Welcome to the world of Mike the Knight

by Susan, editor and reviewer

I'm not going to lie; my kids love TV. Sure, we love playing outside together, and building with blocks, but they are also big fans of the TV.  When I was first pregnant, visions of sharing princess movies with my kids danced in my head. So far, I have boys. Boys who are not interested in princesses. Thank goodness for Mike the Knight! 

When we first discovered Mike and his friends in Glendragon, I was very happy. It's a very vibrant show that really teaches kids about problem solving, being a good friend, and doing the right thing! "Be a knight; do it right!" is always the end motto – and the one most repeated by my 3 year old.

As a parent, I really appreciate the positive message the show teaches, including some deeper things like equality, accepting all people (or trolls or Vikings) for who they are.  Mike, his horse Galahad, and his two dragon friends Sparkie and Squirt have many adventures, and work together to help Mike find the knightly way to handle every situation; including getting along with his little sister Evie!


MTK_100857_Knight

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VTech InnoTab 2S Wi-Fi Tablet prevents “Summer Brain Drain”


Summer Brain Drain
Do you remember as a kid you would go back to school each fall feeling like you were in shape from staying active all summer only to find your legs and abs burning after one gym class because you were now using muscles you had neglected during the past few month?  Well, that is exactly what happens to your brain, too, and in a phenomenon commonly referred to as Summer Brain Drain. 

What is Summer Brain Drain, you ask?  According to research from the Center for Summer Learning at Johns Hopkins University, students typically lose one to two months of reading and math skills during the summer break because they are not regularly exercising their brains. 

So, how do you combat Summer Brain Drain?  You find fun ways to infuse learning into everyday activities to keep kids’ brains sharp even during the three long months of no formal schooling. 

But, how can you do that when most of the summer is spent on the go and you don’t want to spend your days cooped up inside reading or in front of screens?  You get a portable learning device that can grow with your child, offers age-appropriate content in a broad library of subjects and that keeps them learning no matter where they are.

Something like the awesome InnoTab 2S, the latest learning app tablet from V-Tech that is perfect for on the go as well as at home.  We got to review the VTech InnoTab 2S for the past few weeks and we absolutely love how much fun it is for various ages and how it keeps the kids begging to keep learning. 


Innotab 2S

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Motorworks Customizable Cars and Tri-Level Super Garage

One night my daughter came to me, head down and forlorn, and she asked, “Why don’t I love cars like Brother does?”  I started by explaining that people like different things and it’s what makes us all special and unique.  Then I suggested that she not focus on the one thing the two of them … Read more

VINCI Tab III M 5” Learning Tablet {Review – Part II}

I’m so proud of my daughter these past few months.  Right before my eyes she has gone from a child who cried every single time I dropped her off at preschool to a kid that bounds in the door of her classroom, excited about what they will be learning that day.  It all stemmed from … Read more

We love the Wummelbox craft and learning kits {Review}

Time travel is something that holds a special place in my heart.  Technically, time travel is responsible for hubby’s and my first date ever.  Okay, not actual time travel, but a theoretical discussion on the merits and limits of time travel that led to an impasse that led to a bet: declared loser buys dinner … Read more

We love the wheelyBUG Ride-On Toy from Prince Lionheart

My son is all about anything that vrooms.  Basically, if it has wheels, he loves it.  But, if that thing with wheels happens to be something he can ride on?  Well, that’s just amazing! Such is the case with the wheelyBUG from Prince Lionheart that we received for review.  He loves it so much that … Read more

Rainy day fun with imagine i CAN Knitting Beginnings from Manhattan Toy

My daughter is constantly picking up crocheted and knit items she finds and asking me if I could possibly “yarn this” for her myself.  As much as I agree that whatever knit scarf/hat/owl/monkey that she holds up is cute, what she doesn’t understand is that I have never created anything out of yarn that I … Read more

LEGO Star Wars ZipBin Death Star Transforming Toybox {Review}

Oh, Christmas, why’d you have to go and leave me with a huge mess of stuff?  Mounds of wrapping paper, boxes, and a million little toy pieces with nowhere to go now litter my living room waiting for a place to call home and it’s driving me nuts.  While it might be tempting to simply … Read more

The Fantastic World of Schleich Bayala

A few years ago, I fell in love with Schleich animals and we bought a handful of the beautifully painted figurines to occupy my daughter on a long plane ride.  Once we had a few animals, they became addictive and that handful became a bag full, and then a drawer full, and then a bin … Read more