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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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Alvin and The Chipmunks: Chipwrecked Video Game

Looking for a fun game to buy with all of those leftover Gift Cards you got for Christmas?  Alvin and The Chipmunks hit the big screen again last month with their third big screen debut in Alvin and The Chipmunks: Chipwrecked.   As a huge Chipmunk fan we hit the theaters early and laughed through nearly two hours of hit songs and typical chipmunk silliness on a Polynesian island paradise.

When I was given the chance to check out the Chipwrecked Wii Game,  I was not sure what to expect.  I admit, I did not even look to see what the game was about – expecting it to be like the movie and a game to “find the coconuts” or something.   I was pleasantly surprised when we plugged it in though… because this one even *I* had fun playing.

Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked  by Majesco Entertainment is a full-body motion dance experience for Wii™! Players can choose to dance to 30 hit songs with over 50 unique dance moves as their favorite Chipmunks or Chipette’s while earning points if they can dance on the beat.  By answering a few personality questions, you are paired up with one of the Chipmunks to dance with.  We were Eleanor!

Check out their trailer:

Taylor played for over an hour – until I actually made her stop as we had other things to DO that day:

We had a blast rocking out to some of my favorite songs – and do not be fooled, it is some workout.  We’ve already played a few times since, and I am totally going to break this out at the next Family Dinner Night we have – I can’t wait to see the guys doing this one!

Alvin and The Chipmunks: Chipwrecked Game is now available on Kinect™ for Xbox 360®, Wii™ and Nintendo DS™.