• Wired Walnuts Archive

    In another lifetime, both my kids ate their veggies. Not on the same days, of course, nor the same vegetables. If one loved carrots, the other suddenly developed a strong aversion to them. And heaven forbid they both ate their greens cooked; now they demanded their broccoli “raw.” Since I don’t run a farm stand out of my kitchen, I have lovingly adopted our preschool’s motto, “You get what you get, and you don’t get upset,” for dinnertime. And when it comes to screen time, we’ve been noshing on VeggieTales.com, a new site that’s chock-full of interactive games, reading activities and amusing antics surrounding the wacky cast of characters that make up the Veggies Tales. While this gang may be known for content that hints [&hellip

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    If I had a dime for every time my 6-year-old asks my husband if she can play Angry Birds, I’d be able to pay for her first semester of college. OK, well maybe just her textbooks, but you get the idea. I shudder to think what will happen once she has her own Smartphone someday. Until hell freezes over, we’ll keep her gaming time limited to apps designed just for kids, like the new Moody Monster Manor that launches this Friday, March 25. Aimed at 3-6 year-olds, this is one app that’s bound to amuse even the most fidgety preschooler. Your child may find his likeness amongst one of the 20 monsters dwelling in this make-believe playhouse where they can join them on any number [&hellip

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    It’s St. Patty’s Day, so naturally you’ll be donning some green. But if you happen to be out and shopping today, how about saving some of that green? Kiddies may be wee folk, but we all know they require A LOT of gear. The next time you’re trying to decide between a Bugaboo or a BabyBjorn, make your comparison shopping a little less cumbersome–and a lot more convenient–with TheFind.com. This free shopping app for the iPhone, iTouch and Android helps you get the best price for a product by searching area stores, from Target to Toys R Us. You can get driving directions to places that carry the product with the best value or even buy an item on the spot via your phone. And [&hellip

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    You knew it wouldn’t be long before the iPad phenomenon would result in a child-friendly version. This fall, VTech will be releasing its InnoPad educational tablet to give kids that same touch-screen thrill that you experience on your smartphone of choice. With this sleek-looking, sophisticated device, kids will be able to engage in interactive reading, gaming and other activities designed to keep them amused and occupied longer than a Zhu Zhu Pet might. The animated e-books are definite attention-grabbers, offering cutting edge graphics and special effects. There’s also an Art Studio where they can draw and paint virtually–and mess-free. Other bells and whistles that come standard include a calculator, calendar, clock with personalized voice alarm and a friends address book. Now if only we could [&hellip

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    Have you ever been on the go with your baby and not known where you can nurse (or pump) in private? No need to wonder. Medela has come out with an app for the iPhone/iPad that gives you the 411 on nursing. Aptly dubbed iBreastfeed, this app has a Breastfeeding-Friendly Places feature that locates Medela-reviewed and approved nursing nooks across the country. Find one that hasn’t been mentioned? You can add your own 2 cents and comment on your experience at existing locations. On top of this feature, iBreastfeed has a resource guide that includes helpful tips for overcoming breastfeeding challenges and an activity log if you’re so inclined to track your baby’s sleep and feeding schedules. With so much info at your fingertips, you [&hellip

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    Are you a mom who is never without her iPhone? Do you need to be able to text about the god-awful day you’re having, no matter if you’re grocery shopping or out burning off that morning latte ? Well, now you can take your phone with you wherever you go, thanks to the texthook. This cool gadget puts your iPhone/Blackberry/Smart Phone of Choice at your fingertips, instead of scrambling to find it buried in your purse. We really like that the texthook can snap right onto your stroller’s handbars–that’s what we call easy access. In a Nutshell: No need to go searching for your bleeping phone. With the texthook, it’s right where you need it. Tags: iPhone holder, The Texthook

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    When it’s time to buy a baby gift, you wrestle with the idea of selecting the perfect present without having to spend oodles of time shopping for it. We moms know all too well just how precious our free moments can be. Maybe that’s why it took a mom to create a children’s clothing and gift site that lets you make just the right choice with minimal effort and a whole lot of style. Rabbit Moon is a brand-new e-tailer that caters to the discriminating shopper and the gift-giver who wants everything just so, right down to the gift wrap. Aside from the nicely sized selection of stylish kids for girls and boys from newborn through age 4 and a section with selections for $30 [&hellip

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    Talking to your baby in utero…not necessarily a novel concept these days, but how about exposing your growing baby to the sounds of his future parents, grandparents and family as much as you like? Now that’s something to cause us to prick up our ears and take notice! Earlier this year, we checked out bellybuds wearable speakers that you affix to your tummy, enabling your little one to listen to music from your iPod. Sound Beginnings kicks it up with a notch with an expandable nylon/lycra band with hidden speakers that plug into a MP3 player. If you want to record big sister-to-be saying how excited she is meet her new sibling, you can play her sweet nothings to your heat’s content. Have a penchant [&hellip

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    Trying on eyeglass frames is certainly more fun than trying on a pair of jeans or a bathing suit, but after checking out more than a dozen or so pairs, the experience can begin to grate on your nerves. I recently decided to treat myself to new glasses after my prescription changed and while I relished the alone time (if you have two young kids, I know you can understand me), suddenly the designer labels were all beginning to blur together. Not good if your vision is as bad as mine. The Design Your Own Eyewear Web site puts the rather tedious chore into perspective by letting you “try on” different frames virtually. The process is relatively straightforward: upload a photo from your desktop, choose [&hellip

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    Remember your trusty Chatter Telephone toy? The one you dutifully pulled behind you as you toddled around the house back in the day? Well, fast- forward to the present where your tech-savvy kid can tap on your iPhone faster than you can check your e-mail. Fisher-Price has tweaked its telephone for a new generation that can do more than talk in real time. Now you can download the Chatter Telephone App, along with one for See ‘n Say and the Little People Farm, from iTunes and let your preschooler play to her heart’s content. The Chatter Telephone features three screens–Numbers, Music and People in Your Neighborhood–that help kids count, listen to different instruments and learn about grown-ups at work. Hey, in this world, busy signals [&hellip

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