Categories
Review

Garmin vívofit® jr. 2 – Star Wars BB-8

Being active is so important, walking, playing sport and just moving is ideal.

It is said that you should do 10,000 steps each day. I am not sure I get close to that at all times, sometimes close and other times I just try and move and do some exercise every day.

My kids wanted to get a Vívofit Jr. due to other kids at school having them.

Hubby and I were constantly told about why we should buy them a Garmin Vívofit Jr. activity tracker.


Why the girls wanted a Vívofit Jr.

  • It tracks how many steps and minutes of activity you do.
  • If you do 60 minutes of activity or more you get a certain number of moves in an online game.
  • You can track chores and assign pocket money or if you don’t wish to pay money you can take kids to an event, movie or special outing.
  • The kids wanted one so that they could compete with their friends at school.
  • It’s also to waterproof so kids can wear while swimming or in the shower.

We decided that it the Vivofit was a good idea, and purchased one each for the girls just before they were nine.  The girls love their activity watches and find it fun to hit goals.

We were thrilled to review the new Garmin vívofit® jr. 2 – Star Wars BB-8.

 

Garmin vivofit jr2, Adjustable, Resistance
Garmin vivofit jr2, Adjustable, Resistance

What the girls have loved about the new vívofit® jr. 2

  • The new Star Wars themed game and characters on the activity watch.
  • It has colour now on the screen. The original vívofit jr. the screen is just black and white.
  • With the new colour screen when you hit a goal you get fabulous fireworks to celebrate.
  • You can get adjustable bands for your new activity watch so that your child can grow with it.
  • “The app experience corresponds with the style of band you choose. That means the fun never has to end. Purchase additional vívofit jr. 2 bands to let your kiddo enter a whole new world of app adventures.”
  • Having cool characters from Star Wars is a plus, my kids are mad Star Wars fans.

 

The Garmin Vívofit jr. 2 is so easy to setup and start using.

All you need to do is to download the app from the app store, available for iPhones and on Google Play.

Pair the device and then set it up with name and details for the child that is going to wear it.

You can choose an avatar, pick a name (or nickname) and once done all good to go.

If you already had the original Vivofit Jr. all you have to do is to pair the device and set it up and then it will show up on the app.

The girls called their new trial Jeff, or otherwise known as BB-8 Vívofit jr. 2.

You can set up chores and also reminders for kids that need that extra boost to do a chore.

I just synced the girl's info from their Garmin Vívofit jr's to get all the updated info. As you can see Jeff hit 2 goals today.
I just synced the girl’s info from their Garmin Vívofit jr’s to get all the updated info. As you can see Jeff hit 2 goals today.

From the above image, you will see that the number in blue on the far right-hand side is the number of moves each child has in their online game.

Moves in the game are dependent on how much activity you have done.

The BB-8 Star Wars game on the Garmin Vívofit jr. 2
The BB-8 Star Wars game on the Garmin Vívofit jr. 2

After monitoring the kid’s activity for a while I can clearly see that they go above and beyond 10,000 steps per day.

The kid who was wearing Jeff or otherwise known as the Star Wars BB-8 Garmin vívofit jr. 2 did 13,080 steps on Monday the 2nd of July! Yep, that’s a lot of steps. No wonder the kids are tired after school.

The activity watches also monitor sleep patterns, after a while you can easily see if your kids are getting deep sleep or constantly waking.

The kids are sad that we have to send this tester back to Garmin.

I know you can picture it but I can hear it, the tears and the constant pestering to get the new versions. Maybe we need to get the new Garmin Vívofit jr. 2  for their 10th birthday (I still cannot believe my babies will be 10 soon)

I must say that the version 2 of Garmin’s Vivofit Jr is better than the original, although the kids still love both. I think the introduction of colour and the ability to have bands change the game you play is a fab idea.

Have you got your kids a Garmin Vívofit jr. 2 ?

If you haven’t it would make an awesome present and help kids be more active.

Kids have iPads, computers and the television to watch and it is all more screens. Having something that helps kids get outdoors and away from screens is fabulous.

Ohhhh and having chores and incentives attached is a plus for any parent.

You can set up chores and also reminders for kids that need that extra boost to do a chore.
You can set up chores and also reminders for kids that need that extra boost to do a chore.

 

We loved testing the new Garmin Vívofit jr. 2. the kids had so much fun with the new BB-8 Star Wars Activity Tracker.

A HUGE thank you to Garmin for letting us test out the new Garmin Vívofit jr. 2.

Note: You can get replacement bands and have access to all new games on the Vivofit jr. 2. The girls were so taken with the new version of the Garmin vivofit jr 2’s that I got them a Marvel Avengers one for their birthday this year.

Get a replacement adjustable band that allows you to play new games and have a whole new look. The twins now have the Marvel Avengers Garmin Vivofit jr 2.
Get a replacement adjustable band that allows you to play new games and have a whole new look. The twins now have the Marvel Avengers Garmin Vivofit jr 2.

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Categories
Family

Winning Games from Winning Moves

Do your kids love playing games? Winning Moves has some amazing games that I’m sure your kids will love.

Harry Potter Match
Harry Potter Match

Would you love to have some new games to keep everyone happy and occupied?  If you would like some more ideas,  I have some games to help you out.

Lillian playing Top Trumps Match with her sister. You can get different types of Top Trumps Match and the girls were playing the Harry Potter one.
Lillian playing Top Trumps Match with her sister. You can get different types of Top Trumps Match and the girls were playing the Harry Potter one.

The girls and I were all invited by Winning Moves to test out some new games. Winning Moves aims to get kids away from screens and playing more games. This is a huge win if you ask me. Games allow children to think strategically, learn new things and to play with others. It is also great that kids are not just staring at a screen and actually interacting with each other.

What Games did we try out?

The twins favourite game was Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire Top Trumps

Playing Harry Potter Top Trumps with Veronica from Winning Moves. The kids were winning at this stage and very happy about it.
Playing Harry Potter Top Trumps with Veronica from Winning Moves. The kids were winning at this stage and very happy about it.

How do you play the games?

Top Trumps Match

Top Trumps Match is a matching game like the name suggests.

To start the game you pull out the square on the top of the game board. This is where you start. Each player takes a turn to remove a square and add a square anywhere on the board.

You work away and try to match one character that you have chosen. If you get presented with a square without your character you will have to change which character for matching.

Top Trumps Match has fabulous carry cases. This makes it easy to take the game anywhere. Perfect for travel.
Top Trumps Match have fabulous carry cases. This makes it easy to take the game anywhere. Perfect for travel.

 

You need to get five of each character in a line. This line could be horizontal, vertical or anywhere. As long as there is five of the same character in one line you win.

However, that win might be short-lived. In the game you have cards. These cards sit on the top of the match carry case.

Each player gets two cards each and they are placed face down in front of each player. Once one player yells ‘Match!’ Each player then turns over their two cards.

If the other player has the same character as the player that yelled “Match!” they can take the win. If they don’t and the winner who yelled “Match” has the character they are safe. If no one has the character then you are still safe.

Top Trumps DC Comics Who's The Strongest?
Top Trumps DC Comics Who’s The Strongest?

Top Trumps 

Top Trumps is a card game.

You get presented with all the characters from a film or topic and have to challenge other players with the qualities of the character.

The twins played the Harry Potter Top Trump and had a lot of fun.

The characters have qualities like magic, cunning, courage, wisdom and temper. Each player picks the higher number of one of the qualities and then ask others what their number for this quality is.

If you have the highest number of this quality you collect the cards with the lower number of all other players.

The winner of the game is the one that has all the cards.

Happy due to a winning streak. The kid on the right lost her cards and it was all down to her sister.
Happy due to a winning streak. The kid on the right lost her cards and it was all down to her sister.

As you might sense the twins are keen fans of Harry Potter and therefore played these games more than the other ones. There were plenty of other games to choose from and not just ones with Harry Potter.

Other themed games were:

  • There is Disney Movies (we did play a bit of this one and soon realised that we have watched all the Disney movies too many times. We knew nearly all the answers and without looking at the card)
  • Marvel
  • Superheroes
  • Farm animals
  • Star Wars
  • Dinosaurs
  • Space
  • Australia
  • Pixar Cars
  • Bugs
  • DC Comics
  • Disney’s Frozen
  • Minions
  • Shopkins
  • Transformers
  • And much more!
Top Trumps, "Where would you like to go". Countries of the world.
Top Trumps, “Where would you like to go”. Countries of the world.

The girls loved the games so much that they played them while we waited for lunch and also on the car ride home.

Playing Top Trumps Harry Potter while waiting for lunch.
Playing Top Trumps Harry Potter while waiting for lunch.

If you wish to get your kids some fun, interactive games that they will also learn great facts, then Winning Moves is the place.             Of course you can purchase all Top Trump games from the Winning Moves website. And also from the following stores:

  • Big W
  • Toys R Us
  • Australian Geographic
  • Newslink Airport stores
  • Kidstuff
  • David Jones
  • Zing/EB Games
  • The Gamesmen
  • Hobby Co.
  • Toyworld
  • Mr. Toys

Thanks so much to Winning Moves for the invitation to test out their new fun games.

The kids and I had a great time, and I am very excited that we now have a few more games for the kids to play.

This year is a year where I am cutting down screen time, so having games that the kids love is ideal.

 

The girls having fun playing Harry Potter Match. They are seriously thinking about their next move!
The girls having fun playing Harry Potter Match. They are seriously thinking about their next move!

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Categories
6 years and beyond

A Star Wars Father’s Day

Today is Father’s Day. Today it was seven years ago I went off to hospital to have the twins. It was more like waiting a week to have them but it was on Father’s Day that it all happened. It makes me wonder when it will all happen with this baby? Will it be Christmas Day? New Year’s Day or will it be on time? Who knows. The only thing that has been happening is that whoever is in my belly is jumping around and is very active. I must have a trampoline in there?? It feels like that is the case at times.

The kids and I have secretly put all hubby’s surprises on his desk.

Father's Day Presents for Hubby
Father’s Day Presents for Hubby
Artwork to celebrate Father's Day
Artwork to celebrate Father’s Day

What did we get him you ask?

I decided to make him something as I did not see really anything that he could use or might want.  One of the girls who was with me picked out a special cookbook that came with cookie cutters.

Star Wars Cookbook that hubby got for Father's Day
Star Wars Cookbook that hubby got for Father’s Day

One of the girls helped me with picking something from the cookbook to make for daddy for Father’s Day. She picked Chewy Chocolate Cookies. We got all the ingredients and then made our big batch of cookies.  The reciepe made heaps of dough so I had heaps of cookies to make.

The kids are rather taken with Star Wars lately. They know many of the characters and like the action and the stories.

One child also purchased some Anzac Biscuits at the school Father’s Day shop. I think daddy will have plenty of snacks to eat and of course more to cook in his cookbook.

We are taking hubby out for lunch to celebrate Father’s Day. I have not booked anywhere so I hope we can get in. I did not think to make a reservation and just hope that we are lucky to get in for lunch where we like or at least somewhere else.

What are you doing for Father’s day? Did dad/hubby like their presents?