One of the things I remember most about my childhood is just how much using my imagination entertained me nearly everyday.  From putting on backyard plays, dance recitals, and pretending to be a myriad of different people in different adventures, there was never a dull moment, even if I didn’t have anyone else to play with.  In today’s busy world, often times kids don’t get to flex those little brain muscles enough to dream, wonder, and create.

My son and I recently got to test out a very cool new app for kids called PlayTown.  Inside PlayTown, children can create their own characters and choose their clothing, select their own story settings, and record their own voices to create a truly one-of-a-kind adventure.  When they’re finished, they can play their story back and even share their adventures within the app with friends and family.  As a mom, I see this as a great way for my son to entertain himself by being creative.  As a children’s librarian, I see this as an amazing tool for reinforcing story elements with my students.

CREATE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE

A PlayTown story begins by selecting a playset.  Most of these playsets are absolutely free, but some can be purchased for $1.99.  Here are a couple of examples:

Next, you child can select characters and add their own photos and drawings.  Props, clothing, different background scenes, background music, and even your child’s voice recorded can be added to truly personalize the story just the way your child wants.

For our first time using PlayTown, my son chose the Pirate’s Treasure playset to create his story.

 

 

He’s 8 years old, and to be perfectly honest, he assumed before even trying this out that this was a “baby game”.  His words.  However, I convinced him that this would be really fun and so he settled in to create his own story.

  

Pretty soon he figured out this was not a “baby game” and he was really enjoying himself.  He flipped when he figured out he could add his own voice recording to the story.  Needless to say, things got real silly, real fast!

When he had the app all figured out, he promptly retreated to his room with the phone and nothing but giggles could be heard for over an hour.  I’d say that he’s totally sold on this app!

FREE DOWNLOAD

The PlayTown: My Storymaker app is available through the iTunes App store and Google Play and is absolutely free to download.  You can also keep up with the latest in PlayTown news by following them on Facebook.

I can’t wait to share PlayTown with my students at school and use this in the library on our tablets to let my students create their own unique adventures.  Fostering creativity, imagination, and problem solving skills in children is so important.  This app does all of those things while providing a fun play experience for kids.

I am participating in a compensated brand ambassador campaign for PlayTown.  All opinions are my own.

It’s that time of year again.  The time of year that none of us look forward to.  Cold and flu season is almost here and you may already be getting ready to do battle with these nasty, unwelcome visitors by stocking up on medicine, taking your flu shot, and avoiding crowded places.  If you’re like me, you may work around a lot of little people.  Although we diligently push hand-washing and hand sanitizing in our school, the sickies still spread.  It’s just a fact of life.  The CDC (Centers for Disease Control) reports that although epidemics of cold and flu can happen every year, the timing, severity, and length of season varies from one year to another.  It’s important to start preparing for this now by stocking up on cold and flu essentials like Kleenex Everyday Tissue so you won’t be left scrambling for these things when you really need them the most.

How great would it be to have a tool to help you know when these sicknesses are headed for you?  Well, now you can, thanks to Kleenex!  Just visit achoo by Kleenex Cold & Flu predictor to see when the cold and flu are predicted to reach your area.  I checked out my zip code, and thankfully, our area is in the low for colds and flu for the next two weeks.  You can also get some great tips there for caring for your family during the cold and flu season.

Ali Wentworth recently visited Chicago where she helped spread the word about cold and flu preparation.  In this video, Ali asks people to share their embarrassing moments when they were caught without a Kleenex.  The results are pretty funny!

 

I am participating in a sponsored campaign for Kleenex.  All opinions are my own.

How many things in your home operate on a coin lithium battery?  Do you have remote keyless entry on your car?  Children’s picture books with sound?  Do you use flameless candles?  Many of these items operate on coin lithium batteries.  Have you ever stopped to think what might happen if your small child were to find one of these?  This thought never crossed my mind when my son was younger, but it happens.  In support of National Childhood Injury Prevention Week, which was September 1-7, the National Safety Council and Energizer have teamed up to share some important tips every parent should know to help prevent injuries from the ingestion of Coin Lithium batteries to help keep kids safe.

The 4 S’s of Coin Lithium Battery Safety

· Store devices that use coin lithium batteries out of reach of children

· Secure the battery compartments of devices

· Select battery packaging that meets federal guidelines for child resistance, such as Energizer’s coin lithium battery packaging

· Share this information with your friends and family

If it is suspected that a child has swallowed a coin lithium battery, it is important to go to the emergency department immediately. For more information on child safety and coin lithium battery safety, please visit nsc.org, www.energizer.com, TheBatteryControlled.comand www.poison.org/battery.

Energizer led the industry by being the first to voluntarily develop packaging for its 20 millimeter coin lithium batteries that meets the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s (CPSC) strict guidelines for child-resistant packaging.  To see just how durable the packaging is on these Energizer coin lithium battery packages is, I was sent a package, along with a competeing brands to see which package was the toughest to get into.  Guess what?  I couldn’t even get into the Energizer packaging by hand.  It required scissors.  The competing brand?  I tore right into it with little effort.  Just think how easy it would be for a child to do the same.

GIVEAWAY

I have one Energizer prize pack to give away to one lucky reader.  Included in the pack:

· Two (2) packages of Energizer Coin Lithium batteries

· One (1) Energizer LED Nightlight (winner’s choice between Sleeping Beauty or Cars)

· One (1) Energizer Weatheready 2-in-1 LED Light

TO ENTER

Enter using the Rafflecopter form below.  Giveaway ends October 20, 2013 at 12 AM CST.   US Only.  18+.  Void where prohibited.  Winner must respond within 3 days of email being sent notifying them. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Background on CPSC Child-Resistant Packaging

The CPSC imposes strict guidelines to determine if a packaging qualifies as effectively child-resistant. The packaging is tested with groups of children ages 42-51 months and also with senior adults ages 50-70. For a package to be child-resistant, a total of 80% of the children tested must not open the package in a full 10 minutes of testing. To make sure that adults are able to use a child-resistant package properly, 90% of adults tested have up to five minutes, and then another minute in a second test, to open and close the package (if applicable) so that it is child-resistant again.

I was provided with the prize pack featured above as a thank you for facilitating this post.  All opinions are my own.

There’s a huge trend for using lights as art in the home at the moment and while for many this focuses on fixed neon slogans that you probably don’t want to put in a little one’s room, there are plenty of lighting options when it comes to adding a creative touch for kids.

As always with kid’s rooms, it’s important to consider safety first and foremost, so if you are going to do anything creative like spell out your child’s name in lights, you’ll need to make sure lights are safely affixed and wires kept out of harm’s way. Wires and sockets are likely to be a no-go with younger children, though you may find singular battery-operated LED lights provide a safer alternative. Lights4fun have chosen five season fairy light favorites for brightening children’s rooms and suggested some uses for them too.

 

LITTLE STARS FOR YOUR LITTLE STAR   

10 Multi Coloured Led battery Powered Fairy Light Stars Lights4fun

What could be more appropriate for your little star than a set of brightly lit stars? This light set comes in a range of colours though this multi-colored version adds lots of color. Use to frame mirrors to add a touch of magic to any “mirror, mirror” moments.

 

DELIGHTFUL DRAGONFLY

10 Color Changing LED Battery Operated Dragonfly Fairy Lights Lights4fun

Butterflies are common choices for lighting in the room of little misses in particular but these dragonflies are just as fun and look great against flowered paper.

 

THE MAGIC CURTAIN

64LED Warm White Organza Curtain Light Lights4fun

This organza curtain makes a delightful addition to a dressing room or as a cover for an open wardrobe or shelving. Just imagine playing dress up and emerging from behind the magic curtain!

 

BAT CAVE CREATIONS

20 LED Bat Fairy Lights Lights4fun

These blue bat lights are an obvious choice for Halloween but would equally work in the bedrooms of comic book fans to give a bat cave feel.

 

HEART

 

Battery Heart Fairy Light Wreath Lights4fun

This heart wreath is embellished with glass and pearl effect beads and in addition to acting as very pretty wall art, provides an unusual frame for photographs and posters. 

 

This is a sponsored post.  All opinions are my own.