Great Gifts for Kinesthetic Learners: Sonic Slam

Sonic Slam:  Electronic Tennis Game without the Ball

Tennis, anyone?

If you have active children, particularly those with a bent toward hands on learning (kinesthetic, or tactile learners), then you know that sometimes it's very difficult to harness that energy, never mind channel it in a positive direction. There are lots of toys and games available which are well suited to this type of youngster, many of which I'll highlight later in the article. However, I'll begin with one that caught my attention recently, Sonic Slam.

No ball!

Sonic Slam is essentially virtual tennis, but without the need to be tied to a gaming console. Whereas activity based video game systems such as Wii require use of the television screen, Sonic Slam simply includes electronic tennis rackets. The ball is seen as a light, which is bounced back and forth between players. No running after that stray ball! This isn't strictly of interest to the young crowd. If your better half is a tennis fanatic, this is a way to tap into that interest.

My husband faithfully watches all of the tennis tournaments, and I often wake to middle of the night showings of tournaments when it's the right season. In our first year of marriage, his delight in my owning a tennis racket quickly turned to disappointment when I couldn't keep his pace. Sonic Slam provides an opportunity to enjoy his interest, without frustrating things by constant misses!

Of course, there are some plug and play sets which focus strictly on tennis games, played through television. Not nearly as intriguing as Sonic Slam, but nevertheless, another tennis option. There are also many tennis options for the major video gaming systems, including Wii, XBOX, and PlayStation.

Sports Minded Kids

Of course, if you have sports loving children, there's no absolute replacement for real sports equipment, and with tennis type action, you will want to consider a real tennis racket and ball, or perhaps a table tennis set. Electronic tennis is a hit with my children, and I see this as potentially translating into a great interest to pursue as an outdoors activity.

Kitchen Math: Education Through Discovery

Education in Experiences

The kitchen lends itself well to all manner of experience. From smell to taste to temperature, we become acquainted as youngsters with the things we later study in science. We observe the changing of a variety of ingredients into solids such as cakes and brownies, and we appreciate the importance of this hub of the household when our tummies rumble, informing us of mealtime. Equally important are the beginnings of important mathematical principles, as we learn to count, sort, identify, and compare. Sets and subsets are not important, but stacking of cans of like sizes, or arranging of silverware according to size and type are the beginnings of our understanding of relationships that will later enable us to compute and solve the most basic to the more complex problems.


In the modern classroom, all too often, test scores trump understanding. What I mean is that, while intended to measure a student's understanding, most testing tools are limited to easy-to-grade answers of multiple choice or true/false. There is little opportunity for a student to provide his thinking on a topic, or to defend his answer. Further, time to develop the tactile understanding through hands on experience is limited by needs to comply with the schedule at hand for the curriculum. While the basic information needed to pass a test might be communicated, the understanding needed for essential application of these concepts is bypassed.

As parents, we can fill in some of those missing gaps by allowing our children to explore and experiment with materials that allow them to see, touch, and experience in a way that brings understandings of quantity and qualities.

Head Chefs Measuring Cup for Junior Chefs

Counting and Sorting

The activities of counting and sorting really come naturally. If a child is presented with a set of items, it won't be long before they are doing one, or both. Allow this to happen naturally in the kitchen. Encourage your child's presence as you prepare meals. Allow them to taste, touch, and smell the ingredients in your recipes....within reason, of course! Of course, we aren't going to have little ones handling raw meat or hot peppers. Nevertheless, there are many things in our kitchens that little ones can do to participate. While it may be loud and annoying for a child to play with pots and pans, these are beginning opportunities to experience sounds.
Youngsters love to help in putting away groceries. What a fantastic means to allow sorting. As cans are separated from vegetables, as pantry items are stored with like items, it's the opportunity to develop a sense of attributes and sets. Fruits are separated from vegetables, and separated from each other, as they are stored, again providing the opportunity to experience attributes and relationships.
Small materials such as rice or pasta or marshmallows may provide a great opportunity to compare or conserve. Some measuring cups, a bowl of grain, and some other assorted containers, and a pre-schooler can easily be entertained. The bonus is the understanding that is being developed.

Learn to Ask Questions

A parent who asks great questions will encourage understanding. Rather than telling the youngster how many marshmallows there are in a bowl, ask. If an incorrect quantity is reported, count together. Allow the child to have his "aha" moments. If he asks how many of something there are, encourage him to do the counting. Help him to attain understanding by enabling him to do it himself.

Fun Materials

Depending on the child's age and ability to eat certain sized foods, it's fun to purchase some special items for the purpose of encouraging sorting, counting, and measuring. For example, a bag of M&M's is lots of fun to experience. It need not be a large package, but could be a small individual sized bag. Gummy bears, gumdrops, marshmallows, and cereals are all fun materials to work with, which can be consumed during or after a planned activity. These provide lots of fun in sorting, counting, and of course, consuming! Not only are these great for mathematical understanding, but also, are nice means of discussing textures, weights, and other characteristics. Vocabulary will develop in the discussion. Comparisons and contrasts may naturally develop, for example, as large marshmallows and small are experienced. The opportunities are limitless. Many of these same food items are often used in crafts, whether stringing Cheerios and Fruit Loops, or glueing pinto beans and rice to a picture. The encouragement of exploration may ignite an artistic interest or a musical interest. As your children grow, many of these same materials may allow for understanding more advanced ideas and concepts, such as ratios and proportions, and may lend themselves to charting and graphing. The most important thing is to have fun as you facilitate learning.

You Can Do It

You do not need a credential to encourage your child's learning. You are your youngster's first and best teacher. As you learn and experience together, you are key to his or her confidence, and you are able to make a huge impact before school years approach. Take advantage of the inexpensive and ample opportunities in your own kitchen to encourage mathematical understanding and more! Learn together!

Fun Educational Kitchen Gifts

Head Chefs Measuring Spoons and Tools Make Fun Gifts

Whether you need a fun set of activities for your children for the summer or a great birthday gift, a junior cooking set can provide the opportunity for your youngsters to explore measurement and cooking at the same time.  There are play sets and there are sets of real kitchen tools for junior chefs.  Involving your youngster in kitchen activities will allow for familiarity and confidence in culinary skills and will allow for an intuitive understanding of measuring, number significance, fractions, and counting. 

Educational Tech Gifts in 2012

There are many considerations for educational tech gifts in 2012, and much of the focus will be on the improvement of existing tech items.  Tablet computers are among the most popular tech items for kids, and I really love touchscreen technology because it involves the tactile modality in the learning process.  While Apple products like the iPad and iPod Touch are the leaders, the Android selections have become viable alternatives due to affordability.

The iPad 3 is due to be introduced to the world March 7, which will certainly impact things.  Watch for lower costs on older models.  However, keep in mind the Kindle Fire and the Nook Color and Nook Tablet as alternatives.  These are much lower in price than iPad, and provide a huge selection of apps and activities.  The Meep! Tablet is due to be released in the summer of 2012, an Android tablet aimed at kids.  Pricing will be an important factor in the reception of the device, but it provides an advanced alternative to the touchscreen toys that took center stage last year.



Interactive iPad Games
incorporate iPad, Apps, and
popular Hasbro games.

Many games and toys are on the horizon that involve apps for different touchscreen devices for kids.  "Zapped" versions of popular games will integrate with iPad tablets.  The Life version is already available, and Monopoly and Battleship are due out later in the year.  iPod/iPhone laser tag games are on the horizon, as well.  Many external devices for music playing are in development.  AppTivity toys are interactive toys created for playing on the surface of iPad in concert with related apps.  Watch for Hot Wheels, Fruit Ninja and Angry Birds Apptivity Toys.

Melissa and Doug Holiday Deals

**Special Amazon Toys GoldBox Daily Deals Leak** - Up to 50 Off Select Melissa and Doug Toys

(only valid Dec. 8, 2011)
If you are a fan of Melissa and Doug toys, you will find a host of educational gifts and ideas, ranging from pretend play sets, to puzzles, to math manipulatives, and more.  Amazon's holiday deals are in full swing, and you'll find a variety of deals through the season, including the Melissa and Doug sale linked above.

LeapPad Explorer Inventory: Where to Buy LeapPad Explorer Online

If you are hunting for the popular LeapPad Explorer Tablet this holiday season, you may be a little frustrated with inventory shortages...our WalMart displayed prominently on Black Friday that it would not have any in stock, due to inventory issues beyond control. Following are some leads, though as the season proceeds, inventories will no doubt continue to dwindle.

Sears: Green LeapPad Explorer or Pink LeapPad Explorer

KMart:  LeapPad Explorer

Target

As well, LeapPad Explorer is available through many third party sellers on Amazon. Be aware that the prices may be significantly elevated, compared to list price, due to the popularity of the device. If you are considering an alternative to the Leapfrog Tablet, there are still supplies of the VTech Innotab, but again, the third party sellers may have elevated prices. Some sources include those same venues linked above. Additionally, Best Buy carries the Innotab, though is out of stock on LeapPad.

Another alternative to the LeapFrog Tablet, especially with upper elementary aged children, is the Kindle Fire, or the Barnes and Noble Nook Color.  Both retail at $199, and though not specifically targeted at children, have apps, ereading materials, and digital media available.  While the cost is significantly higher than the list prices of the electronic learning systems, the older child will be able to continue using one of these tablets on into tween and teen years.

My Twinn Black Friday Sale

Black Friday Sale Only! FREE SHIPPING on orders of $100 or more. Up to $70 in FREE GOODS!

If you are hunting for a look alike doll for your daughter this holiday season, then check out the Black Friday sale linked here, with up to $70 in freebies. 

Pretend play is important developmentally, and many children really love look alike dolls.  My Twinn allows you to create a doll for your child with similar features, hairstyle...even freckles!  There are many ways to customize your daughter's twinn!

Puzzle Books for Tweens and Teens

Tweens and teens can benefit greatly from puzzle books as gifts, especially during the busy holiday season, or for a long, lazy summer. There are, of course, many puzzle books to choose from at all age levels, but there are many targeted at special interests, and older puzzle solvers, as in the example pictured above. Educationally, puzzle books can provide opportunity to refine vocabulary or math skills. There are extreme challenges available, whether in dot to dot format, sudoku, kakuro, or in crosswords.  For an ongoing supply, consider a subscription to your tween's favorite puzzles in magazine form, or to variety magazines.