LeapFrog Clickstart My First Computer
by LeapFrog
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List Price: Our Price: $44.28 You Save: $0.71 (2%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $14.81 (click here) Category: Toy See more product details |
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Toys and Games Reviews of LeapFrog Clickstart My First Computer
Customer Review: Great Learning Tool For Preschoolers!
Summary: 5 Stars
My 3-year old son received this for Christmas recently & he absolutely LOVES it; nearly a month later, he hasn't stopped playing with it! He took to it very quickly & is so adept with using the mouse especially that he can log himself in & out as well as navigate each of the games with ease. I think he'll be ready for a real computer next year at the rate he's going!
This is a very kid-friendly & educational toy; it has several games built into the console, & my son's favorites are ABC Tree & Scout's House. We bought him 3 other games including Bob The Builder, Thomas & Friends, as well as Finding Nemo, & he's quickly mastered them all! In the beginning, it takes some practice for your child to use the mouse as there's only a small area on the mouse pad; but once they take to it as my son did, it won't be long before they're pointing & clicking like pros!
I very much agree with the other reviewers that purchasing the AC adapter specifically for this game is a very wise investment; this will save you a LOT of money on batteries! The keyboard takes AA batteries as well, but it seems to hold up pretty well; after nearly constant use since Christmas, we haven't had to change the batteries yet.
Overall, this is a must-have learning tool which will not only help your child learn the basics of letters, numbers & problem solving, but will definitely educate them on how to use a computer. I highly recommend it!
Customer Review: Another doorstop to add to our collection
Summary: 2 Stars
Santa brought the Click Start system for my three-year-old daughter for Christmas. She used it once Christmas day for a few minutes, and when we went to use it again today the mouse was inoperable. It stuck in the bottom left hand corner of the television screen and would not move. After working on the mouse for 30 minutes, opening the compartment for the mouse wire and fiddling with it, we finally got it back up and running. After 20 more minutes of using the keyboard (and not the mouse), the mouse was again inoperable. I am furious that we spent so much money for a product that is so unreliable, and from such a high profile toy maker.
My experience with LeapFrog is that 9 times out of 10 the concept is better than the design. We have had issues with every LeapFrog toy we own, with the exception of the Leapster. We had the globe, and three Leap Pads and have had issues with every one. I am such a sucker for the educational and fun aspects of the products, that I keep falling for it. This is, for sure, the very last LeapFrog product I will buy. It is unbelievable to me that they continue to churn out such poor quality products and charge such exorbitant prices for them. I am also going to be contacting LeapFrog to see about getting a refund for this item as I am so outraged and disappointed.
Customer Review: Great toy - my 3 year old LOVES it.
Summary: 5 Stars
My parents bought our daughter this toy for Hanukkah, about 6 weeks before her 3rd birthday. At first, this toy was a fairly expensive flop. Our daughter was not too interested in it and was frustrated with trying to use the mouse. However, she has gradually become interested in this toy and now LOVES it. So if your child doesn't like this toy at first, don't despair! S/he may change his/her mind as s/he becomes more proficient with the mouse and keyboard.
At first, my husband and I had to select the games for our daughter and ended up playing them ourselves half the time because operating the mouse was beyond her skill level and she would become frustrated. Now, she can select games using the mouse all by herself and does quite well with the games - even those that require her to use a mouse. This is a fantastic toy for teaching basic computer skills without letting your child touch a real (expensive) computer. The games are very educational. Right now, she is primarily interested in the games that are programmed into the machine itself. These games have done a great job teaching her basic computer skills. While this is a video game system, it does not feel like we are letting our daughter play video games because the interface is so computer like and because the games are so educational.
Customer Review: Durable, Educational AND Fun - a wonderful toy!
Summary: 5 Stars
My son received this for his second birthday, and while he was admittedly too young to get the full benefit, he is now three and wants to use it every day. It has familiarized him with a QWERTY keyboard, which is fantastic in my book since many kids' laptop and computer toys put letters in alphabetical order, not how they are on a real keyboard. The mouse can also be moved to either side, so if you have a lefty or a righty, a quick move gets the mouse where they need it.
The Clickstart comes with a few games pre-loaded, some that deal with letters and the keyboard, some with arrow keys and some with the mouse. There are also two levels, so beginners and kiddos who have some experience with it can each have a good time.
My son loves the ABC tree, which starts asking children to press any letter they like, and then progresses into asking them to find specific letters on the keyboard. The keyboard is color-coded (each of three lines has a different color), which also makes it easier to learn your way around the keyboard. If my son ever gets stuck on a letter, he'll ask me what color it is so he can find it easier.
His other favorite game is Scout's House, which involves using the mouse to direct the puppy around his house and backyard - another great game!
Customer Review: Prepare for spending your toddler's college tuition on batteries
Summary: 2 Stars
My son received this as a gift when he was 3 1/2. I was attracted to this because (a) uses any TV instead of a computer, (b) has a standard QWERTY keyboard as opposed to some alphabetical units, and (c) features a realistic mouse.
The standard/built-in games are limited, but OK for teaching basic keyboard and mouse familiarity. We have not purchased any of the add-on games because the units are ALWAYS DEAD. Both the keyboard unit (pictured) and the control unit (which plugs into the TV) require a substantial number of batteries. And those batteries don't last long. They keyboard does not have an 'off' setting; it just goes into sleep mode. So unless you store it in a cabinet, every time a key is pressed or the mouse is jiggled, it starts up again.
I recently complained to LeapFrog about the amount of batteries the unit requires. Their only recommendation was to remove the batteries after every use. Ya know, go grab a screwdriver and remove the battery pack from TWO units after every use??! Forget it.
For the high cost, be prepared to spend just as much on batteries. There are power adapters available for purchase, but if the battery life is so short, they should include these with the product and make battery use optional.