資優兒童Baby

RaineMummy

Dear Critic and cocomami,

Have you ordered the Leapfrog DVD in Amazon.com and how much?  I can't locate this product in the site. Thanks for your help.

critic

RaineMummy,

Did you check www.amazon.com?  Leapfrog DVD are available for sale there.

cocomami

RaineMummy

I have not ordered it from amazon.com and am thinking of doing so.  I check the leapPad at Toy'r'us.  Seems very useful, but expensive.  

Critic, have you bought it?  I also found one from Fisher-Price, more expensive.  Do you know which one is better?  I won't consider buying the phonic table, but may buy the LeapPad instead.

cocomami

critic

cocomami,

You mean the Leapfrog phonics desk? I did not buy it, but it's really a good toy for toddler to learn English.

cocomami

Critic

The one I saw was called "LeapPad", which is a flatform like thing with a book inserted on top.  We can insert different  books in (about $120 per book) and comes with a pen.  By using the pen, we can choose to ask the machine to read the book, to repeat the word, to spell it etc.  It is a great machine.  I may want to buy one.  Fisher-Price also have a similar one, cost $599.9, similar functions, may be some advanced ones.  

Last week when I went to Shenzhen, I saw a similar one at the SZ book city.  They copied the design, even the pen.  It cost RMB2xx.  I rather buy the LeapPad in HK.

cocomami

critic

cocomami

How old is your baby? I know LeapPad but it is more for preschooler not toddler.

cocomami

Critic
she is only 15 months old.  I know it is a bit early if she uses it now, so I plan to buy it later.  What do you think of LeapPad?  Do you think it does worth it?
cocomami

critic

For sure the LeapPad is a good toy, but don't buy it now, wait until your girl is 3. I believe Leapfrog will upgrade the model.  I've tried to play with LeapPad in Toy R Us, don't you think the sound quality is not that clear?  I wonder if little kid know how to play with it without our assistance?

I have the Leapfrog Phonics traveller, it comes with word cards.  At first, I did not let my son to insert the card in the machine, I was afraid he torn the cards. But, he insists to do it himself without my help, so I let him play with them, within a few times, most of them are torn.

critic

Many moms PM and ask about the Leapfrog phonics DVD, as I will order some DVD for my son from the US.  The buyer also carry Leapfrog, price is US$12 each + shipping.

Let me know if any mom wants to order and we can share the shipping cost.  If you would like to order other educational or family DVD, please view from www.amazon.com. And tell me what you want.

For Wee Sing CD & Lyrics, please view & listen from: www.weesing.com (I heard from a mom that Wee Sing is selling at HK$130-140 in Hong Kong) so you better order from the US.

I will order:
- Veggie Tale Bible Story DVD
- Ricard Scarry DVD
- Clifford the Big Red Dog
- Dora the Explorer

RaineMummy

Hi Critic,

It's very kind of you.  I'm really interested to buy.  Will send you PM separately.

Regarding "Dora the Explorer", it appears that there are a number of DVDs for this topic.  Which one is most suitable to buy?

Thank you for your assistance

pearlkam

Dear critic,

I am interested in
[size=medium]Leap Frog Gift Set - Letter Factory/Talking Word Factory (+ Plush)

Would you please help me to buy one set?
Please check your Pm for further contact.
Thank you very much.
    

cocomami

Dear Critic

Have you ever heard of Jolly Phonics and Letterland?  If so, do you think they are good as well?  Is Leapfrog better?

cocomami

critic

RaineMummy,

I never watch Dora, also interested to try one and see how it works. I know the DVD also teaches children very basic Spanish, but 99% is English.

PM me if you havemore question.

critic

cocomami,

Jolly phonics and Letterland are UK english, I'm not interested. Why don't you visit their websites.

I don't really understand phonics, I think it is very difficult for small children to remember the rules. I treat the Leapfrog DVD as entertainment video.

The below info for your reference:

Phonics is one method of teaching children how to read. Children are taught how to "sound out" new words by learning the following items:

Consonant letters sounds: b, c, d, f, g, h, j, k, l, m, n, p, q, r, s, t, v, w, x, y, z

Blend sounds: br, cr, dr, fr, gr, pr, tr, wr, bl, cl, fl, gl, pl, sl, scr, str, sm, sn, sp, sc, sk,

Short vowel sounds: a, e, i, o, u

Always teach short vowel sounds first: a - apple, e - elephant, i- igloo, o - octopus, u - umbrella)

Digraph sounds: sh, ch, th, wh

Two letters combine to make a totally different sound.

Double vowel sounds: ai, ea, ee, oa

These pairs say the name of the first vowel.
Other double vowel sounds: oi, oo, ou, ow

Silent e: Silent e is bossy, it doesn't say anything but makes the vowel before it say its own name.

R controlled vowel sounds: ar, er, ir, or, ur

Notice that er,ir and ur make the same sound.

Phonics is a series of rules that children have to memorize and apply when they are sounding out new words. Children are taught a rule, i.e. Silent e, and then they practice reading words with Silent e. Then children do skill sheets at their desk highlighting the Silent e rule. Children must learn letter sounds to an automatic level - they must be able to see the letter(s) and say the sound immediately.

Critics point out that the reading/practice materials aren't very interesting, "See Spot run. Run Spot run. Spot runs fast." It is a contrived atmosphere of reading practice using the phonic rules.

Here's the bigger problem: children who struggle in reading memorize phonic rules, and then are unable to apply phonic rules to connected print. To remedy this problem, two things must happen:

Only the most important phonic rules should be taught in the least complicated manner possible. For example, in teaching vowel sounds, it is distracting to talk about "short versus long" vowels. Instead, a child should be taught the short vowel sounds first. Then when a child encounters a long vowel as in the word find, tell him, "That vowel says its own name."

Phonics must be taught in a way that allows these children to immediately practice phonic information in real stories. Every time a child is taught new phonic information, he should be given a short reading selection that highlights the phonic rule. Completing a skill sheet is good, but even better is to help the child practice applying the phonic skill to connected print.
A child cannot learn to read without proper knowledge in phonics. It is the foundation for success in reading. She will succeed to read if she knows phonics.

lokma

Hi Critics,

i think the Leapfrog DVD is very well, but
have you compare with Baby einstein( 開啟兒童智慧的鎖匙1 套 (10 dvd)，10 隻碟有小小愛因斯坦、小小梵谷、小小莫札特、小小貝多芬、常見動物、小小牛頓、小小水世界、小小巴哈、小小莎士比亞同野生動物)

I want know which is better?
because i want save money, so please give me a advice, thanks a lot!
ps. i want know how much for the Leapfrog DVD (HK$)?

critic

lokma,

I can't compare Baby Einstein with Leapfrog.

1. I'm not familar with Baby Einstein. I viewed once with my son, I think it is very slow and my son did not like it and asked me to stop.  However, their reviews on amazon.com are excellent.
2. Leapfrog is for children to learn the phonics sounds & blending the sounds.

cocomami

Critic

Thanks for all the detail info regarding phonics.  Well, first of all, where does the info come from?  I agree with what they say.

Secondly, I also agree that phonics itself does not have any meaning at all, and teaching children phonics is a hard job, as you need to make it a funny and interesting task so as not to bore the children.  I have done some researches on phonic products, like letterland and Between the Lions etc, and found that they are actually using funny characters to make children memorise how phonic works.  I am not sure if this is the right way, as some feedbacks from parents are that children cannot relate them together when their lovely characters are not around.  

Thirdly, this involves a quite big investment, like Letterland.  This is also the reason why I hesitate, and buy leapfrog instead.  On the other hand, it does have their value of existence, if not, there won't be these kind of products in the market, and most of them are designed for children which English is their mother tongue.  I though do not mind American or UK English (actually, I speak UK English).

I think Leapfrog is enough at the moment (as you said, for entertainment purpose) and I plan not to force my daughter to learn anything, as long as she is happy.

And how's your son?  Is he still making toilet training a hard time for you?

Thanks again!!

cocomami

cocomami

lokma

Yes, I let my daughter watch Baby Einstein products as well.  As Critic said, sometime she gets bored to some of them, but she likes those with real animals and always yells and points to them when viewing.  Certain products are designed for very young infant, so you have to be very careful when choosing them.  A friend of mine in US bought a set of Leapfrog letter factory to my daughter, as I still have not received it yet, I can't tell you the difference at the moment.

cocomami

lokma

Critic & cocomami:

thank you very much for your comment!
and i want order Leapfrog.

Critic, pls check PM

critic

cocomami,

Sorry for my late reply. I'm very busy to help mommies here to group their order for Leapfrog DVDs, not really a pleasant job. My husband asked me why do I have to do that, considering that I'm not a seller and have to arrange delivery when the stuff arrive. The only benefit I have is, I want to order the Veggie Tale.  My boss is coming to HK tomorrow, I haven't prepared my work & presentation. I'm also planning sales trips to Bangkok & Tokyo in April/May.  

By the way, if you're going to Bangkok, you can get some real cheap English books or exercise books (color), only HK$4-5/each. Softcover, 4 color. You can get from most of the big bookshops in shopping centers.  Not very good quality but good for young english learners.

My previous phonics message is copied from somewhere, I have saved a lot of these kind of stuff.  If I've time, I find it out and PM you.  Actually, phonics is more for children whom first language is English, not very suitable for HK children.  Local schools here follow the overseas but did not think about English is not our mother tongue.  Have you recevied your Leapfrog DVD from your friend? After you view it, you will understand what I mean.  The little frog- Ted is trying to write something, he already knows the 'sound' of that word, but he did not know how to spell, and start the story of teaching him how to form the word with the sounds.

In Hong Kong, the children don't even know the sounds, how can they 'form' the word.  I don't suggest to invest money on buying expensive phonics material, for fun is fine.   You're right, don't force the children to learn. (anyway, we can't force, they just walk away)

Some moms PM and asked which websites I used to teach my son, if I have time, I will list them out.

My son is doing OK on toilet training in the past weeks. He will turn to 2 this weekend, when we talked about his birthday party, he said, "No birthday cake, eat hotdog."