Leapster GS Explorer

Enjoy state of the art gaming and boost your learning at the same time with the Green LeapsterGS Explorer . The smart looking, kid-proof games console is packed with cool features and will win over your mum and dad when they realise how much it boosts the skills you learn at school . It has all the best bits of the original Leapster Explorer, like its library of more than 300 downloadable apps and games , only this swanky updated model has the following extras: Thinner design that's nicer to handle, bigger screen for better viewing. Built-in camera to put pictures of yourself into games. Built-in video recorder and voice recorder for capturing memories. Nearly 4 x more memory (2GB in total). Built-in sensor for tilting, turning and shaking The LeapsterGS Explorer needs 4 x AA batteries, which are not included. 

Leapfrog are a huge name in educational toys and this is their latest product. Looking similar to 'grown up' consoles, this is a very sturdy and reasonably priced product which children are going to love and will not realise that they are learning as they play.

Available in both pink or green colourways, this will be attractive to both girls and boys alike. The console needs 4xAA batteries to power it, although it would have been great if a connection had been available to power it from mains electric. 

The console includes both a camera for still photography and video footage, which has good clarity for a child's console. There is a stylus actually attached to the console - perfect as these things often get lost. There is a software disc included in the pack which is very easy to install, as is the console to set up. It is possible to have three profiles set up on the console.

Once the software has been installed on a computer (both windows and mac compatible) it is possible to download games and apps to your console via USB cable (included). These range in price from £3.50 to £20 (new releases) and it possible to download games, ebooks, flashcards, music and creative apps. As with all Leapfrog devices there are a range of popular characters included within the games: Cars, Brave, Dora to name but a few.

This is a great idea for a Christmas gift, it will let young children have their own console which is sturdy and more manageable for little hands then some of the popular consoles available on the market and is reasonably priced.

I received this through the Amazon Vine Programme.

Brainbox - Horrible Science Blood and Guts

BrainBox is a fast and fun memory game that does not require any pens, pencils, paper, playing board or even a table! Each round takes 10 seconds so all players are involved. A game lasts as long as you want it to, 10 minutes is the norm, but playing for 5 minutes is great fun also. BrainBox is educational and is perfect for families and groups of friends to play, wherever they are, on a level-playing field. Packed in a sturdy cool magnetic cube box. BrainBox is ready to play without any set-up time needed. The rules are pretty straight forward. You can play solo or with as many people as you want. A player simply picks a card and studies it for 10 seconds before being asked a question from the back, chosen by the roll of a die. A correct answer means the card is kept, if not it is returned to the box. The player with most cards after 5 or 10 minutes wins! The winner may not be who you expect as this fabulous game is about observation and memory, not learned facts! BrainBox Horrible Science: Blood & Guta contains all the gore and more! Full of fabulously horrible facts about our bodies, from bulging brains and gurgling guts to awesome eyeballs and awful earwax! 

This is a great game that can be played with just one player, but also is as fun with many more players.

The game is contained in a smallish box and contains a set of question/playing cards, an egg timer and die. The cards are double sided; one side containing lots of information and the other a list of questions.  The questions are either biology based or observation based - but all the information you need to answer question is on the card. The only downside to the game is that there are no sets of 'official' answers given - which if played by a group, could lead to arguments (in my house anyway)!

The game has an educational base and it is suggested for ages 8-108 years. It would be perfect for a long journey or to while away an hour at home. There are lots of questions which children will learn about at
school and therefore would be a good addition to any school's resources too.

I received this game through the Amazon Vine Programme.