Is the LeapFrog LeapPad Academy Kids’ Learning Tablet worth buying?

Skip it — save the money and put it toward literally anything else on this list. If there’s one thing I’ve learned from years of being Rosie’s unofficial toy tester, it’s this: the moment a kid feels like they’re doing homework, the toy is done. The winners on this list all have one thing in common — they gave Rosie a problem to solve or something to build or a mess to make, and she never once stopped to think about whether she was learning. That’s the whole game. My practical dad advice: before you buy, watch a YouTube video of a kid playing with it. Not the brand’s video — a random parent’s video. If the kid looks genuinely into it, you’re probably safe. And if you’ve got a toy that didn’t make this list but completely won over your kid, I want to hear about it. Drop a comment below — I’m always looking for the next thing Rosie’s going to talk me into buying.

Note W000217. Filed.