Tuesday, 10 February 2015

Sparkup the Magical Book Reader Review and Giveaway...

 
All grown-ups know how hard it is to stay on top of everything.
 
Spending quality time educating your child can be a difficult thing to fit into your schedule, especially when there's several of them. (Be they kids or schedules!)
 
It can be so hard to find the time to cater to your kids' individual levels and needs, yet spending special time together in a one-on-one capacity is a necessary and wonderful thing. While we all strive to 'be there' for our kids as parents, (with varying degrees of success), it's managing to find this quality time amidst the chaos and responsibilities of adult-life, that is the undisputed difficult part.

One personal parenting fail of mine that irks me above all others, is that I often get the guilts that I don't spend quality time reading with my kids like I used to - particularly with the younger ones. There seemed to be so much time to lavish on this enjoyable pursuit when I had just a few children, but that time has waned down to nothing as my kids have multiplied and grown over the years. 
 
We're always so busy and as you can probably relate, I feel truly, truly terrible about that. I know we are all missing out in so many intricate and crucial ways.
 
My unknowing kids seem to take it all in their stride though, and thank goodness for their wonderful teachers who carry the bulk of the educating load for me - and for us all.
 
Modern technology has again stepped in to fill a gaping need, in a fantastic new product sent our way to road test here. The Sparkup The Magical Book Reader is a pretty wondrous device and it can really help ease some of that parental guilt that we're all nursing.
 
 
The Sparkup Magical Book Reader is quite an amazing educational gadget in that it enables the excitement of books to come to life, so that the very young can experience the magic of reading - with or without your presence due to time constraints.

The Sparkup is a device that can independently read stories to your child using your own voice. Let me tell you now - we're all loving this! We've never seen or used anything quite like it and like it we do!

"It's mine!" Loving the white-knuckled grasps of those little opposing hands!

The Sparkup is both a recording and playback device with built-in camera sensing technology, allowing it to both record your voice and then play it back, using any picture book in the world!


"My turn!"

Setting up the Sparkup is really simple: During story time, simply clip the Sparkup onto your child's book. (Absolutely any picture book is suitable.) Press 'record' and read your book aloud to your child as you normally would.

Whilst you read, the Sparkup's built in camera technology scans each page and stores your voice and scanned information. Next time your child wishes to read that very same book, they simply attach the Sparkup again, (it sits in an upright position on the back cover), while its technology identifies your pre-recorded book and reads it back in your very own voice!

 
 
The sound is remarkably clear and the playback volume is in a normal speaking pitch. In addition to your own voice, the Sparkup can record any person's voice, so Grandparents, teachers or a parent who resides elsewhere - even anywhere in the world, can also read a variety of stories to your child and in doing so, expand on your child's enjoyment.
 
The unit comes with its own book to get you started as well as full instructions and a USB too. You can download many pre-recorded books from the Sparkup Reader website as well as store those you have already recorded.
 
The Sparkup Reader can record and store up to 50 books. The unit itself is small and quite transportable, so handy for trips away from home or in the car. Multiple kids can use it too, so share it around if you have several young ones who are avid picture book users. (Got to love a sharable toy!)
 

Little people in this fast-paced era have hungrier minds than ever and the thirst for tech begins young. I like that the Sparkup combines both the traditional pleasure of enjoying a book with a new level of need inherent in our time: Specifically, the lack of it. (Time.)

The Sparkup is not a babysitter or a replacement for an absent parent, but it is a spectacular way to connect with your child and foster their ongoing relationship with books.

For a child with special needs, the Sparkup provides a new way to approach reading and comes highly recommended.

The Sparkup Magical Book Reader has certainly filled a gap in our lives and encouraged my kids to really pester me for some quality reading time together - which is fantastic! I am making the time and effort now, to sit and read with them and as a result, they're then happy to wander off and enjoy their tales at their leisure and for longer; sometimes alone, sometimes together. They've rediscovered their dusty bookshelf with a newfound freedom, pleasure and excitement and I can only say great things about an educational device that can facilitate such things.

A really good 10 out of 10 for this product.

The Sparkup the Magical Book Reader retails for $79.99 and is available to purchase at Big W and selected toy stores and online retailers.

***GIVEAWAY***
 
Win one of two Sparkup the Magical Book Reader prize packs valued at $100 each!
 
Each prize pack contains:
One Sparkup Reader valued at $79.99
One Cheeky Monkey book valued at $20
Total prize pool $200.
Open to residents of Australia only.
 
Please share the love and give this review and giveaway a shout-out on your social media using the options below this post. This is greatly appreciated - thank you!
 
To Enter:
 
 
Follow the Rafflecopter App below to complete your entries.
Be sure to leave a comment as this is a game of skill.
Please leave your name along with your comment so that your entries can be matched.
Please leave a valid email address that you check often!
 
a Rafflecopter giveaway
 
 *Disclosure: Six Little Hearts was gifted a Sparkup Reader for review.
All opinions expressed are those of this blog's Author.
 

Do you find the time to read with your child?

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Location: Melbourne VIC, Australia

61 comments:

  1. We read a lot, pre-school, and played letter games (and had word puzzles). That all said, it just clicks when it clicks.

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  2. This looks amazing and we would LOVE to win one. My little girl is obsessed with learning how to read. I point out words that I think she will recognise. I also help her sound out easy words like book or cat. This seems to be helping and she can easily recognise words now.

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  3. We are always reading to our little girl..even if it's just opening a book and showing her the pictures. She loves books!

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  4. Begin reading to your children from a very young age. Instilling in them a love of books and reading sets them up for life. And what a special bonding time you create for the two of you. Concentrating on books with lots of colour, tactile touching and animated sounds also makes books so much more interactive and enticing.

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  5. Both of my girls love books, which is so fabulous. My 5yo is on the verge of reading so I am always praising her for her efforts, even if it is a bit wrong. That positive reinforcement of having given it a go is all she needs to keep on going and trying. This looks great - I know both of my girls would love this.

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  6. Read the same book multiple times with your child,they will get to know the words and sounds a lot quicker if they see and hear them over and over again.
    Narelle Rock

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  7. Oh that's an awesome idea! I love it! Would love to win one for my little ones.

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  8. consistency that's the secret

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  9. I remember reading every night to my eldest two but by the time the other three were born I let the regularity go which was reflected in their interest in books (guilty sigh). Reading to kids is so important and I think this is an excellent compromise for busy parents. Why didn't they invent this twenty years ago boo hoo.

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  10. Read out loud with your kids often, and point to words as you read them so they start to get familiar with often-occurring words. Above all, make reading FUN!

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  11. Wow what a brilliant idea - especially for those moments when you've just read a story together and they want you to read it over and over again!

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  12. Every minute of everyday.
    Reading for us is all about play.
    We make it interesting, make it fun,
    And before long, they're a reading gun!

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  13. When my boy is reading I'm reading too. Because he always tries to copy me.

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  14. I make sure that boys are having fun and start with very basic books

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  16. Wow, this looks like such an amazing product. I don't think we have anything like this in the UK but I haven't researched. Zach has a Leap-pad reader junior which is really great but it only knows his name rather than imitates our voices! I know exactly what you mean about spending quality time with them, I don't have six children but do work full time so I'm really not around all that much. I always feel like he doesn't get enough of me which is a really sad feeling. I'm glad this product has inspired you to spend more time reading with them :) Thanks so much for linking up with #twinklytuesday

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  17. As soon as my babies became aware I read to them and thus began their love of stories, as they grew I pointed out words and what they were, gradually increasing the lessons masked as entertainment and fun so that when they started School they new their ABC and simple words and were eager to read a book by themselves

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  18. We do silly voices, lots of expression and really try to make it fun!

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  19. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  20. Read to them (often) when you can give them full attention and lots of love so that they learn to associate love with books. It's the best grounding for reading you can give them, I think. Heather Hopley

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  21. Enjoy reading to them as much as they enjoy listening to you. Do silly voicess, read your favorite children's books to them or from your favourite magazines. The content is not always the most important thing but the sound of the voice of someone they love and hearing language so they too can learn new words and to communicate. Lydia Arundell

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    1. A great tip Lydia, it's all in the sound of a familiar voice reading and the involvement of a special person that holds the key to learning and this great tip has scored you a Sparkup Reader for your child. Congratulations, I will be in touch shortly. :D

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  22. Patience. 10 minutes every night, its so hard sometimes. I have a 9yr old daughter that just read "Diary of a whimpy kid" in two evenings. I also have a 7yr old boy you cannot read AT ALL. We made a huge mistake with our son, he did not speak until he was four and now has a speech impediment.
    We spent so much time on speech we forgot the most important thing to read to him.
    We felt after speech lessons that was enough...so even if they don't seem to be listening and ask you questions about something in a picture (nothing to do with the story) they are still learning.

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  23. We act out our stories it makes it so much fun and we also pronounce and spell the words

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  24. Get them to learn letter recognition and pronunciation first then start with small words and built up from that. With my son it also takes patience!!

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  25. I read to my son every day as he loves being read to and I ask him spell out some words that I choose to help him recognise the letters and eventually words. Vanessa Ahern

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  26. Making it a fun time, interesting, interactive and exciting.

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  27. Read to your child as soon as they are born, children are naturals at learning, over time they will start to memorise words, then sentences and that is the beginning of their learning to read journey.

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  28. Making it part of your daily routine ,making it fun so the kids don't even relise they are learning

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  29. read everything
    logos, labels, signs, books

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  30. Read to you child each day, they will love it and want to participate.

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  31. Anything that's fun or even a game with encourage kids to learn more and even quicker.

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  32. Sitting with little one where they can follow the words as i am reading has always worked well for me.

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  33. By reading a long with them - also buying them new books as they seem to know the story so they try to guess what it says
    Kelly-Anne Leddy

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  34. What a great idea. this would work for us so when my husband is away, G can still hear his dads voice. Thanks for sharing. #KidTested

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  35. I love the idea of this. Anything that eases mum guilt gets my approval! #kidtested

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  36. We reviewed this too and absolutely both of us loved it. Great product x

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  37. We read lots of different genres, talk about what we are reading and look at phonics and rhyming and point out sight words. Kristy winters

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  38. Get your children to love reading from a young age. That means reading to them ALL THE TIME. Books are a huge part of our family life. You would be shocked to see how many prep children don't even know HOW to hold a book when they start school. It's truly heartbreaking.

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  39. Patience! Every child learns differently!

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  40. Read to them with funny voices and delight,
    Get into a habit every night!
    Then gradually let them do it,
    They'll be a hit!

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  41. Consistency...I read for him everyday throughout the day...I take him to the library story time...I buy new books and borrow books every week...Consistency is the key!

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  42. My daughter and I have our favourites that we sit down together and read and get great enjoyment from and others where we relax side by side on my bed and read our own choices. A love of reading comes from no pressure and all choice!

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  43. Head to the library and allow the children to pick books, read everyday together and get kids excited by stories by making up your own when waiting in lines or for appointments

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  45. Phonics and focussing on sight words because working on these builds confidence very quickly, I have found.

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  46. Fill your house with books and let them work their magic.

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  47. Read them chapter books, my daughter always looks forward to what is going to happen next so she is excited to read each day. We take turns on reading pages and I just help her out when she needs it. For spelling, get them to do jumping jacks or bounce the ball (trip from the teacher), it works a treat because she has something else to think about and the letters comes easier for her :)

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    1. What a fantastic tip Teena! Congratulations! A Sparkup Reader is coming your way - stay tuned for an email shortly...

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  48. Never say no when they bring a book to you ....reading is to be encouraged always!
    monica scurlock

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  49. Incorporate it into the daily bedtime routine. The easiest way to teach kids to read is to read to them yourself.

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  50. Reading to my child, and having a lovely collection of books!

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  51. My youngest daughter has just started Prep and she is thoroughly enjoying it so far. She doesn't know how to read yet, so this prize would be very welcome in our home (plus her birthday is fast approaching on March 16th, so this would be a great birthday gift for her!) To encourage reading, I read every night to her, and we visit the library once a week (sometimes more), and she gets to choose her own books that I read to her. I am a huge bookworm, and my two other daughters also love reading, so I would love if my youngest daughter shared our passion too. Thanks for the chance to win!

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