The popular LeapPad Learning System now includs a smaller unit in the lineup, designed for young pre-readers. My First LeapPad is an electronic toy equipped with a touch-sensitive pen. Using the specially-designed snap-on books and templates, the unit becomes an interactive touch-and-learn center. Children use the pen to activate hotspots on the books' pages and receive audio feedback and prompts. They play games in which they hunt for requested objects, or simply press images and words to hear them named.
This toy functions much like the LeapPad, except that it is slightly smaller, and the books for the unit are flip books with double-sided pages. The book included in the package is called Leap's Big Day, which can be an activity book or a story book, depending on which side of the book is face-up. The activity book is filled with pages devoted to numbers and counting, shapes and colors, guessing games, exploring music, and learning body parts. The Paper Piano page, for example, features a piano keyboard, with letter notes labeling each key. Kids use their pen to "play" the piano, and learn the notes as they do. By pressing the images of musical instruments at the bottom of the page, they can change the sound of their free-form songs to a trumpet, clarinet, piano, or orchestra. With the Counting Farm page, kids can explore the images on the page by touching numerals and sets of animals on the farm to hear them named. Alternatively, they can play a game in which they are asked to find numbers on the number line (the numbers 1-5 are featured), a guessing game in which hints are given, or a song game in which kids help Leap sing a song by selecting the animals he sings about. The story side of the flip book features a simple story and colorful illustrations. The pages can be explored by touching images and words to hear them read aloud and named, or "game" modes can be selected.
A snap-on template is also included with the unit, and is designed to engage children with games that familiarize them with the letters of the alphabet. Though the books have more depth and replay value, this template is a fun and educational bonus.
Additional books are available for the toy, and are sold separately. This battery-operated toy is the perfect size for little laps and easy toting for learning on the go.
Some families of 3-4 year olds might consider skipping the My First LeapPad toy and purchasing the LeapPad instead. Although My First LeapPad is slightly more preschooler-friendly, the LeapPad has more replay value in the long-term, with its solid series of books available with a nice range of difficulty levels and subject matter.
