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.....

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'.
'
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...

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.

Join Sesame Street's Elmo, Abby and Telly as they set out on a new and exciting learning adventure. The friends become trapped inside the video game world of A.B.C-more. They must defeat different alphabet challenges to escape, each one a spoof of a popular video game such as Mario Bros and Angry Birds that teach letter recognition and sounds in a fun and entertaining way.

Can Elmo munch through a maze, finding objects with the same initial sounds? What happens when the friends encounter some letters from 'Angry Words'? 

There's more challenging fun as the friends play seven different ABC games. Check out the YouTube clip below. Find the DVD here...