Product Review

Playing with lego, Formula 1 cars and a giveaway

March 18, 2013 By Martine 48 Comments

Sponsored by Digital Parents Collective

I think I would have to say playing with lego is one of the few ‘kids toys’ I actually really enjoy. And I have been known to play with it without any kid in sight. My husband used to come home and see me playing with lego and comment “I guess its been a hard day”….not because I was playing but more so because he knows I find it quite therapeutic.

Last week I was invited by the Digital Parents Collective to attend a pretty cool event put together by Shell, Lego and Ferrari. Now car racing is actually not really my thing but I must say being surrounded by international and local press all vying for the attention of a couple of Italians in catsuits was a fun way to spend a Thursday afternoon. I won’t tell you about the slightly embarrassing bloggers up the back searching our invites just to remember the names of the said Formula 1 racing car drivers. Like I said, car racing isn’t really my thing. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Product Review Tagged With: car racing, lego, playing

What would you grab in the case of a fire?

March 15, 2013 By Martine 1 Comment

This is a sponsored post from Nuffnang….so read on, cause it is an important one too!

What would you take if your house was on fire? Do you even know where those things are you want to pack? What would it mean if you didn’t have time to pack things?

Often when I am driving throughout parts of Victoria that I know have been recently affected by bushfire, I always find I am putting myself in the shoes of those who may have experienced its ravages. I know when I drive around the cliffs of The Great Ocean Road which was devastated on Ash Wednesday in 1983, I sometimes find myself looking for the best way to make it to the ocean should I suddenly find myself up against a fire. I don’t know if this is unusual but its just something that I do! Maybe it is because we are hearing lately of so much devastation caused by fires. We hear the miracle stories from those that escape and we imagine the horror of those that don’t. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Product Review Tagged With: bushfire, preparation

5 ways to keep our kids and our technology safe from each other

December 3, 2012 By Martine 26 Comments

Keeping our kids safe online is obviously a fairly high priority for me. I have written of many things we as parents can do to help as well as many of the devices we can take advantage of to help us out. But we also have technology and devices which whilst not as precious to us as our own offspring, can still be a rather expensive commodity which we sometimes need to protect from our children.

Here are 5 ways you can help keep both your kids safe online as well as keep your devices safe from your kids!

1. Cybersafe 24/7

I have written before about the benefits of Cybersafe 24/7. I use this wireless modem in my own household and I am convinced it is the best way to keep my kids from searching and stumbling upon inappropriate material whilst they are in our home. I can monitor what they are looking at with every device, including computers, iPod touches, iPads and even the Wii. I can also customise each device by blocking whatever searches I deem necessary. I can limit time allowed on certain sites and can even stipulate the hours these sites are available. So basically any device that is connected via your home wireless network can be made completely safe.

2. B-Lock Case

This B-Lock case is really an iphone cover that you can use all the time but it has a tab that can be flicked over to disable the home button. Kids are therefore able to use the apps but it prevents them from leaving the app and browsing the internet, deleting photos or making phone calls! This is a really affordable option at $14.99 and is available online with free postage.

3. Apptivity Case

These products are aimed at protecting your expensive devices whilst still letting your kids enjoy the benefits of great educational and interactive apps. The Fisher Price Apptivity Case is fantastic for my 3 year old and the 1 year old who is a little tech obsessed. The Apptivity Case allows you to put your iPad in the protective cover which not only helps prevent smashes from dropping, but is also dribble and teething proof and again has the ability to disable the home button.

4. The Laugh and Learn Apptivity Monkey

This is another Fisher Price product that safely houses the iPhone (3, 4 and 4s) or iPod Touch, and again allows them to be played whilst disabling the home button. Once again you can rest assured your device is safe from smashes, dribbles and deleting. The monkey can also be played on its own without the device as it comes with songs and early literacy language and number phrases.

Here are some photos of my boys enjoying the Fisher Price products, of which I have one of each to give away!

and you can always dance next to it without worrying about them stomping on it!

and still good for a cuddle!

5. Follow The Modern Parent!

Slightly tongue in cheek but if you continue to read I shall continue to research both personally and professionally all that I can to help us all keep our kids safe as we continue to live in an age of advancing technology. So follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or subscribe to my blog via email.

And if you would like to win one of the great Apptivity cases, either the iPad case (valued at $39.00) or the Monkey iphone case (valued at $59.00), then follow on Facebook and leave a comment below telling me how you keep your kids or your devices safe from one another!

Competition closes 5pm AEST December 14th 2012 and is open to Australian residents only.

Hosted by Three Lil Princesses

Filed Under: Modern Parenting, Product Review, Technology and Parenting Tagged With: devices, protecting, safety, technology, toddlers

A safe way for kids to use technology: The InnoTab 2 Giveaway

October 30, 2012 By Martine 38 Comments

I know I am not alone in saying that my kids love technology, gadgets and games. They love to swipe, upload, download, share, connect, edit photos and be entertained by a screen. With three primary school age children and two toddlers, it seems however that the age when they first switch on and swipe is getting younger and younger. Even the 1 year old is beginning to look over the shoulders of the older boys and their gadgets to press buttons and swipe screens.

But certainly I have written and spoken many times about the dangers of the online world and the need for parental involvement, guidance and support when it comes to all things cyber. We know that our kids are super smart when it comes to participating in this new world. They can do lots of ‘stuff’’ and are adept at making things happen, connecting, downloading, searching and sharing. As the age gets younger however, we are also finding that our kids do not have the years of life experience or maturity to deal with the enormity of the online world and the myriad of pitfalls to which they are left exposed.

When I was asked to speak at a launch of the InnoTab2 by Vtech I was more than happy to discuss some of these pitfalls of the online world as well as look at a product that offered an alternative for kids, particularly those at the younger end of the age (and maturity) spectrum.

The InnoTab2 offers an ipad looking device that gives the kids the feeling that they are still on a device but without the dangers of cyberbullying, downloading or being exposed to inappropriate content or the potential harm to their digital reputation. On the Innotab2 they can still play games, take and edit photos, make movies, download apps and listen to ebooks, but they can do all these things without the fear of online dangers.

For our family, we found that the Innotab2:

is a lot sturdier than other devices with grips and protective edges preventing damage by dropping. (its been an expensive week in our household for technology and gadgets…..kids, juice and apple products dont mix …just as a side tip!)
has plenty of inexpensive apps available (under $5) that you can download from the secure Vtech site, but also the availability of licensed games like Cars, Nemo, Dora, Disney Princess, Toy Story etc and these are a bit more pricey from $20 – 35. You also get 2 of the cheaper apps for free and it already comes loaded with an art workshop which my son loves. (our clean alternative to the paints!)
Unfortunately, it takes 4 x AA batteries which is its only downfall. In a household needing lots of batteries however, I only buy rechargeable ones now, so it hasn’t been too much of an issue, and I believe you can buy a charger pack.
it comes with 2GB of inbuilt memory with the ability to add up to 32 GB with an SD card.
With the additional memory you do have the option of downloading movies and watching them on the screen but this wasn’t something we have done yet
My boys love taking photos and playing around with all the edits, and they are also able to make their own movies, so it is also a great way for them to get creative.
It worked very well on a recent plane trip, allowing the 3 year old to put on some head phones and listen to some ebooks. “Jack and the Beanstalk” was his favourite. The books can also be more interactive if they want to start clicking on items and see the written word repeated.

The InnoTab2 is both educational, creative and most importantly for little people, entertaining. And they feel a little grown up too!

Some pics from the 'family friendly' Innotab2 launch

The InnoTab2 is aimed at kids 3-9 but my 3 year old pretty much claimed it as his own.He loves having a gadget that I am not ripping off him, interrupting his game so I can answer MY phone! I know, how selfish of me!

This would certainly be a fabulous christmas present for any child, and whilst they retail for $179, I am thrilled to offer one lucky reader the chance to win an Innotab2 to help put a big dent into the Christmas shopping list!

To enter the giveaway, simply go and join my Facebook page here and tell me in the comments section below what is one of the best christmas presents you remember getting as a child?

Competition is only open to Australian residents and closes 5pm aest, Monday 12th November.

In writing this post I was given product to both review and giveaway and I was also employed by the company to speak at the launch of the product. All opinions however are my own and are an honest account of my experience with the product.

Hosted by Three Lil Princesses

Filed Under: Product Review, Technology and Parenting Tagged With: games, innotab2, review, safety, technology

Changing up the Breakfast routine

September 28, 2012 By Martine 8 Comments

Routines are the savior of many a busy parent, whether they stay at home, go to work or work from home. Being the latter I find giving myself certain routines helps keep me focused, prevents time wasting and allows me to better achieve the things I need to accomplish on any given day.

But sometimes we need to shake it up a bit. Never a truer saying was heard than “A change is as good as a holiday”.

For me this week, taking on my Belvita Breakfast challenge, a change is proving to be just that. You see , I was always a cup of tea and 2 slice of toast type of girl. I have often though about my lack of fruit, especially during winter when the fruits don’t seem as inviting. And I am pretty sure my calcium comes from the milk in my tea and the occasional cheese and biscuit indulgence and my belief that the calcium is better absorbed with a glass of wine. (I cant remember where I heard that, and it wasn’t from my chats with dietician Melanie….I may have just made it up). [Read more...]

Filed Under: More Joy Less Stress, Product Review Tagged With: breakfast, routine

Playing with lego, Formula 1 cars and a giveaway

What would you grab in the case of a fire?