Star in Your Own Storybook Adventure

Have your children be the star in their very own storybook adventure. Your child will become the hero in this cute bedtime adventure, that teaches them the importance of keeping their smiles beautiful by brushing their teeth, keeping their hands clean and the joy of reading.

Enter your child's name, choose their gender, hair and skin color and away the adventure starts. Print the storybook out on your computer printer and grab some crayons, as your children will also get to color their own adventure.

My daughter loves her new storybook as I'm sure your child will too.

The adventure storybook is available to you free of charge through the Colgate website.

Don't forget, your child can also be a star in their own alphabet adventure from our previous post:

Make your child the star in their own alphabet adventure video

Technorati Tags: fun 4 the children kids children storybooks coloring book learning fun

NoodleNet - childrens online safety browser

Hello to all, I hope everyone is doing well. I wanted to inform all the readers at Fun 4 The Children about a new software program that provides a truly safe environment for your young children to surf the Internet called NoddleNet.

Surfing the Internet provides a wealth of information in a short amount of time, but not all of the information is good, or particularly safe for children. It's very easy for your child to stumble across sites that they shouldn't see and can cause them harm. This is where NoodleNet can help.

NoodleNet is a password-protected web browser that allows kids to only surf the safest kid-friendly and educational websites on the Internet. It creates a gated community that only lets your child explore the Internet on pre-approved sites. No more dangers of your children clicking on that ad for PBS Kids and then being transported to inappropriate material online.

“The driving force behind the formation of NoodleNet is a passion for bringing education to life – for keeping children connected with their natural instincts to learn and explore,” said Benny Barton, founder and CEO of NoodleNet.



The content on NoodleNet is categorized in three age groups: 3 to 5, 6 to 8, and 9 to 11, and parents can create accounts for their children based on their ages. The child friendly has easy to use buttons and all content is pre-categorized, making it very simple for your child to navigate between fun sites and sites that can assist your children with their homework.

The program is fully accessible to parents and caregivers, and allows them to customize the program for individual users. You can quickly add access to children’s favorite websites (don't forget to add Fun 4 The Children blog); as well as, programs and games already on the PC.

The thing I absolutely love about NoodleNet is that my children can sit down at the computer by themselves, and I don't have to worry about them seeing content they shouldn't see or accessing and changing information on my computer accidentally. Not to mention how much fun they have, and the assistance they can get to assist with homework or other school projects.

NoodleNet is available on a monthly and annual subscription basis and comes with 12 months of technician support and updates. For those of you that would like to try the program out, there is also a free 7 day trial of the program is also available at their site.

To learn more or to try the free 7 day program trail visit http://offto.net/NoodleNet/

Technorati Tags: NoodleNet children websites children's online safety children kids fun learning fun 4 the children

Alpha-Zoo Concentration Game

Here is a cute educative game that combines alphabet recognition with the classic memory game.

This is a nice little game for the kids, as it provides some fun time for them, as well as helping them learn alphabet letters and recognition.

If you would like to make the game a little bigger, click view in toolbar at the top of you screen, then click full screen. You can also click F11 to make the screen bigger.

Alpha - Zoo Concentration Game	Flash Games & Online Games

Technorati Tags: concentration game memory game childrens games kids games online childrens games children kids fun

Product Recalls - Mattel issues recall of 55,000 toys

I'm totally amazed at the massive amounts of recalls on toys and other children's products that have been occurring lately.

I will try to keep the readers of Fun 4 The Children up to date with these recalls as best as I can, to help keep all of us informed of the possible dangers. For further information on recalls you can visit the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission website at http://www.cpsc.gov/

The Latest recalls involve the following listed products:

"Bumbo" Baby Car Seats

DecoPak BobbleHead Football Player Cake Toppers

Mattel "Go Diego Go" Animal Rescue Boats

Family Dollar Halloween Pails

Technorati Tags: toy recalls mattel product recalls baby seat recall halloween pail recall childrens toys children kids fun 4 the children

Halloween coloring - Trick or Treat

The big day is getting closer so why not add some "trick or treat" to our Halloween coloring book. All listed pages are safe for your computer and printer.

Trick or treating at house

Trick or treat bag

Trick or treat bag 2

Trick or treat bag with cat

Bella mushroom trick or treating

Kid ghost trick or treater

Witch trick or treater

Owl, cat and ghost trick or treating

Kids trick or treating with dog

Trick or treat sign

Trick or treaters

Trick or treaters 2

Trick or treaters 3

Mom with kids trick or treating

Sheriff and children trick or treating

Boy and girl trick or treating

Frankenstein trick or treating

Scared trick or treaters

Kids trick or treating with dragon

Technorati Tags: trick or treat coloring pages halloween coloring pages coloring halloween children kids fun

New Halloween witch and pumpkins coloring pages

We just finished two new coloring pages that you won't find online anywhere else (at least not yet). One is a smiling witch and the other is of three smiling pumpkins.

Just click on the picture and you will be taken to scribd.com where your children can print out and color the new Halloween pages.

My apologies for you having to go to another site to print these, being that they are pictures we drew, but I don't know how to upload PDF pictures to this blog yet (hopefully I'll learn before Christmas).






Technorati Tags: fun 4 the children halloween coloring pages witch coloring page pumpkins coloring page halloween children kids fun coloring

Free one year subsription to Scholastic Parent and Child magazine

Parents, here's your chance to get a free subscription to Scholastic Parent and Child magazine.

"Scholastic Parent & Child’s mission is to help parents keep pace with their children’s developmental growth both at home and at school. By better understanding our children’s emotional, physical and intellectual stages, we can help ease transitions and promote learning that is age- and stage-appropriate. Parent & Child shares the goals of every parent: To help raise children who are ready to learn, willing to share, and eager to be a part of the wonders of our world."

To receive your free one year subscription to Scholastic Parent and Child magazine all you have to do is give a review of your favorite bottled water over at the Rewards Gold website.

I had posted this offer over on my Freebie Fanatics blog, and being a subscriber to Sholastic Parent and Child magazine thought it would be helpful for other parents and children to post here on Fun 4 the Children.

I have personally been a member of Rewards Gold for approximately one year and have received many wonderful magazine subscriptions from them. I have never received any spam or unwanted e-mail from them or their website.

I helpful for all parents: if you are hesitant to give your main e-mail address out (as I am), just get yourself another free e-mail address from Gmail or Yahoo.

To read more and learn what you have to provide to receive your free subscription, visit my post on the Freebie Fanatics blog at:

http://freebiefanatics.blogspot.com/2007/10/one-year-subscription-to-scholastic.html

To go directly to the magazine offer visit the Rewards Gold website at:

http://www.rewardsgold.com/mags/parents/sg_pandc_pg1.htm

Technorati Tags: scholastic parent and child magazine children parents learning fun 4 the children

Coupon for one free bag of Halloween candy from Kmart

UPDATE: This coupon is from a post in 2007, as you can guess, it is no longer available. Please return to the Fun 4 The Children homepage.

Hello to all my parents. I thought I would add something for you today... Actually, it could be for you (I wouldn't mind eating a bag full myself) or you can hand it out to the children on Halloween.

For those of you that shop at Kmart, here is a coupon for one free bag of Halloween candy.

You get to choose from: Payday, Hershey's Milk Chocolate, Mounds, Reese's PB Cups, Kit Kat, Almond Joy, Heath, Hershey Take 5, Reese Crispy Crunchy, 3 Musketeers, M&M Milk Chocolate, M&M Peanut, Butterfinger, Baby Ruth, 100 Grand, Kit Kat Orange."

It's not much, but the retail price for each bag is $2.79 and every little bit helps.

Free bag Halloween candy

Technorati Tags: halloween candy free bag halloween candy halloween

Halloween Coloring - Haunted House

Halloween wouldn't be complete without the spooky haunted house. Here are a great bunch of many different style haunted houses that can be added to your Halloween coloring book.

As always, these pages are all printer safe pages. If anyone has any to add or you have drawn your own and want to add it to Fun 4 The Children, please let me know.

For those of you that like to draw your own haunted house pictures, here is a quick list of some items you might want to add to your photo:

1) Cob webs in the windows
2) Evil pumpkins on the porch
3) Full moon in the background
4) Tombstones around the haunted house
5) Bats and ghost flying around the house
6) Picket fence
7) Eyes looking out windows
8) Black cat

Enjoy!

Haunted House 1

Haunted House 2

Haunted House 3

Haunted House 4

Haunted House 5

Large Haunted House

Haunted House with black cat

Haunted House with ghost and pumpkins

Haunted House with bats

Haunted House with skeleton

Fill in the Haunted House

Make sure you visit all of our other fun Halloween pages!

If any of the above links are not working or are expired, please do us a favor and let us know by clicking: Contact US. We may also be able to help you get some of the free coloring books, pages and E-books that may have expired.

Technorati Tags: haunted house coloring pages halloween coloring haunted house coloring coloring children kids halloween fun haunted house

Introducing Your Children to the Arts Booklet

I just received this wonderful booklet from the National Endowment for the Arts. It's called Imagine!, Introducing Your Children to the Arts and it offers parents practical ways to introduce their children to the arts.



The booklet includes activities and suggestions in literature, dance, music, theater, visual arts, folk arts, and media arts. The activities and suggestions in Imagine! are aimed specifically at children ages 3 - 8 years of age.

Also included in the center of this booklet is a pull out guide that offers information about children's developmental stages from ages 3 - 8, and includes examples or arts activities that adults can do with their children at these different ages.

Parents, you can download this booklet directly to your computer or you can order a hard copy through the mail.

This 68-page booklet is available, free of cost, when you visit the National Endowment for the Arts website NEA Website.

For all parents, when you get the booklet or if you already have it, please share any thoughts on it with the readers off Fun 4 The Children, be it good or bad. Thanks!

Technorati Tags: art book activities literature dance music theater folk arts media arts children kids learning

Free 24 Pack Crayola Crayons or 4 Pack Play-doh from Toys "R" Us

Parents, make sure to get a free 24 pack of Crayola crayons or a free 4 pack of Play-doh from Toys "R" us. I am a day late in listing this as it is valid for two days only, October 18, 2007 and October 19, 2007.

Listed on the Toys "R" Us website is the free coupon for you to print out and bring to your local Toys "R" Us store to receive one of the two listed free toys (while supplies last).

I am also listing a direct link to the coupon here:

https://www9.toysrus.com/images/our/tru/prom/101807Email/9119816.gif

Either one of these would make a great stocking stuffer for Christmas!

For those of us with daughters who are fans of Polly Pockets here is a coupon to save up to $5 off any Mattel Polly Pocket toy purchased between 10/15/07 and 12/31/07.

http://www.mattel.com/pollypromise/

Technorati Tags: free toy toys crayola crayons play-doh polly pocket children's toys children kids

Witch - Halloween Coloring Pages

Lets add a few witches to our Halloween coloring book. There is a good selection of different witches listed. Find your favorite ones or print out all of them. It's up to you how big you want your coloring book to be.

All pages are safe to print on your computer's printer.

Witch with pot

Good Witch on broom

Witch with pumpkin

Witch with pumpkin 2

Happy Witch flying

Flying Witch

Witch with crystal ball

Short Witch

Witch on motorcycle

Witch riddle

Draw face on Witch

Witch casting spell

Trick or treat girl Witch

Trick or treat girl witch 2

Make sure you visit all of our other fun Halloween pages!

If any of the above links are not working or are expired, please do us a favor and let us know by clicking: Contact US. We may also be able to help you get some of the free coloring books, pages and E-books that may have expired.

Technorati Tags: witch coloring pages halloween witch coloring pages witch halloween coloring pages children kids fun

Halloween Activity Safety Booklet

This Halloween activity safety booklet is for the parents as well as the children, as it provides some helpful hints for us parents and some fun and knowledge for the children.

Personally, I like to use booklets like these as gifts for Halloween parties. Combine them with a small box of crayons, or decorated Halloween colored pencils and some treats, make a nice thank you goodies package.

Topics covered in the Halloween activity safety booklets include:

Halloween safety pointers and reminders for parents (Yes parents, sometimes you can teach an old dog new tricks. Lets make that a young dog new tricks).

Halloween safety coloring sheets.

Halloween mazes

McGruffs Halloween Safety Quiz

The booklet is sure to bring a smile to any child's face.

Printer friendly, safe, Portable Document Format (PDF) . Provided by the NY State Police and the National Crime Prevention Council.

Download your Free Halloween Activity Safety Booklet .

Ghost - Halloween Coloring Pages

Lets continue with our Halloween coloring book by adding some photos of Halloween ghost. These are all safe pages to print out on your printer.

Anyone who wants to draw any Halloween coloring pages for others to print out and color, please send me an e-mail. I will post them to Fun 4 The Children.

Be sure to click the "Read More" link at bottom of post for more Halloween pumpkin coloring pages!

On with the ghost:

Flying Ghost

Happy Ghost

Ghost with bats

Ghost with treat or treat bag

Flying Ghost with children

Ghost with sandwich and a riddle also

Ghost with tummy ache

Boo Ghost

Ghost Bunny

Boy dressed as Ghost

Ghost Waving

I can be a "Ghost"

Halloween Baseball Ghost

Ghost juggling pumpkins

Mean Halloween Ghost (printer option will open)

Ghost painting a Ghost (printer option will open)

"G" is for Ghost

Draw a face on Ghost

Make sure you visit all of our other fun Halloween pages!

If any of the above links are not working or are expired, please do us a favor and let us know by clicking: Contact US. We may also be able to help you get some of the free coloring books, pages and E-books that may have expired.

Technorati Tags: halloween coloring pages children kids fun coloring pages halloween ghost coloring pages halloween ghost coloring pages

McGruff Trading Cards

Parents, here is another freebie you can grab for your children. The McGruff trading cards are a wonderful addition as they help your child learn how to deal with tough issues they face everyday.

With this batch of cards your child will learn about:

Dealing with bullies

Internet Safety

Ways to keep kids safe



On one side of each card comes tips and advice on how to deal with these different situations. On the opposite side of each card are sharp illustrations that are sure to get your children talking about what going on in each picture.

To get your McGruff trading cards visit:

http://www.mcgruff.org/order.php

When you receive your Mcgruff trading cards please let me know, and the readers of this blog know what you think of them.

Technorati Tags: free mcgruff trading cards mcgruff trading cards trading cards children kids fun learning

Banquet Food Recall

Hello everyone. I just learned about this myself and wanted to get the word out to those who might not be aware of the recall on Banquet brand pot pies possibly being linked to Salmonella bacteria.

Most persons that are infected with Salmonella develop nausea, diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps 12 to 72 hours after infection. The elderly, infants, and those with impaired immune systems are more likely to have a severe illness.

Technorati Tags: banquet pot pie recall pot pie recall banquet recall food recall salmonella children kids

Halloween Coloring - Pumpkins

What would Halloween be without pumpkins. Here are some safe printable coloring pages for your children. Remember to keep compiling your pages to complete our Halloween coloring book.

Be sure to click the "Read More" link at bottom of post for more Halloween pumpkin coloring pages!

Pumpkins 1

Pumpkin 2

Pumpkin 3

Pumpkin 4

Smiling Pumpkin

Pumpkin with sign

Free Disney Game Downloads

I would like to thank Nina, who e-mailed me after seeing Fun 4 The Children listed on Blog Catalog, and told me about free game downloads from Disney.

Disney is offering a bunch of free games for you to download when you purchase certain Angel Soft® and Sparkle® products. They have cute games for moms and kids, as well as games just for moms. This offer has been going on for a while, but is still valid.

Some titles include:

Science Bingo
Soccer Mom Spirit
Aladdin's Magic Carpet Spree
Chip n Dale Shootout

"Offer good in the U.S.A. only from 01/01/2007 through 12/31/2007 on specially marked participating Georgia-Pacific products (“Product”). Limit one (1) game download per qualifying UPC code on a particular Product brand and size. Use of the UPC code from the same Product brand and size to obtain a game download is limited to once every two weeks regardless of the number of purchases of such Product. A two week period must elapse before the UPC code from the same Product brand and size can be entered to qualify for another game download. Additional game downloads can be obtained by entering a UPC code from a different Product brand or size. Two (2) new games will be added each quarter. Georgia-Pacific and Disney reserves the right to cancel or modify this offer at any time without notice and is not responsible for damages or losses relating to downloading or use of the games or the inability to download the games. Offer void where prohibited, restricted, or taxed.

UPCs

030400765414
030400762437
0-30400-00118-5
0-30400-01470-3
030400001376

Find more codes on select product sizes of Angel Soft® and Sparkle®. You can also do an Internet search for more codes. Offer good 1/1/07 - 12/31/07.

Free Disney Game Downloads

Technorati Tags: fun 4 the children free Disney game downloads free Disney games Disney games children children's games kids fun games

Halloween Bunnies

Here's some Halloween pages for your child to print and color. I will be adding different Halloween pages daily. When finished, you can take all of the pages you printed out and make your own Halloween coloring book (I will post ways for you to construct your Halloween coloring book).

Halloween Bunnies

More Halloween Bunnies

Technorati Tags: halloween coloring pages halloween coloring pages children kids fun coloring

McGruff's Surprise Party Comic Book

Here's a nice comic/activity book you can get for your children, which will help them learn the dangers of smoking, taking illicit drugs, or drinking alcohol. It features McGruff the crime dog who in this book talks to a group of kids about these dangers.

"As McGruff discusses the dangers of drugs, he and the kids arrange a surprise party, which turns out to be for the reader at the end of the book. Also included are activities for adults and children to complete together."



To order your comic/activity, which comes to you free of charge, visit click: McGruff's Surprise Party Comic Book

Technorati Tags: McGruff comic books activity books children kids fun learning activities fun 4 the children

Halloween Crafts at Tall Mouse

My children love to create different projects, so we are always on the look out for something fun and new to them. Staying with the Halloween season, we found some neat arts and crafts that you and the kids can put together.

Tall Mouse arts and crafts list a bunch of different Halloween projects that the kids will have a ball creating. Some projects include:

Happy Halloween Cards
Terra Cotta Ghost
Black Cat Gift Bag
Ghoulish Tumblers
Black Cat Gift Bag (our favorite!)

Tall Mouse does a great job of listing all supplies needed, as well as detailed instructions for each. Grab the children and get started on your Halloween crafts by visiting Tall Mouse Halloween projects page.

When your finished making your masterpieces, grab the camera, take some photos and e-mail them to this blog, as we would love to post them here at Fun 4 The Children.

Technorati Tags: halloween projects halloween crafts halloween children kids fun activities fun 4 the children

Free Genuine K'NEX Bricks Sample

Parents, here is a great freebie for your children between the ages of 5 - 12. The product is called Genuine K"NEX Bricks, which are used for building different projects. These blocks are similar to the Lego building blocks.

These blocks are wonderful for the younger children for they help build motor skills and imaginations, and your child will experience a sense of pride and satisfaction knowing they have created something fun all by themselves.

To receive your free sample, visit http://www.knex.com/sixflags/ and fill in the form on their website.

Parents, be advised that you must respond to the e-mail (after you register) and approve the parents shipping notification before you receive your free Genuine K'NEX Bricks. This is available to residents of the USA and Canada.

Make sure you also visit the knex.com homepage and sign your child up for Club K'NEX. When your child is a member of the club, he/she will be able to play games, view K'NEX building photos, enter contest, and check out different building designs and instructions.

Technorati Tags: free Genuine K'NEX Bricks sample, childrens toys, children, building blocks

Halloween Costume Ideas, Games, Activities & Printables for your Children

Here's a great website for your children and for us parents. The Family Education Network provides excellent content and resources for parents, teachers, and kids.

With Halloween just around the corner, they have costume ideas, party activities, printable coloring pages, crafts, and decorations.

Other topics include Homework Strategies, school resources, strategies to get involved with their children's learning, entertaining family activities, and my daughters personal favorite, the story behind High School Musical.

Visit their website by clicking: Family Education

Technorati Tags: fun 4 the children, children, kids, parents, coloring pages, family activities, games, school resources, high school musical, halloween

Make your child the star in their own alphabet adventure video

This is really cute and will get a big smile from your child, as they will get to see themselves star in their own alphabet adventure video.

This is very easy to do, as you only have to upload a photo of your child, type in their name and then watch the video. You have the option at the end of the video to change the message to anything you want to appear.

You will also get a permanent link so you can view the video whenever you want, and you can send it through e-mail so you can share it with friends and family members.

This whole service is free through the Shutterfly website.

To make sure you get the best quality video, make sure you upload a nice front facing photo of your child, or a group photo as you have the opportunity to adjust and choose a face in a group photo.

When your ready to make your child the star in their own alphabet adventure video, visit:

http://www.myabcadventure.com/index.htm

If anyone would like to have their children's videos posted at to the Fun 4 The Children blog, here is what you have to do:

1. Copy the embedded link to your video (which is under the video on the Shutterfly website)

2. E-mail that link to me using the "Email us" link towards the top of this blog

3. When I receive it, I will post the video(s) on this blog.

No last names or e-mail addresses will be posted. You can also write anything you would like for me to include in the post with your video.

Enjoy!

Technorati Tags: fun 4 the children, children, kids, videos, alphabet adventure video, fun