Jumpin-Beans

Do you give your children Halloween gifts? I know some people like to have a card and maybe a small something for a Halloween treat for their child when they wake up Halloween morning.  I have a great idea for the gift!!! Have you thought about a Halloween themed DVD?  I know just because something is a certain season, we don't NOT watch it. Especially when it comes to Halloween!  Check out a couple cute titles from PBS. Run out to Walmart and grab them today! FTC Compliant Review Policy:    The product(s) featured in this review were provided free of cost to me by the manufacturer or representing PR agency for the sole purpose of product testing. Opinions expressed are  my own and are NOT influenced by monetary compensation. “ WORDWORLD: HALLOWEEN FUN ” In the DVD “ WORDWORLD: HALLOWEEN FUN ,” join the WordFriends on adventures that demonstrate the connections between letters, sounds, words, and meaning. This DVD features five stories including “...

Remember how I shared that Dinosaur Train is introducing Dennis to us?? Read more about it here . Well, I just got a coloring sheet of Dennis and I wanted to share. Print it out... Color it... Share on social media and use the hashtag: #MEETDENNIS Lets spread the word that April is Autism Awareness Month!  

April is Autism Awareness month and I wanted to share this with you. Make sure you tune in April 6th to watch Dinosaur Train and #MeetDennis!   LEARNING TO BE CURIOUS Lessons from The Jim Henson Company’s Dinosaur Train on PBS KIDS by Stephanie E. Meyer, Ph.D. The Dinosaur Train creative team contacted me to be an advisor when they were developing a new character who would serve as a challenge for Buddy the T-Rex in their new episode “Junior Conductor Academy” (check your local listings). Buddy, whom they described as a “super nice, positive guy,” was going to have to adjust to being put “out of his comfort zone by another kid named Dennis who beats him at every turn.” “Oh, and we’re thinking that maybe Dennis has autism.” they said. I loved the idea that Dennis’ autism was beside the point. As a child psychologist, the most exciting part to me is that the episode isn’t about Dennis having special needs, in fact, it’s an episode about  friendship, understanding, a...

I have mentioned before that Broxton loves Dinosaur Train and I actually enjoy watching with him.. Hello, trains and dinosaurs?  He loves it! Well... Today, December 10, 2012... We are getting introduced to 2 new Characters on the show!  Meet the Grandparents!   Grandma and Grandpa Pteranodon!!!! Look at the new line up for this week: “Tiny and the Crocodile”/“Meet the Grandparents”  Premieres December 10 Team Pteranodon travels to Dienosuchas Swamp to meet Deanna Dienosuchas, a crocodile over 12 meters with many big teeth, and a crabby attitude. Tiny leads the way to warm up Deanna who turns out to be friendlier and less scary than the kids imagined. The Pteranodon kids have special visitors - their Grandma and Grandpa! The kids delight in realizing they share similar traits with their grandparents (laughs, expressions, and interests), and love showing Grandma and Grandpa around the nest area and playing some games they all like. “The Egg Stea...

Broxton is starting to venture out more as far as having new "favorites" but I do not think that cars, trains and dinosaurs are going anywhere anytime soon!  He was so excited when he looked into the package that arrived the other day... He spotted Buddy and knew that he had a new Dinosaur Train DVD to watch.   Well, we finally were able to watch it and it did not disappoint! From the educational stand point to the fun of learning and the music... How can you NOT love the Dinosaur Train? The DVD starts out with Buddy, Shiny, Tiny and Don trying to figure out what to get their mom for her birthday... They discuss cleaning the nest... One mentions scrubbing their feet, since Mom always wants them too... but dad comes along and tells them of a big surprise he has in store... Well, typical young kid fashion... the secret slips out almost as soon as mom gets home... So, they go ahead and tell her of her birthday surprise...  A ride on the Dinosaur Train as...

Whenever Broxton is watching Dinosaur Train, I catch myself singing their theme song...  Marc even plays it for Broxton from time to time just to hear him sing it!!! I know that whenever Dinosaur Train is on, he will enjoy watching a great show and I will learn about all the different species!  (I like when Dr. Scott talks and tries to explain more.) We were recently sent the latest Dinosaur Train DVD, Big, Big, Big . In this DVD, they have set out to go on a Big Dinosaur Week..  Loading up on the Dinosaur Train each day to visit a new BIG dinosaur. Mr. Conductor told the kids about the top 5 biggest dinosaurs, so each day is a new species... I really liked how they were talking about how one of the dinosaurs was to big to ride the dinosaur train, so they discussed NOT talking about it in front of him, as they did not want him to feel uncomfortable. Another time, Buddy was feeling down and out, as he really wanted to be around another T-R...

You know how I feel about reading and how I love to read with Broxton.  The fact that he grabs a book for me to read to him, or for him to read to me... Well, it makes me so proud and happy! Imagine my sadness when I read the following:  According to  United We Serve , a nationwide service initiative that helps meet growing social needs resulting from the economic downturn, 80% of preschool and after-school programs serving low-income populations have no age-appropriate books for their children.   A recent study shows that while in middle-income neighborhoods the ratio of age-appropriate books per child is 13 to 1, in low-income neighborhoods the ratio is 1 for every 300 children. The most successful way to improve the reading achievement of low-income children is to increase their access to print. Communities ranking high in achievement tests have several factors in common: an abundance of books in public libraries, easy access to books in the community at la...

Up next for Easter from Mr. Easter Bunny ( I have to think that Mrs. E.B. has to help out with some of this!):   One of Broxton's favorite shows:  Dinosaur Train!  Think about it, he loves Dinosaurs... and Trains... so, this is pretty good for a mix of both! SYNOPSIS: What can be better than a basket full of Easter eggs? How about a train full of dinosaur eggs! Buddy and his Pteranodon family set off for new adventures as they encounter baby hatchlings and dinosaur eggs of all shapes and sizes in DINOSAUR TRAIN: EGGSTRAVAGANZA! They’ll learn that all dinosaur families are different, and so are the ways of nurturing them. And who knows, they might just solve a mystery or two while they’re at it! From the world-renowned Jim Henson Company, PBS KIDS and Paramount Home Entertainment, the DINOSAUR TRAIN: EGGSTRAVAGANZA DVD includes eight exciting edu-tainment adventures and is packed with loads of special features including interactive games, coloring pages, a ...

Dinosaur Train: T.Rex Tales is yet another great production from PBS! Broxton enjoys watching Buddy, Tiny, Don and Shiny as they go on the Dinosaur Train and learn of all the other species out there. This newest release does not disappoint ! Buddy finally learns that he is a T.Rex. It is funny to me that Mr. Conductor wasn't able to tell him ,but then they cover that base and he says he just never really thought and put it together! Ha ha!!!! This DVD has all the cute songs that we love when watching Dinosaur Train. There was an episode that had them visiting another Dinosaur and the next thing I know, Broxton is getting his "football men." I was a bit confused... ( Broxton normally gets his "football men" and reenacts the football plays during the games, so I had to see what was going on...) Well, this particular episode had them playing "DINO BALL" and Broxton wanted me to see! It was cute, all involved had a great time! If you have a little o...

Just in time for Halloween... The Dinosaur Train and Sid the Science Kid have new episodes heading our way!!! For Dinosaur Train Fans: It premieres October 20, on PBS! With repeats airing on the 24,28,30 and 31! Synopsis: In Haunted Roundhouse, dad takes the kids on a special Night Train to Troodon Town, where the Troodons have decoratedtheir Roundhouse into a “haunted house” for a spooky party. The kids end up meeting a strange new nocturnal creature – a mammal named Vlad Volaticotherium , who was hiding in the roundhouse trying to get some sleep. And in Big Pond Pumpkin Patch , the Pteranodon family learns more about the customs of their neighbors, the Lambeosaurus family, when they are invited for the first time to accompany them to the Big Pond to celebrate “Gourd Day” – a kind of Mesozoic Halloween. The kids see their first pumpkins, and Larry Lambeosaurus even shows our family how to hollow them out and carve faces into them. Click HERE to go to the PBS site to make yo...

Have you ever been watching TV and they tell you that they are sorry, but such and such a day's shows will be interrupted? Luckily for us, it doesn't happen that often, but if it does... We have our shows on back up!!! We also know have Dinosaur Train to add to that collection! Broxton LOVES this show!!! We stumbled upon it by chance one day... He was immediately interested in what the dinosaurs were doing! He just loves the song and always has to dance to it! We actually just received the Dinosaur Big City DVD and he has already asked for it a few times now!!!! This is full of shows that we had not seen before. I love the dinosaurs that were on here and I love that it teaches about all the different species. Of course, I always SMILE when the KING is on... In this one, he was nervous to perform, so Buddy and Tiny help him out... They even got to help him sing it!!! Also, Buddy is excited to go to the Dinosaur Convention (the reason they are going to the City!...

Tiny, Shiny, Don and Buddy are some of Broxton's favorite characters! We love watching Dinosaur Train and learning all about the different dinosaurs. What they looked like, what they ate... It is fun to learn when you do not realize you are learning! That was the case with our latest book review. I knew that we would love Let's Go To Volcano Valley, since it had the whole Dinosaur Train Crew in it. The brothers read the book and flipped the flaps with him in the beginning... Then we had daddy read it with him! I love that the book is brightly colored and of course (like I would expect anything less) beautifully illustrated! I like how the book is so interactive with the reader! It starts off with the family at the train station. Then, as each page turns, they tell you different thing to look for. You look for red plants for Ella... Look for striped fish to take to the picnic. You also get to look for different sized dinosaurs! My favorite part of the book is the last pages... T...

There is no denying it... Broxton LOVES Dinosaur Train! We watch it whenever it is on... Even if it means the same one twice! He loves seeing what Buddy, Tiny, Shiny and Don are going to do next!!! He even informed me he wanted to eat fish since Tiny, Shiny and Don do! With Father's Day right around the corner, Buddy and the gang want to make sure to treat dad with the best day ever!!!! They even sent over a few idea's for you to serve up an amazing breakfast for dinosaur appetites of all sizes!!!! · T.rex Footprint Pancakes – with adult help, children shape the batter into the large three-toed feet of a Tyrannosaurus. · Paleontologist Pancakes – make small pancakes, then stack them up 5 or 6 high (maybe putting apple sauce or sour cream between them), and hiding “fossils” between the layers – the fossils being pieces of strawberry, banana slices, chocolate chips, and so on. · Stegosaurus Smoothie – a colorful, healthy fruit smoothie made with a blend of yo...