It’s been a long time coming but my online store Pipsqueak Boutique finally has an updated look and TONS of new products. We have also officially launched our new weekly ezine for Moms known as The Mom-in-the-Know Ezine and our Pipsqueak Birthday Club. To celebrate all of these exciting changes we’re offering great discounts on some of our bestsellers so be sure to check out all the deals and see what’s new at Pipsqueak Boutique.

Here is a peek at some of our favorite products…

My oldest will be starting French Immersion in September and I’ve been torn about whether to start teaching him to read English now or wait and let him learn with his classmates. The problem is he won’t start studying English at school until Grade 5 and I think it will be frustrating for him living in an English speaking world and not being able to read or write it.

So I’ve been on the hunt for good materials I can use to make learning to read English fun for him. A great one I came across recently was StarFall.com. My 4 year old loves the reading exercises and my 3 year old is playing the games to help her learn her letters and their sounds.

Definitely a site worth checking out!

In April I wrote Cool Site Alert: KneeBouncers.com, and since then I have been thinking about other great sites for kids.  This list has something for children of all ages and is full of educational, informative ways they can use the Internet.

1. It is so exciting to make something that actually flies.  Discover the magic of flight with this great website that provides easy to follow instructions for making different kinds of paper airplanes.  You and your kids will be amazed with the cool ways these planes can move through the air.
2.  Help your kids understand the natural world and how they can take care of it with these two great environmental websites for kids from EcoKids and the EPA.
3. Learn all about oral health and what goes on inside your mouth.  This fun website will teach kids about the importance of brushing and taking care of their teeth.
4. Space!  Help your kids explore the final frontier and discover strange new worlds.  Boldly go to these websites from the Canadian Space Agency and NASA.
5. Your kids can learn about music, different instruments and the people who make it with this interactive website from the National Arts Centre.
6. Discover the story behind the story.  This website explains how a children’s story book is created, from the idea, to illustration, to publishing.
7.  Uncover the fun at the Discovery Kids website with lots of games and activities, including Tutenstein – make your own mummy!
8. Dig up the past and find out about the age of the dinosaurs at this website for younger kids and at this one for slightly older kids.
9. A young Leonardo da Vinci guides kids through interactive games and activities that teach the basic principles of art.  Most kids are so creative and this is a great way for them to explore and learn more.
10. Your chldren will love this cool, kid friendly website that talks about books, comics, movies and has fun and educational games.
11.  This whole website is fun, but I especially love these science experiments for kids.  Just a quick warning, this website contains ads.
12.  This website is definitely for older kids, or maybe something to look at together if you have younger kids.  Explore this informative website and find out how stuff works.
13. If your kids are old enough to watch tv and go on the internet on their own, it is important to teach them to be media savvy.  This wonderful website uses interactive games to teach media literacy and critical thinking to kids.
14. Even though it is now called snail mail, it is still fun to get something personal in the mail, especially for kids.  This website helps kids safely find penpals and build friendships.  It also helps them practice letter writing and literacy skills.

I use the computer quite a bit (some would say too much – and by “some” I mean my husband) so of course my kids see me on it.  Ever since they were small they’ve wanted to use the ‘puter too.

But unfortunately there are not alot of sites geared toward toddlers.

Or so I thought.

Turns out the folks at KneeBouncers have been offering fun, educational, age appropriate games for toddlers since 2002.  Why have I never heard about this before!?!?

Thinking maybe I’m not the only one, I wanted to share this great site with you.

I recently discovered a fun site that has inspired me to start a Cool Site Alert feature here on POZ.

The Skinny Scoop is an online polling site where you can learn things like “32% of respondents only cook dinner 4 times per week”, “51% only buy organic milk” and “40% spend $1,250+ per child for clothing every year”.

Check out The Skinny Scoop for more interesting stats. They just launched in early 2010 but they’re growing quickly.  While you’re there be sure to join the community and participate by answering some of the questions or posting your own.