Mary Manz Simon's Blog, page 4
March 22, 2019
How do kids learn best?
A local school district is working through the process of choosing new textbooks, but I’m not convinced they are making a good choice.
Regardless of what text is selected, researchers tell us that kids who have grown up on YouTube appear to learn some subjects more easily from videos and visuals than print-predominant resources.
As an author, I love books. Books are my life. I cherish them, but I think we need to look carefully at what appears to be a shifting preference for receiving information.
March 20, 2019
Stick ’em
Kids plow through the “sticker” years fairly quickly, but preschoolers aren’t the only ones plastering stickers all over.
Have you seen how companies are offering stickers to personalize products? Stickers certainly offer a quick, colorful and inexpensive approach to customization.
March 18, 2019
Triple Force Friday
If Disney is your thing, mark the date and time now: Friday, October 4. At 12:01am, Fans of Frozen 2 and Star Wars will celebrate with massive midnight product launches.
This global, simultaneous rollout for two major brands, is said to be a first for Disney. Products will include books, toys, collectibles, apparel, housewares and more, just in the time for holiday shopping.
How thoughtful!
March 16, 2019
Happy 100!
I was always the noisiest, most physically active and probably the edgiest student in my college library science classes. At the mid-term of student teaching in an elementary school library, I was graded down to a B for being “too creative.”
But I’m so proud of librarians today.
They’ve changed the spaces to be inviting to children and their families. Programs have become accessible, with storytimes being held in stores, laundromats and wherever space is available. Librarians are trained to help with digital resources.
On April 29th, we begin the 100th anniversary celebration of National Book Week. I love the theme: Read Now. Read Forever. But don’t wait until then to visit a library. The doors are open today!
March 15, 2019
50 and counting
A sure sign of aging: Sesame Street will celebrate their 50th anniversary this year. I remember when I joined other early childhood educators to ask, “Can TV teach and entertain?”
Are you among the twenty million (literally) who read The Monster at the End of This Book to your kids? If so, you helped make that the best selling Sesame Street book of all time.
March 12, 2019
Toy preview
It’s almost Christmas, at least in the toy world. For many years, I attended the annual International Toy Fair in NYC, where trends emerge that will land under your Christmas tree. Here’s a sneak peek at popular toy themes:
creative play, ie. sand, goop, dough, clay; basically, any open-ended mixture that’s a bit messy
food fun, with more emphasis on smells and scents (Remember scratch and sniff stickers?)
unboxing, which debuted several years ago, becomes more intimately part of your child’s play
STEM/STEAM (science, technology, engineering, math plus the arts for STEAM)
licensing driven by The Lion King, Aladdin, Toy Story 4, Avengers and Star Wars
March 11, 2019
A simple glass of milk?
Fringe has become mainstream when moms shop for milk in the dairy department.
What began quietly as campaigns against animal cruelty or for environmental-friendly concerns has become a strong voice in the clean eating movement.
Of course, some “milks” are actually water blends. But look at the choices: rice milk, cashew milk, hemp milk, oat milk, soy milk, coconut milk, almond milk and the list goes on and on and ….
Are kids growing up in the post-milk decade?
March 8, 2019
Tech teachers?
Is Alexa the best no-screen alternative for kids?
Whether it’s Echo, Google Home or something else, educators warn parents, “Don’t depend on technology to teach your child to talk.”
Even though smart speakers are interactive, only people can maximize opportunities for a child’s language growth.
March 5, 2019
Looking for screen-free fun?
Screen-free has become a banner for parents concerned about their child’s overall health and wellness, but screen-free options seem to dwindle in our smart homes.
A child goes to a smart fridge for a glass of milk, juggles three digital screens simultaneously and asks Alexa for a weather report. How can kids even find their way to screen-free fun?
March 4, 2019
Sip ‘n straws
Since moving to the Florida Gulf Coast, I’ve become more aware of the anti-straw movement. Eco-friendly innovations include bamboo, chewable and reusable straws made of silicone.
Although some communities have banned single-use plastic straws, I still don’t see “the last straw” shift in school cafeterias.
