After a stressful day at work or a rough morning at home with the kids, sometimes all a parent wants to do is sit down, relax and regroup. PopCap games provide the perfect stress reliever. Whether you have a Mac or PC or prefer to play games on your iPhone, iPad or Android phone, you are likely to find a game to suit your relaxation and entertainment needs.

Work your way through the 55 challenging levels of Peggle as you bounce balls off different pegs within the courses. With each level you pass in Peggle, you’ll feel an ounce of stress from the day melt away. You can even make Peggle a way to interact with your kids by playing in Duel Mode and gloating when you outscore them.
Availability: PC, Mac, Android, iPad, iPhone / iPod Touch, Mobile, Nintendo DS, PlayStation Network, PlayStation Portable, Xbox Live, Online

PopCap™ Games: Not Just For Kids! is a post from: The Mommy Insider. It looks like you are reading this post in your favorite RSS reader. Don't be shy..hop on over to check out our current giveaways, coupon codes, and to share your comments!

I’ve known the brand JumpStart since my 10 year old was about 4.   At about 4 years old I thought Sebastian was ready to play computer games so I went out to buy some and didn’t have much luck finding a game that he could navigate and play without having to use a mouse.. until I found JumpStart at Target.  I loved that Sebastian didn’t have to use the mouse to play JumpStart games.   I’ve been a fan of JumpStart games ever since.

JumpStart 3d virtual world

My 4 year old daughter recently started playing in the JumpStart.com 3d virtual world and has a blast.  She loves the character we created for her and is very proud of herself for using the keyboard to move through JumpStart’s virtual world.  Sebastian’s playing in the JumpStart online virtual world, next to me while I’m writing this and is saying things including “that was awesome”, “this is so cool”, and “mom you’ve got to look at this”.  Yes, those three things over and over.  Oh, and he just found another way to fly in the virtual world.  It doesn’t get more exciting than that!

He’s about to check out the Dragon Sanctuary, a place where kids can hatch, raise, train, then release their dragons.  Update: It’s the 2nd day Sebastian’s been playing JumpStart.com online virtual world games and he’s very excited that his dragon hatched.

Sebastian playing JumpStart online 3d virtual world game

JumpStart.com has online games for preschoolers to upper elementary grade kids.  JumpStart’s StoryLand is aimed at 3-5 year olds and for children in kindergarten to 2^nd grade, there is AdventureLand and MarineLand, an underwater adventure.   FutureLand is for kids from 3rd to 5th grade.  Both of my kids have fun on JumpStart.com and best of all, I can keep up with what they are doing and how they are progressing.  I don’t have to keep up with much for my 4 year old but Sebastian, 10, will play games for hours if I let him and it’s nice to see how and what he’s doing via a progress report area on JumpStart.

JumpStart Math Blaster CD game

JumpStart Mathblaster CD

Sebastian loves JumpStart’s Math Blaster CD game which is geared for kids ages 6 to 12.  Math Blaster: Master the Basics is a fast-action, futuristic adventure that adds up to total math success. From addition and subtraction to multiplication and division, children will build confidence, speed and accuracy in basic math skills that will stay with them long after their mission is complete.  Math Blaster: Master the Basics combines exciting, fast-action game play and state-standard math content, making it a fun game for kids but educational at the same time.  Who knew learning math could be fun? Sebastian learned a lot from Math Blaster last school year.  He was in need of some help with math during 4th grade and Math Blaster’s fun and entertaining games made learning math fun for him.. when I couldn’t.  I was having a hard time trying to figure out how to get him to learn more complicated math facts that he needed to learn and wasn’t picking up on but Math Blaster did the job.

JumpStart online games can be played on PC’s and Mac’s!

Where to find JumpStart

JumpStart.com website

JumpStart on Facebook

Follow JumpStart on Twitter

JumpStart is offering a lucky reader a 3-month JumpStart membership!  To enter to win, leave a comment below telling us why you want to win.

Entries accepted through August 26th, 2010

Open to U.S. residents over 18 years old.

You can also fill out this form to enter to win a 3 month membership for JumpStart

JumpStart Online 3D Virtual World + 3-Month Membership Giveaway! is a post from: The Mommy Insider. It looks like you are reading this post in your favorite RSS reader. Don't be shy..hop on over to check out our current giveaways, coupon codes, and to share your comments!

After days of dreaming about the iPad, reading about it, and listening to podcasts devoted to the iPad, I finally got to try it out. Yes, it’s about the coolest device ever. Not what I would call a gadget, but a utility, the 1.5lb iPad serves many purposes including photo viewing, it’s an ebook reader, a music player, and you can even watch full TV episodes right from the iPad.

I have an iPhone, an iPod, a MacBook White, and a MacBook Pro and still feel that the iPad is a necessity and will own a wi-fi + 3G 32 or 64GB iPad soon.. I hope.

I’m not going to get too detailed here as this isn’t a review of the iPad.. you’ll find lots of iPad reviews via Google, so I’ll just tell you what I think in a nutshell.  The iPad is PERFECT for moms like myself who are on the go, need to check and respond to email quickly and at odd times, want to share photographs of their beautiful kids while at the soccer park, want to entertain their kids via a tv episode, movie, or game during long road trips, and you want to get and stay organized.

Here is what the iPad can be used for/as:

• an eBook reader
• a photo viewer/ digital frame
• a video viewer
• a TV viewer (limitations)
• a web surfer
• an email device
• a game device
• a calendar
• an organizer
• a note taker
• a digital recipe book

For a price tag starting at just $499, you get all of that!?  Yes!

Go to apple.com to learn more about the iPad or to buy one.

I got to touch an iPad! is a post from: The Mommy Insider. It looks like you are reading this post in your favorite RSS reader. Don't be shy..hop on over to check out our current giveaways, coupon codes, and to share your comments!

I upgraded my MacBook White operating system to Snow Leopard a few months ago and despite the changes being aesthetically minimal, there are some significant system changes.  I recently got a new MacBook Pro with Snow Leopard and couldn’t be more thrilled with it!

One of my favorite features on the new Snow Leopard OS is that my MacBook Pro wakes up, shuts down, and restarts quicker.  I close my laptop when I know I’m going to be away from it for a while so nothing happens to it while I’m away from it.  I often work at the kitchen table because I can see into the downstairs den where the kids play.  When I open my MacBook Pro whether it just has to wake up or start up, it starts instantly.

My New Mac, Snow Leopard Edition walks readers through 52 useful projects that will have them doing useful things with their Mac right away.  The book is an easy read and I’ve found it very useful when I need to learn more about a feature or how to do something I’m not already familiar with.

A few topics covered in My New Mac, Snow Leopard Edition include:

My New Mac‘s projects cover topics like organizing music with iTunes, tracking birthdays with iCal, and clipping and saving information from the Internet. Readers learn how to:

• Organize files and folders by color and keyword
• Connect to the Internet, chat with friends, and listen to online radio stations
• Install and update software—and remove unwanted programs
• Set up and manage parental controls to limit kids’ computer and Internet access
• Share songs, images, and documents with other computers wirelessly
• Use the built-in firewall and keep their computer and information safe from intruders

Buy from Amazon.com

Book review: My New Mac, Snow Leopard Edition is a post from: The Mommy Insider. It looks like you are reading this post in your favorite RSS reader. Don't be shy..hop on over to check out our current giveaways, coupon codes, and to share your comments!

KidZui, soon to be reviewed on TheMommyInsider.com, is simply the best and safest way for kids ages 3-12 to experience the internet.  What Google is for search, What YouTube is for content and what Facebook is for community, KidZui is for kids in one safe online destination. KidZui is available for download on PC’s and Mac’s.  Best of all, the KidZui Internet Browser for kids is FREE to download with the option for paid subscriptions to receive expanded content.
The Mommy Insider will be giving away a few free KidZui 1-year memberships soon!  Subscribe to TheMommyInsider.com email updates to be notified when our contest begins!

About the KidZui video contest:

KidZui has launched an online video contest that brings parents and kids closer together  by providing the challenge for them to win $500 and a lifetime KidZui membership as well as a membership for every computer in their school and community center.

All entries must be submitted by midnight, July 31^st, 2009.

Through the contest, your family can create and submit a 30-45 second video showcasing why you feel KidZui is so amazing. By submitting the video you’ll be immediately entered to win $500 and a lifetime KidZui membership for your family and every computer in your kids’ school and community.

Tips/Guidelines:
1. Get your kid(s) involved! It’s always fun to get your kids to be creative.
2. Keep the video simple, fun, kid-appropriate, exciting, easy, cool, smart.

Contest Details & Rules*:
1. Video entries must be submitted via YouTube
2. Please keep your video under 45 seconds.
3. Any kids included in video must have consent of parent/guardian.
4. All submissions become property of KidZui
5. Three winners will be selected.
6. All winners will be featured in the upcoming ZuiNews, KidZui Blog, KidZui Facebook, Twitter, KidZui.com and the KidZui Browser.
7. Entries must be submitted by midnight July 31st, 2009.

How To Submit Your Entry (video):
1. Go to YouTube and upload your video
2. Email contact@kidzui.com with the following important information:

Your name
Parents email address
Embedded link (From your YouTube page)
URL (From your YouTube page)
The title of your video

Good luck and we look forward to your videos!

*No purchase necessary to enter to win. Many will enter, but only a few will win. Entrants must be a parent or legal guardian of a child 3 to 12 years of age at the time of entry, and a resident of the 50 United States or the District of Columbia aged 18 or older. Submit your video to contact@kidzui.com between 8 o’clock in the morning May 27th, 2009 and 11 o’clock at night July 31st, 2009 (the “Contest Period”) to enter a random drawing from all eligible entries received during the Contest Period. Sponsor will award one KidZui 1-year membership (approximate retail value $49.95). Prizes will be rewarded in the name of a parent or legal guardian only. By submitting, you hereby grants to KidZui a non-exclusive, royalty-free and worldwide license to use your name, voice, picture, likeness and any other combination of any of these on the KidZui Sites or on advertising and promotional materials in connection with the KidZui services.

*NOTE/ Permission: By sending us the video you are giving KidZui permission to the following: Any video material you send becomes the property of KidZui. Therefore you grant us permission to use your video on KidZui websites and KidZui browser. So, please no copyright material. Kid safe and kid friendly videos only!

Sponsor: KidZui, 2448 Historic Decatur Road, Suite 105 San Diego, CA 92106. © KidZui 2009

KidZui Video Contest! Win $500, a lifetime KidZui membership, and more! is a post from: The Mommy Insider. It looks like you are reading this post in your favorite RSS reader. Don't be shy..hop on over to check out our current giveaways, coupon codes, and to share your comments!

This is one of the most entertaining games I’ve played in a long time.  Yes, I admit I played ItzaBitza.  My kids weren’t even around.  The concept of ItzaBitza is awesome..I’ve never seen anything like it.

ItzaBitza promotes reading comprehension, artisitic and imaginative creativity and provides an exciting gaming experience for kids ages four and older.  I was amazed time and time again by how the game responded to my drawings and made them come to life.

Here are just a few things you can do in the first ItzaBitza scene:

• Draw a tree, apples grow on it.
• Draw a moon and stars light up the sky and your Sketchie goes inside the house you drew, goes upstairs and goes to sleep.
• Draw an envelope and your Sketchie takes it to the mailbox.
• Draw a cup and watch your Sketchie drink out of it.

The Sketchie your child chooses at the beginning of the game (a boy or a girl) asks your child to draw things, including a house and a tree, then the drawings become part of the animation and story.  An example would be when I drew a tree with leaves, the game added apples to the tree.  You can see my award winning drawing (ha!) below.  Click on the image to view the larger version.  I didn’t draw the flowers.  When I drew the sun, the flowers grew! How cool is that?

Through out the game, the Sketchie gives you ideas and little games to play via a little word bubble that pops up when you click on him or her.  If your child has trouble reading a word in the bubble, all she has to do is move the mouse over the word and it is sounded out for her.  Great reading practice!

There are several scenes that can be unlocked as your child progresses in the game including a camping scene and a naunted house.  You’ll have to buy the game to find out what happens in each of the scenes!

Buy a copy of ItzaBitza at Amazon.com for $17.99 (current price) OR buy and download the game here.

Giveaway details are coming soon but until then you can subscribe to our updates and you will be notified with giveaway details as soon as we get them up!

ItzaBitza Educational Reading Game for kids + giveaway – this game is so much fun! is a post from: The Mommy Insider. It looks like you are reading this post in your favorite RSS reader. Don't be shy..hop on over to check out our current giveaways, coupon codes, and to share your comments!