National Geographic Little Kids Magazine (REVIEW & GIVEAWAY)

My kids love getting their own mail, and I think it is great when companies come out with magazines just for kids. I recently got the opportunity to review for National Geographic Little Kids and I am thrilled with what they designed perfectly for the age 3 to 6 year old range. My 3 year old and (almost) 5 year old absolutely love this magazine! The kids love the pictures of all the animals, games and puzzles to help further their education, and all the stories.

The National Geographic Little Kids magazine is packed with teaching tools to help parents inspire a love of learning in their children. The Association of Educational Publishers chose National Geographic Little Kids for its highest award, the Golden Lamp, in 2008 and named the magazine Periodical of the Year in 2008 and 2009. National Geographic Little Kids also won a Parents’ Choice Gold Award for 2008, 2009 and 2010.

The photographs of the animals are great, and my kids and I really enjoy talking about the animals, like what they do, where they live, what they eat, etc. The National Geographic Kids magazine has 24-pages in each issue contains animal stories, answers to questions on kids’ favorite topics, features on different cultures to inspire a sense of understanding about the world, plus interactive experiments to introduce simple science. My kids love the cards inside the magazine, and love to pretend that they are trading cards (like their older brother has trading cards). There are a set of six cards inside each magazine that come out, and have pictures of animals with their facts on it.

I really like how the National Geographic Little Kids is a perfectly sized magazine for little hands, and my kids love imitating us by holding their magazine and sitting in the chair. I love that my kids "teach" each other about what they are learning in their National Geographic Little Kids magazine. This great children's magazine is available by subscription for $15 a year (six issues; international subscription cost varies) and on newsstands for $3.99 a copy.

Parents can explore online with their kids at littlekids.nationalgeographic.com.

We recommend this great magazine for your family! My kids love it, and we are happy to share this with you!

***WIN IT!!***

National Geographic Little Kids is generously sponsoring to give away ***UPDATE*** (my error)~ this contest is for the current issue (one copy) of National Geograpic Little Kids, not a 1 year subscription as I had previously stated. I am so sorry about the misunderstanding.

This contest is open to those in the United States (bloggers or non-bloggers). To enter, go to the National Geographic Kids website, and find something interesting to you...and comment here about it. Contest will end on April 27th at midnight.

**For extra chances you can: blog this contest, add my button to your site, subscribe to my blog, twitter and/or become a fan on facebook, and/or visit everyday and add another friendly comment National Geographic Kids website or the magazine. Lots of chances to win! Don't forget to put the extra comments for the "extra" work. Good luck!**

This review was written as part of a campaign for the Family Review Network. Thank you to National Geographic for sending sample magazine issues free of charge. I was also offered a chance for my readers to enter a giveaway with the sponsorship from National Geographic Little Kids. I was not compensated for my time or written review.

K'NEXpert contest

K’NEX Brands, one of the world’s leading construction toy companies, is inviting kids across the country to put on their thinking caps and enter the K’NEXpert Search – an annual contest that invites kids to design an ultra-creative, original model made entirely from K’NEX parts. Three imaginative young builders will each win a $10,000 savings bond for college. WOW! I know that is a grand prize worth winning! What a great way for kids to be rewarded for their imagination and hard work!
Ian Culhane is last year's grand prize winner, and he designed an amazing 6,500-Piece Dragon-Themed Roller Coaster, “Belly of the Beast.” He said he thought of this idea while watching the movie Eragon. This year, K’NEX is expanding the contest to include three Grand Prize winners from three age groups: 5 to 6-year-olds; 7 to 8-year-olds; and, 9 to 12-year-olds.
Seven additional winners across all age groups will each receive $1,000 savings bonds. Also, all ten winners will receive $500 worth of free K’NEX Building Sets, a trip for three to New York City for the K’NEXpert Award Ceremony, and their very own photo gallery page at http://www.knex.com/. All semi-finalists and finalists will receive discounts on online purchases for a year, K’NEX gear, a K’NEX birthday gift, , and an invitation to visit the K’NEX headquarters and discover, through company designers, how K’NEX is made.
The 2009 K’NEXpert Search will run from now through September 30, 2008 with winners announced on or about October 28, 2008. Children enter by printing out the entry form from the K’NEX web site (http://www.knex.com/) beginning July 8, 2008 and mailing it in to K’NEX. Submissions must include a photo of the creation and a one-minute video or one-page summary describing how the child came up with the idea, how long the design took to build and how many K’NEX pieces were used.
Young builders between the ages of 5-12 must submit an entry within one of four building categories: Ultimate K’NEX Model – built with K’NEX Bricks, Classic K’NEX and Micro K’NEX; Futuristic; Vehicles; and Amusement Park Thrill Rides. Kids are encouraged to let their imaginations run wild – models are judged on creativity, uniqueness and detail.
About K’NEX Brands
Founded in 1992, K’NEX Brands, the world’s most innovative construction toy company, was established to make and sell what has become one of the world’s leading integrated construction systems for children. Winner of over 200 international awards and recognitions, K’NEX seeks to build young minds with its exciting product line and critically acclaimed K’NEX Education program. For more information, please visit www.knex.com.

Getting ready for school with Box Tops!

Last year, Nathaniel's school loved getting box tops from kids, because it helps raise money for them. The classrooms had competitions to see who could bring in the most box tops. Kimberly-Clark has partnered with Box Tops for Education, a program dedicated to helping schools raise money to develop programs, purchase books, and buy school supplies. To celebrate, they've launched a nationwide contest offering parents a chance to win 100,000 Bonus Box Tops, plus an exclusive concert featuring Radio Disney star Jordan Pruitt for their child's school. Bonus Box Tops go a long way. Here is what 100,000 - equivalent to $10,000 - of them could mean for your child's school: Technology Upgrades: A mobile cart complete with 20 wireless-ready laptops, allowing travel from classroom to classroom. The Necessities: Enough No. 2 pencils so that, when laid pencil to eraser, they would stretch across the length of more than 145 football fields. Hands-on Learning Outside the Classroom: An educational class trip for 20 students including airfare, hotel accommodations and museum admission.
Parents or legal guardians of students in grades K through 8 can enter the sweepstakes daily June 28 through Sept. 15 online by clicking HERE! Winners will be selected at random from all eligible entries on or around Sept. 22. Look for Box Tops on specially marked packages of participating Kimberly-Clark brands like Huggies, Cottonelle and Kleenex.

WonderFall savings at Beaches Resorts!

Our family would be so excited to travel to Beaches Resorts ! It looks like the perfect place for a family get-away! With four all-inclusive resorts in the Caribbean, all set upon the most gorgeous white sand beaches in Turks & Caicos and Jamaica, the hardest part is deciding which Beaches to choose! I have never seen any of these places, so I wouldn't be real picky! At Beaches, the best of everything in a family vacation is included. Unlimited dining from a variety of gourmet and specialty cuisine restaurants serving great breakfast, lunch and dinner. Not only are the standard meals included, but kids and parents have access to "anytime snacks" and beverages. I love that all the prices are included in one price. So, you already know what the costs will be.

I like that Terry and I can enjoy some time alone together at Beaches Resorts, because they offer a nanny for the kids...we can go to the piano bar, or a stage show. I know that my kids would have a blast at the Pirate's Island Water parks and the wadding pools. They even have a swim-up bar, and Terry and I think that sounds fun, too!

I would love to stay in the rooms! They offer ocean view and beachfront rooms that have one and two bedroom suites, some including your very own personalized Butler Service!! Can you just imagine! What a luxury! Even round trip airport transfers, hotel taxes and all gratuities are included in this WonderFall savings from Beaches Resorts!

There are some amazing programs at Beaches Resorts I think our kids would really enjoy! Caleb and Maddie would love to see The Beaches Resorts Caribbean Adventure with Sesame Street® and story time with Elmo, baking with Cookie Monster, dancing with Zoe, exploring with Grover, making music with Bert & Ernie to Sesame Street stage shows, character parades and character breakfasts (for a nominal charge). I think Nathaniel would love the kids camps, the Crayola Art Camps and the Xbox 360® Game Garage, featuring the latest video games. I am sure Terry and I would love the gaming, too!

There is an unique WonderFALL Celebration at Beaches Resorts, taking place during the off-peak season months of September and October. Not only do you get to enjoy everything Beaches offers year-round but you can SAVE up to 45% off** published rates and get 2 Nights Free** (on stays of 7 nights or more). And as part of this WonderFALL Celebration, Beaches has a great fall line up of special events and activities. From even more Caribbean Adventures with Sesame Street® that includes the premiere of a brand new stage show and a new activity with Abby Cadabby, exclusive Gordon and Elmo live performances and special parenting workshops hosted by Sesame educators, to Dive In Movies, "Baby You're A Star Photo Contest"( where your little one could win the chance to be featured in the next Beaches brochure) and even a celebration for Grandparents, it's all happening ONLY this FALL at Beaches family resorts.