Holiday Guide: Leapfrog Tag Jr

Back in June , I got a Tag Jr. I was VERY EXCITED and had been buzzing about it to friends already. It is similar to the Tag for older kids, except the handheld reader is thicker so it’s easier for small hands to hold. The device will read complete sentences, not word-by-word. Although if the book only has a word on a page, it will read that word. And if you put the device over pictures it will make sounds, talk, ask a question, etc.

Tag Jr is for kids from 24 months to 4 years. Both of my sons will play with it – they are almost 2 and 3.5 years. The books are “board books” and a few pages long. The Tag Jr. came with one book and since then I’ve bought two more. When you purchase a book you have to go to the Leapster Parent Site and upload the audio. I am used to that, since I already have to do it for my sons’ Leapsters. The device comes with a USB cord, so keep it in a safe place! It’s better that you upload the stories onto the device as opposed to a cartridge because… can you imagine a 2 year old with a cartridge? My oldest – yah, he was good with that stuff. My little one would have swallowed it though.

The handheld device holds up to 5 stories at a time. With only three books, I haven’t had a problem yet of the kids wanting to read a story I don’t have on the device. That would be the only “worry” I may have. But safety comes first. Changing the batteries can be another tricky thing until you are used to it. You have to open the side compartment with a coin and then the batteries are tucked under a rubbery, plastic thing. They really don’t want your child to accidentally get their hands on those batteries, which is great. And since June I’ve only changed the batteries once!

I think the book introduces great pre-reading and pre-school skills. It will help your child discover sounds, the alphabet, social skills, opposites, shapes, etc.

Tag Jr comes with the book called “If I Were...” which is about a boy who imagines he is different animals. It has 16 activities and over 70 audio responses. We also bought The Backyardigans: Opposites and Disney Pixar Cars: Shapes All Around Us. My sons really love the Disney Pixar Cars one! And I have my eye on Christmas in a Manger and How Do Dinosaurs Play with their Friends. These books retail for around $10.99.

You can also get Tag Jr in a Pink/Purple color. They all retail for $34.99.

One Buzz Reader will win a Tag Jr.

MANDATORY, FIRST ENTRY: Visit LeapFrog and check out the Tag Jr books. Which book would you want for your Tag Jr?

EXTRA ENTRIES:
To receive these extra opportunities for entries, you must fulfill the first REQUIRED entry. But for extra entries, you can do the following – leave a comment for each:

• Add the Mom Buzz to your Twitter and Tweet the contest. Leave your Tweet Link. (1 tweet per day is allowed)
• Blog about the contest – add a link to the Mom Buzz and the Sponsor
• Add the Mom Buzz button to your site OR add the Mom Buzz to your blog roll (use http://themombuzz.com/feed/)

• Subscribe to the Mom Buzz via e-mail. (See RSS fox on right sidebar)

• Become a Fan of the Mom Buzz on Facebook!
• Become a Fan of Leapster on Facebook!
• Leave a comment or Enter any other contest on the Mom Buzz Holiday Guide
• Leave a comment or Enter any other contest on As They Grow Ups Hoo-Hoo-Hooliday Guide

Contest ends 11/29/09. Please refer to complete contest rules. The entries listed above are the ONLY entries for this contest. Winners will be notified by e-mail (if supplied in the entry or on profile page), as well as on the Winner’s Wall.