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TV isn't supposed to be beneficial, but my then 11.5 month old began learning sign language from the Signing Time DVDs and then by 18 months, we'd blown through 30+ of them and she had 350+ signs. The research says kids under 2 can't learn much from TV, but I know it isn't true, at least for my kid.

I'm trying to find a CD player that is super simple for a two year old to turn on and off. Or something like it, where she can play music without having to do really anything but hit play and change out the music or whatever. Mp3 players are too hard for her to manage and the cd player we have has too many knobs, buttons, and steps.

I'm considering the LeapPad now, because wouldn't interactive digital learning possibly be superior to passive learning, like what she's doing all day right now with the TV? I'm not sure...

I'm imagining her wanting to play with the LeapPad all day instead of playing pretend with her new play kitchen and it seems like a nightmare. But if it is a TV replacement... well she's been watching the TV anyway. I don't want to make a mistake. I'm certain her independent imaginative pretend play is only a few months away.

Island - The leap pad was perfect for my youngest - and the age levels go up to 12+, so it is easier to accelerate some of their independent exploration. It's not in-depth or culturally rich or diverse, but it is something they can do independently which is a lifesaver at times.

you just need to decide on rules that you are comfortable with. Obviously, don't let your little one play with the Leappad all day long ... but schedule it into your daily routine maybe so you get the most benefit out of it as does she. I really love the way all the Leapfrog and Vtech educational games are done. I would never use them it it was just for play but I truly believe they can be used as one of many teaching devices. ... that said, I think I've tried every little electronic kids gadget out there (never used an iPad) ... and the only one I do NOT like is Innotab (at least last year's version) ... it's similar to Leappad but made by Vtech. Leappad seems to operate a lot smoother and out of all toys we have, Innotab is the last choice for both of my boys.

this is what our boys are getting for Christmas ... and I can already see them fighting over it! .... http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=13103978&cagpspn=pla&pla=plat ... (I got it for a better price, btw) ... the reviews are mixed but I think most negative comes from people used to iPads since it's a step back ... but it's designed for kids ... and you can download aps from the Android market. I have to take it out of the box and do a test run. My 2.5 year old is very strong and not the most careful so I wanted something that would be more child-resistant! lol

We got the Fisher Price Kid-Tough MP3 player for my daughter when she was 21 months old. It's an awesome product! It is super simple to use, and actually sounds really good (I'm extremely picky about sound quality and I am pleased.) My DD is very gentle with her things, so almost 2 years later there isn't a scratch on it. I understand that it stands up to less gentle kids as well. Also, the batteries last us months at a time, which means it plays for hours and hours on one set. It was a bit of a splurge at $50, but well worth that price if you can find it for that.

Fisher Price Kid Tough MP3 player

I got her a LeapPad2 for Christmas... I already activated it and everything- I hope she loves it! I love that it lets her take pictures (she has been using our old camera all over the house) and play mp3 music. I'm going to have a hard time putting limits on this thing, but I definitely prefer it to the TV.