For several years, Leap Frog has put out an assortment of electronics entertainment geared towards children, and the Zippity is the most original.

Leap Frog, makers of the Leapster, Leapster 2, and Didj describes the Zippity as a “high-energy learning system that gets preschoolers dancing, jumping, playing and learning with Disney characters”, but you probably can’t see how from the picture to the left. I had a chance to try it out, and an adult would see the Zippity as essentially a touch sensitive mat with a very large joystick sticking out of it.

This mat is completely wireless, and requires four C batteries. The mat requires a transmitter that hooks up to your television with the red, white, and yellow ports, and also requires four C batteries.

Once it is all connected, any child from ages three to five can participate in several preloaded games based on Playhouse Disney characters like Handy Manny, Little Einsteins, My Friends Tigger and Pooh, and the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. Most games consist of using the pads on the mat like an infant-level Dance Dance Revolution. Some, but limited, control is carried out by the large joystick protruding in front of them. The games are, of course, educational, and their target age group can learn all about words, numbers, colors, and shapes.

The Zippity can be purchased on the Leap Frog website for about $79.99, with additional cartridges due out late this year, probably before the holidays.