Archive for the ‘Holidays’ Category

Bringing in 2012 – Happy New Year

Posted by ruckusholly on December 30th, 2011



Happy New Year, everyone!  It’s hard to believe the year has gone so fast and we are gearing up for another great year of growth and change here at Ruckus Media.

As we watch the year come to a close, we’ve been blessed to see several of our apps make some of the year’s BEST OF LIsts, including: 

Kirkus Reviews chose Spot the Dot , produced with our friend, the great pop-up artist, David A. Carter, as one of the Best Kid’s Apps List of 2011 calling him the Picasso of paper engineers (One Red Dot, 2005, etc.) displays a dab hand at concocting even more thoroughly interactive explorations of shape and color for touchscreens. 

We love that School Library Journal selected our very own Spot the Dot as a top 10 kid’s app of 2011. They say that it “embodies the medium’s potential to create entertaining educational materials for all children, including those with special needs.”

Broxterman’s Bugle: Teaching with Technology included Chuck & Friends in a list of the best apps to use in classrooms, calling it a book app with the characters every little boy loves, embedded to reinforce letters, fine motor, and story comprehension.

Commonsense Media included A Present for Milo as a best app for family travel, calling it a highly interactive book with dozens of tappable animations.

Digital Storytime also chose A Present for Milo as one of the best digital books for kids, calling it one of the best books I’ve come across for children under age 6. The words in the book are very simple and the illustrations tell the story as much as the text. 

Lil Sugar included Andrew Answers on its best of 2011 Kids Apps List, calling it a a fun, interactive app, Andrew Answers ($4) takes lil ones along on an adventure all the way to the Oval Office when Andrew is smug with his teacher. With mazes and games scattered throughout the tale, tots won’t be bored too soon.

Lastly, Imagination Soup included both My Little Pony and Andrew Answers in her best iPad Book App List.

We are so grateful for everyone’s support this year and hope that you all have a wonderful time bringing in 2012. See you next year!

 

 

 

 

 

Day #12 of Holiday Free Family Fun with Jerri Ann Reason

Posted by ruckusholly on December 24th, 2011

Jerri AnnWe are continuing 12 Days of Holiday Free Family Fun with our friends at ZiggityZoom.  Our twelveth guest blogger is the fabulous Jerri Ann Reason.

Jerri Ann is the mom to 2 awesome boys, wife to one wonderful husband, all of whom support her endeavors online as a blogger and a social media consultant. Jerri Ann’s philosphy sounds like a boxer as she constantly boasts that each day is about learning life and learning how to take the punches. She concludes that landing a punch is not near as important as feeling like you are in the fight. You can find her at Mom~E~Centric (www.momecentric.com) and on her education based non-profit Educate My Alabama (www.educatemyalabama.org) as well as on Twitter @The_Jerri_Ann and @EducateMyAL.

When asked how she keeps her kids busy during the holidays, Jerri Ann said:

This year, the kids are out of school after Christmas instead of before so we can count on good toys and goodies from Santa to help entertain the little guys that week.  

Last year we started what we hope to continue as a new tradition.  We took in the movie Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel and hit the bowling alley which was relatively empty.  This year, we are headed out to Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked.  We may move our bowling fun to one day earlier in the week just to add some excitement to the week.  

We don’t do movies but once or twice a year but we have been bowling several times so who knows what we might find to do.  With my husband off work all week, which rarelyl happens, we hope to find all kinds of fun lurking near by.  Our latest hobby is GeoCaching and even the boys are enjoying a few rounds especially if we go to the closest state park where the cache’s are all within walking and hiking distance.

Here’s a sticky post on my blog underneath my Holiday Gift Guide.  I’ll do my best to get the links updated each day………*deep breath*

http://www.momecentric.com/2011/holiday-gift-guide/ruckus-media-and-christmas-fun

 

Visit ZiggityZoom.com for today’s 12th Day of Christmas Free Family Fun Printable, 3D Paper Reindeer & Sleigh, and a giveaway for a FREE Ruckus app.

 

 

Day #11 of Holiday Free Family Fun with Esti Berkowitz

Posted by ruckusholly on December 23rd, 2011

Esti BerkowitzWe are continuing 12 Days of Holiday Free Family Fun with our friends at ZiggityZoom.  Our Eleventh guest blogger is Esti Berkowitz.  A natural born schmoozer, Esti blogs about how she found Kosher food, a husband, and had children after 35 at http://www.primetimeparenting.wordpress.com. Esti is the Kosher Traveling Mom on http://www.travelingmom.com. Follow as Esti shares about being a parent after 35 on twitter @primetimeparent and about Kosher food @estiberkowitz.

When asked how she keeps her kids busy during the holidays and adds a “spin of charity.” Esti said:

Cooking. The kids are home, so we have our very own Chanukah party. This is where we really have a “latke” fun!! The kids help mix the potatoes in a large pot, but mom takes it from there to the pan of hot oil. We use fun cookie cutters in the shapes of menorahs and dreidels and decorate cookies with blue and gold icing. We get a bunch of dreidels and plenty of Streit’s Chocolate Chanukah Gelt for prizes. We add a spin of charity and give money towards Chai Lifeline. For some great healthy cookie recipes and more check out http://www.levanacooks.com, and for some fun decorating tips check out http://www.jewishhostess.com.

Visit ZiggityZoom.com for today’s 11th Day of Christmas Free Family Fun Printable Snowflake WORD Worksheet and a giveaway for a FREE Ruckus app.

ziggity zoom

 

 

Day #9 of Holiday Free Family Fun with Pauline Campos

Posted by ruckusholly on December 21st, 2011

pauline CamposWe are continuing 12 Days of Holiday Free Family Fun with our friends at ZiggityZoom.  Our ninth guest blogger is Pauline Campos of www.aspiringmama.com.  Pauline M. Campos is a stay-at-home writer mama and a featured www.owningpink.com contributor, an editor on www.bookieboo.com, a book reviewer at www.hippocampusmagazine.com and a writer at the www.anarmyofermas.com humor site.

You can also follow her over on Twitter at @aspiringmama.

When asked how she keeps her kids busy during the holidays, while teaching them about giving back to others, Pauline said:

For us, getting ready for Christmas means watching classic movies like The Grinch who Stole Christmas, listening to Christmas music all day, and counting down how many days are left until Santa comes with our Advent calendar.

But most importantly, I’m trying to make sure our four-year-old understands that Christmas is about giving. With that in mind, we have gone shopping for items requested by a two-year-old on a Christmas Angel tree at her preschool, made a special trip to buy a new toy for Toys for Tots, crafted gifts of appreciation for her teachers, and are sorting through her gently used toys so she can decide what to donate to local charities.

But the most time-consuming activity, of course, is cleaning the house so Santa (and her grandmother who is flying in for a Christmas surprise) is impressed with how clean our house is. Wouldn’t want Santa to think we’re messy, right?

Merry Christmas!

Visit ZiggityZoom.com for today’s 9th Day of Christmas Free Family Fun Printable- fun kids activity-a Word Santa Maze for Preschool Santa Maze for Preschool and a giveaway for a FREE Ruckus app.

 

Day #8 of Holiday Free Family Fun with Imani Powell-Razat

Posted by ruckusholly on December 20th, 2011

christmas treeWe are continuing 12 Days of Holiday Free Family Fun with our friends at ZiggityZoom.  Our ninth guest blogger is Imani Powell-Razat who does Mommentary on Apps from a Designer /Developer/ Mom of Drum Circle Kids App as seen on NBC’s Moms & The City http://bit.ly/m36Mx0 Babble’s Best Apps http://bit.ly/DrumKid.

You can also follow her over on Twitter at @ipadmoma.

When asked how she keeps her kids busy during the holidays, Imani said:

New York is awesome during the holidays. We like to take the kids ice-skating.  We love the tree lighting at Rockefeller Center and to look at all of the lights and holiday window displays, then hot cocoa sampling around the city.  We look forward to Starbucks holiday cocoa flavors, Jaques Torres, City Bakery’s decadent hot cocoa.  Watching holiday classics like A Charlie Brown Xmas, The Grinch that Stole Xmas, etc.

We also enjoy decorating our tree and our chalkboard wall with holiday inspired chalk drawings. We create our own holiday wrapping paper and gift bags with art supplies and brown craft paper or small good quality shopping bags. I have an advent calendar with a piece of yummy candy behind each day.  We look forward to counting down to xmas, and daily holiday chocolate makes the wait that much more palatable! I  also like to play apps with holiday inspired updates.

Visit ZiggityZoom.com for today’s 8th Day of Christmas Free Family Fun Printable Snowman Cupcake Wrappers and a giveaway for a FREE Ruckus app.ziggity zoom

 

 

Day #7 of Holiday Free Family Fun with Ashley Saunders

Posted by ruckusholly on December 19th, 2011

Ashley SaundersWe are continuing 12 Days of Holiday Free Family Fun with our friends at ZiggityZoom.  Our seventh guest blogger is Ashley Saunders of TeachableMommy.com.   Ashley is a Teachable Mommy of 2. When she is not teaching her children or learning life lessons, Ashley is a blogger, foodie, coffee lover, and a book nerd.  You can also follow her over on Twitter at @IrishRed02.

When asked how she keeps her kids busy during the holidays, Ashley said:

If you are like me, keeping little ones busy during the holidays can be a daunting task! I like to get mine involved in as much of the to-do of Christmas as possible. My daughter likes to help wrap and my son uses his muscles to put, or throw, the presents under the tree (thank goodness nothing is breakable!).

We also love a good dress-up dance party. Nothing gets the sillies out like rocking out to our favorite songs.  It’s also a great way to work off any extra holiday treats!

Visit ZiggityZoom.com for today’s 7th Day of Christmas Free Family Fun Printable- fun kids activity, Snowflake WORD Worksheet, and a giveaway for a FREE Ruckus app.

 

Day #6 of Holiday Free Family Fun with Angela Roy

Posted by ruckusholly on December 18th, 2011

Angela RoyWe are continuing 12 Days of Holiday Free Family Fun with our friends at ZiggityZoom.  Our sixth guest blogger is Angela Roy of MommyPR.com.  Angela is the owner of Mommy PR, an online resource for all things family related. When she is not hanging out on the several freelance twitter & Facebook accounts she handles, she can be found @MommyPR tweeting or possibly shopping for deals. (Her favorite activity!)

When asked how she keeps her kids busy and creative during the holidays, Angela said:

This year to stay busy and keep my kids creative, I decided to gear more towards simple resources we had around the house. We took these plastic plates, gathered up leaves to create homemade wreathes. A few cinnamon sticks and cranberries glued on, and it looked like the best Holiday decorations. Plus, Its fun to just venture outside to see who could find the largest leaves. Its great for some family time that is also easy on the wallet! Add some acorns, or glittered pine cones for more flair.

Visit ZiggityZoom.com for today’s 6th Day of Holiday Free Family Fun Printable – an art print by Whimsical artist Sharon Pierce McCullough, Christmas Horse Art Print, and head over to Ziggity Zoom’s blog to win a free Ruckus app today!

 

 

 

Day #5 of Holiday Free Family Fun with Tonia Sanders

Posted by ruckusholly on December 17th, 2011

Tonia SandersWe continue  12 Days of Holiday Free Family Fun with our friends at ZiggityZoom.  Our fifth guest blogger is Tonia Sanders of TheChattyMomma.com.  Tonia is a wife and stay-at-home mom to two little girls. She enjoys social media and write as The Chatty Momma on her blog, Twitter, and Facebook..  You can also follow her over on Twitter at @TheChattyMomma.

When asked how she keeps her kids busy thinking about giving back during the holidays, Tonia said:

A few ideas that I have to do with your kids during the holidays are:

1. Building a gingerbread house
2. Taking evening trips around the local area to view Christmas lights
3. Taking time to stop at a home for seniors and drop off puzzles, CDs, and goodies all wrapped up.
4. Christmas caroling in the neighborhood
5. Baking

One activity that me and my girls are enjoying is making delicious treats. I love using opportunities to teach my girls how to make delicious snacks and we also create video how-to’s for kids on YouTube in the process. Recently we made Candy Cane Oreo Parfaits that we shared on my blog, The Chatty Momma. 

It’s so much fun to make snacks with my girls, and this months treats will all be holiday themed!

Visit ZiggityZoom.com for today’s 5th Day of Christmas Free Family Fun Printable- fun kids activity Holiday Wordsearch and head over to Ziggity Zoom’s blog to win a free Ruckus app today!

 

Day #4 of Holiday Free Family Fun with Galit Breen

Posted by ruckusholly on December 16th, 2011

Galit BreenWe are continuing 12 Days of Holiday Free Family Fun with our friends at ZiggityZoom.  Our fourth guest blogger is Galit BreenGalit Breen blogs at These Little Waves.  On any given day she can be found juggling one husband, one juggle, three children, and her laptop. When she’s not inspiring others with her writing, you can find her on Twitter as@GalitBreen.

Here’s how she’s keeping the kids busy through the holidays:

During the holidays our kids stay busy in all of the usual ways- coloring, play doh, stickers, dance parries, games, puzzles, cheerio bracelets, whining {Did I really just admit that?}, and movies {And that?}.

They also spend a lot of time helping me. They wrap presents, set tables, make place cards, and bake. {I promise we give them time to play!}

Visit ZiggityZoom.com for today’s 4th Day of Christmas Free Family Fun Printable- fun and festive Christmas Stickers and head over to Ziggity Zoom’s blog for their daily Ruckus app giveaway.

 

 

 

Free Classic Story App to Kick Off Your Holiday Season

Posted by ruckusholly on December 16th, 2011

Velveteen RabbitIt is our pleasure to announce that The Velveteen Rabbit, as told by Meryl Streep, our interactive storybook application produced with our friends at Rabbit Ears, is now available FREE of charge via the App store (regularly $3.99) until Christmas Day, December 25th, 2011.  It’s our way of showing our gratitude for your support and to welcome in the new year by bringing this classic story into the life of your children.

While you’re downloading your free app, don’t forget that from December 26th through the end of the year, you can download all of our classic Read-Play-and-Record Along Rabbit Ears interactive storybooks apps at the special price of $1.99 and we will donate 100% of the net proceeds ($1.39) to dying children at St. Jude Children’s Hospital. Saving lives has never been so easy and this much fun.

The apps that are on sale to benefit St. Jude include Pecos Bill told by Robin Williams, The Velveteen Rabbit  and The Night Before Christmas told by Meryl Streep, John Henry told by Denzel Washington, Tom Thumb told by John Cleese, Goldilocks told by Meg Ryan, Johnny Appleseed told by Garrison Keillor, The Steadfast Tin Soldier told by Jeremy Irons and Three Little Pigs told by Holly Hunter.  In addition we are releasing two NEW stories during this time period, as well, both launching today: Thumbelina told by Kelly McGillis and Paul Bunyan told by Jonathan Winters.

Happy holidays, friends.  Now get to iTunes and start downloading apps to stuff into your child’s stocking this Christmas or to give on one of the eight nights of Hanukkah!