When I first asked my older daughter what she wanted Santa to bring her for Christmas, she told me, “A Webkin.” Instead, she’s already received something much cooler: Bella Sara collectible trading cards.

The cards feature detailed drawings of horses, along with what could be considered “affirmations” for the elementary-school set. Some are a little new-age for my taste, but many are worth internalizing, such as “Learn to trust in the people who care about you.” and “Have the courage to learn from your weaknesses and grow stronger.” The horses have names like Janus, Nike, and Cybele, which is far preferable to the names of other toy equines out there (I trust you know what I mean).

The cards can be used to play actual card games, or the horses pictured on the cards may be activated online (using the code on each card) and housed in a stable in the world of Bella Sara. There, girls can feed and care for their horses, play games with them, and learn more about horses in general. Although the Bella Sara site is online, there’s no interaction with other users, which makes it ideal for kids who are just beginning to learn about Internet safety.

Bella Sara was created by a Danish social worker, Gitte Odder Braendgaard. Her son enjoyed Pokemon and Magic: The Gathering cards, but her daughters showed no interest. Braendgaard conceived Bella Sara as an alternative card-based activity for girls, with a stronger focus on imagination and self-esteem and less emphasis on competition. It has become a tremendous hit in Scandinavia since its introduction in late 2005, and the cards became available nationally in the US in early 2007. Recent coverage of Bella Sara includes this NYT article, which gives more information concerning the history of the cards.

My older daughter already enjoys using the computer, particularly for playing games that have an element of continuity. Being able to keep track of her progress is a key motivator for her. So she has really enjoyed activating her horses online, where she can return to care for them and play games. We also don’t have any pets, so caring for horses online is an acceptable substitute for all of us - especially considering that we live in Colorado where many girls her age actually DO have their own horse.

I asked her about her favorite aspects of Bella Sara, and she affirmed that the online play is lots of fun for her. She loves to feed the horses and play jumping games with them. As in other collectible trading card games, there are rare cards in Bella Sara that have iridescent backgrounds. She reported that when she activated these horses online, they were placed in a different kind of stable - “more like a castle!” Interestingly, while she thinks these rare cards are pretty cool, she told me that she was disappointed that these horses’ feet never got dirty; she can’t clean the manure out of their shoes like she can with the horses in the regular stable.

If only she thought it was such fun to clean up her room, right?

The cards are geared toward the 6-12 age range, so she’s only just getting started. She’s had a great time introducing her friends to the cards and showing them her online stables. While I like to encourage her interest in solid subjects like history and science, I don’t object to her enjoyment of Bella Sara. It’s fanciful and girly, but it incorporates good messages. Not all play has to involve learning, and Bella Sara is certainly more wholesome than a lot of the activities and characters aimed at girls her age.

And even though Santa won’t be bringing her any Webkinz, she’ll find a Bella Sara plush horse on Christmas morning instead. Something tells me she won’t be disappointed.

Learn more about Bella Sara on their website, and purchase the cards on Amazon!

I have to admit that I own more children’s DVDs than I’d like.  Between that infernal Baby E=MC2 collection (you know what I mean) and everything that Pixar ever produced, I’m done with mass-marketed DVDs.

But I’ve got plenty of independently-produced DVDs too, and those are often painful, both to the eyes and the ears.  I’m reluctant to take any more chances on those either.

So I could be considered a children’s DVD skeptic.  At this point, I require proof that a DVD is worth watching before I’ll plunk my kids (and myself) down in front of it.

A Cool Mom Picks feature is pretty definitive proof, in my opinion.  And so, as part of the Parent Bloggers Network campaign for That Baby DVD, I popped it in and settled onto the sofa to enjoy the show.

Lo and behold, I did enjoy it.

Even better, my children didn’t settle onto the sofa beside me.  They twirled and danced right along with the show.

The music is wonderful.  Absolutely wonderful.  I can’t say enough about how much I actually enjoyed listening to it.  You just don’t hear that about children’s DVDs, but in this case, it’s true.

The children are darling.  What really struck me was how natural they were.  They can’t all be Oscar-winning child actors; these kids were really having a genuine good time, no acting required.  That’s one aspect of many children’s DVDs that grates on me - how obviously rehearsed the kids are.

The production is flawless.  Really.  I loved the graphics, the shots, the pacing.  Completely professional.

And my girls - especially the younger one - loved watching and listening and offering comments (especially in the beginning - “Butterflies!  In the tree!  Butterflies!  On my diapers!”).

It’s difficult to find children’s DVDs that are good entertainment for both parents and children.  That Baby DVD has done what is nearly impossible!

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Don’t believe me?  Get one yourself - at 20% off, using coupon code PBN - and give it a whirl.  If you don’t like it, there’s a money back guarantee, no questions asked.  And if the disc ever (next week, next month, next YEAR) gets scratched, return it for a replacement.  These guys really and truly stand behind their product.

Some of you may be familiar with my friend Jenn’s gaming blog, Aggroqueen. Basically, Jenn’s whole family was heavily involved in the online game World of Warcraft, and since she couldn’t beat them, she joined them.

My husband is also a WoW disciple, and now that my older daughter is reading, he has introduced her to the cult community. I’ve joked about how if she had a gaming blog like Jenn’s, it would be called Aggrotot. But while I like it that she can follow the game and understands the concepts of completing quests and exchanging currency for goods, I’m still a little put off by some of the adult themes (read: violence) in the game.

So when one of my fellow PBN bloggers was unable to try out the new Knowledge Adventure game - JumpStart World - because it’s unfortunately not Mac-compatible, I have to admit I was excited to become her stand-in. She mailed her CD to me, I received it yesterday, and it went directly from mailbox to CD-ROM drive. Other than a brief overnight respite, my daughter has been glued to the PC, and instead of killing mythical creatures, she’s completing learning games and missions. She LOVES this game.

Even more impressive, the version we received is the second grade one (she’s in kindergarten), and while she’s run into a few hurdles she couldn’t quite leap on her own, she’s (forgive the expression) kicking ass and taking names - which makes her feel like a real big shot. I honestly can’t even tell you how far she’s progressed because she won’t stop playing long enough to let me check out the game for myself, but she and my husband have already told me that we need to subscribe so that she can get more adventure packs*.

While I love that she’s taking a break from WoW, I’m even happier that she’s showing such excitement for learning. She loves going to school and loves asking me millions of questions on every topic from human anatomy to world history. We’re thrilled to encourage her natural curiosity outside the context of formal education, and JumpStart World is one more great way to do that. It’s going to be a perfect diversion for her over the upcoming holiday break, which makes it an ideal holiday gift too.

*The CD and first two adventure packs are $19.95, available for grades K-2. But if you’d rather give it a test whirl before buying, check out the free trial option instead. I’m betting you and your child will be hooked.

If I could be anything in the world - if there were absolutely no limitations on my career choice - I’d be an astronaut.

As it is, I couldn’t have been an astronaut, thanks to my nearsightedness and my apparent inability to earn an engineering degree. But neither of those constraints can stop me from exploring space right here at home - whether I’m reading, watching TV, or choosing toys for my kids.

Toys? Yes, toys. Like the Spark Talking Telescope, sent by the Discovery Channel Store via the Parent Bloggers Network.

I knew my girls would love the telescope. In true geek fashion, following in the footsteps of their geeky parents, they love to watch shows about space - whether it’s the Zula Patrol or any of the Discovery Channel shows. And we’re thrilled to indulge and encourage their interest.

Sure enough, the telescope has been a tremendous hit - both with my older daughter (who is not quite six), and my younger daughter (who’s just shy of three). We took it out of the box, popped in a slide, and started winging it. So much for the scientific method of reading the directions - but with this toy, you really don’t need to. It’s very intuitive. In fact, even though she doesn’t use it “properly” - going through the facts and taking the quiz - my younger daughter probably plays with the telescope more frequently than my older one. It’s that easy to use and enjoy.

My older daughter punches in the codes on the slides - full-color NASA photographs that are truly stunning - and listens to the facts and takes the quizzes. I love that she shows such interest!

But I have to admit that it’s even more fun to watch my younger daughter play with the telescope. She can remove and replace the drawer of slides herself, but needs help getting the slide inserted properly. She tends to push the buttons randomly, but she knows which one turns the telescope on and off. If I’m not right next to her, she calls every celestial body “MOON!” But if I am there, she’ll ask, “What’s that, Mommy?” and then repeat what I tell her. Again, I love that she shows such interest, and even though she’s only parroting me now, I’ll bet the knowledge will start to sink in soon.

Best of all, this toy is compact and apparently indestructible. The drawer of slides fits neatly in the base of the telescope, which I think is absolutely ingenius. And once, my younger daughter accidentally knocked the telescope off the kitchen table and onto the tile floor. Not a lick of damage. I could hardly believe it.

Given how much they enjoy the telescope, I’m tempted to get them the microscope next - perhaps for my older daughter’s birthday. Plus, considering how rugged it is and how much it appeals to both of them, I’m sure that it will still be around when their little brother is old enough to check it out.

We love the Spark Talking Telescope and would highly recommend it, even for kids younger than the target age range.