Mary Manz Simon's Blog, page 45
July 25, 2016
Down-aging AG
WellieWishers is a new American Girl line of 14-inch dolls and accessories just launched by Mattel.
The target age is what’s making big news: the line is geared for 5 to 7 year olds.
The WellieWishers world will include illustrated early chapter books by American Girl author Valerie Tripp. The characters will also be featured in an animated series which starts this fall.
For the WellieWishers app, go to play.americangirl.com
July 22, 2016
Tiny toast
Have you seen the new cereal, Tiny Toast?
The cereal bits are toast-shaped and covered with sprinkles of real strawberry or blueberry flavoring. Cute.
General Mills is finally catching on to the better-for-you desires of the breakfast crowd, as this new brand has no high-fructose corn syrup and no artificial flavors or colors
July 20, 2016
Drowning in movie toys
With all the blockbuster releases – Captain America, Finding Dory, The Angry Birds Movie, plus Ice Age and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle sequels – walking down the toy aisle at Target is like drowning in movie mania.
But toys related to the films further the fun for kids and buy parents a little relief from trying to keep children happily occupied…and that’s definitely appreciated at this point in this summer.
July 18, 2016
Introducing Elmo, program host
If summer is starting to drag, there’s still time this month to catch the topic of “animals” on Sesame Street’s YouTube Channel.
Each month, Elmo, the program host, explores a specific topic: games and sports in August, ready for school in September; music and dancing in October; cooking in November and kindness in December.
It’s part of the Love to Learn campaign. Check out games on sesamestreet.org
July 15, 2016
Blue jeans and a beard
Have you seen (or painfully stepped on) the newest Lego figure?
The stay-at-home dad wears a red flannel shirt with blue jeans and dark facial hair. Included int the Lego City line, dad comes with a stroller, baby and woman dressed for work outside the home.
After the deluge of intergalactic figures in the past months, it appears Lego is stepping into the real world.
July 13, 2016
Families make an impact
Each Thanksgiving, increasing numbers of families volunteer at food pantries and shelters, but this summer, that mission-minded serving has expanded.
Before leaving on vacation, more families are looking to “make a difference.” Volunteering can take the form of landscaping at a local school or painting a church preschool.
This summer, the “feel good” spirit is not only alive and well, but growing.
July 11, 2016
In the shadow of HP
If your child is plodding through his summer reading list, look at the thickness of the books.
The “Potter Effect” is alive and well on middle grade and junior high reading lists.
The shortest book in the legendary series was 320 pages. the seventh and final title, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows was a hefty 756 pages.
Research shows that books for students in grades 3-8 are getting longer each year. Hopefully, the stories are so engrossing for young readers, that time just flies.
July 8, 2016
Not for foodies only
Debating between a pricey electric food maker and an inexpensive food mill? An increasing number of parents want to control quality and cost of their baby’s food, so obviously, homemade baby food-making is on the rise.
Product ratings are helpful, to a point.
Instead of depending merely on your online and offline networks and reviews, look for a retailer who offers in-store events. You’ll not only get to “try before you buy,” but make connections with neighborhood parents.
July 6, 2016
Test hiccups
Schools are out for the summer, but administrators are digging deeply into glitches that plagued students taking standardized tests on computers this spring.
Many districts which moved to tests based on Common Core also switched from students using pen and pencils to an online format.
That was a nice idea…
Old computers, lack of bandwidth, server capacity and other problems triggered major issues for some students. As a result, officials in some districts are spending another summer hunched over computers. The problems need to be fixed, because the shift to online assessment is inevitable.
July 4, 2016
Five books is a key
Today marks the traditional halfway point of the summer, so has your child made good progress with his reading list?
Research shows that reading at least five books during the summer is one of the best ways to combat the seasonal slide in academic skills.
Many libraries and even school districts have expanded programming with incentives for reaching reading milestones. Winning an e-reader or sports tickets might be just the motivation reluctant readers need to dig into those five books. It’s worth checking with your local library or school.
