When Lovevery, a brand known for its Play Kits, released a new reading program, I was intrigued. Then, when the boxes landed at my front door, I was impressed. I’ve been working in the early reading space for more than a decade, and I’ve never seen anything like the Reading Skill Set. The materials are seriously wow-worthy.
But I had two big questions to clear up: Would the materials actually work? And, more importantly, would kids like them? So I decided to put the Reading Skill Set to the test with five real families.
Testing the Lovevery Skill Set
To test the Lovevery Reading Skill Set, I recruited five families who follow Toddlers Can Read on Instagram. As the parents unboxed and interacted with the materials, I asked for their feedback on three key factors: quality, ease of use, and efficacy. Here’s what they had to say.
Quality: How nice are the materials?
If you know anything about Lovevery, you know the quality of their play kits is unmatched. Everything’s made with premium, natural materials; the packaging is smart and sustainable; and the playthings are crafted by child development experts.
But is the Reading Skill Set just as high-quality as the Play Kits? Based on in-the-moment reactions from both parents and kids as they unboxed the set, the answer is simple: Absolutely.
Parents told me how cool everything looks and how durable it all feels, and honestly, I have to agree: The quality of the Reading Skill Set is off the charts. At Toddlers Can Read, we’ve also built premium products, and we know how much time, effort, and money goes into creating just a fraction of what you see in the Reading Skill Set. Lovevery has outdone themselves with this product.
Ease of Use: How easy is it to get started?
The Lovevery Reading Skill Set includes a lot of materials, so I was curious how easy it was for families to get started using them.
In person, parents seemed a bit hesitant in their response to this question, and they all mentioned it took them a couple of minutes to understand the purpose of the activities and how to do them. But once you know what you’re doing, they said, the games are easy and fun.
So here’s my best advice: Unbox the Reading Skill Set by yourself, choose just one activity to start with, and take a few minutes to read the directions. Then invite your child to engage with you. That way, you can feel confident, not frustrated or flustered as you play with your kiddo in a new way.
Efficacy: Are the materials helpful?
Having materials that look good and are easy to use is great. But what really matters is if they’re effective.
Without fail, parents told me they felt sure the Reading Skill Set would help improve their child’s reading. They commented that the materials met their kids at their current ability and challenged them with skills to build on.
Based on my experience helping thousands of parents teach their kids to read, I can tell you the Lovevery Reading Skill Set can be wildly effective—with one caveat. The set actually has three parts, and it’s crucial to match your child’s current reading level to the proper part. Here’s what that looks like:
- Start with Part 1 if your child is learning basic, single-letter sounds.
- Start with Part 2 if your child is practicing their blending skills.
- Start with Part 3 if your kid can blend three- and four-sound words well, which means they’re ready for more advanced reading rules and strategies.
My (Spencer’s) Honest Review of the Lovevery Reading Skill Set
Lovevery and I share a common vision of hands-on, interactive, and fun learning between parents and kids—and we both believe this can start really early. As an award-winning educator who’s trusted by more than 4 million families on social media and 25,000 customers, I feel confident guiding you on what may or may not help you teach your kid to read.
My honest opinion of the Lovevery Reading Skill Set is that it’s an incredibly high-quality and effective product… if it’s right for you and your child.
The Reading Skill Set is best for:
- Parents who want tools that leverage reading science without having to understand the nitty gritty of reading science.
- Parents who want to know exactly where to start and how to build skills through play.
- Parents who appreciate having tangible “things” to keep their kids engaged in learning..
- Parents who’ve tried other reading products and programs that haven’t worked.
- Existing Lovevery customers who already appreciate the quality of the Play Kits and Course Packs.
The Reading Skill Set may not be right for:
- Parents with kids under the age of three, because of the small pieces.
- Parents with older kids (8 and up) who would rather teach through direct instruction than through games.
- Families who value minimalism and would rather not have a bunch of extra “stuff” in their home.
- Parents who like to nerd out on reading science and understand why a particular approach works better than others.
- Families who may be price-sensitive. (On this point, I’d encourage you to consider how the Reading Skill Set fits into the broader scheme of educational expenses. Private school, tutoring programs, and learning pods are far more expensive!)
No matter what resource you choose, YOU can teach your child to read.
To learn more about the Reading Skill Set, visit the Lovevery website. If you’re looking for simple, direct instruction, get an introduction to the Toddlers Can Read method through my free, on-demand workshop. And if you still feel unsure which resources are right for your family, reach out to support@toddlersread.com. We’re happy to help!
