@ LeapPad vs Nintendo DS

[ttt]

In the next year or two, the kids are going to be doing a lot of traveling. Just in the next two weeks, we have a 5 hour flight, and then two 11 hour road trips. Over the next year, they'll probably be going on at least six 8 hr+ flights plus some 12+hr road trips. So, I'm thinking of investing in some electronic entertainment and the two that keep coming up are the LeapPad or Leapster and the Nintendo DS. Does anyone have one or both of these? The kids are almost-5 and 1 1/2 - it seems like BBT is probably too young for either at the moment, so I'm thinking mainly for SST (and if it's usable by BBT, that's a bonus).

Any thoughts on age-appropriateness, quality and availability of games, price of games, size of the actual thing?

[MrsAxilla]

We have the Leapster Explorer and a DS. IMO, you definitely want the Leapster at their ages. Virtually all it's games are educational, and they have a wide variety for 3+. We credit the Leapster with teaching Ben a ton of reading and math skills. He'd bust out some complex knowledge and say "I learned that from Mr. Pencil!".

The DS is better starting at 5 or 6 yrs. There are very few games for young kids, and they're not really educational.

[MrsAxilla]

Also, you really need basic "video game" skills to use the DS. The Leapster teaches those skills.

[ttt]

Thank you! SST uses some of the kid games on my iPad but it's a pain to keep enabling and disabling things like YouTube and if I forget to disable it before letting her have it, she ends up accidentally watching adult (not like XXX but not appropriate) videos on there (although to her credit, she comes to me and says "Mommy, this video is not appropriate for children" lol). So I'd rather have something that's completely dedicated to kids and educational stuff.

[mominatrix]

Jul 28, 2013 15:55:03 GMT -5 ttt said:

Thank you! SST uses some of the kid games on my iPad but it's a pain to keep enabling and disabling things like YouTube and if I forget to disable it before letting her have it, she ends up accidentally watching adult (not like XXX but not appropriate) videos on there (although to her credit, she comes to me and says "Mommy, this video is not appropriate for children" lol). So I'd rather have something that's completely dedicated to kids and educational stuff.

Honestly, I'd get them either a Nabi or another form of Android tablet.

They're way cheaper than iPads, but work off similar principles (touch screen)... but the fact that you can get games and other educational stuff for them for free (rather than the $20+) per app you would pay for those, makes it a much more economical choice.

Then, don't install You Tube, or install something like Zoodles, which creates a kid safe environment (you pick which apps they can get, you put in child birthday and it selects appropriate you tube vids, etc)


Those systems are really geared to make you pay and pay and pay for apps.

Sent from my SGH-T999 using proboards

[somersault72]

DS got a Leap Pad for Christmas when he was 3.5. At 5, he still plays with it often. He maneuvers my Kindle Fire and my dad's iPad just as well, but I prefer the Leap Pad for him because that thing is pretty much indestructible as far as I can tell (it's went down my stairs at least once). If your kids aren't at crazy as mine, they'd probably be OK with a Kindle Fire if you get a good case for it. The apps are much cheaper for tablets and there's more to choose from.

[ttt]

Jul 28, 2013 16:20:52 GMT -5 somersault72 said:

DS got a Leap Pad for Christmas when he was 3.5. At 5, he still plays with it often. He maneuvers my Kindle Fire and my dad's iPad just as well, but I prefer the Leap Pad for him because that thing is pretty much indestructible as far as I can tell (it's went down my stairs at least once). If your kids aren't at crazy as mine, they'd probably be OK with a Kindle Fire if you get a good case for it. The apps are much cheaper for tablets and there's more to choose from.

This is a big concern of mine too - how sturdy are the other tablets? One thing I read about the Leap Pad is that it's very rugged and my kids are constantly dropping stuff.

[ttt]

I'm a little put off by the cost of other tablets - I can get the LeapPad plus carrying case, gel skin, and a couple of games for about $130 on Amazon. The Kindle Fire by itself is more than that with nothing. On the other hand, the Leap games are like $15-20 each so... *-) I'm not sure.

[madisen]

Jul 28, 2013 16:06:59 GMT -5 NewOrleans said:

LeapPad was such a bust when I bought it for my then 4 y.o. Totally lame. Wish I had bought him a real tablet. There was a deal on Kindle Fire for 129 a couple weeks ago. That's what both kids are getting this year for Xmas. They can use age aappropriate apps for now and grow into other features.

I saw this deal today.

www.swaggrabber.com/onlinedeals/target-acer-iconia-10-1-android-tablet-125-shipped-was-311-99

Thanks for posting this. Seems like a great deal.

[ringstrue]

Dunno much about the leap-stuff but one thing I like about the iOS is being able to see something on TV or hear about a cool new app and just order it or download the free version to try it out. Disney Jr. has a Princess Pets app out and we downloaded it for free and played it right away. No having to plan trips to the store or wait until birthdays.

[IIOY]

Another vote for an actual tablet over one of the toys that requires payment for all games. We have a Kindle Fire and an iPad, and both provide so much more entertainment than the handheld kid game console thingamabobber we got our kids (can't think of the name at the moment). Both tablets have only free kid apps; there are a ton of them out there.

[IIOY]

Jul 28, 2013 17:54:29 GMT -5 @evelynrichards said:

I will say that one thing that's nice about dedicated kids toys is you don't have to worry about the ads on the bottom of the free apps. DS1 asked me what a sex offender watch list was because it popped up while playing a very harmless kids game.

ITA there are security issues with apps that you won't have with the kids' toys. Not only might you get an ad like that (although we haven't seen one yet), you also have to make sure you've turned off your child's ability to buy upgrades. H learned this one the hard way, LOL.

There is a great website and app called Common Sense Media that rates movies, TV shows, apps, websites, etc.. It provides a description of the substance, as well as the appropriate age for use. I put this app on my phone and use it all the time, although the website works better than the app, IMO.

[caden]

My kids started using Nabis at 2 yrs but there are many free apps for 18m olds. It's very simple to use although you may have to help DD2 with some clicking bc sometimes it thinks kids are swiping when theyre clicking. Im sure she'll figure it out quickly though. We've never paid for an app but there are probably good ones that are still much less than a leap pad game. I'd recommend it for your kids' ages and uses. It's very durable (my kids have thrown theirs down the stairs and they still work). It's an android so I constantly have to reboot it. I've replaced a charger and had to do a factory reset on one. So they're not perfect. It's the same quality as my old android phone, for comparison. But it's way cheaper than an iPad, which I don't let my kids touch for fear of breaking it. You can load videos onto it and it comes with a free app that lets you watch clips of a ton of kids TV shows, but you need wifi for that.

[statlerwaldorf]

DD is 4 and she has a LeapPad. The games are very simple and repetitive, but she doesn't seem to get bored with it. There are also games for older kids. She has dropped it down the stairs more than once and it works fine. It has a few minor scratches from before I bought the gel case, but those are on the outside and not the screen. It goes through batteries quickly and the games are expensive. She likes all of the games she has, but doesn't care too much for the ebooks.

[ttt]

Jul 28, 2013 17:36:41 GMT -5 ringstrue said:

Dunno much about the leap-stuff but one thing I like about the iOS is being able to see something on TV or hear about a cool new app and just order it or download the free version to try it out. Disney Jr. has a Princess Pets app out and we downloaded it for free and played it right away. No having to plan trips to the store or wait until birthdays.

SST is obsessed with that game right now lol. She plays with my iPad and she's actually really good with it. It's the iPad 1 so totally old and I'm actually getting a new one in the fall. I'm fine with giving her my old iPad. But I know that they will fight and scream over it if I don't have something for BBT too (I know I know but I am not a good enough mother to deal with this The Right Way for 9 hours on an airplane).

So basically I want something that's exactly like the iPad - the touch screen, the ability to get free or cheap apps - but ideally smaller, less expensive (under $100 for the actual unit if possible), and durable enough to get dropped without breaking.

[EloiseWeenie]

My kids share the LeapPad I got for Hunter when he was 18 months (Hunter is 4 now, and Amelia is 21 months). I love it. Hunter and Amelia always click on ads in the games on my iPad, and they can find roundabout ways to Youtube through app "extras."

The LeapPad has been dropped 5 million times, and still works wonderfully. There are games for different age ranges. Amelia is obsessed with one particular Team Umizoomi episode that's on it, and pretty much only plays that on repeat. Hunter loves all the games. He's been playing Globe Explorer, and I love when he randomly starts talking about Machu Picchu when playing with his toys. I love that there's no internet, so I know everything that is on the tablet.

I agree with statlerwaldorf with the ebooks. Amelia goes into them every now and then, but Hunter is over them. We have 7 games that we've accumulated over 2.5 years. They frequently go on sale, and I refuse to pay more than $15/game. I actually plan to put a LeapPad2 on Amelia's birthday or Christmas list this year.

[mominatrix]

Jul 28, 2013 20:11:24 GMT -5 ttt said:

Jul 28, 2013 17:36:41 GMT -5 ringstrue said:

Dunno much about the leap-stuff but one thing I like about the iOS is being able to see something on TV or hear about a cool new app and just order it or download the free version to try it out. Disney Jr. has a Princess Pets app out and we downloaded it for free and played it right away. No having to plan trips to the store or wait until birthdays.

SST is obsessed with that game right now lol. She plays with my iPad and she's actually really good with it. It's the iPad 1 so totally old and I'm actually getting a new one in the fall. I'm fine with giving her my old iPad. But I know that they will fight and scream over it if I don't have something for BBT too (I know I know but I am not a good enough mother to deal with this The Right Way for 9 hours on an airplane).

So basically I want something that's exactly like the iPad - the touch screen, the ability to get free or cheap apps - but ideally smaller, less expensive (under $100 for the actual unit if possible), and durable enough to get dropped without breaking.

There's a junior version of the nabi...
touch screen, free or cheap (android) apps...smaller, 
street price is $99   ... www.nabitablet.com/nabijr

review:  geekdad.com/2013/07/nabi-jr-tablet-and-wings-learning-system-review/


here's a more straightforward review: www.androidpolice.com/2013/04/30/fuhu-nabi-jr-lightning-review-the-perfect-first-tablet-for-your-pre-schooler/

[caden]

There's a nabi jr tablet for $99 online. It's 5".

[mominatrix]

If you're only using them when travelling, this place will rent them to you...

gizmotakeout.com/desktops/Kids-Tablets

[ttt]

Thanks so much everyone!!

[Deleted]

Jul 28, 2013 16:20:52 GMT -5 somersault72 said:

DS got a Leap Pad for Christmas when he was 3.5. At 5, he still plays with it often. He maneuvers my Kindle Fire and my dad's iPad just as well, but I prefer the Leap Pad for him because that thing is pretty much indestructible as far as I can tell (it's went down my stairs at least once). If your kids aren't at crazy as mine, they'd probably be OK with a Kindle Fire if you get a good case for it. The apps are much cheaper for tablets and there's more to choose from.

Ditto, except my dS had the vtech Innotab. He still loves that thing.

[auntie]

I bought my mom a Nook for $129. There's all kinds of stuff she can do with it- including read. You do have a kid who should be reading within a year.

[ringstrue]

Jul 28, 2013 20:11:24 GMT -5 ttt said:

Jul 28, 2013 17:36:41 GMT -5 ringstrue said:

Dunno much about the leap-stuff but one thing I like about the iOS is being able to see something on TV or hear about a cool new app and just order it or download the free version to try it out. Disney Jr. has a Princess Pets app out and we downloaded it for free and played it right away. No having to plan trips to the store or wait until birthdays.

SST is obsessed with that game right now lol. She plays with my iPad and she's actually really good with it. It's the iPad 1 so totally old and I'm actually getting a new one in the fall. I'm fine with giving her my old iPad. But I know that they will fight and scream over it if I don't have something for BBT too (I know I know but I am not a good enough mother to deal with this The Right Way for 9 hours on an airplane).

So basically I want something that's exactly like the iPad - the touch screen, the ability to get free or cheap apps - but ideally smaller, less expensive (under $100 for the actual unit if possible), and durable enough to get dropped without breaking.

If they like that one and they like humanoid characters too (DD's cousin likes animals ONLY) Strawberry Shortcake has a free app where you can style her outfit and surrounding and all. She got very good and the iPad we borrowed from my work when she got into that app. Lots of dropping and dragging and scrolling. You can resize things too. 

[darthnbjenni]

We have 3 LeapPads - and my advice is stay away. The games are pricey, they suck 4 AA batteries dry in a day, and they lag to do anything. I do like that it reads instructions to the kids.

Ours play a lot of apps on my Kindle Fire, and I can put a parent lock on what I don't want them to access.

We just bought SD (almost 6) a DS and she loves Nintendogs the game. We also like to play Mario Kart on it:-)