Learning Expressions

Toy Review: I Can Do It Reward Chart

 
We’re still in the month of January, which means there’s still time to make some 2010 resolutions. If you want to get your kids involved in this timeless beginning-of-the-year tradition, there’s a product on the market that can help. The I Can Do It Reward Chart® was developed to help families keep track of weekly chores and achievements, but it also helps children develop an understanding of cause and effect, especially in regards to their own behavior. (I just realized how clinical that sounds, but that’s the science part of it. It’s a fun activity in practice as I’ll explain.)

The most recent edition of the I Can Do It Reward Chart® by Kenson Parenting Solutions was new for Learning Express in September of 2009. It was featured in our Great Games catalog, but I think it’s particularly relevant for the new year since the parental motivation for buying it is to establish and reward good habits.

Here’s the 411, broken down into the Toy Talker’s 3Fs of toy quality.

Form

The chart itself measures 15" x 11" and is made with a durable, laminated material. The days of the week run across the top and spaces for six chores run lengthwise. There is a “My Goal” space at the bottom where you can write in the number of stars you want to earn in a week, and a “My Reward” box to write the incentive. (Nothing like a little positive reinforcement!) Presumably you can write with a dry-erase marker, but that’s not included.

What the package DOES include is a set of 45 gold stars and 20 interchangeable chore and behavior squares. These all have Velcro pads on the back, which attach to the corresponding pads on the chart. Each square includes a colorful picture of the particular task or politeness, which is great for establishing visual associations.

Here’s the complete list of available chores and behaviors (beginning with my favorite):

Share your toys
Get along with others
Eat your veggies
Say please and thank you
Get dressed
Good at table manners
No harming others
No whining
Help with dishes
Feed pets
Water the plants
Clean your mess
Make bed
Go potty
Go to bed and stay in bed
Set table
No yelling
Brush your teeth

Note: There are 9 supplemental packs of task squares available for purchase, which cover additional chores and behaviors. 

Function

The I Can Do It Reward Chart® declares that it improves self-esteem and promotes independence for children ages 3-10. I have no trouble believing that the goal chart achieves its first two goals (haha), but I am somewhat skeptical about the upper age limit. The tasks included in the standard pack seem more suited to kids 3-7 or 8. Any child older than that might require a different motivational technique. There is room for 6 tasks per week—a total of 42 possible stars. (I think 30 is probably a reasonable goal for most kids.) The chart is designed for one child, so you may want to invest in more than one if you’ve got multiple youngsters.

The chart has two strong magnets on the back, which will stick to any metal surface. I think the obvious choice is the refrigerator. Prominent placement allows for the celebration of every achievement. The Velcro that attaches the gold stars and task squares will stand the test of time (I tried to peel one of the pads off the chart and only succeeded in breaking a nail), but the grip is pliable enough for little hands to attach and detach the stars as needed.

 
Fun

While this product may seem to be more for the parents’ benefit than anything else, I think the I Can Do It Reward Chart® can be something a kid looks forward to every day. There is something exciting about picking out the goals for the week together, watching those stars build up, and feeling the satisfaction of a job well done. In a way, the child experiences a tangible participation in their own upbringing.

It may not be our conventional idea of fun, but I think with the right approach and a little creativity it can be a very entertaining learning experience.

Happy Achieving!

- Toy Talker

The I Can Do It Reward Chart® is available for purchase at many of our Learning Express stores. Find one near you!

Toy Review: Groovy Scrapbook Kit by Alex

 

Confession: I’m on board with the retro look that has made its comeback. (Fashion is SUCH a what-goes-around-comes-around industry. Bag up your old clothes because they’ll inevitably be hip again in a few years.) Give me some glitter, flared jeans, and an UglyDoll, and I’m good to go. In the spirit of this trend, award-winning toy manufacturer Alex came out with the Groovy Scrapbook Kit, which was exclusive to Learning Express for the 2009 holiday season. (Check out my previous post about exclusive product development.)

If you’ll ever be in the market for a girl’s birthday gift (and let’s face it, who won’t be?), you’ll want to stick around for this one. Here’s the lowdown, according to the Toy Talker’s three Fs of toy quality:

Form

The Groovy Scrapbook definitely has a tween vibe, but it’s designed for any girl over the age of 6 who enjoys arts and crafts. The packaging is colorful and appealing, and the box measures 12" x 12", which will look great when it’s wrapped up.

The kit includes the following:

- 10" x 10" 48-page hardbound spiral scrapbook with a psychedelic cover design
- 10 papers (4 patterned, 6 solid color)
- 333 stickers, including frames and borders
- 5 buttons
- Multi-colored sequins
- 2 ribbons
- A fabric flower
- A stencil
- Zig zag scissors
- A marker
- A gluestick
- Easy instructions (in English, Spanish, French, and Portuguese)

All the paper is acid-free so photos will be properly preserved. I had to get up to get a pencil, some straight scissors, and some additional marker colors, but otherwise everything was included. (Obviously, you need to collect any photos or memorabilia you want to scrapbook.)

Function

The scrapbook itself is good quality and feels like it’ll hold up through the years, even when it’s loaded down with stuff glued to every page. The scissors were sharp enough to make a nice, clean scalloped cut, but not sharp enough to be dangerous. The glue stick worked. (This may seem minor, but if you’ve ever gotten a non-sticky glue stick you’ll sympathize.) The stencil didn’t bleed, and the marker lived up to expectation. (Note: It’s purple, which looks great on some colors of paper, but not so great on others. You’ll want more color choices any way to get that far-out look.) My favorite items (other than the sequins) were the miniature photo frames. Super cute and just big enough for a snapshot of a smiling face.

Fun

Opening up the kit and going through all the bits and pieces was delightful. Any girl who likes to create will enjoy sitting down with this and designing the pages. My favorite thing about the Groovy Scrapbook is that it leaves room for so much creativity. Everything in the box can be used multiple ways, and it’s a project you can come back to again and again as you build, “Peace, Love & Memories.”

Happy shopping!

- Toy Talker

The Groovy Scrapbook is available for purchase at many of our Learning Express locations. Find one near you.

Toy Review: Perplexus – NEW for 2010!

Perplexus is the new puzzle toy in town, and let me tell you, it’s time to take notice.

The Perplexus has been classified in the same category as the Rubik’s Cube, which is slightly misleading since a Rubik’s Cube can be solved by algorithm and the Perplexus is skill-based (in a pinball kind of way). I think the most apt description I’ve come across declares the new toy to be a “compelling spherical distraction contraption.” I couldn’t agree more.

It was invented by 3D design teacher Michael McGinnis (educational anyone?) and has gone through a few variations and battles with copycats, but the premier version is here to stay. Learning Express will be advertising it in our March catalog, so I thought it was high time for a proper review.

Here’s the skinny, broken down into the Toy Talker’s three Fs of toy quality:

Form

The Perplexus is a bright and colorful 3D maze inside a transparent plastic sphere. If they made it bigger, like the museum-quality (right) this would be hamster heaven. But the size of the actual ball (7" diameter) is a nice balance—small enough to fit in your lap but big enough to see what you’re doing. Little hands should have no trouble maneuvering it. Each major “obstacle” is labeled with a small number, and overall the design is very appealing. (Everyone who sees it immediately asked what it is.)

Function

Manipulating the sphere (turning, rolling, flipping, etc.) to guide the small, steel ball through the labyrinth of plastic tracks is not a task for the faint of heart. The easiest level (start in the slot labeled “1”) seems to be aided with some magnets, but by the time you get to obstacle #29 help is nowhere in sight. (Do I seem slightly bitter? This may be because I have yet to get beyond the infamous #29, but I am determined to persevere.) The game is by no means impossible, and there’s a pretty low learning curve—you’ll improve after just a few tries—but the toy is better suited to kids who are reasonably patient. If a child enjoys other kinds of puzzles or mazes, then this is a perfect fit.

Fun

The Perplexus is an incredible amount of fun, especially if you add a timer into the mix and start passing it around a group, but it’s definitely a challenge! (And I have a feeling this is one of those challenges where your kids are going to show you up, so prepare to be humbled.) I can’t wait to see what they’ll come up with next!(www.perplexus.net)

The Perplexus is already in stock at many of our locations. Support a local business and buy it at a Learning Express store near you!

- Toy Talker

Cleaning Out the Closets: A Blog for the Organized, Disorganized, and Bewildered

What’s that wonderful phrase that every website, self-help article, and diet system spokesperson uses come January 1? Ah yes, “New Year, New You.”

Truth be told, I’ve never been entirely sure why the turning of the calendar ushers in such high expectations for resolutions and refreshed lifestyles when we could really use that kind of attitude all year long, but I’m totally on board with the idea. Want to feel really satisfied? One of my guilty pleasures at this time of year is (you guessed it) cleaning out all the closets and drawers in the house.

Think about it. You haven’t put your holiday decorations away yet (which means there’s some free space to work with), you and your kids have new things you received as gifts, and the pressure is on to reinvent yourself. Go for it.

Here are some pointers to help you survive the clutter—the dust, the outgrown toys, that broken appliance, and the porcelain statuette your mother-in-law bestowed upon you three years ago that has never since seen the light of day—so you can arise victorious and ready for 2010.

Item 1: Make a Mess There must always be chaos before there is order. Take everything out. Leave no object unturned. You’ll be forced to look through everything and you’ll get some perspective on the space you’re using and what you’re trying to store there.

Item 2: File by Pile I’m a big fan of triage. As you sort through everything you have removed from your closet or drawers, divide into three piles—Keep, Trash, Donate. Be discerning. If you have ten sweatshirts, pick your three favorites and donate the rest. Same goes if your kids have multiples of a particular toy or game.

Item 3: Emotional Attachments Finding it hard to let go of that favorite pair of jeans? Got a seven-year-old who is putting up a fight over that preschool toy? You have to decide whether it’s worth the battle (or your own anguish) to separate yourselves from the object in question. If it’s not worth it, let it go. Maybe you’ll get in during the next go-round.

Item 4: Seasonal Rotations This concept works well for a wardrobe and toys. While clothes may be easily divided into summer/winter categories, toys are more arbitrary. Toys that are played with frequently should be left out, but the ones that are more occasional won’t be missed. Select a few to be put away for a time. When kids start getting bored with their current selection, swap out. (If that fails take a fieldtrip to your local Learning Express and pick up something new!)

 Item 5: Storage Systems Drawers, baskets/boxes, and other containers are your friends. The shoe hanger is ingenious. Remember that if you’ve organized a space properly, whether it’s a desk, a closet, or an entire room, it will be all the easier to keep organized year-round.

Here’s wishing you a very happy New Year and New You!

- Toy Talker