LeapFrog Tag – A ‘Must Have’ Toy for this Christmas

This Christmas, the Practical Parenting Gold Award winning new LeapFrog Tag Reading System, will take learning to read to a whole new level. Combining the enjoyment of reading with an interactive learning experience through fun games and activities, Tag has already been tipped by Woolworths and Argos as one of the top new toys for Christmas.  [See Agros Top Christmas Toys and Woolworths Top Christmas Toys]

LeapFrog Tag

The Tag Reading System consists of an electronic reader which, when used with the range of exciting LeapFrog book titles, makes story time come to life. With every touch Tag’s built-in camera reads words and pages aloud, with characters and pictures making noises to enhance the reading experience. The groundbreaking Tag technology helps children learn to read, develop their vocabulary and learn how to spell, through games and activities within the books.

The Tag system works by “reading” by identifying dotted media. A small, sophisticated infrared camera works as an imaging system to recognize letters, words, and symbols when written on special dot-patterned paper. Using an optical pattern system and digital processing techniques the Tag reader can determine its precise location within the dot media. This enables a child to jump around within a book, or back and forth between different books in a seamless way.

There are more than nine titles in the LeapFrog Tag range, from classics such as Paddington Bear and Dr Seuss, to contemporary characters like Ariel from Disney Princesses and Po from Kung Fu Panda.

The current full list is:

Disney Pixar Cars
Disney Princess
Kung Fu Panda
Go Diego Go
SpongeBob Square Pants
Fosters Home for Imaginary Friends
Olivia
Paddington Bear
Dr Seuss The Cat in the Hat

Exciting titles due to launch in 2009 include Dora the Explorer, Scooby Doo and the eagerly anticipated Madagascar 2. Tag stores up to five titles and is small enough for learning on the go.

A unique benefit of Tag is that it connects to a brand new online Learning Path*: a dedicated website where kids can unlock fun rewards and activities and parents can follow their child’s learning progress.
Tag is suitable for 4-8 years old. RRP £39.99 which includes the title Ozzie & Mack

The new technology means that children are no longer confined to repetitive books. With Tag, reading becomes a joy and a game! Children are now able to get a sense of independence as they can to read by themselves or with their parent. For more information visit www.leapfrog.com/tag

Woolworths Toy Sale – 3 for 2 Offers

All this week, until Midnight Sunday 19th October, Woolworths have a great 3 for 2 toys offer.  Shop early for Christmas and get some real bargains.

The offer applies to all toys showing this tag:

3 for 2 on Toys at Woolworths

When you buy 3 toys you get the lowest priced toy for free.
For the girls the offer includes:

Hannah Montana Electric Guitar and Microphone

High School Musical Feature Doll – Sharpay

For the boys offer includes:

Indiana Jones 4 Temple of the Crystal Skull

Dr Who Dalek Helmet

For pre-school offer includes:

Thomas the Tank Engine and Cranky Deluxe Set

Black and Decker Toy Workbench

To see the full range click here.

Christmas Toys from Galt

Renowned toy maker Galt offers a wide selection of own brand and licensed toys for all ages, available nationwide in time for Christmas. With the credit crunch upon us, Galt’s fantastic range offers great value and excellent quality toys to suit all budgets and tastes. A selection of the newest products available are detailed below, high-resolution images, samples and full stockist details are readily available on request.

Horrible Science Kits – packed full of horrible experiments such as Dangerous Dinosaurs, Microscopic Monsters and Slippery Snakes. All of the kits contain props and instructions, along with a fascinating fact filled notebook, priced from £4.99 to £14.99 and suitable for ages 8+.

Barbie Arts & Crafts Range – 10 gorgeous kits to make everything from hair beads and jewellery to bags and cards. Priced from £5.99 to £14.99 and suitable for ages 5+.

Hannah Montana Pop Star Glitter Studio – jam packed with over 100 glittery artists tools to make cards and posters of your favourite pop star! Priced £9.99 and suitable for ages 6+.

First Years – Galt Soft Animal Books come in Dog, Lion and Cow designs with matching sound effects, suitable from birth and priced £6.99 each. The Soft Photo Album features eight themed pages with photo slots and a mirror on the back page. Suitable from birth and priced at £9.99.

Nursery Furniture – made from sustainable wood sources this jungle themed table and chairs set features colourful lion, hippo, zebra and monkey designs. Chairs priced from £15.99 and table from £34.99. A toy chest will be joining the range in the New Year.

See www.jamesgalt.com

Argos Announce 2008 Top Christmas Toys

The UK’s number one toy retailer, Argos announced its the top ten toys for 2008 back in July.

As well as being an all-time favourite, Lego, which is 50 years old this year, also appears in Argos’ top ten toys for 2008, along with a host of more high-tech choices.   These include a waterproof digital camera, a light and sound gadget watch, digital makeover system and electronic touch-and-talk reading device, are all expected to be high on the modern kid’s Christmas list.

Ian Chaplin, Toys Trading Manager for Argos said: “A key toy trend for winter 2008 is high-tech, with the strong emergence of electronic and gaming toys. But, there is also a revitalisation of classics like Lego and Rubik’s Cube, and with kids growing up fast these traditional classics will always be important in offering parents a balance of traditional and modern toys for their children.”

A couple of classics remain popular with Lego and the Rubik’s Cube featuring in both this year’s top ten and in the top toys over the last 35 years. Toys from well-known films and TV shows such as High School Musical, In the Night Garden, Star Wars and Ben 10 are also featured in this year’s favourites.

The top ten toys for 2008, all featured in the brand new Argos catalogue and online at www.argos.co.uk are:

- Leapfrog Tag Reading System
- In the Night Garden Upsy Daisy and Her Chase ‘n’ Play Bed
- Fisher-Price Kid-Tough Digital Camera
- High School Musical Figurine 6 Pack
- Girl Tech Stylin’ Studio
- Baby Born with Magic Potty
- Bop It Extreme
- Lego Star Wars V19
- Rubik’s Cube
- Ben 10 Omnitrix