Not Just Play - Building Skills and Learning with LEGO®

LEGO® has been around in one form or another since the 1940s and most parents have a good understanding of the basic LEGO® concept. However, over the years, this once-simple toy has evolved into a titan of childhood play, with new and ever-changing ways to engage kids. From theme parks to books to the LEGO® Movie, the world of Legos has become a mainstay in most kid’s lives! That might seem a little crazy, but LEGO® is actually brilliant for your child’s development and can enhance their understanding of various skills. Below are just a few ways LEGO® and learning go together.

Creativity

From the beginning, creativity has been a cornerstone of LEGO® and learning. The basic bricks are especially good for building your child’s imagination and gradually teach them to plan for a bigger picture. It takes a lot of dedication and perseverance to transform them into whatever fantastical form your child chooses. Even the larger sets that are being sold now with a clear end goal still provide children with a finished product to continue playing with. A LEGO® spaceship can transform into an entire day’s worth of Star Wars play!

Geometry, mathematics and engineering

LEGO® encourages children to think in three dimensions and the various constructions they make help with geometry, mathematics and engineering. This mode of thought is a precursor to physics and will improve a child’s understanding of the world at large. Plus, there are a ton of architects and engineers out there today who contribute in part their love of building to LEGO® in their childhoods.

Communication and critical thinking

Although there are plenty of individual LEGO® builders, it is also an activity that you can share with other kids. Working together toward a common goal will develop their communication skills further as well as enhance their critical thinking in both group and individual settings.

Improved literacy

At times there has been some criticism of LEGO® kits and their perceived dulling effect on imagination, but they have developed other skills in kids. There are pictures and written instructions for every LEGO® kit, so kids have to read to understand how the pieces fit together. Not to mention that the instructions foster an increased ability to follow directions with the resulting positive reinforcement being a completed toy and sense of accomplishment.

Problem-solving, organization and planning

As your kids grow, LEGO® grows with them and sets higher and higher bars for them to exceed. The increased scale and scope of building certain kits means more organization and planning is required from your child. It also helps them problem-solve if they can’t find a certain part or need to assemble one thing before they can attach it to a larger entity.

LEGO®’s basic brick design hasn’t changed over the years, but the way they engage with children definitely has! From the amateur to aficionado level, kids who play with LEGO® are developing key skills for functioning as adults, as well as expressing their creativity in a fun and healthy way.

Images by Kiama. Library and PICNIC Network, used under Creative Commons license

The Lean Clean: How to Make the Most of a Household Cleaning Budget

The Lean Clean: How to Make the Most of a Household Cleaning Budget

Cleaning is no one’s favorite chore. From toilets to countertops, clothing to cars, everything requires cleaning in one form or another and it can quickly become an overwhelming prospect when left for too long. In an effort to save time and of course money, here are some quick and dirty cleaning tips to keep on top of messes of all kinds, be them catastrophic spills or routine dishes.

Invest in A Steam Cleaner

Reducing the number of brushes, spray bottles, cloths or machines required to clean a home can greatly reduce both clutter and time spent cleaning. Cleaning machines like steam cleaners are multi-purpose and highly effective. They run on water and they are extremely effective. Steam cleaners can get tough stains off of all sorts of surfaces and most have special attachments for clothes and other fabrics like curtains. When you’re not constantly running around swapping rags, cloths or products, you can truly appreciate the simplicity and efficiency of steam.

Buy in Bulk


Now that you’ve reduced the overall cleaning product clutter by cutting down on products, consider bulking up on the things you do need. Investing in larger quantities of anything often means paying less overall, and a stockpile of cleaning materials will never go to waste. Only invest in the things you absolutely need and will use regularly and then designate an area in the home specifically for cleaning storage. Having a few key products in large quantities in a single location will make life easier and more economical in no time.

Take Care of the Air

Cleaning isn’t just about surfaces or carpets. Keeping the air inside a home clean and pure is incredibly important. Clean air prevents any toxins that may be floating around a home from taking up permanent residence, which can also prevent illness or allergies in the long run. Houseplants are a natural air purifier and can be a lovely aesthetic accent that also happens to serve a very important function in the overall cleaning regime of a home.

Say No to Toxins

While many cleaning products boast complex chemical compounds, a one to one solution of vinegar and water makes for an effective (and inexpensive) multipurpose cleaner. This nontoxic concoction is the perfect disinfectant for floors and bathrooms and cleans glass without leaving behind any streaks or residue. The vinegar and water mixture may smell pungent while it’s being applied but the smell subsides as soon as the liquid dries, making it the cheapest nontoxic cleaning product on the market today.

Savvy spenders know when to splurge and when to save, and cleaning the home is no exception. Investing in high-quality multi-purpose machines like steam cleaners will pay off substantially in the long run while simple DIY cleaning solutions like vinegar and water are the perfect place to cut some economic corners and stay away from expensive (and potentially harmful) chemicals.

Photo Credit:  Wikihow

Considering a New Vehicle? David Hobbs Honda Makes Car Buying Easy!

When we went around looking for a minivan for my growing family, one of the stops we made was to do a test drive at David Hobbs Honda!  We were interested in a Honda because we know that Hondas are known for the longevity of their vehicles.

My husband is contemplating a new car, but not sure to get new or pre-owned.  Surfing through the options, I was excited to note that David Hobbs is offering a FREE $20 gas card when you schedule and complete a test drive for any new or pre-owned vehicle!  Guess where we are tempted to stop to take that test-drive?

I love how easy it is to browse the inventory on the David Hobbs site!  It's super easy to click through and check out what we are looking for without the hassle of piling the kids in the van and driving around to find the right car.  With the options on this site, I was able to narrow it down to a few top choices in each category (new and pre-owned) so that we have an idea of what we might want to test drive.  I plan on running the choices past my husband and allow him to do the rest of the work...scheduling the test drive and any other leg work that needs to be done.  How convenient that the website is like a one stop shop for all of your buying choices!

David Hobbs also had an exclusive Loyalty Rewards Program available to all owners of Hobbs' vehicles!  That is something to seriously consider when purchasing a car because we all know how pricey it can be to have your car serviced.  Enjoy free car washes, discount on accessories, and a ton more perks just for owning a Hobbs' vehicle!

We still have a lot to consider to purchase a newer vehicle for our family, but I am loving the ease of the David Hobbs experience!

Internet Safety Tips for Kids & Teens

With winter break coming up and new gadgets being gifted you might want to take a moment to check out this graphic with some good Internet Safety Tips for Kids & Teens.  I especially like the area that says "Tips for Parents".


Illustration source: copyright infringement lawyers
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Are you looking for a fun FREE activity to do with your 2-5 year old?

We were contacted by a young man who is from Mequon and is working on completing his 


Eagle Scout project. He has set up activities to teach toddlers good decision making and 


morals his group is called “TaterTotz” which stands for “Toddlers Appreciating Tomorrow’s 


Everyday Responsibilities”.


As you can see on his site the activities start on July 14th and run for 5 weeks until August 


8th.  Check out TaterTotz here.  It really does look like a fun opportunity. 


You can pick up a participation shirt for $6 for your little one.  The events are free!  A few of 


them do need a couple of items so just look before you go. :)  What a great idea!  Get out and 


have fun!

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PVCFittingsOnline.com is giving away a Cuisinart Griddler! Enter now!

Check out the free Cuisinart Griddler being given away over at PVCFittingsOnline.com! They are a leading cpvc fittings and pipe company that works with homeowners all across the U.S. Enter today for your chance to win!
(more information here)

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Garden Party Essentials...

If you are like me then you love having family and friends over to help celebrate any old occasion. When the summer season is here and the weather is being nice to us I love to get outside on the grass and take it all in.
The first thing you will need is good patio furniture. You don’t need to furnish the entire space but make sure that there is enough seating for everyone to sit at the same time. You may want to just get some plastic furniture and call it good but I’d suggest getting wooden chairs because they are sturdier and look a lot better. They aren’t as easily transported though. Having a table or two if you have the room, is great if you plan to hold dinner parties. If not then a few small tables for drinks and snacks will be enough. If you live in a place with a lot rain you may want to avoid some natural fibers and most kinds of cushions. Even if you use synthetic fabrics and cushions with synthetic batting then you should keep them inside or at very least under a canopy so they aren’t soaked through when you want to use them.
Speaking of canopies, that’s my second suggestion. Living someplace with unpredictable weather means that you get used to being rained on without warning. That doesn’t mean you have to accept it though. Get a couple pop up canopies and be ready all the time. They are easily broken down but are sturdy enough to leave up all the time. I know one friend who uses canopies over his farm equipment as opposed to buying large sheds for each piece. It’s a great option since they can be moved so easily and broken down when you don’t want them out.
Canopies are good to have on sunny days as well as a little oasis from the burning rays. I like using picnic umbrellas but unless you have picnic tables they are not stable enough and don’t cast enough shade. If you are hosting in your own garden as well you might not want to punch gigantic holes in your neatly tended grass.
These are just a couple suggestions to help make your next outdoor gathering easier and more pleasant for everyone involved.


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Save Time and Effort: Try Healthy Dieting with Prepackaged Cuisine

Save Time and Effort: Try Healthy Dieting with Prepackaged Cuisine

Innovations have made it to the food industry. They come in the form of delivered
prepackaged meals; not the usual high calorie, high fat food, but those with nutritive
values required by the body. Meal planning used to be a time consuming and
demanding task, but not anymore. Although they cost more in dollars, prepackaged
meals also allow you to stick to your diet without hassle. Listed below are some of those
companies who are into this business.

5 Squares: This company stays true to its name by recommending the consumption of
five square meals a day as an effective way of burning more calories. Boasting of meals
free of additives, dairy, wheat and refined sugar, these are delivered to your front door
early in the morning. They also offer customized meal plans. The company takes into
consideration your likes and dislikes, taste preferences and health needs; even the
serving sizes can be customized.

The Whole Bite: After years of being on the go, three individuals found the answer to the
problem they faced a lot of times, the same predicament gripping neighbors and friends
who no longer have the luxury of time and energy required to prepare healthy meals.
Founded by three fitness buffs, The Whole Bite provides prepackaged foodstuff to
residents of Austin, Texas. Fresh, nutritionally balanced meals can be picked up at the
restaurant at minimum cost.

In The Zone Delivery: Chefs of this company prepare deliverable health foods which
adhere to the 40 percent carbohydrates: 30 percent proteins: 30 percent favorable
fats required daily intake. The plan includes three gourmet meals and two snacks. You
can also opt for the tailored meal plans. The components of the diet are based on your
nutritional requirements or you can select according to what you like or dislike. This
leaves the chef the job of making sure they are still nutritionally balanced.

Chefs Diet: If you are someone used to a lifestyle where staying in good form is a must
then this is the establishment for you. They claim to have the best weight loss diets with
their fresh ingredients and without you having to go hungry. Chefs Diet delivers hefty
portions of 3 nutritious meals, plus 2 delicious snacks every day all in keeping with the
40:30:30 carbs, fats and protein ratio.

Patronizing these companies has its positive side. It saves busy people a considerable

measure of time and sweat pondering what to prepare for the next meal, not to mention
the preparation phase which definitely burns up hours. However, you should not be
complacent, you need to do your part of scrutinizing every component of their meal
plans; checking if their ingredients are truly along the lines of nutritionally balanced
food. You should be conscious of what the health food industry brings to you or you
might be eating meals that are no better than those calorie rich take outs - only at higher
expense.

James Kim is a guest writer for foodonthetable.com. Food on the Table is a
company that provides online budget meal planning services. Their goal is to
help families eat better and save money.



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