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ZillyDilly Child Safe Browser for iPad

When I began working in Texas, my very first purchase was an iPad.   I am still amazed at how much of my business I was able to do on the go with my awesome little tablet.  With apps like DocsToGo, TeamViewer, and DropBox, I was literally able to work from anywhere – any time.

On my down time though, my iPad is mostly used by my girls – ages 5 and 12.   I created a specific page for them full of all kinds of fun games and storybooks that are age appropriate.  But even after many warnings, my daughters still venture online, perusing the internet at will.  Our computers at home have child-friendly browsers, but I had no idea there was the same type of software for the iPad until I was asked to review ZillyDilly – an app for the iPad that allows parents to control the sites their child can visit, limiting them to only the best and most educational sites the Web has to offer.

From the author of “Kids, Parents & Technology: A Guide for Young Families” and MyDigitalFamily.org,  Doctor Eitan Schwarz – “Dr S” – has more than 40 years of continuous practice in Chicago as a board certified child and adolescent psychiatrist.   Dr S has done extensive research regarding the uses of technology and digital media in therapy with children.  With that research, Dr. S has developed ZillyDilly, an app for the iPad that allows parents to control the sites their child can visit, limiting them to only the best and most educational sites the Web has to offer. Parents may set time limits, block unsafe or inappropriate sites and adjust restrictions as their child grows, all ensuring that their child has a healthy online and offline life.

I absolutely love this, and love that I can have the peace of mind to not be constantly checking what the girls are surfing on my iPad thanks to ZillyDilly.   I also love that I can set the age bracket so depending on which child is surfing, she will only see sites that are appropriate for her age group.  And I love that I can limit their time with it as well – something I should probably also consider setting for myself!  Ha!

For a limited time, ZillyDilly is free and can be downloaded directly here: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/zillydilly-for-ipad/id492673037?mt=8

Disclaimer:  I was not compensated in any way, shape or form for this post.  All opinions are my own.

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Which Poofin Would You Pick?

Finding a Christmas Gift to “surprise” my Tween daughter is next to impossible.   Gone are the days of picking up something from Target, wrapping it up pretty and putting “Love, Santa” on the tag.   Plus I always want to get her something unique, something that she can tell her friends about that 3/4 of them will not have received as well.   That is why when I discovered Poofin, I knew I had found the perfect gift from Santa.

A Poofin is like a soft treasure chest, filled with all of your favorite things.  Shaped like the Star that you are, in your choice of red, pink or blue, you can fill your super soft cuddly Poofin with “charms” of all of your favorite things.  The more charms you collect, the softer your Poofin becomes!

Poofin is a new developmental toy meant to inspire self-esteem in children by inviting them to create a unique charm collection kept inside a hollow, plush toy star.  Children pick charms featuring images of things they like – pizza, baseball, butterflies, anything they want!  The charms can even be customized to feature personal images of your choosing.  The result is a huggable buddy that helps kids tell the world all about themselves!

My favorite part about the Poofin – besides how soft it is – is that you can create your own charms by uploading images right from your computer into the Poofin Factory.   Last month we lost one of her little beloved pets - Sugar the Gerbil - so I am uploading a picture of her to give the Tween something she will have to forever remember her little pet.  I am also making charms with our recent trips, extended family we do not get to see often, and some of her other favorite things.  Since the custom charms are only $3.50, it is easy to get caught up making several!

I also love that she can take her Poofin with her wherever she goes – sleepovers, camp, road trips, and even just to her Dads on the weekends.

Poofin was created by two very “opposite” Moms – one tall, one short; one with all girls, one with all boys – who embrace their “yin and yang” type friendship and have created a toy to highlight such differences.

“We think our differences make our partnership strong. Differences are also what make families, schools, and communities strong. Poofin, in turn, reflects the belief that by embracing one another’s differences, the world really can become a more peaceful place.” ~Ann and Julia, Creators

You can find a retailer near you, or order directly online at the Poofin Store.  Orders normally take 7-10 days to arrive, but faster delivery is available.

I am very excited to find Poofins and to start her collection of Poofin Charms.   I’m thinking *I* might need one too…

Which Poofin would you pick?


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Itty Bitty HeartBeats *Giveaway*

As a mom of two daughters I am always on the lookout for toys and entertainment that I can feel good about letting my girls watch.  Unfortunately most “kids shows” these days are filled with messages and innuendos that seem more appropriate for adults that children.   And don’t get me started on the music   Yes, I admit it.  I am that Mom.

I discovered Itty Bitty HeartBeats through a Blogger friend of mine and had to check it out.  Well, actually – I put it to the test by setting the Toddler up with it… and this is how she sat… silently…. for over an hour until I MADE her give it up.

Itty Bitty HeartBeats is an Award-Winning web based animated series geared for children ages 2-6.   Focusing on valuable life lessons, the Itty Bitty HeartBeats take your kids on fun adventures all around Heartland – with songs that wont send you screaming for the door.

“Through humor, friendship, and original songs, the Itty Bitty HeartBeats help children solve problems and do things “from the heart.”

The Itty Bitty HeartBeats emphasize three core values:

  •  Living a healthy, nutritious lifestyle
  • Having a healthy heart, both physically and emotionally
  • Teaching positive life lessons

I also love how they stress the importance of positive thinking, something I am a very strong believer of and feel many kids struggle with even at a young age, especially when they are exposed to so much negativity in the media.   I work with my girls daily on always finding the “silver lining” in things, and teach them to assume the best about people, not the worst.  It was nice to find a kids tv show that went along with my beliefs.

According to the National Association of School Psycholologists, during “these times of upheaval, uncertainty and stress,” we must teach each children “to be peaceful and loving to himself and others…The more loving, peaceful, calming and spiritual you can make your children’s environment…the more empowered, joyful, mentally healthy and hopeful your child will become.”

You can view the entire series online on their website, and they even offer all kinds of toys, clothing, and home accessories in their Itty Bitty HeartBeats Shop!   I let Santa know about the nightlight for the Toddlers stocking.

GIVEAWAY:

I am very excited to be able to offer one of my readers an Itty Bitty HeartBeats Prize Pack including a DVD, stickers, and a plush doll of one of the Itty Bitty HeartBeats characters!   This is the perfect gift for any child in your life – and just in time for the holidays!

MANDATORY ENTRY: To enter, visit the Itty Bitty HeartBeats website and come back and comment which Itty Bitty HeartBeats Character is your favorite!

EXTRA ENTRIES:

  • Follow MoscatoMom on Twitter {2 extra entries}
  • Tweet about giveaway {up to 3 times per day 1 extra entry each tweet} –
    “Win an Itty Bitty HeartBeats #Childrens PrizePack from @moscatomom http://wp.me/p1FWxe-FG Ends 11/1 US Only #giveaway“
  • “Like” Itty Bitty HeartBeats on their Official Facebook Page {2 extra entries}
  • Follow me on Stumble Upon and stumble this post {1 extra entry}
  • Comment on another post on MoscatoMom.com {2 extra entries}

Make sure you leave 1 comment for each entry to get credit!! Contest ends Monday, November 1, 2011.


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How I Put An End To My Daughter Being Bullied At School

How I Put An End To My Daughter Being Bullied At School

Yesterday a friend of mine posted a message on my favorite Bloggers Forum about her middle schooler son being bullied at school.  She was asking how she should handle it in such a way that it gets taken care of, but without the child getting harassed further for “telling mom.”  I posted that I had a bullying issue with my middle school daughter last year, and that if she wanted to call me, I would be happy to share my story of how I put an end to it.

This began a thread of others wanting to hear the story, so I decided to Vlog it since writing it would probably take hours – even as fast as I type.   So here it is:

Now let me say that even though I use humor in this video, bullying is no laughing matter.  I truly believe it is high time the parents step up and start demanding things be different.  That being said though, it is also high time parents step up and get more involved with their kids and the schools.   We can not control what we do not see, and one thing that is constant when you hear the bullying tragedies of suicide and murder, the parents will say “I had no idea it was going on” or “no idea it was that bad.”

There are many resources for bullying.  If you Google “Bullying Resources” you will find thousands of results from Federal Organizations to local grass roots movements in your own town.  I still strongly believe however that the best thing we can do is simply volunteer our time and be present at the schools to help the teachers and faculty be more in control.  We know they are out numbered, we should be there to help.

I hope you enjoy the video, that you got a giggle, and I invite you to talk to your children tonight about bullying – especially if you have noticed a change in behavior.  It is our JOB to keep our children safe.  Start now.

We can all be “bitches” together, and keep our children safe.