Little Touch LeapPad
by LeapFrog

Our Price: $99.95
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Category: Toy
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Product Summary

• Choose from 3 learning experiences, each designed to keep your child engaged and stimulate development
• More than 100 early learning activities that introduce ABCs, letter sounds, numbers, colors, shapes, reading readiness and more
• Young "readers" touch pictures to make them come to life
• Designed to build essential skills at an early age
• Early learning in every book, on every page, with every touch!

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• LeapFrog LittleTouch LeapPad Educational Book: Guess How Much I Love You

Toys and Games Reviews of Little Touch LeapPad

Customer Review: Tough for a toddler but not that terrible!
Summary: 4 Stars

With my approval, my parents bought it for my daughter at Christmas (then 14 months). I got her the other books along the way so that now that she's 20 months she has them all.

What I like best about this product is its range for ages within the one toy. It really will work for 6-36 months because of the 3 settings. Each story/page does something slightly different based on the child's level. In the early days, you can just push the buttons and "read" it through with your child on your lap. Setting 1 is mostly musical and interesting to small infants. As they get older and like to push and point and turn pages, you'll have to guide them through it on Setting 2 with short phrases that describe things. My daughter has been on this setting the whole time (1 was too dull for her at first and 3 was too long & involved for her patience). She's probably about ready to graduate to #3 setting but is pretty content with 2 yet. Still, it's impresive that all that info is packed into those little pages!

What I like least about this product is the hard-to-push pages. It can be tough to get a response unless you really smash your finger on it. It's even harder for objects near the book's spine (center). It's also tough when your child tries to push so hard that the page slides over and actually activates the wrong thing. I started helping her pushing her finger or letting her point at it and I push it for her. Now she can get all of the to go but sometimes uses her thumb for more pushing power!

The other problem most people have is with the GO button on each page. It is a bit irritating to teach each time but can be learned by a toddler. However the location changes on each spread so they have to search for it. It's sad to see your child pushing an item on one page and the sound saying it's something else. Confusing! But that's why I always play with it with her! And the lightbulb thing is more interactive with a learning lesson but seems too drawn out for a toddler's short patience levels.

The books themselves lock in and stay in well and the pages are pretty indestructible. They don't seem to be able to be torn/ripped but will wrinkle and crease some. The little activity pages are poorly designed though. They don't sit in the pad very well and take 2 special button pushes (go button & lightbulb) to activate. They also aren't labeled as to which storybook they match so it can be tricky to get the right responses once they get mixed up!

As others have said, the on/off button right on the top front is too enticing for a busy toddler. I tried covering it with my hand at times but if your child still insists on doing that, put the leappad away for a while. The volume is quite loud (as most toys are these days!) but can be adjusted (unfortunately, your child can figure that out fast too b/c it's right by the on/off button!). I think these would be better on the top (where the cartridge sets in) so they don't see them. Another tip: for too-loud toys, I put scotch tape over the speaker vents to muffle it some. Your child may peel it off now and then but it still saves some hearing loss!

More good things: the lap cushion is comfortable. The handle at the top is good. It's about the right size for a lap. Good for quality bonding together time.

Some books are better than others; some are better at different ages than others. Some have irritating music or voices or sounds but most are pretty pleasing.

Overall, my 20-month-old daughter has now gotten the hang of it really well and can sit for longer stretches playing it herself which she enjoys. But there were some months where it stayed hidden because she just didn't seem ready for it. I may start a little sooner with my second child to see if that would make a difference or not.

One funny thing: I watched her try to read one of the stories the other day with it NOT in the leappad. She just had it on her lap and was pushing the items but obviously didn't get any reaction. Made me fret for a few minutes about her suddenly thinking all BOOKS can be pushed to get a response/sound. Not good but probably not a major concern. We've always read lots of REAL BOOKS (and there is NO substitute for that!) but this is a good alternative now and then.

Description of Little Touch LeapPad

Learning & Education Toys

• Categories > Electronics for Kids > Educational Computers & Accessories
• Baby & Toddler Toys