Active Summer Giveaway Part 2: Don't Miss This

WHAT: THE SECOND HALF of my follow up to my post at Forbes
This one is all about ACTIVE FUN too but for kids over 5!
TOOLS: Express Yourself, Think Like a Scientist Engineer, My Body Needs to Move
This giveaway is brought to you by Toys Are Tools, nay Forbes.com

We are dividing this feature into two parts because this post and giveaway will focus on active toys for kids over 5 years of age.  The previous post with its very own giveaway focuses on active fun for kids under 5.  DON'T MISS!  You can enter both!

Active Summer Giveaway Part 1: $400 value; Limitless Summer Fun for the Five and Under Set

WHAT: A follow up to my post at Forbes
This one is all about ACTIVE FUN!
TOOLS: Express Yourself, Think Like a Scientist Engineer, My Body Needs to Move
This giveaway is brought to you by Toys Are Tools, nay Forbes.com

We are dividing this feature into two parts because this post and giveaway will focus on active toys for kids under 5 years of age.  The next post with its very own giveaway will focus on active fun for kids over 5.  DON'T MISS!

Holiday Toy Review + Giveaway: Executive Function Toys of Mattel: Bounce-Off and Hot Wheels Air Brush Auto Designer

Bounce-Off! - Practice playing this crazy game with focus and delight- not easy.

It's reusable but you get only one car.  Plan ahead to make it great!

WHAT: Bounce-Off and Hot Wheels Air Brush Auto Designer
DOES:  Regulating one's energy; Air Brush is good for planning and execution skills
INVEST: $17.99 for Bounce-Off; $34.99 for Air Brush Auto Designer
AGES: Both ages 6+
TOOLS: Express Yourself, My Body Needs to Move
GIVEAWAY PRIZE:  Win both sets!

Review + Giveaway: Remote Control Machines: Play Like An Executive

WHAT: Remote Control Machines by Thames and Kosmos
DOES:  Learn remote control machine functions easily with this kit and then make your own crazy contraption
INVEST: $84.95

AGES: 8+  
TOOLS: My Body Needs to Move, Think Like a Scientist/Engineer, Like An Executive

GIVEAWAY PRIZE: You will get your own Remote Control Machines Kit mailed to you!!!

There are only two times that I have actually apologized to my kids for not having bought them something.  The first was a book that I thought my son obsessed over way too much but he loved it.  (It actually ended up inspiring a lot of art work- some of it was sold!)

The second time was to Tester #1 and I did this last week.  I told him that I was sorry that I didn't buy this set for him sooner.  I thought it was out of my price range and now that I think about it, I have spent that kind of money before and on toys that are not even half as awesome as this set.

Our Most Watched YouTube Video

WHAT:  THE Most Watched YouTube Video from Toys Are Tools and some other cool videos about entrepreneurs and kids!

Review & Giveaway: Clumsy Thief + Last Letter: Teach Opportunistic Test-Taking Skills

Focus! Think Fast!  Act Faster! Then Relax!

Use Working Memory & Speed Reading to Win This Game.

WHAT: Clumsy Thief (Math Game) by Melon Rind and Last Letter (Word) Game by ThinkFun
DOES: Why "be tested," instead, let them test themselves. These games arouse the hunt and gather instinct in our young humans.
INVEST: Clumsy Thief $13.99; Last Letter $12.99

AGES: Clumsy Thief (box says 9+ but definitely can be played by young kids if they are big on math and mature enough to have their stuff stolen from them)  Last Letter (8+ but definitely can be played by younger kids if they are big on visual scanning and/or spelling)
TOOLS: My Body Needs to Move, Think Like a Scientist/Engineer, Family Fix-it, Foment the Love of Language, Flexibility is My Superpower

GIVEAWAY PRIZE:One Winner Wins BOTH Games!!! 

Bicycling: Can Kids Ride Their Way to Academic Success?

SPONSORED POST

Huffy Green Machine Tri-Bike

WHAT: My virtual eye-shopping trip at KIDS' Bicycles at Big W, Australia
DOES: Gets one thinking about outdoor activities especially those of us who are facing milestone moments: first trike, first bike with training wheels, or the ominous first big kid two-wheeler sans helper wheels
INVEST: $54 and up

TOOLS: My Body Needs to Move

Review + Giveaway: Sensible Solutions for Kids: The Pocket Occupational Therapist + Weighted Pocket Scarf + Mini Push Pathz

Thanks to Albert Dungca, OTR/L, who helped my kid learn how amazing sprinklers can be.  Other therapists like Cara Koscinski and Aviva Weiss (see below) are also making miracles by helping kids enjoy their primary occupation: PLAYING.

WHAT: Sensible Solutions: Strategies to Help Kids Get Back On Track
The Pocket Occupational Therapist (Book) ($19.95) author: Cara Koscinski 
Weighted Pocket Scarf, invented by Aviva Weiss  ($29.99)
Mini-Push Pathz by Abilitations (School Specialty $19.99)- part of the giveaway! (Read review here)

TOOLS: My Body Needs to Move, Family Fix-its

GIVEAWAY PRIZE: Your copy of The Pocket Occupational Therapist and All Five of the Mini Push-Pathz (the BIG HIT of 2013)

Updated Shopping Guide: Favorite Things at Different Roads to Learning

WHAT: Different Roads to Learning - Jenn's Shopping Guide
Updated 12/19/13

Review+Giveaway: Squigz and Twig: Toys That Feed The Senses

Toy Hit of the Year: Squigz, to me, is not exactly a toy, it's more of an experience or an idea

one of the best examples of plart

WARNING: You Will Be Very Tempted to Make A Purchase At the End of This Review

WHAT: Squigz and Twig
INVENTOR: Scott Baumann (Squigz) and Matthew Hiebert (Twig)

DOES: we're not quite sure, I think it's a you-fill-in-the-blank-thing

INVEST:  Squigz two sizes $24.95 (24 pieces), $49.95 (50 pieces), additional Squigz available for purchase, Twig $49.95
AGES: 3+ (but we have let younger kids play with Squigz)

TOOLS: My Body Needs to Move, Express Yourself, Birthday/Holiday Build-Uponner, Think Like a Scientist/Engineer

EXPERT OPINION: David Wells, Manager, Creative Making and Learning, New York Hall of Science, AND Susan L. Roberts, Pediatric Occupational Therapist and Integrative Nutritionist; Author, My Kid Eats Everything
GIVEAWAY PRIZE: Squigz Starter 24 Piece Set

Review + Super Social Giveaway- Best Outdoor Toys- Keep The Play Alive This Fall

WHAT: Super Social Fall Outdoor Toys - a mini-salute to the U.S. Open

DOES: Outdoor Toys that are still fun even after summer is done. It's really not about being outdoors, it's about enjoying the outdoors with people.... 

INVEST:  $3- $100+
AGES: Some are 4+ and some are 8+

TOOLS: Social Scene Helper, My Body Needs to Move
GIVEAWAY: Totally Awesome: Win the OgoSport Raq set and ONE YoBaby Kick Flipper

Review + The Young Writer's Giveaway Package: The Tran-Quill Pencil: Beefing Up Muscle Memory

Like driving, you don't want to be thinking about the mechanics of writing when writing. You can't drive safely this way and you can't write efficiently this way either.

For many kids, writing is a terrifying and dreadful act. As a writer that makes me sad especially if it is happening with my own children.  Thank you to Little Red Writing and ARK Therapeutics for making this special Young Writer's Giveaway Package.

WHAT:  The Tran-Quill Pencil Kit by ARK Therapeutic
INVENTOR: Speech Language Pathologist, Debra Lowsky, MS, CCC-SLP and her husband John Lowsky, BS ME. (Mechanical Engineer)

DOES: gentle vibrating mode provides extra feedback to muscles thereby making writing easier, more efficient, and more enriching

INVEST:  $36.50-$46.50 and even less if you already have the Z-Vibe
AGES: hmmm... with professional guidance or supervision, I would guess 3/4+ for the pencil kit?

TOOLS: My Body Needs to Move, Express Yourself

EXPERT OPINION: Pediatric Occupational Therapist and Integrative Nutritionist, Susan L. Roberts, MDiv, OTR/L 
GIVEAWAY PACKAGE: One Lucky Winner Will Receive a Tran-Quill Pencil Kit AND a copy of Little Red Writing, a new book about writing written by Joan Holub illustrated by the great Melissa Sweet!
COUPON CODE until 9/16/13: Check out my separate post on my picks and my code. 

Review + HUGE ThinkFun Giveaway: WordARound: Movement, the Brain, and Reading

To me, each WordARound card comes with its own special "reading motor." Read on to find out more why I think a child who struggles with reading can be helped by games that require more movement from the child.

WHAT: WordARound game by ThinkFun

DOES: Another Back-To-School educational game delight!  This games uses a child's love of movement to encourage more accurate decoding

INVEST: $12.99
AGES: 10+ (we have played with nine year olds)

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

EXPERT OPINION: Dr. John Ferrera, Child Psychologist, John Ferrera Ph.D. and Associates, Karin Buitendag, Pediatric Occupational Therapist, Director, Occupational Therapy, STAR Center (Sensory Therapies and Research Center)

GIVEAWAY: Sensational Package of Both WordARound and Laser Maze will go to ONE very lucky winner!!!

Review & Worldwide Giveaway: MeMoves: Prepare the Body For Learning

Why is very cute boy's arms glowing?  I can explain.

WHAT: MeMoves by Thinking Moves
INVENTORS: Roberta Scherf and Chris Bye

DOES: works to prepare the mind and body for learning; calming; midline work

INVEST:  $59.95 for DVD Program (The iOS app is $9.99)

AGES: 3+

TOOLS: I Can Take of Myself, My Body Needs to Move
EXPERT OPINION: Karin Buitendag, Pediatric Occupational Therapist, Director, Occupational Therapy, STAR Center (Sensory Therapies and Research Center) and Amy Baez, Pediatric Occupational Therapist and Founder of Playapy

GIVEAWAY: TWO Winners will each receive a MeMoves Program complete with DVD, Music CD, User Guide, and Puzzle Cards! 

Review & Giveaway: KENDAMA: "For Hand-Eye Coordination, It's Superb"

WHAT: Kendama and Kendama Pro by YoMega

DOES: allows your child to work on those very important hand-eye coordination skills!

INVEST:  $9.95 and $19.95 respectively
AGES: 8+

TOOLS: My Body Needs to Move, Social Scene Helper, My Body Needs to Move

EXPERT OPINION: Pediatric Occupational Therapist and Integrative Nutritionist, Susan L. Roberts, MDiv, OTR/L 

GIVEAWAY: Win BOTH Kendama toys featured in this review! $30 value! 

Giveaway: OgoSport PlayRefuel Summer Contest 2013

A $250 Value Giveaway Basket!!!! See that OgoDisk set in the middle?  That is the Ogo Fora II.  Very cool looking gears motif!  It's twin sister, Ogo Fora I is going to be in our next Outdoor Toy giveaway.- coming soon!

WHAT: PlayRefuel Summer Contest 2013 ($250 Value)
SPONSOR: OgoSport

DOES: Drop a Name and Enter to Win this Amazing Gift Basket

Review and Giveaway: Chalktrail (Scooter and Bike): Creativity Fuels Fitness

Social Aesthetics- that could be a new thing, right?

WHAT: Chalktrail Scooter (new 2013)  Chalktrail for bikes still rocks! (by Fat Brain Toys)
INVENTOR: Scott Baumann

DOES: regardless of skill levels, Chalktrail is an outdoor toy that has universal appeal; gets kids together and gets kids moving

INVEST:  $12.95 for scooter attachment; $19.95 for bike attachment
AGES: 3+  (I think it will be most popular with the 3-8 year group)

TOOLS:  Express Yourself, My Body Needs to Move

GIVEAWAY:  Win your choice between Chalktrail Bike or Chalktrail Scooter attachments
educational toy

Review + Giveaway: Super Magnetics: A Pocketful of Science

Magnetic putty attracts children too.  photo: Iridescent Learning

WHAT:  Super Magnetics by Crazy Aaron's Puttyworld

DOES: NEWLY IMPROVED for 2013- a magnetic putty that is more appropriate for younger kids, safer and more flexible- thus further allowing you and your child to learn about magnetic forces in the most HANDS ON way possible!!! It's just super fun to explore this toy

INVEST:  $14.95 MSRP

AGES:  8+ (I have gone lower but please exercise caution)

TOOLS: This Like A Scientist/Engineer, My Body Needs to Move, Father Day Ulterior Motives Gift (Hey, play with the kids a tad more.... with something Daddy will love)
EXPERT OPINION: Paige Teamey, Director, Engineers as Teachers, Iridescent Learning 

GIVEAWAY:  Win your own tin of Super Magnetic Putty! You can choose the color! Reactive Razz (magenta), Tidal Wave (electric blue), Strange Attractor (black) and Quicksilver (silver)

Review + Giveaway: TENZI: Make a Decision and Roll With It!

No, it's not just dice. I can explain.

   
WHAT: TENZI from Carma Games, LLC
INVENTORS: Steve Mark and Kevin Carroll

DOES: good mood maker, great icebreaker, Q-bitz fans would love this, brings whole family together even the g-parents, absolutely adaptable for younger kids

INVEST:  $14.95

AGES: 7 and up (but you can definitely do younger ages!)

TOOLS: My Body Needs to Move, Lose and Win Gracefully, Social Scene Helper

GIVEAWAY:  TWO Winners will win their very own customized sets of TENZI.  (You can choose from the available colors- I am jealous that I can't enter this one so I'll be mad at you if you don't go for it.)

Review + Giveaway: Power Popper: Rough and Tumble Play is Good

I am going to lose weight with this toy.  Oh, and he'll have fun too.

Mobility and Stability aka "helper hand and worker hand"- a key component in handwriting, using a baseball bat, etc.... do you practice that with this? YOU BETCHA!

  
WHAT:  Power Popper by Hog Wild

DOES: great opportunity to do rough-and-tumble play but safely, great for bilateral coordination (writing skills)

INVEST:  MSRP $14.99 comes with balls too but extra set of popper balls is $4.99 

AGES: 4+

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

GIVEAWAY:  Win your own Power Popper