leapfrog toys

As a parent, there are a few skills that I believe are essential to my boys’ proper development, so I’m passionate about ensuring they’re developing those skills. And in my mind, the absolute most essential skill to ensure a child’s future success is a love of learning. I use all kinds of different tricks, techniques and toys to make learning a fun and rewarding experience for my boys. That’s why LeapFrog products have always been a favourite in our home.

From the earliest baby days to the school years, LeapFrog has used innovative electronics to help kids gain proficiency in a variety of different areas, from math and science to reading and writing. And the brand new LeapStart system is the perfect example of why I’ve always loved the brand. The system uses a library of activity books that let kids have fun while developing STEM skills, problem solving, shape recognition and, of course, literary skills! I recently received the brand new LeapStart to review and Benjamin was only too happy to help me test it out. [Read more…]

Holiday Gift for Toddlers

Educational toys are always a great choice for children when the holidays arrive and while kids are pretty good about turning any playtime into a learning experience, there are some toy companies that seem to instinctively understand how to create toys that can both teach and engage children. LeapFrog is just such a company and if you have young children in your house, you probably have already experienced how much fun LeapFrog’s toys are for kids.

leapfrog peek-a-shoe talking octopus

This year, one of the most popular LeapFrog toys for the holiday season has to be the adorable Peek-a-Shoe Talking Octopus. This clever friend features something almost every toddler loves…lightweight plastic balls! When a child drops a ball into the top of the Peek-a-Shoe Talking Octopus, it rolls down into one of the shoes. Then the child can search for the ball by lifting up the shoes one by one with encouragement from the talking octopus himself.

The shoes are different colours and feature numbers on the front, so by choosing either the numbers or colours mode, the toy helps little ones learn about these two early learning concepts. And there’s even a fun musical mode with songs about sea creatures!

Benjamin’s favourite feature of the Peek-A-Shoe Octopus is definitely searching for the balls. He just loves being able to lift up the shoes and hear the friendly octopus tell him “Peek a boo!” And I love that the cheery comments are followed up by comments about the colours and numbers on the shoes! The only issue we had with the toy was that it got knocked over fairly easily when it was on the floor, so we generally put it up on the table when Benjamin wants to play with it so that it doesn’t accidentally get knocked down and interfere with his fun.

The LeapFrog Peek-a-Shoe Talking Octopus is available at major retailers across North America and can also be purchased online at www.leapfrog.ca. Check it out for yourself and see for yourself why the Peek-a-Shoe Talking Octopus won the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Toy Award. It’s a toy that will be sure to give your child hours of entertainment while they learn!

ARV: $39.99

[Read more…]

Kids Love Learning with the LeapStart Activity Book System-Giveaway

Holiday Gift Guide-LeapFrog Peek-a-Shoe Talking Octopus-Giveaway