Toys are Tools

Review: OgoDisk: Dittos Don't Build Dendrites

2013-05-17T14:32:00.002-04:00

In this game, there are no winners or losers. The way to win is to have fun and the way to have fun is to keep the ball in play.

WHAT: OgoDisk Mini and OgoDisk Super by OgoSport

DOES: bilateral coordination, visual motor integration, visual tracking.. basically it's all about hand-eye coordination and also using your eyes with more control for things like... reading... you know... stuff like that

INVEST: $33-46 prices will vary with retailer (each set of two disks comes with one ball)

AGES: 3+

TOOLS: My Body Needs to Move
EXPERT OPINION: Pediatric Occupational Therapist Susan L. Roberts, MDiv, OTR/L

Gigantic Review Coming... What Do You Want to Know?

2013-05-17T10:58:00.005-04:00

Number 1 and 2 will see this when they come home. They will faint. Unlike my recent extreme motherly stunt, I think this it's too cruel to wrap this up in wire and make them earn it. But they don't know that they will be working so hard with this. They'll be getting as much as they put in and more!

WHAT: Woodmobiel brought to you by OOTS!

DOES: It looks like you can do soooooo much with this and you can expect a very thorough review. It will take some time to review this. I do want to be responsible but in case you are shopping for ideas for a summer project... I think this looks really awesome and so I wanted to tell you about it now. COULD this be your summer camp alternative? hmmmmmm

INVEST: Starter Kit is $165; Standard Kit is $300
WHAT NOW??: I need your advice. If you think your child (and you too secretly) would like this very unique and fabulous toy, what would you want to know about it to help you make a decision about buying or not buying it?

Review + Giveaway: Wordless Story Cards: A Picture is Worth A Thousand Words

2013-05-15T14:34:00.001-04:00

I wonder what could be happening here?

WHAT: My Trip to Mar s and Underwater Adventure from Gryphon Design Collective

INVENTOR: Cat Addams
DOES: fall in love with storytelling, embrace unknown endings, improve writing skills without writing a single word, great way to celebrate Better Hearing and Speech Month

INVEST: $19.95 (average wordless story book is $15-17 dollars but story cards contain an infinite number of stories)

AGES: hmmmm. maybe 2-9 or more depending on a child's language skills

TOOLS: Foment Love of Language, Flexibility is My Superpower, More Make-Believe Please
EXPERT OPINION: Susan Schwartz, MAEd, Learning Specialist, Friends Seminary; John Ferrera, PhD, Child Psychologist, John Ferrera Ph.D. and Associates

GIVEAWAY: Win My Trip to Mars and 25 % OFF COUPON CODE TOO- see below!

Another Amazing Ken Robinson TED Talk

2013-05-12T00:52:00.001-04:00

I have a million wonderful things to say about Ken Robinson. I have no idea what led me to watch one of his TED talks at 2 AM. I don't think I even knew what a TED talk was.

Read more »

Review + Giveaway: Kiwido and Mikido: Science As Sport

2013-05-09T21:40:00.003-04:00

This toy says, "I have the coolest mom/dad in the world" unless you are holding it and then it says, "I am the coolest mom/dad in the world." Pictured is the Kiwido (that comes with a CD-ROM)

WHAT: Kiwido (with CD-ROM) and Mikido by Active People

DOES: practice your balance, bilateral coordination, and strengthen your upper body! This thing makes you move! Motivation supplied by scientific curiosity... Also, it's an icebreaker in the park!

INVEST: $26.99 Kiwido with CD-Rom (blue package), $24.99 Kiwido Classic with carrying case, and $11.99 MSRP for Mikido

AGES: 5+ for Kiwido; 3-8 for Mikido

TOOLS: Think Like a Scientist/Engineer, My Body Needs to Move, Social Scene Helper, Express Yourself

GIVEAWAY: Win your own set of Kiwido (with CD-ROM) mailed to your home!

Extreme Motherly Stunts

2013-05-07T12:47:00.002-04:00

A bit extreme? Yeah, I know but hear me out!

WHAT: How to Keep Kids Playing with the Good Stuff?

DOES: makes them invest in their toys, gives ownership, slows all of us down... in a good way

INVEST: You pay for the toy.

AGES: 4+? Have to ask an expert.

TOOLS: Fertilize Responsibility and Courtesy, I Can Take Care of Myself, Family Fix-its

Review + Giveaway: About Face: Every Child is an Artist

2013-05-06T12:34:00.000-04:00

“Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up.” - Pablo Picasso

WHAT: About Face by eeBoo
INVENTOR: Saxton Freymann

DOES: children are given a uniquely-created opportunity to preserve the way they see things, their own unfettered, undisturbed, artistic viewpoints

INVEST: $14.99 MSRP

AGES: suggested 5+

TOOLS: Express Yourself, Social Scene Helper, Foment Love of Language
EXPERT OPINION: Petra Pankow, Manager of Tours and Gallery Interpretation, Montclair Art Museum and independent museum arts educator at various institutions (MoMA, Guggenheim)

GIVEAWAY: Win your own About Face game and an autographed copy of Saxton Freymann's book, Food Play !

Review: B. Symphony: Multi-Sensory Music Apprecation

2013-05-03T12:46:00.003-04:00

My child asked me: What is harmony? Uh.. well...it's.... Somethings you can't explain in words but B. can help! photo. B. Toys

WHAT: B. Symphony by B. Toys

DOES: learn about different instruments using colors, shapes, reading, touch, hearing- it's multi-sensory!

INVEST: $49.99 MSRP

AGES: 3+

TOOLS: Express Yourself, My Body Needs to Move

In Advance of Mothers Day....

2013-05-02T07:32:00.002-04:00

This was passed on by Ellen McHugh at Parent to Parent of NY State. Thank you Ellen. The author is anonymous. This passage is right on.

My friend is expecting her first child. People keep asking what she wants. She smiles demurely, shakes her head and gives the answer mothers have given throughout the ages of time. She says it doesn't matter whether it's a boy or a girl. She just wants it to have ten fingers and ten toes. Of course, that's what she says. That's what mothers have always said.

Mothers lie.

Read more »

Review + Giveaway: Peapod: Squeeze to Focus, Hug to Calm

2013-04-30T21:56:00.001-04:00

Have you been wondering what it is like to go inside of an Abilitations Peapod? We will tell you everything we know.

WHAT: Peapod (MEDIUM) by Abilitations

DOES: envelop your child with indescribably comfortable pressure. Helps them do certain tasks independently like.... READING... (and playing video games.. oh wait, they don't need so much help with that)

INVEST: $89.99

AGES: This (pictured) is the medium that is well suited for 2nd and 3rd graders. If you have a third grader, I'd say to go for the XL. If you have two kids, go for the XL. The Peapod Jr fits PreK - 1st grade.

TOOLS: Family Fix-its, I Can Take Care of Myself, My Body Needs to Move
EXPERT OPINION: Pediatric Occupational Therapist Susan L. Roberts, MDiv, OTR/L

GIVEAWAY: Win your OWN Peapod!!! Shipped FREE to your home!

DSM-V Propelled RE-Review : Bubble Talk: Perspective-Taking Can Be Hilariously Helpful

2013-04-29T12:10:00.000-04:00

What would be a good caption for this? Better yet, what would your friend think?

NEWS: The DSM-V is coming! The DSM-V is coming! Quick, it's time to update your TOOLBOX! Have you heard of "Social Communication Disorder"??? What's that? You think your boss has it? Your spouse maybe? Wait... let's be serious for one minute and talk about a very hilariously helpful game.

WHAT: Bubble Talk Game by Technosource
DOES: Encourages you to think about what would please someone else using outrageous humor and a little reading
INVEST: $22.99 MSRP
TOOLS: Lose and Win Gracefully, Fertilize Responsibility and Courtesy, Foment the Love of Language

Review and Giveaway: Crazy Aaron's Thinking Putty Hypercolors: Change Is Definitely Good

2013-04-23T14:49:00.001-04:00

Bluebird's Nest by Number 2 using Twilight and Sunburst Hypercolor Putty by Crazy Aaron's PuttyWorld

WHAT: Heat Sensitive Hypercolor Putty by Crazy Aaron's Thinking Putty

DOES: fidget to focus, fidget to wake up your creativity, fidget and be social, fidget and make art, fidget and feel alive!!!

INVEST: $11 MSRP (3.2 oz tin)

AGES: 3+ (I could do 2+ but only with supervision)

TOOLS: Family Fix-its, Holiday/Birthday Build-Uponner, Social Scene Helper, Think Like a Scientist/Engineer
EXPERT OPINION: Pediatric Occupational Therapist Susan L. Roberts, MDiv, OTR/L

GIVEAWAY and DISCOUNT CODE: Win a tin of Glow-in-the-Dark Putty and one Heat Sensitive Hypercolor Putty too! U.S. addresses only please... See Discount Code info below.

Because you're HOT then you're COLD, it's YES then it's NO..... Hypercolor putty kind of acts like a person

Review and Giveaway: SolPals Moonbeams Flower or Star: Make Every Night "Earth Night"

2013-04-22T12:39:00.003-04:00

Why can't we celebrate "Earth Night" too? This is our new night light. It's a hybrid that uses sunlight for power but has a back-up for the cloudy days.

WHAT: SolPals (solar-powered hybrid utility light/night light) Moonbeams Flower (or Star)

DOES: teaches kids how solar power can help conserve energy and increase safety at home; acts as emergency light

INVEST: $29.95 (Moonbeams Mini-Projector is $19.95) Additional Projector Lens can be purchased separately

AGES:1 minute old and up (because you can't be age Zero)

TOOLS: Family Fix-its, Fertilize Responsibility and Courtesy, Think Like a Scientist/Engineer

GIVEAWAY: Win your own Moonbeam Mini-Projector! You choose the color! (U.S. Only please)

Small Yellow Campaign + Giveaway: Meet the Brick Artist: Nathan Sawaya

2013-04-19T14:18:00.000-04:00

From Jenn to You: You must vote for Small Yellow on Cuusoo by the artist Nathan Sawaya. You just simply have to... Photo courtesy of brickartist.com

WHAT: Vote for Small Yellow- created by Nathan Sawaya

DOES: Step 1 in my Campaign to Rescue Creativity

INVEST: $ Your Time

TOOLS: EVERYTHING
GIVEAWAY: Everyone will get free units of happiness and hope- if you participate, you will get it instantly. If you send it to a friend, you'll get even more units.
AND... Win your own AUTOGRAPHED COPY of the book that is quickly disappearing off bookstore shelves all over the world... The Art of Nathan Sawaya

Review + Giveaway: Meet Super Duper Pubs: An Educational Trailblazer

2013-04-17T08:23:00.000-04:00

The back of the card is even better than the front! Yogarilla is a superstar!

WHAT: 500 Prefixes, Suffixes, and Stems Super Fun Deck and Yogarilla (both from Super Duper Publications)

DOES: 500 Prefixes, Suffixes, and Stems is a treasure chest of word parts that your child can use to help with both decoding and reading comprehension; Yogarilla is an excellently designed tool that helps you and your child do yoga positions in an accurate and fun way.

INVEST: $49.95 and $34.95 respectively
AGES: Fun Deck (Suggested Gr. 4+ but we loved at Gr. 3 too), Yogarilla (3+)

TOOLS: Foment Love of Language, My Body Needs to Move

EXPERT OPINION: Susan Schwartz, MAEd, Learning Specialist, Friends Seminary and Mike Pfeiffer, Pediatric Occupational Therapist, Owner/Director, Leaps and Bounds Pediatric Therapy

GIVEAWAY: Win a fifty dollar gift certificate to this really amazing store filled with 100s of awesome tools. COUPON CODE TOO

Making Machines Out of Paper and Sticks

2013-04-15T09:39:00.002-04:00

This is what teaching looks like to me. Coincidentally, this what learning looks like to me. You don't always see it in the same picture. photo: Yadana Desmond where: New York Hall of Science

Reminder: National Teachers' Appreciation Week is coming soon. May 6-12, 2013

Don't you love this photo? Press LIKE if you want to salute your favorite teachers! Read on to find out what you can't see in the photo:

Review & Giveaway: Weird and Wacky Contraption Lab: The Art of Science

2013-04-11T11:30:00.002-04:00

Use momentum and gravity to make the ball fall down this rube goldberg but you must use humor to persevere frustration and unleash your creativity

WHAT: Weird and Wacky Contraption Lab

DOES: educational toy and rube goldberg that lets kids learn about gravity and developing your "tweaking" skills while you make something that entertains yourself and others

INVEST: $39.99 MSRP

AGES: 8+ (our tester was slightly younger and did okay)

TOOLS: Think Like a Scientist/Engineer, My Body Needs to Move

GIVEAWAY: Win your very own (U.S. addresses only please)

How Often Does This Happen to You? Lesson in Why Good Design is Crucial

2013-04-09T22:57:00.001-04:00

Don't worry, you won't see me wearing sunglasses sitting on a toilet singing Psy's song.

WHAT: Quick video for kids
DOES: teaches children of all ages what good design does NOT look like, helps grown-ups understand why kids hate public toilet

INVEST: $your time

AGES: all

TOOLS: Family Fix-it, Work Experience

Headscratcher: A Gifted Student Learns to Thrive with Dyslexia - Wall Street Journal - WSJ.com

2013-04-06T21:31:00.001-04:00

I have been kind of bugged out after reading this article.

Here is a student who was taught how to read using different methods because she has dyslexia. She went to the Windward School in White Plains and there she learned how to read. Now she's in a mainstream school and just got into a high school of her choice.

I think this is great and we still need to educate many about dyslexia, especially gifted children with learning disabilities. (It's NOT an oxymoron!)

However, what I really want to know is... have we ever tested these teaching methods for dyslexic students on non-dyslexic children? Would they NOT learn how to read? If they would learn how to read... why aren't we using these methods? And if we don't know the answer to this question... why haven't we found out.

Things that make you go hmmmmm........

A Gifted Student Learns to Thrive with Dyslexia - Wall Street Journal - WSJ.com

Review + Giveaway: Curious Chef Knives Set: It's All About Respect

2013-04-04T17:44:00.001-04:00

I know what you are thinking. And the answer is YES! These are for kids and they're fabulous. Take it from a kid whose parents were in the restaurant business for over forty years!!.

WHAT: Nylon Knife Set (of 3) by Curious Chef

DOES: kids can slice, dice, and chop!!! safely? yes!!!!! These aren't like plastic disposable knives. These babies can cut! Could this be the key to unlocking appetites or be a sneaky fine motor/OT-ish exercise? You will just have to try it yourself.

INVEST: $8.99 as listed on their website. I paid a couple of dollars more for it at Amazon but it's worth it!

AGES: Hmmmm I think parents should decide.

TOOLS: Holiday Build-Uponner, Express Yourself, Fertilize Responsibility and Courtesy

GIVEAWAY: Win your own set of knives (U.S. only please)

World Autism Awareness Day: Bestselling Book: Autism Goes to School is Free April 2nd

2013-04-02T06:51:00.003-04:00

In honor of World Autism Awareness Day, Autism Goes to School by Dr. Sharon A. Mitchell is free on Amazon today. Thanks Rachel for sharing this!

Here is my link!

Why Do Kids Like to Play With Eggs So Much?

2013-04-02T06:41:00.000-04:00

WHAT: Belated Easter card from Number 2 to you
PRODUCTS PICTURED: Eggs White and Brown. Radz, Zometool, 24 Karat Easter Egg Coloring Kit

DOES: Makes me chuckle
TOOLS: None other than make me chuckle which I consider to be medicinal.

Review + Giveaway: eeBoo: Familiarity and Playfulness Go A Long Way

2013-04-01T01:00:00.000-04:00

It's not a workbook. It's not a textbook. It's a 32 page-teacher and the school is open whenever you want it to be.

WHAT: eeBoo's Learn to Draw by Lizzy Rockwell and Learn to Draw Animals by Kevin Hawkes

DOES: bookz that teach drawing and inspire thoughtful expression- look at the pictures- I have proof!

INVEST: $5.99 each (seriously... it doesn't get any better than that)

AGES: 5+ and 7+ respectively- if your child is not used to drawing, then especially at those starter ages of 5 or 7 (depending) on the book, I suggest you sit with them for moral support.

TOOLS: Express Yourself
EXPERT OPINION: Petra Pankow, Manager of Tours and Gallery Interpretation, Montclair Art Museum and independent museum arts educator at various institutions (MoMA, Guggenheim)

GIVEAWAY: Win the entire trio of eeBoo's drawing books, see below!

Toy Revival 101: Share Your Wisdom and Win Awesome Fine Motor Chopsticks!

2013-03-30T06:12:00.001-04:00

Occupational Therapist Aimee Prainito loves these. It builds your fine motor skills and can help kids find eating more fun! Leftee or Rightee? Don't worry! BTW, I know you can't read this but they are definitely Edison...

Readers often ask me for ideas on how to get their kids to continue playing with the awesome toys that they have. I completely understand. Make no mistake. It is Ninjago that rules this home. Video games are huge here despite this site being big on educational toys. My household as well as those of the testers are having the same problems with some variations of course (too much of something... ie. video games, t.v., even reading....) Based on my conversations with them, as well as other parents and specialists, I have come up with the following list of tips. Some will fit your family and some may not...

Review & Giveaway: The Educational Triple Threat (Vista Explorer Tripod + Case Star Clip + Tablet/Phone)

2013-03-26T08:34:00.002-04:00

Presentation skills are often NOT taught in school and yet this scary activity is required of them throughout their academic years. Tiffen has something that can help.

WHAT: Vista Explorer 60-Inch Lightweight Tripod with Tripod Bag by Davis & Sanford, a division of Tiffen
WHAT: Case Star Universal Clip/Clasp Holder for Tripod
WHAT: Your camera, tablet, smartphone..... (Cameras do not need the Case Star Clip)

DOES: inexpensive, lightweight, and easy-to-use equipment can be handled by kids to encourage them to record themselves on video; offers potential speech and language benefits; practice brings confidence and competence

INVEST: $32.02 MSRP for Tripod; $6.99 Clip Holder (price at time of posting)

AGES: maybe 6 years old? depends on the family and child...

TOOLS: Express Yourself, Foment Love of Language, Remember to Learn, Social Scene Helper

GIVEAWAY: Win your own lightweight Vista Explorer tripod. Give it to your kid to star in his own videos! Give it to yourself to blog? Make your own movies without the shakies.

Camera accessories like this Vista Explorer by Davis and Sanford have TREMENDOUS educational potential!