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| Vtech Innotab in Blue |
As you hunt for that great electronic gadget for a child, you may wonder just how well it will be received. Depending on the age and personality of your youngster, you may be concerned that the touchscreen tablet toy, or the electronic learning system, will not hold your child's interest.  |
| Leapster Explore Learning Game System Recommended for ages 4-9, but in my experience, the cutoff for child interest is age 7-8, depending on the child. ***Images are clickable, for current Amazon pricing. |
Observing my children in the past several years, we've especially enjoyed LeapFrog's Leapster, as well as an old Pixter. The child who received the Leapster was 5 years old, when it was given as a birthday gift, and it still holds his interest at age 7. Older siblings have used it a little bit, but my now 9 year old has absolutely no interest. This has been a fairly constant case for my older children, who by age 10, were much more interested in handheld video games.
Comparatively, Apple touchscreen gadgets for older folks hold their attention completely, whether at age 3, or age 15. iPad is obviously not a toy, nor is it priced as such. Electronic learning systems, including soon to be released LeapPad Explorer(pre-orders begin June 29, 2011), and VTech InnoPad, are safer in terms of being able to be left in the hands of a pre-school or elementary school student, without much supervision. On the other hand, an iPad 2 is an expensive loss, if an accident happens. The learning potential with such a device is amazing, but it's better for young children to use that tablet PC under adult supervision. Tweens, ranging from age 9 to 13, may handle an iPad tablet more responsibly, but be sure to set guidelines for its use, as you don't want that iPad disappearing into the oblivion of a tween backpack, never to be seen again. A tablet pc can be an excellent tween gift, given an understanding about its use. See the latest release in educational electronics for kids at Amazon.
Don't miss pre-orders on the newest learning tablet toys, VTech InnoTab and LeapPad Explorer, at Amazon.
