Family Reading Night Ideas & VTech V.Reader Giveaway (Ends July 16th)!

Last week I mentioned that I had been selected to be a VTech Voices Blogger thanks to VTech and TheMotherhood! Over the next few weeks I will be posting FUN POSTS AND GIVEAWAYS about reading, ways to encourage and make it fun, and of course, the VTech V.Reader! To celebrate its launch, we were sent a VTech V.Reader to try out for ourselves. So far, Kaelyn is absolutely loving everything about it!
For those who aren't familiar with the V.Reader, it's a unique children's animated e-reading system designed specifically for kids aged 3-7 years old.

Using a Storybook Cartridge with a story on it, the V.Reader brings it to life through animation, narration, character voices, graphics, sounds and music. Children engage with the stories by watching, reading and learning.

We have received two stories so far, Dora The Explorer: Dora and the Three Little Pigs and What's That Noise. Kaelyn loves the fact that the characters are familiar and so lovable. She really enjoys having an animated storyteller right in front of her and watching the story literally come to life. It's neat to watch her little mind working as the story is being told. I love the fact that it highlights each word as the story goes on, as she has already picked up on that and knows when the next page is coming up. What a fantastic way to introduce little ones to literacy and help them develop a love for reading!


It's been SUPER easy for her to use too. Using the touch screen she can easily follow along with the story and play the reading games included to learn each word or sentence. The V.Reader is a great way to help teach reading comprehension, vocabulary, phonics and word building, along with a story dictionary.

The size is perfect for little hands. She wants to take it with her wherever we go...including the car. What a great thing to have with us when traveling! It's not only entertaining, but educational. As a mom and former teacher, I love anything that promotes reading and makes it fun at the same time.

As part of VTech Voices, this week we have been challenged to think of and create a family reading night...a special family event where everyone in the family will gather to spend some quality time reading, and where young kids can read animated stories with their V.Reader.

Family Reading Night Challenge:
Our daughter is only 2 years old, but, when it comes to reading she loves following along and helping us tell the story. She uses the pictures to help guide her as she 'reads'. I love watching her in the beginning stages of literacy and know there are many things we can do together as a family to encourage this. A Family Reading Night I thought of, was first...letting Kaelyn pick out the books she'd like to read. There's always more interest there when it's something she enjoys. To get her involved, it would be fun to take turns reading it together. I could read one page, Daddy could read another, and Kaelyn could read another. Using her imagination and what she picks up on from the pictures...it would make for a really great time I think. I thought we could also take it a step further and do something fun that relates to the story afterward. For instance, if the book was about food...we could make that kind of food together, etc.

Buy It: The V.Reader is available at Target stores and will be available nationwide in August at all key retailers and online at VTechKids.com.

GIVEAWAY

Win It: One VERY lucky reader is going to win a V.Reader and a game to go with it from VTech! (Just a note: This will be a VERY short giveaway...ending THIS Friday July 16th, so be sure to get your entries in as soon as possible!)

Mandatory Entry: To enter, leave me a comment letting me know what your fun Family Reading Night would/does look like? Maybe it's something you already do as a family, or it could be something new that you'd like to try.

Extra Entries: (Only valid after the mandatory entry has been completed. Leave 1 comment for each extra entry you choose to do)

1. 2 extra entries- subscribe to A Mom's Balancing Act via e-mail (found along the side column) and leave TWO comments letting me know.

2. 5 extra entries- blog about this giveaway (linking to this post and VTechKids.com) and leave FIVE comments with the URL to that post.

3. 2 extra entries- Follow me on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway (You can tweet once a day for an extra entry every day)! You can copy and paste:

Share your Family Reading Night ideas & you could #WIN a #V.Reader from @Vtechtoys #momsbalancingact http://tinyurl.com/29fre7o Ends 7/16

4. 1 extra entry- Follow VTech Toys on Twitter

5. 1 extra entry- Post my blog button or blog URL to your blog and leave a comment with the URL to your blog. (If it already is, leave me a comment letting me know)

6. 1 extra entry- Become a Fan/Like A Mom's Balancing Act on Facebook

7. 1 extra entry- Become a Fan/Like VTech Toys on Facebook

8. 1 extra entry- Share about this giveaway on Facebook Share

9. 1 extra entry- Follow my blog publicly on Google Friend Connect

10. Enter any of my other current giveaways. Leave me a comment on which one(s)....ONE entry for EACH giveaway you enter!!

Leave one comment for each entry you complete above including with each, your e-mail address so that I can easily contact the winner!!

This giveaway will end JULY 16th and is open to the US Only

**The products for this review and giveaway were provided at no cost by VTech and TheMotherhood. My honest opinions have been given. The experiences and opinions of others may differ from my own.**