Stuff Parents Need

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

Weekend Pick: Merry Christmas, Splat!

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If you are looking for some quality Christmas shows for the kids, I have a recommendation for you! Scolastic Storybook Treasures has just released Merry Christmas Splat…And More Winter Stories. We were sent a copy for review, and we loved it!

This is a fun 37 minute DVD that brings 3 different delightful books to life on video.

MerryChristmasSplatSSTDVD

Merry Christmas, Splat is first up, and it is about an adorable cat named Splat who is trying sooo hard to be good before Santa comes. He’s got his hopes up for some special presents. Darah can definitely relate to this story line, and has already watched it 4 times!

Next is Fletcher and the Snowflake Christmas. Fletcher is very concerned that Santa might have trouble finding his home with all the snow that has fallen! This story has prompted a good conversation between Darah and me about how Santa handles different situations (for example, how does he come to our house since we don’t have a fireplace?).

Snowflake Bentley tells the true story of a boy in Vermont who loved snowflakes so much that he studied them very carefully. This was a favorite of mine, as it reminded me of just what a marvel snowflakes really are!

Finally, Owl Moon, which is narrated by the author, Jane Yolen (a favorite of ours! She wrote How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight!). This story is about a special search by a father and daughter through the woods at night for the Great Horned Owl.

The video is suitable for ages 3 and up and is the perfect DVD to purchase in anticipation of the upcoming winter school break! Amazon’s currently got it at a discounted price of $13.46.

Two Fantastic New Releases from Scholastic (Giveaway!)

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Special thanks to Scholastic for providing these fun DVDS for review and giveaway. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

Today I have a fun hodgepodge of new releases from our favorite DVD source, Scholastic!

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First up, let’s talk all things Halloween! Scholastic has just released a 3 disc set of Halloween favorites that are sure to get your kids talking! Definitely check out the Halloween Stories Collection, Volume 2. You’ll find witches and skeletons, and also a lot of fun and bravery. My 4-year-old is able to watch everything on the set without freaking out, just to give you a litmus test of the “scary factor.”

I think Darah and I both have the same favorite video on the set, and that is the Day of the Dead. Darah really enjoys seeing the dancing and instrument-playing skeletons, and it also gave us the opportunity to talk about another culture, as well as what happens to people when they die. Being able to talk about celebrating the memory of others seemed to really resonate with her, which got me thinking that we need to do a little Dia de los Muertos celebration of our own, this year!

This DVD set retails for $24.95 and provides some great stories for this time of year! I definitely recommend it. It would be fun to show at a sleepover! 🙂

children make terrible pets dvd

I have two other great DVDs to share as well! Children Make Terrible Pets, and More Stories About Family (ARV $14.95) is SO cute, you guys! The title story is all about a bear who finds a young human and wants to keep it as a pet. Her mother tries to warn her that children make terrible pets, but this is one lesson she has to learn on her own. Darah thought it was absolutely hilarious. Such a fun one….great for the stocking!

mo willems dvd

And last, but certainly not least, there’s a new Mo Willems DVD out!!! Don’t Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late is, like all the pigeon tales, quite funny. But the real treasure in this set, in my opinion, is Knuffle Bunny Free. I’m not going to give away too much about this story, but I’m going to be real with you guys and tell you that I BAWLED my eyes out while watching it. Darah did not…so please know that it isn’t horrifically sad. It just struck one heck of a chord with me as a parent, thinking about my own child growing up a little bit. I’m actually tearing up just thinking about it now. It is such a sweet, touching story. MUST WATCH! This one also retails for $14.95 and should be required viewing. Just sayin’.

Win it!: Let’s do a giveaway for TWO winners, today! One will win the Halloween set, and the other will win the Children Make Terrible Pets and Don’t Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late discs.

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Exploring the Role of a Friend: Bink & Gollie DVD (Giveaway)

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Is your best friend a carbon copy of you, or very different? I think in most cases of friendship, opposites really do attract. My BFF and I are different in so many ways (a fact we definitely learned when we were college roommates for two years!). But our differences are part of what keeps our friendship so interesting. I can count on her to offer me a different perspective than the one I’d have on my own, and that is a very good thing, indeed! When you truly respect and care for someone, you are more likely to be able to really listen to them and learn from them.

bink & gollie learn about friendship

Scholastic has just released a delightful DVD that is all about unlikely friendships and what it takes to be a lasting pal to someone. Introducing Bink & Gollie….and More Stories About Friendship. The timing of this release is absolutely perfect for Darah, as she has just transitioned from her school year placement to a summer program, so there are new friendships to be made. She is also starting to develop stronger ties to friends, in general, so it is a good time to start talking about what it means to be a friend.

In addition to the story of Bink & Gollie and how their friendship came to be, you’ll also find 3 other stories, including the following:

  •       A Sick Day for Amos Mcgee: Amos receives unexpected guests from the zoo when he’s home with the sniffles and sneezes.
  •      The Other Side: A friendship develops between two kids from opposite sides of a segregated town.
  •      Cat and Canary: Cat’s unlikely friend Canary shows him a great time when his master is away at work.

This is a terrific DVD for any child who is making new friends or learning how to be a good friend. It has 36 minutes of videos plus some extras (such as author and illustrator interviews). It retails for $14.95 (though it is currently on sale for $12.99 on Amazon!).

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win a copy of Bink & Gollie!

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

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I received a complimentary product for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own.