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The Fun, Festive Holiday of Purim is Exuberant, Colorful and Full of Joy – Let PJ Library’s Unique, Family-Friendly Ideas Enliven Your Family Celebrations this March!

March 4, 2020 By Leave a Comment

The early springtime holiday of Purim, with all of its festive fun, is an especially accessible holiday for children; this year, the holiday falls on March 9th-10th.

On Purim, it’s customary to listen to the biblical Book of Esther (also known as the Megillah in Hebrew), put on comic productions of the story of Purim called purimspiels (Yiddish for “plays”), dress up in costumes as the famous characters from the story, bake (and eat!) hamantaschen, shake Purim groggers (noisemakers), give gift baskets (mishloach manot) to friends and do tzedakah and other good works to spread joy and help the needy.

This Purim, PJ Library wants to help families celebrate in fun and unique ways, so they’ve created 18 great ideas sure to spur creativity and togetherness.  Whether your children have never dressed for Purim before or baked a classic, delicious hamantaschen – or you’re just tired of the same old routine – check out these enjoyable activities! And, for more, families are welcome to visit PJ Library’s Purim Hub!

If you currently receive PJ Library books, be on the lookout for the special February mailing, which contains a Purim gift basket to make and decorate!

A program of the Harold Grinspoon Foundation, PJ Library sends more than two hundred ten thousand expertly curated books to families raising Jewish children – every month, at no cost to subscribers. Families raising Jewish children may subscribe at http://bit.ly/2DckFee , tapping in to a wealth of information, parenting resources and community events as well as free books.

Self Disclosure: I am a part of the PJ Library Ambassadors tribe and some form of compensation has been received. Images and information are also provided.

Filed Under: Media Reviews

5 Tips for Helping an Anxious Puppy

March 2, 2020 By Leave a Comment

Anxiety is quite common among dogs, especially when they’re puppies. Puppies are experiencing a lot of things for the first time, and it can be quite overwhelming for them. They may be frightened of objects, sounds, or people that are new to them. One of the most common forms of anxiety is separation anxiety. If you leave your puppy alone, it will often assume you are never coming back, which can be very stressful for them.

You can reduce and even eliminate your puppy’s anxiety by using a combination of tools and training. Here are five tips for helping your anxious puppy become confident and calm.

1.      Crate training

Giving your puppy its own “safe zone” will dramatically help with anxiety. Using a crate as a base, you can train your puppy to go to its base whenever it feels scared or anxious. A crate is not to be used to lock your puppy up, but to provide a place for them to chill out. Make it comfortable for them and use treats and toys to encourage them to go into their crate. It will also make it easier when you do need to put them in the crate since they will already be comfortable with it.

2.      Desensitize your puppy

Your puppy will likely have anxiety about all new things. Once they realize they are safe and spend more time with certain things, they will begin to desensitize to it. If there is a specific object that your puppy seems nervous about, introduce them to it slowly and keep repeating. Ensure that you reward them with a treat every time they remain calm. It is a good tactic to use around people, especially if your puppy seems frightened or if they don’t like the sound of an item in your home, such as the dishwasher.

3.      Exercise

The most effective treatment for anxiety is exercise. Puppies have a ton of energy need somewhere for all that energy to go. Play fetch with them, let them run in the park, or play with another dog when you know you’re going to be leaving. Tiring them out will help them to settle down and relax when they get home.

4.      Natural supplements/alternatives

Some natural supplements and treatments can help reduce anxiety in your puppy without the concerning side effects of medication. Pheromone collars can help them relax as can compression shirts. CBD is also a common natural treatment for dogs with anxiety. CBD treats, such as the ones at ceebeedoo.com, can provide relief from stress and help your puppy calm down.

5.      Develop puppy independence

Separation anxiety is very common among puppies, and you can train them to be independent. Since they fear that you’ll abandon them, you need to teach them that it’s OK when you leave and that you’ll always come back. Building that trust takes patience and repetitive training. Train them to be confident on their own by starting with small distances of separation and build on it. For example, have them stay across the room from you and reward them. Increase the distance each time until you are in a different room. Using this method will help your dog gain independence.

Your new puppy is likely to have some form of anxiety. With a little work and a lot of love, you can help your puppy grow into a confident and independent dog.

Filed Under: Pet Corner

JOHN CENA STARS IN THE HILARIOUS & HEARTWARMING FAMILY COMEDY THAT’S EVEN MORE FUN ON BLU-RAY™! PLAYING WITH FIRE

March 1, 2020 By Leave a Comment

Called “fun for the whole family” (Mark Pacis, Nerd Reactor) and “full of laughs” (Jamie Mariano, The Movie Elite), the hilarious family comedy PLAYING WITH FIRE debuts on Digital January 21, 2020 and on Blu-ray, DVD, and On Demand February 4 from Paramount Home Entertainment.

The Digital* and Blu-ray releases deliver even more laughs with wildly funny bonus content.  Sit down with Captain Jake (John Cena) as he reads a bedtime story with an amusing twist; see what you missed in theaters with deleted scenes and laugh-out-loud bloopers; plus, enjoy behind-the-scenes featurettes with the cast.

When firefighter Jake Carson (John Cena) and his team (Keegan-Michael Key & John Leguizamo) rescue three siblings in the path of a wildfire, they quickly realize that no amount of training could have prepared them for their most challenging job yet – babysitting. While trying to locate the children’s parents, the firefighters have their lives, jobs and even their fire station turned upside down and learn that kids – much like fires – are wild and full of surprises.

This is a really funny movie for the whole family! I really enjoyed watching it! Don’t miss it!

Self Disclosure: I received a free copy of the movie and also received additional goodies to facilitate this post. Images and information also provided.

www.PlayingWithFire.Movie

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PlayingWithFireMovie/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/PlayingWFire

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/PlayingWithFire/

Amazon: https://paramnt.us/PWFBlu-ray

iTunes: https://paramnt.us/GetPWFNow

Filed Under: Media Reviews

Wendy * A Soulful Fantasy Drama Combining Drama With Adventure

March 1, 2020 By Leave a Comment

Lost on a mysterious island where aging and time have come unglued, Wendy must fight to save her family, her freedom, and the joyous spirit of youth from the deadly peril of growing up. KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Zoe C. comments, “Wendy is the new re-imagined version of the Peter Pan story and a very thoughtful and meaningful film. It is beautifully shot, and it reminds us of the power of imagination. Wendy is a very introspective story that combines adventure with drama but is not a colorful vibrant tale—instead it is filled with some sadness and a little gloom.” Katherine S. adds, “This soulful fantasy drama drew me in from the very beginning and never let up.  It is so visually stimulating, with a lot of different camera angles and incredible stunts. The location is both beautiful and exotic. It’s the perfect setting.” See their full reviews below.

Wendy

By Zoe C., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 11

Wendy is the new re-imagined version of the Peter Pan story and a very thoughtful and meaningful film. It is beautifully shot, and it reminds us of the power of imagination. Wendy is a very introspective story that combines adventure with drama but is not a colorful vibrant tale—instead it is filled with some sadness and a little gloom.

Director Benh Zeitlin co-wrote this film with his sister Eliza, a story where a little girl, Wendy, assumes the role of a mother figure to her brothers.  The story explores adulthood and the challenges of a new self-acquired freedom.

Trains pass everyday just next to Wendy’s house and everything shakes. Her life seems very methodical; she helps her mom at the dinner business that operates in the lower level of her house. On the top level, she plays and uses her imagination reading books and daydreaming about adventures. One day, when she is little, a kid disappears on top of a train in front of her pretty blue eyes. Years later, she decides to disappear on a train, too, followed by her brothers, curious to see what happens at the end of the journey. She meets Peter Pan and arrives in a remote volcano island. She also meets the kid that disappeared years ago, but he hasn’t aged. She discovers the secrets behind staying forever as a kid as she learns the importance of growing and enjoying every stage of life.

The film was shot on location, in places that represented a real challenge to the crew. Zeitlin is a passionate filmmaker who challenged himself filming in 16mm, a format that is artistic but represents more efforts, technically speaking. The format definitively adds texture and works perfectly for the story.

The young actors were excellent; they totally conveyed a wide range of emotions.

Wendy is about lots of things; definitively a coming-of-age film where Wendy deals with the fact of growing up and assuming responsibilities and being afraid of that. But it is also about family, respect for nature and grown-ups and older people. And this is probably my only issue with this film – at times, it feels that it has too many moments of symbolism which makes it hard to follow the main purpose.

The message of the film is we should always remember the good things about being a child, keeping a free spirit and use our imagination. But aging brings wisdom and we can’t change the course of life.

I give Wendy 4.5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for kids age 10 to 18. Some images could be a little intense for young kids and this movie will not be very easy to understand for kids under 10. Wendy opens February 28, 2020.

Wendy

By Katherine S., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 12

This soulful fantasy drama drew me in from the very beginning and never let up.  It is so visually stimulating, with a lot of different camera angles and incredible stunts. The location is both beautiful and exotic. It’s the perfect setting.

Wendy is a very different adaptation of the classic Peter Pan story. It follows a young girl named Wendy and her adventure to a mysterious island with her brothers.  Once on the island, they discover the wonders of nature, freedom and the surprising struggles of life. Wendy fights to keep her family together, while trying to stay young.

Benh Zeitlin co-wrote the screenplay with his sister, Eliza Zeitlin, and also directs the film. The awesome thing about this twosome is that they didn’t just, one day, think of this idea for a movie, but had the idea their whole lives. Benh also co-composed much of the dynamic music for the movie along with Dan Romer.  Wendy was filmed on location in the Caribbean, using 16mm film versus a reliance on green screens for background settings. It features real nature! This movie has a wonderful cast of nonprofessional kids, such as Yashua Mack, who plays a very believable Peter. Gage and Gavin Naquin, as Wendy’s brothers Douglas and James, have a visible bond with each other as brothers as well as in real life. My favorite character is Wendy (Devin France), because she is so brave, very curious, and has a kind spirit.  

The messages of this film are that it is ok to grow up, but never loose joy, hope, wonder and freedom and to confront, not escape, life’s difficulties. This movie has some mild profanity, some gory images and some very risky adventures, but the last is on purpose because they wanted these kids to be free to do fun and dangerous things.

I give this movie 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 12 to 18. Adults will also like this movie. Wendy opens in theaters on February 28, 2020.

Filed Under: Media Reviews Tagged With:
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