DVDs, CDs, and Software
July 21, 2009
Infant/Child CPR Instructional DVD
Every parent needs to know CPR and safe choking maneuvers. But it can hard to find the time to make it to a class when you are juggling a job, new baby, and other daily life stresses. Check out this instructional DVD for a full course on life saving techniques. Real children are used during the demonstrations, not dummies which makes the lesson much more realistic.
See also: Infant CPR DVD.
April 23, 2009
Fabulously Fit Moms - The New Mom Workout
You found out you were pregnant; you were thrilled. You took your vitamins, ate the right foods and got plenty of rest. Now you have a precious baby. Now what? You feel tired and you're lucky to grab a sandwich between diaper changes and there's a few extra pounds around the middle. It may seem impossible, but the best thing for you and your baby is for you to stay strong. But you'll need help. Fabulously Fit Moms can help you get there. Get started with exercises like "Kiss the Baby" and "Baby Sit-ups" you'll be back in shape before you know it.
See also: Postnatal fitness
March 17, 2009
We are . . . The Laurie Berkner Band
Anderson loves listening to the Laurie Berkner Band in the car. I think he'd really like this DVD: We are . . . The Laurie Berkner Band. It features 11 original songs, and a couple of DVD extras: behind the scenes, a choreography tutorial, etc. The best part about Laurie Berkner is that her songs are so accessible. We love singing right along with Andy in the car. That accessibility is also present on this DVD. From the playful rhymes that declare Tuesday "snooze day" in "I'm Gonna Catch You" to the absurd image of fish taking showers and brushing their teeth in "The Goldfish," Laurie Berkner's songs celebrate a child's love of the ridiculous. The uninhibited trio performs live onstage or within simply animated scenes.
February 17, 2009
Peekaboo Barn
We've covered a few iPhone and iPod Touch applications in the past. I recently discovered an application that is great for toddlers: Peekaboo Barn. The concept behind this application is simple: click the barn, and it opens to reveal a different farm animal: horse, dog, rooster, etc. The animal makes its noise and then the animal's name is said outloud. Andy has been obsessed with our phones lately, and this is a great way to keep him entertained for a few minutes.
Peekaboo barn costs $2.99 at the time of writing, and it also comes in a free version: Peekaboo Barn Lite.
February 5, 2009
Animal Tales: Raccoon, Bear and Coyote
We received a copy of Animal Tales: Raccoon, Bear and Coyote the other day. The 48 minute CD contains 3 stories about Hazard the coyote, Lotor the raccoon, and Osa the brown bear. The stories are read aloud by Tavia Gilbert and Stephen McLaughlin, and contain lots of rich details about real animal behaviors. This kind of CD is a great alternative to listening to kids music in the car. Music can be nice, but listening to the same thing over and over again gets old pretty fast (especially if you don't appreciate the music yourself). If you like this CD, be sure to check out the entire PlainTales series.
December 12, 2008
Online Games at KneeBouncers.com
Have you been having a frustrating time finding games for your little one to play online? We've tried a few sites with Anderson, but the games always seem to be geared for kids who are a lot older than him. Then we discovered KneeBouncers. KneeBouncers is a site full of free toddler games. The games are full of vivid colors, interesting noises, lively characters, and none of the games require the skillful use of a computer mouse. All you have to do is be able to bang some keys on the keyboard. In addition, there are downloadable coloring sheets and you can even embed the games on your own website (or MySpace page, etc). Next time your toddler wants to sit down at the computer, I definitely recommend heading over to KneeBouncers to check it out.
November 18, 2008
iPhone Apps for Parents
For those of you with iPhones (or perhaps contemplating a new one this holiday season), there are lots of different applications available that are made just for us parents. First there is Baby Monitor. Start this app up and place the iPhone near your sleeping child. Once she wakes up and cries, it will place a phone call to the number of your choice. With this app, you won't need to pack a monitor for an overnight trip. At $0.99, there's really no reason not to have something this useful.
Another useful app is White Noise. This $0.99 app (also available as a free Lite version) does just what you think: plays white noise. We all know how useful this can be when putting a newborn to sleep.
Finally, parents with newborns might find Baby Tracker: Nursing extremely useful. It keeps track of your nursing schedule for up to six children (I hate to be the family that needs that kind of capability!). With just a few clicks your nursing sessions are recorded: the length of time and the side you nursed on (or both), and best of all, it keeps track of which side you nursed on last.
September 2, 2008
New DVDs in September 2008
Galloping Minds - Preschooler Learns Spanish
A fun-filled bilingual DVD appropriate for toddlers and preschoolers to help them grasp the Spanish language. Spanish and English words, both written and spoken for each engaging video clip and accompanying Spanish phrase allow your preschooler to pick up new words with ease. The entertaining clips and enjoyable music will keep your child's interest while teaching them common Spanish words and phrases. The DVD covers the fundamentals including colors, numbers and words using beautiful images and classical music.
Bob the Builder On Site: Houses and Playgrounds
In this DVD, Bob mixes real-life construction action with animated fun to show how to build the perfect house and playground! You'll see footage from real-life construction sites featuring giant diggers, trucks and mixers working together to build your dream house. From demolition to the finishing touches, you'll learn everything you need to know to get the job done and have some fun. To top it off, bob will build your fantasy playground out in the back yard!
Garfield's Fun Fest
In this all-new Garfield movie: it's the annual talent competition for the funniest comic strip in Carton World, and Garfield wins it every year. A handsome new contender threatens to unseat the fat cat. In desperation, Garfield sets out on a journey to rediscover the meaning of funny. He then returns to Fun Fest to duel his adversary in outrageous talent showdown. In the end Garfield learns the importance of just being himself.
The Best of Barney - 20 years of Sharing, Caring and Imagination
Are you ready for some Tee-riffic fun? Laugh and sing with your favorite purple pal, Barney, in this super-dee-duper collection celebrating 20 years of enchanting imagination. Barney's opening his magical memory chest to share the best and brightest moments -- from the charming songs and piano tunes, to elephant rids, car racing and more! See the stories that made Barney the most beloved dinosaur by children for over 20 years!
Halloween Spooktacular
Join your favorite friends for some lovable Halloween Fun! Barney takes you trick-or-treating in your very own magical costume. Bob the Builder gets you worked-up with a batty adventure. Fireman Sam teaches fire safety with scary jack-o-lantern. Angelina Ballerina dances the night away, and Thomas & Friends takes you on a hair-raising ride to see a ghostly engine that disappears in a puff of smoke. Don't miss this season's biggest treat, the Halloween Spooktacular!
Thomas & Friends: The Great Discovery -- The Movie
Thomas the Tank Engine stars in an all-new movie guest starring Pierce Brosnan as the narrator! Sodor Day is coming and all the engines are busy preparing. When Thomas gets lost in the mountains, he discovers the old town of Great Watertown! Soon the whole island is buzzing with the news of Thomas' discovery and restoring the town in time for the big day. Join the fun and meet a new engine friend named Stanley!
July 29, 2008
New To DVD: August 2008
The Care Bears: Care-A-Lot Collection. This 2-DVD set includes 22 of the most winsome episodes featuring the Care Bears and all their friends. This special collection comes packaged with a free activity booklet filled with fun activities and games. The DVD runs for a whopping 264 minutes, and is available on August 28th.
Strawberry Shortcake: Rockaberry Roll. This DVD featuring the sweet and spunky Strawberry Shortcake and her friends follows the newly formed Strawberry Jam band enter the Strawberry Talent Show. Faced with a temporary setback Strawberry Shortcake and her friends find that they can make beautiful music when they work together as a team. The DVD includes a character gallery memory book, printable coloring pages and an encore Strawberry Jam music video. The DVD runs for 45 minutes and is available on August 12th.
Adventures from the Book of Virtues. This boxed set (also available individually) features three videos: Adventures in Faith, Adventures in Courage, and Adventures in Honesty. Adventures from the Book of Virtues was an animated children's show running on PBS a few years ago, and they are now coming out with some new and updated material. The stories seek to illustrate themes of common virtues through well-known international heroes and stories. It is based on the stories written by former Secretary of Education William Bennet. The DVDs will be available on August 12th.
64 Zoo Lane. 64 Zoo Lane is a new show, currently showing on Noggin, based on the series of children's books by An Vrombaut. Lucy, who lives at 64 Zoo Lane, slides down Georgina the Giraffe's long neck each night from her bedroom to meet the animals. Each animal has a different tale to tell, and each night they impatiently await their turn to tell her about their adventures. This DVD includes 8 episodes, and runs for 88 minutes. It will be available on July 29th!
June 18, 2008
Upcoming DVD Releases for June 2008
Here are a selection of upcoming releases of children's DVDs:
Bob the Builder: Let's Build the Beach
Bob and his Can-Do Crew in Bobland Bay greet exciting new machines, Splasher and Bristle. Bob is going to need a lot of help to build a new seaside town, so grab a seat and get ready to have some fun with five all-new, never-before-seen episodes: "Lofty's Comet", "Spud and the Hotel", "Tubler's Perfect Promenade", "Clean as a Whistle Bristle", and "Super Splasher." This DVD is for kids 2-5 and runs 46 minutes.
Fireman Sam: To the Rescue
Fireman Sam is a classic children's television series from the UK. Fireman Sam, Fireman Elvis Cridlington, Station Officer Basil Steele, Firefighter Penny Morris and Auxiliary Fireman Trevor Evans join together for 5 episodes: "Neighborhood Watch", "Bathtime for Dusty", "Fun Run", "Trouble & Squeak", and "Beast of Ponty Pandy". This DVD is for kids 2-5, and runs for 50 minutes.
Loopdidoo
Loopdidoo is an adaptation of the popular comic books Grabouillon by Alexis Nesme. It is an animated children's program which premeired last March on Animania, the children's channel of VOOM HD Networks. (No, I've never heard of the comic, or the network before either!) In Loopdidoo, a dog (Loopdidoo) and his five-year-old owner and best friend, Petunia, find everyday life to be just one big adventure. Seemingly harmless situations soon turn into breakneck adventures, especially when Loopdidoo throws his well meant enthusiasm in the balance. The DVD is for kids 3-5, and runs for 85 minutes.
Summertime Fun
Looking for a DVD for those upcoming rainy afternoons? Well, with this DVD you can see lots of your kids favorite shows: Barney, Bob the Builder, Thomas and Friends, Angelina Ballerina, and Fireman Sam. The DVD includes new episodes of Barney and Thomas, and each episode has a summer theme. The DVD is for kids 2-5 and runs 57 minutes.
Barney: Hi! I'm Riff
Meet Barney's newest dino-friend Riff! Riff is new to the neighborhood so he decides to start a "Best Friends Club". It's a special club where its members can do anything they like! This DVD is for kids 2-5 and runs for 57 minutes.
May 16, 2008
New on DVD: ZakLand
ZakLand: The Shiny Surprise is the creation of the Grammy-nominated children's entertainer, Zak Morgan. He takes his audience on a magical journey in a musical world where we learn about the power of imagination and hard work. Zak Morgan's wordplay and child-friendly sophistication have drawn frequent comparisons to both Shel Silverstein and Dr. Seuss. This live-action / animated world DVD is about the adventures of Zak and his friends: Marty the Bullfrog, Uncle Hank, the Can-Can Twins, and lots of kids. It features a mix of funny songs with Zak Morgan singing and playing the guitar. In between songs, we learn various lessons about imagination. This DVD is coming out on May 20th, and is available at Amazon.com.
April 16, 2008
Clicktoy: The Meadow
If you're a fan of Giggles, be sure to check out Clicktoy: the Meadow. The Meadow is a colourful, movie-like 3d game experience that allows parents and little ones to interact with lovable animals and nature while exploring at their own pace. This is a lot different from the way other child software works, and it looks pretty amazing judging from the video above. And most importantly, Clicktoy creates an environment where its safe for your child to use your computer. He won't delete any important files while he hits your keyboard over and over again. Buy it now from Clicktoy Interactive for $20.
April 2, 2008
Kibbles Rockin' Clubhouse vol. 1 Expressing Yourself
April is National Autism month, and it's a subject that strikes close to home here at Super Cool Baby. So in honor of that I'd like to share with you two new DVDs: Kibbles Rockin' Clubhouse vol. 1 Expressing Yourself, and Skill-Building Buddies: Handling Transitions and Change
.
Handling Transitions and Change
teaches children effective strategies for handling transitions and change. The DVD is partially animated, with hosts Mikey, Mandy and Marvel who introduce age-appropriate situations that children face every day at home, school, and with their friends. These live-action vignettes show the appropriate strategies in clear and explicit ways, and are then reinforced through music videos. This DVD is for older kids ages 5 to 12, and is available through Mazzarella Media. Unfortunately their website seems to be down at the time of writing, but hopefully it'll be back up soon!
Kibbles Rockin' Clubhouse is another great DVD designed for kids with autism and their parents. This volume, Expressing Yourself
, uses creative visuals, peer modelling, and fun songs to teach kids as young as 2 more effective strategies for expressing themselves. There's even segments by speech and music therapists, and it includes teaching tools for parents as well. The DVD comes with a companion CD of the sing-a-long songs that are included in the video as well.
We here at Super Cool Baby hope that you don't need these DVDs, but if you do, its nice to know that they're out there.
March 31, 2008
FARMkids: Chaos in the Country
In FARMkids: Chaos in the Country, the FARMkids are a bunch of fast-lane, pampered, city
animals who live a glamorous life in a petting zoo. However, hilarity ensues in this DVD when they all get relocated to a dude ranch. There are 7 different computer animated episodes, each is about 10 minutes long. I'd never heard of FARMkids before, but they seem interesting enough. This might be a great alternative if you're sick of the usual Thomas, Dora, and Barney DVDs.
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