reading

How Reading Aloud To Your Children Helps Build Life Skills

October 2, 2020 by Kathryn Leave a Comment

It goes without saying that reading is one of the most important skills a child will ever learn. And while reading aloud to your little ones is a great way to help develop literacy, it actually has many other benefits that you might not know about!

From developing a deeper emotional intellect to honing teamwork and social skills, children can benefit a lot from reading their favourite books out loud, or from listening to their parents do so. Here are three important ways that reading aloud builds life skills:

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Treat Yourself to Bookworm Bliss with the Sweet Reads Box Subscription Service-Giveaway

October 17, 2017 by Kathryn 113 Comments

Like many writers, I absolutely love to read. And when I start a book, I will devour it as energetically as I do a piece of cheesecake. In fact, devouring a book AND a piece of cheesecake is pretty close to paradise in my opinion.

So, when I heard that my friend Kerri had started a subscription box service especially for those that love a good book, I couldn’t wait to learn more. And when I found out that every box also came with a tasty treat and a hot drink to savour, I was in heaven.

The Sweet Reads Box is a reader’s dream come true, featuring a carefully curated novel, a specialty coffee or tea, a sweet treat and an item or two specially chosen to fit the theme of the book. I received the September box to review and I couldn’t wait to dig into everything inside. [Read more…]

Get Kids Excited About Reading with the Marmalade Books Subscription Box-Giveaway

October 18, 2016 by Kathryn 70 Comments

If there’s one thing that almost every one of my friends and family members know about me, it’s that I love to read. And because of that, I’m a big believer in the importance of literacy. I’ve been reading to my boys every night since they were babies and both of them love to read on their own as well. That’s why I love the concept behind Marmalade Books.

This brand new Canadian-based company offers a monthly subscription box of age-appropriate books chosen for their quality and entertainment value to help build a generation of readers. Available in customized boxes for three different reading levels, there’s a Marmalade Books box for kids of all ages! Recently I received one of the Middle Grade Novel boxes to review and I couldn’t wait to see what it was like.

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Kids Love Learning with the LeapStart Activity Book System-Giveaway

July 26, 2016 by Kathryn 130 Comments

As a parent, there are a few skills that I believe are essential to my boys’ proper development, so I’m passionate about ensuring they’re developing those skills. And in my mind, the absolute most essential skill to ensure a child’s future success is a love of learning. I use all kinds of different tricks, techniques and toys to make learning a fun and rewarding experience for my boys. That’s why LeapFrog products have always been a favourite in our home.

From the earliest baby days to the school years, LeapFrog has used innovative electronics to help kids gain proficiency in a variety of different areas, from math and science to reading and writing. And the brand new LeapStart system is the perfect example of why I’ve always loved the brand. The system uses a library of activity books that let kids have fun while developing STEM skills, problem solving, shape recognition and, of course, literary skills! I recently received the brand new LeapStart to review and Benjamin was only too happy to help me test it out. [Read more…]

Introduce Kids to a World of Fun and Learning with the Safari Tales App

September 18, 2015 by Kathryn 25 Comments

When it comes to relaxing and unwinding after school, both of my boys love spending an hour or so playing video games. And while I don’t mind that, I do prefer that they do something to enrich their minds if possible…as long as they’re still having fun, that is! So when I learned about Safari Tales, an iOS, Android and Amazon app from Kuato Studios that combines engaging gameplay with literacy skills, I couldn’t wait to see what it was like.

The fact that this game, created by the same developers as the award-winning Dino Tales app, featured baby animals was something I especially loved. My youngest son adores animals, so a game that let him play and interact with a baby lion, elephant or giraffe was something that I knew he would enjoy. I downloaded the app on my iPad, entered Benjamin’s name and reading age and let my son sit down to play.

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