Stuff Parents Need

Easing the chaos in the nest, one find at a time.

Dress Up Idea: Take it Outside

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If you combined being outside with playing dress up, you’d have, in mind of my daughter, the most perfect day possible. Chloe’s Closet, a delightful television program that features a little girl who discovers magical new worlds while playing dress up, combines these two elements. Check out the newest video from the program called Chloe’s Closet: Outdoor Explorer. In the DVD, many fun things happen, including investigating the cause of a dry river, travel to the jungle, and making things grow.

Chloe’s Closet has provided fun entertainment for my daughter, but more importantly, it has inspired dress up ideas that get us playing outside.

Chloe's Closet Outdoor Explorer

Chloe’s Closet: Outdoor Explorer is a terrific video choice as we head into Spring and then Summer and need to stretch our imaginations for more creative play and dress up ideas. Amazon has it value priced at just $8.99 right now with free shipping for Prime members! You can also purchase the video at NCircleEntertainment.com

edit: this giveaway is now closed

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win a copy of Chloe’s Closet: Outdoor Explorer

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Be sure to enter my other current giveaways, found on the sidebar of my page.

I received complimentary products for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own. This post may contain affiliate links. 

Chuggington Presents Brewster’s Little Helper: DVD Review and GIVEAWAY!!!

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Toot! Toot! Everyone’s favorite train show, Chuggington, has recently released a new DVD, and Darah loves it! It’s called Brewster’s Little Helper. Brewster is a trainee (get it?!) at the station and this show is all about learning responsibility. The timing for this message is really great for Darah. Already she is in charge of feeding the cat, and we are working on having her always put her dirty clothes in the hamper. Pretty soon we are going to have her start setting her place at the table. Since her responsibilities at home are ramping up, it is great for her to have other examples of people (or trains, in this case) taking on more work and how they handle it, and how to ask for help when it is needed.

This DVD actually has 6 episodes on it, and it retails for $14.98 (but is currently on sale for just $9.99 at Amazon!). I think it is a great value and has great lessons that you can discuss with your kids.

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win a copy of Chuggington – Brewster’s Helper!

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Rock ‘N Learn Alphabet Exercise Review and GIVEAWAY!!!

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Today I’m bringing you my third review of a DVD from the Rock ‘N Learn series. Be sure to check out my other reviews of Letter Sounds and Colors, Shapes and Counting. If you are unfamiliar with the company behind these great DVDs, I definitely want to encourage you to check out the Rock ‘N Learn website. You will be very impressed with the depth and breadth of subject material they cover for children as a compliment to what they are learning at school, or even as a tool to help prepare them for going to school!

The video I reviewed this month is called Alphabet Exercise. This one definitely proves the point that a video doesn’t have to be a hit with a grown up in order to be of interest to a child (I think Barney proves that point over and over in his videos!). Alphabet Exercise, from my perspective, is a bit strange. It has a man dressed up (coat and tails) who does various silly exercises that relate to each letter of the alphabet. I found his costume choice to be so unusual that I really had a hard time getting past it! Who exercises in formal dress??? 🙂 Also, his pants are too long. I know that seems like the weirdest thing to focus on, but all I could think about when watching the video was, “Someone needs to hem his pants!”
Fortunately, Darah did not seem too worried about the man’s outfit. She was much more focused on the letters on the screen and repeating them back, as well as on trying to mimic the various funny moves the man was making. And really, that’s the whole point! I will say that the moves were all things that a 2 year old could at least attempt (although some were too advanced for her to master at this point). But any pre-school or kindergartner would be appropriately challenged by the moves. It’s a great way for kids to work out a little extra energy, and I know that as the weather turns colder and going outside to play becomes more difficult, this video will be a great alternative so that Darah can still get some exercise.

Buy it!: Alphabet Exercise is available on DVD for $19.99 and can be purchased on the Rock ‘N Learn website. You can also save 25% off your entire purchase on the site by using the code JQ7711. Yay!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win the DVD of your choice from Rock ‘N Learn! Woo hoo!

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Rock ‘N Learn Colors, Shapes & Counting DVD Review and GIVEAWAY!!!

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We’ve got another really great DVD added to our collection that I think you guys are going to love. It’s from Rock ‘N Learn (a company whose products are REALLY impressing me) and it is called Colors,  Shapes & Counting.

Just like our other Rock ‘N Learn DVD, Darah isn’t quite old enough to watch the entire thing in one sitting, but she’ll watch about 15 minutes of it, and I know she likes it, because she requests it.

What I like about the DVD is that new colors and shapes are getting introduced. They don’t just stick with 5 or 6 colors, and they don’t just stick with squares, triangles and circles, either! Colors like turquoise are introduce, as are more complex shapes like members of the polygon family. I know I haven’t been as good about introducing these shapes, and I can see the little wheels in Darah’s mind spinning rapidly as she learns about them! We’ve even spent some time drawing the new shapes and looking for the new colors in her basket of crayons.

If your child is getting ready for pre-school or kindergarten, or is already enrolled in either and in need of a bit of reinforcement, Colors, Shapes & Counting is an excellent choice. It is available online for $19.99. Be sure to check out the other wonderful titles they offer for children of all ages. I think you’ll be impressed! Additionally, I have a coupon code for 25% off your entire purchase at www.RockNLearn.com! Use code JQ7711 and save a bundle!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will winn the DVD or CD of your choice from Rock ‘N Learn!

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