Entertainment

See Chimpanzee- Save Chimpanzees Program Extended

April 25, 2012 By Virginia 1 Comment

Chimpanzee opened nationwide on April 20th, and the young chimpanzee star, Oscar, is winning hearts, and saving lives! Is it any wonder with a face like this?

A first-ever extension to a Disneynature conservation program has been given to the program with the Jane Goodall Institute.

For every moviegoer that sees “Chimpanzee”, now through May 3, 2012, Disneynature will make a donation to the Jane Goodall Institute (JGI) through the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund to protect chimpanzees today and tomorrow.

If you plan to see this movie, get more bang for your buck by seeing it by May 3rd. In doing so, you ensure that chimpanzees will be protected for the next generation!

***I received no compensation for this post, other than warm fuzzies***

Filed Under: Entertainment Tagged With: Disney, disneynature, Movies

Being Kind and Caring- Paws & Tales

April 20, 2012 By Virginia 4 Comments

I’ve listened to the Insight for Living radio broadcast off and on for years, and was excited to learn about Paws & Tales, a video and radio series aimed at helping build godly character into kids. There are currently eight DVD’s in the Paws & Tales series, and “Being Kind & Caring” is the newest release.

About the Being Kind & Caring (Paws & Tales) DVD…

Being Kind & Caring is the eighth DVD in the Paws & Tales series. It is based on Ephesians 4:32 and Philippians 2:3-4 and contains two episodes that teach kids about kindness and caring for one another. In the first episode, “The Hullabaloo at Hunker Hill,” C. J. and his friends learn about forgiveness and how to put it into action. In “The Great Go-Kart Race,” the team discovers how to work together.

I appreciated that Paws & Tales tackles tough subjects, like forgiveness, and show them in action.

Since my kids are younger, and I am actively teaching that arguing is not acceptable behavior, it concerned me that there was quite a bit of bickering, as well as some name calling, among the characters (though not all shown). One character calls another “cat breath” and while it isn’t a bad name, per se, I am just beginning to convince my kids that you can’t add the word head to any other and call your sibling a name with it.

Mister and Sister both enjoyed the stories and the music. I appreciated that the DVD included the words of the songs on screen, especially since Mister is learning to read. This DVD certainly provided some teaching moments, and I am glad that we watched it together. While I will likely put this one away for a few months, while I work on teaching my kids not to argue and not to call each other names, I would love to add the other Paws & Tales DVD’s to our video library and look forward to future titles.

Paws & Tales DVD’s are available from http://tyndale.com/, on Amazon, and wherever Christian DVD’s are sold.

I received a complimentary DVD from Tyndale as part of the Tyndale Blog Network.

Chuck Swindoll’s Paws & Tales: Biblical Wisdom for Kids: God Cares for You

Price: $5.00

(1 customer reviews)

10 used & new available from $5.00

Chuck Swindoll’s Paws & Tales: Biblical Wisdom for Kids – Showing Grace to Others

Price: $8.00

(1 customer reviews)

11 used & new available from $8.00

Filed Under: Entertainment, Faith, Family, Homeschool Tagged With: character, DVD, Faith, homeschool, Review, teach

Meet Peppa Pig

April 16, 2012 By Virginia 12 Comments

Have you met Peppa Pig? We just made her acquaintance over Easter weekend, and Sister is enchanted!

Peppa Pig is an award-winning animated series for preschoolers that features a cute, cheeky little pig named Peppa. Peppa, and her show, hail from the UK.

Peppa is funny, and she is certainly loveable. Peppa made her way to the US, via Nick Jr, last year. Since we don’t have cable, we hadn’t met her before.

We received the DVD, Peppa Pig- Muddy Puddles, which features twelve piggy tales (sixty minutes total) that follow Peppa, her brother George, Mummy Pig and Daddy Pig. Together they play games, go to school, take family trips, and jump in muddy puddles. Of course, we all know how much my little Puddle Jumper loves to jump in puddles! Oh well, it’s only mud (as pointed out by Daddy Pig).

My favorite episode includes the family pet parrot, Polly. Sister likes them all, but really likes the episode with Suzy Sheep.

Peppa Pig is a show that celebrates family, fun, friendship, and humor! It also shows a little bit of true to life sibling rivalry between George and Peppa.

Meet Peppa Pig on Nick Jr. While there, you can print fun activity sheets (I printed the mazes for Mister).

***I received a courtesy sample to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own.***

Filed Under: Entertainment Tagged With: DVD, peppa, peppapig, preschool

CHIMPANZEE Activity Book and Educator’s Guide

April 10, 2012 By Virginia 3 Comments

Disney has just released The CHIMPANZEE Family Activity Book, which is great for little ones.

CHIMPANZEE Family Activity Book

The CHIMPANZEE Family Activity Book can be found here.

They’ve also released the CHIMPANZEE Educator’s Guide which is perfect for teacher and parents, like me, who home school their children!

CHIMPANZEE Educator’s Guide

The CHIMPANZEE Educator’s Guide can be found here.

CHIMPANZEE is a production of DISNEYNATURE. In theaters nationwide on Earth Day 2012 (April 20, 2012), Disneynature’s newest adventure introduces Oscar, a young chimp whose zest for discovery and playful curiosity light up the African forest until a twist of fate leaves Oscar to fend for himself (with a little help from an unexpected ally).

Website and Mobile Site: Disney.com/Chimpanzee

Like on Facebook: Facebook.com/Disneynature

Follow on Twitter: twitter.com/Disneynature

I can’t wait to see CHIMPANZEE!

***I’ve received nothing for sharing this, but thought other parents and home educator’s may enjoy it.***

Filed Under: Entertainment Tagged With: chimpanzee, Disney, homeschool, Movies, nature

Happy Tartan Day

April 6, 2012 By Virginia 11 Comments

Did you know that April 6th is National Tartan Day in the U.s., in honor of the 6M plus Americans who claim Scottish descent?

If you are a Scottish American, Happy Tartan Day! From me, and Disney•Pixar, the producers of Brave.

About Brave–

“Brave” follows the heroic journey of Merida, a skilled archer and headstrong daughter of King Fergus and Queen Elinor. Determined to carve her OWN path in life, Merida defies custom, inadvertently unleashing chaos and fury in the kingdom. When she turns to an eccentric witch for help, she is granted an ill-fated wish, resulting in peril. Merida is then forced to harness all of her skills and resources (cue clever and mischievous triplet brothers) to undo a beastly curse before it’s too late. In doing so, she discovers the meaning of true bravery.

Brave releases nationwide on June 22, 2012, and will be presented in Disney Digital 3D™ in select theaters.

Brave Website, Brave on Facebook, Brave on Twitter

Are you planning to see the film?

Filed Under: Entertainment Tagged With: brave, Disney, Movies