As a mom to two small children, I am very discerning about the media they are exposed to.  Any television shows/series or films they watch have been pre-screened by either my husband or myself.  As parents, we prefer to offer our children a variety of diverse experiences that help them learn about the world around them.  Sometimes we judiciously utilize media on rainy days, sick days, or “we’re feeling lazy” days. With so many options to choose from, how does a parent go about selecting appropriate media for their children to view, if they indeed decide to go this route? Here are a few guidelines we follow?

1.  Is it educational? I strive to incorporate learning into as many experiences as possible. Since viewing media is mostly passive, it’s important that television shows or movies have a strong educational component.

2. Does it offer important life lessons?  Learning how to share and cooperate is as important to me as my children learning their numbers and letters.  Very often, my son and I will talk about a show after we’ve watched it to discuss how a character made a good choice or what could have been done differently.

3. Do the characters serve as positive role models?  Children say and do (or at least aspire to) the things they observe on television and in films, therefore it’s important that the characters they see are exemplifying behaviors parents are comfortable with.

4. Is it age-appropriate?  Simply put, children should be viewing media that they are capable of comprehending without being confused or scared.

5.  Is it free from violence, language, and other negative behaviors?  Obviously this type of media would not make the cut.

6.  Do my children enjoy it?  I’ve previewed a number of shows and films that I truly think had value, but when it came time to having my children view the programs, they simply were not into them.

7. Do I enjoy it?  There are some films and TV shows I’m certain have the best intentions as far as offering educational entertainment.  However, if I simply can’t get past the music, the characters, or the story line, I’m not likely going to allow my children to watch for too long.

8.  Do the morals and values highlighted align with ours?  While a show may be highly educational and entertaining, if the messages and themes presented don’t align with the morals we want to instill within our children, it won’t make the cut.

Last week, Fox invited my children and I to spend some time previewing Little Angels, a brand new educational series produced by Touched by an Angel star Roma Downey.  The new preschool series teaches children important life lessons such as sharing, kindness, cooperation and old fashioned family values, says Downey.  But unlike most series which combine learning with entertainment, Little Angels inspires and educates “through the lens of timeless and age appropriate Bible stories.”  For many years Downey played an angel on television and longed to bring the message of God’s love to children.  “Little Angels is a series that will add value to your child’s life,” says Downey. Downey is passionate, bold, and creative and I admire her strong convictions.

The series, which actually launches today with 3 DVDs and 2 books, is geared towards preschool children and combines practical learning (ie. ABCs, numbers, animals) with strong examples of good behavior.  After previewing the series, I could see myself utilizing Little Angels to teach my children concepts like the purpose and value of work as well as basic, fundamental Bible stories. And after taking into consideration my criteria for wholesome media that I want my children viewing, Little Angels made the cut.

In the series, pre-school twins Alex and Zoe have eight Little Angels watching over them…angels that live on their ceiling bedroom and come to life when the twins need them.  At present there are three DVDs, two books, three CDs, an app, and a line of apparel. For more information, just visit their website.

Win It! One of you will win a Little Angels Gift Bag which includes the 3 DVDS and 2 books.  Simply leave me a comment with one thing you like about the new series. Comments will close on February 29th (leap day!) at 11:59 PM PST.

US Residents only. Duplicates and comments not including the above information will be disqualified. Comments are moderated. If you don’t see your comment in a reasonable amount of time, send me an email. Bloggers and non-bloggers may enter. If you don’t want to leave your email address, please be sure to check back for my announcement on the winner. Please note that winners must respond within 48 hours of being announced/contacted or another winner will be drawn.

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No compensation was received for this post. I was invited to a media event. Products for review and giveaway supplied by Fox.

Photo Credit: Fox, Peter Zakhary.

Here Comes Peter Cottontail is all about a bunny who’s goal is to save Easter for children everywhere. He races through time to celebrate classic holidays (like Christmas) to deliver the most eggs.  Do you remember stop motion animation (aka clay-mation) used in movies like Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and Frosty the Snowman?  This is the same type of animation used in the film (giving it a classic feel).

My son isn’t hugely familiar with Easter (we must have a chat about the fact that Easter is more than bunnies and eggs…but I digressed), but he knows enough about the holiday to be excited about finding hidden eggs (after all…it’s a tradition).  My son really enjoyed the different holidays highlighted (especially because Christmas is his favorite holiday).  At times, I thought it was a bit old for him (considering Evil Irontail) but he actually sat through it with me and enjoyed it.

Here Comes Peter Cottontail is available for $9.93 at retailers nationwide and on iTunes for $7.99.

Be sure to check out my Easter Egg Hunt for your chance at winning on of your own.

I did not receive compensation for this post.  A copy of the DVD was provided via the Family Review Network to facilitate this review/giveaway.

I should know better than to hype up an event with my 2 1/2 year old days before it’s to occur.  My son never forgets things like this (but somehow manages to “forget” that it’s not ok to throw food on the floor…or hit his baby sister…sigh!) and days leading up to the event I heard a lot of “I want to see the chipmunks!”  But I digressed. Last week, we headed over to Fox Studios for a media event celebrating the release of Alvin & The Chipmunks: The Squeakquel.

Now, I haven’t actually seen the first movie, but from some of the clips shown at the event, it looks like a fun movie for adults and kids alike.  Here is a bit more info on the release, scheduled for March 30:

Pop sensations Alvin, Simon and Theodore end up in the care of Dave Seville’s twenty-something nephew Toby. The boys must put aside music super stardom to return to school, and are tasked with saving the school’s music program by winning the $25,000 prize in a battle of the bands. But the Chipmunks unexpectedly meet their match in three singing chipmunks known as The Chipettes -– Brittany, Eleanor and Jeanette. Romantic and musical sparks are ignited when the Chipmunks and Chipettes square off.

While we were at Fox Studios, my son met the chipmunks,

and danced to their single, “Single Ladies”

I learned that their is a Spanish language version of this movie and that these three chipmunks have actually “munk’d” the nation for over 50 years.  I also learned that they’re named after the executives of their original record label and that their high-pitched voices were originally created by speeding up the play back.

When we got home, my son thought we were going to watch the movie (aw…).  Fortunately, we’re going to get a review copy!

Here are a couple of coloring pages for your kids:

Right now, you can enter to win a $50,00 nest egg by visiting their website.  You’ll also find fun Easter-themed activities including downloadable character coloring pages, coupons, and games.

Win It! FIVE of you will win a copy of Alvin & The Chipmunks:  The Squeakquel on DVD.  Simply leave me a comment with something you like about Alvin and the Chipmunks.  Comments will close on April 6, 2010 at 11:59 PM PST.  One comment per person, please (unless you do the extra credit). US residents only. Duplicates and comments not including the above information will be disqualified. Comments are moderated. If you don’t see your comment in a reasonable amount of time, send me an email. Bloggers and non-bloggers may enter. If you don’t want to leave your email address, please be sure to check back for my announcement on the winner. Please note that winners must respond within 48 hours of being announced/contacted or another winner will be drawn.

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I did not receive compensation for this post.  I received a copy of the DVD to facilitate this review.

Sunny Days…Ok…so I’ve been singing this with my little boy the past few days (giggle!).  I grew up watching Sesame Street.  In fact, my mother tells me that at the time, it’s really the only television show she’d let me watch.  My son loves watching the show and his favorite character is Elmo. My mother-in-law gave my son my husband’s stuffed Elmo from when he was a child.  My point is, Sesame Street has been around a long time (40 years to be exact) and a lot of history has been made.  It’s interesting to watch the same show we watched as children with my son.

On November 6, 2009, Sesame Street:  40 Years of Sunny Days will be released on DVD.  Since I haven’t seen it yet, here is a little more information from the site:

For 40 years, sunny days have swept the clouds away and inspired preschoolers to learn, grow and achieve their highest potential.  Relive the best-of-the-best when SESAME STREET: 40 YEARS OF SUNNY DAYS debuts as a two-disc DVD set November 10 from Vivendi Entertainment and Sesame Workshop, the non-profit educational organization behind Sesame Street. Premiering on November 10, 1969, Sesame Street is the longest running children’s series and “…arguably, the most important children’s program in the history of television” (Newsweek.com). Featuring nearly six hours of everyone’s favorite Sesame Street stories, songs, Muppets™ and celebrity segments, the SESAME STREET: 40 YEARS OF SUNNY DAYS collectible set spans the renowned show’s four decades, includes never-before-seen archival footage and a limited-edition hard covered commemorative book.

I am so excited about seeing this.  I have no idea if I’ll remember any of the episodes but it’s going to be fun reliving those memories.  Tomorrow is the release (did you happen to see Google yesterday and today?) and the two-disc set will be available for $29.93.

Win It! Two of you will win a copy of this DVD and one of you will win a copy of the DVD PLUS a copy of Sesame Street: A Celebration – 40 Years Of Life On The Street.  Simply leave me a comment with your favorite Sesame Street moment.  Comments will close on November 20, 2009 at 10 PM PST.  One comment per person, please (unless you do the extra credit). US residents only. Duplicates and comments not including the above information will be disqualified. Comments are moderated. If you don’t see your comment in a reasonable amount of time, send me an email. Bloggers and non-bloggers may enter. If you don’t want to leave your email address, please be sure to check back for my announcement on the winner. Please note that winners must respond within 48 hours of being announced/contacted or another winner will be drawn.

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One of the things I’ll be doing a LOT more of lately is spending time at home!  I’m getting further and further along and while I still have some events lined up, curling up on the couch with my husband and my son, a cup of tea and a good movie sounds very appealing! Genius Products and Curious Pictures just released a Little Spirit:  Christmas in New York, which looks adorable!  We haven’t sat down to watch it yet, but I wanted to give you a sneak peak!  Stay tuned for my review.

About the movie:

A young boy embarks on the holiday journey of a lifetime in the city that never sleeps in the charming animated movie Little Spirit: Christmas In New York.  Moving to a new house in a new city is never easy, but when Leo’s dog (and best friend) Romona is accidently lost in Central Park, Leo is determined to find his furry little friend in time for Christmas. Feeling lost and alone, a magical spirit takes him on an incredible adventure and Leo soon learns that this new city isn’t as scary as it seemed – and that the true meaning of Christmas may just be found in the people he meets along the way.

Check out a sneak peak here:

Little Spirit: Christmas in New York is available now and retails for $16.95.

Win It! Three of you will win a copy of Little Spirit: Christmas in New York.  Simply leave me a comment with your favorite thing to do during the holidays!  Comments will close on December 1, 2009 at 10 PM PST.  One comment per person, please (unless you do the extra credit). US residents only. Duplicates and comments not including the above information will be disqualified. Comments are moderated. If you don’t see your comment in a reasonable amount of time, send me an email. Bloggers and non-bloggers may enter. If you don’t want to leave your email address, please be sure to check back for my announcement on the winner. Please note that winners must respond within 48 hours of being announced/contacted or another winner will be drawn.

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For more fabulous Holiday Gift Ideas, visit The Mommy-Files

]]> http://rockinmama.net/2009/10/little-spirit-christmas-in-new-york-giveaway/feed/ 214 http://rockinmama.net/2009/10/elmos-animal-adventure-giveaway/ http://rockinmama.net/2009/10/elmos-animal-adventure-giveaway/#comments Fri, 09 Oct 2009 05:40:44 +0000 caryn http://rockinmama.net/?p=8817 This giveaway is now closed.  Thanks for stopping by.  The winners are Sara, Cat, and Linda.  Congrats!

Elmo is at it again…and this time, his adventures include animals!  Elmo’s Animal Adventures (SRV $14.93) was just released on DVD this week and I can’t wait to watch it with my son.  But since we JUST got it, here is a little info about the release:

Join Elmo and his friends as they embark on 3 fun-filled adventures. Help Elmo and Tilly find Little Bo Peep’s missing cow by following clues and working together as a team. Use animal facts to help Elmo & Abby succeed in the “Find The Amphibian Game” and join Elmo in a camping adventure as he learns that sharing is fun and discovers the different types of food that animals eat. Includes special appearances by Cameron Diaz and Patricia Arquette.

Win It! Three of you will win a copy of Elmo’s Animal Adventures. Simply leave me a comment with something you liked or learned on the site!  Comments will close on October 23, 2009 at 10 PM PST.  One comment per person, please (unless you do the extra credit). US residents only. Duplicates and comments not including the above information will be disqualified. Comments are moderated. If you don’t see your comment in a reasonable amount of time, send me an email. Bloggers and non-bloggers may enter. If you don’t want to leave your email address, please be sure to check back for my announcement on the winner. Please note that winners must respond within 48 hours of being announced/contacted or another winner will be drawn.

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My husband may not appreciate what I’m about to write…but he is a HUGE fan and collector of Disney movies.  I remember when we first met and he told me and then showed me his collection how surprised and impressed I was.  He hasn’t quite reached the D23 category but he’s close!

For the first time in seven years, Disney released Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs in high-definition Blu-ray today. And did you know it hasn’t been available in any form since 2001?  I didn’t! I just adore this classic story of a beautiful princess, her ugly stepmother, a talking mirror, singing Dwarfs and a handsome prince!  It’s been hailed as “the most acclaimed animated movie ever made” and I have to say I agree (although I have many close runner-ups in the animated category).  The movie debuted in 1937 (seriously?) but is as timeless as Disney.  It was also the first full-length animated film every made!

Some of the highlights of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs: Diamond Edition include a series of DVD bonus features including a sneak peak at Disney’s brand new The Princess and the Frog,” a beautiful video by Tiffany Thornton singing Someday My Prince Will Come, and a lively “Heigh-Ho” Karaoke Sing-Along (and that isn’t even half of what you’ll find in the “bonus” section).

We don’t have a Blu-ray player (yet) so we weren’t able to view the bonus features, however, they sound incredible, including Family Play games and activities, Backstage Disney, and some very cool-sounding Blu-ray features like DisneyView’s expanded viewing experience, and 7.1 Digital Theater System Hi-Def Surround Sound.

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs: Diamond Edition is available in two forms:  Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack ($39.99) and the 2-Disc DVD set ($29.99).  You can view a trailer of the movie here.

Win It! One of you will win Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs: Diamond Edition Combo Pack +  Seven Dwarfs Plush Toy set (RV $85).  Simply leave me a comment with your favorite part of the movie!  Comments will close on October 20, 2009 at 10 PM PST.  One comment per person, please (unless you do the extra credit). US residents only. Duplicates and comments not including the above information will be disqualified. Comments are moderated. If you don’t see your comment in a reasonable amount of time, send me an email. Bloggers and non-bloggers may enter. If you don’t want to leave your email address, please be sure to check back for my announcement on the winner. Please note that winners must respond within 48 hours of being announced/contacted or another winner will be drawn.

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Profuse thanks to One2One who provided the DVD for review!

For example, we recently had an opportunity to preview Baby Einstein World Animal Adventure on DVD. Here is a little more information from the site:

World Animal Adventure DVD is the newest product from The Baby Einstein Company that brings exotic animals from all over the world home to babies,  presenting dozens of playful animals in their natural habitats. Set to original world music specially orchestrated for little ears, the DVD includes fun baby animal puppet shows and animals from each of the seven continents. The DVD also presents a Grow with Me feature, offering a second viewing mode with content that changes as your baby grows so that you can get more out of the DVD.

As I do with other forms of media, I sat down with my son to watch this a few times over the last couple of weeks.  He’s at an age where we’ve talked about many of the animals featured on the DVD.  It was fun teaching him about some of the more exotic animals that we hadn’t had a chance to learn about yet.  I like how the DVD takes you from country to country, showing you live animals in motion.  It’s adorable when my son sees a mother and it’s baby.  He makes sure to mention the “mama monkey and the baby monkey.”  The music is jungle-esque and catchy.  My son giggled at the puppet scenes but he much preferred watching the real animals…he was definitely fascinated! My son can name a ton of animals and we’ve just added to his repertoire, thanks to this DVD!

The DVD comes with a guide for parents on how to watch with your child.  There are two, Grow With Me viewing modes, that allow younger children to watch the animals visually along with the music.  The second mode, geared towards older children, incorporates text and spoken language (we viewed this version with my son).

If you’d like to keep up with the latest from Baby Einstein, you can follow them on Twitter, watch previews on their YouTube channel, and follow their blog.

World Animal Adventure DVD is available for purchase on the site for $15.99.

“I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Baby Einstein and received a World Animal Adventure DVD to facilitate my candid review.”

My son just turned two and he is so curious about everything!  We spend a lot of time going over certain concepts, one of them being the parts of his body.  Many of you know that my son co-slept with my husband and I for many, many months and we still nap together.  Very often when he’s waking up, he’ll start pointing to his eyes and mommy or daddy’s eyes…his nose and mommy or daddy’s nose…you get the point.

Genius Products and Sesame Workshop will be releasing a brand new DVD on September 1st entitled Elmo’s World:  All About Faces.  It’s perfect for toddlers interested in learning about their body.  Here is a little more information about the DVD:

A delightful “Elmo’s World” compilation, the DVD features three separate episodes illustrating different parts of the face and significance of taking care of each one in a fun and entertaining way.  In “Elmo’s World: Mouths,” Elmo and his friends love all the things they can do with their mouths; whistle, brush their teeth, and if you’re Cookie Monster, eat cookies!  Kids will also learn how to wink like Dorothy and why they should get their eyes checked regularly in “Elmo’s World: Eyes.”  The third segment, “Elmo’s World:  Noses,” teaches children all about noses through “The Tournament of Noses Parade,” how to smell a flower, and much more!

The DVD is set to be released on September 1st and will retail for $12.95.

Win It! Three of you will win a copy of this DVD.  Simply head on over to the site and take a look around.  Come back and leave me a comment with something you liked or learned.  Comments will close on September 12, 2009 at 10 PM PST. One comment per person, please (unless you do the extra credit). US residents only. Duplicates and comments not including the above information will be disqualified. Comments are moderated. If you don’t see your comment in a reasonable amount of time, send me an email. Bloggers and non-bloggers may enter. If you don’t want to leave your email address, please be sure to check back for my announcement on the winner. Please note that winners must respond within 48 hours of being announced/contacted or another winner will be drawn.

Want an extra entry? Do any or all of the following and receive an extra entry for each one.

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Last week, Dr. Dolittle:  Million Dollar Mutts premiered on DVD!  This fun-filled summer movie will make the entire family laugh!  Here is a little more information from the site:

An all-star cast of loveable animals highlights this fast and furry-ous adventure set in exciting Hollywood, where everyone’s favorite wise-acre mutt Lucky proves he’s worth millions in love and laughter!  It’s Lucky to the rescue when his owner, Maya Dolittle (played by Kyla Pratt), finds herself in hot water – Hollywood-style!  Dropping her dreams of becoming a vet, Maya (and Lucky) travel to L.A. where her talent for talking to animals lands her a job hosting an animal talk show with famous heiress Tiffany Monaco (played by Tegan Moss)!  But just as Lucky starts falling in love with a pedigreed pooch, Maya falls out of love with Tiffany’s bird-brained ideas about how to help animals.  And just when Maya thinks she’ll be trapped in Tinseltown forever and never become a vet, Lucky, his new girlfriend and a whole herd of animal friends spring, trot, fly and slither into action to save the day!

I haven’t seen it yet but it sounds like an upbeat movie, perfectly timed for the summer!  You can own it now on DVD for $29.99.

Win It! 5 of you will win a copy of Dr. Dolittle:  Million Dollar Mutts.  Simply leave me a comment with something fun you’re going to do this summer!  Comments will close on June 10, 2009 at 10 PM PST. One comment per person, please (unless you do the extra credit). US residents only. Duplicates and comments not including the above information will be disqualified. Comments are moderated. If you don’t see your comment in a reasonable amount of time, send me an email. Bloggers and non-bloggers may enter. If you don’t want to leave your email address, please be sure to check back for my announcement on the winner. Please note that winners must respond within 48 hours of being announced/contacted or another winner will be drawn.

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Add the “Spring In For Summer Fun” banner to your sidebar and leave me a comment (be sure to visit the main party post for more details on extra entries)

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Enter Tanya and Amanda’s giveaways

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