Now that the holidays are approaching, those of us with young kids (or have young kids on our gift lists) have to start thinking about toys, toys, toys. Electronic toys -- you know, the ones with batteries and lights and sounds -- usually get a bad rap because there are some that you just turn them on and the child just watches the toy like it's a television, but trust me, Virginia, there are toys that beep and light up that can actually educate and engage as well as entertain. Case in point: DJ's Sing-a-Long Keyboard from Baby Genius. Baby Genius sent me one of these keyboards to review; here's what we thought of it:
The Basics
DJ's Sing-a-Long Keyboard is an electronic keyboard for toddlers. It's part of the series of Baby Genius toys that uses music to stimulate a young child's development. The keyboard enhances auditory skills, develops fine motor skills, and cultivates hand-eye coordination.
Here's what the makers of DJ's Sing-a-Long Keyboard have to say about their toy:
The show never stops with DJ's Sing-A-Long Keyboard! Hear 7 different Baby Genius sing-a-long songs or play along to 22 different tunes. Your child will be able to play 4 instruments andhear the different sounds: flute, whistle, guitar or saxophone. Press all the keys and hear DJ's hilarious giggly laugh! Make sure to record your masterpiece so you can play it back and hear it again and again.
The Bongga
This little keyboard is so cute! It doesn't require any instruction; just turn it on and your toddler can start banging away. I love how there are so many ways to play this keyboard -- you can chose which instrument to play, and which beat to play to. You can also play prerecorded songs to play the piano along with, or sing along to. You can even record and play back your own songs. It's difficult to imagine a young child getting bored with this toy!
The biggest surprise for me was how much my kids, at the advanced ages of 5,5 and 8, enjoy this toy! DJ's keyboard is rated for ages 2+, so I thought my kids would press a few keys and be happy to pass the toy on to their new baby cousin. At the very least, I thought they'd say the alligator-shaped keyboard was lame. Not so. They begged me to let them keep this keyboard forever and ever, and they've been having the time of their lives making up tunes with it. Understandably, the prerecorded kids' songs don't really interest them, but they always break out into laughter when they speed up the tempo and listen to the songs sung at full speed, like DJ the Dinosaur is high on helium. Hey, whatever entertains them. If their interest in music ever turns more serious, I suppose eventually they'll clamor for an actual electronic keyboard, but for now, DJ's Sing-a-Long keyboard is a fun, inexpensive introduction.
The Blah
The recording mode only records the keyboard; it can't record a mixture of the keyboard notes and beats. And I know I'm being nitpicky, but I wish it didn't sound so tinny!
The Bottom Line
If you have to buy your toddler an electronic toy, let it be this one. DJ's Sing-a-Long Keyboard isn't just a whole lot of irritating beeps and noise -- it's a great way to introduce your child to tone and rhythm. He'll have lots of fun experimenting and playing and he won't even realize he's learning all about music!
DJ's Sing-a-Long Keyboard
See a movie tonight, free!
There's nothing like a family night at the movies, and thanks to General Mills cereal I was able to take the kids to see Astro Boy last night. My kids don't usually do well at the movies because they scare easily, and The Pea is a little soggy cream puff when it comes to sad and emotional scenes, but they were excited at the thought of a night out with hotdogs and popcorn and all the trimmings! There was a lively debate over what to watch -- Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, A Christmas Carol, or Astro Boy -- but in the end, Astro Boy won.
Astro Boy tells the story of a boy robot made in the image of his creator's dead son. He's so lifelike that no one can tell he's a robot, which causes all kinds of conflicts in this futuristic world where robots are basically enslaved by humans. Astro Boy has some cool, but not scary, action scenes that my kids loved. There were some emotional scenes where my kids began crying, and The Pea was sobbing all throughout the end like she usually does at the movies, but they really enjoyed the movie, and they can't wait for our next movie night.
Make your own Movie Moments!
Here's a great deal: starting in November, General Mills' Cereals is going to help you and your family create your own Movie Moments! You can receive a free movie ticket when you purchase two specially marked packages of General Mills’ Cereals. After purchasing two cereals, visit generalmills.com/moviecash to enter the code found inside each box of cereal and print your free movie certificate good for admission to any movie.
Participating brands include select sizes of: Honey Nut Cheerios, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Lucky Charms, Trix and Reese’s Peanut Butter Puffs.
To find a participating theater near you, log onto
http://emoviecash.com/dis_locator/.
Win It!
Don't forget, my Movie Moments giveaway ends on November 14! One lucky winner will get a coupon for 4 free tickets and a box of General Mills cereal. Click here to enter, and good luck!
I received a sample in order to review this product, but no monetary compensation. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.
Bonggamom's Friday Finds -- The Bestest Giveaways Around the Blogosphere
As a giveaway blogger, I've found it's a great way to get more traffic to my giveaways. And as a person who loves entering giveaways, I've found it's a great way to find out where all the best giveaways are.
So I've started a weekly giveaway roundup post that hopefully people will find useful. Feel free to leave links to your giveaways, everyone. And don't forget to get cracking and enter all those giveaways!
The Green Year
I'm always looking for ways to "green" up our life, and I'm proud of the fact that we have already made several easy changes to help save the planet: we recycle, do laundry on cold, eat less meat, use cloth grocery bags, buy energy-saving lightbulbs, pack the kids' lunches in recyclable containers, use natural, eco-friendly household products, and so on.
But I know our carbon footprint is still closer to BigFoot's than Cinderella's. I cannot, cannot, will not give up my hot showers, I still drive a Toyota Sienna minivan (which gets an embarrassing 15 miles per gallon), we don't compost, we can't afford to buy organic sheets, and so on. So I need more easy, eco-friendly ideas!
A couple of weeks ago I posted about some of author Jodi Helmer's tips to make your Halloween a greener holiday. I've been reading her book, The Green Year, which has given me a whole new set of ideas for changes we can make.
The Basics
The Green Year (December 2008, $14.95, ISBN: 9781592578290, Alpha Books), provides 365 simple and inexpensive eco-friendly ideas for each day of the year. Organized by date, the green living tips suggest small changes and environmentally friendly ideas that make a big green impact. The Green Year is more than a calendar. It offers practical, affordable and engaging activities that help make going green a blessing rather than a burden.
About the Author
Jodi Helmer is a freelance writer who specializes in writing about eco-friendly topics. Her work has appeared in Plenty, Yoga Journal, Women's Health, Natural Solutions, Backpacker, Woman's Day, Family Circle and American Way. She is the co-author of The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Green Careers and a professional speaker who offers workshops on green issues. Helmer also maintains a website, www.green-year.com. She lives in Charlotte, NC.
The Bongga
I'm happy to say that this book is giving me a whole new set of ideas on how to make more easy, eco-friendly changes to our lifestyle! For example, I had never thought of filling up empty milk or soda jugs with water and freezing them in order to fill up an empty freezer (a full freezer works more efficiently that an empty one). Jodi's tips are simple and doable, and she never lets the perfect be the enemy of the good. If you don't think a particular tip won't work for you, she has no words of scorn. Each page has space for you to write your own notes down if you have an alternative to her tip that works better for you. Finally, I think it was really nice (and consistent) to note that the book itself is made from recycled paper; it shows that Jodi's commitment to going green goes beyond mere words.
The Bottom Line
If you're green behind the ears when it comes to eco-friendly living, take the first step towards saving the earth by reading The Green Year! And if you've already started down that green road, The Green Year will keep you going with lots of fresh, new ideas.
Last Day to Enter the Cheer detergent giveaway!
Just a reminder, my Cheer detergent giveaway ends tomorrow, so you've only got a short while left before your chances of winning some Cheer detergent plunges to zero! So Click here to keep reading and enter to win a bottle of Cheer detergent.....
Norman the Farting Elephant
November is here, and December is just around the corner.... time to start making a holiday gift-giving list! Wondering what to get for the person who has everything? How's this for a funny novelty gift? A farting elephant! We recently received Norman PhartEphant to try out; here's what we thought:
The Basics
Norman PhartEphant is a plush elephant that makes farting noises when you squeeze his tail. Apparently Norman is from Africa and has moved to the US, and the change of diet has caused him to become rather gassy.Here's how the makers of Norman PhartEphant describe him:
Norman PhartEphant™ was designed for the 3-10 year old crowd, but has become a favorite among those of any age that are yound at heart. Norman PhartEphant™ is adorable, cuddly, and hilarious; a combination not seen in other products! Laughter follows him where ever he goes.
Super soft and squeezable, at 10 inches round, Norman PhartEphant™ offers a variety of 8 fart sounds with a squeeze of his tail. Norman PhartEphant™ makes a favorite gift for your difficult to surprise child, co-worker, spouse, friend, and/or spouse.
The Bongga
Only Norman could turn a fart into something adorable. He's soft and cuddly and huggable, with the saddest little doe-eyes that say, Ooops.... sorry, I didn't mean to do that! Don't hate me! Of course we don't hate you, Norman! You're so cute and your farts don't even smell! Men, take note: if you have a tendency to belch and fart, this might make a great "I'm sorry" present for your girlfriend or significant other! On a deeper level, Norman's story offers a great opportunity to talk with kids about friendship and acceptance of other people's anomalies, follies and differences.
The Blah
The fart sounds are electronic recordings; I don't know whether they were recordings of actual farts or synthesized farts, but they sounded pretty genuine. However, for some reason I was expecting the fart mechanism to be mechanical rather than electronic. So I was expecting Norman to sound like a whopee cushion -- instead, his farts sound a bit "tinny", with the faintest hint of static. Also, I love the little back story that comes on Norman's tag but I'd have loved to learn more. The website sells storybooks, coloring books and kids' teeshirts for those who can't get enough of Norman, but I think Norman should come bundled with the storybook so that kids can get read Norman's story, and he can become more than just a farting elephant -- he can become their friend.
The Bottom Line
Norman Phartephant would make a humorous, whimsical present for farters of any age -- but for kids to find a special place in their heart for Norman, they should read the storybook as well.
Battle of Giants
Last week we were invited by Ubisoft, a gaming software company, to their San Francisco office to check out their lineup of games for Nintendo DS before they are released this holiday season. We tried and enjoyed several games from Ubisoft's Imagine, Petz and StyleLab lines, but 3Po's and Jammy's clear favorites were two games from Ubisoft's Battle of Giants series: Dragons and Dinosaurs.
The Basics
Ubisoft's Battle of Giants series allows your child to control dragons and dinosaurs and send them into battle with other dragons and dinosaurs. In Battle of Giants: Dragons, your dragon roams the land searching for gems and treasures, using combinations of gems to help win battles against other dragons. And in Battle of Giants: Dinosaurs, your dinosaur battles other dinosaurs for eggs and fossils, which you then use to unlock features that will make your dinosaur even faster and stronger. 
Here is what Ubisoft has to say about this series:
The Battle of GiantsTM series on Nintendo DSTM gives young boys the chance to control and battle some of the most magnificent creatures of all time. From dinosaurs to dragons, these games feature turn-based battles with intuitive and easy-to-play Touch Screen controls, multiple maps and levels for hours of exploration, and multi-player tournament mode to play against friends! Plus, players can customize their creature’s colors, patterns, and physical features to really make them unique. Check out the Battle of Giants video games today!
The Bongga
3Po and Jammy really enjoyed playing these games! Just configuring their dragons and dinosaurs (changing their colors, giving them different features, etc...) was fun, and they loved sending their creatures to battle other dragons and dinos. The interface is fairly intuitive and easy to learn; it didn't take 3Po and Jammy long to figure out how to control and maneuver their dragons and dinosaurs, and if your child is already familiar with the Nintendo DS system, he or she will get it in a snap. There are so many levels of play that they would have played for hours if I let them. They'll definitely get to enjoy many, many 20-minute sessions out of these videogames before they get bored!
The Blah
It's difficult for boys in grades K-1 to play these games since they constantly have to read instructions, especially in the beginning. I wish these games had age or level ratings as well as content ratings -- or that Ubisoft's Parents Corner had recommendations based not only on the child's interest, but also on the child's age -- so that we parents could tell which games are appropriate for our kids' skill level!
The Bottom Line
Ubisoft's Battle of Giants: Dragons and Battle of Giants: Dinosaurs are two great "big boy"-style videogames that even little boys can play.
Win Free Movie Tickets!
I remember the first movie I ever watched at a movie theater. It was The Sound of Music, and I must have been five or six years old. We didn't watch many movies when I was a kid, but once I entered college I must have gone to a movie theater at least once a week. I've got lots and lots of good memories at the movies; not only of the movies themselves, but of people and events that happened there, like sneaking into a second movie after the first movie ended or getting my first French kiss.
Now that I have kids, nights at the movies are few and far between for Alfie and me, which makes them all the more precious. The kids are just starting to enjoy full length movies (complete with the scary parts), so I was really happy when General Mills generously provided me with 4 free tickets and a box of free General Mills cereal -- perfect for our making some new Movie Moments! Stay tuned for my report on which movie we chose to watch and how our movie night went. Thanks General Mills!
Make your own Movie Moments!
Here's a great deal: starting in November, General Mills' Cereals is going to help you and your family create your own Movie Moments! You can receive a free movie ticket when you purchase two specially marked packages of General Mills’ Cereals. After purchasing two cereals, visit generalmills.com/moviecash to enter the code found inside each box of cereal and print your free movie certificate good for admission to any movie.
Participating brands include select sizes of: Honey Nut Cheerios, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Lucky Charms, Trix and Reese’s Peanut Butter Puffs.
To find a participating theater near you, log onto
http://emoviecash.com/dis_locator/.
Win It!
One lucky Bonggamom Finds reader will win a Movie Moment Prize Pack, courtesy of General Mills and MyBlogSpark, consisting of:
* 4 e-movie cash certificates ($12 each) redeemable at participating theaters (click here for a list of participating theaters).
* 1 coupon for a free box of General Mills cereal
To enter, simply leave a comment on this post and share your favorite movie moment. Was it when you spilled popcorn all over your boss, or the first movie you ever saw, or the first time you kissed at the movies? Don't forget to leave an email address or some other way of contacting you!
For extra entries, you can do any or all of the following (please leave a separate comment for each extra entry):
1) Grab my button -- it's on the left hand sidebar, or click here to get it -- and post it on your blog! (leave a comment here with a link to your site).
2) Blog about this giveaway and include a link to the giveaway post (leave a comment here with a link to your post).
3) Tweet this giveaway (leave a comment with a link to your tweet). Here is a sample tweet you can copy and paste:
Win a night at the movies from General Mills and @bonggafinds http://tinyurl.com/yl7qzn4
Maximum of 4 entries per person. Prize good at participating theaters and stores only. This giveaway ends at midnight PST on November 14, 2009.; I will draw a winner at random on November 15 and post the winner's name on the comments section soon after. For additional giveaway rules, click here. Good luck!
I received my own Movie Moments Prize Pack -- thanks, General Mills and BlogSpark! -- but no monetary compensation. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.
Get Healthy Hands Musical Handwash Timer
We're always trying to get the kids to wash their hands, especially now that the flu season is here. Is it lunchtime? Wash your hands. Finished with that ice cream cone? Wash your hands. Did you pick up that paper napkin from the floor of that public restroom? Ugh, wash your hands! Are you sniffling? Wash your hands! And get that finger out of your nose and wash your hands!
Doctors and medical professionals always tell us that washing hands frequently is one of the simplest and most effective ways of preventing the spread of germs and sickness. The CDC has some guidelines for the right way to wash your hands:
* Wet your hands with clean running water and apply soap. Use warm water if it is available.
* Rub hands together to make a lather and scrub all surfaces.
* Continue rubbing hands for 20 seconds. Need a timer? Imagine singing "Happy Birthday" twice to a friend.
* Rinse hands well under running water.
* Dry your hands using a paper towel or air dryer. If possible, use your paper towel to turn off the faucet.
But even with these guidelines, it's tempting to rush through the hand-washing process, especially if you're a kid and your Lego project is waiting upstairs for you. Unless I'm watching them like a hawk, they end up splashing a teaspoonful of water on their hands, or rubbing just a microdot of soap on their hands. That 20-second rule? You have no idea how quickly my kids can sing "Happy Birthday" when they're in a hurry. I recently reviewed a product that has really helped me and my kids do a much better job of washing our hands the right way: the Disney Musical Handwash Timer from Healthy Hands. Here's what we thought of it:
The Basics
The Disney Musical Handwash Timer is a rubber cap that fits over most standard soap nozzles. When you push down on the pump to dispense your soap, you press down on the timer, which turns the music and lights on. The music and lights go off after 20 seconds, so your child knows exactly how long he needs to be scrubbing his hands. There are two versions of the product -- Disney Little Mermaid and Disney Cars -- and each unit will last through over 1,000 uses. The product costs $3.99.
The Bongga
This is one of those ideas that is so simple and brilliant that you wish you had thought of it yourself. We already use musical toothbrushes to help our kids brush their teeth for the right amount of time, so why not a musical timer for handwashing? It's perfect! Even when I'm not in the bathroom with them, I hear the music playing, so I know they're washing their hands, and washing them properly. The timer really keeps us honest -- I'm often tempted to shortcut my handwashing myself, but (20 seconds is longer than you think!). Even better, the timer has made handwashing fun, so the kids actually wash their hands more often.
The Blah
This product is supposed to fit most kinds of liquid soap dispensers -- but it really only works best for the dispensers with thick, chunky soap pumps. The rubber needs to stretch out tight over the pump, otherwise it slips around from side to side, or slips off entirely. And the space between the timer and the soap pump quickly gets filled up with soap, which quickly turns into a chunky, gunky mess. Also, you need to remind your kids to turn off the faucet while they're scrubbing, because you don't want to be wasting all that water. Finally, parents beware -- that song can get pretty irritating!
The Bottom Line
The Disney Musical Hand Wash Timer is a wonderful way to get kids to wash their hands -- and wash them the right way. Just remember to buy a chunky soap dispenser!
Wonder Bread giveaway
My Wonder Bread giveaway ends November 4 -- you've only got a few days left to enter to win a $100 Visa gift card and a year's supply of Wonder bread!
Click here to get to the Wonder Bread review and giveaway post, and to enter......
