Traveling with Tots

I have a few tips to make Holiday traveling with your toddler a bit easier.

1. You can thank the late, great Steve Jobs for tip #1. The iPad! Albeit an expensive convenience, it is one that is well worth the $$$. No longer do you have to bring crayons, coloring books, puzzles, games, blocks, cars or DVDs and DVD players. One lightweight iPad and a few clever downloaded apps can provide all of these things and more while making your travel bag a lot lighter and your trip through the security line a lot faster.

2. If you often face the dreaded “stop kicking the seat in front of you” scenario, there is a simple but often overlooked solution. Instead of sitting your husband next to you in flight, reserve him the window seat in front of your kicking toddler.

3. Give your toddler a new treat for car trips or plane rides. One of my favorites is Mrs. Grossman’s Peel and Play Activity Set. In one simple folder it reveals a setting for over twenty reusable stickers to create endless scenarios. Another classic yet creative way to pass the time is with Play-Doh. Challenge your toddler to make you a yummy cake. Then you can take turns singing Happy Birthday to each other.

Keeping the kids entertained during cold winter days

1. Go camping inside! Build a tent out of dining room chairs and extra sheets and blankets. You can make it as simple or as elaborate as time and bedding allows.

2. On rainy days, my husband and I move our cars and turn our garage into a toddler art studio. When we are finished, we roll up our art work, wrap a rubber band around the middle and place it in a small basket secured to the handle bars of our son’s tricycle. He then pretends he’s a newspaper delivery boy and rides around our garage tossing his “papers” to all of our pretend neighbors.

3. Cuddle up in a blanket on the couch and watch Good Luck Charlie. It’s good for the whole family!

Festive Cooking with your Busy Toddler

By far, the easiest and safest Holiday treats to make with your toddler are rice cereal treats. I opt for organic low sugar rice cereal, organic butter and mini organic marshmallows. To add a punch of protein, add a ½ cup of almond butter to the mix after the melting of the marshmallows. Of course, always make sure that the children enjoying these treats are not allergic to nuts. These treats are great for impatient toddlers because they can be actively involved in the making of these simple treats and not just waiting on the sidelines while Mommy does the hard stuff. For extra fun, let your child cut out different shapes and characters with festive cookie cutters. Decorate with sprinkles and frosting. Or for a healthier alternative, try decorating with carob and yogurt chips and chopped berries. And serve with a tall glass of low-fat milk.

Don’t forget to tune in to Disney Channel Friday, December 2nd for “Good Luck Charlie, It’s Christmas!”

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The soundtrack, featuring 15 songs spanning hip-hip, rock and pop/rock performed by the cast, releases on iTunes and in stores nationwide, Tuesday, August 10.

The 2008 premiere of “Camp Rock” was cable TV’s #1 entertainment telecast of the year in Total Viewers (10.1 million) and TV’s #1 entertainment telecast in Tweens 9-14. Among TV’s live action movies, it was #1 among Kids 6-11 for the year.

The sequel, choreographed by Rosero McCoy, is a tour de force for actress and recording artist Demi Lovato. It showcases both the music and charm of Kevin, Joe and Nick Jonas, and includes their younger brother Frankie Jonas in his TV movie debut. The highly anticipated sequel also brings back fan favorites from “Camp Rock,” 2008’s #1 cable TV movie. They are: Maria Canals-Barrera (“Wizards of Waverly Place”), Meaghan Martin (“10 Things I Hate About You”), Alyson Stoner (“Phineas and Ferb,” Step Up 3D”), Anna Maria Perez de Tagle (“Fame”), Jasmine Richards, Daniel Fathers, Roshon Fegan (Disney Channel’s upcoming “Shake it Up”) and Jordan “J” Francis. “Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam” introduces two exciting new performers, Matthew Mdot Finley and Chloe Bridges. Daniel Kash also stars.

The sequel follows Mitchie and her friends as they return to Camp Rock for another great summer of music and fun. But when big-money, state-of-the-art Camp Star opens across the lake, it lures away many instructors and campers — putting the future of Camp Rock in jeopardy. Mitchie emerges as a leader determined to save the camp and challenges the egocentric Luke Williams and his fellow Camp Star campers to a Final Jam — an end-of-summer performance duel, may the best camp win.

The schedule for the world premiere of “Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam” is:

Wednesday, September 1:

• “Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam” available on Disney Channel on Demand for Verizon FiOS subscribers (also available via select affiliates).
• Radio Disney presents part one of “On the Set,” a special telecast from the set of “Camp Rock: 2 The Final Jam” (6:00-8:00 p.m., ET/3:00-5:00 p.m., PT). It will also be available at RadioDisney.com.

Friday, September 3:

• Radio Disney presents part two of “On the Set” (6:00-8:00 p.m., ET/3:00-5:00 p.m., PT) and a pre-show hosted by Ernie D (6:00-8:00 p.m., ET/3:00-5:00 p.m., PT) that leads to the TV telecast.
• The cast hosts the world premiere of “Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam” on Disney Channel U.S. (8:00 p.m., ET/PT) with an audio simulcast on Radio Disney.
• Mobile video simulcast of “Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam” available for Flo TV, MobiTV and Sprint TV
• Fans are invited to customize a page for the official “Camp Rock 2 Year Book,” collect mementos, access exclusive content and more on DisneyChannel.com.

Saturday, September 4:

• The Rock Along edition of “Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam” invites viewers to sing along to the songs. Lyrics will be visible on screen and at DisneyChannel.com.

Sunday, September 5:

• Disney Channel presents the Sunday Dance Jam edition of “Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam” (8:00 p.m., ET/PT). Hosted by Demi Lovato and Jonas Brothers, it gives viewers a look at the making of the spectacular dance scenes.

Monday, September 6:

• Disney Channel presents an encore of “Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam” (8:00 p.m., ET/PT).

Tuesday, September 7:

• “Camp Rock 2 The Final Jam: Extended Edition” featuring two exclusive new music numbers — “Walking in My Shoes” and “Different Summers” — will be available in stores on Blu-ray, DVD and Digital combo-pack, from Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment.

The movie was written by Dan Berendsen (Disney’s “Hannah Montana The Movie” and “Wizards of Waverly Place The Movie”) and the team of Karin Gist and Regina Hicks. It is based on characters created by Karin Gist, Regina Hicks, Julie Brown and Paul Brown. The director and co-producer is DGA Award winner Paul Hoen (Disney Channel’s “The Cheetah Girls One World” and “Jump In”). The producer is Kevin Lafferty and the executive producer is Alan Sacks. “Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam” is a production of Coin Flip Productions, Ltd. and Alan Sacks Productions in association with Disney Channel.

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The movie’s soundtrack, featuring 15 original songs spanning hip-hop, rock and pop/rock, will be available TUESDAY, JULY 27 on iTunes and in stores nationwide.

“Camp Rock 2” provides for an even more unrivaled Disney entertainment experience via a worldwide concert tour — a spectacular live show filled with headliners the Jonas Brothers, special guest Demi Lovato and the stars from “Camp Rock.” Produced by Live Nation, the three continent concert tour begins July 27 in Dallas, Texas. Tickets can be purchased at www.livenation.com. Further information is available at www.jonasbrothers.com.

Beginning May 11, fans can also access a “Camp Rock”-themed premium iTouch and iPhone app, which will also be optimized for the iPad, to buy tickets to the concert, hear music clips, watch videos and more.

“Camp Rock 2 The Final Jam” is the sequel to the TV/soundtrack/DVD triumph “Camp Rock,” which for 2008 was cable TV’s #1 entertainment telecast in Total Viewers (10.1 million) and TV’s #1 entertainment telecast among Tweens 9-14 (3.8 million). Since its premiere, the Disney Channel Original Movie has reached over 137 million unduplicated viewers, and its soundtrack has sold 2.5 million CDs worldwide while spending a remarkable 10 weeks in the Top 10 on the Billboard 200 Album Chart. The “Camp Rock Extended Rock Star Edition” was the #1 TV movie and the #1 Family TV title on DVD in 2008.

This summer of fun opens on a high-pitched Camp Rock reunion. All the Camp Rockers have returned, eager to tune up and rock out. Nobody’s more excited than Mitchie, who anticipates more than a summer of music. Fresh from a world tour, the rock band Connect 3 are hanging all summer – Shane to pursue last summer’s crush on Mitchie, his band mates as moral support. Guitar legend Brown Cesario, Camp Rock’s owner, is ready to rock ‘n roll.

But all is not copacetic at this rocking teen paradise. Across the lake glistens the new Camp Star: a high-tech, big-money music camp funded by Brown’s former band mate-with-a-grudge, Axel Turner. Down-to-earth Camp Rock may have passion, talent and commitment, but Camp Star boasts resources, infrastructure and money — enough money to poach Camp Rock’s counselors and put Camp Rock out of business.

But Axel isn’t counting on a natural born leader named Mitchie, who vows to save her beloved camp and her friends’ summer. Clipboard in hand, she organizes the older Camp Rockers into counselors and keeps the camp running. Then Mitchie steps it up again… by challenging the egocentric Camp Star to a Final Jam — an end-of-summer performance duel… may the best camp win.

Starring are Demi Lovato as Mitchie Torres, Joe Jonas as Shane Gray, Nick Jonas as Nate, Kevin Jonas as Jason, Alyson Stoner as Caitlyn Geller, Meaghan Martin as Tess Tyler, Jasmine Richards as Peggy, Anna Maria Perez de Tagle as Ella, Matthew “Mdot” Finley as Luke, Chloe Bridges as Dana Turner, Roshon Fegan as Sander, Jordan “J” Francis as Barron, Maria Canals-Barrera as Connie Torres, Daniel Fathers as Brown and Daniel Kash as Axel Turner.

“Camp Rock 2 The Final Jam” was written by Dan Berendsen (Disney’s “Hannah Montana The Movie” and “Wizards of Waverly Place The Movie”) and the team of Karin Gist and Regina Hicks. It is based on characters created by Karin Gist, Regina Hicks, Julie Brown and Paul Brown. The director and co-producer is DGA Award winner Paul Hoen (Disney Channel’s “The Cheetah Girls One World” and “Jump In”). The producer is Kevin Lafferty and the executive producer is Alan Sacks. “Camp Rock 2 The Final Jam” is a production of Sudden Motion Productions, Inc and Alan Sacks Productions.

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The series’ lead-in is the highly anticipated premiere of “High School Musical 3: Senior Year.”

In the premiere episode, “Study Date,” Amy is fretting as she returns to work as a nurse, but Bob reassures her that they have a support system to care for Charlie.  That is until Teddy’s distracted by a study session with a cute classmate, PJ is trying to have a jam session with his friend and Gabe is feeling as if their territory has been invaded.  When Bob slips and falls on the stairs, Charlie is put in the sole care of Teddy and PJ drives his dad to the hospital where they go to great lengths to avoid mom.

The talented “Good Luck Charlie” cast is:  Bridgit Mendler (“Wizards of Waverly Place”) as Teddy, Jason Dolley (“Cory in the House”) as PJ, Bradley Steven Perry as Gabe, Leigh-Allyn Baker (“Will & Grace”) as Amy, Eric Allan Kramer (“My Name Is Earl”) as Bob, and newcomer Mia Talerico as Charlie.

The creative team includes several network sitcom veterans led by series creators Phil Baker and Drew Vaupen (“Suddenly Susan” and “What I Like About You”), who also serve as executive producers with Dan Staley (“Cheers,” “Love & Money”).

Disneychannel.com will offer fans an exclusive viewing of another new episode of “Good Luck Charlie.”  The site will also feature a tour of the Duncan home, games and more.

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