Shop UK Site 
Gameschooling In Your Homeschool - The Power Of Play
- EI Editor Posted On Oct 21, 2021 | Learning Through Play
This is a demo store. No orders will be fulfilled.
Tagged with 'math'
Igniting the spark in your child starts here!
Our blogs are packed with learning activities, expert tips, and free resources made easy for busy parents and teachers.
BROWSE THE CATEGORY
Wake Up and Play!
- EI Editor Posted On Jan 13, 2021 | Learning Through Play
Spending time with your preschooler strengthens your family bond, encourages positive behavior, builds communication skills, boosts self-esteem, and so much more. All good, right? So next time you have a morning free, surprise your sweetie and spend a few straight hours playing – together! Below, the Play Experts at EI share some of our favorite games, activities, and songs perfect for whiling away the winter hours with your little one, like:Games to Play Together:
I Spy with My Little EyeSnuggle up and see what you can see – together! Spy things that are big, small, short, tall, square, circular, soft, hard, things that are certain colors, things with wheels or paws… you get the idea! This is a great way to build your little one’s vocabulary and introduce early math skills like shape and size.The Sneaky, Snacky Squirrel Game!Spin the day away with everyone’s favorite preschool game! Celebrating its 10th anniversary as one of Amazon’s best-selling preschool games, The Sneaky, Snacky Squirrel Game! helps kids master colors while building fine motor and pre-handwriting skills.
Bean Bag TossStand close together and see how many times you and your cutie can toss and catch a beanbag or balled up sock. Add a bit of a challenge by taking a step backwards every so often, taking turns tossing your beanbags into a laundry basket or mixing bowl, or balancing a beanbag on your heads while you play. A fun way to develop those gross motor skills!
Activities to Do Together:
Sensory BinsPreschool teachers trust these bins to build their students’ brains, including developing nerve connections, building language skills, enhancing fine and gross motor skills, and encouraging problem solving. Start by filling a large bin with Playfoam Pluffle, the mesmerizing, mixable, can’t resistable, feel-good fluffy stuff that never dries out. Then add a variety of objects for you and your little one to find, feel, describe, sort, match, and more. Find some fabulous Sensory Bin ideas on our blog and our Sensory Play Ideas Pinterest board.
ColorWho doesn’t love to color? Grab some printer paper and a new box of crayons and let your inner artists loose or print some of our free, downloadable coloring pages featuring your kiddo’s favorite EI characters. The trick here is that you need to color, too. Talk about the colors you’re using, give your creation a name, and make up a backstory – where does this creature live? What does it eat? What does it do all day?LearnLearning is more fun together! Our free, downloadable preschool packet includes colorful and engaging early literacy, math, and art activities perfect for sneaking some learning into your together time.
Songs to Sing Together:
I’m a Little TeapotTeaching your kiddos a new tune is always a blast. Here are the words, in case you need a refresher (or didn’t know there were actually two verses!). Don’t forget to show your little ones how to make their handles and spouts!5 Little MonkeysWarning – this little ditty may lead to some jumping on the bed. But it’s a classic every kid should know. Find the words here and encourage your kiddos to act the story out, complete with 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 countdown on their fingers.Itsy Bitsy SpiderThis sweet sing-along story has a happy ending – and helps develop those fine motor skills with specific hand movements, shown here. Sing the song a few times, then see if your little one can remember the words – and the moves!
Photo Credit: pre-kpages.comIf You’re Happy and You Know ItGet ready for some hand clappin’, palm-tingling good times! Show your sweetie how it’s done, then take turns calling out what to do if you’re happy – clap your hands, stomp your feet, nod your head, shake your tush, etc.
Whatever you choose to do together, time spent playing with your preschooler has a host of benefits – for you both. So get out there and play, sing, dance, craft, read, tickle, snuggle, and love on your little one right now!
Wake Up and Play!
Spending time with your preschooler strengthens your family bond, encourages positive behavior, builds communication skills, boosts self-esteem, and so much more. All good, right? So next time you have a morning free, surprise your sweetie and spend a few straight hours playing – together! Below, the Play Experts at EI share some of our favorite games, activities, and songs perfect for whiling away the winter hours with your little one, like:
Bean Bag TossStand close together and see how many times you and your cutie can toss and catch a beanbag or balled up sock. Add a bit of a challenge by taking a step backwards every so often, taking turns tossing your beanbags into a laundry basket or mixing bowl, or balancing a beanbag on your heads while you play. A fun way to develop those gross motor skills!
ColorWho doesn’t love to color? Grab some printer paper and a new box of crayons and let your inner artists loose or print some of our free, downloadable coloring pages featuring your kiddo’s favorite EI characters. The trick here is that you need to color, too. Talk about the colors you’re using, give your creation a name, and make up a backstory – where does this creature live? What does it eat? What does it do all day?LearnLearning is more fun together! Our free, downloadable preschool packet includes colorful and engaging early literacy, math, and art activities perfect for sneaking some learning into your together time.
Photo Credit: pre-kpages.comIf You’re Happy and You Know ItGet ready for some hand clappin’, palm-tingling good times! Show your sweetie how it’s done, then take turns calling out what to do if you’re happy – clap your hands, stomp your feet, nod your head, shake your tush, etc.
Whatever you choose to do together, time spent playing with your preschooler has a host of benefits – for you both. So get out there and play, sing, dance, craft, read, tickle, snuggle, and love on your little one right now!
READ MORE
Spending time with your preschooler strengthens your family bond, encourages positive behavior, builds communication skills, boosts self-esteem, and so much more. All good, right? So next time you have a morning free, surprise your sweetie and spend a few straight hours playing – together! Below, the Play Experts at EI share some of our favorite games, activities, and songs perfect for whiling away the winter hours with your little one, like:Games to Play Together:
I Spy with My Little EyeSnuggle up and see what you can see – together! Spy things that are big, small, short, tall, square, circular, soft, hard, things that are certain colors, things with wheels or paws… you get the idea! This is a great way to build your little one’s vocabulary and introduce early math skills like shape and size.The Sneaky, Snacky Squirrel Game!Spin the day away with everyone’s favorite preschool game! Celebrating its 10th anniversary as one of Amazon’s best-selling preschool games, The Sneaky, Snacky Squirrel Game! helps kids master colors while building fine motor and pre-handwriting skills.Bean Bag TossStand close together and see how many times you and your cutie can toss and catch a beanbag or balled up sock. Add a bit of a challenge by taking a step backwards every so often, taking turns tossing your beanbags into a laundry basket or mixing bowl, or balancing a beanbag on your heads while you play. A fun way to develop those gross motor skills! Activities to Do Together:
Sensory BinsPreschool teachers trust these bins to build their students’ brains, including developing nerve connections, building language skills, enhancing fine and gross motor skills, and encouraging problem solving. Start by filling a large bin with Playfoam Pluffle, the mesmerizing, mixable, can’t resistable, feel-good fluffy stuff that never dries out. Then add a variety of objects for you and your little one to find, feel, describe, sort, match, and more. Find some fabulous Sensory Bin ideas on our blog and our Sensory Play Ideas Pinterest board.ColorWho doesn’t love to color? Grab some printer paper and a new box of crayons and let your inner artists loose or print some of our free, downloadable coloring pages featuring your kiddo’s favorite EI characters. The trick here is that you need to color, too. Talk about the colors you’re using, give your creation a name, and make up a backstory – where does this creature live? What does it eat? What does it do all day?LearnLearning is more fun together! Our free, downloadable preschool packet includes colorful and engaging early literacy, math, and art activities perfect for sneaking some learning into your together time. Songs to Sing Together:
I’m a Little TeapotTeaching your kiddos a new tune is always a blast. Here are the words, in case you need a refresher (or didn’t know there were actually two verses!). Don’t forget to show your little ones how to make their handles and spouts!5 Little MonkeysWarning – this little ditty may lead to some jumping on the bed. But it’s a classic every kid should know. Find the words here and encourage your kiddos to act the story out, complete with 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 countdown on their fingers.Itsy Bitsy SpiderThis sweet sing-along story has a happy ending – and helps develop those fine motor skills with specific hand movements, shown here. Sing the song a few times, then see if your little one can remember the words – and the moves!Photo Credit: pre-kpages.comIf You’re Happy and You Know ItGet ready for some hand clappin’, palm-tingling good times! Show your sweetie how it’s done, then take turns calling out what to do if you’re happy – clap your hands, stomp your feet, nod your head, shake your tush, etc.Whatever you choose to do together, time spent playing with your preschooler has a host of benefits – for you both. So get out there and play, sing, dance, craft, read, tickle, snuggle, and love on your little one right now!
READ MORE
Wake Up and Play!
- EI Editor Posted On Jan 6, 2021 | Learning Through Play
Little kids wake up rarin’ to go! Race into the day with them with these delicious breakfast ideas that pair perfectly with their favorite preschool games:
The Sneaky Snacky Squirrel goes nuts for muffins and your kids will, too! Start the day by whipping up a batch of these fun, fantastic finger foods – together!Ingredients:• 3-4 ripe bananas• 1 ½ cups flour• 1 tsp baking powder• 1 tsp baking soda• ½ tsp salt• ¾ cup white sugar• 1 egg• 1/3 cup butter, melted• ½ cup chopped walnutsBake-It-Together Instructions:1. You - Preheat oven to 350 degrees.2. Your Little One – Place a paper muffin liner in each cup of your muffin tin.3. You – Sift the flour, baking powder, soda, and salt together and set aside.4. Your Little One – Use a fork or potato masher to mash up the bananas in a plastic bowl.5. You – Use a mixer to blend the bananas, sugar, egg, and butter; slowly add the flour mixture and mix until smooth.6. Your Little One – Use a plastic spatula to blend the walnuts into the muffin mixture.7. You – Fill your muffin cups ¾ full and bake 25-30 minutes (10-15 minutes for mini muffins) or until muffins spring back when tapped.While You Wait:Enjoy a round or two of The Sneaky Snacky Squirrel Game!®, practicing colors, building fine motor skills, and enjoying some special together time with your favorite early riser.Benefits:Bananas help build lean muscle, fend off diseases, support healthy eyes and vision, promote a good night’s sleep, and help your body fight stress, anxiety, and depression. And the riper the banana, the stronger its powers, so dig into these muffins and reap those ripe banana benefits!
Wake Up and Play!
Little kids wake up rarin’ to go! Race into the day with them with these delicious breakfast ideas that pair perfectly with their favorite preschool games:
The Sneaky Snacky Squirrel goes nuts for muffins and your kids will, too! Start the day by whipping up a batch of these fun, fantastic finger foods – together!Ingredients:• 3-4 ripe bananas• 1 ½ cups flour• 1 tsp baking powder• 1 tsp baking soda• ½ tsp salt• ¾ cup white sugar• 1 egg• 1/3 cup butter, melted• ½ cup chopped walnutsBake-It-Together Instructions:1. You - Preheat oven to 350 degrees.2. Your Little One – Place a paper muffin liner in each cup of your muffin tin.3. You – Sift the flour, baking powder, soda, and salt together and set aside.4. Your Little One – Use a fork or potato masher to mash up the bananas in a plastic bowl.5. You – Use a mixer to blend the bananas, sugar, egg, and butter; slowly add the flour mixture and mix until smooth.6. Your Little One – Use a plastic spatula to blend the walnuts into the muffin mixture.7. You – Fill your muffin cups ¾ full and bake 25-30 minutes (10-15 minutes for mini muffins) or until muffins spring back when tapped.While You Wait:Enjoy a round or two of The Sneaky Snacky Squirrel Game!®, practicing colors, building fine motor skills, and enjoying some special together time with your favorite early riser.Benefits:Bananas help build lean muscle, fend off diseases, support healthy eyes and vision, promote a good night’s sleep, and help your body fight stress, anxiety, and depression. And the riper the banana, the stronger its powers, so dig into these muffins and reap those ripe banana benefits!
Fun-loving Frida can’t get enough of her favorite fruit salad! Check out our list of kid-friendly fruits below and let your little one help rinse, chop (butter knives only, please), scoop, and arrange your family’s own version of Frida’s Fruit Fiesta!Fruits for You to Prepare:• Strawberries – Remove the tops and bottoms, then quarter.• Grapes – Let your little ones pull them from the stem, then you cut them in half.• Pineapple – Slice off the top and bottom, trim the skin and remove the eyes, slice into small chunks.• Peaches – Halve the peach, remove the pit, and slice.Fruits for Your Kids to Prepare:• Bananas – Kids can slice whole bananas into pieces using a butter knife.• Melon – Let your little one loose with the melon baller!• Blueberries – Rinse and pat dry.• Raspberries – Rinse and pat dry.Once you’ve chosen and prepared your fruits, let your little one dump them into a large plastic bowl and mix – you may want to add yogurt or sprinkle a bit of sugar on top. Serve and enjoy!When You’re Done:Challenge your fruit-fueled little friends to a round of Frida’s Fruit Fiesta Game™! Spin the spinner, find the matching letter, use the squeezers to pick it up (and build those fine motor skills!) and place it in your nest. As you play, remind your kiddo of the fruits they just ate that match the letter sounds they’re finding – B – buh - banana!Benefits:Fruits, especially berries, can improve brain function and memory, build strong bones, aid in digestion, protect the body from disease, lower cholesterol, heal wounds, and even revitalize the skin!
Kids with crazy energy love the Pancake Pile-Up!™ Relay Game! Fuel their physical fun with a homemade pancake breakfast that you make together.Ingredients:• 1 ½ cups flour• 3 ½ tsp baking powder• 1 tsp salt• 1 tbs sugar• 1 ¼ cups milk• 1 egg• 3 tbs butter, meltedInstructions:1. Measure the flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar into a bowl. Let your little one slowly stir to sift the ingredients together.2. Make a hole in the center of the ingredients for the milk, egg, and butter and mix until smooth.3. Heat your griddle or frying pan and prime with a bit of butter or cooking spray.4. Scoop ¼ cup of batter out of the bowl and pour onto pan.5. When you see bubbles forming on the up-side of your pancake, flip it over and cook the bottom until browned.6. Stack your pancakes on a plate, covering with a dish towel to keep them warm until ready to eat.Serve with your family’s favorite Pancake Pile-Up Relay Game-inspired toppings! Choose from butter, syrup, strawberries, blueberries, bananas, or even chocolate chips and get ready to chow down!When You’re Done:When your family is all fueled up, burn that breakfast off with a round of Pancake Pile-Up! Divide into teams and turn over an order card to see the order of your pancake pile. Then race to the other side of the room, use the included spatulas to scoop the correct pancake onto your plate, and race back to pass off your plate to the next player. The first team to correctly complete their stack – and top it with a pat of butter – wins!Benefits:The Pancake Pile-Up! ™ Relay Game helps kids develop important gross motor skills, balance, and coordination and teaches kids to follow a pattern – a key early math skill! Eating breakfast has big-time benefits, too, like providing energy to start your day, improving behavior, increasing the ability to learn and focus, and promoting weight management. It’s the icing on the (pan)cake!
READ MORE
Little kids wake up rarin’ to go! Race into the day with them with these delicious breakfast ideas that pair perfectly with their favorite preschool games:The Sneaky Snacky Squirrel goes nuts for muffins and your kids will, too! Start the day by whipping up a batch of these fun, fantastic finger foods – together!Ingredients:• 3-4 ripe bananas• 1 ½ cups flour• 1 tsp baking powder• 1 tsp baking soda• ½ tsp salt• ¾ cup white sugar• 1 egg• 1/3 cup butter, melted• ½ cup chopped walnutsBake-It-Together Instructions:1. You - Preheat oven to 350 degrees.2. Your Little One – Place a paper muffin liner in each cup of your muffin tin.3. You – Sift the flour, baking powder, soda, and salt together and set aside.4. Your Little One – Use a fork or potato masher to mash up the bananas in a plastic bowl.5. You – Use a mixer to blend the bananas, sugar, egg, and butter; slowly add the flour mixture and mix until smooth.6. Your Little One – Use a plastic spatula to blend the walnuts into the muffin mixture.7. You – Fill your muffin cups ¾ full and bake 25-30 minutes (10-15 minutes for mini muffins) or until muffins spring back when tapped.While You Wait:Enjoy a round or two of The Sneaky Snacky Squirrel Game!®, practicing colors, building fine motor skills, and enjoying some special together time with your favorite early riser.Benefits:Bananas help build lean muscle, fend off diseases, support healthy eyes and vision, promote a good night’s sleep, and help your body fight stress, anxiety, and depression. And the riper the banana, the stronger its powers, so dig into these muffins and reap those ripe banana benefits!
READ MORE
Getting Ready for School: Mastering Math Skills at Home
- EI Editor Posted On Aug 11, 2020 | Learning Through Play
Home's Cool Math Learning Activity: Addition with Bolts
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJEmL0eiGqI&feature=emb_logo Home's Cool! While we're all working from home, the parents, former teachers, and play experts at EI are sharing some of their favorite educational activities to help keep your family learning and growing. Check out this idea from Sahad Rivera Sonda, one of our Product Managers!Ages: 3-6Supplies:• Design & Drill Board• Bolts• Drill• Markers• Sticky NotesProcedure:1. Create an equation by writing a low number on each of two sticky notes, a plus sign on another, and an equal sign on another.2. Place the sticky notes on the board, leaving enough room for the corresponding number of bolts above or beneath each.3. Add a fifth sticky note, but leave it blank.4. Show your little one how to place the same number of bolts as the numeral on the first sticky note beneath the note and use the drill to secure them to the board.5. Repeat for the second numeral in your equation.6. Together, add up the total number of bolts, touching each one and counting aloud.7. Have your child write the numeral that corresponds with the total on the blank sticky note to complete the equation.
Sahad Rivera Sonda has dreamed of being a toy designer since she was a child in Mexico! Her passion for miniatures and other playful oddities (her collection includes everything from a plush churro to a miniature French fry) eventually led her to Otis College of Art and Design in California, where she obtained a degree in Toy Design. Sahad’s dreams came true when she landed a job with EI, designing the look and feel for many of our toys and games, including Playfoam Pals, Design & Drill and our plush line.
Sahad Rivera Sonda has dreamed of being a toy designer since she was a child in Mexico! Her passion for miniatures and other playful oddities (her collection includes everything from a plush churro to a miniature French fry) eventually led her to Otis College of Art and Design in California, where she obtained a degree in Toy Design. Sahad’s dreams came true when she landed a job with EI, designing the look and feel for many of our toys and games, including Playfoam Pals, Design & Drill and our plush line.
Home's Cool Math Learning Activity: Addition with Bolts
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJEmL0eiGqI&feature=emb_logo Home's Cool! While we're all working from home, the parents, former teachers, and play experts at EI are sharing some of their favorite educational activities to help keep your family learning and growing. Check out this idea from Sahad Rivera Sonda, one of our Product Managers!Ages: 3-6Supplies:• Design & Drill Board• Bolts• Drill• Markers• Sticky NotesProcedure:1. Create an equation by writing a low number on each of two sticky notes, a plus sign on another, and an equal sign on another.2. Place the sticky notes on the board, leaving enough room for the corresponding number of bolts above or beneath each.3. Add a fifth sticky note, but leave it blank.4. Show your little one how to place the same number of bolts as the numeral on the first sticky note beneath the note and use the drill to secure them to the board.5. Repeat for the second numeral in your equation.6. Together, add up the total number of bolts, touching each one and counting aloud.7. Have your child write the numeral that corresponds with the total on the blank sticky note to complete the equation.Sahad Rivera Sonda has dreamed of being a toy designer since she was a child in Mexico! Her passion for miniatures and other playful oddities (her collection includes everything from a plush churro to a miniature French fry) eventually led her to Otis College of Art and Design in California, where she obtained a degree in Toy Design. Sahad’s dreams came true when she landed a job with EI, designing the look and feel for many of our toys and games, including Playfoam Pals, Design & Drill and our plush line.
READ MORE
Sahad Rivera Sonda has dreamed of being a toy designer since she was a child in Mexico! Her passion for miniatures and other playful oddities (her collection includes everything from a plush churro to a miniature French fry) eventually led her to Otis College of Art and Design in California, where she obtained a degree in Toy Design. Sahad’s dreams came true when she landed a job with EI, designing the look and feel for many of our toys and games, including Playfoam Pals, Design & Drill and our plush line.
READ MORE
Home's Cool Learning Activity: Lacing Bolts
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e7Lf8iS39eI&feature=emb_logo Home's Cool! While we're all working from home, the parents, former teachers, and play experts at EI are sharing some of their favorite educational activities to help keep your family learning and growing. Check out this idea from Sahad Rivera Sonda, one of our Product Managers!Ages: 3-5Supplies:• Paper• Markers• Pipe cleaners in various colors• Tape• Design & Drill bolts in various colors
Procedure:1. Tape a piece of paper to the table.2. Tape the top end of 5 different colored pipe cleaners to the paper.3. Use a marker to write the numbers 1 through 5 next to the pipe cleaners.4. Ask your kid to match the color of the bolts with the pipe cleaner and to lace the number of bolts written on the paper.Sahad Rivera Sonda has dreamed of being a toy designer since she was a child in Mexico! Her passion for miniatures and other playful oddities (her collection includes everything from a plush churro to a miniature French fry) eventually led her to Otis College of Art and Design in California, where she obtained a degree in Toy Design. Sahad’s dreams came true when she landed a job with EI, designing the look and feel for many of our toys and games, including Playfoam Pals, Design & Drill and our plush line.
Procedure:1. Tape a piece of paper to the table.2. Tape the top end of 5 different colored pipe cleaners to the paper.3. Use a marker to write the numbers 1 through 5 next to the pipe cleaners.4. Ask your kid to match the color of the bolts with the pipe cleaner and to lace the number of bolts written on the paper.Sahad Rivera Sonda has dreamed of being a toy designer since she was a child in Mexico! Her passion for miniatures and other playful oddities (her collection includes everything from a plush churro to a miniature French fry) eventually led her to Otis College of Art and Design in California, where she obtained a degree in Toy Design. Sahad’s dreams came true when she landed a job with EI, designing the look and feel for many of our toys and games, including Playfoam Pals, Design & Drill and our plush line.
Home's Cool Learning Activity: Lacing Bolts
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e7Lf8iS39eI&feature=emb_logo Home's Cool! While we're all working from home, the parents, former teachers, and play experts at EI are sharing some of their favorite educational activities to help keep your family learning and growing. Check out this idea from Sahad Rivera Sonda, one of our Product Managers!Ages: 3-5Supplies:• Paper• Markers• Pipe cleaners in various colors• Tape• Design & Drill bolts in various colorsProcedure:1. Tape a piece of paper to the table.2. Tape the top end of 5 different colored pipe cleaners to the paper.3. Use a marker to write the numbers 1 through 5 next to the pipe cleaners.4. Ask your kid to match the color of the bolts with the pipe cleaner and to lace the number of bolts written on the paper.Sahad Rivera Sonda has dreamed of being a toy designer since she was a child in Mexico! Her passion for miniatures and other playful oddities (her collection includes everything from a plush churro to a miniature French fry) eventually led her to Otis College of Art and Design in California, where she obtained a degree in Toy Design. Sahad’s dreams came true when she landed a job with EI, designing the look and feel for many of our toys and games, including Playfoam Pals, Design & Drill and our plush line.
READ MORE
Procedure:1. Tape a piece of paper to the table.2. Tape the top end of 5 different colored pipe cleaners to the paper.3. Use a marker to write the numbers 1 through 5 next to the pipe cleaners.4. Ask your kid to match the color of the bolts with the pipe cleaner and to lace the number of bolts written on the paper.Sahad Rivera Sonda has dreamed of being a toy designer since she was a child in Mexico! Her passion for miniatures and other playful oddities (her collection includes everything from a plush churro to a miniature French fry) eventually led her to Otis College of Art and Design in California, where she obtained a degree in Toy Design. Sahad’s dreams came true when she landed a job with EI, designing the look and feel for many of our toys and games, including Playfoam Pals, Design & Drill and our plush line.
READ MORE
Home's Cool Learning Activity: Create an Egg Carton Counter
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=UtL6PUpIsXg&feature=emb_logo Home's Cool! While we're all working from home, the parents, former teachers, and play experts at EI are sharing some of their favorite educational activities to help keep your family learning and growing. Check out this idea from Janene Russell, one of our Product Managers!Ages: 3–4Put your egg cartons to good use – and build those early math skills – with a DIY egg carton counter! This math activity encourages counting, number sense, and one to one correspondence.Supplies:• Egg Carton• Markers• Counters (pasta, buttons, sequins, coins, pom poms, etc.)Procedure:1. Write the numerals 1 – 12 in order on the bottom of each slot in the carton.2. On the sides of each slot, draw dots representing that number.3. Together with your child, count out the matching number of counters and place them in the corresponding spots.
A former teacher and current mom of two young children, EI Product Manager Janene Russell has more than 15 years of early learning experience! This So Cal native puts her little kid knowledge to good use, guiding the development of the Bright Basics and GeoSafari Jr. lines, as well as various preschool games and classroom resources.
A former teacher and current mom of two young children, EI Product Manager Janene Russell has more than 15 years of early learning experience! This So Cal native puts her little kid knowledge to good use, guiding the development of the Bright Basics and GeoSafari Jr. lines, as well as various preschool games and classroom resources.
Home's Cool Learning Activity: Create an Egg Carton Counter
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=UtL6PUpIsXg&feature=emb_logo Home's Cool! While we're all working from home, the parents, former teachers, and play experts at EI are sharing some of their favorite educational activities to help keep your family learning and growing. Check out this idea from Janene Russell, one of our Product Managers!Ages: 3–4Put your egg cartons to good use – and build those early math skills – with a DIY egg carton counter! This math activity encourages counting, number sense, and one to one correspondence.Supplies:• Egg Carton• Markers• Counters (pasta, buttons, sequins, coins, pom poms, etc.)Procedure:1. Write the numerals 1 – 12 in order on the bottom of each slot in the carton.2. On the sides of each slot, draw dots representing that number.3. Together with your child, count out the matching number of counters and place them in the corresponding spots.A former teacher and current mom of two young children, EI Product Manager Janene Russell has more than 15 years of early learning experience! This So Cal native puts her little kid knowledge to good use, guiding the development of the Bright Basics and GeoSafari Jr. lines, as well as various preschool games and classroom resources.
READ MORE
A former teacher and current mom of two young children, EI Product Manager Janene Russell has more than 15 years of early learning experience! This So Cal native puts her little kid knowledge to good use, guiding the development of the Bright Basics and GeoSafari Jr. lines, as well as various preschool games and classroom resources.
READ MORE
What Are You So STEAM’d About?
If you’ve got a little one in school, you’ve likely heard the terms STEM and STEAM enough to wonder what they mean. Simply put, STEM is an academic focus on science, technology, engineering, and math. STEAM adds the all-important artistic aspect – hence, the “A”. For the last 20 years or so, the U.S. has committed to incorporating STEM learning into our kids’ school curriculum, and for good reason![caption id="attachment_5304" align="alignnone" width="724"]
Photo credit: https://www.theedadvocate.org/[/caption]According to the experts at The Edvocate, STEM learning fosters ingenuity and creativity, builds resilience, encourages experimentation and teamwork, promotes knowledge application and the use of technology, teaches problem solving, and encourages kids to adapt what they’ve learned to fit specific problems. All good, right? Even better – it’s never too early to incorporate STEM learning into your at-home play time! Below are some of our favorite, super fun, STEM activities from around the web:
Photo credit: https://littlebinsforlittlehands.com[/caption]Get outside and explore! There’s no better teacher than mother nature, so get up and head outdoors! Observe the natural flora and fauna in your area, talk about the seasons, compare and contrast different plants, seeds, twigs, and rocks. Make exploring even more fun with kid-friendly scientific tools like microscopes, telescopes, adventure pens, and binoculars from GeoSafari®![caption id="attachment_5309" align="alignnone" width="530"]
GeoSafari® Jr. Kidnoculars®[/caption]
Photo Credit: learningresources.com[/caption]Draw it out! Kids who love art will go coding crazy for ARTIE 3000™ The Coding Robot! This self-contained unit teaches kids to write computer code line by line and then draws whatever they’ve coded! From shapes and letters to mandalas and custom designs, kids use an easy computer interface (no WIFI required!) with step-by-step instructions to tell ARTIE which way to turn, how many steps to take, and when to lift his pen or put it down. Then they simply click “run” to see their ARTIE execute their coded script on paper.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3FyS_4ZTyK4&t=24s
Photo Credit: https://buggyandbuddy.com[/caption]Build, build, build! Wooden blocks, building bricks, and Lincoln Logs are the perfect first engineering experiences. Stack them as high as they’ll go, construct bridges, or – trickier – tunnels. As they play, kids will gain a sense of spatial reasoning, learn about structural integrity (crash!), explore the principles of design, and so much more.[caption id="attachment_5312" align="alignnone" width="909"]
Photo Credit: manzanitakids[/caption]Make a marshmallow man! Encourage your kids to create all kinds of structures using marshmallows and toothpicks. Try making a cube, a curved dome, a two-sided ladder, or, some of these other ideas from our friends at BrainBrigade.org.
Photo credit: https://busytoddler.com[/caption]Make an abacus! Well, sort of. Start with a bowl of multi-colored beads. Help your child find one bead of one color, two beads of another color, etc. Then assist your kiddo in sliding the beads onto a pipe cleaner, bending the ends so the beads don’t slide off. Then practice counting the number of beads on each pipe cleaner. This two-in-one activity from TheImagnationTree.com is also a great way to build fine motor skills ????.Click to learn more about the importance of STEM and for even more at-home ideas for incorporating STEM learning in your everyday play!
Photo credit: https://www.theedadvocate.org/[/caption]According to the experts at The Edvocate, STEM learning fosters ingenuity and creativity, builds resilience, encourages experimentation and teamwork, promotes knowledge application and the use of technology, teaches problem solving, and encourages kids to adapt what they’ve learned to fit specific problems. All good, right? Even better – it’s never too early to incorporate STEM learning into your at-home play time! Below are some of our favorite, super fun, STEM activities from around the web:Science
Make your own bubbles! If you’ve got dish soap, corn syrup, and a straw, you’re ready to mix up your own batch of homemade bubbles. Visit our friends at homesciencetools.com for instructions and a simple scientific explanation.Soak up an oil spill! Bring the bummer of pollution home with this DIY oil spill clean up project from LittleBinsForLittleHands (don’t miss their FREE ocean-themed STEM activity cards!). Fill a pan with water, add some oil, then brainstorm ways to get it out. Try a spoon, paper towels, cotton balls, and finally, Dawn dish soap to demonstrate how difficult it is to recapture spilled oil in the ocean.[caption id="attachment_5308" align="alignnone" width="608"] Photo credit: https://littlebinsforlittlehands.com[/caption]Get outside and explore! There’s no better teacher than mother nature, so get up and head outdoors! Observe the natural flora and fauna in your area, talk about the seasons, compare and contrast different plants, seeds, twigs, and rocks. Make exploring even more fun with kid-friendly scientific tools like microscopes, telescopes, adventure pens, and binoculars from GeoSafari®![caption id="attachment_5309" align="alignnone" width="530"] GeoSafari® Jr. Kidnoculars®[/caption]Technology
Speak in code! From verbally programming your walk through the house to talking through tasks, step-by-step, there are lots of low-tech ways to introduce coding to your kids. Visit our blog on coding for some fun and easy at-home ideas!Get cute! 100% screen free and super cute, Coding Critters allow kids to code adorable animal friends following the directions in their new pet’s storybook adventures. Kids simply press buttons on the Critters’ backs to move them left, right, forward, or back, navigating the obstacles in the included pet playsets and introducing this key STEM concept.[caption id="attachment_5310" align="alignnone" width="688"] Photo Credit: learningresources.com[/caption]Draw it out! Kids who love art will go coding crazy for ARTIE 3000™ The Coding Robot! This self-contained unit teaches kids to write computer code line by line and then draws whatever they’ve coded! From shapes and letters to mandalas and custom designs, kids use an easy computer interface (no WIFI required!) with step-by-step instructions to tell ARTIE which way to turn, how many steps to take, and when to lift his pen or put it down. Then they simply click “run” to see their ARTIE execute their coded script on paper.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3FyS_4ZTyK4&t=24sEngineering
Ramp it up! Simple machines are the perfect way to slip some engineering into your child’s day and it doesn’t get much simpler than a ramp! Use a cut up the box from your last Amazon delivery, use a cereal box, or a wooden building plank, grab a small ball or toy car, and experiment with different constructions and angles. Find some fun ideas at BuggyandBuddy.com.[caption id="attachment_5311" align="alignnone" width="703"] Photo Credit: https://buggyandbuddy.com[/caption]Build, build, build! Wooden blocks, building bricks, and Lincoln Logs are the perfect first engineering experiences. Stack them as high as they’ll go, construct bridges, or – trickier – tunnels. As they play, kids will gain a sense of spatial reasoning, learn about structural integrity (crash!), explore the principles of design, and so much more.[caption id="attachment_5312" align="alignnone" width="909"] Photo Credit: manzanitakids[/caption]Make a marshmallow man! Encourage your kids to create all kinds of structures using marshmallows and toothpicks. Try making a cube, a curved dome, a two-sided ladder, or, some of these other ideas from our friends at BrainBrigade.org.Math
Count it out! Even little ones can get in on the STEM fun and learning – with counting! Count Cheerios, crackers, steps to the car, anything and everything you can count, count!Match it up! Correlating a digital number with an actual amount is a key early math skill. One simple activity from BusyToddler.com has kids matching numerals 1-9 on sticky notes to sets of the same number of dots on a white board.[caption id="attachment_5315" align="alignnone" width="632"] Photo credit: https://busytoddler.com[/caption]Make an abacus! Well, sort of. Start with a bowl of multi-colored beads. Help your child find one bead of one color, two beads of another color, etc. Then assist your kiddo in sliding the beads onto a pipe cleaner, bending the ends so the beads don’t slide off. Then practice counting the number of beads on each pipe cleaner. This two-in-one activity from TheImagnationTree.com is also a great way to build fine motor skills ????.Click to learn more about the importance of STEM and for even more at-home ideas for incorporating STEM learning in your everyday play!
What Are You So STEAM’d About?
If you’ve got a little one in school, you’ve likely heard the terms STEM and STEAM enough to wonder what they mean. Simply put, STEM is an academic focus on science, technology, engineering, and math. STEAM adds the all-important artistic aspect – hence, the “A”. For the last 20 years or so, the U.S. has committed to incorporating STEM learning into our kids’ school curriculum, and for good reason![caption id="attachment_5304" align="alignnone" width="724"] Photo credit: https://www.theedadvocate.org/[/caption]According to the experts at The Edvocate, STEM learning fosters ingenuity and creativity, builds resilience, encourages experimentation and teamwork, promotes knowledge application and the use of technology, teaches problem solving, and encourages kids to adapt what they’ve learned to fit specific problems. All good, right? Even better – it’s never too early to incorporate STEM learning into your at-home play time! Below are some of our favorite, super fun, STEM activities from around the web: Photo credit: https://littlebinsforlittlehands.com[/caption]Get outside and explore! There’s no better teacher than mother nature, so get up and head outdoors! Observe the natural flora and fauna in your area, talk about the seasons, compare and contrast different plants, seeds, twigs, and rocks. Make exploring even more fun with kid-friendly scientific tools like microscopes, telescopes, adventure pens, and binoculars from GeoSafari®![caption id="attachment_5309" align="alignnone" width="530"] GeoSafari® Jr. Kidnoculars®[/caption] Photo Credit: learningresources.com[/caption]Draw it out! Kids who love art will go coding crazy for ARTIE 3000™ The Coding Robot! This self-contained unit teaches kids to write computer code line by line and then draws whatever they’ve coded! From shapes and letters to mandalas and custom designs, kids use an easy computer interface (no WIFI required!) with step-by-step instructions to tell ARTIE which way to turn, how many steps to take, and when to lift his pen or put it down. Then they simply click “run” to see their ARTIE execute their coded script on paper.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3FyS_4ZTyK4&t=24s Photo Credit: https://buggyandbuddy.com[/caption]Build, build, build! Wooden blocks, building bricks, and Lincoln Logs are the perfect first engineering experiences. Stack them as high as they’ll go, construct bridges, or – trickier – tunnels. As they play, kids will gain a sense of spatial reasoning, learn about structural integrity (crash!), explore the principles of design, and so much more.[caption id="attachment_5312" align="alignnone" width="909"] Photo Credit: manzanitakids[/caption]Make a marshmallow man! Encourage your kids to create all kinds of structures using marshmallows and toothpicks. Try making a cube, a curved dome, a two-sided ladder, or, some of these other ideas from our friends at BrainBrigade.org. Photo credit: https://busytoddler.com[/caption]Make an abacus! Well, sort of. Start with a bowl of multi-colored beads. Help your child find one bead of one color, two beads of another color, etc. Then assist your kiddo in sliding the beads onto a pipe cleaner, bending the ends so the beads don’t slide off. Then practice counting the number of beads on each pipe cleaner. This two-in-one activity from TheImagnationTree.com is also a great way to build fine motor skills ????.Click to learn more about the importance of STEM and for even more at-home ideas for incorporating STEM learning in your everyday play!
READ MORE
Photo credit: https://www.theedadvocate.org/[/caption]According to the experts at The Edvocate, STEM learning fosters ingenuity and creativity, builds resilience, encourages experimentation and teamwork, promotes knowledge application and the use of technology, teaches problem solving, and encourages kids to adapt what they’ve learned to fit specific problems. All good, right? Even better – it’s never too early to incorporate STEM learning into your at-home play time! Below are some of our favorite, super fun, STEM activities from around the web:Science
Make your own bubbles! If you’ve got dish soap, corn syrup, and a straw, you’re ready to mix up your own batch of homemade bubbles. Visit our friends at homesciencetools.com for instructions and a simple scientific explanation.Soak up an oil spill! Bring the bummer of pollution home with this DIY oil spill clean up project from LittleBinsForLittleHands (don’t miss their FREE ocean-themed STEM activity cards!). Fill a pan with water, add some oil, then brainstorm ways to get it out. Try a spoon, paper towels, cotton balls, and finally, Dawn dish soap to demonstrate how difficult it is to recapture spilled oil in the ocean.[caption id="attachment_5308" align="alignnone" width="608"] Photo credit: https://littlebinsforlittlehands.com[/caption]Get outside and explore! There’s no better teacher than mother nature, so get up and head outdoors! Observe the natural flora and fauna in your area, talk about the seasons, compare and contrast different plants, seeds, twigs, and rocks. Make exploring even more fun with kid-friendly scientific tools like microscopes, telescopes, adventure pens, and binoculars from GeoSafari®![caption id="attachment_5309" align="alignnone" width="530"] GeoSafari® Jr. Kidnoculars®[/caption]Technology
Speak in code! From verbally programming your walk through the house to talking through tasks, step-by-step, there are lots of low-tech ways to introduce coding to your kids. Visit our blog on coding for some fun and easy at-home ideas!Get cute! 100% screen free and super cute, Coding Critters allow kids to code adorable animal friends following the directions in their new pet’s storybook adventures. Kids simply press buttons on the Critters’ backs to move them left, right, forward, or back, navigating the obstacles in the included pet playsets and introducing this key STEM concept.[caption id="attachment_5310" align="alignnone" width="688"] Photo Credit: learningresources.com[/caption]Draw it out! Kids who love art will go coding crazy for ARTIE 3000™ The Coding Robot! This self-contained unit teaches kids to write computer code line by line and then draws whatever they’ve coded! From shapes and letters to mandalas and custom designs, kids use an easy computer interface (no WIFI required!) with step-by-step instructions to tell ARTIE which way to turn, how many steps to take, and when to lift his pen or put it down. Then they simply click “run” to see their ARTIE execute their coded script on paper.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3FyS_4ZTyK4&t=24sEngineering
Ramp it up! Simple machines are the perfect way to slip some engineering into your child’s day and it doesn’t get much simpler than a ramp! Use a cut up the box from your last Amazon delivery, use a cereal box, or a wooden building plank, grab a small ball or toy car, and experiment with different constructions and angles. Find some fun ideas at BuggyandBuddy.com.[caption id="attachment_5311" align="alignnone" width="703"] Photo Credit: https://buggyandbuddy.com[/caption]Build, build, build! Wooden blocks, building bricks, and Lincoln Logs are the perfect first engineering experiences. Stack them as high as they’ll go, construct bridges, or – trickier – tunnels. As they play, kids will gain a sense of spatial reasoning, learn about structural integrity (crash!), explore the principles of design, and so much more.[caption id="attachment_5312" align="alignnone" width="909"] Photo Credit: manzanitakids[/caption]Make a marshmallow man! Encourage your kids to create all kinds of structures using marshmallows and toothpicks. Try making a cube, a curved dome, a two-sided ladder, or, some of these other ideas from our friends at BrainBrigade.org.Math
Count it out! Even little ones can get in on the STEM fun and learning – with counting! Count Cheerios, crackers, steps to the car, anything and everything you can count, count!Match it up! Correlating a digital number with an actual amount is a key early math skill. One simple activity from BusyToddler.com has kids matching numerals 1-9 on sticky notes to sets of the same number of dots on a white board.[caption id="attachment_5315" align="alignnone" width="632"] Photo credit: https://busytoddler.com[/caption]Make an abacus! Well, sort of. Start with a bowl of multi-colored beads. Help your child find one bead of one color, two beads of another color, etc. Then assist your kiddo in sliding the beads onto a pipe cleaner, bending the ends so the beads don’t slide off. Then practice counting the number of beads on each pipe cleaner. This two-in-one activity from TheImagnationTree.com is also a great way to build fine motor skills ????.Click to learn more about the importance of STEM and for even more at-home ideas for incorporating STEM learning in your everyday play!
READ MORE
