Minecraft Games Build Kids STEM Skills for Kids

Technology

Minecraft Games Prep Kids for STEM Professions

In the digital, fast-based world we live in, video games and related toys that are not only fun but inspire kids to build STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) skills could not be a more important asset to the success of the next generation. Leading the pack in that gaming category ideal for youth growing up now, is a huge assortment of Minecraft products now available at Best Buy.

MBE partnered with Best Buy for this review

Minecraft, currently one of the most popular family-friendly games, first arrived on the scene back in 2009. The brain-child of Swedish game developer Markus "Notch" Alexei Persson, this sandbox video game makes it possible to build 3D virtual worlds with cubes. Not only does this block building game encourage creativity in an entertaining way, it also sets the stage for boys and girls to engage in a variety of other activities such as exploration, gathering resources, survival challenges and combat that involve problem-solving skills, spacial abilities, strategic thinking and logic. 

All of these benefits of Minecraft help instill STEM aptitude and learning in young students who will eventually evolve into the innovators, scientists, coders, mathematicians and engineers of tomorrow. With such a rich and rewarding concept that is actually good for our children and the world's future, I'm pleased to share what is waiting for you and your family to tap into at Best Buy including the Xbox One S console bundle, additional Minecraft games and many Minecraft toys and collectibles.

Among the many Best Buy finds to discover

• Microsoft Xbox One S 500 GB Minecraft Favorites Console Bundle, $249.99 (regular $299.99)
• Minecraft Collector Cases $21.99-$32.99
• Lots of Minecraft video games, $29.99
• Minecraft Motion Movie Set, $19.99 (regular $32.99)
• Minecraft Mini Figures, $3.49
• Assorted other Minecraft Products

Any of these Minecraft games and toys would make great last-minute holiday gifts. That's because these are gifts which keep nurturing our children and giving long after the holidays are over. Come to think of it these make great gifts for all kinds of occasions throughout the year for birthdays, graduations, and as a reward for doing well in school.

Learn more by visiting the official BestBuy.com website, as well as following both Best Buy and Minecraft on social.

See the BestBuy.com store locator to find the closest store to you. With 1400 locations nationwide, there's bound to be a store near you.

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Best Buy Free Tech Recycling Program

FTC Disclosure: The reviewer has been compensated in the form of a Best Buy Gift Card and/or received the product/service at a reduced price or for free. However opinions in this post are my own. 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.

RAZER Pro Gaming Headset Review

Technology

Stylish Pro Quality Headsets for Gamers, Kids

More than any other community in the tech space, it seems gaming enthusiasts embrace an entire lifestyle and culture from the clothes they wear to the games they play to the accessories they pair with their desktop and lap top computers and other gaming devices. A good example are the cool headsets from RAZER which are so popular among the world class pros who compete in e-sports. 

MBE partnered with RAZER for this post

Popular Holiday Gift Ideas

Comfortable, high quality RAZER headphones, it turns out, are not just reserved for the domain of the big league game players. They're accessible to kids and teens, too -- not only for playing their favorite games but also for listening to music and movies. Whether at home or in the backseat on road trips there's a headset for everyone.

Headset for Range of Devices at Home, On the Road

The RAZER Kraken Pro V2 Headset is optimized with the ideal balance of weight, performance, functionality and of course, comfort. Features include a 3.5mm combined audio jack and splitter cable to ensure seamless mic support on mobile devices as well as connectivity to any gaming setup as well as an analog volume control wheel.

Added to that, is a microphone that is fully retractable along with comfy over ear design for superior sound isolation and hours of comfortable wearing.  Delivering stereo sound, the RAZER Kraken Pro V2 Headset is compatible with PC/PS4/Mac/Xbox/Mobile devices. 

Available in fun colors for kids, including White, Black and Neon Green.

Headset for PC and Mac Desktops & Laptops

Looking for an over the ear headset with an even higher level of coolness? Take a step up with the RAZER Kraken 7.1 V2 Digital USB Gaming Headset for a truly immersive surround audio experience with an even higher level of sound isolation. Also designed for hours of comfortable wearing, this model has a completely retractable mic as well as  gives the user the ability to customize audio channels to suit personal listening preferences. 

What's more is, thanks to ample 50mm audio drivers, sound is much richer and more defined. Best of all: kids and teens will love controlling the lighting effects which make the logo on the ear pieces change colors randomly to suit their individual style. Delivering 7.1 virtual surround sound, the RAZER Kraken 7.1 V2 Headset is compatible with PC and Mac. Available in Black.

Both of my college student sons thought these headphones were really awesome. So, depending on what you're looking for and how they will be used, either of these RAZER headsets would make a great gift for kids, teens, and young adults too.

About Razer

Founded in 2005 in San Diego, California, RAZER has evolved into a global gaming lifestyle brand offering connected devices and software. For more information visit the brand's official site and follow Razer on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

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RAZER HEADSET
 GIVEAWAY

Ends 1/10/17

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FTC Disclosure: MommyBlogExpert received product but no compensation to facilitate this review as well as the associated giveaway. However opinions here are my own. 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.

RAZER Kraken Pro V2 Headset

GIVEAWAY

For Gaming and Enjoying Movies, Music

RAZER is well-known as a global brand producing some of the coolest devices and software for hobby and professional gamers. But did you know that several of their headsets are family friendly and popular with kids and teens too, not only to game but for a high quality, comfortable audio experience while enjoying their favorite movies music on both desktop computers and all kinds of mobile devices? 

MBE partnered with RAZER for this post

So, I'm thrilled that RAZER is offering one lucky MommyBlogExpert reader the opportunity to win the RAZER Kraken Pro V2 Headset. Read on for your chance to win

RAZER HEADSET
GIVEAWAY
Ends 1/10/17

*** Bookmark this page NOW and come back DAILY to increase your chances of winning this great prize! ***

MommyBlogExpert's RAZER Kraken Pro V2 Headset Giveaway ends January 10,  2017 at 12 am PT and is open to legal residents of the U.S. only. RAZER will award ONE (1) RAZER Kraken Pro V2 Headset to winner. Winner of this MBE contest will be selected at random from all entries and will be notified via email and must respond within 24 hours to claim their prize.

About RAZER

Founded in 2005 in San Diego, California, RAZER has evolved into a global gaming lifestyle brand offering connected devices and software. For more information visit the brand's official site and follow Razer on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Read MBE's RAZER Kraken Headsets Review

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FTC Disclosure: MommyBlogExpert received product to facilitate this giveaway as well as the associated review. RAZER is providing the prize as well as shipping to the winner. However opinions here are my own. 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.

Review Sing Movie Hit With Kids, Parents

Movies


Viewers of all ages will be singing your way home after seeing this brilliant family friendly movie during the holidays. Sing, the animation comedy family music feature film released in theaters December 21, 2016 by Universal Pictures, is brought to the big screen by Illumination. 

Sing Movie from Universal Pictures Opens for the Holidays

The new movie Sing is from the same talented creative dream team which wowed viewers in recent blockbusters such as The Secret Life of Pets, Despicable Me, Despicable Me 2 and Minions, the second highest grossing animated movie ever.

There is a lovable animal character -- complete with human flaws and gifts -- for each of us to discover and relate to in Sing. Sitting in a Century City theater with my friends Denise Albert and Melissa Gerstein of The Moms, who invited a group of L.A. bloggers to an advanced screening of this film, I was immediately drawn in to the plot. 

Denise Albert & Melissa Gerstein, The Moms, flank me at the theater

Shortly after the movie begins, if you are like me, you will also get pleasantly lost in the fabulous musical score that pairs with the screen action so eloquently voiced by an all-star cast of actors and actresses you'll immediately recognize.

Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon at SING premiere

The film stars Academy Award winners Matthew McConaughey and Reese Witherspoon. Joining them in other leading roles are Seth MacFarlane, Scarlett Johansson, John C. Reilly, Taron Egerton and Grammy Award-nominated Tori Kelly. This is the first collaboration between writer/director Garth Jennings (Son of Rambow) and Illumination founder/CEO Chris Meledandri.

Much like the animated hit movie Zootopia, Sing takes place in a human-like world where only animals live. As the film opens, we are introduced to Buster Moon (McConaughey), a koala who inherited an old theater from his family and that is now failing. 

Fearing that this family legacy will be lost forever, he jumps into high gear to produce the world's greatest animal singing competition, American Idol-style. Once word gets out that there's a singing contest to enter with a big money prize to win, hundreds of all types of animals show up to audition. 

Photo bombing my onscreen fave Reese Witherspoon

Competition is stiff and in the end Buster narrows it down to five contestants: Mike the mouse (MacFarlane), a con-man who also sings; Meena the elephant (Kelly), a super shy teen with the voice of an angel who is wrought with stage fright, Rosita the pig (Witherspoon), an overloaded mother tending to a litter of 25 kid piglets while her husband is out all day at work; Johnny the gorilla (Egerton), a gangster who is caught up in a family of felons and wants to turn honest; and Ash the porcupine (Johansson) a punk-rocker trying break free of her arrogant, controlling boyfriend to go solo.

As the mom of four kids born within a year including triplets as well as the wife of a busy doctor working long hours at the hospital while I had four in diapers at home, it was easy for me to see who I could most relate to: Rosita, the mommy piggy. Like her, though I love my kids what I really wanted to do was go out and work to use my gifts and have a fulfilling experience beyond being a mother.

Steve Wonder sings at the Sing premiere

Set to the tunes of more than 65 hit classical songs spanning many decades and music genres, from Frank Sinatra's My Way to The Beatles medleys Golden Slumbers and Carry That Weight performed by Jennifer Hudson to an original song Faith, by Stevie Wonder and Ariana Grande, each competitor as well as Buster face challenges along the way. 

This is a movie not only about the end result, Buster and the other characters learn, it's also the journey toward reaching for and realizing your dreams. An upbeat picture, this would be a wonderful way to enjoy some quality time with your children, and perhaps their grandparents, during Christmas and Hanukkah this year.

Singing in honor of #SingMovie being released TODAY! Had so much fun working on this film, excited to hear what y'all think! 🎤🐷 @singmovie pic.twitter.com/Dn0ZS3vh1B

— Reese Witherspoon (@RWitherspoon) December 21, 2016

Sing is in theaters now nationwide. Keep up to date on all the latest news by following the film on the official site as well as on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

The movie Sing is in Theaters Now

FTC Disclosure: MommyBlogExpert was invited by The Moms to a special advance screening of this movie to facilitate this review. No payment or other compensation was received in connection with this post and opinions here are my own. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's home page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.

Behind the Scenes Rogue ONE: A Star Wars Story Exclusive NEW K-2SO Featurette

Movies

#RogueONE

Rogue ONE: A Star Wars Story, NEW K-2SO Featurette

Whether or not you've seen Rogue ONE: A Star Wars Story yet, Star Wars fans are not going to want to miss this NEW behind-the-scenes featurette with K-2SO, so brilliantly played by Alan Tudyk. This follows another featurette you're also invited to watch spotlighting co-star Felicity Jones who plays Jyn Erso. 




FTC Disclosure: MommyBlogExpert did not receive any compensation in association with this post. All images provided by Lucasfilms. See complete FTC Disclosure that appears at the bottom of MBE's home page and at the bottom of every individual post including this one.