There is no denying that this technology has revolutionized the way educators and parents can teach many topics to school children. In my day if we wanted to look something up for a school project, we would have to go the library or hope our household Encyclopedia would have the information we needed. It is pretty fascinating to think about how easily it is to learn a new language, musical instrument, or improve reading skills all at the touch of our fingers. But how is a parent to discern through all of the apps available?

With over 500,000 apps available in the iTunes Store, it has become increasingly more difficult to know which ones are worth the download—even the free ones, as they take up space on our devices! As a mom and author of a storybook app, Penelope the Purple Pirate, I wanted to help busy parents navigate through the endless number of apps available on the market, so I started to review apps this past year. Following are two apps that we really enjoy in our house:

Education and Learning: Walt Disney’s Peter Pan Storybook App

When the crew at Mom It Forward asked me to review Walt Disney’s Peter Pan storybook app, I was so excited as we are big fans of Peter Pan in this household. What is not to like about lost treasure, Tinker Bell, Peter Pan and The Lost Boys? The first page of the story starts off with the ability to insert a photo of your child (or yourself if you are so inclined) and to type in your name. We are shown a map and reminded of all of the wonderful places in the book such as Pirates’ Cove, Mermaid Lagoon, Skull Rock, Indian Camp and Crocodile Creek. In fact, when you touch the screen, the names are repeated and the text is flashed across the screen, making a good educational tool for pre- and early readers!

Another nice feature is the highlighted words as they are read. There are simple animations such as the boys playing with wooden pirate swords before bedtime and Nana (the dog) watching over them blinking her eyes at their mischievous behavior.  And if want to take a break, in the upper right hand corner on most pages, you will find various activities, such as the page with a paint brush. When you touch it, it takes you to blank illustrations from the story that you can paint, save, and even send to someone. They also have a fun feature that allows you to play the wooden pipes, either by yourself or listen and learn.  There are many added educational features that we really enjoyed.

The illustrations stay true to the original story, which I loved. It was a wonderful trip down memory lane for me and a new experience for my kindergartner. She enjoyed the sounds of the forest while John, Michael and the Lost Boys went looking for their Indian friends. Parents won’t be disappointed with this Disney classic with all of the added educational activities and fun animations throughout. I am so happy they stayed true to the original story, kept it simple, as the good stories usually are, and made it quite educational!  This is a winner in my book!

Healthy Eating: D.W.’s Unicorn Adventure App

Another app we really enjoy is by PBS Kids. Arthur and Martha Speaks are just some of the great programs we have enjoyed in our household. They have come out with a fun and educational game called D.W.’s Unicorn Adventure. Arthur and D.W. are from the popular PBS KIDS TV series ARTHUR and have to help a lost unicorn return to her home in Unicornia through three worlds. There are twelve levels of increasing difficulty.

We are told by Arthur that we need to eat healthy foods in rainbow colors such as strawberries, carrots, oranges and apples to gain energy and to avoid the bad foods such as potato chips, candy bars, cookies, and soda, as these will make us lose energy.  Then we see Martha riding the back of the unicorn. When we touch the screen, she will jump up and catch the various healthy foods hanging in the woods so she can continue riding. If we touch too many bad foods we are told to eat more of the foods from the rainbow.

This is a fun game that teaches little ones the importance of eating healthy foods. I really liked how they explain that the bad foods, such as potato chips and soda will drain your energy, which IS what they do. But it is told in such a way that is easy for children to understand. My daughter enjoyed the various levels. It was tricky as there are cliffs to jump over and we have to be wary of the bad foods hanging around on the ground ready to drain your energy. So you have to be quick and jump over these foods. It is cute when you jump up and grab the healthy foods as they yell out things like “orange boost” and “strawberry power,” which is a nice way of explaining that these foods will give you powers and keep you healthy!

We really enjoyed playing this game and I like that they teach little ones the importance of eating healthy foods from the rainbow!

Both apps are quite enjoyable and a good addition to your children’s app library!

What are your favorite educational children’s apps?

Featured image courtesy of Flickr.

Reference: Why the iPad won’t transform education just yet by Sarah Kessler, Mashable.  Posted January 20, 2012 at www.cnn.com.

Melissa Northway recently completed the Masters Program in Nutrition at the University of Bridgeport.  She is a writer and the author of Penelope the Purple Pirate, a Top 25 iTunes book app.  Her little tomboy was the inspiration to write about a spunky redhead who likes to have adventures with her friends and at the same time teach the importance of treating others with kindness and respect.  Penelope’s next adventure, Penelope the Purple Pardner, takes her to the Wild West and will be available this summer.  She can be reached at: mcube@sbcglobal.net and www.melissanorthway.com.  You can follow her piratey antics at:  @melissanorthway and http://www.facebook.com/pages/Penelope-the-Purple-Pirate/184530521575620

Check out Melissa’s app mall here: http://melissa.appymall.com

Beyond the broadcast, kids are invited to create, write, and share their poetry online with the all-new Martha Speaks Rhyme Time pbskids.org/martha and at Fern’s Poetry Club pbskids.org/arthur.

Be sure to mark your calendar for Wednesday, March 28 and join us as we chat about poetry and creative writing in celebration of National Poetry Month!

Party Topic

Join WGBH, Martha Speaks, PBS KIDS, the Poetry Foundation, and our online panel of experts as we discuss creative writing. The party will be held on Wednesday, March 28 from 9-10 ET (8CT, 7MT, 6PT). Click here to see details about the giveaway and enter for a chance to win. 

Party Details

• What: Girls’ Night Out (#gno) Twitter party (Click here to learn about #gno!)
• When: Wednesday, March 28 from 9-10 p.m. EST (8CT, 7 MT, & 6 PT)
• Where: Party with us on our very own Custom Tweetgrid! (Use hashtags #gno and #kidspoetry.)
• Topic: Poetry
• Who: Brand Panelists: @wgbh_kids @pbsmarthaspeaks @pbskids, @pbsparents, @poetryfound, @hmhkids Community Panelists: @7onashoestring @mimibakermn @melissanorthway @tammykling @thegraciousgirl, Moderator(s): @jylmomIF @Dadventurous @troypattee and @MomItForward
• Party Favors: Please click here to see more information about the giveaway.

RT @MomItForward Join the @pbsmarthaspeaks & @PBSKIDS #gno Twitter party 3/28 (9-10 ET) on poetry http://bit.ly/GInnrm #kidspoetry PLS RT

Please leave a comment after linking… Thank you!

Note: Mom It Forward accepts paid sponsorships for most #gno Twitter parties. During the parties, brand sponsors provide tips, techniques, expert advice, and information on party topics. Mom It Forward is grateful for the giveaway prizes, coupons, and discounts that sponsors also provide to the Mom It Forward community in conjunction with #gno Twitter parties.

To kick off National Poetry Month, former United States Poet Laureate Billy Collins and inaugural Children’s Poet Laureate Jack Prelutsky will appear in special Martha Speaks and Arthur episodes highlighting poetry on April 2, 2012 on PBS KIDS (check local listings). Beyond the broadcast, kids are invited to create, write and share their poetry online with the all-new Martha Speaks Rhyme Time pbskids.org/martha and at Fern’s Poetry Club pbskids.org/arthur. And to highlight National Poetry month, we’re hosting a #gno Twitter party Wednesday, March 28!

To learn more about PBS KIDS, The Poetry Foundation, and National Poetry Month, visit pbskids.org/martha, pbskids.org/arthur, and poetryfoundation.org.

The Prizes

This week’s giveaway is all about poetry and creative writing. Five winners will receive a special Martha Speaks and Arthur prize package that celebrate National Poetry Month.

Entry Requirements

For a chance to win, please complete the following requirements and leave a separate comment for each on this post, including links to your original tweets:

1. Follow @pbsmarthaspeaks and @pbskids on Twitter.
2. Like the Martha Speaks Facebook page and Arthur Facebook page.
3. Answer the following question in the comment section below: What do you love most about poetry?
4. Tweet the following:

• RT @MomItForward April is Poetry Month! @pbsmarthaspeaks and Arthur invite kids to celebrate: http://bit.ly/GP0Jbx #gno #KidsPoetry PLS RT
  

• RT @MomItForward GIVEAWAY! Enter 4 chance 2 win a @pbsmarthaspeaks & Arthur prize pack http://bit.ly/GP0Jbx #gno #kidspoetry PLS RT

Optional Entries

The following are extra entries that are completely optional and will earn you one extra entry for each completed item. Leave a separate comment on this post for each completed entry.

• Follow @momitforward on Twitter.
• Like Mom It Forward on Facebook: http://facebook.com/momitforward.

Terms and Conditions

Winners will be selected randomly through http://random.org. No purchase necessary to enter. Giveaway ends at 11:59 p.m. ET Thursday, March 29. See all terms and conditions here. This giveaway is available to U.S. residents only.

PBS KIDS added two new apps to their collection of educational mobile content, designed to help kids ages 3 to 5 build critical math skills. The apps, All Aboard the Dinosaur Train! for iPad and Dinosaur Train Camera Catch! for iPhone, recently launched on the App Store. They are based on the popular DINOSAUR TRAIN series produced by The Jim Henson Company,

These apps are part of a suite of DINOSAUR TRAIN games available on the PBS KIDS Lab website (PBSKIDS.org/lab). Combined with online and interactive whiteboard games, these new apps help build a learning experience for kids that take place across multiple platforms, all with the goal of accelerating learning.

In a first-of-its-kind collaboration, PBS and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) are providing these two new apps at no cost to Head Start centers, local PBS stations, and other organizations in underserved communities nationwide.  The apps will be downloaded onto devices that families have access to in local Head Start centers and other community organizations.

Don’t forget to mark your calendar for Wednesday, March 14 and join us as we chat about educational games on the go!

Party Topic

Join PBS KIDS and our panel of experts as we discuss educational games on the go. The party will be held on Wednesday, March 14 from 9-10 ET (8CT, 7MT, 6PT). Click here to see details about the giveaway and enter for a chance to win.

Party Details

• What: Girls’ Night Out (#gno) Twitter party (Click here to learn about #gno!)
• When: Wednesday, March 14 from 9-10 p.m. EST (8 CT, 7 MT, & 6 PT)
• Where: Party with us on our very own Custom Tweetgrid! (Use hashtags #gno and #PBSKIDS)
• Topic: Educational Games on the Go
• Who: Brand Panelist: @PBSKIDS @dinosaurtrain @NatlHeadStart, Community Panelists: @peekababy @ColoScienceMom @CherylBudge @scrappinmichele @c2cmom, Moderators: @jylmomIF @Dadventurous @troypattee @MomItForward
• Party Favors: Click here to enter the giveaway.

RT @MomItForward Join the @PBSKIDS #gno Twitter party 3/14 (9-10 ET) on educational games http://bit.ly/xOGBh1 #PBSKIDS PLS RT

Note: Mom It Forward accepts paid sponsorships for most #gno Twitter parties. During the parties, brand sponsors provide tips, techniques, expert advice, and information on party topics. Mom It Forward is grateful for the giveaway prizes, coupons, and discounts that sponsors also provide to the Mom It Forward community in conjunction with #gno Twitter parties.

All Aboard the Dinosaur Train! for iPad and Dinosaur Train Camera Catch! for iPhone are now on the App Store. Based on the popular DINOSAUR TRAIN series produced by The Jim Henson Company, the apps are designed to help kids ages 3 to 5 build critical math skills.

Mark your calendar on Wednesday, March 15 from 9-10 p.m. ET and join us as we chat about educational games on the go with PBS KIDS!

In an effort to make apps and educational games available to all children, in a first-of-its-kind collaboration, PBS and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) are providing free educational apps to Head Start centers, local PBS stations, and other organizations in underserved communities nationwide.

Through this program, PBS, CPB and Head Start are working to help bridge this “app gap” and increase access to educational mobile content for children from low-income families at community organizations that serve them and are equipped with mobile and tablet devices.

The Prizes

This week’s giveaway is all about educational games on the go. 10 lucky winners will receive a DVD, PBS KIDS totebag, DT collectible figurine, and assorted stickers (ARV: $25.00).

Entry Requirements

For a chance to enter and win, please complete the following requirements and leave a separate comment for each on this post, including links to your original tweets.

1. Follow @PBSKIDS on Twitter.
2. Like the PBS KIDS Facebook page.
3. Answer the following question in the comment section below: What educational game do you love to play?
4. Tweet the following:

• RT @MomItForward Join the @PBSKIDS #gno Twitter party 3/14 (9-10 ET) on educational games http://bit.ly/xOGBh1 #PBSKIDS PLS RT

• RT @MomItForward GIVEAWAY! Enter 4 chance 2 win a @PBSKIDS Dinosaur Train Prize Pack (10 Winners) http://bit.ly/zY3Aih #gno #PBSKIDS PLS RT

Optional Entries

The following are extra entries that are completely optional and will earn you one extra entry for each completed item. Leave a separate comment on this post for each completed optional entry.

• Follow @momitforward on Twitter.
• Like Mom It Forward on Facebook: http://facebook.com/momitforward.

Terms and Conditions

Winners will be selected randomly through http://random.org. No purchase necessary to enter. Giveaway ends at 11:59 p.m. ET Thursday, March 15. See all terms and conditions here. This giveaway is available to U.S. residents only.

On March 2, PBS KIDS will celebrate the 108th birthday of Dr. Seuss on-air, online, and on mobile. PBS stations nationwide will feature THE CAT-IN-THE-HAT-A-THON, a two-hour marathon of THE CAT IN THE HAT KNOWS A LOT ABOUT THAT! (check local listings). Kids will also be able to engage with the Cat and friends through games and video content online and on mobile, and parents will be able to enjoy a new Birthday Party Builder Tool on the PBS KIDS Shop website.

Don’t forget to mark your calendar for Thursday, March 1 and join us as we chat more about exploration!

Party Topic

Join PBS KIDS and our panel of experts as we discuss exploration. The party will be held on Thursday, March 1 from 9-10 ET (8CT, 7MT, 6PT). Click here to see details about the giveaway and enter for a chance to win.

Party Details

• What: Girls’ Night Out (#gno) Twitter party (Click here to learn about #gno!)
• When: Thursday, March 1 from 9-10 p.m. EST (8 CT, 7 MT, & 6 PT)
• Where: Party with us on our very own Custom Tweetgrid! (Use hashtags #gno and #CatInTheHat)
• Topic: Exploration
• Who: Brand Panelist: @PBSKIDS @KateKlimo @randomhousekids @PBSParents, Community Panelists: @thechattymomma @fruglxperiments @pluslily @fieldtripmom @thedomesticbuzz @mimibakermn, Moderators: @jylmomIF @Dadventurous @troypattee @MomItForward
• Party Favors: Click here to enter the giveaway.

RT @MomItForward Join the @PBSKIDS #gno Twitter party 3/1 (9-10 ET) on exploration http://bit.ly/zo0pGh #CatInTheHat PLS RT

Note: Mom It Forward accepts paid sponsorships for most #gno Twitter parties. During the parties, brand sponsors provide tips, techniques, expert advice, and information on party topics. Mom It Forward is grateful for the giveaway prizes, coupons, and discounts that sponsors also provide to the Mom It Forward community in conjunction with #gno Twitter parties.

THE CAT IN THE HAT-A-THON will feature two brand new episodes, “Seasons — Spring and Summer/Fall and Winter,” which takes the Cat, Nick and Sally on a journey through the four seasons, and “When I Grow Up/Doing It Differently,” in which Nick and Sally explore what it means to grow up and learn that trying a different approach can sometimes be the best way to solve a problem. The marathon will also include encore presentations of “Hooray for Hair/Ice Is Nice” and “Chasing Rainbows/Follow the Prints.”

THE CAT IN THE HAT KNOWS A LOT ABOUT THAT! has ranked among the top ten programs for children ages 2 to 5 since it premiered on PBS KIDS in September 2010. The series is a key part of PBS KIDS’ commitment to helping kids build critical STEM — science, technology, engineering and math — skills through engaging content across platforms.

Mark your calendar on Thursday, March 1 from 9-10 p.m. ET and join us as we chat about exploration with PBS KIDS!

The Prizes

This week’s giveaway is all about exploration and The Cat and the Hat. Five lucky winners will receive a $25 Gift Card to the PBS KIDS Shop, 1 THE CAT IN THE HAT KNOWS A LOT ABOUT THAT! DVD courtesy of NCircle Entertainment, and 1 book from The Cat in the Hat’s Learning Library book series published by Random House Children’s Books.

Entry Requirements

For a chance to enter and win, please complete the following requirements and leave a separate comment for each on this post, including links to your original tweets.

1. Follow @PBSKIDS on Twitter.
2. Like the PBS KIDS Facebook page.
3. Answer the following question in the comment section below: Why do you love The Cat and the Hat?
4. Tweet the following:

• RT @MomItForward @PBSKIDS is celebrating Dr. Seuss’ 108th bday with a CAT-IN-THE-HAT-A-THON! Learn more: http://bit.ly/yaCkRP #gno #CatInTheHat PLS RT

• RT @MomItForward GIVEAWAY! Enter 4 chance 2 win a @PBSKIDS #CatInTheHat Prize Pack (5 Winners) http://bit.ly/yaCkRP #gno PLS RT

Optional Entries

The following are extra entries that are completely optional and will earn you one extra entry for each completed item. Leave a separate comment on this post for each completed optional entry.

• Follow @momitforward on Twitter.
• Like Mom It Forward on Facebook: http://facebook.com/momitforward.

Terms and Conditions

Winners will be selected randomly through http://random.org. No purchase necessary to enter. Giveaway ends at 11:59 p.m. ET Friday, March 2. See all terms and conditions here. This giveaway is available to U.S. residents only. 

10 Tips for Christmas Eve or Christmas Day Activities

These ideas were suggested by tweeters at a PBS Kids Curious George-sponsored MomItForward Twitter Girls’ Night Out party:

1. Make simple ornaments out of recycled products. @NoFlashCards says making lid ornaments is one of her favorites. She’s also made advent calendars out of baby wipe lids. Similarly, after opening gifts, you can keep boxes and other material to build a spaceship or playhouse. Decorate with old wrapping paper.
2. Make thank you notes for gifts to relatives with your kids. Check out PBS’ card maker e-card ideas or SplitCoastStampers.com.
3. Write an annual letter to your child, maybe filled with observations about the past year and hopes for his or her future, suggests @PBSKids.
4. Make marshmallow snowmen, suggests @GoGrahamGo.
5. Have the kids make napkin holders. @GoGrahamGo posted a free printable DIY holder that you can personalize with your child’s face.
6. Make Santa pancakes Christmas morning. Here’s a Curious George version.
7. Play Grinch Christmas Bingo, suggested by @WonderForge.
8. Make treats. @MinkyMoo provides this recipe for Chocolate & Salted Caramel Mug Cake and @GoGrahamGo provides one for Great Grandma’s Potato Candy.
9. Take treats to neighbors. @RedRover raves about making four different kinds of Greek cookies and taking them around: Koulourikia, kourabiedes, baklava, and loukoumathes. She says, “They’ll change your world!”
10. Put together a shoe box for Operation Christmas Child.

 

What fun family activities do you do on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day to celebrate the holidays?

Photo courtesy of Flickr.

PBS KIDS recently launched over 40 new cross-platform games designed to help children ages 2-8 build critical math skills. They include PBS KIDS’ largest offering of interactive math content for preschoolers to date.  PBS KIDS even has mobile-friendly games to keep your kids entertained when you’re on the go!

One of the games that they are super excited about it is FETCH!, Lunch Rush, which is now available on the App Store. Available for free, the app uses the camera on iPhone or iPod touch to overlay computer-generated graphics on top of the physical, real-world environment. Extending PBS’s leadership in using augmented reality as an educational tool, FETCH! Lunch Rush opens a new world of learning by teaching kids ages six to eight math skills, like addition and subtraction, while blending the virtual and real world into a truly engaging experience.

To learn more about the lab, games, and ways to make education fun for your kids, mark your calendar and join us Tuesday as we chat with @PBSKIDS!

Party Topic

Join PBS KIDS Lab and our panel of experts as we discuss educational activities for kids during the holidays! The party will be held on Tuesday, December 13 from 9-11 ET (8CT, 7MT, 6PT). Click here to see details about the giveaway and enter for a chance to win.

Party Details

• What: Girls’ Night Out (#gno) Twitter party (Click here to learn about #gno!)
• When: Tuesday, December 13 from 9-11 p.m. EST (8 CT, 7 MT, & 6 PT)
• Where: Party with us on our very own Custom Tweetgrid! (Use hashtags #gno and #PBSKIDSLAB)
• Topic: Educational Activities for Kids During the Holidays
• Who: Brand Panelist: @PBSKIDS, Community Panelists: @c2cmom @OhMariana @pluslily @Living_LaLaLand, Moderators: @jylmomIF @Dadventurous @troypattee @MomItForward
• Party Favors: Click here to enter the giveaway.
• RSVP: Use Mr. Linky below (enter the twitter URL and your twitter ID (e.g., http://twitter.com/jylmomIF).

RT @MomItForward Join the @PBSKIDS #gno Twitter party 12/13 (9-11 ET) on education during holidays http://bit.ly/w4xeoX #PBSKIDSLAB PLS RT

Note: Mom It Forward accepts paid sponsorships for most #gno Twitter parties. During the parties, brand sponsors provide tips, techniques, expert advice, and information on party topics. Mom It Forward is grateful for the giveaway prizes, coupons, and discounts that sponsors also provide to the Mom It Forward community in conjunction with #gno Twitter parties.

Their newest game, FETCH! Lunch Rush, was designed for students in grades 1-3. In this multiplayer app, Ruff Ruffman has to collect the lunch order for his studio crew. The challenge is keeping track of how many pieces of food everyone wants using augmented reality “markers” (printable hand-outs) that prompt activity within the app. The app uses 3-D imagery to reinforce the early algebraic concepts, helping kids to make the connection between real objects and corresponding numeric symbols. Ruff then gives orders for food and users choose the game piece with the number corresponding to the correct answer by looking at it through the phone and tapping it.

So this holiday season, instead of sticking your kids in front of a TV, hand them an iPhone and have them play with Ruff Ruffman. The game is not only entertaining, but it is also educational! What’s not to love?

The Prizes

This week’s giveaway is all about educational activities for your kids during the holidays. INSERT 10 will receive PBS KIDS Prize Pack (ARV: $25 each).

Entry Requirements

For a chance to enter and win, please complete the following requirements and leave a separate comment for each on this post, including links to your original tweets.

1. Follow @PBSKIDS on Twitter.
2. Like the PBSKIDS Facebook page.
3. Answer the following question in the comment section below: How do you make education fun during the holidays?
4. Tweet the following:

• RT @MomItForward @PBSKIDS has mobile-friendly games to make education fun for kids! http://bit.ly/tijyd6 #gno #PBSKIDSLAB PLS RT

• RT @MomItForward GIVEAWAY! Enter 4 a chance 2 win a #PBSKIDSLAB Prize Pack (10 Winners) http://bit.ly/tijyd6 #gno PLS RT

Optional Entries

The following are extra entries that are completely optional and will earn you one extra entry for each completed item. Leave a separate comment on this post for each completed optional entry.

• Follow @momitforward on Twitter.
• Like Mom It Forward on Facebook: http://facebook.com/momitforward.

Terms and Conditions

Winners will be selected randomly through http://random.org. No purchase necessary to enter. Giveaway ends at 11:59 p.m. ET Wednesday, December 14. See all terms and conditions here. This giveaway is available to U.S. residents only.