Ozzie and Mack, which comes as part of the Tag core system. And be sure to visit LeapFrog.com during National Reading Month to sign up for the 1 Million Reading Hours Pledge, LeapFrog's new program to encourage a love for reading. You'll get a free reward certificate and a $10 coupon toward Tag products at Toys "R" Us when you sign up to pledge participation.

As for this contest, here's the skinny: To enter, just email us at babblecontest@gmail.com with your name, address and daytime phone number. We're keeping the giveaway open all month, so spread the word -- 10 winners will be chosen at random on March 31.

Good luck!

New from LeapFrog: This Book is Alive!

elizabeth leach — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 15:30:00 GMT

Why should the big kids have all the fun? LeapFrog’s highly successful and award winning Tag Reading System gives big kids the world of books at their fingertips and, now, toddlers can have fun discovering books and learning to love reading, too. Tag Junior is made for little hands and is perfect for their stage of reading development.

This is how it works: Touch the cute Tag Junior Book Pal anywhere on the book and hear the text spoken, sound effects or music. It doesn’t matter where you touch the book, something always happens! Parents download the audio to the Book Pal from their computer. Book Pal holds up to five books at a time so this is the perfect toy for travel or on the go. (A super adorable carrying case is sold separately.)

Nine books will be available this summer with classic titles, favorite characters and original stories, too. The Tag Junior System will be sold for $34.99 and books will be $10.99.

New from LeapFrog: Run, Jump and Dance with Disney Characters!

elizabeth leach — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 20:00:00 GMT

Introducing The Zippity Learning System; LeapFrog and Disney’s exciting gaming partnership. This is the first TV based gaming system for preschoolers that integrates education, music, full body movement and, of course, fun! Lots of fun!

Enjoy Playhouse Disney with dancing, jumping, running and learning preschool skills like math, music and language. The toy consists of a floor mat and a tummy high joystick that work wirelessly with the Zippity console. Zippity comes with eight games with characters from The Mickey Mouse Club, Little Einsteins and Winnie the Pooh, to name a few. Additional games are available for $24.99 each. For ages 3-5. Available this summer for around $79.99.

New from LeapFrog: My Pal Scout

elizabeth leach — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 15:00:00 GMT

LeapFrog's toys instill an early love of learning by making learning fun. LeapFrog's new toys for 2009 are truly impressive and really stand out from the pack. My Pal Scout, the new learning plush toy can be personalized with your child's name, favorite activities and favorite things (like food and colors) so Scout can interact with your child.

My Pal Scout also introduces first words, counting, daily routines and plays songs. Thirty songs are available to download using a USB cable and five come preloaded on the toy. Scout is available in two fresh colors: My Pal Scout is green and My Pal Violet is purple. This is, by far, the best interactive plush toy I've seen! Available this summer for the amazing price of around $19.99. For children six months and up.

LeapFrog Sitewide Deals Extended But Going Fast

Aaron Burgess — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 18:30:00 GMT

Lisa tipped us off to the 25% sitewide sale at LeapFrog.com that was originally slated to end on Cyber Monday, but LeapFrog has kept the deal going on selected products while further slashing prices and shipping costs on others. The Leapster2 Learning System handheld pictured here, for instance, is now $10 its regular price of $69.99, and that's just the start.

Below, we've rounded up some other hot deals you'll find at LeapFrog.com today (which, incidentally, also happens to be Free Shipping Day). Midnight on Dec. 19 seems to be the ending date for most of these, so get to it!

Free shipping on all orders of $49.99 or more

Save 25% off Tag Reading System, Leapster2, Didj Custom Gaming System, and ClickStart My First Computer purchases, or snag a FLY Fusion Pentop Computer for just $29.99 (regularly $29.99)

Buy a Didj and a Crammer Study and Sound System together, and save $55 of the regular combined price of $155 (enter promo code HY8NDC)

Get a Tag Learn to Read Gift Pack (six talking books plus the Tag electronic pen reader) for $83 (regularly $119)

Save $72 on a Didj Hannah Montana Gift Pack (regularly $152) and $35 on a Star Wars-themed Leapster2 (regularly $104.98)

Just $39.99 (regularly $132.96 to $162.95) for the FLY Fusion Ultimate Homework, Writer's and Math Pro Gift Packs.

Babble Giveaway: Win a LeapFrog Didj + Hannah Montana Game! (Ends 12/1)

Aaron Burgess — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 19:04:00 GMT

When we first got some hands-on time with Didj, LeapFrog's new learning-game system designed to knock that learning-averse DS Lite out of your kids' hands, we went gaga: Not only does Didj play like a typical high-quality handheld -- which is to say, it blows away the simplistic graphics and gameplay usually associated with learning games -- but it also packs enough character-based kid allure to keep little ones returning to it.

This week, in fact, LeapFrog announced the latest in its series of licensed games, a Hannah Montana title aimed at girls in 3rd through 5th grade, and we've got a copy of the game and a Didj to play it on ready to give away to one lucky Droolicious visitor!

To enter the contest, just email your name, address and daytime phone number to us at babblecontest@gmail.com. On Dec. 1, we'll draw one winner from the pool of entries to receive a brand-new Didj ($89.99 value) and Hannah Montana game ($29.99 value).

Here's the skinny on the game -- which helps to teach multiplication, division, vocabulary, and time management skills -- straight from LeapFrog:

Help Miley study so Hannah Montana can take the stage! Miley is scheduled to perform as Hannah Montana this weekend, but only if she passes her big test at school on Friday. With four days to go, can you help Miley make the grade? Use your skills to fly through quizzes and puzzles so the show can go on! Earn points as you play to customize the game with outfits, dance moves and special effects for Miley's concert, and choose the skills you need to study for school!

For the full specs on Didj and the LeapFrog Learning Path online tool exclusive to all three of the company's "LeapFrog Connected" systems, visit the LeapFrog shop.

Cram and Jam: LeapFrog's Crammer Study System Launches

Aaron Burgess — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 21:00:00 GMT

Aimed at grades 3 through 8, LeapFrog's Crammer Study and Sound System rolls into stores today, and as with the equally impressive Didj we covered not too long ago, this one's as much a winner in design as it is in practice. Where the Didj sneaks curriculum-based learning into grade schoolers' hands through a vibrant, Nintendo DS-style shell, the Crammer is clearly designed for those kids' older siblings: The gadget looks like a cross between an iPod and a GPS device, and like the former, it also plays digital music files, making it the rare learning device kids won't be shy about showing off in the hallway at school.

Obviously, any music collection you load into the Crammer is meant to be secondary to the device's greater purpose, and given the storage space, we're only talking around 10 hours' worth of music, anyway. Navigating through a click screen, kids can access over 16,000 math, science, language-arts and social-studies questions, some examples of which the folks at LeapFrog were nice enough to provide for us (scroll to the bottom of this post if you're the impatient type). The Mac- and PC-compatible LeapFrog Connect Application, which comes bundled with the Crammer, also lets kids drill a little deeper into their test prep: Just upload content to the device via a USB cable to create your own digital flash cards for whatever subjects happen to be the current focus.

Like the Didj, the Crammer is also connected with the LeapFrog Learning Path, a free online tool that lets Mom and Dad track how kids' study habits are progressing. Data moves from the Crammer into your customized Learning Path every time the device is connected to your computer, and whether you choose to access the Learning Path through your Web browser (where you also get tips on learning enrichment) or through email progress reports, you can review what the kids are downloading and how they're using the data.

Available for $59.99 from the LeapFrog Store, the Crammer Study and Sound System also packs two games and a Spanish translator. You can customize the device with an accessory/skins kit ($12.99) and a soft case ($9.99), and if you haven't yet seen the frog/firefighter commercial that's been floating around, here's an extremely quick look at the Crammer in hand:

Last but not least, here's that sneak peek at the Crammer's questions we were promising -- check these out to see if you are indeed smarter than a 5th grader:

Grade 5 Science Questions:

1) What do creatures in the deep ocean use light for?
A) to lure in food
B) to see better
C) to signal danger
D) to read

2) Where is the Earth’s most carbon found?
A) In the atmosphere
B) In oceans
C) In fossil fuels
D) In plants

3) What is the name for the type of energy stored in chocolate?
A) Mechanical energy
B) Electrical energy
C) Chemical energy
D) Delicious energy

Answers:
1) A
2) B
3) C

Grade 5 Math Questions:

1) Find the next three numbers in the following pattern: 10, 11, 13, 16, 20...
A) 25, 31, 38
B) 24, 29, 35
C) 25, 30, 36
D) 25, 31, 40

2) A recipe calls for 2 pints of water, and you have a one-cup measure. How many cups do you need?
A) 2
B) 3
C) 4
D) 8

3) In space, each point has 2 coordinates to describe its location.
A) True
B) False

Answers:
1) A
2) C
3) B – each has 3 coordinates

Grade 6-8 Math Questions:

1) Assume that 16% of the pretzels in a bag are broken. If a bag contains 177 pretzels, how many are broken?
A. 30
B. 11
C. 34
D. 36

2) What is the balance of the following bank account: $198 earns 15% interest for three years?
A) $290.27
B) $301.13
C) $305.45
D) $287.10

3) What is the area of a square field 50 yards on each side?
A) 50 yards
B) 100 yards
C) 6,250,000 yards
D) 2,500 yards

Answers:
1) A
2) B
3) D

Spike, Barbie, TAG and Gazillion-Selling New Star Wars Game Top TRU's 2008 Hot List

Aaron Burgess — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 22:50:00 GMT

Toys"R"Us today rolled out its annual Hot Holiday Toys shopping guide, and though we're not sure of the exact scientific process the company used to nail down its picks for this season, the list is looking pretty much like we'd expect: Star Wars, Barbie, LeapFrog and robots of various stripes.

Fisher-Price's big honkin' animatronic beast Spike the Ultra Dinosaur ($139.99; pictured above) heads up this year's list, even if today he doesn't seem to be available online. Check back, though, because Toys"R"Us is throwing in a "buy two, get a third free" deal on all Imaginext (the series for which Spike is the alpha male) toys bought through its site.

Ditto on that deal for Barbie toys: Throw Princess Liana ($24.99) here into your online cart, add a friend, and you can pick up a third Barbie free.

Star Wars: The Force Unleashed ($49.99), the Clone Wars-clobberin' new adventure that's already sold 1.5 million copies since its release Sept. 16, may not be aimed at the littler gamers in your family, but if you or your older kids haven't yet wielded your Force-lightning as Vader's Secret Apprentice, we guarantee you'll want a copy this season.

And finally, our old friend TAG ($49.99), the newly launched reading system (complete with accompanying book series) from LeapFrog that's like a virtual phonics teacher/video game in pen form, is kicking much behind in the learning-toy category. It's pictured above in a pink version, but if you're looking to go more gender-neutral, there's a green counterpart.

This, of course, is just the start of Toys"R"Us' list this season -- hit up Hot Holiday Toys for a look at everything your little ones will be demanding come December, and in the meantime, let's start talking: Drop us a note in the comments about your own picks for the best toys of '08.

7 Days of Educational Toys: LeapFrog Didj

Aaron Burgess — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 15:04:00 GMT

It's being promoted as an educational device rather than a Nintendo competitor, but one look at LeapFrog's new Didj Custom Gaming System makes it pretty clear this gadget is aiming to knock that DS Lite out of your grade-schooler's hands.

LeapFrog has traditionally been known for going lighter on graphics, but the Didj makes improvements both visually and educationally: Kids used to higher-end handheld gizmos will feel right at home with the system's high-resolution visuals, and the games' learning functions also aim to keep Mom and Dad in on the experience.

Though there's no wireless element, the Didj's computer connectivity (via an included USB cable) allows you to keep a short leash on how and what your kids are playing. You can choose the math and spelling skills you'd like the games to focus on, create custom spelling lists so Junior can practice for upcoming tests, and go online to track the kids' progress.

The LeapFrog Didj is $89.99, with accessories and games -- including Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Indiana Jones, Nancy Drew and SpongeBob Squarepants -- starting at $23.99 each. Visit the LeapFrog store to stock up, and if you buy two or more games before Aug. 31, enter promo code FL8DJA at checkout to knock $10 off your order.

7 Days of Video Games: Leapster Learning Game System

Heather Kuldell — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 03:56:00 GMT

We are a family of geeks. With geekdom comes the burden of too many game systems, a pile of peripherals, and of course, calls of “When is it my turn?” from the little guy. Despite the sexy lure of the PS3, DS and Wii, I prefer he logs in hours with his Leapster.

LeapFrog has released the Leapster2 since I got the Leapster a few years ago, but the original is still a solid system. Ours is about two years old and remarkably, despite hundreds of drops, it works. Both of the Leapsters play the same game cartridges, which feature educational games rated by grades (pre-K, kindergarten, etc). Kids advance by counting, identifying letters, or as they get older, doing math problems or reading. This alleviates the guilt some parents may feel for letting their kids play. I don’t have that guilt, but at least I don’t have to share my DS.

Part of the reason I’m recommending the original Leapster is that it’s pretty cheap now that the new one’s out. (The difference, besides the sleeker appearance is that the Leapster2 connects to additional games online.) You can snag them for $49.99 on LeapFrog’s site. Don't forget to get some rechargeable batteries.

The Babble Review: Leapfrog Tag Reading System

Aaron Burgess — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 15:04:00 GMT

Leapfrog's new Tag Reading System officially went on sale this past weekend, and based on the few days' experience I and mine have had with the gadget, it's looking as though this one could be a monster hit.

If you're familiar with LeapFrog's popular LeapPad or FLY Fusion Pentop Computer, you're halfway to understanding how to use Tag -- and given the intended audience (pre-readers ages 4-8), the learning curve here is short even when compared to LeapPad (with the older-kid-oriented FLY, it doesn't even compare). Outside of the included USB cable and PC program, the latter of which is used for keeping track of your budding reader's progress and downloading additional content, the technology is contained inside the pen. Simply point the infrared tip at words or icons in the accompanying books -- more on those in a second -- and Tag brings them to life.

My middle child, who just turned 5 and is itching to read as well as his 7-year-old brother does, tested Tag on two books in the system's library: Ozzie and Mack, which comes with the basic system, and SpongeBob SquarePants: The Tour de Bikini Bottom, which is among the 20-plus Tag-compatible books sold separately. (For those not into cartoon-themed books, there are several kids' classics -- from The Little Engine That Could to Olivia and beyond -- available, as well.) After a few minutes of mild impatience during which I installed the PC program and downloaded the audio content for SpongeBob, my son was able to start using the Tag pen, and though I attempted to cover the ins and outs of the system before handing it over, it didn't take long for him to figure it out on his own.

Though Tag's audio doesn't come close to the pristine, stereo-quality sound portrayed in the online demo, it's also nothing to sneeze at: As my son moved the pen across the pages in either book, the words came to life in surprisingly crisp detail regardless of whether he was playing whole sections, listening to the entire book, or moving one word at a time through the page (by far one of Tag's best features). Depending on how fast he was moving the pen, or how close to the center of a longer word he applied the pen, there was some mild garbling in which the words sometimes ran together (sort of akin to the sound you get when you rapidly mouse-click a piece of Flash audio), but for the most part, Tag came across like a steady, patient reading instructor working one word at a time through each paragraph.

My son isn't reading yet -- it's only been a few days! -- but as he and I have been going through the books together, I get the feeling that he'll be better prepared to start ahead of schedule with Tag's help. The fact that he can spend hours poring over a SpongeBob story when we normally cut off his TV time after an episode doesn't hurt, either.

Available pretty much everywhere you'd expect, Tag is $49.99 for the starter system, and $13.99 for additional books -- and if you buy it through LeapFrog's online store, you can also make a pledge to trade up your used LeapPad, Little Touch or My First LeapPad to receive a free book, T. Rex's Mighty Roar. (Offer ends June 30.)

Enter to Win LeapFrog's Brightlings Exploration Station + a Shot at $25K Toward College Tuition

Aaron Burgess — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 18:02:00 GMT

We're giving away LeapFrog's award-winning new Brightlings Exploration Station ($39.99 retail value) to three lucky readers! Recommended for ages 6 months to 3 years, the Exploration Station offers three playing modes and helps to teach concepts such as counting, language and opposites through fun interactive play with the Bitty Brights pals (three included).

To enter: Just email us at babblecontest@gmail.com with your name, address and daytime phone number, and "Brightlings Giveaway" in the subject line. Contest begins today and runs until Monday, Nov. 26, when three winners will be selected at random from the pool of entries.

Don't stop there: Once you've finished entering, take a second to show the world how smart your child is! Enter the LeapFrog Learning Moments contest for a chance to win $25,000 toward college tuition. Find out more at http://www.leapfrog.com/learningmoments.

It's a Tile Puzzle, it's a Video Game, it's WordLaunch!

Aaron Burgess — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 20:31:00 GMT

While some preschooler-aimed learning games operate sinisterly outside of preschoolers' comfort zones (factor in cartridges and software, and they aren't that easy on your wallet, either), here's something that may feel more familiar to little hands: The LeapFrog WordLaunch system ($39.99; ages 4 and up) combines a chunky, tile-based puzzle with a carnival-themed video game, allowing kids literally to build simple words and watch them appear on screen. Simply plug the WordLaunch into your TV's A/V inputs, and choose from 13 different games aimed at teaching phonics, word-building, short and long vowels, and consonant blends. As built-in bonuses for grown-ups, batteries are included, and the system and its 32 letter tiles tuck away neatly when play is finished.