It’s a shame perhaps that we tested this after testing the Leapfrog Tag, which in my view is superior to the Storio in almost every way. The Tag takes fewer batteries, is far cheaper, and most importantly of all is more fun – the Storio is pretty much ignored in our house, while the Tag (which Flea’s owned for over a year) is still played with most weeks. Perhaps at five, Flea and Harry were just too old for the Storio – it’s suitable for age three so if you have a toddler who isn’t yet reading, perhaps it’s more suitable – but I’d still worry about spending so much on something kids will likely grow out of within a couple of years.

The Leapster Explorer is a nice option for younger children, and the games are all appropriate for younger children and definitely boost spelling and reading skills. However, the fact it runs on batteries and the fact that games are all geared to younger kids means it won’t last as long as a DS might – we felt kids would grow out of the Leapster Explorer well before the age of 9.

Genuinely, I think the Leapfrog Tag is one of the best toys Flea has ever had. It’s educational without compromising the idea of fun. It motivates kids to read, and play with words, and because you can buy new books as your child gets older, it should last them for years – or can be shared between kids of different ages. I love it.

Smallest loves this little dog, and she quickly figured out how to push the buttons to make him make the noises herself. She particularly enjoys music so the lullabies go down better than the environmental sounds, which have unfortunate amounts of water noises in them as far as I’m concerned.

The Scribble & Write looks interesting, is really chunky, and easy for little hands to hold – both children (5 and 3) wanted to play with it as soon as they saw it. Children trace the lights on a retraceable screen to practise shapes and letters with step by step audio instructions. There are four learning modes; exploring drawing, uppercase letters, lowercase letters, and games.

I’m quite impressed with how much my one year old has been taken with this toy – he usually only displays a passing interest in toys in general, but this puts a smile on his face and we have peace and quiet for a good few hours – until his older sister wants to pinch it! Its also quite cheap for a toy from the Leapfrog range.

Ella is thrilled with My Pal Violet and with the exception of the music options, I am very pleased with this product. My Pal Violet and My Pal Scout (the green version) are very popular and I would recommend My Pal Violet to any family and considering the cost (£15.99), it’s well worth it.