UnpluggedPlay

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSFfjXtVraI&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: 3-7Supplies:• Flowers, leaves, acorns, anything you can find outside• Googly eyesProcedure:1. Go outside, explore, and collect flowers, leaves and other cool things from nature!2. See what you can create using the natural objects you’ve found! Here we’re making a bunny…3. Use the flower as the head…4. Then the leaves as the ears…5.  An acorn as a nose…6. Add googly eyes and you’re done!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.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=Duv2TqGklec&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 Stacie Palka, one of our Product Managers!Ages: 4-6Supplies:• Plastic eggs • Permanent marker

Procedure

Setup:1. On one end of each egg write several beginning sounds (or consonants).  You can probably about fit 5 different consonants per egg.2. On the other end of the egg write a word family such as “an” or “ad”.Use the sample list below.To play:1. Show your child how to twist the side of the egg with the beginning sounds until one sound lines up with the word family on the other side of the egg.2. Help your child sound out each part of the word, putting it together to form the whole word.3. Twist again and sound out the word using the new beginning sound.Variations:• Once your child has mastered simple beginning sounds, try writing blends (ex: sl, bl, fl), or digraphs (ex: “ch”, “sh”) as the beginning sounds and work on sounding those out!• Mix and match tops and bottoms and create silly words!Sample word family list[caption id="attachment_6429" align="alignnone" width="640"] Photo credit: @darleneavila[/caption]With first-hand experience teaching Kindergarten and first grade and 13 years of product development know-how, EI Product Manager Stacie Palka is uniquely qualified to develop products that spark curiosity and a-ha moments. When she's not coming up with cool (and smart!) new ways to play, So Cal native and board game buff Stacie is caring for her two kids and adorable doggo, Frankie.

Photo credit: @themotheroverloadEaster is upon us! This year give the gift of creativity by building a basket designed to inspire imagination, expression, and pretend play, including:

Art Supplies and Craft Kits

Art is a wonderful way for young kids to explore and express their own unique ideas and perspectives. Artistic creativity also fosters social/emotional skills, introduces early math concepts, and even encourages scientific exploration. What happens when you mix two colors? When you add water to paint? When you smash clay flat?This Easter, help your kids get creative by packing their Easter basket full of beautiful new art supplies and craft kits, like the reusable Color by Playfoam® Dragon and Unicorn. Provide the materials (check out our well-stocked craft closet post for a list of the basics), create a space where it’s okay for kids to get messy, then stand back and let them do their thing. Resist the urge to direct or interfere with your kids’ creative process. Instead ask them to tell you about what they are doing or what they’ve made.[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="615"] *NEW* Color by Playfoam® Unicorn[/caption]While younger kids enjoy the process of open-ended creativity – choosing a color, the feel of the paint on paper, the sound the brush makes – older kids can use the art supplies to create their own, custom versions of the Easter crafts on our Pinterest board![caption id="attachment_5409" align="alignnone" width="600"] Photo credit: redtedart.com[/caption]

Creativity Inspiring Basket Booty!

• Crayons
• Markers
• Stampers
• Playfoam®
• Watercolor Paints
• Clay
• Sidewalk Chalk
• Sketch Book
• Stickers

Building Sets

From blocks to bricks to construction sets, building play definitely develops STEM skills, logic, and problem solving capabilities, but did you know that it’s also great for inspiring imagination and creativity?This Easter, give the gift of the Design &Drill® Stem Garden and let your little builder place their stems, select and stack their petals to design and grow their very own spring gardens.[caption id="attachment_5410" align="alignnone" width="1029"] *NEW* Design & Drill® STEM Garden                                      Photo credit: @kayceesworld[/caption]Or maybe the bunny will bring the Design &Drill® Bolt Buddies™ Rocket so your kids can construct their own space craft and engage in hours of out-of-this-world imaginative play with the included astronaut Bolt Buddy and space dog.[caption id="attachment_5412" align="alignnone" width="2000"] *NEW* Design & Drill® Bolt Buddies™ Rocket[/caption]

Collectibles

Speaking of pretend play, collectibles are a wonderful way to encourage imagination and creativity! These pocket-sized cuties are totally portable and perfect for pretend play anywhere, anytime. And, when kids pretend, they are observing reality and imagining their own way to replicate what they see. This requires an incredible amount of creativity – re-purposing various objects to represent the props they need and playing various “roles”. Pretend play also helps kids develop empathy, learn to take turns and cooperate, develop language and communication skills, and foster self-confidence.*NEW* Playfoam® Pals™ Unicorn Magic (Sets of 2, 6 or 10)Pop a Playfoam® Pals™ Unicorn Magic pod into your little one’s basket and watch as a fantastical pretend play session unfolds. Kids open the rainbow case to reveal heart-sparkle Playfoam with four magical surprises hidden inside. Find the collective unicorn character, then use the non-toxic Playfoam to sculpt pretend play props for the unicorn friend. Also available in Playfoam® Pals™ Space Squad theme.[caption id="attachment_5415" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Playfoam® Pals™ Space Squad 2-Pack (Sets of 2, 6 or 8)[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_5396" align="alignnone" width="600"] Photo Credit: 100daysofrealfood.com[/caption]

Snacks, Games, Crafts, and Books to Help Little Kids Learn to Love Reading

Today, millions of school kids will spend the day paying tribute to some of America’s most beloved authors. Yup, it’s Read Across America Day! Celebrated every year on Dr. Seuss’s birthday, it’s a great day to get your kids excited about reading. To help you and your little ones get in on the fun, we’ve pulled together some sneaky, snacky, Seussy ideas for whiling Read Across America day – or any day – away, like:

Start the Day with Dr. Seuss…

Start the day with a reading of Green Eggs & Ham, accompanied by, you guessed it, a breakfast of green eggs and ham. Two or three drops of BLUE (not green) food coloring will turn typical scrambled eggs green, and your kids might prefer diced ham over sliced, but you know best. If you prefer to keep it natural, eggs and kale make a surprisingly yummy scramble (pictured).If there’s just no way your kids are eating green eggs, a striped stack of red and regular pancakes or alternating banana and strawberry slices on a skewer will also set the mood.Sneak some fine motor work into your Seussical day by crafting your very own striped hat! With 4 easy supplies you can follow these instructions for the perfect Cat in the Hat paper plate hat by anightowlblog.com.Once your hats are complete, pop them on your heads and find your copies of One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish and Which Pet Should I Get. Give them a read, then take a walk through your local pet store, fish shop, or aquarium and be on the lookout for any crazy, Seuss-ish creatures. Stop when you hit the fish and see if you can spot one, then two, then one that’s red, and one that’s blue.For other fun, Dr. Seuss-inspired craft ideas, visit artsycraftsymom.com for a roundup of her favorite DIY projects, like Pom Pom Truffula Trees, Tweetle Beetle Bottles, Thing One and Thing Two bookmarks, and more!Then Squirrel the Afternoon Away!Pack a picnic and head to the park (or set up an indoor picnic if it’s too cold where you live!) because it’s time for some sneaky, snacky, squirrel fun! A few strategic slices and you can create your own squirrel sandwiches, like this one from the mamas at Puppylovepreschool.blogspot.com.Once you’ve squirreled away your lunch, head off for a walk around the park to see who can spot the most squirrels. When you’re ready to relax, it’s back to your blanket for a round of The Sneaky, Snacky Squirrel®! Game to see who can collect one of each colored nut first, followed by a reading of The Sneaky, Snacky Squirrel Board Book!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3Io65ZH9e0Keep the fun rolling at home with a super cute Dixie Cup squirrel craft! Follow the instructions outlined on The Pinterested Parent to turn a mini cup, construction paper, paint, and googly eyes into an adorable, DIY cutie.Bringing books to life through games, crafts, and snacks keeps the stories top of mind – and keeps your little ones coming back for more. A little research and you’ll find all kinds of things to do with your kiddo’s favorite read!????

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:

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=24s

Engineering

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!

Sensory Play Ideas for You and the Kiddos to Explore

If you’ve ever been on the receiving end of that intense baby stare, or grab, or taste test, you’ve witnessed sensory exploration first-hand (someone give us a towel!). While it may seem strange to explore a textured block with your tongue, little ones use the senses they have control of at any given age in order to explore the world around them.  And it’s SO good for them!Looking, touching, feeling, hearing, and yes, even tasting, helps kids build a framework in which to understand the people, places, and things in their lives. Sensory exploration also helps build your child’s brain, develops critical motor skills, supports language development, introduces cause and effect, and practices problem solving. All good, right?Although sensory exploration comes naturally to kids, parents can encourage this natural curiosity and exploration. And it’s easy! Below are some of our favorite sensory activities for each age group:Infants:

• Bubbles! Gently blow non-toxic bubbles around your baby. Let them watch the bubbles as they float down and feel the silky softness as they land on their skin.[caption id="attachment_5275" align="aligncenter" width="470"] Photo credit: Playgroupwa.com.au[/caption]

• Paper! Show your baby a sheet of colorful paper, then loudly scrunch it into a ball. Let your little one hold and squeeze the ball, exploring the creases and ridges.

• Words, words, words! Talk to your child as much as possible. Explain what you’re doing when you’re together. Use lots of different sounds, words, voices, and volumes.[caption id="attachment_5276" align="alignnone" width="503"] Photo credit: thestir.cafemom.com[/caption]

Toddlers:

• Paint! Finger painting does double sensory duty, allowing toddlers to explore colors, color blending, and the slippery smooth texture of paint on their fingers.[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="866"] Photo credit: https://nourishingourchildren.org[/caption]

• Oobleck! A solid and a liquid, is science magic and perfect for sensory play. And it’s easy to make! Follow these simple instructions (and add a little food coloring or scent for a bit of extra fun!).[caption id="attachment_5279" align="aligncenter" width="350"] Photo credit: https://www.education.com[/caption]

• Sensory bins! Fill a large container with rice, beans, or Playfoam Pluffle™, add spoons, scoops, and small toys, and let your little one dig in. Click for some fun sensory bin ideas.[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="1039"] Photo Credit: @my_three_little_strawberries[/caption]

Preschoolers:

• Playfoam®! Squish, squash, shape, and smash – non-toxic Playfoam comes in all kinds of colors kids can squeeze and sculpt into all kinds of shapes. Best of all, it’s non-toxic, never dries out, and doesn’t stick to carpet or clothing (so it won’t stain or make a mess)![caption id="attachment_5281" align="alignnone" width="595"] Photo credit: @carlson.toys[/caption]

• Music! Simple instruments like shakers, harmonicas, tambourines, and recorders are great for sensory play. Hand them over and watch as your kiddo explores their look, feel, and sound.

• Nature! A walk in nature gives your little one endless opportunities to see, smell, and feel all kinds of things, from grass and leaves to pine cones and feathers.[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="1180"] Photo Credit: http://www.parentmap.com[/caption]

With a little effort, you can add a sensory twist to most activities. For more fun ideas for infants, visit our friends at Red Tricycle. Busy Toddler’s got tons of ideas for your big kids and these creative activities from Little Bins for Little Hands will keep your preschooler engaged for hours.