Leapfrog is one of the major players in the education toy industry. Popular products include the Leapster Explorer and the Leapfrog Tag.
Leapfrog Toys Range
History Of Leapfrog
Leapfrog Leappad
Leapfrog gained popularity with parents and educators with their highly successful Leap Pad release.
This interactive learning toy which is still widely used and loved (my family included) utilises a pen connected to a reading device and when the pen comes in contact with a specific location on a specific page, a sound emanates through the speakers of the reader.
The reader can be used to read words for the child, play games or simply engage them with the words and pictures on the page via sound effects and music.
The Leappad has gone through a number of incarnations including the Read and Write Leap Pad which allows the child to practice writing on the Leap pad books then wipe off the ink. The Leap Pad Quantum is a more compact version for older students, with book releases aimed at the 3rd-6th Grades.
Leapfrog Tag
In 2008 the LeapPad was phased out and replaced by the Tag Reading System.
The advantage of the Tag over the Leappad is that it is much more streamlined, simply a large looking pen device that children run over specially designed books.
A speaker in the reading device then interacts with the book and performs similar functions to the LeapPad reading system.
The Tag has become a huge success and an increasing number of books are being released as Leapfrog moves into 2010.
In late 2009 a new Tag Reading System was released that allowed storage of 10 books (rather than 5) and was accompanied by the book The Cat In The Hat by Dr Seuss.
Leappad Tablet
In 2011 the company released the Leappad Tablet.
The tablet is a multimedia touch screen device which is compatible with the Leapster Explorer library as well as cross compatible with Leapfrog Tag books.
LeapPad has 2 GB of memory, and a 5″ touch screen with 480×272 resolution. It offers kids motion-based play with a sensor and includes a built-in camera, video recorder, microphone and stylus.
Leapster Multimedia Learning Systems
Leapster Generation 1
The Leapfrog Leapster multimedia learning system was initially released in 2003. Designed as an educational version of popular handheld gaming consoles like the Nintendo Gameboy it was a huge success.
It offered parents an alternative to the thumb-numbing console game trend in that it taught much more than hand-eye co-ordination and focused on teaching traditional educational skills in a non-traditional way.
Numeracy, spelling, writing are skills taught by the specially designed games for the system. The success of Leapfrog’s products allows them to attract major franchise names to the brand so kids can learn along with Disney and other cartoon characters.
Leapster 2
As with the LeapPad, the Leapster has gone through several versions, including the Leapster L-Max which allows connection to television screens so kids can play on the big screen. The original generation one Leapster was succeeded in 2008 by the Leapster 2.
The wonderful thing about the Leapstersystems is that they are both forwards/backwards compatible. That is, Leapster games designed for the original Leapster console will work on Leapster 1 and 2 systems.
Also, games designed for the Leapster 2 will work on the Leapster 2 and the older version.
Leapster Explorer
In July 2010 Leapfrog released the Leapster Explorer. It is a touch screen device with many advancements over the Leapster 2.
The screen is larger and will display many more details than its predecessors. A camera attachment is also available allowing kids to take photos and then doodle on them with the stylus.
You can read our Leapster Explorer review here.
