Giveaway: Palette Game: Because the World is Not Always Black and White

photo courtesy: Fat Brain Toy Co.

WHAT: Palette Game by Fat Brain Toy Co.
DOES:  how well can you discriminate with your eye?; gives an opportunity to practice self-talk memorization skills,
INVEST: $22-25
TOOLS:Remember to Learn, Lose and Win Gracefully

GIVEAWAY: Tulip 3D Glow-in-the-Dark Fabric Paint: You Can Paint-in-the-Dark!

Who knew six little bottles could be a huge evening of fun and learning? photo: ilovetocreate.com

WHAT: Tulip 3D Glow-in-the-Dark Fashion Paint
DOES:  you can paint on fabric with glow-in-the-dark-neon paint; thin applicator tip makes raised and well-defined lines; small bottles for easy squeezing for little hands
INVEST: $8-10
TOOLS: Express Yourself (a new medium brings new ideas and challenges), My Body Needs to Move (you'll be moving more if you paint something large, like curtains!)

IKEA Curtain Rails and Clips: Meeting "Needs" and Fulfilling "Wants"

It's the new hideaway bed tent but NO disassembling or storing is involved!

WHAT: KVARTAL Single Track Rail, KVARTAL Ceiling Fittings and RIKTIG Hook/Glider/Clip by Ikea (see foot of text for more links)
DOES: Curtain rods that hang from the ceiling allow your child's bed or bunkbed  to be enveloped by curtains on all open sides; the roomiest and easiest bed tent you can ever have; princess possibilities with sheer curtains too!
INVEST: $5 and up, inexpensive, but you will have to do it yourself
TOOLS: Express Yourself (decorate your curtains!), I Can Take Care of Myself (let-off-steam-site), More Make-Believe Please (bed-tent-like), Family Fix-Its (gives some privacy)

Giveaway: Oblo Puzzle Sphere: The New Exercise Ball

photo courtesy: Great Circle Works

WHAT: Oblo Puzzle Sphere by Great Circle Works
DOES: Uses the power of good design to make you work; exercise multiple skills while you put this puzzle back together
INVEST: $20-$25
TOOLS: My Body Needs to Move (work both hands and all those fingers!), Think Like a Scientist/Engineer (for early visual/spatial skill practice)

Giveaway: 7 Habits of Happy Kids Game: Highly Effective Family Fun

photo courtesy: Educational Insights

WHAT: The 7 Habits of Happy Kids Game by Educational Insights
DOES: Gives children and families an opportunity to discuss principles of emotional intelligence with ease in a fun setting.
INVEST:  $29.99  (on 3/19, it was $21 on Amazon)
TOOLS: Take Care of Myself, Fertilize Responsibility and Courtesy, Family Fix-its, Lose and Win Gracefully (multiple opportunities to move ahead even when it's not your turn)

Giveaway: Pathwords Jr.: Finding More than Just Words

You can't help but pick up these pieces and play around with them.  (photo courtesy: Think Fun)

WHAT:  Pathwords Jr. 
DOES:  frequently described as "Tetris Meets Word Search," provides opportunities to exercise skills in visual word recognition, flexibility, and vocabulary development
INVEST: $19.99
TOOLS: Foment Love of Language, My Body Needs to Move (in this case, it's the fingers)

Parents with Angst: Music BY Parents FOR Parents

It's about the parents this time. 

WHAT: Parents with Angst
DOES: Pioneering a new genre of music that explores the challenges and joys of parenting; the whole CD is dedicated to it! That's news!
INVEST: $9.99 for CD or digital album; individual songs also for sale.
TOOLS: Family Fix-it

Review & Giveaway: Park and Learn: Just Flip the Switch!

I like that even though he's comfortable, he's still in a forward-facing position and he is looking directly at his work.    He's "on." And yup, that's a Whisperphone on his ear. 

 
WHAT: Park and Learn by Abilitations
DOES: provides a unique mode of support to children whose bodies need to move; acts as a tool for kids to "turn on their focus"
INVEST: $115.36  (all individuals receive "Educator Price" or "Catalog Price")
TOOLS: I Can Take Care of Myself, My Body Needs to Move, More Make-Believe Please, Social Scene Helper, Family Fix-its

Giveaway and Book Review: Easy to Love but Hard to Raise: Because You are Not Alone

image courtesy: DRT Press

WHAT: Easy to Love But Hard to Raise: Real Parents, Challenging Kids, True Stories, an anthology co-edited by Kay Marner and Adrienne Ehlert Bashista, Foreword by Dr. Edward Hallowell
DOES: Reading about parenting struggles can put your own life as a parent in perspective; for many, it can feed a soul
INVEST: $9 - $19
TOOLS:  Family Fix-its (for the parent especially); Fertilize Responsibility and Courtesy (learning about others' lives can do that, especially if those lives are different from yours)

GIVEAWAY: Yo Baby Kick Flipper: My Body Needs to Move!

GIVEAWAY with Updated Review!

WHAT: Yo Baby Kick Flipper

DOES: Allows you to do tricks with a skateboard-like toy but you can do this at home OR outside;  Video instruction allows for private practice;  Can alleviate symptoms of Look-at-Me Syndrome

INVEST: $10 or slightly more depending on color or store

TOOLS: Social Scene Helper, My Body Needs to Move, Express Yourself
Giveaway Details Below