I recently interviewed one of my sons on the topic of his digital camera. It was enlightening for me to get his point of view, so I decided to ask his twin brother about how he likes using the computer.

To give you a little background: My boys, who will turn 4 years old next month, have been using their own computer for about six months now. They exclusively use the Fisher-Price Easy Link Internet Launch Pad, which keeps them on their games without the ability to explore the rest of the computer or the Web. It is really a perfect gadget since it allows us to use our existing computers.

We use an egg timer as a reminder of when 30 minutes has ended so that brother can get a turn. Learning to use the computer took about a day. They do not use the mouse feature on the Easy Link, instead use a standard optical mouse. I had to put a sticker on the left side of the mouse so they remember which button to click.

Here is a little peek at our conversation:

Me: What do you like doing on the computer?

Holden: Playing games.

Me: Is the computer hard to use?

Holden: Yes (via head nod). I asked why and got a shoulder shrug.

Me: What do you do when you get stuck and do not know how to finish a game?

Holden: I ask for help or go to the top and start over.

Someone mentioned Spiderman fruit chews and the interview was officially over. I think that the kids have plenty more they can do with the Easy Link, because some of the games are still difficult. Next on our list is Bailey’s Book House, which will be fun for learning and reading.

Have you found any great computer games or tools for tots? Please share!

My 3 year old loves my cell phone. He actually has one of his own (an old one of mine that no longer works), but he likes using mine because it actually functions. I mean, he’s not fooled. Mine makes sounds and has colors, and he can actually hear grandma on it of course. He hasn’t figured out *how* it works yet, but it probably won’t be long before he figures out what numbers to push to get someone else on the line. Hopefully he finds the number for pizza as opposed to 911 like this toddler.

But it got me thinking… at what age should a kid actually get a cell phone?

An NPD Group study last year indicated “15% of 2- to 5-year-olds use cell phones,” which is certainly shocking. But in this age where everyone is “connected” to one another, it only makes sense that the connectivity trickle-down eventually reaches our youngest family members.

So what is available for youngsters, should you decide they absolutely need to have a cell phone? Take a look at the following:

Migo mobile phone

The VX1000, shown here, is perfect for your kid’s first phone. You can program four speed dials plus feel good about having an emergency key. A service can be provided so with the push of a button, your mobile will know where your kids go.

Firefly mobile phone

Firefly has cool phones with popular features designed specifically for kids and tweens.

TicTalk mobile phone

This age-appropriate mobile phone gives you security and control, and gives your child freedom and fun!

WheriFone GPS locator phone

The WheriFone is billed as the world’s smallest GPS cell phone for children, and a gadget that provides affordable peace-of-mind for the modern mobile family.

Deciding which phone to purchase will undoubtedly be easier than whether your child should have a phone at all. Especially when there are reports of medical concerns with kid’s cell phone usage. However, this is something each parent will have to decide on their own as they weigh the benefits of staying connected in this digital age.

There are some online sites that seem appropriate for kids, but upon further inspection let them, and their parents, down. I am referring to free sites that host Flash and Java games. The issue is that you can’t always tell right away if a site is appropriate for your child because of the rotating banner ads.

Say you search for free games. Many sites will come up. You select a site that looks ok because the games appear to be kid friendly.  Great, now you feel comfortable and your child is having a little fun.  But, suddenly a banner ad pops up with an adult-rated advertisement!  Then you think to yourself, “How could I have let this happen!  I checked to make sure it was safe!”

Because these sites are free, they are ad supported.  People of all ages like to play games online.  Banner ads will rotate to offer a variety of products for different target audiences.  They are also not invulnerable to malicious hackers. That is what makes it very difficult to conclude right off if your child should be playing a game on a particular site. It was reported on Washingtonpost.com that the popular Neopets site had this problem, apparently the result of malicious software. They have since corrected the issue.

It is always best that you first check out free game sites.  Make sure you feel comfortable with the games and the ads that show up. Keep in mind there are many fun, kid-friendly sites. You will find one that you and your child can feel good about.

As Jennifer noted in the previous post, learning can be fun. And thanks to the Web, it’s never been easier.

Increasingly, we look to the Internet for answers to questions. You can find a special recipe for pecan pie or search for spider images to help identify a creepy crawler in your house. With the help of a search engine, finding what you’re looking for is not that hard. But, sometimes unrelated results can show up as well. Some of these unrelated results could be offensive to adults and inappropriate for younger viewers.

The latter should be a concern for parents whose children do research for homework and school projects. The good news is there is something we can do.

Search engines have safe settings to assist you. For example, if you select preferences on Google’s site, you can filter searches. The settings are high, medium and no filter.

Another popular search tool for kids is offered by Microsoft’s Encarta. It is basically an encyclopedia that might have everything needed for a research project. But, its just one resource and parents should know that many teachers often require more sources for assignments.

If you know any safe search tips for kids please share them in the comments. Thanks for reading!

Now that many of us are settled back into the school routine, studying and homework are in full swing. Lucky for us moms, this season has brought some great technology for homework and in-school activities for kids of all ages. Here are a few gadgets that have caught my eye.

Elementary School – The Leap Frog Tag Reading System is a new product for ages 4-8. Its educational books are interactive, to help young readers learn words if they have trouble. ParentDish.com has a review of the product from a toddler mom.

Middle School – Did you learn the 50 states by singing a song? Around the U.S. Interactive Map Games can help your child learn the names of the states as well as lots of other fun facts. Best of all, there are also over 25,000 quiz questions to test what is learned.

Learning to type is another activity that has definitely moved up on the fun scale! You can enlist the help of SpongeBob SquarePants for tutorials, drills, activities and quizzes.

High school / College – The Pulse Smart Pen has to be one of the coolest gadgets I’ve seen for school work. This pen records and links audio to what you write, so you never miss a word. As you take your notes, the pen records the lecture. Later when you review your notes, you just tap the notes with your pen and it will play the corresponding lecture.

All Ages – I was recently introduced to a new Web site that has all the answers, literally. HowStuffWorks.com has thousands of articles and videos on just about every topic you can imagine, from “How the Great Wall of China Works” to “How Gas Prices Work.”   The stuff on this site is not user generated; instead, it is researched and verified by their staff to ensure accuracy. You can count on it for your homework or research paper. Check out their “Hit the Books” widget – a shareable application that posts answers to school-related questions posed by readers.

So now, our kids might believe us when we tell them that learning is fun! Let me know your finds for educational games… learning is fun for me too.

As a follow-up to my recent post about selected Web sites that are ideal for younger children, what can parents do to prevent kids from landing on sites with inappropriate content?

The first thing is to take time to explore the Internet with your child. It can be a great experience to share and learn new things together. If you can’t sit with them, at least try to have a direct line of sight to increase your awareness of what they’re doing. You don’t have to crowd them; just keep a watchful eye on the screen to make sure you approve of the Web site they are viewing.

If you are unable to sit with your child or keep an eye on what they are doing, there are programs that can filter Web sites so that your child does not wander into the dark Internet alleys. Net Nanny and CyberPatrol are good examples of Web browser filters. They will scan for key words that you select, and you can directly enter Web addresses that you want blocked. To find more software Web site filter/blockers, simple look them up on a search engine like Google, Yahoo or MSN.

If you are lucky enough to have Vista Ultimate on your computer, you already have what’s called Parent Controls. It gives you the option to restrict access to certain sites, downloads and programs. Plus, there are timer options that control when a Windows account can be in use and for how long.

You can also control Internet access with a router. Almost all new routers, LAN and wireless, can be programmed to block sites. The problem with this is that it’s impossible to block every objectionable site. Plus, Web sites come and go fast; it’s impossible to keep up.

Finally, try to make sure your home computer has passwords set on all accounts. It is cute for every member of the family to have his or her own Windows account logon. However, not everyone creates a password. A child could power on the computer and get on to the Internet with someone else’s account, which may not have an Internet filter. Make sure it is you who is in control of the computer.

Some people believe that it is not responsible to allow younger children on the Internet. Well, that is true if you’re using the computer as a baby sitter. After all, there are questionable Web sites and some that we definitely would never want our children to see.

However, that should not stop us from going to all the great kid-friendly sites. Reality is we can’t hide the Internet from them. Sooner or later they will hear about popular Web sites from their friends. Besides, shouldn’t it be you, the parent, who introduces your child to the Internet?

I’d like to share a really great site for kids. It has been put up by PBS, the same outfit that brought us Sesame Street and Mr. Rogers Neighborhood. Well, now PBS KIDS has 25 different shows that kids can interact with online. There are lots of fun activities and games to play. But, and here’s the big highlight, the games are not mindless point-and-click activities. They have been crafted to entertain kids while they learn. The site is clean in design and easy to navigate. Go to pbskids.org and see for yourself.

Another site worth checking out is Webkinz. My family has a Webkinz account. It is just a fun place for kids. It is not completely geared toward educating your kids but the site is safe, fun and G rated. Basically, you buy your child a Webkinz pet (stuffed animal) at the store. I have seen them at Walgreens for about $7 USD. The Webkinz comes with a code that a parent or guardian uses to register their child on Webkinz.com. Then the fun begins. Kids can play games to earn KinzCash cash, which they can use to buy items for their Webkinz (pet), and their virtual playroom. Who knows, you may want to log on to play games when your child is asleep.

New sites are always coming out with great products and some not so great. So, it can be hard to keep up with all the best places for your child. Try going to linkopedia.com. They have a list of recommended sites for kids that is broken up by categories. Another great resource is just asking your family and friends.

So, let’s hear what you have to say. At what age do you think we should be introducing children to the Internet? And, if you have a recommendation for a kid- friendly site, please comment below. Thanks!

“The A says “ah! ” The A says “Ah! ” Every letter makes a sound, the A says “Ah!

Over and over I heard this and can still hear this tune in my dreams… but that’s not important. What is important, of course, is that my son learned the first letter of the alphabet, and the rest, by listening and watching this educational video from Leap Frog Learning called “Letter Factory.”

Letter Factory is a full-length video adventure that engages children with the use of everyday images, in order to learn the alphabet. Not only do they learn the individual letters, but they learn the sound associated with the letters as well. My son absolutely loves this video and, after only a few times viewing the DVD, he had learned the complete ABCs and could sing along on sight with the video.

While this learning series is no longer in production, you can still find copies to purchase via Amazon and other online outlets. Given the strength of Letter Factory in our son’s development, we will certainly check out other products from Leap Frog and encourage you to take a look as well.

Sharing the computer with your toddler can not only be fun, but educational as well.  Case in point, the first lesson I gave my son happened to be…  “Don’t poke the laptop screen with your finger” and the second was “Especially when covered in chocolate!” I guess that’s more of an addendum to the first lesson, but you get my point.  He learned not to poke the laptop, and I learned not to leave him unattended watching YouTube Monster Truck videos.

When we aren’t watching Gravedigger crush cars online, my son and I also like to check out what’s new in the world of kids on the Internet.  Here are 10 Web sites geared for toddlers and kids that can also be enjoyed by the whole family.  (In no specific order)

• Noggin: It’s like preschool on TV

Play games, check show times, and check in on Bert and Ernie, Franklin, Miffy and the gang.

• PBS Kids

A safe place for kids to explore and play hundreds of fun educational games with their favorite PBS KIDS characters.  This site also links to PBS Parents, which includes great information on “How to Grow Green Kids”.

• StarFall: Where children have fun learning to read

Parents use Starfall to prepare their children for school, and to support them once they are there. Starfall is an educational alternative to other entertainment choices for children.

• Cartoon Network Games

The best place for cartoons online: tons of games featuring the world’s biggest cartoon stars, plus television’s largest online trading community.

• Thomas & Friends

Official site featuring events, fun and games, shop, show information and TV listings.  Everything a young child needs from their favorite cartoon train engine.

• Nick Jr.com: For parents and preschoolers

Play games and upload your pictures and videos to share with the Nick Jr. community.

• Disney Playhouse

My son says this if his favorite Web site.  Play games, watch videos, find fun printable activities and more starring your favorite characters from Playhouse Disney!

• Sesame Street Workshop

Official site includes games, stories and activities, as well as resources for caregivers.

• Boowa & Kwala

Educational games and activities for preschool, kindergarten and primary school kids, or Boowa & Kwala fans of any age!

• Fischer-Price: Online Games and Activities

Online games and learning activities are a great way to spend quality time with your child. Have fun with these online activities, and remember: whether your child is an infant, toddler or preschooler, it’s important to let him learn at his own pace!

If you have any online sites for toddlers and kids that you would like to share, please include in your comments.

I’m fairly certain that when I was an infant, my parents never had a baby monitoring system.  Well maybe two tin cans and some string, but that’s not quite as nice as what you can get today.  And while monitoring systems are all the rage, not many currently available have the secure monitoring capability to include video as does the Graco iMonitor.

The iMonitor is a digital, color video baby monitoring system that allows a parent or guardian to watch over their loved ones remotely with the use of a handheld receiver (Parental Unit).  You can mount the camera (Nursery Unit) over a crib, in a corner, or on a wall and have instant audio and video feedback in regards to what your child is doing.  The camera on the unit can adjust to swivel from left to right for better positioning and it also includes nightvision, that’s pretty slick!

The Parental Unit itself is very portable and sports a 1.9” color video screen.  From the unit, you can adjust the volume, zoom in and out with video camera, change brightness and all this from a distance of up to 600 feet.  Not to mention it includes an alarm and can be set to use several languages. 

We tested the unit with our son, who will be turning 3 years old this August.  While I expect many people will use this primarily for newborns and infants, we found the unit extremely handy for keeping an eye on a mischievous toddler.  Setting up the device was very quick and easy, simply install the rechargeable battery pack for the Parental Unit, install AAA batteries as backup for the Nursery Unit (Camera), plug in the AC adapters for power/charging and you are good to go.  

Initially, we set the camera up on the counter to monitor our son in the living room.  The first thing my wife said when we turned it on was “Wow… we should have had something like this earlier.”

The video was in color, however I did find it a bit jerky when my son moved and played with his toys, but the audio was very clear.  Even with the slight jerk as he moved within the frame, it captured his movement and activities in much greater detail than I had been anticipating.  For a newborn or infant who is primarily still in their crib and not as active, I wouldn’t imagine that video capture would be an issue.

The night vision is great.  We were able to clearly see our son sitting in the dark as he watched the movie Cars.  However, he was a bit distracted by the red light from the camera, which is easily visible in a dark room.  We both laughed from the other room as we watched him get up to investigate the camera.  We also saw no issues with interference when we used the unit through several rooms while sitting outside on our patio.  All in all, we both love the monitor.  Just by flipping open the parental unit, or sitting it on the table next to you, one is easily comforted by seeing and hearing your loved one as they lie or play in another room. 

I’d like to thank fellow blogger and occasional Your Blog reader Lindsay Lebresco at Graco for sending me a review unit.  If you would like to get involved in the Graco community, check out the Graco Blog.  The site is very family oriented and filled with great tips such as Top 10 Ways to Keep a 2 Year Old Quiet, and who couldn’t use more ideas in this area?  =)