LeapFrog Enterprises Inc. announced two new learning platforms LeapsterTV a new game console that extends the popular franchise to ages three and older and Little Leaps Grow-with-Me Learning System.
LeapsterTV, an educational game console that plugs into the family television, works with the Leapster educational software library, and the console's big buttons and easy-to-use joystick are designed with three-year-olds in mind.
Like its sibling learning systems, Leapster portable and Leapster L-Max, LeapsterTV provides each player with an individual learning path and teaches essential skills for pre-K to 4th grade. The learning games track each child's progress and include tutorials to help teach new concepts. LeapsterTV is the only educational game console that uses a stylus and a touchpad to help develop important writing and fine motor skills. LeapsterTV game console works with Leapster and Leapster L-Max software.
"LeapsterTV is the product parents and kids around the world have been asking for and this exceptional educational game console meets our high quality learning and development standards," said Pamela Kelly, LeapFrog's vp of marketing. "LeapsterTV expands Leapster educational gaming to kids 3 and older, and importantly embodies all that is known and loved from our award-winning Leapster franchise."
LeapsterTV will be available in the fall at select retailers nationwide, including Wal-Mart, Target and Toys "R" Us, for $49.99.
The LeapFrog Baby product line will see the debut of the new screen-based platform the Little Leaps Grow-with-Me Learning System. The new learning system introduces the building blocks of learning for children under three.
The Little Leaps Grow-with-Me Learning system features a convertible two-in-one baby to toddler activity controller and interactive learning discs designed to offer age-appropriate play and learning at each unique stage of development for babies and toddlers. Playing along with their parents, children can progress at their own pace to discover early learning and literacy concepts. The activities feature puppetry, animation and live- action; introduce original new LeapFrog learning friends; and can be played in any one of four different languages (English, Spanish, French and German).
"With LeapFrog's extensive background in making learning fun and engaging for children, we felt there was much more we could offer the youngest learners to stimulate their innate love of learning and enrich fundamental development," explained Frances Dillard, LeapFrog's director of marketing. "We believe our technology affords us the opportunity to create a new kind of learning experience for parents and their children. We see our products as a bridge to enhance this important shared learning time in a meaningful way."
"Parents of young children today are anxious to help them get a good educational start, but they need to be asking the right questions when choosing learning products -- is it interactive, will the child find it engaging, is the content age-appropriate and does it let the child set their own pace and follow their own interests?" Explained Dr. Anne Cunningham, associate professor of cognition and development at the University of California, Berkeley and a member of LeapFrog's Educational Advisory Board. "LeapFrog's Little Leaps program is a high-quality learning system for parents to consider because it opens up an exciting new world of imagination and learning through a child-initiated and interactive play experience. The fact that parents and their young children can discover the magic of the product together helps to instill a stimulating learning environment in the home."
The Little Leaps Baby mode, beginning at nine months and progressing to 24 months, exposes babies to active learning experiences that change with every touch, slide and toggle. Using the chunky buttons on the wireless activity controller, the Baby mode content and activities allow babies to progress at their own pace through three stages from view and learn; to parent and baby shared play; to independent, baby-initiated play. Concepts introduced to babies include cause and effect, first words, matching, vocalization, and numbers and counting.
From approximately 24 months and older, the wireless activity controller flips over to Toddler mode to reveal a more advanced design that allows toddlers to drive the learning experience utilizing their increased fine motor skills and growing independence. The Little Leaps Toddler mode works with interactive learning discs created with the appropriate content for this age group. Key cognitive concepts are introduced, such as letter names and sounds, numbers and counting, animal attributes and decision-making.
The Little Leaps Grow-with-Me Learning System will be available in fall 2006 at select retailers nationwide, including Wal-Mart, Target and Toys "R" Us. The price for the system will be $39.99 and the interactive learning discs will be sold separately for $17.99 each.
Additionally, the Leapster family software library continues to grow in 2006 with 11 new titles three new Leapster titles, two new Leapster L-Max titles and six new Leapster Arcade games. New Leapster titles include Disney/Pixar's CARS, Nick Jr.'s THE BACKYARDIGANS and Scholastic's ANIMAL GENIUS. The new Leapster software titles will be available in the fall for $24.99 each.
The new Leapster Arcade series bring a lower entry-level price point to the Leapster library; features arcade-style gaming including multiple challenge levels with one or two player gaming; and is designed to teach essential spelling and math skills. The rapid-fire games include LETTERPILLER, NUMBER RAIDERS, COSMIC MATH, WORD CHASERS, DORA THE EXPLORER'S PINATA PARTY and SCOOBY DOO SPOOKY SNACKS. Leapster Arcade software is available now with more titles to be released in the fall, carrying a price of $17.99 each.
Rounding out the Leapster software library are new titles for the Leapster L-Max learning system, including NASCAR and SEGA SONIC X. Both new Leapster L-MAX titles will be available in the fall for $29.99.
LeapFrog Enterprises Inc. (www.leapfrog.com) is a leading designer, developer and marketer of technology-based learning products and related proprietary content, dedicated to making learning effective and engaging for all ages, at home and in schools, around the world. The company was founded in 1995 and is based in Emeryville, California.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
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