LeapFrog Gifts! GIVEAWAY (UPDATED)!!

Like many other families, our family really appreciates LeapFrog products. They have a range of items for a variety of ages and interests, and everything we've had from them has kept our kids interested and learning. In fact, Sinterklaas visited our house this week and brought each of the kids something from LeapFrog. It must be because he knows that their products can be depended on, and the kids really enjoy them. :)

Last week we featured the LeapFrog Shapes and Sharing Picnic Basket. Keep watching our blog each week as we review other LeapFrog products and there will be another giveaway coming too!

This week, we'll feature the LeapFrog Leapster2.

The Leapster2 is a handheld gaming device designed for children. It looks and feels sturdy and comes in 2 different colours (green or purple). More than 40 games are available on cartridges, and address a variety of topics such as spelling and math. Most games are based on popular characters such as Dora, Cars, Disney Princesses, but a few are designed around things like the I Spy books or Dinosaurs from Scholastic. As well, games are available for purchased download from the LeapFrog Learning Path website. The device has several buttons for doing what you need to do, as well as a stylus for the touch screen. Sound volume is adjustable, and earphones are possible! (hooray!)

Using the included USB cable, you can connect your Leapster2 to the Learning Path website. This allows you to customize your Leapster2, as well as follow your child's progress. As well, as games are played, your child can earn rewards (ie certificates, backgrounds and stamps).

I really like the ArtStudio included on the Leapster2. Although the recommended age for the Leapster is 4-8, Daniel (age 3) is able to do this, as it happens at your own pace. He is learning to move the stylus and colour the pictures, selecting colours, patterns, etc to complete his picture. He is interested in the games, but they happen a little to fast for him yet, and require skills he doesn't have yet, so he's happy he can "play Leapster" like his big brother in his own way. Artwork can be uploaded to the computer and printed.

We received the Cars game (Disney-Pixar Cars Supercharged) to try out, and I've been impressed with it so far. It progresses from letter recognition right in to spelling basic words as part of the game. And, of course the boys are thrilled to be playing characters they know.

Something else I like about LeapFrog is that many of their products are also available in French. As Jonathan's French skills progress, I think this could be another way of helping him to use and learn French outside of school. It looks like there's a great selection of French-language games as well.

Don't forget to visit the LeapFrog Holiday Gift Guide for more gift suggestions for the children on your list.

WIN!!

Enter our contest and you could win a  'Cook and Play Potsy!' This toy for kids ages 12-36 months introduces:

• Food and healthy eating
• Opposites
• Counting
• Pretend play
• Colours
• Motor skills

To enter, please comment on another LeapFrog product you think a member of your family would enjoy. Contest open to Canadians only and ends December 11, 2011.

**Disclosure: The product mentioned above has been given free of charge from Harbinger Ideas for LeapFrog in exchange for being featured on Glimpse. The opinions expressed in this post are those of Glimpse and have not been influenced in any other way. Please see the full Terms of use.