Digging for Dinosaurs

Ages 5 to 8

About

Play games to learn fascinating facts about the Tyrannosaurus Rex, Stegosaurus and many other dinosaurs!

• Learn how dinosaurs lived when they roamed the planet. 
• Dig up dinosaur bones to see how each dinosaur was unique. 
• Build skeletons for a Velociraptor, Triceratops and other dinosaurs to open a new exhibit in the museum. 
• Teaches science concepts, dinosaur facts and logic and reasoning skills. 

Teaches 

• Science concepts  - Children learn to consider scientific concepts within the domains of life science, physical science, and earth science.

• Dinosaur facts - Basic facts about common dinosaurs, such as what they eat, where they lived and their physical characteristics.

• Animal facts - Even very young children can begin to categorize animals by species, imitate their sounds and learn interesting facts about them.

• Logic and reasoning - Logic and reasoning skills begin to develop at an early age and are used to solve problems and draw conclusions.

• Problem solving - Children use logical reasoning skills and investigate multiple possibilities to develop creative problem-solving strategies.

• Drawing conclusions - Children learn to use text, illustrations, and prior knowledge to draw conclusions and comprehend what they read.

The best price I've found this game for in SA is  R 456 (Shipping Included)  Digging for Dinosaurs - Takealot.com - US imports

Dora the Explorer

Ages 4 - 7 years

About

Bring faraway places to life with Dora the Explorer as you learn about the cultures, animals and landscapes of 4 different countries and expand your Spanish vocabulary.

• • Learn about local animals, food, clothing, landscapes and more. 
• • Travel the world and learn about the cultures of Egypt, China, Australia & Peru. 
• • Learn the Spanish words for numbers, directions, shapes and colors. 
• • Teaches Spanish vocabulary, social studies and culture and map skills. Appropriate for children ages 4 to 7 years (grades pre-K to 1).

Teaches

• Social studies and culture - Learning about the people and places in our world helps children to become global citizens.

• Spanish vocabulary -  Children can build on the foundation of their first language and enhance cognitive development by learning the sounds and words of Spanish.

• Map skills  - Children develop map skills by reading and drawing maps of familiar places and then using maps to locate places, measure distances, and compare regions.

The best price I've found this game for in SA is  R 314  (Shipping Included)  Dora the Explorer - takealot.com - US imports

Scooby-Doo! Pirate Ghost of the Barbary Coast

Ages 4-7 Years

About

Uncover clues using logic and reasoning skills to help solve the mystery of the sea monster and pirate ghost who are haunting San Francisco!

• Solve more than 50 logic & reasoning puzzles while exploring nutrition and food facts.
• Collect hidden clues to solve the mystery (with three different endings!).
• Splat monsters with pies to help Scooby-Doo escape danger!

Teaches

• NutritionUnderstanding of food groups helps children make smart choices concerning their health and nutrition. 

• Cooking and experimenting with food also helps children develop their palate and appreciate where food comes from.

• Problem-solving skills - Children learn to solve problems using strategies such as estimation, rounding, and counting.

• Logic and reasoning skills - Logic and reasoning skills begin to develop at an early age and are used to solve problems and draw conclusions.

The best price I've found this game for in SA is  R 325 (Shipping Included)  Scooby Doo - takealot.com - US imports

Tinkerbell and the lost Treasure review

My nephew bought this game for my daughter (5) for Christmas.

It was my first choice for her. She had started to learn basic addition and subtraction last year in Grade 0 and was showing a lot of interest in maths, added to which she loves TinkerBell.

This game, however, has proven difficult for me to review as I keep swinging from loving it to hating it and back again. 

What finally tipped the scale in favour of this game is that my daughter loves it and she has made amazing advances in her maths skills in a very short space of time. 

Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure glitch fix.

My Daughter received Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure  for  Christmas from an overseas relative. 

When she started to play I discovered there was a problem with the game. She was very disappointed as there was no way to return the faulty game.  

Luckily it turns out this problem is not with the Cartridge, but with the Skill selected content and is very easily fixed. 

Disney The Princess and the Frog

Description 

Help Tiana pursue her dreams by using your mathematics and word skills in the kitchen, on the bayou and more!
• Cartridge game works with the Leapster Explorer™ and LeapPad™ Explorer systems (sold separately).
• Help Tiana make dinner by choosing the correct amount of each ingredient.
• Explore addition and subtraction as Naveen hops through the bayou to rescue Tiana.
• Choose the correct letter so Ray can lead the way to Mama Odie's house.
• Teaches number and letter recognition, counting, logic and reasoning skills and music. Appropriate for children ages 4 to 7 years (grades pre-K to 1).

Teaches 

Music

• Making and listening to music can increase a child's creativity as well as support language, math, and physical development.

Logic and reasoning

• Logic and reasoning skills begin to develop at an early age and are used to solve problems and draw conclusions.

Counting

• Children learn to count and compare sets of objects.

Best Price i have found this game is at takealot.com for R263

Toy Story 3 Review

My nephew bought this game for my son age 3 1/2 for Christmas.
It was not my first choice as, even though my son loves Toy Story, the game trailer did not grab me.  Well as it turns out I've never been so glad not to get my first choice before.

This Game is Awesome !! 

I totally understand why my kids have been glued to this game, it is great fun, thoroughly engaging and I don't think you could get bored of it even if you tried to and of course it’s educational too.


You start in “Mission Mode”, which is like an old school board game. There are several boards you need to work your way through that are different areas in Sunnyside day-care just like in the movie these boards are :

• The Caterpillar room Art Corner
• The playground Sand Tray
• The Butterfly room
• The Caterpillar room Cubbies
• The Playground jungle gym

Instead of rolling dice, to move around the board, you have to pick a card and sound out the word on it. Depending on how many sounds are in the word this is how many spaces you get to move. While travelling around the board you have to watch out for trap squares as if you land on one you  have to go back 2 spaces.


On your way around the board you will also have to complete tasks called “gadgets” the gadgets are:

• Rhyming Rex - you have to help Rex to find his tail which has been hidden under 1 of 3 buckets. In order to pick the correct bucket you have to choose the word that rhymes with the one being shown.
• Alphabet Box – you have to choose 1 of 3 coloured keys, turn it in the toy box lock , then you are asked to circle a toy in the box that starts with the letter shown.
• Bookshelf – You have to manoeuvre a claw to pick up  books and arrange them in the correct order on the shelf
• Buzz Canon – you have to set the angle and the power of the canon to fire buzz into the box of toys
• Coin Maze – you have to select the correct pipe to drop a coin into that will guide it in to Ham (aka Evil DR Pork Chop!!) 
• Alphabet Path – you have to draw a line to connect the letters in the word shown
• Electric Trace – You have to help fix a broken toy by repairing a circuit board. You do this by drawing lines with you stylus where there are gaps in the wires.
• Magnet Maze – you have to get a ball to the end of the maze, which has been blocked by magnets, you have to place other magnets in the marked spaces which will either attract or repel the magnet blocking the way depending on which way around you place the magnet in the space.  you have to choose correctly to get the ball past.
• Roller Sling – you need to get Woody, in his roller skate car, to the top of a block ramp and to stop there, you do this by pulling back the elastic sling and then letting it go in order to propel him forward.
• Spot the difference – you have to spot the 5 differences in the pictures before the time runs out
• Search – you have to find an object in the picture on the screen

You also are given a chance to take a short-cut across the game board,  But only if you can complete the task correctly. The 2 tasks are:

• Alien Tap – you have to tap your stylus on the alien who raises his arms, you need to tap enough aliens to fill up a bar, before your time runs out.
• Crank – you have to touch the handle and turn it in a circle as fast as you can to fill up a bar before your time runs out.

Everything I have mentioned above adjusts in difficulty depending on who is  playing.  The game uses 3 of things to decide how hard to make the game

• The grade level your profile is set to
• Any “Mile Stones” you have already reached playing other games
• If you are getting every task correct on you first try

You also collect mission cards while going around the board. These cards open up the other game modes :


Spelling mode – which is a two player game that you play on your choice of mission boards. You can play against a friend or the LeapPad, and you get to choose to be Woody or Buzz. The game play is the same as in mission mode as regards to moving around the board. The difference in spelling mode is you have to collect letters as you go. The winner is decided by who collects their letters first and arranges them correctly to spell the word you have been asked for.


Gadget mode -  you get to play you favourite Gadgets as much as you like
During the game you win badges. These badges are converted into tokens so you can redeem the micromods  in the Connect software.


Unfortunately I have not been able to test the micromods  as of yet as Leapfrog has disabled this function until after their holidays when ever that is.


The micromods available for Toy Story 3 are :
Scored versions of  -  Alien Tap , Buzz Cannon and Spot the difference.
And new backgrounds for your game


In conclusion
I think  they need to change the age rating to “All” ages, as I have had as much fun testing the game as my kids have had playing it.


I have to say the this game is well worth the R199 it costs from Takealot.com as it will most definitely be a hit with your kids even if they are not Toy Story fans and will be played until the cartridge disintegrates from over use. 


Oops, I almost forgot to tell you. There is a built-in Help option so if your child gets stuck, that explains - in a very easy to understand way - how to complete the task at hand.   Also  in the  Game instructions, that come in the box, it gives you suggestions as to how you can expand the learning experience with your child away from the LeapPad. 


What LeapFrog Says Game Trailer and info

The Penguins of Madagascar: Operation Plushy Rescue

Description 

Learn addition, more than/less than, problem solving and animal facts as you build your karate skills and avoid Zookeeper Alice!

• Use mathematics skills to earn tokens that help you uncover secret Penguins vacation photos. 
• Develop your logic skills by assembling tricky puzzles to overcome gorilla-sized obstacles. 
• Learn facts about endangered animals and listen to the sounds they make. 
• Teaches addition, subtraction, animal science and logic and reasoning skills. Appropriate for children ages 4 to 7 years (grades pre-K to 1).

Teaches

Addition

Children learn to add, sometimes with objects, and sometimes with symbolic equations such as 4 + 3 = __.

Subtraction

Children learn to subtract quantities from each other - with objects or symbols such 

as 4 - 3 = __.

Animal facts

Even very young children can begin to categorize animals by species, imitate their sounds and learn interesting facts about them.

Logic and reasoning skills

Logic and reasoning skills begin to develop at an early age and are used to solve problems and draw conclusions.

The best price I've found this game for in SA is R216 Penguins of Madagascar - takealot.com

Disney•Pixar Cars 2

Description:

Explore mathematics in The World Grand Prix with Mater and Lightning McQueen!

• Cartridge game works with the Leapster Explorer™ and LeapPad™ Explorer systems (sold separately). 
• Measure the correct distance to make a fantastic jump. 
• Complete patterns to find clues or escape traps. 
• Race as Lightning McQueen and see who's the fastest car. 
• Teaches measurement, patterns, graphs, sequencing and problem-solving skills. Appropriate for children ages 4 to 7 years. 

Teaches:

Problem solving

Children use logical reasoning skills and investigate multiple possibilities to develop creative problem-solving strategies.

Measurement

There are many different types of measurement that children need to learn: time, distance, temperature, volume and so on. Measurement has applications in many subjects, especially science.

Patterns

Children learn to identify, compare and extend patterns such as those made from shapes, colors, numbers, or sounds.

Tables, charts and graphs

The ability to use graphical representation, such as tables, graphs, charts and grids, is important in solving and enjoying real-life math problems.


Best Price i have found this game for in SA is R219 Cars 2 - takealot.com

Disney•Pixar Pixar Pals

Description:

Complete science and logic challenges, solve puzzles, unlock mini-games and more with WALL-E and EVE, Nemo and Dory or Woody and Buzz!

• Cartridge game works with the Leapster Explorer™ and LeapPad Explorer™ systems (sold separately).
• Sort trash and recycling with WALL-E.
• Use logic skills to help Woody and Buzz.
• Explore Dory's ocean habitat and help find her friends.
• Appropriate for children ages 4 to 7 years (grades pre-K to 1) 

Teaches:

Sorting and classifying

Sorting and classifying objects based on size, function, or weight involves logical reasoning skills essential for learning.

Environmental Awareness

Encouraging children to play outdoors, to explore their surroundings and take an interest in plants, insects and animals will help them learn about their enviroment. In time they will learn about how our planet works and make responsible decisions.

Logic and reasoning skills

Logic and reasoning skills begin to develop at an early age and are used to solve problems and draw conclusions.

Science facts

Children learn to consider scientific facts within the domains of life science, physical science, and earth science.

Sea animals

Children learn to categorize animals by species, imitate their sounds and learn interesting facts

Best price ive found this game for in SA is R219 Pixar Pals - takealot.com

Wolverine and the X-Men

Description: 

Customize the learning with over 12,000 spelling words, then help Wolverine on his mission to reunite the X-Men team and save mutant-kind!

• Cartridge game works with the Leapster Explorer™ and LeapPad™ Explorer systems (sold separately). 
• Create your own spelling list with the words you need for school. 
• As you play, earn tokens to download new gear for Wolverine. 
• Use letter skills and vowel know-how to battle your way through eight action-packed levels that take you to four locations. 
• Teaches letters, word building, phonics skills and spelling. Appropriate for children ages 5 to 9 years (grades K to 3). 

Teaches:

Letters

Children who can recognize letters with confidence have an easier time learning letter sounds and word spellings.

Word building

As children put together letters to make words, they learn how even small changes (changing mat to man to can) result in completely new words.

Phonics skills

To read independently, children must understand the relationship between the sounds in spoken words and the letters that represent those sounds.

Spelling As understanding of the spelling system grows, children move from using 1-2 letter spellings (D for dog, or CT for cat), to adding vowel sounds, and eventually spelling words with less predictable patterns.



Best Price I've found this game for in SA is R229 Wolverine-and-the-x-men - takealot.com

Star Wars: The Clone Wars

Description:

Use your mathematics skills to save the Republic as you battle your way to a final confrontation with the Ultra Droideka!

• Cartridge game works with the Leapster Explorer™ and LeapPad™ Explorer systems (sold separately). 
• Dodge asteroids and other dangers as you solve geometry problems and more in four exciting locations in the Star Wars universe. 
• Use the Force—and your knowledge of fractions—on your mission to maintain the galactic balance of power. 
• Use your knowledge of place value to fight the Separatists and their secret droid factory. 
• Teaches geometry, fractions and place value. Appropriate for children ages 6 to 9 years (grades 1 to 3). 

Teaches:

Geometry

Children learn about the properties and relationships of points, lines, angles, surfaces and solids, and to recognize shapes such as quadrilaterals.

Fractions

Children learn to think of parts of a whole, or parts of a set, and then learn fractional representations.

Place value

Children learn about our base 10 number system and how to identify digits of numbers including the ones, tens, and hundreds places.



Best Price I've found this game for in SA is R229 Star wars clone wars - takealot.com

SpongeBob SquarePants: The Clam Prix

Description: 

Read, spell and race to the finish in a wild kart racing adventure with SpongeBob!

• Choose a character and get ready to race on 12 tracks.
• Get practice with spelling as you speed toward the flag.
• Show off phonics skills as you dodge obstacles and navigate hairpin turns.
• Teaches letters, spelling, phonics, word-building, word recognition and matching skills. Appropriate for children ages 4 to 7 years. 

Teaches:

Letters

Children who can recognize letters with confidence have an easier time learning letter sounds and word spellings.

Spelling

As understanding of the spelling system grows, children move from using 1-2 letter spellings (D for dog, or CT for cat), to adding vowel sounds, and eventually spelling words with less predictable patterns.

Word recognition

With repeated exposure to commonly used words, word recognition grows and becomes more automatic.

Word-building and phonics skills

As children put together letters to make words, they learn how even small changes (changing mat to man to can) result in completely new words.

Matching

Matching like objects develops logic and reasoning skills that foster early math and literacy development.

Best Price I've found this game for in SA is R219 SpongeBob -The Clam Prix - takealot.com

LeapSchool™ Reading

Description: 

Meet the kids from the coolest school in the world in this fun reading adventure!

• Complete quests and treasure hunts while building reading skills in 26 games.
• Guide characters to the word with the correct spelling.
• Help each of your friends build a yearbook page.
• Teaches early reading skills, spelling and logic skills. Appropriate for children ages 4 to 7 years (grades pre-K to 1).
• Cartridge game works with Leapster Explorer™ and LeapPad Explorer™ (systems sold separately) 

Teaches:

Reading skills

Reading is a process that involves decoding series of letters into words to understand meaning.

Spelling

As understanding of the spelling system grows, children move from using 1-2 letter spellings (D for dog, or CT for cat), to adding vowel sounds, and eventually spelling words with less predictable patterns.

Logic

Logic and reasoning skills begin to develop at an early age and are used to solve problems and draw

Best Price I've found this game for in SA is R199 Leap school reading - takealot.com

Globe: Earth Adventures

Description:

Get ready for an interactive adventure as you take your airplane around the globe to complete missions, find treasure and learn about geography, cultures and more!

• Cartridge game works with the Leapster Explorer™ and LeapPad™ Explorer systems (sold separately). 
• Expand your knowledge of animals, geography, cultural facts, map skills and more. 
• Play games that use actual photos of locations, animals and landmarks around the world. 
• Collect Adventure Cards to unlock new, more difficult missions. 
• Teaches geography, world culture, map skills and animal facts. Appropriate for children ages 4 to 7 years (grades pre-K to 1). 

Teaches:

Geography

Children may begin by learning about people and animals from different regions and eventually use geography as a tool to understand places, cultures, and the world in spatial terms.

Map skills

Children develop map skills by reading and drawing maps of familiar places and then using maps to locate places, measure distances, and compare regions.

World culture

Learning about the people and places in our world helps children to become global citizens.

Animal facts

Even very young children can begin to categorize animals by species, imitate their sounds and learn interesting facts about them.


Best price Ive found this game for in SA is R199 Globe Earth Adventures - takealot.com

Pet Pals 2: Best of Friends

Description:

Explore emotions and responsibility as you adopt and take care of your very own puppy!

• Cartridge game works with the Leapster Explorer™ and LeapPad™ Explorer systems (sold separately). 
• Give your furry friend treats, toys and teach it tricks. 
• Use mathematics skills to win the dog show. 
• Explore a town full of fun surprises. 
• Teaches emotions, responsibility, numbers, counting, addition and subtraction. Appropriate for children ages 4 to 7 years (grades pre-K to 1). 

Teaches:

Emotions

Children learn to notice and communicate their feelings and gradually become aware of others' emotions.

Responsibility and following directions

Children learn to comprehend and follow multiple-step directions.

Numbers

Children learn to count and compare sets of objects and identify numbers as standing for specific quantities.

Counting

Children learn to count and compare sets of objects.

Addition

Children learn to add, sometimes with objects, and sometimes with symbolic equations such as 4 + 3 = __.

Subtraction

Children learn to subtract quantities from each other - with objects or symbols such as            4 - 3 = __.



Best price Ive found this game for in SA is R219 Pet Pals 2 - takealot.com 

Disney - Pixar Toy Story 3

Description: 

Get in on the game! Play as Buzz or Woody as you use your phonics skills to move your way around this interactive board game and compete in 16 challenging missions!

• Cartridge game works with the Leapster Explorer™ and LeapPad™ Explorer systems (sold separately). 
• Play 16 educational mini-games to save the toys from the Caterpillar Room. 
• Move around the game board by counting the sounds in words. 
• Learn about force as you launch Buzz from a cannon. 
• Teaches letters, phonics skills, spelling and physical science. Appropriate for children ages 4 to 7 years (grades pre-K to 1). 

Teaches:

Phonics skills

To read independently, children must understand the relationship between the sounds in spoken words and the letters that represent those sounds.

Spelling

As understanding of the spelling system grows, children move from using 1-2 letter spellings (D for dog, or CT for cat), to adding vowel sounds, and eventually spelling words with less predictable patterns.

Physical science

Children learn about the properties of matter, forms of energy and nature of technology through observation and experimentation.

Letters

Children who can recognize letters with confidence have an easier time learning letter sounds and word spellings.


Best price Ive found this game for in SA is R199 Toy Story 3 - takealot.com

Disney Princesses: Pop-Up Story Adventures

Description:

Learn about music and get practice with phonics and early reading skills as you unlock the stories of Belle and Cinderella in this magical pop-up book adventure!

• Cartridge game works with the Leapster Explorer™ and LeapPad™ Explorer systems (sold separately). 
• Enjoy 7 mini-games that teach about music and early reading. 
• Build words as you prepare Cinderella for the ball. 
• Turn gameplay into reading fun with innovative art that simulates a real pop-up book. 
• Teaches story comprehension, musical rhythm & pitch, phonics skills and letters. Appropriate for children ages 4 to 7 years (grades pre-K to 1). 

Teaches:

Phonics skills

To read independently, children must understand the relationship between the sounds in spoken words and the letters that represent those sounds.

Story comprehension

Children begin to make sense of spoken and written language as it relates to a story.

Letters

Children who can recognize letters with confidence have an easier time learning letter sounds and word spellings.

Musical rhythm & pitch

Children learn to play along with--or repeat--songs focusing on rhythm and pitch.


Best price Ive found this game for in SA is R199 Disney Princesses -Pop up story adventuers- takealot.com

Disney Fairies: Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure

Description: 

Customize the learning by choosing from 20 different mathematics skills, then help Tinker Bell finish the scepter in time for the Autumn Revelry!

• Cartridge game works with the Leapster Explorer™ and LeapPad™ Explorer systems (sold separately). 
• Choose the mathematics skills you need to study and download them to your game. 
• Solve multiplication problems as you travel to eight different places in Never Land, including Pixie Hollow, Havendish Stream and a sunken pirate ship. 
• Join Tinker Bell, Terence and Blaze as you pilot the Pixie Dust Express. 
• Teaches addition, subtraction, multiplication and early Algebra. Appropriate for children ages 5 to 9 years (grades K to 3). 

Teaches:

Early algebra

Children learn about relationships between numbers (such as 5 + 1 = 3 + 3), and detect patterns in their world.

Multiplication

Children begin to understand multiplication as repeated addition, and memorize multiplication facts to allow quick solutions to complex problems.

Subtraction

Children learn to subtract quantities from each other - with objects or symbols such 
as 4 - 3 = __.

Addition

Children learn to add, sometimes with objects, and sometimes with symbolic equations such as 4 + 3 = __.


Best price Ive found this game for in SA is R199 Disney Fairies -Tinker bell and the lost treasure - takealot.com

Disney Tangled game

Description: 

Customize the learning with over 12,000 spelling words, then join Rapunzel and Flynn on a hair-raising adventure!

• Cartridge game works with the Leapster Explorer™ and LeapPad™ Explorer systems. (Systems sold separately). 
• Create your own spelling list in the Spelling Garden game using the words you need for school. 
• Unscramble words to fix the store signs in the village. 
• Match words to pictures to help Rapunzel get through the forest. 
• Teaches spelling, reading skills, vocabulary skills and creative expression. Appropriate for children ages 4 to 7 years (grades pre-K to 1). 

Teaches:

Reading Fluency

Fluency is a reading term that means a child can recognize common words at a glance, and can read in meaningful chunks, or phrases, rather than reading one word at a time. Fluency contributes to the reader's enjoyment and comprehension of books.

Listening and Reading Comprehension


As children develop comprehension of books read aloud or independently, they explore the uses and functions of written language. They begin to construct meaning, eventually applying critical skills to make inferences and draw conclusions.


Best price Ive found this game for in SA is R199 Disney Tangled - takealot.com