What is the difference between all the Leapfrog devices?
5My mom said she’d buy a Leapfrog for the 2.75 and 3.75 year old (boys) except she knows nothing about them and neither do I. I was surprised that there were a bunch of different model choices. Can anyone tell me what the current best choice is out there for pre-schoolers, and which educational games, etc. are best for these two kids? Thanks!
PS if anyone has one their kids have outgrown that isn’t too old, doesn’t need the battery replaced, etc. and games/ed stuff for it we’d be willing to buy it used from you. I have yet to see any on our local craigslist.
- 9 comments, 16 replies
- Comment
PPS or is there a better preschooler tablet that has good educational programs (that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg?) @thumperchick or @shawn could you please put this PPS in the original post and then delete this one? Thanks.
@Kidzandliz we got the leapfrog (LeapFrog LeapPad Ultra XDI) last christmas and found it incredibly frustrating to use. it always seemed really slow. plus, you had to buy their apps. we ended up returning it and getting a kindle fire for kids (currently on sale at Amazon for $75). much easier to use and has expandable storage. there’s also tons of free content on amazon.
plus, that giant rubber bumper is awesomely effective. they also have a 2 year, worry-free guarantee on it. “if they break it, we’ll replace it. no questions asked.” they also have the option to do monthly payments. $15/month for 5 months, no interest or additional fees.
just my two pennies on this.
@carl669 How much educational stuff is there for the kindle fire? Looking for the educational use and not general game use. Good to know you didn’t like hte Ultra and why.
@Kidsandliz I’d say there’s a good amount of educational stuff. take a look around at the Amazon app store and see if it’s the kind of stuff you’re looking for.
@Kidsandliz
A Kindle Fire will - I think - read Kindle books aloud. Text-to-speech voice, but not too bad, depending on your/their tolerance.
A friend gave us an older LeapFrog2, and it’s fine.Seems sturdy and games are fun.
But yeah, I’d look at a Amazon Fire. I’d probably recommend getting the $50 one and a bumper case. You can set up a kid profile on it so they only get the kid view, but you can also have a parent account.
@mcanavino Is there still stuff that runs on the leapfrog2 that you can buy or is buying a used one really contingent on them selling it with all the programs?
@Kidsandliz As @compunaut says below, the device is really a LeapPad2, though I tend to call it a leapfrog.
But yes, there are still a lot of games that work with it: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/s/ref=is_s_ss_sc_3_8/156-9090063-2818115?k=leappad+2+games&sprefix=leappad2
Anything that says ‘leappad tablets’ will work.
@mcanavino Thanks. I was totally ignorant.
@Kidsandliz Appears to be hundreds of cartridges available on eBay as well. Every machine isn’t compatible with every cartridge style they’ve created, so research or ask. May even be a wiki or something.
@Kidsandliz LeapPad cartridges are 50% off tomorrow @ ToysRUs
@compunaut thanks!!
LeapFrog is the name of the company, Leapsters were like handheld gaming devices (think Nintendo DS) while LeapPads are more like tablets. There are different sizes & capabilities. The older machines depended on dedicated cartridges but the latest is Android-based & accesses content online. Note that cartridge ‘games’ are only just beginning to be ‘ported’ (?) & available, and only limited std Android apps are available.
(A bit of soap box here:) Keep in mind that LeapFrog is all about kids’ education, and their games/programs are specifically developed for appropriate brain development level & such. The content for Fire Kids is certainly family-friendly and kid safe, and they have a lot of excellent children’s programming from PBS & others available; however, education is not their focus.
To oversimplify, it’s like the difference between Sesame Street and the wide variety of mindless children’s entertainment/cartoons. LeapFrog has stumbled at times to deliver hardware that meets cutting edge expectations; they are much better at the learning experience. Amazon is great at delivering a top-notch interactive video device, but its goal is really sales & subscriptions.
TL;DR: As with so many things, choosing a ‘childrens tablet’ depends on what you (and your kids) want out of it.
I’ll poke around the house during the T-day break to see if there are any ancient LeapFrog devices still rattling around.
@compunaut The goal here is the education/learning so it sounds like the leap pad thing would be a better choice. The question then becomes which one.
I’d wait until they are at least 2.76 and 3.76 years old . . .
@Pavlov Sometime early next week.
@Pavlov Well they’ll be older than that at Christmas LOL
I agree with others. Leapfrog is junk and games overpriced. We have a Samsung tab and Kindle fire for our wee one. Much better.
@medz Thanks for the advice. I’ll look into it.
Yep, we got Samsung tabs for the girls and subscribed to ABC Mouse.
@Jerrold We need to avoid subscriptions though due to lack of funds…
I love my frog.
@therealjrn
She said LeapFrog, not LeakFrog.
@FroodyFrog Ooooooh…
I’d get a Fire tablet. Amazon is going to have them on Black Friday for $33.33. Then I’d buy a protective bumper. You can get more mileage out of this than from a LeapFrog (or a LeakFrog).