The LeapPad Ultra Review

Just before Christmas when we were all getting ready to welcome the man in red himself, Leo was sent the LeapPad Ultra to have a play with. The LeapPad Ultra is the latest tablet device from LeapFrog and follows on from the LeapPad 2. Noticeable improvements are seen in the high resolution screen which is now 7". The entire tablet now seems to feel less like a toy, and more like a grown up tablet with the built in resilience that means it is prepared for excitable kids.

A great upgrade from the LeapPad 2 is that the Ultra now has it's own built in rechargeable battery. A battery that provides a whopping 9 hours of life. We have had other tablets in the past that required batteries and it meant that we would often go without it when the house had been sucked dry of each and every battery. So this rechargeable battery is a real bonus and one that I really like.

The LeapPad Ultra is geared towards aiding children learn and keep them entertained at the same time. I am all for anything that can do both of these things at the same time. As a parent you can even log in to the LeapPad Learning Path to see how your little one is excelling. I think for us this is something that will come into play when Leo is a bit bigger, for now he is more than happy just enjoying the novelty.

Leo loves anything like this that resembles Mummy and Daddy's iPad's, so I knew that this would be a welcomed addition. Of course as soon as the LeapPad was spotted it had to be brought out to have a play with straight away. One of the first things Leo did was have a play with the drawing app that is included, this is a firm favourite and is great while we are out and about in the car. It gives him something to do and keep him distracted if we are travelling a distance where he may get bored.

The LeapPad Ultra comes with 11 apps pre-loaded:

- Pet

- Pet Chat

- Art Studio

- Photo Fun

- Music

- Notepad

- Clock

- Calander

- Calculator 

- Bookshelf

- Voice Memo

The 11 apps definitely give kids something to get started with straight away, and with Leo being younger he was more than happy to just have a play with the Art Studio. As I knew we were expecting a LeapPad I did invest in the Cars 2 cartridge for Leo to have a play with, it is definetly something that he is going to grow into but for now it does seem a little advanced for him. Leo is 2 and the LeapPad is aimed for kids 4+, but I think whether your child is ready for one or not comes down to the parent, they will grow into it at some point even if not right away.

The LeapPad connects to the WiFi using LeapSearch, this means that everything your child views on their tablet is completely child friendly. We have used it to browse the App Centre to see what else they have available. There is a wide libary of different Apps that you can invest in, but as Leo is still getting to grips with the Apps on the tablet it seems silly to overload it with lots of Apps that won't get used right away. So we are taking it slowly and will add to it when the time is right.

These days kids love to take photos, I know that I have found some rather strange ones on my phone from when a certain toddler has decided to get creative! On the LeapPad Leo has his very own front and back camera, he also has 8GB of space to store his creations. Once the photos have been captured Leo can then even play around with the images on the Photo Fun App, these aspects right now are Leo's favourites, he does need a bit of help navigating around it but I know he will figure it all out with time.

There are so many great features with the LeapPad Ultra, ones that will continue to become apparent as Leo gets to know the tablet better. Within the Ultra he has his very own MP3 player that we will be adding his favourite tunes to as the time goes on. There is a built in motion sensor for games he may play and so much more to keep him enjoying the possibilities of the Ultra.

From a parent's perspective setting the LeapPad Ultra up was really easy, I simply followed the on screen instructions and set up Leo's profile. Getting a photo of Leo for his profile was tricky as he kept wondering off, but we got there in the end. The one thing that I do think let's the Ultra down that I have experienced with other models on the market is just how slowly it takes to load things. I think when it comes to kids and keeping their attention on what they are doing, the faster something can load the better. I would like to see the time between clicking on something and the time it takes to open it become much faster, but for aside from that I do really like the new LeapPad Ultra.

The LeapPad Ultra retails at £119.99 but if you have a look online you will find a number of different prices that beat this price. Amazon currently have it on sale for £86.99 at the point of writing this review.  It is not a fortune but definitely something that I will be looking to add to the home insurance at some point.

Over all I like the LeapFrog Ultra and all of the features it boosts, I am especially pleased with the rechargeable battery and the new big screen.

Disclaimer: I was sent the LeapPad Ultra for the purpose of this review. All views and opinions are completely honest and my own. 

The Purple Monkey CuddleUpPet Review

What is a CuddleUpPet I hear you ask? 

It is certainly not something I had come across before having a child of my own, but along with all of the other knowledge I have acquired since Leo burst into my life, CuddleUpPets are now very much known to me...

CuddleUpPet's are soft blankets with puppet heads and they come in a variety of different styles so your little one can have a friendly companion for bedtime or even when you are globetrotting around the world. 

I have recently been sent the Purple Monkey to have a cuddle up with, I say I but I do mean Leo...

Leo already has a favourite blanket, so our poor monkey friend didn't really stand a chance with Leo. But luckily for me, my younger sister Alice happily stepped up to fill Leo's shoes and she told me exactly what she thought of our new CuddleUpPet.

'The blanket is really soft and nice to snuggle up with. I have taken it to bed with me and it has kept me lovely and warm now the nights are getting colder. I have been showing Leo the Monkey puppet and he always giggles as I try and eat his hands with the Monkey's mouth. I like how big the blanket is as it allows me to wrap myself up inside it. The material the blanket is made from is not incredibly thick but as it is so soft it still keeps you really warm'.

Alice - Almost 12...

I have also given the Purple Monkey a cuddle, and had a play with the very charismatic puppet. I found the blanket warm, but agreed with Alice on the fact that it is not incredibly thick. To be honest though this is why it is so easy to transport with you on your travels, you wouldn't want to be carting around a duvet would you? 

If you keep the box you can actually fold your CuddleUpPet back up and store him (or her) away in the box until you next need it, which gives you an idea of how easy it is to fold back up. I like how cheeky the monkey actually looks, and it is very easy to use as a puppet. Leo had some wonderful chuckles as we paraded around the room trying to catch up with him. It is a standing game even now.

CuddleUpPets retail at £19.99 and would make a perfect Christmas gift this festive season.

To find out more information about Snuggle Pets and help with your kids bed time routine head over to www.UKMums.tv for its Snuggle Pets takeover from 11^th to 24^th November 2013.

Disclaimer: I was sent the Purple Monkey CuddleUpPet for the purpose of this review. All views and opinions expressed are completely honest and have been formed with our personal experience with this product.

The Shivering Shaun The Sheep Review

For the longest time now Leo has been head over the heels for one particular sheep who has his very own television show. I know not many sheep can be a television star, but Timmy in his own right…Is. It may come as a shock to you to discover that Timmy is not the only famous sheep in his family…

Timmy has a cousin called Shaun, and Shaun also has his very own television show. Shaun the Sheep. I have tried to show my Timmy mad two year old Shaun but he always loves Timmy that little bit more. But now Leo is getting older he is broadening his horizons in what he does like to watch.

Leo has been sent a very special toy to review, a Plush Shivering Shaun the Sheep. I knew as soon as the little guy arrived that Leo was going to be very excited to see him. I called Leo through for the grand opening, his little face was going to be a picture when he saw Shaun the Sheep sitting in the box. To Leo all sheep are called ‘Baa’ so I was preparing myself for a lot of ‘baaing’ once he saw what the contents of the box was.

Leo helped me open the box, and inside the box was Shaun the Sheep, Leo reached in and picked him up a big smile covering the entirety of his face. While Leo was rejoicing in the moment of his new friend arriving, I gave Shaun’s tail a little pull. Pulling Shaun’s tail made him quiver from head to foot, and this made Leo giggle… a lot!

Once Shaun had stopped dancing around, Leo demanded that I again make him do it by saying ‘more’ rather repetitively. It didn't take Leo long at all to figure out how he could make Shaun move for himself, and now Leo just pulls Shaun's tail whenever he wants Shaun to jiggle around.

 Shaun has been such a big hit that Leo has even been taking him to bed and snuggling up against his extremely soft plush coat.

I think the Shivering Shaun the Sheep is a really sweet toy, and definitely one that will be loved by Leo for a long time to come. I only have one negative point to add to this review, and that is a quibble on the actual price. I know that there will always be a mark up on licensed products such as Shaun the Sheep, so you do expect it to be a little more than your average plush toy. Shaun actually retails from around £12.99 to the dizzy heights of £19.90 depending upon where you purchase him. 

Aardstore.com sell the Shivering Shaun the Sheep for £14.99.

The cheapest I came across him was at Argos for £12.99 at the point of writing this review, this is actually a more realistic price in my opinion, but it was on offer from £15.99.

This toy would make a lovely stocking filler for any Shaun the Sheep fan this Christmas.

Disclaimer: I was sent the Shivering Shaun the Sheep for the purpose of this review. All views and opinions expressed are completely honest and my own.

WOW Toys - Dudley Dumper Truck Review & Giveaway

WINNERS ANNOUNCEMENT
Congratulations to Janine for winning Tow Truck Tim! You have been sent an email to notify you of your win!

I recently discovered WOW Toys while visiting the Milton Keynes Baby Expo last month, WOW are a company I have heard great things about but until our first encounter, Leo and I had never ever had a play with them.

The chance meeting could not have come at a better time as Leo was starting to get fed up of Mummy looking around and he just wanted time to kick back and have a play, queue WOW Toys making an appearance!

Leo made himself right at home and began to play with a Dudley Dump Truck, he was fascinated by it and began pushing it backwards and forwards. He was putting little Marky the builder who operates the truck in and out of the driver’s seat, and even letting him ride along in the dumper compartment. I gave Leo the time out that he obviously needed but when I tried to bring Leo away form the excitement of the WOW Toys play tent…That is when he almost ran off with Dudley the Dumper Truck….

WOW Toys have very kindly sent Leo his very own Dudley Dump Truck for him to play with at home, and as soon as Dudley arrived Leo could not wait for me to remove him from the wrappers; he had to jump right in and play before he was even removed from the box.

Dudley is recommended for children from the age of 18 months old, but after seeing Leo play so happily with Dudley I knew that he would be a big hit, so at 16 months old Leo is enjoying his very own Dudley Dump Truck. There are no small parts to Dudley and nothing but high grade materials are used in the making of any WOW Toy.

Dudley is a very durable and sturdy toy that has withstood lots of enthusiastic playing from Leo, playing that usually involves crashing into furniture or sometimes even a short flying lesson… Not that I am suggesting that Dudley can or… should fly, more that Dudley has been designed and tested to withstand toddler play.

Dudley Dump Truck is really well made and this is why he is absolutely perfect for a toddler to get creative with, as there is no fear of any small parts coming off. He is as chunky and sturdy as they come. Trust me I know… Leo has sat on him.

WOW Toys don’t require any batteries what so ever, which means no screaming child when the batteries have given up the go for the umpteenth time! Even though the toys don’t run on batteries, each and every WOW Toy still has a great array of exciting features to have a play around with. Take Dudley for instance, he isn’t a dumper truck for no reason at all, he is a dumper truck because you can load him up and then turn the power switch so that Dudley dumps the contents he has been carrying.

The dumper mechanism is easy to operate and reset, to reset all you have to do is push the dumper compartment back into place. Leo hasn’t done this himself yet but I don’t think it will be long before he does, he has been watching me vigorously as and when I have shown him how to do this.

When you push Dudley along you realise that he makes a great realistic ‘vrooom’ noise with his friction wheels, which also happen to be motorised so when you give him a small push it makes Dudley go even further and faster than he usually would. This is a great feature for a toddler as they can really get Dudley on the move, with minimal effort.

Leo absolutely loves playing with Dudley, and pushing him around the lounge has brought endless play opportunities, what Leo absolutely loves to do is take Marky the builder in and out of the drivers seat. Leo is getting to the age now where he is really beginning to play and it is lovely to watch.

I really recommend WOW Toys and particularly Dudley the Dump Truck, I think the play value that can be had out of him is vast, and he is a toy that will grow with Leo and his imagination. It won’t be long before Leo will be creating stories as he plays with Dudley and Marky, and I am looking forward to hearing all of the mischievous adventures that they go on.

Dudley is hard wearing, chunky and fun, making him a great addition to any toddler’s toy box.

Dudley Dumper Truck is an 8 piece set that includes:

- 1 Dudley Dumper Truck

- 1 Marky the builder

- 3 traffic cones

- 2 construction barrels

The set can be bought from multiple online shops such as Amazon, Argos and Tesco. Amazon is currently selling Dudley for £23.78.

Giveaway Time!

In true WOW Toys style, I have a great giveaway launching for 2 weeks to win a Tow Truck Tim worth £27.99!

'Tow Truck Tim here! I’ve just been called out to pick up Rolling Ray; he always get in trouble around WOW Town and it’s me who has to go and pick him up! He’s as sturdy as the rest of us, but doesn’t know his own limits and always finds himself in trouble.

My magnetic winch connects to all WOW cars & automatically pulls them up the ramp – WOW! When Ray’s ready to go again, drop down my clicking tailgate and press my red button to launch him back on his way'.

Contents:

- 1x Motorised truck called Tim

- 1x Detachable trailer with car winch

- 1x Car called Ray

- 1x Girl mechanic figure called Meena

- 1x Boy driver figure called Ben

To enter this giveaway all you have to do is follow the Rafflecopter instructions below!

The giveaway will end on Friday 16th November 2012.

a Rafflecopter giveaway Please only enter if you are a resident of the United Kingdom, After the winner has been picked you then have 48 hours to contact us providing your details to claim your prize. If we do not hear anything after this time period, another winner will be drawn at random.

Disclaimer: I was sent Dudley Dump Truck for the purpose of this review, however all views and opinions are completely honest and my own.

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