Denise Graab's Blog

October will soon be here, and I’m so excited about the fall and winter holidays! The social butterfly in me loves all the parties and bonding, festive decorating and abundant kindness this time of year.

Another reason for that ‘night-before-Christmas’ feeling in my stomach: our family is hosting monthly activities parties, and I can’t wait for them to begin!

• In October: we’re throwing a Halloween-themed party. We’ll set up a spooky beverage bar, serve scary snacks, play a monstrous game of bingo and produce a shadow puppet show. (We may also squeeze a little housewarming in there too, because even with fun, this momma’s a multi-tasker!)

• In November: we’ll host hands-on, educational activities centered around exploring nature and science, learning about Native Americans, and giving thanks.

• In December: it’ll be a family-style birthday bash (for yours truly and other December babies). We may make a dance map to practice language skills (and put a snap in our step), whip up tie-dyed tissue paper, or create snowy salt paintings.

Among the many goodies our holiday party guests will enjoy is an opportunity to win prizes in Education.com’s Activities Photo Contest. By uploading their activities pics as contest entries, they’ll have a shot at winning: children’s guitars from BerkeleyWind.com; Kenny Loggins’ new family CD, “All Join In”; and the grand prize package of a $500 gift certificate to Shutterfly and a $250 cash prize from Education.com!

I wish I could win that grand prize package. Cash is always handy, of course, and I’d use the Shutterfly gift certificate to produce some photo memory books as special keepsakes for our family members near and far. Browsing Shutterfly’s offering, I might also pick up some thank you cards, create a 2010 calendar, or surprise our daughter with a CenterStage Poster of her and the Jonas brothers. As an Education.com employee, though, I’m ineligible to win prizes in the contest, so will have to appreciate the prizes vicariously. I will enjoy doing the activity projects with our daughter, and will upload our photos to help other families understand each activity better as well.

At our holiday parties this year, it may not be the fruit punch, treats or attire they’ll be talking about. Instead, it’ll be the countdown to winning and active flash bulbs that’ll have ‘em abuzz. To all of the activities party paparazzi everywhere: may your happy holidays also be sprinkled with the prizes and fun of the Activities Photo Contest!

NEW on Disney DVD... Handy Manny: Manny's Green Team

This month, Education.com has a special guest for our preschool parents… Handy Manny: Manny’s Green Team — on Disney DVD for the first time!

Bilingual in English and Spanish, Handy Manny resides in the town of Sheetrock Hills, where he owns a repair shop. With a winning mix of imagination and cooperation, Handy Manny and his crafty set of talking tools work together to resolve challenges — whether it be fixing a turnstile at the local library, putting up light bulbs at the downtown movie theatre, helping out at Kelly’s hardware store, repairing the City Hall clock, or any of a whole host of other problems the townsfolk ask Manny to solve. Launched in September 2006, Handy Manny is now one of the top-ranked children’s series on TV, and its biggest fans range from ages 2 to 5.

With the new DVD, “Handy Manny: Manny’s Green Team,” Manny and his tools will inspire your whole family to pitch in, roll up your sleeves, and “go green.” In this special Earth Day episode, they protect an endangered nest of baby turtles, tackle a tricky chandelier repair with an inventive combination of light and mirrors, and share how solar power works. You can order your copy of the DVD by clicking on the ads throughout Education.com this month, or by going here.

After watching the DVD with your child, talk about what you learned. What was your child’s favorite part of the story, and why? What did Handy Manny and his nifty tools teach us in this episode? What can we do to “be green” at home? Then, you and your child can continue the discussion and fun on Education.com, with our Handy Manny: Green Team coloring page or our Handy Manny: Green Team game.

We hope you enjoy Handy Manny and the Handy Manny: Manny’s Green Team DVD this month, brought to Education.com by Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment.