Christmas and the Holidays are just around the corner and Santa is busy gathering ideas for gifts to leave in those stockings hung by the tree.

Here’s a few gems that are sure to educate and entertain the kids.  Whether you’re a parent, or a grandparent, books, childrens music CDs and movie DVDs along with a new DVD CD player to take to Grandma’s house are always nice to tuck away for those snow days when daycare or school is cancelled!

Childrens Music CDs and DVDs Stocking Stuffer Ideas

 A Turtle’s Tale: Sammy’s Adventures

Born on a Baja, California beach in 1959, new hatchling Sammy must do what his fellow newborn sea turtles are doing: race across the beach to the ocean before a seagull or crab captures them. Thus begins Sammy’s incredible fifty-year ocean journey. Along the way he meets his best friend, a fellow turtle named Ray, and overcomes obstacles both natural and man-made while trying to fulfill his dream of travelling around the world. Throughout his travels, Sammy never forgets about Shelly – the turtle he saved on his first day and loves passionately from afar. Based on the actual course of a sea turtle’s life, this story of one creature’s breathtaking journey is a thrilling voyage the whole family will enjoy.

Mile In His Shoes

Only a miracle can help baseball coach Arthur “Murph” Murphy (Dean Cain) and his losing minor league baseball team. As Murph sets out to recruit new talent, he stumbles upon Mickey (Luke Schroder), a young farmer with an incredible pitcher’s arm. However, Mickey’s parents are reluctant in allowing him to join the team because he has Asperger’s syndrome, a form of autism. Murph convinces Mickey’s parents that life in the minor league will benefit their unique son, but he doesn’t realize just how much his new recruit will help the team’s game and, more importantly, their spirit. Based on a true story, A Mile in His Shoes is an inspirational film that celebrates faith, determination and the power of friendship.

The Garfield Show: Dinosaurs and Other Animal Adventures

Everyone’s favorite cat is at it again! Join this larger than life feline and his animal friends as they embark on a series of adventures from digging up dinosaur bones, working with farm animals and discovering life under the sea. No stone is left unturned as Garfield takes us through the history of dogs, attends a pet show and even prepares to eat a pet goldfish! Being part of the animal kingdom has never been any more exciting!

A Christmas Wedding Tail

This is an adorable DVD brand-new holiday film for families from Anchor Bay Entertainment called A Christmas Wedding Tail. The heartwarming new DVD has a top dog cast, including the ever-popular Jennie Garth, Brad Rowe, Tom Arnold and Catherine Hicks – as well as real life husband and wife team Jay Mohr and Nikki Cox, playing the voices of two passionate pooches who fall head over tail in love.

Available at a retailer near you including Barnes & Noble, Wal-Mart and Target

MSRP: $19.98

Genre: Family

Rating: PG

Run Time: 88 minutes

The Wiggles – It’s Always Christmas With You! Kids DVD

Yule be Wiggling this Christmas with this perfect stocking stuffer – The Wiggles newest holiday hit!

Studio:  NCircle Entertainment

Run Time:  110 minutes with bonus content

Available at a retailer near you including Barnes & Noble, Walmart, Kmart, Toys R Us or NCircleEntertainment

SRP: $9.99

Dr. Seuss The Cat in The Hat Knows A lot about That! Wings & Things

60 Minutes
4 Adorable Stories and extras

Preschoolers will love exploring exotic locations with Dr. Seuss as he travels the world with Sally and Nick on the Thing-a-ma-Jigger, and best of all They’ll never know their learning!

*Featuring Stories
*Show me the Honey
*Migration Vacation
*I Love the Nighlife
*Oh Give Me a Home
*Many Ants Make Light Work

SRP $12.99

Available at:  Barnes & Noble, Wal-Mart, Target and Amazon

Sesame Street: 20 Years and Still Counting

DVD SRP: $14.98
Type: Home entertainment Premiere
Genre: Family, Children
Rating: Not Rated
Closed Captioned: English

Available at major retail stores, including Barnes & Noble

Website: www.henson.com

Kitten Party

Educational for kids and Fun for animal lovers of all ages! Over 50 kittens from a dozen different breeds. Hilarious kitten antics and cuddly kitten moments! Three sing-along kitten songs! Two bonus playpen chapters for more kitten fun! Shot in high definition!

Studio: NCircle Entertainment

Run Time: 70 minutes

Available at: Barnes & Noble, Kmart, Sears, Ross and Amazon

Kid Movie DVD and Stocking Stuffer Ideas | Holiday Gift Guide is a post from: Moomettes Magnificents

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Christmas and the Holidays are just around the corner and Santa, Mrs. Claus, Mom, Dad, Grandmom and Grandpa are busy putting together the best kids gift ideas for 2011 to leave in those stockings hung by the tree for good girls and boys.

Childrens Music CDs and DVDs

Here’s a few gems that are sure to educate and entertain the kids.  Whether you’re a parent, or a grandparent, books, childrens music CDs and movie DVDs along with a new DVD CD player to take to Grandmother’s house are always nice to tuck away for those winter snow days when daycare or school is cancelled because of a storm.

Cat in the Hat Knows a lot About That! Told From the Cold DVD

Here’s two delightful, wintery DVDs!

The Cat in the Hat Knows a lot About That! Told From the Cold and Chloe’s Closet Chloe’s Winter Wonderland are filled with Wintery fun for your little one.

Told From the Cold
Come join in the fun,
on new adventures we go,
With The Cat in the Hat
and his friends all in tow!
Discover how water
can turn into snow,
That penguins don’t fly
but, boy can they go!
Black bears get ready
for a very long sleep,
Before the weather gets cold
and the snow is too deep.

Run Time:  Approx. 45 minutes

Studio:  NCircle Entertainment

SRP: $9.99 each

Chloe’s Closet Chloe’s Winter DVD

Meet Chloe, an adorable little girl with a great big imagination! Chloe discovers magical new worlds while playing dress-up.  With each new costume she tries on, she goes on a fantastical journey with her best friends! Join them as they visit the land of ice and snow and embark on an anything-can-happen winter wonderland adventure!

Run Time:  Approx. 35 minutes

Studio:  NCircle Entertainment

The Cat in the Hat Knows a lot About That! Tricks and Treats

There’ll be lots of tricks and, of course lots of treats, to share with the animal friends you will meet! There’s a coconut crab, spider monkeys and bats, and plenty more fun with The Cat in the Hat!

Studio:  NCircle Entertainment

Run Time:  Approx. 30 minutes each

All above are Available now at Barnes and Noble and major retailers near you or at NCircle Entertainment

On Facebook: NCircleEntertainment  

All aboard! Chuggington pulls into the station with all-new DVD, “The Chugger Championship.”

In “The Chugger Championship,” Wilson, Brewster and Coco are back and ready to put their “wheels to the rails” for the biggest race in Chuggington!  The exciting brand-new DVD features six engaging adventures that invite preschool-age fans and their families to join the three animated best friends as they prepare for a test, invent a new contest and pick up a fun hobby – all the while learning about the importance of accountability and responsibility – and that a true champion isn’t always the one who finishes first!

Available at major retailers and Barnes and Noble

Young Trainees GET ready For AN EXCITING RIDE WHEN ‘the chugger championship’ Takes the lead in HOMES NATIONWIDE!

Newest Release in the Popular ‘Chuggington™’ DVD Series from
Anchor Bay Entertainment Crosses theFinish Line at Retail – October 11, 2011

July 5, 2011 – Trainees, start your engines!  Preschoolers from coast-to-coast will get on the fast-track to fun and learning with “The Chugger Championship”!  The newest “winner” in the “Chuggington^™” DVD series from Anchor Bay Entertainment, “The Chugger Championship” hits retail stores nationwide on October 11, 2011.

A colorful and contemporary CGI-animated TV series from Ludorum that encourages early social readiness skills, “Chuggington” follows the amusing escapades of three young trainees, Wilson, Brewster and Koko, as they learn to “ride the rails” of life and become productive chuggers.  The exciting train property for preschoolers airs daily on Disney Junior, Disney Channel’s programming block designed for kids ages 2-7 and their families.

“When preschoolers climb aboard with ‘Chuggington,’ they embark on positive adventures that teach them about interacting with the world around them,” said Julie Cartwright, SVP of Brand Marketing for Anchor Bay Entertainment.  “Our newest DVD release brings all the fun and gentle lessons of the series to fans to enjoy again and again.”

In “The Chugger Championship,” the traintastic trio is ready to put their “wheels to the rails” for the biggest race in Chuggington!  These six, action-packed adventures will have the whole family cheering. Young fans join Wilson, Brewster and Koko as they prepare for a test, invent a new contest and pick up a fun hobby, while learning about the importance of accountability and responsibility.  Along the way, the three friends – and viewers at home – discover that a true champion isn’t always the one who finishes first!

“The Chugger Championship” is the newest addition to Anchor Bay Entertainment’s “Chuggington” DVD collection, which also includes “Chuggers To The Rescue,” “It’s Training Time” and “Let’s Ride The Rails”

“Chuggington” has quickly become a global sensation since its debut in September 2008 in the U.K.  The show has been licensed to more than 175 territories worldwide and has established ratings records in several key international markets, including the U.K., Germany, France and Australia.  The series made its stateside debut in January 2010.  The property has built an impressive portfolio of high-quality licensees in the U.S. with more than 30 licensees coming “aboard” to produce Chuggington products.  Disney Junior acquired all U.S. television rights to the property for season two, which launched February 14, 2011.  Disney Channel is currently available on basic cable in more than 99 million U.S. homes.

About “Chuggington^™”

“Chuggington” is a CGI-animated series as well as a fully-immersive interactive website.  The series follows the adventures of Wilson, Brewster and Koko, trainee engines, each with their own unique personality and learning style.  The series is set in a world much like our own with cities, villages and diverse cultures and geography.  Entertainment and enjoyment are at the heart of “Chuggington,” but embedded within each story are important educational and developmental messages centered on learning and social-emotional development. “Chuggington” is directed by Sarah Ball, who won a BAFTA award for her work as a director and writer of Bob the Builder^™.  The property was conceived to seamlessly integrate television, books and interactive.  Further information is available at Chuggington.

About Anchor Bay Entertainment

Anchor Bay Entertainment is the home entertainment division of Starz Media, LLC. It includes the Anchor Bay Films and Manga Entertainment brands. It distributes feature films, children’s entertainment, fitness, TV series, documentaries, anime and other filmed entertainment on DVD and Blu-ray™ formats. Headquartered in Beverly Hills, CA, Anchor Bay Entertainment has offices in Troy, MI, as well as Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia. Starz Media (www.starzmedia.com) is a controlled subsidiary of Liberty Media Corporation attributed to the Liberty Starz tracking stock group (NASDAQ: LSTZA).

© 2011 Moomettes Magnificents

Kid Movie DVD and Stocking Stuffer Ideas | Holiday Gift Guide is a post from: Moomettes Magnificents

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The Great American Campout is schedule to take place in June! If you’re family enjoys camping like we do, the kids and grandkids can pass the time away in the back seat of the car on the way to your travel vacation destination while watching new release DVDs.

ABCs DVD and Animal 123s DVD

These new release kids’ DVDs will introduce preschoolers to letters and numbers using the amazing animal kingdom!  Animal ABC’s and Animal 123’s strengthens letter, number and animal name recognition by teaching children about animals from around the globe.

Sing along as everyone explores Earth’s animals, from the cute and cuddly to the wild and wonderful.  These DVDs include fun facts, unique songs and a bonus sections with flashcards.  Practicing your ABCs and 123s has never been so fun!

Studio: NCircle Entertainment

DVD Release Date: July 12, 2011

Run Time: 60 minutes

The grandkids enjoyed watching these DVDs and it would be a great addition to your family collection, daycare, pre-school or homeschool curriculum!

Available at Amazon or your favorite online retailer including NCircleEntertainment

© 2011 Moomettes Magnificents

Kid Movie DVD and Stocking Stuffer Ideas | Holiday Gift Guide is a post from: Moomettes Magnificents

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TD Bank Brings its Summer Reading Program to New Britain with Reading and Book Signing by Local Children’s Author and Teacher Laura E. Williams

NEW BRITAIN, Conn. – May 26 2011 – TD Bank, America’s Most Convenient Bank®, continues its annual Summer Reading Program with a reading event at its New Britain, Connecticut store on Saturday, June 4, 2011.

The TD Bank Summer Reading Program rewards kids for keeping their reading levels sharp during summer by giving them $10 for reading 10 books, deposited into a new or existing Young Saver bank account.

To help encourage reading, acclaimed local author Laura E. Williams will be joined by Joe Culos, TD Bank’s Senior Vice President of Retail, to read her book, The Can Man, to visitors at TD Bank’s New Britain store, located at 178 Main Street. Williams will also talk about her inspiration for writing The Can Man and hold a book giveaway and signing for the first 50 children in attendance.

“We are thrilled and honored to host Laura E. Williams to read and autograph her wonderful book, The Can Man,” said Culos. “Not only is Laura a talented writer, but she is also an English teacher at Manchester High School who really connects with kids and encourages them to continue reading throughout the year.

The Can Man was chosen by TD Bank to be read at events throughout the summer for its message about the importance of compassion for others and saving money.

The reading and book signing run from 10:00 a.m. until approximately 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 4, 2011. The event is free and open to the public.

For more information about TD Bank’s Summer Reading Program, visit the  Summer Reading Program .

About TD Bank, America’s Most Convenient Bank®

TD Bank, America’s Most Convenient Bank, is one of the 10 largest banks in the United States, providing customers with a full range of financial products and services at more than 1,250 convenient locations from Maine to Florida. On September 30, 2010, The South Financial Group, Inc. was acquired by TD Bank Group, and its subsidiary Carolina First Bank merged with TD Bank. Carolina First Bank will continue to operate under the trade names Carolina First Bank in North and South Carolina and Mercantile Bank in Florida until conversion and rebranding in June 2011. TD Bank is headquartered in Cherry Hill, N.J., and Portland, Maine. Carolina First Bank and Mercantile Bank are trade names of TD Bank, N.A. For more information, visit www.tdbank.com. TD Bank, America’s Most Convenient Bank, is a member of TD Bank Group and a subsidiary of The Toronto-Dominion Bank of Toronto, Canada, a top 10 financial services company in North America and one of the few banks in the world rated Aaa by Moody’s. The Toronto-Dominion Bank trades on the New York and Toronto stock exchanges under the ticker symbol “TD.” To learn more, visit www.td.com.

###

Media Contact:
Eric Springer
Office 856-470-3898
Eric.Springer@yesbank.com

Kid Movie DVD and Stocking Stuffer Ideas | Holiday Gift Guide is a post from: Moomettes Magnificents

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NEW CHILDREN’S BOOK AIMS TO TEACH CHILDREN AND THEIR PARENTS ITALIAN

“Impariamo L’Italiano con L’Aiuto della Mano!” is the First Book in the Arcobaleno Series Dedicated to Introducing Italian to English-Speaking Children

SEATTLE – June 17, 2010 – Gemelli Press today announced the availability of Author Giuliana Sica’s children’s book, “Impariamo L’Italiano con L’Aiuto della Mano!” (“Let’s Learn Italian with the Help of Our Hand”), which aims to help parents and children learn Italian at the beginner level by blending educational elements with entertaining games. “Impariamo L’Italiano con L’Aiuto della Mano!” can be purchased online at Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com.

With illustrations by Steve Kernen, “Impariamo L’Italiano con L’Aiuto della Mano!” is the first book in the Arcobaleno series, which is dedicated to introducing Italian to English-speaking children through books with interactive educational elements. “Impariamo L’Italiano con L’Aiuto della Mano!” includes carefully selected vocabulary rhymes and illustrations to stimulate interest and promote effortless language absorption. Through the guidance of the book’s friendly character, Papa Ditino, readers e x perience Italian and English translation references through colorful, easy vocabulary association learning games.

“Numerous studies have shown that children who are e x posed to foreign languages are more likely to do better in school and have a better sense of diversity,” said Giuliana Sica, author. “I wrote “Impariamo L’Italiano con L’Aiuto della Mano!” with the dual objective of educating both parents and children in learning Italian and incorporating it into their daily lives.”

Available at:Amazon and BarnesandNoble.com and www.gemellipress.com

Moomette’s Magnificents is hosting a Giveaway Contest! For a chance to win, there will be two (2) winners of one copy each of “Impariamo L’Italiano con L’Aiuto della Mano!”

Please include a way of contacting you. Should you be the contest winner, this information may be shared with the contest sponsor in order to send your prize.

Main Rule:   (remember if this rule is not followed then no others will count)
a) Sign up for my free Newsletter Updates to my blog through my e-mail link and leave your name in a separate comment) AND

b) Leave a comment as to why you’d like to win this book.

~ One Extra Entry: Become a Moomette’s Magnificents Facebook Fan and leave a comment on our wall with your thoughts on this giveaway.

~ One Extra Entry: Click the “Like” button on this post (top or bottom) and leave and leave your name in a separate comment

~ One Extra Entry: Follow and Rank Moomette’s Magnificents on Networked Blogs (right sidebar) and leave your name in a separate comment.

~ One Extra Entry: Follow my blog publicly on Google Friend Connect (sidebar)

~ One Extra Entry: Visit my 101 Random Things About Me page (under About) and leave a comment here  – something About Me

~ One Extra Entry: Leave a comment on a non-giveaway post, and come back here and let me know which post you left the comment on (may leave multiple comments on multiple posts)

~One Extra Entry: Follow me @Moomettes on Twitter and Tweet this giveaway and post the link in your comment- (one time only) (50 Followers minimum to qualify for extra entry)

copy and paste to tweet

This contest will run until October 26, 2010 at 11:00 pm. ET

For Additional Entries, check out my Contest Entry Rules.

Kid Movie DVD and Stocking Stuffer Ideas | Holiday Gift Guide is a post from: Moomettes Magnificents

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How To Protect Yourself From Scammers During The Economic Downturn

Today’s troubled economic waters are infested with a school of hungry sharks – con artists who promise people a lifeline through jobs, recession-proof income, and access to free government grant money.  They’re bleeding money from individuals…and from the economy as a whole.

That’s why the Federal Trade Commission and its partners are moving aggressively through enforcement and education.  There’s more about today’s announcement of a major enforcement action which you might find interesting.

On the education front, the nation’s consumer protection agency has produced a new video to help people learn how to spot a scam.   It features a former telemarketer of fraudulent business opportunities who explains exactly how he got people to part with their money.  It also features two of his victims, as well, describing how they got caught.

For more resources about helping people avoid business opportunity scams visit: www.ftc.gov/bizopp

Kid Movie DVD and Stocking Stuffer Ideas | Holiday Gift Guide is a post from: Moomettes Magnificents

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Special Education

Soon summer vacation will be over and parents will be focusing on Back-To-School shopping.  I’d like to let you know about the extensive selection of educational special needs childrens toys offered at Gummy Lump.

Earlier this year I had the opportunity to review the magnificent Melissa and Doug Slice and Bake Cookie Set available at Gummy Lump.

My youngest daughter is an Early Intervention Associate and currently finishing up her Masters degree in Rehabilitation and Disabilities Studies with a concentration in Pediatrics and Developmental Disabilities.

My daughter currently works for a non-profit agency, and travels throughout the state doing home visitation consulting for her young clients in the Birth-To-Three program.

I frequently find my youngest daughter  in the living room raiding my grandkids’ toy box for toys  that she thinks would facilitate development for her clients.   As  she makes clientele  home visitations, introducing new material to the children will stimulate interest in the lesson plan of the day that she has prepared.

It isn’t uncommon that in her position as a Birth-to-Three counselor, my daughter unselfishly will spend her own money to purchase toys for special needs  for the kids.  Families and school system budgets are curtailed because of the economy, and funds simply aren’t available to purchase new materials.

The kind folks at Gummy Lump have graciously offered me the opportunity to have my daughter choose a toy to share with her special needs clients.

My daughter would like to share with you her review of the Melissa and Doug Progression Puzzles, and reasons for choosing this product to work with her clients:

I work with young children who have special needs and chose the Melissa and Doug Progression Puzzles because I believed they would be a good learning tool for the children I work with.  They help introduce forward chaining to children who are low functioning and Autistic.

I thought this group of puzzles would be a good tool to teach with because they provide visual aides for the children to follow along with, while also working on fine motor skills and object imitation.

When introducing the puzzles I begin by first having the child complete the puzzle, and then numbering the pieces.  The child then places the puzzle pieces in the base using the correct order, while also counting 1-2-3-4-5-6 so they can understand the steps to making a pizza, peanut butter and jelly sandwich, and eating a banana.  When I begin working on the puzzle I fully prompt the children so they know which piece goes where without making an error, and eventually fade the prompts so the child is completing the puzzle independently.

By completing this puzzle as an assignment, the children can understand how to complete certain activities in their correct order.  They eventually learn not only how to complete a puzzle, but how to chain an activity from first to last.  The first step to making a sandwich would be to grab a plate, bread, and the peanut butter and jelly.  The pictures on the puzzle pieces provide great visuals for the children to follow as well.

I would recommend this puzzle because it comes in a group of three so the children can have three different ideas of how to chain activities.  It can be done forwards or backwards, and is also great for the child to gain fine motor skills by placing the small puzzle pieces in the base puzzle.  The three puzzles are small and easy to carry around as well so they can be transported between houses with minimal effort, and are easy to store.

The Special Needs Childrens Toys selection is extensive, and includes many well-known brands, such as Melissa and Doug, Edushape, Guidecraft and Gund, to name a few.

What’s very helpful for parents and educators is the ability to shop for toys for children with Special Needs by category:

• Autism
• Blindness
• Deafness
• English Language Learners (ELL)
• Gifted Children
• Hearing Impairment
• Intellectual Disability
• Speech and Language Impairment
• Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
• Visual Impairment

Gummy Lump also has put together and shares on it’s site a comprehensive reference list of Special Needs Articles, Books, Websites and Resources.

Free Shipping on purchases over $75

Follow on Twitter: @GummyLump

Follow on Facebook: Gummy Lump

For More Information Visit: Gummy Lump

Moomette’s Magnificents is hosting a Giveaway Contest! For a chance to win, there will be one (1) winner of a $50 Gift Certificate to Gummy Lump Toys!

Please include a way of contacting you. Should you be the contest winner, this information may be shared with the contest sponsor in order to send your prize.

Main Rule:   (remember if this rule is not followed then no others will count)
a) Sign up for my free Newsletter Updates to my blog through my e-mail Feedblitz link (on the top of my right column or let me know if you already are, in a separate comment) AND

b) Visit Gummy Lump and leave a comment about another fact that wasn’t mentioned in this post, and which toy you would pick if you won.

~ One Extra Entry: Become a Moomette’s Magnificents Facebook Fan and leave a comment on our wall with your thoughts on this giveaway.

~ One Extra Entry: Click the “Like” button on this post (top or bottom) and leave and leave your name in a separate comment

~ One Extra Entry: Follow and Rank Moomette’s Magnificents on Networked Blogs (right sidebar) and leave your name in a separate comment.

~ One Extra Entry: Follow my blog publicly on Google Friend Connect (sidebar)

~ One Extra Entry: Visit my 101 Random Things About Me page (under About) and leave a comment – something About Me

~One Extra Entry: Tweet this giveaway and post the link in your comment- (may do this daily) 1 extra/day (50 Followers minimum to qualify for extra entry)

copy and paste to tweet

This contest will run until August 17, 2010 at 11:00 pm. EDT

For Additional Entries, check out my Contest Entry Rules.

Kid Movie DVD and Stocking Stuffer Ideas | Holiday Gift Guide is a post from: Moomettes Magnificents

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The Elmer’s Virtual Bag It Forward is a charity blog meme.  Bloggers are able to raise $10 by writing a blog post and donating a virtual bag of school supplies .

Recently I had the opportunity to participate in the Bag It Forward campaign sponsored by Elmer’s back to school at Walmart.

My own children are now grown and on their own.   Our family was fortunate that we live in a town with an excellent school system, and that we were able to put our girls through college.

However, not all municipalities, school systems or families are able to supply the tools needed to enhance education and give our kids a running start at life.

Through this program I was able to shop at Walmart and purchase school and educational supplies to donate to children and educators for this coming school year.  Walmart offers terrific value and savings for your dollar and has almost  everything you can think of for school – paper; pencils; crayons; construction paper; notebooks; calculators and of course, Elmer’s !

Elmer’s is taking the campaign one step further, and now you, my readers and fellow bloggers, will be able to participate and help out by joining me in a charitable meme!!

Elmer’s Virtual Bag It Forward

All you need to do to help out is:

1. Write up your blog post
2. Send a Virtual bag of school supplies to a bloggy buddy and ask them to join #bagitforward
3. Enter the Link to your post at BagItForward.org

Elmer’s will donate $10 per each post written to Adopt-A-Classroom, up to $10,000.

I received my Elmer’s virtual bag of school supplies from Kim at Crafty Mama of 4, and I am tagging several of my friends, sending them a virtual bag of school supplies and challenging each to help students and classrooms:

Cheryl – The Budge Bunch (a fellow CT blogger, with kids)

Cheryl - The Daily Blonde (many of my friends are named Cheryl, but this one’s from Rhode Island) – she also has a whole passel of kids in all assorted ages

Heather – Home to Heather (Canadian, our friend to the North) (don’t know if they have Elmer’s up  there, but Heather has kids!)

Kaye – SandwichINK (a fellow Baby Boomer Grandmom, who misses school shopping, like me, I’m sure!)

Rachel - Touchd (also from CT, and I was her campaign manager for her recent bath and body products review launch!)

Garden Gnome-Mom’s Cafe Home Cooking (another Canadian who I always thought was from Maine) and who tweets daily about the wonderful things she’s always cooking or growing in her garden!

HOW CAN YOU JOIN? It’s easy.

• Participate in the Elmer’s Virtual Bag It Forward and by giving away a virtual bag of school supplies and creating a blog post with specific rules described below.

• Elmer’s will donate up to $10,000 to Adopt-A-Classroom

• You can give as many virtual bags as you want in your post, but only one post per URL is counted towards the donation. You can post at multiple URLs.

• The Elmer’s Virtual Bag It Forward will officially begin at 12 AM EST on July 22, 2010 and end at 12 PM EST on August 12, 2010. Blog posts submitted to us before or after that time period will not be counted for.

• The blog post link has to be submitted in the comment section below for your participation to be counted.

• In addition copy and paste the following text in your blog post:

ELMER’S VIRTUAL BAG IT FORWARD RULES

• Copy and paste these rules to your blog post.

• Create a blog post giving a “virtual bag of school supplies” to other bloggers or write about your Back to School shopping trip at Walmart.

• Link back to person who gave you a bag of school supplies.

• Let each person you are giving a virtual bag of school supplies know you have given them a bag.

• Leave your link in the Elmer’s Virtual Bag It Forward comment section. You can also find the official rules of this virtual #bagitforward program there.

Kid Movie DVD and Stocking Stuffer Ideas | Holiday Gift Guide is a post from: Moomettes Magnificents

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There are many families out there who are unable to afford the additional expense of school supplies.  Fortunately, the “Bag It Forward” Program sponsored by Elmer’s Back to School at Walmart is able to assist those in need!

When fall rolls around I usually get a little wistful when the big yellow school bus drives down my street but doesn’t stop at my door any longer, now that I’m an empty nestor. My daughters have graduated college, and my grandkids are in pre-school.

My youngest daughter is an Early Intervention Associate and currently finishing up her Masters degree in Rehabilitation and Disabilities Studies with a concentration in Pediatrics and Developmental Disabilities.

Most people are aware that budgets everywhere are being cut – household, state, municipal, corporate and sadly, education and classroom budgets.

Teachers and schools are relying on the families of it’s students to provide supplies for classrooms. This also holds true for my daughter’s position as an in-home counselor for a non-profit Birth-to-Three program.

I was given the opportunity through the Collective Bias forum that I’m a member of, to shop and purchase school and educational supplies to donate to children and educators for this coming school year.

My daughter and I shopped together this past Sunday, and the shopping trip provided me a first-hand look into my daughter’s chosen profession.

I created my first Whrrl story. I hope you’ll take the time to take a peek at it!

As my daughter and I wandered the isles in Walmart, she kept the specific needs of her clients in mind:

While shopping I decided to pick out certain educational toy items that I believe will help my young students grow and develop in multiple ways.  I chose Playdoh as an item to help my students learn their colors as well as develop creativity.  Playdoh is a toy that is used often because we can create a task analysis to help the children learn to play with Playdoh, and it can also be used as a reinforcer for the children.

Another educational toy item that I picked out were 2 toy dinosaurs because not only do children enjoy playing with the dinosaurs, but they can also be used to teach children actions with objects, such as making the dinosaur walk; hop; and roar.

I picked out a set of matchbox cars and trucks to help develop actions with objects as well because many children with special needs are incapable of driving a car back and fourth, or creating the sound beep beep.  These toys assist the children with developing functional play skills which are important in preschool and their daily lives.

One of the toys I picked out comes with a shape sorter and nesting cups.  This is perfect for developing shape discrimination and object manipulation.  The nesting cups also assist with teaching the children different attributes such as big versus little.

I also chose crayons, construction paper, and Elmer’s glue to provide an arts and crafts lessons.  Coloring is important in a child’s life and it is also great to teach a child how to cut paper along a line to develop fine motor skills, and gluing the paper together with Elmer’s creates excitement for the project, as well as creativity.  This also provides a time for the children to become familiar with many different art projects such as gluing glitter, seeds, paper, and other materials for children who have sensory disorders.

Some other products I chose to buy were stickers to reinforce the children for their great work in order to maintain the child’s attention it is important to reinforce.

I also chose some fun learning tools such as a Lego truck, which came with larger Lego blocks for the children to develop and work on muscle and gross motor coordination by connecting the Legos.  The truck acts as a reinforcer for the child to place the Legos in and drive around once they have completed the task.

I also chose foam letters that connect because they can double as a puzzle to complete as well as an alphabet lesson.  They are very creative to work with and can be used to introduce colors to the children.

I picked out many toys that I feel will be extremely educational and helpful to my young students and many of the toys can double for more than one lesson.  This was a great opportunity to provide me with more educational materials that will benefit my young students and help to provide a new and exciting learning environment.  They will be able to work on functional play skills, fine motor tasks, gross motor tasks and arts and crafts.

Please take the challenge, and if you’re able to purchase school supplies in preparation for the new school year, perhaps you can place a few extra items in your cart to buy and help a family or classroom in need so that all students have access to the supplies necessary for a positive educational experience.

For More Information Visit: www.bagitforward.org

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I usually read about 20 national newspapers online daily, and an article on Charla Nash, from Stamford, CT in my hometown paper, The Hartford Courant, caught my eye.  Charla won’t be attending her daughter’s high school graduation ceremonies.

My regular readers and friends know that I’m from Connecticut. Stamford is in the lower part of the state from me. Charla , whom you may remember from seeing on Oprah, was the woman who was viciously attacked and disfigured by Travis the Chimp.

Now recuperating in the Boston area while awaiting a possible face and hand transplant, Charla has made the valiant and difficult decision not to attend her daughter’s high school graduation ceremony. The reasons stated in the article were that she doesn’t want to create a “media circus.”

As a parent of two grown daughters, my heart goes out to not only Charla, but her daughter as well.

My daughters have since graduated college, but it seems like just yesterday that first they were starting high school, and then graduating from high school. As parents, my husband and I marked with pride this milestone in not only our daughters’ lives, but ours as well.

If you’ll be attending a high school graduation ceremony soon, please think of Charla and her daughter – let Charla look through your eyes and send some good vibes and extra “woot” for them, so Charla can feel it and the pride that all of us share in “seeing” her daughter celebrate her  high school graduation.

Kid Movie DVD and Stocking Stuffer Ideas | Holiday Gift Guide is a post from: Moomettes Magnificents

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