We’re big LeapFrog fans in this house. They make educational, fun, interactive toys that both my kids love. Every time we review a LeapFrog toy I’m impressed by the innovation, educational element and ease of use that the toy brings – and this comes from someone who veers towards the retro wooden toy variety, which LeapFrog offerings definitely are not.
In the past we’ve reviewed the LeapPad Ultra – still one of Frog’s favourite toys. In fact, she loves it so much that even after she broke her first one (poured an entire bottle of screen wash all over it by accident) she asked for a replacement for her birthday last year, which my parents bought her. It remains a much-loved tablet and keeps her off my iPad!
Baby Girl is also a firm LeapFrog fan. The AlphaPup is currently rivalling her beloved Sophie the Giraffe for the one toy that can hold her attention for more than two minutes.
So when we were offered to review the LeapTV it was a bit of a no-brainer. I must admit, I was a bit hesitant about introducing yet another device into the house which could see my child locked to a screen, but with a computer game (IT teacher) obsessed dad, I kind of think it’s inevitable Frog will enjoy gaming too. And, actually, I’m OK with that – as long as we continue to fit in lots of time outside too. Everything in moderation and all that.
The LeapTV is aimed at kids aged 3 – 8 years, so at 5 years old Frog is firmly in the target age bracket. I guess it’s kind of like an educational Wii, because it uses a camera which means the child learns through motion. Rather than sitting in front of the screen, inert, Frog was jumping, leaping and dancing as she played the games. Even when she did sit down on the sofa (exhausted) she was still waving her arms all over the place.
Here are some more thoughts about the LeapTV:
Packaging:
It was well packaged and arrived to us in as pristine condition as if we’d bought it over a shop counter and not online. The packaging was easy to remove, so no grappling with scissors and a million pieces of tiny plastic.
Setting it up:
The NLM tells me it was really easy to set up. He simply unpacked it, plugged it in and connected it to our WiFi. We already have a LeapFrog account online, so it was easy to register the device to our account (you need an account so you can download games for your devices).
Build quality:
The LeapTV is really well made, with an innovative controller that can be adjusted to different settings depending on the game you’re playing. It also has an adjustable wrist strap to go on the child’s wrist – little details like this show LeapFrog really know their target market of kids. The camera also works very well, with a good sensor that picks up motion easily. It has a mount so you can set it on top of your TV (especially useful for us with an inquisitive, grabby baby around who is often intent on spoiling joining her sister’s games).
Interface:
The interface is minimalistic and not too cluttered, meaning it’s really easy for a five year old to navigate around independently. Frog worked it all out within about five minutes.
Games:
You get Pet Play World as soon as you register the game, and we were also sent a Princess Sofia game as well. All the games were easy to play and innovative, with a variety of different styles of play. Some of them use the controller and some of them use the motion sensor on the camera. We had a really fun half an hour of playing against each other to try and get a high score on Pet Play World. As a non-gamer I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it too!
The LeapTV retails for £119.99 from the LeapFrog store which I think is a good price, although the games themselves are a tad on the pricey side at £24.99. However, each game has various different games options, so it’s more like you’re buying multiple games within one games pack.
Frog’s verdict is a resoundingly positive one. She loves her new LeapTV and has already scheduled in some family contests for us all to play together!
The LeapFrog Discover Summer Club:
If you’re struggling for ideas to keep the kids entertained this summer then you might be interested to hear about LeapFrog’s Discover Summer Club. It includes creative inspiration, day trip suggestions, life skills lessons, nature by numbers and advice on encouraging kids to read. If you sign up (you can sign up here) there’s also a chance to win weekly prices which include Britax car seats and a family break to Center Parcs.
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Disclosure: I’m a member of the LeapFrog ambassador team. As part of that, the LeapTV and AlphaPup featured here were sent to me for the purpose of this post. All opinions, images and words remain my own. For more information about how I work with brands check out my Work With Me page.
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