Customer Reviews

LeapFrog WordLaunch Learn-to-Read-It System

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

My son is turning 4 years old this month, and he's been enjoying the Fridge Phonics, Word Whammer, and all the DVD titles from Leap Frog. This 4-letter learing system is a great extension to the Leap Frog's edutainment lineup witha few glitches.

While the machine provides a fun way to master the 'silent E' featured in the Word Factory 2 DVD Title, most parents will be disappointed to learn that thie machine is not compatible with the magnetic alphabets included in the Fridge Phonics and Word Whammer. The Word Launch uses a smaller plastic character set (probably to cut down the cost).

Also, the sound/voice quality is somewhat poor, and you will need to either volume up your TV (or make your kids sit near the TV). This always makes a problem unless you remember to turn the volume down before you switch to other channels after your kids are done with the Word Launch.

Other than that, this provides great learning opportunities to kids over 3. (in my personal opinion, the product description of 4+ is somewhat underestimating kids)

We are leapfrog fans, owning items from infant to tween. We found this on super sale and gave it to our 5 year old for Christmas. He has a leap-pad and leapster and no complaints there. This disappointed all around.
It doesn't use the fridge phonic letters, wouldn't you think it should? But the main issue is it's so slow. My son loved the idea of playing a game on the TV, but in less than 2 word assemblies he was done. It takes too long with various screen music and instructions, when he was excited to just get on with it and build words. It also doesn't come with enough letters to build any but the most basic word sets. There are so many great 4 letter words that need more than 1 of each letter!
He actually put it back in the box and said he didn't want it. From the straight forward actions of a child. Back it went.
Great concept- just too much filler.

Great concept but I expected more from Leap Frog. I expected the graphic and sound quality to be as good or better than all the previous DVDs but that is not the case. Extremely disapointed that none of my sons magnetic letters from the Word Wammer and Fridge Phonics don't work with this toy.
In my opinion, it was important to hear the familiar voice of Professor Quigly. Maybe the next version will be improved.

My 4 year old just began using this video electronic toy. It hooks right up into your tv. It's easy to use and keeps my son entertained for a while.

A few set backs to this toy/game are the following: it only allows four letter words; it does not correct a misspelled word or a word that doe snot exist; it does not say the word when it is spelled.

Otherwise it s an excellent concept.

I purchased this product recently and promptly returned it. I did not like the games or the graphics, but what I disliked most about the toy is when an incorrect word is spelled it just says "Sounds nice". All of the LeapFrog products I have purchased before will tell my son when an answer or action is incorrect. I strongly suggest LeapFrog think about the concept again for this toy. I will not purchase it again unless the company produces a better version.

I have been SO pleased with all things Leap Frog until now. I have recommended and given the videos to friends. I credit Letter and Word Factory with teaching my kids to read, but this game is worthless. There is only one game for three letter words, one for four letter words and one for silent E words. But the games are slow and dull. If you put in three letters to make a word it takes at least 10 seconds for that word to "register". We tried "ay" (ray, hay, pay, say ...)words and the game eventually pronounced a couple of them but seemed not to recognize the others. If it takes 10 seconds and then doesn't even tell you what you spelled every time then what is the point. I tried to play it with 5 different kids and none of us thought it was any fun. This is the first item that I have ever returned to Amazon because of dissatisfaction.

This product is advertised to be beneficial for learning sounds and reading. It is not for one reason. It is beneficial for lower case letter recognition only. It tells you what letter to go and get, that helps you learn and enforce lower case letters, which is good if that is where you are at. The instructions are spoke out slowly and that is clear.

BUT the reason it is NOT the least bit helpful for learning sounds is because the toy has a circus theme and the circus music in the background is equal volume to the voice telling you the sounds. If you lower or raise the volume it does not matter because the two sounds play at once and they are just about equal. You can barely HEAR the instructions clearly which gives you the sounds of the letter. This is because you can't hear it over the circus music in the background.

Another complaint is that they give you a grid or palette in which to place the letters and select them from, but it is cardboard.. I am sure it will get destroyed .. they should have made that from plastic.

Another ANNOYING THING is that these letters are NOT the same size as fridge phonics and also not the same size as the word builder shaped like a jet airplane. So now I have 3 leapfrog letters and none of them work any game but their own. It would be nice because kids loose letters, that would have been nice. But now all 3 games are useless without a full letter set and having bought their other game did not help you out.

I can't believe more people haven't commented on the awful graphics. They are fine on up to a 19" tv, but anything over that, they are just blown up and extremely grainy. It's so terrible on our 50" plasma that it can't even be played. Don't buy if you have only tv's larger than 25" or so.

I bought this for my age 6 son for his birthday. The first one we received was defective, as the sound directions were absent. Amazon replaced it right away - fantastic customer service. The new one works well. Both my son and daughter enjoy playing with it, and I am amazed how well it has helped my 4-year old daughter learn her alphabet letters. I agree with another reviewer that it would be helpful if the toy would tell the child when he/she has not actually spelled a word. In some of the activities I know my son has believed himself to have spelled a word, when it wasn't. The graphics could perhaps be a little more imaginative in some ways, but the kids like them, the toy has provided good practice, and I do think the "silent e" presentation is very memorable to little ones.

My daughter is nonverbal with cognitive and fine motor problems. this toy is great for her to learn her letters, to spell, for attention, and easy to help her working with fine motor skills. It holds her attention with the colors, music, matching, and the ease of the game. I'm so happy that I purchased this for her. Parents, etc., should be aware of the advantages this toy has for special needs children right along with our non-special needs children.