Back to School with Learning Resources

Learning Resources is one of my favorite places to get educational toys for my son. I wanted to let you know about a some of our favorites toys just in time for Back to School. You can order any of the items below at their website www.learningresources.com. They have a great clearance section for parents and teacher and $5.75 shipping on all orders over $75! Enter code FS109WT at checkout. Not valid with any other offers.

Funny Phone™ Early Listening Game

Ages 4-12

Calling all jokesters! Laughter’s always on the line in this group game that gets players of all ages giggling. This game is a great resource to teach memory and listening skills. It was a bit difficult for our 5 year old, so you need to play the games with younger ones.

Invites players to dial in, hear their challenge…and prepare to be silly!

• Offers over 300 individual and group questions; you never know what Funny Phone™ will ask you to do, and it’s never the same game twice

• Provides 9 hilarious kinds of challenges, including tongue twisters, rhyming, singing, drawing, acting and more

• Features automatic shut-off, adjustable volume for both speaker and handset, and break-away safety cord

• Includes Activity Guide and 50 tokens that store in the built-in drawer

• For 2+ players

• Measures 8.7″ in diameter x 7.6″H

• Requires 3 AA batteries, not included, or AC Adapter (LER 6989), available separately

• Ages 4+

Let’s Tackle Kindergarten™

Ages 3-6

$44.99

Our tackle box is packed with fun activities that help prepare your child for early success in school. I love the organization of keeping everything in the tackle box and Nolan loves playing school. There are a ton of learning tools to utilize with you child in this kit.

• Engages kids in practicing 10 key kindergarten readiness skills: social skills, personal well-being, listening and speaking, fine motor skills, gross motor skills, reading, handwriting, math, thinking and problem solving, and creativity

• Features appealing hands-on activities, that ease the transition to learning different skills and subjects in school

• Allows you to track and reward progress using the checklist included in the 24-page Activity Book

• Includes 10 double-sided photo cards, 4 stacking cups, 60 plastic links, bean bag, 2 foam dot dice, 8 attribute blocks, 26 uppercase letters, 26 lowercase letters, 20 numbers, 16 pet counters, write & wipe board and 2 sticker sheets

• Plastic tackle box with sorting tray and carrying handle measures 13″L x 7″W x 6″H

• Ages 3+

Snap ‘n’ Learn Color Caterpillars

Ages 2-5

Colors and creepy-crawlies come together! Your little one build on fine motor skills, learn shapes, and colors. Plus they are so cute!

• Features chunky, snap-together pieces that are easy for little hands to manage as they build adorable caterpillar friends and fine motor skills simultaneously

• Includes resealable plastic storage bucket with carrying handle for easy clean up and play on the go

• Encourages kids to make patterns and create with mix-and-match pieces in different colors and small, medium and large sizes

• Includes 15 pieces that make 3 caterpillars (head, tail and 3 body pieces each)

• Sturdy plastic pieces wipe clean

• Each caterpillar measures 7.75″L x 3.75″W x 3.75″H when assembled

• Ages 2+

Pretend & Play® Bakery Set

Ages 3-6

Stir up a good time! Perfect for involving kids in baking for special occasions, holidays and more. We have had tons of fun pretending to bake and Nolan especially loves to crack open the eggs.

• Invites kids to imagine holding a pretend bake-off, making special treats for company, running their own bakery or entering the school bake sale

• Offers a realistic, hands-on play experience with egg that cracks open to release the yolk, cookies in 4 shapes to cut out and more

• Introduces parts of a whole with sliceable 3-piece loaf of bread and pie with three 2-piece slices kids can fill with fruit

• Provides a measuring cup and spoon so kids can be sure they’ve added all the right ingredients

• Set of 31 durable plastic pieces includes favorite baked goods and all the utensils a baker needs

• Largest piece (rolling pin) measures 8.5″L

• Ages 3+

Got It!™ Reading & Math Game

This is our favorite! The reading and math games are fun and Nolan hasn’t been frustrated that it is too difficult for him (he is five). I like the unique design for the game too.

Ages 5-8

Gobble up answers before the hungry monster—or your opponent!

• Features a 2-faced monster character who pits players against each other for head-to-head play with twice the speed and skill challenge

• Offers solo game play option if desired

• Includes reading and math games with bonus rounds for high scores, motivating kids to succeed

• Provides immediate feedback through fun graphics and sound effects

• Allows for quiet play with adjustable volume control and 2 headphone jacks

• Prolongs battery life with automatic shut-off

• Includes Activity Guide

• Monster unit with 2 display screen mouths and 2 joysticks measures approximately 6″L x 9″H

• Requires 3 AA batteries, not included, or AC Adapter, sold separately

• Ages 5-8

Fun and Function with Foam Scooter Boards

We have an active little boy and when we received the Foam Scooter Board for review from Fun and Function, I was thrilled! The Foam Scooter is a softer surface that is much more comfortable for children. In turn, the softer surface encourages longer playtime. The scooters are made of comfortable high-density foam with non-marring rubber casters that swivel 360 degrees and are equally safe for gliding indoors and out. They can support up to 160 lbs. and come in a variety of colors and models so riders of various ages and abilities can easily find their favorites.

Scootering on the stomach, or while sitting or kneeling helps children exercise, develop coordination and refine gross motor skills, advises Aviva Weiss, pediatric occupational therapist and founder of Fun and Function. It can also strengthen extremities, improve posture, and provide vestibular stimulation (giving a greater sense of balance and equilibrium). Encouraging these movement-based activities can improve overall attention and function and enhance motor planning (the ability to start, perform and complete a series of movements automatically to achieve a functional outcome), which is often a challenge for children with sensory processing disorder, ADHD, and autism.

“Scooter play is great for all children and can especially help those with a variety of special needs,” says Weiss. “For children with poor lower extremity function and orthopedic conditions, our larger scooters provide increased support and require little or no lower extremity use. For children with hemiplegia (weakness on one side of the body) caused by conditions like CP, they provide welcome support and comfort during therapeutic weight-bearing activities such as propelling forward with upper extremities.”

About Company

Launched in 2005 by pediatric occupational therapist Aviva Weiss and her husband, Haskel, Fun and Function LLC offers engaging, durable and functional play and therapy products at affordable prices, including an exclusive line of scooters and portable writing kits. When she identified sensory processing disorder in her own infant daughter, Aviva Weiss was frustrated by the lack of kid-friendly styling and high prices of existing special-needs products. She set out with a passion for eliciting the potential of all children, and began designing products that help kids feel good and achieve their best. Today, the company offers hundreds of innovative products marked by affordability and durability, scoring increasing points with parents, pediatric therapists and educators. For more information or a free catalog, visit www.funandfunction.com or call 1-800-231-6329.

REVIEW

This is a well made and sturdy scooter. The surface is comfortable and he didn’t have any trouble maneuvering at all. The wheels swiveled in any direction he went. Since it is snowy here, we first used it inside and once the snow melted we tested it outside. Either way, he had a blast and used it with his knees, tummy and bottom. What I really like about the Fun and Function website is they not only sell great products but they have links with tips on how to use the product. Here is the link they provided about activities you can do with your child to improve skill coordination and muscle tone. Finally, this review wouldn’t be complete without hearing from the little man himself. “I like that it goes in circles.”  He is having a lot of fun doing them! Mommy likes that the scooter is a fun way to help him strengthen his sensory processing skills.  The Scooters would be a fun gift for any child.  They have a fun video about the scooters here. You can purchase the scooters and many other great products at www.funandfunction.com

• Foam Scooter Boards ($29.99, for ages 3 and up), small (12” x 12”) , soft, smooth gliders that can be used in sitting or prone (on the stomach) positions;
• Tummy Scooters ($44.99, for ages 3 and up), ultra comfortable oversized (17”X14”X2.5”) scooters crafted to give plenty of soft but sturdy trunk support;
• Saddle Scooters ($44.99, for ages 2 to 6), close-to-the-ground, U-shaped scooters (11.4”X6.7”X12.2”) that support three riding positions and allow children as young as 2 to ride fearlessly; and
• Tactile Tummy Scooters ($69.99, for ages 3 and up), featuring a gentle incline and a broad, textured surface (27’’x15’x5.5’) that offers abundant body support and gives children with lower tone greater awareness of where their bodies are in space.

Critter Conga is a Blast!

Let’s go on a musical safari!   The Parents Toys Line are some of the most creative and fun toys around.  The Critter Conga Musical Set is so much fun!  The jungle-themed percussion set encourages toddlers and up to discover the joy of rhythm and movement.  Includes 10 irresistible instruments, and creature-filled Critter Conga percussion set,   including giraffe maracas, antelope slide whistle, crocodile clacker, and more. Bonus: the pieces all store neatly inside the leopard-shaped drum!    A collection this complete is hard to find!  This new toy offers a different twist as you put on your dancing shoes and prepare to embark on a wonder-filled musical safari with the colorful, creative, and creature-filled Critter Conga percussion set.  Parents can appreciate the fact that, while their children are having a blast shaking, blowing, tapping and twirling, they’re also improving motor skills and memory—and probably getting quite a workout to boot!  We had a family marching band!  Warning, hide it when you have a headache.   For ages 2 and up. Team Mom finds the best toy ideas!

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