When Colorado-based occupational therapist Ilga Paul began working with special needs students, she knew the Yoga Calm program she taught would benefit their motor skills and ability to concentrate and control their emotions. What she didn’t know was how well students would take to it. “Kids love their yoga breaks and get excited when I arrive,” Paul said. “The power of yoga, I believe, comes from students becoming aware of the messages their body is giving them, knowing what to […]
Category: Parents
25 Free Books for Kids
One of the little secrets of Amazon is the huge catalogue of free and drastically discounted books that are available for digital download. Whether you plan on viewing with a Kindle, a Fire Tablet or using the free Kindle Reading App, there are thousands of free books for kids just waiting to be downloaded. But what are the best free books that you can line up for your kids to read? Well, with so many different titles, you could just dive in and start exploring, or […]
13 of the Best Minecraft Books for Kids Who Are Reluctant to Read
Not since Pacman has a single game captured, the minds, hearts and imagination of kids (and adults) the way Minecraft has over the past few years. From pixelated pigs to nocturnal nasties, Minecraft has become such a cultural phenomenon it has spilled into the real world in more forms than anyone could have imagined. Costumes, meetups, parties and of course the huge selection of Minecraft books. Given the amazing freedom and creativity involved in this virtual playground, the best Minecraft books take on so many different forms. From […]
9 of the Best Educational Toys for Toddlers
From railways to reading there are a myriad of choices when it comes to educational toys for toddlers. Finding the right one really depends on what stage your child is at, what elements of their development you want to advance and quite simply, what do they enjoy most! In the list below we’ve broken down each group of toys into three fundamental areas of growth; physical, cognitive, and social and emotional. Take a look and see which of these educational toys for […]
27 of the Best Audiobooks for Kids
I’ve got a little something to confess. I’m one of those parents who read stories aloud and does ALL the voices. From high pitched squirrels to bellowing giants my range is really something to behold… Well at least to my children’s ears it is. But you don’t have to be a vocal gymnast to turn stories into audio adventures. Whether it’s for a family car trip or to help your kids drift off at night, audiobooks are an amazingly fun and very affordable […]
9 of the Best Smartwatches for Kids with Cutting Edge Designs for Tots and Teens
Many adults fondly remember the day they received their first watch. They remember what it looked like and how grownup it felt telling time from their wristwatch. Some had to wait until their teens, others were younger. Kids today, also experience that grownup feeling with their first kid smart watch, but there’s no longer an age limit. Smartwatches for kids can do so much more than telling time, that even your toddler is old enough to wear a watch. The design and functions of kids’ smartwatches focus on what would work for that specific age group. […]
How to Recognize and Discuss Bullying with the KnowBullying App
Overview Bullying can be a very difficult and sensitive subject to broach with students. Whether you are witnessing bullying first-hand in your classes, you have parents concerned about bullying in school or you just want to feel more confident in your ability to deal with this difficult situation, there are a number of resources available to offer advice and guidance. The KnowBullying app created by SAMHSA (The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) is based on years of research and expert […]
Have a Sackful of Fun and Learning with Google Santa Tracker
Overview Maybe it’s the festive spirit in the air. Maybe it’s the eggnog they serve in the Google cafe. Whatever it is, Google Maps feels like the gift that just keeps on giving! For the past ten years Google has been helping children around the world track and follow Santa on his journey from the North Pole. And each year it just gets better and better. Students can play high quality Christmas themed games, watch fun videos and of course learn […]
7 of the Best Keyboards for Kids
Recently I was chatting to a friend who was asking what laptop he should get for his three-year-old… My first response was “Are you serious?“, followed by a tirade on why a three-year-old did not need a thousand dollar machine to spill juice on and pluck’n’suck keys. After a brief rebuttal, it became clear that the main reason for considering this purchase was that he did not want his own laptop to become his daughter’s personal saliva stockpiler. Interesting… “What about […]
10 Great Options to Find the Best Game Console for Kids of All Ages
Whether you are looking for a game console for the family home or are leaning towards something more portable for your kids, there are a lot of different options out there. A great change from even a few years ago is how many more child-friendly games are available for all platforms. While first-person shooters get most of the advertising budgets, all platforms have really entertaining games available for children six and up. With this huge variety, we have focused on the […]
3 Chrome Extensions To Empower Students With Disabilities
The web can be a tricky place for students to navigate at the best of times. Flashing images, tiny text and an array of small buttons make it very difficult for kids to find what they are looking for. Now imagine this for a student that is vision or motor impaired, where the challenges are multiplied due to the fact most web designers are not designing with accessibility in mind. Thankfully, there are a number of developers working on ways […]