Christmas might still be three months away, but if you’re anything like us, getting a few presents ticked off the list before December hits always feels like a small victory. And if you’re looking for a gift that combines the excitement of gaming with something a little more active and educational, the new LeapFrog LeapMove® is definitely worth adding to your list.
Designed for children aged four and above, LeapMove is a new motion-sensing TV console that turns children themselves into the controller. Think jumping, dancing, running and wiggling in front of the TV rather than sitting on the sofa with a controller in hand.
LeapMove is designed to combine a pretty awesome combination of learning, movement and imaginative play. The camera sits on top of your TV and uses motion-sensing technology to track your child’s movements, which are then reflected within the games on screen.
Children can appear as themselves or choose one of the built-in characters before heading off on different adventures, from enchanted forests to desert landscapes.
There are 25 built-in games and activities, covering more than 20 learning areas, including maths and logic, vocabulary, spelling and rhyming, sound and letter recognition, and even dance and choreography.
The clever part is that children aren’t simply answering questions on screen. They might be running to collect letters, moving to pop bubbles or following dance moves, so learning becomes part of the physical game.
Most parents will be familiar with the constant balancing act around screen time. Children love it; we’d quite like them to occasionally move away from it!
That’s probably what appeals most about the LeapMove concept. It isn’t pretending children don’t enjoy screens. Instead, it takes something they’re naturally drawn to and makes it more active, interactive and educational.
Your child becomes part of what’s happening on screen, using their whole body to complete activities rather than simply pressing buttons.
And with three difficulty levels built into each game, LeapMove is designed to grow with children rather than being something they quickly outgrow.
With the LeapMove you can create up to three player profiles. That means children of different ages and abilities can have their own experience and progress through the games at an appropriate level.
When it comes to parental guidance there’s a few handy features – LeapMove doesn’t require an internet connection, so once it’s set up, children can play without needing to be online. Parents can also set screen-time limits, which is a welcome addition if your child would happily keep jumping, spelling and dancing long after you’ve suggested it’s time to stop.
As you expect from the experts at LeapFrog, the educational element isn’t far away and you will find it woven into the games rather than feeling like homework dressed up as fun. There’s 25 games included, and a lot more that can be downloaded from the library, so lots of variety to keep kids entertained and engaged for a long period of time.
Definitely one for the Christmas list! LeapMove is available now priced £75. To find out more information and full stockist details, visit www.leapfrog.com/en-gb/products/leapmove
