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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.
Vicki
We love Leap Frog products and would love to try this out. It looks adorable and I know my kids would love it. My kids are 4 and love the Tag Reader and Click Start computers
kim
We borrowed the Leap Frog letter factory from a friend and only watched it three times and my now four year old has her letters and sounds DOWN! I just bought it for Christmas for my two year old. This would be AWESOME to have around!
Sarah
We play “find it”, our little version of “I Spy” when reading books.
Jules
This looks awesome! I just recommended it to my friend. My kids aren’t this little anymore. I wouldn’t mind getting one for my 2 great-nephews though. When my kids were little we used to read every night. My 12 yr old daughter used one of the original leappads!
Terrie james
Raising grandchildren can be a litle challenging.
We grandparents have to stay on top of ways to
educate kiddo’s in this day and time. This puppy
Looks like he would be very helpful for my soon
To be 4 yr old. Thanks for sharing!
Ashley Strum
My daughter is learning with leapfrog and pbs kids. We read together every night.
Holly
We used the BOB books when my daughter was first learning to read, and she loved them.
Angela DuFay
I love this! I thought it would be a great learning tool for my 2-yr.-old (her speech is delayed) and make speech therapy fun for her, but Amazon is selling it for $69.99! I’ll watch for sales! Thanks for bringing this to my attention!
Kristine Twardy-Todd
We have been reading to our kids every night as a routine since before they were born :) My kids LOVE books and I encourage reading all the time, my 2 year old rips his books out every day stacks them on his bed and sits and goes through every one he puts there lol.
Tanya
I have a four and two year old. We read everynight before they go to bed. I have been watching sells to get them the tag reader for christmas. This puppy sounds great I have never heard of it before now. Thanks
Pamela K
My next door neighbor has a six year old who just arrived in the United States from Africa. This tool will help him learn how to speak english very well.
Priscilla
My daughter is learning her letters and sounds with pbs and just in our daily conversations. She loves it when she sees a letter she knows and says it’s sound/s. I think this learning tool would be perfect for her age.
Kathy Temples
What a great gift for my nephew !!!!!!
Holly
My 4 yr old would love this, maybe for Christmas. She loves books and computers so this would be great!
Jen
Reading together every night!
Lea
My 5 year old would love this, he is starting to read and is VERY into sounding everything out. Plus he always tells me that he is my little puppy dog!! :)
Laurie Bodnar
To prepare my kids for learning how to read I wrote all the dolch words on flash cards. In addition to that, I always make sure to read to them everyday. We also use the Leap pad cartridges/books (borrow tons from the library) and now use the handheld Leapster.
Pam Woodard
We love using the Leapfrog Letter Factory videos and for my outdoorsy, super active son, we played hop to the letter with one of those foam letter floor puzzles. It was fun and he learned his letters in a flash.
Doris
Looks like a great toy! My daughter and son would both LOVE THIS! READING READING READING! We read to all our kids even the older ones who already know how to read quite often. They have enjoyed the Word Whammer from Leap Frog. We also have used a website subscription from their preschool called RAZ.
Krystal P
My little guy loves to read. We visit the library each week for story time and he has learned a lot from the interaction between him and the librarian. It helps make reading interesting and shows him that reading is important to everyone, not just mommy.
Larissa Speck
My family has also enjoyed many Leap Frog products over the past 8 years. This is the first I’ve heard of this Pup. It’s so cute! I think my four year old would go bonkers over it!
Samina
Looks like another great Leapfrog product. My little guy will be 3 in March & I’m sure he’d love one.
Katie
This is a neat toy! My 4 year old daughter would love it! We’ve been using hooked on phonics for about 2weeks now and she is actually reading small words (cat, pig, etc). I’m going to have to look into this puppy for Christmas!
Cassandra H.
When my son learned to read we had fun making up our own little songs for letter sounds. We also used websites like Starfall Academy and books like Dick and Jane. I can’t wait to teach my daughter to read, she is only 2 but already learning her alphabet.
Jenni
We use the tag & tag jr systems for learning to read, as well as reviewing words during reading in everyday books.
Amy Heinrichs
I know my preschool aged son would love love this toy. He loves animals, and toys he can interact with. He would be so excited to win one, (and his baby sister would love the hand me down), what a great idea! Thank you for the opportunity!
megan
We teach them by starting with reading cookbooks. It is fun for all of us.
Sonya
If I won, this would be going to my little neice. She’s almost two and loves her books. This would make a wonderful Christmas gift for her.
Julie
We love PBS & PBS Kids online!
Catalina
I read to my nephews whenever they come visit, and I would love to win one of these for them. I know they would both enjoy it.