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Teaching Children About Puberty

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We received samples.

Teaching children about puberty can be quite awkward. My son even goes “la la la” when I try to talk to him about things. He tries to tell me that he’s too young but I know what he’s talking about with his friends. I’m a firm believe in you can’t leave sex education up to the schools, plus my kids are home schooled anyway. The Girls body Book and the Boys Body Book are a perfect way to start the conversation of kids sex ed. We are Teaching Children About Puberty with The Girls Body Book and The Boys Body Book.

In this video Zoe shared highlights that she learned about puberty, her body, friendships and all kinds of changes from The Girls Body Book.

 

I’m still trying to get my son to start reading his book. My husband said he thinks he might be sneaking peeks at it because he has been asking him questions. I hope eventually he will read his book just as his sister read hers.
Childrens Sex Ed

The Boy’s Body Book by Kelli Dunham, R.N., is the #1 best-selling guide for pre-teen boys. These new editions include many new sections covering topics about boosting self esteem, staying safe and protecting your reputation online and off, and navigating a variety of social situations, and many more–without ever mentioning sexual content.

Zoe said that she loved how it shared things about body image and how others perceive you. I’ve tried to teach my kids about how they might “look grumpy” even though they aren’t. Even though I of course know they are. I think it’s going to help her understand other kids feelings and allow her to do better in her relationships. These books are very thorough.

Childrens Sex Ed Topics covered include:

* From hair care to high heels, a head-to-toe guide to what’s happening with your changing body
* Dealing with your friends, even when they don’t want to deal with you – and how to handle “Mean Girls,” bullies, and cyberbullies
* The care and keeping of parents, teachers, brothers, and sisters
* Finding out what you like (from sports to art to music), and learning to like who you are
* And so much more!

Gifts Teachers Want: 15 Ideas

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Gifts Teachers Want

Sample provided.

Whether you’re looking for a gift for your child’s teacher, or have friends that work in the education field as I do, you’re probably wondering what kind of gifts teachers want for the holidays. That’s why I’m pleased to introduce you to Teacher Peach!, a fantastic line of products made just for teachers. They have a wide assortment of gift sets that are special for being both thoughtful and practical. They’ve paid great attention to detail, putting together great kits of products that teachers will use in their classroom, with designs that emphasize bright colors and words. They’ve thought of everything, including Sharpies that read “Teachers Only!” – I’ve helped my teacher friends label things for their classroom before, so I know how important that is! These lovely gifts are available in options for every price range and feature everything from the class supplies teachers always need (And usually spend their own money on), to fun and unique: They have a “The Real Teacher’s Pet™” line of pet accessories, which I think is perfect since all the educators I know also love animals! Check out my top 15 teacher gift picks below, and put a smile on your teacher’s face this holiday:

Science for 3 Year Olds? Absolutely!

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I’m super excited to be working with KinderCare over the next month. They have amazing resources for parents and they strongly believe what I believe. Little kids are sponges that absorb everything. So we should show them the world. Today we’re talking science for 3 year olds!!

Can 3 year olds really begin to understand scientific concepts like states of matter, force, and motion?

“Absolutely,” says Meg Davis, manager of curriculum development for Knowledge Universe. “Children are young scientists. They learn about the world around them through their senses.” This natural curiosity is the basis for KinderCare’s new early science education program, to be launched this summer.

Called Spectacular Science, the two-week program presents basic science concepts in ways three-year-olds can engage with and understand.

“The key is to provide children with plenty of hands-on opportunities to explore science in a playful way.” – Meg Davis, Manager of Curriculum Development for Knowledge Universe

For example, while learning about states of matter (solids, liquids, and gases), our children will pretend to be balloons filled with air that float up into the sky…and then fall back to the ground. That kind of physicality helps bring complex concepts to life for young children.

Can’t wait to nurture your own kids scientific curiosity? Bring a little bit of Spectacular Science home with these three ideas inspired by KinderCare’s new curriculum.

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1. Science in Creative Expression: Shadow Art

• Scientific Concepts:

o Light and Shadows

• Materials Needed:

o Sidewalk chalk

Pick a sunny day to head outdoors with your sidewalk chalk, find a hard, flat surface, and search for shadows to trace. Encourage your child to identify a shadow and trace its outline with the chalk. Create your own shadows and trace each other’s outlines.

Ask open-ended questions: What does a shadow look like? What shape is it? How is a shadow made?

Extra Credit: Later, go outdoors to see how far the shadow moved!

2. Science in Motion: Freeze Tag

• Scientific Concepts:

o Liquids and Solids

Physical movement and acting out ideas and concepts helps children understand them more clearly, and this well-known child’s game incorporates a science lesson too: Freeze Tag. (Freeze Tag works best with a few friends.)

Explain the simple rules: One child is It and tries to tag the other children. If a child is tagged, the child “freezes” in a fun (or funny) position. If another child tags the “frozen” child, he or she becomes “unfrozen” and can begin running again. After several minutes, ask another child to be It.

During breaks, ask: What else freezes?…That’s right, water. When does water freeze? What is water like when it unfreezes?…What is another word for ‘unfreeze’?

3. Science in Everyday Conversation:

· Scientific Concepts:

o Critical Thinking

o Hypothesizing

o Science Vocabulary

Science learning at any age involves curiosity, exploration, and discovery. Families can support science learning in everyday conversations by asking “how” and “what” questions that prompt children to think critically and explain their reasoning.

Ask questions like, “What would happen if… of How do you know that…? Then sharpen children’s skills by inviting them to test their ideas. For example, if you are exploring what sinks of floats ask, “Will the rubber duckie float? Let’s try it…”

You can find more amazing activities like this one at Adventure Ahead: www.adventureahead.kindercare.com

The Fashion of Going Back TO School with @Staples #StaplesforStudents #110Ready #AD

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This is a sponsored post.

I can’t believe it but it’s already time to start getting school supplies as you can see in stores around you. But school supplies are much more than just your box of pencils, folders and papers. Now school supplies are even functional, and fashionable. When kids are young the fashion of Back TO School is more about which super hero or princess is on their school supplies. As kids get older though their supplies need to make a statement. Here are a few back to school fashion trends that you can find at Staples.

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“This back-to-school season at Staples is all about bold style that turns function into fashion with products that students need and want,” said Alison Corcoran, senior vice president, stores and online marketing, Staples. “We’re committed to getting parents, students and teachers 110% ready for the new school year with the best trends and our lowest price guarantee.”

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I spent about two hours going through different back to school products with my two kids to find what they like and what I think older kids will like too. I’ll start with the products you see in the photo above which happens to also be in Staples’ list of top back to school trends as well, The Staples Designed by Students Collection. The Staples® Designed by Students Collection includes tools designed by students that help to address common classroom needs.

clip_image006Available in a variety of color combinations, products include The Big Pen ($8.99), a writing instrument and pencil case all-in-one, the Big Props Pencil Case ($7.99) that doubles as a tablet stand and the Super Folder ($12.99) that includes storage areas, a zipper pouch, clear pockets for class schedules, a pencil sharpener, sticky notes and a writing pad, among other products in the collection.

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Next up are the licensed products that my son was crazy about. The Boys Licensed juvenile backpacks at Staples ($14.99) feature their favorite characters in assorted prints such as The Avengers and Nickelodeon™ Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles™. Kids can also choose from a selection of MOJO backpacks ($29.99) with lifelike images of donuts, cheeseburgers, sharks and X-Rays. Or they can pick Elsa, Anna and Olaf to help carry school gear to the classroom with a Disney Frozen backpack ($14.99) and keep lunch fresh in an adorable Disney Frozen square lunch bag ($9.74).

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When I told my son that they had camouflage he was ready to move on from the licensed characters so I agree with Staples’ Back to School trend list. Camouflage is going to be a popular choice this year. A full “army” of backpacks and accessories in the coolest camouflage patterns are featured in an assortment of products. The OGIO Evader and Stellar backpacks ($49.99/$44.99) feature a large main compartment, padded laptop sleeve and ergonomic shoulder straps for comfort. These backpacks coordinate with Staples® Camouflage Composition Books ($2.00) and Staples® Maze Calculators ($4.99).

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One of my favorites was the animal prints. The laptop back pack needs to be my new backpack and not my daughter’s, although she wants to fight me for it. From trendy animal prints on holographic backgrounds to eye-catching 3D and psychedelic screen-saver designs, Staples carries Continental Into the Wild and Continental Vibrance notebooks and composition books that add fun to jotting notes in class. Tie-dye, inspirational sayings and fun graphics with glasses and mustaches from Gartner Studios ($3.00) let students show off their personal style with notebooks and composition books.

clip_image012One of the fun and trendy collections you will find at Staples from the 2015 back to school trends is the Me to We Collection. Staples and Me to We, a social enterprise that provides people with better choices for a better world, are making socially conscious shopping easy with a new line of eco-friendly school supplies. Each product provides a life-changing impact in a developing community where Me to We’s partner, Free the Children, works. The exclusive Me to We Collection includes notebooks, composition books, binders, portfolios, backpacks, pencil pouches, and more that will help make a difference. ($1.99 – $29.99).

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The above image doesn’t correlate to any of the trends she spoke about. Instead of mentioning bright and metallic trends below, she should mention pastels and graphic patterns to reflect the image above.

Our final favorite was the metallic colors that we found on different items. Bright and metallic fashion-forward school supplies let students shine. Continental notebooks and composition books ($3.00) add glitter, starlight, diamonds and sassy sayings in combinations of pink, silver, purple and other bold, sparkly hues. Friends will be a-MAZEd by the Staples® Maze calculator ($4.99) that features a maze game on the back and the Glitter and Flow iPhone cases ($12.99) available in an array of sparkly colors that make school days shiny.

Staples is in stock all-season-long at the lowest prices with the Staples back-to-school 110% Lowest Price Guarantee and up to 5% back in Staples Rewards on every purchase.

Get Involved with Students and Teachers #ThinkItUp #StaplesForStudents #AD #110Ready

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This is a sponsored post.

I have been a longtime supporter of our teachers. I have a strong passion and belief that our kids are our world’s future. Everything depends on them and education is a foundation for everyone. Therefore that makes our teachers so valuable and important. I don’t believe that teachers are valued enough and when I found out that currently on average teachers spend $400 out of pocket every year on their classrooms I was distraught. There has to be a way to make a difference for these teachers and their students.

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Beginning this fall through Think It Up, students will be able to work with their teachers to identify passion projects for their classrooms. Through this collaborative learning process, student-powered, teacher-led projects will be crowdfunded on Thinkitup.org, which is fueled by DonorsChoose.org. In support of teachers Staples has made a $10 million pledge to support Think It Up™. Think It Up, a program launched by The Entertainment Industry Foundation, is a new movement created to inspire students to pursue their passions through student-powered, teacher-led learning projects with support from Staples for Students.

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In addition to the support from Staples, Nick Jonas has become an ambassador for ThinkItUp to help raise awareness. “I’m excited to serve as the Think It Up Ambassador and team up with Staples to empower students and teachers across the country,” said Nick Jonas. “Through Think It Up, we can all help students play a more active role in their education. We should all follow our passions to create our futures.”

The goal is to raise awareness for Think It Up and to help students become innovators. We all need to have an active role in the direction of education. Think It Up is a first-of-its-kind platform where you can make donations to fund student-powered, teacher-led learning projects. Since 2000, individuals have been able to contribute toward the purchase of materials needed for classroom projects that teachers post on DonorsChoose.org. Beginning this fall, Think It Up will invite public middle and high school students to work with their teachers, to develop projects that draw on their passions and help pursue their educational goals, which the public can crowdfund through thinkitup.org. Think It Up hopes to generate a renewed sense of optimism about education in America.

I would also love to see a renewed sense of optimism in America about education. We need to be challenging our students, taking responsibility for education and supporting our educators. Please check out ThinkItUp.org. You can also help support Think It Up by donating at your local Staples Store. You can even enter the Sweepstakes for a $50,000 scholarship. (enter at staples.com/scholarship).

Hola! Teach your child Spanish with these cool Bilingual Toys

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Hola Mamacitas! We all know the best gift we can give our children is quality education, and more often than not, we start educating them at home way before they set their cute little feet into pre-school. But there is a second best gift we can give our kids, and that is learning another language.

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If you know another language other than English, the best thing you can do as a parent is share your linguistic skills with your child. Teach them at a young age so that they can use it as often as they do English and be really good at both. They’re bound to learn how to speak, read and write English anyway, what with everyone around them talking in English. We use what were familiar with, and children are no exceptions.

Their advantage is they can pick up things really fast (the advantages of being young) and most of them can emulate speech really well because studies have shown that young children have better verbal and cognition skills if they learn a second language. You should use this opportunity to introduce another language to them as part of their play and learn phase and you will be surprised with the results. You won’t need Spanish translation services anytime soon when you’re child is done!

No Habla? No problem!

But what if you don’t know another language? Don’t worry! You can still introduce your children to other languages by getting them cool Bilingual Toys. There are a multitude of brands and toys to choose from. Pick a toy that has a language or languages that you want your child to learn. It’s best to choose a language that you feel your child can use in the future because if they like what they learned at an early age, chances are they’re going to seek further education on it when they grow older. That is a huge advantage going in to college and getting a job.

Top Bilingual Toys

1. Ingenio Slide and Discover from Smart Play

Smart play’s Ingenio line of bilingual toys is a must have for any parent that wants to teach their kids another language. The Slide & Discover teaches kids 160 words in English and Spanish by using learning cards (17 in all) that have unique learning themes for each one. The flash cards also have colorful illustrations and real-life photos, with 10 word pairs in English/Spanish.

When you slide one of the cards into the front of the Slide & Discover, and then slide the five tabs up and down, this will reveal an English word, a picture, and the corresponding Spanish word. The Slide & Discover is lightweight and ultra portable, you can take it anywhere! The learning cards store easily in the back of the toy and the handles make it easy to use.

2. Dora Explore and Play Pad

Another awesome bilingual toy from Smart Play is The Nickelodeon Dora the Explorer Explore and Play Pad. This educational learning toy has the look of an everyday grown-up tablet, but is loaded with content that lets your child play and learn in English and Spanish.

This toy actually looks like an iPad! Turn it on using the home button (placed at the bottom, just like an iPad), and from there, four modes will appear: ABC & 123, Words, Spelling, or Quiz mode.

· In ABC & 123 mode, every time the button is pressed, kids will hear Dora pronounce the letters and numbers in English or Spanish.

· In Words mode, Dora will pronounce the name of the image on the screen to each corresponding letter in either English or Spanish.

· In the Spelling mode, Dora will spell out selected words in either English or Spanish.

· Pressing the question mark will immediately bring up Quiz mode, which will ask kids to find the corresponding letter or number that Dora states.

Au revoir

Learning another language is a great way to help our young kids with their early development. Not only will your child excel at school, but they will also have an advantage when faced with the challenge of talking to another child from another country. Your child may be the one who welcomes a foreigner or new immigrant, making them feel welcome and accepted in this great country of ours. Future Ambassador? Maybe! J

Join @MomStart For Toopy & Binoo Twitter Party 2/20 at 1PM EST #ToopyandBinoo

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This is part of a compensated campaign with Child’s Play PR.

Don’t forget to join us on Thursday 2/20 at 1PM EST, That’s noon central and 10:00 AM PST. I’m PST and we’ll be all on the couch watching cartoons while I’m tweeting away. My kids are out of school, and as I’m sitting here writing to remind you all to join us for the twitter party Zoe is asking to watch Toopy and Binoo. I knew they liked it.

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Toopy and Binoo Twitter Party Details:

When: Thursday, February 20th from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. ET

Where: Follow Hashtag #ToopyandBinoo on Twitter

How: Tweet with the tag and follow @ResourcefulMom and me @MomStart as well as the sponsor @ToopyandBinooTV

Prizes

Four (4) winners will receive a Toopy and Binoo Plush and a $25 Amazon.com gift card

One (1) Grand Prize Winner will receive a Toopy and Binoo Plush and a $100 Amazon.com Gift Card

This giveaway is open to U.S. residents age 18 or older

Image Promo T&B

Toopy and Binoo™ is an animated series that follows the adventures of Toopy, a tall, funny and friendly mouse, and his best friend Binoo, a tiny, clever and lovable white cat. Toopy and Binoo are a cute duo that love adventure. The series inspires preschoolers ages 2 to 6 to expand their creativity while reinforcing positive values such as friendship, good manners, creative thinking, and humor. They engage the children while teaching them these good morals and fun!

 

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Toopy and Binoo aren’t widely available to US except through youtube. The Toopy and Binoo TV YouTube channel features more than 100 full, five-minute episodes, each with laughs and stories the whole family will enjoy. They are looking forward to successful engagement on YouTube and expect to see growth from there to National TV.

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The offical RSVP is Here :http://resourcefulmommy.com/13577/toopy-and-binoo-twitter-party/

Tweet you Thursday!

As Seen On PBS Kids: Learn a New Language with Little Pim

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Sample received

Little Pim Discovery Sets that were recently unveiled at Toys R Us! are really cute and easy to follow. It just takes a children’s brain to pick up something like this and a lot of repetition. It’s a great product that teaches VERY young children a new language—starting at 6 months!

Younger minds can learn a new language easier than older. Their brain is wired for picking up new languages easily up until 6 years of age and Little Pim reaches out to them in a fun and entertaining way! 

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Little Pim, the award-winning foreign language-learning program for young children, has introduced a special-edition product line now available exclusively at select Toys“R”Us® stores nationwide. The new Spanish, Chinese, and English “Discovery Sets” each include three DVDs and a Little Pim plush panda toy, which are sure to make learning a new language fun and easy for kids everywhere.

Between birth and the age of six, the human brain is pre-wired for language learning, (they are wired to be little sponges learning everything) and Little Pim helps families take advantage of this brief window, by making language learning easy, fun and effective. Their unique Entertainment Immersion Method® provides total immersion in the language. The method engages a child’s love of play watching real kids and animation. Little Pim’s proven repetition technique helps children retain new vocabulary.  The program is the brainchild of Julia Pimsleur Levine, the daughter of Dr. Paul Pimsleur, creator of the Pimsleur Method, the popular language-learning program for adults.  She was inspired to create Little Pim based on her own bilingual childhood.

Little Pim is available in 11 languages including Spanish, French, Chinese and Italian on videos, music, books, flash cards, gift sets and more. The Little Pim special edition Discovery Sets retail for $39.95 exclusively at select Toys“R”Us® nationwide and at toysrus.com. Ages 6 months-6 years SRP $39.95

How About A Sticky Education: The Candy Experiments Book

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I love this book, The Candy Experiments by  and so do that kids because we get to explore candy. My biggest fear is that they eat more than they learn but we’re having fun while learning and it’s something they are going to keep with them for a long time. Plus they are so engaged and “on”.

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Brilliant use of Valentine’s, Easter, Halloween, and other holiday candy! Fun, colorful, and full of surprises, Candy Experiments will have kids happily pouring their candy down the drain and learning some basic science along the way. The experiments are quick and easy and they get to do things like make explosions.

Candy is more than a sugary snack.  With candy, you can become a scientific detective. You can test candy for secret ingredients, peel the skin off candy corn, or float an “m” from M&M’s. You can spread candy dyes into rainbows, or pour rainbow layers of colored water. You’ll learn how to turn candy into crystals, sink marshmallows, float taffy, or send soda spouting skyward. You can even make your own lightning.

Candy Experiments

teaches kids a new use for their candy.  As children try eye-popping experiments, such as growing enormous gummy worms and turning cotton candy into slime, they’ll also be learning science.  Best of all, they’ll willingly pour their candy down the drain.

Candy Experiments

contains 70 science experiments, 29 of which have never been previously published.  Chapter themes include secret ingredients, blow it up, sink and float, squash it, and other fun experiments about color, density, and heat.  The book is written for children between the ages of 7 and 10, though older and younger ages will enjoy it as well.  Each experiment includes basic explanations of the relevant science, such as how cotton candy sucks up water because of capillary action, how Pixy Stix cool water because of an endothermic reaction, and how gummy worms grow enormous because of the water-entangling properties.

Celebrates Presidents’ Day with Patriotic–Themed Books, Apps, DVDs, and More

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Patriotic product highlights include:

· Disney American Presidents – Check out the educational app Entertainment Weekly named one of the 10 best for 2012! Download it today for your iPad or iPhone for a fresh new way to learn about the extraordinary men who inhabited the Oval Office and set the course for our country. Just in time for Presidents’ Day! Created with a former producer of The Colbert Report and The Daily Show, the app features commentary from historical experts, presidential profiles, interactive pages, and videos. Available on iTunes. ($3.99)

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· Lincoln: A Steven Spielberg Film interactive book and Lincoln: A Cinematic and Historical Companion hardcover book by David Rubel with forewords by Steven Spielberg and Kathleen Kennedy, afterword by Tony Kushner – Go behind the scenes of Steven Spielberg’s historical epic, Lincoln. See how a crucial time in America’s history was recreated and brought to the screen in beautiful photos, art, interviews, music (with interactive book), and compelling historical narrative. The interactive book was created with Apple’s unique interactive book app and will allow the audience to immerse themselves in Abraham Lincoln’s most critical period as President of the United States. Interactive book available on iTunes. Hardcover book available wherever books are sold. ISBN: 1423181999; Price: $45.00; Ages: 18–30; Imprint: Disney Editions

· Grace for President by Kelly S. DiPucchio, illustrated by LeUyen Pham – With some hard work, a bright smile and a good campaign, Grace sets out to win her school’s mock presidential election when she learns that there has never been a woman president in the United States. Available wherever books are sold. ISBN: 1423139992; Price: $15.99; Ages: 5–9; Imprint: Disney-Hyperion

· John, Paul, George & Ben by Lane Smith – Once there were four lads… John [Hancock], Paul [Revere], George [Washington], and Ben [Franklin]. Oh yes, there was also Tom [Jefferson], but he was annoyingly independent and hardly ever around. These lads were always getting into trouble for one reason or another. In other words, they took a few…liberties. And to be honest, they were not always appreciated. This is the story of five little lads before they became five really big Founding Fathers. Available wherever books are sold. ISBN: 0786848936; Price: $16.99; Ages: 3–7; Imprint: Disney-Hyperion

· The American Presidents DVDs (Volumes 1–4) – The four DVDs in this series contain short-form biographies of our nation’s presidents, from George Washington to current President Barack Obama, as well as historical overviews of the eras in which these presidents presided. Also included in each DVD is an educational bonus feature, exploring issues such as why the United States selected presidency over monarchy to the important role the president and federal government play in managing our nation’s financial health. The DVDs feature interviews and insights from political experts and commentators, including Sam Donaldson, Wesley Clark, Paul Begala, Melissa Harris-Perry, and many more. Available on DisneyEducation.com. For a limited time, all DVDs are just $14.99 each when you buy any 4 or more.

· Mickey Icon Pin – American Flag – Disney salutes the United States of America with this patriotic pin featuring the Stars and Stripes on a cloisonné Mickey icon. Available on DisneyStore.com ($7.95).

· Vinylmation Holiday 3 Series Independence Day – 9” – Celebrate victory and freedom with this Independence Day figure. A revolutionary addition to your collection, this determined colonist is ready to fight. Or just stand there and look cool. Available on DisneyStore.com ($44.95).

 

Products available at Disney Store, DisneyStore.com, DisneyEducation.com, the iTunes Store, and wherever books are sold, are featured below, including the Disney American Presidents App; children’s books including the New York Times best-sellers Grace for President and John, Paul, George & Ben; the American Presidents DVDs; and an Independence Day Vinylmation figure.