I can only vouch for one Leapfrog toy, the refrigerator magnet ABC/phonic thing (sorry, if forgot the actual name of the toy). It has a base that you put magnets into, and a voice sings, "A says ah, A says ah, every letter makes a sound, A says ah." You get the picture.
I got this for dd when she was 20 months old. She loved it, kept putting the letters in and out, listening to the song. Within 2 weeks she could identify and say her capital letters. I bought a standard ABC puzzle for her, with the lower case letters alongside the upper case letters, and in another week she could identify the lower case letters as well (since they were right next to the big ones, she figured it out on her own). Now some time has gone by and she's interested in phonics, and trying to read (we do a LOT of reading around here!). So she's playing with it all over again, this time paying attention to the phonic part of the song ("A says ah").
So yes, I can vouch for that particular toy. I do believe it helped dd learn this skill faster than she would have otherwise. She is the type that likes to do things on her own and by herself, so she enjoyed picking up the letters herself, operating the toy herself, etc. (instead of me working with her to learn the ABCs).
I've only bought one other thing for her, the Writing Pad, but it is too advanced for her at this moment (she's 2 1/2, this is for 4 year olds). I do think that when she's ready, she will enjoy this toy too.
I usually avoid plastic talking toys as well, but in these two cases, I am glad I bought the products.
I got this for dd when she was 20 months old. She loved it, kept putting the letters in and out, listening to the song. Within 2 weeks she could identify and say her capital letters. I bought a standard ABC puzzle for her, with the lower case letters alongside the upper case letters, and in another week she could identify the lower case letters as well (since they were right next to the big ones, she figured it out on her own). Now some time has gone by and she's interested in phonics, and trying to read (we do a LOT of reading around here!). So she's playing with it all over again, this time paying attention to the phonic part of the song ("A says ah").
So yes, I can vouch for that particular toy. I do believe it helped dd learn this skill faster than she would have otherwise. She is the type that likes to do things on her own and by herself, so she enjoyed picking up the letters herself, operating the toy herself, etc. (instead of me working with her to learn the ABCs).
I've only bought one other thing for her, the Writing Pad, but it is too advanced for her at this moment (she's 2 1/2, this is for 4 year olds). I do think that when she's ready, she will enjoy this toy too.
I usually avoid plastic talking toys as well, but in these two cases, I am glad I bought the products.
