Speakaboos: Digital Content for Kids That’s FREE!
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There are two things that my preschooler is totally into right now — computers and audio books. Put the two together and you get Speakaboos, an online publisher that celebrates kid’s stories, songs, games and educational activities for children — for free!
To put it lightly, my daughter has fallen madly in love with this site. I set up my laptop on her little table and she spends a good portion of every morning going through the site. The nursery rhymes and songs are currently her favorites. The site is set up in a great way because every time my pre-reader lays the mouse over a word, the computer dictates the word to her so that she always knows what she is clicking on. No help needed from Mommy!
Offering 50 titles such as Arthur, Goldilocks, The Ugly Duckling, Old McDonald and Aesop’s Fables with audio provided by talented actors and musicians such as Kevin Bacon, Nick Cannon, Kelly Ripa, Marcia Gay Harden, Harry Shearer and Chazz Palminteri, at least 15% of Speakaboos’ revenue is contributed directly to charities supporting children’s causes.
View the entire library online for free, or download the tracks onto your computer for only $0.99! All of the audio tracks are also available on iTunes.com and Rhapsody.com.
– Teba
- Posted on Jun 30, 09 at 4:00PM
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- 4 Comments
July 1st, 2009 at 11:16 am
Er…I’m not going to say a word because my Mother taught me (without the help of a computer!) that if you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.
July 1st, 2009 at 2:55 pm
I agree…children should be read to by their parents…NOT just plunked down in front of a machine that does their job for them. The dishes will wait..meaningful moments with your children are lost forever when machines are taking over.
July 3rd, 2009 at 9:12 am
Honestly, I think it could be a good compliment to reading to your child and definitely a good alternative to TV. How many mothers don’t plonk their kids in front of the TV in order to get a shover or finish dinner? Why not let them play o this site insted? This is one site that I would actually consider using, and I usually dislike kids sites and games.
July 13th, 2009 at 6:54 pm
As a school teacher, I can tell you that kids learn to read (and learn creativity) in many different ways. They need to be read to by their parents, they need to read by themselves and they need to interact with reading in creative ways. Speakaboos shouldn’t be used as a digital babysitter – most responsible parents wouldn’t – but it can definitely be a great way to strengthen a child’s enjoyment of reading. Case in point: I’ve actually used it in the classroom!