Check Out These PBS Educational Apps

PBS KIDS’ fun, educational apps, based off of several of their popular series, are a great way to help curb the “Summer Slide” and keep kids learning all summer long on convenient mobile devices.

Your kids want to have fun, and you want them to learn…PBS has the best of both worlds with PBS KIDS apps! Here are some of their top apps for kids this summer.

  • Science fanatic? Try Sid’s Science Fair ($2.99 – iPhone & iPod Touch), the app encourages kids 3 to 6 to explore and experience science. image
  • Augmented reality makes FETCH! Lunch Rush (Free – iPhone & iPod Touch) super cool. Based off of the web-series Fetch! With Ruff Ruffman, it teaches kids ages 6 to 8 math skills while blending a virtual world right on top of the real one. image
  • Healthy eating can be fun too!  Everyone’s favorite aardvark ARTHUR helps kids ages 4 – 6 learn healthy eating habits on the go with D.W.’s Unicorn Adventure ($1.99 – iPhone & iPod Touch)

image

  • Dinosaurs? Trains? It doesn’t get better than that! Dinosaur Train Camera Catch! ($1.99 – iPhone) is the latest PBS KIDS app to utilize virtual reality. Kids “catch” the dinosaurs with their phone’s camera function in a designated pattern, building patterning skills. Dinosaur photos will be stored in a child’s private gallery.

image

  • Continue the Jurassic fun on the iPad with All Aboard the Dinosaur Train! ($1.99 – iPad) The Dinosaur Train is getting ready to leave and needs passengers! Players need to match the passengers with the right train cars, challenging them to problem-solve by estimating dinosaur sizes and comparing them with the train cars’ capacity.

image

You can find these and all of PBS KIDS’ apps here: http://pbskids.org/mobile/

NCircle Entertainment Halloween DVD Review Kooky Spooky Halloween & Tricks and Treats

By Reviewer Emily:

When October rolls around, I get my TIVO ready to search out all sorts of Halloween programs on television. There are plenty that I can watch after the kids go to bed: Horror movies, creepy ghost documentaries, Halloween themed cooking and decorating shows, etc. However, there isn’t much for my 2 and 5 year old to choose from. At these ages, many of the kid shows are still too scary or they are just a bunch of garbage. When I was given the opportunity to review NCircle Entertainment’s PBS Halloween DVD Line, I was thrilled since my kids and I both love PBS programming. The two DVDs, Kooky Spooky Halloween and Tricks and 100709_Kooky_SpookyTreats, feature two of our favorite PBS Kids’ shows, WordWorld and The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That.

In Kooky Spooky Halloween, the WordFriends get their share of scares the night before Halloween, when Pig sleep walks and everyone thinks he’s a ghost. Then, Sheep is making herself a super special fairy costume to wear for the big Halloween Party. But what will she do when her WordFriends need pieces of her costume for their own use?

Tricks and Treats features The Cat (voice by Martin Short) and his friends Nick, Sally, Fish and the Things. Meet the eeriest critters you have ever seen, arrived just in time for this Halloween! There’ll be lots of tricks and, of course lots of treats, to share with the animal friends you will meet! 100416_tricks_and_treatsThere’s a coconut crab, spider monkeys and bats, and plenty more fun with The Cat in the Hat!

Each DVD is 30 minutes long and are not only fun for getting into the Halloween spirit, but pretty educational as well. The Emmy award-winning WordWorld, uses rhyming, phonetics and spelling in each episode as well as colorful motion graphics to keep both kids and parents entertained. The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That series is just plain fun with the use of classic Dr. Seuss rhyming and silliness. The animation looks like it jumped right from the pages of the well-known books. Both Kooky Spooky Halloween and Tricks and Treats are big hits in our home and two DVDs I don’t mind watching over and over (and over and over) again!

Kooky Spooky Halloween and Tricks and Treats can be found at your local retailer or online, including www.NcircleEntertainment.com. They typically retail for about $6.99 each (but I recently visited NCircle Entertainment’s website and both DVD’s were on sale for $5.99 each). Be sure to also visit NCircle Entertainment on Facebook for a chance to win in their DVD Giveaway.

Disclosure – A product was provided to me free of charge by the manufacturer or representing PR agency for the writing of this review; however, opinions expressed are my own and are NOT influenced by monetary compensation.

About Emily:

Emily is also very active in the local MOMS CLUB. She raises chickens and has 2 shih tzus. Her daughter Caitlyn attends Montessori school and she hates housecleaning, loves wine and enjoys dining out. She would love to find a cure for the depression and anxiety she has dealt with on and off over the past 10 years, just like me. She is an amazing mom and friend.

Tune In: Dinosaur Train Big City August 22nd

PBS KIDS’ popular show DINOSAUR TRAIN is launching its second season this week, and to kick it off, PBS KIDS is airing a one-hour DINOSAUR TRAIN movie special called Dinosaur Big City. Monday August 22nd. That’s tomorrow people so find out what time your local airing will be because you do not want to miss Dinosaur Big City.

bigcity1aboutpbs

The premiere of Dinosaur Big City marks the start of season two of DINOSAUR TRAIN. From the world-renowned Jim Henson Company, the hit DINOSAUR TRAIN’s second season will focus on exploring the outdoors and natural phenomena, and will feature “Big Dinosaur Week” and a special based on the fan favorite “Dinosaurs A to Z” song. We were so excited to participate in a preview party for Dinosaur Train Big City. We had the opportunity to roll out the red carpet and enjoy some popcorn while watching our favorite dinosaurs. We even received cute little toys and party swag to help set the pre-historic party stage.

IMG_3027

imageIn Dinosaur Big City, kids join Buddy and his Pteranodon family as they journey on the Dinosaur Train with their theropod friends to the big Theropod Club Convention in Laramidia, the “Dinosaur Big City.” Along the way they meet Mayor Kosmoceratops and help King Cryolophosaurus overcome stage fright.Buddy and his Pteranodon family embark on a journey on the Dinosaur Train, gathering all their theropod friends together to travel to a really big Theropod Club Convention, which is being held in Laramidia, the “Dinosaur Big City.” Among the travelers is King Cryolophosaurus, a singing theropod who is more than a little nervous about giving a concert in front of his biggest audience ever in the Big City. Once the Dinosaur Train arrives in Laramidia, Buddy and the Pteranodon family explore the crowded “dinosaur metropolis.” At the Theropod Convention, the kids reunite with Annie Tyrannosaurus and her parents Delores and Boris, and they all meet the multi-horned mayor, Mayor Kosmoceratops. In the end, Buddy and Tiny help King Cryolophosaurus overcome his stage fright, and he wows a large dinosaur audience when he sings his new song, “Whole Lotta Theropods” at the Convention.

IMG_3026

We love Dinosaur Train, I think all kids do. There is something that transcends time when it comes to watching and learning about dinosaurs. Just in case you do miss out on watching Dinosaur Big City on PBS you can buy it the next day. The movie will be released on DVD on August 23 by Paramount Home Entertainment. The DVD includes the Dinosaur Big City movie and four bonus episodes of DINOSAUR TRAIN, as well as interactive games, coloring pages, a dinosaur reference guide and information for parents. The DVD will be available for the suggested retail price of $14.99 U.S./$15.99 Canada.

We received party supplies to have a Dinosaur Train Big City Viewing Party.

Sid The Science Kid’s Backyard Campout

Sid The Science Kid is a family favorite, it’s one of the only kid shows my husband can watch with the kids over and over again. PBS must realize this is true for many families because in honor of summer we’re pumping up the buzz for a new adventure happening with Sid and his Father, Sid The Science Kid’s Backyard Campout.

image

I was asked to have a campout with my family in the backyard while watching Sid the Science Kid Backyard Campout and we haven’t found the time to watch it. My house flooded, It was rainy and cold , and I’ve been out of town for 11 days and I hate that we weren’t able to do it yet. So as soon as I get home it’s going to be one of the first things we do. So be on the lookout for our full review. Also,

The local PBS station, KCTS 9, is hosting a Sid The Science Kid Backyard Campout Giveaway in honor of the Sid The Science Kid Backyard Campout episode that will air on Monday, June 20 at 10:00 a.m. and a bunch of times throughout the summer after that. They’re also going to do a blanket giveaway contest Friday June 15th and running it through the end of July. Locals to the Seattle Area can discover more to love about KCTS 9 at Facebook.com/KCTS9 and www.twitter.com/kcts9. While others will want to check their local listings for episode time and local giveaways to enter.

This giveaway has ended. Congratulations to Susan Smith.

Summer Reading with iVillage PBS and Scholastic “Raising Readers”

Kids are out for Summer and I’ve been getting press releases saying “don’t let your kids brain turn to mush” “kids play to many video games” “3D is safe” “3D is not safe” “kids no longer use their imagination”, ok so some of those are paraphrased, but seriously, what will we do with our kids all summer long? Of course we’ll send them outside as much as we can, but we need to have activities for them inside too and one of the best ways to keep their minds active and stimulated over the summer is to get them reading.

image

Now, at our current state, 3 year old Miles and 4 year old Zoe love to look at books and pretend to read. They love to sit and listen to me read. Miles has the attention span of a 3 year old boy, but that’s about what I expect for him. So, what if you’re kids aren’t into books? What should you do?

image

PBS KIDS is teaming up with iVillage to keep kids excited about reading. Starting yesterday, June 6th running all summer long you can join the iVillage PBS KIDS Summer Reading Community Challenge. PBS KIDS and iVillage would love for your family and friends to join the summer reading mission. The 6-week program to help children discover the joys of reading is free to Sign up. When you sign up at iVillage you will receive:

A daily email with fun activities to build reading skills
Tricks and advice from your Challenge coach

Challenge Coach, Angela Santomero, Creator, Executive Producer and Head Writer of SUPER WHY!, will provide daily reading activity assignments, answer parent questions and offer advice throughout the online event.

Great book suggestions for kids of all ages
Tips from other parents taking the challenge
A chance to win daily prizes

PBS KIDS will also offer other summer literacy resources on-air and online, with themed weeks airing on PBS KIDS, as well as online tips and resources for parents to use with their children this summer.

imageAnd for even more tips ideas and book suggestions don’t forget about Scholastic, they’re in on this special program too. At Scholastic’s website kids can log into their account and log their reading minutes and enter sweepstakes. When they reach the weekly goal they will have the opportunity to win digital prizes and help to set a new world reading record for the summer of 2011. We had the opportunity to host a small reading party. We shared books, tips and all of the events going on with PBS, iVillage and Scholastic.

My husband and I have been discussing a weekly trip to the library too. Our local library has story time for different age groups every morning, and also has an age appropriate computer station for the kids to explore. Libraries usually have summer reading programs and suggestions for parents to get their kids reading too. Be sure to get your children reading this summer.

 

Disclosure: We received samples to share with our friends for a Summer “Raising Readers” party.

Earth Day Sid The Science Kid Going Green DVD Giveaway

It’s Earth Week, and yes I missed the boat, it started on Monday, or Sunday, not entirely sure. According to Sid the Science kid and his Earth Day week it started on Monday. "Sid the Science Kid," the half-hour animated series that inspires preschoolers to discover their world, is celebrating Environment & Habitat Week April 18-22! You can enjoy them all on Sid the Science Kid: Going, Going, Green!  as well.

SID_206A_WATERHis celebration starts off with four episodes commemorating Earth Day, Sid and his friends find the answers to these questions about water, clean air, trash and trees:

  • What happens to water that goes down the drain?
  • Why does Sid’s dad wear a mask when he paints?
  • Where does trash go when you throw it away?
  • Can an old stump be a home for tiny creatures?

SID_207A_AIRWe love watching Sid the Science Kid and watching these episodes was no different. Sid has a great way of putting things we may think of as difficult to explain to children in their terms. They find that if Sid can do it they can do it. We were watching the episode about when the air gets dirty. It started off with Sid’s dad painting and using a mask so he was protected from the fumes. Sid was confused because he couldn’t see the fumes, which is a true statement. How do we know when the air is dirty when we can’t see it. So Miles was pretty interested in learning as he watched Sid learn about air pollution.

Sid the Science kid going green will help you teach your children four different areas on how to keep our beautiful earth clean all year round.

Sid would love for you to celebrate Earth Day with him! Check your local listings for time to watch Environment & Habitat Week April 18-22

SID_logo_no_characterTuesday, April 19 (Repeats on Earth Day Friday, April 22)

207: “Clean Air!” Sid the roving reporter is investigating something strange in his backyard–his Dad is wearing a mask while painting. Sid discovers that his Dad is protecting his face so he doesn’t breathe in the dirty fumes. At school, Sid and his friends discover that people and animals on Earth need to breathe clean air, and when we pollute the air around us, it affects the air that everyone breathes. The kids also discover that trees have a really important role in keeping our air clean!

Wednesday, April 20

208:  “Reused Robot” Sid’s toy robot is broken, so he wants to throw it "away." Sid’s Mom tells him there is no such thing as "away," and when we put something in the trash, we are actually creating waste.  Sid and his friends explore the idea that everything we throw away goes somewhere.  This leads to an investigation of how to recycle and reuse items so that we make less trash.

Thursday, April 21

Image converted using ifftoany209: “Save The Stump” Sid is super excited because his Dad is clearing out space in the yard for a basketball court! While Sid and Dad are surveying the land, Sid notices a big stump teeming with little creatures! During a special field trip to The Science Center, Sid and his friends discover that there are animal habitats all around us, even in old stumps, and if one habitat is destroyed, all of the other habitats and animals are affected.

Also for later use:

 

Enter to Win:

Sid the Science Kid: Going, Going, Green!

To Enter:

Give me a green tip

Extra Entries:

Please vote for Our Family Picnic (extra entry for every vote, every day)

Tweet or RT this post and include the link to the post

Earth Day Sid The Science Kid Going Green DVD #Giveaway @momstart http://bit.ly/fdvDnw

Subscribe to MomStart
Comment on any non-giveaway post
List this giveaway on any giveaway site, dig, stumble, like or share on Facebook (or use any of the share options listed below)
Blog About this Giveaway (10 extra entries, linking to the giveaway)
Follow me on twitter tell me your twitter ID
Follow/Like Mom Start on Facebook
Follow me on Google Friend Connect

This giveaway ends May 9th. All rules can be found under giveaway rules.

Disclosure – A product was provided to me free of charge by the manufacturer or representing PR agency for the writing of this review; however, opinions expressed are my own and are NOT influenced by monetary compensation.

Chick-fil-A Kid’s Meals Contain New Martha Speaks Books Set Giveaway

Chick-fil-A Kid’s Meals offer Children Books from the Hit PBS TV Show “Martha Speaks”

By Summer:

If you’re a parent of a child who watches the Public Broadcast System (PBS) you’re familiar with the TV show Martha Speaks (even if only by name). Martha, a character created by Susan Meddaugh, is a dog who was fed alphabet soup one time by her owners and instead of the soup going to her stomach it travels to her brain giving her the ability to talk. Kids love Martha! She was first published in 1992 and became an educational program in 2008 and is still currently a hit PBS show.

clip_image002

clip_image004Martha Speaks can be found in books for all levels of readers: chapter books, early readers, and picture books. Currently Chick-fil-A® (one of my FAVORITE restaurants) is giving Martha Speaks books free inside their kid’s meals. Books you won’t be able to get anywhere else: Helen’s All Thumbs, Martha Gives Advice, Best in Show, Martha Plays Favorites, and Firedog Martha. But if you and your child are a clip_image006viewer you might recognize each book as they are based on the PBS teleplays by Raye Lankford Martha Speaks. While supplies last, you can collect all five to add to your library but only at Chick-fil-A® restaurants.

These special Martha Speaks books further your child’s skills to grow on such a vocabulary and social issues. New vocabulary is repeated throughout each story like inside Martha Plays Favorites children will learn about “exclude” and “notice”, or inside Martha Gives Advice children will learn about “advice” and “opinion”. At the end of each book there is also a simple definition for the selected vocabulary. Each story offers solutions to complicated childhood problems like moderating electronic device usage, being yourself, self-worth, love and friendship, and individual contributions to a team effort. Remember, all of these stories and lessons are best learned with the assistance of an adult, so be sure to discuss with your child the topics presented in Martha Speaks.

My sons and I enjoyed these Martha Speaks books. (And you know I love Chick-fil-A, I already shared that! So go get your Kid’s Meal.) Reading all of them has been time well spent with my four year old in particular; I love the quality time of reading. I honestly can’t wait until we read them again soon.

clip_image008

If you’re interested in keeping up with Chick-fil-A and their other offers say up to date with their quarterly Chick-Fil-A e-newsletter or their Chick-fil-A press room, connect with Chick-fil-a on Facebook, and Twitter @ChickfilA.

In order to write this post I was given all five of the Chick-fil-A PBS Martha Speaks books. I hope you and your kids enjoy them as much as we have been.

About Summer:

Summer is the President of our Local MOMS Club chapter, she is the mother of two adorable active boys, and is always thinking of ways to help others. She is a friend, a wife, and always busy as all mommies are. She is very active on Facebook, addicted to Geocaching and very interested in organic and green living.

Enter to Win:

All five Martha Speaks books from Chick-fil-A

To Enter:

Leave a comment on this post telling us about your little reader

Extra Entries:

Tweet or RT this post and include the link to the post

Chick-fil-A Kid’s Meals offer Children Books from the Hit PBS TV Show “Martha Speaks” #Giveaway http://bit.ly/eOJ6yO @Chickfila @Momstart

Subscribe to my blog
Comment on any other non-giveaway post 
List this giveaway on any giveaway site, dig or stumble
Blog About this Giveaway (5 extra entries, linking to the giveaway)
Add my blog button to your sidebar (3 extra).
Follow/Like Mom Start on Facebook
Follow me on twitter tell me your twitter ID
Follow me on Google Friend Connect

Vote for the Apple Champ in Hillshire Farms Most Wanted Sandwich http://gomeat.com (2 points per daily vote)

Tweet:

Please Vote for the Apple Champ in Hillshire Farms Most Wanted Sandwich http://gomeat.com PL RT

This giveaway ends February 21st.  All rules can be found under giveaway rules.

Seattle #TweetDrive 2010 Almost Wordless Wednesday

image

I LOVE using my influence on-line to make a difference in my community. Last week we had a tweet up in Seattle and I helped gather swag, donations and door prizes. The event was the Seattle Tweet Drive. I posted in detail about the Seattle Tweetdrive a few weeks ago when I started looking for sponsors and I’m so happy with all the companies that supported us. See the full list below! We had a great turnout and Look at what we did for the charity Treehouse! I’m exhausted and extremely behind on my blog posts, but I feel great because it was all for a really great cause. Club Sur donated the space, My Seattle Night Out organized the event, and local bands and entertainers donated their time and efforts for all of us to have a great time! We gathered around 333 toys total! Tweet Drive is going on nationally in many different locations, check Tweet Drive 2010 to find a location next to you.

imageimageimage

 

Special thanks to Channellock (100 bottle openers)

Special thanks to DKNY Be Delicious (over 100 bottles of DKNY Be Delicious Perfume, towels, and awesome swag bags)

Special thanks to Zhu Zhu Pets (104 Zhu Zhu Pets donated)

Special Thanks to Klutz (10 books donated)

Special Thanks to Energizer (40 iPod to go chargers donated)

Special Thanks to Soft Lips (100 packages of lipgloss)

Special Thanks to Build a Bear (5 bears donated)

Special Thanks to Hasbro (for their continued support of Mom Start and donation of 5 large toys)

Special Thanks to TJ Maxx and Marshalls (50.00 Door Prize)

Special Thanks to Hexbug Nano (3 habitats donated)

Special Thanks to Clean and Green Pet Cleaner (100 Free Product Coupons)

Special Thanks to Blue Bunny (door prize)

Special Thanks to Success Rice (door prize)

Special Thanks to Voskos Greek Yogurt (100 Free Product coupons)

Special Thanks to Sesame Street PBS (2 Wii games for door prize)

Special Thanks to Sid The Science Kid (100 notepads)

Special Thanks to Conair (door prize gift basket)

image

I hope to do a single post for every company because you all deserve a huge thanks!!

Sid The Science Kid Home Party and Science Kit Giveaway

Sid the Science Kid is a FAMILY favorite. Yes, the whole family likes watching Sid, not just Zoe and Miles. In fact I would say that it is their dad’s favorite cartoon to watch with them. We love watching Sid and he’s helped us with things like wearing sunscreen and discovering bugs. We had the privelage of throwing a Sid The Science Kid Party and sharing some new toys from Sid The Science Kid. The Sid The Science Kid Party was thrown in honor of Sid the Science Kid, the award-winning, educational television series from the Jim Henson Studios returning for its second season with 12 new episodes on October 4th! That’s Monday People! Tune into PBS to watch the new series and check imageyour local listings for times!

At PBS they believe that introducing preschoolers to the basics of science through the eyes of a young science reporter named Sid, is a fun way to educate.  Each episode begins with a new question and Sid embarks on a fun day of adventures filled with singing and dancing. The singing and dancing is not annoying in anyway and we find that the information is really presented in a way that a child would actually understand and do themselves.

imageWe were provided with the supplies, plates, napkins, and cups, a Sid the Science Kid Microphone, and the Sid The Science Kid Kit Why Are Wheels Round. The Microphone we shared and it was a huge hit. I was asked where you can purchase one because a special birthday is coming up! I believe you can find them at Amazon, and Target. I know if you search for them on-line you will find plenty of places to purchase them.

Sid seems to be quite a favorite in other families too, or at least that is what I gathered from the party. We had a lot of fun that day, so much that I didn’t get any other pictures captured other than the party supplies. OOPS!

The next day, when daddy was home we did the science kit, Why are wheels round? My husband had them do it just like Sid would have. They explored every aspect of it. They used the square wheels, the oval wheels and the round wheels. They talked about friction and when the friction was the best and worst. It was quite fun to watch them all do it together. Then they had to write down their discoveries in their journals. Which was also fun to watch them draw!

After they made all of their discoveries inside the house they had to see how it would do outside on the sidewalk. So we had quite a fun day with our experiment.

Sid Science Kit

Enter To Win:

Sid the Science Science Kit Why Are Wheels Round.

To Enter:

Tell me what your favorite Sid the Science Kid Product is.

Extra Entries:

Tweet or RT this post and include the link to the post

Sid the Science Kid Science Kit Why Are Wheels Round #Giveaway http://bit.ly/9yVwsz

Follow/Like Mom Start on Facebook
Follow me on twitter tell me your twitter ID
Follow me on Google Friend Connect
Subscribe to my blog
Comment on any other non-giveaway post 
List this giveaway on any giveaway site, dig or stumble
Blog About this Giveaway (5 extra entries, linking to the giveaway)
Add my blog button to your sidebar.

This giveaway ends October 18th, I was provided a sample in exchange for this post! All rules can be found under giveaway rules.

The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That Wings and Things Giveaway

thecatinthehatknowsalotaboutthat NCircle sent us a copy of The Cat in the Hat knows a Log about That and my daughter watched it once. Yes, once and we didn’t even finish it because it was time to go outside and play. We have to go outside when naptime is over for her brother during the summer time so we don’t have very much TV time at all. So, while I was away on my trip to California, my husband called me and told me that my 3 year old daughter is spouting out rhymes.

How Cool is That?

So thank you goes to NCircle for sending me a copy of a really fun DVD of the Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About that, because he does know a lot about rhyming and getting into and out of CITH_bean logo trouble.

The Cat in The Hat Knows A Lot About That Wings and Things Features the Show Me the Honey, Migration Vacation, I Love the Nightlife, Oh Give Me a Home and Many Ants Make Light Work. Wings and Things runs for 60 minutes. It was made especially for children that are my kids age, also known as preschoolers.

Thank you to NCircle for this DVD and for the copy they are giving to one lucky reader.

Enter to Win:

The Cat in the Hat knows a Lot about That Wings and Things

To Enter:

Tell me what your favorite Cat in the Hat story is!

Extra Entries:

Follow Ncircle on twitter

Tweet or RT this post and include the link to the post

The Cat in the Hat Knows A Lot About that Wings and Things #Giveaway

Follow me on twitter tell me your twitter ID
Follow me on Google Friend Connect
Subscribe to my blog
Comment on any other non-giveaway post 
List this giveaway on any giveaway site, dig or stumble
Blog About this Giveaway (5 extra entries, linking to the giveaway)
Add my blog button to your sidebar (3 extra).

This giveaway ends September 13th. All rules can be found under giveaway rules.