Provider of educational toys for children and toddlers and classroom resources for teachers.
Feb 3rd, 2012 by Amy
Every February, the American Dental Association (ADA) sponsors National Children’s Dental Health Month to raise awareness about the important of good oral health. The sooner you start teaching your kids about the importance of healthy teeth, the better!
This year’s campaign’s slogan is “ROCK YOUR SMILE”
Tags: ADA, good oral health, healthy teeth, kid's teeth, teaching kids about healthy teeth
Jan 27th, 2012 by Amy
In addition to being fun and entertaining, puzzles are also very good for your brain. Whether you prefer jigsaw puzzles, crossword puzzles, Sudoku puzzles or word puzzles, set aside time this week to boost your critical thinking skills through puzzle solving!
Puzzling requires the use of both sides of the brain simultaneously. The left brain, or analytical side, sorts and separates the pieces while the right side, the creative side, allows us to imagine the end result before it’s finished. Using both sides of the brain at the same time builds neuron connections that link the left and right side together—think of it as a good, healthy workout for your mind!
Puzzle solving helps kids develop spatial skills, hand-eye coordination, fine motor skills and memory development. Adults who keep their brains active with puzzles can help slow or reduce the onset of memory loss, dementia and Alzheimer’s.
January 29th is National Puzzle Day, so celebrate by working on some of your favorite puzzles as a family! Some of MindWare’s favorite puzzles include:
Tags: educational puzzles, favorite puzzles, MindWare, National puzzle day
Jan 24th, 2012 by Amy
When you’re shopping for an educational toy or game, you want to know you’re getting something that is unique, yet tried and true. This is where MindWare’s “best sellers” come in! These games are exclusive to MindWare and have received rave reviews from our customers. So if you’re looking for that perfect gift for a birthday party or your child’s classroom, we suggest you start with our “best sellers” category!
Here are some of MindWare’s exclusive, best selling educational toys:
Contraptions Catapult: Kids can build their own authentic catapult with planks, a little glue and the help of easy, step-by-step instructions. Then let the fun and experimentation begin! What shoots farther, a marshmallow or a piece of macaroni? How does the object’s course change when you pull the arm back to different points? If you make the flight deck higher, how does it affect the hurl? (Ages 7 and up)
Marble Run: Build a Marble Run track that twists, turns, and spins marbles at incredible speeds! These colorful Continue Reading »
Tags: best selling educational toys, birthday, classroom, educational toys, MindWare
Jan 16th, 2012 by Amy
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is: ‘What are you doing for others?” Today, as we celebrate and honor the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., people of all ages across the country will come together to serve their neighbors and community as part of the MLK Day of Service.
The federal holiday of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day was first observed in 1986, but in 1994 Congress designated the Martin Luther King Jr. Federal Holiday as a national day of service. In fact, the MLK Day of Service is the only federal holiday observed as a national day of service – think of it more as a “day on, not a day off.”
The MLK Day of Service is a part of United We Serve, the President’s national call to service initiative. It calls for Americans of all ages, abilities and walks of life to work together to provide solutions to our most pressing national problems.
Tags: family volunteer, Martin Luther King Jr, MLK Day of Service, service project, significance of Martin Luther King Jr
Jan 12th, 2012 by Amy
Developing and maintaining meaningful friendships is an important life skill. In order to establish a friendship, children need to learn manners, respect and overall good social skills. You know the old saying: “In order to make a friend, you have to be a friend!” Here are some tips for helping your child develop good friendships:
Teaching preschoolers about friendship
The preschool years are some of the most important years in terms of development. Preschoolers learn by watching their family and siblings, so it is extremely helpful to set good examples at home. Simply smiling, listening and acknowledging a family member’s accomplishment will go a long way in teaching a preschooler to be a good friend.
Teaching elementary school children about friendship
Tags: friendship bracelet, friendship bracellet maker, MindWare, teaching, teaching kids to be good friends, what makes a good friend
Jan 5th, 2012 by Amy
Decoupage Tote Kit from MindWare
Isn’t it funny how stuff just seems to accumulate around your house during the holidays? All of your old stuff combined with all of your new stuff sure makes the house seem smaller! And the stuff only seems to multiply when you have children. So if you haven’t already put it at the top of your New Year’s resolution list, now is a great time to commit to getting your family and your house organized.
Getting your kids involved in the organization process is the best way to teach them this important life skill. Organizational skills will help them with school and future jobs and will also help them become more independent and self-sufficient as they get older.
Scholastic.com has a great list of 12 ways to develop your child’s organizational skills, including creating a family calendar, assigning chores, getting ready the night before and establishing a homework routine.
Tags: child's organizational skills, getting organized, kids organized, organizational skill
Jan 4th, 2012 by Amy
As kids prepare to head back to school after winter break, it may take them a little while to mentally adjust from “vacation mode” back into “school mode.” Sometimes it seems that the homework and tests come in before your child has had time to fully make the mental switch! But you can make the transition easier by establishing and encouraging good study habits right away that will help your child not only through the rest of this school year, but also through school years to come.
Here are some tips for developing good study habits:
Take good notes: Emphasize to your child that taking good notes in class is the first step in creating good study habits. Studies have shown that by writing something down, students are more likely to remember it. So by taking notes in class, your child will be one step ahead when it comes to studying for a test.
Establish a study area: You and your children should designate a specific area in the house to be their study area. Choose a spot that is relatively free from other interruptions, contains all the study materials they need and is available whenever they need to use it. A home office, spare bedroom or quiet corner of the kitchen can each make a good study area.
Tags: good study habits, memorization techniques, study area, taking notes, teaching kids
