Do your kids play on the Internet? Do you worry about them deleting your files or renaming them? Do you worry that they will end up on some porn site or worse? If you answered yes, you need to get KidDesktop.  KidDesktop was designed for children between the ages of 3 and 7. It gives them a safe learning experience, and you don’t have to worry about them deleting or renaming any of your files.
KidDesktop has a customized start screen and activity bar. You are able to customize it with activities, games, and websites that your children enjoy (for us, we did Noggin and Playhouse Disney. Madison knows those sites like the back of her hand). They even have the option to download and view pictures. (I can see some adults using this feature too, since it is about 100 times easier than my photo program). They even have a feature that allows you to search YouTube. For us, that is the greatest feature. We like to look for things on YouTube, but I never know when we start a video what exactly we are opening. Another great feature is that you can set time limits too! If I would let her, I think Madison could play on the computer for eight hours straight! I also like that the help menu is spoken too. Madison can’t read yet, so this helps her figure it out for herself without having to get me.

If you have kids in your house between the ages of 3 and 7 and let them on the computer, you definitely need to get a copy of this in your house! The internet will never be 100% safe, but this definitely helps make it safer for your kids.

Do you recognize the two people to the left?  Look very close.  That is what Stephanie and Sportacus from LazyTown really look like!  Hard to believe, I know!  Lazytown is a show on Noggin and Nick Jr. that encourages your kids to get off their butts and be more active!  When asked about the inspiration for the show, Magnus (the shows creator and Sportacus) answered:

Really, when you get down to it, LazyTown is a state of mind. We’ve all been to LazyTown. When we decide to go “veg-out” on the couch, you could say you’re “in LazyTown.” Even me. It’s a place we all go.

In a funny way, LazyTown reflects characteristics that you see in yourself or in people around you. These characteristics are universal: It’s that dynamic of opposites.

For instance, in the show, Sportacus is a driving force. He’s fit, agile, and an amazing athlete who’s patient, kind, and understanding. He encourages kids through example. He doesn’t take the low road. Conversely, his adversary, Robbie Rotten, is all about easy solutions and pulling the group down to his level. Then there’s Stephanie, the lead kid character, a wide-eyed optimist who believes she can make a real difference; while Pixel, a boy character, can conquer every video game, but when the situations are real, he has a harder time.

Just like in real life, nobody’s perfect and LazyTowners are constantly trying to find ways to understand and improve themselves. I guess that you could say that LazyTown explores the opposing forces that we encounter in our own daily lives.

How is that for teaching your children? Most moms and kids that I have talked to like this show. Magnus knows what he is talking about too — he was the Icelandic Men’s Individual Champion in Aerobic Gymnastics in 1992. In 1993, he became the Scandinavian champion, and was the European champion twice in 1994 and 1995. He was voted Athlete of the Year by Iceland in 1994. Adding superhero to that resume just makes it twice as nice.

Now, why should you and your children watch this?  It does get them off their butts.  I find Madison and Will dancing and singing with the show when its on.  It has taught my children that there is nothing wrong with going outside and playing.  On top of the activity lessons, there are moral lessons too.  Check your local schedule and see when you can watch it at your place.  You won’t be disappointed!

This is a show moms will enjoy as much as their kids. Lazytown is was created and is filmed in Iceland. The creator is Magnus Scheving. He is both a professional athlete and aerobic champion there (and he’s really good looking when not in his Sportacus costume). The show is about the struggle of being lazy and being healthy. Some of the characters you meet on this show include Stephanie (she’s the pink haired girl), Sportacus (the good looking health conscious superhero), and Robbie Rotten (the villian who likes to be lazy and eat unhealthy. These are all human characters. The other characters are a mix of live action puppets and computer generated animation. The main goal of this show is to promote healthy eating and lots of activity. For example, instead of looking for cruise deals, Sportacus would be off swimming. There are many learning goals that this show achieves (taken from the Noggin website):

• Value healthful habits, physical activity, and joy of effort
  • Benchmarks supported in particular include:
    • Recognize physical outcomes of healthful habits and being active.
    • Appreciate the fun inherent in physical activity.
• Cultivate healthful eating habits
  • Benchmarks supported in particular include:
    • Eat balanced diet.
    • Understand food is necessary for health and growth.
• Explore a variety of movements, indoors and outdoors
  • Benchmarks supported in particular include:
    • Run, climb, jump, balance, hop, and swing safely
    • Express self with controlled movements.
    • Practice.
• Interact with movable objects
  • A benchmark supported in particular is:
    • Bounce, roll, catch, throw, and kick balls.

If you want to get your kids to play outside more, have them watch this show.

As you can tell, Noggin is packed with great education programs for our children. Miss Spider’s Sunny Patch Friends does not disappoint. It is an animated program that follows the adventures of Miss Spider and her family. Yes, Miss Spider is really a spider. Her family consists of a bed bug, spiders, a beetle, and a dragonfly. The main theme of this show is getting along with one another.  This is blended family at its finest.  I have to admit that kids programming has come a long way from when I was little.  Again, I think I like this show just as much as Madison does.  Another theme they also explore is showing consequences for your actions.

Another show that we like to watch at our house is Little Bill. This is another show we watch on Noggin. Little Bill is 5, so Madison completely relates to him. The show is based on Bill Cosby’s book series, and he works with a panel of educational experts too! As an adult watching the show, you really get a feel for how a child sees the world. My daughter gets to learn that she really can make a difference. There definitely is an emphasis on family. You get to see Little Bill work his way through things such as what to do when you are snowed in to learning how to do a somersault.  You will often hear Little Bill saying “Hello Friend!”. This was inspired by the Hello Friend/Ennis William Cosby Foundation. This foundation was established in memory of Ennis William Cosby, the son of the Bill Cosby.

Your son or daughter won’t learn the ABCs watching this show. However, they will learn about self esteem, dealing with conflicts, and developing social skills. It also won’t bore you to tears.