Game Review: LeapPad Plus Writing and Math
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What Parents Should Know
This product doesn't always work the way it should, but it
can help jumpstart a reluctant writer and it does play all of
the regular LeapPad library of books/software.
Common Sense Media Review
LeapPad Plus Writing and Math is this year's
new variation on the award-winning
LeapPad Learning System. The
LeapPad Plus learning aid looks just like its
predecessor--a blue plastic laptop turned on its side. But
instead of the original stylus, this learning aid has a stylus
that, when twisted on the top, turns into a mechanical
pencil.
The system plays all the regular LeapPad books and comes with an introductory book showcasing material that utilizes the pencil. Leapfrog has created six separate book/software titles specifically for use with this LeapPad Plus system that encourage children to use the pencil to interact with the books. An eraser is provided so that the pages can be used again.
The books/software that focus on using the pencil to write met with mixed success when tested by kids. The pre-kindergarten material, which uses the pencil to complete mazes and shapes, was fun because the software makes a silly clicking noise when the child traces over dotted lines. It also plays spunky music.
But when children got down to the serious business of learning how to write the letters of the alphabet, the software was spotty and inconsistent. With the material from the separate Kindergarten Reading & Writing book/software, a child could correctly trace the dotted lines showing how to make a letter of the alphabet, only to be told to "start that line again and stay on the dotted line." Sometimes it would recognize the correct copying but sometimes it wouldn't. The same was true if the child didn't write the letter correctly--sometimes it would recognize that the child was off task, and sometimes it didn't.
The first grade book/software entitled 1st Grade Reading & Writing worked better. There, kids are asked to use the pencil to make decisions like circling a letter that starts a word. The software had no problem recognizing such tasks. However, the software also asks children to write words. It can tell that they are writing in the appropriate spot in the book and will respond with clicking noises and music. But the software is not sophisticated enough to recognize if they are writing the word correctly.
Given that this product doesn't work the way it should all the time, here is the bottom line: If you have a reluctant writer and you were planning on purchasing a LeapPad Learning System to help teach him/her to read, you might consider buying the LeapPad Plus Writing version. Since the Plus Writing version is only ten dollars more than the regular LeapPad Learning System and it plays the 60 plus titles created for the original system, it may be worth it because the added sounds and encouragement may provide just the motivation your child needs to practice writing. But plan to work with the child so that if the software isn't responding correctly, you can help. However, if you already own a LeapPad system, this Plus Writing system doesn't seem worth the investment since it works inconsistently.
Common Sense Media is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing information to help parents make media and entertainment choices for their families.
