Learning Expressions

Toy Review: Valentines from Learning Express

I know it seems early, but we’re already gearing up for Valentine’s Day here at Learning Express. It’s the first holiday we have to look forward to after New Year’s and it’s something pretty special in the world of kids. It’s almost time to bring dad’s leftover shoebox into school and decorate it cupid-style in anticipation of all the wonderful Valentines that will be delivered. And speaking of wonderful valentines, I thought it was high time for a review of the valentines we carry at our stores every year, broken down into my 3 Fs of quality. People don’t often think of going to their neighborhood toy store for valentines, but we carry a wide selection alongside all sorts of special little gifts for the occasion. I hope you think of us when the kids are ready to find those extra-special cards!

 

Form

The valentines at Learning Express are made by a company called Peaceable Kingdom Press. It was started in 1983 by Olivia and Thacher Hurd. Thacher is the son of renowned children’s book artist Clement Hurd who illustrated the classic picture book Goodnight Moon among others. Peaceable Kingdom began by selling posters that featured Hurd’s illustrations, but they now work with more than a hundred different artists, creating products that “nourish children’s hearts, eyes, minds, and funny bones.”

The valentines are made from high quality paper and feature adorable graphics with plenty of character to go around. The bright colors definitely make them stand out and the variety includes plenty of themes that will do the boys proud. The cuteness factor is complemented by this year’s packaging, which is heart-shaped. (All together now, ”Awww….”) There are twenty valentines to a pack (four different card designs/messages included, based on the theme), and a set of stickers for decorating and sealing them closed. My favorite boy design is the Monster pack, and I think a lot of the girls will go for the Cupcakes or Funny Monkeys.

To conclude? The valentines are very appealing to adults and kids alike.

Function

Mom or Dad will have to help open the package, but (for the Mess Monitors out there) all the components are wrapped in plastic inside so nothing will go flying if little ones tear into it themselves. I’d recommend using a nice color marker that matches the design for writing the To’s and From’s. The outside of the card is slightly glossy, but the ink dries within a few seconds.

The most inventive feature of the Peaceable Kingdom valentines is that they don’t require envelopes. Each card has a little flap that folds down and it then sealed with the stickers provided. This is very friendly to little hands especially. Beyond these facts, I suppose the real function of a card is to make someone feel good, which brings us to our next category.

 

Fun

Quite simply put? These valentines are charming. I am a huge fan of the stickers in particular, and I think both the giver and the receiver of these cards will be very happy campers. Now let the elementary-school emotions run wild! "Susie gave me a 'Be Mine' and Anthony only got a 'Friends Forever'… What could it MEAN?"

A very Happy Valentine’s Day to you and your family,

 

Blog: New Year of Play! The Building Blocks of Development

In 2011, our #1 priority at Learning Express is for kids to have fun. That always comes first and foremost. But while we’re in the season of resolutions and goals, we can also celebrate a whole new year of opportunity—the opportunity for playtime to be learning-time. This week, the Learning Express blog is dedicated to the fundamental building blocks of play, and how to make the most of it. I hope you find this useful as you chart the year ahead!

The Key Components of Development

Cover these bases and you’ll be raising a little Einstein before you know it!

Cognition
Defined as “the process of thought.” Cognitive development includes skills such as auditory comprehension, categorization, cause and effect, counting and number operations, logic and reasoning, memory development, and psychomotor or motor planning.

Imagination
Defined as the mental faculty by which we understand, invent, and conceptualize. And it includes one of my favorite skills—creativity!

Language
This one is defined by our comprehension and mastery of communication. It covers skills such as non-verbal communication, oral motor ability, reading, speaking, and writing.

Physical Skills
A category we talk about a lot, especially with younger kids and infant/toddler toys at Learning Express. This is where fine motor skills and gross motor skills come into play (so to speak).

Sensory Development
This component is as basic as it gets, covering the five senses plus a little bonus: auditory development (hearing); gustatory development (taste); olfactory (smell); tactile (touch); visual (sight); and vestibular (motion).

Socialization
How do we learn social norms, customs, and cues? Socialization! This one focuses on human interaction in a group setting, specifically conversational skills, cooperative social behaviors and social reciprocity, emotional regulation, life skills, self esteem, and sportsmanship.

Developmental Goals by Age

Now that you’ve brushed up on the background, here is a sample of the specific developmental goals that might be appropriate for a three-year-old. These were compiled from a couple different sites. If you’d like to explore other recommendations by age, you might want to look at the Child Development Institute.

- When she jumps and hops, she raises her feet high and bends her knees as she lands.
- She loves running and chasing, rarely falls, and is reluctant to be still.
- Ball games such as volleyball, catch or kickball improve her balance and coordination.
- She throws a ball for a short distance. She catches a large ball thrown directly into her arms.
- She engages in “parallel play,” takes turns, and enjoys brief group activities that do not require much skill.
- She realizes her drawings can look like faces or people and starts to fashion them intentionally.
- She can roll sections of play dough, make balls and sausages and put them together to make people.
- She begins to shape her little squiggles into writing.
- She often plays at being someone else and dresses up frequently.
- She can button and unbutton, feed herself well, pour from a pitcher, and put on shoes and stockings.
- She likes to hear about friends and relatives and likes to know that lots of people love her.
- She can contrast herself with others.
- She likes to “help” in small ways and responds to verbal guidance.
- She begins to show sympathy and empathy for characters in stories.

Here’s to another year of growing together!