LeapFrog into Learning
The term “educational toy” is often considered a misnomer. Thousands of toys are designed each year to make learning fun. Far to often however, these toys merely shout numbers and letters at kids, rather than teach them. LeapFrog is one of the leading manufacturers of educational toys and while most of their products “teach” to a varying degree, two products in particular, the Tag Reading System and Letter and Word “Factories” series, have proven themselves effective in actually teaching while entertaining kids.
LeapFrog Tag Reading System
The Tag Reading System is simply ingenious. By placing the Tag reader anywhere on a specifically coded Tag book, individual words, an entire page, or a description of a picture is read to kids via a small speaker in the reader. Kids at all beginning reading levels, and even toddlers working on letter recognition, can all benefit from the same system. Click here, to watch the Tag Reader in action. The Tag Reading System also comes in a Junior edition, designed specifically for toddlers. If, however, your child is old enough to turn the pages in a book without ripping them, the regular Tag system is a much better investment as it will grow with your child for years to come. One downfall to the system is the need to download the audio files for each books onto the reader. The process to do so is much better than using cartridges (which kids often lose or cannot use themselves), but the included program can be confusing and often stalls. In the end, the program is actually a minor nuisance, as one the books are downloaded, the reader is self sufficient.
Bottom Line: A great investment for kids who are old enough to turn pages without ripping them (somewhere around 2 1/2). Each 32 MB pen will hold 10 books and come in either pink or green. Skip the Tag Junior, as toddlers will quickly outgrow it.
Price and Links to Purchase: Green LeapFrog Tag Reading System (32 MB)
Other Links: Amazon’s Tag Reading System Store
LeapFrog Letter and Word Factory Videos 
Children as young as two can not only learn all the letters of the alphabet, but also the letter’s individual sounds, but merely watching Leapfrog’s Letter Factory Video. With the perfect combination of learning and fun, the Letter Factory Video, not only shows and talks about letters, sounds and words it actually teaches them! After watching the movie several times, you’ll be amazed how well the songs and demonstrations about each letter actually work. (See preview at the bottom of the page). The “Talking Word Factory” takes learning to the next level and teaches basic phonic recognition. (The covers on these two videos were recently redrawn, but the movies remain the same.) ”Talking Words Factory 2, Code Word Caper,” continues the learning by teaching the” silent e” and other advanced phonics. Preview below) Unfortunately, it is not longer in production and it only available used, but is defiantly worth the search time to acquire it. Two additional videos, “Math Circus” and “Learn to Read at the Storybook Factory” are also part of the series (and also no longer in production), but do not teach as much as they entertain. Two additional movies, “Ready for School” and “Math Adventures to the Moon,” are new to the series, but disappoint as the cartoons characters and music over shadow the lessons taught in the movie. The background music is often so loud, that kids cannot recognize the words let alone the lesson being taught.
Bottom Line: “Letter Factory” and ” Talking Words Factory” are a must have in every home and are suitable for kids starting around age 2 1/2. ”Talking Words Factory 2, Code Word Caper” is also a great video but is only available used. Skip the latest releases, “Ready for School” and “Math Adventures to the Moon,” as they entertain more than educate.
Price and Links to Purchase: LeapFrog – Talking Words Factory
LeapFrog Letter Factory Preview:
LeapFrog Word Factory 2, Code Word Caper Preview
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