Packing for toddlers, old standbys, gadgets and free video podcasts for kids

I’m packing this evening for a flight to Duluth, MN with Tara, Ashby and Roe (still in uterus). We’re spending the next several days with Tara’s family north of Duluth on Lake Superior. It’s a four hour flight to Minneapolis and another forty minute flight to Duluth. What are we packing for Ashby?

• Books – Ashby got some great new books from Roy, Steve and Brigette in the last couple days that I’m packing.
• Silly puddy
• Stickers
• Crayons, coloring books, notebook
• Little People
• Snacks

These are our usual standbys and are capable of tiding Ashby over for hours. But, I’ve got some other goodies I’m excited about.

Tara and I got Ashby a Tag Reading System from Leapfrog. I’m super excited to work with her on phonics and reading with Tag. It has solid reviews. I already played with it tonight and downloaded the audio for another book I bought with the Tag  that didn’t come pre-loaded. It was quick and easy peasy. 🙂

Then I’m also preparing for the flight with the free video podcasts from Nick Jr and PBS. Yup, that’s right, free educational video podcasts for kids. We have a Philips 8.5” DVD player with iPod dock that is going to come in handy. And the following video podcasts are now loaded on my video iPod and ready to roll.

• Super Why 
• Dragonfly TV
• Sesame Street
• Diego
• They Might be Giants Friday Night Video podcast for kids
• The Goodnight Show

I haven’t watched but a few of these yet, but it seems they’re mostly one to six minute excerpts from the show. Super Why is the full episode. By the way, I love the theme song for this show! Oh, and I couldn’t resist buying some Sponge Bob on iTunes. I know, Tara hates Sponge Bob too, but I think he’s awesome. And c’mon people. I grew up watching Tom and Jerry and Loony Tunes. I’ll bet you did too. That stuff is raw violence and brain rot with no redeeming quality.

Postscript- I love how I find my own photos using Zemanta, not on my Flickr account, but via Wikipedia. See first photo of Lake Superior.