Reading: Video games, DVDs’, and books

What about video games and videos? I loved the Leap Pad “Letter Factory” series and other DVD’s by Leap Frog, but I did not see any benefit in my child’s reading ability or knowledge that was a result of her watching those DVD’s. Although the series is well done, she did not automatically apply what she learned watching the videos to her reading knowledge. She loved the Leapster game and we have some cartridges that involve literacy skills. It is somewhat helpful for rote learning for math, however reading. It has not been has helpful for reading. We have a computer game called “Mia’s Big Adventure…” It has been a good game. We have used “Bob” phonics series, “Dora” and “Diego” phonics series, and of course Dr. Seuss.