guest post by Patty O’Brien Novak, children’s author, engineer, educational consultant/trainer and speaker. With Sesame Street’s recent change in focus to add more engineering to their programming (yeah!), I want to share an engineering activity you can do at home with your preschooler (and older children, too.)  Envelope engineering was inspired... [read more ]

You’re invited to a PBS Kids STEM Twitter party 1/19 at 9 p.m. EST for which I’m a panelist. If you join us, you’ll learn about an innovative opportunity for children to design their own video games through PBS Kids, PBS Kids Stream, and the National STEM Video Game Challenge. (*STEM stands for science, technology, engineering,... [read more ]

As we finish 2011, I thought I’d share the most popular posts of the year and chat with you about 2012. Like last year, January will be all about learning and education topics. And, last year was a dozy for me because of what I wrote in January. If you are new here, you can start with this seemingly innocent post which started an avalanche of... [read more ]

It’s so much fun to say the word, Pajaggle; about as much fun as it is to play the actual children’s game! And, while you’re having fun, you’re learning because you’re improving spacial skills and memory. (Good thing this is for all ages because God knows I need to work on my memory.) Pajaggle is a board with 61 differing... [read more ]

Did you see the New York Times article about the math and language benefits of block play? It made me think of my new favorite building toy, Q-Ba-Maze 2.0, which is more than just blocks – it’s also a marble maze. One of my favorite companies, MindWare, brainy toys for kids of all ages, sent it to me to review. The clear and colored... [read more ]

Ready for the best holiday, educational gift guide for kids who want math and science toys and games? Read on! Product Description Company Giant Microbes Christmas Ornaments | $24.95 | All Ages    Penicillin, Salmonella, Red Blood Cell, Dust Mite and limited edition Green Amoeba! Festively adorned with decorative puffs, embroidered... [read more ]

Kids already are natural builders. Add in Legos, facilitation, and information and kids can become engineers. Actually, I never thought about engineering for kid until AJ (4th grade) took a Play-Well Engineering FUNdamentals class after school, which she loves. It got me thinking about all the ways to learn about engineering – and, you know... [read more ]

Young astronauts, get your rockets and space ships ready to blast off into pretend play imagination land! Lucky for me, I got to play astronaut in Leann Ausec’s playful ECE room at Aspen Academy where I took these photos. So, what can young astronauts do to playfully learn about space? First, prepare with background knowledge Learn about space,... [read more ]

This Halloween, learn and celebrate with your children and students. I love to share this story about a witch with my kids (and students) so they can practice listening, remembering, and following directions while artistically create the witch. I don’t know the source of the original story, it’s handwritten from a teacher colleague of mine... [read more ]

Look up picky eaters in the dictionary and you’ll find my children. But, it’s not for our lack of trying. Jeff and I have always eaten healthy (“clean”); we want our picky eaters to know why it’s important to make healthy choices, and what food does in our bodies. Yes, we have a garden, yes we buy organic. Yes, Jeff even... [read more ]

Yes, you do need a microscope at home. Because the benefits are learning and discovery. Benefits of Owning a Microscope 1. Encourages discovery. 2. Teaches kids about scientific hypothesis. 3. Hones observational skills. 4. Develops a love of the natural world. 5. Helps with a child’s love of science. 6. It’s FUN! 7. It’s real –... [read more ]

Yesterday, Gwyn guest wrote about her son’s game invention so I figured today would be the perfect time to tell you about The Young Inventor Challenge at The Chicago Toy & Game Fair (ChiTAG,) Saturday, November 19, 2011. Who can enter? The challenge is open to boys and girls ages 6 – 18. What do you do? Invent an original toy or game.... [read more ]