Pro Educational Toys: Games

Showing posts with label Games. Show all posts

Friday, March 23, 2018

101 Ways to Play Outdoors

I came across this great poster on the website: http://childhood101.com by Christie Burnett, Editor.

Several years ago they featured a poster of 101 Ways to Play Outdoors, which I would like to share with you here.

Play leapfrog
Jump rope
Climb a tree
Build a fort
Play hide and see
Kick a ball

HOSE RAINBOWS

Make a rainbow with the hose
Pull weeds
Ride a bike, scooter, or horse
Create a nature collage
Build a sand castle
Head out on a treasure hunt
Roll down a hill
Make a bug hotel

HOTEL FOR BUGS

BUG HOTEL

Balance along a wall
Throw a frisbee
Balance a bean bag on your head
Have an egg and spoon race
Hug a tree
Create patterns in damp sand
Make story stones
Paint a fence with water
Make texture rubbings with crayons

CRAYON RUBBINGS

Swing your hips in a hula hoop
Make a rain gauge
Play tag
Draw something you can see
Jump in a puddle
Play hopscotch
Draw on the trampoline or the sidewalk with chalk
Read a book
Catch raindrops on your tongue
Make a set of stilts from tin cans

TIN CAN STILTS

Have a game of marbles
Enjoy breakfast outside
Rake leaves
Set up a worm farm
Decorate mud pies
Run under the sprinkler
Paint the outside of a window
Make a daisy chain
Start a nature journal
Lie in a hammock
Toast marshmallows
Find 10 things to float in a tub of water
Write in the sand with a stick

PRESS FLOWERS

Press flowers
Make a pinwheel
Make a stick scupture
Make a pet rock
Try leaf printing
Draw around a shadow on the ground
Plant vegetables and herbs
Grow a bean or sunflower plant
Take photos of what you see
Have a 3-legged race

3-LEGGED RACE

Have a wheelbarrow race
Gaze at the stars
Set up a lemonade stand
Paint with feathers
Decorate a tree
Create a home for a fair or an elf
Make a tin can telephone
Enjoy a teddy bar picnic
Make a drip castle with wet sand
Write a letter on a leaf

FLY A KITE

Fly a kite
Make up a new game
Put on a show
Grab a magnifying glass and go bug hunting

EXPLORE USING A MAGNIFYING GLASS

Try a somersault, handstand or cartwheel
Watch a sunset
Spin and get dizzy
Start a collection
Float a paper boat
Make a cave for a dinosaur
Wash the dog
Wash the car
Create a small world for your favorite figurines

MAKE A SUNDIAL

Make a sundial
Host a paper plane flying contest
Blow bubbles
Dance and sing
Make your name from sticks
Make a road for toy cars
Play flashlight tag
Build a compost bin
Throw water balloons
Make object impressions in clay
Put on a cape and fly
Grow a grass head
Make a bird bath
Make a bird feeder
Make petal perfume

PETAL PERFUME

Dig for treasure
Make a leaf crown
Hang laundery
Draw a map of your space
Set up a snail race
Lie back on the grass and look for shapes in the clouds

SEE HOW MANY MORE YOU CAN ADD TO THE LIST AND LET ME KNOW!

Blog Administrator: Trisha Roberts

proeducationaltoys@gmail.com

www.proeducationaltoys.com

Unauthorized duplication is a violation of applicable laws.

Friday, December 1, 2017

ImaginOak Play Mats

This week I feature a terrific product that encourages creativity and imagination--the ImaginOak Play Mats

ImaginOak Play Mats are designed to engage children in open-ended adventure and creative story play, using the toys they already have. The large vinyl mats provide three unique environments for kids to make believe their own exciting stories.

ImaginOak Play Mats Encourage Creative Play

The brightly printed play mats are big enough for excellent solo play, but also large enough that 2 or more kids can play together. The best stories are relational, and when several children are engaged in imaginative self-scripted play, magical things can happen. The play can be different every time depending on the feelings of the day or the toys they bring to the play mat.

What sets ImaginOak Play Mats apart are the three stylized designs featuring more realistic buildings and landscaping, more interesting details, the large scale of the vinyl play area, several different play mats can lay side by side in any configuration, and the mats encourage stimulating group play. The painterly look gives these artisan play mats a style like no other.

ImaginOak Castle Play Mat

Some years ago designer Craig McDowall, had the idea of introducing a new play mat into the children’s market. After visiting many toy shops he saw that there were a number of fabric play mats or rugs aimed at pre-school kids. Preschool play mats have chunky graphics and are intended for larger toys. There seemed to be no play mats aimed at elementary school kids, aged approximately 4-11, and the small figurines they’ve collected. He also saw that parents are becoming more interested in finding ways to keep their school age children away from ‘screens’, including electronic devices such as computer tablets, game consoles and television. Child education experts are also sounding the alarm about the amount of time children spend alone, playing games with pre-written scripts and predictable outcomes.

ImaginOak Horse Farm Play Mat

ImaginOak Play Mats encourage imaginative play which is not predefined by characters; there are no people, animals or vehicles printed on the mats. Children may use action figures or other movie and television characters, but the kids are able to reinvent the story line, and design their own narrative. By allowing the children to be their own story tellers, ImaginOak hopes that children will engage in more meaningful play. Children are capable of working out some of their problems by imaginative experiential play, and these play mats might help them in that process. Home school parents are able to convert the story play into written formats which children can continue to work on. These large play mats allow two or more children to take part in parallel play, and interact with friends and siblings. Several play mats can be laid side by side to increase the possibilities.

ImaginOak Village Play Mat

The original three designs, Caravan Village, Quest Realm, and Horse Haven are available in both LARGE 4x5 and SMALL 3x4 sizes. Large size is 45.5" x 59". Small size is 36" x 47”. The great part is that the play mats can be laid together in any configuration

ImaginOak Play Mats Can "Connect"

ImaginOak Play Mats are practically indestructible and are waterproof. The scrim vinyl is printed with safe water-based latex inks which are the optimum choice for use in hospitals, restaurants and schools. These inks are Greengaurd Gold UL certified, odorless, and meet LEED standards. They roll up for storage, and are easily cleaned with a mild detergent and moist sponge.

ImaginOak Play mats are available in two sizes to fit most families needs:

Small 3' x 4' for the price of $55.00

Large 4' x 5' for the price of $75.00

www.imaginoak.com

Blog Administrator: Trisha Roberts

proeducationaltoys@gmail.com

www.proeducationaltoys.com

Unauthorized duplication is a violation of applicable laws.

Friday, November 24, 2017

5 Family Fun Fitness Activities by Brent Frayser

Forty years ago, it was a nightly battle for parents to get their children inside for dinner or for the night. Today, it is hard to get them outside and active. The advent and hypnotic pull of technology has drastically changed the way we live our daily lives. In the last twenty years we've seen an alarming rate of obesity and other health problems in children and young adults due to sedentary lifestyles.

The foods we used to eat were prepared at home and we ate our meals as a family around the table, which meant we spent time digesting and conversing. We played on the playground, at school gyms, around our neighborhoods. We were active from morning until bedtime.

The opportunities for physical activity today as it existed yesterday are still there but the opportunity has to be acted upon. Laptops and smartphones are the leading cause of inactivity, surpassing television as the leading cause, not only for children, but most adults. The fast food industry has taken hold of our culture and it has become rare to see families sit together at meal times with home-cooked meals.

As parents, we set the foundation for many aspects of life for our children, from values and work ethic to outlook and lifetime fitness habits. Staying active for yourself and your family and making fitness a family affair, will not only lead to healthy adults but happy ones who are able to bounce back quicker from injuries and illnesses, and live longer lives.

The results of a research study on children and obesity published in children's health journal Acta Paediatrica, have revealed startling results regarding children and their sedentary lifestyles. The findings report that children's arm strength dropped by 26% and their grip strength by 7% since 1998. The research also found that in 1998, 1 in 20 children were able to hold their own weight when hanging from a bar but only 1 in 10 children can do the same today.

How To Get Started

If you and your family haven't been active, there might be some resistance at first, but experts say both the body and the mind can be re-programmed in only a few short weeks, so sticking with the plan to get healthier and more active until it becomes habit, is the key. Start slow.

You can start with 10 or 20-minute walks. Or start with an activity that you like to do such as basketball or volleyball. The time spent on these activities will gradually increase. Staying healthy as a family requires the whole team's involvement. Here are five family activities that you can begin with to get your family to an optimal state of health:

Walking

Walking is one of the easiest and low-impact exercises there is to stay fit and healthy. The good thing is that we already do it so well. Gather the family and take long walks in the park, at a local campground or just around your neighborhood. This is an excellent bonding activity as it allows for conversation and is good both before dinner and after. At a later time, you can incorporate small hiking trips as your energy levels increase through exercise.

TV Fitness Breaks

If you can't cut out television altogether, when you are watching television make every commercial break a fitness break. For every commercial, the family jumps up and does an exercise of someone's choice. Everyone gets a turn choosing an exercise. Make it fun. When commercials are over, the exercise is over. You'll feel the benefits immediately.

Roller Skating or Rollerblading

Roller skating is an excellent outdoor activity that the whole family can participate in. Not only does it improve mood, but it is easy on the joints and you can create skills games and baton races to add to the fun when skating as a family. Roller skating is excellent for gliding along in conversation as well and is a wonderful way to get the family together on the weekends.

Obstacle Course

You can easily create an obstacle course in your backyard. When mom and dad participate in activities with their children, the children are more involved and willing to get active. Obstacle course help move every part of your body and help children develop motor, emotional and social skills. Your obstacle course can have a multitude of different activities built in such as: throwing, kicking, jumping, sliding, balance, and hopping.

Bicycling

One of the lowest impact, cardiovascular exercises is bike riding. Not only is it healthy for the whole body, but it boosts brain health as well, which means it’s a perfect health routine for the whole family. A recent study revealed that brain scans show an increase in the brain's white matter when a person exercises using an "overlearned skill" like bicycling.

It is up to adults to teach children the healthy habits of activity and exercise. We must break the cycle of sedentary lifestyles and the resulting obesity and disease which is shortening our lives. Creating the foundation for healthy habits for the whole family is easy and rewarding.

Make an activity jar. Let the whole family come up with healthy activities that the whole family can do together. Write them on strips of paper and place the strips in the jar. Draw from the jar every day or make it a weekend jar. The main goal is to get the whole family active and healthy. Every activity you do, whether indoors or outdoors, helps to create a love for health and wellness which leads to a long life.

Brent Frayser is a media relations representative for Pure Barre, who is a graduate of the University of Mississippi with a Bachelor’s Degree of Business Administration (Major in Marketing, Minor in Management). He was born and raised in the south, is very outgoing, with a strong sense of determination. In his spare time, he enjoys: reading, writing, coaching baseball and football, and spending time with family and friends.

Blog Administrator: Trisha Roberts

proeducationaltoys@gmail.com

www.proeducationaltoys.com

Unauthorized duplication is a violation of applicable laws.

Friday, October 20, 2017

Balloon Fun for Young Children By Trisha Roberts

What child doesn’t love a balloon?! Besides being a herald of great tidings such as a birthday or other celebration, balloons can be played with in a variety of ways that are also therapeutic.

Helium Balloons

Helium Balloons are great, especially the mylar type, as they stay inflated longer and have less risk of popping. When children are learning to stand and walk, a helium balloon can be a tool to build balance. I cut the ribbon on the helium balloon and knot the end so that the ribbon dangles at about the height of the child’s head. This motivates the child to reach up and pull on the ribbon to bring the balloon down. Core strength, balance, eye-hand coordination, isolation of arms from trunk are all skills that can be improved with this activity. It is also FUN, so the child is motivated to repeat it many times.

You can also hold a helium balloon at chest level in front of your child and have them reach out and “bop” the balloon out of your hand and watch it rise to the ceiling.

Latex or Plastic Balloons

Regular Latex balloons are great for teaching catching skills to a young child. A regular playground ball is too hard and difficult to catch for most children just starting to work on ball skills (see our recent 3-part article about Development of Ball Skills in Young Children by clicking here), but a balloon is soft, floats down slowly, and is pliant, making catching easier.

I love to use half or a third of a pool noodle to practice eye-hand coordination and motor planning skills. (If you can’t find a pool noodle, a gift wrap tube or rolled newspaper can serve the same purpose). Throw the balloon into the middle of the room and have your child try to hit it then chase it around as it skitters away. You can also use the pool noodle as a bat and play a modified game of T-ball by hitting the balloon off of a stool, chair or other raised surface. Or you can try suspending the balloon from a pool noodle and holding it out for your young one to hit.

Your child might like batting the balloon around an obstacle course composed of furniture and objects in the room. One or more children can work to keep the balloon in the air by continually hitting it as it starts to float down.

Cautions:

NEVER, EVER, EVER (Did I mention NEVER!) let a child suck on a balloon or put it in their mouth. Latex and plastic-type balloons can pop and go down the throat, choking and even asphyxiating a child!

Be cautious of the long strings and ribbons on balloons—children and pets can get them wrapped around their necks or other body parts, potentially causing injury.

Many balloons are still made of latex—be careful not to use them around children and others who have latex allergies!

Blog Administrator: Trisha Roberts

proeducationaltoys@gmail.com

www.proeducationaltoys.com

Unauthorized duplication is a violation of applicable laws.

Friday, October 13, 2017

Toys that Help Children Develop Creativity By Trisha Roberts

Not all toys are created equal. As a Physical Therapist, mother and now grandmother, I am always looking for toys that stimulate and foster creativity. I love toys that make kids think…that let kids explore…that encourage an adventure…that involve more than, “push this button and get the standard response”! Children absorb so much from their environment—make it rich in learning opportunities.

Make learning fun!

Construction toys like blocks, Legos, Lincoln Logs, and Erector Sets allow children’s imaginations to run wild as well as develop good Fine Motor, Cognitive and Perceptual Motor Skills.

Power Clix Set

Block Cart

Wooden Building Blocks

Crayons, Play Doh, Markers, Finger Paint, Colored Pencils, Stencils, and other art mediums encourage children to express themselves artistically while exploring colors, shapes and textures.

Paint Brush Set

Doodle Roll

Musical Instruments, whether home-made or bought, permit and inspire children to explore the world of sound, melody, harmony and dissonance.

Musical Instrument Set

Microscopes, telescopes, and chemistry sets arouse curiosity and motivate children to discover, unearth, and investigate. They open up whole new worlds to be explored and researched.

Microsope

Telescope

Binoculars

Card games, board games, and word puzzles develop thinking, strategy, and inter-personal skills that help develop an effective approach to tackling and solving problems.

Apples to Apples

Guess Who?

There are multitudes of companies and stores vying for your dollar. Think about what to buy your child that will have lasting value in the aptitudes, competencies and abilities that toy may help to cultivate. Amplify your child’s knowledge by providing tools that will expand their thinking and promote an atmosphere of adventure and discovery in your home. Encourage a questing spirit. Laud and applaud their creations. Encourage a lifetime journey of growth and learning!

Blog Administrator: Trisha Roberts

proeducationaltoys@gmail.com

www.proeducationaltoys.com

Unauthorized duplication is a violation of applicable laws.