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RATINGS EXPLAINED: - perfect score = 5 1. Price is within reason for the product (1 pt) 2. The product does what it claims (1 pt) 3. Suited for recommended age (1 pt) 4. Quality manufacturing (1 pt) 5. Instructions are clear and easy to follow (1 pt) 5 = PERFECT | 4 = GOOD | 3 = OKAY | 2, 1, 0 = rejected |
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Better Behavior Wheel |
Company: | New Attitude Designs |
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A great alternative to pulling your hair out! The Better Behavior Wheel is a hit in our home.
The Better Behavior Wheel provides an easy way to manage a busy household, when it comes to behavior management. The wheel consists of a disk that includes 8 common behaviors exhibited by young children. You may use the 8 common themes, or you may add your own if the need arises. There is also a consequence and reward disk with 48 consequences and 16 rewards for you to choose from and add to the disk. Set it up in a jiffy and then when they do the dreaded deed - have them take a spin at the wheel to see their consequence. What this does is remove the burden from the parent as the "bad guy". Now the child knows the possible consequences they may face and knows when they misbehave they have chosen to meet with the wheel. This allows you to follow a consistent pattern in discipline that will lead to less behavioral problems in your home and return your home to the haven you have dreamed of. What I found is that the first few times we implemented the use of the wheel, I met with children who protested. They claimed it was unfair and they didn't want to use it, but go back to how things were before. So, we sat down as a family and discussed it. I shared how this was allowing them to make the choice to misbehave, and to spin for their own consequence. We also discussed the rewards side of the coin, when they were exceptionally well behaved on an outing, at the dinner table, helping their siblings, doing a chore when not asked, or what have you ... I allowed them to share their side of the story and we then decided this would be implemented from here forward, so no protesting would be allowed from here on out. It took about 3 days for me to really notice the change. Each time a bad behavior showed up, I had to remember to bring them to the wheel and give it a spin. I then had to enforce the consequence. What I noticed after 3 days was if they knew I knew they had blown it, I didn't even have to tell them to come to the wheel - they went on their own and gave it a spin. All of the siblings would follow to see their fate ,.... and the siblings held them accountable to follow through on the consequence ... What did mom have to do? Sit back and smile ...! This is so easy to set up and use and I encourage anyone managing a busy house of children to give it a try. Whether you have one child or many, this will ease your burden and give your children a solid foundation for behavior management that they will understand and with time embrace. Priced at $24.95 with $6.95 shipping, this is a great investment into your sanity and your children's freedom to behave. <<<- (2006) RETURN TO TOP | BUY NOW AT AMAZON.COM 
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 Winner 2008 
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CAMP activity book |
Company: | Education Outdoors Inc. |
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Combined with the CAMP board game this activity book would make a wonderful gift for the child who loves nature and the outdoors.
The CAMP activity book brings nature to the forefront, offering simple lessons through activities children ages 3-12 will enjoy. Beautifully covered, you will find a treasure of 48 fun filled pages inside. CAMP stories is fun for everyone, as you create your own ad-lib stories. Trivia, Color By Numbers, Camouflage Coloring, Coloring Pages, and pages that show you how to draw too! This is an activity book that is not the same-old-same-old every page you turn. The CAMP activity book adds creative flair to the experience and allows children to enjoy the call of nature from their desk, or bedside ... having a lot of fun and learning while they do. I was greatly impressed both by the quality and the pricing of this product. For children who love to plop down in front of a campfire and roast marshmallows, those who enjoy camping or fishing with their folks and/or friends ... this one is sure to be a hit! <<<- (2007) RETURN TO TOP | Gold Award | Company Profile | Press Release SEE ALSO: BOARD GAME |
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Winner 2008 
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Patrick Henry: Quest For Freedom DVD |
Company: | American Animation Studios |
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Give a child a history book and they will learn for a test. Give a child a history lesson in the form of a humorous, entertaining, and historically accurate video and he will learn for life.
The folks at American Animation Studios know how to do it right, when it comes to educational videos. The animation / graphics in this video are top notch professional and the script while following history accurately, also keeps you watching because it is so well done... making it impossible not to learn some history while watching a great movie. Public, private and home school teachers will all treasure this great find. Implementing this in your history lessons will increase student awareness and appreciation for the history of our country. Boomer the Eagle is a real treat. His job is that of narrator in this video and he will crack you up. Boomer translates the language of 1776 into today's language, using terms all will understand. I have always enjoyed having videos for my children that are not only entertaining but enriching as well. This video has it all! The nice part of it is the kids enjoy watching it, so it is not like we are drilling history into their heads, but rather letting them explore it in a fun to experience manner. When they talk about the movie, they are talking about our country's history! An excellent find that I highly recommend to other families and teachers. <<<- (2007) RETURN TO TOP | Platinum Award | Press Release | Company Profile |
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Piano Made Easy |
Company: | The Mayron Cole Music Conservatory, Inc. |
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When a company has a true passion for the product they create, it is evident.
Such evidence is easily observed when it comes to Piano Made Easy.
Mayron Cole, the founder of Piano Made Easy is a nationally recognized music instructor, speaker, and mother. Prior to creating Piano Made Easy, Mayron had developed a group teaching method that has been used by music teachers nationwide, known as "The Mayron Cole Method". Her method is well liked among music instructors because it is one that works very well when teaching multiple music students. ... But Mayron did not stop there. She envisioned a program that could be used both at home and in a class setting, allowing more students to learn - independently. Through years of hands on research and development, waiting for technology to catch up to her vision, Mayron has developed a program that works excellent for students to learn independently how to play the piano, count rhythms and recognize written musical notes and their placement on the keyboard. I have found this to be a system that beginning piano students of all ages will be able to use, straight out of the box, and will be able to achieve the goal of becoming a proficient beginner piano player on their own. A few of the key elements I found most noteworthy are (1) On the piano, when you are playing one of the pre-recorded songs, the piano has a little window at the top that actually shows which keys are being used as the songs play. (2) The keyboard is 49 keys in size, and small enough it can be transported with ease. The sounds from the keyboard are rich and full, giving a very professional sound even for the beginner. (3) The software used with this set makes learning the basics of music so easy. With a zoo theme, children play games as well as learn the key fundamentals of music, in a fun and fascinating manner that will keep them both entertained and engaged for much longer than learning and practicing from a book. (4) 57 original compositions are introduced. I like this feature because I remember how boring it was as a young music student, playing the same old 'Mary had a little lamb' and other old boring songs, every lesson. Back when I was young, that was just how it was, so we worked through it, but it sure did not bring enthusiasm to me as a student. I always wanted to hurry though them, so I could get on to the fun stuff. Now students can start with the new and fun stuff, from the get-go. Using the Piano Made Ease Course Set, beginners will learn rhythm counting, notes, key placement on the keyboard, and be off to a good running start. Children who enjoy computer games, may even picture this as another one, with a deeper learning experience being brought to them, because of the ease this will bring to their introduction to music and the keyboard.
Remember when your music teacher would tell you "now, go home and practice, practice, practice!" ... and you would dread the thought of countless hours of repetition of hot crossed buns, or mary had a little lamb ? Now your child will never face this situation, and will actually enjoy the time spent practicing. Not only will they enjoy the practicing, they will enjoy the method used for teaching the basics to them ... Being able to switch from playing a song to playing a game is a definite plus for the learner and takes the boredom portion away, leaving a sweet taste and love for music that the old way never made way for. SEE OTHER REVIEWS: The National Parenting Center Seal Of Approval The Toy Man Seal Of Approval & Excellence Award iParenting Award <<<- (2007) RETURN TO TOP | Platinum Award | Press Release >>> |
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Power Up To Read |
Company: | TelecomPioneers |
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Reading ... One of the most important subjects learned, yet one of the most troublesome areas for so many students.
Reading comprehension scores in our country show the great lack found in this area. TelecomPioneers has chosen to step to the forefront in leading the way for students to get on track and become successful in this area in a manner that is both easy to use - and free! TelecomPioneers offers this program online (free of charge) or you may choose to use the cd rom version or print version, for a small fee. This is a systematic yet easy to customize program. Children log in and can choose which activity they wish to do at that time. Choices range from journal writing, to reading the stories available (at the multiple levels available) and then writing about what they have just read, which reinforces the reading comprehension skills. This freedom of choice allows students the ability to make their own choices in how they learn, using the tools made available to them how they want and when they want. This program is excellent for in home use, homeschooling, private or public schools. Students in the age range of 8-12 will really find this program of true benefit to them, if they have problems in the area of reading comprehension. Having the online glossary, the links to other sources to further your investigation of the subject, and the clues in helping you see the important factors of the story read, all utilizie themself in bringing confidence and motivation to the student and keep them focused and on track to learn. I applaud TelecomPioneers for bringing this program to the public. The children this program will help will be multiple. For those who learn better having printed materials, I can tell you that I have seen the materials and they are magnificent. The program works the same pretty much as the online system, just in print form, not online where you can click and go to another segment. Each child has their own way to learn and by approaching this subject in the manner best suited to their learning style, you will set them up for the greatest achievement. <<<- (2007) RETURN TO TOP | Platinum Award | Company Profile | Press Release |
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Premium Coloring and Drawing Gift Set |
Company: | Faber-Castell USA |
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This is a young artist's dream come true. Everything that is needed for that next art project is all included in this set. Usually you will find it takes multiple art sets to get all of the parts this one includes. I myself rarely see a set that comes with so many items. This is a premium kit that is great for preschoolers and elementary school age children.
This set is the finest of quality and makes an excellent gift. This is one you can give and know that the recipient will be both happy and content for a long time. Also great for in the classroom, when you wish to have an art workstation equipped with everything they will need. The only thing you will have to add is more paper. I love the fact that everything can be put away in the portfolio bag and stored away until the next project. Other sets of all sizes are available at their site. This was my favorite that they offer because it is so versatile in the projects children can take on using it.
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Reading Test Taking Strategies |
Company: | Rock 'N Learn |
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"MARK" this one up for an A+! I am pleased to tell you about this DVD, which will encourage and enable children grades 2-4 to be successful when faced with the inevitable feared and eerie "STANDARDIZED READING TEST". Marko the pencil guides children through the steps of test taking, helping them know what to expect, how to stay calm and how to succeed. Marko focuses on the key elements of the standardized test and goes step by step on how to get high marks. His approach is personable, simple, and fun. When we know what we will face, we are much more equipped and able to stay focused and know that we can do it. When we know we can do it - we will do it - successfully! It is that 'unknown realm' that lurks in the world of tests that cause many to fail simply because fear overcomes them and even questions they would normally know the answers to seem to escape their mental capacity when faced with something they dread as much as a test. [Called Test Freeze or Test Fright] Now there is no "unknown realm" to fear and children will make it through the process in a calm, focused and assured manner. Marko is a real cutup. This sense of humor keeps children more focused and will keep them watching to the end of the show. There is a lot of helpful information packed in, but in a fun and interesting manner, so the time flies by. The animation is great, with Layla (the student) and Marko (the pencil) being featured throughout. From the website Reading Test-Taking Strategies includes:
<<<- (2007) RETURN TO TOP Platinum Award Press Release Company Profile |
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Spintastik |
Company: | Ronnie Sellers Productions |
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Spintastik for the family looks like a hardcover book at first glance. Then when you open it up, it looks more like a game.
Inside the cover you will first meet up with the spinning wheel. This is large and colorful and will help determine if each "player" will spin for a chore or a reward. Creative in design, this is a great tool to help motivate family members. Now choretime will be more like gametime. This is a fun, effective and fair system for all. Using this system will not only help to add motivation to your home, but it will teach responsibility, fairness, and teamwork. In the middle section is the Guidebook. This book will help you to learn how to effectively use the Spintastik system in your home. This covers the history behind the product, responsibility and teamwork, the rules of using the system, the rationale behind how why the system works so effectively, ways you can customize the system for your own family, and last but not least they offer alternate uses - ways the system can encourage positive behavior in other areas of home and family life. Once you have carefully read the 28 page, easy to read and implement guidebook, you will find the magnets located in the back of the book. These are placed on the spinning wheel, displaying the chores of your choice, as well as rewards. If you wish to customize the spinning wheel, it is easy to do. They provide blank magnets and an erasable pen to use with the system. The look and quality of this beautiful system I would compare to what you would find when you purchase from Klutz. Creative, well designed, easy to use format, and great quality. If you have trouble getting members of your family to lend a hand, you need this system. Not only will them participating in household chores be a great help to you as a parent, it also teaches them real world principles they need as they grow up. Teaching our children responsibility and accountability is so important and greatly lacking in today's society. Don't let your children down by not implementing such ideas when they are young. This will help them to grow into strong members of society and teach them that it takes everyone working together to run things smoothly. This is needed knowledge in the home and in the workplace. Most parents find that at times it seems more hassle than help to get their children to help around the house. Between jobs not well performed (this gets better with age and experience) and the hassle of getting them away from the video games long enough to actually perform the tasks at hand ... sometimes it just seems like an endless battle that parents may not want to face. With this system, it ends the battle, arms them for chore duty and rewards them for a job well done which adds to motivation and to their desire of doing the job well. Now you can have the help you have desired, and without the battle you have feared. For less than the cost of having McDonalds for a night, your family can experience a new level of teamwork and without the stress that would have entailed prior for you. I greatly admire this product and recommend it completely, without reservation. It is also very handy to transport with you - so it can be taken to the grandparents or to the family cabin if and when you wish.
Priced at $19.95 at the time of this review. <<<- (2007) RETURN TO TOP |
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WhisperPhone |
Company: | Harebrain, Inc. |
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The WhisperPhone allows learners of all ages to hear what they are reading / saying / spelling, which reinforces learning and effective speech, in an essential and meaningful manner. When we hear what we are saying, we can better learn pronunciation and clear formation of our words and break away from the monotone voice many are prone to fall back on.
The WhisperPhone is a hands-free device, and is reversible to be used on either ear, making it comfortable for everyone. WhisperPhone is offered in children and adult sizes. WhisperPhone is a great tool for the classroom and at home. For students taking theatre and drama, speech or debate classes, the WhisperPhone will be a Godsend. For adults and children learning a second language, the WhisperPhone helps you to hear what you are speaking which helps you to learn proper pronunciation. In therapy settings the WhisperPhone is helpful as it helps students listen to what they are speaking, rather than hear all of the distractions surrounding them. The WhisperPhone has been shown to increase retention of what is being learned, and will add an auditory learning element to the classroom setting that is not otherwise available. This is a major plus for children who may struggle learning from text (visual) elements. This product is offered at a great price, is very lightweight and comfortable to use and also offers a carry case which may be purchased separately. <<<- (2007) RETURN TO TOP |
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Yackle Ball |
Company: | Ttalf Corporation |
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All ages will enjoy the Yackle Ball. However, for young children just learning to catch and throw, the Yackle Ball jr. is terrific! Round balls can be hard to catch and throw, while the Yackle Ball has arms to catch, and four to choose from, so it makes it hard NOT to catch it!
The points of interest I find with the Yackle Ball: They offer the Yackle Ball and the Yackle Ball jr. The jr. size is perfect for the little guys, however, our 2 year old can handle the regular size as well, so if you want to purchase only one, and have multiple ages in your family, I suggest the regular size Yackle Ball. This is one of those items you can throw in the car at a moment's notice and have something to do when you stop at rest areas on a trip, or head to the beach or grandma's house. A toy that will wear well, and is not cumbersome when space is tight on a trip. This is also a toy that is great to boost self confidence and to increase a child's interest in exercise and the out of doors - two very important points in good health for our children. Hopping over to their website will allow you to print off Yackle Ball tips and rules for games that are great fun to play with your Yackle Ball. They even offer the opportunity to have your Yackle Ball specially designed with your company name, or other information design on it. Check them out! <<<- (2007) RETURN TO TOP | Press Release |
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Winner 2008 
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You're Blushing, Little Octopus |
Company: | Block Publishing |
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This beautifully illustrated children's book not only tells a magnificent story, but backs up the science of the story with the software found on the included cd rom.
This complete package makes a beautiful addition to any child's bookshelf or classroom library.
You're Blushing, Little Octopus tells a poignant story about life in the coral reef. Here children find many colorful creatures to learn about and will enjoy using the software to explore even further. Included on the cd rom are wonderful activity sheets for children to not only learn but engage in learning activities hands on. This feature, along with the wonderful teacher's guide also found on the cd rom, make it great to use this book in a classroom setting, as a teacher can print out the activity sheets for all children hearing the story. Great for public or homeschool use. Children will enjoy the real video footage on the cd rom. This come alive feature brings an enhanced view of the animals being explored and allows children to get up close and personal with these beautiful creatures. I call this book and cd rom an exemplary example of a winning combination in educational media. <<<- (2007) RETURN TO TOP |
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RATINGS EXPLAINED: - perfect score = 5 1. Price is within reason for the product (1 pt) 2. The product does what it claims (1 pt) 3. Suited for recommended age (1 pt) 4. Quality manufacturing (1 pt) 5. Instructions are clear and easy to follow (1 pt) 5 = PERFECT | 4 = GOOD | 3 = OKAY | 2, 1, 0 = rejected |
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