How to Choose a Preschool Tips - 6 Must Ask Questions to Find the Best Fit For Your Child

Parenting

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How can you be certain that the preschool you're considering is right for your particular child? No longer just a place to learn how to play and have fun with other kids, modern preschool is now an important part of a child's education, building a foundation for developing skills that lead to later school success.

My son w/ his partner collaborating on a preschool project

“The expectations for school readiness have shifted," says Claire Haas, vice president of education for Kiddie Academy. "Before, kindergarten was the precursor to formal education. In contrast, today it marks the beginning of a child's school career with specific state requirements and standards. Clearly the stakes for being ready nowadays for school are higher than ever. As such, preschool curriculum has evolved to encompass academics as well as developmental and social expectations.”

Image from Kiddie Academy

Haas suggests parents of soon-to-be preschoolers ask some very important questions

• Does the preschool program provide curriculum-based education and enrichment activities? Developmentally-appropriate academic programs prepare children to be lifelong learners.

• How does the facility help to prepare your child so that he or she will meet state standards upon entering elementary school?

• Evaluate the arts program. Are the projects child-driven? Are students given materials with freedom to be creative in constructing the end result, thus expressing themselves through art? 

• Review the physical fitness plan. Does the center provide activities that focus on health and fitness? 

• How is technology integrated into lessons? Today's best preschools offer multiple ways to utilize computers and technology to enhance learning experiences. 

• Does the center offer your child a variety of ways to interact with other children throughout the day? By exposing your child to a range of participation formats—independent, small group and large group—your child becomes a more well-rounded individual, better prepared for kindergarten and beyond. 

If you're choosing between several options, give some serious thought to how each preschool approaches the topics above. Once you've done your research thoroughly you'll have what it takes to make an informed decision that's right for your family. 

For more education and parenting tips, visit the Kiddie Academy Family Blog.

FTC Disclosure: MommyBlogExpert did not receive any payment or other compensation associated with this post. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.  

Journey 2 The Mysterious Island Movie Review

Movies

This post celebrates the June 5th release of  Journey 2: The Mysterious Island on DVD and Blu-ray from Warner Bros. as well as the new app associated with this PG-rated action adventure family movie.

In Journey 2: The Mysterious Island Sean Anderson (Josh Hutcherson, The Hunger Games) finds a hidden signal he thinks will reconnect him with his lost grandpa played by Michael Caine). Enlisting his new step dad, Sean finds a map and then sets off on his search. This leads him to a young woman Kailani and to the island of Atlantis. Once there Sean and friends must fight giant bees, killer lizards, a gold volcano and electric eels so they can escape the lost city and return home.

Giveaway

Journey 2: The Mysterious Island

DVD GIVEAWAY

Ends 6/15/12

HOW TO ENTER

Just leave a comment(s). Contest ends June 15, 2012 at 5 pm PST and is open to legal residents of the U.S. only. One MBE reader wins the newly released Journey 2: The Mysterious Island DVD.

Required (Mandatory) Entry

Click on the image above to visit the new Journey 2: The Mysterious Island app and take the fun Would You Survive the Mysterious Island Quiz. Then return to this blog post and share your results as a comment. Don't forget to include your email address, Facebook and/or Twitter contact info in the comment section so the winner can be contacted. That's it, you're entered.

Optional Extra Entries 
Earn extra entries to win for doing one or more of the easy options listed below. Just be sure to return to MommyBlogExpert (MBE) to leave an additional comment after each individual extra action you do to confirm so we can record all your additional chances to win.

1. Follow @mommyblogexpert on Twitter

2. Like @mommyblogexpert on Facebook

3. Like @journey2 on Facebook

***Bonus Entries***

You can earn even MORE chances to win each time you TWEET the message below, up to 3 times each day. Don't forget to return to leave a comment on this post with the direct link right after every Tweet you do so you'll receive an entry for each of your RTs.

Tweet to copy and paste:

Would U Survive? Enter to WIN Journey 2 The Mysterious Island DVD GIVEAWAY http://tinyurl.com/8xw3d9d #Journey2 #family #movie RT

More Family-Friendly Giveaways

Mommy Blog Expert

ENTER Them All HERE

FTC Disclosure: Warner Bros. is providing the prize and shipping for the giveaway. MommyBlogExpert did not receive any other payment or compensation associated with this post.  See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.

US Postal Service Spam Alert - What to Do About Suspicious Undeliverable Package Emails

Technology

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It's an unfortunate reality. Technology is great, but there is also a dark side. Cyber crime is all too common these days and there is definitely no shortage of spam schemes and other types of fraudulent online behaviors that are currently targeting consumers. This post is an effort to do my small part to help fight the criminal email activity that plagues us all in general as well as to give readers ideas on what to do specifically if you encounter the emails currently going around that are being sent by imposters of the U.S. Post Office.

This is a true story. Today a very fishy email arrived in my mailbox that said "From U.S. Postal Service" in the email's sender field including a very convincing email address that directed me to click on the .rar attachment for details on what turned out to be a fictitious undeliverable package addressed to me. 

This email I got listed a phony tracking number that I checked out not by clicking on anything within the email but by opening a new window and going directly to the legitimate site USPS.com which is run by the United States Postal Service. In an attempt to motivate me to download the aforementioned .rar attachment it even included an obviously idle threat to charge me $12.25 per day if I didn't claim the package after 30 days just for them to "keep" my non-existent package. 

Good thing I didn't fall for this guise. Neither should you.

What to Do
If you do receive a suspicious email similar to the one that I received which looks like it might be about a U.S. Mail package delivery problem, stop and think before acting. There's a good chance it could actually be spam, phishing for your personal identification or a harmful virus that's about to invade your computer

Steps to protect your computer, yourself, family & others

• DON'T click on any link within the email or download attachments.  That's because it's likely that this is not really from the U.S. Post Office.
• Forward the email immediately to Spam@uspis.gov or call 800 ASK USPS to report it.
• Share this post on Twitter and Facebook with this link http://tinyurl.com/742nq5b

For more information on combating fake emails involving personal and business deliveries from the U.S. Postal Service visit USPS Customer Service.

FTC Disclosure: MommyBlogExpert did not receive any payment or other compensation associated with this post. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.

How to Get Invitations to BlogHer 2012 Off-Site Private Parties ~ Guide for Women & Mom Bloggers

BlogHer Parties

Updated 6/15/12
To be expanded continuously till August

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This post is a pay it forward to fellow mom and women bloggers who will be attending BlogHer 2012 in August. Whether you're a newbie or veteran conference goer, you may have already discovered that getting invites to off-site private parties is always a challenge and this year is already proving to be no exception to that rule. As a matter of fact, some parties already have wait lists while other sponsors have already "sold out" tickets for special off the premises events that coincide with the biggest and most important women's blog conference of the year.

View from the 2011 Dove Ice Cream yacht party I attended

Remember to keep checking back since this list will be updated as new private party invite opportunities are discovered to share with you. 

So if you're a blogger, you'll want to follow MommyBlogExpert and bookmark this page NOW because you don't want to miss new events that are listed. If you're a brand who is hosting an offsite event during BlogHer 12 please email MBE with your event information and it will be added to this ever expanding party directory that I'm providing as a community service to the women's blogging community and the brands targeting us.

Brands and bloggers, of course, are encouraged to follow MBE on Twitter, Facebook and/or by subscribe to this blog to follow the unofficial BlogHer party news as it breaks.
  

Pool view at the 2011 Clever Girls Collective Party

The Big Toy Book Sweet Suite

Date: August 2, 5:30-10 pm

National Geographic Kids Family Books Review

Books

I grew up in a family of readers and my fondest memories of childhood revolve around Mommy and Daddy reading to me. When I grew older, also vividly recall getting my own library card and biking to the library all by myself to check out huge stacks of books to devour. My hubbie grew up in a family that was even more bookish than mine.

Me reading to my four kids

Review: Books Mom, Dad, Children Will Treasure

MBE partnered with National Geographic, post contains affiliate links

With that kind of devotion to the written word it shouldn't surprise me that we are now in the midst of raising four book loving kids of our own -- big brother followed just a year later by triplets. When the kids were babies we constantly read to them individually and collectively, and as they grew older they started to read to us. As a matter of fact, even though my children are now teens, all six of us still enjoy going together as a family to hang out at the local library and at new and used bookstores to browse the shelves.

A Baby Boomer, I grew up in a household where Dad subscribed to National Geographic Society Magazine. Not unlike other fathers of the 1960s era, my Daddy kept every back issue neatly lined up on our bookshelf at home in chronological order so my siblings and I could keep going back to them as we grew up whether it was to read for fun or to research a school project.  Well over 100 years old, National Geographic Society has expanded its empire today into everything from magazines, books, and DVDs to films, school programs, interactive media and much more.

As the seven new titles I'm about to tell you about show, National Geographic still is adept at engaging young and old -- publishing books that link the generations. Books that are noteworthy not only because they entertain and educate by leveraging fascinating content and world class photography, but because they also inspire a lifelong love of reading.

Love You, Dad, Hardcover
Perfect for a memorable Father's Day gift or any other day of the year, this is a book that will continue giving pleasure to all those who share in reading it. Spectacular photos of both domesticated and wild animals side by side with the perfect sentiments that are a segway to all the reasons why fathers really do know best. Authored by internationally published real life mom Melina Bellows, Chief Creative Officer for Books, Kids, Family at National Geographic.

Mother's Love, Hardcover
Moms are moms 24/7, 365 days a year and no book honors the first woman in each of our lives better. By the same author of I Love You, Dad, this is another beautifully photographed book accompanied by the perfect heart-felt prose. Makes a great gift for mothers as well as a title children will enjoy reading again and again.

National Geographic Kids Almanac, Softcover
This is the brand new annual edition of the world's best selling kids almanac. From exploring new cultures to fascinating facts about the wonders of nature to history, dinosaurs, geography and space this book covers it all. Features the stunning illustrations and photography that National Geographic built its business around. There's even a new game section in this version plus a code to scan that will lead you to lots more fun online.

Just Joking: 300 Hilarious Jokes, Softcover
Next up is a fun read with more than 100 silly animal photographs like a buck teethed zebra and a whole bunch of other wacky creatures telling knock, knock jokes. Kids will actually be learning about the world around them, too, while at the same time laughing their bellies off reading this absolutely hilariously funny new book.

Weird but True: 300 Outrageous Facts, Softcover
The actual facts in this paperback will blow minds of moms, dads and kids and almost everyone that reads this will certainly learn something new. For example did you know that there is a British website that sells land on Mars and Venus for the equivalent of about $29 U.S. dollars per acre? How about this: A tiger's skin sports the same stripes that are visible when looking at this animal's fur. Amazing stuff, for sure. Comes complete with a Fact Finder index in the back making it easy to look things up by subject. 

The Classic Treasury of Childhood Wonders, Hardcover
A book that's chock full of classics to read and inspire tactile activities for children. My favorite: A Secret Place by William Shakespeare which also includes the how tos for kids to make their own simple fort or hideout indoors or outside.  A collection of classic poetry, rhymes and more that stimulate creative play like making a fairy house and even arts and crafts. Some photographs but mostly very lovely illustrations that all ages will appreciate. 

National Geographic Kids Ultimate U.S. Road Trip Atlas, Softcover
You won't want to pull out of your driveway for the next family road trip without this gem. For sure if you give your kids this book to keep busy, I doubt you'll hear "Are we there yet?" much if at all. State by state, there are maps, games, activities and all manner of fun to keep the little ones from fighting with their siblings in the backseat while you try to drive. Yeah, I know all about that, been there, done that, LOL. Definitely an investment in parent sanity in my book.

If you can't decide which of these National Geographic books to buy for your own family, I have really good news. Read on about entering MBE's latest giveaway contest and you could win the entire collection reviewed!

National Geographic 
Family Book Collection 
GIVEAWAY

Prize Package valued at approx $75, Ends 7/9/12

This stunning giveaway prize package features all 7 books pictured

• Love You, Dad
• Mother's Love, Autographed by the author Melina Bellows
• National Geographic Kids Almanac 2013
• Just Joking: 300 hilarious jokes 
• Weird but True: 300 outrageous facts
• The Classic Treasury of Childhood Wonders
• National Geographic Kids  Ultimate U.S. Road Trip Atlas

HOW TO ENTER

Just leave a comment(s) below this post. Contest ends July 9, 2012 at 12 midnite PST and is open to legal residents of the U.S. only. Prize: One winner will win all SEVEN (7) National Geographics Books featured with an approximate retail value of $75. Selected at random from all entries and will be notified via email.

Required (Mandatory) Entry

Simply leave a comment below this blogpost saying which of these books you like best. Don't forget to include your email address, Facebook and/or Twitter contact info in the comment section so the winner can be contacted.

Optional Extra Entries 
Earn extra entries to win for doing one or more of the easy options listed below. Just be sure to return to MommyBlogExpert (MBE) to leave an additional comment after each individual extra action you do to confirm so we can record all your additional chances to win.

1. Follow @mommyblogexpert on Twitter

2. Like @mommyblogexpert on Facebook

4. Follow @MelinaBellows on Twitter

5. Like @MelinaBellows on Facebook

***Bonus Entries***

You can earn even MORE chances to win each time you TWEET the message below, up to 3 times each day. Don't forget to return to leave a comment on this post with the direct link right after every Tweet you do so you'll receive an entry for each of your RTs.

Tweet for you to copy and paste:

Family @NatlGeoBooks Collection Review + $75 Giveaway for Moms Dads and Kids http://tinyurl.com/84fbguq #books #reading RT 2 #WIN

LOTS More 

Family-Friendly Giveaways!

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ENTER Them All HERE

MBE participates in the Amazon Affiliates program and we receive a small bit of compensation, at no extra cost to buyers, when a purchase is made using one of the Amazon links in this story.

Readers of this post might also like 11 Simple Creative DIY Activities to Engage Kids This Summer

FTC Disclosure: National Geographic Books provided the titles to facilitate this review and also the 7-book prize package being given away on this blog.  MommyBlogExpert did not receive any other payment or compensation associated with this post.  See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.