Building blocks are an absolutely essential plaything in every baby’s toy box. Aside from offering hours of child-directed fun, they do wonders for building spatial awareness, motor development, language and problem-solving skills. Read on to discover why Lovevery’s Block Set is only one you’ll need.

More than 20 ways to play and learn!
Expertly crafted for infinite play potential, The Block Set is both comprehensive and flexible in its design. The system consists of 70 wood pieces in a variety of shapes and a rainbow of beautiful hues. From cubes, planks, and geometric shapes, to solid wood people, wheels, and threading blocks, The Block Set has everything your child needs to grow into a lifelong learner.

The Lovevery Block Set is simple yet sophisticated with research-driven tools for your child’s developing brain. Babies, tots, and kids can stack, sort, roll, count and categorize while connecting the dots between basic concepts. What’s more, a stage-based guide packed with 20+ developmental activities and with clear and actionable instructions provides a logical map for inspiring learning through play.

Grows with your child
The Block Set by Lovevery is intended to become your family’s favorite box of open-ended amusement. The fun begins at 18 months when baby can use its modular features to discover cause and effect, gravity, and velocity. As your child grows, so does the potential for play. You might find your little one building a city, acting out a story, or challenging their creativity and confidence by physically engaging with the blocks. Watch your little one mix and match activities as they advance. When ready, your child can follow a sequence of steps and transform the set’s compact wooden storage box into a charming pull car.

The name of the game is experimentation with this set. And it lasts well beyond the first four years of your child’s development. Learning activities range to meet every stage of your child’s growth. The blocks are all made to last and crafted using 100% child-safe materials, including FSC-certified sustainably harvested wood with water-based non-toxic finishes.

Supports early childhood development
The magic of childhood is captured in this timeless toy set. In addition to being simply fun, it’s designed under the guiding principles of the Montessori method of teaching. Moreover, the Block Set can help little kids grasp STEM concepts like math, physics and engineering. Whether your child is leading their own play or following your lead, they can unknowingly be practicing everything from higher-order planning to hand-eye coordination.

Your child might start out examining and categorizing the blocks or fitting them together spatially. Then, engage in pattern play and explore connections. Next, you might overhear the wooden friends talking about feelings. Or spy your child investigating how things balance or topple over. Your child’s development and imagination may flourish as they create and learn.

Want to learn more? The Block Set makes a great gift and is available at lovevery.com for $90. Lovevery also has a subscription program of age-based Play Kits that are delivered by developmental stages and span from newborn to 24 months. Check them out!

—Whitney Harris

photos: Lovevery

Do you love tinkering as much as your tots do? Sign the whole family up for an exciting pilot program in engineering through the Boston Museum of Science!

If you’re looking to foster a love of STEM in your kids, then the program hosted by Engineering in Elementary (EiE) at Boston Museum of Science could be the perfect fit. The museum is currently on the hunt for kids and their families across the country to participate in the new Engineering At Home program.

EiE, which develops STEM-based classroom curriculum for elementary schools, is inviting families to apply to test a new learning program to be utilized at home. The Engineering At Home activity guides will be written for parents and requires little or no prior experience with engineering. In addition, the materials needed will be inexpensive and easy to source. Each activity will guide families through the Engineering Design Process to design a technology that solves a problem.

EiE is looking for families with kids ages four to 11 to test one of the activities and provide feedback. If you are interested in applying, all you have to do is complete a very short questionnaire about your family here and you’ll be notified by email if you’ve been chosen.

—Shahrzad Warkentin

Featured photo: iStock

 

RELATED STORIES

JOANN & GoldieBlox Partnering to Create STEM Subscription Kits

These New Robotics LEGO Sets Are Perfect for Your STEM-Loving Tweens

14 Educational STEM Gifts on Amazon for $25 or Less

Fans won’t have much longer to wait for the opening of the Marvel-themed land at the Disneyland Resort and we now know that the new addition is called Avengers Campus.

At the D23 Expo, Disney Parks unleashed plenty of exciting details about the new Avengers Campus, including the fact that it is set to open in Disney’s California Adventure in summer, 2020. That’s right, just one year until park visitors can gear up for adventure with Captain Marvel, Iron Man, Black Panther and the entire Avengers team.

“We’re building an immersive super hero-themed land at Disney California Adventure to enable our guests to join the Avengers to save the world,” Bob Chapek, chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences and Products, said at the D23 Expo.

The new land will feature a Spider-Man themed attraction, the Worldwide Engineering Brigade, or WEB headquarters, which will join the already existing Guardians of the Galaxy Mission: Breakout ride. As previously reported, visitors will also enjoy themed shopping and dining on the Avengers Campus, which will feature character meet and greets. More details are sure to roll out over the next year so stay tuned.

—Shahrzad Warkentin

All photos: Courtesy of Disney/Marvel

 

RELATED STORIES

Disneyland’s New Marvel-Themed Land Is Closer Than You Think

Get Ready For a Marvelous Time with Captain Marvel at Disneyland

This Is Every Disney & Marvel Movie Coming Out This Year & There Are a Ton

The Chicago River is a winding, wonderful and wacky body of water. It flows backwards, right through the heart of Chicago, linking Lake Michigan to the Mississippi and the Gulf of Mexico. Not only does it get dyed bright green on St. Patrick’s Day, but it also has its own incredible, unique bridges that open and close to traffic, as well as its very own troupe of water taxis. Read on to learn how to get a truly unique look into the magic behind the iconic Chicago bridges with a visit to the McCormick Bridgehouse and Chicago River Museum.

See the inner mechanisms that make a Chicago River bridge move
Located on the south end of Michigan Avenue, the museum begins at river level and spirals five stories up. This one of a kind museum takes you inside a Chicago drawbridge, where you’ll have the chance to see firsthand all the large and small gears that so elegantly lift our city’s bridges. Educational exhibits showcase the history of both the river as well as the science and technology behind it all. Be sure to climb to the tippy top of the Bridgehouse, where you’ll be treated to a splendid 360 degree view of both the city and river.

Make a reservation at the Fish Hotel
Chicago’s one and only fish hotel is located in the river, just near the McCormick Bridgehouse. The hotel is actually a floating garden that provides rest and a safe harbor for sunfish, bluegills, carp and other finned friends that pass through the big city to spend the night. See how many fish you can spot mingling in the hotel’s seaweed-filled lobby.

photo: courtesy of Jaysin Trevino via flickr

See a bridge lift in action
From April to November, Chicago bridges lift and let through passing boats. You can see this engineering feat in action from inside the Bridge Museum. You’ll need to make a special reservation to take part in this truly amazing event, so check the museum’s schedule of bridge lifts at bridgehousemuseum.org/bridge-lifts and order tickets in advance.

Hours and cost to visit
The museum is open May 18 through Nov. 3, Fri.-Mon., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Thurs., noon-7 p.m.  General admission runs $6/adult, $5/ages 6-12 and free for ages 5 and under. Bridge lift viewing tickets are $10. Tip: General admission is free for everyone on Sunday!

Spend a day on the Chicago River
Make a day of your visit to the McCormick Bridgehouse and Chicago River Museum by taking some time to explore the river by boat and bike. Take a (super cheap!) river cruise in a Chicago Water Taxi, which carries passengers between Chinatown and Madison Street on the south branch; La Salle Street, The Chicago Riverwalk at Clark Street, and Michigan Avenue on the main branch, and North Avenue on the North Branch. Dig into an all-American beef burger with a yummy shake (or icy, blended cocktail!) on the side as you overlook one of the best vistas in the city at the Chicago Burger Company located on the Chicago Riverwalk.

McCormick Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum
376 N. Michigan Ave.
312-977-0227
Online: bridgehousemuseum.org

— Amy Bizzarri

Photos: McCormick Bridgehouse and Chicago River Museum

If you’ve recently logged on to Facebook (and you have), you probably noticed that something looked different. The big blue bar at the top of the mobile site is gone and a smaller blue “facebook” logo is in its place. According to announcements made at the tech giant’s annual developer conference earlier this week, the redesign isn’t the only change.

Along with the fifth mobile design overhaul (known as FB5), Facebook also announced changes to the ways users engage with Groups and Events features, Messenger, Instagram and WhatsApp for Business. So what can you expect from the FB (and related company brands) of the future?

photo: RawPixel

Leading the announcements was the re-engineering of Messenger. Over the next year, Facebook will roll out changes that make the app faster and lighter than before. The app will also give users the ability to discover, share and watch videos from Facebook in real time with your friends. And if you don’t want to use Messenger on your phone, Facebook will soon have a desktop version for both Windows and MacOS devices.

The changes aren’t just rolling out to Facebook. Instagram is testing (in Canada) a new feature that removes the like count from posts. Don’t worry—you can still like pics, but only you will see the actual count, not your followers.

Other Instagram changes include the ability to tap and shop from creators’ posts, raise money for a cause through a donation sticker in Stories and a new and improved camera.

—Erica Loop

 

RELATED STORIES

Prince Harry & Meghan Markle Finally Get an Instagram Account of Their Very Own

Facebook Wants You to Make Friends with Strangers for This Interesting Reason

Joanna Gaines Gets Refreshingly Real about Curating Her “Perfect” IG Feed

Calling all future engineers! Amazon and the FIRST robotics program recently announced new grant funding to expand access to robotics clubs, computer science education, teacher professional development and even a tour of a local Amazon fulfillment center.

The Amazon Future Engineer Robotics Grant will provide funds to 100 schools across 21 states (in underserved areas), including $10,000 to expand access to in-school computer science education. The mentor-based programs will help kiddos in kindergarten through twelfth grade to build STEM skills that will benefit them now and for years to come. The robotics-based grant adds to the existing funding Amazon provides through its Future Engineer program.

photo: Courtesy of Business Wire

So how exactly is the Amazon Future Engineering Robotics Grant changing the lives of students? According to Dave Levin, co-founder of KIPP Public Schools in Columbus, Ohio, “The Amazon Future Engineer Robotics Grant is a game changer for middle and high school students throughout 53 KIPP schools around the country.” Levin also added, “The generosity of Amazon will ensure more KIPP students than ever will have the opportunity not only to pursue successful careers in STEM, but help diversify the industry for future generations.”

Dean Kamen, founder of FIRST and president of DEKA Research & Development, said in a press statement, “Amazon is helping FIRST in our goal to make robotics teams and programs available in every school.” Kamen went on to say, “In FIRST, every kid on every team can go pro. They gain a hands-on learning pathway in technology, computer science and engineering that propels them forward and inspires innovation.”

The Amazon Future Engineer program started in 2018, using a four-part childhood-to-career model. Through annual grants the program aims to inspire and educate over 10 million children, providing a projected total of 100,000 students in more than 2,000 high schools access to computer science classes as well as 100 $10,000 four-year college scholarships!

—Erica Loop

 

RELATED STORIES

What Is Amazon for Teens? Exactly What Is Sounds Like, & We Love It

Amazon Alexa’s New Skills for Parents Will Make the Newborn Days a Breeze

Amazon’s Book Box for Kids Subscription Is Now Available to All Prime Members

 

Research has shown that both girls and boys begin to lose interest in STEM subjects as they head into their teenage years and high school, which is why middle school is the perfect time to get them hooked. The new LEGO SPIKE Prime kits are designed to get kids ages 11 to 14 excited about robotics and engineering and it’s not hard to see how.

The concept was developed for use in classrooms with kids working in pairs to build and program their creations. Each 523 piece is designed to be compatible with up to 33 lesson plans, each 45 minutes in length, which means one kit could enable weekly projects for nearly an entire school year. The kits employ user-friendly drag-and-drop coding tools. The kits aren’t just for the classroom, however, they can be utilized in extracurricular activities, like coding clubs or other after school programs.

photo: LEGO

“We worked so hard on making it appealing to everybody, because we know that everybody will need this kind of skill in the future,” says Marianne Nytoft Bach, director of Lego’s secondary school team.

Unlike LEGO’s similar Mindstorms series, which also allows kids to build and program, the LEGO SPIKE Prime kits come in brighter colors and softer shapes to appeal to the middle school crowd, which the kits target.

photo: LEGO

“We’re creating a toolkit. It’s not just about that one creation you see on the packaging. It really is about opening up this set to enable you to create inventions or make things,” says Siddarth Muthyala, senior concept lead on Spike Prime. “We’ve found the more colors we have, and the more elements you have in different colors, really tweaks your creativity. It really enables you to think outside the box, and think not just about color but the creation you’re making.”

The LEGO Education SPIKE Prime Sets are now available for pre-order for $330. They will become available to ship beginning in August, just in time for the new school year. There will also be expansion kits available for $99.

—Shahrzad Warkentin

All photos: Courtesy of LEGO

 

RELATED STORIES

LEGO Is Hiring for an Amazing Opportunity to Shape Play for Girls

Don’t Let Germs Stack Up Thanks to This Genius LEGO Cleaning Hack

These New Disney LEGO Minifigures Are Pure Magic & We Want Them All

 

If you still haven’t scored your Girl Scout Cookie fix, there’s no better time than National Girl Scout Cookie Weekend.

This Friday through Sunday, Feb. 22 to 24, Girl Scouts across the nation will be out in full effect at local stores and walkabouts in neighborhoods selling their tasty goods. Every cookie purchase helps not only your tastebuds, but the entire girl-led organization. Sales fund troop projects and experiences, as well as programming at the local level, such as outdoor adventure and science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). Many Girl Scouts also invest their earnings back into their communities.

In some locations, like the Los Angeles area, buying cookies this weekend can also earn you some extra perks. If you happen to buy a box of Thin Mints with a Golden Ticket, you could be the recipient of 100 boxes of Girl Scout Cookies!

Girl Scout Cookies can only be purchased from a registered Girl Scout. To find Girl Scouts selling cookies near you, visit www.girlscoutcookies.org or use the official Girl Scout Cookie Finder app, free on iOS and Android devices.

—Shahrzad Warkentin

Featured photo: Girl Scouts USA via PR Newswire 

 

RELATED STORIES:

The 8 Best Girl Scout Cookie & Wine Pairings—as Tested by Us

Where Can You Buy Girl Scout Cookies This Year? Cookie Season Has Arrived

Girl Scout Cookies Are Coming to Dunkin’ & You Can Get a Sneak Peek Now

Mario fans rejoice, Super Mario Maker 2 is finally getting released for the Nintendo Switch—and this is one video game parents actually won’t mind their kids playing all summer long. In fact, you’ll probably want to play along, too!

In 2015, Nintendo released its epic Super Mario Maker for the Wii, which allowed gamers to not only play Super Mario, but allowed them to create their own levels. A long-anticipated sequel to the game is now set to be released for the Switch, with a fresh new look and lots of exciting new features.

Unlike a traditional video game, this is a build-your-own game that allows players to add and move everything from bricks and terrain to coins and shells. Kids will be so busy having fun building challenging levels for their friends and family, they won’t even notice they are learning and developing STEM skills like math and engineering in the process.

Super Mario Maker 2 will be released exclusively for the Nintendo Switch in June 2019, just in time for you to say yes to video games over summer break—without feeling guilty.

—Shahrzad Warkentin

Featured photo: Nintendo via YouTube

 

RELATED STORIES:

These LEGO Hacks Make Nintendo Labo for the Switch Even More Awesome

The New Super Mario Bros. Movie Promises to Learn from Mistakes of the Past

Nintendo World Coming to Universal Studios