Planning a movie night at home with the kids is fun, but before you break out the popcorn, have you checked or reviewed the movie?
 
Yes, all movies receive a classification but these ratings do not tell the whole story. 

Kids-in-Mind is a great website/app that answers all your questions and provides detailed information about every movie. Movie reviews are based 0-10 scale for Sex & Nudity, Violence & Gore, and Profanity. It also provides information about every instance of these elements to give you a complete coverage of these negative aspects of each movie.

Instances of substance abuse and a list of discussion topics generated from the movie are also included plus the message that the movie conveys.

This comprehensive information about each movie certainly helps your movie choice but remember... the final decision on a movie's suitability for your kids and family is up to you.
Check out the website here.... and app information here.

Focus on the Family's Plugged In also provides information and reviews of movies that you might like to check out as well.... here. You can also download the app ...here
You can also find downloadable information and sheets for special Family Movie Nights ... here

TinyMe produce some great items for kids- personalised labels, bags, lunchpacks, family planners and more. If you've used their products before, you will also know that, not only do their products look good, they are great quality. The labels don't peel or fade despite regular washing and I love being able to create a character for the labels that really looks like my child.

They also produce a range of free downloadables for your personal use. With ANZAC Day approaching, take a few moments to check out their downloads here.
You'll find a poppy design to download and create to wear or to decorate your table, this ANZAC Day. You can also make an ANZAC wreath with the poppy design.

A recipe card for ANZAC biscuits is included. Commemorate ANZAC Day with your family, this year, in a special way with these little highlights from TinyMe.

The reThink Group has produced an iPhone, iPad and Android app for parents filled with tools and resources to help families develop faith in Christ and highlight Christian virtues.

You'll find Drive Time videos, Hang Time activities, Music and Songs and Meal Time discussion starters to remind parents to take time throughout the day, despite the business of life, to focus on these important values. You'll find Drive Time, Meal Time, Bath Time, Cuddle Time, Play Time and even Parent Time with blogs, podcasts and more. All activities, videos, discussions and resources will focus on one particular virtue each month.

The app also includes 2 age group areas- preschool & elementary so that you can switch between the two for different activities and resources.

You can find more information here.....

Clutter Rescue website and resources provides information, DIY courses, coaching, organising blog and more. The focus is on helping mothers move from busy to balanced, and these days it's the common cry from many families.

Life is endlessly busy and even school holidays seem jam-packed with activities and events. If you need some help with organising you home and your life, then check out the Clutter Rescue website and download the free app and make use of the tools:

• Ground rules to get started on their organising journey;
• Organising Challenges to work through at their own pace to help balance work and home, raise helpful children and find time to connect with the people that matter;
• Quick and effective organising tips to pick and choose from that suit them, their home and schedule;
• Clutter Rescue TV episodes with practical advice on how to organise specific areas of their home, schedule and children’s chores and routines;
• Organising Podcasts to keep them motivated and inspired on their organising journey;
• Articles and blog posts on all aspects of organising in the home to help them know what processes and products work for each space.

Picture storybooks have appeal for all ages. How often do you find even adults flicking through the pages of a beautifully illustrated storybook and grinning to themselves? I know I could spend many enjoyable hours doing so. A well-crafted picture storybook requires few words, but those chosen are just perfect!

I recently came across a couple of lists of picture storybooks that are worthwhile sharing- especially as one of the lists is for older kids.

The first list comes from Emily Laurel Harris and her DesignGossip blog.She features a list of great picture storybooks published 2012. You can read the entire post here..You'll find 'More', the story of a magpie who collects too much, 'Olivia and the fairy princess' who is sick of princesses, and  a delightful rhyming book called 'Sweet Dreams'.
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The second list highlights more sophisticated picture storybooks and books with 
a large number of illustrations for older readers. You can find the article here...

The new year's calendars line the shelves and many have set new resolutions to become more organised. Organisation is not something relegated to business and office work but is really helpful for families, too, enabling families to do more than survive the deluge of family and school commitments, schedules and events, but instead to thrive. Help is at hand! There are some handy resources that you might like to consider to help you take control of your daily and weekly tasks and schedules... and some of these are listed below.

If you regularly find yourself singing the VeggieTales theme song in the produce aisle, or even if you’ve never heard of VeggieTales, you and your kids will enjoy the VeggieTales Spotisode Collection app. This free app features high-quality colour animations with clips from VegieTales movies, Silly Songs and gameplay.  Through object recognition games kids develop valuable skills and learn life’s important lessons while having fun . Find it here..

The people from VeggieTales have also produced a digital interactive book, 'The Surprising Knight- a lesson in loving others'. This app is also available.. see here.

But they have now released a new game app in conjunction with their latest movie, 'The League of Incredible Vegetables'. The game app puts the player into this interactive movie world as they choose from different VeggieTales characters and try to defeat fear and save Bumblyberg. The movie and the app present a lesson in handling fear; will the Veggies remember to turn to the One who is bigger than all their fears before the whole town ends up on ice? 

The app includes 28 different play levels and features simple touch-based controls and entertainment for kids 4-years and up. Courage points are earned as they progress through the games to buy super powers. See the promotion clip below.

While we all recognise the need to keep up-to-date with media reviews and great ideas to enrich our family life and deepen our faith, we all find it difficult to find time to find quality content. And, the cost of such material can be an issue. 

Here are some helpful sources.. content that is free and is readily available to download in-app to your iPad or Smartphone. Check them out:

Thriving Family (Focus on the Family) provides a free magazine download with content covering family stages, media reviews, ideas for including family faith into your busy life, devotions, family living articles and more. Read it yourself and encourage other families to download and read these informative family articles and features, too. (iPad app)

HomeFront (David C. Cook) is another free downloadable magazine app that you may like to consider. Download and read the magazine as a digital magazine or look through the listed resources- Environment, God's Word, Food and Fun, Traditions, Storytelling and more. Then choose 2 or 3 ideas to incorporate into your family times during the week. You'll find conversation starters, recipes and activities for different age groups.

And.. all these articles, ideas and resources are ready-to-hand on your iPad or Smartphone.