Editorial Review

A sturdy, radio-like box; five colorful, sensor-controlled blocks; and one of several memorycartridges are included in the Music Blocks Mozart Set. Together, they create a unique learning product forinfants and toddlers that has earned several coveted toy awards. The objectives of this developmental toyare simple: to introduce babies to classical music, and to challenge them in identifying sounds andinstruments. Before children can even identify the instruments represented by the blocks' symbols(woodwinds, violins, a xylophone, trumpets, human voices, and a percussion ensemble), they will be ableto identify sounds and famous refrains by Mozart, such as "Night Music," which is included in this set.Each block activates a segment of the composition, and switching around the blocks creates a new song.

The quality of the sound is impressive. It's stereophonic, rather than synthetic, though it's all createddigitally. And, with that said, it's loud. Even at its lowest setting, the sound projects into the nextroomquite clearly. Included in the boxis Music and Your Child's Mind, an informative sourcebook forparents interested in exploring classical music with their developing children. --Diane Beall ... Read more

Reviews (115)

My 2 year old has enjoyed this toy for 8 months now
I purchased this for my just-turned 2-year-old son last Christmas.He enjoys moving the blocks and making different sounds.He mosts likes toys that he can put together (such as puzzles & wooden train sets) and things that have buttons that play music or make sounds.It seems that this toy combines physically putting things together with the blocks and pressing buttons to make music.Some people have complained about the durablility, but we have found ours to be very durable.

a terrific toy
This toy is the best!Our grandson absolutely loves it!He won't stop playing with it unless we distract him with something else and then put it out of sight.We have to do this so he'll have a variety of experiences when he visits with us, but we feel that this toy is very good for him.It helps him develop dexterity, we hope..an interest in good music, and it is especially nice on a day when he has a cold and doesn't feel like doing physical play.And this toy is fun even for older children and adults in the family.

I hope the company will come out with additional musical cartridges!

DO NOT BUY BREAKS INSTANTLY
Great idea, but the toy IS NOT durable.After returning one toy for not working, another one has broken.What a disappointment!!And the customer service is non-existant and when it is, they are rude!!!! Someone let me know when the class-action lawsuit will occur. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Preschool    2. Learning    3. Music    4. Electronic Learning Aids (ELA)    5. Electronic    6. Baby and Infant    7. Musical    8. Electronic Learning Aids    9. Reading    10. Writing    11. Phonics    12. Counting    13. Activity   

Editorial Review

Toddlers love to hear their favorite nursery rhyme songs, and of coursethey love anything with sound effects and flashing lights. This electronicmusical toy is 45 inches long and 11 inches wide, with a large, one-octavekeyboard sporting a plastic handprint on each key and a red button above thatflashes when the key is played. The keyboard can be played in five differenttones: piano, bells, doggie barks, kitty meows, or birdie tweets, and in severalmodes: complete songs, free-play mode, or preprogrammed mode. The preprogrammedmode is an interesting feature that will help preschoolers (or their parents)learn to play the eight familiar songs. The tiny red light flashes, you playthat handprint, and follow along until--hey, you're making music! The musicalmat has a wipe-clean plastic surface, and it requires two AA batteries (notincluded). --Marcie Bovetz, mother and former children's librarian ... Read more

Reviews (10)

No Good
I bought this for my daughters birthday and when we got it, it was a piece of junk the buttons worked for one day then the next day when you tried to push a cerain button it would give you a different noise or it would not work at all, the things are hard to push you have to really push hard on them, this toy is not worth it not even the amount they are asking for to be honest I think it is worth fifty cents, I am very disapointed in it.

Fun toy
This was given to my 18 month old son last Christmas. He enjoyed playing with it daily for awhile. I recommend not putting this in the toy box. Now a year later it has some problems - it only plays when IT wants to. I do like this toy, but it needs to be well taken care of to last.

Musical Hands mat
This toy does not work.I do not recommend it.There is no quality to the workmanship.A total disappointment ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Baby and Infant    2. Preschool    3. Learning    4. Toddler    5. Activity    6. Music    7. Musical Instruments    8. Electronic Learning Aids (ELA)    9. Electronic    10. Hand-Eye Coordination    11. Musical   

Editorial Review

LeapFrog is well known for their interactive learning toys and now they've paired with Disney for a princesses' tour of language and math. Cinderella and Belle will help guide your child through various learning activities, such as: letter hunt, spelling games, addition and subtraction games, and number find. Both Belle and Cinderella tell jokes, sing songs, and are generally encouraging with sweet and cheerful voices. If your child decides to stop playing and doesn't turn the laptop off, the princesses ask, "Would you like to play some more?" and if there is no answer, the computer shuts itself off. An LCD screen displays letters, numbers, and other pictures during all the activities. Moms and dads will be glad to note that there are two volumes and virtually no set-up. Requires 4 "AA" batteries (included). --Megan Sullivan ... Read more

Reviews (33)

This is a good learning toy
My daughter loves Disney Princesses and she wants to get on my computer sometimes but is still too young to do things herself,so I got her this and she loves it!! She has learned quite a few things from it also. It is very durable, I think you get your money's worth. It makes them feel so big!!

Great learning toy
I bought this laptop for my daughter's 3rd Birthday.I think she has used it everyday since then.It really helps her learn her letters.She knows just about all of them now, after using it for about 3 months.I like that it is teaching her but she is having fun at the same time.She really enjoys playing with it.She says she is going to check her email when she uses it.There is a volume control, which is good.It also seems very durable.I haven't had any problems with it so far.I would definately recommend this toy for any little girl.

Great Toy
I bought this based on reviews for my 2 year old and she loves it.It keeps her busy while I am on my computer and she is learning new things. It will be a little while till she is totally using this product but well worth the money - I recommend to all parents. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Learning    2. Electronic Learning Aids (ELA)    3. Electronic    4. Math    5. Alphabet    6. Preschool    7. Counting   

Reviews (63)

Love this toy!
I received this toy at my baby shower.It is now my 5 month old daughter's favorite toy.She likes to be the one to make it "sing."

Super toy that brings smiles!
My son absolutely loves this toy!I noticed that the manu. age for this is a lot higher, but we have used it since our baby was weeks old.He loves starring at it & smiling.Now that he's a few months, he reaches for it, touches it, etc.The sound is great & a wonderful product if you are looking for some classical music.

My Autistic 9yr old loves it!
It is so hard to find a toy for my son, that will catch his interest AND take a beating! He is Autistic and half blind, so it's tough to find something he will play with for any length of time. He loves music, and the sound quality is great. He also loves things that light up. Because his vision is bad, he has to mouth objects and such, and this is right up his alley! He can chew on the plastic chew top, and finger all the different textures. It is easy for him to activate, and it shuts off by itself when he is done. The price was great, I love this toy company. We have had it for 3 days now, so far so good. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Stuffed Toys    2. Musical    3. Learning    4. Electronic Learning Aids (ELA)    5. Electronic    6. Preschool    7. Baby and Infant    8. Music    9. Electronic Learning Aids   

Editorial Review

Introduce your toddler to numbers, letters, and music with this interactive driving toy. Your child can: discover the differences between Upper and Lowercase letters; motor through numbers one through ten; listen to the sounds of the engine, horn, and other traffic sounds; or bop along to some cute songs. A little LCD screen shows numbers, letters, or scenery as your child uses the steering wheel, gear shift, ignition key, and horn to navigate through the learning modes. In driving mode, your child can follow directions, listen for the sounds of rain, or a train, and see the corresponding images roll by. In music mode, the gear shift can quicken or slow down the pace of the music. To advance to the next tune, just tap the horn. The gear shift also sets the pace for how fast you want to move through the numbers or letters modes. All this steering and shifting is good for developing your toddler's fine motor skills, as well as cognitive skills. This is a toy that won't get old fast; there are so many ways to play.Requires 4 AA batteries (included). --Megan Sullivan ... Read more

Features

• Variety of basic skills
• Music and images
• Interactive steering wheel
• Five learning modes

Reviews (9)

a blessing
We bought this toy for our sons 1st birthday. He loved it. He would sit for 20-30 minutes just playing with it. At the same time we were working with our 2 daughters on learning the alphabet and the sounds of each letter. Well one day while ds was playing with the toy both our daughters sat down on either side of him and started saying the alphabet and learning the sounds. I never expected this toy to entertain a 1 yr old, 3 yr old, and 5 yr old all at the same time. It has truly been a blessing and made teaching the alphabet so much easier and fun.

Ehhhh, not a favorite in our home
I love LeapFrog products. The LeapStart table and Drum were hits in our home, as are the Fridge Phonics.However, this one just doesn't have that much to it!The lights action is very basic (think leds - very 70's) and leaves much to be desired.In addition to that, the letters aren't very clear - V, B, G, Z... all sound like they are making the same noise.

My son hasn't shown much interest in the item, either.He will play with it for a minute or two and then that's it.

I would have given it less than 3 stars if it were not durable.That is IS.But fun?Don't think so!

Wonderful toy
We love this toy!! It's fun and educational. My 18 month old loves the driving fun, music and cool noises and I love the letters and numbers and how the toy says what each letter sounds like. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Preschool    2. Learning    3. Pretend Play    4. Electronic Learning Aids (ELA)    5. Electronic    6. Baby and Infant    7. Electronic Learning Aids   

Editorial Review

What's really, really cute? A kid that doesn't know the meaning of some words yet, but really, really wants to. LeapPad's multisensory, experiential interface makes kids want a big vocabulary--in a bad way. With Richard Scarry's Things to Know, kids see, hear, say, and touch throughout the story, enhancing oral, vocabulary, and phonics lessons given throughout the book. At the same time, Scarry's characters help to identify and pronounce new words and pronounce old words correctly.

It's simple to use (just insert the cartridge and book into a LeapPad, and use the attached stylus to hear information), but this system is an innovative technology that provides entertaining, effective learning, designed by a Stanford-trained reading expert. The system also has been credited with the TMA's Educational Toy of the Year and People's Choice awards.

Two notes: Make sure the LeapPad book you get is appropriate for the child's educational level, and know that some LeapBooks (like this one) work on both LeapPad and LeapPad Pro, but some only work with one system. --Diane Beall ... Read more

Reviews (2)

This is the 2nd Richard ScaryLeapbook I have purchased
We had this book and it was destroyed by our cat. We love it so much we are purchasing it again!My 4 year old loved it for over a year and now my 15 month loves it.We have several Leap Pad books and this one is by far the favorite of my two boys.I like it because it does not just tell a story like many Leap Pad books do, it allows kids to count, find items, and listen to music.

A must own!
Another must own of the leap pad series of books.This book encourages colors, shap recognition and counting while teaching kids about their seasons, musical instruments and more.On the seasons pages, they learn extra tunes including a little bit of "The Entertainer".They also learn their opposites and the importance of being polite.The best bonus is that your child's vocabulary and self-esteem get a boost. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Learning    2. Electronic Learning Aids (ELA)    3. Reading    4. Preschool    5. Toddler    6. Activity    7. Electronic    8. Alphabet   

Editorial Review

LeapFrog's range of educational toys is exceptional, and this interactive flipbook really has that "wow" factor. In the box it looks like an innocent book, but once assembled it provides absolutely hours of entertainment with a preschool teaching focus. The book reads the text to the child, then its magic pen allows the child to touch the text and reread difficult words. Rather like a computer game, the pictures in the page also respond to touch. Each page has two to three games on it where the child has to answer questions on the text or the pictures. The child only needs to respond with the pen, so children as young as 3 can easily play all the games. LeapFrog has made sure that this two-sided book packs in all the elements of a balanced preschool curriculum. Numbers, phonics, prereading, and numeracy skills come alive through the activities. Both nonfiction and fiction text are included with a variety of musical activities. There is even a volume control on each page for weary parents on those long car journeys! Be prepared with four AA batteries (not included) and a small screwdriver. The instructions included are not specific, but the illustrations on the box are self-explanatory. Perfect for a rainy day or a long journey, My First LeapPad provides great value for the money, as your child will be entertained and educated for hours. --Jo Fitzgerald

My First LeapPad is a sturdy unit with an integral speaker and a magic pen, which reads the spiral flipbook included with the set. Other books and cartridges can be bought and used with the same unit. My First LeapPad flipbook consists of both an interactive story introducing the characters of Leap and his family, and (once you have flipped the book) a selection of interactive games pages which encourage learning of numbers, colors, shapes, and music making. A pleasant and encouraging voice reads the story, which is written on the page, or if just one word is touched, the voice says that one word, encouraging word recognition. In game mode, the voice asks the child to find a specific number, color, or object and gives praise when the child succeeds. The pad is easy to use, provided children remember to always touch the Go button with the magic pen every time they turn a page. If they forget, the pen will read from another page, which causes much confusion! After a few tries, mine soon got the hang of it and could play independently. Everything is worked using the pen, including the volume control, and the pen is impossible to lose as it is attached securely to the unit. In comparison to their interactive PC games, the LeapPad failed to hold my children’s attention for prolonged periods, and although I found it amazing that the pen could recognize so many different words and objects, they were less easily impressed. There is no movement, unlike in a PC game. On the other hand, the unit is portable, so can be played anywhere, unlike the PC. The unit certainly has lots of educational value and is well made and durable. A large selection of interactive books can be purchased separately, so once the children are comfortable using the magic pen, they can try other activities. They can also choose more difficult material, ensuring that the pad grows with your child. --Rachel Elvidge

In common with other LeapFrog products, My First LeapPad is exceptionally well designed to be both educational and fun. The unit itself and attached pen are chunky enough for little fingers, and the single large button, integral carrying handle, and bright color will make it appealing and easy to use for preschoolers. My First LeapPad comes with a ring-bound book and accompanying cartridge which fit easily into the unit (you also need four AA batteries, not included). Placed right side up the book reads through a simple story, and when turned over the reverse sides contain a wealth of activities and games to play. For anyone who hasn’t previously seen the unique way that simply touching the pages with the pen produces voices and noises of all sorts, it seems like a miracle! Even for those who are familiar with it, it is still endlessly fascinating, and each page has lots of scope for discovery. The clear English voices read the story in sentences or single words as well as introducing games and activities involving music and instruments, shapes and color, reading, numbers, counting, matching, and much more. Each picture reveals a whole world of sound effects, voices, and speech from the characters according to the individual touches the child makes with the pen on the page. This makes play genuinely interactive and absorbing, and hugely valuable in terms of learning and pleasure. I recommend this product highly; it is suitable for all levels of learning between under 3 years and over 5, with each age range getting different benefits at different stages of development. --Caroline Parsons

My First LeapPad learning system by LeapFrog is a portable electronic toy incorporating the format of a flip-over book which teaches children to master skills such as writing, basic numbers, ABCs, phonics, listening, and comprehension. The desk layout includes a side handle and a special touch-sensitive pen which gives children the opportunity to develop the coordination required when they begin to write. With the pen the user can activate the different activities such as touching pictures to hear them come alive, touching words to hear them read aloud, playing a game by pressing the lily pad sign with the magic pen, activating a new page, listening to music, or adjusting the volume. The unit comes with an activity book, Leap’s Big Day. Leap is a frog with a happy voice and an English accent who introduces us to his family and different activities on each page. Although the toy is labeled for children aged 3 years and over, the activities are not incredibly difficult and would also suit a slightly younger child. For example, number work only goes up to five, and the page on what Leap will be when he grows up gives the child a number of pictorial choices and they have to select just one answer to say what a firefighter would need at work (hose, hat, boots), or what a doctor would need (stethoscope, white coat, etc.). All activities require use of the pen, which does require a steady hand at times. More books are available to buy separately, with titles such as Leap to the Moon, featuring Leap again, and Pooh's Honey Tree, which features Winnie the Pooh. The books are double-sided with a story side, which is interactive, and an activity side. The battery-powered toy provides preschoolers with a good introduction to interactive learning aids, including computers, and promotes readiness for reading and writing. --Sarah McNamara

This is a nice-sized interactive electronic learning game by LeapFrog. It consists of the LeapPad unit with carrying handle and a small, easy-to-maneuver electronic pen attached. There is a compact microchip unit which plugs into the side and a cardboard flipbook which attaches to the front. The book has two sides: a story side and an activity side. The sound is activated by touching the green Go circle on the page with the electronic pen. On the story side of the book this triggers a female English voice which reads aloud the words on the page. Your child can then touch each word with the pen to have these read aloud, or touch objects and characters on the page to hear them speak. There is a lily pad and a note symbol at the bottom of each page. When touched with the pen, the voice leads your child through games such as finding objects and people on the page. The activity side is centered on learning games such as parts of the body, colors, shapes, and counting. My First LeapPad is designed for preschool children to teach prereading and premath skills. It contains over 30 games and activities and is indicated to be suitable for ages 3 and over. My son will sit and play with the LeapPad on his own for a short time, but is only 3 and a half, and prefers me to help and guide him a little. My First LeapPad is a good learning aid and value for money as the flipbooks can be replaced with different books in the range to keep your child interested in learning. --Julie Illingworth

Learning to read has never been so fun, until now. This interactive system is an ideal tool for teaching various skills important in early years. My First LeapPad teaches ABCs, numbers, phonics, prereading skills, and premath skills. When children encounter the LeapPad for the first time, they may choose to participate in an interactive story book Leap's Big Day (included) or alternatively they may play 30 games and activities. If they choose a story they will be amazed at how involved they can become and how much they will learn. The games and activities on the reverse of the flipbook feature counting and singing songs as well as a section on parts of the body. The LeapPad comprises a spiral interactive flipbook that when used with the integral magic pen enables the story to come alive! The child may touch words and hear them read aloud or if they touch pictures in the story they too will make appropriate sound effects. This system is certainly an innovative concept that makes learning to read exciting while also challenging. --Tiffany Prescott ... Read more

Reviews (25)

The best money we have ever spent on a toy
We got this for our daughter for Christmas when she was 3.She just turned 4.She plays with this almost every day.She doesn't need any help.Its nice because it gives me 'quiet time' when our baby is napping and big sis plays with her leappad.She has learned so much from it.She can change the book and cartridge herself.Its neat to see her playing with it so intently.Its the best money we have ever spent on a toy.Very educational and I highly recommend it.Its not the kind of toy they get excited about at first then leave it in a corner and never touch again.Atleast not with our daughter.I will definately buy her the other ones as she gets older.
Don't hesitate to buy something that is so fun and educational for your little one!

good product, not perfect
We bought the pink one for my 3.5 year old daughter for Christmas.
Pros:
-educational
-fun, cheap books like spongebob, and dora
-volume adjusts
-cute sounds and phrases in the books that entertain kids

Cons
-the on/off button is right where my daugher rests her forearm. she keeps accidentally turning the leapPad off and then gets very frustrated
-when you press the "on" button it takes a couple of seconds for the sound to come on. since my daughter doesn't hear the "on" sounds right away she pushes the on/off button again thinking it didn't come on, inadvertantly turning the leappad OFF. She ends up pushing the button like 50 times before I have to intervene.

My 3 year old loves this toy!
I thought this looked like a nice learning toy on the leapfrog website. I was not disappointed and neither was my daugther.

Pros:
1. It's pink first off and she loves that.
2. It's easy to use and carry.
3. All her fav characters are available, wiggles, spongebob,
dora, the disney princesses and especially Tag.
4. The price is very reasonable.
5. Great for car travel, when winding down for bed or any time.
6. Volume adjusts.

Cons:
1. It would be a bit nicer if it was easier for her to snap the pages in a lone but at 3 they should have some parental involvement.

It only took my 3 year old a little while to understand the pressing "go" once you go to a new page - and the use of the pen pressing on the items or the bottom of the page.

We are doing home preschool, we do a mix of a lot of things and this "toy" really comes in handy - she chooses if she wants to do this or arts and crafts - worksheets, etc..
I would highly recommend this to anyone.
... Read more

Subjects:  1. Learning    2. Electronic Learning Aids (ELA)    3. Electronic    4. Alphabet    5. Preschool   

Reviews (13)

Daughter loves it!
I bought this for my daughter's first birthday and she absolutely loves it.She spends a lot of time playing with it and loves to knock it around to play different songs so she can dance. It seems very durable too.Its a favorite in our house!

Love the Cube
My 21 month old son has played with this toy since he was 7 months old.In the beginning it helped him stand, in the middle, it helped with his coordination and now it helps him dance dance.We love that it has held up perfectly - still looks new despite being jumped on.I love the fact that this toy grew with my son.

Great Neurosmith Toy!
I didn't get this toy until my daughter was almost 2 and she still loved it!She is just learning the words to some of the songs like "Wheels on the Bus" & "Old MacDonald had a Farm", so she likes singing along with the toy.She was a little afraid of the spider at first, but she loves it now.I would encourage anyone to buy this toy, if for no other reason than the fact that they aren't making it anymore.If you wait too long, it may not be available.I'm ordering more to save as 1st B-day gifts for my friends kids.Hope this helps! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Preschool    2. Learning    3. Electronic Learning Aids (ELA)    4. Electronic    5. Music    6. Baby and Infant    7. Stuffed Toys    8. Musical    9. Electronic Learning Aids    10. Reading    11. Writing    12. Phonics    13. Counting    14. Activity   

Editorial Review

Learn Thru Music Early Learning System The Learn Through Music interactive early learning system helps teach preschoolers fundamental lessons through the magic of music. The rhythm, rhyme and repetition of musical sounds and lyrics are time-honored and time-tested tools that capture children's attention and imagination and help them to absorb and remember basic concepts. Because music engages a child's entire self - mind, body and soul - putting lessons to music makes it fun and easy for children to soak up new information. Each Learn Through Music software cartridge features: Specific, age-appropriate learning lessons, A wide range of lyrical & rhythmic devices, A variety of visual & audio content and Diverse curriculums based on beloved characters ... Read more

Reviews (154)

Learn through Music really teaches!
My mother in law got this unit with Elmo's Scavenger Hunt cartridge for my son when he was 1 1/2.While one of the other reviewers says it's too loud it does have two volumes.My son had mastered this cartridge by his 2nd birthday. So for Christmas we got him Elmo's numbers and Blue's Clues colors....he has excelled with this toy.
He know's how to mix colors now at 2 1/2 and can tell you exactly how to do it.How many kids his age know that green and yellow make Chartruse?And with Elmo numbers he knows how to count in English and Spanish.
It's an excellent toy...annoying at first because there is something new to learn on each "page" and the songs are great for kids but hard on parents.
As for durability..the only problem we have encountered in 1 1/2 years of use is that anything that falls into the cartridge chamber can harm it...in our case cat hair.But it's worth paying the price....it's excellent and it's a learning tool that can be used for so many things.

Great Toy!...worth the money
I bought this toy over a year ago for my now 2-1/2 year old daughter and she still plays with it.I now have a 19 month old daughter too, and she loves the toy just as much. The youngest bops to the music, and the oldest sings away in the microphone. I have not yet changed the batteries, the "pages" don't stick, the volume is a good volume since it can be adjusted with the "high/low" switch on back. I find the toy to be plenty durable since my youngest seems to stand on it quite a bit and has not damaged the screen or any part of it yet. I also plan to buy more cartridges this weekend for them since I just still have the one it came with. I'm hoping the others are just as fun for my kids as the Sesame Street one. I gave the toy only 4 stars because of the colors on the screen...it would be nice if they were a bit brighter and bolder for the kids.

A whole lot of fun..... UNTIL IT STOPS WORKING!
My 18 month old daughter loved this toy soooo much in the store that I just had to buy it for her. I also picked up two extra cartridges for it. I thought the price was a little high, but for such a great toy I felt that it was worth it. Well, we got it home and she loved it! We played with it together (at all times, other times it was put up) and had so much fun with it... until 3 days after buying it when it stopped working. We didn't have any trouble with the microphone, but the pages would stick on every single cartridge. I changed the batteries, thinking that we probably just played with it too much, but that didn't help. I ended up taking it back to our Toys 'R' Us and exchanging everything for another. Okay, second toy worked really well for about 3 wks, then not only did the pages start sticking but the microphone started cutting out as well!! There was NO REASON for this! My daughter never threw it, stepped on it, hit it, etc. I took it back AGAIN (thank goodness for saving boxes and receipts!! The 3rd one worked a bit longer, almost 2 months, and then the same things started happening again. After putting new batteries in the 3rd toy and having the problems continue, I finally had my partner try to fix it himself! We ended up getting so fed up with this toy that we threw it, along with ALL THREE cartridges, in the trash. BIG, BIG, BIG waste of money!! I am extremely disappointed! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Preschool    2. Learning    3. Electronic Learning Aids (ELA)    4. Electronic    5. Alphabet    6. Music   

Editorial Review

When it's time for the three R's, this magnetic kit covers all the bases. A yellow plastic case with a carrying handle is divided into three compartments that hold chalk; an eraser; and 99 magnetic letters (upper- and lowercase), numbers, and arithmetic signs. The blue lid (11.25 by 9.25 inches) doubles as a teaching and demonstration board that can be slid diagonally into red plastic supports to make a sturdy surface for identifying letters and numbers, working arithmetic problems, and spelling. The arithmetic signs can be arrayed horizontally (with an = sign) or vertically (with a long bar at the bottom). The chalk and eraser make it easy to practice writing letters and numbers right next to their multicolored magnetic models. --Louise Carter ... Read more

Reviews (10)

It's a cute toy, but there are so many pieces to clean up!
My son got this toy as a gift when he was 4, and it's cute, but he hasn't been very good at cleaning up all of the pieces.It's a good way to demonstrate to him how to spell words, but it requires some adult involvement.When the board is in the slanted position, you can't get to the pieces in the back of the tray easily so the letters tend to get poured out to reach them more easily.Also, the bottom of the case has holes cut out of it, so the small letters (lower case l and i as well as the divide signs) can fall through.Those need to be stored in the section with no cut-outs.For a small, portable magnetic set, it's adequate.

A toy enthusiast
This is a great toy and WELL WORTH the money. We've had it for over a year and it is still one of the most favorite toys in the house. Our three-year-old already knows all her letters and is now learning how to spell. Most importantly, she learns it all while playing and not even thinking that she is actually studying her math or phonics. Day hardly passes by without her bringing the case to me so that I could show her how to write a new word. My favorite part about this toy is that my daughter has not "outgrown" it in a matter of weeks and it still continues to challenge her every day.

Nice, but....
My 3 and 4 year old liked playing with the letters and writing on the chalk board, but the cover doesn't stay on so the letters started getting lost as did the chalk. Once all the letters aren't there, spelling doesn't work very well....
It just isn't as durable as I would have liked. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Preschool    2. Learning    3. Reading    4. Alphabet    5. Numbers   

Editorial Review

Learn Thru Music Early Learning System The Learn Through Music interactive early learning system helps teach preschoolers fundamental lessons through the magic of music. The rhythm, rhyme and repetition of musical sounds and lyrics are time-honored and time-tested tools that capture children's attention and imagination and help them to absorb and remember basic concepts. Because music engages a child's entire self - mind, body and soul - putting lessons to music makes it fun and easy for children to soak up new information. Each Learn Through Music software cartridge features: Specific, age-appropriate learning lessons, A wide range of lyrical & rhythmic devices, A variety of visual & audio content and Diverse curriculums based on beloved characters ... Read more

Reviews (37)

Great Fun and Very Durable!!
My father bought this for my daughters first birthday. The age recommendation said it was for a little older of a child but she just kept pointing to it even when we tried to distract her attention to something else. There are no small pieces and the cartridges are large and durable so I don't think it is a safety concern for small children. She is 18 months now and does not understand the game concept or microphone just yet. However, she loves to push the arrows to advance the pages and dance to the music that it plays. We have had the toy for six months now and have had no problems. I have not even changed the batteries yet!! It continues to be one of her favorite toys and I know she has years before she will outgrow it making it well worth the cost.

Great Quality!
My daughter loves this machine. We have had ir for almosr a year now and it is great. She plays with it everyday, and loves both the Dora and the Blues Clues. My daughter is two and it has held up to her toddler behavior! She has dropped it down the stairs used to jump off of, and the darn thing still works great. The volume is a bit loud but you can adjust the volume to loud or not so loud. All in all a great toy.

Excellent Toy .... Better Than Little Touch Leappad
We purchased this toy after having no success or satisfaction with the Little Touch Leappad. My daughter will be two next month and she plays with this toy every day. It is easy for her to use and navigate between the screens. We leave it on the low setting and it isn't annoying but the louder setting we avoid at all costs. You navigate through the different screens by pushing the back or forward arrow buttons. It has a touch screen and on each screen asks your child different things and responds to watch they touch. When it reaches the last screen it automatically rewinds to the beginning. It plays when touched and will stop after your child stops interacting with it. It came on vacation with us and was a definite trip saver, however we didn't use it on the plane so as not to annoy anyone. It worked great in the hotel room and in the rental car especially when we drove 3 hours into Orlando. It has been dropped a few times and it is still going strong. I've changed the batteries once and we've had it for almost two months. We also purchased the Elmo cartridge but this is my daughters' favorite, even though she LOVES Elmo. The only thing I don't like is the microphone. You press the button and speak into it and it magnifies your voice alittle bit. It would've been nicer if you could record your voice and play it back. The only thing my daughter uses it for is to drag the machine around. The built in handle gets no use. You have to insert the cartridge into the slot on top and it locks in place. My daughter figured out how to take them out so she does switch them back and forth. When there is no cartridge in the machine it still plays music and lights up when touched. it also cleans easily. I wipe it down with a damp paper towel. This is an excellent toy for toddlers and you can get it with any of their favorite characters. My daughter will go back to it time and time again throughout the day and I think the only other toy that gets more use are her care bears which she carries around everywhere.
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Subjects:  1. Preschool    2. Learning    3. Electronic Learning Aids (ELA)    4. Electronic    5. Alphabet    6. Music   

Reviews (6)

OK
For those say ch, ll and rr are letters "they're not", I'm mexican, it sounds different when you put together 2 l's or 2 r's, or a c and a h, but they are not letters (ñ is a letter). So, this toy is correct.

spanish alphabet issue
Re: the alphabet issue.I am a Spanish teacher and of course I teach the letters ch, ll, rr and ñ (n w/ a tilde).They have different sounds.It would be delinquent of me not to tell them the sounds those letters make.However, the Real Academia, the Spanish language organization, has removed the double letters: ch, ll and rr from the official alphabet.They are not found listed separately in current dictionaries, but there are lots of old dictionaries out there that still list them as separate letters. I believe any exposure to a second language is good, even if it doesn't involve all of the sounds.It is easier to put 27 sounds on a toy that normally has 26 English ones then to put 30. If your child likes this toy, buy it!

Spanish Alphabet in Children's Toys
Actually, many of the special letters in the Spanish alphabet have been removed.

Specifically, CH, and LL have been dropped. RR was never universally used. (All this despite the fact that many American Spanish classes continue to teach this expanded alphabet.)

(...) ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Preschool    2. Push and Pull Toys    3. Learning   

Subjects:  1. Learning    2. Electronic Learning Aids (ELA)    3. Electronic    4. Preschool   

Editorial Review

Expand the power of your LeapFrog Mind Station with this reusable cartridge. Plug the Mind Station into your computer, insert the 4 MB cartridge in the Mind Station, and download content from LeapFrog’s Web site. When you've finished downloading, transfer the information to the corresponding LeapFrog toy and enjoy hours of fun. Reuse the cartridge as often as you want for continuous learning and entertainment. The 4 MB cartridge is currently compatible with the LeapTop, Imagination Desk, Turbo Twists, iQuest, LeapPad activity sheets, and Leap’s Pond magazine. --Pam Lauer ... Read more

Reviews (3)

4 MB Cartridge Doesn't Give Progress Reports
If you have a toy from the Turbo Twist line, don't bother with the 4MB(gold) cartridge, stick with the 2MB(silver) cartridge.The 4 MB cost more then the 2MB, you won't need the extra storage space (no matter how much memory a cartiridge holds, you can only download one activity pack at a time), and with the 2MB you can download a progress report to see how your child is doing, but you can't get a progress report if you use the 4MB cartridge.I only gave the cartridge 3 stars on durablity because I had one fail after repeated use, but much sooner then it should have.

it's ok, BUT....
We decided to get the iQuest master edition because it had this rewriteable cartridge and CDs with all the material - seemed like a no-brainer to spend [$$$] for everything rather than [$$$] for the iQuest and [$$$] each for the cartridges.Unfortunately, those prewritten cartridges hold entire books, this re-writeable one only holds a few chapters - or about 15 to 30min of material.Unfortunately, we whought it would be good for planetrips, long car trips, etc,But now we're looking at [$$$] to get a books worth of material to be able to do this.I feel tremendously mislead buy the manufacturer...

Wow! 4 MB!
This memory cartridge is great. If you have the Mindstation or Leap Link and a LeapFrog toy that says "Internet Expandable", such as the IQuest, you should buy this. This can be used for ANY LeapFrog toy that says, "Internet Expandable." ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Learning    2. Electronic Learning Aids (ELA)    3. Electronic    4. Preschool   

Reviews (4)

Stimulating Blocks
My 9 month old loves these blocks. We bought them for her when she was 5 months old. All she did then was put them in her mouth. I had to supervise her when she played with them as she could hurt herself. Now she looks intently at the pictures on the blocks, enjoys knocking them down when we stack them up and enjoys the wooden sound they make when she knocks two blocks. These blocks are her all time favorite. I anticipate further use of these blocks for educational purpose and I highly recommend them.

Super Blocks for Building and Learning
My daughter is almost 2. She has had these blocks for several months, and enjoys playing with them, stacking them, throwing them, and trying to name the pictures.So far the dog isn't attracted to them.

These blocks have great pictures and clear letters. I agree, however, with another reviewer's comments regarding M/W and some of the word choices, but in general they are great. So, we'll just have to explain somehow what Ink is. I'll bet we can do it.

I particularly like that the block holding tray is durable, and that the dimensions of the box allow for extra room (2 blocks worth) to make re-packing easy.

The blocks are a nice size, and the size and shape remain consistent between the blocks for easy stacking.I have not found any rough edges or splinters. So far the pictures have held up well.

These are high quality blocks that should be a satisfying toy for several years to come.

Awesome, Safe Block Set
We bought these toys when our daughter was 10months old, for her first christmas. She just loves them.She also recieved some of the old-fashioned "carved" blocks with the letters cut into them.Unlike these, she quickly chewed the paint off of some of the old-fashoined blocks.She has chomped on these pretty hard and they seem to put up with it with little damage.She bangs them together, chews on them and occationally stacks them. Though they are recommended for older children, i think we made a nice choice as she will be able to play with these for years in many different ways as her skills develop.Also, they are bigger than the standard blocks, so i dont worry about anything and she should be able to manipulate them a little earlier. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Preschool    2. Construction    3. Blocks    4. Learning    5. Wood    6. Alphabet    7. Toddler    8. Activity    9. Shape Sorting    10. Building Sets    11. Puzzles   

Editorial Review

Kids will spend hours building life-size castles and fortresses withthis sturdy cardboard block set. Included are 32 blocks: six large red "brick"blocks, six medium-size yellow blocks, six small blue blocks, four drawbridges,four arches, and six turrets. This set is terrific for hours of imaginativeplay, and it can be used with other Imagiplay blocks to build large, life-sizestructures. Parents can use the castle structure to spark imaginative pretendplay (who doesn't want to be a prince or princess); they can also encouragemathematical skills by helping kids discover that one large red block is thesame size as two medium yellow blocks or four small blue blocks. Imagiplayblocks also enable children to explore and discover how they can control theirenvironment and manipulate the objects within it. Made from 50 percent recycledcardboard and printed with nontoxic inks, the blocks have a smooth,water-resistant coating so they can be wiped clean. --Lauren Bernard, motherand elementary school teacher ... Read more

Features

• Cardboard construction
• 32 blocks
• Nontoxic inks

Reviews (2)

You must be kidding me!
I thought that these blocks might provide "hours of play" and what they provided were hours of assembling cardboard box blocks, and very little play for my 2 and 4 year olds.First, there are not enough blocks to make much of anything.Second, the blocks are so light, they topple easily.The picture on the box shows kids playing in a castle like structure built with these blocks, but I don't see how that is possible.Save your money.Use old shoeboxes.

My kids love these blocks!
My 3 year-old and my 6 year-old love these blocks.They build castles and then knock them down. The blocks hold up fairly well, you just can't jump up and down on them.We've had ours for almost a year and my kids still play with them all the time. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Preschool    2. Construction    3. Blocks    4. Building Sets    5. Learning    6. Baby and Infant    7. Toddler    8. Activity    9. Shape Sorting   

Subjects:  1. Learning    2. Electronic Learning Aids (ELA)    3. Electronic    4. Preschool   

Reviews (2)

Great System
I bought this for my 2yr old.Although the age group states its for older children, my son still has tons of fun with this system.This book is his favorite and he likes to read it at least 2-3 times per day.It is so neat that nearly every picture on the page can make a sound or tell you what it is.He learns lots of new words and is so excited about books.He loves the fact that Elmo is somewhere on every page.We have so much fun with this book and the whole system.He also has the leap frog system but reaches for this one first.
I would caution not to purchase if you don't intend on supervising closely.He is very rough on the pages and they come out and get torn pretty easily and this happened while I was watching him closely.

My son loves playing with this book
My two year old son received a PowerTouch system for his birthday.According to the age recommendations he is too young for the system, but he figured out what to do very quickly, and his vocabulary has certainly been widened since he began playing with the system.

Our son's favorite book is "Elmo's Noisy Day" -- Elmo and Zoe go all around Sesame Street with jars and bottles in which they collect all the noises they hear.On one page they sample sounds from the jungle, on another they capture the sounds of a busy street, and they even collect some sounds from outer space!I was impressed by the variety of sounds included, and I was also impressed at how some pictures contained unexpected sounds.For example, on the first pages, the hats on a coat rack each make their own sound, related to the profession each hat is associated with.In the music store, each of the four samples of sheet music in the background produce a different tune.On the spaceship, the different buttons and levers make different beeps and squawks.

When my son sits down with this book, he will page through and play with it for 20 minutes or so at a time.He has suprised me with some of the new words he has learned by hearing them in the book -- he casually pointed out the tuba for me the other day by name!I can't speak to the counting or spelling functions of the book - we just use it for the story, for music and sounds, and for naming objects.Some of the pages are beginning to get a little ragged with use, but since my son is two I am sure he is handling it a little more roughly than an older child would.

I would recommend this book for the Power Touch system because of the great variety of information a child can get from any page, and for the educational value of the information presented, especially for a younger child (2 or 3 years old). ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Preschool    2. Learning    3. Electronic Learning Aids (ELA)    4. Electronic   

Editorial Review

Kids love to emulate adults around them--give them the pleasureof learning to use their very own phone with the Pretend & PlayTeaching Telephone. The bright red and yellow plastic unit measures 7inches across and has large buttons for easy use. Program in a number(your home, for example) and record a message for the kids to hear whenthey get it right. There's also an emergency message associated with911 to teach them what to do when trouble strikes. Other fun featuresinclude speed dial and an 11-digit display. --Rob Lightner ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A Special Toy For A Special Boy!
My son has autism, so I am constantly on the lookout for toys that will help him in everyday task. The phone is FANTASTIC! In only two day, he got the hang of the phone and learned his home phone number! The kicker was for praise, he heard mommy's voice saying, he got it right! No mechanical, strange voices! Good Job! Great Product!

Gets loads of play! Kids of all ages love this.
This toy can be used by babies and toddlers and up. Younger kids can use it simply as a pretend phone. When certain buttons are pressed there is a dial tone sound, a ringing sound, and a "busy signal" sound. My youngest was one year old when he began playing with this, randomly pressing buttons, listening, and really pretending to talk.

Older kids (5 or maybe 4) can use this as a teaching tool, with the parent. As described by the manufacturer (above) this has the capability to program in numbers, record your voice, and practice calling 911 or practice calling other important phone numbers.

So far we've only used the toy to play with during imaginative play. My kids have played with it so much that it is worth the cost. Kids who visit for playdates also gravitate to this toy and love to play with it. I highly recommend this as a great toy for pretend play.

Also great from this manufacturer is the pretend cash register. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Learning    2. Talking    3. Activity    4. Pretend Play    5. Electronic Learning Aids (ELA)    6. Electronic    7. Math    8. Preschool   

Editorial Review

This is a no-nonsense, down-to-earth pegboard set with big, colorful pegs that are ideally sized for small fingers but too big to swallow. Designed to build eye/hand coordination, fine-motor skills, math skills, and color recognition in 2-to-5-year-olds, the Tall-Stacker Pegs & Pegboard Set includes 25 colorful pegs, a crepe rubber pegboard, and suggested activities for parents to help get children started. --Chris Livesay ... Read more

Reviews (8)

mom_of 16month_old
I purchesed this toy from an educational store looking for something to travel with and something without batteries. We bought it 2 months ago when my son was 14 months old and he liked it right away. It only took him several hours to figure out how to stack them. He plays with them every day and his color preferences are showing up while he plays with the pegs (he picks out all the orange ones first). He works both hands on his own when trying to stack the pegs. I think it has helped him in learning how to hold crayons. The only dislikes I have with this toy is the foam mat and the thin plastic wall in the center of the pegs. My son is still at that age were he bites everything and sometimes I think that if he worked at it enough he could chew a corner of the mat. We had one of the center hole walls break the other day and found the piece on the floor. So I would inspect them every so often. Also, try to teach your kids to hold the pegs down low as to not poke themselves in the eye when trying to stack the pegs with out the mat. It happened to our son--nothing severe just alot of crying. Overall it's a great toy and worth the money. I would definately purchase it as a gift for other children as well. Our son gets very excited when I ask him if he wants to play with his pegs. :)

Fun but a little flimsy
My 21-month-old loves stacking things and sticking things into other things. So this toy was perfect for him, except that the base should be made of something a little more sturdy. It's rather flimsy rubberized material. He can't play with it in his crib or on my bed. He has to place it on a table or something else with a hard surface. Other than that, he seems to really like it.

Great toy for the kids
I bought this because my son used to play this in OT sessions. He loved it and it really helps him to concentrate, use both hands (motor skills).

I will recommend this to everyone (1+year kids) ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Baby    2. Stacking    3. Color Recognition    4. Preschool    5. Learning    6. Math    7. Baby and Infant    8. Toddler    9. Activity    10. Shape Sorting