I'm so excited to see more STEM and STEAM chapter books (science, technology, engineering, art, and math). The stories on today's list make STEM enticing to readers. If it isn't already, that is. Whether or not your kids are even interested in STEM, see what develops after reading one of the book on this list. Maybe an interest will grow? I've divided this into two sections: beginning … [Read more...]
5 Reasons Why My Kids LOVE Anki Overdrive Fast and Furious Racetrack
We LOVE, LOVE, LOVE our Anki Overdrive Fast & Furious racetrack. Like, my kids are addicted. They like how it’s super interactive with technology (their favorite). They love building and rebuilding the track and racing against each other, friends, dad, or the computer — one of the most fun things they do every day! (Yes, they keep the track set up to play with it daily.) Buy It … [Read more...]
Minecraft Coming to a Denver Movie Theater This Week!
Disclosure: I'm working with Super League Gaming to bring you this post. Does your child love Minecraft? This weekend on Saturday morning, instead of just playing at home, they can enjoy the game while meeting new friends as part of a local team representing Denver, thanks to Super League Gaming and their Minecraft City Champs tournament, run in partnership with Nickelodeon. It’s like little … [Read more...]
What’s So Important About STEM: A Chat with Hank Green
You probably know Hank Green of The Vlog Brothers and a ton of other cool nerdy sites (NerdFighteria being one). We spoke last week about what parents need to know about STEM, STEM careers, and fostering a love of inquiry. Green is currently partnering with Emerson whose whole goal is to try to figure out how to create the next generation of who they can hire. They're looking for engineers and … [Read more...]
Kids Love Sphero’s SPRK+ for Creative STEAM Learning
Disclosure: I’ve partnered with Sphero to write this article. #sponsored #beyondcode Your kids can do SO MUCH with Sphero’s new app-enabled robot that inspires not just coding but also learning STEAM topics in creative ways. SPRK+ from Sphero caught my kids' attention from the get-go and held it as they began to explore the various learning possibilities with it. This is creative technology … [Read more...]
Robotics for Kids with Cubelets
I'm so jazzed about Cubelets -- they're a playful way to introduce robotics for kids as well as develop computational thinking (programming skills). Each little robotic block or cube is a mini-program. When magnetically snapped together with another cube or cubes, it creates a robot that can perform more complex functions. Think simple machine into complex machine but in this case, a robotic … [Read more...]
STEM Summer Camps and Classes
Avoiding the summer learning loss can be challenging but Sylvan Learning's Sylvan Edge is excited to announce a solution! They're offering new STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) summer camps and classes. To register or get more information, go here. [fbvideo link="http://www.facebook.com/SylvanLearning/videos/vb.86025872738/10153002203897739/?type=1&theater" width="560" … [Read more...]
Learning to Program Empowers Kids (and It’s Easier Than You Think!)
Remember how great MaKey MaKey was for confidence & innovative thinking? MaKey MaKey gave us the idea of programming for kids, to make our own game using Scratch. Scratch is a website from MIT specifically for kids. Kids can program stories, games, and animation. And, it's so much easier than you might think! Programming for Kids Watch a Scratch Tutorial It's frustrating to try to … [Read more...]
Got Plugged-In Kids? You Better Read This
Even if your kids aren't old enough to be plugged in, their friends might be and they will be eventually. Now is the time to influence their thinking, behavior and choices about technology and sex, says a new book, Parenting Plugged-In Teens: Becoming Their GPS in a Cyber-Sexual World by Elizabeth L. Clark, LPC. My kids aren't plugged-in yet but it's a good time to think ahead and read this … [Read more...]
(Don’t?) Close Your Eyes – YouTube Safety for Kids
YouTube offers great and not-so-great video options. Recently a reader asked me how to make YouTube videos safe for her kids. Because even if she was watching a safe video, the sidebar videos weren't always appropriate and the comments were full of profanity. So here are some YouTube safety guidelines. YouTube Safety for Kids You might wonder why we'd want to watch You Tube at all. Well, where … [Read more...]
Even More Educational Apps
Upcoming holiday travels with kids might require a few new iPad apps, preferably educational ones, right? Here are the latest educational apps the girls and I recommend. Educational Apps Scribblenaut Remix I think this is our favorite educational app yet! It's such a clever concept. To solve the puzzles in each scene and level, you need to imagine what your player needs. Then, you type that … [Read more...]
Recommended Educational Apps
Since I last posted on educational apps, the selection of quality children's eBooks for the iPad has grown bigger and better - which is a good thing, don't you think? Here are my recommendations for Fall 2011 of educational apps and books for the iPad. (And, a giveaway, too.) Educational Apps Aquaduct From easy to very challenging, this is an addictive educationl puzzle app to solve. Faces … [Read more...]