Dad of Divas' Reviews: school

Showing posts with label school. Show all posts

Monday, August 11, 2014

Get You Kids Ready For Math With a Casio Calculator

About the Calculators
The summer is half over and that means one thing – time for some much-needed back-to-school shopping. Clothes. Accessories. Backpacks. Students are hitting the stores to find the fashions that best express their personal styles. But personal style doesn’t have to stop there.

Style can carry over to school supplies and electronics. If you are working on any stories/segments about back-to-school fashion, we’d like to offer Casio’s latest line of scientific and graphing calculators for consideration. This school year, Casio is offering an extensive portfolio of calculators to help students excel at any math level, ranging from elementary school through college – all in fresh shades of pink, blue, black, gray and white that are almost as bright as the students using them.

In addition to personality popping color, Casio’s portfolio of color calculators offers features for basic math to trigonometry including a built-in spreadsheet, which has a graphing function for problems that require plotting points on a graph or entering x-data and y-data in a table, and more.

My Take on the Book
As my oldest gets older, I know that Math will continue to get harder. I always had difficulty with Math and I hope that she doesn't, but I want her to have the skills and the tools to be able to get through the Math too if she does. These calculators are AWESOME. Now you can easily work through your math problems and be stylish too. Talk about fun. Your child can pick from five colors and get a calculator for a reasonable price. On top of this, the calculator was lightweight and easy to use too. I still remember when I was young and had to get calculators like this, they were way more expensive and heavy and you had no choice on color (that's for sure). My how time has changed. Now you do get choice, and you get a calculator that makes sense and is pretty easy to use too. I truly believe that this calculator will truly help her as she enters fourth grade this year and I know that Casio has other great options available that I can turn to as she grows and gets into different grades with different math needs. Thanks Casio!

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Wednesday, August 21, 2013

The MatSack Gives You Piece of Mind As You Send Your Kids Back to School

About the Product
Its hard to believe that August is already here! With the back to school season just about here GILT is kicking off our back to school sales this Sunday, August 11th. All week long you will see top savings on must have items like backpacks, lunch bags, and the best in apparel and footwear. The weeklong event will then live in a Back to School shop that will live on the site leading up to the school season. Below is a sneak peek at what you can expect. I have also include a lineup of when which brands and themes launch. If you have any questions or are interested please let me know. Thanks, I look forward to your thoughts. To check out GILT's full back to school event visit www.gilt.com/backtoschool

MatSack

GILT $20 (original $27.99)
These one of a kind lunch boxes with built in personal eating surfaces are the must have back to school accessory
They are durable, water resistant and have an optional shoulder strap
The placemat assures your child will eat on a clean surface at every lunch break

My Take on the Product

The only update from this review is that if you want more information outside of the GILT site, you can find out more at mymatsack.com - I had said matsack.com which was not accurate.

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Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Prevent the Spread of Pink Eye As Children Head Back to School

According to the American Journal of Infection Control, more than 164 million school days are missed annually in U.S. public schools due to the spread of infectious diseases. An astonishing 3 million of those school days are lost as a result of acute conjunctivitis, also known as “pink eye.”

In recognition of September’s “Children’s Eye Health Month,” the American Academy of Ophthalmology wants to teach parents and educators how to prevent the spread of pink eye in the classroom.

“Pink eye is all too common amongst children, it is one of the most common conditions I treat,” says Lee Duffner, MD, ophthalmologist and clinical correspondent for the Academy. “The only way to really prevent pink eye from spreading is to practice good hygiene.”

What is conjunctivitis?
Conjunctivitis is the term used to describe swelling of the conjunctiva — the thin, filmy membrane that covers the inside of your eyelids and the white part of the eye, known as the sclera. There are three forms of conjunctivitis: viral, bacterial and allergic.

Viral conjunctivitis, the most common form of pink eye, is caused by the same virus that causes the common cold. Just as a cold must run its course, so must this form of pink eye. It is also very contagious.

Bacterial conjunctivitis is a highly contagious form of pink eye, caused by bacterial infections. This type of conjunctivitis usually causes a red eye with a lot of pus.

Allergic conjunctivitis is a form of conjunctivitis that is caused by the body's reaction to an allergen or irritant. It is not contagious. This type of conjunctivitis is usually associated with redness in the white of the eye or inner eyelid.

How do you get pink eye and how do you prevent it?
Conjunctivitis, whether bacterial or viral, can be quite contagious. Children are usually most susceptible to getting the condition from bacteria or viruses because they are in close contact with so many others in schools or daycare centers. Some of the most common ways to get the contagious form of pink eye:

Reusing handkerchiefs and towels when wiping your face and eyes
Forgetting to wash hands often
Frequently touching eyes
Using old cosmetics, and/or sharing them with other people
Not cleaning contact lenses properly

Prevention:
Practicing good hygiene can help prevent the spread of conjunctivitis. If a child is infected, make sure to do the following to help prevent the spread of the illness:

Encourage children to wash their hands often.
Tell them to avoid touching their eyes.
Discourage the reusing of towels, washcloths, handkerchiefs and tissues to wipe their face and eyes.
Change their pillowcase frequently.

Treatment:
With viral conjunctivitis, symptoms can last from one to two weeks and then will disappear on their own.
For bacterial conjunctivitis, an ophthalmologist (Eye M.D.) will typically prescribe antibiotic eye drops to treat the infection.

Allergic conjunctivitis treatment often includes applying cool compresses to the eyes and taking antihistamines.

Home care tips:
A compress applied to closed eyelids can relieve some of the discomfort of pink eye. To make a compress, soak in water then wring out a clean, lint-free cloth. If a child has conjunctivitis in one eye only, don't use the same cloth on both eyes in order to avoid spreading the infection from one eye to the other.

If a child has bacterial or viral conjunctivitis, a warm compress is usually best. If their eyes are irritated by allergic conjunctivitis, try a cool water compress. Over-the-counter lubricating eyedrops - artificial tears - may also provide relief from pink eye symptoms.

If these symptoms persist, be sure take your child to see an ophthalmologist to receive proper care.

To find out more information on pink eye and other eye conditions and diseases, visitwww.geteyesmart.org.

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Disclaimer for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

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Monday, August 29, 2011

Preparing Your Child For School - Tips from Avenues: The World School

As summer comes to a close, and parents are helping their children transition to go back to school, a common concern of parents is separation: Will my child be able to separate? Will the teacher understand his/her needs? The first day of school brings a mixture of emotions for both parents and children. Nancy Schulman, head of the Early Learning Center at Avenues: The World School, former longtime director of the renowned 92nd Street Y Nursery School, and co-author of several parenting books, shares some helpful and timely tips to make the first day of school a positive experience:

DO:

ESTABLISH GOOD BEDTIME AND MORNING ROUTINES
REVIEW TEACHERS NAMES AT HOME
READ BOOKS TO YOUR CHILD ABOUT BEGINNING SCHOOL
BE ON TIME FOR ARRIVAL AND DISMISSAL
TURN YOUR CELL PHONE OFF
CONVEY A POSTIVE ATTITUDE TOWARD SCHOOL—SMILE!
GREET TEACHERS IN A FRIENDLY MANNER
POINT OUT THEIR COAT HOOKS AND CUBBIES
TELL YOUR CHILD WHERE YOU WILL BE AND BE THERE
ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR CHILD’S FEELINGS (“I know it’s hard…you’ll be O.K”)
DURING ARRIVAL AND DISMISSAL –FOCUS ON YOUR CHILD. GIVE THEM EXTRA INDIVIDUAL ATTENTION AND QUIET PLAY TIME AT HOME AFTERWARDS
SAY A SHORT GOODBYE BUT DON’T WAIT FOR A RESPONSE
WAIT TO SOCIALIZE WITH OTHER PARENTS WHEN YOU ARE OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM
COMMUNICATE ANY SPECIAL CONCERNS TO THE TEACHERS
BE CONFIDENT IN YOUR CHILDREN—THEY CAN DO THIS!

DON’T:

TALK ABOUT YOUR CHILDREN IN FRONT OF THEM
ASK YOUR CHILD’S PERMISSION TO LEAVE
BRING CAMERAS AND VIDEOS ON THE FIRST DAY-FOCUS ON THE MOMENT
HAVE MORE THAN ONE ADULT BRING YOUR CHILD
DON’T CARRY YOUR CHILD INTO SCHOOL
OVERSCHEDULE YOUR CHILD AFTER SCHOOL
FEEL GUILTY – YOU ARE GIVING THEM A GIFT!

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Disclaimer for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

Sunday, August 28, 2011

I thought that you all would be interested in learning about a Green School Makeover Competition Global Green USA recently launched in partnership with Pureology as the deadline for nominations is fast approaching.

One grand prize winner will get $65,000 to renovate their school – plus an additional $65,000 worth of technical assistance. Four runner-up schools will get $2,500 to use towards green school renovations.

This is a great opportunity for schools struggling with budget shortfalls—it can help them build a healthier learning environment for their students while also saving money on energy use for years to come—and I bet some of you would like to nominate your kids’ school (DEADLINE Sept 30, 2011).

The makeover can help:

- Provide More Money for Student Resources

· operating costs for energy and water can be reduced by as much as 40% - money can be reinvested in text books or computers

- Improve Student Performance

· Studies show test scores can improve as much as 25% when kids are in a healthy learning environment

- Protect Kids’ Health

· Good ventilation and the use of green building materials improves student and teacher health – this means fewer sick days and better attendance

School nominations can be made at: http://pureology.com/greenschools/entermyschool

Learn more about the competition at: http://www.globalgreen.org/greenschools/

Learn why green schools are important for health and money savings at: http://globalgreen.org/greenurbanism/schools/

Get information on what you can do to help green your local school at:http://www.globalgreen.org/news/153

Saturday, August 27, 2011

Kgbdeals Goes to the Head of the Class with these great back to school deals!

In the next few weeks students from grade school to college will be heading back to school and if we learned anything this summer it’s that saving money is the smartest lesson learned.

Kgbdeals (www.kgbdeals.com) has a number of great deals that are sure to make the Dean’s List!

Backpacks by Optair - $20 (reg. $40)
Put your back into it. Get stylish with $40 worth of fun, colorful backpacks, totes, wristlets, and Fobbz (charms) from Optari for $20. These bags are unique and practical with plenty of storage and lots of flair!
http://www.kgbdeals.com/national/deals/40587/50-off-backpacks-and-more-from-optari

Trendy vinyl skins for the ipad, ipad2, laptop or mobile device by MusicSkins – $10 (reg. $20)
Tattoo your iPad, iPad 2, laptop, and mobile phone in vinyl skins featuring True Blood, the Beatles, Taylor Swift, your favorite band from Warped Tour, and more, with $20 worth of skins for $10 from MusicSkins.
http://www.kgbdeals.com/national/deals/39091/50-off-vinyl-skins-at-musicskinscom

Kids Custom Stickers - $14 (reg. $28)

Have a blast with stickers! Let your kids get their hands on $28 worth of high-quality vinyl stickers like Batman, SpongeBob, and more from StickerYou for $14, or snatch up labels instead and keep them organized in a fun way.
http://www.kgbdeals.com/national/deals/39307/50-off-customized-labels-and-stickers-from-stickeryou

Vintage-inspired fashions from TryingTwenties.com - $20 (reg. $60)
Sling a $30 handbag on your arm, grab onto a $20 clutch, and complement outfits with jewelry for $5 and up. Get $50 worth of all the handbags, jewelry, and accessories you can handle from TryingTwenties.com for $20!
http://www.kgbdeals.com/national/deals/40029/60-off-handbags-jewelry-and-accessories-from-tryingtwentiescom

Zoobooks introduce kids to the world of amimals - $15 (reg. $30)
Lions, tigers, pandas, elephants, and zebras...oh my! Introduce your child to the wonderful world of animals with Zoobooks and get $30 worth of DVDs, books, and more or a 1-year subscription to any mag for only $15.
http://www.kgbdeals.com/national/deals/40357/50-off-educational-products-or-any-magazine-subscription-from-zoobooks

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Disclaimer for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

Friday, August 12, 2011

Veggiecation Program: Announces Classroom Giveaway Contest for New School Year

The Veggiecation Program, a curriculum based nutrition education concept that introduces elementary level students to the delicious world of vegetables while teaching them the importance of health and nutrition, announces “Students can have their math and eat it too”, its national classroom giveaway contest for the 2011 - 2012 school year. Veggiecation provides teachers with adaptable lessons and supporting materials so that educators can seamlessly integrate health and nutrition lessons in the classroom. Veggiecation incorporates kid-friendly vegetable preparations and empowers students to expand their horizons while improving their nutritional status.

The Veggiecation Program classroom package includes: Veggiecation classroom companion book with 24 lessons covering literacy, math, science, social studies and art, and 5 games for students; set of Veggiecation Program posters with Veggiecation characters that convey nutrition, geography and science information; family recipe book and food service recipe book for healthy eating in school and at home; “Veggiecation Across the Nation” theme song CD with official dance to keep kids moving; Veggiecation Ballot Box materials so that students can vote their preference on new recipes; and 1-year access to member’s only Veggiecation.com for student activities, classroom tools and support for teachers as well as family nutrition tips and recipes for home.

Veggiecation’s “Students can have their math and eat it too” giveaway is open to classrooms across the country. Teachers, students and parents are eligible to enter the contest to win 1-month of Veggiecation Program materials for their classrooms. Contest for teachers, students and parents starts September 1, 2011, and one classroom will win each month during the 2011-2012 school year. Participants can enter at Veggiecation Program’s giveaway site (tinyurl.com/3njhpp5).

Prize contestants will post their reason why they, as students, parents or teachers, would like to teach or learn about healthy eating and become vegetable literate. Contestants can submit additional entries by (i) liking Veggiecation Program’s Facebook page at facebook.com/Veggiecation and leaving comment on Veggiecation Program’s website; and (ii) sharing Veggiecation Program’s giveaway URL address with friends and teachers and leaving comment on Veggiecation Program’s website. Contest closes midnight CT on the 9th of each month to win giveaway for the proceeding month. Winner will be determined by Random.org and notified by email. Winner will have 48 hours to claim prize by responding to the email. If the winner does not respond within 48 hours, another winner will be drawn until prizes are claimed. Winners agree to submit from teachers or students’ perspective their experience with Veggiecation Program. The Veggiecation Program may feature these experiences on website and Facebook page.

Veggiecation is the only curriculum based nutrition education program of its kind, providing educators with cost-effective, adaptable lessons and supporting materials to teach young students that eating vegetables is fun, healthy and nutritious. For more information on the Veggiecation Program, please visitwww.veggiecation.com.

About VeggiecationThe Veggiecation Program is a curriculum based nutrition education concept that introduces young students to the delicious and nutritious world of vegetables. Utilizing existing school resources to minimize costs and seamlessly integrate Veggiecation into the classroom and school lunch programs, Veggiecation incorporates kid-friendly vegetable preparations into each lesson. Veggiecation can be adapted into lesson plans for science, literacy, art, social sciences, math and physical education as well as school wide assemblies. Veggiecation has been successfully test piloted in schools, such as The Cathedral School of St. John the Divine (New York, NY) and The Riverdale Country School (Bronx, NY). Veggiecation is available in schools throughout the country, including public and private schools in the states of California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New York, New Jersey, North Carolina, Texas, Vermont, Wyoming and Wisconsin.

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Disclaimer for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Back to School Shopping as easy as ABC, 123

While growing children equals the need for new clothes, homework supplies and backpacks, last year spending for grades K – 12 and college reached approximately $55.1 billion dollars! With that said, the headache-inducing hours of shopping in crowded stores with long lines and bad customer service were priceless.

This back-to-school shopping season, ShopRunner, a members-only online shopping service that offers time-starved consumers unlimited, free two-day shipping with no minimum order size, and free shipping on returns across a wide selection of today’s most popular retailers is helping busy parents in more ways than one:

Skip the scouring for the best prices: While doing the family shopping with ShopRunner, members never have to spend hours scouring the web to find the best deals. ShopRunner’s network of partners help customers save money by offering special discounts and savings, available exclusively to ShopRunner members.
Check every item off your list: With retailers including NewEgg, FAO Schwarz, Toy R Us, Lord&Taylor, Olly Shoes, eBags, and more, you’ll have access to millions of products, all at your fingertips. You can forget piling the kids into the car, waiting in long-lines and going from store to store with ShopRunner.
Include back-to-school shopping as one of your many multi-tasking duties: Members can order all of their children’s must-haves on-the-go with the new, free ShopRunner app. Whether ShopRunner members are online, in a store, on-the-go, or even laying on a beach, they are guaranteed immediate access to search through and purchase millions of ShopRunner eligible back-to-school products.

Back to School 101

Back to School 101:

Homework, Sunday night meltdowns and everything you
need to know about the upcoming school year

An interview with Dr. Jeffrey I. Dolgan, Senior Psychologist at Children’s Hospital Colorado

How do you recommend parents prepare for the upcoming school year?

They should do a SWOT analysis – strengths, weaknesses, opportunity and threats – for the school and their child. Parents should think about the strengths of the school and then the strengths of the child. How will they support the strengths of the child? If parents do this for each area, they can get a lay of the land and understand their child’s wants and needs.

How do most kids feel about returning to school?

Most kids are ready to go back to school. Sometime in August, they say, “Forget this. I want my pals at school.” They’re looking forward to recess, to new friends, new classes and teachers. What also comes up is fear. Many are afraid of school rules – not because they don’t know them but because they might violate them, probably inadvertently.

Why is it important for kids to participate in choosing their school?

Very often kids feel disempowered, like they have no control. If you want to be kid-centered, let them help make the decisions. It’s their school, after all. Most kids can say what works and what doesn’t. Kids will say they want to be in a school that’s friendly, where they learn some things, where they’re safe, where they know what to do about bullies, what to do with social networking. It’s also good to discuss what you’ve found out about the new school, such as class size, classes offered, what happens to graduates and extra-curriculars.

How can we avoid the infamous Sunday night meltdown?

The Sunday night meltdown happens when the kids put off homework until the night before it’s due. This is when we teach kids about choices. Parents can use the “if and then” dialogue: “If you do your homework now, then you won’t be unhappy Sunday night” or “If you do your homework now, we will have time to do something fun on Sunday night.” In other words, kids can choose to either get to it now or suffer the consequences of doing it later.

If parents look carefully, Sunday is a stressful time for them as well. They have to go back to work and maybe they didn’t finish some things. The likely climate at home is tense. Parents can also say, “You know, I get tense on Sundays, so it’s not the best time for me to help you with a project.” Talking to kids in this way helps them feel that he or she is not alone with the Sunday anxiety. If a child still chooses to put off a project until Sunday night, parents should not help them, emphasizing that their poor choices may lead to a poor grade.

How do parents help their kids aim for success in the new school year?

It’s important for kids to know how they can count on their parents. Encourage your kids. Get next to their feelings. Practice empathy. Some kids can grind themselves down and develop anxiety about school because something happened last year. This is a chance to start over. Talk about the things they can cross off from last year that are non-issues now. Say things like, “After all, you’re not going to be around so-and-so anymore.” Help ensure that they do their homework. Ways to get involved at your child's school

When should parents stop asking their children about homework?

It’s a gradual change. The parents’ role when kids are younger should be that of a manager. A good manager is aware of timelines and of all the people involved. The manager is part of the plan’s execution. As the child ages, that manager role changes to a consultant. You become someone who mentors and guides, but isn’t as involved. Parents need to understand that they shouldn’t try to manage their kid past 16 or 17 years old.

An article for kids about going back to school

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Disclaimer for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

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Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Back to School Style with Hello Kitty

The long, hot days of summer are wrapping up and it is time to start thinking school lunches, book reports and carpooling. This fall make sure your favorite little girl is going back to school in style with the latest in accessories and class-room must-haves from Sanrio. She’ll adore her Hello Kitty calculator ,backpack, and lunch box – plus her favorite kitty will be gracing every pencil, pen and eraser.

Make sure she is stepping out in style with limited edition Vans in several Hello Kitty styles. And for the college bound kitty lover, choose a Hello Kitty microwave or refrigerator to bring a splash of pink to any dorm room.

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Back-to-school Season with Schedulicity

http://www.schedulicity.com/ According to the National Center on Education Statistics, nearly 50 million students will be heading back-to-school this season, making it one of the most hectic times of year for mothers. Schedulicity, the leader in online appointment scheduling, is here to help, making it easier to schedule and manage appointments to get the kids ready for the classroom.

Schedulicity makes life easier for any working woman or full-time mom by streamlining the appointment booking process for a variety of services, even after business hours. Whether it is a routine physical appointment with the family doctor, dentist appointment or private tutoring session, Schedulicity makes it easier to manage it all. Schedulicity might even prompt mothers to book a relaxing massage or facial to escape the September stress!

Schedulicity also enables clients to receive mobile notifications, promotions and updates from their favorite businesses via email and social media, making sure moms will never miss out on back-to-school deals again!

Get Kids Ready for School - Back To School Toys

Toys and Games Build Skills as Kids Head Back-to-School

The long, lazy days of summer are coming to an end and that can only mean one thing for kids and parents – it’s time to gear up for the new school year. Getting back into classroom-mode will be easy with the assistance of a fun crop of educational toys and games that span every subject, enhance creativity and sharpen memory, retention and strategic thinking skills.

“Toys, games and play are the tools that keep imaginations active and get young brains back in focus after summer vacation,” says Adrienne Appell, spokesperson for the Toy IndustryAssociation (TIA).

TIA’s top “Back to School” picks include products that were spotted at the Association’s annual Toy Fair in February 2011 and illustrate the “Camouflage learning” trend – educational toys that are so engaging kids don’t even realize they’re learning. Examples include:

Kindergarten to Grade 3

Kids in the younger grades learn core subjects mainly through rote and repetition; memory games are an excellent way to exercise a child’s ability to retain information. Games that specifically teach young learners about language, spatial properties or math are also great ways to prep little ones for school.

Colorama (Ravensburger) teaches kids about shapes and colors and offers three levels of play. Young players will also learn to take turns, follow instructions, and win or lose graciously.
The I Spy Memory Game (Briarpatch) promotes visual, memory and reading skills. Appropriate for kids as young as four, it also offers advanced modes of play for older players.
Word Whiz (Learning Resources) contains electronic flash cards that challenge kids to build as many three, four, and five letter words as they can in 60 seconds.
Computer Cool School (Fisher Price) contains five learning centers with skill-building activities in reading, writing, math, science, art and music, and includes a tablet with an attached stylus for writing and drawing.
Magic School Bus Science Kits (The Young Scientists Clubs) are a fun, hands-on way to introduce kids ages 5 and up to the exciting world of science as they grow bacteria and fungi, test antibiotics, use yeast to inflate balloons, and more stimulating experiments.

Grades 3 to 6

Older kids will benefit from play products that challenge and excite them – from in-depth science experiments to fun-filled ways to expand their knowledge in subjects like history or math. Games targeted to older kids will also feature components that encourage critical-thinking and creativity.

Madeline at the White House Game (Briarpatch) teaches kids about Washington, DC, the White House and other famous landmarks through competitive or cooperative play, while Name that State Game (Educational Insights) helps kids ages eight and older brush up on their American geography.
Math Dice (ThinkFun) (and its counterpart for younger kids, Math Dice Jr.) is a 3D math game that makes different equations using addition, subtraction, multiplication, division and powers lots of fun. More than 100 Science and Energy Kits (Thames & Kosmos) teach kids about alternative energy sources, biology, technology, physics, chemistry, astronomy, earth science and construction sciences and inspire innovation, problem-solving and discovery.
PathWords (ThinkFun) expands the vocabulary skills of kids ages 12 and up by combining the best of Tetris and Word Search.

These are just a few examples of the many playthings that will help kids get into the swing of things before packing their book bags for the new school year. For more toy trends and tips, visit TIA’s website ToyInfo.org, a year-round resource for toys and play.

About the Toy Industry Association (TIA)
TIA is the not-for-profit trade association for producers and importers of toys and youth entertainment products sold in North America, representing more than 550 companies who account for approximately 85% of domestic toy sales. For more information, please visit www.toyassociation.org or www.toyinfo.org.

Thursday, August 4, 2011

NERDS ON CALL: Don’t Break the Bank

For kids, Back to School is a great time of year. They get new clothes, new school supplies, and maybe even a new gadget or two. For adults, though, Back to School means new expenses and new bills. All of us have had an argument in the middle of the department store with our kids. What they want is too expensive, what we want for them is too un-cool. If you also have to find room in the budget for a new computer or gadgets, this time of year can be daunting for many parents. Luckily NERDS, have found some great resources to save on all your school supplies, so you’ll be able to give your little ones the joy of that new Tinker Bell pencil case.

Even if you don’t have kids to shop for, it’s a great time of year to find hot deals on computers and electronics, if you know where to look.

On a shoestring budget: Squeezing a computer, printer, or gadget into an already tight budget can be pretty stressful. With all the choices, how do you know you’re getting the best deal? A website that scours the internet and compiles all the best deals in one easily searchable place can make the process a lot easier. Check outwww.cheapstingybargains.com for the best deals on computers, clothes, office supplies, toys, and more from sites such as Amazon, Newegg and Office Max, all in one place. You’ll quickly see everyone’s best price on that back up hard drive you’ve had your eye on. Their homepage maintains a list of current hot deals (and the codes you’ll need to get them) at Dell and HP so you can save hundreds on your biggest budget busters.

College bound budget: If your baby is not so little anymore, textbooks can be a huge expense. “I can clearly remember the heart palpitations resulting from my first trip to the UC Davis bookstore. How can one book possibly cost $130?” said Nerds On Call CEO, Andrea Eldridge. From online rental to downloading eBooks, there are some great ways to save money on that required reading. One of NERDS favorite sites is www.chegg.com, a textbook rental website that offers free shipping and great deals while letting you pat yourself on the back for saving a tree or two. You can even sell back the books that you acquired before you knew about the option to rent. Wondering how much you can really save? The UC Davis bookstore is selling “Critical Care Nursing, Edition 6” for $108, but you can rent it through December for $55.

Not just Clothes budget: For clothes, shoes and supplies, it can make a huge difference to check coupon code sites to save 20-50% at your favorite stores, like Kohls, Macys, and many more. Our favorites are www.retailmenot.com andwww.couponsherpa.com for their extensive collection and easy to search database. They even have printable coupons you can take with you if you prefer to shop in person, or check out the grocery coupons section to save on school lunch supplies.

No Buyers Remorse budget: Even diligent shoppers sometimes discover that the best price available at the time drops further in the weeks after they’ve spent their hard earned cash. As frustrating as it is, we don’t have time to check prices on the stuff we’ve already bought. Now www.priceprotectr.com will track prices so you don’t have to keep returning to the retailer yourself. Simply enter the URL (weblink) of the item you want to track and if the item drops in price or if a new rebate is added you’ll get an email with detailed directions for how to be refunded the difference through the retailer’s price matching policy. Major retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, Costco, and Staples are supported. You can also set an alert on an item you have your eye on so that you get notified if the item drops below a certain price. Goodbye buyer’s remorse!

If you’re still worried you’ll have to make your child pick shoes or pens this year, drop us a note on Facebook (facebook.com/nerdsoncall) or chat LIVE with a NERD at www.callnerds.com.

About Nerds On Call
Established in a spare room in Redding, Calif., in March 2004, Nerds On Call offers on-site computer and electronic repair services to consumers and businesses. Nerds On Call provides trouble-shooting for PCs and Macs, home and office networks, printers, iPods® and MP3 players, handheld devices and cell phones, home theaters and game systems, and virtually every other form of digital entertainment. In 2009 & 2010, the company was named to Inc. magazine’s list of 5000 fastest growing private companies. With 15 locations across California, Oregon, Washington, Arizona & South Dakota Nerds On Call serves more than 40,000 satisfied customers per year. For more information, visit www.callnerds.com or call 1-800-919-NERD.

Top 5 FREE tech tools for back-to-school

With back-to-school quickly approaching, all parents have two things on their minds; saving money and finding simple solutions to ease the transition into the busy school year ahead. Below is a list of the top five FREE tech tools to ensure success for back-to-school, whether you’re headed off to college or a parent whose child is entering kindergarten.

1. Cozi - The No. 1 online and mobile family calendar and organization system designed specifically for busy families lets you coordinate, communicate and manage all of your day-to-day activities. Cozi makes managing important school dates, homework assignments, extra-curriculars schedules, back-to-school shopping and more a breeze. You can automatically download your school district calendars and color-code tasks by family member for at-a-glance organization. Families can also now get started on Cozi’s Crash Course to Get Set for Schoolwhich includes daily advice, tips & free tools to get you organized for the school year. Cozi is available online and through apps for iPhone, iPad, Android, Android Tablet and Blackberry.

2. Alice.com - An online marketplace for household essentials, Alice.com helps budget-conscious shoppers save time/money with competitive pricing, free delivery, instant coupons and simple management of household essentials. For busy moms stocking up on affordable school and lunch supplies and college students shopping online for dorm essentials, Alice.com offers shoppers a quick, easy and affordable solution that doesn't require leaving the house. And, with its free iPhone app, it’s also available on-the-go.

3. Mint - The leading online personal finance service from Intuit Inc., provides more than 6 million users a fresh, easy and intelligent way to manage their money. Mint.com lets users see all their accounts in one place, makes it easy to set and keep to budgets, set up goals to save for college or pay off student loans, and helps identify money saving ideas for all your back to school needs. Mint.com also helps you manage your finances on-the-go with its free iPhone and Android apps.

4. PayDivvy - For college students living with roommates, or team parents splitting up the costs of registration or team dinners, PayDivvy is a free tool that makes collecting and paying shared bills a snap. Tired of waiting for your deadbeat roommate to pay you for his share of the cable or utility bill? Or apprehensive about footing a big cost when you don't know the other parents too well? Just load the bill onto PayDivvy and enter the email address of each payer. PayDivvy will send them an email with their amount due and will send reminders until they pay. Then the person responsible can easily pay directly through PayDivvy.

5. Shopkick - The largest location-based shopping app rewards shoppers simply for walking in, checking into or scanning items at more than 3 million businesses nationwide. It functionally pays you for running errands. Shopkick works with major retail partners like Best Buy, Macy’s, Target, American Eagle, and The Sports Authority — and brands like Kraft and Procter & Gamble, so back-to-school shoppers who want to update fall wardrobes, new gadgets, or buy after school sports apparel can rack up rewards while they browse for the items on their list. Each time you buy groceries? More rewards. AND – the app offers unique deals and coupons, and plenty of ways to spend. Available on iPhone and Android.

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Thursday, July 28, 2011

DVD Review - The Best and the Brightest

About the Movie

Following sold-out grassroots screenings and a theatrical release in June 2011, THE BEST AND THE BRIGHTEST, a new comedy directed by Josh Shelov and co-written by Shelov and Michael Jaeger, makes its way to VOD, digital platforms and DVD on August 16.

Featuring an all-star cast including Neil Patrick Harris (How I Met Your Mother), Bonnie Somerville (The Ugly Truth), Amy Sedaris (Strangers with Candy), Christopher McDonald (Harry’s Law), Kate Mulgrew (Star Trek: Voyager), John Hodgman (The Daily Show with Jon Stewart), Peter Serafinowicz (Couples Retreat), Jenna Stern (Game Change) and Bridget Regan (Legend of the Seeker), THE BEST AND THE BRIGHTEST offers a refreshingly “adult” twist on contemporary parenting.

Compared by Movie City News to "A Fish Called Wanda" and "Ruthless People", THE BEST AND THE BRIGHTEST is a modern-day farce set in the world of New York City’s elite private schools. The Jasinskis (Harris, Somerville) are a middle-class couple from Delaware who move to New York City with their five-year-old daughter for a last chance at “the big time.” Upon arrival, they experience a big problem: they can't get their daughter into a single private kindergarten. The couple desperately turns to kindergarten consultant, Sue Lemon (Sedaris), who recommends Jeff pose as a high-profile poet to gain kudos from the VIPs (Hodgman, McDonald and Mulgrew) who are deciding between two child candidates for the last coveted slot at Coventry Day School.

An innocent ploy quickly turns into sexual blackmail and creative persuasion as the Jasinskis battle to enroll their child. The film also stars Nina Lisandrello (The Bleeding House), and Emily Tremaine (Collar).

THE BEST AND THE BRIGHTEST premiered at the 2010 Philadelphia International Film Festival and was shown in more than 200 movie theaters across the country in “sneak peek” screenings, prior to its theatrical premiere in June 2011 in New York and Los Angeles.

THE BEST AND THE BRIGHTEST is directed by Shelov and co-written by Shelov and Jaeger; produced by Robert and Patricia Weiser (High Treason Pictures), Nicholas Simon, and Declan Baldwin (Big Indie Pictures). Richard Schiffrin (Wellfleet Phantasy Productions) is the executive producer.

My Take on the Movie

When I saw this movie I was shocked as it is packed with stars, and toted as an Indie film, you do not always see this many stars in one place so needless to say I was intrigued.

In watching the film I was impressed. The movie was well written and produced and the end result is a funny adult comedy that you can share with others. I have to say that for me I found myself laughing through many parts in the film and you are continuously wondering whether the truth will finally come out and what will happen in the end.

The movie also takes the idea of a father doing anything for his child to unforeseen levels.

The movie is filled with many twists and turns and you never completely know what is going to be coming next. The film draws you in and keeps you entertained with clever quips and even some slapstick humor thrown in.

All-in-all this was a great movie that all will enjoy!

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Disclaimer for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

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