Summer Fun Part 2 of 2: Top 5 Screen-Free Summer Solo Play Activities (So You Can Get Something Else Done!)

EI Editor Posted On Jul 21, 2020 | Learning Through Play

Let’s face it. Working from home while your kids are home for summer is no easy feat. Luckily, the smart play experts at EI have gathered our top five screen-free solo play activities, just for you! These games and toys require little to no parent interaction and are designed to spark curiosity, problem-solving, strategic-thinking skills, and more.

1. Kanoodle®Available NOW in the game aisle at Target and at Target.com, Kanoodle is a brain-bending solitaire puzzle game perfect for kids ages eight and up. Simply pick a puzzle from the included booklet, place the 3D puzzle pieces shown, and try to fit the remaining pieces to solve the puzzle. There are hundreds of possibilities, but only one is correct! With 200 puzzles to solve, your kids will be hooked on this totally addictive, screen-free, puzzle challenge for hours – giving you some time to finish that spreadsheet. $8.39 at Target!

2. GeoSafari® Jr. Talking MicroscopeKids as young as four years old can get up close and personal with incredible images of plants and animals using this kid-friendly, focus-free microscope that’s perfect for solo play time! Kids just insert a slide; take a peek through the easy-to-use double eye viewer and press the fact or quiz button to hear fun facts and questions about what they see. With 60 images, over 100 facts and questions, and almost a full hour of super-interesting audio featuring the voice of Wildlife Warrior Bindi Irwin, this sturdy STEM toy keeps kids engaged and learning – on their own! $39.97 on Amazon!

3. Design & Drill® Space CircuitsMini-engineers will be engaged for hours with this DIY circuitry set for beginners! Kids ages five and up follow super simple instructions to complete 20 space-themed missions, including connecting lights, spinning simple motors, adding operational buttons and switches, and more, using a kid-safe drill and bolts. $27.70 on Amazon!

4. Playfoam® PalsKids can squish and squash their way to imaginative play with Playfoam Pals! Each Playfoam Pal comes with a pod of sculptable, non-toxic Playfoam and a mystery character hidden inside. Use the Playfoam to sculpt play props for the Pal – collect them all to grow your world! With Space Squad, Unicorn Magic, Fantasy, Friends, Wild Friends, Pet Party, and other collections, there’s a theme just right for every kiddo and since no-mess Playfoam never dries out, the creative, solo play never ends! For kids ages five and up. Available in the school supplies aisle at Target or on Target.com.

5. Nancy B’s Science Club Bug Discovery LabKeep your kids busy – and get them to go outside! – with this portable bug terrarium and 22-page activity journal packed with DIY experiments, fun facts, creative writing and drawing prompts, and more. One-of-a-kind bug catcher with easy insect catch-and-release and breathing holes makes it easy to safely collect all kinds of critters. Terrarium features 2x and 3x magnification spots for up-close observation and discovery. Great for kids ages 8 and up. $21.99 on Amazon!

For other awesome, solo, summer activity ideas, visit EducationalInsights.com for free downloadables, DIY experiments, and more!

Related Posts You Might Enjoy

EI Editor | Posted on Sep 9, 2020

Step Away from the Desk: 8 No-Screen After-School Activity Ideas

Whether your kiddo is spending their school day sitting at a desk at home, or they’re back in the classroom, masked, working hard to follow social distancing, hand washing, and no-contact play rules, they are going to be ready for a break once the school day is done. But that doesn’t have to mean screen time! Below are some of our favorite screen-free, take-a-break activities designed to spark curiosity, creativity, and imagination through good old-fashioned PLAY!1. Get the Wiggles Out!Little ones weren’t built to sit still for extended periods of time. Turn on some tunes and throw a crazy dance party or get those Kindergarten crazies out with the Magic Moves® Electronic Wand! This amazing electronic wand features 90 fun, physical commands, twinkling light shows, and 26 different musical tunes. Your kids will be stomping like dinosaurs, soaring like eagles, and so much more, all the while building their vocabularies and practicing following directions.

2. Set Up a Scavenger Hunt!Make a list of 10 things to find in your home or your backyard and let your little one loose! Early readers can practice sounding out the items they’re searching for – then let them make a list of things for you to find, to practice their writing and spelling skills. Take a twist on traditional scavenger hunts by having your kiddos search for items that are specific colors (check out the smarties at iheartcraftythings.com), or for objects that start with each letter of the alphabet.

Photo credit: iheartcraftythings.com3. Go Creepy Crawly!Speaking of outdoor activities, kids can soak up a little vitamin D – and some serious science skills! – with the GeoSafari^® Jr. Bugnoculars. Little scientists can catch and observe critters, leaves, flowers, and more in this bug-friendly, kid-cool, transparent container. It's perfect for STEM learning! Bonus points if kids sketch their finds in a notebook, give their friends names, or write silly stories about them![caption id="attachment_6915" align="alignnone" width="840"]

GeoSafari® Jr. Bugnoculars[/caption]4. Rock On!Rock painting does double activity duty – first a walk to search for your “canvasses”, followed by an arts and crafts session to paint them! Use acrylic paints to create free form designs, seasonal objects (think pumpkins, turkeys, or snowflakes), or quotes. We love the kind and crafty ideas on the Curious Doodle blog! In addition to bolstering creativity, painting is also a great way to build those fine motor skills.

Photo credit: curiousdoodle.com5. Get Strategic!If your sweetie just needs some space after a long day of schooling, settle them down with Kanoodle®! This best-selling, award-winning solo play game is a great way to lose yourself for a little while. Place the puzzle pieces as shown, then figure out how to fit the remaining pieces to solve the puzzle, building strategic thinking and problem-solving skills as they do. And with 200 puzzles to solve, your kids will be busy for hours. As you know, educational toys and games are our specialty. Check our more brain teasers and brain games here.[caption id="attachment_6888" align="alignnone" width="840"]

EI Strategy Games & Brain Teasers[/caption]6. Chalk It Up!Chalk art had a moment during the pandemic – you may have seen the trendy designs around your own neighborhood. Your kids can make their own chalk masterpieces – and get some hands-on practice with shapes and colors – following the super simple instructions at TheIdeaRoom.net.

Photo credit: TheIdeaRoom.net7. Squish the Stress Away!Squishy, squashy Playfoam® is perfect for sculpting! Squish it into shape, smash it down, and start again – this non-toxic substance never dries out so kids can use it again and again. Sculpt cats, dogs, snowmen, or butterflies, or use it to create letters and spell your child’s name! Playfoam also offers endless ways to learn through play! You'll love these learning activity ideas for solo play and even more creative fun![caption id="attachment_6856" align="alignnone" width="595"]

Photo credit: @mayra_valdez[/caption]8. Go Fly a Kite!Flying a kite is a science lesson unto itself – and so is making one! Follow the simple instructions on this video from EasyArtyCrafty to create your own flying machine, then take it for a test spin. If your kids love being outside, you can find other great outdoor activity ideas on our blog!Relaxing time doesn’t have to mean screen time. Give these ideas a go, then find other fun ideas for screen-free learning activities here!
READ MORE

EI Editor | Posted on Jul 29, 2020

Back to School (Or Not) Part 1: What the Heck Is STEM Learning?

Over the last 15 years or so, STEM learning has weaved its way into the American curriculum, with STEM activities showing up in classes as early as preschool. But what IS STEM? And why is it so important?STEM is an acronym that stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math – areas that are growing by leaps and bounds as we become more and more reliant on technology. In fact, while there are millions of jobs in STEM fields around the world, employers are struggling to fill them because, until recently, these subjects were not emphasized in schools. Current thought holds that exposure to these subjects and opportunities to explore them through hands-on learning experiences will excite kids and inspire them to continue to study STEM subjects and then go on to pursue STEM-related careers.Teachers across the country have been working hard to infuse their daily lessons with STEM examples, ideas, conversations, activities, and experiments. And you can, too! The STEM experts at EI are sharing easy ways to introduce and reinforce STEM learning right now, at home![caption id="attachment_6537" align="alignnone" width="840"]

GeoSafari® Jr. My First Microscope[/caption]S is for ScienceKids are naturally curious about science and there’s not a rug rat around who doesn’t love an awesome science experiment. Introducing your little ones to the amazing world of science is easy, with the GeoSafari® Jr. My First Microscope! Featuring extra-large, dual eyepieces and a chunky, kid-sized focusing knob, this sturdy microscope is perfect for preschoolers. Kids collect everyday objects, place them on the sample tray, turn on the LED light, and take a peek to see their object magnified up to 8x larger. They can examine everything from a postage stamp to a piece of pizza, gaining an understanding of the physical composition of different objects around them and getting invaluable, hands-on experience with a real, scientific tool! On sale NOW for $14.14 on Amazon Prime. Keep the science fun going with the FREE, downloadable science activities and Home’s Cool Videos on our website, like our beginning science activity cards and erupting apples experiment how-to video![caption id="attachment_6538" align="alignnone" width="840"]

Artie 3000™ The Coding Robot[/caption]T is for TechnologyCoding is a key STEM skill and kids as young as 7 years old can get in on the fun, thanks to Artie 3000 the Coding Robot, the creative way to learn to code! Using a computer or tablet, and Artie’s on-board WiFi, kids follow easy instructions to create the code, then Artie draws whatever they’ve coded. Artie’s simple set up and pre-programmed designs are perfect for beginners; more advanced coders can create their own, custom code. From basic shapes to advanced drawings, words, even secret code, Artie grows with your child as their skills advance. Check out this amazing list of 45 fun things to do with Artie 3000 and the awesome Artie Home’s Cool Video series for a visual how-to. Available on Amazon Prime for $54.99.[caption id="attachment_6540" align="alignnone" width="840"]

Design & Drill® Space Circuits[/caption]E is for EngineeringKids as young as five years old can explore the incredible world of engineering with Design & Drill® Space Circuits sets! Mini-STEMgineers use a kid-friendly drill to complete 20 space-themed missions, including making lights turn on and off, spinning simple motors, activating buttons and switches, and more, all while building basic problem-solving skills and gaining an understanding of simple circuitry. On sale now on Amazon Prime for just $27.70! Looking for even more building and construction fun? Browse our At-Home Activities page and Home’s School Videos for additional activities including drawing with your drill and practicing simple bolt addition.[caption id="attachment_6541" align="alignnone" width="840"]

Hot Dots®[/caption]M is for MathMake math practice WAY more fun, with interactive Hot Dots®! The Hot Dots Jr. Let’s Master Pre-K Math set gives kids a jumpstart on math success with 85 pre-K math lessons, 15 advanced lessons, and a talking pen. Preschoolers press Ace-the Talking, Teaching Dog Pen to any answer dot for an immediate audio and visual response. Silly sounds and fun phrases keep kids engaged and motivated as they tackle lessons on counting, numbers, patterns, time, fractions, and more. Available now on Amazon Prime for $30.14. Kids can also practice counting, numbers, patterns, sequences, shapes, colors, and more with the free, downloadable math activities on our website!With a bit of forethought, sneaking some STEM learning into your at-home play time is simple – and fun!
READ MORE

EI Editor | Posted on Jul 14, 2020

Summer Fun Part 1 of 2: Four Squishy Squashy Sensory Recipes Perfect for Summer Play