Last month, they won the PTPA Award. This month, BrillKids Little Reader won the Tillywig Brain Child Award.

About the Tillywig Toy Awards

Each year, the Tillywig Toy Awards Program delivers to consumers, retailers, and the media a list of the best new toys, games, and other products available in the United States. Product awards are given on the basis of group play tests, the primary purpose of which is evaluating the entertainment and/or educational value of the products submitted.

About BrillKids Little Reader

Little Reader is a learning system by BrillKids that helps you teach your children to read. With a comprehensive curriculum covering 3000 words in 180 categories through daily lessons over 12 months, you can lead your child from single words to complete stories.

Get 5% off any purchase from the BrillKids Online Store simply by using this coupon at the checkout: BKAFF36716.

The Benefits of Early Literacy

Children with early literacy skills are more likely to have:

• An academic advantage over children who do not have early literacy skills
• Expanded vocabulary and writing skills
• Healthy social and emotional development
• Longer attention spans, promoting better retention of information in school
• Enhanced imaginative and critical thinking skills
• A sense of closeness and intimacy with their parents
• Enhanced memory and higher levels of concentration

Read more about the importance of early literacy.

Our Experiences with Early Literacy

Gavin is 4 years and 6 months. The last time I “tested” his reading ability, he was reading at the level of Grade 3. He can read books like the National Geographic Dinopedia on his own. When I want him to occupy himself, I can tell him to read his books and he will be emersed in the activity for at least half an hour, sometimes more. His ability to read (though sometimes annoying because he reads my text messages and emails – especially those about him) allows him to learn new information on his own without having to rely on me or his teachers at school. Sometimes, he is the one teaching me new facts that he reads in books.

Gareth is 20 months old. He has already started recognising some words. He started recognising alphabets when he was 19 months (compared with Gavin who was 22 months when he could recognise alphabets). Although he was less interested in books compared to his brother, the influence of an older brother who loves reading has rubbed off. When Gavin reads, Gareth will flip through books “reading” to himself. Now, he goes to the book shelve and takes books out for me to read to him.