Loving Learning with the LeapPad!

We recently received a LeapPad Platinum from LeapFrog and we ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT! Micah enjoys playing games on my phone and tablet, and some of them are learning games, but I don’t enjoy him occupying my electronics or the looming possibility (and often reality) of him going into other apps and the internet or rearranging (and deleting!) my icons! So I am THRILLED to have a tablet directed towards him and safe for him that will grow with him and baby E!

As LeapFrog Mom Ambassador, I receive products, promotional items and educational material to use and share as I see fit. However, any opinions expressed by me are honest and reflect my actual experience. LeapFrog sent us a LeapPad Platinum and Imagicards to enjoy with my little people and review for you!

LeapPad Platinum: The Tablet

I think the layout and quality of the LeapPad Platinum tablet is PERFECT. Absolutely no complaints. It’s supposedly strong enough to withstand toddler antics, and so far it has, but I’m not pushing it’s limits. Another mom notes her daughter accidently jumped onto hers and cracked the screen and some moms have noted the tip being pulled off of their stylus by munching mouths. Speaking of the stylus, it’s attached so little hands can’t misplace it. Even better, it’s attached in the center so left- and right-handed kids can both easily use it! There is a grip strip all along the outer edge and the tablet is perfect for little hands.

The LeapPad Platinum tablet is a touch pad and I feel like it’s sensitivity is perfect. Don’t like touching? There is also an up/down/left/right/click selector to the left of the screen, away from accidental clicks! Also out of accidental hit range: the home button to the left (LOVE!), the power button on the right side, and the volume toggle on the bottom right edge. The stylus also has a home in the bottom, and cartridges can insert in the right side for more game play and learning fun!

LeapPad Platinum: The Setup

The setup of the LeapPad Platinum is actually incredibly simple. Just hook to WiFi, set up a parent passcode, tell the tablet the names of ages of your kids to create their profiles, and pick a game to download for free! Then you can do additional things, like add profile pictures and change the background picture, or just start playing. Speaking of profiles, you can set one up for each kid and there is a guest profile for friends. PLUS the downloaded games show up in all the profiles.

LeapPad Platinum: The Apps

The LeapPad Platinum comes with an app of your choice for free, a few Imagicards with a demo app, a couple other demo apps, about 30 minutes of music, a Scout and friends emotions app (actually good at teaching emotions and how to interact with friends!) and the best free one: PetPadParty! Micah man gets to pick an animal and it’s colors and then create a fun name, play games with him, decorate his house, feed and bathe him, and so much more. It’s like a Tamagotchi pet for the modern kids and he loves it.

As far as purchasing apps, I’m a little sad that there are no other free apps. Not even a free coloring app. On the plus side, the LeapPad apps range from $1-$10+, especially if you shop the sale apps. Definitely not a bad price for interactive and educational games, learn-to-read, ebooks, music, videos and more. The cartridges are $25, unless you find them cheaper on other sites. There are tons of apps, organized by type, age or category, or use the search bar. Even better, tons of the apps are based off of popular shows like Paw Patrol, Doc McStuffins, Bubble Guppies, Mickey, Cars and so many more!

Another app I’m excited about is the Kid-friendly videos. The is already installed and packed full of short educational and fun videos. Micah will sit and watch pointless videos on my Facebook wall and seem super entertained even after 5 times. So this is the same, except often educational and not occupying my phone or posting to my timeline! Unfortunately there is no search option, but you can browse by category.

The LeapPad Platinum camera is another free awesomeness. With front and back facing cameras, it’s easy for kids to take pictures. PLUS a picture editing app! Turn your pictures into fun or hilarious works of art to enjoy! Micah and I haven’t played with this much, he’s a little too young for picture editing, but I fully expect him to LOVE it in a year or two.

LeapPad Imagicards

Imagicards are a great creation of LeapFrog! Basically, it’s a deck of cards that goes along with a game. Throughout the interactive and educational game play, it directs you to find and take a picture of a certain card. Whether that be a character, number, letter, shape, or something else. I LOVE LeapPad Imagicards! Micah can enjoy an educational app AND be required to think and problem solve by physically picking the correct cards. And LeapFrog thought of everything: there is an option to browse the cards right on the tablet in case of lost cards or when trying to play in a location that isn’t card-friendly (like the car!).

Other Perks of the LeapPad Platinum

The best perk of the LeapPad Platinum: it’s kid-safe. No ads popping up all over the place, fishing for you to click on them either on purpose or on accident. No apps that I don’t want my kiddos accessing. No need to peer over his shoulder to make sure he’s playing Scout and not zombie-killing. No data so no worrying about toddlers accidently going over limits.

You can use headphones. Awesome!

AND IT’S RECHARGABLE! Keep an eye on the battery icon for charge, then just plug it into the wall, no changing batteries. Plus it lasts longer than my phone by a long shot!

Parental Controls!

During LeapPad setup you create a PIN for the parental controls, as well as a LeapFrog profile for purchasing and monitoring. The child can access the App Store and even add things to the cart, but CANNOT checkout without knowing the LeapFrog profile password. Otherwise, parental controls can be accessed on the profile page using the 4-digit PIN to edit WiFi settings, delete apps, update the system, manage profiles and more. Parents can also limit a child’s time on the LeapPad by setting how long they are allowed to play and then how long the LeapPad needs to “rest” between play periods. Or turn off time limits for unlimited play. I love this option since it’s so easy to accidentally spend too long on technology and not long enough being active.

LeapPad Platinum Cons

There isn’t much I don’t like about the LeapPad Platinum. I mentioned the lack of free downloadable apps, but all said and done, it actually comes with a lot of pre-loaded apps and fun. I also can’t rearrange the apps, which means I can’t move Micah’s favorites front and center. Not a big deal, he’s old enough to know how to find them himself. None of the full-episode type videos are free. Micah can watch LeapFrog videos on Netflix anytime, so I’m not excited that I would have to pay for him to watch them on the tablet, I wish some of the videos would be free or cheaper. That’s about it…. some other moms have had technical difficulties, but I haven’t had any problems and they seem to all have easily resolved their problems through communication with tech support.

LeapPad Platinum Review

Overall, I LOVE the LeapPad Platinum. It’s an awesome educational tablet full of educational games that will have your kids learning and problem-solving without even knowing it. There are a few downfalls, but nothing big and nothing even remotely comparable to the downfalls of using regular tablets with kids. Micah loves his LeapPad, Emersyn will love it as soon as she’s old enough to know what it is, and we love the solid educational benefits that can grow with my child. Micah is already way better at his letters! As he gets too smart for his current apps, I can easily download new ones and buy new cartridges at the next age or comprehension level up!

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