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 & Giveaway Package Prize: Top Travel Games Part 2 ($100+ value)

Travel games can do more than keep your kids from getting bored. I think it can also be used as a exercise in something crazy - that is, the practice of BEING a family. Think about it, when do all of you get together, travel together, be only with each other, and have to compromise with each other all day long?  Answer: your family vacation.  The thing is, it also sounds like being in a classroom, doesn't it?

Classroom learning requires a good amount of "shared attention skills" and so do family vacations.  We must all share the attention to remain part of the group and that is one thing games do very well in its own lighthearted but still structured way.  Playing games as a group can help a family just "BE" with each other. I'm not used to the group thing myself and I actually develop quite a bit of anxiety before going to any group function, even if it is just my own family that is traveling with me.  Still, I do believe that games can ease tensions before, during, and after vacations.  Try playing games before your next getaway.  See what happens.  Here are some suggestions.  This review pays special attention to the little ones but still has fun games that cater to all ages.

Creativity Week Part 4: Review & Giveaway: Kaleidograph: Math is a Delight in Variations

BILLIONS of combinations can be made with your child's hands but that would take a lot of time so please don't let them do that.

WHAT:  Kaleidograph distributed by Red Hen Toys
INVENTORS: Norman Brosterman, John Lilley, & Scott Bultman

DOES: you can make beautiful rotational symmetrical designs that are totally unique; prop it up to declare your mood for the day? use it as stencils? car toy? order a customized t-shirt? perfect gift for kids and adults alike

INVEST:  $12.99 - $14.99 depending on retailer
AGES: When they stop chewing on board books, they can have a go at it?

TOOLS: Social Scene Helper, 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 your own pair of Kaleidograph Toys (Crystal and Flora)

Review + Giveaway: Coin Clues: Create a Plan of Attack

Coins motivate tactile learners.

WHAT:  Coin Clues by Mindware
INVENTOR: Evelyn B. Christensen

DOES: uses you and your child's love/obsession/admiration for all things currency to tackle a notorious academic subject: the word problem.

INVEST:  $12.95 each

AGES: Book A is for ages 5-8, Book B is for 8+

TOOLS: Think Like a Scientist/Engineer; Foment the Love of Language
EXPERT: Tim Swain, Educational Director of Mathnasium of Manhattan (UWS)

GIVEAWAY:  Win your choice of two Coin Clues Books (A, B, or Making Change (8+ yrs.))

Review + Giveaway: Squishy Prints Make Happy Feet

It is play or it is exercise or is he about to make me do some acrobatics?

WHAT: Squishy Prints- Foot Prints by Abilitations

DOES: play walking games, Twister-type follow-direction games, make up your own game, give them something to walk on besides your sofa!

INVEST:  $49.99

AGES: Not sure but I would think somewhere between 1-99 year(s) old

TOOLS: Family Fix-its, Holiday/Birthday Build-Uponner,  My Body Needs to Move, Remember to Learn
EXPERT OPINION: Mike Pfeiffer, Pediatric Occupational Therapist, Owner/Director, Leaps and Bounds Pediatric Therapy

GIVEAWAY:  Win your very own set of Squishy Prints  (U.S, addresses only please!)

Review + Giveaway: Quadrilla Xcellerator: Slow-Cooked Learning Makes Better Problem-Solvers

WHAT: Xcellerator by Quadrilla by Hape

DOES:  I don't know if this is more beauty than brains or more brains than beauty.  If Quadrilla was a person, she would be a supermodel that graduated from Harvard.
INVEST: $149.99

AGES: 4+ 

TOOLS: Flexibility is My Superpower, Holiday/Birthday Build-Uponner, My Body Needs to Move, spatial reasoning, Social Scene Helper, Think Like a Scientist/Engineer
GIVEAWAY:  One Xcellerator Quadrilla set shipped to your home.  (U.S. Continental addresses only please)

Review & Giveaway: Plus-Plus: A Natural Way of Learning

Are you in love or what?   photo: Geared for Imagination

WHAT: Plus-Plus from Geared For Imagination

DOES:  opportunity to practice bilateral coordination, creative building in both 2D and 3D, calming little building blocks, a great example of how one shape can do so many things

INVEST:  $9.99; $19.99; $34.99; $59.99 MSRP  (sizes in pieces: 100, 300, 600, 1200)

AGES: 3 and up

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

EXPERT OPINION: David Wells, Manager, Creative Making and Learning, New York Hall of Science

GIVEAWAY: Win a 600-piece Plus-Plus package in Basic or Neon Colors!  You decide! 

SEE SPECIAL SALE just for us below!!!

Review & Giveaway ($240 total value): Coerceo: Strategy Gaming - Gangnam Style? YES!

All of these skills are precursor life skills and I think Coerceo is great because you can make it as hard as you want - Susan Schwartz, Learning Specialist   photo: Coerceo

WHAT: Coerceo  (Mensa-Select 2012 winner, strategy game)
DOES: Encourages creative problem solving as well as planning ahead;  this game is in the caliber of fine wine and cheese, you won't play it everyday but it will always be special when you doINVEST: MSRP  $50 approx. (in US dollars) (€39.95 Euro); Luxury Version (attractive wooden box; €69 Euro- $87 US approx.) 

TOOLS:  Think Like a Scientist/Engineer (super visual-spatial), Lose and Win Gracefully - you won't mind losing to masters, Flexibility is My Superpower

AGES: 7+  (may possibly go younger but haven't tried yet)
EXPERT OPINION: Susan Schwartz, MAEd, Learning Specialist, Friends Seminary
GIVEAWAY: 1 Luxury Version of Coerceo and 3 Standard Versions of Coerceo (Overall total value= $240 approx.)  DETAILS BELOW