Leap pad advice please

[speedi-deedi]

My just turned 6 DS is having struggling with letters/sounds/early reading in kindergarten. So, I think the leap pad would be a good investment for us (and a superb C-mas idea since I've been racking my brain for what to get him....our older son is just 2 yrs older and I think our house already has everything else a boy needs!!)

So, my question is: Which one? The regular leap pad looks like the obvious choice, but here are my issues:
- He could use the practice writing, but I've read that the leap pad plus writing version book's pages aren't real sturdy so I've decided to skip that one.
- Quantum - has a cooler 'look' that I wonder if would lengthen it's useful life in our house. Everything I see says all the books work on either, so I'm not sure if there's a downside. Thoughts?
- What about the Leapster? It looks like a gaming approach to learning, but does anyone have it? Do you think it's as good of an educational tool as the leap pad?

Hope someone out there has experience with some of the versions....I have friends with the leap pad who recommend it.

 

[DisneyDmbNut]

My DD (5.5) has the Leap Pad and it is a great assistant with sounds and such but it really shouldn't be used for that. It helps reinforce the teachings but if he is having trouble, ask his teacher what she recomends.
The Leap Pad can't "correct" him if he gets a sound wrong. The books that are available aren't really "intense" reading concepts. It really would take both of you sitting down and working, which you can do without the Leap Pad.
Just MHO, but I would try alternate methods to help him.

 

[Toby'sFriend]

I think at age 6 I'd go ahead and get the Quantum Pad -- just so he'll have the "big boy" version. Like you said, it will still work with the Leap books.

I think you'll find that it will be a big help come Math Fact memorization time...so it will last for years.


I haven't seen much of the Leapster yet, but I've heard many parents rave about it.

 

[TiggerPiglet]

The Quantum Pad is for kids 8 and up, so I think it might be a little advanced for your 6 year old, especially if he is having trouble with his letter sounds and reading. I'm actually getting the Leap Pad Plus for my 4 year old, I haven't heard that there were problems with the pages. I hope that's not true.
I think the Leap Pad or Leap Pad Plus would be a good choice, even though it's really for reinforcement, it might help him being that it will be fun to play with

 

[ahutton]

I haven't looked at the books available, but if you are looking for a longer term toy the Quantum may be a better choice. Last Christmas my almost 3 year old got a regular Leap Pad. She was able to play with it as long as we were there helping her. Now, almost a year later, she loves it and plays with it often. On a recent road trip she actually played with it for almost 4 hours in a day. We made sure we got the books that were for the lowest level, and this year she'll get some of the next series. If Quantum also has many tiers and you think you can sit down together at least at first I think you'll find more years of enjoyment.

 

[tw1nsmom]

What does everyone think about My First Leappad? I'm hoping they won't be too babyish as I've already bought them for the twins. Both my son and daughter (3 1/2)have some fine motor issues, so i was afraid the more advanced ones would be too difficult to use. Besides, I got a really good deal. Walmart had them on sale for $20, but when I got there they were mismarked and I got them for $12.50 each. I know I paid practically nothing, but I still hope I didn't waste my money.

 

[ahutton]

In your case I think that is a great buy. My DD has better than average fine motor control, and it is only in the last 3 months that she really has been exploring the Leap books on her own. Before that we would always sit and do them together. Also, I think the My First pads are a bit more toddler friendly and sturdy - I always make DD sit at the table or in her carseat using it, I'm concerned the front cover will break off of her pad. She does not know her own strength.

 

[Disneyland_emily]

I knew my Leap Pad knowledge would come in handy one day...


The writing one is the best seller of all the Leap pad stuff right now cause well its new but as ya said it could stand a bit of improvement...


>> The *main* difference between the quantum and leap pad are the "free" books that come with it. The book for the Leappad has pages from the different offerings (from easiest to hardest for the phonics and reading and a good sample of the others (music, math etc) *ALL* the Leap/quantum stuff is interchangeable except the Leap+Writing books they will not work on any other systems... As for which system to buy into it really doesnt matter- Id buy the one that fits the kid now (and my guess it will be the Leap because the free book is a very good gauge for what books to buy and which to not for easiness... Wheras you really wouldnt have that much use for the quantum book till later 3-5th grade (and even then some is more advanced ie world capitals and such)

We just got the leapster in but yet to get it out but as far as I know its more of a "game approach" rather than the more formal style of the Leappad or as my Leappad dealer said its Leappad meet the Pixter. Personally id wait till there are more reviews and such over the Leapster before id shell the 80 bucks for it out... They are giving us a demo one soon (we have to wait for it till we can put the product out) and Ill be happy to give my 2 cents on it when I get to play with it...

Okay If ya've made it this far Ill summarize my thoughts The Leap Pad sytem will never replace book learning or the parents help but its a good additional resource. For some kids its a great benifit but for others (like my son) it would be a huge waste of money as we'd have to buy a new book every day because they were all too easy.

What I would do is take the kids to a store that has a display of both the Leap and Quantum and let them play around and see whether it would be a good investment for them and which system challanges them. The Leap systems are very good about being tiered all the way up if you use it to its full advantage.


-em

 

[aprilgail2]

Originally posted by tw1nsmom
What does everyone think about My First Leappad? I'm hoping they won't be too babyish as I've already bought them for the twins. Both my son and daughter (3 1/2)have some fine motor issues, so i was afraid the more advanced ones would be too difficult to use. Besides, I got a really good deal. Walmart had them on sale for $20, but when I got there they were mismarked and I got them for $12.50 each. I know I paid practically nothing, but I still hope I didn't waste my money.

I had gotten that for my daughter when she was 2 and she managed fine with it, I think 3 1/2 would be fine. My daughter never really like it though, she also didn't care for the regular leap pad, she HATES the way it reads, says it sound like a robot. I did get her a leapster this Christmas because the reviews were very good and it has "real" voices, not the mechanical one. The worst hting we got was the leap pad this you color and it sings "B says B" and some other song the whole time she was coloring on it, she would actually turn it off and just use it to color on so it didn't make noise LOL...
On the other hand, my neice has a leap pad and LOVES it and she is 4 so you really can't go by who's kid liked and didn't like it...my daughter would rather sit down and read a book with you or play on the computer her Jump Start games...

 

[Cindy B]

Personally I would go for the Leap Pad but buy hte "older" books. I got my second grader a Quantum Last year, and I got two books a dinosaur one, and a smart guide to 5th grade. (there's not that many older Quantum books out last year)

There are wonderful reading /pre reading book for the Leap Pad.

My dughter has had a Leap Pad since she was 4/5... and its been good. The older books like the Scooby ones, and the Arthur chapter one is good.

The books are different.. the Quantum Pad sample book has a map, (countries of Europe, and I think some Chemistry? Table of Elements, Multiplication, parts of speech and something else.)

The Leap Pad sample book has the US Geography, some foreign language, parts of the body (bone identification) and some other things.

 

[floridaminnie]

I bought DD 4 1/2 the Leapfrog for x-mas before the writing leapfrog came out. She's wanting to read and starting so I thought this would help her along. I also work with her too.

 

[speedi-deedi]

Thank you Disneyland_emily. I appreciate the review. I knew there were others out there that would share their 2 cents.

Obviously, we'll continue working one on one with him too, I'm just of the mind that every child learns differently so I'm trying to expose him to a variety of different approaches. I figure whichever one hits him is fine with me!

I'm leaning toward the Quantum, and buying the Leap pad books. I figure that my 8 yo will enjoy the books that come with the quantum right now, and the 6 yo will enjoy the quantum pad longer.

 

[tw1nsmom]

Thank you for all of the reasuring input. I knew I couldn't pass up on the deal and now I think they'll be able to enjoy them a little. I also don't think that it can replace one on one interaction with parents and real books. However I'm hoping that they will learn something from them and most of all keep occupied on the trip back and forth to preschool (1/2 hour each way).