I’m excited to share some great toys and games today on FOX6 TV “Real Milwaukee.” Tune in Monday from 9-10:00 to see these PAL Award winners, fun products to keep reading and writing skills sharp over the summer:

Toys and Tips on How to Keep Reading and Writing Skills Sharp Over the Summer

Rory’s Story Cubes–Scooby Doo by The Creativity Hub, 6 yrs and up, $9.99

  • RSC106_PackagingSingle_3DR_rgbEach set has 9 cubes with 6 sides of images, some obvious, concrete and some abstract.
  • Some kids go 3 dimensional, placing the lightning or bird flying over on another cube
  • “Max” set great for kids with special needs.
  • Licensed products, like “Scooby–Doo” solve your own mysteries–is a favorite in 1st grade classroom
  • Excellent vehicle for storytelling and then writing out your story with the visual prompts

Bring Your Own Book by Gamewright, 12 years and up, $14.99

  • GAMEWRIGHT-109Great family game
  • Everyone brings a book to game table
  • Read a prompt card, look through their books for winning response
  • “Name of a Fast Food Restaurant” “First thing you say when you get up in the morning.”
  • Reinforces reading comprehension, processing, association

Alex Toys Little Hands Big Artist Marker and Crayon Kits, 3 years and up, $14.50

  • ALEX-Toys_Little-Hands-Big-Artist-Market-KitDrawing strengthens muscles for writing, makes kids more confident and fluent when they start their inventive spelling
  • Kits have pictures to color in, trace lines, blank sheets
  • Portable in own carrying case

Alphabet Woods by SimplyFun, 5 years and up, $28

  • AlphabetWoods_1500Take a walk in Alphabet Woods, building trees with letters in alphabet order
  • Can play a branch letter which links the trees but maintains alphabetical order
  • Collect little animals after each letter you play

Smartscope by Ravensburger, 8 years and up, $44.95

  • SmartscopeCollect specimens, put under the lens, add your device on top, take pictures
  • Can’t help comparing before and after, “pollen was woven with hairs on it.”
  • Get out a notebook and record your observations and descriptions

Better Builders Emotions by Guidecraft, 2 years and up, $39.99

  • db2bdqbv6efrcy65ahld-620x620-130 pieces of interchangeable bodies, faces, hair, feet fit magnetically
  • 6 faces express different emotions well-known to kids: happy, sad, angry, surprised, confused and scared
  • Sparks conversation about feelings, situations and behavior
  • Might use them to talk through a day at camp or playdate, then write a few lines about how it felt

Q’s Race to the Top EQ_Game_WithoutBook by EQtainment, 3-12 years of age,  $24.99

  • These 2 products help build EQ Emotional Intelligence, which we can build with kids, and is linked to future success 
  • We can increase a child’s EQ by helping them name, identify, and regulate their emotions.

Janod Splash Adjustable Easel, 3 years and up, $89.99

  • Janod_Splash-Easel-13 year-old was finding the letters in her name w/ Splash Magnetic Letters
  • 5 year-old writing her name, drawing a house with a stove and broccoli.
  • Blackboard on back, roll of paper on top so several kids play at once