Alphablocks Reading Programme – Review

The Alphablocks Reading Programme consists of 15 magazines along with lots of extras such as flash cards, gold stars, Alphablock phonics tiles, stickers, games and more.  It is aimed at young children aged around 4yrs old who are just beginning their journey into the world of phonics and learning to read.

alphablocks complete_setThe Alphablocks Reading Programme comes in 3 parts, each delivered to your door in in sets containing 5 magazines along with lots of extras.  For a price of £39.99 plus p+p, I think this is very reasonable having seen what is included.

When we opened the first set, Mister B’s eye’s lit up at the array of goodies inside.  He couldn’t wait to start looking at the magazines and doing the activities.  He loves the Alphablocks from the television series and several DVD’s that we have so was immediately familiar with what he saw and due to the recent phonics lessons he’s been having at school, he was eager to pick out letters and sounds he knew and tell me them.

alphablocksMister B has just turned 4 but still at pre school until next September.  Being one of the oldest in his class and quite able, he joins the foundation class for phonics lessons each morning, so the Alphablocks Reading Programme is a great way for me to build upon what he has learnt and encourage him to learn to read.

The magazines are packed full of fun phonics activities that completely captured Mister B’s attention, he was eager to work through them and found it fun.  I was so thrilled when he blended some letters to create his first word.  I then found some of the letter tiles really useful to make various three letter words that he could sound out and say.

alphablocks 2The activities in the magazines are really varied to help maintain interest, from tracing letters, using stickers, colouring, to fun games and things to cut out.  I really think they are perfect for us and are great to sit and do on the days we are at home together.  We only do a few pages at a time to give Mister B time for all his new knowledge to sink in, but as long as he is enjoying it then I happy to sit and encourage him at home.

Alphablocks have really thought about this reading programme and it really seems to hit the mark with little ones.  My children have always loved magazines so to incorporate the learning into a magazine style format has really worked. I do think the extras help as well, the learning tiles are great, and Mister B always has to use the Alphablocks pencil in his magazines!

All reviews are my own and my family’s opinions and we received the reading programme in order to write the review.

 

Alphablocks Phonics Next Steps Volume 2 DVD – Review

Knowing how much my two enjoy watching Alphablocks on CBeebies I was delighted to be sent the new Alphablocks Phonics Next Steps Volume 2 DVD from Abbey Home Media to review.  The DVD contains 86 minutes of entertainment ideal for preschoolers – both my 2 and 5 year old will happily sit down watching this.

Alphablocks vol 2For those who are new to Alphablocks:

The Alphablocks are 26 living letters who fall out of the sky and discover that if they hold hands and make a word, it comes to life. When words are magic and anything is possible, it’s an adventure, songs and games all the way!

My children love watching Alphablocks and it always keeps them entertained.  The episodes are full of brightly coloured images that are fun to watch.  With 5 yr old Miss M in her first year at school she already know her phonics but uses this as a way to practice them and says the phonic sounds as she sees them come up on the screen.  She also loves saying as many words as she can think of that start with the letter on each Alphablock as they appear.

What I like about the Alphablocks Phonics Next Steps Volume 2 DVD is that it introduces some of the harder sounds to really help children recognise all of the phonetic alphabet along with simple word formation.

Two year old Mister B loved imitating the sounds made by the Alphablocks and was encouraged by his big sister to really take in what he was seeing – a fun way of learning without realising it for younger ones.

Alphablocks pic

We really enjoyed watching Alphablocks Vol 2 DVD and would definitely recommend it!!

The DVD is out now available from all good stockists.

All reviews are my own and my family’s opinions. We are not paid for reviews although we do receive the product to try out and enable us to write the review.

WIN – Alphablocks Phonics Next Steps Volume 2 DVD – 5 copies to giveaway!!

Following on from the first Alphablocks DVD, Abbey Home Media are releasing a NEW Alphablocks Phonics Next Steps Volume 2 DVD.  As it’s not released until next week we haven’t yet had a chance to view it but if the first one is anything to go by, my two will love it just as much and want to watch it over and over.

Alphablocks2

The Alphablocks are 26 living letters who fall out of the sky and discover that if they hold hands and make a word, it comes to life. When words are magic and anything is possible, it’s an adventure, songs and games all the way!

Phonics Next Steps builds the alphabet skills that children are taught at school, helping them to recognise all their letters and sounds and make simple words. With repeat viewing, children can boost their phonics skills and reading confidence while having lots and lots of fun!

We love the Alphablocks and think it’s a wonderful pre school learning programme that both entertains and encourages little ones to pick up sounds.  Look our for our review in the next week or so, but in the meantime if you want to win one of 5 copies that I have for my lucky readers, fill in the rafflecopter entry form below.

The new DVD is available from Monday 6th May from all good DVD stockists.

To find out more about Abbey Home Media check them out on Twitter or Facebook!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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If a selected winner has not fulfilled the first entry criteria or any others to which they have said they have will be disqualified
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Alphablocks : Phonics First Steps DVD – Review

What could be better than getting children to learn alongside watching the tv?  Miss M loves watching television, more than I’d ideally like, but there are times when a little bit of tv keeps her entertained and occupied and gives mummy time to do some housework.  So the NEW DVD that’s just been released from Abbey Home Media, Alphablocks : Phonics First Steps, is perfect.

Alphablocks

Not only does it provide an entertaining cartoon, but each episode is centred around a certain set of sounds and each of the Alphablocks characters repeats it’s sound throughout the programme as it is used to make a word alongside other letters.  This is great as it can either be watched and enjoyed as 2 year old Mister B does, although he has now started to repeat some of the sounds which is a great start to phonics for him.  Or Miss M who now has a knowledge of phonics, gets the opportunity to practise and recognise the various sounds and try to say the words as she sees them before hearing them being sounded out.

“Based on best-practice phonics, your child will laugh and learn with the little letter people and their adventures, songs and all kinds of fun and games.”

With 18 episodes to watch on this Alphablocks DVD, therir is plenty to keep little ones occupied.  Also included is a Alphablocks alphabet poster which is rather fun and brightly coloured.  We have stuck this up alongside Miss M and Mister B’s reward charts so they see it everyday and Miss  has been very good and used it to practice her phonic sounds of each letter.

Overall I think this is a fun, yet educational DVD that is ideal for preschoolers or those in the early years of school.

Find out more at www.alphablocks.tv or at www.abbeyhomemedia.com
You can also catch up with Abbey Home Media on Twitter or Facebook

All reviews are my own and my family’s opinions. We are not paid for reviews although we do receive the product to try out and enable us to write the review.

Alphablocks : Phonics First Steps DVD x 5 to giveaway!!

“Learn to read with the Alphablocks” is soon to be released by Abbey Home Media on DVD.  Alphablocks is a hit CBeebies show that introduces phonics, encouraging little ones to learn the sounds and develop reading skills.  This will be perfect for Miss M who is just learning to read and brings a new phonics sound home from school each week.

The Alphablocks are 26 living letters who fall out of the sky and discover that if they hold hands and make a word, it magically comes to life!

Based on best-practice phonics, your child will laugh and learn with the little letter people and their adventures, songs and all kinds of fun and games.

So I’m excited to say that I have 5 copies of the NEW Alphablocks DVD due to be released on 25th February 2013 to give away – just follow the instructions below.

Alphablocks
Volume 1: Phonics First Steps
Phonics First Steps introduces the first letters and sounds that children are taught at school
and starts them off making simple words. With repeat viewing, children can build key phonics
skills and boost their reading confidence – while having lots and lots of fun.
This DVD also comes with a FREE Alphablocks, Alphabet poster!

Find out more at www.alphablocks.tv or at www.abbeyhomemedia.com
You can also catch up with Abbey Home Media on Twitter or Facebook

If you fancy getting your hands on a copy of the Alphablocks DVD, then Abbey Home Media have kindly offered me 5 copies to giveaway to my readers – so just follow the instructions below.

To enter, please comment below  (compulsory entry)

To gain up to a further 3 bonus entries – Please leave a separate comment for each entry for it to be counted:
1.Subscribe to my blog (at top right of page) – either through email or RSS feed
2.Like my Facebook page
3.Follow me on Twitter and tweet   I’ve entered to #Win the NEW Alphablocks DVD with @star100x http://wp.me/p1UDjA-ng

Terms & Conditions
Winners selected at random

If a selected winner has not fulfilled the first entry criteria or any others to which they made comments they will be disqualified
No automated entries
Competition ends Friday 8th March at 9pm
If a winner does not make contact within 48 hours an alternative winner will be drawn
UK only
ThePrizeFinder – UK Competitions