Stuff Parents Need

Easing the chaos in the nest, one find at a time.

Rock ‘N Learn NEW Letter Sounds DVD Review and GIVEAWAY!!!

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Back in August I did a review of the great DVD Letter Sounds from Rock ‘N Learn. Darah has been watching the DVD all fall and really enjoying it.

The company Rock ‘N Learn has a strong commitment  to providing high quality educational materials that will entertain and teach children at the same time. They decided that their award winning DVD was due for an upgrade, so they released a NEW Letter Sounds just a short while back. We’ve watched it, and it really is totally new, and yet, still awesome!

Letter Sounds gets your children ready for reading by focusing on the sounds of the different letters. Knowing your alphabet is great, but it doesn’t get you too far once it is time to read. You’ve got to know how to put those letters to work through sounds and blends. Letter Sounds focuses on just that!

Buy it!: Right now you can score 25% off your entire purchase at www.rocknlearn.com by using the code JQ7711 (contiguous U.S. residents only). That brings the price of this DVD down to $15. You’ll be blown away by their selection of great titles and subjects, I promise!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win the DVD or CD of your choice from Rock ‘N Learn!

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Rock ‘N Learn Alphabet Exercise Review and GIVEAWAY!!!

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Today I’m bringing you my third review of a DVD from the Rock ‘N Learn series. Be sure to check out my other reviews of Letter Sounds and Colors, Shapes and Counting. If you are unfamiliar with the company behind these great DVDs, I definitely want to encourage you to check out the Rock ‘N Learn website. You will be very impressed with the depth and breadth of subject material they cover for children as a compliment to what they are learning at school, or even as a tool to help prepare them for going to school!

The video I reviewed this month is called Alphabet Exercise. This one definitely proves the point that a video doesn’t have to be a hit with a grown up in order to be of interest to a child (I think Barney proves that point over and over in his videos!). Alphabet Exercise, from my perspective, is a bit strange. It has a man dressed up (coat and tails) who does various silly exercises that relate to each letter of the alphabet. I found his costume choice to be so unusual that I really had a hard time getting past it! Who exercises in formal dress??? 🙂 Also, his pants are too long. I know that seems like the weirdest thing to focus on, but all I could think about when watching the video was, “Someone needs to hem his pants!”
Fortunately, Darah did not seem too worried about the man’s outfit. She was much more focused on the letters on the screen and repeating them back, as well as on trying to mimic the various funny moves the man was making. And really, that’s the whole point! I will say that the moves were all things that a 2 year old could at least attempt (although some were too advanced for her to master at this point). But any pre-school or kindergartner would be appropriately challenged by the moves. It’s a great way for kids to work out a little extra energy, and I know that as the weather turns colder and going outside to play becomes more difficult, this video will be a great alternative so that Darah can still get some exercise.

Buy it!: Alphabet Exercise is available on DVD for $19.99 and can be purchased on the Rock ‘N Learn website. You can also save 25% off your entire purchase on the site by using the code JQ7711. Yay!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win the DVD of your choice from Rock ‘N Learn! Woo hoo!

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Rock ‘N Learn Colors, Shapes & Counting DVD Review and GIVEAWAY!!!

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We’ve got another really great DVD added to our collection that I think you guys are going to love. It’s from Rock ‘N Learn (a company whose products are REALLY impressing me) and it is called Colors,  Shapes & Counting.

Just like our other Rock ‘N Learn DVD, Darah isn’t quite old enough to watch the entire thing in one sitting, but she’ll watch about 15 minutes of it, and I know she likes it, because she requests it.

What I like about the DVD is that new colors and shapes are getting introduced. They don’t just stick with 5 or 6 colors, and they don’t just stick with squares, triangles and circles, either! Colors like turquoise are introduce, as are more complex shapes like members of the polygon family. I know I haven’t been as good about introducing these shapes, and I can see the little wheels in Darah’s mind spinning rapidly as she learns about them! We’ve even spent some time drawing the new shapes and looking for the new colors in her basket of crayons.

If your child is getting ready for pre-school or kindergarten, or is already enrolled in either and in need of a bit of reinforcement, Colors, Shapes & Counting is an excellent choice. It is available online for $19.99. Be sure to check out the other wonderful titles they offer for children of all ages. I think you’ll be impressed! Additionally, I have a coupon code for 25% off your entire purchase at www.RockNLearn.com! Use code JQ7711 and save a bundle!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will winn the DVD or CD of your choice from Rock ‘N Learn!

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Rock ‘N Learn Review and GIVEAWAY!!

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 Rock ‘N Learn is a company that began in 1986, and has worked since that time to help young children learn how to read in a really fun and entertaining way. This company now has over 50 titles and covers a wide span of topics, including preschool, math, reading, science, social studies, languages and test preparation.

Not everyone is in love with the idea of using videos to help teach concepts to their kids. I totally get that, and it should definitely not serve as a replacement for face time, and for parents engaging and teaching their children. With that said, I have personally seen the success that has come from using those infant/toddler reading DVDs. Darah has a major jump start on reading and can identify over 40 words. She’s also making a lot of progress on being able to identify certain blends and the sounds they make. So I personally see a place for carefully chosen DVDs to be part of her preparation for school.

Rock ‘N Learn sent us Letter Sounds, which is intended for kids ages 4-7. Darah can’t sit through the whole thing (it is 55 minutes long). But she’ll do 10 minute stretches, and she seems to be enjoying it. The video does a great job of repeating the concept it is teaching a lot, and also teaching great songs to help with learning. Based on what I have seen with this video, I think Rock ‘N Learn products are quality and I would definitely consider buying another one in 6 months, or so.

We also tried out the Rock ‘N Learn apps for young readers. I think these are really great ways to try out Rock ‘N Learn while making a minimum financial commitment. If your child seems to respond to the apps, then s/he is most likely also going to really like the DVDs.

Buy it!: Rock ‘N Learn products are available online. The DVD we reviewed is $19.99. The apps we reviewed start at .99. Right now you can save 25% off your purchase in the Rock ‘N Learn store by using code JQ7711. What a great way to get ready for heading off to school!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win the DVD of your choice from Rock ‘N Learn! The contest will run until August 14th at 11:59pm EST when a winner will be selected using Random.org. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to winning notification before the prize is forfeited and a new winner is selected. Open to residents of the United States. Limit one entrant per household, please.

Mandatory entry: Tell me the title you want to own (and choose wisely, as the winner will get his/her selection!

Additional entries:

1. Sponsor love: Like Rock ‘N Learn on Facebook

2. Blogger love:  Subscribe to Stuff Parents Need by RSS or email (found on my sidebar).

Be sure to enter my other current giveaways, found on the sidebar of my page.

Disclosure: I received complimentary products for review purposes. The opinions expressed here are strictly my own. 

use code  for 25% off their entire purchase.

Win it: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win your choice of one DVD or CD!

Mandatory entry: Pick out the DVD you want if you win. Choose wisely, as the winner will get what is written down for this entry!

 

Disclosure: I received a complimentary product for review purposes. The thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own.