My kiddos and I are always looking for fun ways to learn. Games, books, puzzles, and educational programs are all a part of a normal day around here. So, when I was asked to try out the new SmartyAnts program – an online world created by the founder of LeapFrog, featuring interactive videos, stories and personalized songs – I jumped on the opportunity.
Ben and I have enjoyed exploring exciting game play in this colorful 3-D world. SmartyAnts has thrown us into an incredible learning environment that’s also endlessly entertaining. Ben was able to name his three virtual best smarty ant friends and was eager to dub them Noah, Josh & Julia! He is excited to interact with them all as he continues to learn and explore.
As part of the program we were also sent a Phonics Reading Pup that we named Gizmo. The Pup is the cuddly part of the SmartyAnts world of learning and reading. A Phonics Reading Pup is a cute and cuddly plush toy that interacts with the SmartyAnts online website. In addition, Gizmo allows Ben to continue to learn wherever he goes. He can listen to songs and stories any time of the day, even if Mommy won’t give up her computer!
Ben and I will be continuing to explore and learn with SmartyAnts over the next couple of weeks and can’t wait to share with you our final assessment. But, in the meantime, we’d like to offer YOU a chance to win a one year subscription to Smarty Ants, as well as a Phonics Reading Pup, for the early reader in your life! Just leave me a comment here, before 9pm on November 22nd, telling me about the fun ways you and your kiddos have discovered learning how to read.
Disclosure: I received a Phonics Reading Pup and a one-year subscription to SmartyAnts.com to review for this post.
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We use Starfall. It is mostly through sight right now, but a program using phonics would be great! And also singing songs and seeing the words for the songs help too.
Joyce´s last [type] ..We Caught A Bug
We do a letter search around the house and out doing errands like a game of “I spy.”
I’m doing the BOB books with my daughter right now and she seems to enjoy them!
Kristie´s last [type] ..Happenings and Projects
We also use starfall.com plus we visit the library weekly to pick out new books to read.
Christine, This sounds like so much fun and perfect for fun with phonics activities for grandparents and their grandchildren! We love to read out loud – especially Amelia Bedelia – as that is one of my favorites ways for how to teach a child to read!
By the by, how does this compare to Webkinz? (One of my favorite computer activities for grandparents and grandchildren
).
Thanks for the heads up!
Kaye Swain – SandwichINK for Grandparents and Caregivers´s last [type] ..News for Boomers and Seniors – Safe Holiday Travel Tips and Free Blog Giveaway
Well my daughter adores dogs so I think we have read just about every dog book in our library haha, she would flip over this and I think it would really help take her reading to the next level. Also have been using starfall.com for awhile now, we play simply word rhythm games to help with spelling thus reading and I’ve made sight word magnets and lamented a bunch so she can make her own sentences. Thanks so much for the chance!!!
We love to participate in reading programs, especially over the summer. This gets my kids super excited to read! My daughter loves to be read to and “reads” to us frequently. I think she would love this!
My granddaughter would LOVE this reading pup. She loves animals. We always say she is going to be a Vet when she grows up. We read books and have stuffed animals to go along with them.
We have used Sing, Spell, Read, and Write in our homeschool. That, along with the Leap Frog DVDs has been a tremendous help. When I sent my now 8 year old to her kindergarten enrichment program I had no idea that she could in fact read! I was surprised. Have an older sister helps somehow too.
I am glad I found this website. I’m always looking for great ideas to get my kids learning. I too homeschool. We live in Iowa so the winter months can drag with young kids and being cooped up for days on end. Thanks for the great ideas. Keep up the good work, and God bless!
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