Category Archives: Age 7-10

20Q the little round gadget that knows what you’re thinking

Age 7-10, Ages 10-13, Electronics, Fun stuff for parents, Gadgets, Games, Toys, Travel

20Q has been around for years and is now available in a smaller, smarter, pastel version.   20Q is an "artificial intelligence" game that tries to guess what you are thinking about by asking questions such as "is it alive", "does it make you feel good", and "is it hard". 
Much to my amazement, 20Q figured out what we were thinking 8 times out of 10.    How does it work, you ask?   By process of elimination.

I thought of an elephant, a balloon, and a piece of grass.  20Q guessed the elephant and balloon between the 15-20th guess but the closest 20Q got to guessing a piece of grass was guessing that I was thinking of a leaf.  That is still pretty good.  I was impressed. 

If 20Q doesn’t guess what you are thinking about (read your mind) by the 20th question, you win!
When 20Q asks the player a question, the player responds by pressing one of four buttons.  Yes, no, sometimes, or don’t know.  Based on your response 20Q asks the player another question.

20Q is a great game to take on vacation as it doesn’t blast annoying beeps and boings, nor does it take up much room being about the size of a child’s palm.  Recommended for ages 8 and up, 20Q is now available in spring colors.

Icon_website2   Learn more about 20Q or buy here

Braun ThermoScan ExacTemp

Age 0-1 year, Age 1-3, Age 3-5, Age 5-7, Age 7-10, Ages 10-13, Gadgets, Safety

BraunthermoscanexactempWhen Sebastian, now 8, was younger we used a traditional glass thermometer.  After we broke two glass thermometers which posed a danger because of the broken glass and tiny beads of mercury on the floor, I purchased an ear thermometer.  Ours is quite out-dated and when I recently received a Braun ThermoScan ExacTemp to review, I was very pleased with the features as compared to my 5 year old ear thermometer.

What makes it special: Braun’s ThermoScan ExacTemp thermometer is exceptional in that is features ExacTemp technology. To help avoid inaccurate temperatures the tip is warmed to a temperature close to that of a human body.   The ThermoScan measures the infrared heat generated by the eardrum and surrounding tissues.  The eardrum shares blood supply with the hypothalamus, the temperature control center in the brain, which means that changes in your child’s body temperature are reflected sooner in the ear than at other sites which is just one more reason to use an ear thermometer.

What’s included: The ThermoScan comes with protective tip covers and a protective case ensuring that the thermometer is secure when not in use.  To save battery life, the ThermoScan thermometer automatically shuts off after 60 seconds.  I am so tired of buying batteries..I love the auto-off feature!

More features: The LCD screen is easy to read and shows the battery level, the thermometer beeps when it is finished taking a temperature.  When your child is sick and you need to check her temperature often, the memory feature comes in handy.  You can store up to 8 temperatures and can access store temperatures easily.  The ThermoScan is light and is designed in such a way that it is easy to hold and won’t slip out of your hand. This thermometer fits into a compact protective case that also stores the probe covers.  I can’t tell you how many times I have had to buy a new pack of covers just because they got lost.. or Sebastian played with them.  Being able to store the probe covers directly in the case is great!

Important note:  There are at least two ThermoScan models so look closely at the details before buying as they have different features.

Icon_website2 Buy a ThermoScan at Amazon  OR learn more at the Braun website

Whole grain baking mixes…your kids can make!

Age 5-7, Age 7-10, Ages 10-13, Food and Drink

We were recently given the opportunity to try a few Kids Central Kitchen baking mixes and I am so excited to tell you about them. 
I tend to get stressed when I am cooking or in the kitchen in general but making Kids Central Kitchen’s Chocolate Chip Energy Bars was fun and was a good way for Sebastian and I to spend quality time together.  He had a blast making these bars.  Kids Central Kitchen’s baking mix recipes are easy for kids to follow and when finished baking the young chef will feel a great sense of accomplishment.

Kids
Central Kitchen’s natural, whole grain baking mixes are free from trans fats, hydrogenated oils,
refined sugars, high fructose corn syrup, artificial colors, flavors
and preservatives. So what do they have in them?  Yummy goodness.  Organic oats, semi-sweet chocolate chips, cane juice and the chef (that’s you) adds a few ingredients including applesauce and yogurt.  I wish I could put a ‘scratch and taste’ on here so you could taste the Chocolate Chip Energy Bars.  They are so good! 

Sebastian was very proud of himself for mixing and baking the bars and then serving the bars to all of us.  You can tell by the picture below that he was in absolute heaven when eating a bar.

Energybars

Baking mixes include the Homerun Oatmeal Raisin Cookie Mix, Slam Dunker Chocolate Chocolate Chip
Cookie Mix, Snow Angel Sugar Cookie Mix, Mudslinger Chocolate Brownie
Mix, Swinging Monkey Banana Bread Mix, Flip Flop Flap Jacks Pancake Mix
& our favorite, the Propeller Chocolate Chip Energy Bar Mix.

Icon_website2

Kids Central Kitchen

Icon_couponcode2
15% off your order with code ‘insider‘

Pixie gloves

Age 3-5, Age 5-7, Age 7-10, Baby & Kids Clothing, Fun stuff for parents

PixieglovesKeeping kids hands warm on cold days is a challenge.  Sebastian ends up with two fingers in one finger hole and I simply have a hard time getting full-fingered gloves on Madelyn’s little hands.

These tightly knit pink fingerless gloves from Frosty Petals feature a ruffle making them perfect for little girls. Madelyn is able to color, pick up sticks, and toys while wearing these gloves unlike with full-fingered gloves. 

Frosty Petals also sells gloves for little boys and parents that are just as well made and nice looking.  Prices vary depending on style and size and start off at around $10.  Full-fingered styles are also available as well as other colors including black, dark blue and more.

 

Icon_website2  Pixie Gloves at Frosty Petals

Ronzoni Smart Taste pasta

Age 3-5, Age 5-7, Age 7-10, Ages 10-13, Food and Drink

I try to buy all organic, whole wheat pasta as much as possible but Sebastian doesn’t like the ‘texture’ of some of the whole wheat pasta we’ve tried.  I agree that some whole wheat pasta can be ‘grainy’. 

Ronzoni’s Smart Taste pasta is a great alternative to graRonzonismarttastepasta iny whole wheat pasta’s and our kid testers loved the taste and texture of the pasta.  Little did they know they were getting about 25% of their DV of fiber and as much calcium as they would get in an 8 oz. glass of milk. 

Smart Taste is available in several varities including penne, spaghetti, thin spaghetti, elbows, and rotini so you can make all of your favorite pasta dishes with Smart Taste pasta’s.

I recently found out that I have high bad cholesterol and low good cholesterol so it is important that I eat foods that are cholesterol free. Ronzoni Smart Taste pasta is a cholesterol free food so I can induldge in an occasional pasta dish without feeling guilty.  The Ronzoni Smart Taste website has a lot of recipes to get you started with your Smart Taste meals. You can buy Ronzoni Smart Taste pasta at your local grocery store.

I have ten boxes of Ronzoni Smart Taste penne pasta to giveaway!  This giveaway will be held from March 3rd 2008 until March 10th 2008.  Click here to enter to win.  I will contact the winners by email and will request the winners mailing addresses then.

Icon_website2 Ronzoni Smart Taste pasta