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Xbox 360 with Kinect: Family Settings Keep Kids Safe While Learning (giveaway)

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Since its debut just over a year ago, Kinect for Xbox 360 has transformed the landscape of gaming with the introduction of interactive elements that recognize voice and full body movement for a truly interactive experience.  With recent announcements that Xbox is focusing on “playful learning,” it becomes a tool for learning in a fun way. If you’re thinking about getting an Xbox for your home this holiday season, new content makes it a fabulous educational tool while a newly released dashboard for parental controls helps keep your kids safe while gaming and learning.

 

Kinect for Xbox 360 as an Educational Tool
 
As a teacher, I’ve always believed that children learn best when information is presented in a variety of ways. Some children absorb information through listening, others need to read and write in order for knowledge to stick, and certain kids need to immerse themselves in the experience in order to learn by doing.
 

Since there is no one right or wrong way to learn, Kinect for Xbox 360 provides another avenue for learning.  While gaming promotes cooperation and communication and the Kinect promotes physical movement, new partnerships with trusted educational brands such as Sesame Street and National Geographic promotes interactive learning. Children can practice the alphabet and numbers with Grover, read a book along with Cookie Monster in Once Upon a Monster, and pretend to be a bear by playing Kinectimals Now with Bears.
Xbox 360 is also filming a season of interactive shows in partnership with Sesame Street production, bringing a whole new level of interactivity to educational television with “Kinect Sesame Street TV.” With interactive versions of shows from the current television season, new content written and filmed just for Kinect and access to classic clips from the “Sesame Street” archive, “Kinect Sesame Street TV” is bringing educational television to life.
 
Parental Controls Keep Kids Safe while Gaming and Learning
 
As we enter the holiday season when everyone is buying new technology, this new video reminds families to use Family Settings that serve as the hub for parental controls. Xbox features safety features built into the game console, such as game ratings, setting limits on time, and the ability to restrict online access.





With the new dashboard, it’s easier than ever to locate Family Settings.
 
The new Xbox dashboard puts Family Settings front and center
One resource that I find myself turning to is Microsoft’s GetGameSmart.com, a site that  “is designed to help families enjoy video games and online media in ways that are safer, healthier and more balanced.”  It also provides a wealth of resources that can be downloaded and printed since they are must-reads for new Xbox owners.  Helpful documentation includes:
Win an XBox 360 with Kinect courtesy of Microsoft!
 
REQUIRED ENTRY: Watch either of the videos embedded above and leave a comment about what excites you most about bringing an Xbox with Kinect into your home.  Valid entries must include an email address or a Twitter handle.
For extra entries, you MUST complete the above and do any of the following:
  • Complete the Tech Savvy Mama reader survey. Leave a comment that you have done so and include your email address or Twitter handle.  Please note that all responses will remain anonymous. (2 entries- 1 for the survey, 1 for leaving a comment below saying you completed the survey. And yes, if your comment is selected, I will check to make sure you really did complete the survey.  If you just comment below without completing the survey, your entry will not be valid.)
  • Share one parental control that you plan to use when you get your Xbox through your comment. Include your email/Twitter handle. (1 entry)
  • Subscribe to Tech Savvy Mama via RSS or email. Include your email/Twitter handle to let me know you’ve done so. (1 entry)
  • Tweet this daily and leave your Twitter handle in the comments:  I entered to win @TechSavvyMama’s @Xbox w/ Kinect #giveaway! Enter here before 12/9: http://bit.ly/xboxkinectgiveaway (1 entry/day)
  • Blog about this giveaway and include “TechSavvyMama.com is giving away an Xbox 360 with Kinect” with this link http://bit.ly/xboxkinectgiveaway.  Leave a permalink and your email/Twitter handle in your comment. (10 entries)

Winner will be randomly selected from valid entries on Friday, December 9 using Random.org.  Winner will have 24 hours to reply with a U.S. mailing address and phone number before another winner will be selected.  Xbox 360 with Kinect is being provided by Microsoft and will be shipped directly by them to the winner. Complete rules regarding this giveaway can be found in the Official Sweepstakes Rules.  


I received my Xbox with Kinect from Microsoft for review purposes but use Family Settings to keep our kids safe while gaming.  I was not compensated for this post or hosting this giveaway.  All opinions are my own.  

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Original post by Tech Savvy Mama
©2012

Reader Interactions

Comments

  2. The most exciting part of bringing it home is that the kids have wanted it for so long, and with money as tight as it is, it is just another thing on the wish list. This would make it a reality! This is @dublrs on Twitter

  3. I loved the cookie monster video =] I’m gald that their is a console that has parental control settings. If I would win a xbox I know I kids would flip because they have been wanting to try out Just Dance games. To keep them safe I only let theym play when I’m watching them and when Daddy is around to connecting everything =]

    kperales25{at}aol.com

  4. The cookie monster one of course caught my attention 🙂 I like that you can set how long a family member can be play either daily or weekly and that the settings are easy to locate.
    @AMomBlog

  6. I think that the Family Timer is a very great thing. I would use that because I know that the console will not even turn on until our next family game day =]

    kperales25{at}aol.com

  17. What thrills me about the xbox kinect (besides it being insanely cool) is the parental controls – I spend a lot of time setting timers in my house for kids on electronics, it would be nice to set this up once and be done. I also love that there are no controllers! I will not miss picking up other gaming system controllers off the floor, couch, ottoman and putting them away. Also, I will absolutely not miss the insane amount of AA batteries we go through in this house.

  21. I just want a damn game system. Seriously. But also my daughter played Kinectimals at a friend’s house and it kept her both busy and active for nearly three hours! That can’t be beat.

  29. I filled out the survey (although there’s no option for “none of the above” for gaming systems, so that entry was a bit of a lie.) courtney dot groeneveld at gmail

  35. I watched the video and my husband has been wanting one of these, he is most excited about the Disneyland game. The kids and I want to bring our Just Dance moves to Kinect.

    @hslater351

  39. The kinect excited me be because it gets my kids up and moving! Unlike other gaming systems that have active games there are ways around actually getting up and moving. That isn’t the case with the kinect!

  41. I’ve seen that first video on TV before and I had no idea so many ‘non-game’ uses are already out there for kinect! I’m dying to see the new sesame street things coming out!!!

  47. I love that there are games for my 2.5 year old. She would love to be able to do stuff (unlike on the Wii). I’ll be honest though I’m entering this one for my husband who wants an XBOX 360 so badly. The kid part is my bonus. 😉 @FashOrganized

  48. I’ll NEVER say “It’s just a game” anymore! Look what the Kinect can do! The bomb robot nearly had me in tears. Yes I was a big fan of the movie “The Hurt Locker”. I’m SO stoked about Kinect and my kids, having them MOVE while playing a game, sparking imagination, music, movies… really I don’t think there is a server big enough to handle all the things I could put in this comment!

  49. I watched Cookie Monster video besides being cute it was very informative. I like how there are so many choices- how long/who can connect to what and what games could be played. That would prevent a game being borrowed from someone else and be played if it was something you didnt approve of, or especially getting online without supervision.

    baypayments@yahoo.com

  53. Love the Cookie Monster video….I’m excited knowing that I can control how long kids can play!When you have more then one child I believe this action will allow everyone time to play!

  65. I love that it senses your BODY. With the Wii, it senses the remote control. The Kinect is awesome — and family settings/parental controls?! Yes. I realized how extremely valuable and necessary those are when my 6 year old was clicking around on my iPad and ended up on some very *questionable* content. Embarrassing!! I would definitely use the rating settings as well as time constraints!

    kjr{at}iheart7{dot}com

  66. What excites me most about bringing the Xbox w/ Kinect into our home would have to be the functionality — I love that we won’t have to keep up with remotes (like with the Wii) and that we can use our bodies AS the remotes. Video games with physical activity REQUIRED?! Score!!

  77. That first video looks like science fiction. I’ve never even played with a Kinect, so I would love to just experiment and see what the system is capable of doing.

  79. PARENTAL CONTROLS are what excites me most about bringing an Xbox with Kinect into my home.

    —PTLalley @ aol.com

  80. I really could use a game system for my kidlets! Pretty psyched that this one comes with a timer and lets you control who can get online. And yes, a world without cookies would be pretty terrible! @peekababy

  93. I love Cookie Monster! I also love the Kinect has parental controls to keep the gaming on a time limit. I also love that this video game system gets the kids moving…more than just video gaming.
    Thanks for the chance to win!

  95. I would definitely set the parental control to set a time on how long kids can play.
    Thanks for another chance to win!
    @sassyfrazz
    haras76(at)live(dot)com

  97. I did complete the survey and l plan to use the GetGameSmart.com site extensively. My kids are just starting to have time in their schedule for a little game play, and how/when/how long they play is a concern I want to address as a family.

  105. The first video is so cool – we have wanted one for a while but keep putting it off because of the money. It is awesome!

    The Parental Controls are really cool too!

    therese.green at gmail.com

  109. The Kinect is pretty exciting to me because it is so active. I’ve got two boys with a TON of energy and so this will really help, especially during the winter!

  115. I would set limits on time as a safety control. My 8 yo will maximize his time on a game system, but them gets frustrated if the game is going well for him. He needs time limits.

  130. I’m excited to read Once Upon a Monster with my boys and let them turn the pages and learn what they want to by simple arm movements. As a teacher and tech instructor, I look for ways to integrate my work knowledge into home so that my kids are getting as much from technology as the teachers I work with. Cookie Monster is one of our favorites!

  132. Oh I really do love Cookie Monster! I’d love have a Kinect because first of all, it’s wire free! And second, I like that it’s a fun way to stay active, and that I can make sure my kids are protected, with parental controls, while playing!

    coriwestphal at msn dot com

  144. I completed the form (@tiarastantrums) I hope it went through – I’m having a tough time with this site timing out on me??? It has taken over 30 minutes to just get one comment to even “take”

  147. i’m excited to not have a dumb controller to charge and to be more active!! scg00387 at yahoo dot com

  176. I am most excited about all the educational potential of the Kinect. The stuff they were doing in the video was amazing- like a sci-fi movie.
    ape2016(at)aol(dot)com

  186. Empty plates! Empty cookie jars! Very cute. 😀
    I played with the Kinect last year at BlogHer and it’s fun. The parental controls would be great. Our son is old enough to play online with his friends but I’d want to lock it down so he wouldn’t be able to talk with anyone else.

  190. I am most excited about the time settings! My kids could play games for hours if I let them!

    Jennifer Marie

    lilnursejen at yahoo dot com

  196. Setting limits on Time would be awesome to use!! Even on myself, so gaming doesn’t take up my precious “me” time 🙂
    lovekatydid at g mail dot com

  204. Although an empty cookie jar can be a crisis, parental controls are necessary so that I don’t have an empty bank account. Limit access to internet for purchase power. Also, limit how long my son can play. Renitakh@gmail.com Twitter/@allierose

  243. I love that my family and I can spend more time together playing games and having fun opposed to the kids playing video games in their room alone

  248. “For example, let’s say you want to set the console to allow two hours of play daily. After that time is up, the console can’t play games again within the 24-hour period”

    wow i had no idea it did this i like it! good idea!
    zippy573 AT netscape DOT net

  252. I’m not sure I’m in favor of playing instruments via an Xbox, but some of the other applications in the first video are amazing. If I’m going to bring a video game system into my home, I want to know that it’s something with broad applications. I like how the Kinect allows families to play together and the variety of games is encouraging. My son already loves computer games and the Kinect will ate least get him moving!

  255. I watched the first video. I’d be excited to give my kids the opportunity to experience cutting edge interactive video technology. I know it would inspire their own creativity and learning.

    shirleypond4@gmail.com

  261. I’m excited about a couple things about the Kinect. First is the concept of it capturing your movements. I like workout with the Wii, but I think the Kinect would do better at keeping me honest. Hopefully it would help my kids to be more active also.

    I also love the timer part of the parental controls. My kids would stop “not noticing” the timer beeped!

  273. I’ve actually been wary of purchasing one of these BECAUSE of the access it would give the kids to innappropriate material. It’s really a great thing they installed parental controls, I feel so much better about it now!

  274. I’ve actually been wary of buying one of these BECAUSE of the access it would give the kids to innappropriate material. It was such a great move for them to allow parental controls, I feel so much better about it now!
    galindapink@gmail.com

  277. I am excited your can put a time limit on the play of games OR what kind of movies can be played. I have kids of different ages so this is important. I also have a son who is 14 and that age category thinks nothing of being on the games for hours at a time. We do not have an Xbox nor have we tried one, but I do know I would surely use the P controls on the unit. Too much at stake NOT to!

    thanks for hosting!
    ejrichter60 at gmail dot com

  278. one parental control I will definitely use is the timer. My kids are at the age now where they “sneak” time on computer or tv, so this would stop that with the gaming!

    thanks!
    ejrichter60 at gamil dot com

  280. am still chuckling about the cookie monster and his “cookie break”. Just out to the kitchen to swipe some Oreos so I am holding HIM responsible.

    I am now getting your email news!

    thanks!
    ejrichter60 at gmail dot com

  283. I love the parental control and that you can set the time the child can use it per day or per week!

  284. I love the parental control and that you can set the time the child can use it per day or per week!

  293. Cookie Monster PSA is too cute! 🙂 What excites me the most is the Parental Controls for what to play and for how long! nlevdan3 at yahoo dot com

  298. I loved the videos. I LOVE the idea of not having to replace batteries or recharge controllers. And Cookie Monster as an endorser? How could you lose?
    @LauraRenegar

  307. The parental controls sound fantastic! I am most excited about the feature that allows you to control how long your children can play on the Xbox 360.

    @RoxontheBox

  311. I like how it keeps the kids active and engaged in game play and they can play together and that even my two year old can play
    tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com

  320. I’m excited about Xbox with Kinect because it will keep my family healthier and more active while having fun. Depending on which games you get they keep my family active or teaches them.
    traymona(at)aol.com

  332. The parental control I plan to use is the time limit. My boys would play ALL day!

    Jennifer Marie

    lilnursejen at yahoo dot com

  357. I watched the videos, and I love the one about improvements in technology. Personally, I like the feature that allows parents to control the time spent on the device because honestly children today are given unlimited time on gaming and it not only hurts their studies but also stunts their own development in creative thinking.

    Thanks,
    Coty.

    cotysloan at yahoo dot com

  365. I like that the Xbox has parental controls. I think every game system should have these because you never know; especially the setting where you can limit the time your child plays the system a day. And I love how you can sit on te couch while playing this machine!

    adoruhs(at)gmail(dot)com

  396. It looks like a great time for play for my family! It would get everyone moving and we would all love to play the dance game!

  431. I love everything about Xbox with Kinect, and knowing there is parental controls is just awesome! We as a family really love playing games together, and Xbox with Kinect could take us to a whole new level! It would be so much fun for us, and give us great family quality time. I also love how there are games for preschoolers, too! My son has been begging for an Xbox, and we just can’t afford it right now. I know that he and my daughter would be over-joyed if we got one!
    Thanks for offering such an awesome giveaway!

    mandmvaught(at)centurylink(dot)net
    or savvylissa(at)gmail(dot)com

  433. I love the timer feature on the parental controls. That is one thing that is somewhat of a problem at our home. I tell my son he can play for one hour, and if I don’t go in after that one hour, then he will keep playing until I physically come in there and make him stop!

    savvylissa(at)gmail(dot)com

  436. I liked the Cookie Monster Video!
    And I like the Parental Controls — my kid would be online 24/7 if there weren’t some kind of controls to keep them in check!
    Digicats {at} Sbcglobal {dot} Net

  452. I watched the first video – I loved when they showed the boy doing physical therapy with it as a video game – that is awesome.

    I’m most excited about a kinect to actually help with exercising. I want the experience of not having to hold a controller or strap one to my leg, etc to exercise along with the video games. My teenage son and I both are focusing on losing weight so this would be perfect for each of us to use on our own time.

    @RobynsWorld

  469. I am most excited about he parental controls that track my kids usage and destinations while using the Xbox 360. With three kids at various stages of life, being able to establish controls to meet their individuals needs is a huge plus.

    SMILE!

    ML
    @MissLori

  471. I definotely would be interested in using the parental control that limits my son’s online interactions through the Xbox 360. He’s not old enough to just connect with anyone he chooses to online to play games. I still need to vet people for safety.

    This is a present though that he desperately wants so it would mean a lot for me to be able to give it to him.

    SMILE!

    ML
    @MissLori
    MissLorisCAMPUS@gmail.com

  480. I’d be most excited about my son playing with the kinect feature on the xbox. It would be fun for all of us, but to have him enjoy that Kinectimals would be exciting to say the least. 🙂

    Thanks for the chance to win.

  498. The family settings are most important to me as I have an 8 tyear old and I need to keep him safe!
    @gaynycdad

  505. What excites me the most is the sensor that allows you to play without a controller! I also thought it was interesting that you can use the parental controls to limit the amount of time spent using it on a daily or weekly basis.

    And I loved Cookie Monster’s PSA. 😉 Not a world without cookies!!!

    Thank you for the giveaway!

    ~Beeb

    supercoupongirl AT gmail.com

  507. Well, I already mentioned this, but I might use the feature to limit time spent on there.

    ~Beeb

    supercoupongirl AT gmail.com

  518. I like the fact that it involves physical activity and interactive communication. I also like that Microsoft says it will continue to evolve based on its customers needs.
    My Twitter handle is @IamMystified

  519. Having Parental Controls is so important now a days. So many great things, Microsoft is so awesome at making things that involve Physical activity for the Kids and adults to get us moving. Job well done. Love this post… Kudos to you!