Gadabout Media » Children

Gisele’s Reading Adventure offers FREE Live Show in Toronto

Eliza — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 16:46:36 +0000

The TVOKids host, Gisele of Gisele’s Big Backyard, will be offering a free live show of “Gisèle’s Reading Adventure”at the Parkdale Library this Saturday April 17 during the Keep Toronto Reading festival. Will you be there? I’d love comments from those that go. I’m in Missouri and would never be able to get there but think my youngest would really enjoy it. Gisele’s tv show will help inspire children to want to learn and teach them all about school. Read the following information on the show the kids will see.

“Gisèle’s Reading Adventure” showcases Gisèle and the book-loving knight Sir Readsalot in a rousing and interactive song-dance-reading extravaganza incorporating key elements of early literacy. Sir Readsalot’s trusty steed Bookmark has gone missing, and Gisèle and Sir Readsalot must call on their Big Backyard friends as well as kids in the audience to find him. As kids will discover, it takes letters, words, a spirit of adventure and most importantly, great teamwork, to crack this case.

Free tickets are available for a total of two 30-minute performances (10:30 am and 1:30 pm). Tickets can be picked up at the library box office a half hour before each show. Seating is limited and will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis.

There are also free giveaway bags for kids!

For those that don’t know, there is a website ‘Gisele’s Big Backyard‘ (http://www.tvokids.com/bigbackyard/default.html) that’ll keep your little one entertained for a very long time. There are games, videos, tv schedule and an area for you (your child) to write them.

DreamWorks introduces ‘Kung Fu Panda World’

Eliza — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 15:31:44 +0000

It may have taken two years, but DreamWorks Animation has finally released their $10 Million interactive website based off the hit movie, “Kung Fu Panda.” The virtual world is set up for kids between the ages of 8 and 12. Membership costs $5.95 per month but a viewer can sample a few games at first.

You can play games, chat with friends, trade goods, have fun, master Kung Fu skills, earn belts, download backgrounds, etc. Come join the fun in this virtual world and see if you can get the highest belt . I hear that “How to Train Your Dragon” will have their own world soon.

Learn the Alphabet: Backseat Scavenger Hunt

Marcie Pickelsimer — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 02:42:00 +0000

My son, Gus, is just starting to learn his letters and and a great way to do this is to have him do a scavenger hunt when we are out driving around during the day.

Before you head out, make up a long list of various things your children are likely to see from the car (or bus or train) window. For example: a license plate beginning with the letter C, an old tire, a tow truck, an overpass, a city that is named after a woman, a McDonalds restaurant, a silo, and so on.

Give the children the long list to work on together or divide up the list so that each child is looking for different items. Or let them make up lists for each other.

For children who can’t yet read, make a picture list by cutting out magazine pictures of signs and other common roadside attractions, like cows and pay telephones. Glue the cutouts on a piece of paper.

The children cross items of their lists or circle the pictured objects as they find them. If they wish, they can call out when they see something so the other players can corroborate. Let the winner of the backseat scavenger hunt be the first one out of the car when you stop to stretch your legs, or the one who gets to ride in the front seat for a while.

From: Reading is Fundament

Horrid Henry Strikes Again

Marcie Pickelsimer — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 02:35:42 +0000

My son’s favorite joke right now is about underwear. You know the one about looking under there and wearing underwear? He thinks it is absolutely hilarious and tries to tell me the same joke just about every day.

Well, Horrid Henry has collected his favorite new jokes in an all new joke book. Henry is organized too…he has actually organized them into sections covering his favorite subjects: Auntie jokes, screamers, and jokes not for moms.

My oldest loved reading them with me and trying to figure them out (he does have a difficult time with jokes). In fact, he loved them so much that I sent the book into his classroom teacher. She loved it too and she shared it with the entire class.

Francesca Simon is one of the world’s best-loved children’s authors and the only American to have ever won the Galaxy Book Award. The Horrid Henry series has sold nearly 14 million copies in 27 languages to date. Simon was born in the United States and attended both Yale and Oxford universities. For ten years she worked as a freelance journalist and now writes full-time. Simon lives in London with her husband and son.

To purchase your own copy: Horrid Henry’s Joke Book

Create a Home Libary Part III

Marcie Pickelsimer — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 01:38:32 +0000

In our home we have a special place for books. Do you?

We have several book shelves and baskets throughout the house so that AJ and Gus and pick up a book whenever they want to. And they do. They love it. We have one large bookshelf in the family room, an even bigger one in their toy room, and a basket in their bedroom for nighttime books.
Books are not arranged in any order but we do pull out holiday books at particular times of the year and put others away.
Next to each book “station” we have a place to sit and read. In the toy room we have a cubby with a bean bag. In the Family Room, the couch, and in their bedroom, the rocking chair. Having a comfy place to sit is essential.
We don’t have book stickers because we have WAY too many books. However, I do suggest this if you have just enough. You can order book stickers through Current Labels (where I got mine when I was teaching) or you can make your own, or even have them write their own names.
Essential lighting? In our play cubby we have pop-em lights on the ceiling because the cubby is under the stairs (yes, they are trolls), and the other rooms have regular lights.

Chime in…what areas do you have?

Best Bunny Books

Marcie Pickelsimer — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 01:29:17 +0000

Ah, Easter. Another religious holiday with a character who brings gifts to children. Wouldn’t it just be nice to celebrate the meaning of the day without fuzzy creatures?

Historically, the Easter Bunny seems to be German, as its origins have been traced to the Upper Rhineland and Alsace, both in the Holy Roman Empire. The first recorded Easter Bunny was recorded in Southwestern Germany in the early 1600’s and the first edible Bunny was made in Germany in the 1800’s.

According to tradition, children would build brightly colored nests for the bunny to leave colored eggs and the tradition spread to become the modern day Easter Basket.

Today, children try to find brightly colored Easter eggs filled with candy and expect the bunny to bring them presents. However, you can forgo the candy and give books and outdoor activity toys instead. Here are some of my favorite books for little ones.

The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter

Bunny Cakes (Max and Ruby)

Pat the Bunny (Touch and Feel Book)

Guess How Much I Love You

My Friend Rabbit

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass

Bunnicula: A Rabbit-Tale of Mystery

Not a Box

Blockbuster Express Kiosks Will Rock

Marcie Pickelsimer — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 00:28:49 +0000

My family has been using Blockbuster online for five years now and we absolutely love it. We got in on what I like to call the “ground floor” when prices were low and not many people were doing it yet. Our plan is only $16.99 a month for 2 movies at a time, unlimited exchanges, and one extra movie a month. If we were to sign up now we would pay $29.99 a month, something I would have to think twice about.

Blockbuster knows this about their customers and is trying to keep up with both Netflix and Redbox. Smart move.

They are now offering Blockbuster Express Kiosks for the busy person.Okay, mom. I know I’m likely to use it even though I have Blockbuster online. No one plans the flu or rainy days and moms always need a backup DVD for when kiddos just won’t comply with arts and crafts, right?

And, I also know that taking the kids to Blockbuster isn’t always the best idea. Last time I tried to take both of them Gus ate two candy bars and AJ screamed at me the entire time. The best thing about the kiosks? They only cost $1, you don’t need a membership, and you can even reserve the movies to pick up when you want to.

BLOCKBUSTER Express offered a special Rent One Get One Free coupon code for MomSelect members to use and share with all of your friends, family and followers.

The coupon code is 555G13B.

When you rent a movie at the regular price using the code in the banner above*, you’ll receive the first night’s rental on the second movie FREE. This offer expires on 3/31 so make sure to take advantage of it soon and encourage your friends to do the same!

Creat a Home Library Part II

Marcie Pickelsimer — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 03:09:39 +0000

Part Two of the home library is actually building the library. The easiest way to do this is to purchase a bookshelf but if you don’t want to buy anything consider making use with things that you have. Books don’t have to be scattered around your entire house or thrown on the floor like they sometimes are at my house.

A cardboard box painted or decorated with stickers can really make do in a crunch.
Use plastic milk crates or old wooden crates.
Baskets work great as well if you don’t have many books.
Set up books on the floor with book ends.
Use a few bricks with some extra wood planks (my father used to do this)
Use a media cabinet under the television to store kids books like we do in the family room (instead of storing DVD’s or VCR tapes).
Stack books aesthetically in a corner or on end tables.

How do you create your library?

Create a Home Library

Marcie Pickelsimer — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 02:44:30 +0000

When you have little ones at home good books are very important (and essential) to early reading. They help boost print recognition, familiarity, and love for reading. In this three part series you will learn how to find good books, build the library, and create a great space for your kids.

Finding Great Books:

Become a hunter, a treasure hunter! Hit the book store sales, garage sales, library books sales, Craigslist, Freecycle, and Ebay! I have thousands of children’s books (really, I do) and I have never paid full price or any of them. Quarter books are the best!
When you are bargain shopping, don’t forget those great nonfiction books about ships, Barbie, and Dinosaurs. Your kids will love the pictures and in 5 years they make great research resources.
Request that family and friends purchase books for birthdays and holidays. Even a stocking stuffer is great, right?

Time to Get Kids Outside!

Marcie Pickelsimer — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 03:09:51 +0000

The weather has broken in the Midwest, finally, and the kids are ecstatic for the sunshine and warmth but how do you entice them to get outside and play when all they really want to do is curl up in front of the television after school?

For me the answer is easy because I have young kiddos. I bribe them with new bubble guns and wands, new rain boots for sloshing in muddy puddles, and heading to the local river to feed the countless ducks we have in our town. For older kids though, what can you do?

1. Get them excited by planting an indoor garden now. Use egg cartons (recycle the Easter cartons), fill them with dirt, and plant some of their favorite flower seeds (or even grass seed). When the flowers start to grow and the warm trends continue transfer them carefully to the garden outside. You can even start vegetables this way.

2. Go on a photo scavenger hunt for new spring items. Make a list for them and have them take pictures of nature.

3. Feed the birds by making your own bird feeder. I used to do this as a kid with my grandparents. Take an old corncob, roll it in peanut butter and then roll the peanut butter in bird seed. You can then hang this from a tree branch for the birds. Squirrels love it too.