Holiday Guide: LeapFrog Zippity – Groove and Learn!

When I first saw the Zippity at Toys R Us – just a glance – I thought this was just a “big” item that would take up room in my house. I feared the graphics would be mediocre, cords would get in my way and it would end up being donated. I was SO WRONG.

When you purchase a Zippity ($79.99) you get the box that hooks to the television and the mat. The mat has an interactive, joystick-like “bopper” attached to it. It is about waist-high on a preschooler.

First off, the Zippity reminds me of DDR (Dance Dance Revolution). It has a mat that the children step on, depending on what game they are playing. So, it gets them moving and following directions. And when I say move, I mean move. They have to jump repeatedly, dance, twist, stomp, etc.

Next, the animation is immensely better than other “kids” electronics that plug into the television. It is almost tv quality. I wouldn’t say 100% flawless … but compared to other “similar” toys that you hook up to the television, this is AMAZING. Honestly, I really had to stare at the screen and it didn’t look pixelated to me at all. But I can see that if you have a BIG SCREEN you might have a softer look to the images? Unsure – but it looked awesome on my television.

Third – it’s cordless. W.O.W. So once you hook the system up and put the mat where you want, you do not have to  have wires (aka tripping hazards) everywhere. And you do not have to worry about unhooking and rehooking wires. It is just pretty much ready to play when your kids are.

Fourth – it comes with SO MANY GAMES included in the system that your kid is SURE TO LOVE. There are eight games in all:

• Mickey Says: Numbers and mathematics, colors, shapes
• Goofy’s Fancy Dancing: Memory skills, numbers and mathematics, shapes
• Darby’s Honey Pot Jam: Memory skills, music, art and culture
• Super Sleuths on the Case: Problem-Solving
• Tool Box Beat: Memory Skills, music, art andn culture
• Handy Manny Fix It Up: Letters and Language skills, spanish vocabulary
• June’s Twist n’ Twirl: Memory skills, numbers and mathematics, music, art and culture
• Rocket’s Musical Mission: Shapes, colors, music, art and culture.

Do you notice all the Disney characters? That’s because Disney teamed up with LeapFrog in the creation of this hot item. My kids are really into Mickey right now, so Mickey Says and Goofy’s Fancy Dancing is a perfect fit for them. I also like the Little Einsteins games with June’s Twist n’ Twirl and Rocket’s Musical Mission. And yes, the other included games are cool too! Plus, if those eight games aren’t enough, there are additional games you can purchase. For example, Disney Pixar Cars for the boys or Disney Princess for the girls. (Additional games retail for $24.99.)

I found a great demo for you to really understand how it works and what it looks like.

Like most LeapFrog products (all the ones we own, at least) you can check up on their learning progress.

Overall, I definitely think this would make a great gift for the holidays. It’s a big-ticket item, so your kids can “share”. That’s the tricky part here with a 2 year old and a 3 year old! The Zippity is meant for ages 3 – 5, but my personal opinion is that 2 year olds can play, as well. It depends on your child and how well they handle directions and/or video-like games. For example, my own sons have owned Leapsters since they were 2 (and a little before). My oldest caught onto the Leapster idea a lot easier and faster than my little one. And I have to say the learning and skills he’s picked up from the Leapster and Tag Jr systems are amazing! I am positive I will see the same results the longer they play with Zippity. But, I am honestly most excited about the moving combined with learning.

MANDATORY, FIRST ENTRY: Visit LeapFrog and check out their product line. What other LeapFrog item is on your wish list?

EXTRA ENTRIES:
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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.

This is solely the opinion of the Mom Buzz. Other people may have different experiences with the product. And don’t forget to enter my other hot contests so you can win and try buzzworthy products! The Mom Buzz received a Zippity to test with her boys and write this review.