Archive for category Kids

I Can Do That! Monkey around with Curious George.

Posted by Sarcastic Mom, aka Lotus in Games, Kids, Toys on March 23, 2009

Congratulations to our winner: Jessica

I Can Do That! Games are a great way to foster self-confidence in your young children while they are laughing and and having fun. They can play board games just like older kids – that are designed for things that they can do!

There is a full line of Dr. Seuss games that will have your little ones getting a kick out of being silly, and learning in the process.

The latest games feature everyone’s favorite monkey, Curious George. Or, as my 2 year old calls him, “Doo-is Dorge!”

I had a chance to play with one of the games myself – The “Curious George Hide and Seek Zoo Game.”

curiousgeorge_hideseekzoo

It’s designed for children ages 4-8, so it’s a bit advanced for Braden. I can tell you, however, that it comes with a yellow Walkie-Talkie, which he immediately commandeered and used as his own personal telephone on which to have important discussions with The Man in the Yellow Hat.

Once he took a nap, I set up the game and tested it out. You basically follow the prompts given by the Walkie-Talkie and a spinner on the game board to collect cards and earn points. It’s very easy to understand, and offers problem solving, turn-taking, and direction-following opportunities. The most fun happens when The Man in the Yellow Hat freaks out about the animals escaping. This is when everyone else slaps on an animal mask and hides, while the person in charge of the Walkie-Talkie must find them before the music stops (2 minutes).

giraffehead

This part of the game actually encourages running around. When was the last time a board game gave your kids an opportunity to problem solve AND get some exercise?

The game is fun, exciting, and educational. And I have a feeling that the rest of the products at I Can Do That! Games are similarly entertaining and enlightening.

If you’d like to score one of these games for yourself, head over to the I Can Do That! website and have a look at the games. Then, in the comments section here, tell me which game you like the best. Your comment earns you an entry.

You may leave a comment through March 25.

On Thursday, March 26th I’ll randomly draw one winner to receive a free copy of the Curious George Hide & Seek Zoo Game.

(Please use a valid email address on the comment form, and respond when contacted in order to win.)

Disclosure: This is an uncompensated review. I received the Curious George Hide & Seek Game for review, free of charge.

Animals, Board Game, Children, Curious George, Dr. Seuss, Free, Freebie, Game, Giveaway, Hide and Seek, I Can Do That!, Kids, Review, The Man in the Yellow Hat, Toy, Walkie Talkie, Win, Winner, Zoo

9 Comments

Olive Kids! Do You?

Posted by Sarcastic Mom, aka Lotus in Bedroom, Clothes, Coupon, Gift Certificate, Household, Kids, School on February 12, 2009

Congrats to the Winner! Secret Mom Thoughts

Towards the end of last year, John and I decided that it was time to move Braden from his crib to a toddler bed. Is it just me or is the room spinning a bit? Why is my chest so tight? Oh yeah, that’s that thing that happens when I’m reminded of HOW MUCH MY KID IS GROWING UP. *sniff* We found the perfect little bed and ordered it from JCPenny.com.

toddlerbed

Isn’t it darling?

olivekids We really wanted to graduate him from the nursery sheets he was using too, and found some absolutely wonderful toddler bedsets at Olive Kids. In fact, Olive Kids carries all kinds of colorful and fun kids designs for all purposes. Many things can be personalized, and they are all incredibly cute and fun. I decided to let John make the final decision on the bedset design (and if you know anything about my control issues, you will know this is a big deal) and even though I really wanted the Wild Animals Set:

waset

John chose the Planes, Trains, & Trucks Set:

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And Pillow Sham:

trucksham

And you know what? He CHOSE WELL. Braden loves it – he exclaims over the “Pwanes!” and “Twucks!” and “Twains!” And it is really adorable.

bed

It’s made with bright, happy colors, and the material seems strong, yet nice and comfy. And he adjusted to his new bed, pillow, and bedset MUCH faster than I wanted him to had expected him to. I blame credit the soft sheets and warm, cuddly comforter. Would you like to sample a little Olive Kids fare? You would!? Well, okay! One winner will receive a personalized bookmark, placemat, and nametag in your design choice. Go check them out!

Make sure you check out all they have to offer and then come back here and leave a comment about what you like the best. Comments will be accepted through Tuesday, February 17th.

At the end of the comment period, one commenter will be randomly selected to win a personalized bookmark, placemat, and nametag! (Must have valid email and respond when contacted.) Good luck!

Disclosure: This is an uncompensated review. I received the Olive Kids Planes, Trains, & Trucks Toddler Bedset, Sham, & Comforter for review, free of charge.

Bedding, Bookmark, Comforter, Giveaway, Household, Kids, Nametag, Olive Kids, Personalized, Pillow Sham, Placemat, Plains, Sheet Set, Sheets, Toddler Bed, Toddler Bedding, Trains, Trucks

9 Comments

Help for our loveable, snotty nosed brats.

Posted by Sarcastic Mom, aka Lotus in Coupon, Household, Kids, Medicine, School on February 1, 2009

Congratulations to the Winner: Walking With Scissors!

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If you’re a Mommy or Daddy you have had to (or will, eventually) deal with a sick child. And nothing breaks your heart more than the pathetic way they cry and cling when they are not feeling well. You want to do the best for them, and take away that miserable feeling.

Braden is much too young to take any cold medicines, so I usually just give him tea, baby acetaminophen for pain and fever, and lots of hugs (I kind of like the extra hugs, shhh).

And a zinc lollipop never hurts.

Lollies somehow make everything better for a little while, right?

But if your little one is older, you have a whole other set of worries to deal with. A big one involves when it’s a good idea to send them to school, and when you should keep them home. Luckily, the National Association of School Nurses recently partnered with Triaminic to create “Sick Day Guidelines: Making the Right Call When Your Child Has a Cold.“ This is a great resource for parents of school-aged children (or day care goers!) and I’m going to keep it bookmarked for future reference.

Now, if your child is old enough, there are also children’s medicines that you can get over-the-counter to help alleviate the worst of the symptoms that are making them miserable.

Triaminic has a line of such Children’s cold medicines, in the form of “thin-strips” and “soft chews.” Note that these medicines are only for children aged 4 and up, and it is very important to follow the label directions exactly for the safety of the child.

The Triaminic Thin Strips are pretty cool because they are thin and melt right on the child’s tongue (easy administration). Each strip provides pre-measured dose of medicine so you know your kiddo is receiving the intended dose, every time.

If you’d like to try them, anyone who wants to click here to go to a page where you can download a coupon for $1.50 off the Thin Strips. I love finding deals like this, especially right now when everyone is trying to save a little money anywhere they can.

Also, leave a comment here anytime before 11:59PM CST Wednesday, February 4th and you have a chance at a free sample. If I draw your name on Thursday, I’ll have a free sample of the Triaminic Thin Strips sent to you.

Good luck! I hope all your babies/kiddos are feeling well. When they aren’t, I hope this information helps.

Disclosure: This is an uncompensated review. Posted for reader information, help to parents, and the opportunity for someone to receive free samples.

Childre, Cold, Dad, Kids, Medicine, Mom, Nurses, Parents, School, Sick, Thin Strips, Triaminic

7 Comments

Stick Fun And Learning In With Nourishment!

Posted by Sarcastic Mom, aka Lotus in Educational, Kids on January 1, 2009

Congrats to winner: Ang!

Do you always want your kids to feel happy, loved, and content? That’s exactly what Gina Flanagan wanted when she started writing her daughter lunchbox notes with cute and cool drawings on them. She was reacting to the news that her daughter was lonely at lunchtime… but before long, everyone at her lunchtable was waiting to see what “Mom” had put in the lunchbox that day.

This is the origination of “Kid’s Lunchbox Cards.”

Now, they’re still full of great illustrations and funny thoughts, but they always include amazing and interesting trivia that will both entertain and educate your little ones.

Gina sent me a set to check out, and I LOVE them!

They contain the type of trivia and silliness I would have really appreciated as a kid, and that totally endeared them to me.

“In the winter, some frogs can be frozen solid, then in the spring, they thaw out and hop away!”

Freaky! Ok, ok… I STILL enjoy this type of trivia and silliness.

I can see Braden enjoying this type of thing as he gets older, and I bet many of you have kids right now who would enjoy these cards!

If you’d like a chance to win All Five Sets currently produced (25 Cards in all!), just leave a comment below.

This giveaway ends January 7th, 11:59 PM CST. A winner will be randomly selected and notified by email (you must provide an accurate email address to win).

Disclosure: This is an uncompensated review. I received all five sets of lunchbox cards for review, free of charge.

Fun, Kids, Lunchbox Cards, Trivia

25 Comments

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