A hand-held game player for a preschooler? Some parents cringe at the thought. Others have no qualms about this sort of electronic babysitting–and they're even happier that there's now an educational model. The LeapFrog Leapster ($80) uses video-game style to teach preschoolers through second graders reading, adding, spelling, and other schoolhouse activities, as they use a stylus and control pad to master the various scholarly pursuits.

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You'll be amazed how long–and how quietly!–your otherwise hyperactive youngsters will sit still–and how much they'll love the "rewards" for right answers (for example, chirping cartoon birds that eat the seeds earned while playing). Good luck wresting this toy away when it's time for the other necessities of life–playing outdoors, reading books, and interacting with real, live human beings.

Leapster is nearly twice as heavy as and quite a bit bulkier than a Game Boy. And the perky music can grate on parental nerves. But you can turn the sound down or plug in a headset.

With all the long car and plane rides coming up during the holidays, Leapster should be the one gift the kids are allowed to open early.
–Janet Rae-Dupree