Learning Expressions

The Preschool Rat Race

2012-01-25T15:50:07-05:00

Once upon a time, parents worried about their kids’ college applications. For many of today’s young moms and dads, however, the preschool application process has become an all consuming parental anxiety. Before becoming a mom I was under the impression that, as long as kids weren’t still wearing diapers by kindergarten, parents were excelling at the whole child-rearing thing. Oh how wrong I was. Forget about college-prep courses, nowadays we need to be prepping our little ones for kindergarten. Allow me to explain. “You know, kindergarten just isn’t what it used to be,” says the energetic, rosy-cheeked preschool teacher leading...

Let’s Get Crafty! The Bling Block Jewelry Kit by Alex

2012-01-18T11:40:44-05:00

Every once in a while, we like to get crafty at the Learning Express Toys home office. This week, we thought we’d try out the Bling Block Jewelry Kit by Alex to see what it’s all about. This fabulous little set includes 24 blocks and 50 silver-colored beads, 1 block ring, 30 sticky gems, satin cord, elastic string, 4 earring hooks, 5 jump rings, a beading needle and easy instructions. We made three great pieces of jewelry out of the kit – check out what we came up with! The Ring: This is by far the simplest accessory in the...

Spotlight On Reading: Resolve to Read a Series in 2012

2012-01-11T22:31:16-05:00

“It is not enough to simply teach children to read; we have to give them something worth reading.” - Katherine Patterson Ah, the new year! Presents have been opened, Santa (and our store owners) finally get some time to relax, and we all tell ourselves that this is the year we will actually stick to our resolutions. While committing to a liquid diet or recording your expenditures in an ultra-lame budget spreadsheet may quickly become a thing of the past, resolving to read regularly with your children is one resolution that can really endure for the long term—especially if you...

Toy Review: The Doodle-Track Car Set

2012-01-04T16:19:10-05:00

Greetings, Learning Expressions readers! This week on the blog we’re putting the spotlight on the Doodle-Track Car product by Daydream Toy. The Doodle-Track car is a craft activity and race car all wrapped into one and can provide hours of interactive online and in-house entertainment. Keep reading to find out how it shakes out using the Learning Express 3F’s of toy quality—form, function and fun! Form The Doodle-Track set has four essential in-the-box components—the Doodle-Track Car, a washable marker, stick-on decals, and playmat track. One of our favorite things about the Doodle-Track is that it also has an interactive online...

Winter Schminter: Indoor Activities to Beat the Cold Weather Blues

2011-12-28T11:58:46-05:00

Dear Learning Expressions Readers, Since around Thanksgiving time, our toddler has been talking non-stop about tricycles. As a freshly minted two year old this past summer, he didn’t even notice them. But somehow, now that he is closer to two and a half, trikes have come to the forefront of his mind. He frequently recalls that the “big boy” across the street (an aged lad of at least three and a half) rides a trike and, incredibly, this item has become more coveted than even the most glorious of trucks and trains. This new yearning for a Christmas tricycle had...