Top Picks - Video Games for Kids Over Ten (PKTR 43)

It's time for our annual list of

Top Picks - Video Games for Kids!

Download today's show (free!!)* to hear the PKTR hosts talk about their favorite (and recommended) video games for kids.

PS3:
Madden '09
NBA Live '09
Little Big Planet
Buzz! Quiz TV
Ratchet and Clank Future: Tools of Destruction

Nintendo Wii:
Shaun White Snowboarding
WiiFit
deBlob
Mario Super Sluggers
Rayman Raving Rabbids TV Party

But first!
We talk about the many catalogs which arrive in mailboxes at this time of year. Some claim to have all the gifts you need for everyone on your list (really?!), others offer outrageous, extravagant gifts that ... well, we wonder whether anyone should be spending money on such things right now??

So...

We balance the excess found in that over-the-top catalog with another that offers more meaningful gifts. And for those who love all things Christmas? We have something for you, too.

But really, it's all about the video games. We love 'em** and love talking about them.

Stay tuned until the last ten minutes of the show when we'll tell you about what we believe will end up being the hottest holiday game on Nintendo DS.

Thanks for listening!

____________________________
*PKTR shows are always free!
**This is the site for gamer moms we talked about in the show (not the site noted live)

Election 2008 - PKTR 42

Our topic today is the presidential election.

Listed below are some of the websites we discuss in today's show:

My Debates

538

Rock the Vote

Elections '08 Map Gallery - Google Maps




Fact Check

Survey to Select a Candidate

Obama

McCain

YouTube - YouChoose

The White House Project

VP Debate clips

Here are some others worth visiting:

Roadkill Refugee

Politico

CNN

The 39 Clues - PKTR 41

It's here! The exciting adventure series we told you about last December, "The 39 Clues" has been released and is now in stores. We received our copy just moments before the show was taped, so bear with us as we try to make sense of it.

You'll notice a gap in the show at the 10 minute mark - but stay with us - we return within two minutes. Technical difficulties...



Think of this show as our initial impression of the hot-off-the-press first book, "The Maze of Bones" in what will ultimately be a ten book series. Rick Riordan, author of "The Lightning Thief" and all of the books in the Percy Jackson series, wrote the story arc for The 39 Clues as well as this first book.

On our next show we will have much more information for our listeners when we do a full show about The 39 Clues, so tune in again on October 4 to Parents and Kids Talk Radio.

Thanks for listening!

Success in School: Tips for Parents and Kids - PKTR 40

Summer is over and we managed to get the kids back in school - what have we learned in the process?

Plenty!

Today's show will provide oodles of tips and ideas to smooth the transition from summer to school time. If things are still a bit bumpy in your household, listen to this show. We'll have helpful hints that have worked for us.

From school supplies and stocking your own homework/office area to the clothes that the kids love to wear. PKTR hosts share what's worked for them, what they've learned and other things they've observed.

Listen to the last 15 minutes when we'll give you updates on the latest iPhone apps, too, including these:


Hanoi, Hanoi Plus, Lumen lite, iDoodle2 lite, Etch-a-Sketch, Enigmo, Audi A4, KoiPond, TiltSnake, Bubble Wrap, iChoose, Coin Toss, Cradle and Labyrinth LE.


Thanks for listening!

Join us again next week on Parents and Kids Talk Radio.

The Big Apple - PKTR 39

Planning a trip to New York City? Then you must listen to our show. It's all about great things to see if you're taking kids to Manhattan.


Download it here.

Thanks for listening!

iPhone Apps 2.0 - PKTR 38

A couple of shows back we told you about the new iPhone 3G and a few of the initial applications available in Apple's app store. Today, we're updating the info, so we're calling this show iPhone Apps 2.0.

We start by sharing our experience standing in line to buy an iPhone. Next, we provide some insights about Twitter and then it's on to the topic of the day - applications!

App developers are pumping out new applications so quickly that it's almost overly time-consuming to figure out which ones to add to our iPhones or iTouches.

On today's show, we'll tell you all about our top apps. We've tried so many that we are excited to share our findings. We will give you quick overviews of our favorites along with some criticisms.

Bottom line? We found so many fun and interesting applications that if you needed another reason to get an iPhone or an iTouch, you'll probably find one here! For example, look at this:


If you use Twitter, you will probably love Twitterific. Listen to the show and we'll tell you why.

We also tell you about DeBlob, Texas Hold 'Em, Jawbreaker (renamed reMovem), Etch-a-Sketch, Crash Kart, WordPress, Fotomatic, ColorTilt, Enigmo, Break, DizzyBee, Remelody, Math Quiz, Super Monkey Ball, Bubbles and more!

Update: Bubbles is no longer free (it's $0.99). Also, after spending more time with Break, my kids have revised their comments and feelings about Break. They say, "This game stinks." So...for what it's worth...



This one, Enigmo, is probably best for the parents in the house. Look at this brief review:



Thanks for listening!

Join us again next week for Parents and Kids Talk Radio.

Have any questions about syncing Apple apps? Check here. Need troubleshooting assistance? Click here.

Nintendo News - PKTR 37

Listen to the show as the PKTR cohosts tell you about all the latest news from Nintendo!

Soapbox Mom attended BlogHer 2008 in San Francisco and has some exciting news to share!

First, she'll tell you a little about that conference, including a party involving none other than Guy Kawasaki (thank you, again, Guy for a fantastic party!!), then the hosts will tell you a little about one of the exhibitors, Picnik, and what that means to you, finally the hosts tell you that they're thinking about attending E3* next year (or maybe even the E for All Expo later this year)! Why not? According to Seth Schiesel in the New York Times, we're the kind of people that fuel Nintendo.

Just look at John Davison's fantastic site, What They Play - The Parents Guide to Video Games. He seems to agree with us, anyway... We'll tell you a bit about his site (but you should go there right now and be sure to bookmark it!!). You'll have no more excuses for acting clueless about what your kids are playing on their game systems.

At about 15 minutes into the show, it's all things Nintendo, baby!

After a furious rant by Soapbox Mom about EA and its Rock Band title (hoo boy, is she mad!!). If you've ever wondered what she sounds like mad, be sure to listen to the show. And if you're from EA, just tell her that you received the flippin' broken, defective, sliced drum pedal, OKAY?! That's all she wants. Just tell her you received it and that everything's okay. OKAY?!

Ahem...

Back to the show...

You'll hear about this title:


Yes, it's true, Animal Crossing will soon be released for the Nintendo Wii!

You'll do more of the fun activities that you've enjoyed on the DS, but now it's full screen fun on the Wii!!

Here are some great screenshots, compliments of the cool team at Nintendo:


In this show, the PKTR ladies also tell you about Wii Music, Wii Sports Resort, and more.

Thanks for listening! Join us again next week on Parents and Kids Talk Radio.


*(E3 - Electronic Entertainment Expo)
Update: We have since been advised that E3 attendance is by invitation only, so if anyone out there can get us an invitation, please send us an e-mail and hook us up!! (pktalkradio at yahoo dot com)