Instead of a gameboy, we chose to go the Leapster route for our 5 yr old son when he was then 4. He didn't touch it for about a year. When he turned 5 and was in Kindergarten learning his ABC's, that's when he really took to it. I wish they had a wider selection of games to choose from, so from that standpoint this item is somewhat still limited. If you're in Canada like me, you'll be frustrated with even less choice that we have unless you order it online. A great learning tool, something I don't mind my son picking up anytime he likes!
Leapster
(2003, Leapster - Educational, Rated E, Play it on: Leapster)
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Is it age appropriate?
About our ratings -
Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
Leapster is a revolutionary children's product.
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 4 and Up
The good stuff
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Educational value:
What to watch out for
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Violence & scariness:
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Sexy stuff:
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Language:
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Consumerism:
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Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
What Parents Need to Know
This review of Leapster was written by Jinny Gudmundsen
Parents need to know that Leapster is a revolutionary children's product. It's a system many parents have been waiting for, because it combines the fun gaming experience typically found on Game Boy Advance with solid educational purpose.
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More on Leapster
What’s the Story?
LEAPSTER, a new portable learning system from Leapfrog, has entered the children's gaming arena to compete with Nintendo's Game Boy Advance SP (GBA-SP). Like GBA-SP, Leapster is a handheld system used to play video games. But unlike the GBA-SP games, Leapster games talk to the child, making it ideal for young children who can't yet read. In addition to the traditional multi-directional control pad, Leapster comes with a touch-sensitive screen and a special stylus attached to the unit that kids can use to create art, write, and drag objects across the screen. The system comes bundled with the video game Learning with Leap. Kids play six multi-level games, including a Frogger-type game that uses letters, numbers, shapes, and math equations.
Is It Any Good?
While both GBA-SP and Leapster feature a full-color backlit gaming screen and similar gaming controls, the new Leapster system has many features that distinguish it from GBA-SP and make it a much more appealing system for young children. More than just a handheld gaming system, it's also an electronic book reader, a digital art studio, and an interactive video player.
But what's really impressive is that the educational content and difficulty of the gameplay adjust on the fly. If a child is struggling with the arcade aspect of the game, it becomes easier. If the child is struggling with an educational concept, the content gets easier and a tutorial appears to teach the concept. For young kids, Leapster is leaving GBA-SP in the dust.
Publisher’s Details
Developer: LeapFrog
Released on: 11/25/2003, Price: $80
ESRB Rating: E
Released on: 11/25/2003, Price: $80
ESRB Rating: E
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Most Recent Reviews
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I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
Wonderful 'toy'!
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I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
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I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
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I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
The Only Game My Kids Play With
My two girls, ages 4 and 5, play their Leapsters non-stop. In fact, we had a buy a second one for my youngest because she kept taking her sister's under the kitchen table to play it. Wish there were more games, but so far, the kids have loved every game they have tried.
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I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
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