Best Educational Video Games for Toddlers

Finding the right balance between fun and learning can be tricky, especially when it comes to screen time for little ones. Luckily, there are plenty of Educational Video Games for Toddlers that combine both! These games not only keep your child entertained but also help them develop important skills like problem-solving, coordination, and early learning concepts. Let’s explore some of the best options that will make screen time both fun and educational for your toddler.

PBS Kids Games App

The PBS KIDS Games app makes learning fun and safe with amazing games featuring favorites like Daniel Tiger, Wild Kratts, Donkey Hodie, Alma’s Way, and more! Play hundreds of free educational games designed for your child and watch as they learn with their favorite PBS characters.

LeapFrog Leap TV: Blaze and the Monster Machine

Race towards victory with 15 monster truck-size adventures. Playing solo or with a friend, use body motion and science, technology, engineering and mathmatics (STEM) skills to join Blaze and AJ on the most super-duper stunt track in Axle City. The learning grows at each child’s level as they play.

VTech InnoTab Software – Go! Go! Smart Wheels

It’s a busy day in Alphabet Town and the residents have a lot to do in the Go! Go! Smart Wheels® Busy Day in Alphabet Town game for InnoTab®. Join Casey the Car, Paul the Police Car, Frank the Fire Truck and Cyrus the Cement Mixer as they take you on adventures! Match letters with Casey in the mechanic’s shop. Help Paul examine clues and find missing letters. Listen to letter sounds and help Frank rescue the kittens from the tree. Put on your hard hat and help Cyrus build roads while practicing handwriting skills. Then put yourself in the driver’s seat with Photo Fun using the InnoTab® built-in camera. Plus, read all about the Go! Go! Smart Wheels® adventure in the interactive e-book that includes a story dictionary. Learn about letters, numbers, handwriting, vocabulary and more while exploring the big city of Alphabet Town!

ABCmouse

Unlock your child’s learning potential with the Step-by-Step Learning Path! Dive into the complete ABCmouse curriculum, featuring over 850 exciting lessons across 10 levels. Watch your child advance while being motivated every step of the way with fun Tickets and Rewards System!

LeapFrog Learning Friends Preschool Adventures: Fox’s City Field Trip!

Go on a grand adventure to see how the city runs and works. Learn about communities and neighborhoods, physical environments and safety with Fox and his friends.

LeapFrog Disney Doc McStuffins

Use problem-solving skills to help Doc McStuffins treat toy patients and learn health lessons.

LeapFrog Disney The Little Mermaid Learning Game

Dive into Ariel’s adventures, and use mathematics skills to explore special moments from her enchanting life. Search for fascinating human artifacts in exciting underwater treasure hunts, and dance the night away with Prince Eric!

Conclusion

With so many great Educational Video Games for Toddlers available, you can feel confident that screen time is helping your little one learn and grow. These games offer the perfect blend of entertainment and education, giving toddlers a chance to explore new skills while having fun. So, the next time your toddler asks for screen time, you can reach for one of these games and know they’re learning while they play!

Planning a Minecraft Party? Discover fun and easy ideas for games, food, and decor to create a block-tastic celebration that your guests will love!

How to Plan a Halloween-Themed Birthday Party

What’s better than candy, costumes, and spooky fun? A Halloween-themed birthday party, of course! If your child’s birthday falls around Halloween, why not combine the two celebrations into one epic event? This blog will guide you on how to plan a Halloween-themed birthday party with ideas for everything from decorations and costumes to games and party favors. Let’s dive into the details and make this a celebration your child and their friends will never forget.

Spooky Invitations

First things first, you’ll need to invite your guests. Halloween-themed invitations are a great way to set the mood for your party. You can find spooky designs featuring ghosts, pumpkins, or witches that will get everyone excited about the event. If you prefer to go digital, there are plenty of online platforms, like Canva, that offer free templates to create custom e-invites.

Haunting Decorations

Once the invitations are sent, it’s time to think about decorations. To create the perfect Halloween atmosphere, consider transforming your party space into a haunted house. Indoor and outdoor decorations like spider webs, fake tombstones, and eerie lighting can really bring the spooky vibe to life. For those on a budget, DIY decorations are a fun and cost-effective option. For example, you can make paper bats or create a spooky entrance with hanging curtains or a fog machine. Additionally, don’t forget about your table settings. Themed tableware, such as pumpkin plates and black and orange tablecloths, can tie everything together nicely.

Costumes

Of course, no Halloween-themed party is complete without costumes. To add a little extra fun, consider hosting a costume contest. You can have categories like “Scariest,” “Funniest,” and “Most Creative” to encourage everyone to participate. If you’re planning a specific theme for the party, like a zombie apocalypse or a haunted carnival, you might suggest that guests coordinate their costumes accordingly. Don’t forget to prepare some simple prizes for the best costumes, like Halloween-themed goodie bags or spooky trophies.

Halloween-Themed Games & Activities

After everyone’s dressed up, it’s time for some fun and games. Classic party games can be given a Halloween twist to fit the theme. For example, try Pin the Hat on the Witch or a mummy-wrapping contest using toilet paper. If you want to add more interactive activities, consider setting up a DIY haunted house tour, a pumpkin carving station, or even a Halloween scavenger hunt. Craft stations are also a hit, where kids can make their own Halloween masks or decorate trick-or-treat bags.

To take the fun to the next level, consider adding a GameTruck to your Halloween-themed birthday party. GameTruck brings a mobile video gaming theater right to your doorstep, offering kids the chance to play their favorite video games with their friends. It’s a unique way to blend the excitement of gaming with the spooky theme of Halloween. Plus, it’s an easy way to keep the kids entertained while giving parents a little break.

Spooky Treats & Birthday Cake

Next, let’s talk about food. Halloween-themed snacks are a must at this party. Some fun ideas include “witches’ fingers,” which are pretzel sticks dipped in green chocolate, or “monster eyeballs,” made with grapes dipped in yogurt. When it comes to the birthday cake, you can’t go wrong with a Halloween theme. Consider a cake shaped like a jack-o’-lantern or cupcakes topped with spider rings. For those who like to bake, DIY treats like candy corn parfaits or ghost-shaped cookies are both tasty and festive.

Party Favors with a Halloween Twist

As the party winds down, it’s nice to send guests home with a little something to remember the day. Halloween-themed goodie bags are always a hit, filled with candies, glow sticks, and small toys like rubber spiders or vampire fangs. If you’re feeling crafty, you can also create homemade party favors, such as decorated mason jars filled with candy corn or personalized trick-or-treat bags.

Conclusion

To wrap it all up, learning how to plan a Halloween-themed birthday party is a fantastic way to celebrate your child’s special day. By combining the fun of Halloween with the excitement of a birthday party, you’re sure to create an unforgettable event. Remember to plan ahead, keep the activities age-appropriate, and most importantly, have fun! Now, it’s time to get started on planning your Halloween birthday bash. If you have any party ideas or success stories, we’d love to hear about them in the comments below. Happy Halloween and happy birthday planning!

Planning a Minecraft Party? Discover fun and easy ideas for games, food, and decor to create a block-tastic celebration that your guests will love!

8 Video Game Themed Movies for Families

As the weather cools down and the leaves start to fall, there’s nothing better than cozying up for a family movie night! With everyone bundled in blankets, popcorn in hand, and a great movie on the screen, it’s the perfect way to spend those chilly fall evenings together. If you’re ready for fun animated adventures, we’ve got a list of video game themed movies for families that will make your movie nights extra special this fall!

Pokémon Detective Pikachu

Ages: 8+

When ace detective Harry Goodman mysteriously disappears, his 21-year-old son, Tim, sets out to uncover the truth. Along the way, he teams up with Harry’s former Pokémon partner, Detective Pikachu. The adorable Pikachu and Tim realize they are uniquely equipped to work together. Tim is the only human who can communicate with Pikachu. Together, they join forces to unravel the tangled mystery.

Read the Common Sense Media Review!

Angry Birds 2 Movie

Ages: 7+

Red, Chuck, Bomb, and their feathered friends are shocked when a green pig proposes they put aside their differences to face a common enemy. Aggressive birds from an icy island have devised a weapon to destroy the fowl and pig way of life. To stop the threat, the birds and pigs join forces. They create a plan to infiltrate the island, disable the device, and save their homes.

Read the Common Sense Media Review!

Sonic the Hedgehog

Ages: 8+

Join Sonic the speedy Hedgehog as he battles the evil Doctor Eggman.The mad scientist Dr. Eggman is bent on taking over the world. Based on the popular video game series, Sonic uses his super speed and wits to outsmart Doctor Eggman. Buckle up for a fun, action-packed adventure the whole family will enjoy.

Read the Common Sense Media Review!

Ratchet & Crank

Ages: 7+

Two unlikely heroes, Ratchet and Clank, team up to stop an alien named Chairman Drek from destroying the Solana Galaxy. They stumble upon a weapon capable of planetary destruction. Then, they must join a team of heroes known as The Galactic Rangers. Together, they learn about heroism, friendship, and discovering one’s true self, all while saving the galaxy from destruction.

Read the Common Sense Media Review!

Wreck-It Ralph

Ages: 7+

Wreck-It Ralph, an arcade-game character, is tired of always being the “bad guy” and losing to his “good guy” rival, Fix-It Felix. Determined to prove he has what it takes to be a hero, Ralph embarks on a journey across various video games. However, Ralph’s quest accidentally unleashes a deadly enemy that threatens the entire arcade, leading to a thrilling adventure.

Read the Common Sense Media Review!

Ready Player One

Ages: 12+

In the year 2045, the world teeters on the edge of chaos, but people escape into the OASIS, a virtual reality universe. After the OASIS creator, James Halliday, dies, he offers his fortune to the first person who finds a hidden Easter egg within the game. Wade Watts, a young gamer, joins the contest and becomes an unlikely hero in a race to unlock the mystery and claim the prize.

Read the Common Sense Media Review!

Uncharted

Ages: 12+

Treasure hunter Victor “Sully” Sullivan recruits street-smart Nathan Drake to help him recover a 500-year-old lost fortune amassed by explorer Ferdinand Magellan. What starts as a heist becomes a thrilling globe-trotting adventure to solve one of history’s greatest mysteries before the ruthless Santiago Moncada can beat them to the prize.

Read the Common Sense Media Review!

Free Guy

Ages: 13+

Aa bank teller discovers he’s actually a background character in a massive open-world video game. He decides to take control of his own story. He sets out to save the day in his own way, navigating a world with no limits. Along the way, he finds love, friendship, and the power of choice in this hilarious and heartwarming adventure.

Read the Common Sense Media Review!

Conclusion

With these video game themed movies for families, your fall movie nights are sure to be a hit! From heartwarming moments to laugh-out-loud scenes, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. So, grab your snacks, snuggle up, and get ready for some unforgettable cozy nights. Happy watching!

Planning a Minecraft Party? Discover fun and easy ideas for games, food, and decor to create a block-tastic celebration that your guests will love!