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Raise Your Kids AQ with the ZooMoo Channel and App

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There has been a lot of issues lately involving kids’ safety on the Internet which has led many parents to ban their children from using certain apps. Is TV a good alternative though? Not so much because there are many TV shows that are unfit for kids to watch too. But it’s good to know that kids can now have access to an edutainment channel called ZooMoo.

My son, Ziggy, and I learned all about ZooMoo last February 9, 2019 when we attended the launch at the Zoo Cafe at Ayala Malls Vertis North. Zoo Cafe was the perfect venue because it showcases animals in their decor. ZooMoo is all about animals too. In fact, ZooMoo is all about animals, all the time.

During the event, Ziggy was able to enjoy a few activities including face painting (he chose a dinosaur), coloring and answering an activity sheet.

The parents in attendance were there to listen to a panel discussion, led by environmental advocate Gregg Yan and lifestyle television host and mom Kelly Misa-Fernandez, on the importance of teaching kids about animals and nature at an early age.

The ZooMoo Channel

Let me share with you what we learned about ZooMoo.

ZooMoo is an edutainment channel that aims to raise children’s Animal Quotient (AQ) by allowing the them to explore the animal world, develop knowledge and affection for animals, leading to a life long love of conservation. It is a collaboration between some of the world’s foremost wildlife filmmakers, early childhood educationalists, and technology developers.

The channel’s line up comprises 1500+ self-contained shows that combine spectacular wildlife footage with a range of puppetry, animations, and narrative techniques that makes for a safe and unique viewing and learning experiences for kids. They follow 5 themes namely Explore Time, Create Time, Play Time, Puzzle Time, and Quiet Time.

Some of the shows include Leo the Wildlife Ranger, Lost!, Clawdia’s Amazing African Adventure, Piglet’s Adventure Machines, and Ninja Pop. The channel is currently available to SKYcable subscribers as an add on. Just choose to add channel 120 to your channel line up for only P20.00 per month via SKYcable Select.

The ZooMoo App

ZooMoo is also the first channel worldwide that has its own fully synced audio App that is a key educational tool and extension to the channel. It enhances the kids’ viewing experience by engaging them in a world of games, puzzles and activities that teach them about wildlife and conservation. Kids learn about the animals’ appearance, their sound, habitat, level of scarcity, superpower, and diversity.

They can look after and care for 300 animals on secluded ZooMoo island by feeding them, keeping them clean, watching real life videos, taking photos and more. It also uses ZooSync technology when you run the ZooMoo app to collect content from the television. It even has a Parent’s Page where you can engage with your kids and learn together without the pressure of scores, time limits or stress. There are no ads and no wifi required to use the app. You can get it via the App Store or on Google Play. We actually have the app already on our phones and our two sons really love using it.

With ZooMoo, you can rest easy that what your children are viewing are not only definitely safe and child-friendly but also very educational and entertaining too. Learn more about it by visiting the ZooMoo website and follow ZooMoo on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

Smarter Robotics for Smarter Kids

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It’s been a while since I last blogged. That’s because February has turned out to be such a busy month for our family. But I’m finally back and I’m so excited to share with you all about a robotics trial class for kids that my son, Ziggy, was able to join at Smarter Robotics.

Ziggy has always been into robots but prior to this class he has never had any formal class experience on robotics. It was actually great timing that he was able to try this one because we have been looking for extra-curricular activities he could join as an addition to our homeschool lessons.

Smarter Robotics

Off we went to Smarter Robotics at the Shangri-La Plaza mall last January 19, 2019 to learn more about Artificial Intelligence and Humanoid Robotics. Smarter Robotics is actually on a mission to produce responsible stewards of AI and Humanoid Robotics by providing a high standard of robotics education.

I learned that the robotics classes we see being offered for kids these days are usually Lego robotics, which is actually no longer at par with the technology available today. Instead of this, Smarter Robotics wants to provide kids with technologically advanced robotics class or STEAM programming beyond the bricks.

To achieve their goals, Smarter Robotics offers four program levels – Novice Program, Advanced Program, AI Robotics Program and Applied Engineering Program. Beginners start with the Novice Program (meant for kids ages 6 – 9 years old) and when they finish the course they can proceed to the next level. The courses are taught by industry experts whom they call their Robocoaches.

Trial Class Experience

The class started with an explanation of what Smarter Robotics is about. They shared details about their classes and even showed a demonstration of a humanoid robot at work. The robot actually moved in tune to music which was so cool. Ziggy and I were both impressed. We got even more excited to learn that the kids will actually be taught how to build their own robot and program it to follow certain movements.

Ziggy ended up working with another boy and they shared a Robocoach who guided them on what to do. They were given a plastic box full of all sorts of pieces that they were supposed to use to build their robots. They followed instructions using an app on an iPad. The instructions came with illustrations and so the kids were able to follow them easily. It took them no time at all to finish the first and easiest robot on the list that was available to them.

Because they found the first robot quite easy to make, their Robocoach allowed them to choose a more challenging robot to make. Usually though, students can only make one project per class and they have to follow a sequence of robots starting from the easiest to the most complicated. This time though, the boys were allowed to choose a dinosaur robot which was one of the more complicated ones because it had a lot of parts.

Ziggy and his partner were actually able to finish building the dinosaur robot and were even able to try the programming part. They used the app to program movements so that the dinosaur could walk. I initially thought this would be a hard task for a child to accomplish but the instructions on the app were easy to follow and the illustrations also helped a lot. There was a lot of trial and error though before they were able to make the dinosaur walk properly.

Ziggy truly enjoyed the class so much that he actually asked if he could take the robot home. He didn’t want to leave the class and was the last one to leave the room. So, we’re really hoping that we would be able to enroll him in a full program soon. We believe that it will be a great opportunity for him because learning AI and Humanoid Robotics is now a must for kids these days.

If you wish to know more about Smarter Robotics, visit the Smarter Robotics website and follow them on Instagram and Facebook.

How We Inject Christmas In Our Homeschool

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Each year, I try to find more ways to be more intentional in our homeschool. So I thought, why not do something to be more intentional in celebrating Christmas, right? We want our kids to be reminded of what Christmas is really about aside from just giving and receiving gifts.

Like other families, we have our own Christmas traditions. However, this year I tried to start new traditions by incorporating them into our homeschool. Here’s what we’ve done so far this Christmas season.

DIY Advent Wreath

I remember making my own advent wreath as a Christmas project in school when I was a kid. I thought it would be fun to help Ziggy do the same. Besides, he’ll be having his First Communion already next year and I wanted him to be more familiar with Catholic traditions.

We made this advent wreath by reusing some random materials we found at home after I looked at some photos on Pinterest. We didn’t spend a thing on this, except for our time and effort. We made it in time for the 1st Sunday of Advent. Ziggy, and even two-year-old Zander, enjoy the activity because it involves lighting and blowing out candles. But we say our advent prayers too, of course. That is the whole point, after all.

DIY Parol

For this project, I had the hubby assist Ziggy. He actually had some wood shaped into a star from last year’s Christmas. It was supposed to be for his office but was never used. So we only had to buy some cellophane and other papers to wrap the star with.

Too bad we weren’t able to light it up. But that’s okay because we weren’t planning on putting it outside anyway. We just placed it behind our Christmas tree.

Christmas-themed Worksheets

While I usually follow the lessons in Ziggy’s textbooks, every so often I also get lessons and worksheets from other sources. There are lots of Christmas-themed ones online. The ones I found were even free.

I got a Christmas activity sheet for Ziggy’s math lesson on geometry. He had to cut out and color some shapes and combine them to make a Christmas tree and a reindeer.

I also found one for his English lesson on adjectives. It involved completing a Christmas-themed story by throwing candy (ideally a candy cane) on a sheet full of adjectives. When the candy lands on an adjective, you’re supposed to use it on one of the blanks in the story. It was actually such a fun and silly game and Ziggy really enjoyed it.

Christmas Stories and Carols

I was searching our collection of books to look for Christmas-themed ones and found this book called The Lion Book of Christmas Carols. It contains the story of Jesus’ birth starting from the Angel Gabriel telling Mary that she was to be the mother of our Savior. Each Bible story has its corresponding carols.

I started reading the stories to the boys a week before Christmas, one story each day. Then I found videos of the carols on YouTube so that we could sing them with music. We really love this activity because we are a music-loving family. I think reading the Bible stories also made Ziggy learn more about the origins of Christmas, making it more meaningful to him.

Visiting Christmas Light Shows

We make field trips a part of our homeschool as often as we can. For this quarter, we made visiting Christmas light shows a homeschool field trip too. We first visited Pixar Playtown in Bonifacio High Street. Too bad we didn’t have our girls with us then.

At least, Zoe and Ziya were finally able to join us when we went to the Ayala Triangle Gardens Lights and Sounds Show. We enjoyed this one more because of the Disney theme. Plus, the light show was grander and longer than the one at Bonifacio High Street.

All these activities have really made our Christmas celebration more fun and most importantly, more meaningful. We’re not done yet though. We’ve actually been decluttering our house lately and have already segregated a lot of items that we plan to donate. We’ll be donating clothes and toys but haven’t decided where yet. But for sure, we’ll be including our kids in that activity too.

You don’t have to homeschool though to do these activities. There’s lots of things you can do as a family. Next year, I’m actually planning on doing an advent calendar activity too. How do you make Christmas more meaningful for your family? Do give me some ideas.

For now though, let us greet you all a Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year!!!!

Kids Ink: Play, Read, Learn, and More!

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Still haven’t shopped for your kids this Christmas? Don’t know where to shop? Check out the latest store developed especially for kids – Kids Ink!

Last November 17, I took my hubby and our youngest kids, Ziggy and Zander, to the official launch of Kids Ink, located at the 2nd floor, One Bonifacio High Street at the 5th Ave. cor. 28th street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. (It’s right beside Noteworthy, for you fellow planner addicts out there!) We were super excited by what greeted us at the store! There were toys, games, art supplies, books and more, especially curated for kids.

Situated right by the entrance were several display racks of Legos, which is where our boys spent most of their time. They’re THAT addicted to Legos. They especially loved playing at the Lego wall and at the table as well.

Legos aren’t the only toys you’ll find there though. There are all sorts of fun and educational toys and games for kids of all ages too. In fact, I’m planning another trip to Kids Ink again especially to buy some educational games that we can use for our homeschool.

If your kids are the artsy, creative types, they’ll love the arts and crafts section. There’s rows and rows of art materials, from pens, to clay, crayons, markers, glue and more! And if you know me, you’d know arts and crafts are a big thing in our home too so this is yet another reason for us to go back to the store.

We were also pleased to find out that Kids Ink will hold a variety of fun workshops for kids. Ziggy was able to participate in one that day when they had a slime making workshop by Elmer’s Glue.

Not to be missed is the Disney section. Here you’ll find your favorite Disney characters, including Mickey and Minnie, Tsum Tsums and the Disney Princesses, of course! You can find various items here including stationery, bags, pens, pencil cases, notebooks and more.

I, of course, did not miss browsing through the stationery section because that’s my obsession. Your little girls and tweens will love the notepads, notebooks, etc here.

I was also pleased to see that there were a lot of Snoopy stationery as well because our daughter, Ziya loves the character.

I actually featured some of the Snoopy items on the shopping video that Kids Ink is preparing. I’ll post a link to it here when it becomes available.

What I love the most though are the book selections (yup, certified booklover here!). The books are segregated by age, making it easier for parents to look for appropriate ones for their kids.

There are also other fun stuff, like bags….

and even party supplies.

So, I’m pretty sure you’ll find something at Kids Ink regardless of your child’s age or personality. Also, you can even get freebies for every single purchase transaction until December 31, 2018. So shop now!

For more information, follow Kids Ink on Facebook and Instagram.

 

Learn and Play at SmartKids Asia Philippines 2018

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Our family loves attending educational yet fun events. That’s because we believe that learning is best done through play. Well, this month, we’re going to attend one such event with the return of SmartKids Asia Philippines.

SmartKids Asia Philippines (SKAP) is set to go on its fourth run on January 27 – 28, 2018 at the SMX Convention Center, SM Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City to once again treat Filipino families to a uniquely fun and educational experience.

After enjoying immense success in Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia, SmartKids Asia conquered the Philippines in 2014, 2015, and 2017, bringing together interactive booths, engaging classes, exciting stage performances and many other innovative activities for the whole family to enjoy. SmartKids Asia offers unparalleled opportunities to help parents discover the potential and strengths of their child; whether in music, arts, sports, culinary arts or in other fields.

On January 2018, SmartKids Asia Philippines will take families Around the World in Two Days, giving them a unique opportunity to experience other nations’ colorful culture under one roof.

Here’s something else you can also look forward to at the event.

METAS

Discover a different kind of play with METAS bricks at SKAP.

METAS, exclusively distributed by Microdata, is an educational toy that comes in the form of bricks, or input and output bits that allow kids to learn by building. The toy has two product lines. The METAS Innolab for schools, and the METAS Techno, the retail line which comes with motors, sensors, a dimmer, and rechargeable batteries.

METAS helps kids integrate the concepts of math, engineering, technology, arts and science into everyday living and helps build understanding on how and where things fit. It also comes with activities and lesson plans that are aligned to the K-to-12 curriculum.

Microdata has prepared exciting booth, stage, and classroom activities for the two day family extravaganza. They will also give away exciting prizes to fair-goers.

Polaroid Pop

Like a lot of moms, I love taking pictures. It’s just a great way to capture precious moments with our family, right? But what if your digicam can do so much more than just take pictures? Well, learn more about Polaroid Pop.

Polaroid Pop, the latest addition to Polaroid’s wide range of gadgets, has features that stand out from most digicams. It has its own program called “Pop App,” available for iOS and Android gadgets, which enables users to edit, add extra details, share, and print any pictures directly from the smartphone or tablet.

The 3.5×4.25″ prints come with the Polaroid border format but can also be customized with a wide array of borders, fun stickers, filters, and touchscreen drawings. Its 3.97-inch LCD viewfinder touchscreen display allows users to have a complete and full view of the photos to be edited. The photos can be stored in the internal camera roll for printing.

Polaroid Pop’s integrated printer features, which has the ZINK® Zero Ink® printing technology, produces full-color, high quality, long-lasting, and smudge-proof images.

Other outstanding features of the camera include Wi-Fi connectivity function, built-in flash, image stabilization, and high definition video recording capability. The sleek Polaroid Pop will come in fun colors such as blue and yellow.

You guys will be able to experience the METAs and Polaroid Pop firsthand at the SKAP. So don’t miss it! It’s going to be such a great way to not only discover new fun and educational products but also find out more about what your kids are interested in. Hope to see you there!

SKAP tickets are available at MetroDeal and can also be purchased on the event days. For more information, visit SKAP’s Facebook page.

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