The LeapFrog Tag Map USA offers a fun new way to learn geography through play.
Our kids love maps. On a recent family vacation, we visited The Map Spot a Mystic Seaport and my two loved all the interactive map exhibits. We’ve been looking for innovative ways to extend the learning and we’re loving the LeapFrog Map. As a former history teacher, I can tell you that map reading is an important life skill that also builds spatial thinking and is an essential building block to success in geography and history.
The LeapFrog TAG technology brings the map to life. You will need the TAG Reader pen to use the features of the map.
Start with basic map skills and then go exploring to discover famous places, native animals, and more U.S. geography. Kid characters from around the country play host and share what they eat, how they play, and what music they enjoy.
As with all LeapFrog educational products, parents can follow their child’s play and learning progress on the LeapFrog Learning Path. My kids are still a little young for online time so we haven’t tried this out–but parents of older kids should check into LeapWorld, a “safe, online learning world with more games and rewards to expand the fun.”
I was impressed with how large and sturdy the map is–which is hard to see on the screen. The scale really entices kids to move around and explore. And the laminated cardboard stands up well to lots of use from young children.
I would have liked to have seen them add a few more of the most populous cities to the map but there is plenty to keep the kids busy.
The map has so many levels of play, from simply touching the map to identify landmarks to playing more complex games. The games will continue to be challenging for my four year old for several years while my two year old enjoys just hearing the names of the different places on the map.
We’ve been enjoying playing with the LeapFrog TAG Map USA so much, I’m getting them the World Map, too. The kids are so fascinated by finding their place in the world, locating other spots they hear about, and learning more about this fascinating planet of ours.
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WANT IT: You can buy the LeapFrog Tag Map USA ($20, on sale for $15) individually, with the World Map as a Map Pack ($40, on sale for $28) or with a TAG Reader pen ($50, on sale for $30) in a TAG Globe Trotters Pack that includes both maps, a TAG Reader, and the Let’s Play TAG Activity Book ($80, on sale for $56).
WIN IT: LeapFrog has generously offered one lucky reader a Tag Map USA PLUS a TAG Reader pen ($70 ARV) as part of our 12 Days of Giveaways! To enter:
- Mandatory Entry: Comment on this post, letting us know which Leapfrog product you would most want for your children (besides the TAG Maps).
- Two Optional Extra Entries: Link to the Hottest Holiday Toys for 2010 in a post on your blog or on any publicly visible web page where you are allowed to do so and/or share the guide on your favorite social media site. REMEMBER, your profile must be publicly visible for us to verify your extra entries! You may do this up to twice per giveaway. You must leave a separate comment with the URL where you shared the guide for each extra entry for your entry to count.
This giveaway ends December 7, 2010, 11:59 PM EST. Winner chosen at random from valid entries. U.S. Shipping Only. Please see the Hottest Holiday Toys for 2010 for a full list of giveaways.
