DISNEY'S CLASSIC MOVIE "PINOCCHIO" AVAILABLE FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER ON DIGITAL HD

** Free movie night kit provided by Disney. All views are my own **

 I've got no strings to hold me down; to make me fret or frown; I had strings but now there are no strings on me! 

My daughter loves classic Disney animated movies, but has never seen Pinocchio.  So to say she was excited when I surprised her with a special movie night would be a big understatement!  In honor of Pinocchio being released via Digital HD for the very first time ever, which allows people to watch the movie anytime and anywhere that is convenient for them, I let my daughter have a camp out in her room and watch the movie before bedtime through the Disney Movies Anywhere app on my iPad.  Just like the puppet in the movie doesn't need strings to get around, with Digital HD and today's technology you don't need to be attached to strings to enjoy a Disney classic like Pinocchio.

To highlight this point, Disney provided me with a download code to redeem Pinocchio from DisneyMoviesAnywhere.com.  Through this service downloaded movies can be viewed on your PC's Internet browser or through the Disney Movies Anywhere app for mobile devices.  You can also connect your account to other favorite service providers such as amazon video, fios from Verizon, Google Play, iTunes and VUDU.  Stream movies to your television through a Playstation or Roku using VUDU? Your Disney Movies Anywhere library is accessible!  Are you an iOS fan? Watch your Disney Movies Anywhere on Apple TV, iPhones and iPads through iTunes seamlessly.  Also when  movies are purchased through Disney Movies Anywhere you earn points that can be collected and redeemed for free rewards like apparel, dvds, movie tickets and more!

To help us enjoy watching Pinocchio anywhere without being tied down by strings, Disney also sent along with the download code some wireless headphones and a portable charger decorated with  artwork featuring Pinocchio.  Plus you need to have snacks when watching a movie so they threw in a lunchbox and water bottle to help us be able to enjoy the movie when on the go.

My daughter has been wanting me to setup her play tent for her and this Pinnochio movie night made for a perfect opportunity.  While she searched for her Fairy Minnie doll to watch Pinocchio with, I downloaded the movie, powered up my iPad and the wireless headphones, and packed her lunchbox with some popcorn to snack on. As my daughter likes to say it was easy peasy to get her setup to watch Pinocchio and not having to worry about connecting to any wires or electrical outlets was nice in allowing her to have fun watching it in her play tent.

I asked her what she liked best about the movie the next morning.  Of course her answer was the "I have no strings" song and dance routine! That's one of my favorite scenes when I was a kid too.  Though in my opinion the best part is when all the boys playing hooky from school turn into donkeys.   That will teach you not to be going around town acting like an ass!  What is your favorite scene in Disney's Pinocchio?

Looking at my daughter's pictures you may have noticed she's losing her baby teeth.  One actually fell out just before she snuggled up in her Frozen blanket to watch Pinocchio.  So in addition to seeing the Blue Fairy in Pinocchio during her bedroom camp out, the next morning she also found the Tooth Fairy had left a dollar under the pillow she was sleeping on in her play tent.  Giggling over breakfast, she said to me with a big smile on her face, "Dad last night was so magical!"  It appears she really enjoyed her special Disney Movie Night watching Pinocchio for the first time!

Whenever my kids wants to add a bit more magic to their lives, they can also look up into the night sky to wish upon a very special star.  Disney also named a star after our family located in the Canis Minor Constellation that is copyrighted with the British government through the Star-Name-Registry website.  So now when looking up into the night sky we'll be trying to spy our family's own personal star to make a wish on.

Enjoy your own fun family movie night watching Pinocchio.   Whether you are watching the movie from the comfort of your own or while traveling in the wilderness on an adventurous camping trip, be like Pinocchio and don't let strings hold you down.  Disney's Pinocchio is available now to download via Digital HD from Disney Movies Anywhere and will be available on January 31, 2017 on Blu-ray and DVD as well.  For more information about the movie and to download some fun free Pinocchio themed activity sheets and coloring pages, visit movies.disney.com/pinocchio

 

ENJOY A RELAXING STEAKHOUSE DINING EXPERIENCE FROM THE COMFORT OF YOUR OWN HOME

I have partnered with Life of Dad and Idahoan® Foods for this campaign. Opinions expressed are my own.

The dining room is literally the center of my family's universe.  Not only is the room located smack in the middle of our home but the dinner table sitting inside it is the focal point for a large number of family activities.  The kids do their homework at that table. My wife works from home some days on a laptop she leaves on it.  I sort through the mail and make arrangements to pay our household bills while sitting there.  It is a place where my son loves to draw and my daughter has tea parties with her dolls.  Of course it is also where we sit down to have our family meals together.

Unfortunately meals, which should be one of the most important and pleasant times for families to spend together, have a tendency not to be very enjoyable at our house because of all the clutter that accumulates on our dinner table from all the activities revolving around it. Comparing our current situation to eating out at fine dining establishments which are calm and relaxing places to be, I thought to myself wouldn't it be nice to replicate that experience in my own home?  I must not be alone in having a messy dinner table because a recent survey found that 79% of Americans, including 92% of parents, wish it were easier to recreate a steakhouse experience at home.  With some inspiration from Idahoan® Premium Steakhouse ® Potato Soups, I decided to do just that!

Math practice sheets, library books, drawings, pencils, crayons, toys, games and anything else that had nothing to do with eating dinner were taken away.  Then we laid out some nice table settings to provide a steakhouse vibe.  Placemats, real glassware, polished silver utensils, and china, plus a candle to set the mood, provided a steakhouse decor without having to leave the comfort of our home.  Now that the mood had been set what entree should be served?

With hectic work schedules, homework assignments, and extracurricular activities for the kids like soccer and swimming who has time to prepare and cook a great steakhouse style meal?   Fortunately, Idahoan ® Foods can help busy parents provide affordable and convenient family meals at home that taste comparable to something that can be ordered from a steakhouse. With four flavors of  Idahoan ® Premium Steakhouse® Potato Soup to choose from there is something to satisfy everyone at your dinner table...even young picky eaters like my 8 year old twins.  These soups are quick and easy to make -- plus I can honestly say they really are delicious! Simply by adding water and doing some stirring and whisking within a few minutes you'll be enjoying a flavorful, slow-cooked taste of restaurant-quality potato soup made in your very own kitchen!

Unlike other dry soups that take more than fifteen minutes to prepare, with Idahoan® Premium Steakhouse® Potato Soups you are done within 5 minutes and it is ready to serve.  Made from real Idaho® red potatoes and red potato skins these soups from Idahoan® Foods include Creamy Potato, Loaded Potato, Cheddar Broccoli and Three Cheese Chipotle.  For the price of a cup of soup ordered from a steakhouse you can actually feed a family of four with just one of these diy packages from a grocery store.  Cost efficient, easy to make and tastes great -- Idahoan® Premium Steakhouse® Potato Soups are perfect for a family meal on a cold Michigan winter day.

I'm not kidding Idahoan® Premium Steakhouse® Potato Soups really do taste as good as something you'd order at a restaurant.  I give them A Geek Daddy nod of approval for being delicious!  In fact, we had enough left over from the samples Idahoan® Foods sent us that for next few days I only ate meals that included this soup in them because it was that good.

Here are some examples of how you can enjoy Idahoan® Premium Steakhouse® Potato Soups in a variety of ways throughout your day:

In the morning pour the Loaded Potato soup over buttermilk biscuits instead of gravy or roll up Three Cheese Chipotle inside a pancake to make a breakfast burrito.  Cheddar Broccoli also tastes great mixed in as an ingredient for an omelette.

Fill a casserole dish with ground sirloin, mix in some diced carrots and cover with Three Cheese Chipotle to bake a zesty Shepard Pie for dinner.  Make yourself some tasty potato gumbo with the Three Cheese Chipotle to provide some Mardi Gras flair to your evening meal by mixing in some shrimp and spicy sausage to the soup.  Meat & Potato Stew Shooters with are also nice for dinner and you can find a recipe for them on the website for Idahoan® Premium Steakhouse® Potato Soups.

And on a chilly day you can't beat just a simple bowl of  Idahoan® Premium Steakhouse® Cheddar Broccoli soup with oyster crackers in it!  Take my advice on these suggestions because whether it is creating a fine dining experience or making the best of left-overs I am the #KingofSoup!

For more information about Idahoan^® Premium Steakhouse^® Potato Soups please visit their website and social media platforms:

IdahoanFoods Website
IdahoanFoods on Facebook
IdahoanFoods on Twitter
IdahoanFoods on Instagram
IdahoanFoods on Pinterest
IdahoanFoods on YouTube

WONDER CREW BUDDIES FROM PLAYMONSTER

Growing up with a twin sister my son's best friend to play with of course was a little girl and playing dolls with her was no big deal just as pretending to race toy cars was something she regularly did with him.  We haven't stressed gender specific toys with either of the twins letting them play with whatever age appropriate things they expressed an interest in.  My son has a boy American Girl doll that is a twin to the one his sister has that they played with together quite a bit when they were in preschool and kindergarten. On the other hand, my daughter has her own fair share of Star Wars action figures and Hot Wheels toy cars that she and my son still play with a lot together.  So from our family's own experiences, I understand the value there is in kids engaging in imaginative play with dolls and also the stigma out there against boys playing with them.

Playing with dolls has been proven to help children develop important social skills when it comes to communicative, nurturing and empathetic behavior.  With all the problems being reported in the news lately regarding women dealing with physical and sexual abuse on college campuses (according to National Sexual Violence Resource Center 1 in 5 women are sexually assaulted while in college), this dad of a young daughter believes we should be providing more of a focus on our sons at an early age to assist them with developing some of the social skills which I just mentioned to help head off bad behavior later in life.  So when I learned about the new WONDER CREW dolls from PLAYMONSTER, I wanted to give them a great big A Geek Daddy nod of approval!

Combining the adventure element of an action figure with the emotional connection of a stuffed animal, 15" WONDER CREW buddies are dolls meant for boys to play with.  The WONDER CREW toy lineup is targeted to boys ages 2 - 5 and consists of four buddies of different races that are wearing super hero gear.  Each individually sold doll comes wearing a super hero mask and  cape with a matching one for a child to wear as well when playing with it.  Additional "Adventure Packs" in the themes of builder, explorer and snuggler (for bedtime) outfits for the dolls and matching gear for the child will be sold separately.   PlayMonster is turning the table on the conversation about gender stereotypes and toys by encouraging boys to play with a WONDER CREW buddy.

Laurel Wider, a psychotherapist and mom, came up with the idea for WONDER CREW after her son came home from preschool one day and announced that “boys aren’t supposed to cry." Frustrated by many of the messages boys were (and weren't) receiving and inspired by the way play influences child development, Wider created WONDER CREW to encourage kids to connect emotionally and be their full selves.  Launched as a successful 2015 Kickstarter campaign, WONDER CREW led to  an invitation to Wider from the White House about speaking during a conference on breaking stereotypes in media and toys.  Now PlayMonster has licensed the toy rights from Wider and will be distributing the WONDER CREW at retail outlets across the United States starting this year.

"We are thrilled to bring WONDER CREW into the PlayMonster portfolio,” Bob Wann, Chief PlayMonster of PlayMonster LLC communicated to A Geek Daddy. “We know from consumer research that boys ages 2 – 5 are already playing with dolls, yet there is a distinct hole in the marketplace for them. PlayMonster believes it’s the perfect time to introduce this important toy line to mass market as big retailers and our industry are together breaking down gender stereotypes to help boys develop their emotional maturity including compassion and kindness."

PlayMonster is generously providing A Geek Daddy with a WONDER CREW doll to giveaway. One lucky winner will be able to select their choice of Will, Marco, Erik or James from the WONDER CREW doll collection.  For a chance to win you must follow @Geekdad248 on Twitter and retweet our original contest tweet embedded below before February 3, 2017 @ 11:59 pm ET.  Must be a US resident over 18 years old to participate.

Follow @Geekdad248 & RT before 2/4/17 for chance to win a WONDER CREW buddy courtesy of @PlayMonsterFun https://t.co/XhcbVCzJbU #ad pic.twitter.com/vxQaONbTHt

— A Geek Daddy (@GeekDad248) January 27, 2017

 A Geek Daddy has not been financially compensated for this endorsement or hosting the giveaway. The prize is provided by PlayMonster and A Geek Daddy is hosting the promotion as a benefit to our readers. Must be a US resident over the age of 18 to participate.  One entry per person and winner will be randomly selected from all eligible entries.  If you have already won this prize through another blog participating in this promotion, your entry will be disqualified.  By participating in this promotion you waive any liability of any kind against the publisher of this blog. Winner is subject to eligibility verification. No P.O. Boxes allowed for delivery of the prize. PlayMonster will be responsible for shipping the prize to the selected winner.

AVRIL KNOWS -- A POSITIVE PERSPECTIVE ON FOOD ALLERGIES

As the father of a daughter with severe food allergies, I've experienced first hand the negativity that hangs over people suffering with this medical condition and their families from having to constantly be cautious about where you go and what you eat; being excluded from places and situations because you become either a risk or an inconvenience; and dealing with people who have no consideration or compassion that their actions impact whether you may be sleeping in your own bed or a hospital room that night because of something called anaphylactic shock.  So I was really happy to share with my daughter a book based upon a true story that provides some positivity to the food allergy experience.

Ginny Heenan is an award-winning San Francisco area artist who paints children's portraits.  She has written several books based upon enlightening experiences she has had while working with these children. AVRIL KNOWS is based upon a real life girl named Abby with a severe nut allergy who was eight year old (which happens to be the same age as my daughter) when Heenan painted a 36-inch by 36-inch canvas oil portrait of her two years ago.  

Heenan strives through this picture book, with illustrations by Savannah Lund and Daniele Derenzi, to help children with allergies see themselves positively through the eyes of an artist.  This book does a nice job of showing how to make "lemonade out of lemons" when dealing with a tough situation and provides encouragement to look at the positive side of life instead of dwelling on the bad things.  I appreciate that Avril isn't presented as a girl who is letting allergies interfere with living her life, but rather someone who is handling her condition the best she can and appreciates some positive encouragement from the artist painting her portrait.  This is a nice book for children with food allergies to read in that it reinforces that they aren't alone in their struggles and has an uplifting message in its story.

 For those who don't have a close connection to someone with food allergies AVRIL KNOWS personalizes what it is like to be a kid living with this medical condition providing a better understanding of what it is like to walk in those people's shoes.  The book isn't a call for regulations, protections or other actions but rather just tells it as it is regarding the story of a young girl living her life with food allergies.  A great selection for any library's children's section or elementary school class reading assignment because it invokes compassion and understanding without preaching, lecturing or demanding anything from its audience.  The book just challenges readers to picture their own face on the canvas of that portrait instead of Avril's.  How would you handle, or how will you handle, living a life with a severe food allergy?  Sincerely answering that question can be a life changing moment both for those with and those without food allergies.

Avril loves learning new magic tricks. She also has an uncanny way of noticing details and things that other people don't, and that makes her good at magic. When her parents decide to have her portrait painted Avril imagines herself as a proud magician. However, Avril learns through the eyes of the artist that her allergies are not a bad thing, but instead make her more powerful and special than she ever imagined.


AVRIL KNOWS: A POSITIVE PERSPECTIVE ON ALLERGIES is available on Amazon either in paperback or as a kindle download.  kindleunlimited members can read the book as one of the free selections in their subscription's services. A Geek Daddy readers can also get a 30% discount by purchasing the book through the CreateSpace estore by using code  DJNXUWGA.

RESCUED GREEN SEA TURTLES FINDS NEW HOME IN MICHIGAN AQUARIUM

Metro Detroit's SEA LIFE Michigan Aquarium celebrated its second anniversary at Great Lakes Crossing Outlet Mall by welcoming a new resident to its 120,000 gallon ocean tank -- Carr the Green Sea Turtle.  The 85 pound turtle was severely injured after being hit by a boat but Grumbo Limbo Nature Center in Boca Raton, Florida, rescued Carr and nursed him back to health.  Unfortunately, due to floatation issues caused by his injuries, Carr is non-releasable; which means he will never be able to survive again in the wild.  So SEA LIFE Michigan Aquarium is taking him in where he'll join another rescued turtle, Benson, living at the facility.

My kids and I were at SEA LIFE Michigan to welcome Benson to his new home back in 2015 (click here to read that post) and had a chance to see the green sea turtle up close as he was introduced to the aquarium's ocean tank.  Both turtles received round-the-clock care and monitoring from a veterinarian team in a special med pool for the week before being released into the ocean tank and during that time also learned SEA LIFE Michigan's target training feeding technique to help orientate them to their new home.  Benson has taken really well to living in the Great Lakes State and now he'll have a friend to share the space with in Carr.

SEA LIFE has devoted itself to hosting and providing care for non-releasable rescued green sea turtles based upon the endangered state of the species.  Only 1,000 - 10,000 of this species' hatchlings born each year actually survive to adulthood, according to the Sea Turtle Conservancy.  In addition to danger presented by predators in the ocean, green sea turtles are also threatened by human activities such as loss of habitat to development, commercial fishing, pollution, and being hit by boat traffic which is what injured both Benson and Carr.  Caring for these two rescued turtles is part of SEA LIFE'S Breed, Rescue and Protect program which enhances the value of the aquarium as an entertainment attraction by having it also support marine wildlife educational outreach and conservancy efforts.

TICKET GIVEAWAY

Would you like to welcome Carr to his new home in Michigan?  A Geek Daddy has a four pack of tickets to SEA LIFE Michigan to giveaway.  Visit SEA LIFE Michigan's website then email thegeekdaddy [at] yahoo [dot] com sharing with us which of the 250 species of sea life creatures you are most excited to see at the Detroit area aquarium.  Also please include your full name and mailing address.  One lucky winner will be randomly selected to receive the ticket prize pack.  To participate in the giveaway you must be a Michigan resident over the age of 18 years old. Entries must be received by February 3, 2017 @ 11:59 pm ET.

SEA LIFE Michigan is one of 8 aquariums operated within the United States by MERLIN ENTERTAINMENTS.  All together, Merlin operates 25 attractions and 2 hotels in the United States including LEGOLAND Discovery Center Michigan (also located at Great Lakes Crossing), plus LEGOLAND Resorts in Florida and California, and six Madame Tussauds celebrity wax attractions.

For more information about the aquarium go to visitsealife.com/michigan

 A Geek Daddy has not been financially compensated for this endorsement or hosting the giveaway but was provided the same items being provided as a prize for personal use. The prize is provided by SEA LIFE MICHIGAN and A Geek Daddy is hosting the promotion as a benefit to our readers. Must be a Michigan resident over the age of 18 to participate.  One entry per person and winner will be randomly selected from all eligible entries.  By participating in this promotion you waive any liability of any kind against the publisher of this blog. Winner is subject to eligibility verification. No P.O. Boxes allowed for delivery of the prize. SEA LIFE MICHIGAN  will be responsible for shipping the prize to the selected winner.  Emails will only be utilized for notifying winner and will be deleted at the conclusion of the promotion.  Each email will be designated a number based upon when it is received and a winning number will be randomly selected to determine the winner. Entries must be received by February 3, 2017 @ 11:59 pm ET.

COMET Space Man Landing Pack Giveaway

Who else has been watching WEST WORLD on HBO?!  Did you know the television show is based upon a 1973 movie of the same name written and directed by Michael Crichton, the author of numerous novels that have been adapted into movies including The Andromeda Strain, Congo, Jurassic Park, The Great Train Robbery, and Rising Sun?  There is also a sequel to that movie set two years after the tragedy portrayed in the original WEST WORLD movie.  In FUTURE WORLD, the Delos Corporation has reopened a variety of their robotic simulation theme parks, but all is not what it seems!  FUTURE WORLD is currently airing on COMET TV.  Check out one of the movies that influenced the creation of HBO's newest hit show.  COMET TV is broadcasting FUTURE WORLD:

Sunday, January 22 at 2am/1C

Wednesday, January 25 at 6/5C

Saturday, January 28 at Noon/11C

Monday, January 30 at 6/5C

COMET TV is a great source to watch sci-fi and horror movies for FREE without a paid subscription. Its content is available to view as an over-air broadcast Digital HD channel in select markets plus streamed online at CometTV.com so you can still watch its programming if not available locally.  In addition to movies, you can view classic television shows from the 1960's like JOHNNY SOKKO AND HIS FLYING ROBOT and more recent hits like STARGATE ATLANTIS only available on COMET TV.  To find out if this television channel is being broadcast over the air near you, visit their website and utilize the ZIP Code Locator feature.

I've really enjoyed being able to watch movies like FLASH GORDON and FUTURE WORLD as well as television shows like JOHNNY SOKKO and STARGATE ATLANTIS on COMET TV.  To share A Geek Daddy's enthusiasm for the television network we're hosting another COMET TV swag pack giveaway.  For a chance at winning the Space Man Landing Pack prize which includes a light up usb astronaut and some sweet treats (sorry the lap top is not included) you must follow @Geekdad248 on Twitter and retweet our original contest tweet embedded below before January 31, 2017 @ 11:59 pm EST.  Must be a US resident over 18 years old to participate.

Follow @Geekdad248 & RT before 2/1/17 for chance to win @WatchComet prize pack including astronaut usb light & some sweet treats! #ad pic.twitter.com/8VNMGiHecN

— A Geek Daddy (@GeekDad248) January 21, 2017

While you are waiting to find out if you've won the COMET TV prize pack, you may also want to tune in to see a few of these movies airing on their sci-fi / horror channel:

Mad Max:  In a not-too-distant dystopian future, Max (Mel Gibson), an officer with the Main Force Patrol, launches a personal vendetta against the gang when his wife (Joanne Samuel) and son are hunted down and murdered.

Flash Gordon:  Flash… Ahhhh… King of the impossible! Ming Merciless has set his sights on destroying earth, and only one man can stand in his way.

Final Encounter:  Young soldiers (Dean Cain, Justin Whalin) become involved in a war that has lasted more than a century.

 A Geek Daddy has not been financially compensated for this endorsement or hosting the giveaway but was provided the same items being provided as a prize for personal use. The prize is provided by COMET TV and A Geek Daddy is hosting the promotion as a benefit to our readers. Must be a US resident over the age of 18 to participate.  One entry per person and winner will be randomly selected from all eligible entries.  If you have already won this prize through another blog participating in this promotion, your entry will be disqualified.  By participating in this promotion you waive any liability of any kind against the publisher of this blog. Winner is subject to eligibility verification. No P.O. Boxes allowed for delivery of the prize. COMET TV will be responsible for shipping the prize to the selected winner. 

Ann Arbor Balloon Artist Makes Appearance on Harry Connick Jr.’s New Daytime Talk Show

I've always been impressed by artists, clowns and magicians who have the ability to transform balloons into amazing creations.  My kids have obviously inherited my affection for them as well since the twins really love it when someone makes them a special balloon animal. Of all the fun things we did on a recent trip to Orlando, Florida they told me when we got home that one of the best highlights of our visit was when a waiter made them some really impressive looking ones when we were out to dinner one night.  The Magic Kingdom, Sea World and Hogwarts couldn't compare to a really good balloon animal! So when I heard about a local woman from the Metro Detroit area being promoted on a nationally broadcast television show for her skills in twisting and bending balloons into wondrous things, I had to learn more!

Carolynn Hayman has taken her passion for creating unique works of art out of balloons and turned it into a successful business in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Hayman's POP! Designs and Creations builds balloon sculptures, both big and small, for events and special occasions.  Now this Michigan-based business is going to be receiving some nice national exposure as Hayman will be a featured guest on Harry Connick Jr.'s new daytime talk show.

POP! Designs & Creations -- All Rights Reserved

POP! Designs & Creations -- All Rights Reserved

The award winning balloon artist will be appearing on the Monday, January 23, 2017 episode of HARRY in a special segment focusing on unusual jobs.  Hayman will share with Connick the wonderful world of balloon culture by presenting each member of the show's band with balloon sculptures of all their instruments, including a life-size grand piano.  She also provides Connick with a brief "Flower Twisting" tutorial that humorously gets out of hand very quickly.  The segment concludes with one of Hayman's most popular creations, a nine-foot tall balloon costume known as Conrad the Unicorn, making an appearance on the set bringing along with him a specially crafted "Craw Daddy" balloon costume specially made for the show's charismatic host.

Tune in on January 23rd to check out what promises to be a great segment.  Visit harrytv.com to find out the time and network where Carolynn Hayman's appearance on HARRY will be broadcast in your area.

Fridays are Goldfish Night

 ** A Geek Daddy is a Goldfish Swim School Brand Ambassador**

We've put the holiday season behind us and now that a new year has begun our family is back in the full swing of our normal routine.  My wife and I are back to the normal grind of our work schedules, the twins have resumed school, and on Friday nights the kids are jumping into the pool at Goldfish Swim School.  We've made an evening visit to Goldfish Swim School for my kids swim lessons a part of our regular routine and it is a great way for the kids to unwind, have some fun, and improve a valuable skill at the end of the week.  Same time, same place each week there is a consistency to visiting Goldfish's facility thanks to their perpetual lessons format of scheduling swim classes.

Goldfish Swim School's Perpetual Lessons scheduling model has children attending classes continuously at the same time and on the same day of the week until an instructor graduates them to a new level of training and switches their session or a family decides to stop taking classes.  No short term sessions scheduled for a few weeks at a time at Goldfish Swim School as kids just keep swimming with parents paying month-to-month.  This really provides a nice consistency for both children and parents.  Understanding that today's families have busy, hectic schedules, Goldfish Swim School doesn't lock you into your set day if life gets in the way of your child missing a swim class.  Parents can switch a child's weekly appointment up to 12 times per year to an alternate make-up time that works better when scheduling conflicts do arise.  I really appreciate that Goldfish Swim School provides me with consistency to know for an extended period of time what our family's weekly routine is going to be but the flexibility that if something comes up unexpectedly we aren't  locked in so that we can't adjust our schedule.

Goldfish Swim School caters to children 4 months to 12 years old.  My kids may be twins but they are at different skill levels with my son in Glider Plus and my daughter in the Star class.  Though they are in different classes our family's experience with Goldfish is that the school has been very accommodating at getting the twins' lessons and make-up sessions scheduled at similar times so we aren't having to make duplicate trips to their facility individually for each child. I also have appreciated the personalized attention each of my children is getting at Goldfish Swim School as each of their 30 minute lessons is limited to a class size of 4 kids.

Children can start off learning to swim in the school's Junior / Toddler classes as early as 3 years old.  There is also a Beginner's class for older children 5+ just learning to swim so they aren't stuck in the class with 3 and 4 year olds.  Goldfish also has infant programs where parents can get in the pool with 4 to 35 month old children to help get their children comfortable with being in the water.  For older kids like mine that are 4 years and older who have advanced beyond the Junior / Toddler and Beginner classes they can advance through additional levels of lessons to help them sharpen their swimming skills.

My son is in the Glider Plus level of Goldfish Swim School lessons.  There are three goals children need to attain in these lessons before moving up to the next level. First, a student must be able to swim Freestyle for 20 feet independently.  Second, he or she must be able to independently roll over and take a breath while swimming.  Finally, the child must be able to independently swim the basic backstroke for 20 feet.

My daughter is in the Star level.  There are four objectives these students must achieve before moving up to a higher level.  First, students need to be able to do roll-over breaths while they swim. Second, he or she needs to be able to Freestyle swim the width of the pool while utilizing roll-over breaths.  Third, a child need to be able to swim the width of the pool utilizing the elementary Backstroke.  Finally, a student must be able to back float independently for 10 seconds.

Once a child has consistently achieved all of the requirements for a class, he or she receives an accomplishment ribbon and is promoted to a higher level.  Once a student has passed the four advanced class levels (Glider, Glider Plus, Star and Pro) then they can participate in the Goldfish Swim Team program for children ages 5 to 12 years old.  These kids participate in an hour-long weekly class where in-water instructors help the swimmers with proficiency in the four major swim strokes – Butterfly, Backstroke, Breaststroke, Freestyle – as well as learn racing skills like starts, turns and finishes.  Every quarter there is a Swim Meet at your Goldfish Swim School location that allows these swimmers to show off their abilities.  Both my son and daughter are excited about the opportunity to participate on the Goldfish Swim Team and have been working hard to succeed in their classes.

From talking to their instructors after two months in their current classes it appears they are both going to be graduating to a higher level next week with my son moving on to Star and my daughter to Pro so those Swim Team spots are within both of their reach in the foreseeable future.  Stay tuned to A Geek Daddy as I continue to share our experiences at Goldfish Swim School and provide updates on how the kids are progressing with their swim lessons.

Gold Fish Swim Schools originated in Metro Detroit and over the last decade have expanded beyond Michigan into 14 other states (Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Maryland, Virginia, Georgia, Florida, Oklahoma & Texas).  For more information,  please visit goldfishswimschool.com



A Geek Daddy receives free lessons at Goldfish Swim School for my two children in exchange for promotional consideration.  Opinions expressed are honest and my own.

VOLTRON Legendary Defender Toys

Season 2 of DreamWorks VOLTRON Legendary Defender animated television series arrived on Netflix today and Playmates Toys sent us some of the show's themed toys for free to make the debut extra special!  VOLTRON follows the adventures of five young heroes who pilot mechanical lions against the evil Galra empire which is attempting to enslave the population of the whole galaxy.  When their foes present more of a challenge than the five lions can handle individually they can merge together to create a giant super robot with incredible powers called Voltron.  Can this team of heroes restore peace and security to the galaxy against some very formidable foes?  You'll have to either tune into Netflix to watch this animated series from DreamWorks Animation Studio or pick up some VOLTRON toys from Playmates Toys for your kids to engage in their own imaginative play adventures to find out!

My kids had a lot of fun playing around with the Playmates Toys we received while we watched the new episodes of VOLTRON Legendary Defender together as a family.  They pretended to act out the scenes with these toys as we watched the action unfold on the TV screen.  Playmates Toys VOLTRON Legendary Defender six inch basic action figure collection is durably constructed as my kids tossed and threw them about our house and dropped the toys a few times too but they've yet to break.  Available in the assortment are the Blue, Red, Black, Green and Yellow lions featured in the Netflix show, each sold individually, plus a monster they face off against called Myzax.  These lions do not combine though to create a Voltron toy though.  The toy line also includes two 6" variations of the Voltron robot as individual action figures.  One wields a sword and shield while the other has a shooting lion fist action feature to it.

We received a Green Lion -- Guardian of the Forest mech that my son has been playing with quite a bit since we he got his hands on it.  The Green Lion's legs have basic articulation so kids can position them in a variety of poses to pretend leaping or striking its paws at an opponent.  The mouth also opens and closes plus there is a "vine beam" that shoots a plastic bolt to imitate one of the lion's special powers from the television show.  There isn't much force from the item flying out to present a danger but it still will hurdle a few feet so I wouldn't advise looking straight into the mouth with either of your eyes. To activate the missile launching feature just pull back on the shield emblem on the lion's back causing the vine beam to fire so kids can imagine wrapping up an evil adversary.

 

Playmates Toys also sent a Basic Voltron Lion Attack action figure our way.  My daughter has really been playing with this toy a lot.  It is a 6" action figure that is the same size as the basic collection lion toys that in the show streamed on Netflix merge to create it. While it is obviously not to scale, it still portrays the five lions merged together as the robotic warrior Voltron.  A child can imagine the adventures of the giant robot while playing with this toy in the palm of his or her hand. This hand held sized version of Voltron provides plenty of imaginative play punch for kids to have countless hours of fun with it.  It is a great size for storing around the house or taking along with your child while the family is on the go without having to worry about putting away or packing up some giant toy.

This toy has a head and waist that swivels plus it has joints in the knees and elbows so kids can position the arms and legs so that Voltron is in action poses.  The action figure also has a shooting fist feature.  Kids can squeeze the toy's legs to launch a representation of the Green Lion's head which makes up Voltron's left arm.  As with the individual Green Lion toy that is available from Playmates, there isn't a lot of power behind the projectile but it still flies far enough you don't want to aim it straight at anyone's eyes within a few feet of the toy.  Also you absolutely don't want to lose the plastic Green Lion Missile because than Voltron is missing its left hand and the representation of one of the five lions that merge together to create the robot warrior.

 

 Playmates Toys VOLTRON Legendary Defender basic action figure collection is screen accurate to the television show characters, durably constructed, conveniently sized for playing with and priced affordably to collect.  As I've mentioned my kids have really enjoyed playing with these toys that are recommended for children 4 years old and up.  For more information about Playmates Toys VOLTRON Legendary Defender basic action figure collection, please CLICK HERE.

Moto Racer 4

** A Geek Daddy received the featured product for free to review **

Moto Racer the popular motorcycle racing video game franchise from the late '90s is making a comeback with an updated version for a new generation of players on Sony Playstation and Microsoft XBOX home entertainment consoles.  MOTO RACER 4 is being released for the XBOX ONE and PLAYSTATION 4 video game consoles on January 24, 2017 but the video game's publisher MICROIDS provided it to my kids in advance to try out and they've really been enjoying themselves playing it.  Spectacular graphics make viewing the race courses within this video game just as much fun as the aspect of striving to have the fastest time steering your virtual motorcycle through challenges as you compete in the game.   These great visual elements combined with advanced computer processing that allows players to experience a 60 images per second frame rate enhance the simulated feeling of riding a motorcycle in this arcade style game.

While MOTO RACER 4 provides a great virtual motorcycle racing experience it isn't a complex, in-depth simulation full of difficult control features to learn and master making it a great video game that a family can play together.  A control knob steers your bike left and right, a button controls the gas, another the brake and another jumps and tricks....simple as that!  Within 5 minutes my 8 year old twins were racing each other like two kids who had already earned their drivers licenses.  Soon my wife and I joined in and everyone was having fun seeing who would win the bragging rights for being the best racer in the family playing the video game.  MOTO RACER 4 has a split screen feature that lets you race head to head against someone in the same room or an online feature where 2 - 10 players can join in to race against one another at the same time.  Players can also participate in solo matches where they are pitted again AI (artificial intelligence) opponents.

My kids really like that there are a variety of colorful characters to choose playing as in the game with each one having unique outfits and traits.  One character may be better at handling the bike making it easier to steer while racing but may be slower than the opponents on the track putting you at a disadvantage.  On the other hand, another character might be able to go really really fast but isn't as adept at handling corners on the track. and may be more likely to crash letting a slower racer pass you by.  Picking a character that best fits your own game playing style adds a bit of strategy to your races.  A nice touch is there are plenty of female characters available to select from so this isn't a completely guy focused game which my daughter really appreciated.

Another nice feature our family really enjoyed is the ability to either race on asphalt on a motorcycle or go off road to race dirt bikes.  With the dirt bikes there are lots of jumps and stunts you can do while with the motorcycles you'll be challenged weaving through cars and trucks as there can be traffic on the road.  Whether racing on asphalt or dirt there are several competition modes to choose from:

KING OF THE HILL -- each rider starts with the same time on the clock.  As time runs down for the leader the other racers get extra turbo speed.  The player in the lead when the clock reaches zero wins the race.

LAST MAN STANDING -- the last player to pass each checkpoint on the race course is eliminated.

SURVIVAL -- the race starts with a minimal amount of time on the clock.  Each time a player passes a checkpoint time is added to the clock.  In single player mode the goal is to survive for a specific length of time.  In multi-player mode it is to be the last racer with time left on his or her clock.

CATCH UP -- Your opponents start the race with a head start and you must finish the race in first place.

WOLF PACK -- You start the race with a head start and must maintain it without being passed by an opponent.

GOLDEN HELMET --   Competitors must earn the one golden helmet up for grabs during the race.  To do this, they must be first to go past the initial checkpoint.  Once a player is wearing the golden helmet if another player knocks against them while racing that opponent gets the helmet.  If a player wearing the helmet crashes or falls off their bike the golden helmet is transported to the next checkpoint where the first player to reach the spot gets it.  The player wearing the golden helmet crossing the finish line wins the race.

Of course in addition to these special modes, players can also just compete in a normal race where the fastest person to complete their laps and cross the finish line first wins.

MOTO RACER 4's non-violent game play and simple controls make it a great game for children and parents to play together.  The game's multitude of vibrant courses that are as fun to explore as to race through, its numerous competition modes that provide a variety of challenges to players, and the ability for each competitor to have its own unique sense of style and racing skills combine to provide  a family with hours of entertainment having fun together playing this video game. MOTO RACER 4 definitely gets  A Geek Daddy nod of approval for being a great kid-friendly video game to play!