Learning Expressions

Toy Review: The Doodle-Track Car Set

Greetings, Learning Expressions readers!

This week on the blog we’re putting the spotlight on the Doodle-Track Car product by Daydream Toy. The Doodle-Track car is a craft activity and race car all wrapped into one and can provide hours of interactive online and in-house entertainment. Keep reading to find out how it shakes out using the Learning Express 3F’s of toy quality—form, function and fun!

Form

The Doodle-Track set has four essential in-the-box components—the Doodle-Track Car, a washable marker, stick-on decals, and playmat track. One of our favorite things about the Doodle-Track is that it also has an interactive online component. Kids can go online to http://www.doodletrackcar.com/buildatrack/index.html and make a customized race track of their very own—complete with traffic signals, trees, and shops! The track can be printed out and, if you have enough paper in your printer, can cover your whole playroom floor. Take a look at the track we created online!

Function

The magic behind the Doodle-Track Car Set is that the little race car will follow any line that you draw! After the race car has been decorated to your satisfaction and given 2 AAA batteries, you’re ready to go.

The car can meander around the playmat track or go for a ride on the race track you create online. All you need to do is draw a line with your marker (or with any black marker or crayon) and the Doodle-Track car will follow any twist or turn you put in its path. Feel like taking the car off-roading? Just get a large blank sheet of paper and create any route you want—the car will follow your marker wherever you want to travel! Check out this video to see the car in action:

 

Fun

The Doodle-Track Car Set is an incredibly addictive little toy. Kids can get creative decorating the car and designing customized race tracks, and can then enjoy hours of interactive fun getting the car to go anywhere they (and their truly magical marker) decide it should go. We’re not sure how the technology works behind this little vehicle, but it’s pretty amazing to watch.

We also love that this toy has an online component – kids increasingly want toys to have an online and “real life” presence and making a customized racetrack online is rewarding, engaging, and a whole ton of fun.  

Happy doodling! Talk to you again soon!

 

BLOG: Toys for Special Needs Kids

When we first started talking about this week’s blog and the topic we wanted to tackle, the focus was on outdoor fun. In some previous articles I’ve raved about items like the Plasma Car, and Ariel has written about the wonderful world of bubbles, which are a fantastic activity for special needs kids. (Bubbles are great for practicing counting and encouraging language development. I used to blow one bubble at a time and say, “Pop, pop, pop!” to encourage interaction.) But while I was brainstorming about all the fun we had playing out in the yard when my daughter (pictured right) was still quite young, I kept remembering the most challenging part—going inside for bedtime. So this week, I’m going to talk a little bit about the activities and toys that helped us when the outdoor fun had come to an end (for the day at least). I hope you enjoy!

The All-Important Routine

I was recently talking with a customer at the Learning Express store in Roseville, CA where I am the manager. He wanted to find a toy that would tucker out his four-year-old before bed. I think that’s something that all parents can identify with. Sometimes we think of toys as just for fun, sometimes they are invaluable tools for developmental learning, and other times they’re something that gives us a little break from the daily grind of parenthood.

As the parent of a child with Autism, I know that toys can bridge the two worlds of learning and play. I also know that quality play time can help with sleep patterns, and reduce the number of times everyone is up in the middle of the night. My husband and I knew that if we were going to have any hope of our daughter sleeping through the night (something she didn’t do until at least the third or fourth grade), we had to follow a scheduled bedtime routine, every single day.

Step 1: Bath Time

Our first task after dinner every night was a nice warm bath. It was our little “water therapy” session, and I was always amazed at how calm and mellow my Kiki was in the tub. It was a mandatory part of her sensory Rx—we focused on having fun rather than the task of cleaning up.

Water play presents a great opportunity for developmental learning. We often noticed that our little girl’s language and focus were much better during bath time while the water was engaging her senses. We worked on pouring, filling, and spilling—great cause and effect activities. Learning Express has several different tub toys that are great for special needs kids—Draw in the Tub Crayons and the Flow N Fill Spout (right) in particular.

I spent a lot of time singing during bath time. My daughter’s primary deficit was language and her ability to process language. She had a severe auditory processing disorder that accompanied her Autism diagnosis. We had to use very clear language with as few words as possible initially, but words set to music seemed to “stick” in her mind better. And besides, who doesn’t like to sing in the shower?

Step 2: Bounce Time

After a warm bath, it was time to put on jammies. We would then go to the playroom area of our tiny house where we had a mini trampoline, a tunnel, and a tub of balls. We would begin with a good amount of bouncing time on the trampoline. At first my daughter couldn’t jump independently so I would give her my index fingers to hold on to, and would gently help her bounce up and down. Eventually her strength, muscle tone, and focus improved and she mastered the jumping all on her own. The development of that skill was very rewarding to watch, and the time on the trampoline was a great opportunity for rare face-to-face time and eye contact. (The Fold N Go Trampoline is pictured right. It has a handle, which is perfect for the transition to independent jumping.)

Step 3: Floor Time

The last step in our bedtime routine was a more mellow activity, but one that still engaged some very important gross motor muscles. We would find ways to play with a tunnel (like the Bella Butterfly below) and a few balls. My daughter would climb through the tunnel or roll a ball through it. (This is very helpful for a shy or apprehensive child who is afraid of crawling into the tunnel. Occupational Therapists stress how important crawling is developmentally, and the tunnel motivates them to do so in a social setting. Take it along to the park!)

I always enjoyed this rare “family time” we got to spend together. It was a great way for our son and daughter to play in parallel. He got to spend some special time with his sister who was non-verbal and preferred to be alone during her toddler years.

Looking Back

My wonderful daughter is now sixteen-years-old, and to this day we can set our clocks to her scheduled routine. She is now 100% independent with her grooming and self care. As soon as the clock says 7:00pm she lets us know that it’s time to take a shower. We acknowledge her and off she goes—down to her bedroom to retrieve her clean jammies and then she’s off to the bathroom! And even as a teenager, she still craves that gross motor input and bounces on her exercise ball while she listens to her iPod.

It is so rewarding to know that we have helped her feel successful and independent. At times, we were discouraged, but with the help of our routines, some wonderful developmental toys, and a great support system, we’ve come a long, long way.

Thanks so much for reading!

 

Blog: Playtime with Puzzles | The Traditional Toy Trend

Learning can, and should, be fun. I’ve said it time after time, and I’ll say it again because that’s our philosophy at Learning Express Toys. We focus on filling our shelves with products that foster learning through play. So this week we’re dedicating the blog to a toy that embodies that idea—PUZZLES.

What do puzzles teach us?

We learn a lot of things from puzzles. For little ones, it’s all about building hand-eye coordination, shape recognition (which is an important step toward reading skills), and reasoning abilities. But that’s just on the surface level.

Without getting too far into the technical details, here’s a basic explanation of why puzzles are good for us: The human mind has two separate hemispheres or “lobes,” called the right and left brain, respectively. Each deals with different functions. The right brain handles emotions and performs tasks holistically (as a whole, without breaking it into parts). The left brain functions in a linear fashion. When you are able to use both sides of the brain, and harness all of that mind power at once, you’re at your best. Putting together a jigsaw puzzle requires all of that cognition simultaneously. Studies have shown that there is continuous activity involving all the cells and parts of the brain during puzzle-play. And what’s the point of that? The more you stimulate and trigger that functionality, the more efficient it becomes. And better yet? Your brain likes it! It releases dopamine, which makes us feel good and regenerates our neurons. Cool, huh?

For kids, this is especially important. The brain develops when cells communicate with each other and make connections. Puzzles trigger those connections. Side Note: You know the saying “she’s got a brain like a sponge”? Preschoolers really do! By the time a child reaches the age of three, they have twice the number of connections within their brains than the average adult. But let’s not leave the adults out in the cold here. Puzzles work for us too. Challenging crossword puzzles, for example, require an important brain function called “fluency,” which we need to keep in shape.

Why are puzzles fun?

Because you accomplish something tangible. Finishing the puzzle is the best part. It’s something kids can point to and say, “Look what I did!” Puzzles can also be a sociable activity. Putting one together as a family is a great way to spend an afternoon, and if you choose the right selection it’s something kids of all ages can participate in. As if that wasn’t enough, there’s that dopamine release I mentioned earlier. Puzzle-play quite simply makes you feel happy.

The Traditional Toy Trend

Puzzles are, for all intents and purposes, a fairly basic and traditional toy. There are no bells and whistles. We’re drawn to them for their unique ability to challenge our concentration and exercise that particular part of our brain function, but I think there’s also some nostalgia that contributes to the appeal. We want our kids to play with what we played with, before the age of screen technology. We want to give them quality toys that help shape who they’ll become. We want them to learn the simple pleasure of sitting down and putting together the pieces.

Happy puzzling!

 

Blog: Rabbit, Rabbit! Easter Ideas for Families

To celebrate the wonderful month of April, we dedicate this week’s blog to the upcoming Easter holiday. I hope you enjoy these fun ideas for the family!

Plan Your Backyard Egg Hunt
What Easter celebration would be complete without an Easter egg hunt? Whether you’re planning an indoor search for three or an outdoor event for 300, here are a few ideas to help you organize the perfect hunt this year.

http://holidays.kaboose.com/easter/egghunt_backyard.html

 

Visit the Bunny Buffet™
Every year we set up a scrumptious banquet for the Easter Bunny and friends at Learning Express. When shoppers buy $25 worth of toys and gifts from the buffet, they receive an Easter bucket for free, personalized with the name of their choice.

 

Make Easter Themed Crafts
There are tons of adorable ideas out there, but here are three of my favorites, courtesy of Miss Martha Stewart.

Crepe Paper Carrots

Egg Creatures

Beaded Egg Ornaments

 

Play an Easter Game
Fun party game ideas for your next spring get together. My personal favorite is “Barnyard” where each child draws a picture of an animal out of a hat. There are two of each and they must then find their partner by making the sound that the animal makes and listening to the other children for an animal making the same sound as they are.

http://holidays.kaboose.com/easter-active-games.html

 

Color Free Easter Printables
Have fun decorating these Easter coloring pages for kids. Get out your crayons, markers and paints to make homemade cards for an extra special Easter!

http://familyfun.go.com/easter/easter-printables/

http://printables.kaboose.com/holidays/easter/coloring-pages/easter-color.html

 

Bake for Somebunny Special
Themed food always makes for a magical holiday. Check out these great recipes for Easter-inspired deliciousness!

http://familyfun.go.com/easter/easter-recipes/

 

 

Blog: BUBBLES! Facts and Fun from Learning Express Toys

This week’s blog is dedicated to something we all know and love—BUBBLES! For me, bubbles are the perfect symbol of carefree childhood fun. They remind me of that first day of spring when it’s finally warm enough to play outside. Mom is out watering the garden, Dad is washing the cars, and it’s time to break out the good stuff—the sidewalk chalk, the hula hoops, the Wiffle balls and bat, and, of course, the bubble wands.

 

Bubble Note: If you’re in need of some new bubble supplies this season, Learning Express has a wonderful Bubble Bucket that comes with 8oz of free bubble solution. Through the end of April it’s just $9.99 and we’ll personalize it with the name of your choice for free as well!

 

Blowing bubbles is something that never gets old, regardless of how many years young you are. I hope you enjoy these fascinating facts about this timeless pastime!

Bubble Facts

Bubble Fact #1: Bubbles are made up of air surrounded by a thin film of water. The film, or skin, wraps around moving air, trapping it within. A soapy solution allows the skin of the water to stretch.

Bubble Fact #2: Have you ever tried to blow a bubble with pure water? It won't work. There is a common misconception that water does not have the necessary surface tension to maintain a bubble and that soap increases it, but in fact soap decreases the pull of surface tension. The surface tension in plain water is too strong for bubbles to last for any length of time. Due to evaporation, the surface quickly becomes thin, causing them to pop.

Bubble Fact #3: All bubbles are round, regardless of the shape of the bubble wand. Bubbles are very economical, so they try to pull themselves into the shape that has the smallest surface area, which is a sphere.

Bubble Fact #4: Color, one of the most beautiful aspects of bubbles, provides us with an extremely accurate tool for measuring the thickness of the soap film that makes up the skin of the bubble. Light waves, like ocean waves, have peaks and valleys (crests and troughs). Red light has the longest wavelength and violet the shortest. If we were to look at a highly magnified portion of a soap bubble membrane, we would notice that light reflects off both the front (outside) and rear (inside) surfaces of the bubble. But the ray of light that reflects off the inside surface travels a longer distance than the ray which reflects from the outside surface. When the rays recombine they can get "out of step" with each other and interfere. Given a certain thickness of the bubble wall, a certain wavelength will be cancelled and its complementary color will be seen.

Bubble Fact #5: The biggest free-floating soap bubble ever blown was 105.4 cubic feet. It could have held 788 gallons of water!

Bubble Tips

Bubble Tip #1: Blow a bubble and watch the top of the bubble closely. When a black band begins to form on top of the bubble, announce that it is ready to pop! The bubble wall becomes thinner before it pops. Less light is being reflected, so a black band forms on top of the bubble right before it pops. Give another demonstration and blow several bubbles. Tell your friends which bubble will pop first. Watch their amazement!

Bubble Tip #2: Blow gently! If you get a lot of small bubbles instead of one big one, you are probably blowing too hard, or you have the bubble wand too close to your mouth.

Bubble Tip #3: Twist it! Finish your bubble with a quick twist of your wrist to seal it.

Bubble Tip #4: Mix it ahead! If you’re preparing your own bubble solution, do it two or three days in advance. This makes it more cooperative, apparently. Save any extra bubble solution to use later.

Bubble Tip #5: Wetter is better! Make sure your bubble wand or bubble maker, and anything your bubble may touch is wet.

Bubble Tip #6: Easy does it! Let the bubble wand or bubble maker sit in the bubble solution for a few seconds. Don't slosh it around in the solution. This creates suds and foam, which are bubble busters!

Bubble Tip #7: Weather helps! Look for cool humid days, shady areas. Avoid windy days!

More Bubblicious Products

Stay tuned for our review and giveaway of a terrific scientific kit, the Bubble Gum Factory Kit in two weeks!