Being able to read is one of, if the the most, important skills a child can learn. When learning to read, there is also a valuable and precious opportunity for parents and children to sit and spend time together, without many of the usual distractions getting in the way. Bedtime stories are the usual way for families to build in reading to the routine, but families should always to incorporate more reading into daily activities.
As with any learning process, the more fun a process the more children are likely to want to be involved, keep their focus and remember what they have learned.

The new Leap Frog Tag reading system is designed to help children learn to read and is suitable for children with differing reading abilities, from those just starting out to those who are a little more advanced. In theory, the system is a great idea. The special pen (or reader) is used in conjections with the specifically designed books and reads out the word or words over which it is placed. This allows children with a more advanced reading level to just have the words on which they are stuck read out to them and those children just starting out, for the whole book to be read if necessary.

The Tag system can also be connected to the internet where parents can gain an idea of how their child is progressing and children can see certificates which they have earned whilst using the system. For a break from reading, the online site also has games for children to play which relate specifically to the books which have been read using the system and so ensuring that the games will revolve around a subject or character which they are interested in.

However, in my view at least, reading should be something which parents and children do together. At a time where parents are increasinly time pressured, there should always be some time made available to help children with reading. Parental support is very valuable and their encouragement will help their children push a little bit further and progress. One concern with this system is that as parents are not needed to help with reading itself, children may just be left to their own devices. Being left alone, the encouragement that some children need will not be available and they may not achieve the level of reading that they could.

The range of books also seems a little limited, although the system has only just recently been launched. The system comes with the 'Ozzie & Mac book but the only classic story book currently available is Paddington bear. In recent weeks, some parents have raised the issue that they would like more traditional type stories to be available, rather than those based on popular cartoons and films which may bore some children after a while. Other books are also available, including Go Diego Go! as well as Olivia, Disney Princesses and Kung Fu Panda.

The age range for this product and the books also seems a little restricted. For those children who are more advanced at reading, there are currently no advanced books for them to read so once a child has learnt the basics of reading, this system is no longer very useful. This product however, has just been launched so Leap Frog may realise this problem and introduce more books. Combined with the relatively high price tage for the system and then separate charges for the additional books, some parents may be put off.

Overall, this is a good product and has the potential to be very beneficial to young readers so long as it is used in the right way. Parents should still help their children and use this system more as an aide as opposed to something of a 'parent replacement'. Without parental support and encouragement and motivation, children are less likely to try as hard as they can and progress to the level that they could. Leap Frog have come up with a brilliant idea and hopefully more electronic books will be introduced to allow this system to benefit more children who are at more progressed levels of reading.