Which reader rabbit is better?

Question

I am trying to decided between interactive reading journey that comes with the disk and forty booklets, or the learn to read with phonics. Both are for ages 4-6. My daughter is almost 4 and really wants to learn to read. She knows her letters and all the sounds. I want something fairly structured and not too easy, as I have found a lot things for that age group to be. If you have any other suggestions for different programs let me know! I am going to sit with her and do the game together, not just let her do it alone. Please help!

Answer 1

I would say learn to read with phonics...I use a system called 'Jolly Phonics' which you can look up online...its based on phonics and merging the sounds together to make up the word. It has great results and comes with lots of activities suitable for 3+ year olds.

Answer 2

I know this isn't really going to help with your choice, but there are a lot of studies out there that claim that programs like that, while they help short-term slow learning down over the long term.

Still, as long as you're doing it with them and not trying to shirk parental responsibility by using it as a babysitting tool, they should be more effective, no matter which you choose.  Kudos to you for being a good parent!

Answer 3

I like Reader Rabbit but have found that my most success with teaching reading has been using the book Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons by Siegfried Engelmann.  It's for parent and child.  May seem "dry" to some people but noone said you can't add some "extras" to make it more fun.  I supplemented it with the Shared Reading Series...We Both Read... A WONDERFUL series.  My son could read at the end of Kindergarten level by lesson 70 in the book and presently (he goes to Kindergarten this fall) he's reading the level 1-2 in the We Both Read Series.    

Children usually get so much "screen time" anyway that I don't really recommend teaching a child to read via a computer program..it's also not as realistic.  But it would be a good supplement!  Good luck!