Small Steps & a Chance to Win Free Groceries!

The first yogurt I ever remember eating is Dannon's fruit on the bottom when I was a kid.  I loved scooping the fruit up into the yogurt!  Nowadays, I'm more of a Greek Yogurt fan. 

Right now, Dannon is encouraging everyone to take small steps to becoming healthier.  They are running a sweepstakes on their site which gives you a small step idea, as well as entering you into a drawing for free groceries!  Who among us couldn't use free groceries?  They are giving away free groceries for a week, a month and even a year!

The small steps are interesting, and although some may feel like common sense, they are still good reminders!  The tip I got today suggested sauteing vegetables in broth instead of butter -- and that's exactly what I plan to do tonight for dinner!

If you win, I want to hear about it!!

Disclosure: “I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Dannon and received a coupon and gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.”

Review: Kaplan Online Tutoring, Follow-up

When the boys first started using Kaplan Online Tutoring, we knew that Colin was a little behind in math and Nate may have been a bit behind in reading according to their grade levels.  The assessments that the boys took provided me with similar information so I was eager to see the results after the boys worked with the program.

Colin got through the assessments and worked mostly on math over the last couple months.  I think a combination of the extra practice from Kaplan and some dedicated assistance from a teacher's aide has brought him up to grade level in math.  Before starting he had a goal of going beyond his current grade level, but he left that goal behind.

Nate finally got through the assessments (he was stuck for a bit on the language arts one) and had a hard time sitting down and working through any of the activities.  He started with good intentions and worked on the assignments, but after a few weeks he was partly frustrated, and partly not interested in devoting any more time in his day to schoolwork.  Even though the program is designed to look fun with animations, Nate lost interest.  He is a child who needs to spend time outdoors every day, and a couple short recesses wasn't enough for him.  He didn't want to spend any more time learning, or sitting in front of a computer, so we struggled trying to get  him to do much with Kaplan after the initial couple weeks.

Last year, when we were still homeschooling, the boys used an online curriculum.  Because of that experience, they were pretty familiar with how to work with the program and get the assignments completed.  Unfortunately, the assignments bored them a bit after the first couple weeks, and it wasn't something that they looked forward to completing.

I think the assessments the program provides are excellent.  They were thorough enough to clearly determine the academic strengths and weaknesses of each child. I also appreciated the reports that I could review to see what specific items they were working on, and what they had mastered since their last visit.  I wish I could see a report that showed the amount of time they worked on various assignments.

When I asked them last week for feedback, Nate said he did not care for the program at all because it was just too much and he had to read too much.  Colin said he was frustrated with the amount of practice that he had to go through, but he was happy to see his math grade rise as he worked through the program, and appreciated the opportunity for extra help.

This year has been an adjustment as we moved from homeschooling to public school.  It has shifted and cut our free time dramatically and that has been harder than I anticipated (even though I knew it was going to happen.) I think, for our family, adding on another academic piece may have been too much so soon after the change.  Because of that, I wouldn't want other parents to make a choice based on the fact that my kids weren't completely enthusiastic about Kaplan Online Tutoring.

If your child needs extra academic help, I think the online program is definitely something to consider.  It is a time commitment, like anything else that is important! One definite advantage to the online program, though, is that you can fit in the time whenever it comes available -- whether that is out somewhere where there is wi-fi, or an early Saturday afternoon at home.

If you want to try it out for yourself, Kaplan is offering a special deal for my readers, through Mom Central.  Through this LINK, you can receive one month free (a $29 value)!  A month will give you and your child plenty of time to determine if the program is right for them, and give you a good idea of the possible progress.  When you click through the link, choose BUY PROGRAM NOW and use the code FB1MO to receive one month of online tutoring at no cost! (You can also check out the details here.)

*Disclosure: I wrote this review while participating in a Test Drive Program by Mom Central on behalf of Kaplan and received the products necessary to  facilitate my review. In addition, I received a gift certificate to thank me  for taking the time to participate.*

Review: Pop Chips (and giveaway)

We go through lots of snacks in this house.  I'm always on the lookout for snacks that are healthy, but also appealing as a snack.  I admit that when I first saw Popchips, I didn't pay much attention.  I took a closer look and found that they are potato chips that are neither fried nor baked.  They are "popped" by heating them up to high temperatures.

The next question is, of course, how do they taste?  They are yummy!  I sampled a variety of the flavors and liked every one.  The flavors are definitely strong, and the kids didn't care for salt & pepper or sour cream & onion, but they did like the cheddar and the original flavors.  As a bonus, the original flavor is marked as vegan -- which means my sister who is allergic to dairy can enjoy them.

Each .8 oz bag has 100 calories and 3.5g of fat. The chips are made from all natural ingredients, and no preservatives are added to the chips.  They meet my healthy desires, as well as my snacking desires!

I have a variety pack of single serving bags of Popchips to give away to one of my readers!!  You can enjoy these great snacks if you are chosen by random.org as the winner.  In order to enter the giveaway, please CLICK HERE to go to the giveaway form.  Then, fill in your information as well as the mandatory information below.

**Winner has been chosen & notified! Thank you!!**

I will choose a winner on December 6, 2010 (Happy St. Nick's Day!) so you should be snacking before Christmas.  Good luck & thanks for reading!


*Disclosure: I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of popchips and received a “Get Popped” box of popchips and a $30 gift certificate to thank me for taking the time to participate.*

Listerine / Reach October Oral Care Challenge

Listerine and Reach partnered together to encourage everyone to participate in an Oral Care Challenge! The Challenge was set for October, but we are doing it in November to start after the Halloween candy! We received a box full of products to help keep everyone's teeth clean and healthy.

The boys regularly use Listerine Smart Rinse and they were happy to see the Batman logo on the bottle we received. Lydia hasn't used the Smart Rinse before, but when the bottle with Barbie showed up, she was ready to start.  Smart Rinse helps loosen any remaining particles and also helps protect their teeth (and it also helps that the bottle says they can't eat for 30 minutes after using it, which means they are better about asking for snacks BEFORE brushing their teeth before bed!)

We do our best to brush and floss twice a day, and this challenge added a little fun to it. The kids received new tools (fun new toothbrushes, too!), and I admit that we need some reminders to floss. We received a chart to keep track of brushing and Lydia enjoys putting the stickers on the chart each day for all 3 children. 

We are fortunate that we currently have a dentist the kids love and dental insurance to help care for their young teeth.  Listerine and Reach have also teamed up with America's Toothfairy to raise awareness of pediatric dental disease and help provide life changing care to underserved children. Please visit their site for more information.


“I wrote this review while participating in a blog campaign by Mom Central on behalf of LISTERINE and REACH and received products to take the Oral Care Challenge. Mom Central also sent me a Global Giving gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.”

Review: Kaplan Online Tutoring

In August, we enrolled the boys in the public school 3/4 mile from our house.  Until this year, we were a homeschooling family and while we followed a curriculum and I knew the boys were intelligent and thoughtful, there has been an adjustment to full-time school outside our home.

Right away, we realized that Colin was a little behind his peers when it came to math.  At the same time, it appeared that Nate may have been a bit behind in reading.  (It turns out he's not -- he was being scored based on oral fluency (i.e. reading aloud), which is difficult because of his stutter and not his comprehension or reading ability.)

When the opportunity came through my email to try out the Kaplan Online Tutoring program, I was eager to try it out.  My boys are computer-savvy and their curriculum last year was primarily an online program.  I wanted Colin to get some extra help in math and Nate to boost his reading skills.

So far, the boys have been working in the program for a couple weeks.  They each took an online assessment test which allowed Kaplan to determine what their current levels were and where they needed help. 

They each took the math assessment and received a score.  Colin was a bit behind, so I'm eager to see his progress over the next few weeks.  Nate was right on track, but a little extra help never hurt anyone!

The reading assessment was a bit more involved.  It took Colin a bit over 2 hours to complete and he felt frustrated by how long it took.  Nate worked at the assessment and got frustrated after an hour.  I contacted Kaplan and they quickly re-set Nate's assessment so that it will be easier for him to complete and will make a more difficult assessment available for him when he's ready.

So far, I have been pleased with the program.  The activities are engaging and a bit funny.  The boys don't mind doing the work and I have already seen Colin improve his knowledge about angles.  The program is very similar to parts of the online curriculum the boys did last year, so they are familiar with how it works and what's expected of them.

With everything else going on, it's a struggle some times to fit in the time to do the online work (we tend to clip homework to clipboards so they can do it in the car), but Colin is eager to improve his math skills so I know he'll make the time to do the work.

I will be posting again next month and letting you know how it's gone and what the boys' reactions have been.  Until then, let's hope Colin learns his 8X multiplication tables!

"I wrote this review while participating in a Test Drive Program by Mom Central on behalf of Kaplan and received the products necessary to  facilitate my review. In addition, I received a gift certificate to thank me  for taking the time to participate."

Review: KNOW Magazine

Just because the boys are attending public school these days, doesn't mean that we don't continue to find the lessons in living life. I am always on the lookout for good supplements, and was very pleased to learn about the magazine, KNOW.  The magazine is geared for 6-9 year olds and are all about science.

The science programs at the boys' school is pretty weak, which made me even happier to learn about this magazine.  Each issue (published every other month) is packed with articles about scientific theories, facts and experiments. 

The reading level is perfect for 2nd - 4th graders while being engaging and interesting.  Colin is usually ready to read anything he can get his hands on, but Nate was also interested in reading the sample magazine we received and enjoyed it! 

This magazine depends solely on subscriptions and does not have any outside advertising. Subscriptions would make great gifts for all the young scientists you know -- especially with the holidays only a couple months away.

*Disclosure: I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by  Mom Central on behalf of Mad Science and received the products necessary to  facilitate my review. In addition, I received a gift certificate to thank me  for taking the time to participate.*

Review: Uncrustables

Sometimes, (okay, I confess -- a lot of times), I need quick, easy food that I can give not only to my children, but also myself.  I will also confess that I don't really like crusts.  I do like peanut butter and jelly, though, so I like the ease of Uncrustables.


Smucker's Uncrustables are perfect for those days when we want to run out to the zoo or botanical gardens.  I can pack them, and they're ready to eat by lunchtime.  Most Uncrustables have peanut butter and jelly, but one version has peanut butter and honey -- which is good for the child that doesn't like jelly.

Another new product from Smucker's are Snack'n Waffles with flavoring that only require 15 seconds in the microwave!  Mornings are pretty hectic around here, so something that can be popped in the microwave for 15 seconds and then eaten out of hand is welcomed some days. 

We've kept a box of Uncrustables in our freezer for a long time now, but I think we'll also be adding a box of Snack'n Waffles!


*Disclosure: Thanks to Smucker's and Mom Central, I received coupons to try these products and also will receive a gift card.*

Review: Breyer's Smooth & Dreamy Ice Cream (Giveaway!)

**Giveaway has ended! Winners have been notified! Thanks for reading & watch for more giveaways!**

You may have heard that it's hot in Arizona.  Well, it is.  We eat many more ice cream treats during the hot summer months than the rest of the year.   Breyer's recently came out with a new line of Smooth & Dreamy ice cream bars and sandwiches, and we were fortunate enough to have the chance to try some out.

I picked up a box of Triple Chocolate Chip bars and they were delicious!  I had every intention of taking a picture, but I was distracted by how good my bar tasted and before I knew it they were all gone.  At 130 calories per bar, 6g of fat and no artificial colors or flavors, it's not even that decadent of a treat.  But, I can tell you that it was very tasty!

Would you like to try your own?  I have 3 coupons to give away to my readers so they can taste the smooth, dreamy, icy yumminess for themselves at no cost!  To enter this giveaway, follow this link to fill out the Giveaway Form with the correct info, and check out my giveaway rules if you're not sure what they are.

This giveaway ends July 29, 2010!

Giveaway Name: Smooth & Dreamy
Mandatory Question: What kind of Smooth & Dreamy treat will you buy if you receive a coupon?

You can check out the Breyer's website for fun games and contests, as well as product information and recipes.

*Disclosure: I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Breyers and received products necessary to facilitate my review. In addition, I received a gift certificate to thank me for taking the time to participate.*

Review: My Living Stories for iTouch & iPhones (and iTunes giveaway!)

Last summer, when I got my iPhone, I loaded a few games for the kids.  They loved playing games on my phone, and finally this summer we got them each an iPod Touch (older versions we found 2nd hand) so I could have my phone for myself. Lydia (3yo) is as proficient as her brothers on many games, and I tended to download more for her since the boys have their Nintendo DS's.

Lydia loves stories and books, and also enjoys watching videos on her iPod Touch.  We recently had the chance to try out a few audiobooks that came complete with illustrations on her iPod Touch. The company, My Living Stories, has taken popular fairy tales and combined them with nice illustrations and a bit of music.

We tried out 3 this past week -- King Midas, Red Riding Hood and Goldilocks.  The stories are geared to ages 4 - 8, but I only had to show Lydia once how to navigate and she was fine. She quickly figured out that if she only heard music and no words, then she had to go back and choose the other option (one option plays music and lets the user read the words, the other reads the words out loud).  She also quickly caught on to the fact that she had to press the forward button when nothing more was being read.

She liked the illustrations and she has played them a few times.  I guess we have never read "Red Riding Hood" before, as when she saw the wolf in the bed, she said "Hey!  Wolves don't belong in beds.  They belong on mountains."  Later, I heard her say "Oops, not that wolf one.  Don't like him!"  She did enjoy the other 2 stories we tried out, and her dislike had nothing to do with the quality of the app!

If you want to download some Living Stories for your young ones, I have a $25 iTunes gift card to give away to one of my readers!  Contest ends August 5, 2010! This contest is open to US and Canadian readers. Check out my giveaway rules here.  This is part of a blog tour by Mom Central, so feel free to enter on other blogs -- but only one iTunes gift card can be awarded per winner.

Click here to get into the Giveaway Form and fill out your entry.  (Please leave a comment if you have something to say, but if you want to enter the giveaway, your entry must be recorded through the Giveaway Form.  Thanks!)

Giveaway Name:  My Living Stories
Mandatory Question: Which story would you like best?


Disclosure - I am participating in the My Living Stories program by Mom Central on behalf of Decode Entertainment. I received 3 free apps and a gift card as a thank you for my participation.

Review: YourSphere, Wrapping Up

A few months ago when I was offered the opportunity to write about YourSphere (a social network geared towards tweens & teens), I thought my boys would be excited about this online presence.  They played games online, and a good portion of their schooling last year was completed in an online portal.  I was interested to learn more about the site, and see what my boys thought.

I presented the site to them, and they were interested and thought it was fun to set up their profiles.  They recognized that it was similar to Facebook (where they knew Mom spent some of her online time.) They played around in it, and had fun with the games. 

I encouraged them to explore, and they did.  They didn't see the appeal of becoming friends with strangers, and I admit that I was a bit relieved at that. (You can see my past posts here!)

They completed their school year, and Colin's netbook had a hard disk failure.  Even though we have multiple computers available, once they were done with their school year, they spent more time playing outdoors and creating things than playing in online worlds. 

I didn't want to discourage this type of play -- especially to encourage them to sit in front of a screen for more time.  In the last couple months, they haven't asked to spend any time online at all.  They have been engrossed in the Percy Jackson novels, sorting a million Legos, and drawing their own comic books.

Perhaps my boys are a bit young for YourSphere (ages 8 & 9).  I think it's a great site to allow tweens and teens to explore social networks without the worries of adults and privacy concerns.  I strongly believe in giving kids the tools to navigate the online world, but I'm also perfectly happy that my boys have little interest in that world right now.  There's plenty of time for that!

If your kids are interested in spending time online with a social network aimed at kids, please check out YourSphere.  I think you'll be surprised at the amount of stuff that's there -- especially the things created by kids, for kids. I think it's a great site, and when my boys show an interest in the future, we'll be back to check it out again. You can use our unique referral code -- YSMC-0057 -- if you choose to sign up.

*Disclosure: I wrote this review while participating in the Yoursphere Test Drive program by Mom Central on behalf of Yoursphere. I received a free lifetime Gold membership on Yoursphere.com, Yoursphere t-shirts, and a $50 American Express gift card to facilitate my review.*

Talking About YourSphere

Over the last couple months, I've written about my boys and the social network geared towards kids -- YourSphere.  During that time, I've spent time looking not only at the network, but also the people behind it.

Mary Kay Hoal has a passion for kids being safe online.  I've learned some new things at her blog, and admire her spirit and drive for sharing her message.  I thought it was so cool that she auditioned for her own show on Oprah's new network and then was disappointed when a combination of technical glitches and non-responsiveness from the network caused her video to be pulled from the competition.  You can still see it here, and maybe learn a couple things.

I admit that I worry about kids who aren't allowed online at all -- because they're not being given the tools they'll need to navigate that world when they're older.  I don't think my 3yo needs to spend any time online, but when kids are 8, 9, and 10 I think it's a good idea to start teaching them how to use the tools that are available and how to use them safely.  I also think it's imperative as a parent that I keep a close eye on what they're looking at online and know the sites they visit.

Mary Kay is working hard to spread her message to as many parents as possible.  Even if your kids aren't interested in YourSphere, I think it's worth your time as a parent to read her message and get some great tips and ideas on keeping your kids safe online.

Blog Tour: Summer Safety

I've mentioned before that we take pool safety seriously in our home. Owning a backyard pool increases our responsibility and makes us more vigilant when anyone is playing in our yard.  We have both an inground pool and a backyard play structure, so we have to make sure our kids and any visitors know all the rules for playing. 

Underwriters Laboratory (a leading product safety testing organization) and Disney teamed together to create some fun videos starring Timon & Pumba from Lion King fame to help kids learn about safety rules.  This video is funny at the same time it is informative.  There's even a song at the end, and Lydia loves singing the "No No No" part when they remind kids not to pee in the pool. 

My boys watched the video and said "We know these rules . . . "  I told them I was thrilled that they knew them, but it's never a bad idea to review them again.

Underwriters Laboratory released some great tips for pool safety in a recent press release.  I was glad to realize that we already have instituted all these rules and follow them faithfully. I hope you take a minute to read through these handy tips and use them to reinforce (or create) rules for summer safety in your home.

POOL SAFETY AT HOME

• If you have a pool at home, install a fence. The fence should be at least four feet high and have a self-closing, self-latching gate that has a locking mechanism beyond a child's reach.
• Cut overhanging tree limbs and remove chairs or ladders from the pool area to prevent children from climbing over the fence that surrounds the pool.
• Keep grates and drain covers in good repair and secured in place. Alert your family and guests to stay away from these devices, as the suction from drain outlets can be strong enough to cause entrapment of hair or  body parts, which can potentially cause a person to drown.
• Make sure you know infant and child CPR if you own a pool.

BE SAFETY SMART WHILE SWIMMING

• Supervision is a must. Follow the 10/20 rule when you’re at the pool. The 10/20 rule states the supervising adult needs to position themselves to be able to scan the pool every 10 seconds, and reach the water within 20 seconds.
• Always have rescue devices, such as UL-LISTED life preservers, nearby.
• Flotation devices, toys and inflatable swimming aids are not safety devices. They are toys and can easily puncture and deflate.
• Always drain wading pools after children are done playing. Infants can drown in just a few inches of water.
• Have a telephone nearby and appropriate emergency numbers posted.
• Remove all toys when you leave the pool. Toys may attract children to the unattended pool.

*Disclosure: I wrote this review while participating in a blog campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Underwriters Laboratories. Mom Central sent me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.*

SMART Love of Learning Blog Tour

As a technology trainer (I teach adults how to use software), I absolutely love SMART boards.  I don't always have the advantage of having a SMART board in the classrooms I use, but when I do, I am especially pleased.  SMART boards allow me to stay at the board and manipulate the computer through only the screen -- I can click, double-click, right-click, draw and use the keyboard all from the screen.  It makes it easy for my students to see what needs to be done and helps them learn more efficiently.

I was happy to join the blog tour for SMART to find stories of the best teachers!  Some lucky schools will receive SMART boards for their classrooms as a result of this tour, so I had to jump on board.  Even though I have been the primary teacher for my kids throughout the years, they are headed off to school next year and I know they will find dedicated and compassionate teachers to help them navigate their school year. They have been fortunate over the last few years to have wonderful teachers in their enrichment program, and Nate had the best speech pathologist last year helping him overcome his stutter.

You can share the story of your favorite teacher at their website here or visit their Facebook page for more information.  At their site, you can read other stories, and see some great ways that SMART boards are being used.  Telling your story will allow you to enter for a chance to win a board for a school of your choice.  One board will be given away to a U.S. school and another board will be given away to a Canadian school.

Check out this fun video about SMART boards!  After watching, don't forget to head over and share the story of your favorite teacher!



*Disclosure: This blog tour was organized by Mom Central, and I was provided a gift certificate in exchange for posting this information.  All words, thoughts and opinions are strictly my own.*

Review: You're Not The Boss Of Me

The title "You're Not The Boss of Me" jumped out at me and made me want to read this book!  Betsy Brown Braun wrote a book chock-full of parenting situations and potential responses.  I really enjoyed this book, since I especially appreciate advice books that are specific and not wishy-washy.

One of my favorite parts of the book is her list of 100 ways to say "Good Job!" Sometimes, as a parent, I fall into a rut of saying the same phrases over and over again.  It was good to see a list of phrases that I could pull from to encourage my children.

Every chapter of the book includes "Tips and Scripts" for the different topics in the chapter.  Some of the tips even include scripts for different aged children, which I found useful for our home.

The book is an easy read, but even more useful is an extensive index that allows you to quickly grab the chapter that may be causing you grief right now.  Chores are a sticky point lately in our home, and it hasn't been helped by the fact that May has been a rotten health month for me. The very first tip in this chapter was that parents must do their chores . . . and I realized that I haven't been the best example this month.  We'll start again in June, and I'll try to keep some of her tips in mind.

You're Not The Boss of Me is one of the best parenting books I've read in a while.  I give it a "thumbs-up" rating!

Disclosure: I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Harper Collins and received a copy of You’re Not the Boss of Me to facilitate my review. Mom Central also sent me a gift certificate to thank me for taking the time to participate.

Review: Halls Cough Drops

In late April, I was asked if I was interested in being part of a blog tour for Halls Cough Drops.  I jumped at the chance, since I always carry a small bag of cough drops with me in case my throat gets dry while teaching.  I do my best to modulate my voice and speak from my diaphragm, but sometimes I still get a scratchy throat after talking all day.  It's especially bad when my allergies are acting up.

Allergies have been rotten this spring, and I like these sugar-free cough drops to help moisten my mouth and throat as well as the menthol scent to open up my sinuses a bit. The black cherry flavor was good, and the menthol wasn't too strong.  I went through the pack they sent me in just a couple days of teaching.

I tend to always end up with cherry cough drops -- I think it's a carry over from childhood! I will continue to keep a pack of Halls cough drops in my bag!   You never know when you'll need one.

Disclosure: I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Halls and received products necessary to facilitate my candid review. In addition, I received a gift certificate to thank me for taking the time to participate.

Review: Kindercone

We wrapped up our school year a few weeks ago, so it was with great fun we received a Kindercone to review around the same time!  I have heard of Kindercones in the past, and put together something similar when my boys started 1st grade, so I was interested in seeing this product.  Basically, it's a German tradition of receiving a cone of goodies for kids moving from Kindergarten into First Grade.

The cone we received was very large and colorful! It included some pencils, a sweet stuffed animal (which Lydia loves and took as her own immediately), some tattoos and a journal for first grade. I added some small notebooks and candy to the cone before I presented it to my children.

It is definitely cute, and a sweet gift to receive at the end of a long school year.  You can purchase them filled with goodies, or empty from the Kindercone website. They also sell smaller ones, and plain white ones which would be a fun party favor.  They are a perfect gift for this time of year, or even in the weeks leading up to a new school year.

*Disclosure: I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of KinderCone and received KinderCone samples to facilitate my review. Mom Central also sent me gift certificate to thank me for taking the time to participate.*

Review: YourSphere, Spheres

With a name like YourSphere, it makes sense that you would find individual "spheres" within the social network. Similar to groups in other social networks, spheres are broad categories (Gaming, Performing Arts, Photography) with smaller spheres within each larger sphere that are created by users.

I logged in as myself to check out the spheres, and found out that as an adult, I wasn't able to join or create any spheres. The spheres are strictly for those 18 and under.  I was able to look at the information in the spheres, and found pictures, videos and many comments.

I asked the boys if they had visited any spheres, and they hadn't.  Nate and I took a few minutes to look at the spheres and he chose to view the Performing Arts Sphere.  He found some of the pictures interesting, but said he didn't really "get" what they were.  We noticed a video that offered some explanation, so he clicked on that and watched the explanation video. 

The video did a nice job of explaining spheres, and he looked at the sphere for a couple minutes after the video ended. Then he said, "Hmmmm.  But what I prefer to do is play games."  He spent about 15 minutes playing some of the games available on the site before heading outdoors. 

So far, I'm finding that my boys are not interested in the anonymity of an online social network.  They definitely enjoy playing computer games, and are happy with the choices available.  They are not so interested in anything else the site  has to offer so far.  Colin did ask some of his friends at his enrichment program if they knew about the site, but none had. I told him I'd share the info with the moms I knew to see if kids he knew might join.

*Disclosure: I wrote this review while participating in the Yoursphere Test Drive program by Mom Central on behalf of Yoursphere. I received a free lifetime Gold membership on Yoursphere.com, Yoursphere t-shirts, and a $50 American Express gift card to facilitate my review.*

Review: YourSphere, Getting Started

The first thing we needed to do to get started on www.yoursphere.com was to set up our accounts.  I set up the parent account first, which was fairly simple and straightforward.  Once that was done, we set up accounts for both boys.

The profile information for the kids included information about what they liked to do, favorite books and movies, and other interests.  Some of the items the boys had ready answers for, others they chose to skip.  They each chose usernames that were not their own names, which I found amusing.

Once the child accounts were set up, I had to activate their accounts before they could begin playing around in YourSphere.

One thing I found a bit annoying (and so did my boys) was the video that popped up when you first visit the site.  I'm sure she's a popular teen singer, but we don't know who she is.  The fact that music immediately began to play when hitting the site is what annoyed me, but the boys did not appreciate her song about kissing.

It was suggested that we find some friends on the site, but my boys were only interested in playing the games that were available.  When I suggested finding friends, they wanted to know who they knew (in real life) that were members.  Since we don't know anyone (yet), they had no interest in friend-ing strangers. I am just fine with that, and didn't encourage it beyond suggesting they friend each other.

If we do know you in real life, and you're interested in joining up, I'm sure the boys would be happy to friend you!  Our unique referral code is YSMC-0057, so feel free to use that when registering at www.yoursphere.com.

*Disclosure: I wrote this review while participating in the Yoursphere Test Drive program by Mom Central on behalf of Yoursphere. I received a free lifetime Gold membership on Yoursphere.com, Yoursphere t-shirts, and a $50 American Express gift card to facilitate my review.*

Review: YourSphere

You may have guessed that I spend a lot of time online.  Some of the consulting/training that I do is about social media and I share different strategies with parents about handling kids and the online world. Some parents choose to ignore the online world and prevent their children from learning about it at all -- which I believe is a mistake.  I would rather kids/teens learn about social media and spending time online while still at home so they can be guided and taught.

I never threw my kids into a swimming pool and assumed they would figure out how to swim.  I went in the pool with them, I held them in the water, I taught them how to make their first swimstrokes.  In the same way, I think parents must guide their kids through the new opportunities and media that is out there.   I do understand that some parents ignore it because they don't understand it themselves, but I always encourage those parents to get out there and paddle around!

One of the sites geared towards kids is www.yoursphere.com.  I was recently asked by YourSphere and Mom Central to check out the site with my boys (ages 8 & 9) and share our experiences here.  Watch for posts in the next few months about what we think of this site.

My boys email a few people, and enjoy playing a few online games.  They also did the bulk of their schooling this year via an online curriculum. I'm curious about this social network for kids and eager to share what we all learn over the next few months.

*Disclosure: I wrote this review while participating in the Yoursphere Test Drive program by Mom Central on behalf of Yoursphere. I received a free lifetime Gold membership on Yoursphere.com, Yoursphere t-shirts, and a $50 American Express gift card to facilitate my review.*

Tropicana & Space Center Trip

I will freely admit that I am pretty choosy about what to spend my Tropicana Juicy points on. Some things have no interest for me or my family, so I haven't thrown my points towards events that didn't interest us.

A trip to Kennedy Space Center, though?  I'm all about trying to win that trip!!  Even better is the fact that I didn't have to use any of my points to enter the sweepstakes.  The trip is for a family of 4 (I'm guessing I could pay the necessary extra for Lydia -- although I learned my lesson and will read the rules carefully to make sure!)  It includes 2 days at the Space Center, lunch with an astronaut (oh, my boys would be beside themselves!), round-trip air, hotel & rental car.

You have until May 31, 2010 to enter, and the winner will be chosen June 1, 2010.  There are more great prizes coming up, but this one seems like it was created just for my family!

Disclosure: I wrote this post while participating in the Tropicana Juicy Insiders Ambassador program by Mom Central on behalf of Tropicana. I received 12 free Juicy Rewards points and a $50 Visa gift card to use in redemption of the points and to facilitate my review.