Author: Merry

PYXEL™ A Coder’s Best Friend

Posted on by Merry

Finally, a pet that teaches YOU new tricks! Use a computer or tablet to code this four-legged friend and learn up to two coding languages: drag and drop coding language (Blockly), and advanced Python coding. Kids 8+ can code PYXEL to perform tricks, change colors, make and react to sounds, and express emotions! Activate the code on your computer or use the Code Activator to load & activate codes from anywhere. Teaches kids STEM skills like early coding and critical thinking in addition to social/emotional development.

Available online and at: https://www.educationalinsights.com/pyxel-a-coders-best-friend

Sesame Street Wall Stories by Quinco and Cie

Posted on by Merry

Wall Stories are the NEW easy-to-apply wall decals that use AR technology to keep kids engaged, entertained and educated in a way that feels like play! On their smart devices, children can learn English or French with Elmo and friends in Story Mode. Game Mode features educational fun in a “Seek & Find” Game where children can look out for their favorite zoo animals. Creative Mode even lets children draw on walls and create their own space for play using AR technology. This didactic 4-in-1 product introduces games, storytelling walls, creativity, and room decor into any room that you choose!

Available online at: Target.com (https://www.target.com/p/smart-tiles-sesame-street-elmo-goes-to-the-zoo-wall-decal/-/A-82530691) and WallStories.com (https://wallstories.com/en_ca/sesame-street-elmo-goes-to-the-zoo)

Triangle Math Flash Cards

Posted on by Merry

188 addition, subtraction, multiplication, division triangular flash cards for kindergarten, first, second, third, fourth, fifth or sixth graders learning all facts 0-12, 752 equations, +6 bonus facts. Each card has 4 equations per card to learn the relationship between addition and subtraction or multiplication and division.

Available online at: https://thinktankscholar.com/collections/math-flash-cards/products/752-equations-all-facts-0-12-box-set-addition-subtraction-multiplication-division-flash-cards-color-coded

Polly’s Perfect Pet: A Pet Yoga Book for Kids

Posted on by Merry

In Polly’s Perfect Pet, children will enjoy exploring the fair with Polly by practicing yoga poses every step of the way as she plays with each of the different animals. Pretend to be a puppy, a cat, a guinea pig, and a parrot—perfect beginner yoga poses!

This yoga storytime book for ages 4 to 7 also includes an index of yoga poses for kids and a parent-teacher guide for reference.

Available online and at: Kids Yoga Stories Shop: https://shop.kidsyogastories.com/products/pollys-perfect-pet and Amazon (worldwide): https://amzn.to/3Ee2sLQ

Seek and Find Secret Toy Heaven Puzzle

Posted on by Merry

This MasterPieces 1000-piece puzzle is from the Seek & Find Collection where hidden objects are discovered in the scene as you assemble the puzzle. The secret objects are not seen in the picture on the box or the included poster, builders find them as they build the puzzles. Find all the childhood treasures hidden in this Toy Store scene. In addition, the chipboard used in this puzzles is made of recycled material.

Available online and at: Amazon – MasterPiecesInc.com

BYJU’S FutureSchool

Posted on by Merry

BYJU’S FutureSchool is an online learning platform that delivers individualized attention and guidance for children grades 1-12 through live, one-to-one teacher to student math, coding and music courses. The proprietary, activity-based curriculum focuses on active learning through the joy of creating and problem solving while maintaining children’s freedom to chart their own path, instilling grit, confidence, and communication skills to help them succeed in the classroom and beyond.

First class is free

Available online at: https://www.byjusfutureschool.com/

Carrots&Cake

Posted on by Merry

Carrots&Cake is a kids’ screen time management app designed using science-based solutions. Built by parents and developed with doctors, teachers, and scientists, Carrots&Cake helps kids build healthy digital habits that make screen time more beneficial and less addictive.

With Carrots&Cake, kids learn first and play later. We apply the oldest parenting technique to screen time: “Do your homework before you play.” In other words, “Eat your carrots before your cake.”

After downloading Carrots&Cake, parents select their favorite educational apps (anything available in the AppStore. When kids turn on their devices, they will have to complete the educational apps — what we call Carrots — before they are rewarded with free screen time — what we call Cake.

Carrots&Cake follows an approach grounded in behavioral neuroscience, psychology, and cognitive science.

Behavioral Neuroscience
Carrots&Cake promotes healthy screen use by reducing the firing of the brain’s reward pathway. Dopamine levels stay steady. This helps kids remain in control of devices and reduces tantrums when it’s time for kids to come off.

Behavioral Psychology
Asking kids to complete Carrots — learning apps with a high cognitive load — first, results in delayed gratification. This builds resilience & grit. Kids learn to self regulate. Motivational interviewing is used to help kids identify their intrinsic motivation and improve behavior.

Cognitive Science:
With Carrots&Cake, kids focus on learning without distractions. Through micro-learning, kids compound knowledge with small but consistent daily effort.

Carrots&Cake was developed in response to growing concern around screen time-related issues that families face. Kids aged 5-8 spend an average of three hours on devices daily. Anxiety and depression in kids have increased, and self-confidence has decreased.

Traditional parental controls do not address the root of the problem. They set blind time limits and trigger reactance, a negative behavior caused when children are ordered around. Kids become determined to engage in forbidden activities. They bypass restrictions and hack out of the controls. Kids suffer tantrums because allowances aren’t made for their developing brains.

Carrots&Cake provides a healthy and balanced solution to the screen time dilemma. Kids benefit from technology, they utilize the cutting edge educational apps on the market, and they get to maintain their agency during fun free time. Parents using Carrots&Cake have reported a 200% increase in their kids’ daily educational app usage, with a 50% reduction in their overall daily screen time.

With Carrots&Cake, kids no longer spend mindless hours watching Youtube and playing Roblox and Minecraft. Screen time becomes healthy and balanced. Kids develop skills to become good digital citizens, and families are able to reclaim quality time.

Available online at: https://apps.apple.com/tt/app/carrots-cake-parental-control/id1589481560

Sneaky Uses for Everyday Things, Revised Edition

Posted on by Merry

The book makes a novel birthday and holiday gift and is indispensable for school science fair projects. It contains 10 never-before-seen projects focused on STEM and Maker initiatives, including an EV motor project.

The New York Times wrote, “…Music from a penny? It’s true. Check it out here – from Sneaky Uses for Everyday Things. Pretty amazing.”

Here’s more information about Sneaky Uses for Everyday Things Revised Edition:
The National Science Teacher Association – “On the old television series “MacGyver,” the hero was always getting out of tough situations by making practical devices out of simple materials. The author of Sneaky Uses for Everyday Things interests students in the wonders of science by showing them how to do their own amazing MacGyver feats. This approach not only gets students interested in science, but also encourages good critical thinking by students as they solve practical problems.”

The New York Times – “In closing, let’s measure something. Check out this Pi Detector by the ingenious Cy Tymony, creator of the popular Sneaky Science and Math discovery series. Why does Cy do what he does? I asked, and he responded with the following.
‘I love science and technology and the wonderful things you can do with a little sneaky information using discarded items and without special tools. For instance, virtually anyone can: Make an AM radio with a penny, create fire with water, turn a screw in an AM/FM radio and listen to aircraft broadcasts, turn on devices with your ring, convert a pencil into a microphone, convert a calculator into a metal detector, make a James Bond spy jacket and more.’
“Wait. Music from a penny? It’s true. Check it out here – from Sneaky Uses for Everyday Things. Pretty amazing. (Thank you, Andrews McMeel Publishing.)” – Gary Antonik New York Times

Los Angeles Times – “Tymony, whose books have won praise from the National Science Teachers Assn., wants young people and adults to better understand science and the world around them. “If you learn science and certain techniques,” Tymony says, “there are all sorts of things you can do that you’re not taking advantage of. He even devotes a section of his new book to the timely issue of alternative energy after discovering during his appearances that people are largely clueless where energy comes from.”

NPR’s Science Friday – “Thank you Cy…for opening up the world of tinkering and creativity to a whole new generation – Ira Flatow

Publishers Weekly – “Offering readers a chance to become real-life MacGyvers, Tymony’s “Sneaky Uses for Everyday Things” shares a mixed bag of useful and useless tricks. The book, which may remind 007s-in-training of The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook, offers sections on gimmicks, gadgets and survival techniques (the last section is by far the most valuable).”

Available online at: https://publishing.andrewsmcmeel.com/book/sneaky-uses-for-everyday-things-revised-edition – amazon.com

Pimpón, Libro Para Cantar y Jugar

Posted on by Merry

This illustrated songbook is based on a popular Latin American children’s song and introduces children to the Spanish language through music.

Pimpon, a cardboard doll, invites the children to join him as he prepares for school. The book presents aspects of his daily routine form sunrise to sunset. The combination of pictures, music and educational concepts in a multicultural and inclusive school setting serves as a great resource for teachers and parents alike.

Available online at: https://www.imbilingual.com/