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Melissa & Doug Car Carrier Review
Load, raise, and haul four new vehicles along an imaginary highway with the Car Carrier from Melissa & Doug. This quality, all-wood truck makes it easy to load four brightly colored cars onto a long ramp that folds into a two-level carrier, allowing your child to deliver the vehicles wherever they may need to go!
The Car Carrier is made with an eye for sturdy, dependable detail that allows your child to play for hours without interruption. The long ramp folds easily along its hinges, which encourages and facilitates your child's exploration with the way certain hinges and constructions may move to create new formations. This design encourages imaginative play while simultaneously promoting coordination and the development of fine motor skills.
When its ramp is unfolded, the Car Carrier measures 5-3/4 by 12 by 3 inches (H x W x D). At this size, the toy is small enough for young hands to grab and push or pull along, but large enough to necessitate full-body movement if the child wants to move the Car Carrier along wandering paths.
Though the Car Carrier works fine on all terrains, our testers found that the smooth, plastic wheels turned most easily on surfaces that create some friction, like carpet or short grass. In addition, the individual cars can, of course, continue on their own journeys separate from the car carrier itself. Cars are also designed specifically to fit with wooden train sets, allowing for speedy play along racetracks and with other vehicles.
Started in the garage at Doug's parents' house in 1988, Melissa & Doug has become one of the most popular toy makers in the world. Its toys have garnered dozens of awards and have been widely featured in national media.
Melissa & Doug toys meet all US consumer product safety regulations. The toys are tested at the factory of origin during various phases of the production process to ensure they meet the company's stringent safety requirements. In particular, the paints and coatings on Melissa & Doug toys are tested frequently to meet or exceed government recommendations limiting heavy metals and lead in children's items.
Assembled car carrier and four cars.
LeapFrog Leapster Explorer Grade School Globe-Trotter Pack Review
The Leapster Explorer Grade School Globetrotter Pack contains everything your child needs to get going on this ultimate handheld learning device. Offering a range of interactive activities, customized skills, and videos, the Leapster Explorer game system comes pre-installed with the Pet Game and provides endless ways to play for kids ages four to nine. This bundle also includes the Globe Earth Adventures game and a carrying case for on-the-go play.
Winner of several industry awards, including Toy of the Year (TOTY) 2011, Leapster Explorer encourages kids to explore something new every day with over 40 games and activities that develop school skills while keeping active minds entertained. High-resolution graphics and well-loved characters from Dora to Buzz Lightyear to the Madagascar Penguins keep kids engaged as they develop reading, math, science, and geography skills and build life skills like music, health, and problem solving.
From games to learning apps, personalized play to progress updates, and on-the-go to online adventures, Leapster Explorer offers a wide variety of ways for kids to play and learn.
Setting up the Leapster Explorer is easy enough for older kids to complete on their own. Younger ones might need help using a coin (nickels work best) to remove the battery compartment cover and inserting four AA batteries (not included). From here, kids choose their language, set the time and date, and create a player name for everyone who will be using the device. The device comes with a CD-ROM to install the LeapFrog Connect Application, which includes a free game and gives your child access to an online world of material and options.
When children connect the Leapster Explorer to a computer via the included USB cord, they'll be able to download any one of the over 20 available learning apps they'd like to play by entering the code on the included Starter Leaplet download card (additional cards can be purchased online and in stores). Our testers liked that when kids download these apps, they first identify themselves by player name. In cases where siblings are using the same Leapster, everyone still has their own personal cache of activities. The one negative of this system, however, is that the thin Leaplet cards can easily get lost before they are cashed in online.
As children play, the Leapster Explorer automatically adjusts the learning level so kids can learn at their own pace and remembers play progress from game to game. It lets kids get practice and reinforcement via customized math and spelling skill lessons as they play.
The online connection gives parents access to what LeapFrog calls the "Learning Path," which shares details about which games and activities children play most often, what questions they're answering, and what different learning benefits these games and questions provide. New skills appear as little digital footprints that then become "stepping stones" on a child's "Learning Path"--a visual representation of everything he or she is learning. For instance, if she's been busy with math-focused games, the footprint may say "Math: Subtraction" and you can click on it to read more about that particular skill set.
Our testers found the Learning Path to be a convenient way to keep tabs on what kinds of games/activities a child chooses most often, as well as those he or she avoids. Armed with that information, parents can appraise their child's overall academic skill set, including areas of improvement.
Designed for kids ages four to seven (preschool through first grade), the Globe Adventures game for the Leapster Explorer lets kids embark on an exciting mission to help build geography, map, and other skills. They fly a plane to different destinations using the D-pad and learn the names of continents by clicking on their place on the globe. Games include real-life photos to teach facts about the world so kids can build skills to become elite members of the GEO team. Playing this game also helps kids earn online rewards.
The zippered carrying case protects the Leapster or Leapster 2 on the go and has a wrist strap for easy carrying, although it may be too big to stay on smaller wrists. There are also two mesh pockets and three elastic straps for holding up to five game cartridges and accessories. Durable and easy to use, this case helps parents encourage kids to clean up and take care of their system and games when they're done playing for the day.
Leapster Explorer, USB cord, installation CD-ROM, Leaplet learning app download card, quick start guide, carrying case, and Global Earth Adventures game.
Introducing Leapster Explorer, an extraordinary new learning experience that encourages children to discover something new every day with endless ways to play and learn--from games, e-Books, videos, and online play to customizable learning skills and more.
Features include:
•Use this case to protect your Leapster Explorer handheld as you take the fun and learning on the go!
•Get ready for an interactive adventure as you take your airplane around the globe to complete missions, find treasure and learn about geography, cultures and more!
•Expand your knowledge of animals, geography, cultural facts, map skills and more. Play games that use actual photos of locations, animals and landmarks around the world.
•Recomended age 4-9 years
•Product measures: 12 x 8 x 15 inches
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LeapFrog Leapster2 Bundle Review
The Leapster2 Bundle includes the Leapster2 handheld learning game system, an Outwit! game cartridge, an A/C adapter, and a carrying case. The Leapster2 offers kids ages four to eight four different ways to play: cartridge games, game downloads, connect, and creativity castle. The Outwit game works will all Leapster models and challenges your child's mind with 15 fast-paced brain games. The A/C adapter allows you to power the game system directly from an outlet, and the carrying case makes for easy storage and portability for on-the-go enjoyment.
The Leapster2 is the winner of a range of industry awards, including Parent Magazine's Best Toys Award and Toy of the Year from Family Fun. It's no mystery why: This compact, well-designed gaming system is independent learning masquerading as video game fun.
Leapster2 comes with a starter game kids can download and has a library of over 40 other action-packed games that let kids play with characters they love--like Dora and Diego, SpongeBob, and the Little Mermaid--while learning preschool to second-grade level skills. Multiple skill levels in each game help keep kids interested.
Leapster2 now features an online dimension that's accessible when you install the included CD-ROM. While online, kids can access rewards like certificates, coloring pages, and flash cards, and download and play additional learning games. They can also draw, paint, add animated stamps or weather effects on the Leapster2, and upload their creations to the Creativity Studio to embellish and share.
The online connection gives parents access to what LeapFrog calls the "Learning Path," which shares details about which games and activities children play most often, what questions they're answering, and what different learning benefits these games and questions provide. New skills appear as little digital footprints that then become "stepping stones" on a child's "Learning Path"--a visual representation of everything he or she is learning. For instance, if she's been busy with math-focused games, the footprint may say "Math: Subtraction" and you can click on it to read more about that particular skill set.
Our testers found the Learning Path to be a convenient way to keep tabs on what kinds of games/activities a child chooses most often, as well as those he or she avoids. Armed with that information, parents can appraise their child's overall academic skill set, including areas of improvement.
The Leapster2 offers the convenience of both corded and cordless operation. Battery operation requires four AA batteries (not included), while an A/C adapter (not included with the Leapster2, but part of this bundle) lets you plug the system into any wall outlet.
This Leapster2 bundle includes the game Outwit! for kids ages five to eight. Games like Compare and Contrast (where kids have to find the one that's not like the others while a timer ticks away) are great for kindergartners, while Spatial Reasoning helps older children develop problem-solving skills by asking them to identify what a certain shape would look like if folded in half, again with a timer ticking away. Speed and accuracy count, and as children expand their skill sets, the games adjust to continue to challenge them.
The included carrying case protects the Leapster or Leapster2 on the go and has a wrist strap for easy carrying, although it may be too big to stay on smaller wrists. There's also room inside for four game cartridges, and a piece of elastic holds them in their compartment. It zips open and closed. This simple case also helps parents encourage kids to clean up and take care of their system and games when they're done playing for the day.
The Leapster2 is backed by a three-month warranty.
Leapstear2, installation CD-ROM, USB cord, instruction booklet, Outwit! game cartridge, A/C adapter, and carrying case.
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Leapster 2 players can even connect online for extra activities and rewards. And best of all, parents can use the Leapster 2 System to connect to the LeapFrog Learning Path, an online, interactive tool in which parents can get updates and see firsthand what their children are learning. For use with any Leapster Learning System (sold separately).
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LeapFrog Cook and Play Potsy Review
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 Potsy features two interactive modes - cooking mode and learning mode. View larger. |
 Potsy comes with several accessories, including an assortment of toy foods. View larger. |
Whenever the broccoli, peas, tomato, cheese, or carrots are dropped into Potsy, or the spoon is stirred in his pot, he'll react with sounds, songs, or phrases that will delight your child. Playing with Potsy encourages the use of motor skills and pretend play, whether your child follows Potsy's directions or devises her own imaginative recipes.
Cleaning up after play is a breeze--put all the accessories in Potsy, close the lid, and put him away until the next cooking session. Potsy can be wiped down with a damp cloth for cleaning, but shouldn't be filled with, or submerged in, water.
"Cooking, Counting, Colors--Oh Yeah!"
Battery operated Potsy is playable in two modes. In the Cooking mode, stirring the spoon or adding food pieces to the pot triggers sound effects, facts about food and nutrition, and songs delivered in Potsy's colorfully infectious tone. The Learning mode teaches kids about colors and gives them an opportunity to practice counting.
Removing Potsy's lid during either mode teaches kids about opposites, such an on/off and open/closed. Potsy also encourages open-ended pretend play with interactive prompts.
Visit Leapfrog Online
Through LeapFrog's Learning Path you'll find information about the skills your child is developing through play. You can also register Potsy online, and sign up for updates and product news. The Learning Path is a great way to learn about tailoring your child's learning experience through play.
What's in the Box
Cook and Play Potsy with three AA batteries, spoon, and five food blocks.
Get children's imaginations brewing with Cook & Play Potsy! Learn about opposites, listen to music and rhymes and explore counting, colors and more!
Parents can connect to the online LeapFrog® Learning Path for customized learning insights and ideas to expand the learning.
