To know me is to know that I love to read. For as long as I can remember, getting lost in a book has always been my perfect escape. I can remember hiding under the covers with a flashlight and Ramona Quimby, Age 8, when I was young – trying desperately to sneak in a few extra pages of a book I had already several times over.
These days, I stick close to F. Scott Fitzgerald – also known as the author who helped me survive the tumultuous high school years. It simply doesn’t matter how many times I read a book or short story, I always find something new to love with each reading of my favorite tales.
As you can imagine, I’ve spent a lot of time reading to my kids. I read to them when I was pregnant. I read to them when they were infants. I read to them when they were toddlers…and we still continue to read.
One thing that I’ve fought along the way, though, is reading technology.
I love the feel of the pages of the books between my fingers. I love the sound of pages turning. I love the scent of a brand new book, as well as the scent of a book well-loved over the years. I wanted to stay true to real, organic reading with my kids.
But then I was given a LeapFrog Tag. I have to be honest with you; it’s kind of a game changer. While Liam memorizes words and numbers as if he has some sort of hard drive for a brain, my sweet little Riley is a dreamer. Don’t get me wrong, she’s learning her site words right on schedule. But she lives in her imagination, just as I did at age six, and she often gets lost in thoughts and ideas. And when the words don’t come to her easily? She gets frustrated.
Having the LeapFrog Tag gives her the opportunity to work through some of those difficult moments without me sounding out the words and watching. I can sit back and listen while she works through the story with the help of her Tag.
And Liam? He loves the little games and challenges that break up the story…and he learns to recognize new words each time he uses it.
Studies show that the more children read, the better readers they become.
But it’s not simply about reading more. Children who are actively engaged as they read—thinking about what they are reading versus looking passively at the words on the page—have been shown to regularly outperform children who are less engaged in what they are reading.
When I was given the opportunity to write about LeapFrog Reading Month – I just couldn’t wait.
Riley’s school makes a push for reading to your kids for 20 minutes a day, and I tend to agree. We need to do at least that much to keep their minds active.
My kids have already learned a lot from using the Tag products – truly, I can’t say enough good things. You can head over to shop for Tag products and get $3 OFF HERE.
Also?
GIVEAWAY!!!
One lucky (U.S.) reader will win 1 LeapFrog prize pack: Tag Leap and the Lost Dinosaur, Tag Get Ready for Kindergarten, Tag Junior Toddler Milestones, Tag Junior Animals Around the World. Approximate value of prize pack items is $50.
To enter:
Leave a comment below. That’s it. Super easy.
***This giveaway ends on March 22nd. Please make sure that I have your email address so that I can contact you!
Good luck and happy reading!
I was selected for this opportunity by Clever Girls Collective but content and opinions expressed here are my own. To take the LeapFrog Reading Month pledge, please visit their Facebook page. #LFReadingMonth #spon
