***Update: VTech Innotab is now available for pre-order from retailers such as Amazon, due to be available September 15 of this year. If you are ready to pick one up, be aware that the pre-order allotments on LeapPad Explorer ran out quickly, and whether you plan to pick up Innotab, or LeapPad Explorer, these will be hot sellers in the coming holiday season.
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| VTech InnoTab in Pink, available for pre-order at Amazon. |
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| VTech InnoTab in Blue, available for pre-order at Amazon. |
***Update: LeapPad Explorer Tablet Learning Systems are currently available for purchase from a variety of retailers, including Amazon, linked below.
In February of 2011, two of the top companies involved in creating educational electronic products for kids, LeapFrog and VTech, made announcements related to their upcoming releases of Tablets for Kids. The touchscreen technology, so popular in smartphones and tablet pc's for adults, is now moving into the realm of educational electronics for kids.
In reality, touchscreen technology has been close, with stylus interaction in several children's educational gaming systems in recent years. My own youngsters use their fingers when the stylus is misplaced or inconvenient, in their Leapsters and in Pixters from several years ago. The arrival of the tablet for kids is a great step, or leap, in electronic learning systems.
Both the LeapFrog LeapPad Explorer Tablet, and the VTech InnoTab, will have 5" color touch screens, and both are built with sturdy protective housing, perfect for handling by kids from ages 4 to 9, who sometimes struggle with manual dexterity. Whereas your iPad might be in jeopardy in these small hands, the LeapPad Tablet, and the Innopad Tablet, will be able to stand up to the rough and tough nature of children.
The LeapPad Explorer tablet will have more than 100 learning games available when it launches, as well as e-books, flashcards, and videos. As well, the LeapPad Explorer will be compatible with the Leapster Explorer library. Launching in summer of 2011, the LeapPad tablet will retail at $99.99, with game cartridges priced at $24.99, and downloadable applications priced at $7.50. The LeapPad tablet will integrate with the LeapFrog website, to track learning progress. LeapFrog's tablet will include a broad span of curricula, with the ability to adapt to the skills of the user as he interacts, so that your child will learn at his level. Creativity is enabled with built in camera, video recorder, and microphone, as well as an animation studio. Read more in the LeapFrog press release.
VTech InnoTab is slated for release in the fall of 2011, with a retail price of $79.99. At launch, there will be 9 software cartridge titles available, several featuring popular Disney characters, and other favorite childhood characters, priced at $24.99. There will be the ability to download additional learning games and activities from VTech's website. Ability to listen to music, with MP3 integration, and watch videos, are highlights, as well as a caluculator, calendar, address book, notepad, and clock. USB and SD technology permit transfer of data from a PC. Read more in VTech's press release.
Both tablet toys for kids are promising in terms of providing a great educational experience, while giving children the thrill of using a device similar to that of their parents. LeapPad Explorer Tablet is slightly higher priced, but available sooner, giving it a slight edge over VTech InnoTab in getting a jump on exposure. For those looking toward the 2011 holiday season, however, the InnoTab has the edge in pricing.
As an educator, and parent of children who have used toys by both LeapFrog and VTech, I'm certain that both will be great for kids, and both will facilitate learning across all learning styles. Tablet PC's are great at involving the kinesthetic learner, through the interactivity and manipulative element of using fingers to interact with the system. Further, the visual learner is well-suited to electronic systems such as these, which allow them to visualize spelling, models of math concepts, and other learning activities. The auditory learner processes sound, and the use of a tablet toy will permit the auditory learner to hear concepts being reinforced.
I tend to prefer LeapFrog's products, particularly because they have produced so many great educational toys with interactivity through the years. Some of my favorite LeapFrog learning toys have been retired, but I always find the LeapFrog products to have good sound and visual quality, and the capability of adapting through computer interface is a plus. For the additional cost, I would lean toward LeapFrog's tablet system, in my own purchasing. However, at this time I, like you, will be waiting for the touchscreen toys' release, before I will have a full opinion.
You can keep your eyes out for both systems on Amazon's Hot New Releases Page in Educational and Learning Toys.
