This little invention has saved me so many times, of course when I needed to see the You Tube wedding dance, but more importantly in parenting crisis’s:  waiting at the doctor’s office, waking up from a nap super cranky and acting up in church.  My only complaint about the thousands and thousands of apps out there is that there seems to be no really fantastic guide for finding the best ones, other than just word of mouth.  Well, here are my family’s Top 5 iPhone apps for the preschool bunch.

1.  Doodle Buddy: This is our kids’ generation’s version of an Etch-O-Sketch.  The screen works as a canvas for paints and stamps that come with their own sound effects: including a baby crying, lips that kiss and a burping smiley face.  My youngest calls it “Baby Happy/Baby Sad,” and that name is right on, as it quickly turns her frown upside down.

2.  Peekaboo Barn:  This app is for the toddler crowd and features an animal hiding in a barn.  The child is given clues via the noises the animal makes and then a tap at the barn shows which animal is playing peekaboo.  The graphics and sounds are adorable, and a 2-year-old can easily operate this game by his or herself.

3.  Toddler Teasers: Children are given prompts to identify numbers, letters, shapes and other similar tasks in this again easy to operate game.  Inexplicably, my older daughter is frightened by the announcer’s voice and applauding children, but my youngest can identify a “crescent,” so I have no complaints.

4.  First Words: This game has children spelling words by moving letters into their appropriate places in simple three and four letter words.  The word is spelled for the children already, so even younger toddlers who don’t know their letters or spelling can place the letters simply by matching.  I have to believe, though, that at some point, those letters are going to sink in, and they’ll be able to spell the words even away from the game, by memory.

5.  Matching Zoo: This is a very fun and easy version of Memory that features zoo animals that make their appropriate sounds when their cards are turned over.  I was speechless yesterday when my 2-year-old was able to make eight matches in a minute and a half.  I think we all know where she gets her brilliance.

The beauty of each of these five apps is that there are free versions of each game available in the iTunes store.  Mama may be brilliant, but she’s also thrifty.

Chime in in the Comments’ Section with your favorite apps for kids!

Instead of hair pulling and controversy, the world of soccer can come together today and enjoy a good laugh over a schmuck.

A goalie at a recent soccer match was too interested in taunting the opposing team’s kicker to actually block the ball.

This video can actually be quite educational, if you think about it.  If your kid has a problem with show boating, or just to ensure your child realizes how foolish it looks, show them this clip. They’ll be sure to think twice about any smack talking.

At the very least, it will teach them to wait to gloat until after the point is scored (like the kicker.)

The World Against Toys Causing Harm (W.A.T.C.H.) has released their list of the 2009 “10 Worst Toys”. How many of these are in your kids toy box? You’d be surprised. There is a large mixture of action figures to books. Here is the list and why that toy made it:

Disney/Pixar Wall-E Foam Rocket Launcher

($9.50) – Due to potential for eye and other impact injuries.

Mood Board Pogo Board

($29.99) – Due to potential for head and other impact injuries.

Spy-Gear Viper Blaster

($15.00) – Due to potential of eye injuries.

Pucci Pups Maltese

($15.00) – Due to potential of strangulation and aspirations injuries.

CAT “Rugged Mini”

($4.99) – Due to potential for puncture injury wounds.

Just Kidz Junior Musical Instruments

($15.00) – Due to potential choking hazards.

Lots to Love Babies “Mini Nursery”

($6.99) – Due to potential choking hazards.

X-Men Origins Slashin’ Action Wolverine

($14.99) – Due to potential eye and other impact injuries.

The Dark Knight Batman Figure

($39.98) – Due to potential for blunt impact and penetration injuries.

Curious Baby Curious George Counting

- My First Book of Numbers ($6.74) – Due to potential choking hazards.

Be sure to check toy boxes and take these dangerous toys off the shopping list for the upcoming holiday season.  W.A.T.C.H. has been successful in the past getting some dangerous toys off store shelves, so some of these could be hard to find in the coming months.

In 2008, there were at least 19 toy-related deaths in the United States.  On top of that, there were 235,300 toy-related injuries that caused trips to the emergency room.  With numbers this high, it is important to remind parents to monitor their children while playing.

The robot is built with a motion sensor to keep track of anyone who enters or exits your child’s room and then respond when someone does come or go.  With over 50 responses, phrases and sound effects, this robot can keep your kids entertained for a long time. When it is in Bank Mode, it can count, store and safeguard your child’s money.  At the push of a button it will let them know exactly how much it has stored, allowing your child a better understanding of money and how to save it.

‘Robot In My Room’ can al read stories to your child as they go to sleep and then serve as their first alarm clock to wake them up in the morning.  The illuminated LCD screen will display the time clearly and then the robot will wake them up with programmable alarms that will keep waking up in the morning fun.  This is an all around cool toy that will keep your younger kids entertained but don’t bother for the older kids.

Robot In My Room Stats

• Price – $39.95 from DiscoveryStore.com
• Requires 3 C batters (not included)
• Does contain small parts and not meant for small children under 3
• An AC adapter may be purchased to save batteries

Robot In My Room Reviews

“My son is seven and into all things Space. He loves the Robot alarm clock and actually jumps out of bed when it sounds to begin his day. He put all of his change into the bank and is looking for ways to earn more money so he can increase his bank account. Functional and fun!” – from a customer review via Discovery.com

“My son loved this clock. He has played with it every day since he received it. My teenage neighbor wants one for Christmas.” – from a customer review via Amazon.com

Be honest.  Doesn’t the mere hint of the whimsical Winnie The Pooh theme song transport you back to some of your fondest memories of childhood?  Every time I hear Pooh’s chuckle or Tiger’s bounce it instantly brings a smile to my face.  So I was excited to hear that after 81 years, a Winnie The Pooh sequel has just been released.   This prompted me to wonder how a storyline could still be so successful after all this time.  So many shows and books don’t last two months,  nevermind decades.  What is it about our friends in the hundred Acre Wood that makes them perpetually popular?

I think that a big part of its charm is the simpleness of it all.  It takes place in a town with a population of just under a dozen characters. They live a humble life with dirt floors and widdled wood for furniture.  Why, Pooh’s biggest extravagance is honey!  I know that as an adult I have dreamed of living Pooh’s lifestyle more that once.  No mortgage, no car payments, no keeping up with the Jones’.  Just enjoying life as it comes one day at a time.   Similar to their viewers, these characters are trying to figure out the world around them.  Most often Pooh and friends are wrong on their first approach, but eventually they figure it out when they all selflessly work together.  I think that this  is the part that appeals to kids.  I watch my son play with his friends on our cul-de-sac and they stop talking to each other if don’t want to play the same game.  Kids yearn for that unconditional friendship that only seems attainable on TV.  When you add to this the adventures that Pooh and his friends embark on and all of  the silliness that occurs in between, its attraction is undeniable to growing young minds.

Recently Disney/Pixar director extrordinare, John Lasseter, announced news of a 2D Pooh movie set for release in Spring 2011.  It will adhere closely to the original animation and storyline.  Because Winnie The Pooh doesn’t need fancy animation or catchy punch lines to attract a crowd.  All Pooh needs is a little nonsensical adventure and his friends.

Children who are bilingual have a huge advantage in this day and age. They are better able to communicate with a larger range of people, they develop a greater appreciation for the richness of other cultures, and they will even get a leg up in the workforce, as many companies are starting to list ‘bilingual speaking’ as a application prerequisite.

The good news is children are best equipped to pick up a new language as they can pick it up faster than adults, and in a more “native style,” (I have Spanish speaking friends who ask me to speak Spanish and then laugh at my “American accent.”)  Experts say children have a better linguistic “elasticity” that allows them to pick up new ways to communicate faster.  We adults, we are too stuck in our ways.

GoGoLingo.com has made it their mission to teach young children Spanish, through fun and games. Children receive a ‘lingo,’ their own tiny pet for them to take care of. Through playing educational language games, children can earn stars that they can use to purchase fun things for their lingo. You can read our full review of GoGoLingo.com here.

GoGoLingo.com and Kidglue are giving away 2 year long memberships to GoGoLingo.com!

Here’s how to enter:

You get one entry for each of the above, so the more you enter, the more chances you have to win! Just remember to leave a comment for each contest entry you complete. (Ex. I tweeted this and then add the link of your tweet)

Note: Please use a valid e-mail address. 

Open to US and Canadian residents only.

The lucky winner will be chosen randomly. Giveaway ends Wednesday November 25, 2009. Winner will be reached by email, and announced on the blog 11/25/09.

Good luck!!

Mattel released the Jacob Barbie November 13, a Barbie doll of Jacob Black, the buff werewolf from The Twilight Saga.  Jacob Barbie joined Bella Barbie and Edward Barbie, to cover the whole Twilight love triangle.

What does your Jacob Black Barbie come with?  Shorts, shoes, washboard abs, and that’s about it.  The Barbie doesn’t come with a shirt- the way we are used to, and enjoy seeing Jacob, but something Taylor Lautner would rather avoid.

Lautner, who plays Jacob Black in the movies, had to gain 30 pounds of muscle meat to keep up with his character’s transformation from the first movie, Twilight, to the second, The Twilight Saga: New Moon, due in theaters November 20th.

Jacob’s beef up launched him from cutie to heart throb- a role he’s not quite comfortable with. Ladies, he is not a piece of meat.

“I worked hard to get in shape for this role,” Lautner explains. “My motivation was the movie and the fans, but I don’t want to become known as just a body. If I had to choose, I would never take my shirt off again in a movie, but I guess that’s not very realistic. I certainly won’t be asking to do it, though.  It’s so uncomfortable knowing that so many people are seeing pictures of me shirtless.  It’s weird. It’s kind of embarrassing.”

Granted, Jacob doesn’t wear a shirt throughout most of the movie, but come on, the best part about Barbies is their accessories!

Are you Team Jacob? Enter our giveaway by voicing your love for your fave wolf and win one of 10 Team Jacob or Team Edward t-shirts!

I really hope you took my advice and caught the New England Patriots against the Indianapolis Colts football game Sunday night.  It was was a fantastic games by both teams but in the end Peyton Manning lead his Colts from 17 points down to the game-winning touchdown with only seconds left to keep his team undefeated.  Brady and Manning each showed why they are considered the top quarterbacks of the decade but this time Manning was superior.  Easily the best game of the season so far and a real treat to watch.

If you didn’t catch that game then it’s going to be a while before you see any good sports.  This week is pretty slow in the Memorable Games category but you never know what could happen.  Besides the games below (and even those were a struggle to come up with) there is not much worth watching sports-wise this week.  But that could be a good thing for families looking to go out to a game.

Tickets to games that are projected to be bad are usually pretty cheap and abundant.  Take the opportunity to take the family out for a fun night in an arena.  It doesn’t matter who’s playing because most likely your kids will remember the night for something completely unrelated to the actual game.  They’ll remember the funny dressed fan yelling in the stands or what happened during the ‘Kiss Cam’ part of the game.  The bottom line is that they will remember that part and remember that it was you who was there with them.

Top 3

1. NASCAR – Nov. 22 – Ford 400 – Homestead-Miami Speedway @ 3:30 pm

For the last few weeks I’ve been talking about how Jimmie Johnson would win and be the first driver to win four consecutive Sprint Cup Titles.  He slipped up a bit with a crash but that was just to keep us watching and wondering.  He pretty much solidified his title and the record with his win at Phoenix International Raceway on Sunday.  The Checker O’Reilly Auto Parts 500 win gave Jimmie a 108 point lead going into this last race of the year.  Without a doubt this will be a race for the record books and you can say you watched it and saw greatness.  Jimmie may be the best driver to ever race in NASCAR and watching this race will give you the opportunity to see a winner become a record breaker and go down in history.

2. MLS – Nov. 22 – Real Salt Lake & Los Angeles Galaxy - Qwest Field in Seattle @ TBD

I don’t know the game of soccer and I don’t really follow any of it until the World Cup comes around.  But a championship game in any sport is always worth watching because the intensity and finality of it all make the drama unlike anything else.  “Win or go home” never was more true than in a one game championship.  Real Salt Lake (pronounced ‘Ree-al’) and the Los Angeles Galaxy will meet to fight out who the best team in Major League Soccer is.  The Galaxy have the top two stars in the league with Landon Donovan and David Beckham who earlier this season seemed to be at odds with each other.  Will they be able to show that it meant nothing and that they can come together to be champions?  Or will Real Salt Lake continue being the successful underdog and go all the way?  Even though you may not understand it, watch and perhaps learn a little.  It is after all the most popular sport in the world.

3. NBA – Nov. 20 – Orlando Magic at Boston Celtics @ 8 pm

Two of the best teams in the Eastern Conference meet in this playoff rematch.  Kevin Garnett and his Celtics will try and prove their dominance after not being at full strength last year and coming up short in the playoffs to Orlando.  Dwight Howard and his Orlando Magic will try and prove  that they still are the best team in the Eastern Conference no matter who is healthy.  Dwight will show that Superman truly can beat a full dose of Celtic green.  These two powerhouse teams will battle it out from beginning to end and if you’re watching you will see what intensity means as Garnett shows his trademark passion on his sleeve and lets you know he is there to play for keeps.  Both teams will play physical basketball so look for a hard hitting game.

Quick Picks

• A good place to find cheap tickets to any sporting event is StubHub.com
• Chris Paul and his New Orleans Hornets have undergone some coaching changes recently.  See if the change help with the Hornets travel to Miami to take on Dwayne Wade and his Heat.  These gold medal winners are two of the most entertaining players in the NBA and they will put on a great show.

I just love it when celeb moms (that usually have secret personal trainers and chefs)  explain bouncing back to pre-baby weight on “chasing after their kids.”

Well, the numbers are out and according to MSNBC.com, chasing your kids around isn’t the workout many moms think it to be.

Exercise doesn’t mean dropping your kids in order to hit the treadmill for a few hours.  Kids are the best examples of getting fun exercise, so take their lead and play along.  Here are some activities you and your kids can do together to take advantage of the Fall weather, burn some calories and spend quality time together.

Nature Hike

Those changing leaves make for a great scenic backdrop for a nature hike.  Look up trails online with your kids and pick a route everyone can enjoy.  Instead of walking trails, look for real hikes: the higher the elevation and the incline of the trek, the better the cardiovascular benefits, plus muscle toning.  While you are working on your killer calves, your kids can collect leaves, take pictures and spot birds.

Family Football

Football can be fun for the whole family and a great way to work up a sweat.  To keep it safe (or if you have teenage boys that don’t quite know their own strength yet) stick to tag football, or flag football by tucking bandannas into your waist bands.  No need for refs, it’s a family game.  Just set up two goals, split into two teams and start running, throwing, catching and diving.  Fall is infamous for rain, but don’t let it cancel your game.  Put on old clothes and get muddy!

Playground Obstacle Course

Playgrounds are like your own personal outside gym.  Take your kids to the park and plan an obstacle course, trying to use every piece of the equipment: run up the slide, cross the monkey bars without touching the ground, do 10 jumping jacks in between each obstacle, etc.  Map out the race with your kids and then whip out the stop watch.  Whoever finishes in the fastest time gets to pick their favorite dinner.  The better the prize, the more times your kids will want a rematch.  Just be sure not to run over anyone else there trying to play, or even ask them to join in, since I guarantee all the other kids are going to be jealous because their mom is sitting on the bench reading a magazine.

Cold weather isn’t a reason to stay indoors and having to hang with your kids isn’t a reason to skip your workouts.  Kids are funny: they actually think spending time with you and being active is fun.  Get in on the action and keep fit this Fall while making new memories and traditions with your children.

Has your child ever asked you how electricity works?  Well if they haven’t yet, try and think about how you would answer that question.  Instead of straining your brain to come up with something, why not just let them find out for themselves?  Elenco has developed a series of award winning scientific toys that will teach your child how electricity works while allowing them to build numerous gadgets, games and lights to learn from.  Their ‘Snap Circuit’ line of toys has won the National Parenting Center-Seal of Approval, Creative Child –Toy of the Year, the Toy Industry Association’s Specialty Toy of the Year award and many more so snatch this toy up before the holiday rush comes and sells them all out.

With each set they will get many pieces to build circuits to control lights, radios, alarms, bells and much more.  These pieces are small so keep this toy away from young children who may swallow them.  Kids build the gadgets completely from scratch so in the process they will learn how electricity is transferred and how it can be used to power many different things in many different ways.  They will use switches, jumpers, fans, sirens and many others things to make their projects and once they’ve mastered each set they move onto the next set which will include even more gadgets and gizmos to make.  Each set includes instructions on how to build each project but exploration and experimentation is always encouraged.  As they learn more, the difficulty increases and so will their knowledge.

They’ll start off with the ‘Snap Circuits Jr. SC-100,’ the beginning of their scientific exploration.  With the Jr. your  child will be able to make 101 cool gadgets and gizmos.  They will make burglar alarms, police sirens, music alarm, strobe lights and more than 90 other projects to get them started with their mad scientist skills.

Once they have gone to the limits of ‘Jr.s’ ability they can move up to the ‘Snap Circuits PRO SC-500‘ which will have even more things for them to build and experiment with.  This toy will expand on your child’s understanding of the workings of electricity with more challenging things to make.  Includes over 75 additional parts and a full instructional manual to teach them how to make 500 cool, new projects.

If they are still wanting more electrical fun then they can move onto the ‘Snap Circuits Extreme SC-750‘ where their skills will be put to the test.  They will build a sound activated switch, a lie detector, adjustable light controller, radio, rechargeable battery and much more.  This time the board can also be hooked up to a computer for even more projects.  Includes 80 additional parts, an instruction manual and 73 computer-interfaced experiments to truly make your kid a scientist.

Reviews of Snap Circuit Products

“Bought this set for my son’s 6thbirthday. He has been fascinated with electricity since he was two.This was probably the best present he has ever received. He puts together his own inventions. It really teaches the young mind a lot about how the world of electricity in every day life affects us. A few parts did not work when we opened the set. However upon calling the company I have never been more satisfied. You speak to a live person immediately. Very courteous.  I would recommended this and all snap circuits sets to any young scientist in the making.” – customer review for Jr. model via Toysrus.com

“I bought this for my son’s 9th birthday after we noticed a friend of his had a smaller version of this product. (the SC-300, I think).  The product arrived with a little damage to the box top surface, but all parts inside were in good condition.  There are A LOT of projects that any kid over 8 would love to make.  It is a good parent/child inter-action toy that never gets old and boring.  The projects start easy and become more complicated in size and scope.  My son loves playing with it and it is now one of his favorites.” – customer review for PRO model via Amazon.com

“I bought this for my son’s 12 year birthday. He LOVES it and does the most amazing things with it. I would say the only negative to this item is that that some of the parts can “blow” or break when used and must be replaced. It is not frequent, but wanted people to go into the purchase knowing there are some, almost consumable parts to the set. This toy is genius and has allowed my little budding engineer to build electronics and see them operate. Very cool!” – customer review for Extreme model via Amazon.com

Congrats to the New York Yankees for winning the 2009 World Series.  They were absolutely the best team in baseball and they deserved to win. Alex Rodriguez played hard and proved that he can show up for big hits and runs in the post season.  So baseball is done and we can move on from it (at least for a couple months).

College basketball starts this week and unfortunately this is another sport that I am not too familiar with.  I pay attention during March Madness but the regular season is usually unimportant to me.  But, like hockey, I will try and keep you informed of any potential big memory games.  Feel free to share if you know of any.

I’m going to say this now so I don’t have to rank every game he is in: LeBron James is worth watching no matter who he’s playing or what the situation is. If he continues at his current pace, he will be considered the greatest ever to play the game.  Although it’s gonna take a lot to usurp Michael Jordan from many people’s minds.  So if he’s on TV, watch because he will do something worth remembering.  Without a doubt, try and get your kids to a game where he is playing.  Make sure they are able to say to their kids that they saw him play.

Top 3

1.  NFL –  New England Patriots at Indianapolis Colts – Nov. 15 @ 8:20 pm

The two greatest quarterbacks of this era meet for a highly intense and competitive game that will be very entertaining and remembered for a long time.  Tom Brady and his Patriots are the best team of this decade but Peyton Manning may be the smartest QB ever to play the game.  His Colts have won a Super Bowl and he has an honest shot at breaking every passing record in the NFL.  Brady is the most intense and competitive QB in the league and after being injured all of last year he wants to get back to the Super Bowl and redeem his loss to the New York Giants.  The Colts are undefeated this season and they will be trying to maintain that record with the Patriots set on being their first loss.  This game would be a lot better and more evenly matched if the Colt’s defense was not suffering from injuries and was at full strength but Peyton will come out shooting and he will score early and often to ensure the game is close.  This game will be a shootout with high scores and high flying footballs. Get your popcorn ready.

2. NBA – Cleveland Cavaliers at Orlando Magic – Nov. 11 @ 8 pm

Even after I said I didn’t want to rank a game he’s in every week, it’s so hard to when the match-up is this good.  The Magic upset the Cavaliers in last years Eastern Conference Finals and now LeBron is looking for some revenge.  It may not be as meaningful as a playoff game but I promise you that this one is personal for LeBron.  The Cavaliers acquired Shaquille O’Neal during the off-season specifically for the purpose of giving Dwight Howard hell under the basket.  LeBron will come out with a vengeance and he’ll have Shaq to back him up this time.  In recent years Dwight Howard has overtaken Shaq as the best big-man in the game so this will be a proving ground to show that he truly is.  A fun and fast paced game that will be exciting for the whole family to enjoy.

3. NASCAR – Checker O’Reilly Auto Parts 500 – Phoenix International Raceway @ 3:30 pm

I may have spoken too soon and jinxed Jimmie Johnson.  He crashed over the weekend and it cost him more than 100 points in his lead over Mark Martin.  There is the possibility that Jimmie could not finish well in these last two races and not get his 4th consecutive Sprint Cup.  No one has ever done four straight before and perhaps the Racing Gods would like to keep it that way.  Jimmie will come out looking to win and make sure he does capture the Cup but the other drivers will be all the more motivated.  They smell blood in the water and they will be driving to the edge of their car’s abilities to try and reach the newly re-attainable Sprint Cup.  I’ve said before but I will say it again; watch a NASCAR race on TV.  The information the give you and the depth of their coverage is unprecedented in sports.  Way cool stuff.

Quick Picks

• If you haven’t seen it yet, take a look at this video.  Just an awful display of sportsmanship that does not belong in any sport at anytime.
• Andre Agassi has made some headlines recently.  Kinda heart breaking for anyone who was a fan of this great player.
• The College Basketball season tips-off on Nov. 9.  Check out a full schedule here to find your favorite team.

The flagship Disney character turns 81 this month, and although he still doesn’t look a day over …. um, however old he’s supposed to be …. it’s not his look so much as his personality that will be updated. Disney execs told the New York Times that the venerable, good-as-gold Mickey will be rebranded with a bit more attitude and spunk to help him stay interesting to new generations of tech-savvy kids.

The re-invention of Mickey will be a long process, but the first glimpse of his new personality will come in “Epic Mickey,” a video game to be released in 2010 for the Wii.  He’ll still have the red shorts, yellow shoes, and inexplicable white gloves, as well as his spirit of adventure and enthusiasm. But gamers who take on the character of Mickey will also have freedom to make him a little more spicy and cunning, even (dare we say?) naughty.

Some say this will only take Mickey back to his roots. When he debuted in the 1928 “Steamboat Willie” short, he was a high-spirited prankster, something like Bart Simpson. Only later was he shaped into the sweet and earnest “little fellow trying to do the best he could,” as Walt Disney himself described his most famous creation.

Personally, I think it’s about time. I know the world is full of die-hard Mickey fans, but I’ve always found him totally boring. Bugs Bunny, as leader of the Warner Bros. stable of characters, is much funnier. And Kermit the Frog leads the Muppets with infinitely more style and charm than Mickey could ever muster. I can’t wait to meet the new Mouse.

What do you think? Is Disney taking a risk in messing with a sacred character, or does the world need a more modern Mickey?

This summer, your kids were all about “Transformers” and “G.I. Joe.” Next summer, your kids are going to want to head to the pyramids of the Middle East.

“Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time” will be released May 28, 2010 and stars Jake Gyllenhaal as the titular character who finds a knife that allows him to time travel. It’s based on a popular series of video games and looks to pack a ton of huge special effects and action.

Check out this trailer with your kids and get ready for them to become crazy obsessed next summer. Be prepared.

As my son continues through kindergarten, it never ceases to amaze me how much more is expected out of kids academically these days.  He has many bilingual kids in his class who already have a leg up.  So I am always looking for ways to give my kids that advantage too.  I found a great tool at www.gogolingo.com.

GoGo Lingo is a website that “tricks” your kids into learning a new language.  You child gets a little pet to take care of called a lingo.  They play learning games to earn stars.  They can then use those star as currency to take care of their lingo by buying them things.  They also have to love and play with their lingo by doing activities that teach Spanish.  There is a whole lingo town to explore complete with a store, a library, a movie theater and more.  It is very inviting and easy to use for little ones.  I set my 3 year old up on it and had to tear him away from the computer an hour later.  And a little to my surprise, he had picked up the activities pretty well.

I was really impressed with how much they encourage parental involvement.  I received an email that detailed what my son had done online and how well he did at it.  There is also a parents link with progress information.  As well as a forum for questions and discussion and helpful links and data.   There are 2 levels of membership, free and premium.  The premium is $6 per month or $42 per year.  You can only enroll one child under the free membership.  And your customizations are pretty basic, but it still gets the job done.  The premium membership gives you 12 additional learning categories and many extra offline printable benefits.

My kids haven’t been using it long enough to tell how much Spanish they have learned.  But they are learning and having a great time doing it.  You can’t ask for much more than that!

The dolls, which went on sale November 1, are currently selling for approximately $25 a piece.  Most major retailers will have them available, including Wal-Mart, Target, and Amazon.  Currently they are only available online from what I can see, so order soon to get them in time for “New Moon” on November 20.  If you have a tween in your home that is obsessed with the series, this could be a “must have” for the upcoming holidays!

My daughter is at the Barbie age, but I don’t know that this will interest her.  Being 6 years old, she hasn’t really gotten into the whole “Twilight” obsession.  I think these dolls are being made only as collectibles for the teens and young adults that are really into the movie.  In all honesty, I see these as a great gift for someone who likes the movies, they will be excited to open the package and then the doll will collect dust.  I feel that Barbie’s should be for little girls to play with, and paying $25 for a Barbie is out the question in my house.  Even if my daughter wanted one of these, I’m not going to pay that much for a doll that will matted hair in a weeks time.  The idea is great, but I think these are more of a novelty.

“Sports Memories in the Making,” by Jeremy Suede, is a weekly column that looks at all the sports for the upcoming week and picks out games and events that might just be special enough to create a moment that you and your kids will share forever.

Say good-bye to baseball because this week will absolutely be the end of the line for that sport.  The New York Yankees are poised to capture the championship after handling the Phillies in games 3 & 4 in Philadelphia.  They are truly the best team and deserve the World Series win.  Kudos to Alex Rodriguez for finally showing up in the post-season.

The NBA season has just begun and teams have started to shake off the rust and get into their grooves to make a run for the championship.  Teams like the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Los Angeles Lakers are working to find cohesion with their new stars and have stumbled a little out of the gate.  Don’t let that fool you though, look for them to gel as units and show dominance again after a couple weeks of playing competitively together.

I”m going to be 100% honest here; I have no idea what’s going on with hockey.  Growing up in Los Angeles we have had little in the way of a hockey team.  We had The Great One, Wayne Gretzky, but the Kings never really amounted to anything so I never really got behind them as a kid.  I”m asking for your help,  if there are any hockey fans out there, please comment with games people should be watching and why.  Give me a stern lashing about why I should be more into hockey too.

* Please note all times listed are Eastern Standard Time

Top 3

1. MLB – World Series Game 5: New York Yankees at Philadelphia Phillies – Nov. 2 @ 7:57 pm

The Yankees are on the cusp of capturing the title but they still have to win one more game.  The Phillies have their backs to the wall and if they don’t win all of the next three games their season is over.  This series has shown that these are absolutely the top two teams in the league and that whomever wins deserves the title of Champion.  Both teams have youth, power hitting and dominating pitching so this won’t be the last time either of these teams are playing for a championship but this could be the start of a dynasty.  Enjoy baseball while you can because after this week you will have to wait until Spring Training in 2010.

2. NFL – Dallas Cowboys at Philadelphia Eagles – Nov. 8 @ 8:20 pm

Each of these teams failed to live up to expectations at the beginning of the season but have since turned it all around and showed they belong at the top.  That’s what this game is for; to decide who will be in first place in the NFC East Division. Each team has a 5-2 record and comes in on a winning streak (Dallas 3, Eagles 2) but only one will get to continue the streak and be alone on top.  With quarterbacks Tony Romo and Donovan McNabb throwing the ball to their young receivers Miles Austin and DeSean Jackson there will be plenty of high flying plays and touchdowns.  This should be a very competitive game with each team looking to prove they are absolutely number one.

3. NBA – Chicago Bulls at Cleveland Cavaliers – Nov. 5 @ 8 pm

These teams should each make the playoffs and will be looking to establish a better record against the other to secure home-court advantage in the post-season (Yes, we’re already thinking that far).  Cleveland has the best player in the game, Lebron James and the newly acquired Shaquille O’Neil to assert their place at the top.  But Derrick Rose is an up-and-coming star who is looking to show he can take down giants and lead his Bulls to greatness like the original best player on the planet, Michael Jordan, did before.  LeBron will be looking to make a statement and prove that the stumble in the beginning was just rust and not a sign of things to come.  You really can’t go wrong when you watch LeBron, he is entertaining just when he’s dribbling down the court.

Quick Picks

• I mentioned earlier my lack of interest in hockey but that doesn’t mean I will pass up going to a game.  Seeing a live hockey game is consistently more entertaining, hard hitting and enjoyable than other sports and a fun time for the whole family.  The action keeps you interested and the possibility of a fight keeps the crowd energy at a fun level.  Tickets are usually pretty cheap so take the family to a game if you can.  Bundle up and I promise you will have a good time.
• Check out 5-year-old Giuliano Stroe.  How do you feel about that?

Tote and Go Pink Laptop Stats

• Price: $19.96 from Walmart.com
• Age Range: 3 years and up
• 3 AA batteries required
• Contains small parts that could be choking hazard to small children

Tote and Go Pink Laptop Reviews

“We bought this for our daughter about a year ago, and everyone in the house plays with it, her older and younger brothers both, and that means ages 2-5. It’s held up beautifully, nothing wrong with it and it’s been dragged all over the house (and car), fought over, and wrestled with and it’s still going just fine. As a plus, the mouse pad can either sit on a peg connected to the right side for easy travel stability, but for our left handed daughter, you just move it off the peg and move it on over. This is a huge plus for this system.” – from a customer review via Amazon.com

“My daughter got this as a present for her 4th birthday a week ago and has played with it everyday. It keeps her busy and content while it teaches her things.She loves it and its great for her to play with because it not only entertains her but teaches her numbers letters and all kinds of things. I would recommend this product and would buy it for someone else’s child.” – from a customer review via Walmart.com

Let’s teach our girls early to go for a sugar daddy, I mean, they would get nice expensive things, right?  There is only a “small price” to pay.  It’s amazing that Mattel would go this far.  When I first saw the article introducing this doll, I thought it was a joke, but I found more and more articles about it.  Entertainment Earth already shows it available in April 2010 for the small price of just $81.99.  Be sure to pre-order yours now!  Wouldn’t you hate to miss out on this doll.

My goodness, all joking aside, what is wrong with these companies?  Do they really think we want our daughters playing with a “Sugar Daddy” doll?  This goes on the same list as the Pole Dancer doll that was released.  Buy your daughter the pole dancer doll to teach them how to dance, then they can score a sugar daddy like Ken.  My goodness.  Even if it was made as a collectible doll, who would want to collect a sugar daddy doll?  Really.  What message are we sending to our daughters with companies selling dolls like these?  Grow up, get a tramp stamp, dance on a pole and get a sugar daddy….life is then complete.  Right?

The winner will receive the easy-to-ride scooter designed just for the intermediate rider in their choice of red or pink.

And the winner is…

Andrea Johnson

“Red of course….it goes faster!”

Congrats, Andrea! Check your email for further instructions. For anyone who would like to check out more great Radio Flyer products, check out www.redwagon.com!

Another great, and delicious, giveaway started this morning.  Make sure you check it out!

Out of the entire crowd only a 12-year-old boy would take the challenge.  Mark Benevento Jr. accepted the club, stepped up to the tee and smoothly struck a ball down the fairway 200 yards, easily out driving the stunned Tiger Woods. And what did young Mark do when Tiger asked him to do it again?  Hit the ball straight down the fairway again 200 yards.  The crowd loves it and so does Tiger.  Mark casually steps back and Tiger (doing what any great athlete should do) congratulates the boy, says he’s proud of him and shakes his hand.  That would be easily be the highlight of any golfer’s life and this boy gets it at 12.  A great moment and luckily cameras were around to see it.

Tiger handled the situation magnificently.  He encouraged the boy and was extremely gracious in defeat.  He built the boys confidence up even more and that’s what youth sports is all about.  Mark’s dad was also in the crowd and that moment must have been great.  To see his boy step up to Tiger Woods and win would have to fill him with pride.  I love the boys’ courage to step up when nobody else was going to and answer the challenge from the current (and perhaps all-time) best golfer in the world.  The fact that he did it twice under pressure speaks volumes for Mark, remember his name because you may just be reading about him in the future.

This news has drawn the ire of the International Nanny Association, which has released a statement that in part says “INA is opposed to video games that promote and encourage players to “kill” babies, even in fantasy play. It is our opinion that this type of play may promote violence towards children.” The statement goes on to say that the Achievement sullies the good name of nannies everywhere, and that members of the INA should write to the Entertainment Software Ratings Board to register their complaints.

Now, I have been a supporter of video games in the past, and will continue to provide a perspective that hopefully leavens some of the sensationalism that sometimes unjustfully surrounds one of my hobbies of choice. The INA has every right to complain about this issue, but they’ve chosen the wrong target. The ESRB has no jurisdiction over the actual content of any game; they merely report on what they see to help parents evaluate potential purchases. The real offender here is EA themselves.

Those of us who have been following this game for a while have watched as Electronic Arts has purposefully drummed up controversy by intentionally placing incendiary information into the hands of those most likely to be outraged by it. This is merely the latest example. This is proven by the fact that there is no way that the INA could have possibly known about this Achievement if knowledge of it had not been sent to them by an “anonymous tipster”. The game isn’t even on shelves yet; no one has played it. And it’s not the sort of back-of-the-box selling point you’d see even once it became available. This sounds to me like EA alerting the INA to this to provoke an angry response, and therefore keep the name of the game alive in the minds of the public to ensure as much of a launch day success as possible.

It’s filthy marketeering at its worst, and does nothing to dispel the already-existing public perception of video games as malicious and amoral degenerate pursuits designed to appeal to only the most noxious of human urges. This hurts the industry, and it does so from the inside. Not to mention the fact that rewarding the player for the wholesale killing of babies is tasteless at best, and deeply misanthropic at worst. If this Achievement still exists at the launch of the game, then EA deserves whatever retribution comes to them.

I will never forget the Color-By-Number books from when I was a kid. My mom would give them to me and it was always good for some time-killing entertainment.  I also remember the little Casio Keyboards that would play all sorts of different sounds and instruments which was also good for some fun.  Well, kids today get the best of both toys.  Delta Creative and released the Musicolor.  A record-player shaped toy that creates music by using markers going over a coloring surface.

This toy is really cool for any kid who likes to color but wants a little more than just paper and colors.  The Musicolor allows them to not only color but they will also get some musical interaction and play.  As they color up the discs (included) they will hear corresponding notes from one of three different instruments.  It can play “Three Blind Mic,” “Hickory Dickory Dock,” “London Bridge,” “Old McDonald,” “Jingle Bells,” Humpty Dumpty,” “I’m a Little Teapot” and many others.

It works by reading the colors used on the systems pre-printed (or blank) coloring discs and then translates those colors into a pre-assigned note of music.  Sounds a lot more complicated than it actually is.  When a child colors on a song disk with red marker, the toy will play an F note, or when passing over with the blue marker, it will play B.  You can switch the instruments from piano, violin or trumpet simply by pressing a button.

Out of the box you get the Musicolor player, eight Music Note Markers, 14 pre-printed Song Discs, five blank Create-a-Song Discs and a pre-colored Song Disc.  You can also separately purchase refill packs with 20 more blank disc as well as a marker refill pack.

Musicolor Stats

• Price – $29.99 at Amazon.com
• Suggested Age – 6 years and up
• Weighs 2.4 lbs.
• Delta Creative has not set a release date but they say it will be out in time for the holidays.
• For more information you may visit their site: DeltaCreative.com

Other Music Toys You May Be Interested In

• Baby’s Learning Laptop
• Yookidoo Musical Kaleidoscope
• Little Superstar Sing-Along Stage

The LeapFrog giveaway

You ready?

Excited?

Here it comes..

The winner of the Tag Reading system is…

Chelsea!

and the winner of the Tag Junior is….

Babyblues!

Congrats, winners! Check your email for more details.

Everyone else- another great giveaway is already underway just in time for Halloween so make sure you enter for your chance to win!

The 15-year-old singer is hiding a golden ticket in one of his CDs for a lucky fan to find. The winner of the golden ticket will win a private concert with Justin in their very own back yard.  Let the squealing begin.

Girls everywhere are searching under couch cushions to find spare money for their chance at Justin- and here’s your chance to get some extra chores done.

Wanna know what the big fuss is all about? Above, watch the adorable Justin on the TODAY Show on October 12, 2009 talking about literacy and fame.

Beiber’s My World CD, which features Usher, hits shelves November 17th.  How many albums will your child be buying?

“Sports Memories in the Making,” by Jeremy Suede, is a weekly column that looks at all the sports for the upcoming week and picks out games and events that might just be special enough to create a moment that you and your kids will share forever.

Hello all and welcome to yet another week of memories in the making.  If you were watching any of the baseball games last week you would not have been disappointed.  So many late inning rallies and heartache (sorry Cardinal and Red Sox fans) and there is only more to come.  With the League Championship Series’ coming up, the intensity will be raised up another notch.  Great theater for all who watch.

Brett Favre showed us yet again that he can still do it and any doubters should wise up.  He and the Vikings are posed to make a strong push for the Super Bowl.  Who would have thought the Denver Broncos would be 5-0 after going through the Cowboys and the Patriots?  They are a great underdog team to watch and root for with the family.

This is a great time of year for sports and this week promises to be a great one.  Here are my picks for what you and the family should watch and be apart of an experience together.  Enjoy!

Top 3

*All times listed are Eastern Standard Time

1. College Football – #6 USC Trojans at Notre Dame Fighting Irish - Oct. 17 – 3:30 pm

Normally a college football game that doesn’t involve two ranked teams doesn’t get my attention but this classic rivalry game deserves everyone’s attention.  This game gets played every year and this time it is USC’s turn to travel to Notre Dame and deal with a fierce crowd looking to give the Fighting Irish a big advantage.  USC has absolutely dominated in recent years and they will have to keep with that tradition in order to keep their National Title hopes alive.  On the other hand Notre Dame is out to prove they are a powerhouse and will fight with everything they have.  Their quarterback, Jimmy Clausen, is starting to be brought up as a Heisman Trophy candidate and a big win against USC would raise his stock significantly.  Look for a hard fought, well played game by each with a couple memorable moments that will decide the game for either side.  You could probably ask your grandfather and he would have at least one USC/Notre Dame game that sticks out in his mind for something.

2. MLB – Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at New York Yankees – Oct. 16-25 – TBD

Both teams swept their opponents in the Division series and will look to keep that momentum through the League Championship Series and go onto the World Series.  The Yankees are a power hitting lineup that could explode for many runs at any moment.  The Angels are a scrappy team with a few power hitters but plenty of speedy base hitters that will steal bases and get runs anyway they can. This is a well matched contest that will rely on good pitching from both sides.  Starting this long 7 game series with a win in Game 1 carries takes a lot of the pressure off and keeps morale up.  Should be a very good game and no matter what the score is watch until the end because both teams have shown the ability to come from behind.

3. NFL – New York Giants and New Orleans Saints – Oct. 18 – 1 pm

What’s great about undefeated teams playing a game is that one of them will absolutely taste defeat when it is all said and done.  The team that wants to stay on their winning streak will have to play as hard as they’ve played all season and more because this will be a game that goes down to the wire.  Eli Manning and the Giants have dominated their games so far, firmly establishing themselves as the #2 offense and #1 defense in the league.  A lethal combination that makes them the top team in the league.  Drew Brees and his Saints are nipping at their heels though, being the #3 offense and #7 defense and will be looking to slay the Giants (pun intended) and show they are the top team in the NFL.  Each team will pull out all the stops and this will be a game to remember.

Quick Picks

• NFL – Denver Broncos at San Diego Chargers – Oct. 19 – 8:30 pm- This old school rivalry only gets better with Denver heading into San Diego undefeated and San Diego looking to show they are a team to be reckoned with.  Hard hitting and probably high scoring game.
• NASCAR Banking 500 – Lowe’s Motor Speedway – Oct. 17 – 7:41 pm – Jimmie Johnson is again at the top of the leader board near the end of the season and a win here will almost solidify his fourth consecutive Sprint Cup Championship.  He’ll be fighting to stay at the top while others fight to knock him from the top.  Great drama.
• NHL – Los Angeles Kings at New York Rangers – Oct. 14 – 7 pm – As of time of post these teams were the hottest in the league.  If they continue until this game then watch out, it will be something to watch to see which keeps the best record in the league.