LeapFrog Academy -- An App for Additional Learning

Hello Readers,

Last March I introduced you to the educational LeapFrog toys. Here is the link to my past post: https://creativepreschooltime.blogspot.com/2017/03/keep-learning-during-breaks-from-school.html

Now, I want to tell you about a great learning tool by LeapFrog -- the Academy.

"The Academy is an interactive app learning program for 3-6 year olds that guides children on a variety of fun Learning Adventures that they can play anywhere on a variety of devices.

LeapFrog Academy features a well-rounded curriculum, where children can explore a variety of skills that are important to their development. This exciting, new, subscription-based service offers access to more than 1,000 learning activities for just $7.99 per month.

Additional features of LeapFrog Academy include:

·         No Wi-Fi, no problem! Children have the ability to learn and play on the go, even when Wi-Fi isn’t available. They can play most of their preferred activities by adding up to 24 of them to their “Favorites,” making them accessible to play even without an internet connection.

·         Each LeapFrog Academy subscription includes five free user profiles, so multiple children can each go on their own unique Learning Adventures.

·         There is a wide selection of more than 1,000 learning activities including eBooks, games, puzzles, videos, music and art activities across a variety of Learning Adventures.

·         A Parent Dashboard lets parents choose and change their child’s Learning Adventures. The dashboard also lets them see how their child is progressing, view their account, manage each child’s profile and more.

·         There are no ads or links to take children to other websites, and no in-app purchases, making LeapFrog Academy a safe place for children to play online.

LeapFrog Academy is available now at leapfrogacademy.com and in the iOS and Google Play app stores. New users can try LeapFrog Academy free for one month, then continue the learning fun for $7.99 per month."

Check out an assortment of LeapFrog toys here.

Information about the LeapFrog Academy is courtesy of LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc.

Photo courtesy of Tania Cowling, all rights reserved

Ben 10 Has a Toy Line From Playmates Toys

So, what are your kids doing this summer? Do they watch the Cartoon Network? Have they found interest in Ben 10?

"The new Cartoon Network series is centered on fun loving, 10-year-old, Ben Tennyson, his cousin Gwen and Grandpa Max as they travel throughout the country during summer vacation. Once Ben finds the Omnitrix, a mysterious watch that transforms him into 10 different heroic aliens, a world of extraterrestrial superpowers opens up to him."

“Fans of Cartoon Network’s new Ben 10 series will now be able to bring home the action-packed adventures seen in the show,” said Karl Aaronian, Senior Vice President of Marketing, Playmates Toys. “The expansive toy line that we developed includes unique transformations, special features and technology to provide kids with an imaginative play experience where their favorite characters are brought to life.”

The toy line from Playmates Toys features the following:

• The Basic Action Figure assortment features a variety of 5-inch, highly detailed and articulated figures based on the show, including Ben Tennyson, the 10 different heroic aliens that he transforms into and key villains from Season 1. Other figure assortments include Deluxe Power Up figures, with lights and sounds, and Giant 10-inch figures. See photo above.

• The Rustbucket Vehicle & Playset, the main vehicle seen in the show, transforms into a 3-level playset that stands over 2 feet tall and is packed with action features including an alien transformation chamber, plasma blaster, alien lab and more. 

• Rounding out the collection is role play, including both a Basic and Deluxe Omnitrix, allowing kids to transform into any one of Ben’s 10 aliens, and Transform-N-Battle gauntlets and masks.

As a former teacher, parent, grandparent and writer, I truly love interactive play and make-believe. These toys bring the series to life, as your youngster can pretend to be any of the characters in the story. And as the experts say, "Imagination is essential in the learning process and can advance cognitive development. ... Through imaginary games and storytelling children are more likely to adapt learning habits, develop their communication skills and improve their vocabulary."

Drop by any Toys R Us store (or online) to find these fun toys. 

Sources for review:

The Wait Is Over – It’s Hero Time! Press Release, El Segundo, CA, June 6, 2017

Toys R Us

Photo by Tania Cowling

I want to thank Playmates Toys for the opportunity to try their product. I was not paid or coached to write this blog post. The information about the product was provided and these are my own opinions.

Who Remembers the Powerpuff Girls?

The Powerpuff Girls, seen on the Cartoon Network, have returned globally with books, toys, and more. Check out this press release about products with this theme. They may be just the items you need for your little girls.

Cartoon Network Enterprises

The Powerpuff Girls Spring 2017 Products

Overview

The Powerpuff Girls, one of Cartoon Network’s most popular and enduring brands, returned globally in April 2016 with an all-new animated series from Cartoon Network Studios alongside a full worldwide licensing program. Since their debut in 1998, Blossom, Bubbles and Buttercup have charmed girls and women of all ages as the original ambassadors of girl power, juggling school work, fighting bad guys, and always saving the world by using their Powfactor.

This spring, an assortment of new products will be available for fans of the series, including new toys from global master toy partner Spin Master, new books and more from other licensing partners.

       Toys:

Storymaker System Rainbow Rally Playset

Storymaker System Fashion Frenzy Playset / Dine and Dash Playset

PJ-Themed 8” Basic Plush Assortment

2" Action Dolls

DVD:

The Powerpuff Girls: Tiara Trouble DVD

Books:

Tales from Townsville

Mojo Jojo’s Carnival of Confusion

I Got You! A Friendship Handbook

Party Supplies:

The Powerpuff Girls Party Supply Assortment

More information about Powerpuff products on the Spin Master website.

On your next shopping trip, introduce your children to these famous characters.

Until next time -- Happy Parenting,

Tania :)

While Waiting for April the Giraffe to Give Birth

Kids love all animals and a giraffe is no exception. The world has been patiently waiting for April the giraffe to give birth to her calf. Many are watching the days go by with the live stream from Animal Adventure Park, a zoo in upstate New York. This may be a good time to teach your children about the giraffe. Look into the variety of books on giraffes, as reading and pictures are great tools for preschool learning.

Next, pass the time with toys. There are companies who have toys that are related to the giraffe and other toys that are just fun when passing time. Keeping busy is important, no matter the circumstances. Below are a few of the toys I recommend and the important information about each play item.

VTech® Zoo Jamz Guitar™
Rock and learn with the Zoo Jamz Guitar! Join the animal band and play along with the silly giraffe. The eight light-up buttons and strings allow little musicians to jam to the included music or make their own. The light-up buttons also add funny animal sounds to the melody. Sing along to eight familiar tunes with the giraffe. Turn the dial to choose acoustic, electric or distortion guitar to learn about different types of guitar sounds. Bring the animal band together by pressing the star-shaped button and hear the giraffe sing with the zebra from Zoo Jamz Piano™ and the lion from Zoo Jamz Microphone™ (each sold separately). Be a rock star with this cute giraffe!
Ages 1 ½ – 4 years, $19.99

Janod A Day at the Zoo Funny Magnets
These four chunky wooden jungle animal magnets are ideal for little hands to piece together as a puzzle, plus you can encourage your child to mix and match heads, bodies and tails to create very funny looking animals! Each animal is segmented into three parts and children will enjoy creating their favorite zoo animals by snapping them together with the help of the safely embedded magnets. Designed in the Jura mountains of France, the quality of these magnets is absolutely superb and will make a special gift for toddlers.
Ages 1.5+, $21.99

Janod Tactile Puzzle “A Day at the Zoo”
Janod Tactile Puzzle - A Day at the Zoo lets your little one bring the petting zoo home! Build the 20-piece puzzle to create a scene featuring 7 types of zoo animals in their habitats. One of each animal is textured, so you can feel their fur or skin. Touch a flamingo, koala, tiger and more, they won't bite! Includes a 25.5 inch x 19.5 inch puzzle with 7 textured pieces.
Ages 3 – 6 years, $21.99

ALEX Toys Tots Art Start
Alex Jr. Tots Art Start lets you have fun introducing art to your toddler and preschooler. Everything is included for 6 great activities. These colorful projects include sticky collage frames, which encourage your child to draw in the center. Includes easy grip crayon, crinkly, tissue and fringe papers, doilies, stickers and specially colored activity paper shaped like a tree and giraffe.
Ages 1.5+; MSRP $17.00

ALEX Toys Ready Set Count
Finger puppet counting friends are as easy as 1-2-3! Learn number, counting and easy math concepts with Ready, Set, Count. Each activity is packaged separately so everything is ready to go when you open the kit. Make a giraffe ruler, linked paper counting chains, adorable finger puppets and make a number collage!
Ages 3+; MSRP $12.00

And let's not forget about Slinky. It's a toy that has no age -- it was a favorite in my day and now with the kids. The Slinky is an icon of traditional fun. The MSRP is about $5.00 for the original size and mini Slinky toys are available too.

Check your local toy stores and online for these wonderful and educational products.
Alex Toys
Janod Toys
VTech Toys

Looking forward to April the Giraffe's baby in the near future. Find more information here.

I want to thank all the toy companies for the opportunity to try their products. I was not paid or coached to write this blog post. The information about the products were provided and these are my own opinions.
Photos by Tania Cowling, all rights reserved

CONTEST: SMURFS Movie Tickets

WE HAVE A WINNER:
Congratulations Tina! You have won 2 free tickets to see SMURFS:The Lost Village.
Enjoy the movie.

Hi everyone,

So, the new SMURFS movie opens this Friday, April 7th. Who would like to win two free movie tickets?

To enter the contest, FOLLOW my blog and then enter your name and email in the comment section below. Friday afternoon, I will randomly pick a winner and send you codes for two FREE tickets to see this new movie. You will have from April 7 through April 16th to use these tickets.

I'm sure your kids will love the film. Good luck!

Happy Parenting,

Tania :)

Disclosure:
We reserve the right to make revisions, to cancel, or suspend this contest for any reason. We are not associated with any of the companies named above. The odds of winning are based on the number of entries received Open to the US 18 only. Confirmed Winner(s) will be contacted by email. Winner(s) have 24 hours to respond before a new winner is chosen.

The SMURFS are Making a Comeback!

Who's ready for a new movie? On April 7, 2017, the SMURFS are coming back in their new film "SMURFS The Lost Village" to a theater near you. And to get you and the kids ready, here is some information about the film, the official movie trailer, and coloring sheets your kids will love.

"Best friends Smurfette (Demi Lovato), Brainy (Danny Pudi), Clumsy (Jack McBrayer) and Hefty (Joe Manganiello) use a special map that guides them through the Forbidden Forest, an enchanted wonderland that's filled with magical creatures. Their adventure leads them on a course to discover the biggest secret in Smurf history as they race against time and the evil wizard Gargamel (Rainn Wilson) to find a mysterious village."

View the official movie trailer HERE.  And at the top of the page you will find coloring sheets and activities.

After you and your children enjoy the film, here is a parent discussion guide to help you quiz the kiddos to see how much they have absorbed from the film. Click HERE for the downloadable guide.

Parents, put this movie and opening date on your calendar -- your children will be happy you did!!!!!

Stayed tuned for more information about this movie opening.

Until then,

Happy Parenting,

Tania  :)

Photos courtesy of the official Smurfs movie site: http://www.smurfsmovie.com

#SmurfsMovieL3

Keep Learning During Breaks From School With LeapStart

March is National Reading Month, Spring Break and soon the Easter holidays. Although you will have planned family activities, why not keep learning in this off-time from school? Whether your child is in preschool, kindergarten or the primary grades, LeapStart Interactive Learning Systems will keep the "learning" during your holiday breaks.  

Jam-packed with school and life skills for curious 2-7 year olds, the LeapStart activity books are designed to help build key skills and challenge kids to get ready for their next step in learning. The system works with a library of 16 re-playable activity books that get kids excited about a multitude of concepts from the ABCs, numbers, shapes and colors to reading, writing, social skills, science, technology, engineering, math and many more. Both LeapStart platforms work with all four levels of activity books for complete interchangeability and ability to find just the right level for each set of skills.

The LeapStart interactive learning systems include a portable kid-tough device with a downloadable Parent Guide that fosters the development of kids ages 2-7 with tips, tricks, and activities that parents and kids can do together. Each system comes with a sampler book: Preschool and Pre-Kindergarten designed for the younger platform and Kindergarten and 1st Grade designed for the older platform. Availability LeapStart Preschool & Pre-Kindergarten system (MSRP $39.99, ages 2-4) and LeapStart Kindergarten & 1^st Grade system (MSRP $39.99, ages 5-7) as well as the 16 LeapStart Activity books (MSRP $12.99 each, ages 2-7) are available at major retail locations and online in the U.S.

I love this toy as you can upgrade with a variety of additional booklets (each sold separately) engaging your child in learning and stepping up to new skills. LeapStart is coming into my home for the spring holidays and continued use during the long summer months. Learning can be fun with the right tools -- from simple problems to critical thinking and even STEM learning. I thank LeapFrog for making such an innovative learning toy.

Leapstart on Amazon

Until later -- Happy Parenting,

Tania  :)

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links or advertisements. I earn a small commission if you shop through them, which helps fund this website so I can continue to bring you informative and interesting content. All opinions are my own.

Take Time to Read on a Winter Day

Whether you are by the fireside or poolside, nothing beats a good book on a winter’s day. For children in the north, it’s fun reading about experiences in the snow and cold, however, for children in the south, they can read about what they are missing and have fun too through the magic of books.

Here are a few books to try:

• A Really Good Snowman by Daniel J. Mahoney (Clarion)
• Winter’s Gift written and illustrated by Jane Monroe Donovan (Sleeping Bear Press)
• Snowball Fight by Jimmy Fallon (Dutton Children’s Books)
• Tacky and the Winter Games by Helen Lester (Houghton Mifflin)
• Robert’s Snow by Grace Lin (Viking)
• The First Day of Winter by Denise Fleming (Henry Holt & Co.)
• It’s Winter (Celebrate the Seasons) by Linda Glaser (Millbrook Press)
• Winter Friends by Carl R. Sams & Jean Stoick (Carl R. Sams II Photography)
• Dream Snow by Eric Carle (Philomel)
• The Three Snow Bears by Jan Brett (Putnam Juvenile)

Find these books and more about winter on Amazon.com.

Do you feel like making some snowmen crafts? Check out these fun ideas!

I hope you and your children enjoy these winter books and craft suggestions. Please feel free to comment below and add some of your wintry favorites.

(Books first posted on Caring for Kids/ EverydayTLC by Tania Cowling)

3 Valentine Activities for February 14th

It's February, and love is in the air. What greater love is there than the love of a child? So whether you are expecting the birth of your child or already enjoying the many hugs and kisses of a little one, Valentine's Day is the perfect time to celebrate. Here are some fun and easy Valentine's Day ideas to help with building early memories with your child this holiday season.

For Expecting Parents:

This creative little gift is especially designed for expectant parents. Remember those silly messages found on candy hearts you used to eat in grade school? For fun, try personalizing your own messages on cut out construction paper hearts for your loved one! "Back Massage," "Belly Rub," "Midnight Run for Snacks," or "Extra Smiles" are just a few ideas for fun heart sayings. The paper hearts don't taste like candy, but guaranteed to bring grins to the recipient.

Finger Paint With Your Baby:

The use of non-toxic paints offers older babies endless possibilities for making discoveries and exploring. A red (pink) heart picture is perfect for Valentine’s Day and fun to do with your child using pudding paint. Mix one box of instant vanilla pudding according to directions on the package. Add drops of red food coloring to achieve the desired color. Hand on hand, help your baby fingerpaint on freezer paper or paper plates. When dry, cut the paper into a heart-shape. Fingerpainting is such an open-ended activity—the process of painting is more important than the finished project. Take time to tickle the senses—enjoy the feel of this paint, smell it and if your baby tries to take a taste, it’s OK-- it’s pudding!

Fun With Toddlers:

Take several large appliance boxes and open all the tops and bottoms. Using heavy tape, attach all the boxes together making sure the inside flaps are securely taped and smooth. Invite your toddler to decorate the outside of the boxes in his own way with lots of scribbled hearts and designs using crayons and markers. Valentine stickers may aid in the decorating and toddlers just love them. Write “Tunnel of Love” on the outside. Encourage your little one to crawl through the tunnel—you may just want to follow him!

Enjoy your holiday and happy parenting,

Tania :)

Photos courtesy of geralt, photoshop Tofs, Moscow Moms, CC0 Public Domain, Pixabay.com

February is Dental Health Care Month

With my oldest grandchild losing baby teeth and getting his first permanent teeth to my youngest grandson cutting his baby molars -- I thought it's fitting to include some ways to teach preschoolers about dental health and ways to take care of their pearly whites. First, parents need to understand how important it is to visit the dentist at an early age to insure that your child's baby teeth come in properly. And, that the kiddos care for their teeth so permanent teeth are strong and shiny.

Teaching young children about important matters in the health field is best done through interactive activities. Read on for some fun dental health activities to do at home or school.

Reading books about dental health is fun for young children who learn from friendly characters who deliver the message about taking care of teeth. It also wouldn't hurt to have a "cool" looking toothbrush to lure the kids into happy brushing!

Since February is National Dental Health Care Month, take the time to read some entertaining and informative books about dental care and teeth. And, stock up on the supplies that will help your little ones get into the good habit of brushing.

Until later~~~
Happy Parenting,
Tania 

Book cover photos courtesy of Amazon.com
Photo courtesy of woodypino, CC0 Public Domain, Pixabay.com