Ready for a sneak peek at the new Cars 2 trailer! The race is on! Check out MSN for the exclusive worldwide premiere of the trailer debut from CARS 2 — Disney•Pixar’s follow-up to the Academy Award®-winning box-office hit TOY STORY 3. Star racecar Lightning McQueen (voice of Owen Wilson) is back, along with the incomparable tow truck Mater (voice of Larry the Cable Guy) and the rest of the gang from Radiator Springs. This time, they’re heading overseas for the first-ever World Grand Prix, where Mater gets caught up in an intriguing adventure of his own: international espionage. Introducing hilarious new characters and red-hot racing, CARS 2 is a global extravaganza! Cars 2 hits the theater’s June 24, 2011!

Many children have a variety of learning disabilities that make it challenging for them to organize their thoughts and handwrite them effectively on paper with good legibility. Some children, after years of occupational therapy, due to a variety of disabilities and reasons, still have difficulty with the coordination of their fingers for typing. Typically at the middle school level, we make recommendations to teachers and parents for children to begin to access technology as an alternative form of written communication.

Dragon Dictate software is not only a great way for adults to improve their productivity, but a fabulous alternative for students with either learning or physical disabilities to be able to effectively communicate their thoughts in an organized way so that others can read their creative ideas. Not to mention that once the students get the idea of the software program, they may be able to complete their work assignments much faster than typical. Wouldn’t it be easier for you as a parent to find a faster alternative for your child who could more happily and independently complete their homework?  Many kids are more efficient at telling you their thoughts, but can get roadblocked by the motor skills of handwriting. As a result, they often choose to take short cuts in their work to accommodate for their disabilities and as educators we know they might not always be working to their fullest potential.

I did complete this review using the Dragon dictate software. So I will have to admit, it has been an adjustment to get used to speaking out loud without a template- when for many years I’ve been used to organizing my thoughts in a typed way. However, as long as you follow through with the calibration of the microphone, I have been very impressed with the accuracy of what has been typed, as well as the speed at which it is typed. After you download the software, to calibrate the microphone system you need to read lengthy passages, which could pose a challenge for those kids with a reading disability. However, this software is intuitive and over time we have been able to utilize this program successfully.

There are also two modes with the dictation software – dictation mode and command mode. Command mode will literally run your computer without the need to even touch the mouse. With a simple command you can open, close and access all sorts of programs. Though I wasn’t all that successful myself transitioning back and forth between each mode and there is definitely a learning curve to remembering and using the commands appropriately, I did see some nice video’s on the Nuance website demonstrating the capabilities of this awesome software.

Being that I am very busy with working full time, raising a family and creating this blog, I am hopeful that I can learn to dictate more effectively – so at the very least I can use it to quickly create my blogposts. I do wish I had used this when Gavin was an infant while I tried to learn to type fast while using the one free hand I had available! If you decide to purchase this product for our use, please be aware there is a Windows version and a MAC version.

Nuance provided this copy of Dragon Dictate free to facilitate a review. The opinions expressed in this blog post are my own.

Fisher-Price Little People Wheelies Stand and Play Rampway.

Fisher-Price, BigFoot the Monster will be a sought after remote controlled dinosaur toy for preschoolers this holiday season. He has multiple emotions that include sad and angry. He exercises, flips, and walks forward. Recommended for kids 3-10.

Similar to Bakugan, a magnetic toy that pops open, popular among little boys, for young girls, Spinmaster has created Zoobles! Adorable little animals that pop to life once they are placed on the top of their hapitat! There are many different Zoobles to collect and different playsets like the Razoo’s Treehouse Playset.

So here is my developmental spin, not only are small toys like these good for fine motor skill and dexterity, many children benefit from small toys to work towards as incentives for a job well done at home with household chores, getting themselves dressed, or doing their homework for a certain timeframe without reminders. Though I’m not a huge proponent of constantly giving children toys as rewards for the simplest of things, most people are motivated by positive reinforcement, so as long as the expectations are reasonable to the parent, it can be helpful in assisting children with greater independence.

These little guys are flying off the shelves in stores this holiday season! Squinkies are tiny squishable toys that live inside small plastic bubbles. Once these bubbles are opened they can be squished, used in dramatic play, attached to the top of the pencil, hidden in a pocket, played with using one of the adorable playsets, traded, collected or made into jewelry. The Squinkies Cupcake Surprize Bake Shop comes with 9 Squinkies.  It works just like a real gumball machine so when a nickel or a dime is inserted, and when the handle is turned, a Squinkie prize is on the way! Not to mention, the playsets are a great place to store these little guys, because they are very small and definitely not intended for children who place toys in their mouth.  There are multiple playsets that are part of the Squinkies collection, as well as different Bubble Packs that include 12 Squinkies.  Little girls will love to play with these toys imaginately, as well a share and trade these collectibles with their friends.

Squinkies were provided free for the purpose of a review. The opinions expressed in this blog post are purely the bloggers own.

Last week, I saw a lot of children smile playing Sumo Ham Slam. Who wouldn’t have fun feeding funny looking Hamsters food pellets before placing them in a center ring where you use a magnetic wand to try to knock the opponent back into their corner on the game board? I think as adults it was just as fun for us to have a little comic relief, for sure.

So what did we work on with Sumo Ham Slam?

The understanding of new directions, fine motor coordination to plan how to use your magnetic wand to guide your hamster without being able to really see it, and planning on how to win by wrestling him back into his respective corner. Not to mention turn taking and social connections with peers. You all know me by now if you read my posts regularly, I’m a big proponent of encouraging children to write but my biggest roadblock is finding a way to motivate them. So here were some creative writing topics we identified after playing this game by writing a story on your Sumo Hamster:

What’s his name?
What kind of pellets does he like to eat that makes him so strong?
Where does he live?
Why is he wrestling in the ring?

Please comment under this post with any other creative topics you can think of to make this game educationally fun.

Gamewright provided Sumo Ham Slam free for the process of a review. The opinions expressed in this blog post are purely the bloggers own.

Tisha from International Playthings demonstrates toys from the Ecotronic Brand. Kids love toys with electronic features, but batteries contribute a ton of toxic waste into the environment so Ecotronic brand includes the lights and sounds without batteries! It uses the power of kids play to power the toys. The monkey flashlight is activated by squeezing the handle and this powers the rechargeable battery inside. The monkey’s nose will then light up and it’s an LED flashlight. Perfect to put in a handbag, works on hand strengthening and is great for Halloween, camping and to place in a child’s bedroom.

The Rocketship is activated by cranking the handle. To power it up you hit the button and it’s a NASA recording of a space shuttle lifting off. It has long lasting LED lights.

The EcoRadio is easy to charge up. It’s an FM radio but it also comes with adaptors for cell phone charging! It’s entertaining at sports games, the beach or picnics! It’s good for safety and great for on the road when you need to charge your phone!

Leapfrog Tag Junior is a great way to foster the love of learning and reading for 2-3 year olds. The Tag Jr. set comes with the book pal and a board book. 5 different books can be downloaded to the same book pal through the use of a USB cord that comes in the package. The software is Macintosh or Windows compatible. The book pal is easy for young 2-3 year olds to hold due to it’s size. Wand the book pal over the pages to promote interactive learning. If you wand it over the words, it will read the words. You can also place it over different pictures like, for example, the sun. It assists with learning vocabulary, preposition development, rhyming words, and colors. It is also interactive in that it may ask the child to find different pictures. Find the the Tag Jr. at www.leapfrog.com

Discovery Toys Patterns & Pieces Set
A great toy for 2 & 3 year olds working on mastering the art of stringing and lacing is the Discovery Toys Patterns and Pieces Set. Different pieces are located inside a clear container, with a twist off compartment, which provides an intact organizational system safe in one location. There are many different pieces with colored strings work that allow children to work on bilateral coordination and hand eye coordination simply to get the pieces onto the string. There are two holes in each string, 2 year olds are working on stringing through one hole. For three and up, they are working on the art of lacing, so encourage them to weave in an out of the two holes. These pieces are good for shorting by shape and size, great for imprinting use during Playdoh, and can also be traced and used as stencil templates. www.discoverytoys.com, www.toyqueen.com

Lauri Pegboard – Click to watch in HD
Using the Lauri Pegboard works on grasp and release patterns with children over the age of 18 months. These colorful pegs are placed into the foam board. The pegs stack on top of one another to work on building a tall tower, which can promote upper extremity strength, control, and coordination. This pegboard also promotes index finger isolation, which is a skill required to point and ultimately assist children with pointing to different items in the room. Many children enjoy using their index finger to poke the pegs from back to front. Older children can work on patterning, where you create a pattern and they complete it. These pegs are also great for simple math. Some children enjoy it when you fill up the entire pegboard and pretend it’s a birthday cake. Make sure to sing Happy Birthday and blow the candles out! www.toyqueen.com

Small World Toys three piece farm animal puzzle review by Toyqueen. Showing the extra benefits that include grasping techniques and more.
For children 12-18 months, these three piece puzzles from Small World Toys are great way to promote puzzles. Small World Toys makes nice beginner puzzles with only 3 pictures and there is a visual reference underneath. Children will learn the skill by matching the piece to the actual location. For younger smaller hands, they have larger handles to hold onto as it does not take as much skill to rotate the piece into the puzzle. You may need to use hand over hand assistance, where you place your hand over your child’s and teach them to guide the piece into the puzzle. This allows you the opportunity to teach the skill of how to complete a puzzle. It may be helpful if you cover over the pieces they are not working on, so they are not visually distracted and can focus on the piece you provide them. Incorporate language into puzzles by singing songs like Old McDonald Had a Farm, give them the piece, sing the song together, and assist the child with putting in the piece before you sing the next line and move onto the next pieces. This makes the puzzle interactive. Keep extra containers from around the house handy for storage of the pieces. www.toyqueen.com

http://tinyurl.com/2p9yhe

Fool proof swaddling! You can keep the top swaddled to change a diaper, or even swaddle the baby while in the swing or in the car seat! Swaddling provides nice firm input, similar to that of being in the womb, which can help your baby remain calm and focused during feeding, sleeping and interacting.

Sleep Sheep- $25.00
http://www.cloudb.com/ssandf/sheep.html

This adorable little lamb attaches to the crib and plays different selections of soothing music for baby to fall asleep with as part of their nighttime and naptime routines. Helps to promote self-calming.

Sassy Dunk & Clunk
For babies older than 6 months, working on basic grasp and release patterns is the Sassy Dunk and Clunk Toy. This toy works on basic grasp and release patterns. First, take the top off and release pieces right into the open container. With refinement and more precise skills, place the top on and developmentally encourage your child to complete the horizontal slots first before the vertical slots. These slots are easier, as they require less wrist rotation. Teach your child how to complete the vertical slot with hand over hand assistance if necessary. The newer version has a different toy, find this toy at www.sassybaby.com. www.toyqueen.com

Fun with Fruit by Small World Toys

Excellent addition to any kitchen set for birthday or holiday gift, is the Small World Toys Fun with Fruit and Peel and Play Vegetable Sets. I’ve combined two sets to make a variety of different fruits/vegetables. There are tomatoes, oranges, pineapples, apples, broccoli, and peppers. The pieces are attached by Velcro in the middle and can be pulled apart. If use the plastic knife that comes in the set, it can sound just like you would be slicing or cutting fruit. The Peel and Play vegetables also have Velcro, but they can actually be peeled apart just like a regular banana.

I’ve used these sets with children as young as 12-15 months. Young children are working on increasing their hand strength to pull them apart and put the pieces back together. Older children are working on color recognition skills and hand eye coordination to hold the knife, and line it up, while also needing to demonstrate appropriate strength and coordination to cut the pieces in half. Children over the age of three are using visual organization skills, they cut them apart, and then need to scan the pile to find the match. You may need to assist your child, by pre-sorting the pieces and offering them a smaller choice with contrasting fruits/vegetables to reduce frustration when finding the match. This set is plastic and easy to wash. Other companies do make a wooden variety if that is more to your liking. With storage, these items are dependent on their match, store them in clear plastic container with a lid so they are not scattered and lost all over the playroom. Contact www.smallworldtoys.com for more information.