September 9th is National Care Bears Share Your Care Day

As a Care Bears brand ambassador, in honor of Friday, September 9th being #ShareYourCare Day, A Geek Daddy is encouraging our blog readers and social media followers to do a nice deed for someone else just to be kind.  Simple things like treating a friend to lunch or helping an elderly neighbor with some chores may not seem like much to you but could have a big impact on the beneficiary of your kindness.  With Share Your Care Day as an inspiration, try and do something nice for others throughout the month of September then share your good deeds with the Care Bears on social media using the hashtag #CareALotChallenge to encourage others to follow your example.

The Care Bears want their fans everywhere to do something nice for someone all month long via #CareALotChallenge,  It could be simple acts such as sharing a toy with a sibling or taking out the trash for dad.  Bigger inspirations could also involve acts of philanthropy like planting a tree, serving lunch at a homeless shelter or running a 5K for a charity. Care Bears hope to embolden the nation to be kind, think of others and #ShareYourCare every day.

The Care Bears brand is all about pos­i­tiv­ity, car­ing and shar­ing.  Every day throughout September, one shar­ing or car­ing chal­lenge will be posted by Care Bears on their Facebook and Twitter pages with the #Care­ALotChal­lenge hash­tag. Chal­lenges include acts like shar­ing a high-five or a hug and much more. With the #Care­ALotChal­lenge, you can add a lit­tle extra happy to the world! It’s to show appre­ci­a­tion for the peo­ple you Care-a-Lot about! Print this calendar to track your #CareALotChallenge moments and watch online for ideas and ways to #ShareYourCare, including doing something special on Share Your Care Day!

You can also get in the spirit of the day by participating in the Care Bears #CareALotChallenge Twitter Party hosted by A Geek Daddy's friends the @BlogginMamas on September 8, 2016 to help kick off Share Your Care Day.  Dur­ing the Twit­ter Party there will be a chance to win one of the fol­low­ing prizes by answer­ing var­i­ous trivia ques­tions about the Care Bears. Win­ners will be selected at ran­dom from all eli­gi­ble entries.

Four (4) Care Bears Care Pack­ages (ARV $175, 1 per win­ner) Care Bears Care Pack­ages Include:

• Just Play — Jumbo Plush 
• Van­dor — Shop­ping Tote
• Just Play — 3 Blind Bags
• Ben­don — Art Set
• Montco Crafts — Pop Outz
• Lion­s­gate — Bearied Trea­sure DVD
• Good2­Grow — Juice and Care Bears Top­per
• Net­flix — 1 year sub­scrip­tion

Plus there will be a GRAND PRIZE consisting of One (1) Care Bears Care Pack­age and a $100 Gift Card (ARV $275).  To be eligible for the prizes you need to RSVP and participate in the party using  #CareALotChallenge.

So how are you going the #ShareYourCare on September 9th and throughout the month?

Showing Dad CARES with a Care Bear

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

My daughter never gets in trouble and always does wonderful in her studies at school but I hate to say she doesn't always get the recognition for those efforts from me she should. That really isn't fair so I made an extra special effort on a Saturday morning to spend some quality father-daughter time with her to reinforce just how proud she makes me and show how much I care.  The morning started with my driving her to ballet where at the end of the lesson all the parents who were there got a first glimpse of her class's dance routine for the upcoming recital.  Her class received a grand ovation from all the parents. Then I surprised her with a trip to the Build-A-Bear Workshop so she could get a CARE BEAR.

Of course she picked out the pink one - Cheer Bear.

She pushed down on the pedal at the stuffing machine as hard as she could so that her Care Bear could be ready as fast as it could to get a big hug from her. The little skit the staff had her do to put the heart in her bear put a big smile on my little girl's face as she whispered to me "I hope the magic works."  The way she has been hugging that Care Bear since we got it makes me believe it did.

Then we made our way over to the Birth Certificate counter to make sure that all the paperwork was in order for our Build-A-Bear adoption of Cheer Beer.  This process not only provided a nice personalized keepsake to include with her bear but also registered the stuffed animal in the Find-A-Bear ID tracking system. If you ever happen to find a lost Build-A-Bear stuffed animal somewhere by filling this form out and sending it to the company they will return it to the owner based upon the info compiled when a Birth Certificate is completed and a unique bar code that is included inside the stuffing of each bear.

After wrapping up our visit to the Build-A-Bear Workshop, my daughter, I and Cheer Bear went out to enjoy a nice lunch where my daughter chatted with me about all the things that are important in her life right now -- dance class and swimming lessons, her school BFFs, and whether I'd bought tickets yet to the upcoming Daddy - Daughter Dance.

A Geek Daddy is a Care Bears #ShareYourCare Brand Ambassador.  As part of that blogger program, I occasionally receive Care Bears promotional information and products to review and share with blog readers.  A Geek Daddy does not receive any financial compensation for its participation in this brand ambassador program.

Twigtale Books: Sharing with Care Bears

**A Geek Daddy was provided the featured product for free** 

My daughter in first grade has been given an ongoing homework assignment of reading 30 minutes per day after school.  It has been challenging to find plenty of books to keep her interested in continuously reading plus that are also at her beginning reading level.  So it was nice that as a Care Bears brand ambassador, A Geek Daddy was provided the opportunity to review the new "Sharing With Care Bears" personalized book from Twigtale.com.  The Twigtale service provides a soft cover book with a themed story template, like the Care Bears, and lets people personalize it by inserting pictures and customizing some of the text.

The service is really easy and convenient to use.  Just visit the Twigtale website and select the story template you want to use which include Doc McStuffins Big Sibling Book, Everybody Gets Scared, Me & Daddy, Learning To Stand Tall & Act Brave Versus Bullying, and Sharing With Care Bears, among other topics.  Themes include safety teaching stories, identity and self esteem, ages & stages, family changes, learning, and well being.  There is also a category where you can completely create your own book from scratch. 

As a parent of two children that have severe food allergies, I was pleased to see that Twigtale has partnered with FARE (Food Allergy Research & Education, a leading non-profit that advocates for the 15 million Americans that have food allergies) in creating a personalized book to help parents explain specific food allergies to children.  "My Food Allergy" is personalized with photos and specific details about a child's allergy to make it an engaging and effective way to help children understand what it means to have a food allergy and how to stay safe.  Plus a portion of this particular book's sale is donated back to FARE to help support its mission of finding a cure for food allergies and helping keep individuals with food allergies safe.  Based upon our family's satisfaction with Sharing with Care Bears, we are probably going to go back to Twigtale to create My Food Allergy books for each of our twins who suffer from life-threatening peanut allergies.

Once you've selected your story template you are asked some questions based upon the theme of the book.  For the Care Bears it was really easy as they just wanted to know my child's name to insert periodically throughout the text of the story.  They also asked for a photo to use on the cover of the book.  You just need to upload a digital photo from your computer and you're all set.  Additionally there is an author designation which you can customize based upon who the book is from such as Mommy & Daddy, Grandma & Grandpa, Aunt Sue and Uncle Joe, and so on.

 

The website then allows you to flip through the pages of the book inserting additional pictures or editing text in specifically designated areas.  For example on the page below you could add a picture plus alter the text as desired where the story talks about who your child's best friends are.

Here's another example where you can add in another personalized picture and provide your own text describing the activities that your child likes to do with his or her best friends.  Sharing with Care Bears is 21 pages and provide the opportunity to add pictures and customize text within 6 of them. It's really easy peasy to put together.  Wow did I just say easy peasy?  You know I spend a lot of time around first graders don't you?!

As I mentioned the book was very easy and convenient to customize on the Twigtale website and it arrive at our doorstep lickety split.  We received our personalized Sharing with Care Bears book in the mail three days after we had ordered it.  My daughter has really been thrilled to have a Care Bears book that includes her in the story.  As parents, we really appreciate that the text is simple enough that early readers can easily read it on their own.  So not only has this book provided a nice story for my daughter to enjoy but it also has been a great aid in helping her practice her reading by allowing us to include it as part of her first grade reading assignment.

For more information about ordering your own personalized children's books, visit www.twigtale.com.  These books cost $20 plus shipping and handling.  They normally can be delivered within a week after an order has been placed.

DISCLAIMER:  As a Care Bear brand ambassador, A Geek Daddy blog received a complimentary Sharing with Care Bears book to review from Twigtale.  No financial compensation was provided.  The opinions expressed are my own.

Care Bears: Mystery in Care-a-Lot

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

Celebrate Halloween with the Care Bears by watching their Mystery in Care-a-Lot DVD with your little ones.  Enjoying this time of the year doesn't have to involve getting scared out of your socks to have a spooky good time.  As a Care Bears #ShareYourCare Ambassador, A Geek Daddy was provided the Halloween-themed DVD Mystery in Care-a-Lot to review and I can honestly say my twin 6 year olds thoroughly enjoyed watching it.  In fact after it was over they asked if they could watch it again!

The Care Bears: Mysteries in Care-a-Lot DVD consists of three episodes from the 2012 Care Bears television series Welcome To Care-a-Lot.   One of the stories focuses on nightmares, another on being scared of monsters, and the final adventure involves a wish leading to unwanted results.  All of them contain positive messages about dealing with fear and spreading good cheer.

In the first story "Nightbears", Sweat Dreams a Care Bear with the ability to bestow good dreams on all the residents of Care-a-Lot becomes possessed by the ghostly "plainbow."

The plainbow causes all of the Care Bears to begin having nightmares instead of pleasant dreams.  For example, Grumpy Bear finds himself locked in a dream where he is surrounded by pleasant smiling flowers singing happy songs.  To put it in a parent's perspective consider riding It's A Small World at Disney World over and over and over again and you can see the turmoil Grumpy is in.

The Care Bears work together to overcome the fear of these nightmares and use their abilities to create a rainbow that pushes the plainbow away curing Sweat Dreams of her curse.  With the plainbow chased away it is back to pleasant dreams for the Care Bears.

The next adventure is called "Sleuth of Bears" and involves the Care Bears being scared by the legend of the "Scare Bear."  When the details of a ghost story begin to occur in real life all of the Care Bears begin to let their imagination run wild and get spooked.  Tenderheart Bear tries to calm everyone down but than the Scare Bear actually appears and chases the Care Bears down!

The Care Bears using some common sense and detective skills overcome their fears of monsters and ghosts  to discover a long-held secret and a really naughty prank.  The story has a message of don't let superstitions, fears and your imagination get the best of you.

The DVD wraps up with "Welcome to Grump-a-Lot" that has a hastily made wish come true much to the chagrin of its maker.  A frustrated Grumpy Bear wishes that all of the Care Bears would just disappear.  Well that is what happens when a "grumpy storm" hits Care-a-Lot and blows away all of the Care Bears leaving Grumpy alone and realizing that you need to be careful what you wish for in life because it just may come true.  He than sets out to clean up the mess and get his friends back.  Does he succeed?  You'll have to watch the DVD to find out!



If you have younger children at home where you want enjoy Halloween as festive rather than scary occasion this DVD would be a good selection for the family to watch together.  My kids were giggling and chuckling through most of the DVD and they just adore the Care Bears.  There are some scenes though involving nightmares and the Care Bears being chased down by the Scare Bear that may be too intense for some toddlers and young preschoolers but for the most part the featured shows on the DVD are very lighthearted and cheery with more of spooky vibe than a scary tone.  Care Bears: Mystery in Care-a-Lot gets A Geek Daddy nod of approval because it was a Halloween themed show my kids really enjoyed and didn't end up keeping me up all night afterward having to deal with kids scared by nightmares.

The DVD is 66 minutes long and includes an ultraviolet digital download option so it can also be watched from a smart phone, tablet, laptop or personal computer. Care Bears: Mystery in Care-a-Lot retails for $9.29 on Amazon.com. Stay up to date on all the latest news about the #CareBears by visiting www.CareBears.com, following @CareBearsFriend on Twitter or liking the Care Bears Facebook page.

Dynamic Mom & Pop Duo Create HeroBoys Comics & Toys

In honor of National Share Your Care Day, A Geek Daddy wanted to share with our readers some information on a KICKSTARTER campaign by a dynamic mom & pop duo who are looking to make their vision of a super hero comic book and line of toys that is age appropriate for young children a reality.  Doesn't it seem like many of the comic books, movies, television shows and toys for our kids are just rehashing and recycling characters and stories from past generations?  Wouldn't it be nice to see some new original and fresh content that today's generation of kids can embrace and call its own with less violent themes and more of an emphasis on addressing life lessons and promoting values?  Do a good deed today and support this Kickstarter campaign that brings an action figure and comic book that celebrates children's sense of adventure, imaginations, and limitless potential to life.

Like many parents today, Crissi and Ed Boland struggled when they went shopping to find toys that their little boys both wanted to play with and that were useful with promoting the positive development of their young children in the years when they are so very impressionable.  So these entrepreneurial parents created the concept of the HeroBoys - a group of "ordinary" boys brought together to do good through super powers that have been bestowed upon them by a mysterious benefactor and mentor called The Gentleman.  The comic book will be a monthly serial which begins with the HeroBoys having to overcome the challenges facing a city that has been overcome by selfishness.  Each issue will feature a story that emphasizes positive messaging regarding life lessons and provide teachable moments for parents to discuss with their children. The Boland's also plan for a unique 18" plush/plastic combination action figure to go along with the comic books so that kids can play out the adventures of their favorite HeroBoys characters.

The HeroBoys character traits were designed from the Boland's parenting experiences dealing with their sons and the children they interact with at school and play.  From my own experiences as a parent, these HeroBoys really do seem to be relatable characters for the preschool and elementary school aged kids they are meant for. I also appreciate that these HeroBoys toys combine the comforting elements of plush doll with the articulation features of an action figure for children to play with.  From reading a preview of the first issue of the comic book it appeared to be well suited to be enjoyable for both early readers and young children who may need mom or dad to read it to them.

"We wanted these comics and toys to teach honesty, loyalty, humility, compassion, and diligence," Ed Boland communicated to A Geek Daddy.  "That concept may seem a little old-fashioned in today's culture that celebrates violence, narcissism, and a win-at-all-cost approach, but we think our kids could use a good, healthy dose of old-fashioned in their lives. With your support, we can bring a meaningful, thoughtful alternative into the unimaginative world of toys for boys."

Rewards for participating in the HeroBoys campaign range from a t-shirt/comic book combo for $25 to a Hero Starter Set which includes a one year monthly subscription to the comic book (print & digital editions), a t-shirt, matching cape & mask, and an 18" HeroBoy action figure.  Also note that the action figure pictured is a prototype and Ed told us that the final product will have a head sculpt that more accurately reflects the illustrated images of the HeroBoys from the comic book.  Hopefully if the initial launch of the comic book and toys is successful they'll be able to add some girl super heroes to the mix as well.

For more information, CLICK HERE to visit the HeroBoys Kickstarter campaign page.

September 9th is National Care Bears™ #ShareYourCare Day!

My wife grew up with a Care Bear as her favorite toy that she took everywhere with her which she named "Timmy" so it seems like fate that she married a guy whose family and friends use that as his nickname too.  With that association to the brand in mind, A Geek Daddy is especially proud to have been selected to serve as a Care Bears #ShareYourCare Ambassador by American Greetings.  I'm excited to announce that September 9, 2015 is National Care Bears #ShareYourCare Day!

What little ... or big  ... things  do you or your family do to help make a neighbor's day brighter, your community a bit nicer, or the world a better place? #ShareYourCare can be small, simple things like sharing a toy with your sibling, taking out the trash for your mom, or helping an older neighbor across the street. Or bigger things like planting a tree, or spending a day volunteering for a charity. Through this important movement, the Care Bears will inspire everyone to be kind, think of others and #ShareYourCare every day.

September 9th is National Care Bears #ShareYourCare Day!  We are asking that you join the Care Bears on that day in doing something nice for others.  With your help on that day, we can spread caring, sharing, love, friendship, acceptance, fun and happiness to those around us that day, and each and every day of the year! For example on September 9th, Care Bears is participating in an event helping 10-year old Zach Kaplan of #ZachKapCares and his mission to gift children in need with a soft bear to hug at night by donating 400 Care Bears plush to Leake & Watts, a  head start program serving New York City.

 #ShareYourCare can be small, simple things like sharing a toy with your sibling, taking out the trash for your mom, or helping an older neighbor across the street. Or bigger things like planting a tree, or spending a day volunteering for a charity. Through this important movement, the Care Bears will inspire everyone to be kind, think of others and #ShareYourCare every day.

How will your family #ShareYourCare on September 9th?  Take a moment to sign up as part of the official #ShareYouCareCrew via www.CareBearsShare.com where all of the amazing #ShareYourCare testimonials will be collected and later shared!