education Archives - Page 7 of 22 - Have Sippy Will Travel

Tiggly Words- Great Word and Letter games for Kids

June 18, 2015 by Danielle 1 Comment

Disclosure: The Tiggly Words was provided for me in order to facilitate my review. All opinions are my own and honest. I am disclosing this in accordance to FTC Guidelines. Please see “Disclose” tab for more information.

With my daughters beginning school soon I am all about trying to find new ways for them to learn. I must say that with Tiggly Words my girls have enjoyed playing with letters and making words.

About Tiggly:

Tiggly develops learning systems, combining toys with specially developed apps which interact with the toys.

Founded in 2012 and based in New York, Tiggly products build on 70 years of academic research highlighting that manipulating physical objects is essential to early childhood development.

Tiggly enables parents to bring this critical component of early learning to the “digital sandbox” today’s kids inhabit.

About Tiggly Words:

Learning

Long & Short Vowels
Phonics
Nouns & Verbs
Word Building

Thinking

Memory
Problem Solving
Spelling Patterns

Creating

Expanding Concepts
Asking “What If”
Story Telling

Tiggly words includes the 5 interactive vowel toys and a special code to get all 3 apps for free.

About the Apps:

Submarine Spelling: Joining Tiggly in underwater world of vowel exploration and new word discovery! You will meet a wide variety of hilarious characters that you can interact with. This app truly helps develop children’s understanding of simple words and short vowel sounds.

Tiggly Tales Word Buliding: This wonderful game allows you to use all the vowels you would like in a series of consonant, vowel, consonant (CVC) word combinations to create silly characters and actions.

Tiggly Doctor Vowels: This great game allows you to work on verbs. You are the doctor in this app and your patients have some crazy injuries. You will complete action verbs needed to perform a series of unusual operations.

My Thoughts:

I am an absolutely huge fan of all the Tiggly toys. My daughters love the shapes and the math just as much as they love the words. I have greatly enjoyed watching them play with their letters and words as they are having fun and learning. My youngest is a huge fan of the Doctor App, and my oldest likes things about each of the apps.

I would recommend Tiggly to anyone out there. These apps and toys are incredible. They get your child learning and enjoying themselves all at the same time. Kids love to play with tablets and I like to know that they are playing educational games.

I promise that you will not be disappointed in anyway. The apps are fun, I have found myself get carried away playing them with the girls for much longer than I have intended to do.

Note- this is for iPad only- it says it is compatible with other “leading android” devices, but it is not (tried on 5 different kinds, no luck on any of them).

Filed Under: education, electronics, kids, review Tagged With: Education apps, Education apps for toddlers, education games, Tiggly, Tiggly Apps, Tiggly Games, Tiggly Words, Toddler Apps, Toddler Games

A Colorful, Creative Form of Healing

June 4, 2015 by Samantha 1 Comment

music art

You can find an extensive amount of information regarding the positive impact color has on physical healing and emotional well being. There’s also an abundance of information provided by qualified professionals and substantiated by a variety of assessments on the healing power of music. The Sing for Hope organization provides people the opportunity to experience both forms of healing and stress relief in an incredibly unique manner.

Artistic Pianos

Without any adornment, a piano can be described as a piece of art. It’s shape has a beauty worthy of admiration. However, when a group of artists are invited to release their creativity on the exterior surface of a piano, the result is an explosion of color that excites the eyes, lifts the spirit and invites you on a journey designed by the artist’s personal vision. Take a moment to envision a collection of colorful pianos placed in a centralized location just waiting for someone to approach them and release sounds that complement the exterior artistry, stir the soul and make the heart smile.

Healing sounds

Children have a natural sense of wonder, creativity and expectation. Unfortunately, those free-spirit ideas are often stifled by adults who weren’t allowed to express their creative side as a child or who were discouraged from nurturing optimism. An organization such as Sing for Hope provides a centralized location for people of all ages to come and enjoy and experience the positive impact music and art can have on one’s mind, body and emotions. Prior training or special talents aren’t needed to become a part of this experience. They make this experience a reality for many children and adults who otherwise would not have the opportunity to see the work of dedicated, talented artist or have a chance to bring forth musical sounds that come straight from their heart.

In an almost magical, mystical and unexplainable way, the healing power of visual art and the audible sound of music can provide stress relief, pain relief, emotional calmness and positively impact one’s world in many other ways regardless of whether you are the artist, the performer, the observer or the listener. Allowing yourself to be fully consumed in an art project or totally focused on the creation of a unique and personal musical composition can yield positive results that may far exceed your hopes or expectations.

Filed Under: education Tagged With: guest post

Learn Better with Understood.org

May 14, 2015 by Samantha 1 Comment

Not every child learns the same way. There are many different ways kids learn, and when a child has problems learning in the classroom, there are ways to help them succeed. Do you know the signs of learning and attention issues ?

In the U.S., 1 in 5 children struggle with learning and attention issues. These kids are as smart as their peers, and with the right strategies and support, they can succeed in and out of the classroom. But parents sometimes feel alone in their search for support and information about what they can do to help their child academically, socially and emotionally.

My own son is struggling with reading- he has an incredible vocabulary, good comprehension skills, and is great at math and science- but reading is a real struggle for him. Not every child learns the same way or at the same pace, and that’s OK. As a teacher and a mother, I know it will all even out in the end, and that there are many ways of teaching and of learning. Children learn in many ways, and the younger you identify your child’s strengths and learning styles, the better off they will be.

Understood.org is a free, one-stop, easy-to-use online resource and community designed to empower parents of children ages 3-20 with learning and attention issues.

Resources are available for parents at all stages of this journey – those who don’t yet know why their child is struggling, as well as those who have been dealing with these issues for some time.

Visit Understood.org to experience “Through Your Child’s Eyes,” a series of interactive simulations and videos that enable parents to experience firsthand how seemingly simple tasks become complicated when seen through the eyes of a child with reading, writing, math, organization or attention issues.

It can be overwhelming when you find that your child needs extra help, but it doesn’t have to be. You can find the resources you and your child needs to get them back on track quickly and painlessly.
[Read more…]

Filed Under: education, kids Tagged With: education, learning styles

What Are You Doing Over Holiday Break? Head to the Liberty Science Center!

December 16, 2014 by Samantha 7 Comments

Not only is the Liberty Science Center a whole lot of enjoyment, but it will also keep the kid’s brains engaged while they are off from school. Don’t worry- they will be having so much fun they won’t notice that they are learning things. With the kids soon to be out of school for holiday break (in general driving you stark raving mad, especially since you can’t let them outside as long as you might in warmer months), you will be glad to have a day out at the Liberty Science Center.

The kiddos had such a good time- we easily could have spent even longer at the LSC, but by 4:30 mom and dad were ready to call it a day. (We got there at 11 am, so it was a fairly long day.) There are tons of activities and exhibits, in a bunch of different genres- animal science, biology, earth science, working out puzzles and mind twisters, ecology, weather, music- if you can think of it, they have it. They even have live animals, reptiles, and aquariums. There is also plenty of physical activity for the kids to engage in.

One of the newest fun activities is the Infinity Climber. The only one like it in the world, it is suspended several floors up and relies on just one point of contact for stability and suspension. Kids and adults can climb into it and go crazy- find their way up and down and through- in any way they desire.

About the “Infinity Climber”

The “Infinity Climber” is a free-form, three dimensional, multi-story climbing structure created for children. Designed by Spencer Luckey, the sculpture is made out of bent plywood platforms that are suspended by steel pipes and cables. Located in the large atrium of the Liberty Science Center, visitors have the opportunity to climb, crawl, and balance through this extraordinary experience in a safe, but physically challenging environment designed to promote sensorimotor learning.
[Read more…]

Filed Under: education, review Tagged With: kids museum, Museum, NJ, science

Tiggly Shapes are Great Educational Toys

November 23, 2014 by Danielle Leave a Comment

Disclosure: The Tiggly Shapes mentioned below were provided for me in order to facilitate my review. All opinions are my own and honest. I am disclosing this in accordance to FTC Guidelines. Please see “Disclose” tab for more information

My daugthers are at that age where they love to learn new things and explore the world around them. they were huge fans of the Tiggly Counts that we had used before that I was so excited to let them try out the Shapes as well.

About Tiggly Shapes:

These wonderful toys interact with 3 Free iPad apps – to enhance shape recognition and creativity!

Your child can now use the geometric shapes with the apps to help make their imaginations come alive.

These great educational toys help work on Shape Recognition, Creative Development, and Storytelling.

In addition to all of that, they help to Develop fine motor skills, spur creativity, and enhance spatial reasoning.

Sparkup Reader–Outstanding Toy for Kids

November 13, 2014 by Danielle Leave a Comment

Disclosure: The SparkUp Reader mentioned below were provided for me in order to facilitate my review. All opinions are my own and honest. I am disclosing this in accordance to FTC Guidelines. Please see “Disclose” tab for more information.

I absolutely love reading to my children. Occasionally I am gone at bedtime or have to be out of town. I always want to still be able to read with my children as they are going to bed. I know that it isn’t always possible, but it would be great if it was. SparkUp Reader has made it possible to read a variety of books to your child at anytime.

About SparkUp Reader:

Sparkup is a privately-held company based in Israel. It is managed by young parents who understand first-hand the challenges facing children’s reading and playtime experiences in a digital era. The investors and management team are passionate abou enhancing the lives of children and their families.

The SparkUp Magical Book Reader is a revolutionary devices that clips directly on to any picture book and reads it aloud in your voice. You can record the book yourself, in any language, and add your own personal touches, or download professionally recorded stories, complete with sound effects, directly from the Sparkup website. While recording, Sparkup’s tiny camera takes a picture of the book’s front cover and each page. later on, when a child connects Sparkup to the book, Sparkup immediately recognizes its front cover. Sparkup follows the child’s place and reads aloud as he or she turns the pages – even out of order.

Win Tiggly Counts to help your Child Count

October 24, 2014 by Danielle 7 Comments

Disclosure: The Tiggly Counts mentioned below were provided for me in order to facilitate my review. All opinions are my own and honest. I am disclosing this in accordance to FTC Guidelines. Please see “Disclose” tab for more information.

With a two year old and a four year old we are always working on learning letters and numbers and all the wonderful things in the world around us. I was very excited to give the Tiggly Counts a try to see if they truly helped my daughter with counting and adding numbers together.

About Tiggly Counts:

Tiggly is a New York-based company that develops interactive toys and apps for the digital generation. Toddlers and preschoolers love the iPad as much as Mom and Dad, but 70 years of academic research has demonstrated that manipulating physical objects is essential to early childhood development. Tiggly enables parents to bring this critical component of early learning to the “digital sandbox” today’s kids inhabit.

Their debut product, Tiggly Shapes, was designed by educators specializing in early childhood development and tested by parents and toddlers at homes and in preschools. Their second product, Tiggly Counts, is an award-winning math learning toy for ages 3-6.

Their products are fun for all ages, but specifically intended to help children between 18 months and 6 years old develop spatial reasoning, motor skills, language, and creativity.

About the Apps:

Tiggly Cardtoons – You can now count, drag, match, and enjoys as the simple buttons that you create come alive in a wildly imaginative story. Shuffle the basic pieces of digital cardboard and watch as they become one bluefish with a fancy bowtie, two peanuts for a hungry elephant, tree candles for a cow’s birthday cake, etc. Tiggly Cardtoons will help you learn basic math ideas such as one-to-one matching, counting, and equal sets.

WIN! Back To School With Alex Toys and Crafts

September 3, 2014 by Samantha 66 Comments

With back to school upon us, we want our kids to be as ready as they can be. We also want them to have as much fun as they can both in and out of school. Learning can be fun, and is easily incorporated into play. Having mom and dad around to share learning time and help and encourage children grow will let your children thrive and feel confidant as they had back to school this year.

ALEX toys, favorites of ours, make going back to school fun and easy. Check out some of the awesome items they have for your little ones!

ALEX TOYS Ready, Set, Write by ALEX BRANDS

We love this! We took it with us on a recent road trip to Maine and Canada, and my son used it in the car and in restaurants. “Learn to write A,B,C’s and numbers with ease! This spiral-bound pad contains 19 pages of numbers and letters that wipe away for lots of practicing.” It is perfect for practicing your letters and getting to know them, or for older children like my son, getting better with handwriting (which, like his mother, is usually a mess).

Ready, Set, Write costs $13.95 on the ALEX site, and is well worth it. It can be used over and over again, as well as passed on to younger siblings. It is aimed at kids aged 3 and up, but can be used by younger if they can grip the pen. The one thing I would watch for is that the pen does stain both hands and clothing if you are not careful.

ALEX TOYS Ready, Set, Tell Time by ALEX BRANDS

My son is not the best at telling time on any sort of clock or watch- it is a skill we are working on. This kit is aimed at children 4 and up, but again can be used with younger children as well as older. I would have for sure used it for circle time when I was teaching Pre-K, and my son is getting use out of it as well. It sells for $18.95 on the ALEX website, and comes with more then just a clock face.
[Read more…]