If you are a new or expecting parent, you’ve probably been thinking about your neighborhood in a whole new way. Suddenly, the school down the street is far more than a row of buildings to be avoided during your morning commute. Like it or not, your local

school district will have a major impact on your child’s education…or to be more accurate, your child’s future.

That being said, you’re probably wondering how your neighborhood school compares to others in the school district. You no longer need to wonder thanks to a new online resource Education Nation Scorecard for Schools developed by Fathom and The Gates Foundation. The scorecard won’t tell you everything you’ll want to know, but it does provide an accurate way to compare your school’s basics (language arts comprehension scores, math test scores, graduation percentages) with other schools and districts in the country.

After visiting Education Nation Scorecard for Schools (http://nbcscorecard.greatschools.org), shoot back to the baby blog and let us know how your school is doing by leaving a comment in the box below. Did the scores match the school’s reputation, or were you surprised to see the outcome?

Have fun and stay healthy,
Dr.MOZ

Did you hear today’s big announcement about the new high tech handheld device hitting the market? No, not the iPhone 4 announcement…I’m talking about LeapFrog’s Leapster Explorer baby! Designed for four to nine-year-old kids, the Explorer features online play

allowing for “learning app” downloads, video streaming, and the largest touch-screen offered by LeapFrog yet.

I’ll admit that the advertised “four-year-old” target seems a little young for a high-tech gadget like this, but on the other hand you might be smart to hand the little guy a $69 Explorer if it keeps him away from your new $299 (32GB) iPhone 4.  To learn more about the Leapster Explorer, visit the official product website at www.leapfrog.com/explorer.

Have fun and stay healthy,
Dr.MOZ

> also see: The XO-3 Touchscreen Tablet by OPLC,

and Cell Phones for Toddlers?

Interested in receiving the  inside scoop on great giveaways, family-related events, product recall warnings, and coupon codes at all your favorite baby boutiques and maternity stores? I thought so! You should be following Dr.MOZ’s founder and main moose Jason on Twitter. He learns about many new baby services and fun toddler products from fans and growing brands on Twitter, so send your baby tips to @drmoz and you might see your business or favorite baby brand featured on the Dear Dr.MOZ Baby Blog!

Tweet ya’ later,
Dr.MOZ

Today would have been Dr. Seuss’s 106th birthday and to celebrate, all Dr. Seuss e-book Apps are on sale for 99 cents! That’s three dollars off my friends, so whip them up while you can if you have a little one in the house. As the good doctor once said,

“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” ~ Dr.Seuss

Are your kids Dr.Seuss fans yet? If so, what are their favorite books?

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss!

Dr.MOZ

We’ve had giveaways for moms, dads, and babies…but what about the older kids in the house? You asked for a fun giveaway for tweens (grades 2-6), and the moose MD knew just where to go. SmartyCard provides fun, age-appropriate educational activities that

augments traditional teaching of science, social studies, math, and reading. As kids learn, they accumulate points which can later be cashed-in for real rewards like Wii games, board games, toys, DVDs, and many more (see example rewards).

To help get inspired, Dr.MOZ and SmartyCard have teemed-up to give one lucky kid 100,000 SmartyCard points! What? That’s right…one giveaway winner will start-off with 100,000 points before completing a single activity!

• To Enter: Leave a comment which includes your tween’s favorite video game or movie by Saturday Jan. 16th, at 5pm PST.
• Rules: One winner will be chosen randomly using the random number generator Random.org and will be contacted using the provided email address.
• Multiple Entries: Increase your chances by (1) blog or tweet about the giveaway include a link in a second comment, and/or (2) enter a second time at Dr.MOZ’s New Facebook Fan Page!

If you’ve visited SmartyCard.com, you might not want to wait for the end of the giveaway to sign your kids up for the fun. You might also be wondering if Dr.MOZ has a promo code for free reward points up his sleeve. Why yes, yes I do. Enter the word drmoz in the promo code box found on the SmartyCard home page (as seen below) and Dr.MOZ readers will be automatically given 2,500 points during sign-up!

So what are you waiting for parents? It’s time to learn, earn, and play. Thanks again to the crew at SmartyCard for sponsoring this fantastic giveaway!

Good luck,

Dr.MOZ

> thanks to Prizey.net and PRIZE-A-TRON for the buzz!

You might have noticed that I’ve been on a K-12 technology kick this week. First, with OLPC’s XO-3 learning tablet and now with the Mesa school desk by designer Phelan Miller which is designed to incorporate traditional “paper learning” with a wired, stackable table.

Future features for this futuristic desk includes:

• Standard Grammar Tools: spell check, dictionary, thesaurus, encyclopedia.
• Screen: simple touch screen with tab system and “freewrite” feature which improves handwriting.
• Scanner: scans paper for saving and correcting lessons.
• Connected: built-in wireless modems connect students to school server, teachers, or internet.
• Size: fits two students per desk, modular design offering easy stacking/moving when not in use.

What do you think parents? Would you like to see your kids’ schools go completely digital (desks, ebooks, etc), or do prefer traditional teaching materials like books and paper?

Have fun and stay healthy,

Dr.MOZ

> thanks to Yanko Design

As many of you may recall from my OLPC post in 2008, the low-priced laptops XO (and XO-2) were designed to give children in developing nations an exposure to technology and an opportunity to learn. The XO-2 was scheduled for release in 2010, but it appears that

OLPC (One Laptop per Child) has been back in the lab with an incredible new prototype in the works. Designed to use less power and create less material waste, the XO-3 is a sleek touchscreen tablet with an unbelievable target price of $75 per unit.

I’m not sure how they’ll manage the price, but I’m certainly rooting for them. The OLPC is a fantastic organization providing educational opportunities for children with little access to technology in the US and around world. Learn more about how you can get involved through the worldwide OLPCorps grassroots community website.

Have fun and stay healthy,
Dr.MOZ

> also see: XO-2: Tomorrow’s School Book?

Hey tweeters! If you’re on Twitter, consider yourself invited trade tweets and tips with the moose M.D.’s founder “Jason”. He has the inside scoop on great giveaways, family-related events, product recall warnings, and coupon codes at all your favorite baby boutiques and maternity stores. Just click over to  http://twitter.com/drmoz (@drmoz if you’re a pro) and shoot him a direct message to say hi, pitch a product for a future blog feature, or to let him know about an event that might be of interest to Dear Dr.MOZ Baby Blog readers!

Tweet ya’ later,
Dr.MOZ

Who needs sponges with square pants when you have banana slugs and trees as tall as skyscrapers? National Geographic’s October issue features the world’s tallest trees of Northern California and is accompanied by a cool collection of  kid-friendly, interactive activities. You don’t need the latest issue to learn about this amazing place, just pull up a

seat and enjoy the ride:

• Redwoods, The Super Trees Photo Gallery: This amazing photo gallery follows Michael Nichols on his journey through the Pacific coast where he meets black bears, owls, banana slugs, and the largest trees in the world.
• Redwoods Giant Jigsaw Puzzle: Play the 300-piece puzzle of a 300 foot redwood tree. Finish fast enough and you’ll be posted on National Geographic’s leader board.
• Redwoods Interactive: Learn about the forest hundreds of feet in the air where salamanders, chipmunks, and birds all call home.

Let me know if your family enjoyed today’s interactive toddler activity and I’ll be sure to include more in the future!

Have fun and stay healthy,
Dr.MOZ

Are you having a hard time introducing a variety of healthy meals to your little one? Perhaps you just need to increase the funk-factor like the pros at  FunkyLunch.com! Funky Lunch in their own words:

Funky Lunch was born out of the desire to turn an ordinary lunchtime sandwich into something a bit different to encourage children to try and eat a varied and healthy lunch.

Drop by and say hi to the funky bunch at Funky Lunch for a little artistic inspiration, and don’t forget to tell them that the moose M.D. sent ya!

Have fun and stay healthy,
Dr.MOZ

> thanks to Make

The day when a new parent could pacify the extended family with an occasional baby picture is far behind us. With the convenience of today’s inexpensive and portable video cameras come high definition expectations…of the baby video variety. New parents are too busy cleaning behinds and changing diapers to edit videos and search for cables, so what

are they to do? I recommend the Flip UltraHD and the Kodak Zi8 HD! Standard features include:

Flip UltraHD:

• MSRP $199.99, found at $179.99
• 2x digital zoom
• 8 GB
• Microphone (internal)
• Speaker (build-in)
• Windows and Mac compatible
• Rechargeable batteries included

Kodak Zi8 HD:

• MSRP $199.99, found at $179.95
• 4x digital zoom
• 128 MB internal memory, SD/SDHC card expansion slot
• Microphone (internal), also external jack
• Speaker (build-in)
• Windows and Mac compatible
• Rechargeable batteries included

I know we have quite a few parents out there using one of the video cameras listed above, so give us your review because their stats are almost identical and both are easy to use.  Click on the bubble to open the comments box below to share your review for the Kodak Zi8 HD or the Flip UltraHD.

Have fun and stay healthy,

Dr.MOZ

I know what you’re thinking…it’s been ages since I’ve featured a useful and affordable “must have” baby invention for new parents. I’m afraid you’ll need to try again tomorrow because today’s strange and interesting find is the Why Cry Baby Analyzer now available for $100 on Amazon! This gadget monitors your baby’s cry to tell you if she is hungry, tired, bored,

stressed, or annoyed. I’m not sure what the monitor will do if the baby is annoyed from hunger or cries for a variety of other possible reasons, but it is advertised to be over 90% effective (according to Amazon.com description) when used in conjunction with a provided symptoms chart.

I’m always shocked at how often you love the products that I poke fun at, so here’s your chance to stick-up for the Why Cry Baby Analyzer. What do think folks, would you buy this baby gadget for yourself or a friend? Click on the comment bubble to open the comment box below.

Have fun and stay healthy,
Dr.MOZ