Because trouble comes in all sizes.
Vincent Daly 
I’ve often wondered about the value of teaching children the practice of making wishes. In essence, a child is begging the universe to fulfill one of his desires whether or not he’s actually been proactive in the pursuit of his goal. it also removes all accountability since by the nature of a wish, there are no strings attached to the wish maker. To me, that’s a recipe for a lifetime of disappointment. In most cases, wishing is for suckers.
The video game entertainment industry has established a firm foothold in homes worldwide. A popular video game release can potentially reap staggering financial rewards for an entertainment software company at levels that eclipse even the most popular movie franchise. From its nascent days in the early 1970s as a primitive curiosity to the current 21st century myriad of phenomenal immersive experiences, the influence of video games on world culture has been unprecedented. Indeed, hundreds of studies have been written both pro and con about the developmental impact on children. And now with the advent of tablet computing, the pervasiveness of a video game oriented society will inevitably increase. As parents, how do we respond to these changes? And what does the future hold?
By far, one of the most cherished times of a kid’s school day is recess. Sure you could send your child off to school with a brown bag to carry their lunch. But most kids really want a cool lunchbox to tote their 2nd meal of the day. It just adds another level of fun to the whole experience. With that sentiment in mind we teamed up with SuperHeroStuff.com to offer you a chance to win a brand new lunchbox.
The holiday season is in full effect which of course means gift buying decisions are weighing heavily on the minds of Moms and Dads across the land. Oh the pressure, right? Well, maybe not.
Upon first learning about the 2011 release of The Muppets, I was struck with mixed feelings of childlike joy and dread. Being given the chance as a parent to introduce my children to Jim Henson’s lovable band of characters appealed to me immensely. Yet Hollywood’s historical penchant for recycling beloved franchises based on profit motive rather than creative inspiration gave me pause. Would The Muppets, a musical comedy produced by Disney starring Jason Segel and Amy Adams, capture the magic of the original?
Generally speaking, the generosity bestowed upon children during Christmas time warms the heart. For many a gift giver, viewing the faces of children light up as they unwrap presents makes the bumpy road experienced during holiday shopping seem all but a distant memory. Yet for parents, the aftermath of Christmas means managing the sheer tonnage of new toys battling for already limited space in one’s home.
The One World Futbol is the world’s most durable soccer ball. The ball never needs to be inflated, can be played on just about any terrain, and will continue to be playable even if punctured. Although not a replacement for an official league ball, it’s perfect for all terrain recreational and practice. Through the company’s “Buy One Give One” business model, for every ball purchased at retail, the One World Futbol Project will donate an identical second ball to a community in need throughout the world including here in the United States.
As the 2011 holiday season begins in earnest, it’s easy to get caught up in the marketing blitz designed to entice consumers to spend with reckless abandon. Like clockwork consumer shopping increases exponentially in the months of November and December. Contributions to charitable organizations increase as well but not nearly at the same rate. A company called TOMS Shoes aims to change the paradigm.
Attending the Holiday Train Show at the New York Botanical Garden has been an annual tradition for my family. Now celebrating its 20th year of creating holiday magic, the Garden has added a special treat for model train fans. You can now go behind the scenes to witness how a structure for the Holiday Train show is created. I’m happy to announce we’ve once again partnered with the Garden to offer you a chance to win a 4 Pack of Tickets to the show!