Disney Junior Dream Cruise Contest

My children are fans of Disney Pixar Toy Story, so they were excited when they got a chance to build their own RC and the Pizza Planet Delivery Shuttle in July. Toy Story 2 will premiere on Disney Junior, Saturday August 10th at 6pm EST. 

Lots of Fun We Had a Around the Theme of Despicable Me

Since Despicable Me 2 started playing in the theatres July 3rd, it has been about minions and Gru in our home. We enjoy playing Operation and Monopoly Hasbro board games with the Despicable Me theme. We went to Home Depot and my children enjoyed making the cute Lucy's car, while wearing the minion hard hat, a badge/pin and apron. 

Family Time with Memorable Board Games & Win your own

I think sometimes we spend a little too much time as a family watching movies and shows especially on Netflix :) than playing a friendly interactive game.  Sometimes with hectic schedules we forget to spend quality time playing with each other.
The upcoming family day weekend reminds me that we need to make it a routine to sit around our family room and play interactive board games. This will allow us to reconnect, reenergize relationships and create memories.  Hasbro has a broad collection of over 60 timeless games that the whole family can enjoy.

JENGA Boom Game is similar to the classic JENGA game and is aimed for everyone over the age of 6 years.  We need to delicately pull the blocks out of the stack without knocking it down. With this JENGA Boom, we have to move fast because the detonator is pulled before we take our turn, and this is like a timer.  In order to win we have to get our block out before the time runs out and the stack "explodes."  This game includes 36 JENGA hardwood blocks, toy detonator, stacking sleeve and instructions and can be played alone or with more players.  

 

Some people might be offended by the violent aspect of the game i.e. it being called a "detonator" etc., if we keep aside this "opinion" then it is a fun game for the family to play and try to remove the block before it all comes down.  My children enjoyed laughing when the blocks came down before we got a chance to carefully remove the block.  We will be practicing this more during the long weekend :)

The CLUE The Classic Mystery Game is for everyone over 8 years and is played with 2 to 6 players.  This game includes Mansion Game board, 1 Yellow Murder Envelope, 1 Detective Notepad, 6 Character tokens, 21 Black CLUEDO cards, 13 Red Bonus cards, 6 Weapon tokens, 2 Dice and Game Guide.

We have to be detectives and crack the case of who killed the millionaire Samuel Black by questioning everything to unravel the mystery and finding clues; Who did it? Where? etc. The person who solves the murder first wins.  This is a fun twist on the classic mystery game and features new characters and a two-player version.  I haven't played the classic before so this game is new to me.

The ZYNGA Draw Something Game is for everyone over 8 years.  There is no need to be an artist to win this fun-filled Draw Something game.  While one player draws, everyone else shouts out their guesses at what they're drawing.  Whoever guesses the word earns coins along with the drawer, and the harder the word, the more coins you earn.  To win, the person has to have 15 coins.  We really enjoyed this game and I think it does test our artistic skills :) and imagination so people can guess correctly.  This game includes 4 draw stations, 180 cards, 4 crayons, 4 pads of paper, 4 coin tracker clips and game guide.  My children enjoy playing this game on the iPad so it was nice to have something physical to play with instead.

I remember spending lots of time playing board games with my brothers and friends when I was little.   Sometimes I feel my children are missing making these memories because of all the technology that surrounds us.  Hope we will all get to play some fun board games and reconnect with our families during this weekend and then make it more of a regular routine to create lasting memories.

Giveaway:
To help you get started and have your own family time playing board games, enter this giveaway below through the rafflecopter below and win the ZYNG Draw Something Game.  This giveaway is open to everyone in Canada and ends on March 15th. 
Update: The winner is Sam
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School struggles book review and giveaway

I had a wonderful opportunity to read and learn from the book School struggles.  This book is easy to understand as there are no jargons.  I liked the "take a way points" and tips at the end of each section in this book.  I agree with lots of things in the book and realized that we have to make changes as parents to avoid problems in the future.  Labelling children with problems, doesn't help anyone because many variables and factors contribute to the problems children may face in school.  The author Dr. Selznick has worked with families over 25 years and recognizes the complex mixture of cultural, socio-economic backgrounds and uniques of each family.  He offers guidelines based on his experience, professional practice and research.  He recognizes that these struggles that children have are because of their differences and does not label it as a disability.   

The author explains that children become shutdown learners when there are cracks in the foundation because of time + lack of understanding + strained family communications = school struggling shut down learners.

Children that will struggle in the future can be identified early as 4-5 years of age.   Even when parents feel there is something wrong and approach the educator, they are usually told not to worry.  The signs that a child is struggling in school work emerge in upper elementary grades and become more pronounced by high school, at this time it becomes overwhelming for the family.  

Timing is important, so dealing with the problem patiently before it matures is something we can do.  Some signs to look for and consider so we can intervene early will prevent children from becoming shut down learners.  

• If the child is tuning out during circle time, 
• Highly spatial and visual learners, 
• Active or over active, 
• Having trouble with language based activities i.e. reading and writing.

Here are somethings we can do to help the children

• Trust your feelings when you think something is wrong
• Know what to target and help with skills that needs more practice.
• Look for small things to boost the child's self esteem i.e. "Wow, I like the way your working without being asked to."  
• Get the child involved in creative extra curricular activities such as sports, art, cooking, music etc.
• Maintain equilibrium between fun and learning.  Don't let school problems dominate every interaction i.e. play board games or do crafts
• Support and connect with the child to let the child know you are in the same team.  
• Keep homework time calm.  Yelling and telling the child to try hard doesn't help.  Set a point system to reward the children and encourage. i.e. however try to avoid monetary compensation and reward with fun trips, going out for ice cream.
• Encourage children to read out loud.  After grade 2 children usually read independently and we might not recognize if they are have reading or comprehension problems.
• Lack of understanding that there is a skill deficiency adds up and causes frustration to the child and adults.
• Teach the basics i.e. phonic sounds.  Reading and comprehension problems can be helped by prompting and talking to the child so they can start thinking.  i.e. the author suggests programs like glassanalysis.com
• Stay organized from the start.
• Technology has changed lots of things in our daily activities and has created less interaction between families, which is why it is important to set a family time to talk and play with each other.
• Let children contribute to the guidelines and rules on what will help them do the homework and study.

Children who struggle with their school work face lots of social problems as well and get picked by peers, family, which effects their self esteem.  We can help these children by preventing the problems and taking a step back to see which basic skills need practice i.e. follow directions, play with others, identify letters, sound out the words etc.  

Throwing children into special education is not the solution.  Medications that are available out there to control behaviour is not a solution either, these types of medication come with lots of harm.

This book will help parents and professionals help chldren take a less rocky road in school.  The book is available online and at bookstores.  I am glad to host a giveaway of the books The Shut Down Learner and School struggles to one person in US or Canada.  The giveaway ends on September 30th, please enter through the rafflecopter below. 

Update: The winner is Elaine

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Start a tradition with games

1/4 cup popcorn

1 tbsp maple syrup

Put the popcorn in a brown paper bag, fold the top of the bag, about 2" on the top. Microwave it for 2 minutes. Put the popcorn in a bowl and toss with maple syrup. Be careful popcorn maybe hot. This would be a lovely homemade snack to have with children... when you are having a family fun night or day :)

Hasbro has a variety of games for our preschoolers i.e. Memory game, Candy land, Chutes and Ladders, Hungry hungry hippos. All these games encourage taking turns, sharing, following rules; which are all important skills for preschoolers and young children to learn so they can be ready for school.

The Memory game is a matching puzzle game with 72 vibrant picture cards. Candy land is another fun game for children over 3 years. It has coloured cards and fun pictures that the children will love. The players have to go through fun destinations like mountains full of chocolate and get to the castle first to win this game.

Chutes and ladder is similar to the traditional snakes and ladders; instead of the dice there is a spin wheel with 6 numbers. It is easier for young children to look and start counting and learn their numbers up to 100. It too has lovely illustrations on the board.

Hungry hungry hippos is a toy game for children over 4 years of age or older because it has small marble sized balls. A maximum of 4 players get to press and collect has many marbles they can with their hippo. Children will have lots of fun pressing and collecting the marble with their colourful hippos.

Take the time to have fun with these Hasbro board games as a family and create lasting memories.

All rights reserved on photographs and opinion of the written content Createwithmom © 2012. Please Ask First