WHY YOU SHOULD GET YOUR KIDS READING MORE

It is a tale as old as time. Parents would read to their children nightly without fail. Times have changed though. Once when children would have asked for a story and their favorite book to be read, they are now grabbing a console or binge watching their favorite films or YouTube channel. 

That isn’t to say that reading to your children doesn’t and shouldn't still be an important feature within their lives and why you shouldn’t encourage independent reading as they get older. There are many reasons for your children to read. Here are some of the main reasons. 

Sparks Creativity & Imagination 

Unlike their digital counterparts, books don’t come with moving and animated visual aids. Whether you choose a classic or have a design one and use a company for custom printing, it is down to your child to take the words and build that image up in their mind’s eye. 

The ability to use imagination is a skill that can be carried through into their later life. Nurturing and encouraging them to use their imagination can change their childhood and shape their passions as they grow. It is fair to say that it is imaginary and the ability to visualize a concept that has influenced the world as we know it. Classic stories that are known and loved, your favorite car to even the technologies that are available today all started off based on the imagination of an individual. 

Improves Language & Speech 

Reading or encouraging your child to read, introduces them to a wide range of different words, writing formats, and ways to articulate a point or message. Whether they’re reading a book on their favorite superhero, Encanto, or reading something new each book and tale will be written differently. They will learn new words and learn the definition of them in context. If you are reading to children it allows them also to hear how you are pronouncing words increasing their vocabulary. 

Opens Doors for Conversation 

Reading is a pastime that can be enjoyed by all. No matter your age, you can enjoy sitting together, reading a book, and hearing and marveling at how the tale unfolds. You can discuss the characters, talk about the plot. Speak about your favorite parts. Hear and discuss what you think will happen next. There is no limit surrounding the conversations that you can have together. 

Creates a Shared Bond 

You can never have enough ways to bond with your children. They don’t remain small for long and as they grow and develop their own interests and hobbies you can find yourself no longer being the center of their universe. But, when you create and build together a love of books and reading you will have created a bond that will last the test of time and one that even when they are grown adults and are no longer living at home with you, you can still talk about discuss, and enjoy together.

DON'T IGNORE THESE COMMON HEALTH WARNINGS IN YOUR CHILDREN

As a parent, it is really important to make sure that you are doing all you can to look after your children’s health as best as you can. As well as ensuring that they are eating well, getting plenty of exercise and sleeping properly, you also need to think about some common health issues that might crop up, and know what to do about them.

Let's take a look at some of the common warning signs that your children might display from time to time. Each of these indicate that there is some kind of health issue going on for them, so they need to be paid attention to as soon as possible. Don't wait around to find the appropriate treatment for your child when it comes to these symptoms. 

Persistent Headache 

Everyone gets headaches from time to time, of course, but a persistent headache can be a huge warning sign that you need to pay close attention to and do something about as soon as possible. That’s because it can often be linked to some pretty serious health conditions, in particular problems with the brain or with vision. Of course, these are pretty rare, and you should not assume that this is the problem with your child.

But the point is that a persistent headache is a common health warning sign that you should definitely not ignore, and should do something about. Just in case it is related to something important, make sure that you are dealing with their headache as soon as possible. In particular, if painkillers don’t seem to be helping, you might want to take your child to see the doctor, just to rule out any of the potentially more serious health issues it might be related to. That way, you will both feel better. 

Stomach Pains 

The trouble with stomach pains is that they can be related to a huge number of health conditions. As such, it might be something serious, not so serious, or hardly anything at all. Because of that, you don’t want to take a risk, so you should make sure that you get it checked out professionally as soon as possible just in case. More likely than not, it will not be anything in particular. But there are occasions when it might be related to something more serious. 

For instance, a surprisingly common condition in kids is developing a hernia. This leads to quite a lot of pain and it is important to have it dealt with as soon as possible too, before it gets too big. You might be prescribed a hernia mesh for your child. These can be effective, but they can also sometimes cause more trouble than good - just see the likes of Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers for examples of how. 

Hopefully, your child’s stomach pains are nothing much, but it’s best to find out what they are due to, just in case it’s something serious that you need to do something about. 

Constant Sneezing 

If your child is sneezing pretty much all the time, that is something that you are going to want to pay attention to, for the simple fact that they might have allergies that need treatment. Although you might not think of an allergy as a hugely dangerous thing for a child to have, if you are not careful it could be that your child is one of the unlucky ones who does actually respond very negatively to their allergies. As such, it is always best to make sure that it is dealt with as soon as possible. 

 Normally the solution is to give them antihistamines, and over a few days this should do it. Or, in some cases, you might be able to physically remove the source of the allergy, in which case that is definitely the way to go. However you do it, make sure that you are dealing with the constant sneezing and not doing anything to make it worse. Not only can it be troublesome and annoying for your child, it could lead to serious illness if it turns out that they have a serious allergy that needs proper treatment. 

Those are just a few of the things that you most need to be aware of in your children. Don’t ignore any of these signs, as they are all going to be important to pay attention to in some way or another. The last thing you want is for your child to have a serious health issue that you’re not fixing.

Arckit - Design & Build Your Dream City

The architectural modeling system Arckit is taking building block play to a new level with its brand new Cityscape and Masterplan kits.  For the first time ever people can easily create entire miniature cities from scratch simply by using their imaginations and these Arckit modeling sets.  Dream up a city layout, build it and stand back to take in a real 3D perspective of your design.  Whether a child aspires to one day be an architect or just enjoys playing with building blocks, these model kits are both an entertaining and educational way to spend some time.  Arckit Cityscape is great for young builders being  recommended for children aged 6 years old and up. While the Masterplan kits are a bit more intricate and more suitable for use by ages 12+.  Both of these types of kits are also great for adults who enjoy model building or tinkering around as a pastime.



Arckit Cityscape is designed to inspire dreamers of all ages with a variety of unique kits & components finished in a choice of architect's' white or soft pastel colors. The kits are easy-to-use and follows similar principles to other building toys. First you design your layout, then position your buildings before finishing them off with a choice of iconic roof shapes.

Arckit Masterplan mimics what building design professionals actually use in an easy to use kit filled with snap together architects' white and clear components. The system works in the same way as Arckit Cityscape but allow users to build more sophisticated structures such as skyscrapers and bridges. This advanced kit also comes with illustrative graphic stickers to create realistic building facades.

There are no rules or instructions when it comes to using these modeling kits. To start building, simply click the components together and create incredible city layouts using the foundations, building blocks, walls and tile shapes. There is no glue or mess as the construction pieces snap together. Kids learn as they play, without any boundaries to what should be done or has to be done with  Arckit Cityscape or Masterplan sets. These gender-neutral STEM toys are great for bringing out a person's inner creativity.  If someone enjoys playing with building blocks, they can take their skills to another level with Arckit!

These kits aren't available at stores yet but you can purchase a set over the Internet by participating in Arckit's KICKSTARTER campaign that has an expected product delivery date of this summer.  Arckit products are "Made in Ireland" and the pricing is listed in Euros but they are accepting orders worldwide.  To purchase a Cityscape set would be approximately $27 U.S. dollars and a Masterplan kit would be around $151.  These prices will of course fluctuate some with exchange rates.  There are also some early bird discounts on the KICKSTARTER campaign that are providing some special offers for people who make early pledges as well.

These Arckit sets really are impressive!  Don't miss out on getting them in the hands of a child or teen who would really appreciate them.  What a great way to cultivate the next generation of architects, city planners, engineers, and other future construction industry professionals.  This is really great hands-on STEM educational tool because kids are learning while they are having fun with it.

Visit arckit.com to learn more about Arckit architectural modeling systems and I encourage you to consider participating in their KICKSTARTER campaign to roll out these new Cityscape and Masterplan building kits.

BLAST OFF TO ADVENTURE IN AN AEROMAX TOYS SPACE SUIT

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

What child doesn't dream of soaring into outer space one day as an astronaut?  With the Aeromax Toys Get Real Gear NASA astronaut suit and helmet you can encourage hours of imaginative play as kids pretend to fly a rocket through the cosmos or visit strange new planets to explore.  My son couldn't wait to suit up when a Jr. Astronaut outfit arrived from Aeromax Toys for him to try out.

The orange colored jumpsuit looks just like what you see the real life NASA astronauts wearing.  This replica space suit has a lot of nice details such as plenty of zippered pockets to stash items so they don't fly away from you in zero gravity and official looking patches that include the NASA symbol, an American flag, and a Mission Commander designation.  While the outfit looks impressive it is also very durably constructed to stand up to the wear and tear of a child actively playing in it.  It is available in youth sizes 2/3 (25-33 lbs, height 32-36") to 12/14 (80-110 lbs, height 54-60") as well as special infant and toddler versions making the outfit accessible for a wide range of ages to enjoy.  Use it for dress up play time, part of a school presentation, an accessory for family fun night activities, or as a great Halloween costume.  There is also an adult version that mom and dad can wear too!

Of course if you are going to be flying into space you really should include a helmet in your astronaut gear.  Sold separately from the space suit is the Aeromax Toys Jr. Astronaut Helmet with Sound Effects to complete your replica NASA ensemble.  Our whole family has had fun playing with the great features on this helmet putting it on pretending to be an astronaut.  Especially my son who puts it on and imagines flying into space when he is riding in the car.  3, 2, 1 ... blast off!

 The helmet is recommended to best fit kids 8+ as well as providing a suitable fit for adults to wear.  It has a lot of neat details, including an audio space launch countdown that can be heard while waiting to blast off for a pretend adventure; plus a spring loaded retractable face shield, a mock communications microphone inside the helmet and faux pressurization sensors and air hose on its exterior.  Both the helmet and space suit can also be personalized with your child's name for an additional expense.

The Jr. Astronaut space suit and helmet are part of Aeromax Toys' GET REAL GEAR dress up collection that inspire children to engage in imaginative play as real life professions.  In addition to astronauts, kids can also pretend to be chefs, doctors, firefighters, magicians, and police among other careers with these replica outfits.  Show kids that super heroes don't actually wear masks and capes but rather scrubs and overalls with this outstanding collection of outfits from Aeromax.  Whether for playing with in the backyard or utilizing as part of a school project GET REAL GEAR will spark kids creativity.  You're guaranteed that receiving one of these outfits, especially the Jr. Astronaut space suit and helmet with sound effects, will put a smile on a child's face.  It absolutely put one on my sons!

Blast off to adventure in an Aeromax Toys Space Suit!  For more information, please visit aeromaxtoys.com

FlippMitz

Just in time for the first snowfall of the year, we received a complimentary pair of Udoo Planet's FlippMitz to try out.  These FUNctional mittens keep kids' fingers warm in the winter but are also wearable toys as each pair provides 8 combinations of hand puppet characters to play with.  Take them outside to play in the snow or use them indoors for a puppet show.

The JUNGLE set my daughter has features bears, hippos, monkeys and zebras.  Flip the mitten around or flop its top to view different characters.  Other themed sets available include FROM THE FARM (cows, ducks, horses and sheep) and FAMILY PETS (dogs, cats, rabbits and fish).  With quirky imagery and colorful patterns, FlippMitz inspire creative play and make it fun to wear mittens when it is cold outside.

Made from stretchy fleece and cotton knit lining, FlippMitz are made in one size that will fit most children between the ages of 5 and 10 years old.  Machine washable, they are also easy to keep clean.  If you are looking for some unique mittens that your child will enjoy showing off to his or her friends and not give you a hard time about wearing, check out Udoo Planet's FlippMitz.  My 7 year old daughter absolutely adores her pair.

Udoo Planet has developed a reputation for creating high-quality clothing that are wearable toys.  For more information about FlippMitz and Udoo Planet's other FUNctional clothing items, please visit udooplanet.com.

Jumping Into The Gold Fish Pond

** A Geek Daddy is receiving free products and services to review from Gold Fish Swim School as a brand ambassador. Views expressed are honest and my own **

The winters in Michigan can be snowy and chilly yet our family has always found this time of year the perfect opportunity to keep the kids active by having them of all things go swimming.  We've participated in swimming programs at various community center and high school indoor pools the last few years and this winter decided to try out Gold Fish Swim School to see how its services and facility compared.  My kids really enjoy swimming and keeping it up through the cold weather months keeps them healthy and active while also ensuring they develop and maintain the skills needed to safely enjoy the activity at beaches, backyard pools and water parks when the hot summer months arrive.

Gold Fish Swim School's focus is on providing swimming lessons and fun water activities for children 4 months up to 12 years old in age.  They pride themselves on offering small class sizes with one life guard certified instructor for every four children.  The school offers programming for children of any ability ranging from those who have never dipped their toes in a pool to ones who are mastering their strokes and would like to engage in a bit of friendly competition.  Before my 7 year old twins could start a regular routine, we needed to get them evaluated to determine which of the 6 programs for kids their age they fit into (Beginner, Glider, Glider Plus, Star, Pro & Recreational Swim Team).  So it was off to our local Gold Fish Swim School for a dip in the pool.

Gold Fish Swim Schools originated in Metro Detroit 10 years ago and have since expanded across Michigan and into 14 other states (Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Maryland, Virginia, Georgia, Florida, Oklahoma & Texas).  The original location which opened in 2006 as the very first Gold Fish Swim School is just a couple miles from our house and is a quick drive for us to get to.  Entering the location, we were greeted by a warm tiki motif that is meant to appeal to a clientele of children and tweens. A quick look over of the place showed it to be a very clean and well-kept facility.  From speaking with and observing some of the instructors, I really was impressed by the quality of the staff.  Our first visit to a Gold Fish Swim School was a very welcoming experience.

So my kids demonstrated the capabilities to be place in the middle range of the available programming options.  We found Gold Fish Swim School to be incredibly accommodating in setting up a lesson time that fit into our family's busy schedule and the kids are excited to start their regular class routine next week.  Once a child starts a class, the lessons continue perpetually on the same day and time until the instructor feels the student is ready to advance to a new level which may result in a change.  Parents don't have to worry about fitting a dictated class time into their calendar which changes every few weeks as at Gold Fish Swim School your child's lessons are assigned a time slot for lessons that is convenient for your family and takes place consistently throughout the entire year. Can't make a  scheduled class?  Don't worry you can reschedule a makeup session for another time that is more convenient without a hassle.  Flexible scheduling that can accommodate even the busiest of families is such a great benefit of enrolling in the Gold Fish Swim School.

The weather will be getting cold soon here in Michigan but my kids are excited to be swimming throughout the winter at Gold Fish Swim School.  We'll be sharing experiencing their activities, programs and products with A Geek Daddy's blog readers and social media followers over the next few months so keep an eye out for updates on how my kids swimming lessons are progressing.  For more information about Gold Fish Swim School's facility and programs please visit goldfishswimschool.com.  Come on out and jump into the Gold Fish pond with us!

Reactorz Soccer Ball | COOP Sports

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

My kids are enjoying soccer camp this summer and they just can't get enough of the sport right now.  In addition to learning dribbling and passing techniques during the day at camp they want to go outside every night to practice kicking the ball around.  Thanks to the Reactorz Soccer Ball from COOP Sports, which lights up when it is kicked, darkness is no longer an obstacle that can prevent my kids from playing the game.  They've been having fun playing soccer from dawn to dusk with their Reactorz ball.

You may not be able to see my kids but the Reactorz Soccer Ball they are passing around sure is visible! Reactive light technology emits a burst of light with every touch, bounce, throw or kick of a COOP Sports Reactorz Ball.



Playing with their Reactorz Ball my kids discovered that the best light effects are generated the faster it spins.  That is because the micro-prism inner core of the 8 inch diameter youth soccer ball refracts the light from its motion activated LED module for the cool effects you see while playing with it.

The soccer ball also has a semi-rigid outer shield that both protects the LED module inside plus provides a texture that makes it soft to kick.  The lighting mechanism is so light and well calibrated you can't distinguish the feel of kicking or catching it from a normal children's playground ball.  A nice aspect of the ball is the pressure/motion sensitivity of the LED module.  It can be held in a hand or resting under a foot without illuminating preserving its battery life but a tap or putting it into motion will easily make it glow.

My kids really have had a lot of fun playing outside at night with this light-up soccer ball.  Meant for ages 5+,  Reactorz Soccer Balls are available at Toys R Us.  Non-replaceable batteries are included within the ball so it is ready to go as soon as it is removed from the packaging.  For more information, visit coop-sports.com.

If you have kids in your life that love soccer as much as mine do pick them up a COOP Sports Reactorz Ball!

Super Pets Helping People In Distress

**A Geek Daddy received the featured products free to review**

What if pets had the power to save the day for humans in distress?  That is the theme for a line of books by Capstone Publishing called the DC Super-Pets.  In these stories the pets of the heroes and villains from the DC comic book universe have their own super powers which are demonstrated through their embarking on various adventures and challenges.  My seven year old twins really enjoy the DC Super-Pets books and are just the right age for this series which is written for children six to nine years old who are in first through third grade; though I have to admit this 40 year old dad enjoys reading these stories just as much as his kids do.

DC Super-Pets stories are designed to help early readers transition to chapter books.  Each book is normally three chapters long and filled with large-sized text and colorful illustrations so they aren't overwhelming for young readers.  In fact the fun illustrations of the Super-Pets combined with goofy scenarios attract children towards wanting to read these books.

While DC Super-Pets are of course fictional creations there are animals in the real world that help make a positive difference in people's lives.  For example K-9 dogs are trained to help police search for illegal drugs or explosives and service dogs can provide assistance to people with disabilities.  Therapy dogs can also play an important role in helping improve lives by providing affection and comfort to people in hospitals, retirement homes, schools, and disaster areas and to those with Alzheimer's Disease or Autism.  For example, therapy dogs were brought in to help the survivors of the tragic Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Newton, Connecticut cope with the incident and are credited with providing peace of mind to the shocked and devastated children and adults these real life super pets interacted with.

Our local public library incorporates assisting with the training of a therapy dog into its children's summer reading program.  Reading to therapy dogs helps kids practice their literary skills over the summer while helping train the animals to be comfortable interacting with people.  It also gets children excited about reading over the summer which is a time when unfortunately books are often tossed aside for other activities.  My kids really look forward to these reading sessions and take a lot of pride in they are helping a dog so that it can help others.  They've been really excited to share their DC Super-Pets stories with a real life super pet who will one day be helping people in distress when reading during the therapy dog training at the public library.

My daughter has been reading DC Super-Pets BACKWARD BOWWOW during her therapy dog training sessions.  In this story, when Bizarro Krypto crash lands on Earth, he can't believe his eyes.  Humans own dogs as pets! On his Bizarro planet, everything is the exact opposite -- canines rule the world! Before returning home, he promises to make things right ... or maybe wrong.  Can Krypto the Super-Dog intervene and prevent Bizarro Krypto from making a huge mess?

 My son has been reading DC Super-Pets THE AMAZING MINI-MUTTS as he helps train the therapy dog.  In this book, Krypto, Ace, and other Super-Pet pooches visit the Bowwow Boot Camp to show a new breed of heroes a few tricks.  But the evil Brainicat wants to teach the canine cadets a lesson as well.  When he shrinks them all to microscopic size, the prep-school puppies must quickly learn to step up!

There are more than twenty DC Super-Pets adventure books by Capstone Publishing to choose from plus a super-sized Character Encyclopedia that provides interesting facts and descriptions of each animals unique powers in the profiles of more than 200 pets.  All of these DC Super-Pets books feature quirky artwork from Eisner Award winning artist Art Baltazar.  The Eisners are the comic book industry's equivalent to what the Oscars are for the movies so only the most talented and creative professionals are honored with this award.  Baltazar's artwork provides a zany vibe that makes reading each DC Super-Pets an amusing endeavor that kids are sure to enjoy.  As a parent, I appreciated that the illustration are numerable enough to capture children's attention and imagination but not so overpowering that they distract a child from immersing themselves into the text of the story.  Adorable characters and amusing plots will have children wanting to pick up a DC Super-Pets book to read.  For more information about this great early readers children's book series visit capstonepub.com/library/products/dc-super-pets

If you'd like to know more on how you can contribute to training therapy dogs or for a referral to obtain the services of one, please visit the Therapy Dog International website at tdi-dog.org.

The BFG - Activity Sheets + Fun Facts

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator and James and the Giant Peach were three of my favorite books to read in grade school and I read each of them multiple times during my youth.  So I'm excited the story by their author that was his favorite published work, "The BFG" has been made into a motion picture by Walt Disney Studios directed by Steven Spielberg. "The BFG" tells the tale of a ten-year-old orphan and her encounter with a big friendly giant and their battle with his brutish brothers in Giant Country. To share my excitement about The BFG arriving at theaters across the USA on July 1, 2016 here are some fun activity sheets and fun facts related to the movie.



FUN FACTS

Roald Dahl's "The BFG" was first published in 1982, the same year as Steven Spielberg's own story about an unusual and transformative friendship, "ET: The Extra-Terrestrial," captured the hearts and imaginations of children and adults.  Melissa Mathison wrote the screenplays for both films.

The BFG is 24 feet tall.  The biggest giant in Giant Country is Fleshlumpeater who is twice as big as the BFG.  If NBA basketball player Lebron James, a forward for the Cleveland Cavaliers who is 6 feet 8 inches tall was standing next to Fleshlumpeater, he would come up to his ankle.

Roald Dahl was exceptionally tall himself, measuring 6 feet, 6 inches in height. 2016 marks the 100th anniversary of Dahl's birth. "The BFG" was Roald Dahl's favorite of all his stories and was originally created as a bedtime story for his grandchildren.  The character Sophie was named after his granddaughter and based upon his daughter Olivia who died at 7 years old from the measles.

Production on "The BFG" was a combination of live action and performance capture (the performance capture techniques were used to bring the story's fantastical characters to life).  Director Steven Spielberg filmed individuals in their performance capture suits acting on the same set with the film's totally human characters as he wanted to see the interaction between them.

ACTIVITY SHEETS 







The BFG is rated PG and has a run time of 117 minutes. It began playing at movie theaters across the United States on July 1, 2016.  For more information on the movie, visit movies.disney.com/the-bfg.

Have a Brightly Summer

For most family's with school-aged children a summer break filled with fun activities has begun.  Unfortunately, one fun activity that is often neglected over the summer months is reading which often leads to kids regressing in their literary capabilities which were developed over the previous school year.  I've discovered a nice resource that supports parents in helping their children avoid the "summer slide" with a variety of online articles, tips, and resources.  BRIGHTLY (www.readbrightly.com) provides free downloadable SUMMER READING FUN PACKS specifically designed for Preschoolers (3-5 years old), Growing Readers (6-8 years old) and Tweens (9-12 years old).  A resource of Penguin Random House, BRIGHTLY also offers summer reading book suggestions for every age group from Preschool through High School with a few ideas that mom and dad might enjoy themselves too.

BRIGHTLY sent A Geek Daddy a complimentary care pack to help my kids avoid the summer slide consisting of a nice tote bag filled with a GROWING READER - SUMMER READING FUN PACK and some age appropriate books for my 7 year old twins to enjoy.  Summer reading is going to be an important focus for my kids over the next few months and I hope our readers will make it a priority for the children in their lives too.  To help one lucky A Geek Daddy blog reader or social media follower accomplish that goal, BRIGHTLY has also provided a Summer Reading Prize Pack for us to giveaway that will include an age appropriate Summer Reading Fun Pack and a Penguin Random House book selection based upon the gender and age of a child the winner selects.

Follow @Geekdad248 and RT by July 5 for chance to win a @ReadBrightly Children's Summer Reading Prize Pack #ad pic.twitter.com/MbpTF5FmiK

— A Geek Daddy (@GeekDad248) June 29, 2016

To be eligible for this giveaway you must follow @Geekdad248 on Twitter and retweet our original contest tweet embedded above before July 5, 2016 @ 11:59 pm EST.  Must be a US  resident over the age of 18 to participate.  One entry per person and we'll randomly select a winner from all eligible entries.

BRIGHTLY can be a valuable resource for parents to help their children avoid learning loss over the summer, but it is also filled with great information on a wide variety of subjects that can be utilized throughout the year to help promote with kids a life-long interest in reading.  As a fan of comic books who enjoys sharing my enjoyment of them with my son and daughter, I appreciated the site's article "8 Graphic Novels Tween Girls Can't Get Enough Of" encouraging female readers to check out the medium and "7 Graphic Novels Elementary Schoolers Love" to promote comics with young readers.  I also appreciated the site's outreach to dad's with articles like "5 Things I Never Expected to Love About Being a Dad."  BRIGHTLY is filled with author essays, informational articles, and more that are meant to be helpful for moms and dads in making their way through that grand adventure know as parenting.  It is also full of activities that are educational and entertaining at the same time such as their Family Book Club and a variety of printable activity sheets to help parents get their children to embrace reading as an interesting and enjoyable activity that they want to do rather than be forced to.

The current BRIGHTLY Family Book Club selection is The BFG to commemorate 2016 being the 100th anniversary of the author's birth, Roald Dahl passed away in 1990, and to tie-in to the excitement of Disney's summer movie based upon the children's book about a Giant and the orphaned girl he befriends.  This section of the BRIGHTLY site includes suggestions for activities, crafts, snacks, and games with a The BFG theme plus group discussion questions for parents to engage in with their kids after the whole family has read the book.

Check out readbrightly.com as it really is a brilliantly useful resource for moms and dads.

Disclaimer & Rules / FTC Notice:  A Geek Daddy Blog will be responsible for selecting the winner of this contest, but Penguin Random House is responsible for fulfillment and delivery of the prize. 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. A Geek Daddy Blog hosted this contest and blog post based upon Penguin Random House providing the prize to the selected winner. Only one entrant per mailing address per giveaway. Must be a US resident over 18 years old.  If you have won the same prize on another blog, you will not be eligible to win again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification. Prize will be delivered by UPS or FedEx so no P.O. Boxes are allowed as mailing addresses. A Geek Daddy Blog is hosting this giveaway as a benefit to our readers.  A Geek Daddy Blog did not receive any financial compensation for publishing this post but did receive one of the prizes for personal use.

PAPERCUTZ publishing graphic novel tie-in to DreamWorks Animations TROLLS movie

Our family really enjoys the children's focused comic books and graphic novels created by Papercutz, so we were excited to hear the publisher is going to be producing an ongoing series of graphic novel tie-ins to DreamWorks Animation's feature film Trolls.  Papercutz's first Trolls graphic novel "Hugs and Friends" which will arrive at bookstores on September 27, 2016 is meant to serve as an introduction to the upcoming animated film that will be released at theaters across the United States on November 4th.  Subsequent graphic novels are planned to expand upon the Trolls story following the movie's release.

From the creators of Shrek comes the most smart, funny and irreverent animated comedy of the year, DreamWorks’ Trolls.  This holiday season, enter a colorful, wondrous world populated by hilariously unforgettable characters and discover the story of the overly optimistic Trolls, with a constant song on their lips, and the comically pessimistic Bergens, who are only happy when they have trolls in their stomach.



Papercutz’s “Hugs & Friends” sets the stage for the movie adventure by asking important questions like Who are the Trolls? Who are the Bergens? Why is there one Troll who isn’t happy like all the other Trolls? And why does this Troll know more about the Bergens than any other Troll?  The answers to these questions appear with "Hugs & Friends" Trolls Volume 1 on September 27th.

"Hugs and Friends" is just the start though notes Papercutz Editor-in-Chief Jim Salcrup.  "While our first graphic novel features the main characters from the film, later volumes will focus on the supporting players of the Trolls world as well," Salcrup mentioned to A Geek Daddy.  "With such a fully developed world being created by the DreamWorks team, we anticipate entertaining fans and telling Trolls stories for a very long time!"

HULU Expands Childrens Programming Inking Licensing Deal With Disney-ABC Television Group

Hulu is pushing to be a go-to source for children's television programming through a new deal it just inked with The Disney - ABC Television Group which will make full prior seasons of top rated kids titles from Disney Channel, Disney Junior, and Disney XD available through the online video streaming service.  Hulu niche has been providing its subscribers with access to the current season of shows from 5 of the 6 largest U.S. broadcast networks but is also bolstering its available library of past seasons of TV shows and original programming like The Mindy Project and the Golden Globe nominated comedy series Casual.  A subscription to Hulu is $7.99 per month with limited commercials or commercial free for $11.99.

The new agreement with The Disney-ABC Television Group makes Hulu the exclusive subscription video-on-demand home for all of the past seasons of  several popular shows that appeal to children, tweens, and teens including Disney XD's highly rated animated series Gravity Falls and Star vs. The Force of Evil plus the Disney Channel's live action shows K.C. Undercover, Austin & Ally and Dog With A Blog.  Additionally, the agreement provides Hulu with exclusivity for the Disney Junior shows Sheriff Callie's Wild West and Henry Hugglemonster which appeal to preschool audiences.  These shows join Doc McStuffins and Bunnytown from Disney Junior which Hulu had previously obtained exclusive rights to stream.

In addition to adding more than 500 episodes of kid friendly programming this deal also provides 20 Disney Channel Original Movies that will be available to stream on Hulu for the first time ever.  Other recent efforts by Hulu to bolster its children's programming lineup have included recent deals to obtain exclusivity for Nickelodeon's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Penguins of Madagascar and PBS Kids Curious George.  They've also created a special Kids Portal for their children's programming so that kids can watch it commercial free even if your family is on the basic $7.99 per month plan.  The streaming service also has a Kids Lock feature which restricts viewing to only shows designated as children's programming which can be triggered on your TV, PC, or mobile devices.  Between an expanded library of content and commercial-free children's programming, Hulu is doubling down on attracting parents and their kids to tune in with them.

For more information, visit Hulu.com
 

Dinosaur Train Nature Trackers Club

The Jim Henson Company, producers of the animated PBS Kids television series Dinosaur Train, want to help keep children exploring and learning over the summer break.  So this summer they've launched a ten week series of activities called the Nature Trackers Summer Challenge to help parents keep children engaged in learning throughout their break from school.  Beginning June 20th, each week will have a different theme starting with STARGAZING WEEK and be tied to a special episode airing on PBS.  Future themes include birds, insects and volcanoes, among other topics.

Here's a look at the list of the Nature Trackers Summer Challenge's first group of activities for STARGAZING WEEK:

WATCH - Dinosaur Train: Remember the Alamosaurus / Sunrise , Sunset on PBS. In this episode Dad takes the Pteranodon kids on an overnight camping trip where they watch both a sunrise and a sunset learning that the sun rises in the east and sets in the west.  The kids also find out more about nocturnal (night-active) animals and diurnal (day-active) animals.  If you miss this episode airing on television, CLICK HERE to watch it online via Watch Cartoons Online at your own convenience.  Dinosaur Train episodes can also be streamed via Hulu, Netflix and YouTube.

PLAY - Under the Night Sky: Act Nocturnal!

DO -  Moon Observation!

EXPLORE -  Explore the sky from various locations in the world with NASA Watch the Skies! All Sky Camera Network.

For a complete list of challenges, visit the Nature Trackers page on PBS Parents!  As your kids participate in the Dinosaur Train Nature Trackers Summer Challenge share your experiences by posting your stories and photos at the Henson Family Hub on Facebook and Twitter using the hashtag #NatureTrackers.