Play Blog

Need a gift for that friend who tells the best jokes?

How about something for your cousin who is always ready for a good laugh? We have picked out five of the best gag gifts for this holiday season and they are sure to bring a smile to someone’s face!

If your loved ones made the NICE list this year, you'll need stocking stuffers.
Although these gifts tend to be small, if it is cool enough, it can still get the title of “Best toy I got this year!” So let's un-stuff these Stocking Stuffers and check out our top picks for the holiday season!
Everything is starting to come together. Your child is starting to connect the learning. The learning may be getting harder, but who says it can’t be fun? Have an international night. What part of the world are they studying in History or Geography. Explore what the culture is like there, do they dress differently, try learning some of that language and cook an international meal together. As our kids become more self-sufficient, and schedules can get busy, consider having a family game night each week to connect and have fun.
Do the phrases, “I can’t” or “boring” ring through the home of your 3rd or 4th grader? This age group is becoming self-aware, looking to please friends and others. This age group likes having some control. It may be time to offer more choices to allow them to feel more empowered. Is the shower the battle? The choice might be shower tonight or in the morning? Our children are showing us now how they learn best, are they hands on learners or do better over a book?  Use their interests as a learning advantage.  
With lots of families staying at home and parents working from home looking for things for their kids to do, we decided to release a few of them for FREE on our website. We're excited to release this fun coloring book for young kids called World of Animals. With over 40 illustrations of fun animals in the Safari, Woodland, Jungle, Dessert, Farm, Rain Forest and more, this free printable pdf coloring book will keep your kids entertained for hours.
Many 1st and 2nd graders are working on mastering their gross motor skills with increased coordination. They are able to reason a bit more effectively. This age group’s vocabulary is exploding and they can more easily use words to connect with people and build friendships. We can help our child by talking and learning about what friendships are, what it means to be a good friend and how a friend might act. Look at encouraging social interactions or (virtual) play-dates with peers that  are within groups you may already be a part of such as, homeschool groups,  before/after school daycare or programming, religious affiliations, summer camps, neighborhoods, nearby parks or sports teams.
The Kindergarten age child can be full of boundless energy. They are running, jumping, skipping non-stop. Kindergarten age children are eager to please and might want to show off what they have made or see. Encourage your child to tell you more about their creation, ask open ended questions like, what is this (door) for, or why did you choose a certain color. Kindergarten age children might love telling jokes. Make it an evening practice to tell a joke of the day at breakfast or around the dinner table. 
In the blink of an eye, our little toddler has grown into a  3-5 year old going on 13, they don’t call them a threenager for nothing. Copying adults, learning to problem solve and engage in pretend play. The Pre-K child is a sponge and ready to explore. At this age, children learn best when they are having fun. Everything might be a game, from cleaning up to finding what is solid and what is a liquid in the house. Learning through fun helps your Pre-K child start building learning concepts. 
Learning from home can be challenging alone, without the curveballs that might creep in for families with children that are differently abled.  When children have special needs or challenges; it can be very frustrating and present an entirely new and unique journey that tests our family, routines and supports. Sometimes we might need a little bit more than the basic tips. Parents, you are not alone, you’ve got this.! If your toolbox of tips and tricks are running low, we’ve gathered a few tips from parents and teachers to help. 

All this time and nowhere to go…

With all this free time lately, we’re willing to bet that coloring books everywhere have shrunk down to their final few and lonesome pages. Luckily, Klutz has everyone’s back! One of our favorite companies around, Klutz has been creating DIY arts & crafts kits for decades, bringing kids around the world an accessible way to test new hobbies, and hopefully find something that sticks.

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