You never know who may be reading your blog? A mystery package arrived at our doorstep from Amazon. They'd read ageekdaddy.com post about how my kids sleep away summer camp experience had been cancelled due to the pandemic. So they sent some goodies our way to put some smiles on my kids faces!
Delivering smiles Amazon.com surprised our family with the new Ticket to Ride board game that lets you play with Alexa. They sent along an echo dot that provides an audio guided tour of the destinations featured in this edition of the Ticket to Ride game plus even lets you play against Alexa the voice-controlled artificial intelligence virtual assistant created by Amazon.
Ticket to Ride is a cross-country train adventure in which players collect and play matching train cards to claim railway routes connecting cities through North America. Connect cities, monopolize train routes and complete destination tickets to become the Railroad Baron that wins the game! The game is meant for 2-6 players and takes 30 to 60 minutes to play.
My daughter is super excited about the Sand Art kit that Amazon also sent to us. With 7 colors of sand and 10 unique bottle designs this is sure to provide some summer fun. The kids are looking forward to designing their own sand art to decorate their rooms with a personal touch.
Also included in our Delivering Smiles package was a scavenger hunt activity book and a kids guide for exploring nature. Two nice book to capture their attention during the summer break from school. Amazon also provided an exploring nature activity kit that included a backpack, binoculars, bug collecting tools, a compass, whistle and more.
Thanks for delivering some smiles to our house Amazon.com! This dad blogger appreciates your kindness and my kids are excited to have some fun with all these goodies.
Amazon is debuting a new original animated kids series, Niko and the Sword of Light, on Prime Video which can be streamed to televisions, computers and a variety of mobile devices beginning July 21, 2017. My eight year old twins had a chance to watch the 13 episode first season of Niko and the Sword of Light before its official release courtesy of Amazon.com and they were thrilled by it. The story takes place in a once peaceful world full of fantastic creatures that has been enveloped for centuries by the dark magic of the evil sorcerer Nar Est. He has transformed many of the creatures into dangerous mutated monsters. The original rulers though have used their own magic to shrink the royal palace along with its inhabitants and place it within a snow globe-sized crystal that is impenetrable by Nar Est though the villain can literally hold them within his grasp.
While the palace's inhabitants can't leave the protection of the crystal globe, they have been utilizing magical energy to create "Champions" to fight Nar Est on their behalf out in the world. Once every generation a new powerful adult warrior is grown outside the crystal globe from a hidden chrysalis. He emerges with a sword made of light powered by a crystal shard with the mission of defeating Nar Est. This has gone on for hundreds of years and none of the Champions have yet been successful in overcoming the darkness plaguing the world.
The first episode of the series begins with an accident causing the newest Champion's chrysalis to open early. Instead of an adult emerging out comes a 10-year-old boy named Niko. The royal palace's council of elders is able to send Princess Lyra to accompany and guide this boy in the world but doesn't have the power to bring her back within their protective enclave. They hope she can protect the boy long enough for him to grow up to be the Champion who finally defeats the evil sorcerer. The series follows the exploits of Niko, Princess Lyra and a cast of crazy critters that join them as sidekicks as they traverse the world hoping to reverse the darkness created by Nar Est.
Will Niko be able to free his people and return the world to light? You'll have to tune in to find out by streaming season one's episodes of Niko and the Sword of Light from Amazon's Prime Video service.
My son said the show was "Amazing!" He particularly likes seeing Niko undo Nar Est's magical curses on monsters with his light sword and seeing what the animal freed from the sorcerer's darkness looks like. My daughter on the other hand likes checking out Nar Est's mutants and guessing what animals have been combined to create the monsters that Niko faces off against. One of her favorites was a giant mutant that combined a bull with a spider.
While this is a children's show and my own kids love it, be cautious about allowing preschoolers to watch it. Niko and the Sword of Light is a combination of Dungeons and Dragons with Pokemon. There are lots of adorable creatures in the show but also some really menacing monsters in it that include flying centipedes, three headed hyenas and the giant mutant spider bull I earlier mentioned. I could see both of my twins having nightmares after watching some of these episodes if they were a few years younger; but they've both thoroughly enjoyed the show at the age they are at now. In my opinion Niko and the Sword of Light really is a show more geared for elementary school aged kids. This is one of those show's you're going to have to make a parental determination about whether it is a good fit for your own particular child when dealing with younger children.
Niko and the Sword of Light is full of wonderful imagery. They really did a great job with the animation! Inspired by a motion comic app created by Imaginism Studios and StudioNX available on iTunes and GooglePlay, Amazon ordered a 22-minute pilot episode in 2015. The pilot was an incredible success winning a Daytime Emmy Award for "Outstanding Children's Animated Program" in 2016 spurring Amazon to then ordered a full season of the show that is debuting on its streaming service beginning Friday, July 21st. You can also get a FREE digital Niko and the Sword of Light comic book that will be available on Comixology (also owned by Amazon) in conjunction with the animated show's release date. An Amazon Prime membership is necessary to view the full first season of Niko and the Sword of Lightthough the first episode is currently FREE to watch without a subscription.
Niko and the Sword of Light has earned A GEEK DADDY nod of approval for its originality, energetic flair, great animation style, and most importantly because my kids delighted in watching it.
There's been a heist and it is up to you to track down all the stolen gold in the newest addition to the popular Talking Tom and Friends mobile app video game franchise. Talking Tom Gold Run, from Outfit7, begins with a robbery causing the players to run as fast as possible to retrieve the fallen gold bars, dodge obstacles and collect rewards. Each component of the game allows players to "Go for the Gold" as they help Talking Tom and Friends utilize the gold they've collected to build their dream homes. Featuring seven worlds to unlock, as a player progresses in building his or her character's house new building upgrades, characters, and running segments become available within the game.
With Talking Tom and Friends apps reaching more than 4.5 billion downloads worldwide you know Outfit7 is doing something right when it designs these video games for mobile devices. For example, Talking Tom Gold Run expands beyond the standard mechanics of a runner game by giving players a reason to run in the dream home construction aspect of the game. Vibrant graphics combined with intricately designed levels don't just provide for fun game play but also allow players to experience an ongoing story through the eyes of Talking Tom and the gang.
"Talking Tom Gold Run draws the player in with an interactive storyline, top-notch graphics and iconic characters that users have come to know and love," founder and CEO of Outfit7 told A Geek Daddy. "We guarantee the gamer will never get bored with so many unique worlds and segments to unlock."
Talking Tom Gold Run is FREE to download on GooglePlay Store, Apple App Store, Windows Store, and Amazon. It does include in-app purchase options so if your kids are playing make sure to keep your parental control feature activated on the mobile devices just to make sure mom and dad are approving of any purchases. The game also contains social features which allows players to connect with friends through Facebook and share high scores.
** I am sharing this post as part of a Bloggin' Mamas Social Good Campaign, and was not compensated for doing so **
A Geek Daddy is joining with our friends the Bloggin’ Mamas to support the Ad Council and The Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) by sharing the word about Child Passenger Safety Week (September 13-19, 2015) and National Seat Check Saturday (September 19, 2015). Did you know that motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death for children age 1 to 13 within the United States? Stats show that every 33 seconds there is an automobile crash which includes a child under 13 as a passenger in one or more of the involved vehicles. That is why it is so important for children to be properly seated within a moving vehicle.
One of the goals of Child Passenger Safety Week is to encourage parents and caregivers to visit SaferCar.gov/TheRightSeat to determine if their child is in the right seat for his or her age and size and to locate a car inspection event in their area. Additionally, parents and caregivers are urged to register their child's car seat with the manufacturer so as to be informed in the event of a recall.
To help promote awareness on this topic and encourage parents to make sure their children are riding in #therightseat, A Geek Daddy and the Bloggin' Mamas are sponsoring this $100 Amazon Giftcard Giveaway! Giveaway begins September 10th, 2015 at 12:01 am and ends September 24th, 2015 at 11:59 pm EST. Open to US residents age 18 and older. Winner will be selected by Random.org and be notified by email. See Giveaway Tools widget below for full terms & conditions.
Disclosure: Bloggin’ Mamas is hosting this giveaway and coordinating prize fulfillment. Element Associates, The Ad Council and the NHTSA are in no way responsible for the giveaway, and only provided the above content to be distributed in the form of a PSA.
Here are some Car Seat Safety Tips:
Find a car seat that fits your child. As children grow, how they sit in your car will change. Make sure the car seat you purchase is designed to fit your child's current size and age and allows some room to grow.
Not all car seats
fit in all vehicles so test the car seat you plan to buy to make sure it
fits well in your vehicle. Before putting your child in a car seat, read the manufacturer's instructions so you know how your car seat works and how to install it.
Before
putting your child in a car seat, read the manufacturer’s instructions
so you know how your car seat works and how to install it
All-in-One
car seats offer you the advantage of using the same seat for the
following positions: rear-facing, forward-facing with harness, then
booster. These seats typically have higher height and weight limits for
the rear-facing position, allowing you to keep your child rear-facing
for a longer period of time, which physicians and safety experts
strongly recommend.
Remember,
the best car seat is the one that fits your child properly, is easy to
use, fits in your vehicle correctly, and which you’ll use every time.
The information here can help you choose the right seat for your child. Keep in mind that:
Children ages 1-3 should be kept rear-facing as long as they fit the car seat.
Keep your child in the back seat at least through age 12.
Be
certain you've installed your car seat correctly by having it checked
at an inspection station or by a Certified Child Passenger Safety
Technician. Bring the car seat instructions AND the vehicle owner’s
manual with you to a seat check appointment!
Here Are Some Car Seat Installation Resources:
If a car seat is not installed correctly, your child's safety could be compromised. Every car seat has different installation instructions. You can find resources and tips here to help you get “the right fit” on your car seats: www.safercar.gov/parents/RightFit
Free Car Seat Inspections: During Child Passenger Safety Week, there will be events across the country where Certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians will inspect car seats and show parents and caregivers how to correctly install and use them. In most cases, this service is free of charge. Locate a car seat check event here: www.safercar.gov
Have more questions? Join the Child Passenger Safety Week Twitter Chat on 9/16/15 2p-3p EST. Follow @NHTSAgov and #therightseat.
In Nickelodeon's newest live-action comedy series, GAME SHAKERS, which premieres on Saturday, September 12, 2015 at 8:30 pm (ET / PT) a pair of 12-year-old girls from Brooklyn become unlikely moguls when their school project becomes the most popular mobile game online. Game Shakers was created by multi-Emmy nominated writer and producer Dan Schneider (iCarly, Victorious, Henry Danger) and revolves around middle school students Babe (Cree Cicchino) and Kenzie (Madisyn Shipman) that create a mobile game named SKY WHALE which quickly becomes a world-wide sensation.
Tying the show to today's kids' love of gaming and apps, the games created by Babe and Kenzie in the series will be made available to play on Nick.com and through the Nick app. The first game to be released will be Babe and Kenzie's initial creation on the show, SKY WHALE, which is featured in the premiere episode. SKY WHALE will be available for FREE in September to download via the Apple, Google, and Amazon app stores. This game challenges players to bounce through the sky and to keep a narwhal up in the air using clouds and crazy objects to go higher and farther, even into outer space or on an underwater adventure.
Game Shakers' premiere episode will also feature cameo appearances from YouTube pop culture comedians and gaming entertainers including GloZell, Lasercorn and ProJared. The debut episode of Game Shakers will be simulcast on cable television on Nickelodeon, TeenNick, and Nicktoons plus will be available at the same time on Nick.com and on the Nick app. Following this linear debut, the premiere episode will also be available for FREE on iTunes for one week.
In the premiere episode, after an app they create for their school science fair project turns into the biggest mobile game of the year, Babe and Kenzie use their profits to start Game Shakers, a super-cool gaming company based in Brooklyn, New York. Not realizing the game illegally sampled a song from superstar rapper Double G ( '90s Nick icon Kel Mitchell ) turn the performer from an antagonist into their new business partner. As part of the deal, Double G's son, Triple G ( Benjamin 'Lil P-Nut' Flores ), becomes the company's "gaming consultant." Hijinks follow as this team works to make Game Shakers a huge success and create their own gaming empire.
Dark Horse Comics which published Star Wars titles from 1991 - 2014 and lost its license for the franchise this year is having their work redistributed now through Marvel. The Dark Horse Star Wars titles have now been re-branded "Marvel" logo and a "Legends" banner which differentiates these non-canon titles versus the brand new comic books from Marvel debuting this year which are considered part of the official extended Star Wars story under Disney's new franchise management plan. Now consumers can purchase the original Marvel Star Wars comic book series (1977-1987), the Dark Horse publications, and the new original series Marvel is now creating in digital format from the Comixology website. Previously the older publications had been available through Dark Horse's own online marketplace www.digital.darkhorse.com.
People who have purchased Star Wars comic books in a digital format from Dark Horse in the past can still access those titles through their website or mobile apps but can't purchase any additional Star Wars publications from them since their license ended at the end of the year. If you bought Star Wars digital comic books from Dark Horse in their end of the year fire sale right before they lost the license in December 2014, don't despair because you can still access them (I flipped through a few of mine online today with no problem) and you still got a good deal. I purchased "Han Solo at Stars End" for .99 cents from Dark Horse in December and it is now being sold for $4.99 on Comixology and I purchased "Star Wars: A Long Time Ago Volume 3" for $4.99 and it is now being sold for $19.99. Since I tend to read my digital comic books on my iPhone and iPad, I actually prefer the Dark Horse app because it provides a better ios user experience than Comixology does since it was bought by Amazon.com and limited its interface with Apple devices to support its new parent company's Kindle devices.
If you didn't pick up the Dark Horse titles last year though, they haven't vanished and are still being published just by a different company through a different website. Marvel also has a good relationship with having its new titles available digitally through Comixology so you now will be able to pick out the new stories featuring the Star Wars universe as they come out along with the Avengers, Captain America, Guardians of the Galaxy, Spiderman, the X-man and other superhero titles available via the site.
My 5 year old son had been sneaking out of his room after bedtime and
slipping into bed with my wife and I in the middle of the night lately. To help alleviate the problem we gave the Mighty Lion from Dream Team Pets a try to see if that might help him stay asleep throughout the
night in his own room. My son really enjoys watching Detroit Lions games with me so we thought that was the best selection out of the Dream Team Pets line-up which includes a playful puppy, magical cat and the mighty lion. These aren't just toys though they are part of a program that is aimed to help children sleep through the night in their own rooms.
The way the program works is you explain to your child that they are supposed to train their Dream Team Pet to sleep through the night without running into mom and dad's room. You are provided with a book to read together with your child and their new pet that explains how they need to work together to sleep through the night. It also advises that the pet is strong and brave enough to scare off any monsters that might be creeping around in the night. A certificate is provided with star stickers to place on it each night they sleep through the night together. Parents are supposed to fill out the Certificate of Achievement and present it to the child and their Dream Team Pet when they've earned enough stickers to demonstrate they've slept alone in their room for ten nights. The goal is that by the tenth night it has become a routine that will become the child's regular behavior.
We've personally had some decent results with the program and while I can't say yet it has eliminated the problem there has been a noticeable improvement. My son takes a great deal of pride and is really excited when he earns a sticker. The Mighty Lions has also become one of my son's best pals, not just at bedtime but all day long.
A Geek Daddy Blog readers receive a 30% off discount on Dream Team Pets from Amazon.com if you use the promo code: USFGUIDE. CLICK HERE to pick one out for your child.
The only problem we had with the Dream Team Pets was that I didn't pre-screen the bedtime reading book before I started reading it to my son. It really has a focus on the pet scaring away monsters that may lurk under the bed, in the closet or in a child's dreams. I didn't really appreciate that because "monsters" weren't an issue until this book made him think about them and it really highlighted a scary aspect of sleeping alone. So it actually created somewhat of a new problem for us for a few nights. He soon forgot about the monsters as I didn't read the book again and made up my own stories about not being scared at night that tied into his sleeping with his new buddy the Mighty Lion. Now if monsters are an issue for your child it is a nice little book to read to them but in our case my son was mostly scared about being alone in the dark. I felt the book could have highlighted other issues beyond being scared
of monsters to address childhood fears of sleeping through the night. So I'd just recommend reading the book by yourself before reading it to your child to see if it is a good fit for your particular situation.
The Dream Team Pets provided us with a structured child sleep training program so my wife and I didn't need to create our own ad hoc solution to a problem. Since he's been excited every morning to get his special sticker, has developed a bond with his toy, and most importantly slept through the night in his very own bed the last five nights, this product gets A Geek Daddy nod of approval.
At $19.99 Dream Team Pets are a reasonably priced option to assist with getting your child to sleep on their own through the night. Plus you can get an additional 30% off by using the promo code USFGUIDE and purchasing through Amazon.com.
DISCLAIMER: the story about my son not sleeping through
the night is true and the opinions are my own. A Geek Daddy Blog did not receive financial compensation for
this post but did receive a complimentary Dream Team Pet for reviewing the product on this blog through the U.S. Family Guide Blogger Program. A positive review was not required for our participation in this marketing campaign.
My 5 year old son has been sneaking out of his room after bedtime and slipping into bed with my wife and I in the middle of the night the last couple of weeks. So we're going to give a product called Dream Team Pets a try to see if that might help him stay asleep throughout the night in his own room.
Photos provided by Dream Team Pets
According to information provided by the manufacturer of Dream Team Pets these stuffed animals are more than just a bedtime toy - they are an innovative kid's sleep aid that helps end the bedtime battles of trying to keep your child in bed. Developed with the help of a pediatrician, Dream Team Pets bedtime routine empowers kids as they reward their Pet with stickers and a certificate for a good's night sleep. If the child wakes up from a nightmare, there are no hard feelings because the responsibility is on their Pet, but when they successfully sleep in their own bed, the kids feel a sense of accomplishment as they reward their Dream Team Pet. What makes this unique is that the kids think they are training their Pets, but really they are sleep training themselves!
Since my son and I enjoy watching Detroit Lions football games together we're going to go with the Dream Team Pet Lion and see if it helps with his sleeping through the night.
A Geek Daddy Blog readers receive a 30% off discount on Dream Team Pets from Amazon.com if you use the promo code: USFGUIDE. CLICK HERE to pick one out for your child. The options to choose from are a cat, dog, or lion.
DISCLAIMER: the story about my son not sleeping through the night is true and my own personal situation but most of the information provided in this post was supplied directly from Dream Team Pets through the U.S. Family Guide program that A Geek Daddy Blog is a part of. A Geek Daddy Blog did not receive financial compensation for this post but is receiving a complimentary Dream Team Pet for a future review post regarding the product on this blog.
My children really wanted to go see the animated movie RIO 2 at the movie theater but unfortunately we just weren't able to get out to see it. So they are excited that the movie is coming out on Blu-ray and DVD on July 15,2014. The last few days they've been getting really excited about seeing the movie when it comes out on home video!
We've been having some fun while waiting for the RIO 2 Blu-ray/DVD release by enjoying some of the soccer activity sheets Fox Home Entertainment has provided while we've been tuned in to the big futbol tournament going on in Brazil [CLICK HERE TO CHECK THEM OUT - HAVE SOME SOCCER FUN WITH THE CHARACTERS FROM RIO 2] and demonstrating our creative and artistic sides with some coloring pages based on the movie. I've included these free coloring pages at the bottom of this post so everyone can enjoy them.
WIN A RIO 2 MOVIE PRIZE PACK
UPDATE (7/17/2014) Congratulations to Chase M. from Houston, Texas who won the RIO 2 Movie Prize Pack. If you didn't win stay tuned for future giveaways on A GEEK DADDY BLOG.
To celebrate the July 15th release of RIO 2, in addition to providing us with activity sheets and coloring pages our friends at Fox Home Entertainment will be giving one luck A GEEK DADDY BLOG reader a RIO 2 Blu-Ray/DVD/Digital Download prize pack. For a chance to win the RIO 2 movie, you can submit the following entries by e-mail or twitter. You can do either for one entry or both for 2 entries. Contest is open only to US & Canadian residents 18 and over.
ENTRY 1: Email thegeekdaddy [at] yahoo [dot] com with the name of the rain forest where RIO 2 takes place and the name of the country where it is located along with your name, address and phone number. Please include RIO MOVIE CONTEST in your email's subject line.
ENTRY 2: Tweet the following " I entered the @Geeky_Dad #RIO2INSIDERS Movie Contest at www.ageekdaddy.blogspot.com " Entries by twitter you must be following @Geeky_Dad so that we can direct message you if you are selected as the giveaway winner.
All valid entries will be assigned a number and one random entry will be chosen to receive the RIO 2 movie combo pack. You must be a US resident to enter over the age of 18. For a chance to win submit your entries before Tuesday, July 15, 2014 @ 11:59pm EST. I will select the random winner on Wednesday, July 16. A Geek Daddy Blog will be responsible for selecting the winner of this contest, but FOX HOME ENTERTAINMENT is responsible for providing the prize and its delivery to the winner. By participating in this contest you waive any liability towards A Geek Daddy Blog or its publisher that may arise from your involvement with this promotion. Only one entrant per mailing address per A GEEK DADDY BLOG giveaway. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you will not be eligible to win again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification. P.O. Boxes are not allowed as mailing addresses for this contest. E-mails collected are only used to notify winners and are deleted after the conclusion of this promotion. E-mails collected are not used for any marketing purposes. By submitting an entry you allow us to post your name on this blog and its social media channels announcing you as the winner if you are selected to receive the giveaway prize. Normal policy is to post the first name, last initial and state where the winner resides in such announcements.
In this sequel, the RIO adventure continues when Blu, Jewel and their three kids take a walk on the wild side and embark on a colorful, comical, music-filled journey through the Amazon. As Blu tries to fit into his new surroundings, he goes beak-to-beak with the villainous Nigel and meets the most fearsome adversary of all ... his FATHER-IN-LAW!!!
In addition to a great family movie, RIO 2 on Blu-ray provides loads of extra bonus features plus 2 downloadable bonus songs from the movie's soundtrack: "I Will Survive" and "Poisonous Love" both performed by Gabi (Kristin Chenoweth) and Nigel (Jemaine Clement). The DVD also has some bonus features but not as many as the Blu-ray. The Blu-ray is also available in 3D though that version is not included with our giveaway promotion.
RIO 2 COLORING PAGES
I hope everyone enjoys these coloring sheets and adds RIO 2 to their home theater library...this is really a great family movie for adults and children to enjoy together.
DISCLAMER:I did not receive financial compensation for hosting this contest or writing about the movie, but as a member of the FOX HOME ENTERTAINMENT INSIDERS bloggers team I do receive a complimentary review copies of the movies that I post about and host contests for on this blog. The opinions expressed in FOX HOME INSIDERS blog reviews are my own and I am not obligated to write a positive review.
Neil Diamond’s
music has bridged generations. I
remember as a kid my grandparents listening to his music on their record player
and going to his concerts while I have to admit I have a few of his songs on my
mp3 player, my wife & I went to see
him in concert ourselves a few years ago, and that SAVING SILVERMAN is one of
my favorite movie comedies. In fact just
the other day while stopped at a light driving home from work I was between a
restored classic car with a guy looked like in his Sixties blasting “Cherry
Cherry” and a Ford Fusion with some Twenty-somethings blaring “Holly Holly”…it
was like a Neil Diamond Fest on Woodward Avenue! Now Neil is using his music to bring together
the Country with his new tune “Freedom
Song”.
Neil Diamond
debuted his new song Freedom Song (They’ll Never Take Us Down) over the Fourth
of July with performances at the Washington Nationals baseball game and on PBS’s
annual musical special: A CAPITOL FOURTH.
Check out his performance:
You can
download the song on iTunes & Amazon for $1.29 with 100% of the purchase
price being donated equally to benefit ONE FUND BOSTON and THE WOUNDED WARRIORPROJECT. Written, recorded, and produced
by Diamond in the wake of this past April’s Boston Marathon bombings, this new
and original song was released by Columbia Records. All participating parties involved in the
making and release of this song have donated their time, expenses and proceeds.
ONE FUND BOSTON
was created organization by Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick and Boston
Mayor Thomas Menino t to ensure a legitimate fundraising & support organization
in assisting the victims of the Boston Marathon bombing. THE WOUNDED WARRIORS PROJECT provides programs and services to severely
injured military service members during the time between active duty and their transition
to civilian life.
