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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.
Melanie
We read to our 5 year old almost every night. We switch it up from him reading to us and us readying to him. Anything from a picture book to a chapter book like The Hobbit. It always amazes me how a child’s mind works!
Ruth Ann
I can’t say enough good things about the Leap Frog Fridge Phonics. Great system and really teaches the letter sounds. The songs get a little stuck in your head, but I think that’s kinda the point.
I have a friend that does “letter” days with her preschooler. They pick a letter and do everything they can with that letter during the day. Crafts, foods, colors, finding that letter around the house, modifying activities so that the letter is incorporated.
Thanks for the chance to win!
June Stewart
As a homeschooling mom, we LOVE Leapfrog products! My 4 year old has learned most of his sounds just by watching the movies. We also use “The Ordinary Parents Guide to Teaching Reading” and LOVE it too!
Thanks!
June
Kathleen
I would love to have this for my son. I also have really like the leap frog products and this will not only help with the reading, but I think will help with their computer skills.
Alane Green
My son, 6, started to read very early. I have a daughter who just turned 3 and she has zero interest in flashcards or anything. What she does love is her big brother reading to her. Because of this, she started talking incredibly early and this is how she is learning words.
Terri Peters
I got all of my kids hooked on the love of reading by finding something that they love and going to the library to check out books on the subject.
Tiffany
My son LOVES books! We have an old Leap Pad and the Tag Reader that he loves to interact with. He always asks for a book before bedtime and would enjoy having a cuddly reading companion.
Erin Steiginga
Pick Me Pick Me Pick Me :)
Rhonda Mullins
We love to read at our house. We like to make funny voices and find key words in a story and everyone hollers the meaning. My 5 year old now reads to my other children which encourages them to read like their sister.
Ryan
My daughter loves reading with her tag books :)
Lacey C.
I think the leapfrog dvds have really helped my son understand phonics – He just turned 4, but can already read some complex words!
Isabel Acosta
my three year old is just now really getting into loving all his learning toys, I really enjoy the time that we spend reading each night, especially when he makes up his own story to tell me,
Amy
That is so cute….we sometimes make up cheers for our little to learn how to spell things =)
Mary
We are working on teaching my 3 yr old son to read.. he is absolutely in love with books! we have started using some of the “level reading” books with easy to read words..and as i read i will stop and have him say a word that has a picture beside it :)
Janice
We have had fun just by reading stories out loud and doing the “alphabet dance” :)
Kristy Ainsworth-Redding
My three year old loves us to read to him. He especially likes it when his older brother reads stories to him. The youngest like to pretend to read sometimes too, this would be a great tool to keep him excited about reading!
Rosemary Bailey
I always buy Leap Frog for our two grandchildren. They are moving away from us in two weeks and I would love for Smarty Ants to read to them when Grandma can’t! Thanks!
sara s
We look for letters on signs and books as a game like “I spy.”
valorie
My 7 year old likes to readto my 5 year old, so this way he could learn to help read back to her
Amber
We also love Leapfrog products and own or have owned nearly all of them!
My 5 year old went into K reading largly due to the fridge phonics and TAG pen.
My 2 year old loves to read with her Tag Jr. We also read her lots of books along with her baby sister.
Plus, my husband and I ready daily ourselves which shows our kids how fun reading is even for grown-ups.
Jennifer
We read a lot and my oldest (4) is beginning to recognize some sight words.
Sadie
we love to read all of the signs when we are traveling
bri garnica
We use sight words as well and his school uses the phonics system.
Lareina
My kids start with watching the Leapfrog Letter Factory videos. They learn the letters and sounds very quickly and are ready to start blending sounds with the Abeka readers.
Allison
My little one loves to read and letter magnets on the fridge. She is constantly trying to spell things.
Shelley
My three year old loves to read books and is starting to become very curious as to what different words are.
Tawna
My two girls have learned to read without much work! I was really lucky. They are doing great! My son already knows the alphabet so I am hoping he will be easy too. We read all the time and take trips to the library to make it fun for them to pick out their own books.
Jenn
My little one loves to be read to. Also loves to write words and numbers on a chalk board.
Claire
They absolutely love computer games like JumpStart!
Michelle L.
Our favorite thing to read for all my kids is Chicka Chicka Boom Boom. We are on our 3rd copy!