I just got my “Welcome Packet” for school this year and spent an hour or more wading through the calendar of Parents’ Nights, festivals and No School Days. How did our kids’ school calendars get so darn complex? They need their own filofax (er..I mean iphone app!)

One way to stay sane through it all is with this cool new NYC School Calendar app, which is designed to help parents and kids keep track of the important school dates. Designed by John Tran, a New York City public school teacher, the app works by integrating and syncing with an existing calendar so you don’t have to input the school calendar your iPhone. John hopes that the app will also help teachers to plan their lessons, parents to plan their vacation and work schedules easier, and students to be more organized and plan ahead so they can do well in school. Such noble goals- a real teacher through and through!

So, no more- whoops! It’s a half day?! You won’t have any more excuses when you forget to pick up your kid.

The FREE NYC School Calendar app is now available at the app store and it is compatible with the iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch, and will soon work for the black berry and android smart phones.

A Child Grows, 2011. | Permalink | 2 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: apps for parents, iphone apps, NYC School Calendar app, NYC schools, Schools

Bebot: our family's favorite iphone app

When I want to know the real scoop on anything, I usually pose a question on our Facebook Fan Page. A few months ago (am I really that behind?!), I asked “what iphone apps do your kids love?” People named some obscure ones (sneezies!), some award winners (FacesiMake) and some oldies but goodies (Peekaboo Barn).  It’s obvious that we all love our iphone apps- to help make a long plane ride faster, a dinner out seem manageable or to enjoy a fun game with our kids. I didn’t correct anyone’s spelling (hey, we all forget what the name of an app actually is, but linked it so you can find it no matter what). Feel free to add your own suggestions at the end of this post. I’m dying to hear about all the ones you love too and thanks to everyone for contributing.

P.S.- The most popular suggestion was Peekaboo Barn.

*Descriptions of each application are taken from the itunes websites. They are not reviews but rather supplied by the developer.

Here’s the mega list!

1. Tuey said: Bebot,the funniest app that both my kids (2 and 4 years) love and I do too. As a musician, it’s a cool combo of playing with scales and pitch, for a kid- it’s all about the wacky sounds. Our kids also love the Little White Bunny stories. They look like illustrations from “Goodnight Moon”- they’re sweet and the stories are simple and gentle.
Bebot: Part robot, Part synth – Bebot is a musical synthesizer with a unique multitouch control method and a versatile sound engine.
Little White Bunny: Both kids and adults can page through it easily, and it is narrated so your child can listen while watching the pages turn. The hand drawings bring a personal touch to the latest technology. The most unique feature about Winter Bunny is that you can record your own voice telling the story using your iPhone or iPod Touch! Your children can hear your voice or the voice of a distant relative to keep them in touch with the ones they love, which adds an extra-special dimension to the storytelling experience.

5. Marc said: Sneezies..sneezing themselves out of bubbles, who can resist?
Sneezies: Touch the screen to drop a burst of sneezing powder into the field of floating Sneezies and watch as they sneeze themselves out of their bubbles. Try to initiate a chain reaction to rescue as many Sneezies as you can in this family fun puzzle game.

6. Suzy said: my almost 4 year old loves angry birds
Angry Birds: The survival of the Angry Birds is at stake. Dish out revenge on the green pigs who stole the Birds’ eggs. Use the unique destructive powers of the Angry Birds to lay waste to the pigs’ fortified castles. Angry Birds features hours of gameplay, challenging physics-based castle demolition, and lots of replay value. Each of the 195 levels requires logic, skill, and brute force to crush the enemy.

7. Liz said: we love bubbles, balloonimals, and Peekaboo Barn.
Bubbles: For toddlers who need a fun distraction. Bubbles brings the simple pleasure of popping bubbles to your iPhone. Unlike other iPhone games, Bubbles is fun entertainment that’s great for little ones on up.
balloonimals: Beautifully rendered Balloonimals spring to life when you blow into the microphone on your iPhone or press the screen with your iPod Touch. Watch the balloon inflate and then give your phone a shake to start constructing your Balloonimal. With each shake, your animal takes greater shape until… Voila! Your Balloonimal appears and is ready
Peekaboo Barn: Inside a little bouncing barn, friendly farm animals are waiting to pop out and surprise your little one. Try and guess who they are; tap the doors to find out!

8. Jeff said: Faces iMake collage art app is terrific and pretty original in the app marketplace. I reviewed it a while back – my girls 3 and 6 love it. Lorax’s Garden too, very fun for both my kiddos.
Faces iMake : **2010 MEDIA OF THE YEAR AWARD Winner**
Lorax’s Garden: Help the Lorax regrow the world’s Truffula tree forests!

10. Jilian said: Cakedoodle is fun. Both my kids ages 6 and 3 loves to “bake” a cake. You add ingredients bake then frost and decorate. Super cute!
Cakedoodle: Crack the eggs, shake the salt, pour in the liquids, squeeze the lemon, mash the bananas, sift the flour, and toss in the dry ingredients. Blend the batter and bake your cake in our super fast oven. No need to wait for the cake to cool before icing and decorating it.

11. Don suggested: Airport Mania. Totally fun for my 2nd grader…he loves being in charge of getting the passengers to their right place.
Airport Mania: Hundreds of airplanes are on their way to your airport! In Airport Mania: Non-Stop Flights, you’ll face the challenge of coordinating an endless number of incoming flights for as long as you can.

12. Jennifer said:  Free apps for 2 yr old, I hear ewe, Toddler Teasers shapes, Bubbles, Baby Piano Lite
I hear ewe: Entertain and educate your toddler with this simple game full of 24 different authentic animal sounds and 12 different vehicle sounds. When your baby taps on an animal or vehicle icon, the game will verbally announce what type of animal or vehicle it is and play a recording of its real sound.
Toddler Teasers Shapes: With a focus on simplicity and full voice overs, toddlers play and learn without the need for extra help. The app displays colorful quizzes and offers positive reinforcement and fun rewards.
Bubbles: For toddlers who need a fun distraction. Bubbles brings the simple pleasure of popping bubbles to your iPhone. Unlike other iPhone games, Bubbles is fun entertainment that’s great for little ones on up.
Baby Piano Lite: Following the success of the Baby Flash Cards iPhone app, Dream Cortex is proud to present Baby Piano, another app for young children.

13. Betsy said: This one is a favorite: Peekaboo Barn

14. Larisa said: Our toddler’s favorite is Chudigi’s “Balloons” – you touch the screen to blow them up bigger and bigger and sometimes they pop.
Chudigi’s “Balloons: Send dozens of colorful balloons floating into the sky with a swipe of your finger. Increase the inflation size with slower swipes. Use quick taps to make lots of tiny balloons. If the sky gets crowded shake to pop. Features realistic balloon sounds.

15. Melissa said:  It’s ALL about Peekaboo Barn for 2-3 year olds!

16. Aitche said:  Doodle Kids, Finger Piano and Free Guitar.
Doodle Kids: Doodle Kids is a painting program written by Lim Ding Wen when he was 9 years old. This program is designed specially for his sisters and all the kids in the world. Ding Wen currently lives in Singapore.
Finger Piano: “FingerPiano” allows you to play the piano with just your finger.  You don’t need any skill, scores or practice.
Free Guitar: * 2010 Billboard Music App Award Winner *

17. Tracy said:  All of the duck duck moose apps are favorites but my 14th month old daughter really loves the wheels on the bus one. Now if they would only offer a lock key for the screen so she cant keep switching screens on her own. This is probably meant for kids a little older but on long car rides it keeps her occupied.
Old MacDonald by Duck Duck Moose: ★★★ 2010 Parents’ Choice Gold Award winner – Parents’ Choice Foundation ★★★   ★★★ Editor’s Choice Award for Excellence in Design – Children’s Technology Review ★★★
Wheels on the Bus by Duck Duck Moose: ★ 2010 Parents’ Choice Gold Award winner – Parents’ Choice Foundation ★ ★ Winner of the “Best Children’s App” KAPi Award – 2010 International Consumer Electronics Show ★

18. Jennifer said: Glowstick.
Glowstick: Glow Stick Pro is the ULTIMATE GLOW STICK APP, giving you TOTAL CONTROL over your glow stick.

19. Kimberly said: My 2 yr old loves PBS’s Dress Chica
PBS’s Dress Chica: To help Chica get dressed, select hats, scarves, and more by touching the pictures and dragging them onto Chica! Shake the phone to hear Chica chirp and to make her dance. When you’re done you can save a picture of your creation, select a greeting, and make a postcard to email to friends and family.

20. Lilly said: Cupcakes! By maverick
Cupcakes!: The original and #1 selling food game on the iPhone & iPod Touch. Bake, decorate, and eat virtual cupcakes with all kinds of flavors & toppings! It’s the most creative fun you can have on your iPhone, and all with zero calories

21. Camille said:  My 2 1/2 year old is app crazy! He loves: Clifford: Be Big, WubbHunt, Where’s Waldo?, Nick Jr’s A-Z, Bert’s Bag (Sesame St.), Baby Flashcards, Thomas the Tank Engine, Sesame St. Firehouse Story, Team Umi Zumi Kite Maker, and Frogger by Konami. He has a lot of app time in the car- perhaps too much! My favorite is Clifford: Be Big by Scholastic.
Clifford: Be Big: Help Clifford, Cleo and T-Bone give Jetta ideas of things to paint by spelling words. As they play, kids will experiment with letters and letter sounds as they learn to spell three-letter words. Kids are guided toward spelling the words by choosing from a selection of letters from Jetta’s painter’s palette. Once a word is spelled, watch as a picture is painted of the word to show its meaning!
WubbHunt: Wubbzy fans of all ages can search for Wubbzy & Friends popping up amidst the backdrop of Wuzzleberg as Wubbzy himself cheers you on!
Where’s Waldo?: **Over One Million Units Sold Worldwide**
Nick Jr’s A-Z: The alphabet is here, from A to Zee! Join Moose and Zee on a puzzle-packed adventure with loads of letters. In this game, preschoolers search for letters hidden in exciting scenes like at the beach, on the street, and even in the deep seas!
Team UmiZoomi: Oh no! The wind has blown the kites apart at the Umi City Kite Festival! The patterns on the kites were blown off them too! Team Umizoomi needs your help to fix the kites! First, help Geo fly through the sky with his super jet pac

22. Paula said: our daughter is OBSESSED with Elmo’s Monster Maker. It’s the bomb.
Elmo’s Monster Maker: *** 2010 Parents’ Choice Silver Honors Award Winner ***  Elmo wants you to make a monster friend! It’s easy! Choose a monster body and touch its face to give it eyes, nose and a hat—there are lots and lots and lots to choose from. When you’re done, Elmo will dance and play with your monster!

23. Marisa said: reversi- it’s like othello- flip the pieces over (black/white) until one color takes over the board. like a great game of solitaire, that consuming but not as complicated for our 7 year old.
reversi: Reversi (also known as Othello) is a much-loved classic strategy game, often described as taking only a minute to learn, but a lifetime to master. Each game only takes a few minutes, making it ideal for your iPhone or iPod Touch. It can be played by all ages.

24. Lucie said: the icecream game is awesome!! ..its called scoops..you tilt the phone to add icecream toppings to a cone, and there is an included app, that makes burgers….bread, lettuce, tomatoes, burger etc… my boys LOVE them!
scoops: Stack your ice cream cone high into the sky by tilting the phone left and right, catching as many scoops as you can while avoiding the vegetables (veggies ARE great apart from icecream!). The higher you go, the faster they fall, and the more wobbly your tower! Stack similar colors together for extra points.

25. Traci said: Frogs and Fireflies is a color mixing game for ages 5 and up, and it was designed right here in the Bronx!
Frogs and Fireflies: Wired.com’s GeekDad says, “Reminds me of one of my very favorite episodes of Blues Clues called ‘Colors Everywhere!’ … A really fun and unusual game that teaches color mixing, with enough complexity to interest anyone from kids up to adults.” April 8, 2010

26. Tracey said: Tales2Go for great kids’ audio books and stories on the go.
Tales2Go: As seen on The TODAY Show and “A Top 5 Must-Have iPhone App for Parents” according to CNET.  2010 Winner: NAPPA Gold Award, Parents’ Choice Award and PTPA Media Award – for excellence and innovation in mobile, on-demand delivery of audio books and stories for kids and families.

27. Maria said: we are super why fans and their app is almost as much fun as watching an actual episode- our 4 year old is addicted to it. we also like brushes- it’s super cool and amazingly sophisticated. great for my older child (9 years) and me!
super why: Help your child achieve the Power to Read with this collection of four SUPER WHY interactive literacy games. Your child can play along with each of the four main characters from the TV series: Alpha Pig, Princess Presto, Wonder Red, and, of course, Super Why, while practicing the alphabet, rhyming, spelling, writing and reading.
brushes: Winner, Apple Design Award 2010!  Brushes was used to create the cover of the June 1, 2009 issue of The New Yorker

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Post tags: babies, best iphone apps, board game, books, educational, favorite, fun iphone applications, iphone applications, Kids, pbs, preschoolers, reader favorites, reviews, stories, tales2go, Toddler

Alice Kaltman

Staying Present in the Era of Distraction. Turn Off and Tune In

by Alice Kaltman

When I get sullen, rejecting glares from my teenage daughter while my younger parent friends get unreserved affection and boundless enthusiasm from their toddlers I turn a little green with envy.

But I don’t always envy today’s younger generation of parents. I especially don’t envy the challenge they face trying to remain present and connected to their little ones in today’s iphone, blackberry culture. There’s no denying how useful and important cell phones and cyber-culture are in today’s world. You wouldn’t be reading these words right now if it weren’t for the wonders of the internet. But sometimes it becomes a bit too much, and even good parents chose their electronics over their kids.

On a recent trip to a playground I was appalled by how many electronic devices sprouted from parents hands like budding flowers. I cringed as parent after parent disconnected from their kids to check their phones. The Parenting Coach in me wanted to shout out, “Don’t you guys realize your relationship with your kids splinter every time you answer the phone or check your messages?”

Back in the dark ages of mid-nineties parenting there were no cell phones. The only parents who carried electronic devices were doctors with pagers, and those life-savers were understandably given wide berth. When parents were at playgrounds they played with their kids, talked to other parents or caregivers, or stared off in space. They couldn’t check e-mail or text while their kids slid down slides repeatedly, hundreds and hundreds of times. Parents had to find their way to comfort, or deal with discomfort. They had to experience playground boredom. They had to be present in some way, even if that way was physically or emotionally difficult.

When they pushed their kids in strollers, they chatted. They couldn’t push the stroller with one hand while talking to someone else on a cell. The only person to talk to was that little cutie sitting in front of them. A stroller ride was a shared activity, punctuated, rhythmic and ritualized. Parents pointed out landmarks, stopped to look in store windows. They sang silly songs, practiced words. They turned sidewalk bumps and curbs into amusement park rides. Unless their kid was floating off to a welcomed nap, they engaged. Or at least tried to.

Parenting can be relentless, boring, and stressful. It always was, and always will be. I’m sure many mid-nineties parents would have loved the opportunity to check the web instead of building sand castles. Every parent craves escape from the demands of parenting at some point, or many points, on a weekly, daily, or hourly basis. It’s important to find escape from the tedious tension of parenting, but not at the expense of emotional connection.

So, do yourselves and your kids a favor. If possible, save all phone calls or e-mail checking for during school hours or after bedtime. Consider leaving the phone at home when you go out to do errands or go to the playground. At the very least, put your phone on silent mode so you’re not thinking, “I wonder who that is?” and your kid isn’t thinking, “I wonder if that person is more important (to mommy/daddy) than me?”

Wonder instead about your kid. Who they are, and who they are becoming. Wonder about them by observing them in action, climbing, running, talking, playing. Stay attuned and focused. Better yet, join in the fun.

*********

Alice Kaltman, L.C.S.W. has been working with parents and kids since 1988. In 2006, she co-founded Family Matters NY with Sara Zaslow, L.M.S.W. FMNY is a parenting coaching service for Brooklyn and Manhattan families, providing support through home and office visits. Alice lives in Boerum Hill, Brooklyn with her teen-age daughter and husband, the sculptor Daniel Wiener. She also writes fiction for kids, and dances professionally in her spare (?) time.  Write to Alice at info@familymattersny.com.

1. The Parenting Res
2. To Work or Not To Work?
3. Regression Over the Holidays
4. Should you lie to your kids?
5. Can you get kids to do what you want?
6. How can family rituals help?
7. How to help siblings get along
8. In defense of dads: roughhousing is good
9. Know-it-all-mom and dad

A Child Grows, 2010. | Permalink | 4 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: children and blackberry, children and iphone, parent on blackberry, parent on iphone

The Dinosaurs app from AMNH

There are always new iphone apps coming out for kids. One of the newest and coolest is Dinosaurs from  The American Museum of Natural History. This app lets paleontologists of all ages explore the Museum’s famous fossil halls in depth.  The apps splash page is a huge collage of the Museum’s archives of over 800 images. The interactive mosaic creates a cool scale shift from which a child can choose an image to zoom in on. Once an image is selected, you can learn more about the dinosaur or fossil and send the image or comment on it.

Space Images from NASA's iphone app

If you have a space fanatic in your family, this iphone app Space Images from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory’s has spectacular images of space and stars. The images are beautiful and awe-inspiring. You can get more information about the images with a touch of the button.

2010 World Maps iphone app

Looking for a way to talk about the world visually or a way to educate your child (and you!) on the ever-changing world of maps?  World Maps has nice, clear maps that are on a “globe” and are easy to read with bright colors with clear boundaries.

Vocal Zoo for some fun on the subway

Vocal Zoo is an app that allows your kid to select an animal and hear its call or sound. It’s fun, though it doesn’t last for more than a few subway rides. One of the most fun uses is to press a whole bunch of the sounds together and you get an entire cacophony that sounds like a real barnyard! This app is particularly appreciated by babies.

Splash of Color's selective coloring

I have to rave about this one. This is a mini Photoshop for kids.  Splash of Color’s app teaches kids about how to isolate color and to work with a limited palette. They immediately see how color can energize an image.  Choose any photo and Splash of Color will convert it to a black and white image. You can begin painting in color right away with your fingers. Don’t worry about mistakes, this application keeps track of every single step from the moment you selected which picture to edit. The only complaint: it needs a zoom feature to color smaller areas. Tip: use photographs with large detail areas.

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Post tags: animal iphone app, dinosaur iphone app, iphone applications for family, map game, map iphone app, splash of color app

Crayon Rocks in a red velvet bag

Some of you may know that I have a column in New York Family Magazine- Brooklyn edition. This month I published an article about my favorite 10 gifts this holiday season. I was shocked to see that one of my picks (Crayon rocks made by a mom-inventor) was also chosen by People Magazine. Which might mean two things: she may have sold out of her amazing product and two: People magazine is finally looking at gifts with less bling! Move over ridiculous rhinestone encrusted Barbie watches- make room for Crayon Rocks!

Natural Crayons For All Ages
Crayon Rocks, natural soy wax crayons colored with natural minerals, are aesthetically beautiful and functional. Their rock shape is designed to prepare fingers for handwriting and allow smaller hands to color more easily. The crayons are also used by occupational therapists to develop fine motor skills, which means they are a good tool for young and old.
Details: $4.75 for a basic eight-primary color assortment in a treasure bag, crayonrocks.net.

Family figures

Ethnic Family Figures For Story Play
It is difficult to find toy figures that reflect the diversity of the city. Your preschooler will love the chunky feel of these wooden, multi-cultural families. The set comes with four different ethnic family groups, with six in each family (24 pieces total). With their detailed accessories including soccer balls, book bags, umbrellas and more, the possibilities of creating specific narratives is endless.
Details: $55, ages 3 and up, uniquewoodentoys.com

ikidNY

Essential Family iPhone App
If you are lucky enough to have an iPhone, here is an application essential for families: IkidNY . It was created by a new mom to help parents navigate all five boroughs. She has over 2,000 listings of the closest subway stations with elevators, changing tables, kid-friendly restaurants, parks, playgrounds, indoor playspaces, museums, and more. I have found it incredibly useful for finding restaurants and the closest park.
Details: $2.99, ikidny.com

Clay Pot's Hinu discs

Family Jewels For Mom
My favorite baby present was an assortment of silver disc pendants from the Brooklyn store, Clay Pot. Each small disc is stamped with my children’s names on the front and their birthdates on the back. I even had one made with my husband’s name on it. All three hang on a delicate chain necklace and remind me of each of them daily.
Details: Starts at $70 per pendant, clay-pot.com

I will publish the next 5 gifts from my top 10 list later this week.

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