One of the only pieces of parenting advice I can remember from my cousins who had kids before me was, "Watch out for Barney!" They said something about "annoying" and "songs that stick in your head."

Well, the Cat wasn't into Barney, but when Spliggle accidentally saw an episode, he was hooked. He loves Barney. When the Parent Bloggers asked me to review Barney: Celebrating Around the World, I knew Splig would love it.

My cousins may have been concerned about "songs that stick on your head," but that is exactly why Barney episodes are so intriguing to kids.

But more than that is the concept of friendship, no matter how much adults may mock the "sap." I have two boys for whom friendship is very important, and for different reasons. I'll be reviewing some social skills DVDs in a bit, but I added the category of "educational: social skills" to this blog's category lists right after I watched "Celebrating Around the World," because more than "multiculturalism," this DVD is about compromise, getting along, trying new things, and valuing others, even when opinions (traditions, cultures) differ. These are huge skills to master; and having a child for whom social skills isn't easy, I recognize how valuable this instruction is.

Before Splig, I didn't realize that the whole concept of Barney is about imagination.

Relatives gave the Cat a subscription to "Highlights" a few months ago as a gift. I have fond memories of Highlights, and then those not-so-fond memories of association in that if I was reading a copy, I was probably about to get my teeth cleaned or have to endure an eye-exam or a shot. Still, it was a good way to pass the time, and so I chuckled when I saw the unexpected copy in our mailbox. "They still publish Highlights?" I thought. Indeed, it is their 60th year!

Along with the "Highlights" addressed to the Cat, there was another magazine in the mailbox, but this one was addressed to Spliggle. "High Five" read the cover. I was confused. I knew my parents had gotten both boys a subscription to a different magazine, but the "Highlights" and "High Five" were a surprise. It turns out that my brother-in-law and sister-in-law had sent the magazines to the boys.

The Parent Bloggers Network is reviewing "High Five," so I thought I'd jump in with my own experiences.

The Cat's monthly book report was due today. He selected The Million Dollar Putt, which isn't surprising given that he loves golf!

Perhaps I should be a bit ashamed to admit that I purchased the supplies for his project before he even came home from school. I had an idea about what he'd put on the posterboard, so got some paints, felt, and golf-related stickers. I got sticky numbers (to number the flag,) and some various landscaping things.

He surprised me by deciding to go a different direction with his poster. (I forgot to snap a photo of it - but will once he brings it home again.) He used the felt for the putting area, but chose to create the entire hole instead of focusing on the final putt: he alternated colors of paint for the fairway to create that "groomed" look. He placed a marker at the start of the hole to be the tee. Why not use the sticker of a tee? Because in relation to his course, it was off-scale. ("Mommy, this is WAY TOO big!") I got the same story on the golf cart sticker: "Mommy, the golf cart can't take up this whole section of the fairway!"

Nearly two years ago, the Cat was asked to leave a private kindergarten. Among the unacceptable behaviors they cited, the most problematic was that he was pinching his classmates. When his teacher asked why, he couldn't answer. She asked me, but I didn't know either. The Cat hadn't pinched anyone before attending this school. I tried to get information about what was happing just prior to the pinch. Finally, we determined that the pinches occurred during times of transition.

One particularly problematic afternoon started because the other K-1 class came over to visit. When they left, the Cat pinched a classmate instead of saying "goodbye." This snowballed into a situation where the Cat couldn't explain his actions, so became more distraught when the teacher continually asked him "why." He didn't know why, and he was upset. The more upset he became, the more he acted-out, and the greater he was punished.

That day involved both a change in routine (that the other K-1 was invading "his" classroom) and then an unwanted transition (that his friend left the class to go back to his own.)

Although the Cat has matured a great deal since then, I was intrigued when the Parent Bloggers Network asked me to review Skill Building Buddies: Handling Transitions and Change.

The Cat's very first preschool experience ended in tears.

Mine.

I cried and cried the morning that the preschool director called to tell us not to come in. I was still crying when she came to pick up the fax machine she had lent me so that I could do the bookings for the preschool. (That's right, I lost my job in addition to losing a place for the Cat to go to school.) The Cat ran away, playing, oblivious at how deeply I was hurting - and completely clueless that the reason for my tears was directly connected to his behavior.

The Cat didn't know how to interact with his peers. He'd go up to a child, grin, and push them over. It wasn't meant to be malicious; it was his way of saying "Hey, let's play!" But he didn't know how to say "hello."

Kibbles Rockin' Clubhouse from Notabilities begins with a lesson and song about greeting words.

I wish I had that DVD when the Cat was going through his first attempts at socialization.

It has been awhile since we've sat down to watch a DVD. Sure, the kids have their old TiVo'ed favorites on the television, but I haven't introduced any new shows to them other than those they have found on their own (curses that the Cat discovered Sponge-Bob!) We've been busy with end-of-school things and grandparent-visits and other away-from-the-TV things.

Last week when we drove to Santa Cruz I finally had the opportunity to stick in a new DVD. With the kids captive in the back seat, it was a perfect chance to introduce them to something new. In this case, it was the Raggs Kids' Club Band. Although Raggs has been a live-action show for awhile, it didn't launch as a TV show in the US until recently. (It is from Australia.) The distribution of the show increased in February 2008 and it is shown on PBS. The Raggs Live Dance Party is also on tour, a safe-bet for a fun afternoon, although unfortunately they aren't coming my way. Their 2001 Raggs Kids Club Band "Pawsuuup!" Tour DVD, apparently won several awards according to Wikipedia.

At the moment, the Raggs website is going through a revision; I've found a few funny mistakes that will no doubt be corrected prior to the official re-launch this September. But the show itself is polished.

I recognize the characters and know I've seen pieces of the show here and there, but until recently it wasn't a show for which we've seen full episodes.

The kids enjoyed the stuffed animals that the Raggs-folks sent us along with the DVD and Dance Party CD. (Thanks Lindsey!) They played with the animals in the "way-back" of the van while they watched the DVD, occasionally telling their grandparents in the row ahead of them "Bend to the side, please!" At the next stop, the kids asked to switch places with their grandparents. Suddenly the appeal of the "way-back" was trumped by their desire to see Raggs clearly.

I ended up having to replay the DVD several times, and now What's The Dealio has been stuck in my head for days. The target-audience for the show is 3-6, but the Cat - who is 7 - really enjoyed it. Although he is called "the Cat," he has a real thing for dogs as well, so a troupe of singing dogs is right up his alley.

The show includes clubhouse-scenes (where a problem-solving topic is introduced) as well as concert scenes (in front of an actual audience) and clips of real kids: both q&a and action-shots set to music.

Initially I was a bit surprised by the format since the topic jumps around a bit. For example, in the episode "Who Am I?" Razzles' friends try to pick out an appropriate birthday present for her. The characters chose things that were special to them, but B. Maxx explained to each that while their selections were very nice, they weren't appropriate for who Razzles is. This is a very important social-skills lesson, one that the Cat still has to learn, so I smiled when I saw this topic unfold. But then after B. Maxx explains that they must discover who Razzles is, the show jumps to the live-action song (which has no direct connection to the problem that needs to be solved.) I understand the idea of keeping the youngsters' attention, but will they remember the first segment after the song?

Fortunately, the characters reiterate the problem, and do so again after a live-action-kids segment. As it turns out, the various segments end up being fun because there are so many things that will appeal to different kids. The real kids' answers are wacky and are bound to resonate with viewers. Spliggle, for example, is in agreement with one little boy "Sam," who declares that he is going to be a pirate when he grows up. "Aaaarrrr!" says Splig. Dumpster the cat, who provides questions to the real kids, is hilarious with his comments.

The varied interests and talents of each member of the Raggs Kids Club Band emphasizes that each kid is similarly free to have different interests than another kid, and that their talents will differ, too.

Raggs is definitely a fun show, and I imagine the in-person concert would be high-energy. If they will be in your area, check it out; otherwise, check your local PBS listings to see Raggs on television!

PS: Shortly after returning home, the boys caught an episode of Raggs on television. They have since asked to add it to their TiVoed shows.

Splig (age 4) had a playdate recently. He took out a Kubit2Me cube and immediately his friend's eyes opened wide, "What is that?" He thew the cube at her and she stroked the fur on the side. They ended up playing the Lil Scholars ABC's game. While Splig is still learning his letters, his nearly-age-5 year old friend was able to identify nearly all of them. Meanwhile, the Cat (age 7) wanted to play, so I told him he had to give an example of a word that started with that letter, and it couldn't be the item pictured on the card, since that would be too easy. If they had done the 123's version, I would have had the Cat do a multiplication exercise, while Splig and his friend would have only had to identify the number and/or a simple addition problem. All three kids were essentially playing the same game, but it was adjustable to their particular academic levels.

The basic tools of Kubit2Me are a large fuzzy cube and a set of cards. The user places several cards in each of the cube's pockets. What happens next varies depending on the game played. Although the "official instructions" recommend the players choose to whom to throw the cube, I modified it: I had the kids throw the cube to specific people. The reason for this was two-fold: First, so nobody was left out; Second, so the kids were not confused or conflicted (ie, Will I hurt his feelings if I toss it to her?)

The person who catches the cube pulls out a card from the pocket that is facing upwards on the cube (or any other direction agreed upon by the group.) In our case, I had the kids yell out the color that it landed on so they could also practice their colors (of course all three kids found this easy.) The player then either identifies what is on the card (letter, number) gives an example of what is on the card (what is the letter's sound, what is that number multiplied by 3), or if the card contains a question, answers the question.

Some of the games for older kids include "Truth or Dare," and "Now You're Talkin'." A related exercise is the downloadable-for-free "Free to Be Me Icebreaker" All games use the same cube, so simply get a deck of the question-cards to play a new version of the game.

While the "Lil Scholars" games are more "basic preschool education" in focus, the question-related cards are more social-skills related. These cards contain basic questions like "If you could live under the ocean or on the moon, which would you choose?" A variation of the game ("How Well Do You Know Your Friend?") has the other players guess the cube-holding player's answer before he or she answers.

The variations of Kubit2Me are numerous, so it is definitely important to establish the ground rules before playing the game. The Cat likes to invent rules as he goes for any game, so while the game is flexible, it is important to stay consistent.

Lil Scholars was too easy for the Cat (unless I added more challenging requirements for him,) but was definitely a good exercise for Spliggle. The social-skills oriented aspects of the game are great for the Cat, though. In fact, it was through one of my posts about the Cat's social difficulties that Kubit2Me's creator decided to contact me about her game. She describes it as "a line of self expression games that are all about getting kids to open up." Indeed, Creative Child Magazine recently named the game its 2008 Creative Child “Game of the Year” Award - although this distinction does not appear to be on the website (which reads 2007) yet - From the press release:

"A unique interactive, relationship-building game called Kubit2me Lil’ Scholars Edition has earned the 2008 Creative Child “Game of the Year” award in the preschool educational games category. Two other Kubit2me games, Truth or Dare and Now You’re Talkin’ Editions, also received a 2008 Preferred Choice Award."

The game provides the questions which is half the struggle when making conversation. This way, kids can appreciate the opportunity to answer (it is their turn to talk!) and learn to listen (rules are rules, when another player has the cube, it is their turn!) In this way, kids like the Cat who have difficulty with social convention can learn these rules in a non-threatening way. Logical thinkers can literally "play by the rules" to practice listening to others and taking turns. One possible variation of the game is for the player holding the cube to select the question and ask it to the next player in the rotation. This way, the player gets the practice in asking questions as well as in answering questions.

According to its creator, Kubit2Me is regularly being used in therapeutic settings. I can definitely see how this social game can be used as a tool for conversation and taking turns. For kids who do not yet know their body parts, 123's, or ABC's, these quizzes can be useful as well. An "emotions" deck also presents a challenge to kids for whom reading emotions is difficult. For kids with sensory needs, the cube is soft and quite fun to touch. (I would like one in a pillow shape!) Likewise, it is large enough and soft enough so those kids with low muscle-tone (as some kids on the spectrum have) would be able to catch it without a problem.

My kids enjoy Kubit2Me. Splig's playdate was definitely intrigued, so perhaps her mother will go purchase it as well. I need to get some of the Cat's classmates over so they can play the Free to Be Me Icebreaker - that is, unless they go play soccer first.

But...

My one concern about the game is that it does seem a bit "girly." The cube has cute denim pockets and comes with little stickers and glittery bracelets (which Splig loves.) I can see groups of young girls playing the game for fun, but my gut reaction is that boys would only play it if they were in an educational setting or in a mixed-gender gathering. Since Splig is rather "girly" for being a boy, and since the Cat doesn't seem to notice gender roles, the game is definitely fun for them, but there are certainly some of the Cat's classmates who I wouldn't want to suggest play the game. That said, there are a few young men who I think would enjoy the game.

All in all, this game can be used for many different reasons in many different settings. The kids love the cube and the questions provide fun icebreakers. Check out the Kubit2Me website to learn more

Last December I had the pleasure of interviewing Kimberly Willis Holt regarding her book Piper Reed: Navy Brat.

I am pleased to announce that Piper is back for a new adventure!

Piper Reed: The Great Gypsy is available starting tomorrow, August 19th! (Of course it is available for pre-order at Amazon, but it will be tomorrow soon enough.)

Remember that Tales of Beedle the Bard is also available for pre-order, but that is more for the older set. Meanwhile, the Cat's favorite book right now is A Snake Mistake. He's also a big Henry & Mudge and Turtle & Snake fan.

The Cat enjoyed Piper Reed: Navy Brat, and especially enjoyed coming up with questions to ask Ms. Willis Holt. As I explained last year,

Piper Reed: Navy Brat resonated with my son's experiences because he has moved five times in his six years of life. As he is younger than Piper, he didn't have the same perceptions of social impact, but a story in which the heroine can adjust to a new situation is especially relevant to him, as he started a brand new school this year.

We'll read Piper Reed: The Great Gypsy so we can see what happens next in Piper's exciting and ever-changing life. I am intrigued by mention of a "spaceship beach house," so am eager to find out more about that, since I seem to be drawn to the concept of beach houses. And while I am more of a cat person than a dog person, our family did attend a dog show once, although I am willing to bet Piper's version is much more chaotic, adventurous, and fun!

I'm always on the lookout for fun games that can double as a conversation starter or other sneaky educational thing. Via Mom Central, I had the opportunity to receive the Noodleboro Fun Park Sharing Game. This game is appropriate for the whole family, although older kids may find it simple. The focus is on turn-taking and collaboration. While each individual competes in theme park activities, the resulting prizes and stars are shared amongst all players. The ultimate object of the game is a group effort, trying to obtain as many sharing stars as possible before the theme park "closes."

The initial set-up of the game took awhile: each theme park ride must be constructed and the cards must be placed by the appropriate activity. I think my kids punched out the cards all in one big lump, so that created some extra effort to sort them, but this could be a game in itself for preschool kids eager to show off their matching skills. I ended up putting each type of prize (and the sharing stars) in individual small bowls, the plastic type traditionally used for toddler food. Spliggle the eating-machine never needed such a small portion dish, so I was glad to discover a new use for these.

Once I figured out what went where and how the game was supposed to be played, the kids enjoyed playing. There are four stations: their favorite was the "log flume," probably because in real life this is a favorite activity. In this case, the player balances a little boulder on a log, carefully maneuvering it through the vertical course. The "roller coaster" involves trying to catch a disk that goes through the coaster course. The "ferris wheel" is a game of luck: pick a color and hope the wheel lands on your color. "Tent show" is a shell game; no cheating! Success at these stations produces prizes; if a player already has that prize, he or she shares with another player, thus earning a "sharing star" for the group.

The die determines the activity: one of the four stations, player's choice, or to advance the "sun" closer to "park closing time" on the game board. Once the sun gaming piece reaches the end, the park closes. The players count up the number of sharing stars accumulated, and try to beat it the next round! In other words, you "win" every time.

For super-competitive kids such as mine, keep in mind that the goal of the game won't just be sharing stars in their eyes. It is hard to encourage a collaborative effort for kids who absolutely need to know who is "in front." (I earned five sharing stars for the pool! Well I earned seven!) Of course, it is the sharing that this game is meant to teach. I hope that with repeated playing I can emphasize that this isn't about accumulating all the prizes, because the ultimate result is that everyone in the game will have all four prizes, and then everyone will be working together to accumulate "sharing stars."

My boys created new scenarios for the Noodleboro Fun Park Game: they added a hockey scrimmage to the activities, for example, since I had set up the game close to our rod hockey game. The puck took a trip down the roller coaster and the log flume, too. Soon the theme park had visitors in the form of plastic pirates, little koosh balls, and pulled-off-the-game hockey players. While I can't say for certain that the boys got the intended "sharing message" of the game, they certainly had fun, and the game provided a great launch pad for their creativity.

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* Hasbro's Noodleboro Page

* Buy the Fun Park Sharing Game at Amazon.com! (Check out Pizza Palace Listening Game and Picnic Basket Manners Game, too)

Developmental milestones were never my thing. When I think of "first words" or "first sentence" my mind draws a blank. I remember "first steps" because my mom told me I walked at 9 months, so I wanted to make sure I knew when my son did. He ended up walking at 10 months. My second son was a good 13-14 months before he walked, although he is quite the adventurous gymnast now.

My first son walked, but he was fearful of climbing. My second son climbed, but didn't bother walking. Aside from that "important" walking milestone, my second son met his physical and social "milestones" well before my first.

When I write out those annoyingly long surveys of "medical history" I cringe at the developmental milestone blanks because they remain blank. I was of the "just relax, since kids develop at their own pace" mindset.

But you know where that got me.

Yes, doctors frowned their disapproval when I could not write down the exact date my son uttered his first word. It didn't help that he was on all fours meowing like a cat or ignoring them completely.

When it was apparent that the Cat wasn't meeting the "traditional" milestones, I was concerned, but couldn't help being hurt when the doctors and teachers would chime "Why didn't you get him help earlier!?" especially as the red tape piled up such that I had tried to get help many months or years before.

On one hand, I wanted to let my child develop at his own pace.

On the other hand, I saw the panic. Other moms didn't approve of my son's behavior. His preschool teachers didn't approve of his behavior. The doctors said he must be severely disabled and would continue to be, especially since obviously we hadn't done anything yet. (And what is "anything" given that the insurance wouldn't pay for therapy anyway?) I didn't feel comfortable leaving him with babysitters or at something like a generic daycare in a store, gym, or public event.

Now? He is a second grader. He has quirks, but he is a second grader. He plays soccer on a "normal" team where none of the coaches know he has a "diagnosis." He reads at (or above) grade-level. His mathematical abilities are above grade-level. His language, enunciation, and facial expressions are all fine. He is not an ax murderer.

And then my second son. Oh, my second son. He is a social butterfly who believes he is a teenager. Nay, he is taking over the world. He is independent in ways that my first son is definitely not. When the Cat is hesitant, Splig jumps right in to "save" his older brother. "See, I can do it!"

But even my second son hasn't escaped the designation of "developmental delays." In his case, it is his speech. He enjoys his speech classes and doesn't see himself as "different" in any way. Even so, I don't remember many of his "firsts," probably because I was so consumed with trying to get things to work well with the Cat.

I wish I could say that the first time I felt "this is the school!" was when I stepped on the Cat's current campus. Yes, I get happy butterflies when I go there because the teachers have been so supportive, but I was exceptionally excited about the private school that later expelled him, too. When I stepped on that campus, I felt like it was a special community. It turned out that community was singular, just not in a way that meshed with the Cat. That experience hurt more than I can explain, but I am glad that for now we have a happy resolution.

The Cat's current school is excellent. I must hold my breath, though, because this week is "conference week," and with it our first "official" view into how the Cat has been doing in the second grade. We've already gotten the not-so-favorable report from the Spanish teacher, so my heart is tense in my chest.

I hope that filling out forms of developmental milestones is over for us, but if either boy ends up having more severe problems in the future, those blanks will need to be filled. And again, my mind will be empty, and I'll have to give gross estimates, all the while signaling to the evaluator that I must not have been attentive, or didn't care.

And in a way I don't care. Early diagnosis can help sometimes, but it can hurt other times. I am very worried about jumping at each little deviance, and comparisons of "firsts" are just that.

But finally finding a school and extra-curricular activities that mesh with the Cat? It is worth it that it wasn't our "first" try, because so far, it is the "first" time he's really been like a "normal" kid.

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In June I wrote a no-edit stream-of-consciousness post based on a writing prompt from Writing Motherhood, which I subsequently reviewed here at Reviews from the Couch.

The above post was based on another writing-prompt, this time on "First Words and Other Firsts."

I am pleased to announce that YOU can write your own post on this topic and win a copy of Writing Motherhood!

When: RIGHT NOW, September 23

Your Task: Write a post based on the same prompt as i did above (see below for the whole prompt). Put the link to your post in the comment section of this post. I have also cross-posted this on The Karianna Spectrum. A comment on either cross-post (not both) will get you one entry. If you do not have your own blog, feel free to respond to the prompt right in the comments section - that will get you an entry. Lisa Garrigues, the author of Writing Motherhood, will respond to your posts and comments!

The Prompt: First Words and Other Firsts: Open any baby diary and you will find whole pages devoted to firsts: first smile, first words, first friends, first birthday. Why are firsts so significant? Because they represent a beginning. Because they push us beyond what is familiar and comfortable. Because they jolt us out of the numbness or everyday life and bring us back to our primitive selves when we saw a world through a child's eyes. Keeping in mind that first experiences do not end with babyhood, write about a first: the first day of kindergarten, the first day of college, the first grandchild. Or simply begin with the writing start "the first time" and write down the first thing that comes to mind.

What Can You Win? Why, your own copy of Writing Motherhood, of course! Tomorrow, September 24th, I'll pick a winner randomly from the submitted comments.

I look forward to reading your posts, and for virtually hosting Lisa Garrigues!

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Congratulations RebekahC - you've won!

Alright, so I had already received a competitor's product for review, but when the Parent Bloggers Network asked if I'd be interested in reviewing the V. Smile Cyber Pocket from VTech, I instantly said "Yes!" After all, both my boys have non-educational "just for fun" handheld video game consoles, but until the V.Smile showed up on our doorstep, we only had one educational hand-held video game.

Yes, boo-hoo!, but don't you want both kids learning in the backseat of the van?

Yup, I thought so. Two educational handheld games it is!

The Cyber Pocket has a different "look" than what the kids are used to: this looks like a mini-laptop computer, with a little flip-up screen. Of course both boys were very interested, especially when they saw the game that came with it is called "Zayzoo: An Earth Adventure" and sports a photo of a cute alien.

Zayzoo includes several different components including singing songs (great for the preschool set) or practicing filling in missing letters of common words (excellent to reinforce those early reading skills.) The Cyber Pocket system itself is recommended for kids age five and older. It is therefore not a surprise that four-year-old Splig found some of the games too challenging; however, he still loved them. The Cat is seven, and enjoyed playing "Math Mining," "Alien Beat," and "Language Learner" the most, but has yet to explore several of the games available.

When we first turned on the system, it took some time to figure out what to do. The stylus on the lower screen corresponds to the cursor on the LCD upper screen. This is rather tricky to co-ordinate, so I was relieved that finger-joystick controls were available instead. There are both right-joystick and left-joystick positions for the console. This is the first time in a video-game situation where I've seen particular attention to whether a person might favor right or left hand.

Still, I wish the stylus were easier to use. Although the "write on one surface, see the result on another" might help hand-eye coordination in the youngsters, for this nearly-35-year old it was too tricky. I like to write directly on the screen. One advantage of not writing directly on the LCD screen, though, is that the screen life will be much longer. Many of these "write on the media" products have the potential of getting scratched and worn over time.

When the Cat tried out the system, he was frustrated by trying to use the stylus to play the game. He didn't have any trouble working the navigational screens, but when he had to actually control the character, the finger joystick made much more sense. Still, the game prompts, "Use the pen to move Zayzoo!"

I don't know whether the stylus is used exclusively in some games. If so, this would require an initial adjustment period.

What I was most intrigued by, though, was how many skills this single game covers: spelling, synonyms, antonyms, 3D puzzle building, logic, arithmetic, vocabulary, sentence structure, reading comprehension, beat and rhythm, and more. With such a wide variety of skills emphasized, kids can be both confident in the skills they've already mastered (earning lots of coins!) and challenged by those things that they are still working on, but having fun in the process.

One especially fun feature of the Cyber Pocket is that it can be plugged into the television screen via the included cable. Sure, there are plenty of TV screen video-game consoles out there, but none that you can then take with you in the van on a road trip. While at home, the kids can choose to play the Cyber Pocket with a large screen; but then on the road, in a comfy arm chair, or in their rooms, they can relish in the portability of the system. I like that there is a headphone jack so I don't necessarily have to listen to their games. I must listen to their laughter and squeals of delight, though.

The Cyber Pocket comes with a "V.Link," a little device that is a USB-port on one end and a connector to the VTech on the other end. A smiling glittery piece of toast serves as the slider between the "connect to VTech" and "expose USB port" configurations. Okay, he isn't a piece of toast, but the smiling computer screen logo looks very much like that tasty breakfast staple.

Kids can connect the V.Link to their console to download their scores; they then connect to the computer to record those scores. In the case of "Zayzoo: An Earth Adventure," kids can earn gold coins during console play that can be used on the V.Smile website to unlock special bonus games. The Cat hasn't earned enough coins to unlock anything yet, but I am certain he'll enthusiastically try, then reveal in the accomplishment.

Both boys love this system. Although we are just getting to know it, I have a feeling it will be used quite frequently at our house.

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Up Tuesday: A side-by-side comparison of Leapfrog's Leapster2 and VTech's VSmile Cyber Pocket, a Smackdown! if you will. Stay tuned...

We have had the good fortune of receiving both a Leapster2 from LeapFrog (check out their new Leapfrog online community!) and a V.Smile CyberPocket from VTech, via the Parent Bloggers Network. I've written reviews on both, but below is a summary of some of the features both unique to each and shared between these two educational hand-held learning systems. Some of the information in the below table is objective, while other information is our impression of the systems.

Who wins the Smackdown? Well that depends on your needs. My kids love both gaming systems and both make learning FUN! Since they both cost the same, emphasize similar skills, report on those skills online, and have a variety of different games available, there is no clear winner. It is up to YOU to decide which features you prefer. For example, the Leapster2 is lighter with better stylus control than the CyberPocket, whereas the CyberPocket has the the ability to plug into the T.V. for big screen play, but the Leapster cannot. Of course my chart above is not comprehensive; there may be a feature I didn't cover that is particularly poignant for you - but the above is what my kids and I discovered as we tried out these cool gadgets.

For more information:
- VTechKids: V.Smile Cyber Pocket
- Leap Frog: Leapster2

Husband and I typically end up with multiples of the same gift, like the year we both got each other America. Typically the duplicates end up because Husband will talk about how much he wants something, so I'll buy it for him. But days before Christmas, he'll go out and purchase whatever is already wrapped under the tree.

So I stopped listening to his first choice, figuring he'd get it for himself. I focused more on the "lower down" priority items.

Last year he kept talking about a slingbox. But I thought I knew better. I wasn't going to purchase something he'd no doubt buy on his own during Thanksgiving sales or Pre-Christmas sales or Friday Fry's sales.

The day before Christmas, Husband mentioned how excited he was that he'd be getting a slingbox for Christmas. He assumed that is what I had already bought. He was ecstatic.

Except I hadn't bought one, of course.

Not wanting to disappoint him, I quickly went online to Best Buy and did an in-store pickup order. While the store itself had long lines and packed aisles, the in-store pickup line was small. We were out of the store - coveted present in hand - in less time that it took us to find parking.

And so, my first tip to those of you who have waited too long to shop for Christmas (or the latter half of Hanukkah) is to see which big stores have in-store pickup. It is easy to browse online for that perfect gift, and typically is pretty easy to pick it up since most stores have separate lines for their online sales.

(The one exception I found to this was when I bought a camera at Circuit City - the closest store was sold out, so I purchased it at a store a half hour away. Guess what happened? That store didn't have it when I arrived, but discovered that my local store did! In the end I got my camera, but that particular excursion took a lot of driving and involved confusion.)

Another idea is the dreaded overnight shipping - yet for stores like zappos.com that already ship overnight, you're golden. Still, most overnight shipping options are pretty pricey, so you might want to brave the malls.

Or, you could buy something that is electronically fulfilled, such as an iTunes gift certificate or an Amazon.com gift certificate delivered via email.

Plenty of websites offer extended content for a fee. No, I am not suggesting purchasing "adult materials" for your preteen cousin. Rather, for kids there are sites like Club Penguin, a favorite of my boys. While the basic experience is plenty of fun, being a member allows the little penguins to accumulate coins to purchase pet puffles, buy snazzy new outfits, and deck out their igloo like budding interior designers would. In the Cat's case, that means purchasing as many toy trains as possible to create a "rug."

For older folks, there is Happy Neuron. I learned about this brain fitness website shortly after I had realized that I wasn't very good at the Brain Age DS game. (And don't even talk to me about Big Brain Academy.) "Mommy brain" is no myth: my brain is so filled with details of appointments, tasks, and managing other folks' lives that I don't have time to read or do puzzles to expand the other parts of my brain.

As we age, our brain "sags" just like our bodies do. Those who keep mentally fit by exercising their brain end up faring much better than those who don't. Plus, it is fun (until the computer tells you that you are mentally weak, that is!)

Happy Neuron is offering a 20%-off holiday special on a year's membership to the website. Members have access to 35 games (plus 5 beta Wii games.) The games fit in five categories: visual-spacial, attention, executive function, memory, and language. Each game has several difficulty levels, plus the program itself will recommend games based on the user's weaknesses.

I tried using the "coach" function whereby the computer is supposed to take me through an optimum combination of games based on my preferences, time available to "work out," and my past performance. Unfortunately, this feature didn't work for me (I was given a login free for the purposes of review, but perhaps this is a feature only available to full members, not reviewers.) And so, I tried out the five free games.

Does it surprise you that on the "split words" game that I was able to do the one about football but did horrifically on the "agriculture" one? (I can still hear my grandmother's tsk-tsk from many years ago when she learned I couldn't tell the difference between different types of cows. Sorry, I don't know anything about farming.) I thought I would do fantastically on "Catch the Ladybug" because after college I was a research assistant in a visual psychophysics lab. We did lots of "search" experiments, and since I had to program and test such things, I became very good at visual search. But my downfall in this Happy Neuron game was my trackball skills. I saw the ladybug immediately, but had a hard time rolling my way over. Perhaps a traditional mouse would be better in this instance.

There are other games that rely on time where an individual's ability to move the mouse becomes a limiting factor. This concerns me for the grandparent-set who might otherwise benefit from these mind-enhancing games. For these folks, those games without a time limit (but which will still record time) would be more accurate: as their time decreases with practice, the improvement can be attributed more to mental performance and less to mousing-ability. But for games that stop if the user fails to provide the answer, the individual wouldn't be able to practice the actual task unless the time required could be increased.

I love that there are a variety of games to "train" the user so the "workouts" are not boring. The site has a section on brain fitness science, plus has recommendations for other (sometimes offline) products. In addition to the aforementioned Wii games in beta, there is also a "Happy Neuron Junior" program in development. The Cat loves various games, particularly online. Although some of the games I've played through Happy Neuron are perfectly appropriate for him, I imagine the "junior" version will have aspects (such as in the "language" category) that will better fit his grade level.

Consider Happy Neuron for that otherwise difficult-to-buy-for adult. Grandmothers have enough perfume, bath oil, and lotion. And does Granddad really need another tie? Young(er) adults would like these games, too, so don't think your recipient needs to have grey hair. (I think my parents are sharper than I am at this point, anyway.)

Or maybe spend some time on the site yourself; it certainly wouldn't hurt! After all, the present I am getting for Husband is one that I hope to get myself at some point. This is one year where I'm actually hoping for a duplicate (but not expecting it.)

Every week, the Cat has to list four books that he's read, or break down chapter books into the four "chunks" he's read. Technically, he's supposed to read Monday-Thursday, but all too often it is in separate little chunks, and usually involve the weekend. He reads National Geographic Kids, Highlights magazine, picture books that are way too easy for him but he loves 'em, and a variety of chapter books (like Flat Stanley and Nate the Great.) He's particularly a fan of Captain Underpants, although I admit being a little nervous that I'm encouraging the grossness. But, as I told to his teacher (and she enthusiastically agreed) anything that encourages reading and isn't horrifically lewd is fine. The Underpants books have some great vocabulary, believe it or not.

The one book that the Cat reads all the time, but can't put on his list every single time (because I have this fear that if he repeats books it his homework won't be considered "valid") is the Toon Book "Mo and Jo: Fighting Together Forever." When I learned about Toon Books I thought the book "Stinky" would be the one that spoke to the Cat the most, but surprisingly, he was more interested in the red and green-clad brother-and-sister team Mo-Jo. He giggles as he proclaims, "I'll turn you into spaghetti!" like the character Joey does on the cover. The book itself is about sharing, but it is also about crime-fighting, always a revered theme in the lives of little boys. I've never been a comics fan, but the Cat loves this style. After he enjoyed Mo and Jo, he ate up Stinky and Jack in the Box.

He then went back to Mo and Jo, and keeps it by his bed so he can read it nearly every day.

Wow, wow, Everyone!

Several months ago, the Cat ran around the house saying, "I have a little baby tail! Oh, I have a little baby tail!" Shortly thereafter, I heard the introductory song to "Wow! Wow! Wubbzy!" and understood: Wubbzy has a "baby tail" and the Cat picked up on it.

When the Cat was very young, he actually wore a tail made out of ribbon. It was this, along with his meowing, that led to his bloggy nickname of "the Cat."

So years later, he was back to enjoying the concept of a "baby tail." Fortunately, his fascination with Wubbzy's tail was rather brief, and the enjoyment of the show and its more important themes took over.

Wubbzy and his friends live in Wuzzleburg, a town that looks like it came out of a West Elm catalog: modern-looking right angles that have rounded corners and trees comprised of angled lines with boxy-ovals as leaves. This gives a jaunty backdrop to the upbeat show. (What did you expect with a show title with Three! Exclamation! Points!)

Indeed, Wuzzleburg is a hopping place to be. The friends are always doing some sort of adventure accompanied by exaggerated sound effects and carnival-like music. One episode was quite tuba-heavy. Their vocabulary is pretty cutey-cute, too; you can play kickity-kickball or look at a birdy-bird with Wubbzy, Widget, and Walden.

The episodes focus on problem-solving: everyone works together. The citizens of Wuzzleburg are quite inventive: their creative constructions help them get both in and out of trouble. Self-esteem building messages include celebrating uniqueness and confidence in asking for help. In fact, I need to take the advice on the "Ask for a Little Help" video - since I frequently try to take on the world without assistance. See, even adults can benefit from these seemingly silly, supportive characters.

My kids have been Wubbzy fans for quite awhile, so they were thrilled when the new "A Little Help from my Friends" DVD arrived on our doorstep Monday, free-for-review from Mom Central. They were also happy to hear that I'm following a friend of Wubbzy on Twitter.

The DVD includes eight episodes, four music videos, a "Kooky Kostume Game," activity sheets and previews of other kid-friendly shows. Both the Nick Jr. website and the Official Wubbzy Website have plenty of fun games and activities, too.

I dare you to watch the music video "Be Happy" without - yes, you guessed it - becoming very happy. Wubbzy is such a positive guy that you can't help smile when watching any of the episodes. Indeed, my kids become very animated when they watch his and his friend's antics.

We enjoy welcoming Wubbzy into our home via Nick Jr., but the DVD is a great addition since it provides plenty of back-to-back features that we can watch in the car or on our computers. It is a great compilation of fun videos and excellent episodes.

Thanks Mom Central!

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* Purchase at Amazon.com
* Visit Wubbzy's Official Website
* Visit Wubbzy at Nick Jr.
* follow WubbzyJen on Twitter

The Cat is quite intelligent, at least in academic matters. He's creative, curious, and can make connections very well. But somehow, if the intended connections, schemas, rules, and intuition is in regards social skills, he stumbles. He's one of those "quirky kids" who was diagnosed with pdd-nos, a "catch-all" diagnosis on the autistic spectrum.

As part of his IEP, he receives pragmatic speech and social skills group pull-outs at school. Truthfully, I haven't seen results. He's laughed at social skills DVDs and seems to enjoy them (particularly when the kids act goofy as part of the "how not to behave") but hasn't really put the information to use. One year we sent him to a social-skills camp, but while that may have helped him pay attention to his behavior, I actually wonder if being so analytical about it actually created an artificial situation: he ended up being hyper-sensitive to each mistake, which then created panic and an inability to remember the "correct" response. And then there is the matter of positive role models: he was with some kids who really had some odd social behaviors.

It is embarrassing to admit, but there are certainly times when I want to just throw my arms up because he's done something inappropriate, seemingly without "common sense." And then there are those days that he seems totally "normal" waving good-bye as he says brightly, "Bye Katie! See you tomorrow!"

Wow-Wow Everyone! Or perhaps I should say, "Arrrrgh, Matey-Matey!" All hands on deck, Wubbzy's Pirate Treasure is available on DVD!

Of course to my pirate-loving boys, the arrival of the Wow! Wow! Wubbzy Pirate Treasure DVD via Mom Central was a time for heavy celebration. They love Wubbzy, and I've mentioned before that I think Wubbzy is pretty awesomey-awesome, too.

They've fought me for control of the DVD player. In the morning, it plays Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred. Then in the afternoon and evening, it is time to visit Wuzzleburg. Of course, given a title like "Pirate Treasure," I am sure it isn't surprising that the gang doesn't stay still in Wuzzleburg. Nope, they go on an adventure after treasure. Wubbzy (er, "Long-Tailed Wubbzy" is his pirate-nickname) is convinced that there is treasure to be found, but his friends are more skeptical. Ever-academic Walden is particularly concerned that there couldn't possibly be pirates in Wuzzleburg.

Is there treasure to be found? I'll let you use your imagination, but I bet you can guess. Of course, it wouldn't be Wubbzy without some awesome songs, and the one after the pirate episode contains lyrics such as "Life is filled with treasure - everywhere you look!"

Other episodes on the DVD include one where Walden learns to overcome his fear of the water. This is followed by a song that emphasizes that things need to be learned one step at a time (lest someone run into the ocean and expect to be able to surf right away!) This is definitely something that can be called on during times of hesitation, "Hey, remember how Walden was afraid to swim, but once he overcame his fear he realized that he really enjoyed the water? Let's try..."

Having a familiar and enjoyable character as a role model is much easier than talking in the abstract.

One of my favorite episodes involves a trip to "Plaidville." As many of you know, I'm mad about plaid. The lesson behind the trip was how everyone is different, how these differences can be appreciated, and then how our own "sameness" can be appreciated too. (In other words, don't wish you were someone else, but respect that someone else for their unique self.)

Wubbzy is fun, educational, and cheery. My kids love the characters, so much so that Spliggle wanted to record his own impressions. And so, I'll leave you with his thoughts:

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* Purchase Wubbzy "Pirate Treasure" at Amazon.com (There are some sample clips on the Amazon listing for this product.)
* Read my review of Wubbzy's "A Little Help from My Friends"
* Purchase Wubbzy "A Little Help from My Friends" at Amazon.com
* Visit Wubbzy's Official Website for games, activities, and information.
* Visit Wubbzy at Nick Jr.
* follow WubbzyJen on Twitter

I had heard of Pop Art Toaster before, but was curious when I learned of the Pop Art 5-in-1 Tasty Baker, another product from the Pop Art Toaster team. They provided me a "media sample" of the Tasty Baker in the hopes that I might have some insight into how their product might benefit those on the autistic spectrum.

I must admit that it took awhile to get my head around the concept that a baking product could also be therapeutic. But, I can see how non-verbal or pre-verbal children (whether autistic or not) might benefit from having cakes or brownies in recognizable shapes, therefore reinforcing the various objects. The fun shapes can also be a way to entice a picky eater to try an unfamiliar food.

Tasty Baker is similar to a waffle-maker, but it can be used for breads, cakes, and brownies (or any other baked good, like muffins) I used it for a variety of different things - vanilla cake, chocolate cake, brownies, and banana bread. I must admit that it takes some trial and error to discover both the right baking time and the correct amount to put in the mold, but let's back up a second to talk about the appeal of the product:

I am a big fan of the Olympics. I cry during the Opening and Closing Ceremonies and proudly point out the countries of my ancestry with pride, even though I have been to none of them. I turn on sports that I wouldn't watch unless it was the Olympics. I have it on in the background when I work or workout. When we come home, I eagerly snap on the TV.

Except my kids routinely ask to put on Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! Seriously, without fail, I click on the TV for some curling, and the chants of "Wubbzy! Wubbzy!" begin. Thankfully, we can now have both simultaneously.

Sort of.

You see, Wubbzy has put out a new DVD, Wubbzy: Go For Gold.

During "Earth Hour" we were at a hockey game, but they weren't going to turn out the lights on men with sticks, sharp blades, and hair-trigger tempers. But hopefully my family and I will do something meaningful for Earth Day - two days from now. (Today is apparently some sort of pro-marijuana holiday, which I guess is "green" in its own way. Our old phone number - with a different area code easily confused with ours - was the number for a medical marijuana dispensary. That was an interesting thing.)

At church Sunday, I was thrilled to find a green-centered sermon accompanied by some unconventional and exciting "hymns." One such hymn included a coyote, and was truly gorgeous. I don't talk about religion much because I know it is quite polarizing, and I'm of the belief that people can find meaning and spirituality a variety of different ways, so I don't want to give the impression that I'm attempting to preach a specific faith here. But let's just say that I was pleased that Sunday's sermon was about positive impact and respect. It was about being good stewards of the Earth. It was not about politics - as environmental issues frequently can be - it was about a way of life that honors what we've been given.

One of my old pals, Wubbzy, has already been educating kids about the need to be sensitive and respectful to our environment. On a regular basis, Wubbzy and his pals teach kids about positive social interaction, and about respecting each others' differences.

Today is the last day of April, and thus the last day of "Autism Awareness Month." Honestly, I don't know what to think of autism "awareness" since it doesn't really make people "aware" so much as it frequently spreads unhelpful stereotypes.

Each child is different, regardless of whether he or she has a "diagnosis" and as such, their strengths and weaknesses differ.

I'm tired of the tragic stories of autism: those that focus on hardship, despair, and lost dreams. Although there are definitely aspects of a spectrum diagnosis that fall into those categories, it is much more useful to acknowledge these children's (and adult's) strengths.

Fortunately, I've had the opportunity to review two different stories about children on the spectrum, both of which acknowledge challenges, but also celebrate their subjects for who they are as people beyond the diagnosis. Both the book Cowboy and Wills and the independent lens film The Horse Boy have animals in their title. ("Cowboy" is the name of Wills' golden retriever.) This is no coincidence.

The Cat tells me that he loves being in his tiny ship. He also says that it rains on his planet, and that he loves it when the volcanoes erupt. He talks to me about "getting stars" and wonders how much water he collected from the rain. He tells his younger brother, Splig, how to "fix" his planet. Splig is all about the volcanoes, especially since he saw The Bachelorette on Monday, and was slack-jawed as Ali and her suitors got superclose to an Icelandic eruption. (No, he didn't catch any double entendre involving that whole experience, and yes, I let him watch shows like that only because he thinks the roses are pretty.)

Both of my boys are guarding and nurturing their planets. And thankfully, these planets have nothing to do with spray paint, a hot glue gun, or styrofoam circles (that are harder to cut than one would think, and make quite a mess on the floor!) No, their planets are thankfully virtual, found via My Tiny Planets, a space exploration universe set up for kids to enjoy. My "space cadets" can simply explore their planets, or take on missions. These missions can unlock various rewards, some free, and some requiring real dollars. True to the notion of "unlocking" things, the currency on Tiny Planets is KEYs. Kids can save their KEYs from month to month, so they can save up for a really snazzy new rocket ship or other coveted reward.

If you are one of those lucky people with a Kinect, check out the new Sesame Street game, Once Upon a Monster, which hits stores October 11th. This adventure is a multi-player, co-op gameplay experience designed to enhance social and emotional development.

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Disclaimer: The fine folks at Sesame Street gave me access to this trailer. I support their projects, so decided to post it here. I will not receive compensation for this post.