TOS Crew: Tiny Planets

We were asked the Tiny Planets website for the TOS Crew.  Tiny Planets is an interactive, online site that offers educational entertainment featuring 2 adorable little critters, Bing and Bong.  I remember when The Lil' Chef was little seeing them on TV, they are just too cute!  We used to love watching them blast off from their sofa.

Thru games, books, puzzles and  tv episodes, children will explore our solar system and learn about our Tiny Planet, Earth, and how we can better care for it.  There are six different planets designed for children ages 4-12, that the kids can explore:

:

Tiny Planets TV - Here you can watch any of the Bing and Bong episodes.  The shows here focus on science education and early learning.  These shows were co-created by Sesame Workshop and are a favorite around the world. 

Tiny Planets Books - The interactive books that you will find here are great to read aloud to the kids or independent reading. 

My Tiny Planet - This is an virtual world that focuses on science and space exploration.  Here, children get to be "space cadets" and solve galactic missions with Bing and Bong.  Kids can also adopt a planet of their own, name it, and take care of it. They get to choose landscapes, skies, buildings and scenery, making their planet their own.

Tiny Planets Learning - This part of the site is designed for parents, homeschoolers, and educators. Here they have lesson plans that include educational activities and science experiments.

Tiny Planets Fun - Children will enjoy brainy puzzle games that include fractions, sound and seek, and symmetry, as well as coloring books and comics.

Tiny Planets Labs - Before adding new games to the site, they are tested out here 1st.

As you can see there is TONS to do and learn on Tiny Planets.  Most of the content on Tiny Planets is totally free, but they also offer an more exciting learning experience.  You can purchase KEYS that unlock special goodies on each of the Tiny Planet sites.  KEYS are sold in packages of :

• 10 keys $1.95
• 25 keys $3.95
• 85 keys $9.95
• 250 keys $25.95
• 600 keys $49.95

 After setting up a Parent Account you may purchase the KEYS when you need them, or you can decide to sign up for a monthly allotment. 

 
This is a great website for exploring and learning, it would be a great addition to any child's study of the solar system!   Please visit the TOS Crew's Blog to see what my other crew mates have say about it.

Please know that we were not compensated in anyway for this review and the opinions in this review are my own.

Handmade Holidays #7 - Tailor Made Games Review & Giveaway

Handmade Holiday Gift idea #7 are games by Tailor Made Games.  They offer several really neat games that they, a mother and daughter duo, have created.

The game that we were sent to review was Grady and the Gang Hide and Go Seek.  This game includes 20 forest friends wooden tokens, 12 forest friends playing cards, and instructions which all fit nicely into a velvet bag and box for easy storage.   During the game each person gets to "be" 3 forest friends, my favorites are Melvin the Moose, Fletcher the Fox and Scarlet the Skunk, just in case you were wondering.  The goal is to stay hidden and not get found, just like the Hide and Seek game that we all know and love.  The last forest friend hiding at the end of the game is the winner.  This game is for 2 to 4 players and the suggested age for play is 5 and up.  This game retails for $22.

Grady and Gang Hide and Go Seek

I love the creativity that they put into their games, the spin that they put on classic games is great!  I also like how CUTE, COLORFUL and WELL MADE all the game pieces are.  The cuteness of these games alone are enough to get any child's attention! 

Tailor Made Games currently offers 7 other games that range in price from $20-$23:

What Goes Up -  Learning Colors with Balloons game

Yummy Scoops Bingo - The Bingo Game That's Oh So Sweet!

Counting Sheep - The Math Game That Adds Up To Big Fun

All Washed Up - The Search by the Seashore Memory Game

Can It - The Howling Memory Game of Cats

Land of Letters - The Brick by Brick Word Game

Circle of Friends Bingo- The Bingo Game That's All Smiles

All of these games look like TONS of FUN and would MAKE GREAT GIFTS!!  If you would like to to purchase any of  the Tailor Made Games you may do so right from their Etsy site.

These busy and creative ladies also are the creators of a game called Befudiom, which you can check out here.

Tailor Made Games has offered to GIVEAWAY one of their games to one of YOU!  The winner gets to choose the game!  The GIVEAWAY will run until December 21st.  Here is how you can enter to WIN:

• You must be a Follower of LSG on GFC.
• If you subscribe thru email let me know.
• Facebook or Twitter about this giveaway and tell me about it.
• Spread the word, if you blog about this giveaway and then let me know that will get you another entry.
• Add TailorMadeGames to your Favorites on Etsy.com and let me know.
• Visit TailorMadeGames and tell me what game you would pick if you win.

Please note that we received this product free of charge from TailorMadeGames for review purposes.  We were not paid in any way and the opinions expressed here are my own. 

Handmade Holidays #6 - Super Hero Cape Review & Giveaway

The 6th gift idea that I have in store would delight any little boy or girl!!  Kidtastic Creations has sent us an AWESOME SUPER HERO CAPE to review and is GIVING ONE AWAY to ONE OF YOU! 

My children love capes, especailly Alpha Boy and Little Bits.   They love to pretend they is are super heroes or Kings and Princes.  My girls like to pretned that they are royal Queens and Princess's.  Capes are wonderful for kids imaginations! 

The Super Hero Cape that we recieved from Kidtastic Creations is VERY well made!!  The cape has velro to hold it one, but is made with releasable velcro for safety purposes. 

I love that the capes are REVERSABLE!  With all of the color choices available, the cape would be a great gift for a boy or girl.  The Super Hero Cape costs $12.50 and you can order yours in any of the following colors:

• Red/Blue
• Green/Orange
• Yellow/Bright Blue
• Pink/Purple
• Custom Orders are available upon request

Jillian over at Kidtastic Creations is very CREATIVE and TALENTED!  Not only does she make the capes but she makes:

Cozy little Girls Fleece Coat and Hat sets. 

A Crown for a King and...

for a Queen! To go with their royal robes (the cape), of course!

Tutu's that would make any little girl smile!

Kidtastic Creations has several other items that you can check out on their Etsy site KidtasticCreations.

For the GIVEAWAY, Kidtastic Creations is offering a SUPER HERO CAPE to ONE of YOU!  The GIVEAWAY will end on Dec 21st.  Here is how you can enter to WIN:

• You must be a Follower of LSG on GFC.
• If you subscribe thru email let me know.
• Facebook or Twitter about this giveaway and tell me about it.
• Spread the word, if you blog about this giveaway and then let me know that will get you another entry.
• Add KidtasticCreations to your Favorites on Etsy.com and let me know.
• Like KidtasticCreations on Facebook.
• Visit KidtasticCreations and tell me what you like best.  

PLEASE, PLEASE DO NOT FORGET TO LEAVE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS IN YOUR COMMENTS SO THAT I CAN CONTACT YOU IF YOU WIN!  THANKS! : )

We received the Super Hero Cape at no charge from Kidtasticcreations for review purposes only.  We were not paid in any way to write this review and the opinions here are my own.

Handmade Holidays #5 - I Spy Bag Review & Giveaway

The next Handmade Holiday Gift idea that I have is SO CUTE and SUPER FUN!  Have you ever heard of an I Spy Bag?  When I saw these on Etsy.com I knew they would be tons of fun!  Kid Biz was kind enough to send us one to review and one to GIVEAWAY! 

 This is the one we received to review.  It's called Beep Beep, Honk Honk!  Cute isn't it!!

(the viewing window is on the other side)

The I Spy Bags are 5 inches square and have a 2 1/2 inch window.  Inside there are 20 teeny little objects to find, along with little bitty beads that make looking for the objects more FUN.  The objects inside are pictured on a laminated card that is attached to the bag.  Kids will be searching for things like a paper clip, a small bear, ladybug, frog, fish and a button.  Do you know how many doctors appointments that we've been to that I would have loved to have had this?!  LOTS!!

These bags are made by kids and they do a great job.  The bags are very well made, they super sewed around the edges, to ensure years on enjoyment.  They are available in OODLES of patterns, some for boys, some for girls and some neutral. 

This is perfect for a little girl.

I just love that the I Spy Bags are made for kids by kids!  These kids are from a large family and they started this business to help save up to attend summer camp in 2011.  Kudos to you kids for planning and saving!   At only $8.00 per bag, these I Spy Bags make great gifts or stocking stuffers and you would be helping the kids reach their summer goal!   So be sure to check them out!

This one would be great for a toddler.

Remember I had mentioned a GIVEAWAY!  Kid Biz has offered to GIVEAWAY an I Spy Bag, OF YOUR CHOICE, to one of you.  The giveaway will run until December 21st.  Here is how you can enter:

• You must be a Follower of LSG on GFC.
• If you subscribe thru email let me know
• Facebook or Twitter about this giveaway and tell me about it.
• Spread the word, if you blog about this giveaway and then let me know that will get you another entry.
• Add Kid Biz to your Favorites on Etsy.com and let me know.
• Visit Kid Biz and tell me what your favorite I Spy Bag is.

  PLEASE DO NOT FORGET TO LEAVE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS SO THAT I CAN CONTACT YOU IF YOU ARE THE WINNER.

 This product was given to us for review purposes.  We were not paid in any way and the opinions expressed here are my own.

TOS Crew: ALEKS

We were pretty excited to hear that we would be reviewing the ALEKS online math program for the crew. I have always thought once math got a bit to hard for my brain to handle we would end up with an online program, so I was glad to be giving that a whirl.

ALEKS, which is short for Assessment and LEarning in Knowledge Spaces, has courses for grades 3-12.  I decided to have the Lil' Chef use the LV 4 Mathmatics with Quicktables with this program instead of her regular workbook.  Let me tell ya, she LOVES it!  The Lil' Chef really likes computer games so this was right up her alley, I think it also breaks the monotony from workbooks.
 

I have already concluded that she likes, and does best with a spiral method of learning math.  She does not do well with working on the same thing day after day.  The way that the ALEKS program works is, at first the student takes an assessment test.  ALEKS then figures out what the student knows and doesn't know. The areas in math that the child has not yet mastered are the areas in which ALEKS focuses on.  The program automatically knows what the student is ready to learn. 

Once you have taken your assessment test and start the program, ALEKS gives the child a pie chart which tells them what they need to be working on and how much of that particular area they have already mastered or completed.  The Lil' Chef enjoyed being able to choose an area of math to work on each day.   As she worked on each topic if she needed help on a problem there was an explain button as well as a more practice button.  ALEKS is very much geared toward the independent student. 

This the student pie chart.  The dark part of the pie shows what the student knows

and the lighter part shows what they need to work on.

Facts are, math is not my strongest subject so I really liked not having to struggle through math with her, I knew that it was all taken care of once she had done ALEKS.  She was able to work with in her grade level as well as practice her multiplication tables by using the Quicktables feature and I knew that ALEKS was correcting and keeping track of what she knew and what she still needed to learn.   I really appreciated the weekly progress reports that I received right in my email box, a wonderful thing to print out and stick in our math folder.  

From the master account I can get view student reports, assign quizzes and make course changes if necessary.

We have really enjoyed the opportunity to review for ALEKS and I would highly consider doing this next year, at least for the Lil' Chef, but it is a little expensive for us to spend on one subject for one child.  For one student the cost is $19.95 per month, $99.95 for 6 months or $179.95 for 12 months and they do offer family discounts if you enroll multiple children.   I do recommend ALEKS and feel that it is a great math program.  The conveniences that the program offers may well be worth the extra money, if a family can afford the expense. 

Here is a VIDEO TOUR that shows you what ALEKS is all about.  If you think that ALEKS would be a good fit for your family but your just not sure, you can TRY ALEKS for FREE!   The trial offer lasts for 30 days, which is a good amount of time to see what you think! 



We were provided with free access to the ALEKS program for review purposes only.  We were not paid in any way for this review and the opinions stated here are my own.