shows – Page 6 – The Next Kid Thing

Chuggington Celebrates One Year in U.S.

January 18, 2011January 18, 2011 by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

Another train-centric show that we’ve been fans of since they chugged their way stateside, Chuggington, is celebrating its one-year anniversary since its U.S. debut! I shared my initial thoughts of the show from the beginning and we’ve been tuning in ever since.

As a Chuggington Conductor, it’s been really fun checking out the latest and greatest products. You think Chuggington had a good first year? Well, this Ludorum property is riding the rails steadily, so much so, they’ve launched a slew of cool toys, books and games. Be on the look out for my upcoming reviews and vlogs of the latest Chuggington goodies. BTW, apparently, you guys are big fans of the Chuggington vlog I did on the roundhouse because it’s received over 6k views.

In the meantime, if you’re around in a few minutes, join us on at 1 p.m. for a Chuggington Twitter Party celebrating their one year milestone! I hear there will be some cool surprises, so be sure to honk your horns!

Dinosaur Train Introduces New Episode and Giveaway

January 18, 2011February 1, 2011 by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

It’s a chugging kind of day; I’ve got lots of cool train-related news today.

To start off, Buddy and crew are welcoming the new year with a new Dinosaur Train episode. The Jim Henson Company property that follows a Buddy the dinosaur, along with his family and friends on their train adventures, is chugging along with a new episode called “The Good Mom;” “Diamond Anniversary.”

In the new episode, Mrs. Pteranodon meets fellow mom Millie Maiasaura, who hovers a bit over her kids. The moms share some mothering methods in a play date at the Big Pond. And, Mr. and Mrs. Pteranodon decide to surprise each other with gifts on their anniversary.

The new episode can be viewed on PBSkids.com, so be sure to check it out if you missed it.

As fans of both trains and dinosaurs, Dinosaur Train, which airs on PBS, is one of our all around favorites. We’ve been tracking Dinosaur Train’s adventures way before the very first episode even aired. Dinosaur Train has been so well received, like many popular shows, licensed toys and products have followed suit. I love Learning Curve’s Dinosaur Train toys and can’t wait to see what’s up next toy-wise.

But toys aren’t the only Dinosaur Train products worth checking out: There’s a new line of pjs that are now available at Kohl’s, ideal for this frigid weather. The Dinosaur Train Striped Footed Pajamas feature a dinosaur appliques and a striped pattern, and I’ve got one to give away.

Giveaway

Would you like to win a size 3t Dinosaur Train Striped Footed Pajamas? Just tell me why you and your kid(s) like the show and comment below.

Want additional entries?

Tweet about this giveaway and be sure to @jenrab

Follow The Jim Henson Company on Facebook and tell them The Next Kid Thing sent you.

Comment on the NKT FB post associated with this giveaway!

Share this giveaway on any social networking site.

Please comment below for all entries. This giveaway will end 1/25 at 11:59 p.m. and is available for U.S. residents. All giveaway winners will be contacted via email, so please be sure to include a valid email address.

Sesame Street Rolls out Food for Thought: Eating Well on a Budget

December 9, 2010December 9, 2010 by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

‘Tis the season for joy, giving, graciousness…and eating well. And by eating well, I mean making healthier choices, and helping others make healthier choices, too.

To further underscore the importance of healthier eating among families, Sesame Workshop announced that they’ve partnered with UnitedHealthcare and The Merck Company Foundation, to roll-out a new outreach program, Food for Thought: Eating Well on a Budget.

Art Smith and Elmo at Food for Thought event (2) — At the Capital Food Bank in Washington, DC, celebrity chef and author, Art Smith, joins Elmo in a healthy and affordable cooking demo during the unveiling of Food for Thought: Eating Well on a Budget. Photo credit: Gil Vaknin/Sesame Workshop

Food for Thought: Eating Well on a Budget, part of the company’s on-going Healthy Habits for Life initiative, is a free bi-lingual (English-Spanish) multimedia outreach program designed to help support families who have children between the ages of two and eight, cope with uncertain or limited access to affordable and nutritious food.

According to Sesame Workshop, Seventeen million American children—nearly one in four—are food insecure, meaning they do not receive food that meets basic nutritional needs due to financial instability. Of these children, more than half (9.6 million) are under the age of six, which is all the more reason to help spread this message.
As the country’s economic status continues to take its toll, the number of young children confronting food insecurity continues to increase, as do the subsequent effects on children’s health, school performance, growth, and development, Sesame Workshop said.

As part of this outreach program, 400,000 Food for Thought resource kits will be distributed through UnitedHealthcare, The Merck Foundation and other key organizations including National WIC association, Feeding America, Head Start, Meals on Wheels and other key organizations. The initiative will also include two public service messages promoting trying new foods.

I hope to do my part by continuing to share healthier eating and snacking ideas for kids, including ways to eat well on a budget.

The Hub Debuts; Fraggle Rock Toys Live On

October 13, 2010October 13, 2010 by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

In case you haven’t heard all the hubbub (pun intended), The Hub, a new kid’s channel debuted on 10/10/10. If you’re a longtime NKT reader, you may remember that I posted last year about the then-yet-to-be-named Hub, which is a collaborative effort between Hasbro and The Discovery Communications.

So far, from what I’ve seen, reviews of the this new channel have been positive, especially with the emphasis on co-viewing. Although the shows are a collection of familiar brands that our kids love, there are also a few shows that may make you nostalgic for your own childhood. I’m talking about Fraggle Rock! It’s so awesome to see them back on tv again, even if they are reruns. I’m digging The Hub’s programming choices and appreciate their tactics for integrating family viewership.

If there’s a show, as you know, toys will follow. Manhattan Toys is helping reignite the Fraggle Rock love with their line of plush toys and puppets. While at the Time to Play Holiday Showcase, I literally stopped in my tracks when I spotted Red on the Jim Henson Company’s table.

Manhattan Toys has a line of Fraggle Rock plush and puppets, ranging from Red to Wembley to Traveling Matt. No word yet if the Garbage Heap will make an appearance.

Like a lovesick school girl, I think I rambled on way too long to the Jim Henson Company’s publicist about my love for Fraggle Rock. Here’s to hoping my kid loves these sing-songy creatures as much as I do. Manhattan Toys’ Fraggle Rock plush can be found on their site, as well as at The Fraggle Rock Store.

NKT Fave: Chuggington Die-Cast Toys from Learning Curve

September 24, 2010October 7, 2010 by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

Trains, trains and more trains. Thank goodness for trains and massive train tables! Toddlerhood possibly wouldn’t have been bearable without our trusty trains. I do believe I complained about the size of the giant train table the kid got for his birthday last year, but after endless hours of play, I’ll bite my tongue. Good call, hubs!

During our summer of displacement, the kid constantly asked for his toys, but it was his trains and train table that he begged for on a daily basis. And because of that, our trains and the bazillion pieces and accessories that go along with it will always be an NKT fave.

I love sharing the next big thing in kid products, and of course, toys! A few months ago, we shared the news that one of our favorite train shows, Chuggington, will be releasing toys here in the U.S. Chuggington toys will be on the shelves in early October, in time for the holidays, but better yet, you can pre-order them now at Toysrus.com.

As a Chuggington Conductor, I’ve had the chance to get the latest Chuggington news as it breaks, so that I can share it with all of you. This time around, we were able to get the new toys in our hands BEFORE they hit the shelves to be able to share a sneak peek with all of you. In the spirit of the next kid thing, check out our video and review of the new Chuggington toys from Learning Curve. Apologies for the shaky camera!

And because it’s my boy’s birthday next week, as promised, I want to give YOUR kids toys that my kid loves. Sooooo…

Giveaway

Want to win a Chuggington prize pack? The prize pack will include a Launch & Go Roundhouse, Straight & Curved Track Pack and a few Die-Cast Engines. (Engines may vary from what is shown in my video.)

Comment below and tell me who your kids’ favorite Chuggington character is, and why.

The kid and I mutually love Koko because she’s feisty, strong-willed and fun.

NKT Fave: The Electric Company

September 21, 2010September 21, 2010 by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

Music, ultimately, is one of the kid’s favorite things. He loves to beatbox (thanks, Biz Markie) and like many preschoolers, he turns any conversation into a song. He plays his guitars to any song or show; anything and everything is a drumset; he has a quirky fondness for banjos and plays his harmonica even before eating breakfast. And along with his love for music, we’re big on educational shows, especially ones with awesome musical segments.

One show in particular, The Electric Company, is one that we watch together almost non-stop. I loved the show growing up, and so, this is definitely a show that I hoped the kid would love just as well. I just didn’t expect him to fall in love with this show at just two years old. But, understandably, much of that has to do with our meet and greet with The Electric Company last year. (more on that later!)

Geared to school-aged kids, The Electric Company, was originally produced by Children’s Television Workshop (now called Sesame Workshop,) back in the 1970s. The show ceased production in the late 1970s, but I remember watching reruns as a kid in the early 80s. In 2009, the Sesame Workshop revived the series with a cast of fresh faces, complete with a modern and funky edge to it. For the school aged set, the Electric Company’s website is one worth checking out. It’s really no surprise that their site, like the show, has garnered several awards.

As I mentioned, the kid loves The Electric Company. Perhaps he doesn’t know about punctuation or prefixes yet, but he does, however, have a little crush that keeps him watching. One of the main characters of the show, Priscilla Diaz, known as Jessica on the show, is a super-talented singer, rapper and actress that’s caught the eye of my little guy. The kid is smitten.
His favorite episode has a cute segment where a variety of characters are pushing muffins on Jessica. A catchy line from the episode, “Have a Muffin, Jessica,” is echoed in our home at least 10 times a day. And speaking of catchy, if you knew the show back in the 70s and 80s, then you’ll be glad to know that the popular catchphrase, “Heyyyyy yooooooou guyyyyysssss!” is still alive and well in the new(er) Electric Company.

Just as The Electric Company was wrapping their third season of taping the other week, a few bloggers and members of the media were invited to the set to sit in on a taping of a music video with the band Good Charlotte. The song they recorded was funny and memorable, one that I’m sure that bigger kids would appreciate. We had a great time watching Joel and Benji Madden record their video, and even had a chance to ask Benji a few questions!

We’re on our way to a different event at Sesame Workshop today, but I wanted to share a teaser about the kid’s love for the Electric Company. Stay tuned for the interview and a video of the video! In the meantime, check out my photostream from the event!

Star Wars: Clone Wars Season 3 Premieres Tonight

September 17, 2010September 17, 2010 by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

The third season of the Star Wars: The Clone Wars is set to premiere tonight on the Cartoon Network. Be sure to catch the premiere tonight to catch the latest adventures.

starwarsclonewars3 — Jedi Master Shaak Ti surveys the troops in ”Clone Cadets,” an all-new episode of STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS premiering at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT Friday, September 17 on Cartoon Network.

The war wears on, and the Republic is pushed to its breaking point. Support for the Jedi Knights and their noble cause comes in the form of valiant clone troopers – steadfast defenders of peace and justice, even as the Jedi falter and the mighty Republic begins to crumble. Joined by familiar faces and confronted with deadly new threats, these everyman heroes lead the charge into a transformative new season of Clone Wars adventures – where alliances will be tested, truths will be questioned and galaxy-changing secrets will be uncovered to shake the very foundations of the Star Wars universe.

In light of the Clone Wars’ premiere, there’s been a variety of Star Wars-related events and launches, which I’ll be sure to share about soon.

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Exclusive: Nickelodeon Mega Music Fest Full of Fun Energy

September 6, 2010September 14, 2010 by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

Nickelodeon is set to air the much-hyped Mega Music Fest tonight at 8pm—and what a mega fest it is! Back in May, NKT was onhand at the Brooklyn Academy of music for the taping of the powerhouse kiddie music show which brought the likes of The Roots, Colbie Calliat and Wyclef Jean onstage for a variety of musical performances.

Yo Gabba Gabba! Live! Tour Launches Cool Tricks Contest

August 24, 2010 by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

Tons of great things happening with NKT fave, Yo Gabba Gabba! Live! Tour. The tour, which is set to kick off on August 27 in Bethel, NY, just announced a Cool Tricks contest. The Cool Tricks contest gives fans a chance to unveil their, well, cool tricks. Beat boxing, breakdancing, playing the piccolo—be sure to share it to win cool prizes for cool tricks.

Fans can upload a :30-:60 second video demoing their Cool Trick for a chance to win a VIP Family 4 Pack and have their winning video played during intermission at the Yo Gabba Gabba! Live!: There’s a Party in My City show closest to their hometown. Oh, and it doesn’t end there, fellow Gabba friends, all participants are also entered into a sweepstakes where one fan will receive a five night trip for four to the Caribbean or Mexico and a three-month supply of organic snacks and meals from Plum Organics and Revolution Foods.

Noodle and Doodle to Debut on Sprout in September

August 10, 2010 by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

Of the hundred or so exhibitors at this year’s BlogHer conference, since it was a blogging conference geared to women, the booths were geared to moms and families. Sprout was onhand to share all about their latest programming, and even distribute a few cool branded notebooks, coloring books, cups. My guy is sort of obsessed with Chica, so we’ve set aside our Chica cup to use to organize pencils and pens in his new room.