droolicious : noggin

7 Days of Video Games: Fun Freebies

Lisa Mulcahy — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 15:28:00 GMT

My son is almost two and he loves TV and video games. (So damn you American Academy of Pediatrics for making me feeling like a completely inadequate mother for letting him indulge in a little, not overly excessive, screen time.) But since the whims of toddlers are unpredictable I don’t believe in spending too much on toys or games. If it’s free it’s for me. Here’s a couple of kid-tested mother-approved websites with free video games.

Most cable TV channels like Noggin, Nick Jr., and Discovery Kids have websites with online activities and games (that with a little help even a 2-year old can do). See for yourself and don’t be afraid to let your kids click away. Despite what the experts say I think my son has learned a lot from TV and the computer.

Illustrations from Noggin Designer Melinda Beck

Chris Ford — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 21:45:00 GMT

I'm a big fan of children's television network Noggin, and I particularly love their broadcast design. Specifically, the illustrations created by designer Melinda Beck (including Moose A. Moose) are my favorites. After writing about her today on my blog, I came across some artwork for sale on her website. There are all kinds of illustrations, but the "Flock of Birds" are most similar to the illustrations on Noggin.

They are $25 each, and might look great in the room of the Noggin fan in your life.

Flock of Birds, Ink and Collage, 3" x 2.5", $25 each from MelindaBeck.com

The Upside Down Show on DVD

Chris Ford — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 18:31:00 GMT

Devotees of The Upside Down Show on Noggin are understandably upset over the show's recent cancellation. In fact, there was a write-in campaign over on the Babble Boards to try and save it. Although it looks like there won't be any new shows on television (in the United States at least), some of the show's episodes have been released on DVD in in Australia.

You'll have to have a multi-region DVD player (the DVD is in the PAL format) or you'll have to play it on your computer.

The Upside Down Show (Volumes 1 & 2), AU$19.83 from ezdvd.com.au

Nickelodeon Launches myNOGGIN for Ad-Free Online Learning

Aaron Burgess — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 14:32:00 GMT

More power to those of you who've managed to keep your little ones offline, but for the rest of us, Nickelodeon has launched myNOGGIN, a subscription-based, ad-free site aimed at preschoolers through first graders. Featuring a variety of curriculum-based learning games developed with an educational advisory board, and hosted by familiar characters Blue, Dora, Diego and Moose A. Moose, the site offers three subscription levels: $5.95 for 12 months, $7.95 for six months, and $9.95 for a month-to-month deal. You can try a demo, sign up for a free trial, and read more about the "connected learning" approach before committing, and, as with any sort of gaming experience, this one is only as meaningful as the time you invest in it alongside your kids (there's even a Parent Center where you sign in to track progress). In other words, a baby-sitter it isn't.

Maggie and Beast Return to DVD Sept. 25

Aaron Burgess — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 23:38:00 GMT

If your tots can't get enough of Maggie and the Ferocious Beast via Noggin (the books and toys aren't half bad, either), they're probably already prodded you to preorder Shout!Factory's newest DVDs featuring the precocious 5-year-old and her gigantic polka-dotted pal. Somewhere in Nowhere Land and Trick or Treat arrive Sept. 25, and both feature alternate Spanish-language tracks and a bonus "color your own cover" activity that extends beyond the usual DVD extras.