meta-dad

The ABC Game

The ABC Game was commissioned by Gyldendal, one of Norway’s leading publishing houses. It is designed to complement one of Gyldendals reading books for primary schools. The game focuses on the shapes of the letters in the alphabet and aims to make 6 year olds confident and familiar with the characters.

The illustrated letters are painted by Stefano Lemma and the sound is composed by Geir Bremer Øvrebø.

(Via OrgDot.Com)

A John Waters Christmas

From Baltimore’s greatest director who created new classics like Hairspray and Pink Flamingos comes a different sorts of Christmas compilation.

A John Waters Christmas playlist;

1. Rudolf The Red Nosed Reindeer – Tiny Tim
2. Christmas Time Is Coming (A Street Carol) – Stormy Weather
3. Happy Birthday Jesus – Little Cindy
4. Here Comes Fatty Claus – Rudolf & The Gang
5. Little Mary Christmas – Roger Christian
6. I Wish You A Merry Christmas – Big Dee Irwin & Little Eva
7. Santa Don’t Pass By Me – Jimmy Donley
8. Sleigh Ride – Alvin & The Chipmunks
9. Sleigh Bells, Reindeer And Snow
10. First Snow – The Cocktails
11. Santa Claus Is A Black Man – AKIM & The Teddy Vann Production Company

Follow the NPR link below to listen to his commentary about putting this compilation together.

Sited Links:
Amazon.Com | A John Waters Christmas

Related Links:
National Public Radio (NPR) | Catchy And Rare; A John Waters Christmas
IMDB.Com | John Waters

Kid-Friendly Software and Media Management

Of all the buzz and din of reviews and marketing ploys I always seem to fall back on the Parents’ Choice Foundation for honest critiques of current toys, books and software for my kids. Parent’s Choice is a non-profit organizational that has been around for almost thirty years and it’s comprised of educators and medical professionals. Although I feel their articles are sometimes flawed or conflicted with regards to their recommendations, I feel they are being honest with me and aren’t driven by industry or marketing dollars.

I happened to stumble across their software recommendations page and want to pass it on to you. Some of the software with the top honors:

1. Nancy Drew: The White Wolf of Icicle Creek
2. Crazy Machines 1.5: More Gizmos, Gadgets & Whatchamacallits
3. Pet Vet 3D Wild Animal Hospital
4. Fritz & Chessters Chess for Winners

Almost in the same breadth, I want to point out their Media Management recommendations that are healthy reminders to us parents. I know from experience it can be such a bitter sweet thing to plop the kids in front of the boob-tube and tune it to their favorite channel or console and enjoy a hands-free moment but get that pang of guilt that you’re melting their brain. Well, here are some tips for managing your kids’ screen-time.

Site Links:
Parents’ Choice Foundation | Fall 2007 Software Recommendations
Parents’ Choice Foundation | Media Management

Related Links:
Parents’ Choice Foundation | Playstation or Playground?
Parents’ Choice Foundation | Are Video-Based Toys Good for Your Child?

Have You Seen CNN Lately?

FlipClips

FlipClips are individually crafted flipbooks, created using your own digital video. Start by uploading a video under 30 seconds in length. They accept most common digital video formats, including MOV/QT, AVI, DV, MPEG4, MPEG2, Motion JPEG, and 3GPP. This means you can upload stuff from a DVD (MPEG4) or your digital camera (DV, AVI, or Motion JPEG) to the site.

FlipClips are available in three styles, and are made using only the best materials around.

(Via FlipClips.Com)

You Are My Flower

You Are My Flower by Elizabeth Mitchell is as warm and engaging as any of Ida’s more “mature” works — a collection of traditional folk and country tunes culled from the songbooks of the Carter Family, Leadbelly, Woody Guthrie, Elizabeth Cotten and others. This sweet, lovely set is family-friendly in the truest sense, appealing to young listeners while never so cutesy or cloying that adult ears will beg for mercy.

(Via PokeyPup.Com)