by Laura Weisskopf Bleill

On Monday night, we achieved a first in the Weisskopf-Bleill household: Chanukah candelighting by Skype.

Although we enjoyed a family Chanukah party complete with cousins and grandparents while we were in the suburbs for Thanksgiving, it wasn’t the same as we weren’t together during the actual holiday (I giggled through our faux candlelighting, sorry Mom). But thanks to technology, we were able to bridge the 160-mile gap this year.

Lighting candles while skyping with the grandparents: a new Chanukah tradition. Photo by Laura Weisskopf Bleill

Through the computer, we sang the same prayers (off-key, of course) and the grandparents watched the children’s eyes light up as the candles went aglow. It was the next best thing to being next door — or something like that.

Technology was a major part of our Chanukah celebration this year. Who hasn’t seen the amazing Maccabeats song “Candlelight” on YouTube (up to more than 2 million hits and counting)? Of course last week I already wrote about our affinity for Chanukah music on satellite radio (oddly enough, we never heard the Maccabeats song there)!

I doubt that our Skype candlelighting had as much of an impact on my daughters, especially the little one. In her world, Skype is a household word, a regular occurrence. Sometimes it’s a bit jarring for her to see certain people in real life that she usually only sees on a MacBook screen. She’s not yet 2, but she knows the cast of characters we chat with on a regular basis — and often takes the time to make it known who she wants to see.

But our impromptu sharing of candlelighting via teleconference really made the holiday for me. We were able to share our joy — and our children’s joy — with two of the people who love them most. We shared a moment, but more importantly we made a memory — a memory no different than one if we had been in their living room.

Really, that’s what the holidays are all about — sharing them with the ones you love, no matter how far apart you may be. These days, we’re a little closer than I ever imagined possible.

Laura Weisskopf Bleill, a co-founder of chambanamoms.com, has been known to Skype friends across the country — and across Mattis Avenue.  She writes “Being a Jew in C-U,” a column about being a Jewish suburban girl in a cornfield, on Thursdays. You can reach her at laura@chambanamoms.com.

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Photo from Amazon.com

By Amy L. Hatch

We travel a lot by car. I have a serious plane phobia and hello! We have two kids. Four plane tickets are not easy on a girl’s budget.

Just this past Christmas, we drove almost 2,000 miles. And that, my friends, is a lot of Barbie movies. I can admit it, I employ the built-in DVD-player generously when we drive back East. While it keeps the kids quiet, it can drive a mom and dad nearly insane.

Kids love movies. Moms and dads like quiet. What’s a family to do? Problem, meet solution: Kids Gear Wireless Car Headphones.

These babies are just the right size for any kid ages 2 and up (or if you’re like me and gave birth to a giant, you can use them earlier). They have comfort padding for small heads, volume contols on the ear-cup, and automatic power-off for when the wee ones finally fall asleep.

The headphones can be used with any DVD system installed in: Ford, GM, Cadillac, Audi, Nissan, Mercedes-Benz, Dodge, Toyota, Lincoln, Acura, Volkswagen, Chevrolet, Land Rover, Lexus, Mitsubishi, Volvo … and Honda, the Official Mini-Van of chambanamoms.com.

The good people at Kidz Gear were kind enough to send us a set of these puppies just for you, along with a wireless transmitter that allows them to be used with any audio or video system that has an audio/video device outlet. The regular retail value of these headphones is $34.99.

Want a pair? You have until 5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 19 to leave a comment and tell us your tips for road trips with the kids. We’ll choose a winner at random.We’re giving away a second pair at the chamabanamoms and Cakes on Walnut Mom’s Night Out!

Now tell us, how do you survive those long road trips?

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Photo by Mads Boedker, Flickr

By Amy L. Hatch

A new study from the Kaiser Family Foundation finds that 24-hour access contributes to a drastic increase in the number of hours kids ages 8 to 18 spend engaged with entertainment media.

Researchers found that kids spend an average of seven hours and 38 minutes using entertainment media across a typical day — that’s more than 53 hours a week. Much of that time is spent “media multi-tasking,” the study reveals, which means that they manage to stuff 10 hours and 45 minutes worth of media consumption into those seven-and-a-half hours.

Here’s an eye-opening factoid: Research shows that most kids have no rules around media. Only three out of ten kids said they have parental limits on their media consumption. That includes TV, playing video games and using the computer.

Parents who do set rules see results — kids with any constraints at all consume nearly three hours less media per day than those who have no limits.

Oy to the vey. We see this in our household and this past weekend was a perfect example. Our daughter is just 5, but is already as media-savvy as I was at age 25. She got an eyeful of the social-media sensation “Farmville” from my mother-in-law and went to bed for the last three nights begging to fertilize someone’s crops.

We try to limit the amount of time she spends online (or using her various electronic gaming toys, I’m looking at you, Leapster), but it gets harder and harder. Both her father and I spend most a lot of our time on our laptops.

Can you say “role model?”

This weekend we finally cracked down and forced her to put all the devices away and play with her toys. Here’s the surprising outcome — she enjoyed herself. I know! Crazy, right?

Kids her age are using technology more and more in the classroom, too. I’m not sure how I feel about that. Some schools are already ditching cursive penmanship for keyboarding. What’s next? Swapping “Farmville” for earth science?

Technology and the media that goes with it makes our lives easier. I’m still not convinced that kids shouldn’t learn the lessons of the Web 1.0 world before they start working on Web 3.0.

Do you limit your child’s access to media and technology?

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