Baby Einstein Review and Giveaway

I remember when Baby Einstein Videos fist came out 10 years ago. The simple, colorful visual images along with soothing music was (and still is) a refreshing contrast to the "boom boom boom" flashiness of many children's videos.

I received the Baby Mozart DVD, which was perfect for me, since I'm a music teacher! I think it's so important to expose the young mind to the order and structure of music, and the research supports that theory! I loved this video, and so did the kids. Even my three year old was attentive as the unique perspectives of the camera shots on intricate images were accompanied by soothing music.
We also explored the Lullaby Classics CD, with selections by Baroque and Classical Masters, and the Touch and Feel Farm Animals book.The book gives another dimension to the reading experience. And lest you think these books are only for babies, I caught my almost eight year old sneaking a touch of the textures, while trying to look cool!
Of course, you can't just plop your baby down in front of a DVD and have them become an "Einstein," but Baby Einstein videos and products provide a jumping off point to quality interaction and cognitive development of your child. I encourage you to watch the videos and listen to the CDs with your child and learn together. Here are some activities you can do to get the most out of your time together.

From the Video Theme to the Real World Scene Whenever there is an opportunity to link what you have seen on the DVD to other experiences in baby’s life, make that connection. For example, if you watched a DVD about animals, you might say, “Oh, look. There’s a BIG fish on the screen. Do we have another fish in our house?” And off you go to look at your gold fish. This kind of activity shows baby that something we see in one place can be seen in other places too.

Bring it to Life If children or puppets on the DVD are jumping or dancing, you can hold your little one and dance along to show baby how it feels. You can also play infant sized musical instruments to accompany the DVD Orchestra. Or, try using puppets or baby’s favorite stuffed animals to mimic the action in the DVD. You may get giggles from your little one. Babies usually want to do what they see and you can make that happen.

Make it a Family Affair Consider using DVD time as a way to interact with the whole family. If baby has an older sibling(s) around you can invite them watch the DVD with you. Encourage your older child to point out the names of the animals, say the colors, or even make animal sounds. They will probably love playing with baby and will be excited about showing off how much they know!

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And now for the GIVEAWAY! Comments will be open through Thursday, December 18!

I'm giving one reader of Real Life Review a chance to win your choice of the DVD, CD, or book! (pick one)

• Hop over to BabyEinstein.com and choose your favorite developmental product. Leave a comment on this post.
• If you follow me on Twitter, you get an extra chance.
• If you tweet or blog this giveaway, you can get a third chance. be sure to begin your tweet with @sarahsingforhim so Ill know.
  

Kit Kittredge: An American Girl

These days, it's hard to find a kid's movie that a) is completely wholesome and honoring to girls, and b) doesn't slap you in the face with its socio-political agenda! However, I've always loved the American Girl movies. My kids can identify with the girls, they learn a little history, and I have no qualms when they want to dress up and reenact the story.

When Kit Kittredge was released, I looked for a theater playing the movie near us, and the closest I could find was an hour and a half away. We were disappointed at first, but I turned it into a road trip adventure for me and the kids. We met my friend, Heather, who lives near the theater, and made a day of it!

Kit Kittredge: An American Girl was no exception to the fine tradition of American Girl films. Set at the beginning of the depression, the movie deals with economic loss, class prejudice, honesty, and the value of community- with subtlety graciousness.

Aspiring reporter Kit Kittredge can't resist bringing home strays, whether it's Grace, an abandoned basset hound, or Will and Countee, a pair of young hobos willing to trade work for meals. Bright, inquisitive and generous, Kit is a natural born leader. But her happy childhood is abruptly interrupted when her father loses his car dealership and must leave Cincinnati to look for work. Kit and her mother Margaret are left to manage on their own, growing vegetables, selling eggs and even taking in an assortment of boarders including an itinerant magician, a vivacious dance instructor on the prowl for a husband and a zany mobile librarian. When a crime spree sweeps Cincinnati, all signs point to the local "hobo jungle," where Will and Countee live with a group of their impoverished companions. Kit, who always has her antennae out for a good news story, convinces her new friends to take her to see the hobo camp for herself and writes an article that creates a sympathetic portrait of the campâs residents. But when Kit's mother and their boarders become the latest victims in a string of robberies, Kit's loyalties are tested. Will is accused of the crimes and, with all of their savings gone, the Kittredges face losing their house to foreclosure. Determined to recover the stolen money and believing Will is innocent, Kit recruits her friends Ruthie and Stirling to help her track down the real culprit. Together they uncover a plot that goes far beyond Cincinnati!

This movie teaches valuable lessons, without reaching out of the screen and smacking you in the face with them (unlike certain robot and penguin movies that shall remain nameless). I've been working with my children in the area of gratefulness this summer. I was thrilled that they got to see how Kit deals with her family's struggles, gladly moves her room to the attic to take in strangers, makes friends with the outcast hobos, and fights for justice. I even had a little more hope, considering our country's economic downturn. We're nowhere near a depression, but I came away thinking, "Hey, we don't need all our fancy comforts (although they're nice!). We can get through anything with a little ingenuity and community cooperation." And you'll know, when you see the movie, why Kit Kittredge totally needs a blog! I could really identify with her.

The acting and writing are great, and Abigail Breslin is adorable! Some of my favorite actors appear, including Chris O'Donnel, Joan Cusack, Wallace Shawn of Princess Bride fame (inconceivable!), and cameos by Collin of Who's Line is it Anyway. I just love him. My kids and I loved this movie, and highly recommend it for families.

Have you seen it? What did you think?

Real Life Movie Picks

This page will be a quick pick list of movies we've enjoyed. I'll be adding them as I think of them.

Drama
Diary of a Mad Black Woman (one of my all time favorites)
Dream Girls
The Great Debaters
The Notebook
Life is Beautiful

Action
Vantage Point
The Italian Job

Kids
An American Girl: Kit Kittredge

Kung Fu Panda/ HP CD-ROM Giveaway

We've heard a lot about the new movie, Kung Fu Panda lately. I was excited to receive an activity CD-ROM from Dreamworks and HP. The CD has:

• The Panda Dance Video: My kids really enjoyed watching the video, especially since they take dance class. There is a special video, where the kids (or you!) can learn the "Panda Dance" step by step. This was really fun for us, although my oldest daughter would only do the motions if she didn't know I was looking. Very fun!
• Photo/Print Projects: We easily uploaded our own photos to make cards, frames, etc. We also customized and printed out bookmarks and labels
• Ringtones/ Screensavers
• Links to fun websites with games and more to explore.
• and More!

I honestly have not seen this movie, but the CD-ROM has inspired us to go. We made the wrong decision about which animated movie to see last week, but tons of my friends have said they thoroughly enjoyed Kung Fu Panda.

I have four of the activity CDs to give away, so I will send one the first four people to leave a comment on this post. Please email your mailing address to Sarah (click here)

TripFLIX Family Travel DVD: A Summer Learning Adventure

When I received the TripFLIX DVDfrom Team Mom, I thought, "OK, cool, my kids always love videos." We popped it in and began watching. We soon found out that this is so much more than your typical video to keep the kids occupied for a little while. It is incredible!

Remember the "Choose-Your-Own-Adventure" Books we used to read as kids? Well, TripFLIX is actually an interactive video with 25 kid-friendly destinations all across the continental US. You choose the route you wish to travel, and the fun teen guides highlight the history, culture and attractions along the way. It's the ultimate choose-your-own-adventure DVD!

As I watched it, I was amazed at how educational the video is! I even learned a thing or two. My seven-year-old daughter loves trivia, so she was excited when the trip included trivia questions, such as State Capitals, World Records, and where the first hamburger was made.

The entire running time is 2 hours, but you can break it up into smaller segments. You can find out all 25 destinations, and the stpry behind the creation of the DVD at the website, www.tripfilx.com

As a former teacher, I'm always looking for ways to stretch learning activities and create with kids. Just to illustrate how you can use this video, I decided to highlight a few of the New England Destinations, and suggest a craft or activity that could be paired with the video. You could make this into your summer project, make a "suitcase" out of a cardboard box, spend a day or a week on each destination. The possibilities are endless.

Maine:

• Video: See how to make a wooden boat
• Craft: Make paper boats and float them in a creek, pond or kiddie pool.
• Science: Try different thicknesses of paper, and see which floats better. Study buoyancy, currents, and wind.
• Geometry: Try different shaped boats, and figure out how to make a template with different shapes.
• Play: Get up on the playset or treehouse, and pretend you're the captain of a sailboat.
  

Vermont:

• Video: Vermont Teddy Bear factory
  
• Craft: Make teddy bear shapes out of felt, or faux fur. Cut out clothes shapes from old clothes, rags, or scrap fabric.
  
• History: The video says that the Teddy Bear was named after Teddy Roosevelt. Study Roosevelt, and print out pictures to color.
  

Massachusetts:

• Video: Pilgrims/ Plymouth Rock
  
• Play: Pretend to go on a long journey around the yard. Find a rock and bring it inside.
  
• Craft: Paint your rock to represent your new settlement.
  
• Social Studies: Name your new settlement and figure out how you can survive the coming winter.

• Video: The first gristmill (Grinds corn into flour - well, I didn't know before watching this video.)
• Activity: Make Cornbread. Let the kids feel the cornmeal, and imagine that it was once whole corn.
  
• Math: Let the kids measure each ingredient, and make conversions if necessary.
• Research corn used for ethanol, and other uses for corn.
  
• THE BEST cornbread recipe, IMO, is found on the bag of Hodgeson Mill Cornmeal. Just add a little extra sugar.
  

Anyway, those are a few of the activities I would do after watching segments of TripFLIX. I give this video 5 blooms! It is definitely worth getting.

You can order it by clicking here: