KidVentor Toy Challenge

It's time to get your thinking caps on!

Fat Brain Toys is looking for the next best Fat Brain Toy and they're asking kids to invent it. They want a toy that is truly engaging and that promotes real play. No boring activity that other kids will lose interest in after 5 minutes.

Here are the dates you need to remember:

Contest opens: Tuesday, June 27th 

Contest closes: October 17th 

Finalists announced: October 18th 

Fan voting begins: October 24th

Winner announced: November 14th

Winner's toy presented at Toy Faire NY: Feb 17th, 2018

Two experts from Fat Brain Toys, two from MAKE, and two inventors from around the globe will judge the submissions and decide which one’s truly the best. And if they win, they’ll get…

•  a $2,500 scholarship
•  $500 in toys
•  A Prize Package from MAKE
•  Invention presented at the New York City Toy Fair and potentially sold around the world

To get started, visit Fat Brain Toys' KidVentor page to read the short list of a few things your kids should consider as they attempt to flesh out their big idea.

You can also submit your idea on this page.

7 Other Construction Kits for LEGO Lovers

One of my biggest challenges during the summer is keeping my kids off tech. That means finding projects to keep them busy. If this sounds familiar to you, then you'll enjoy my posts this week with ideas and products that are geared to challenge and engage!!

I'm listing these in order of age range, starting with products that the youngest kids can enjoy.

This post contains affiliate links.

Lincoln Logs 100th Anniversary Tin (Ages 4+)

I can't believe that Lincoln Logs have been around for 100 years! That just proves how special this product is. This set is made entirely of wood, just like the originals.

If there's one thing that doesn't change, it's history... and Old West play! This gift tin is perfect not only for this generation, but the sturdy logs can be passed down! Start a family tradition, or add onto a classic set, because these Lincoln Logs are compatible with other Lincoln Logs sets. The included design is for the old Meeting House from 1925. A thriving frontier town needs a great log-built Meeting House. Get the roof in place before winter storms and torrential rains hit the village! Put together hitching posts so the horses don't wander off into the wilderness.

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GoldieBlox and the Dunk Tank (aff) (Ages 4+)

Do you have a younger engineer you want to encourage? Think GoldiBlox! In this kit, Goldie has to find a way to give her dog, Nacho, a bath. One problem: Nacho hates water and loves being a dirty dog. After many tries, Goldie finally comes up with the perfect contraption: A dunk tank! Introduces the real-life STEM concept of hinges and levers. Designed for tinkering and creative exploration, GoldieBlox toys build spatial skills and confidence in problem-solving. All GoldieBlox toys are inter-compatible.

Ruby Rails Sky-High Cable Car (aff) (Ages 6+)

Help Ruby Rails, Goldie’s BFF, build a gondola ride and soar high above Bloxtown! Combine plastic construction pieces and durable chipboard to construct the two towers, and connect them with a pulley to send Ruby swinging right over the kitchen sink. Introduces the real-life STEM concept of tension.

Designed for tinkering and creative exploration, GoldieBlox toys build spatial skills and confidence in problem-solving.  All GoldieBlox toys are inter-compatible. Comes with 32 pieces, including Ruby mini-figurine. Hundreds of how-to building videos online to help spark creativity in young engineers.

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14-in-1 Educational Solar Robot Kit (Ages 8+)

This kit is recipient of the "Best Green Products Award 2013" from Dr Toy and Creative Child Magazine has anointed it with "Top Toy of the Year Award" and "Kids Product of the Year Award." This robot can be transformed into 14 different robot modes which include a multitude of comical and functional movements. The user can easily change from a Wagging-Tail Dog to Running Beetle to Walking Crab to Surfer to Speedster to Zombie Chaser! The robot kit provides unique accessories and parts that make the robot move on land and water.

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These Engino construction kits because I have a major LEGO-lover who enjoys building things. I love that these are not gender specific! Boys and girls alike will love these projects. 

STRUCTURES: Buildings and Bridges Set (Ages 8+)

Learn all about buildings and how they literally support our lives! Construct different types of bridges and find out how their architecture design provides massive weight support. Discover all the types of forces applied and how engineers manage to reduce their effects.

Build 9 working models such as a house, a pyramid and various types of bridges: beam, arch, truss, cable-stayed and suspension bridge.

Simple Machines (Ages 8+)

The SIMPLE MACHINES set is a combination of the basic 5 sets of "Discovering STEM" series and covers all Simple Machines mechanisms. These mechanisms offer a mechanical advantage and are crucial elements of many machines and devices. They are designed to multiply or reduce force, increase or decrease speed and convert one type of motion to another.

Build 60 working models that cover the subjects of levers, the wedge, the wheel and axle, the screw, the inclined plane, the pulley, as well as the more advanced gears and linkages!

Gears and Worm Drives (Ages 8+)

Learn how Gears can easily reduce or increase speed, change force or transfer motion from one position to another. Discover how Worm drives are used to greatly reduce rotational speed and how screws can convert rotational motion to linear, while greatly increasing force.

Build 12 working models such as an experimental crane, a gearbox, a carousel, a helicopter, a screw press and a crane with a rotating arm.

Other Posts You May Enjoy:

• Activity Books for Young Engineers
  
  
• Using Broken Devices to Nurture Your Child's STEM Interest
  
  
• Get Your Kids Excited About STEM With EEME
  
  
• The Search for STEMnauts

Educational Easter-Themed Toys from HearthSong

Easter is on its way. And rather than just give kids candy, I love it when I see my friends posting baskets full of educational toys that help nurture happy, imaginative children.

Do you do Easter? If so, do you create an Easter basket full of goodies? Maybe you need some ideas. Below are some lovely Easter-themed toys I found over at HearthSong. (But really, they can be enjoyed year round!)

This post includes affiliate links.

Plush Bunny Portable Play Set (Ages 3 and up)

These adorable plush bunnies will hip, hip, hop all the way home to their soft carrot cottage. Plush Bunny Portable Play Set is large enough (19"L) to hold its two sweet and soft bunny residents comfortably, and can easily be carried along to a friend's house for imaginative play. The bright orange carrot cottage features two windows for bunnies to peek out from, a swinging door that sticks shut, adorable embroidered flowers, and a soft green carrot top. Two 5¼"L sweet bunnies are ready to hop into whatever adventure awaits.

ChalkScapes Mandalas Sidewalk Stencils Chalk Art Kit - Butterfly (Ages 5 and up)

Invite outdoor, creative fun for young artists with Chalkscapes® Mandalas Sidewalk Stencils Chalk Art Kit! This award-winning set of two easy-to-use, artistically adaptable stencils and cosmically colored chalks allows creative kids to turn sidewalks and driveways into colorful art exhibits (bonus—use indoors on our Roll-Up Chalk Mat, 732991, sold separately). Trace the stencil as a unit, mark it into mix-and-match quadrants, or use the fun motifs separately—the options are limitless.

Set includes 24 stick chalks in assorted bright colors, six jumbo chalks, two chalk holders and a set of two 22½" diam. mandala stencils (with butterfly and flower designs, or stars and geometric designs—you choose). Cleans easily with water—just hose off!

Fun for one or for many kids. A great way to engage kids in imaginative and creative play for play dates or parties, and also makes a great addition to a homeschool group or classroom. Create drawings that represent an entire garden or bouquets of single flowers, or a galaxy of stars!

EggMazing Dino Egg Decorator Kit (Ages 3 and up)

Easily adapted for making cascarones!!

Combining a love for dinosaurs and crafts, the EggMazing Dino Egg Decorator Kit offers a new spin on Easter-egg decorating! This dino-themed egg lathe holds a "cracked" dinosaur egg (two included), and kids hold one of eight food-safe markers against the egg as it spins. Once you start decorating your egg, the cracks are "eggsposed!" Inside the egg, you'll find a mystery dinosaur and SLIME (who doesn't love a little slime with their Easter egg?) The included dinosaur has interchangeable head and limbs, so order multiple sets for more creative fun.

Can also be used with hard-boiled or plastic eggs. Four AA batteries required, not included.

• Egg-decorating kit for kids who love dinosaurs!
• Includes egg lathe, two "cracked" dinosaur eggs, and eight food-safe markers
• Each egg includes a mystery dinosaur (with interchangeable heads and limbs) and slime—order multiple sets for more creative fun!
• Egg-spose cracks as you decorate the eggs
• Battery-operated egg lathe requires four AA batteries, not included
• Can also be used with hard-boiled or plastic eggs

Bunny Nesting Set (Ages 3 and up)

This engaging wooden nesting toy makes a great gift for kids who want to join their families in celebrating the spring seasons and the holidays that come with them. Meticulously detailed on both front and back with original designs, the set of three bunnies un-nests to reveal a tiny painted egg at its core. This sensory set helps kids improve motor skills and practice counting. Its small size (largest bunny is 5½"H) makes this a perfectly portable toy for long car rides.

Like a classic Russian nesting doll set, this pastel-themed wooden set also makes a beautiful addition to any room when not in play. Makes a great Easter basket stuffer or birthday gift.

Día de los Reyes Giveaway: Gifts by eeBoo

We are so excited to present you another fantastic giveaway! Actually, we have two! Thanks to our dear friends at eeBoo, a boutique toy manufacturer that specializes in beautiful and well-made educational games and gifts like I Never Forget a Face Matching Game and Natural & Earth Science Flash Cards.

My family has I Never Forget a Face Matching Game and everyone absolutely loves it! The game tiles are sturdy (perfect for those rough little boy hands we have around here!) and not only are the images for the concentration game visually stunning but also culturally refreshing! There are 24 faces to match and the little people hail from Mexico to Myanmar!

eeBoo is also giving a second winner a pack of the Natural & Earth Science Flash Cards. The learning tool offers six categories. My oldest boys would love to dig into the Mammals and Underwater Life flash cards! On one side of the card, a beautiful illustration is depicted. When flipped over, you can learn a bunch of facts about the featured image.

Both these eeBoo products introduce children to the world, work on concentration and memorization, as well as generating conversations with friends and family!

THE GIVEAWAY



eeBoo has donated a I Never Forget a Face Memory Game to one Mommy Maestra winner! Just in time for Día de los Reyes Magos ~ Three Kings Day!

eeBoo has also donated a pack of Natural & Science Flash Cards for another Mommy Maestra reader.

To enter to win, simply use the Raffecopter below.

¡Buena suerte!

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Betty Galvan, is writing "for smart and stylish moms" over

at MyFriendBettySays.com.

PBS KIDS Toys now at Whole Foods {GIVEAWAY}

This is a sponsored post in collaboration with PBS KIDS. All thoughts and opinions espressed below are my own.

Did you know that you can now find PBS KIDS toys at your local Whole Foods Market? These earth-friendly toys have been designed to inspire curiosity and help you raise happy, healthy kids. The line is geared for young children ages 6 months to 3 years old and includes

• race cars made from recycled milk bottles 
• colorful, wooden vehicles assembled by hand from local wood in Vermont 
• shape sorters (recently named a National Parenting Publications Awards (NAPPA) silver award winner) 
• stackers that inspire a love for fruits and veggies 
• super soft plush animals made with phthalate- and PVC-free materials 
• organic t-shirts and infant onesies with vintage designs

I love that all of the products are made with safe, non-toxic materials and inks, and all the packaging is made from recycled materials. Many of the toys are produced in the USA from sustainable materials, responsibly harvested from local communities. So the partnership with Whole Foods makes sense, no?

And the best part is knowing that if you purchase one of these toys this holiday season, 100% of PBS KIDS’ net proceeds will benefit the media brand’s mission of empowering children through knowledge, critical thinking and imagination. And Whole Foods Market will donate 1% of the total sales, up to $25,000, to Whole Kids Foundation, an organization dedicated to improving children’s nutrition and wellness.

THE GIVEAWAY

PBS KIDS and Whole Foods Market have donated a set of Scoot wooden toys (great stocking stuffers!) and a plush animal for one MommyMaestra reader!

To enter to win, simply use the Rafflecopter below.

¡Buena suerte!

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Disclosure: I am a PBS KID Ambassador and received sample products for the purpose of this review and giveaway. All thoughts and opinions espressed below are my own.

Wild Kratts Toys Giveaway

 

Where are my Wild Kratts fans? I know you're out there because whenever I post on our favorite wildlife-loving brothers, we always get immediate feedback.

If you've followed this site for very long, then you'll know my kids are crazy about the Kratt brothers. My son has seen every episode of Wild Kratts and can practically recite the script by heart. Ever since I can remember, my son has wanted to grow up to be an Animal Rescuer...like Chris Kratt. I find drawings of Chris everywhere; in books, under the couch, in the car, and every notepad in the house. We've made costumes, even though I bought the green WK creature power suit shirt from the PBS Shop. And I have downloaded all of the WK printable activities from the PBS KIDS so many times that I finally just saved them to my children's computer.

MONTHS ago, I showed my son this video interview of Chris Kratt that my friend Drew from BenSpark.com made. Before anyone even started talking, my son spotted the new toy line in the background. He's been impatiently waiting for the toys to become available ever since.

I was planning on getting some for him this Christmas, but we lucked out and our awesome friends at PBS KIDS sent us a couple of sets to review.

The action figures are everything a WK fan could want. Not only do they resemble the animated characters on the show, but they have donned the creature power suits, come with creature power disks and even some of their animal friends.

My son wasted absolutely NO time breaking them out of the boxes (I was barely able to get the photograph above!) and racing outside to begin his wild adventures. Luckily, the sturdy toys are waterproof!

Each set comes with four power disks - one for each character. My son likes to sort and resort them according to various factors such as land animals vs. ocean animals, fast runners vs swimmers, mammals vs birds vs reptiles. He even made himself a little pouch to hold them out of an old paper towel tube.

Overall, we've been thrilled with the toys. I love how they encourage imaginative play and get my son outside, while my son loves being able to finally manipulate his favorite PBS KIDS characters into adventures of his own design.

THE GIVEAWAY

PBS KIDS has generously offered a Wild Kratts set plus a Wild Kratts animal plush to one Mommy Maestra reader!

To enter to win, simply use the Rafflecopter below.

¡Buena suerte!

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Disclosure: I'm a PBS KIDS ambassador. I received the product for this review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Enter to Win Monthly Prizes from Fisher-Price® for Your Baby!

This is part of a sponsored collaboration with Fisher-Price® and Latina Mom Bloggers. However, all opinions expressed are my own.

A few months ago, I shared with you a new fantastic campaign by Fisher-Price® for mamis with babies who are about to turn 1 year old (or have recently done so). I love their new Mis Primeras Mañanitas campaign not just because it was designed to specifically help Latino families celebrate their child's first birthday, but also because they are giving away products that promote the development of your child's fine motor skills and more. Some of my favorites include:

• Baby's First Blocks - develops hand-to-eye coordination, building skills, spacial reasoning/depth perception
• the Little People ® Lil' Movers™ School Bus - develops hand-to-eye coordination, and social concept recognition through imaginative play
• and the Brilliant Basics™ Corn Popper® - promotes balance, steadies beginning walkers

The Mis Primeras Mañanitas Sweepstakes is awarding monthly prizes and party ideas to Latino parents. When you enter the sweeps, you become eligible to win 12 Fisher-Price® toys for your baby.

 

But you could also win a Mis Primeras Mañanitas birthday party prize pack with invitations, favors, decorations, and a customized piñata and birthday cake! You will throw the best first birthday party in your town! 

And to help you out, Fisher-Price® has created the most fantastic website to help you plan your nene's first birthday party. You'll find super clever ideas and step-by-step instructions for decorating and recipes, too - all in Spanish! Take a look at some of the images below. You can find easy directions for all of them on the site.

Aren't these fun? I could decide which cake I like best, so I put both of them in here. :)

So don't wait! Enter the Mis Primeras Mañanitas sweepstakes here. 

And feliz cumpleaños to your bebé!

Early Learning with Mis Primeras Mañanitas by Fisher-Price®

This is part of a sponsored collaboration with Fisher-Price® and Latina Mom Bloggers. However, all opinions expressed are my own.

The early years of your child’s life are some of the most critical ones for their physical, emotional, mental and social development. I’ve talked before about how the amount of interaction they have with family and friends boosts their language development skills, but this is just one small area of their social and mental development. You can help nurture their overall development in other areas using specific tools, products, and activities that challenge them both mentally and physically. And by doing so, you’ll be helping prepare your child for the start of school so that they will begin ready to learn.

That’s why I was delighted to learn about the new Mis Primeras Mañanitas campaign by Fisher-Price®. The first of its kind, this program is specifically dedicated to Latino families and focuses on a key milestone moment in your child’s life: his or her first birthday. I absolutely love the name of this campaign because ever since I can remember, my Mami and ‘Buelita have sung me this song on my birthday. It’s been a family tradition to sing this whenever anyone (especially children and young girls) celebrates their cumpleaños. Not a birthday passed when I was little that they didn’t sing me this song, and even to this day, they call me on the phone on my birthday and sing me Las Mañanitas. (My mother rarely makes it through the whole song before bursting into tears, but that’s another story.)

When my own children were little, it was hard to find - and afford! - products and toys to help engage their young minds. I didn’t really know which products were good, or how to find them. But now there’s help for parents!

If your family would like a chance to win toys that help develop your baby’s skills, then be sure to enter the Mis Primeras Mañanitas Sweepstakes! You could win a Birthday Prize Pack with everything you need to throw a memorable first birthday party. Sweepstakes winners will win party invitations, favors and decorations, a customized piñata, and a customized birthday cake. Winners will ALSO get a bundle of TWELVE (12!!) Fisher-Price® toys, such as:

• Fisher-Price® Baby’s First Blocks™
• Fisher-Price® Rock-A-Stack®
• Fisher-Price® Laugh Brilliant Basics™ Corn Popper®
• Fisher-Price® Little People ® Lil' Movers™ School Bus

In addition to giving away awesome products, the Mis Primeras Mañanitas website is a wonderful resource where mamis like you can find unique and creative ideas for your baby’s first birthday party. Moms, you’ll be delighted with all the decorating, recipe, and gift ideas to help make your bebé’s first birthday memorable. Your baby will only be one once, so it is great to have one place where you can go to get lots of tips and ideas!

THE GIVEAWAY

The wonderful gente over at Fisher-Price® have also generously offered to give one MommyMaestra reader a Fisher-Price® Laugh & Learn™ Crawl Around™ Car! This is not one of the products included in the sweepstakes, so it is a special treat just for you!

To enter the giveaway, just use the Rafflecopter below.

What better way to celebrate your nene’s first birthday than with educational toys that help him or her learn and grow?

¡Buena suerte!

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Review: KRE-O Marina Madness {GIVEAWAY}

So I said last week that I'm really limiting the amount of tech products that my kids get this holiday season. They've been limited to two devices (from LeapFrog) plus a couple of games to accompany them.

Instead, I'm trying to focus on just a few toys that encourage active play, critical thinking, or some other skill development. Last Monday, I mentioned the Showcam and how we've been able to use it to develop their observation skills, as well as their presentation skills through assignments that use the camera/projector.

Today's review is of a product that quite honestly, I had never heard of before a month ago. KRE-O sets are hard to describe without using the word LEGO, because they are building blocks that use a similar inter-locking connection system. BUT - can I say this? - they're even better. Yikes! There. I said it.

I say that because this super fun set also has one special part to it: The deck under the building has buttons on it that make the board vibrate just a little bit causing the shark and the shark hunter, Ray Manta, to actually move across the base board. It's hilarious! My kids' shouts of excitement brought me running into the room after they had put it together, installed the AAA batteries, and pushed one of the little buttons on the side. There are actually four buttons: One turns on the vibration and sound effects (it makes ocean sounds!), the second one turns off the ocean sounds, and the final two increase or decrease the amount of vibration (it's not obnoxious or intense, thank goodness). You can remove and attach the special base pieces to any of the Kreons (and even the boat, as we discovered) to make them move across the water, too.

But really and truly, this little extra facet to the set keeps the kids going back to it and playing with it over and over even after there is nothing left to build.

This set encourages imaginative play, which I also really like. After darting the injured shark, my kids transported it to the local ocean life rehab center for medical attention before it was released out into the open ocean again. (He has a bad habit, though, of showing up at the marina over and over again, sometimes scaring the locals!)

It comes with five Kreons (human) figures and a shark. Many of the parts are moveable even after assembly, and there's even a little crane grabber thingy for moving the dangerous shark back into his cage.

The set does come with a free app code, for those of you who'd like to extend the play into another area. I think my kids spend enough time playing with apps, so we have not activated/downloaded it. Maybe I'll do it someday, but for now, I'm happy with - and prefer - their hands-on imaginative playing.

THE GIVEAWAY

One lucky MommyMaestra reader will win a KRE-O CityVille Invasion Marina Madness set!

To enter, simply use the Rafflecopter below.

¡Buena suerte!

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Lakeshore’s Learning at Home Products

Last week, one of my favorite education supply companies launched a fun new line of educational toys for the home. You may remember the two giveaways I had last month featuring Lakeshore products. Well now they have created a line of products specifically for home learning that are perfect for homeschoolers or parents who simply want to supplement their child's education. These products will surely make the learning process fun. They are engaging and a great way to nurture your child's curiosity and creativity!

I have several Lakeshore products that I've gotten over this past year and used with the kids. I'd like to share them with you, so today I'm going to start with a review of the Truth or Myth? Science Kit. It comes with the materials and instructions that your child need to conduct 11 science experiments that cover:

• Solar Power
• Chemistry
• Physics
• Electricity

The only things you need to supply for some of the experiments are soda, a lemon, vegetable oil, and some pennies.

The kit includes a collection of experiment cards (top, middle) with anywhere from 1 to 4 experiments on each. The instructions are easy enough for a 3rd grader to read, though this kit is designed for kids as young as 6 years old. Parental guidance is necessary, but you will have just as much fun as your kid. I also like how the illustrations feature a multicultural cast of kids performing the experiments, boys and girls.

One experiment that caught my eye and cracked me up was this one: Is it true? You can use taco sauce to clean pennies! But my daughter's favorite one involved learning about the concepts of cohesion and adhesion by using a piece of yarn to transfer water from one cup to another.

My son's fave, of course, involved climbing to great heights and dropping something. So he loved the experiment that centered around dropping an egg without cracking it. Note: Use hard-boiled eggs, not fresh ones!! :/



Other super fun experiments included using a chemical reaction to create electricity with a simple lemon and the lemon clock kit included in the science kit, as well as creating their own s'mores in their itty bitty solar-powered oven!

Once your child has completed all of the experiments, the kit even comes with an award card that you can fill in with marker.

For families that are looking for way to make science fun for their kids, I highly recommend this kit. You already know that we are a science-loving family, but I think that any kid would enjoy these experiments and parents will love that their child is learning at the same time. Don't worry about making a mess, clean up is easy and the benefits for your child, far outweigh the effort it takes to clean. These experiments don't make a really big mess anyway.

You can purchase this kit, or any of the other fantastic products in Lakeshore's Learning at Home line at any Lakeshore store or on their website.

And just because you are wonderful readers, and because Lakeshore is a super company, here's a 20% off coupon you can use. It expires on October 31st.

Disclosure: I received a sample of this product to review. All thoughts and opinions are strictly my own.

It's Neighbor Day on Labor Day with Daniel Tiger!

Daniel Tiger's new Neighbor Day episode premieres this Monday, September 2

This Monday, PBS KIDS has a treat for your preschooler with this half hour special in which Daniel learns how good it feels to be neighborly and that one kind act can lead to many. His first good deed starts a chain reaction of kindness all around the Neighborhood, culminating with the declaration of "Neighbor Day!" If you've been working on teaching your child that it is right to do something nice for others, this would be a great way to reinforce that life lesson. Take a look...

Oh, and BTW, if your preschooler is a Daniel Tiger fan, you should know that the show has a new toy line for children ages 2-4 that includes an adorable Daniel Tiger Feature Plush sporting his signature red cardigan sweater and matching red sneakers as well as one of Katerina Kittycat in her lovely green dress and bow, plus quite a few other toys. (¡Que preciosoooo with his little red sweater!!) Check it out:



But that's not all! Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood is also releasing a new app just in time for #NeighborDay on Monday, September 2! Based on the show, Daniel Tiger’s Day & Night app for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch helps kids learn basic morning and bedtime routines from Daniel Tiger as he gets ready for school in the morning and ready for bed at night.

Designed for children ages 2-4, the app’s songs and games encourage kids to tap into their imaginations as they make believe with Daniel. Kids can set the breakfast table, tie their shoes, and listen to a bedtime story – all with Daniel Tiger!

Additional features include:

• 8 games about morning and nighttime routines
• Good Morning and Good Night strategy songs
• A timer for parents to help with routines

Happiest Labor Day weekend a todo el mundo!

Disclosure: I'm a PBS KIDS ambassador which basically means that I get to share special PBS KIDS information with you on a regular basis. xo!

Educational Products for Preschoolers

When buying toys for your preschooler, simple is always better. If it's got batteries, look the other way. Some of the best learning takes place when the child uses his imagination to the max and creates the sounds or movements himself.

When you think about purchasing toys, books, or other items for you preschooler, take a moment to ask yourself these questions:

• Does the toy reinforce educational concepts (i.e., math, reading, etc.)?
• Does it promote creative or critical thinking skills?
• Is it complicated or simple?
• Does it overstimulate (is it noisy/blinking/moving/etc.)?

In addition, preschoolers should be immersed in a language rich environment, so look for products that have letters, numbers, and other symbols that help build pre-literacy skills. I also love toys that have a multicultural theme (like the Spanish blocks shown above). Because we live in a global society, and also because the point of this blog is to talk about ways to incorporate culture into our children's education, I like to keep an eye out for products that reflect the beauty of both the Latino culture and others.

Here's a list of some of my favorite products for preschoolers. Feel free to leave a comment with your own recommendations.

LEGOs - Bah! You already know how much I love LEGOs. We have a giant box full of assorted parts that is played with at least once a day. (My son has a secret collection of boats, spaceships, and who-know-what-else hidden under his bed so that his sister doesn't confiscate them.) And these, in my mind, are one of the top three toys in the history of the world. There are so many possibilities in a box of LEGOs. And the best part is that if you buy a kit, all those parts can go together to create something completely different from what they were designed to make.Wooden Blocks - Wooden blocks provide endless opportunities to build and create. Partnered with small people or animals, they can become buildings, corrals, zoos, cabins, gates, fences, homes, etc. Buying alphabet blocks only amplifies their educational value.

Costumes - Playing dress up is an important form of play. Role playing allows them to explore and develop their imagination, and it also has a physical effect on their brains. After Halloween sales often have great bargains. But you can also just give your children some of your old clothes, a pair of 'Buelita's heels, or one of Abuelo's hats.

Play-doh/Modeling Clay - Some of my kids' best times have been spent sitting at the dining room table creating meals for their stuffed dolls. Or sometimes they set up a candy shop and concoct beautiful delicacies to tempt the palate. Other times, they just goof around making shapes, figures, or whatever else strikes their fancy. I like that they can take a blob of play-doh and form it into letters, numbers, etc.

Dominoes/Cards - Perfect for helping children learn to identify numbers and count. I also have two sets of wooden dominoes that have animals instead of numbers on them. These are still great, because the kids are using matching skills and learning about animals. And after observing other people's children, I've sort of come to the conclusion that kids just love card games. Buy a set of cards and play Go Fish or War or Spoons. Or pick up a deck of UNO cards. Not only will they learn numbers, but colors, too!

Flash Cards - Along the same lines, flash cards with any number or themes (animals, dinosaurs, people, etc.) are great for playing memory. And kids can also use them to sort into different categories (ie, by color, classification, number of legs, feathers or hair, etc.).

Con mucho cariño...

The New LeapFrog LeapPad Explorer

Is your familia using technology for educational purposes? Do you love gadgets, computers, iPhones, iPads, etc? Then maybe this will excite you...

The new LeapPad Explorer from LeapFrog is the first learning tablet for kids (ages 4 - 9) and comes with a built-in camera. It also has a library of 100+ educational games, ebooks, creativity tools, and apps. Digital reading and personal creativity all in one place. PLUS, it works with Leapster Explorer games!!! 

It will be available for pre-order on June 29th.

Yo quiero uno.

How about you?

Disclosure: LeapFrog did not contact or compensate me for sharing this information (but I wish they would) with all of you. My salivating thoughts are strictly my own.

Free Download: Cars 2 Activity Pack

One of my son's most anticipated summer events is just a little less than two weeks away. On Friday, June 24th, Lightning McQueen heads overseas to compete in the first-ever World Grand Prix, while Mater gets caught up in an intriguing adventure of his own: international espionage! To celebrate, Disney has released a Cars 2 Activity Pack for families to download.

I'm excited about their international theme. My daughter is excited at the thought of spies and adventure. My son is positively loco about the whole thing and is counting down the days. To help curb his impatience just a little, we will be working on some Cars-related activities tomorrow.

Cars 2 Activity Pack for Kids

Disney has ingeniously put together a Family Activity Pack that is filled with crafts, mazes, a Radiator Springs playset, and so much more. ¿Y sabes qué? They are gracious enough to let me share it with all of you!

Cars 2 Worksheets & Crafts

This activity pack comes with THIRTY-SEVEN (37!!) pages of printable projects. These include three worksheets:

• dot-to-dot, 
• maze, and 
• matching worksheets.  

And there are crafts galore!

• Rocker Switch Race Car
• Soap Box Dragsters
• Tube Racers
• Cozy Cone Motel
• Guido Bookend
• Lightning Bolt Keychain
• Lightning McQueen Air Freshener
• Oil Can Holders
• Radiator Spring Playset
• Tippy Cardboard Tractor
• Tire Track Tees
• Toy Gas Pump
• Tow Mater Cookie Treats (recipe!), and
• Whitewall Tire Cookies

TIP: The Fast Way to Cut Out Connected Game Pieces

One of the things I dread as a mom is having to cut out what seems like a million game pieces. BUT I have also discovered the fastest way to deal with them and want to share these tips with you below. 

First, separate all the (game) pieces that you have to cut out. I had my 4-year-old practice his cutting skills for this part.

Second, cut a straight line across the bottom of both sides.

Third, cut the OUTER edges of the bottom flaps.

Then, fold the entire piece in half, lining up the bottom and outer flap edges. Those two outer tab corners should meet.

Flatten the two sections along the crease. Pinch the two pieces together and then start cutting out around the shape. Don't worry about the bottom side. Just follow the guideline along one side cutting both layers at the same time. They are mirror images, so they should be identical when you finish.

You're done! Easy, peasy.

Cars 2 Craft Materials

Here are some of the basic materials that you'll probably need to complete many of the crafts in this packet. But each project has its own materials list that you should look over first.

• printer (I have an Epson EcoTank ET-2760 and it is AH-mazing!)
• scissors
• glue sticks
• colored paper
• hole punch
• pipe cleaners
• markers

Cars Activities for Father's Day

IF your husband or dad is a boy at heart who loves cars and the movie, then these activities may be a fun way to spend Father's Day this Sunday. What better way to have some quality time with Dad than by spending the afternoon making Soap Box Dragsters, Lightning Bolt Keychains, or Tire Track Tees? And I'm sure Dad will be happy to help you gobble down some Whitewall Tire Cookies! (But I bet his favorite will be making the Tippy Cardboard Tractors.) These are just a few of the great activities you'll find inside.

And if you just can't get enough, Surviving a Teacher's Salary also has some FREE Cars 2 Coloring Sheets and Activity Pages.

Enjoy...and Happy Father's Day!!

 

DOWNLOAD CARS FAMILY ACTIVITY PACK

 

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Disclosure: Disney contacted me and offered me this Activity Pack to share with my readers. I have not been compensated in any way. All thoughts about the movie and the Activity Pack are completely my own!

A Brief History of Cascarones

At the insistence of a friend, I finally got my act together and helped my kids make cascarones this week. To be honest, it was our first time to do so. But we had so much fun! It really got me to thinking, though, about who invented them and when. 

Do you know the history of cascarones? Because it is very interesting. And after learning the story behind these "Mexican Easter eggs," I'm finding them even more fascinating.

This post contains affiliate links.

What Are Cascarones?

First off, in case you don't know, cascarones are brightly colored/decorated eggshells that are filled with confetti. They may be simply made by children or elaborate, hand-painted masterpieces by artists. Here in the States, they are used during celebrations, typically around Easter. In Mexico, they are popular during the time of Carnaval. But really, people may use them during any festive occasion.

Where Did They Come From?

According to historians, cascarones originated in China. It is rumored that Marco Polo first brought them to Italy, and on to Spain, and they eventually made their way to the Americas. In the beginning, the eggs were quite elegant and valuable; instead of confetti, they were filled with perfumed powders, making them popular with high-society women.

They became quite popular in Mexico in the 1860s, after Emperor Maximiliano's wife, Carlotta, introduced them to the country. In Mexico, the powders were replaced with confetti and given their name "cascarones," the plural form of "cáscara," which means shell in Spanish.

Today, the tradition of making and using cascarones to celebrate is mostly popular in the Southwestern United States, though areas of Mexico still use them. Many say that good fortune falls upon the person who has un cascarón cracked over their head - and smashing one on someone's head is actually a sign of affection. Young adults often use them to engage in mild flirtation.

Printable Activities

I've created a bilingual minibook for elementary-aged children with this history. It includes coloring pages and even directions for making your own cascarones. It's a fun little resource for parents and teachers.

Older children, may enjoy this one-page reading passage (and it comes with a 7-question comprehension quiz for use in the home or school classroom).

I also have this fun Decorate Your Own Cascarón Bilingual Activity. 

Children's Books

You might also be interested in these books:

Fun Videos

• Whistlefritz has this delightful video of a Spanish song featuring cascarones. Great for Spanish learners and bilingual families!
  
  
• You might also love these How to Make Confetti Eggs (Cascarones) Videos

How Do You Make Cascarones?

There are many sites with directions on making cascarones, so I'm not going to give you step-by-step instructions in this post. But if you are looking for video tutorials on how to make cascarones, I have a few you'll love! They are fabulous!!

But I will share with you a quick photo tour of our adventure in making them:

First, we drained the eggs by making a small hole and then washing out the empty shell.
Then we colored them using a traditional egg coloring kit.

While the colored eggs were drying, we spent ages making confetti using
colored cardstock and a hole punch.



Hours later and with sore hands, we finally had enough confetti and eggs!

We made a simple funnel from some recycled paper, then added two spoonfuls of confetti.

A little glue around the edges of our hole....



Followed by a nice tissue paper "cap"



A few stickers and other embellishments, y ya! The cascarones are done!
(A few were lost in the whole process. Empty eggshells are a little delicate - especially when handled by little fingers.)

Supplies for Making Cascarones

Here's a list of some of the supplies we use when making cascarones.

Easter Egg Dye Kit 
(I like this one because it comes with sticker that the kids can use)

Tissue paper in assorted colors

Elmer's School Glue

Biodegradable Paper Confetti

What if I have shells left over?

If you wind up saving more egg shells than you have time to dye and fill, here's a great idea on what to do with them!

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