So I’m not that big on the whole super-educational toys thing. They way I see it, sometimes kids just need to be kids. I usually fall along some middle ground line where I’d like toys to have developmental value but I don’t necessarily think they need to learn French from them.
Along comes Alphabotz. I was given a free set of Alphabotz Superphonic Decoder Cards “flashcards” to try out and review. As soon as they arrived, I noticed that they were huge. (This is a bonus when a rambunctions three-year-old is involved.) I don’t dig toys with oodles of small pieces I’m bound to lose.
The cards are big, rectangular, and made on a nice heavy card stock. They’re shiny and easy to hold and they’re stocked with information about phonetics—presented in a way that’s actually fun. It’s like Magic The Gathering or Pokemon minus all the fighting and nerdery. (Okay the nerdery is still there. But hey, I love robots.)
My husband and I have both spent time going through the Alphabotz deck with our son. He definitely understands that the symbols on each “bot” are there to help him understand the sounds that letters make. Since he already knows the basic sounds of all the consonants, these cards have been instrumental in teaching him vowel sounds and letter combinations. (I don’t think a kid his age NEEDS to learn to read, but my son has demonstrated interest.) I love that the deck gives me a very simple and fun teaching tool without leaving me feeling like a wannabe Kindergarten teacher. Phonics are a solid way to teach reading and I’m happy that these cards focus on letter sounds.
Keep in mind that this toy may entertain your little one on its own, but that its really best suited for one on one time between you and your child. (I think that’s a good thing.) Once your kid gets a little older than three or four, the cards can also help teach concrete reading skills. Since they’re portable, I think they’d make a great toy to bring on an airplane, to a restaurant or on a road trip.
Alphabotz was recently named to the 100 Best list of Stevanne Auerbach, PhD, aka Dr. Toy. They also received a Tillywig Toy & Media Award Brain Child Award. Alphabotz Superphonic Decoder Cards are recommended for ages 3-7 and retail for $19.95.
For a preview, try introducing your kid to some of the fun free stuff on the Alphabotz website! (Seriously, the website is definitely worth a look.)
Free Stuff Alert
One lucky reader will win a deck of Alphabotz Superphonic Decoder Cards.
- To enter to win you MUST tell us something you know about encouraging early literacy and reading skills.
For extra, optional entries you can:
- Become a fan of Alphabotz on Facebook. Comment to let us know!
- Follow Alphabotz on Twitter. Comment to let us know.
- Blog or Tweet about this Giveaway. Comment to let us know.
Contest ends 12/10/2009. Winner must be a resident of Canada or the United States. You must leave a valid email address to enter. Your entries must follow the rules as stated above or your post will be deleted. Winner will be chosen via Random.org.
About the author: Maria is surrounded by boys. She gets all aflutter when she finds good deals, new episodes of Gossip Girl, and big bold bottles of red wine. Read more from this author.
Follow Us on Twitter
Rhyming is such an important part of early literacy. It helps children learn word families and makes decoding so much simpler. Play rhyming games with your kids in the car to help pass the time and to help them brush up on early literacy skills!
I am a facebook fan
I follow Alphabots on twitter.
Reading to your child from birth is a great way to foster literacy!
I follow Alphabotz on Twitter.
Tweeted ~ http://twitter.com/susanlanai/status/6330480270
I know that reading and talking to your baby (as soon as they are born) is sooo wonderful for their development. Helping them sound out words when they are beginning to speak, having conversations with them, asking questions, having them say what they want before giving it to them….it all helps. Thanks for the chance! My son could really use these. bekki1820cb@gmail.com
Alphabotz facebook fan: Bekki Orr
bekki1820cb at gmail
We read to the boys and use flash cards with them. We also are teaching them sign so they can start to communicate with us. Reading to them is so important, so they can hear words form and how sounds are made for things.
member(dot)thao(at)gmail.com
I follow Alphabotz in twitter.
http://twitter.com/twinpowells
member(dot)thao(at)gmail.com
http://twitter.com/twinpowells/status/6358258617
member(dot)thao(at)gmail.com
Reading to your child every day is an important part of fostering a love of reading.
I’m a Facebook fan. (jennifer alber vales)
For my little guy, we work on the SOUNDS each letter makes. Like, if he wants to write words, I make to sound of each letter he wants to write instead of telling him how to spell the word. I think it helps him sound out words as he becomes interested in reading.
I know that reading to small children can be boring for some folks, but it’s the single most important thing you can do to get your kids interested in reading.
Alphabotz Facebook fan: Cindy Greer Dyer
Following Alphabotz on Twitter @getalonghome.
Tweeted: http://twitter.com/Getalonghome/statuses/6379959036
It’s super important to read to your kids, but to also let them see you reading. It emphasizes the importance of reading.
Encourage literacy by regular reading from an early age, and simply taking delight in books!
Read, read, read! To your kids, in front of your kids. Everywhere you go! I ask my DD to find letters whenever we are traveling and to tell me what they are. We’ve been doing that since she was 1 1/2. She’s now nearly 4 and writing words – on her own. Signing with babies helps too, it gives another visual clue to what the words you are using represent.
mightynole1997@yahoo.com
Visit the library often — go for story time, puppet shows, or just to let them explore.
Reading to your child if the most important thing a parent can do to foster a love of books and therefore reading. I also clearly said the “sound” of letters when I said words to my children (and now my grandchildren). For example, when showing a picture of a cat, I say “c – a- t” sounding out each sound. When I did this with my children, my oldest son was reading way before kindergarten and he did it on his own.
my little one loves to hear different voices when we read to her – she gets so much more involved.
Repetition is a great tool for developing literacy. It gets boring for adults to read the same story over and over again, but it really helps kids! Helping children create their own stories and writing them down to read back with them encourages them to read too.
Now following alphabotz on twitter as sunnymum
Tweeted here: http://twitter.com/sunnymum/status/6515757607
I know that reading to your kids from birth gives them a great head start!
These are fantastic! I’m a huge fan of encouraging early literacy and a life long love of reading. We make weekly trips to the library with my son and read at least two stories to him every night. Not only does this encourage reading it is also a great bonding experience for all of us.