v 2 issue 1: Media Mania

We have chosen some wonderful and educational programs for the web and tv for your children. We encourage you to step into the cyberworld and join your child with safe exploration of the internet.



Cover by Alexi Killmer







1 Who doesn't like puzzles? Now your child can get their puzzle fix on the computer with Puzzlemania CD-Rom's. No paper to throw away when the maze is complete. This program even has a "hint" button when your child gets stuck. Puzzlemania will help build learning skills such as logical thinking and following directions with a huge variety of interactive games. Best of all, they didn't forget the Hidden Pictures Highlights is so famous for.

2 All well behaved little preschoolers (or the ones who need a little practice!) gather round to hear the tales of King Otis and his Kingdom of Goode. Theses videos do a fabulous job of teaching lessons of patience, tolerance, and sharing through warm-hearted storytelling. Brilliant animation and Broadway style tunes add to the adventures and make it a perfect fit for your 3-5 year old.

3 What child doesn't love to jump around, dance and have fun? Click over to the super fun site Superfunshow.com to find music and videos. The videos will teach your child some funky dance moves and the songs are fun too! Beware you will catch yourself having just as much fun learning the dance moves.

4 Help your child learn sight words easily with Fish for Words. Fish for Words is an online educational game that will help your child master the most common words used by schools. There are 5 grads levels for your child to learn, so it offers years of learning. Since it is online you can access it anywhere but it also offers printable cards as well. View their online tutorial at Fishforwords.com.

5 If your child loves playing with cars…Gary's Gadget Building Cars game is the perfect gift. By using Gary's junk yard they can put together any combination of parts to create their car. Once they have created their masterpiece they are ready to take it for a spin and head off to an auto show, gas stations and will find their help is needed by the neighbors. They will find through trial and error and using their thinking skills that they can build a car that will make it through all the missions. While younger drivers may need help we think that older kids will love this game and it gets them using their brains to solve problems.

6 Enlighten, inspire and spark the imagination of your child with The Book of Virtues series. Available on DVD and based on their best selling book, the series teaches your child the core virtues of honesty, compassion, responsibility, courage, self-discipline, work, friendship, loyalty and perseverance though their heart warming stories.

7 Nervous about sending your child off to school? Leave one worry behind by prepping them for learning with Preschool Prep Company's learning DVDs. We love the Meet the Sight series of DVD's as they teach the important high frequency words that must be learned by memorizing. Used in many schools, the Meet the Sight DVD's will help your child move to the head of the class quickly and make learning fun and easy.


This weeks mom tips
Cleaning Tip:
Keep the toilet bowl ring-free by pouring a half-gallon of white vinegar in it once a month. Let it soak overnight before flushing.
Green Tip:
When buying new household appliances, electronics, and lights, look for ones that have earned the ENERGY STAR®. They meet strict federal energy efficiency guidelines that can save you money and are better for the planet.
Time Saving Tip:
Buy in bulk…if you have the space, plan ahead and buy things in bulk. You’ll save money and time by not having to go to the supermarket so often.
Financial Tip:
Save on nearly anything you need and want. Search for online coupons by searching Google with the store name or item along with the word coupon. Voila…savings! Our favorite is ChuckECheese.


Step into the cyberworld
Make sure your family is protected from inappropriate content online. Preserve the best of what's online for your kids and avoid the garbage with proper supervision.

Browsers-
Some kids' browsers come with pre-selected lists of positive content built into their program; they can make it easier for children to find Web sites that are fun and educational, and can keep them from directionless surfing that might lead them into inappropriate areas. Some kids' browsers utilize filtering software to filter out access to inappropriate content.
KidZui is a kid’s browser that makes surfing the Internet fun and engaging for kids from ages 3-12. KidZui has all the sites and games your kids love with access to over 600,000 websites, pictures and videos.

Search Engines-
Kids' search engines sometimes define their content through the use of a filtering tool and some use content from preselected lists, compiled through human review. It is important to remember that kid-safe search engines do not filter Internet content in general, just the results that come up when you enter a search.
kids.yahoo.com/

The makers of Yahooligans!, Yahoo! Inc., described their product as: a browsable, searchable directory of hand-screened Internet sites for kids 7-12. Site also includes other content features including games, sports, news, animals, science and dinosaurs, a reference area, and more.
Instruct kids to use ajkids.com (Ask Jeeves) instead of Google. Google has no filters what so ever for adult material.

Monitor your computer:
Monitor and control access to your home or office computer and laptops from anywhere, anytime with snoopstick.com.
Setting time limits:
EyeTimer is a software that turns televisions and computers on and off. Parents set a time budget for each child-an hour a day Monday through Friday, for example. When the child wants to watch TV or use the computer, he or she signs on to EyeTimer, which turns on the device. When the prescribed time is up, it automatically shuts off.

There are so many great websites out there for your kids. Here are just a few of our favorites:
The Science Explorer
NickJr.com
KBears

Set house rules:
Give time limits for computers and TV.
Use the parental controls that your ISP provide as well as your TV remote, password protect the channels that your child should not be viewing.