Tag Archives: toddler

Animal Fun Time iPhone app review + 5 readers will get a free copy!

Age 1-3, Age 3-5, Age 5-7, Educational Toys, Games, iphone, New posts, , , , , ,

Animal Fun Time iPhone appI’m having a blast trying out new iPhone apps and what’s even better is that I get to watch my kids enjoy them too! Yes, I try apps for organizing, apps for recipes, apps for travel, but apps for the kids are the most fun because my kids are involved and I love to see their reaction and desire to play or watch them over and over again.  My kids are on iPhone time limits.  I don’t recommend handing your iPhone over to your kids and letting them have at it for hours. I think about 10 minutes at a time is plenty.

Animal Fun Time (iTunes link), brought to us by people operating technology, provides interactive musical on-screen flashcards featuring the animals as the stars. Promoting interactive see, touch & recognition skills, with bright colors and great sound effects, it’s the perfect app for a busy toddler AND for a busy parent who needs a busy toddler!

So what is Animal Fun Time? It is an app that teaches toddlers ages 3+ animal recognition as well as hand-eye coordination.  There are 5 animals on the screen at a time and your child must ‘press’ on the correct animal to move to the next screen. Kids are awarded with realistic (if not real) animal sounds and enthusiastic praise when he/she presses on the correct animal.

Madelyn, 3 years old, has a great time with Animal Fun Time. She loves to hear the noise each animal makes when she chooses the correct animal. The game is randomized so the game is never the same and thus your kids won’t get bored with it. Oh, and don’t worry, there’s no need for instructions so you can count on handing your iPhone over to your toddler to play Animal Fun Time and she’ll be on her way to a super fun time!

GIVEAWAY!
Thanks to people operating technology, we are giving 5 lucky readers their own free copy of Animal Fun Time!
1 entry: Just leave a comment below telling me why you want to win Animal Fun Time and/or tell us a funny story about your child and your iPhone.  Did something crazy happen when your kid had your iPhone?  Let us know!
2 extra entries: Click the green ‘retweet’ button to share this post with your Twitter friends then leave a comment below with your Twitter ID.
Entries accepted until August 25th, 2009.

Alicia Hagan, Editor

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NUK BPA Free Learner Cup

Age 0-1 year, Age 1-3, Food and Drink, New posts, ,

NUK Learner Cups - BPA Free

The Nuk BPA Free Learner Cup easy grip handles are ergonomically shaped with anti-slip soft grips, making it easy for your ‘learning to hold a cup’ baby to hold.  My son, now 9 years old, was holding a cup by the time he was 2 months old.  Just kidding.. I was trying to be funny like the competitive moms at those kids gym classes. Madelyn however, was not quite as coordinated from what I remember and didn’t hold her cup until she was a little older, like 3 months.  Ha!

The soft, spill-proof spout is gentle on baby’s gum and is top rack dishwasher safe.  No more hand-washing cup tops!  Available in a variety of colors, NUK Learner Cups ease the transition from breast or bottle to cup while baby enjoys the colorful cup.

  • The NUK Learner Cup is part of NUK system and compatible with NUK wide neck bottles
  • Top rack dishwasher safe. Handles are removable for easy cleaning
  • offer a variety of colors: blue, red, green, in 5oz size

Gerber NUK accessories are now BPA free. Look for the BPA free logo on package.

Learn more about NUK Learner Cups here.

Alicia Hagan, editor

Gear Up for Potty Training

Age 1-3, Age 3-5, Guest post: TheFind.com, New posts, Potty Training, , , ,

pottytraining

Arm yourself with everything you need for successful potty training. Start with a potty seat that is comfortable for your child. My recommendation for a potty seat is the Baby Bjorn Toilet Trainer. It adjusts to fit any toilet seat and has a rubber ring to keep it in place so that it won’t slip. It is made of one solid piece of smooth plastic so there are no sharp edges. There are plenty of different types of seats to choose from. Find one that suits the needs of your child and yourself.

Next you will need some “tools”. Here are a few of my favorites:

  • Books– Sometimes it takes awhile to get the job done. Books help keep your toddler entertained while on the potty- hopefully long enough to make something happen. Books on the potty training topic are particularly helpful and can be read to the child prior to starting the training process to gear up.
  • Potty Charts– Children do well with positive reinforcement. Track their progress with stickers and reward them when a goal is reached.
  • Training Pants– Go old school with cloth training pants and a plastic cover for faster results. Your child will feel when he/she is wet and will likely learn a lot faster.
  • Potty Training Doll– a potty training partner in crime!
  • M&M’s– When all else fails, bribe them!

From our friends at TheFind.com.

Elephant Song free iPhone app – Madelyn watches over and over.. and over

Age 1-3, Age 3-5, iphone, New posts, ,

Elephant Song iPhone appThe YouTube sensation that is Eric Herman’s Elephant Song is now available on your iPhone for hours of entertainment for your toddler. Madelyn loves Elephant Song. She asks to watch it at night before bed.  I’m not sure how we got into that habit but it happened and it’s actually very entertaining to hear her sign along and watch her interact with the app.

The Elephant Song app is a music video and song that’s kids can interact with by tapping on the screen.  There aren’t any challenges like finding letters or numbers so this is a great iPhone app for young toddlers.   The song lyrics are funny and the graphics are simple, colorful and entertaining.   The screen shows a corresponding picture such as when Eric sings about a rooster who likes honey there is a rooster eating honey from a bee hive on the screen.  Next thing you know a cute little voice comes on saying no, that’s not right and corrects Eric.   The app moves through screens on its own and if your toddler wants to pause on a screen, she can press the pause button at the top of any screen.   Then when she presses on the animal on the screen she hears the sound that animal makes.  When the song is over Madelyn can build her own elephant from puzzle pieces that she can drag on the screen to put together.Elephant Song iPhone app

Just as I was writing this review and referring to the app, Madelyn walked up and stole my iPhone right from my desk!  She’s sitting on the couch, much like in the photograph above, watching the Elephant Song iPhone app, over and over again now.  It seems to never get old.  Good job guys!  We’ll see how this app entertains Madelyn on our 4.5 hr road trip Tuesday.

Download the Elephant Song iPhone app here Elephant Song.

Kmart Footwear – for moms who demand style and value

New posts, Past Giveaways, Shoes, , , , , ,

Kmart shoesMoms who demand stylish shoes for themselves and their kids but are on a budget will love Kmart’s shoe line.  I particularly like the Route 66 Elodie pictured here.

Kmart’s variety of trusted brands and exclusive collections is designed to give moms value, quality and style–all at affordable prices.

Kmart’s summer collection features Summer Wedges which are very popular now.   I can’t wear heels.. I have absolutely no coordination but I think I could pull of a pair of wedges.

Shoes for kids include Fisher-Price toddler sandals, outdoor shoes, and I’m sure their Transformers shoes are selling like crazy these days!    A few shoe brands Kmart offers are Disney, Protege, and Wrangler Jeans.. yes they make shoes.  Who’d of thought?

GIVEAWAY!
We are giving 1 lucky reader a $20 Kmart gift card!  Simply leave a comment below related to Kmart and/or shoes and you’re email address will be entered to win!  Contest ends July 10th.