Tis the season for colds and flu. My poor little guys were hit hard with a marathon fever virus that was going around. They literally had fever for over a week and they were not alone. Our pediatrician said it is hitting the area hard. It then turned into strep throat and our youngest missed many days of school leading up to Christmas vacation. They are still not 100% but there are some things we are doing to keep them more comfortable.
One of the things that can make already sore throats feel worse is breathing dry, stuffy air. A cool mist humidifier and make the air much more comfortable. I love this one from Safety 1st, the Ultrasonic 360° Humidifier helps to ease cold symptoms and reduce dry skin and itchy eyes.
Some features that make this my go-to humidifier are that it has 2 fully rotating mist outlets which let me control the direction of the mist and is perfect if you have 2 children who share a room. The other thing I am stoked about is that it requires no filters, so no expensive filters to replace!
It operates very quietly so it works well in the bedroom without making noise that might be frightening or keep children awake. It has a super large tan so you do not have to fill it up as much as one tank lasts about 36 hours. When it is time to refill the unit it will shut off automatically and light up to let me know.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, children get an average of 8 to 10 colds every year. In the U.S., the flu is most common between October and May, and peaks in January, February, and March. Parents everywhere should be ready to tackle this season.
If you are looking for other ways to help ease your baby or child’s discomfort when they are sick, Safety 1st has many products besides the humidifier above to help you do that. Check out their extensive selection of thermometers, nasal aspirators, medicine spoons/dispensers and more.
What are some ways you keep your child comfortable when sick. Let me know in the comments, I would love to hear your suggestions. Stay healthy!
I was provided with the above product for free to facilitate my post. As always my words and views are 100% my own.
Do you have any little pilots or astronauts on your holiday list? If so you might want to check out Hot Wings from Just Think Toys. Every Hot Wings plane comes with a collector card, plus proprietary connectable runway system that allows collectors to build their own runways and airports. Seven distinct series, dating from the earliest Bi Planes to the newest Space Planes, plus taxiways and hanger accessories, make Hot Wings the most exciting collectible planes available.
I was amazed at the quality of these metal planes and our boys just love them. We have a lot more that we want to get the for Christmas as they want to collect them all. The runway pieces are really cool and the card teaches them facts about the different planes. Mommy Ramblings likes Hot Wings so much we are adding them to our 2015 Holiday Gift Guide.
Would you like a chance to win 3 Assorted Hot Wings Planes? Just enter below!
Enter The Giveaway!
Just Think Toysis sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings! One lucky blog reader will win 3 Hot Wings Planes picked by the Just Think Toys. Thank you to Just Think Toys for the review Hot Wings Planes and for sponsoring this fantastic giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!!! Open to US residents.
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As a parent I am concerned about protecting my Children’s eyes from sun damage. Our kids have been wearing Real Kids Shades for several years and they are eye protection I trust and one that gives this mom peace of mind. Many times parents are diligent in using sunscreen on their children but forget to protect their eyes. Real Kids Shades works in partnership with Prevent Blindness America to educate parents on the importance of protecting their children’s eyes.
Children’s eyes are at special risk from the harmful effects of UV rays because their eyes are still developing. Their young eyes are much more vulnerable to sun damage. Real Kids Shades are designed to provide serious UV protection. Real Kids Shades is the leading maker of premium quality, 100 percent UV protective eyewear for infants and children up to age 12. Their award-winning design, intensive product testing, and patented construction makes their children’s sunglasses the best available on the market today.
Recently I ordered 2 pair of Real Kids Shades for my boys. They arrived with their own protective neoprene case and my little guys were thrilled. Ordering from the website is so easy and you can shop by age and there is a wide selection of styles and colors for boys and girls. We think Real Kids Shades make a perfect holiday or Christmas Gift so you will find them on Mommy Ramblings 2015 Holiday Gift Guide.
Real Kids Shadesis sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings! One lucky blog reader will win a pair of sunglasses of their choice (subject to availability). Thank you to Real Kids Shades for the review sunglasses and for sponsoring this awesome giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!!! Open to US and Canadian Residents. Good Luck!
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When you think about children’s toys, there are the flash in the pan, flavor of the week toys and there are the classic toys that thrill kids from generation to generation. Parents embrace classic toys because they remind them of their childhood and they know they are a wise investment that will provide their child with years of fun. One of those classics is blocks. Blocks are so great because they are never the same toy twice and the possibilities are limited only by one’s own imagination.
Recently I had the chance to take a look at Lakeshore Learning’s Castle Blocks. These enchanting hardwood blocks let kids create a fascinating fortress, spacious palace & more! The durable, stackable blocks come in 12 unique shapes & are printed on every side with a fun medieval theme—so kids can construct castles from all directions! They come in a set of 60 blocks.
My kids loved them and have been playing with them since they arrived. Every day there is a different adventure that awaits them, new castles to build and conquer and battles to be won. This is the kind of creative play I like to see in my child, one that has them really thinking about what they are doing. I think with all the technology today, children need a balance or they will miss out on challenging their brains in a creative way.
The blocks are gorgeous, solid wood and decorated beautifully on all sides. They are a true heirloom toy to be handed down from generation to generation.
Lakeshore Learning has so many toys and games that challenge, teach and entertain kids while they have fun. Right now you can save 20% at Lakeshore Learning. Click HERE to get a 20% off coupon you can use in-store or online. Oh and since we think the Castle Blocks from Lakeshore Learning are so great, we are adding them to our 2015 Holiday Gift Guide.
Do you want a chance to win a set of Castle Blocks? If so just read on to the giveaway below.
Lakeshore Learning is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings! One lucky blog reader will win their own set of Castle Blocks . Thank you to Lakeshore Learning for the review product and for sponsoring this fantastic giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!!! Open to US residents.
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Halloween is just around the corner and there is still time to pick up some Halloween Thrills you can share with your kids on DVD from PBS Kids!
THREE NEW PBS KIDS DVDS OFFER SPOOK-TASTIC HALLOWEEN FUN
Each of these DVDs features a PBS KIDS series – CAILLOU, PEG + CAT, and WORDWORLD. From carving a jack-o’-lantern with Caillou to going on a trick-or-treating adventure with Peg and Cat, these DVDs include fun-filled laugh-out-loud stories full of Halloween excitement.
“CAILLOU: CAILLOU’S HALLOWEEN”
“CAILLOU’S HALLOWEEN” features 13 stories including “Caillou Loves Halloween,” “Pumpkin Patch Kid,” and “Caillou’s Halloween Costume.” In “Caillou’s Halloween Costume,” Caillou and Rosie are trying to pick out costumes as Halloween quickly approaches – but Caillou can’t decide what he wants to be. With help from Mommy and Daddy, a furry blue monster costume is created for Caillou so he can join Leo, a cowboy, and Clementine, a bumblebee, for trick-or-treating!
“PEG + CAT: A TOTALLY AWESOME HALLOWEEN”
Combine Halloween excitement with mathematical fun and you’ve got “PEG + CAT: A TOTALLY AWESOME HALLOWEEN.” This DVD features four adventures, two of which are Halloween themed – “The Parade Problem” and “The Halloween Problem.” In “The Parade Problem,” kids will learn about sorting and estimating as they watch Peg and Cat clean up a park to ensure the nursery school’s Halloween parade takes place. After watching Peg and Cat solve this problem, kids can join Peg, who dresses up as a mailbox, and Cat, who decides to be a fire hydrant, on a trick-or-treating adventure that features the duo using their math skills to divide up Halloween treats so that everyone gets a fair share.
The PEG + CAT series is funded in part by the U.S. Department of Education through the Ready To Learn Initiative, a program that supports the development of innovative educational television and digital media targeted at preschool and early elementary school children and their families, and by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB).
“WORDWORLD: HALLOWEEN FUN”
In the frightfully fun DVD “WORDWORLD: HALLOWEEN FUN,” join the WordFriends on adventures that demonstrate the connections between letters, sounds, words, and meaning. This DVD features five stories including “A Kooky Spooky Halloween” and “Sheep’s Halloween Costume.” In “A Kooky Spooky Halloween,” Pig is so worried about finishing his Halloween bags, because he’s missing the letter B, that he ends up sleepwalking. As he sleepwalks, collecting Bs along the way, everyone thinks he’s a ghost!
About PBS KIDS
PBS KIDS, the number one educational media brand for kids, offers all children the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television, digital platforms and community-based programs. Kidscreen- and Webby-award winning pbskids.org provides engaging interactive content, including digital games and streaming video. PBS KIDS also offers mobile apps to help support young children’s learning. The PBS KIDS Video App is available on a variety of mobile devices and on platforms such as Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Xbox One and Chromecast. For more information on specific PBS KIDS content supporting literacy, science, math and more, visit pbs.org/pressroom, or follow PBS KIDS on Twitter and Facebook.
Last Sunday when I awoke to find a coating of snow on my van, I was not impressed. October 18th is way too early to be seeing that white stuff. It was short-lived thankfully and this week saw us getting into the high 60’s and low 70’s. However as much as I hate to admit it, that white stuff will be here and we are supposed to be in for another cold, harsh winter. I am hoping they are wrong this time but I guess time will have to tell us that.
Cool winter fun is coming down the tracks with the newest Chuggington DVD: The Big Freeze!
This super-sized release from Anchor Bay Entertainment features a Never-Before-Seen Holiday Special, to Warm Hearts All Winter Long
The latest release in the popular DVD collection is jam-packed with six fun-filled adventures – including a never before seen holiday special episode from the top-rated Disney Junior series. “The Big Freeze” pulled into retail stores on October 13, 2015, just in time to help families from coast-to-coast celebrate the season – Chuggington style!
The chuggers perform one heroic rescue after another in this cool new seasonal collection of “Chuggington” adventures! When icy temperatures cause the town to run out of fuel and all diesel engines are grounded, it’s wheels-to-the-rails as Chief Jackman and his team of brave Chug Patrollers work together to find a way to the frozen docks to retrieve fuel and get the town of Chuggington moving once again. Fans can join Fletch as he tries to repair the lighthouse, chug along with Calley as she tests to become a first responder, watch as Brewster gets closer to being a Chuggineer, and more! “The Big Freeze” will help teach little chuggers nationwide important lessons about safety, responsibility and teamwork as they ride alongside their favorite friends, Wilson, Koko, Brewster, and Asher!
This is a great movie to give to little ones on your wish list this holiday season. You will find it on a pick for kids on Mommy Ramblings’ 2015 Holiday Gift Guide!
Episodes:
The Big Freeze – Never-before-seen holiday special!
First Responder Calley
On Track Brewster
Hodge Can’t Wait
Zephie’s Star Club
Toot’s New Friend
DVD Bonus features:
Badge Quest Episode: “Share the Load”
Character Montages: “Daley” and “The Docks Crew”
Dove.org reports: “Now this is what good children’s entertainment is about! The stories are terrific, the characters are delightful, and the animation is awesome!” And, for double the turbo-charged adventures, Anchor Bay Entertainment will release in tandem the new-to-DVD dino-sized “Chuggington” title, “Wilson and the Dinosaur.”
Young fans can experience even more “Chuggington” fun at Amtrak Train Days events, taking place across the country. For information click HERE!
Now in its fifth season on Disney Junior, “Chuggington” is a colorful and contemporary CGI-animated TV show from Ludorum that reinforces early social readiness skills. The series has become a global sensation since its debut in September 2008 in the U.K. The show has been licensed to more than 175 territories worldwide and has established ratings records in several key international markets, including the U.K., Germany, France and Australia. The series made its U.S. debut in January 2010.
About “Chuggington™”
“Chuggington” is a contemporary, action-based, energetic and vibrant CGI series for children ages 2-5. The series follows the adventures of three young trainees – Wilson and his friends Brewster and Koko – as they ride the rails and take on exciting challenges that test their courage, speed and determination. Along the way, and with help and support from a strong community of engines and people, they learn positive values and new skills that empower them to become the best trainees they can be. Further information is available at www.chuggington.com.
“The Big Freeze”
Street Date: October 13, 2015
Audio: Surround 2.0
Retail Price: $14.98
Genre: Children’s, TV on DVD
Rating: Not Rated
Run Time: 73 Mins
Year: 2015
Enter The Giveaway
Anchor Bay Entertainment is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings! One lucky blog reader will win a DVD of Chuggington: The Big Freeze!. Thank you Anchor Bay Entertainment for the review product and for sponsoring this fantastic giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!!! Open to US residents.
Chuggington: The Big Freeze! DVD Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:
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Earlier this month we went on a family safari. My kids loved it and so did my husband and I. It was all our younger kids talked about in the following days. They are still bringing it up and asking all kinds of questions about the animals. They are so curious about the lions, tigers, bears, rhinos and more! In keeping with the safari theme, I want to introduce you to a great learning game. One that parents won’t mind their kids playing, because they are learning reading, vocabulary and reasoning skills through highly engaging games.
SAFARI TALES™, is an enchanting animal adventure game which encourages exploration in reading and vocabulary skills by casting the player as both adventurer and storyteller. Following in the fossilized footsteps of award-winning DINO TALES™, children join five baby animal friends as they explore a vast African Savannah bursting at the seams with wildlife, mini games to master and artifacts and relics to discover and collect. Throughout their in-game adventures, kids learn countless facts and figures about the various environments, their inhabitants and items they encounter on their way, building knowledge and enhancing reading skills.
I downloaded this app on iTunes to try it out. My husband and I were both amazed at how much there was to do and how interactive and fun it was. You start out with an adorable baby elephant named Eshe. You can change Eshe’s appearance with fun textures and colors, teach her tricks and walk with her to find other animals and go on quests together. The graphics are so much fun and there are lots of surprises to discover at every turn.
You also learn about what your animal can eat and what is not an appropriate food or drink for them. All along the way you can stop and ask questions to your adorable Meerkat host, Darwin. The game has great music and realistic sounds that make it even more fun. I have only just started discovering all there is to do and I can see why Kuato Studios, is the world-leading developer in learning-through-games.
SAFARI TALES further feeds inquisitive minds through an adaptive gaming engine built around Apple’s SIRI technology. Curious kids are encouraged to construct over a thousand different questions to ask their in-game guide, Darwin, who will supply intelligent and fact-filled answers, aiding literacy skills in sentence structure, reading and creative thought.
At the end of each play session, SAFARI TALES uses patented technology to convert children’s adventures, discoveries and achievements into an incredible interactive storybook. Each new tale can be saved and stored to be read over and again with parents and loved ones, strengthening literacy, reasoning and inquiry skills.
I was happy to see this game encourages parents to participate in their child’s SAFARI TALES playtime through ‘Parent Corner’, selected from the home screen. From here, access to the game can be PIN-restricted, parents can set their child’s reading age and can control game length from a variety of session times, ensuring playtime fits the family routine. Additionally, notifications can be received each time a new creative artwork is produced in the game, allowing parents to monitor their child’s learning and share in their creativity.
Aimed at children aged between four and ten, SAFARI TALES has been developed in conjunction with pupils and teachers, to ensure that content is age-appropriate and game play fun. “Feedback from both kids and adults is invaluable for us as a studio,” said David Miller, award-winning teacher and now Director of Learning at Kuato Studios. “This participation in the development allows us to pinpoint particular opportunities where the child’s engagement with the game play, their creativity and performance peak, producing the perfect learning experience.”
Safari Tales is avail able now on iOS and Android platforms on iTunes, Google Play and Amazon. Just click the links and check it out yourself. You can join the adventure at Safari Tales and follow Kuato Studios on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram. Get a Safari Tales Coloring BookHERE!
About Kuato Studios
Kuato Studios is a learning company building fun and interactive products that inspire kids to learn the new skills of the future. Kuato Studios was founded in 2012 by the creators and investors behind Siri, to disrupt, innovate and lead the education market, and is working on integrating the latest cutting edge technology, like next generation conversation AI from SRI International, into a smart tutoring platform. Beginning in March 2013 with the release of Hakitzu, a game that teaches coding skills and problem solving, Kuato Studios has pioneered the next generation of educational video games. Through the recent release of Dino Tales and Safari Tales, Kuato Studios continues to be at the forefront of educational technology.
I was provided with a code to download this app for free and while compensated my words and views are always 100% my own.
Our kids are extremely active! They will be outdoors playing from sun up to long after sun down. Definitely no couch potatoes here! They love riding bikes around the lake we live, we all do! I was intrigued when I saw the Rockboard RBX Scooter. This scooter allows kids and adults up to 220 lbs to propel themselves without the typical kicking. With the Rockboard RBX you propel yourself by rocking and your feet never need to touch the ground. It is a rocking motion that propels the scooter and our 6-year-old and 8-year-old were able to get the hang of it rather quickly.
The RBX is not something you will spend all day assembling. In fact there are only a few pieces to connect and you can be off and rocking. My husband was able to get this from the box to a fully functioning scooter in a matter of minutes. It is recommended for ages 8 and up and can scoot along at up to 10 MPH. It comes in red, blue and black.
Rockboard is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings! One lucky blog reader will win their own Rockboard RBX Scooter (color selected by rockboard)! Thank you to Rockboard for sponsoring this fantastic review and giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!!! Open to US residents. Rockboard RBX Scooter Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules: Please enter the giveaway using the Rafflecopter widget below. Good Luck!!!
Allow me the pleasure of introducing you to Harriet Hamsterbone, this royal rodent princess finds her life rather dull. She sighs a lot at the less than exciting life she has. That is, until the day that Harriet’s parents reveal to her a secret! They tell her that a rat placed a curse on her on the day of her birth. This curse said she will prick her finger on a hamster wheel when she is twelve and fall into a deep sleep!
Harriet has a bit of a different reaction than you might expect hearing this news. She was thrilled because it meant she was invincible until she turned twelve! So she started that adventurous life she wanted along with her riding quail, Mumfrey and enjoyed herself immensely. Oh, but what do they say about all good things? Her 12th birthday arrives and the curse…well, it manifests in a most unexpected way for this Hamster Princess.
You will just love reading this book aloud with your kids or presenting it to your middle grade school child to read on their own. This hilarious new comic series is a feisty, furry, twist on Sleeping Beauty from the creator of Dragonbreath, Ursula Vernon.
Take a look Inside The Book-HERE!You can read an excerpt HERE!
Perfect for fans of Babymouse and Chris Colfer’s Land of Stories, this laugh-out-loud new comic hybrid series will turn everything you thought you knew about princesses on its head.
GIVEAWAY:
Penguin Random House is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings! One lucky blog reader will win their own copy of Hamster Princess. Thank you Penguin Random House for the review copy and for sponsoring this fantastic giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!!! Open to US residents.
Hamster Princess Book Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:
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In New York we still have several weeks of school left. I know that in the southern states some schools are letting the kids out for summer this Friday! No better time to start thinking about some great summer reading books for kids. Reading keeps kids entertained, their reading skills sharp and fuels their imagination. I have a great book I want to tell you about that may be one you want to add to your child’s summer reading list. Fans of Polly Horvath or Roald Dahl will love this quirky story of a determined girl, and some extraordinary chickens.
Sophie Brown and her family have inherited her dead uncle’s farm—a place vastly different from her familiar hometown of LA. Due to her family’s lack of funds, though, operating a fully functioning farm is out of the question. But what happens when the farm animals come to them? Sophie begins to see chickens—very unusual chickens—appearing on her land. She chronicles their activity and her challenges in a series of fun-to-read letters to her deceased relatives. But when a respected local farmer tries to steal them, Sophie must find a way to keep them (and their superpowers) safe. Readers will become immersed in the narrator’s honest and endearing tone. Young readers will root for Sophie and her chickens until the very last page. UNUSUAL CHICKENS is an original, clucky classic in the making.
About The Author:
KELLY JONES has been a librarian, a bookseller, and a teacher, and is currently a raiser of (much-loved but fairly ordinary) chickens. Now she has published her first middle-grade novel,UNUSUAL CHICKENS FOR THE EXCEPTIONAL POULTRY FARMER (On sale May 12, 2015 / Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers / $16.99). Written entirely in letters, to-do lists, and quizzes, with several black-and-white drawings, this is a quirky story of a determined, strong-willed girl with some very unusual super chickens.
Giveaway:
Penguin Random House is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings! One lucky blog reader will win their own copy of Unusual Chickens For The Exceptional Poultry Farmer. Thank you Penguin Random House for the review book and for sponsoring this fantastic giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!!! Open to US residents.
Hello, I’m Carolyn! I am a PR Savvy, WAH Mom to 5! I love Photography, Baking, DIY Projects, Crafts, Cooking and making memories with my family. I love sharing reviews and giveaways too!
