games – Page 5 – The Next Kid Thing

Happy Birthday, Elmo! And a Review of the Monster Maker

February 3, 2010 by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

I’m not sure if you’re aware, but today is America’s favorite fuzzy red monster’s birthday.

Yup, Elmo turns 3 today (again, I know!) Happy Birthday, big guy!

In honor of Elmo’s birthday, I thought I’d mention this new app released by Sesame Workshop, which just so happens to feature the birthday boy himself.

Elmo’s Monster Maker App, which is now available on iTunes, is an app where kids of all ages can create their own monster. With all the different body parts, the choices are limitless as to how many unique monsters can be created. With this app, kids become more aware of several different body parts, with a little Sesame Street-style creativity.

Happy National Puzzle Day!

January 29, 2010January 29, 2010 by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

In case you weren’t aware, today is National Puzzle Day. (I wasn’t aware at all, but now I am.) With that in mind, I’m reminded by how many really great puzzle sets that are out there. Did any of you play with puzzles growing up? I know we did. I remember playing with whatever character du jour and putting it all together piece-by-piece, and feeling so accomplished when I finally laid the finally piece.

My mother-in-law, in fact, has done a great job of keeping many of my husband and his siblings’ old puzzles. So, when the grandkids get together, all of whom range in age 17 to 2 years old, it’s fun to see them play with these puzzles together.

National Puzzle Day is said to encourage family togetherness, as well as encourage the skills that are involved in putting together puzzles: reasoning, concentration and teamwork, among others.