LeapPad Platinum Doesn’t Have Minecraft. That’s What Makes It Perfect.

When a LeapPad Platinum tablet arrived at my house for review, I was thrilled. A couple of Christmases ago, I had researched children’s tablets, but, ultimately, we figured he already had an iPad (he had inherited Daddy’s older version iPad why would he need an other tablet device? Something else to just take up space, something maybe (age-wise) he was past anyway. 

At the time, the online reviews for the kids tablets that were currently on the market were kinda ho hum as well. There didn’t seem to be a children’s tablet out there that was meeting what parents were looking for: a good price, educational, multiple games/apps/etc. options and made for drops and falls. Everyone (including me) was comparing their iPads to (non-iPad) kid tablets. Nothing could compare to an iPad. Finally, we decided to save the money and skip purchasing a kids tablet. But two years later, I now have a very curious 1st grader. He also is watching way too many Minecraft videos on YouTube. I had to ban his iPad from him and give it back in small doses, but every time I give it back- it’s the same thing. YouTube Minecraft videos. He’s no longer playing the educational apps that he used to play, and I’ve been going crazy trying to find the fine line between technology and too much screen time. 

So now here is this LeapFrog LeapPad Platinum sitting in front of me. I nervously thought to myself, could it be the answer to my YouTube/Minecraft/iPad woes? Would he be too old for it? Would he be interested in a LeapPad tablet after having an iPad for all these years? 

The DH said to me, “He’s not going to want that. He has an iPad.” – My Darling Husband would turn out to be wrong. Like, totally wrong. 

I gave him the box with the LeapPad Platinum tablet the day before we were set to leave on vacation to Beaches Turks & Caicos Resort Villages & Spa. Honestly, he wasn’t that excited. He didn’t even want to take it from the box. But I needed to charge it to make sure it would be ready to go on the day we left. Yet once he saw me unboxing it, he began to be intrigued. I plugged it in and he immediately wanted to start playing with it. 

I set it up with the parents account and password and to connect to our wireless network. The process took me about 15 minutes. 

The first thing he wanted to do was to create his own pet. He was so excited to find a friend nearby (our neighbor) who also had a “pet”!

The next day we left for Beaches. He didn’t put the LeapPad Platinum tablet down. (Yes, it had enough charge for the almost two hour flight.)

He loves it. He’s played all of the included games over our 4 day vacation and has not been bored with it at all. He’s learned to use the camera and voice recognition to make notes all on his own. He’s asked his father and I repeatedly to play with him. He even told me, “All the games on my LeapPad are made to be educational, Mommy. Well at least, like, most of them.”

It’s adorable. 

If you’re looking to purchase an electronic  tablet for your child and not sure where to start, this review is for you. If, you’re concerned that you child’s iPad is not serving your child’s electronic and educational needs, this review is for you as well. It’s a great introduction tablet, but it’s also a great supplemental tablet for your child. Best part? No Minecraft videos! 

LeapFrog LeapPad Platinum available everywhere. Retail price: 129.99

• Ages 3-9
• 7″ Hi-Res Multi-Touch Capacitive Screen
• Wi-Fi with Kid-Safe Web
• Parent Controls
• Durable & Tough with shatter-safe screen and wrap-around bumper

Learn more about the LeapPad Platinum kids tablet by visiting the LeapFrog website or read more personal reviews about it on Amazon.com.

Disclosure: Leap Frog provided information and product in order to facilitate this review. As always, opinions stated are my own. Affiliate links in post. Mommy Mafia’s full disclosure policy is here.