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Category Archives: Electronic Toys

What Gifts Do Tweens Want?

Posted by melissa.t on November 22, 2011 None comments

I don’t know about you, but I think that tweens are the hardest age for which to buy gifts. It’s sort of an in-between age– they’re growing out of dolls and superheroes, but aren’t teenagers quite yet. So, what presents do tweens want? Here are popular gift ideas for both girls and boys.

Gift Ideas for Tween Girls

Head to Toe Spa

Perfume Science

Heavenly Hair Kit

Rock Fashion Studio

Star Theater

Gift Ideas for Tween Boys

Air Pick Rebel Rock

Custom Rides Design Studio

Techno Gears Marble Mania Extreme

Star Scope Telescope

Vertigo Sky Shark

 

You can’t go wrong with kits for both genders such as craft kits or model kits. When it doubt, have the tween look through websites and catalogues and make a wish list. Make it a fun writing activity!

Sneak In Learning with Fun Games

Posted by melissa.t on October 27, 2011 1 comments

The Sneaky Chef and Jessica Seinfeld (Deceptively Delicious) sneak vegetables into kids’ food.

So can’t we sneak learning into fun (“educational”) games? 

Of course! :)

In fact, consider all the different kinds of learning and educational games available– board games, active games, electronic games, computer games, video games, and phone and iPad games. That means lots of learning opportunities for your children! (Hint: Holidays are coming soon, this might be a gift idea.)

Board Games

Board games give kids rich learning opportunities and, as Scholastic writes, reinforce skills like:

  • number and shape recognition, grouping, and counting
  • letter recognition and reading
  • visual perception and color recognition
  • eye-hand coordination and manual dexterity
Educational board and strategy games:

Active Games

Active games are gross-motor games like the Play and Score Ball Throwing Game which also reinforces counting.

But, the classic recess games such as Capture the Flag or H-O-R-S-E are great active games as well and require minimal equipment. Some games, such as Capture the Flag, teach social skills and cooperation. The same goes for indoor active games like Indoor Foot Volleyball.

Electronic Games

Electronic Games are games which require a battery.


Computer Games

I’ve looked and there aren’t many computer games available on a disc. You can go online and play games or buy a gaming console like a Wii. For online games, try website Kids.gov which offers parents and educators a long list of educational online games or Kidz Pages which lists many online learning games.

Video Games

The Gates Foundation believes video games can enhance learning and recently donated $15 million to fund learning based video games. Interesting, isn’t it? Games can count as learning, even video games.

iPad and iPhone Games

We use the iPad for educational games, here are a few favorites.

There are so many fun ways that games make learning possible. 
Which games listed or not are your favorites?

Math Slam Better Than Flashcards

Posted by melissa.t on September 15, 2011 1 comments

I don't know about your kids but mine hate flashcards. And, I can't say that I blame them – they're kind of boring, right? After all, learning your math facts is pretty much memorization and lots of practice.

This summer, my kids were saved from the dreaded flashcards with Math Slam. What's more, it worked for both my 6-year old and my 9-year old.

So, Math Slam is an electronic Educational Insights product which tests kids on their math facts in addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division in three different skill levels. Kids see and hear the math questions which I like. Then, the child must hit the correct answer on the corresponding colored circle. 

So, my first grader could practice some easy addition and subtraction while my fourth grader could practice the levels of multiplication and division. It helped keep both kids practicing math and made it really fun and active, which my kids need. Don't all kids?

Now that school's back in session, my fourth grader needs to keep practicing her multiplication and division facts every night. I let her choose and she almost always chooses to practice with Math Slam. Other choices include flashcards, iPad math apps, multiplication rap music, and practice quizzes. 

How do your kids practice their math facts?