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Leap Frog products have always been a part of our family, beginning with our first copy of The Letter Factory that we watched over and over with our first son eight years ago. I say first copy because it became so well worn that we actually had to purchase a new copy to replace it! So when I heard about the new SmartyAnts curriculum that’s been developed by the founders of Leap Frog, I was very interested in giving it a try.
The SmartyAnts system consists of an interactive website and a companion SmartyAnts Phonics Reading Pup that reinforces the lessons taught on the website in a fun and engaging way minus the computer, allowing children to practice the reading skills they’re currently working on any time, any place.
We received the white SmartyAnts Phonics Reading Pup to give the system a try, and my four-year-old daughter immediately fell in love with him. He’s very fluffy and cute and surprisingly cuddly and soft for something that has mechanical parts housed inside. He comes ready for fun, preloaded with 10 songs designed to help teach your child the alphabet, letter sounds, phonics, word building, and rhyming.
I decided to let my daughter just get to know the Reading Pup for several days before introducing the online aspect, and he quickly became a constant companion. But when I showed her the SmartyAnts website and how it complements the dog, that was when the real fun began. I’m kind of embarrassed to admit it, but the site showed me just how much I was underestimating what my daughter was capable of. I was under the impression that she was still working on her lower case letters and sounds, but she breezed through those right into the four-letter words level!
The SmartyAnts website is very cute and really draws your child in with activities that seem like play on the surface but are really teaching them valuable skills all the while. My daughter just devoured all of this and asks to play frequently. And the best part is that you can download new files to the Reading Pup that reinforce these skills during free time.
The SmartyAnts Phonics Reading Pup retails for just $29.99, and I fully expect him to be one of the hottest toys this holiday season. Included in the box is one SmartyAnts Phonics Reading Pup (choose husky or white pup), USB cable, parent guide, and one-month membership to SmartyAnts Web site.
One lucky Deal Seeking Mom reader will win a Phonics Reading Pup with a 1-year subscription to SmartyAnts.com!
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If you are reading this in your email or feed reader, please CLICK HERE to visit the original blog post to enter. Email entries will not be counted.
Want to win a one year subscription to Smarty Ants, as well as a Phonics Reading Pup? Just leave me a comment here, before 9pm on November 22nd, telling me about the fun ways you and your little ones have discovered learning how to read.
Prize:
(1) SmartyAnts.com Phonics Reading Pup and 1-year Subscription
This giveaway ends at 9:00 p.m. EDT on Monday, 11/22 and is open to all U.S. residents 18 years or older. I’ll use Comment Contest to select the winning comment. Winner will be notified by email and listed on my Giveaway Winners page. Winners must respond within 48 hours of notification to claim their prize. Good luck!
While you’re in a contest entering mood, don’t forget to check out the Giveaway Gathering for a variety of contests being hosted on Deal Seeking Mom readers’ blogs!
Disclosure: I received a Phonics Reading Pup and a one-year subscription to SmartyAnts.com to review for this post.
lisa
This looks fabulous! My little one has Down Syndrome and I’m always looking for new ways to help her. We read tons of books together. She also loves to watch Signing Times videos.
Julie Nguy
We read before bed every night.
Holly
Reading books has really helped my daughter learn to read!
nicole
My son LOVES to read- we have reading time together, we snuggle up while I read and he reads too. We also read his books together. :)
jamie k
we read before bedtime and she then tries to ready it back to me
Sarah Jones
We love the letter factory video. My kids always sing the songs. We also read a lot of books!
suzie
Reading with puppets prior to bedtime. My little one loves to have the puppets read to him or for us to read to the puppets.
Love the concept of SmartyAnts!
tnxns09 at gmail dot com
lisa
always reading books, reading signs, always using words
jennifer beck
i just came up with this new idea and my daughter and i have been having a TON of fun with it! i bought her a cute little address book. we cut pictures out of magazines, then glue them into the address book where they “belong”. a “cat” could go in C for cat, K for kitty, B for black, F for fuzzy, etc etc! i help her describe it, and she decides where it goes! :)
Deanna
My 3 year old has not started learning how to read yet, but is very smart (if I may say so myself – LOL!) so I do not believe he will have any trouble learning how to read. I know he would LOVE the SmartyAnts Phonics Reading Pup! ;)
Jeanine
Do you know the cost of the website subscription per month/year?