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How to avoid ‘all work and no play’: Extracurricular activity ideas for students, sorted by grade level
Kids can easily get overwhelmed by returning to the school year, especially if they spent their summer with a more relaxed schedule and opportunities to explore their interests. The return to school can mean a return to rigidity and boredom. This can wear some kids out and can overwhelm others. To avoid student burnout,…
Read More6 Friendship Lessons We Learned from Netflix’s “One Piece”
Since being released two years ago, Netflix’s live adaptation of the anime One Piece has become a beloved fan favorite. One Piece tells the colorful story of the Straw Hat Pirates as they search for the mythical treasure, the “One Piece”. Many fans say they love the show because of the interesting fantasy world that…
Read MoreCan Puzzles Help Adults with Alzheimer’s?
Alzheimer’s is a quickly growing disease among American adults — about 1 in 9 people aged 65 and older has it. But this year’s campaign theme, ‘Never too early, never too late’, promotes risk reduction for World Alzheimer’s Month. Can activities like puzzles help ward off some of the disorder’s most visible impacts? While Diversity…
Read MorePreparing for an Emergency with a Child with Special Needs
September is National Preparedness Month! Are you and your family ready to act in case of an emergency? Here are tips on preparing for an emergency when you are the caregiver of a child with special needs. Since 2004, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has designated September as National Preparedness Month. This month is…
Read MoreBack to School Series: Toys and Tools for Building Literacy Skills
Help your child practice their reading and writing before they return to school. We’re continuing our Back to School Series with suggestions of tools and toys that can help children keep up with their grade’s curriculum and ward off the summer slide. This week we’re exploring toys that foster literacy skills such as reading and…
Read MoreBack To School Series: Toys to Help Children Practice Math
Looking for toys to help your child brush up on their math skills before returning to school? The days are still hot and long, and time feels endless. Nonetheless, in many states the school year is right around the corner. For many parents, children, and teachers, August means rushing to get ready for the return to…
Read More3 Summer Activity Ideas for Children with Sensory Disabilities
Summertime can be difficult for parents and caretakers wondering what to do with their children during the long months when school is out and everyone is hot and restless. Below we offer 3 summer activity ideas for children with sensory disabilities. 1. Make a Sensory Playkit Just because school’s out doesn’t mean enrichment needs to…
Read MoreHow Positive Representation Improves Mental Health
Hooray — May is Mental Health Awareness Month! This month, we are running a series on how different types of toys can help improve children’s mental health outcomes. Today’s blog will examine one factor of mental health impact: positive representation in a child’s toys. By positive representation, we mean toys, games, and books depicting…
Read MorePuppets as Therapeutic Toys
Our last article for Autism Acceptance Month focuses on the usefulness of puppet play for children with autism. Puppets have been used as entertainment since ancient Greece, though puppets have also been found in ancient Egypt, Australia, China, India, and across the Middle East. The art form is ubiquitous anywhere that humans have a history…
Read MoreSensory Toys Buying Guide, Part 2: Sights, Sounds, and Smells
In our last post we covered the most common types of sensory toys, which are tactile or chewable. However, many sensory products stimulate other senses. In this post we will talk about how auditory, visual, and olfactory sensory toys can help children with sensory processing issues regulate those senses. Toys for Auditory Stimulation Auditory awareness…
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