I recently talked about some of our new favorite educational and fun iPad apps for Ryan. They’re from Super Duper Publications and help Ryan tell stories, think about timelines and cause & effect, and teach him to recognize words in the process. We recently got to try out some learning games from Super Duper!

For 27 years the awesomeness of Super Duper Publications was only available to teachers, therapists, and special needs professionals. Now, they’re being made available to us and I’m thankful because they are really amazing products. My mom used to teach elementary school and when she saw these games, she got really excited. She knew all about them and the “core curriculum.”

Vocabulary Chipper Chat has 12 different categories to help kids understand and use new vocabulary and language skills. This is great for multiple kids, daycares, classrooms, etc because there are 5 sets of each of the 12 category game boards (so you can play with 5 kids at once). Here are the categories:

• analogies
• associations
• attributes
• categories
• compare and contrast
• context clues
• figurative language
• functions
• homonyms
• homophones
• synonyms and antonyms
• verbs

There are 360 cards (30 for each of the 12 categories) with prompts and activities. I got Ryan excited initially for this game because of the magnetic wand and chips! That alone has been a learning tool–counting, adding, and subtracting, so far! The game is for grades K-5 and Ryan is only 3.5 years old, but we have fun playing. Of course there are parts that are harder for him and sometimes we don’t even try to use the category card and just pick prompts and activities to do.

So you pick a card and complete the prompt… you roll the die and you get to place that number of chips on your large category card. The incentive??? Is a GREAT ONE. The winner gets to use the magnetic wand to pick up all the chips. It’s almost hard to get through a session before Ryan is dying to use the wand, haha.

Just for Laughs is a really cute game. It’s supposed to help children understand the multiple meanings of jokes. I can imagine it’s hard for little ones to understand what’s “funny” and why. I know I have to explain my jokes to Ryan sometimes–or maybe I’m just a terrible joke teller, lol. There are 100 joke cards that include a photo, which is awesome for Ryan that can’t read yet.

On the back of each joke card, there are 4 lessons that explain why the joke is funny. The deck has 40 jokes with multiple meaning words, 30 with multiple meaning phrases, and 30 with multiple meaning sentences. You can earn “smile” chips as you play This game just always cracks me up because Ryan will do a really loud (fake) laugh and it’s hilarious. It’s for grades 3 and up and maybe by starting Ryan early, he’ll become a future comedian Ryan would NOT let me take a photo of his funny face, lol.

Super Duper Publications submitted 6 games, including these two, to The National Parenting Center for review. They ALL received rave reviews and the Spring 2013 Seal of Approval! They are: Just for Laughs, Ring Bling, Super Duper StoryMaker, “WH” question cards app, Vocabulary Chipper Chat, and Which One Doesn’t Belong?

GIVEAWAY: one lucky reader will win their choice of one of these 6 award winning games from Super Duper Publications! Open to US and Canada. Please use the form below to enter–good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Ryan was so easy when it came to using plates, silverware, and cups. He just didn’t throw things on the floor and he pretty much went straight from bottles (pumped milk while I was working part-time) to toddler cups. I remember seeing all these other parents trying every cup out there, begging other moms to know what cup worked for their little one, and claiming their kid would be on the bottle forever. I didn’t understand.

Then? I became that mom! Rebecca rarely had a bottle because I was never working so I do wonder if that had something to do with it… she definitely was not used to tilting her head back to lift up a bottle or cup to drink. We’ve only been using straw cups, but the straw has to go all the way to the bottom of the cup.

I am THRILLED that she has now learned to drink out of other toddler cups… pretty much any “style” now… thanks to the new set we received recently from Philips AVENT! We got 3 different kinds, ranging in recommended ages from 6+ months to 18+ months.

I love the natural drinking cup. It’s the coolest design ever. The downside is that it kind of has a lot of pieces for taking apart to clean and put back together… but I’m just being lazy, because it still only takes like 15 seconds.

When I first took this cup out, Ryan (my 3yo) said, “What kind of cup is THAT?!” because it has no straw, no spout, and no visible opening! Yea, I was confused, too, lol. Basically the seal opens up when the inner top piece is pressed down by your lip as you start to drink. (Yes, I tried it myself!)

So your kid gets to learn how to sip out of a cup without a spout or other accessory and you still get the major convenience of a toddler cup that doesn’t spill! In the  far right photo below you can see Rebecca really testing that out… she actually held it upside down and shook it like crazy. It didn’t leak a drop. The natural drinking cup did take her a little bit to get used to, she was frustrated at first, but after I showed her how to do it and she practiced a few times, she was SO EXCITED. She kept drinking and kept giggling. And then little miss curious pushed the middle piece down with her fingers and dumped it upside down, haha. So you might want to make sure you practice with water first

We were also sent some spout cups. The 6mo+ spout cup is great for Rebecca, it holds 7oz, and the spout is soft and flexible. At first I gave the other 18mo+ spout cup to Ryan, thinking Rebecca wouldn’t be okay with it.… it was great for Ryan, who still uses sippy cups sometimes… but Rebecca has tried it and she can use it, too! I’m so excited she’s getting the head-tilt thing down and can use even a bigger cup like this one.

Both kids love the clip that came on the 18mo+ spout cup, haha. Rebecca uses it like a handle and Ryan likes to actually use it to clip on his toys, pants, my purse, pretty much anything! Its spout is harder and bite-proof. The 18mo+ cup holds 12 oz and AVENT also makes a spout cup in between for ages 12mo+ that holds 9oz. 

All the toddler cups are BPA-free and dishwasher safe. Parts can be interchanged, which is very nice, and there are measurement scales on the sides. There are some other drinking cup options over at Philips AVENT, as well as nursing, feeding, and monitoring products, so check them out and find what works for your kids. All of these cups have really helped Rebecca learn. You can find Philips AVENT on Facebook, too!

~I received these products to facilitate my review, but all opinions are my own!

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I’m a big fan of Kia and the husband and I are seriously in the market for a new car. Really, we need two new cars, but we’ll start with one for now lol. After being able to drive multiple vehicles for Kia, they’re at the top of our list. Did you know they offer an industry-leading 10-year/100,00-mile warranty program?! They really stand behind the quality of their vehicles. I recently received the Kia Rio to test drive for a week.

She’s a pretty little thing, right? I was driving 4.5 hours to Indianapolis for a conference and wanted something fuel efficient. The Rio is AMAZING! It averages 36 mpg on the highway and a still amazing 28 mpg in the city.

Kia Rio

I think the Rio is similar to the Optima (that I previously drove), but obviously it’s a cheaper (more affordable) version. The Rio starts at just $13,600. It is a 4-cylinder engine like the Optima, but without the nice little “turbo” boost. It’s no secret I like fast cars (I talk about it in every car post, right? lol) so I definitely noticed this, BUT the Rio still had very nice speed and pick-up. My husband was a fan, too.

I also noticed that the engine was a little louder and the ride maybe a little more bumpy compared to the Optima. But it’s still a fantastic car and would be awesome as a second family car or for someone that drives or commutes a lot. This car IS on our list of possibilities–my husband really wants to buy this one. For a smaller car, it was still very roomy (surprisingly so) and my husband (a bit bigger of a guy) fit in comfortably.

Even more surprising was the great trunk space! This little car has a huge trunk! Above you can see my Joovy Caboose Too stroller–it’s like a sit and stand so it’s for both kids. It fit easily with plenty of room to spare. There’s also Kia Rio 5-door with the hatchback style trunk that we’re really interested in, too.

Again, no shortage on space. With two kids, the Kia Rio was just fine! We have a 3.5 year old forward-facing in a convertible seat and a 15-month old rear-facing in her infant seat. ((Safety note: the front passenger seat needs to be moved up a smidge in the photo on the left. The car seat handle needs to be all the way down and enough space for a piece of paper to slide through between the car seat and the front seat! I had just set her seat in there for a photo and hadn’t adjusted for that yet.))

Every time I drive a Kia I miss it when it’s gone. I love the interior features–that neither of our cars have! The Sirius radio, navigation system, rear-camera display, steering wheel controls, heated seats, bluetooth connection for our phones, sunroof, and the push-button start. It’s amazing how handy that keyless start is! This car also had the USB plug-in, which I love for charging my iPhone. It also has heated and power-folding outside mirrors, a fully adjustable driver’s seat, and folding rear seats (60/40 split).

There was only one thing I noticed that I didn’t like… the front passenger seat didn’t appear to have an adjustable height. You could move it forward and backward, but not up and down (like the driver’s seat). I’m short so when I sat on the passenger side, I felt like I was sitting too low. I guess I need to sit on a pillow

The Kia Rio was great on the drive to and from Indianapolis… about 9 hours round trip. It was comfortable, smooth, and we got amazing mileage. Check out more features on Kia’s website and find them on facebook and twitter.

~I was sent the Kia Rio to drive for a week, but was not compensated in any way. All opinions and photos are my own!

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Hey, Rockford area readers! I know you’re out there I’d love you to join me at the Drive it Home Show, presented by the National Safety Council and Allstate Foundation, Tuesday, June 18th! If you have a tween, teen, or are concerned about teen driving safety, it will be an informative (and entertaining!) event. You may even win a car

My kids are years away (THANK GOODNESS), but I still think about the day they turn 16… because.… I’ve been there. Remember the reckless and crazy things you may have done?! Help us all. The Drive it Home Show WILL help us… keep those teen drivers safe!

Please feel free to share this post with anyone who might like to attend. Details are as follows:

What: Drive it Home Show, presented by the National Safety Council and Allstate Foundation
When: Tuesday, June 18 from 7pm — 8:15pm
Where: Rockford College — Maddox Theater (5050 E State St  Rockford, IL 61108)
Price: FREE!; no tickets required
Parking: Parking is available in surface lots at Rockford College. Patrons should look for Parking Lot B or Parking Lot C West to access the Theater.

BONUS: You can enter in the sweepstakes at the event for a chance to win gas cards and a brand new car!

If you’d like to attend, click here to register and when checking in, let them know that Clever Girls Collective sent you. I will definitely be there and hope to see you there, too!

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective, and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

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I LOVE clothes shopping for my kids. I love shopping, period, and before I had kids it was all about me. It’s funny how much that has changed… I’ll walk into my favorite store and head straight to the kids section instead of to my area. I live in yoga pants (who’s with me?!) and my kids live in much nicer clothes than I own. Now, it’s all about them, and Gymboree is one of our favorites.

I’ve been shopping at Gymboree since I was pregnant with Ryan. It’s one of those brands that you trust because the clothes are not only super cute, but they’re durable and well made. Gymboree makes quality clothing for your kids. AND everything is always matching… they have these fun sets of clothes with a mix of tops and bottoms that all match, including shoes and hats or hair bows! Adorable.

I went shopping recently on Gymboree’s website and went a little crazy. SO much cute stuff, I had to BUY ALL THE THINGS. Gymboree kindly sent me a gift card to use, but I definitely spent over that, too I got Rebecca everything shown here… in the photo above: Bow Kitty Face Tee, Button Bow Bird Kite Tee, Ruffle Tee (pink), Ruffle Bow Shorts (light blue), Dot Blossom Mixed Print Skirt, and Bike Shorts (navy blue). I also got another pair of the bike shorts in white… they’re fantastic for putting under skirts and dresses! All the pieces go together pretty well so we can mix and match for tons of different outfits.

Gymboree Cuteness

Below: Plumeria Ruffle One Piece, Gem Flower Sandals, and Floral Dot One Piece Swimsuit. I am in LOVE with these pieces from Gymboree. Unfortunately the first time I washed the ruffle one piece, our laundry detergent stained a large part of it blue and I’m STILL trying to get it out It looks better, but still noticeable. GAH! Any tips on getting it out?!

The white sandals are adorable, but still a little big. Rebecca wears a size 3 in most brands. Since I was unfamiliar with Gymboree’s shoes, I printed off their shoe size chart. Rebecca’s foot seemed to go just past the line for size 3 so I figured I better buy a size 4! I’m sure they’ll fit later in the summer, which is good. And the swimsuit?! I’m in love. Gymboree has a matching hat for it, too!

Cute clothes for boys are hard to find. Not at Gymboree! I found lots of great things for Ryan, too. Those Roll-Cuff Chambray Pants?! Ryan’s my little stud in those. Sooo freaking cute. He used to have a shirt that said “Dad’s Dude,” and he adored it. It’s too small for him now so I’m always on the lookout for another cute “Dad” shirt. The Daddy’s Best Buddy was perfect and one of Ryan’s new favorites <3

We were in desperate need of pajamas with shorts now that it’s finally warm out and the Play Ball and Rocket Ship sets were picked out by Ryan Oh and who doesn’t love a jellyfish with a mustache?!

I was still in need of a rash guard for Ryan for this summer and when I found the Sea Turtle one, I just HAD to get the whole set! The hat is reversible and the whole thing is just too cute.

Gymboree does run a little big. Rebecca is leaving size 12 mo and just starting to wear size 18mo, so Gymboree’s 12-18mo size works pretty well for her. The bottoms are a little big and I roll them to stay up. Ryan’s leaving 3T and starting to wear 4T (isn’t it tough when they’re between sizes?!) so I did get everything in 4T for him, which  means it’s on the bigger side, but it’ll last all summer for sure.

If you aren’t familiar with Gymbucks, during a certain time period you can earn $25 in Gymbucks for every $50 spent at the store (or online). Right now you can earn Gymbucks until July 14th and then you can redeem them from July 18 — July 28 ($25 off a $50 purchase). I have $50 in Gymbucks so next month I get to go shopping again! And free shipping on orders over $75!

Rebecca’s Mixed Print Skirt & Kite Tee, Blue Ruffle Shorts & Kitty Tee, and Ryan’s Daddy Tee.

Gymboree has clothes for your kids ages 0 up to 12 years! You can find them on facebook and twitter and make sure you sign up for their emails to hear about new collections and the latest deals!

~I received a Gymboree gift card to pick out items to facilitate this review. All opinions and cute children are my own!

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Ahhh, I can’t wait!!! Last year in NYC, Kristine and I hosted our first Blogger Baby Shower For a Cause and it was a hit among the bloggers in attendance, we spread the word and raised awareness for a wonderful cause, and we had a ton of fun! We’ve since added Christa from Little BGCG to our team, creating our trio known as The Baby Ladies. Last year was amazing, but THIS YEAR.… is going to be even better.

In Chicago at the end of July we’ll be hosting our second annual Blogger Baby Shower. This year, our cause is the Save Babies Through Screening Foundation. Their mission is “to improve the lives of children and their families by working to prevent disabilities and death resulting from disorders detectable through newborn screening tests.” They help to educate parents, health care providers, and policy makers. They raise awareness for the importance of testing–and the importance of doing it in a timely manner to save lives. They recently published a heartbreaking story on their blog from the co-founder of SBTS that helps explain why the organization was started: Tyler’s Story.

The Save Babies Through Screening Foundation is one I stand behind and fully support their mission. I’m thrilled to be working with them to help raise awareness for newborn screening. Together we can all help save babies! And the Save Babies Blogger Baby Shower on July 25th, 2013 in Chicago? You won’t want to miss it

Gorgeous views of downtown Chicago, yummy snacks, a few brand reps, door prizes, swag bags, top mom & baby products to see (like strollers!), a professional for bra fittings on-site, The Baby Ladies, 50 top mom/baby bloggers, networking and fun, and–of course–education and awareness on life saving newborn screenings with the Save Babies Through Screening Foundation!

If you’re a blogger (pregnant, TTC, with baby) and will be in Chicago on July 25th and are interested in attending, let me know! If you’re a brand and you’d like to be involved with the Blogger Baby Shower to get your name and products in front of 50 influential and relevant bloggers, let me know! EMAIL: erdickey (at) gmail (dot) com

See you in July!

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When you go out in the sun, do you wear sunscreen? Do you put sunscreen on your kids? I’m sure many of you do… because we know how important it is to protect our skin from the sun. But do you know the effects the sun can have on your EYES? I think we forget about protecting those, too! I know I wear my sunglasses frequently, but my kids? I’ll admit they almost never do. I got a chance to work with The Vision Council and The Motherhood on a campaign to learn about harmful effects and UV safety facts.

My goal this summer is to get my kids used to wearing sunglasses. With a 3.5 year old and a 15 month old, it can be hard to get them to actually wear them and keep them on! But after speaking with The Vision Council and some other moms, I got some great tips and encouragement.

• Keep their sunglasses. Hand them out when you go to the pool or to play outside. When the activity is over, take the sunglasses back. This makes them more special to kids and something they get to have rather than something they have to do.
• Start early. If your kids start out wearing sunglasses outside, it will become the norm and they’ll be used to having them on (like kids that need regular glasses).
• Take them to the store. Let your kids be involved in selecting their sunglasses so they feel ownership.
• Practice what you preach! Kids learn by example so make sure you and your other family members have their sunglasses on, too!
• Explain. My curious toddler wants to know about everything. If I sit down with him and explain what the UV rays from the son can do and how sunglasses will help keep him safe, he’s much more likely to listen and wear them than if I just TELL him to.
• If all else fails? Find their favorite character wearing sunglasses. Curious George is fail-proof in our house, haha.

You can check out The Vision Council’s 2013 UV Report for more details on the effects of UV rays, who’s at risk at when, and what you can do about it. The infographic above is a nice summary.

Short-term effects: sunburn of the eye, irritation, redness, swelling, hyper sensitivity to light
Long-term effects: premature aging of the skin, wrinkles, sunspots, abnormal growth on the eye or eyelid, cataracts, macular degeneration, cancer of the eye, eyelid, and surrounding skin

Children are more at risk because their lenses are still immature. They also receive three times the annual sun exposure of an adult! Protect those eyes with sunglasses–make sure they say UV on the label to ensure they’re receiving protection! Lighter colored eyes are also believed to be more at risk… and my babies both have blue eyes!

Interesting things I learned:

• Not all sunglasses offer protection: check the label or take to a professional to test with a UV meter. Don’t buy from auction sites or from street vendors, etc.
• Darker lenses don’t necessarily mean they offer more protection.
• Brown, amber, and copper lenses work to reduce glare and improve contrast for activities like driving, golfing, water sports, and snow sports.
• Grey tint distorts color the least and yellow and rose tinted lenses enhance definition.
• You can buy goggles for swimming with UV protection.
• Contacts are made with UV protection, but they only protect the center of the eye–the whites and eyelids are still exposed.

The husband and I just went on vacation to FL for our 5-year anniversary. He caught me splashing in the ocean And hey! I have my sunglasses on! And you’re not only at risk in the summertime, there are damaging UV rays from the sun year-round. More UV safety facts:

You can find more resources, activities, and UV safety facts from The Vision Council.

~I worked with The Motherhood and The Vision Council on this post. I was compensated for my time, but all opinions are my own!

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At the end of April, our ICAN chapter (International Cesarean Awareness Network) hosted our first annual LABORfest: Learning About Birth Options in Rockford. I have a chapter co-leader and the two of us spent about two months planning. We got a free space at a local pub that provided all-you-can-eat pizza and pasta (at a fairly low cost to us), we pitched sponsors to donate items to our silent auction, we got local vendors and birth professionals to set up table space to meet and greet the attendees, and Joovy donated a $270 Room playard as a door prize. We charged $10 per person and they got to eat as much as they wanted, browse and bid on the silent auction, and meet with the local professionals. It was a great success and our ICAN chapter… just the two of us… raised nearly $1000 for ICAN.

LABORfest: Learning About Birth Options in Rockford

THANK YOU, local community! We not only raised money, we raised awareness… we had attendees fill out short surveys and many had never heard of ICAN before. Well, now they have! We’re spreading the news about birth options and maternal care in our area. We’re providing information and support. See what a difference just two people can make?! THANK YOU, Rockford.

Thank you to everyone that donated to the silent auction:

Rockford Park District
Imagine Baby Products
Baby Goodies
Pink Tree
Thirty-One
Karen’s Art Quilts
Lillian Emi Designs
Pregatory
Shaklee
Shabby Little Sparrow
rd Artistry
Drea’s Designs
Anna Dylan Kids
A Beautiful Touch

Thank you to all the vendors and birth professionals with table space:

 Karen’s Art Quilts: absolutely gorgeous!

A Beautiful Touch: the bio mats and massage tables were a big hit! And totally relaxing.

Thirty-One: I just hosted a party after seeing the products at LABORfest I bought… a lot

Imagine Baby Products, Rockford Health Physicians Midwives, & Green Lil’ Bums

And THANK YOU to one of my favorite baby product companies ever, Joovy. They’re family-owned and run and they’re a wonderful company. Joovy donated one of their $270 Room playards and we gave it away as a door prize… everyone wanted to win!

The Joovy Room is a playard I wish I had when my 2 were little–I mean, it’s everything you need in one place. It’s a playard, but it’s also a bassinet and a changing table. Plus, it has a fantastic parent organizer with 9 pockets for storage of all those diapers, wipes, and creams.

More great features: 2 wheels to easily move it, a zippered travel bag, stain resistant fabric, built-in nightlight (awesome!), and built-in mp3/ipod jack with speaker (seriously? even MORE awesome). It comes in colors blueberry, orangie, and black.

The winner was thrilled and after I called her to let her know, she immediately jumped in her car to drive the 45-minutes back to pick it up All of our silent auction winners were also thrilled–I even scored some items! Rebecca got a new hair bow and Ryan got a new tie I bid on more, but I was outbid on them! Everyone had a great time. Casey’s was a wonderful host and kept the food coming, the vendors were a hit, and I think everyone walked away with more information and knowledge on birth, health, and parenting options in the greater Rockford area.

If you’re in the area and want to be kept up to date on our events, you can “like” our ICAN of the Rock River Valley facebook page and the LABORfest page. Thanks again to everyone who made this a success! Can’t wait for next year

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Ryan has always loved playing on the iPad and I’ve always been on the search for the best apps–the ones that are educational, but also fun for a toddler. Now Ryan is also really getting into imaginative play that includes story telling. He asks questions about everything… he wants to know how everything works and what it does. I recently got to try out some iPad apps for kids from Super Duper. I love the name because they certainly are super duper apps!

Above are screenshots from “How? Fun Deck.” This is one of my favorite because I get to listen to Ryan tell stories. I chose the above images because I liked Ryan’s answers.

How do you help someone who’s hurt? “Awww… you give them a kiss right on that knee! And then put on a band-aid!”

How do you help a crying baby? “Milkies!”

How do you make someone laugh? “Ahhhhh– HAHAHAHAHA!” <–And that worked! I couldn’t stop laughing with him, haha.

Anyway, this app is only $2.99 (for iPhone, iPad, or iPod) and has 52 cards. You can browse through all cards or you can just select certain ones. You can also create players and track correct and incorrect answers and see the results on a graph. Ryan and I just like to browse and answer for fun so far, we don’t track “wrong” answers.

My other favorite is “All About You, All About  Me.” Same idea as the previous app, but with questions about your child… tell me about a time when you were sad, tell me about something you can do really well, what’s your address?, what’s your favorite food?, etc. There are 52 cards and you can select the ones you want to see (for example–I skip all questions about school because Ryan hasn’t been yet).

And what does Ryan want to be when he grows up? “A mommy!”

Okay, this app is Ryan’s FAVORITE. It’s called WH Questions Cards Pro. You can get a free version that includes the “WHO” questions and then you can make in-app purchases ($2.99 each) for the other cards: What, Where, When, and Why. The pro version has them all for $11.99. You can name players and select the game version: multiple choice, decoder, matching, or drag and match. I love this because it’s for ages K-6th grade… you can make the game simple or complex by choosing the game style and by choosing to pick the answer to a question or to pick the question when given the answer (like Jeopardy)!

So far with Ryan (3yo), we just answer questions in the multiple choice style. If you tap the screen, it will read the question out loud and will then read the 3 options as it highlights them. Once Ryan got the hang of it, he can play this alone and choose correct answers without our help. I hear him playing it ALL THE TIME. And he often says, “Mommy, mommy! Let’s play the question game!” And the things he knows? Fascinating! Proud mama

Another great Super Duper iPad app for kids is Story Maker! Ryan is a little bit young for this (I helped make the picture above), but he does use the app for drawing. The possibilities in Story Maker are endless… you can “create” or “tell” with 800 places, people, and items, ability to add your own photos, add text, draw, write, record your voice, turn pages, print, email.… so cool! Your little ones can basically write, narrate, and print their own book!

Story Maker is $4.99. There is a free version, but you can’t save stories with it (or print or email).

Two other apps we’ve been working on are What Would You Do At School If… ($2.99) and Name That Category ($2.99).

Ryan starts pre-K in the fall and I want to prepare him… mama’s nervous! lol. I thought the School app could help us talk about school and help Ryan know what to expect. It asks questions like: What would you do at school if… your pencil broke and you didn’t have another? you forgot your homework? your classmate teased you? It really is a great way to open communication!

The Category app is another wonderful educational one, but Ryan doesn’t seem to be quite there yet. They take explanation (as he’s learning) and he gets bored with that quickly right now, haha. He wants to go back to the “Questions game!” But we play a little at a time and he’s getting the hang of it. It’s fun to see his own answers, too, like “A car, bike, and train are…” things outside! 

You can check out all the Super Duper iPad apps for kids and pick your favorites!

GIVEAWAY: one lucky reader will get to choose up to $10 worth of Super Duper apps for kids! Redemption codes will be sent via email to the winner. This will get you between 5–8 apps as many are on sale right now! Please use the form below to enter–good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Ryan loves being outside and anything with wheels… his mower, wheelbarrow, ride-ons, and bikes. The kid just takes off! He learned how to pedal last summer and was a pro on his trike. This summer, he’s working on a balance bike and loves his scooter. He has fallen off his bike once and wasn’t hurt, but did get scared. I’m thankful we haven’t had any bad spills yet, but I’m sure something is coming… knock on wood… it’s a right of passage for a kid, right? I remember falling off my bike on the sidewalk and had to go to kindergarten with half of my face scraped up.

On my summer-must list was a kids helmet. I should have had one for him last summer, too, but had a hard time finding one I liked… that adjusted for a wide range of sizes and that was cute (without crazy patterns or cartoon animals).

Joovy has recently launched their Noodle kids helmet. It is perfect! We were sent one to try out for Ryan and I’m totally buying one for Rebecca.

I thinks sometimes it might be hard to get your young child to keep something on their head… Ryan went through a phase where he refused to wear a hat. I made sure I talked a lot about the kids helmet before it actually arrived. I told Ryan about how it would keep him safe and protect his head from owies if he were to fall or hit something. He really liked that idea! Then I took it a step further and found an episode of Curious George (Ryan’s favorite!) where George is wearing a helmet… if George does it, you bet Ryan wants to do it. If I see Ryan get on a toy without his helmet, I say “Your noodle is showing!” and then he cracks up and covers his noodle… with his Noodle

The Noodle is for ages 1 through 4 with head sizes between 18.5 — 20.5 inches. It fits my 15 month old and I’ve seen others even putting it on their 8 year old! It has an easy to turn dial on the back that adjusts the size and it stays put.

There are 14 air vents with bug mesh in the front vents (great idea!), an extended visor at the front of the helmet for maximum protection, nylon straps with a pinch guard chin strap, and it meets CPSC standards. I like that the padding inside the helmet is attached by velcro for easy removal and cleaning. The Noodle kids helmet comes in fun, bright colors–typical of all Joovy’s awesome products–blueberry, red, greenie, pink, and black.

You can get your own Noodle for $29.99! Awesome deal because the helmet will last years. Make sure you find Joovy on facebook and twitter, too!

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