How To Grow Your Geek: Parenting and More!

 

 HTGYG Show #9: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (56)

Hi everyone!

Today, I am aided by my daughter Amanda and my son Kevin, who wanted to discuss some of their favorite things, new and old. We discuss Kung Fu Panda, the Spore Creature Creator, Portal, Star Wars Galactic Hero figures, iCarly, The Wizards of Waverly Place and Sabrina the Teenage Witch.

Big thanks and hugs to Darcy Low, who has kept us going with content on the web page during my break. Please check out her book and movie reviews! We love you Darcy!

Thanks so much to all of you for hanging in there and waiting on me! Between being sick, painting the basement (which didn’t help my being sick) and going out of town, it has been a busy month of June! We plan to be back on schedule now, and hope you are still liking us. Let us know what you want to hear! You can also send us your family-friendly reviews, just like Darcy!

Please email me with your own comments at howtogrowyourgeek - at-gmail -dot-com, or call my voicemail number at 206-202-7309 and leave your thoughts. You can also visit our forum at the Farpoint Forums.

I would also love your comments, family stories and questions!

Logo Art by Tim Coffey

Theme music courtesy of Jonathan Coulton
Sound effects and other music courtesy of pacdv.com

 

 Standard Podcast: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (88)

Well, I still have bronchitis a bit, but the coughing spells are farther apart. I didn’t help myself any by trying to paint the basement this week as well! I am planning to get a show out to you soon, when I won’t have to edit so much coughing! Thanks for your patience!

 

 Standard Podcast: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (105)

Hi everyone! I just wanted to send this out on the feed so you would know that I didn’t podfade. I just got a really nasty case of bronchitis, and lost some of my voice. I will be back with a new show next week. Thanks for listening!

 

 HTGYG #8: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (137)

On this week’s show, I wanted to review some great Disney movies, some of which are off-the-beaten-path, to watch with your kids. They will all spark fun memories and discussions of geeky topics.

<SPOILER ALERT> I give a brief synopsis of each movie!

Here is the list of movies:

The Sword in the Stone (1963)

Bedknobs and Broomsticks (1971)

Escape to Witch Mountain (1975) and Return from Witch Mountain (1978)

Sky High (2005)

Minutemen (2008)

And, last but not least, The Incredibles (2004) , which is my personal favorite “movie to have to listen to over and over again.”

I finish up with another great voicemail from Darcy’s Dad, Tim, who tells us a great story on his lovely daughter. Thanks so much to you both for being such supportive fans!

Please email me with your own comments at howtogrowyourgeek - at-gmail -dot-com, or call my voicemail number at 206-202-7309 and leave your thoughts. You can also visit our forum at the Farpoint Forums.

I would also love your comments, family stories and questions!

Logo Art by Tim Coffey

Theme music courtesy of Jonathan Coulton
Sound effects and other music courtesy of pacdv.com

 

 HTGYG #7 [25:14m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (179)

This episode was inspired by this video, linked to by the Thoughtful Geeks podcast, about what dangerous things we should let kids do in order for them to learn important lessons. I go over their examples and add my own family’s experiences.

Then, I review the tile-based board game Carcassonne, which is an inexpensive classic that is great to play with everyone ages 5 and up.

Thanks so much to Darcy for her kind email! Please email us with your own comments at howtogrowyourgeek - at-gmail -dot-com, or call my voicemail number at 206-202-7309 and leave your thoughts. You can also visit our forum at the Farpoint Forums.

I would also love your comments, family stories and questions!

Logo Art by Tim Coffey

Theme music courtesy of Jonathan Coulton
Sound effects and other music courtesy of pacdv.com

 

 HTGYG Show #6 [22:21m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (136)

This week, all of the disasters that have taken place have really upset and affected me. I wanted to share ideas of how to explain these events to our kids, how to reassure them, and how to encourage them to grow up caring and responsible adults who are willing to help those in need in our world. It is a difficult thing to shatter a child’s innocence and security, but it is vitally important that they be aware of how the world works, and that bad things can happen to anyone. The best we can do is help the children understand, and prepare them as much as possible to handle things that come up unexpectedly.

Here is a link where you can find out more about how you and your family can help.

Impact Your World at CNN.COM

On a much lighter note, I wanted to thank Darcy’s Dad for calling in with my first voicemail! Please email us with your own comments at howtogrowyourgeek - at-gmail -dot-com, or call my voicemail number at 206-202-7309 and leave your thoughts. You can also visit our forum at the Farpoint Forums.

I would also love your comments, family stories and questions!

Logo Art by Tim Coffey

Theme music courtesy of Jonathan Coulton
Sound effects and other music courtesy of pacdv.com

 

 HTGYG Show #5 [25:41m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (155)

Better late than never, this episode is about my favorite (and mostly family-friendly) websites and podcasts, and my favorite sci-fi convention. In this episode I discuss the following sites and podcasts

Escape Pod

Fear the Boot

Jonathan Coulton

Skepticality

Slice of SciFi

The Babylon Podcast

The Dragon Page Cover-To-Cover

The Kick-Ass Mystic Ninjas

This Week in Science

Wait, Wait, Don’t Tell Me

What the Cast

And my favorite sci-fi fantasy convention, Atlanta’s Dragon*Con.

I end with promos for The Dragon Page Cover-to-Cover and What the Cast, and the lovely song “My Beige Bear” by Jonathan Coulton.

Please email us at howtogrowyourgeek - at-gmail -dot-com, or call my voicemail number 206-202-7309.

I would also love your comments, family stories and questions!

Logo Art by Tim Coffey

Theme music courtesy of Jonathan Coulton
Sound effects and other music courtesy of pacdv.com

 

 HTGYG Show #4 [25:23m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (155)

Hi everyone! I wanted to do a review of one of my favorite computer games for you, and it turned into a whole episode! I discuss The Sims 2, highlight all of its expansion packs and stuff packs, and explain custom content. I wrap it all up by playing a promo for The Babylon Podcast, where I joined an all-girl discussion about Episode 1 of Season 4 of Babylon 5.

Here is a list of some of my favorite sites for downloading custom content for The Sims 2:

• Mod the Sims 2 - Great clothing, hair, objects, and reliable game modification, plus the best tutorials.
  
• All About Style - Beautiful clothes, very detailed meshes, lots of historical costumes.
  
• Bines Sims Revue - A daily listing of updated sites - a must-have if you love downloading content!
  
• Piggi’s Sims -A wonderful source of game and custom mesh furniture and object recolors.
  
• The Sims Resource -Huge site with free and pay clothing, genetics, objects, furniture, and tutorials.

If you love controlling your own little world, then The Sims 2 is for you! Find it wherever you find your video games!

Please email us at howtogrowyourgeek - at-gmail -dot-com, or call my voicemail number 206-202-7309.

I would also love your comments, family stories and questions!

Logo Art by Tim Coffey

Theme music courtesy of Jonathan Coulton
Sound effects and other music courtesy of pacdv.com

Subscribe using iTunes! and show us some iTunes love!

 

 HTGYG Show #3 [25:04m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (176)

Hi everyone!

This week we have a patchwork quilt of a show. I present an article from Parenting.com about parenting styles, then my husband John comments on his theory of getting young kids to game. Next I review one of our favorite games to play with older children and adults, Last Night on Earth: The Zombie Game. Then I interview my 5 year-old son Kevin about his favorite games, which include Lego Star Wars, and I review the Discovery Channel’s outstanding DVD set Planet Earth.

What do you think is the biggest challenge to being a geek parent? Please email us at howtogrowyourgeek - at-gmail -dot-com, or call my voicemail number 206-202-7309.

I would also love your comments, family stories and questions!

Logo Art by Tim Coffey

Theme music courtesy of Jonathan Coulton
Sound effects and other music courtesy of pacdv.com

Subscribe using iTunes! and show us some iTunes love!

 

 HTGYG Show #2 [26:52m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (212)

In this episode, I present the new hands-only method of CPR. More information is available at the American Heart Association.

Then my husband John joins me to comment on last episode’s topic of what to do when you bring your little geek home. Then I review one of our favorite Discovery Channel shows, “Dirty Jobs.”

Finally, I present four of my favorite board games for playing with my little geeks, starting at 4-5 years old. The games I present are Apples to Apples Jr., Uno Attack, The Amazing Labyrinth, and Battleground: Crossbows and Catapults.

Please send in your recorded comments and emails to Howtogrowyourgeek -at- gmail.com or call 206-202-7309 and leave me a voicemail! I would love your comments, family stories and questions!

Logo Art by Tim Coffey

Theme music courtesy of Jonathan Coulton
Sound effects and other music courtesy of pacdv.com

Subscribe using iTunes! and show us some iTunes love!