My first giveaway! Win a LeapFrog Tag Reader
If you’ve been reading Confessions, you already know I don’t buy a lot of toys for my sons. I like toys, I honestly do, but there are few things I’d spend my money on (and before you think I’m truly awful or that my boys are playing with corncob dolls like Little House on the Prairie rejects, be aware that generous family members do buy them toys, some of which I like, some of which I grimace at while the boys play with them).
If I’m going to part with cash, in short, the item has to have longevity, creativity, and that all-important but possibly hard to grasp attribute: distraction-plus-learning. One of the best examples I’ve seen of a toy that offers kids learning fun and keeps them happily occupied in cars or happily away from each other (“Stop it!” “No, you stop it!”) are the LeapFrog toys.
How’d you like to have, for your very own, a LeapFrog Tag Reading System?
the LeapFrog Tag Reader
I’ve teamed up with a 9 other parenting blogs to give away these systems. The whole shebang — it comes loaded with The Cat in the Hat, and who doesn’t love that?, plus two bonus books — amounts to a $78 value.
The Tag system is a smart “pen” that you and/or your child runs over specially configured books. The pen “reads” the book aloud, and plays games related to the text.
Now, I’m not saying, “let’s all get one of these and then wash our hands of having to read to the little guys,” because reading is, as the old public-service commercials of my youth intoned, fundamental. (Anyone remember RIF?). But I am saying that, let’s face it, sometimes you need to plop the child down with a toy that you don’t mind him or her playing with while you do something else. That is, don’t throw out your hard copy of The Cat in the Hat (even though, if you’re anything like me and my husband, you don’t need the book anymore, because you can recite it by heart).
Here’s a review of the system by one of my fellow bloggers, Sarah of Parenting by Trial and Error.
Here’s all you have to do to have a chance to win:
Leave me a comment here about how you feel about reading to your child, versus having a device that reads to your child. I love things like this. We have a LeapFrog Math Desk, and I can tell you, it does not stop me from helping my son with adding and subtracting, but it does make me feel good to know that when he’s playing it’s not mindless. Well, not that any play is mindless, but you get my point.
Anyway, leave a comment for a chance to win (winners will be chosen randomly by random.org). You can also increase your shot by visiting the other blogs I’ve joined forces with, and leave comments on their LeapFrog contest posts. Here’s the list:
The contest ends September 23, 2009. Good luck — and as always, happy reading!
–Denise
September 15, 2009 @ 11:33 am
I like the independence and confidence that a “reading device” can inspire in my kids. For my kids, it’s entirely different than being read to by a parent. I would say that using a reading device and being read to are two activities that are completely separate and apart from each other. There is a time and a place for both! Let me add that reading devices can come in particularly handy on long car drives for those of us who scorn the automobile dvd player
September 15, 2009 @ 11:50 am
I love reading to my son. We even have a special ‘story chair’ in his room. But he’s very eager to learn to read on his own, and I love it when he can amuse himself for half an hour (yay! time to fold the laundry!).
He also loves gadgets, so this is a tool I know he’d love.
Great blog, Denise!
Wendy
September 15, 2009 @ 12:35 pm
I love the idea. We read with the little one every night. I think that this would be a good way to make it even more fun and get her into some other books other than princess and little pony books. She is JUST starting to read without reading from memory. This would be a helpful tool especially for a little one who was delayed with some sensory processing issues.
Phil
September 15, 2009 @ 12:44 pm
Phil, so you did enter! Good for you. And for everyone else reading: the fact that he has the same last name as me gives him no advantage!
Denise
September 15, 2009 @ 1:46 pm
Reading to my children is as natural to me as air, since my job working in the the children’s room at the public library keeps me in all the books I may ever need. In fact, we just had our RIF party yesterday:) However, my son did learn most of his alphabet from watching “They Might be Giants, Here Come the ABCs”, so I am obviously not opposed to a toy that may help my child learn to read.
September 15, 2009 @ 1:46 pm
We are a family of readers and my 4 year old is just now learning sight words and how to sound things out. I’ve always read to her, but am interested in seeing how she and her little sister would react to this gadget. Sounds great!! (BTW — I LOVE your blog!!)
September 15, 2009 @ 2:41 pm
I don’t have any children yet, but reading was crucial to me as a child. If not being a mom disqualifies me, so be it – but hear me out anywho:
I can’t imagine a better thing to experience with a child than reading. I get butterflies when I think about being able to share books with my children. I honestly do not remember how my parents helped me to get interested in books – other than one day when I did an extra chore without being asked (truly an exception to the rule), they gave me a set of The Boxcar Children as a reward. The idea of being able to give them the tools to pursue reading even when I don’t have the time at that moment to sit down and read “Did I Ever Tell You How Lucky You Are” — it’s just a great idea. It would never take the place of spending time reading together, but I can see it being a great addition to the arsenal of tools/toys.
September 15, 2009 @ 3:03 pm
We are a family of readers, for sure. With a 2 and 6 year old in the house, we break out the books first thing in the morning, in between the daily stuff and especially before bed.
I mean, on the most basic level what are people but storytellers, anyway? So, reading is not only important for literacy, but as an essential tool to help develop children’s skills for understanding themselves and others.
Added benefit: it creates a stronger bond between us.
We laugh about some books we’ve read (You Can’t Go To School Naked! is heard around our house lately) and wonder about others (What happened to Charlotte at the fair?)
I hope our children each remain as voracious about books as they are now and we plan to keep reading as a family as long as they’ll let us.
As for the Leapfrog device – I see only up side.
If you are not a reading family, it’s a nice tool to slip reading in with some cool factor for the kids. If your kids are book lovers, it offers them time to explore the stories on their own, especially if they are not yet reading themselves.
September 15, 2009 @ 5:00 pm
You made a perfect point when you said that you let your boys use the Leap Frog math toy, but STILL work with them on math. Thing is…lots of parents don’t. They hear “educational” before “video” or “toy” and assume that it’ll teach their kiddo everything they need to know.
I work with kids with Autism, so this is a particularly sticky subject in my field, since many kids on the spectrum do better with machines than with people. Why? BECAUSE THEY ARE PREDICTABLE! The information is the same each and every time they encounter it. It usually looks the same and sounds the same (and this isn’t always a good thing since we do want our children to speak and act with variety, right?) That said, if you’re going to use something like a Leapfrog (and I agree, they put out some of the best stuff I’ve found), PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE take the time to read to and WITH your children as well. Teach them inflection, tone, mood, emotion and all the other wonderful things that come across in something that is well-read. Use the Leapfrogs (or whatever other “educational” material you choose) as supplements (I plan to, and I don’t think it’ll make me a bad mom). But, nothing will ever replace good teaching from another human being.
Stepping off soapbox…
September 15, 2009 @ 8:34 pm
I would never stop reading to my kids! But I think the Leapfrog would be fun for car trips and stuff!
September 16, 2009 @ 12:03 am
I love reading to my daughter. However, I don’t have enough hours in the day to read all of her books to her 12 times.
She had the infant baby leapster book thing that she liked. My mom had bought that for all of her grandkids and we had to give it back after our turn was over. I think she would love this Tag She wanted me to teach her how to read one night. “No mama, ALL the words”. YIKES!
September 16, 2009 @ 10:02 am
My girls love the read!!!!
September 16, 2009 @ 11:49 am
I love reading to my kids. I have 2 daughters and a son, ages 6, 3, and 15 months. What I like the best about reading with my 6 year old is taking turns. She reads a page, then I read a page. While I like the concept of a reading device, I would miss learning how my daughter sees words. She reads along until she hits an unfamiliar word, then guesses what the word is based on the letters she sees – something like phenomenal becomes ponies. It is my chance to teach her to slow down, sound out, and then explain the word’s meaning. When reading 102 Dalmations, I got to explain the concept of probation – that was fun. I want to be able to teach my younger kids to read and love what they are reading. I want them to learn not just the words but also to absorb the concepts in the stories. Cat in the Hat is a fun book and a reading device can get them through the whole thing, but will it talk to them about how silly it is stack things up to the ceiling while standing on a ball, or ask them to predict what will happen next and why? All things being equal, I will keep reading to my kids, as a group and individually. A reading device would be used to entertain the kids waiting for a turn on Mom’s lap.
September 16, 2009 @ 11:01 pm
I love reading to my girls — they both get a pre-bedtime read-aloud, and we’ll plop down with books at other times of day too — but I am ALL about independence. So if I can buy myself some time to cook or eat or send an email with a book instead of a movie or a TV show, frankly, that’s fabulous.
September 17, 2009 @ 3:16 pm
I like the idea that kids can experience “reading” in a variety of ways. They experience reading when an adult reads to them, they experience reading when they “read” themselves, whether that means looking at the pictures or reading an early reader, and I suppose they can experience reading with a tool like Leapfrog. I like the options. But here’s the thing: Ten different people will read the same book in 10 slightly different ways (enthusiasm, intonation, speed). So while I would love my child to find pleasure and amusement in a toy that also helps him learn to read, I wouldn’t give up my precious reading time to him for anything.
September 18, 2009 @ 2:04 pm
I LOVE reading to my kids. I also really like a toy that allows my child to enjoy her books even when I’m busy with something else.
September 18, 2009 @ 2:52 pm
I love reading to the grandkids. I read to my boys as they grew up and I have one that is an avid reader. My oldest son struggled with dyslexia BUT he still enjoys reading and I think part of that goes back to all of those bedtime stories we read together. I would love to try the LeapFrog Tag reader because it seems like it would help the beginning readers. I am all for letting the kids do things for themselves because what instills more confidence than being able to tackle it all on your own? I don’t think having the Tag would stop the “reading together times” because what’s better than snuggling up under the covers and being transported to another world?
Thanks for the chance!
dbkagrayson2002 at gmail dot com
September 18, 2009 @ 3:35 pm
I grew up with parents who loved to read to me, and a dad who really put his all into the characters, voices, and atmosphere of the books. Over the years, he read through the short classics…Maurice Sendak and Dr. Seuss, as well as the long, “The Lord of the Rings” books, all the “Little House on the Prairie” books a couple of times…even the “Clan of the Cave Bear” novels (only as an adult did I discover he’d done some “scene editing” on those!).
But I’ve been more negligent in reading to my own child, letting my 3-year-old daughter spend time being “read to” by a now-broken, read-along, electronic book. I figured it was time to do a little more live-reading to her when I heard her recite from memory nearly 10- minutes of her “Finding Nemo” book in the same, uninspired monotone of the electronic reader…including the “ding” noise made when it’s time to turn the page!
Nonetheless, she enjoyed the electronic reader, and she did learn from it, so it would be fun to have one again.
September 18, 2009 @ 4:08 pm
We love reading to our daughter and have been reading to her since she was less than a year old (she is now six). She loves to be read to and she likes reading when someone is watching over her shoulders but she does not like independent reading. It would be great to have the LeapFrog reader to help her gain a love for independent reading. I can envision her getting stuck on some words and using the pen to help her get through the tough parts. While I would still love to continue read to her, I hope this can also inspire to read on her own.
September 18, 2009 @ 9:58 pm
My voice only lasts so long reading aloud. And it’s better than an audio book because it’s more interactive.
September 19, 2009 @ 12:24 am
I’m actually a little conflicted about this product, but I’d still very much like to try it. We read to DD a lot. After bed every night she spends a good deal of time reading to herself in bed. She makes up the story and reads it out loud. I’m a bit worried that a toy like this might take some of that away.
September 19, 2009 @ 11:07 am
*** just as clarification.. the other Summer above is not me.. so I added my nickname here (above) since there are two of us
I have read to my son almost every night since he was little so I am not sure about how I would feel about a device reading to him. I am sure he would get the same educational value but I would miss the quality time and do not think that the device is going to nurture the bond between us the way that reading at bedtime does. However, for the nights that are hectic for me or the times when I am getting dinner ready and he would like a story, something like that would be helpful indeed. Its a better choice at those times than mind numbing t.v shows. lol.
Great giveaway. Thank you.
September 19, 2009 @ 1:23 pm
There is a place for both reading to a child and letting the child explore with something like the Tag Readers. One would never take the place of the other. Things like the Tag Reader are enriching for the child to experience on their own at the early stages of reading when then are not so confident and skilled. A parent or grandparent reading to a child is the most important thing a person can do to help children have a love for reading and the child needs to see the adults reading which models the love of reading to the child. But it is fun to supplement with fun trips to the library or storytime, letting the child pick out some books at the library or we take our grandkids also to the “Goodwill” book store to pick out “new” books at a great price and then they can take them home and have them read as often as they want and I would love to give my younger grandson a Tag Reader System…I think he would enjoy it and it would help his reading in a fun way.
September 20, 2009 @ 10:44 pm
My daughter gets read to every day. Bedtime stories for sure, but often times several times throughout the day. The Tag Reader is a great educational toy, but it is still a toy. My daughter would love it, I’m sure, but she’d still get read to every day.
September 21, 2009 @ 8:41 am
Considering that I’ve now hosted two giveaways for this, it would be great if I could win one for MY son.
September 21, 2009 @ 12:00 pm
One nice thing about the Tag is that they come with hard copies of books, so you can use them with or without the reader. We have a Tag, and some of the books that we bought to go with it are also our favorite bedtime books. Only downside is now I can’t skip over sections or even so much as mess up a word in the books, because the boys can “fact check” me with the Tag! ha!
September 21, 2009 @ 12:40 pm
When it comes to learning I say go ahead and throw in the kitchen sink! I’ve been reading to my kids since they were infants. When my son was three, he sometimes watched the Leap Frog Letter Factory Videos. When he was four we did the Hooked on Phonics. He is turning seven in one week and reads at a thrid grade level…but is not at all into writing.
I did all these things with my daughter who is five and she still can’t read “cat”. She does however love to write elaborate stories, which she then “reads” to me and I jot it down so I can read it too.
This is an example of something she started this morning:
wans opin a tim…(Once upon a time)
Each is learning in their own way, at their own pace, which is why I don’t turn my nose up at any one way of learning or teaching.
September 21, 2009 @ 10:08 pm
Thanks for the great giveaway. My son and I love our time reading together and a toy can’t replace that. But its nice to know that when he is playing alone, he is also learning.
September 22, 2009 @ 8:55 am
I love to read to my son , but I also love the leapfrog tag. With the leap frog tag he could take it on car rides and read by himself
September 22, 2009 @ 8:58 am
I believe that it is important to read to your children and I enjoy it . I think that the Tag reading system is a wonderful educational toy that can be used to supplement what you are currently doing.
September 22, 2009 @ 9:14 pm
We had the original leap pad with our oldest daughter and she loved it. Our little one now is just starting to read and we think that it is important to read to him every night , but the leap frog tag would be nice to incorporate into our bed time routine. We also love the fact that they are now hard cover books.
September 22, 2009 @ 10:21 pm
Reading to my son is very important , but I think the Tag system would add something fun and different.
September 23, 2009 @ 1:53 am
Reading kids is an important bonding experience. But having a LeapFrog Tag Reader would be a great tool to help a child to do things on their own when the parents are busy.
September 23, 2009 @ 2:27 am
I enjoy reading to my kids. The Tag reader system will be a great help for them. Thanks!
September 23, 2009 @ 3:41 am
I think reading to your child definiteely builds a bond between you and them.
The leapfrog system is another tool that can make reading fun and it is effective
September 23, 2009 @ 3:55 am
I love reading to my kids and this would be in addition, never as a replacement or as a substitute. Kids need the interaction, but I think this is great and lets them read at a slower pace and look at the words longer.
September 23, 2009 @ 5:44 am
Cognitive development starts early. It is essential to get healthy patterns in place right away. Leapster is a wonderful tool for that imprint.
September 23, 2009 @ 6:57 am
I have no problems as long as it encourages them to read on their own.
September 23, 2009 @ 7:10 am
I truly think there is room for both methods…reading traditionally and reading using a Leapfrog type product. It doesn’t matter in the long run, because both ways are intimately educational and fun!
September 23, 2009 @ 7:17 am
I think reading both ways are equally important. My reading with my kids is great for showing that reading is fun and for bonding. Reading throught the help of Leap Frog is wonderful, because it shows that my kids can do some things on thier own and help build their confidence in reading. we own a few Leap frog products and love them. Would really love to win this Tag Reader. Thanks so much.
September 23, 2009 @ 7:56 am
I love reading to my daughter. This looks like a great toy for her to play with. It would be a great addition to her other toys.
September 23, 2009 @ 8:00 am
I prefer independance, but I also enjoy the quality cuddle time. Thank you
September 23, 2009 @ 8:13 am
We read to my daughter every day and I’m already seeing results. She loves going to the library and picking out new books to read.
September 23, 2009 @ 8:24 am
I have a two year old and a five year old, both are girls. They absolutely love me to read to them and I love doing it. Sometimes in the real world though we are distracted by the everyday things in life we have to do like cooking dinner and cleaning the house. To know that there is a product like this that I could get that can read to my children when I can’t is great.
September 23, 2009 @ 8:35 am
I love things that my kids can do on their own that help them learn something that is useful later. I love reading to my children and will never stop. The extra electronic reading they get allows them to explore more ideas and exposes them to reading more. The car is the perfect place for these tools. I don’t have one yet so I’m excited for the opportunity to win. Thanks!
September 23, 2009 @ 8:36 am
I will always like reading to my kids better than them doing it independently with something like this. That said, it’s because I like the bonding time I get from reading to them. I think the LeapFrog tag is awesome, reading is reading, and reading is good. No matter how they get it done!
September 23, 2009 @ 9:17 am
I like reading to the kids, it’s our nightly thing we do after bath time. With LeapFrog tag the kids the kids will have a little more practice when I am busy or on we are on road trips. Great Review!
September 23, 2009 @ 9:18 am
we really love reading and we would love to win this and use it!
September 23, 2009 @ 10:11 am
Nothing can replace a parent reading to a child but this toy helps support a parent who is trying to teach their child to enjoy reading and instills confidence in a child who is learning to read.
September 23, 2009 @ 10:12 am
I feel that both kinds of reading benefit children! There is nothing like reading a wonderful story to your children and as they grow, they can gain independence and also learn with a great system like LeapFrog.
Please count me in…..
Many thanks, Cindi
September 23, 2009 @ 10:16 am
Love your blog! Reading IS Fundamental – yes, I remember RIF – does that make me old? I say, when it comes to reading, give kids every advantage. Personally, I read to my kids EVERYDAY and they see me read, too. A “toy” like this, gives beginning readers support (i.e. confidence) to try to read inependently. The toy can’t replace the parent but helps tremedously, in the pursuit of reading. Hmm… leapfrog math desk…must check that out. Did I mention that I love your blog?
September 23, 2009 @ 10:22 am
I enjoy reading to my children especially at night before bed but I think the Leapfrog tag would be nice for children to do on their own too.
September 23, 2009 @ 10:41 am
Reading to my child before bedtime fosters a special connection between he and I. He looks forward to it everynight at exactly 8:30. The smile he makes when I make funny faces during the story is worth it enough!
September 23, 2009 @ 10:59 am
I love devices like this. This allows my children to learn while I’m not available to help. The kids find it fun and also learn to be independent. They love to show off what they’ve learned.
September 23, 2009 @ 11:02 am
My four year old daughter and I read books together every night before bed and she loves playing with her leap pad notebook she got for Christmas. The tag reader seems like the next step up for her, I think she would love it.
September 23, 2009 @ 11:08 am
I loved reading your post! It’s hard to imagine a time when parents weren’t really encouraged to get involved with their kid’s classroom and their learning.
September 23, 2009 @ 11:19 am
I think that our kids would love to use this on trips and at times when we have quite time. I do believe that reading to your kids is very important but the leapfrog can help build confidence in there reading.
September 23, 2009 @ 11:25 am
reading rocks!
this looks like a great learning tool:)
September 23, 2009 @ 11:30 am
I would love to win this for my son!!! and itll make reading a lot easier for me
September 23, 2009 @ 11:38 am
ANything that helps my little one read is a great thing to me…
September 23, 2009 @ 11:39 am
My daughter needs this …
September 23, 2009 @ 11:52 am
We always have so much fun reading but this is a great tool that children can use by themselves as well
September 23, 2009 @ 11:59 am
i love reading to my daughter. she will pick books and “read” them to me by making up stories to go along with the pictures. i think the leapfrog system would be great for helping to teach her to read on her own.
September 23, 2009 @ 12:48 pm
Reading time is one of my favorite things to do with my daughter, that’s our bonding time. The leapfrog is good to have so she can learn to read on her own.
September 23, 2009 @ 12:53 pm
I think that there are different purposes to reading to your child and allowing the pen to read to your child. The first is to promote togetherness and let him get the idea that you enjoy reading too. The second is to allow him to explore reading on his own. I think that they are equally important.
September 23, 2009 @ 1:08 pm
reading with your child is very important it provides quality time and togetherness but when time is limited for that these reading programs come in so handy so you know your child is learning even when you need to be doing other things
September 23, 2009 @ 1:36 pm
This is a great tool to help them learn to read. Parents still need to help, but this helps them think that their more independent and can learn without the parents help all the time.
September 23, 2009 @ 1:37 pm
Reading to your child lets them listen to you and ask questions about things. With this tool it lets them be independent and “read” on their own while repeating what the tool tells them. I think both are great ideas in helping your child learn how to read.
September 23, 2009 @ 1:47 pm
Would love to give one of these to my best friend for her children!
September 23, 2009 @ 1:59 pm
reading to them is fun and them by themselves with leapfrog make it fun for them to learn
September 23, 2009 @ 2:01 pm
I prefer reading to my kids-but, when I can’t, reading devices like Leapfrog are a good substitute. Still, personal contact with your child is best if you use the devices with your kids.
September 23, 2009 @ 2:17 pm
A Leapfrog Tag Reader would be good for giving Tristan a headstart on reading.
September 23, 2009 @ 2:43 pm
I like to read to my son but toys like this are great for when I’m too busy such as cooking dinner.
September 23, 2009 @ 3:07 pm
I like both. I love to read to my kids and they love it too. They also love being able to use something like this for fun.
September 23, 2009 @ 3:18 pm
We read every night. Leapfrog is a great thing to have when they want to read by teir selves. Thanks for the chance.
September 23, 2009 @ 3:33 pm
I think this would be great to help them learn to read.
September 23, 2009 @ 3:48 pm
I love to read to kids, and they are getting better at reading books to me every day. I have seen the TAG and it is really neat, it really can help kids learn to read. They get to use it independently from Mom or Dad so it gives them a bit more freedom and self confidence. I am a huge Leapfrog fan and I think this is just another great product in their line of great products.
September 23, 2009 @ 3:57 pm
I read every day to my grandchildren and they love it. The interactive reading system is great when I just don’t have the time. It is fun and educational.
September 23, 2009 @ 4:35 pm
This looks great, we love reading
September 23, 2009 @ 4:37 pm
Reading is HUGE in our house! Fortunately, we don’t ever have to “make” our kids read. They love it and excel at it. All of our children read above grade level (brag, brag! lol). We love reading books together and they love reading on their own. I think products such as this are great because they enhance the reading/learning process. I think it helps give them a little independance to learn things on their own.
ljatwood at gmail dot com
September 23, 2009 @ 5:11 pm
Reading to your child is essential to creating good comprehension and imagination skills. Do it everyday. Have never seen this system in person but it sounds like a great educational toy.
tvollowitz at aol dot com
September 23, 2009 @ 5:11 pm
Honestly I prefer reading to my kids (which we do every night) but I must say that my son would probably love the Leapfrog reader because he is so technology oriented — so if it would get him to reading more that would be fine!
September 23, 2009 @ 5:13 pm
I love reading to my children but there have been times I have just been too tired so then I would have one of the older ones read to the younger ones so the little one gets read to and the older one get practice reading out loud. This would be helpful
September 23, 2009 @ 5:24 pm
well hubby and I take turns reading to my sons every night,however I think this is great in teaching them how to read on their own!
ardelong2(at)gmail(dot)com
September 23, 2009 @ 5:39 pm
I have seen children’s faces when they use this system. Their eyes light up and they wake up with excitement. I work with children at church and would love to use a device like this one. thank you!
September 23, 2009 @ 6:20 pm
i like reading to them myself but whatever work best . mverno@roadrunner.com
September 23, 2009 @ 6:23 pm
I am a grandma and love to read to my grandchildren and I think that the Leapfrog Tag system would be a wonderful addition to have at story time.
September 23, 2009 @ 7:22 pm
OK, thanks everyone! As it’s the end of the day (or at least, the end of my East Coast day), I’m calling “time” on the LeapFrog giveaway. I will announce the (randomly chosen) winner either tomorrow afternoon (the 24th) or Friday. Thanks to everyone for weighing in, and keep reading,
Denise
September 23, 2009 @ 7:38 pm
My daughter has been wanting one. It would a wonderful thing to give her. Thanks for the chance.
mogrill@comcast.net
September 23, 2009 @ 8:13 pm
I’m a homeschool mom of three. My oldest is 15 and with the exception of grades 1-3 she has always homeschooled. My 9 year old daughter has never gone to a traditional public school. Both of them are independent learners and have done really well. Now, to my 5 year old son — he is a whole new can of worms! He doesn’t sit still and he HATES reading lessons. I’m trying to find ways to incorporate reading in a fun way — perhaps the LeapFrog tag reader would help??
September 23, 2009 @ 8:27 pm
I think both are important!
September 23, 2009 @ 8:28 pm
Reading to kids is great. But sometimes it is great if the kids can read a book by themselves! Thanks for the chance to win!
September 23, 2009 @ 9:22 pm
It is a great learning tool
September 23, 2009 @ 9:26 pm
I enjoy reading to my children and I wouldn’t mind if they were being read to, just as long as they are looking at the book that is being read.
September 23, 2009 @ 10:09 pm
I’m so excited by the new reading tools they keep coming up with! Reading has always been such an important part of our daily routine because it really is the key to getting everywhere in life!
September 23, 2009 @ 10:27 pm
This would be a great unit for my nephew who is incredibly curious and asking to learn to read.
September 23, 2009 @ 10:31 pm
My 6 yr old is learning to read and she reads to me about every night and this is something to help her along with her problem words i thiink with also reading one on one and this used together could be very helpful
September 23, 2009 @ 10:38 pm
I think that both are probably beneficial in their own ways!
Reading to your children is one of the best things you can do with them, but I can see using the Tag system when you are a bit busy with something or you want your wee kidlet to be a bit more independant and learn things on their own!
Its ALL good!!
Thanks
nancyrobster@gmail.com
(in Canada)
September 24, 2009 @ 12:24 am
I love reading with my kids…we try to do it every day and they love it too. I think these kind of toys are great because they encourage learning in a fun way!
September 24, 2009 @ 1:30 am
Reading to my children is such an important experience for us. It not only allows us to spend undivided attention with each other, but it stirs the imagination. Dreams spring from reading, inspiring us to become more than we are. I read a book a day as a child and went on to read my mother’s books as an adolescent. Reading helped me stand out among my peers, earned me the opportunity to help my teachers with bulletin boards and classroom exercises. By the time I reached eight grad it allowed me to take high school courses in world history and english. It made me a better student and a more informed person…that is what I want for my children. That is why I read.
September 24, 2009 @ 1:40 am
I think having a balance of reading to your child and introducing them to learn technology is a good thing!
Thanks for entering me! Great Contest!
Janna Johnson
janna@FeedYourPigBlog.com
jannajanna@hotmail.com
http://www.FeedYourPigBlog.com
September 24, 2009 @ 1:57 am
I prefer reading to my kids-but, when I can’t, reading devices like Leapfrog are a good substitute.
September 25, 2009 @ 1:35 pm
I’m all for any kind of reading: me reading, the computer reading, books on tape, etc.
PS: my school still does RIF 😉
Giveaway for back-to-school: LeapFrog Tag Reading System bundle! «
September 26, 2009 @ 1:15 am
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September 27, 2009 @ 4:41 pm
I don’t think that electronic books are a substitute for reading to your kids…instead I think it’s another great source to use on top of what you already do. I don’t think kids can get enough reading, and since we can’t read all day, when they are having their “alone” time, this is a great way for them to discover books on their own!