NOW CLOSED: Share with Kleenex your favourite websites and apps - you could win JL vouchers

[AnnMumsnet]

We've been asked by the team at Kleenex to find out about your favourite websites or apps which can keep you or your family entertained.

They say "We know there's no site better than Mumsnet for some social support when you're feeling under the weather, but we're looking to find out what websites or apps keep you and the family occupied in your down time. For example, are you a fan of video streaming sites? Do you use the web to catch up on some light reading or the latest gossip, and if so where? Have you found the perfect online game to share? And importantly, what sites or apps keep the children entertained in a fun (and safe) environment? And why do you like the one(s) you like?! Call it our online survey of 2011 - share your favourites on this thread and you may also discover a new site from other MNers "

So please take a few minutes to share your (or your DC's) favourite website or app on this thread, along with the reasons for liking it/them so much. Everyone who does so will be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £100 John Lewis voucher and two runners up will get a £50 voucher.

Please note - if you add your comments on this thread - Kleenex may use your comment in other media - (for example: print (magazines/ newspapers) and online). They won't use your MN name. Comments may also be featured on the Kleenex pages on Mumsnet.

Thanks and good luck
MNHQ

[HavePatience]

Thank you! I am so happy! :)

[AnnMumsnet]

Hello - many thanks for your tips and comments. All greatly appreciated.
Winners are: Queenmarigold (£100 JL voucher) - and £50 JL voucher to scarlet76 and HavePatience. Well done!

[hartleyhare]

I cannot go a day without my River Island app! As sad as it may seem I love it, it's so easy to use, has latest arrivals lots of sale goodies which is much nicer to view on my I phone than trek round the store sales, and was invaluable over Dec ordering christmas pressies, all delivered promptly and packaged really well. As for the children they love peppa pig, playing happy mrs chicken, gaining stickers and having lots of fun! Another firm favourite is Dinosaur King racing past the baddies from the programme to reach the end first, it also has a huge fact file on dinosaurs including a sound board of their individual calls. Fab!

[Sarayu]

Not an app/website but
podcast-ipod/id361242548 Barefoot Books Podcast Free and has saved my sanity on many journeys. Children are 3&4 and they love it.

Kidoz software you download to the desktop. You pay a one off fee but it means you can let them loose on youtube/games/etc. I've just seen you can also download it for smartphones (android only) BOO

APPS:

TuneIn Radio - virtually and genre of radio you can think off
Kindle - for books for the children and myself
Sleep Cycle - Wakes you up when you are in the lightest part of your sleep cycle. Very strange but it works
ANY by Toca Boca - My kids love them all
Tozzle - Toddler Puzzles (My DS (4) also enjoys it)
Lego Mini Figures
Cake or Cookie Doodle - Pretend baking and decorating
Starfall ABCs

www.ereaderiq.co.uk/ sign up for emails to alert you to free books. I've had some real gems from this. Especially for the children

Blipfoto website & app. Great for keeping a photo journal.

[AmberNectarine]

Also b3ta.com, mainly for the question of the week section, which is hilarious, though not for the easily offended!

[AmberNectarine]

I obviously love MN. Also a big fan of Digitalspy for soap dross, YouTube for S&B videos (the infamous sock bun and 25 ways to wear a scarf) and Wikipedia for proving DH wrong on such important issues as the track listing of Now 33.

DH also enjoys Digitalspy and loves Cricinfo [saddo]

DS (2) loves the Talking Carl, Teletubbies and ITNG apps.

[zipzap]

Basic ones (after mumsnet of course) are:
Moneysavingexpert for all things money and bargains

honestjohn for all things related to cars and motoring (when we needed to buy a new car, info from his site helped lots, including pointing me in the direction of somebody selling new cars with 50% off meaning we were able to get a new car rather than a second hand one)

linkedIn for keeping up work and professional contacts even while I'm not working

dpreview for info on digital cameras when trying to buy a camera

I'm sure there's more, will look when my pc is on next

[emmam25]

I love Facebook and Mumsnet apps to read whilst breastfeeding and Bejewelled Blitz keeps me going through the long lonely night feeds.

[CointreauHoHoHoVersial]

Ooh yes, Groupon too (had a few bargains).

[CointreauHoHoHoVersial]

The only website I spend an appreciable amount of time on is MN (obv); otherwise it's just shopping sites (Tesco, Next, M&S, John Lewis, Amazon), school websites, Google and eBay. Sometimes I look at the BBC site for news and weather. I used to read The Times online, until they made it subscription only.

I will be looking up some of the ones listed on here, though.....

App-wise it's Google Maps, Fruit Ninja, Air Control, Jewels, Google Sky Map, UK Weather. I use Spotify and Sonos for music.

DS1 is a big fan of Youtube.

The DDs are currently addicted to MovieStarPlanet and BinWeevils.

[FrumpyPumpy]

Apps for ds(2)
monkey preschool lunchbox (!)
early learning centre alphabet/counting
downloaded a series of peppa pig to phone, excellent for journey from Yorkshire to Cornwall!
Milkshake website, and cbeebies

me;
pinterest
myfitnesspal
eBay
etsy

hth

[smaths]

the sites icanhascheezburger.com and failblog.org always give me a good giggle when I'm feeling down. I also surf forums a lot, mainly here and the ones at moneysavingexpert.com, a website which i find incredibly useful

[FrankincenseStellaAndFries]

Horrible histories and Mr Tumble on iplayer saved my sanity when I had flu during a school holiday last year, we watch a lot of our tv on demand either 4od, iplayer or itv player.

The children aren't so bothered about websites as such but love the apps on my iPad and iPhone, the favourites recently have been angry birds, tap fish2, sonic the hedgehog, smurfs, where's wally2,piggies in trees and bubble shooter.

I like catchphrase, who wants to be a millionaire, Facebook, twitter, scrabble, vevo, bejewelled and tune wiki.

[SantaIsAnAnagramOfSatan]

though i would clearly NEVER let him loose on their alone i love youtube for ds.

every phase he goes through we'll be able to find loads of videos - it was sharks for ages, then dinosaurs, we love funny animal videos etc.

personally i spend a lot of time on fb games and in particular gardens of time which ds 'helps' with.

[chopchopbusybusy]

I like angry birds, words with friends and various mahjong apps. DD1 likes sevens and fall down and Facebook obviously as she is a teenager. DD2 likes Facebook and doodle jump. I do spend far too much time on MN on my phone.

[Funtimewincies]

CBeebies and Octonauts.com are big favourite with my 5 year old ds1. The sites are set up so that he can find his own way around without too much help from me [bad mummy emoticon].

I'm a bit sad and like allotment sites like allotment.org.uk for cold-weather/ winter pottering .

[SingleSoloShattersSparklyStars]

My Dd loves Angry Birds on my phone.
I like looking at Pinterest for ideas and inspiration. Youtube for all kinds of things including how to's. Ds looks at Youtube for music video's and funny clips mainly.
Probably more, but can't think of any atm.

[Lotstodo]

YouTube is amazing. Yesterday I put in some quite vague information as the details I had were sketchy - and top of the search appeared what I was looking for. Amazing!

[dannid]

Skype as it lets me and the family keep in touch with my father who lives abroad and can't get home to us very often. Is great as it means he can easily see my two boys and doesn't miss out on them growing up!!!

[PuggyMum]

Me - Groupon (I'm addicted!), Facebook, twitter and the online banking app!

Hubby - eBay, hot UK deals and you tube!

[angrywoman]

facebook :o
wikipedia
I have just introduced my daughter to pinkstinks.
The younger ones head straight for club penguin or cbeebies/ nick jr.

[aristocat]

i have been spending too much time on an app called PaperToss (you throw paper/objects into a bin) ...........

[gilliancd]

We love making butterfly pictures on the Charlie and Lola page of the Ceebeebies webpage!

[icannotfly]

iPlayer, Lovefilm, You Tube

[Queenmarigold]

Peppapig apps and games - happy mrs chicken is a good one.
I use mumsnet, facebook, and shopping sites like fatface and whitestuff.