In conjunction with its 15th year of producing award-winning DVDs and products for children, Brainy Baby® announced  that it will be giving away a free Brainy Baby DVD to each household across the country to help better expose infants and preschoolers to concepts like ABCs, music, shapes and colors.

Due to the success of the initial campaign roll-out in Dawson County, GA, Brainy Baby is now expanding the DVD Give-Away to help support parents and children on a national level. According to a recent article in the Dawson County News, Laura Crews, a Pre-K teacher at Kilough Elementary School began using the DVD’s in a pilot program for her class. “The DVD’s hold their attention and relate to the things they know,” Crews said. “The kids are enraptured by them. I use the Brainy Baby line of DVD’s with my own kids and even the DVD on Sign Language (Talking Hands) keeps the attention of my 8-year old,” she says.

Created by a team of early childhood educators and using a time tested and proven method of introducing and reinforcing preschool concepts, Brainy Baby DVDs have won more than 60 awards and offer a highly effective supplemental tutorial for parents who have children entering kindergarten. “We are constantly hearing from parents that kids are learning at an early age” says Fedoruk. “It’s all about teach and repeat, teach and repeat, and then review. Our DVD’s emulate this teaching method. That’s how children learn.”

The DVDs depict fun, live action scenes of real kids and objects from everyday life. Brainy Baby DVD’s expose children to basic preschool concepts like the alphabet, numbers, shapes and colors. Brainy Baby encourages parents to watch the DVD’s with their children so that concepts and images that are presented can be reviewed together and reinforced through verbal communication.

To take advantage of the FREE DVD campaign, participants must choose one DVD from a selection of four of Brainy Baby’s most popular titles (ABCs, Music, Laugh & Learn, or Shapes & Colors). The DVD’s are FREE; participants only have to pay $6.95 for shipping and handling. For additional information and details about the FREE DVD GIVEAWAY, visit www.myfreebrainybaby.com

About The Brainy Baby Company

For 15 years, The Brainy Baby Company has been a pioneer and leader in DVDs, Books, Games and Toys for babies, toddlers and pre-schoolers. The award-winning line of videos, CDs, books, games, and toys introduce educational subjects such as letters, shapes, animals, art and music. Brainy Baby® videos feature multi-ethnic children, toe-tapping original music, nursery rhymes and instrumental classics. In fact, Brainy Baby DVDs have won over 60 awards including Dr. Toy’s Top 100 Best Children’s Product, the Dove Foundation’s Seal of Approval, Parenting Magazine’s Top Videos of the Year, and more. For more information about The Brainy Baby Company, visit www.brainybaby.com

As a mom myself, I have experienced my child’s anxiety and fear when she needs to go back to school after a long holiday.  However, I also discovered from other parents that my child is not alone as other kids are also showing the same reaction. Thus, when I received an email on the  Six Tools to Relieve Your Child’s “Back-to-School-itis”, I just had to share it with you all. This article is posted with the permission of the original writer,  Charlotte Reznick PhD.

For some kids, going back to school at the end of summer can be traumatic. Anticipating a new teacher, classmates, grade, or school can trigger fear, anxiety, and depression–not to mention very real physical symptoms such as stomachaches, headaches, and insomnia.

Fortunately, your child has a whole toolbox to draw from–in her own imagination. Here are six imagination tools parents can use with young children to relieve “back-to-school-itis.”

Teach her to balloon breathe. With her hands around her navel, have her breathe slowly and deeply into her lower belly so it presses into her hands like an inflating balloon. The Balloon Breath has dramatic calming effects and facilitates a waking state of focused concentration and receptivity to positive suggestions. This one tool makes all the other ones easier.

Visit his special place. This is a safe private place within your child’s inner world where he can work out problems or take a mini-vacation from stress and worry. He can invite a wise Animal Friend into his special place to talk to and help him, or he can even dig for a treasure box there that contains the antidote to his fear.

Draw the fear. Putting an image on paper: (1) makes her fear of separation realer and less frightening than keeping it inside, and (2) makes her fear less likely to grow because there is a concrete picture to work with. Once she has a picture, she can talk to it, find out why it’s trying to scare her, strike a bargain with it, surround it with a soothing color bubble, and so on.

Talk to his symptom. When a child suffers from a worry headache or stomachache, these three questions can help eliminate the pain. Have him do deep balloon breathing (diaphragmatic breathing), then ask: (1) What color is it? (2) What shape is it? (3) How heavy is it? After more breaths, ask him again. Continue to breathe and question in rounds. His pain will likely change or disappear. If it doesn’t completely go away, ask the ache what it wants him to know, do, or understand to release any more bits of pain.

Picture the future. Artwork is also an effective starting point when you’re working with clear end-goals, like getting a good night’s sleep or reducing a fear. Have your child draw two drawings–how things are now and how she’d like them to be. Hang the picture in her bedroom; this is a great reminder of her desired goal and the first step toward getting there.

Encourage drama. For kids whose nature tends toward drama, acting out their worries and troubles is a wonderful way to release them. Let them play it out–with puppets, with their bodies, with anything their imagination suggests. It’s amazing what creative solutions come up when given free reign.

* * * * *

Charlotte Reznick is a child educational psychologist, an associate clinical professor of psychology at UCLA, and author of a new book, The Power of Your Child’s Imagination: How to Transform Stress and Anxiety into Joy and Success (Perigee, 2009, $14.95).

www.ImageryForKids.com

Parents may find this video helpful. In the video, Dr. Joe Bresee, with CDC’s Influenza Division, describes the symptoms of swine flu and warning signs to look for that indicate the need for urgent medical attention.

From now through the end of October, everyone will have the opportunity to show that they’re taking a stand against breast cancer AND raise money for the cause by going to http://www.oneaday.com/takeastand/, and creating a customizable character in honor of someone special. The program goal is to urge women to start taking the simple steps to support their breast health, and offers tips on how and what to do.

In addition, for each character created, One A Day will make a donation to an donation to a breast cancer cause selected by consumers. The organizations that will be included are: The Breast Cancer Research Foundation, the American Cancer Society and Breast Cancer Network of Strength.

Check out the above widget, it’s fun to join the virtual march. Anyone can create a character and you can even upload a photo straight from Facebook! Help a good cause and spread the word about this campaign.

Home decorating can be a daunting task – from determining color palettes and wall hangings to appropriately mixing and matching older pieces with new, it’s easy to get overwhelmed! It’s for this reason that Deborah Needleman, founding editor of Domino Magazine, created the HomeGoods StyleScope, a simple interactive tool that provides a customized style (like Bohemian Classic, Earthy Modern or Dramatic Eclectic) as well as tips to put that style to use.

The StyleScope, which lives online at http://www.homegoods.com/index.asp, is an invaluable tool for those who want to find their own style, and escape from the overly prescriptive home décor options of major stores. Everyone needs a bed, a sofa, a table, but it’s that last 10% that really turns a house into a home – this quick online quiz is designed to help all of us (myself included!) who love stylish home décor but don’t know how to incorporate specific trends or styles into our own homes.

Additionally, to make this a little sweeter, especially in our current economic climate, for the remainder of the summer, those who take the HomeGoods StyleScope can enter for a chance to win a weekly $5,000 shopping spree or a daily gift card giveaway to HomeGoods. If you’re new to the brand, HomeGoods truly has something for everyone – at prices 20-60% less than department or specialty stores. Providing in-season top quality designer and brand name home fashions and accessories, including unique, one-of-a-kind pieces for every style and every room in the house, it’s easy to decorate in your style at HomeGoods.

 WORKING ON A COUPLE OF OTHER PROJECTS….

Since text voting results are one factor in determining the contest’s winner, you now have the opportunity to help one of the finalists win by text messaging your vote for your favorite product! Text in your vote by June 26 at midnight (CDT). Standard text messaging rates apply, voters may submit votes daily, and voting is open to all mobile carriers.  

The finalists are…

• BibBaby- BibBaby, a bib that extends to and across the lap, was designed with mommies in mind! With a strong snap in the back, the bib is not easily torn off keeping your baby clean. To vote for BibBaby text “Big 1” to 839863.
• EZ Off BBQ Tools- EZ Off BBQ Tools are a set of utensils that were designed to rid you of the hassle of barbecuing by easily removing the food from the BBQ Tools. With this creation, there is no need to dirty extra utensils and your hands stay away from the fire. To vote for EZ Off BBQ Tools text “Big 2” to 839863.
• Freedom Gates- Your beautifully decorated home does not have to be spoiled with bulky, unattractive dog gates when you add a pet to your family! Freedom Gates offer a stylish alternative with its durable, clear, acrylic panels, and unique designed screens. To vote for Freedom Gates text “Big 3” to 839863.

For more details of contests, please click here and here.

Hey everyone! Great opportunity to win an all expense paid family vacation. Refer info below:

Make this Father’s Day special by spending a lot of time with Dad instead of a lot of money. SKIL Power Tools and LOWE’S Home Improvement are offering inexpensive projects designed to provide hours of priceless memories for kids and dads alike. In addition, you can take advantage of the opportunity to enter your family fun project into the SKIL Building Memories Contest for a chance to win one of more than a hundred different prizes.

Kids and moms can surprise dad by choosing one of four project plans and getting all the materials they need at participating LOWE’s locations. The project plans are available both in LOWE’s stores and at www.SKILBuildingMemories.com, along with a complete list of materials and tools they will need. Then, all you need to do is capture the building and bonding process with video or photos and enter your completed project for a chance to win. Plans range in difficulty level and are appropriate for children ages 4 and up. Entries will be judged based on the quality of the completed project shown. The top entry for each project plan will be awarded an all-expenses paid trip for four to a Worlds of Discovery park of their choice. Worlds of Discovery Parks to include, SeaWorld Orlando, SeaWorld San Diego, SeaWorld San Antonio, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, Busch Gardens Williamsburg, Discovery Cove, Aquatica, Sesame Place, Adventure Island and Water Country USA. Prize package includes hotel accommodations, roundtrip airfare and more.

Just in time for Father’s Day, the contest kicks off May 11 and ends July 10. Eight second-place winners will each receive a SKIL Benchtop Workshop including a table saw, miter saw, drill press, grinder and band saw; 20 third-place winners will receive a SKIL 18V Lithium Ion Combo Kit; and 100 fourth-place winners will receive a SKIL Power Wrench. Winners will be notified by mail on or about September 1, 2009.

To find a list of projects, tools and materials needed and official rules, visit www.SKILBuildingMemories.com. You can complete your entry with a few easy steps on this site, or, you can enter via the SKIL Building Memories Facebook Page, at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Skil-Building-Memories/60027929241?ref=ts (You must download the application at the bottom of the page to enter)
 
The contest ends on July 12, so there’s still plenty of time to pick a project, spend some quality time with your loved ones, and win some great prizes!