Learning Expressions

Blog: Celebrating Dr. Seuss and Special Needs Kids

Long before Dr. Spock and Dr. Oz, there was the doctor of all doctors—my personal favorite, Dr. Seuss. He’s the only Doctor whose Daily Dose (a Delightful Dalliance, I Do say!) has kids eager for a check up. Dr. Seuss might very well be the most influential children’s book author of all time. Just think of all the memorable characters that have come out of his work—the Cat in the Hat, the Grinch, Horton, Sam I Am, and many others. But it’s not just the charming storylines that captivate the imaginations of our children. The rhyming rhythm and the playful turns of phrase inspire our kids to learn how to read his words. So this week on the blog, in honor of what would be his 107th birthday (March 2), we tip our hats to the wonderful; the timeless; the one and only, Dr. Seuss.

Long before my days as an elementary school librarian, Dr. Seuss’ books were a favorite in our collection at home. I am positive that both of my children learned to read with the great Doctor’s books. And I am even more certain that he is solely responsible for helping me engage my daughter Kiki, who was locked away in the silent world of Autism.

  Kiki was drawn to the way his books sound when they are read out loud, with that playful rhythm, which is so infectious. I still remember how very thoughtfully he organized his classic, Dr. Seuss’ ABC. It was simple and full of words that flowed together like music to her ears. Each page was dedicated to an individual letter, progressing through the whole alphabet, and the text played with phonetics to reinforce the visual with the sound the letter makes. Kiki was completely enchanted. She would look up at me with delight every time I read, “Barber Baby Bubble and a Bumble Bee!” popping the “B” sound on every word.

My memories of reading with Kiki are special times that I can still remember like they were yesterday. For me, celebrating Dr. Seuss means celebrating the importance of books. Books are such an essential tool, and they helped our daughter learn social skills, self-care, and the simple beauty of language.

Today our TVs are crowded with programs that promise to teach our babies to read. I use the term “teach” loosely. Programs like this seem to focus on memorization, training, and programming with children staring at a screen. But we know the facts: The good Doctor’s books continue to be a tried and true resource. Our kids not only learn to read, but through his playful stories, they discover that it’s FUN—the most valuable lesson of all.

I am a proud mother-reader who can still recite the first pages of many of my Seuss favorites. I wear this as a badge of honor. His timeless treasures will never lose their purpose and their powerful influence on today’s kids and tomorrow’s readers. Please see below for additional resources about Dr. Seuss, early learning, and literacy. For my parting words, I have a little homage of sorts. A little birthday rhyme in honor of my hero, Dr. Theodore Seuss Geisel:

Oh me oh my
How time does fly!
It’s March again
C’mon my friend
It’s time to say
Hooray hooray!
To the good ol’ Doc
Whose words do rock!
They teach our young
Where reading begun
From his rhyming word
To Horton’s bird
Dr Seuss’s Birthday Call:
Happy Reading to All!

 

Resources:

Visit Seussville, find information on Read Across America, and make a reading pledge! http://www.nea.org/readacross/

Watch a video from a previous Read Across America day! http://www.schooltube.com/user/NEAreadacrossamerica

Reading Tips (for parents of preschoolers) http://www.nea.org/assets/docs/HE/englishtips.pdf

Early Learning Information: Download Early_learning_handout

Early Literacy Information: Download Earlyliteracy2pagehandout

Toy Review: Tickle Monster Book and Laughter Kit

There are some educational products out there that hit the shelves and become instant classics. Tickle Monster is one such product. Published in 2008, the book and its accompanying “Laughter Kit” have really taken off in the past year, winning several noteworthy accolades. As highlighted below, one of the great things about the product is the range of ages it appeals to.

The book itself was written by Josie Bissett (pictured right with her two kids), the actress best known for playing Jane Mancini on the TV show “Melrose Place.” It is her third book to date, but her first title geared towards children. If there is a young child on your list for holiday shopping this year, take note! Here’s the skinny on the Tickle Monster book and Laughter Kit and how they measure up in the Toy Talker’s 3F’s of toy quality.

Form

Tickle Monster is a 36-page hardcover book, beautifully illustrated by Kevan J. Atteberry in bright pastels. It tells the story of a lovable monster who arrives from Planet Tickle to spread the joy of laughter on Earth. He takes us through all the great tickle spots—footsies, knees, the tummy or “tum-tum,” etc. The text itself is written entirely in cute rhyming couplets, which lends further playfulness to the whole concept.

The book is available as part of a boxed gift set called the Tickle Monster Laughter Kit, available at Learning Express stores nationwide. This kit is contained in a sturdy box, which is illustrated to match the book, closes with a magnetic flap, and will wrap beautifully as a holiday present. It also includes the all-important Magical Tickle Monster Mitts. They come in a soft blue to match the main character and are super-soft (I would love a blankie made out of the same material) with holes for fingers to poke through. (This feature negates any page-turning issues.)

All in all? Adorable. Charming and constructed with high quality materials. (The book is even printed with eco-friendly soy ink…need I say more?)

 

Function

The quote from author/actress Josie Bissett included on the inside cover of the Laughter Kit reads:

Some of the best days of childhood are those spent with
our parents and grandparents in play and laughter.
That’s what this wonderful kit is all about.

I take that, if anything, as the “mission” of the Tickle Monster book and Laughter Kit. So how does it do in real life? I think this video says it all, and there are dozens of them on YouTube with similar scenes of kids cracking up. (Note: Some parents wear the mitts themselves while others give the mitts to the child, which I hadn’t thought of until I started watching all of these.)

 

While the book is appropriate for any kid twelve months and up, children who are older (perhaps even up to about eight years old) will still find it hilarious. Check out this video for proof!

 

So, the official consensus on whether the Tickle Monster Laughter Kit makes kids laugh? A resounding YES.

Fun

I think this category is sort of inherent in the product itself, but it’s worth mentioning that the whole Tickle Monster experience is fun for everyone involved—the child, whoever is reading aloud, anyone watching, and, of course, anyone getting tickled. The concept manages to incorporate reading (check out the previous article about the importance of reading aloud) with an age-old game between parents and their children.

At Learning Express we’re always looking for new products that make learning fun, and this is the perfect example. A child may be anticipating the next round of tickling, but while they’re at it, their eyes are on the page, learning to recognize words and building essential skills.

Happy tickling!

Blog: Kids in the Toy Business - Part II The Aebersolds

Part II of our month-long series!

KIDS IN THE TOY BUSINESS

Part 2: The Aebersolds

For those of you that have never had the chance to walk the aisles of a vendor expo, let me tell you something… the toy industry is chock-full of family businesses. Just think of some of the major brands we sell at Learning Express—Melissa and Doug, ALEX, and Pretty Ugly are all owned by husband-and-wife teams. I think we often lose track of the moms and dads in light of the kid-inventor phenomenons (see KIDS IN THE TOY BUSINESS Part I: Maddie Bradshaw), but there’s something very meaningful about a family tradition that inspires a bestseller. I am speaking, of course, of Carol Aebersold, her daughters Chanda and Christa, and The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition®.

There was an old tradition in Carol’s family of welcoming a Scout Elf from the North Pole into their home every Thanksgiving. He would watch by day and report to Santa each night. The particular elf that Carol became acquainted with in her childhood was named Fisbee, and, when she was married and had children of her own, he continued to visit. The Aebersold kids (Chanda, Christa, and Brandon, pictured below) attribute some of their fondest family memories to Fisbee, and clearly the tradition is still cherished today.

In 2005, grown-up Chanda decided it was high time to share the story of the North Pole scout elf with others. She and Carol penned the Elf on the Shelf book together, teamed up with illustrator Coë Steinwart, and established their own publishing company, CCA and B, to print the title and manufacture the accompanying pixie elf. For two years now, the Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition®, has been the bestselling holiday product at Learning Express and its popularity hasn’t yet reached its peak. At the 2008 Annual Learning Express Convention, Elf on the Shelf was named the Best New Book as voted by the Learning Express franchise owners. The interactive website www.elfontheshelf.com has also won several industry awards for its innovation. In addition to games, activities, and recipes, children can explore the North Pole and register the name of their elf online to receive their official elf adoption certificate and a special response from Santa.

CCA and B continues as a family-owned business with Carol and Chanda traveling extensively during the winter season for book signings and other appearances. Chanda also manages the marketing and new product development (the company released a new item earlier this year called A Light in the Night™, which we will feature in our Holiday Catalog). Her sister and business partner Christa serves as the company’s co-CEO.

“It’s truly a joy and a blessing to come to work every day with my mother, sister and even sometimes my dad,” Chanda said. “Each day presents a new adventure, and we are all loving every minute of it.”

This kind of story is what I really love about the toy business—families coming together to build something that has meaning. Many Learning Express stores will host author book signings later this year so contact your local store for information.

For more photos and videos, see below. Feeling inspired? Stay tuned for next week’s installment in our KIDS IN THE TOY BUSINESS series!

Blog: Baby Gifts from Learning Express

contributed by Shelley (Wilmington, NC)

Babies begin learning from the first moment they see the light of day. Everything they interact with has an effect on who they will become, which is a wonderful opportunity when you’re considering what to put in front of them. Developmental toys carefully chosen by the buying team at Learning Express encourage budding senses and skills in the very first year of life. And the added bonus? They make perfect baby shower and “welcome to the world” gifts!

Here are some of our favorites:

Busy Bee Baby Buzz’r®
This is a great item that can turn a fussy baby into a bustling busy bee. Light patterns, a mirror, and twelve classical lullaby melodies pique intellectual interest while the vibrations and chewable teether wings are physically comforting.

Winkel
Colorful loops made from soft, pliable plastic are easy to grasp and hold, plus caregivers can refrigerate it for a soothing teether with a gentle rattle in the middle.

 

Grabby Elephant Taggie
Our super soft elephant friend is so easy to grab and hold and hard to let go of! Taggie’s ribbons add texture, and the pink mouse in the elephant’s belly can be moved in and out for fine motor skills development.

 

Sophie Giraffe Teether
An easy to hold and chew teether giraffe babies love to gum and squeak! Made from 100% natural rubber and food paint. Sophie is safe and perfect for soothing baby’s sore gums. Made in France.

Twilight Turtle (or Twilight Ladybug)
The perfect night light! Twilight Turtle projects a complete starry night sky onto the walls and ceiling of any room. Choose from three soothing color options – blue, green, and amber – to create magical, tranquil environments that are ideal for helping children of all ages ease into a restful sleep. Lights turn off automatically after 45 minutes.

Sleep Sheep on the Go
Sleep Sheep produces four soothing sounds from mother’s calming heartbeat to the gentle sounds of nature. Relax as the soothing sounds of ocean waves, spring showers, and harmonious whale songs create a tranquil environment ideal for helping children of all ages fall asleep. Attachable to crib or carrier.

 

 

Lock and Rock Musical Shakers
Played separately or linked together, these four brightly colored musical shakers will stimulate toddlers with exciting sounds! Large handles are easy to grab and shake. Turn up the music and rock on!

 

Custom-Painted and Personalized Ceramic Piggy Bank
Start baby’s college fund now with a custom-painted and personalized ceramic piggy bank. The Learning Express artists will decorate and personalize your piggy bank for FREE!

 

Personalized Jumbo Toy Bucket
Decorated and personalized for free at Learning Express, our jumbo toy bucket can multi-task! Take it to the beach, or store toys in baby’s playroom. This is also a great gift for new grandparents—just let us decorate and add GRAN AND GRAMPS’ TOYS!

Books
Starting baby’s book collection is the gift that keeps on giving!
Some suggested titles:

Goodnight Moon
Pat the Bunny
Runaway Bunny
The Little Engine That Could
Tickle Monster book and mitts
Guess How Much I Love You

So if you’re looking for a perfectly unique baby gift, ask one of the baby toy experts at Learning Express Toys, where we also wrap your gift for free!

Blog: How much knowledge do kids lose over summer vacation?

School is out! (Or very soon will be for most areas of the country.) There’s an expectation of unbridled freedom in every kid’s smile at this time of year. Summers are cherished as a time to run wild, live in a swimsuit, eat at odd hours, and stay up way past bedtime. We love letting our kids have that experience, but at the same time there’s a little parenting voice that asks, “Am I supposed to be doing something?”

Here’s the skinny: Studies have shown that during an extended summer vacation, kids can lose an average of 2.6 months worth of knowledge. (Check out the Reading is Fundamental website for more.) There are apparently many factors that affect learning loss—grade level, subject matter (mathematical computation is particularly at risk), and family income, to name a few.

This is where the whole argument for YRE (Year Round Education) comes into play. I’m not going to go into the analysis behind that whole thought process, but there is one thing for certain: educational exercises during the summer, even if it’s just for 20 minutes a day, along with good reading habits, can drastically improve academic performance.

At the store we have a go-to solution for parents who are interested in keeping those skills sharp when school is out of session. They’re called the Summer Bridge Activity Books, and the best part about them is that (from the parenting perspective at least) they’re easy. The whole idea is to “bridge” the gap between grade levels, reviewing what kids recently learned and giving them a preview of what’s up next. Books for grade Pre-K through fifth are available, and they come with colorful pages, flashcards, interesting activities, and a program that integrates fitness and character development. Kids are asked to complete one page a day and then set aside some time for independent reading. Very simple, like I said.

I’ve got one more stat for you today—only 10% of students engage in any kind of “formal” learning during the summer vacation. Learning can, and should, be fun. That’s what we’re all about at Learning Express. So whether you choose an activity book like Summer Bridge, an educational game, or just reading together as a family, it’ll be time well spent.

Have a wonderful, wonderful summer!