Summer road trips are quickly approaching and I’m desperately searching for entertainment for the kids, but not of the DVD variety.. the whole time anyway. Listening to podcasts is a great way to entertain the kids without having to play a movie, car bingo, or I spy for the millionth time. What I love about audio podcasts is that just like when reading a book, they require a bit of imagination. After the podcast is over I’ll ask them what they think the characters look like, what they are wearing, how old they are.. etc.. That gets them engaged in conversation and usually makes for some pretty good laughs.
The links below will open the podcast page in iTunes.
Here are a few Kids Podcasts that are fun for road trips:
I guess I’m sticking with a bird theme for this week’s Featured Etsy Items. I’ve been knitting for about a year now and am pretty proud of my washcloths, coin purse, headband, and baby blanket I made, but boy would I be excited if I could knit an iPhone case. But you know what? I think I’d almost rather pay $7 for a handmade knit iPhone case from an artist on Etsy, than go buy the yarn myself, figure out the pattern, and spend the time knitting it. If you are an Angry Birds addict, this is the iPhone case for you!
About the Artist:
Heather Rivera loves to create whether it be poems, pencil drawings, crochet items or scrapbooking. She just enjoys it and loves to share her ideas and projects with others. There is not a greater feeling than seeing someone enjoy something that you’ve created, says Heather. Heather is am a mom of one beautiful little girl and would love to share her crafts with you!
About our Today’s Featured Etsy Items posts: Please note that items sold on Etsy are often one of a kind and the prices may change. As of the writing of this post, the price for this item was as featured above.
Now kids can enjoy their favorite books from your iPhone! Forget the playstations, game consoles and DVDs, our mobile picture books will entertain and educate your child in the car, plane, train and more.
It’s almost a nightly ritual that after reading books, Madelyn gets my iPhone and read/watch two of Madelyn’s favorite PicPocket books; Eric And The Enchanted Leaf: The First Adventure by Deborah K. Frontiera and BlueBeary by Kathleen McMillan.
Madelyn with PicPocket Books app on my iPhone
PicPocket Books show both the words and the images from the book on your phone and readers can choose to read a PicPocket book to Madelyn or to have the narrator read it. And coming soon, friends and family can read and record the story in their own voices! Madelyn can touch the screen to turn the page or I can set the app to turn the pages automatically which I do when I’m hoping Madelyn will sit and watch the book by herself for a few minutes. The story can be paused anytime as well.
Madelyn is showing interest in learning to read and PicPocket books are great for that because the words are highlighted as they are read. The graphics are incredibly sharp and high quality, it’s just like reading a book but with a shiny screen.
PicPocket Books specializes in adapting and creating children’s books for the iPhone and iPod and that is noticeable in the quality of their apps. They don’t develop other types of apps which I think would diminish the quality of their book apps. Great job PicPocket Books!
PicPocket books range in price from .99 to $3.99 per book. You won’t be disappointed!
PicPocket books Eric and the Enchanted Leaf iphone book
PicPocket Books GIVEAWAY!
One lucky reader will win 4 PicPocket Book titles, for the iphone/ipod, of their choice from and 2 Kids Math Fun iphone/ipod apps!
How to enter to win:
Mandatory – Fill out the form below.
Optional for an extra entry – After you fill out the entry form, leave a comment telling us what your favorite PicPocket Book app is and why you want to win.
Did you know that your cell phone can be used as a GPS device?
TeleNav GPS Navigator (also called AT&T Navigator and Sprint Navigation) is a GPS navigation application that I’ve been using on my iPhone for a few weeks. It’s just like having a GPS device but it runs on your mobile phone. It provides GPS-enabled turn-by-turn directions, more than 12 million business listings, traffic rerouting, restaurant reviews, speech recognition, online route pre-planning and more. As we head into the summer travel season and the kids’ school year wraps up, TeleNav GPS Navigator is great for finding locations and providing directions to soccer fields, parks, restaurants and summer road-trip destinations.
The application works on more than 500 GPS-enabled phones like the iPhone, BlackBerrys and many Android phones and is free. You just pay your cell phone carrier a monthly fee for the service and you’re ready to trave far and wide with TeleNav!
What I love about TeleNav GPS Navigator:
I don’t have to keep up with a GPS unit.. as long as I know where my iPhone is 😉
I’m not nervous about going to new places anymore
The directions have been PERFECT so far. I used AT&T Navigator to get me to several places in and around metro Atlanta that I’ve never been before and was directed to each location without a problem. I love when the voice tells me “your destination is on the right”. Like I can’t see the big sign for where I’m going but that’s what’s great about TeleNav GPS Navigator is the attention to detail. If a take a wrong turn TeleNav will reroute me automatically and quickly.
It gives me traffic updates! Wether I’m starting a new route or inroute TeleNav GPS Navigator / AT&T Navigator will give me a verbal and icon alert if there is traffic coming up. It even tells me which lanes are closed. If only it would make my Nissan Quest hover over the traffic.. wouldn’t that be great? When I’m given a traffic alert, I can push the traffic alert icon to get a new route if one is available.
TeleNav iPod controls
Keep listening!
There is an iPod icon on the GPS Navigator screen that when clicked brings up my iPod music controls so I can listen to music while getting turn by turn instructions.
I won’t get busted by the police for going too fast.. if I listen! The speed limit alerts are sure to let me know verbally and with an icon on the iPhone screen, when I’m going a little too fast. I am not a big speeder but I have been ‘busted’ as my 10 year old calls it, twice on the highway, by TeleNav. Ooops.. sorry!
Finding places is EASY!
If I am in an unfamiliar area, I can find the closest ATM, Wi-Fi hotspot, gas station, miniature golf, specific restaurant and more with the click of a button. What’s really funny is that I learned about a few parks and roller skating rinks that I didn’t know existed near me, just by clicking on the Amusement Parks button in the Search! Thanks TeleNav!
I can shake it to get home!
All I need to do to get home from somewhere is shake my iPhone and directions back to my ‘Home’ location come up.
One thing that I would like to see change about TeleNav GPS Navigator is the way the turn-by-turn voice prompts are heard over the iPod music. The music fades down in volume when the voice prompts come on but I think it would be nice if the music paused and then start back up where it left off when the voice prompt is done. Most of the voice prompts are just a few seconds long so it’s not a big deal, but if I’m not familiar with where I’m going then I would like for the music to stop while the GPS is telling me what to do.
TeleNav GPS Navigator is a must have for summer road trips. Gosh, it’s on your phone, it’s affordable, it’s simple to use, TeleNav is extremely comprehensive (jam packed with information), and gives parents much needed peace of mind while travelling.
Here is a 5 minute demo video I shot explaining how I use TeleNav GPS Navigator on my iPhone.
Sorry about the shaky video and the darkness. I think I need some new video equipment!
Disclosure: The Mommy Insider was given a free trial for TeleNav GPS Navigator subscription to use for purposes of this review. The opinions featured here are our own and were not influenced by free product or service.
TeleNav GPS Navigator Giveaway
We are giving two lucky readers a free one-year TeleNav GPS Navigator subscription!
To enter to win:
1. Mandatory – follow @telenav on Twitter
2. Mandatory – Leave a comment below telling us why you want to win OR fill out the form below.
Entries accepted through August 24th, 2010. Winners will be chosen randomly and will be contacted by TeleNav’s PR via email, with details on how to set up the free one-year TeleNav subscription. Winners must already own and have carrier service for a supported device. Click here to see TeleNav supported devices. The TeleNav contest is open to U.S. residents 18 and older only.
Fill out this form to enter to win if you do not want to leave a comment
My 10 year old told me a few months ago that I really shouldn’t talk on the phone while driving. He’s right. We all know it but a huge majority of people still do it. I have a feeling that a lot of moms still talk on their cell phone while driving even though we know better.
Even thought we shouldn’t talk on the phone while driving a lot of people still do. That’s why a headset is important. Most cell phones are bluetooth compatible now which means that you can use a bluetooth headset. I’m sure you know how a headset works but for those of you who don’t, a bluetooth headset ‘connects’ wirelessly to your cell phone, you put it on your ear and you can answer and make phone calls safely while driving if needed. In most cases have to actually dial the phone number.
I’ve been using a Sound ID 400 bluetooth headset and love it. It fits snug in my ear which has been a problem with one other headset I’ve used. The part that goes in the ear can be adjusted to fit the left or right ear just to my liking.
The Sound ID 400 complements the natural hearing process, resulting in a lightweight, comfortable Bluetooth device that is scientifically designed to feel good, look good and sound even better.
Enhancing the natural hearing experience, the Sound ID 400 successfully delivers exceptional wire-free Bluetooth connectivity, including comfort, acoustic clarity and customized sound settings.
Multiple Charging Options: Standard Micro USB charging connector. Charge from the included AC Charger (100-240V) or from a powered USB port on your PC.
I work from home and am on the phone quite a bit so I use my Sound ID 400 bluetooth headset while at home with my home phone. I hardly ever hold a phone anymore. I can talk while cooking, cleaning, doing laundry, etc. Your phone must be within about 30 feet of you but most home phones can be attached to you and your cell phone can be in your pocket and you’re just fine.
The Sound ID 400 bluetooth headset is a well worth it $129 and can be purchased on the Sound ID website here.
Read more of my review of the Sound ID 400 bluetooth headset here.
Here are a few Kids Podcasts that are fun for road trips:
Even thought we shouldn’t talk on the phone while driving a lot of people still do. That’s why a 