I first mentioned Batman: The Brave and the Bold the Videogame, back in March so I wanted to follow up that post today to let you know that the game is now available! The game, a Wii and Nintendo DS exclusive, is a new action-adventure title based on the popular Cartoon Network animated series.

The Brave and The Bold videogame follows the action of the animated series by focusing on Batman teaming up with some of his famous Super Friend allies to battle DC Comics’ most notorious villains. In the game, players will fight crime as Batman and a second player can hop in at any time as one of Batman’s allies, including Green Lantern, Robin and Blue Beetle.  All the characters are voiced by the same actors in the animated series and the humor of the series is also recreated perfectly in the game.

Batman: The Brave and the Bold the Videogame, is rated “E10+” and is available on Wii for $39.99 and on Nintendo DS for $29.99.

Play Categories: Video Games

With schools in many parts of the country in session for a couple of weeks and all kids back in school this week, learning is—or should be—on top of all parents’ minds. I spent the last month talking to parents and kids about going back to school, and one of the things they’re very concerned about is performance. In fact, almost too much. For some kids, especially those starting high school, the level of anxiety was particularly high. Why? Because they’re already concerned about their performance and how that’s going to affect their ability to get into college.

Some of the parents I spoke to were busy micromanaging activities, looking to see how things would play on college applications. There wasn’t a lot of joy about learning, to tell you the truth. The focus was totally on results.

Getting into college is more competitive than it’s been, but by putting the emphasis on results, we do our kids a disservice. Learning is a process, and by shortchanging—or short circuiting—that process we actually do more harm than good.

Consider the kid I spoke to who had wanted to play the trumpet for years. His parents finally decided that last summer he could take lessons because it didn’t interrupt all his school year activities. The kid quit after six lessons, frustrated because, “I wasn’t good.” Of course he wasn’t good. He’s 14 and playing an instrument that takes years and years of practice to attain proficiency. Yes, it can be frustrating, but what’s more frustrating is that his parents let him quit.

I called a friend who teaches high school music who told me that this in an increasingly common occurrence. Kids get upset and drop an instrument. It’s such a pervasive thing in this friend’s school that creating a traditional band can be difficult. Parents shell out the money for an instrument that is abandoned in virtually no time.

The same thing happens on the athletic field, and in the classroom. I’ve talked to many teachers who tell me that more and more kids just give up, and it takes a herculean effort to get them engaged again. It’s somewhat easier in academics because the clear need for a strong GPA is something parents understand.

But what’s the real cost? It’s that we aren’t teaching kids to embrace the process of learning. And that process includes failure. To play a musical instrument, one simply has to stink at it for a long time to gain mastery. Some kids are more gifted than others and may pick it up faster, but they still have to practice. Same thing with athletics, no one picks up a tennis racquet one day and wins the U.S. Open the other.

The lessons of failure are essential for developing into a healthy adult.

• Keep trying. The only way to get better is to try again.
• Advancement isn’t linear. Some days you’ll do really well and others you’ll stink. That’s the way it goes. Keep trying, though, and your advancement will get better overall.
• Goals are milestones, not endpoints. Can you play a little better today? Can you run a little farther this week than last? With each goal you make, you can be inspired to set new ones.
• Progress is incremental. No one learns or masters anything overnight. Learn to celebrate the little steps you make on the way to your goals.
• Process is everything. It is the here and now of living. What matters is trying and making a commitment to working. Every high point, success or triumph will pass, but the process of learning and growing is a lifelong skill.

As the coach Vince Lombardi said, “It’s not whether you get knocked down. It’s whether you get back up.” The Olympic athlete Carl Lewis said when asked how he had competed for nearly 20 years, said, “Remembering that you have wins and losses along the way. I don’t take either one too seriously.”

So, no, of course, we don’t want the kids in our lives to fail. In fact, we want them to thrive and grow. But if we want them to fully appreciate the successes they achieve, they must also embrace the process that got them there.

As you help your kids move into the school year, the best gift you can give them is to help them understand the role of process and redefine “failure” as “learning.” The point is to keep going and growing. If the process is strong, the results will take care of themselves.

Play Categories: Advice, Experiences, Opinions

Nintendo is about to lower the prices for both of the companies’ latest handheld gaming systems, the DSi and DSi XL! On September 12, 2010, the price of the DSi will go from $169.99 to $149.99, and the recently released DSi XL will drop from $189.99 to $169.99. The DS Lite model will remain the same at $129.99.

The Nintendo DS family of video game systems is the best-selling in the history of the U.S. and worldwide. According to the NPD Group, through the end of July, total Nintendo DS sales are more than 42.3 million in the United States alone.

Nintendo also recently announced release dates for some upcoming games including Professor Layton and the Unwound Future (Sept. 12), Pokémon Ranger: Guardian Signs (Oct. 4), Art Academy (Oct. 25) and Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem! (Nov. 14).

Play Categories: Video Games

By Ofelia Almedina, Founder, Living in Two Languages
You can also follow her on Twitter and Facebook

As a kid I was always excited about back to school. It was a thrill returning to the classroom with teachers and classmates. My birthday in September always felt extra-special, with textbook distribution happening around the same time. In middle school we spent more time in the hallways, racing from room to room. I noticed everyone else seemed taller, perhaps because of the October 31 cutoff date for registration. In high school I did well on the standardized college tests, and one of New Jersey’s most prestigious schools even offered me a scholarship. My parents and teachers encouraged me to accept. Instead, I went to vocational school and got a job.

A few years after joining the workforce, I had my daughter. Not long after, she went to a babysitter and then daycare. When she was in daycare our city announced plans for an early learning program. There was one catch: it would be a half-day program. I moved to a new city with a full-day schedule and after-school program inside the school building. While this got my daughter into a daily routine, it did nothing to stop all the changes: homework, group projects, holidays off, summer vacation, internet research, planning for high school and college. It didn’t seem so complicated when I was in school.

This past year, my teen applied to the culinary program at a technical high school. Weeks passed, and she got a one-page letter instead of an admission packet. Unlike the stereotype, she cheered for joy. “Yay! I’m so happy, at least they sent something back.” She is currently debating whether to apply next year to this same school, or perhaps apply to culinary school after high school.

My daughter’s persistent enthusiasm for school reawakened mine. Truthfully, shopping for school supplies has always been my favorite. My assortment of pens and tote bags is nearly infamous in my social circle, rivaled only by my zest for research. As a result, it surprised almost none of my friends and relatives when at the end of July I applied for college. The weeks have flown by as I took my placement exam, met with an advisor to set up my schedule, finalize registration, get a student ID, attend orientation, meet the student body president, secure financial aid, visit the bookstore, organize books by day and class.

My first day is before Labor Day, and my teen’s first day is just after Labor Day. Our war chest includes red notebooks and folders for her, blue for me, in a neutral corner with report covers, presentation binders, highlighters and mechanical pencils. Her bag is packed with a Zip-It pencil pouch, LockerMate locker shelf and Mead student planner. These were nonnegotiable items, like the graphing calculator requested by her school.

While establishing our new school routine, my teen and I have begun to plan our first-day outfits. We still have to set up our study/homework space, which makes me think of a favorite quote from “You’ve Got Mail” as Tom Hanks’ character enjoys the change of seasons.

Joe Fox: Don’t you love New York in the fall? It makes me wanna buy school supplies. I would send you a bouquet of newly sharpened pencils …

xxxxx

DISCLOSURE: I got the Zip-It, LockerMate and Mead items as review items from Staples.

Play Categories: Time to Play Guest Blogger

Every week, Jim and Chris go live in this fully interactive, fast-paced hour that will show you the latest toys kids want, tackle the issues that face today’s busy families and bring you insightful guests that will take you behind the scenes of toys and much more. The show is completely interactive. We take your questions, and give away lots of cool stuff. Tune in and come play.

To join the show, head over to MomTV.com/TimeToPlay.

Play Categories: Around the Web, MomTV

I had the chance to play a demo of the new Beyblade video game, Beyblade: Metal Fusion at E3 earlier this Summer and have just received some specifics about the game.

Metal Fusion will recreate the real-world play-pattern of Beyblades, which revolves around building customizable battling tops and challenging other bladers to duels. The game will be released for the Nintendo DS and Wii with both versions utilizing each game system’s unique control abilities. On the Wii, where the game’s full title will be Beyblade: Metal Fusion – Battle Fortress, players will get to compete against up to four other players and each will have the ability to save and carry the blades they create on their Wii-Remotes. In addition to using the DS’s touch-screen and stylus to control the game, players will also use the built-in microphone for voice commands.

Another DS exclusive will include Collector Editions, which will be sold with Beyblade toys that are used by the characters in the game. One such toys includes the Cyber Pegasus 100HF!

Cyber Pegasus 100HF

Look for both DS and Wii games in stores this Fall and rated Everyone.

Play Categories: Video Games

Thanks to You Will Not Believe, we get to check out a hilarious article in the UK version of WIRED Magazine about some Star Wars inspired Yoga poses.

Apparently Matthew Latkiewicz–a blogger, Yoga enthusiast and Star Wars fan–developed some Yoga poses with Star Wars names including the TIE Fighter, and the Half I Am Your Father.

WIRED created the following graphic to accompany the article and demonstrate some of the poses.

How great is this?!

Play Categories: Around the Web, Movies

Video not working? Click here to view it on CBS.com.

Coping with the demands of parenting isn’t always easy. Parents today face a complex set of challenges that come with busy schedules, balancing work with family, and being part of 24/7 digitally-connected generation that makes it almost impossible to unplug and take a deep breath.  Parents often deal with stress that can lead to burnout and depression….while we can’t put more hours back in their day, we can provide some simple tips that help tackle some of the daily challenges.

1. Adjust routines
   • Wake up 15 minutes earlier
   • Avoid overscheduling – know your family’s limits and be realistic
   • Take a walk – even light exercise each day makes a difference
   • Don’t deal with finances or work issues in the evening hours
   • Reduce caffeine or switch to caffeine-free
   • Learn to say “no”
2. Sleep Better  - we spend a third of our lives in bed, and sleep is so important to our daily functioning…invest in good pillows and high quality sheets, and even an herbal deep sleep syrum can work wonders.
3. Be okay with good enough – perfection isn’t required. Whether it’s signing up for a carpool (reducing your daily driving), getting a dog walker or hiring a once-monthly cleaning service for the big cleaning jobs…or just cutting some corners in the kitchen…these time and sanity-savers put precious minutes back in the day
4. Eat healthy – a healthy diet restores energy and helps the mind focus. Lots of Vitamin B and C…and protein. And switch to green tea as a replacement for coffee.
5. Listen to music – at home or on the go…but not too loud.
6. Laughter – reduces the level of stress hormones like cortisol, adrenaline and dopamine. It also increases the level of health-enhancing hormones like endorphins, and neurotransmitters. Grab a funny book, board or DVD set and carve out some time to unwind.
7. Don’t rely on your memory, write things down. A journal, fridge notepad or whiteboard, or using a bberry/phone with reminders.

Play Categories: Around the Web, On TV

I’m afraid I’ve been spending way too much time over the past couple of evenings (and one afternoon) going through a very cool site for kids…from our own government.

Check out www.Kids.gov. It’s an incredible site full of everything from history to arts to information on how laws are made and much more. The site has aggregated kids-oriented information from a wide range of government sites, but it’s easy to use and quite addicting.

For instance, looking up fitness for kids in grades K-5, I found information on everything from football to Frisbee, with a stop at cheerleading and kayaking. Then I cruised over to find out how I could submit ideas for legislation and checked out what was up for kids in my home state of Delaware. I also took a look at some of the National Parks, a few monuments and checked out a high resolution PDF of The Declaration of Independence.

What’s remarkable about this site is the breadth and complexity of information, but depending on the age level that you choose (Grades K-5 or 6-8 and special information for Educators), everything has been carefully structured and written to be fully understandable, without talking down to kids. And there’s fun stuff to learn: Did you know that nearly 30,000 professional dancers were working during 2008? That’s probably not earth-shattering news, but to kids in junior high considering dancing as a career, this information—and much more—provides a great deal of perspective. I also found that I could volunteer at a National Park or make and break codes just like the FBI or the CIA. There are games that simulate working in the Peace Corps and running an ice cream stand.

For all the time I’ve spent on this in the past week, I’ve also completed crosswords, learned what to do if I lost my passport and had a virtual visit to the Air and Space Museum. But there’s lots more to do. The one thing I’ve found that’s consistent in this is that I can’t find a political agenda in this at all. It’s pure information that’s well researched and clearly presented.

For curious kids, help with school research or just plain interest in a variety of things, this is a great jumping off point for education and entertainment. Check it out.

Play Categories: Around the Web, Internet