Review and Giveaway: Captain McFinn and Friends

We are all concerned about bullying.  We felt it when we were in school and we want to shelter our children from it, and while we can't shelter them from it we'd like to at least give our children the tools they need to handle themselves.

My boys and I have been reviewing a new anti-bully program called "Captain McFinn and Friends" and we really like it.  The books tell a series of stories that follow a group of underwater friends, with accompanying CD for singing along.  In the first book McFinn is actually the leader of a group of ne'er do wells who is assisted by those whom he had previously mocked and chooses to be friends with them.  In subsequent stories the team works together toward positive solutions for problems.  I love the uplifting messages in the stories but what I find most powerful is the message that anyone can change.  McFinn was mean but he changed; anyone can change.

There is also a Captain McFinn and Friends app which is FREE and available on apple and android devices.  When I installed my app and passed my phone to the boys I was amazed that they managed to both interact with the app until supper.  They used it simultaneously!  They enjoyed the storytelling the app offered, but the real hit was the camera feature in the app. They had a great time taking pictures of each other and adding stickers to silly it up.  My oldest left the phone momentarily to tell my husband how much he really loved this app, but when my husband suggested that he tell me he went straight back to the phone, having decided that he didn't want to waste the time it would take to find me down the hall.  (So Paul came down to interrupt the laundry and tell me, "that app is a huge hit.")

The website includes fun interactive activities which include puzzles and games as well as an anti-bullying pledge. For educators there is information on the S.H.A.R.K. Patrol (which stands for Students Help Achieve Respect and Kindness), a program designed for use in K-3 classrooms.  In my opinion the more people learn how to speak and act in kindness the better off our world will be, all the better if we start with our children.

THE GIVEAWAY:

One lucky winner will receive the same Captain McFinn books I received for review.  

~enter after the jump!~

Disclosure:

I was sent these items free of charge.

This has in no way affected my opinion.

This review is my opinion and has been written in my own words.

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