"The Princess and the Frog" and Other Disney Movies Can Help Families Bond While Building Literacy Skills In Children

(PRWEB) December 4, 2009

"When your children see great Disney movies such as 'The Princess and the Frog,' they actually are on their way to a deeper understanding of storytelling. Storytelling helps promote literacy and math skills in school. With a little prompting from parents, movies such as this one can actually build up your child," says award-winning storyteller and author K. Sean Buvala.

Buvala, the director of Storyteller.net and a veteran of 23 years of national storytelling, thinks Disney movies provide great opportunities for families. While many storytellers disdain Disney movies, Buvala sees it differently. "All good storytellers take classic tales and adapt them for the needs of their audience, creating tales that speak to the life and times of those who listen. In 'The Princess and the Frog,' the creators have taken a very old fairytale and made it modern, relevant and accessible. In turn that creates new opportunities for contemporary audiences to embrace the ancient truths told in stories."

In his book "DaddyTeller," (http://www.daddyteller.com) Sean teaches Dads how to interact with their kids via storytelling. "When you take your kids to a good Disney movie, be sure to continue the conversation with your children later. When you tap into your child's imagination, you are helping them build up their skills for reading and writing." Buvala suggests that, in addition to telling stories to their children similar to the one in the movie, that parents engage their children in conversation:

"What do you think happens to such-and-such character after the movie was over?"

"Can you tell me the story you just saw?"

"Let's make up our own version of the movie but pretend it happens in Arizona (or your state)."

"Can you make up a story where the princess turns into a cow, or a butterfly or a dog?"

Buvala says that these types of questions build literacy in children through such skills as imagination and sequencing. "Parents really are the primary educators of their children and this role can be made eaiser by recognizing teachable moments such as movies and other media input," he says.

Buvala and six other national storytellers just recently released a CD of recorded stories. "Frog Kisser: Eight Stories of Enchantment" has eight traditional and new stories on it for adults and mature children, including two stories of frogs and royalty. More information can be found at http://www.frogkisser.com.

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More Princess And The Frog Press Releases

Family-Friendly Destination, Carolina Beach, N.C., To Offer Sun, Affordable Fun And Free First-Run Movies This Summer

Carolina Beach, N.C. (PRWEB) April 1, 2010

Everyone is looking for ways to save money. A few years ago, going to the movies was a relatively inexpensive way to entertain the family. According to a recent report by The Early Show on CBS, movie prices are on the rise as the newest trend, 3-D, drives prices even higher. What's a family to do? Carolina Beach has the answer - free first-run films.

Savvy families are looking for the maximum value they can find in their summer vacation, and one beach town along the Carolina coast is delivering that little extra by providing free first-run movies in the park all summer.

As Catey Hill, money editor of the NYDailyNews.com, said during her interview on CBS, there are a variety of options to save money at the movies. She gave tips on snacks and timing, but obviously, the best option is free.

Carolina Beach, N.C. is renowned for its great beaches and friendly people. From lounging on the beautiful beach, to walking the boardwalk or fishing from the pier, Carolina Beach and its neighboring beach community of Kure Beach have been the choice of families for years. Whether it's indoor fun or outdoor fun, this area has it all, including historic attractions like the Fort Fisher State Historic Site & Civil War Museum and the educational and fun North Carolina Aquarium.

But, unlike most beach vacation spots, the outdoor fun at Carolina Beach is not just about surf and sun. A few years back, the town began to lure in vacationers with free first-run films as it launched a Film & Fireworks Series. In 2010, Sundays from May 30 to September 5 mean movie nights under the stars at Carolina Beach Lake. Movies are first-run, some still in the theaters, and are perfect for an evening of family fun. This year's playbill includes hot tickets like Avatar, Blind Side, and The Princess & The Frog. And, it just gets better. Every Thursday night this summer, there's free live music and fireworks near the Carolina Beach Boardwalk. Check out the full movie schedule at http://www.carolinabeachgetaway.com/outdoor/Movie%20Schedule.

Need a place to stay? Both Carolina Beach, and its sister beach, Kure Beach provide affordable accommodations choices.

So take advantage of extra value and enjoy the old-fashioned charm of Carolina Beach this year. It's a step back in time in atmosphere, but a a step up in the value you'll receive. For more information on Carolina Beach and Kure Beach go to http://www.CarolinaBeachStories.com and http://www.KureBeachStories.com. Or become a Facebook fan at http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/CarolinaBeachNC?ref=ts or http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/KureBeachNC?ref=ts or Twitter follower at http://twitter.com/CarolinaBeachNC or http://twitter.com/kureBeachNC and you'll discover even more about the hidden values along the North Carolina coast.

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mSpot? Movies? Now Available for iPad and iPhone, in the App Store

Palo Alto, Calif. (PRWEB) July 12, 2010

Popular mobile entertainment provider mSpot today debuts the free mSpot? Movies app, which delivers full-length streaming movies instantly to iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch users through the App Store, offering dedicated iPhone and iPad versions. The service is complemented by mSpotMovies.com, which provides a seamless experience for users wishing to start movies on a PC or Mac, and resume watching on another device. mSpot?s full-length streaming movie service works across the iPhone, iPad and PC and Mac, making mSpot Movies the only way you can enjoy streamed movies across all devices. No downloading, no waiting, no syncing needed.

?We now truly live in an ?entertainment anywhere? world where consumers often own many devices to watch movies on-the-go, or at home,? said mSpot CEO Daren Tsui. ?mSpot Movies allows people to enjoy movies instantly and seamlessly across many consumer electronic devices without the need for cable sync or sideloading.?

To access mSpot Movies, consumers can simply download the application from the App Store, then rent and instantly stream individual movies ranging from $ 2.99-$ 3.99. Users can browse through the titles on their mobile devices, access movies instantly, playing and pausing as they like, leveraging resume and chapter features, with the choice of also watching movies on the computer with their complementary web account at mspotmovies.com.

To ensure the best viewing experience possible, the application automatically detects your network coverage and adjusts the quality of the video ? whether 3G or WiFi. The unique technology of the application ensures the best possible mobile experience.

The launch of the mSpot Movies iPhone/iPad application comes on the heels of two important new services offered by mSpot, Inc. mSpot Movies, a streaming movie service available on the Web and mobile web at http://www.mspotmovies.com, is available on major U.S. carriers and across 50+ different handset devices, including the iPhone, Android, Blackberry, Palm and many high-end feature phones. Additionally, mSpot?, a free music in the cloud service, launched in June 2010 at http://www.mspot.com.

About mSpot, Inc.

mSpot, Inc. is a mobile and PC entertainment company that delivers music, movies, radio and TV to more than six million mobile customers across 10 wireless carriers. The popularity of mSpot products is due to its technology and strong partnerships with all four of the major music labels (Sony, EMI, Warner and Universal), as well as major studios (Universal Studios Home Entertainment, The Walt Disney Studios, Image Entertainment, Warner Bros., Lionsgate, Paramount Pictures and Screen Media Ventures) and broadcast companies (including ABC, CBS, ClearChannel, Fox Sports, NPR). mSpot is the first mobile entertainment company in North America to offer full-length feature films and full-format radio service to mobile devices. In the U.S., mSpot entertainment services are available across all major carriers, including AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon. Headquartered in Palo Alto, California, mSpot, Inc. is on the Web at http://www.mspotcorporate.com.

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