Leap Pad - my new favorite travel toy!

B's LeapPad has proven to be a handy and educational addition to our arsenal of travel toys, books and crafts.

What I like about the LeapPad:

• It is light, compact and is designed to withstand a bit of a beating
• B loves the thrill of having his own 'computer'
• It is interactive and educational, as opposed to passively watching a movie
• Although a pricey toy in itself, it still isn't as pricey as a dropped iPad or iPhone and you won't lose any of your own applications, emails and data (priceless!)
• The LeapPad does double-duty as a digital camera/video recorder with it's built-in camera and is easy for B to take his own photos

What I don't like about the LeapPad:

• You can not upload non-proprietary movies and applications
• LeapFrog's proprietary games and other applications are pricey ($5 and up) and the choice is very limited compared with what is available to iPhone and iPad users

The LeapPad is targeted to children primarily from 4 to 9 years of age. At 3, much of the Leap Pad's functionality is still beyond B, however he LOVES the Art Pad and Pet Pad applications.  He can easily navigate between applications by himself and it is sure to be a toy that will 'grow' with him. I also purchased the Dora The Explorer game cartridge (about $30 and the game can also be downloaded directly from the LeapPad site).  B enjoys the familiar characters and it is exciting for him to learn more about places we talk and read about at home (AND hope to visit some day!).

We've been using the original LeapPad, but LeapFrog has recently introduced the LeapPad 2, adding an additional 2G of memory, a faster processor and an additional camera lens on the front of the unit - making it easier for a user to take their own picture.  But, for B's use, we've found the original version perfectly suitable.

I hummed and hawed a lot about this purchase, concerned a computer device might reduce his love of reading 'real' books and physical play.  So, we've been careful to have the LeapPad hidden away the majority of the time, and just bring it out for long car rides, for waits at the airport and during flights.  So far this has preserved the novelty-factor for B and helps add to his anticipation of the voyage ahead.

Visit LeapPad online

What are your favorite travel toys?

Reminder: Don't pack Kinder Eggs for U.S. travels

With Easter coming up, it seemed a good time for a reminder to those planning travel to the U.S. with kids.  A popular Easter basket treat, Kinder Surprise Eggs, are banned from sale or import into the U.S. and you can face a fine if you are found with them.

In January 2011, a Winnipeg woman crossing the U.S. border was selected for a random vehicle search.  On finding a single $2 Kinder Surprise egg, the customs officer seized the egg as illegal contraband and she was warned she could have faced a $300 fine.  Afterwards, the U.S. government sent her a seven-page letter asking her to formally authorize the destruction of her seized Kinder egg, adding if she wished to contest the seizure, she’d have to pay $250 for it to be stored while the parties squabble over it.  According to a CBC news story, U.S. officials claim to have seized over 25,000 Kinder eggs in the course of 2,000 separate seizures, so this clearly isn’t a one-time occurrence.

The Kinder Surprise eggs were launched in Italy in 1972 but have never been approved for sale in the U.S. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission determined Kinder Surprise eggs did not meet the small-parts requirement for toys for kids under three because of the choking hazard (oddly, Cracker Jack popcorn has never been subject to the same ban).  In Canada, Kinder eggs are permitted because it was determined the plastic container actually holding the toy is far too difficult for a child under three to get into.

So, if you are traveling to the U.S., stay on the safe side and leave your Kinder Surprise eggs at home!