Providing STEM Toys for Little girls … by Viki Budik

International Women’s Day On this special day we celebrate women. Women with all types of backgrounds. We would like to encourage parents to provide girls with STEM toys, helping them in the future to be scientific girls, girls in technology, engineers and mathematicians. All this is possible when they are exposed to educational STEM toys at an early age. At ygrowup.net we choose gender-neutral toys to display on our website. Some of the examples that are created with this concept help girl in the process of learning to code, is a toy named Cubetto.  The creators of Cubetto want to amplify that message and encourage parents to think about ways they can help their daughters get ahead in STEM subjects. STEM jobs are growing exponentially in the US and that is why it is imperative for girls to be exposed to coding at an early age. The earlier they begin, the more they will understand and more they will embrace the field. We are bringing new coding products to ygrowup.net for girls and boys. We would also like to mention that through dramatic play girls can be doctors and veterinarians to encourage to become it in real life sometime in the future. At ygrowup.net you can choose toys such as “My little sports medicine kit” that can help a child learn how to treat an ankle sprain, learn the bones of hand, make models of different joints and perform a simulated Tommy John surgery. The kit promotes social development, corporation, teamwork, creativity and problem-solving. Kit Includes: White Doctor Coat Student Doctor ID Badge Ace Bandage Ice Pack Skeleton Poster Skeleton Stickers Hand Magnet Hand Poster Cup Clay Craft Sticks Sutures Rubber Bands Face Mask Gloves Surgical Driver Tommy John surgical sheet Diploma Workbook. Through building and construction play at an early age, girls can be future engineers and architects. Some of our favorites are Texo, Powerclix Architecture set, and Powerclix Space set. Texo is the award-winning 3 dimensional design and construction system by architect, author and designer Lester Walker. The beauty of Texo is the variety of building systems found within one toy: simple puzzles, shape sorting and color matching at its most basic level, the system allows for a gradual progression to stacking the interconnected shapes and on to advanced architectural models such as bridges, houses, skyscrapers and more! Small girls with big knob puzzles, will create the base for mathematical concepts. One toy we recommend is the Tactile Matching Maze. Little hands guide tactile circle pieces across the track to match the patterns of corresponding square blocks with Tactile Matching Maze. The five smooth-sanded circular pieces can be moved around the cutout path while remaining affixed to the sturdy puzzle board. One of our favorite companies provides big knob puzzles for toddlers- girls and boys. The Scoop Little hands and big imaginations will love these friendly wooden safari animals with oversized noses! The smiling tiger, giraffe, and lion have wooden knobs for noses that are easy to grasp. Babies and toddlers will delight in matching pieces to pictures on the sturdy wooden 14-inch by eight-inch puzzle board, discovering colors and patterns, and developing fine motor skills. First Play puzzles and toys feature bright colors, bold patterns, and whimsical designs that boost skills while sparking imagination and wonder – right from the start! These are just a handful of ideas that you can direct your little girls towards being scientists, inventors and engineers when they grow up.

Y Grow Up Makes it to Top 40 Internet Blogs

We are proud and excited to let our readers know that Ygrowup.net has been selected by the panelist from Feedspot as one of  Top 40 Educational Toys Blogs. This is the most comprehensive list of top Educational Toys blogs on the internet.   Ygrowup.net usually tries to provide our parents and teachers with a variety of blogs related to educational topics for children from six months to six years. Our goal for this year is to post at least four blogs per month for our readers. You can find our blogs in our website: www.ygrowup.net. Remember to check back with us in the next few weeks. The owner of Ygrowup.net will be making her yearly trip to the Toy Fair which takes place in New York. In this trip she will be selecting the new educational toys that will be part of Ygrowup’s categories in our website. We will be posting a blog with a sneak peak of the new educational toys coming this year. We will keep you posted!

Holiday Best Choices from Ygrowup.net

See below to check out Ygrowup’s best choices for this holiday season.

Chef’s Kitchen – Cupcake

The Scoop Budding young chefs is one of our holiday best choices because your kids can hone their craft in this beautifully designed, pretty pink modern play kitchen! The easy to assemble chef’s kitchen includes a refrigerator/freezer with working ice maker that dispenses two included “ice cubes,” an oven and stovetop with dials that turn, microwave with turning plate, sink with moving faucet and handle, grocery check list, movable hooks, and ample shelving and storage.

Six Sided Play Cube

A new and exciting twist to our play cube series, the Six Sided Play Cube combines 7 fun activities into one ultimate play center!  Innovative design coupled with excellent activities, this cube provides hours of stimulating play.  Each side features a different activity: the Pathfinder, Learn the Alphabet, Counting Abacus, Fun Gears, Magnetic Circle Express, and Zigidy Zag Panel. The cube is topped with the classic rollercoaster wire and bead mazes. This toy is truly a multi-sensory adventure, helping children develop hand-eye coordination, visual tracking skills, letter and color recognition, & much more!  Entertaining, engaging, and educational with no loose pieces.  Great for the home, schools, waiting rooms, and any child-friendly play area.

Mosaic Party/Education box

The PlayMais mosaic EDU box comes with more than 12,00 mosaic pieces, 48 craft cards, 6 sponges and instructions.

Christmas Tree Chunky Puzzle

This festive wooden puzzle lets kids trim the Christmas tree again and again! Chunky wooden ornaments are another one of our holiday best choices because they fit into the recessed puzzle board, painted with matching artwork to assist beginning puzzlers. The 13 puzzle pieces stand upright for counting and sorting activities too!

First Play Wooden Jumbo Knob Safari Animal Puzzle

The Scoop Little hands and big imaginations will love these friendly wooden safari animals with oversized noses! The smiling tiger, giraffe, and lion have wooden knobs for noses that are easy to grasp. Babies and toddlers will delight in matching pieces to pictures on the sturdy wooden 14-inch by eight-inch puzzle board, discovering colors and patterns, and developing fine motor skills. First Play puzzles and toys feature bright colors, bold patterns, and whimsical designs that boost skills while sparking imagination and wonder – right from the start!

DELUXE CHRISTMAS TREE DELIVERY TRUCK PEDAL CAR

Ho Ho Ho Merry Christmas! Christmas is right around the corner and your little Santa will love to ride down the street delivering Christmas tree and toys in this bright red delivery truck! The delivery truck comes with one 18″ Christmas tree, wooden side railings, functioning chrome bell & LED headlight, padded seat, adjustable windshield and working tailgate for presents and toys!

Active Builders

Make a fantastic Castle, Ship or Farm and play in it with the 9 Clics figurines.

Chef’s Kitchen – Charcoal

Budding young chefs can hone their craft in this beautifully designed, charcoal-colored modern play kitchen! The easy to assemble chef’s kitchen includes a refrigerator/freezer with innovative working ice maker that dispenses two included “ice cubes,” an oven and stovetop with dials that turn, microwave with turning plate, sink with moving faucet and handle, grocery check list, movable hooks, and ample shelving and storage for easy cleanup.

TrendyDOGS

Trendy Dogs give children with glass that extra bump of confidence they need.

Y Grow Up’s Top Ten Kids Toys Summer Recommendations

It is tremendously hard to select since all of the toys we carry on our website are an outstanding choice, but every couple of months Y Grow Up chooses the top ten kids toys of the month. We do this in effort to help parents and teachers promote the best education for their children. We like to pick them according to what children can relate to at the given moment. For example, for the summer we choose toys that are more relevant to summer activities, hot weather and so on. The top ten kids toys for the months of June and July and august are the following: You can let your child play with toys such as the Sweet & Sunny Lemonade Stand, the Snacks and Sweets Food cart, or Let’s Play House! Grocery Basket with Play Food. Nothing tastes better on a hot day than an ice-cold glass of lemonade. Our Sweet and Sunny Lemonade Stand gives kids everything they need to run their very own pretend business. It comes complete with a chalkboard and lots of helpful storage space. They can sell lemonade in the yard and they can keep track of their income with the help of Zylions Real Money ATM Bank. This Real Money ATM Bank features holds actual money and keeps a running balance of your “account”. This realistic wire grocery basket toy, can help them practice for when they go to the grocery store with you. Planning a well-balanced meal is child’s play with this wooden play food set, and so we recommend the Food Groups – Wooden Play Food. But eating right is not the only thing kids must do, reading is extremely important and should be part of your child’s everyday life.  Good reads include our Kitchen Club Kids (Volume 1 & 2) and if your child is more on the active side, we recommend uKloo Early Reader Treasure Hunt Game. Disguised as a treasure hunt, this multi-award winning children’s literacy game gets kids physically active as they read clues and search to find a hidden surprise. The uKloo Early Reader was selected as one of the top ten kids toys and classroom games not only by us, but also by the American Association of Educators. Another multi award toy is the Teach My Toddler Learning Kit – Deluxe Version. Teach My Toddler is an all-in-one learning kit for toddlers 18 months+. It is full of learning activities for toddlers and screen-free. The kit has everything to give your toddler a head start and teach the basics. Teach My Toddler is divided into four sections; The Alphabet, Numbers to 10, Shapes and Colors.   Don’t forget the Toddler Activity Station and the ALEX Toys Artist Studio Super Rolling Art Center. The artist studio is the ultimate easel for young artists! Our fun toddler activity station is just what preschoolers and early learners need to engage in fun imaginative play. Find the best 2017 top ten kids toys selected by our education professionals at Y Grow Up. You will not be disappointed.

Overcome Learning Difficulties with Special Needs Toys

Special needs toys need to be safe, fun and build children’s intellectual, physical and emotional skills. Our games, puzzles and toys will keep them amused for hours, and simultaneously improve logic, hand-eye coordination, memory and problem-solving skills.   We sell a vast selection of unique special needs toys, including blocks, cognitive play, educational, fine and gross motor, and pretend. Nourish your child’s imagination and developmental skills with one of these great items.   The award-winning Deluxe Mini Play Cube is an absolute favorite among children and is also a perfect match for special needs toys. Little ones love the various activities available that provide hours of engaging and intriguing play. It features 5 popular toys in one: the Mini Roller coaster Express, Pathfinder, Counting Abacus, Fun Gears, and Learn the Alphabet. Each side offers a distinct sensory learning experience for children, promoting basic learning skills such as visual tracking, math skills, hand-eye coordination, color recognition and more!   The Magnet Express Wall Panel is based on our original award-winning Magnet Express.  It is fun and educational, enhancing various basic learning skills such as motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and fine and gross motor dexterity as children use magnetic wands to guide the balls through the maze! A unique and captivating wall panel that is decorative and saves space.   A 6-Station, modular Sand and Water Play Center that promotes tactile discovery, fine motor skills and social interaction, and sensory experiences. Use a variety of textures to stimulate different sensory input in children including sand, water, beans, or shaving cream. Built in drains make clean up easy and storage lids keep everything in place.   Two other excellent toys we carry for kids with special needs are the Educational Ball Assortment and the Special Alphabet Set. The educational ball assortment has surface that is velvety soft and provides excellent stimulation. Roll them, bounce them, or throw them, Rubbabu balls are safe birth upwards. The Special Alphabet Set is a set of 26 alphabet tiles, one each with A-Z embossed on it in both Braille and the English alphabet. Safe birth and up, this is a toy not only for visually impaired children.       At Y Grow Up we have special needs toys for those of us w/ special needs kids. Shop now & receive 10% off w/ code 10OFF.

Developmental baby toys by Ages and Stages

As parents and educators it is very important to take in consideration what baby toys will help your baby in every age and stage of their life.  Not only because of safety reasons, but also we do not want to make cause frustration in your child. Ygrowup facilitates you with the classification on the website which allows you to choose the appropriate toy.

0 to 3 Months Baby toys

Contrary to what you may believe, newborns and very young infants only develop their vision the first few months of their lives. They see only black and white. Things like faces and voices is what attracts and holds their attention. In this stage they start becoming aware of their own bodies so concentrating your attention on their tiny hands and feet is necessary. Some recommended baby toys to be used at this age and stage are:

• Black and white toys
• Play mats
• Rattles
• Mobiles
• Socks and wrist rattles

Edushape`s Edu-Fit series all feature high contrast patterns, vivid colors and various textures to stimulate baby`s senses, and encourage key developmental aspects.

EduFit Mega Pack

Teething can sometimes be uncomfortable for babies, but friends from Shake, Rattle and Teethe, can ease the pain along. Bright faces, multiple textures and rattles entertain, while providing the visual stimulation for growing minds. Light and easy to hold, Shake, Rattle and Teethe friends baby toys are ready for playtime, nap time or anytime they need a buddy to keep them company. https://ygrowup.net/shop/shop-by-age/9-12month/alex-toys-alex-jr-shake-rattle-teethe/

3-6 Months

Between the stage of three to six month babies are able to grasp and hold objects. The unfortunate thing as many of you may know is that it excites them and they feel the need to put everything in their mouths. Perhaps it is because it is during this time that many babies begin to teeth. During this time, you also find the majority of babies on their tummies.  After many tries of pushing on their hands and knees and eventually learn to sit up. A great collection baby toys to have between three and six months are the following:

• teething rings
• soft blocks
• balls
• play mats with toys that hang
• soft squeaky toys
• finger puppets

Mega Set Ball value pack. Includes green Triangle ball: 5”, Sensory See-Me red ball 7” ,two Sensory See- Me orange and yellow 4”, Peanut purple ball 2½”, two Massage Roll balls red and yellow ball 3”, Rainbow soft ball: 7”, Stripes ball 5”. https://ygrowup.net/shop/shop-by-age/0-6-month/sensory-ball-set-9/ All three Soft Pals – Teether, Rattle Squeaker in one great, easy to wrap gift package. Features are the same as the individual Soft Pals above. All being machine washable and easy to grasp! https://ygrowup.net/shop/toddlers-area/soft-pals/ Bursting with color and sound, the Rainboshakers are light yet durable, and easy to grip. Shake as a rattle or turn over to listen and watch the beads swirl! Assorted colors.16 rainbow shakers

Tube Shakers Display

6-9 Months

Babies’ fine motor skills are improving. They start using pincer grasp around this time, which opens up a whole new territory of play. Some babies start to crawl at this age. And babies are starting to understand object permanence, which often leads to “stranger danger” fear and anxiety (absolutely normal). Toys babies of this age enjoy:

• small balls
• peek-a-boo books and toys
• toy cars and push toys
• soft dolls
• sensory boxes

Great for baby’s first book, delightful self-play, social playing, role playing at its best, narrative thinking skills and so much more! A lovable puppet who travels through an enchanting ocean, sky, city and forest in the soft and colorful book, stimulating imagination all along the way. Puppet can be played with by itself or can integrate with the book.

Puppet Playland

Small 4″ (10 cm) round, sturdy “See-Through”, inflatable nubby balls. Assorted colors (red, yellow, blue, green) set of 4 colors balls per pk. https://ygrowup.net/shop/circle-time/sensory-see-me-balls-4/

9-12 Months

Babies of this stage are very active and curious. They are able to manipulate objects in different ways, banging two toys together or releasing them from their hands. They enjoy the interaction with others, therefore social games are encouraged. Roll a ball across the floor or build with blocks together. Your almost one-year-old will benefits from these toys:

• fabric tunnels
• four-wheeled push toys
• stacking and nesting toys
• bouncy balls
• bubbles
• large building blocks such as Mega blocks

• A beginner set to inspire logic, creativity and sense of accomplishment.
• Stack a huge tower and knock it down!
• Help develop early math skills.
• Helps build understand of how things work.
• Stacking Stay Tray(TM) help even the youngest baby make a stack.

At birth, a newborn’s eyesight is not yet fully developed and she is not able to see the full spectrum of colors. Red is the first color she will be able to detect. Other colors, specifically blue, are not able to be detected until 3 months of age. https://ygrowup.net/shop/shop-by-age/9-12month/deluxe-starter-set/ Baby will love these 14 pieces of popping fun! They ‘pop’ when little hands connect and disconnect them. Bright, engaging colors in 5 unique shapes for baby to discover. They’ll love spilling them out of the container, too. Suitable for babies up to 50lbs.   Softly safe starter playground for beginner motor skills. MUST BE USED IN CORNER FOR SAFETY. Mirrors sold separately. Over 4” thick with pieces from 4” to over 15” long! Brightly colored Edu-Foam blocks feature patterned front and backs. Suitable for any age, the multiple shapes can create gigantic, yet light weight, structures. Assorted block shapes and primary colors.  

Introducing Toddlers To STEM Toys

The STEM concept is the future and possibly one of the most important trends in toys, it focuses on areas of learning that our children need to be comfortable with to excel in the future. STEM is an acronym introduced by the National Science Foundation, it stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. STEM toys for kids makes creators, thinkers, problem solvers, doers, innovators, and inventors. Many experts believe that it is the school system’s duty to ensure that all students complete their studies with a thorough understanding of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. It is never too early to start STEM education, and the perfect way to teach STEM is to expose them to nature. Children are always curious and what better way is there to help them build STEM skills that create a solid foundation for future learning, than by natural settings which offer children countless opportunities to explore and investigate? Children need to learn the same material in different settings. In this way, children can learn concepts from different disciplines in different contexts, all in ways that are naturally engaging to them. This technique exposes toddlers with STEM toy that will give them the foundation for the future in science, technology, engineering and math. We can start our children at an early age.

STEM toys for kids:

Better Builders® Reflections 29 Piece Set

The first STEM building toy system for toddlers, Better Builders® Grippies® combines tactile exploration, magnetic play and an introduction to the basic principles of engineering and geometry. Grippies® unique, magnetic rod and ball configuration provide a secure, frustration-free set of construction options as children first discover the joy of building. Unique in concept and design, Grippies® provide a fun, safe and exploratory experience for toddlers. The 30 piece set features 4 soft matte textures in exciting bright colors. A new yet natural fit for discovering the principles of sight and symmetry, Better Builders® Reflections Stem toys for kids showcases a limited black and white color scheme throughout. The X-shape enhances early engineering skills and reflective mirror panels encourage sensory experiences. Ideal for a Montessori approach to learning and discovery. The 29 piece set coordinates with all original Better Builders® construction sets.

Better Builders® Reflections 29 Piece Set

Numerals (Magnetic) 4″

  Colorful magnetic numbers from Rubbabu in our unique soft and tactile material. It is one of our favorite stem toys for kids for ages 3 and up.  It helps to develop number skills. Great for learning letters and spellings, as well as for children with special needs. Handmade in India, child-safe and earth-friendly.

Numerals (Magnetic) 4″

Guidecraft™ Better Builders® 26 Piece Set

With super strong magnetic force, unique rod and ball configurations and myriad design possibilities, Better Builders are a wonderfully inventive way to help children discover principles of science, construction, and engineering while developing their creativity skills. Includes handy storage bin and deluxe 13-page Activity Guide which explores magnet science and provides sample building models for all ages. Magnets are safely and securely embedded in the over-sized rods. Metal balls ensure a quick and strong connection. Tested to ages 18 months plus. An Oppenheim Platinum Best Toy Award Winner.

Guidecraft™ Better Builders® 26 Piece Set

Shape Sorter with Mirror An innovative idea combining shape sorting activities with a mirror. Young children are fascinated when watching themselves perform. Child sits in front and straddles the box. When a shape is placed through the opening it slides down and lands between the child’s legs, allowing the child to repeat the activity over and over without assistance. Mirror extends the child’s attention span. 5 removable plates provided. Child works first with individual shapes and graduates to all 3 shapes. Product Features

• The child learns to grasp and fit 3 dimensional shapes, and to discriminate between 3 basic geometric shapes.
• The child also begins to develop a self concept by watching his/her performance in the mirror.

Shape Sorter with Mirror

6 Station Sand & Water Play Table with Lids

A 6-Station, modular Sand and Water Play Center that promotes tactile discovery, fine motor skills and social interaction. Each station features a removable basin for easy draining and cleaning, and translucent lids to keep the unit clean when not in use. This toy helps student not knowingly step into the science world, with measurements, mixing, and experiments. Although there may not be a measuring cup and dangerous chemicals, the simple fact that they will be inserting sand or water introduces them to the lab world.

Big Knob Puzzles for Kids!

As adults we forget how hard it used to be grasp things and toys as young children. Because it has been so long that we have the ability to grab and go, we tend to not pay attention to small details like that, until it is brought up to our attention. Children at a younger age do not have the skill to grasp. If we do not give them the opportunity to play with any big knob puzzle they will become frustrated and will not want to pursue playing with puzzles as they get older. Providing them with puzzles with big knobs helps them develop their fine motor skills, which will then enable them gradually progress to puzzles with smaller knobs, and eventually no knobs at all.

Fine Motor Skills Similar to the way hand-eye coordination is achieved, puzzles provide the opportunity for children to develop fine motor skills. Not to be confused with gross motor skills such as walking, fine motor skills require small, specialized movements that puzzles provide. Fine motor skills are necessary for handwriting and other important achievements. At ygrowup.net we are always seeking to aid our parents when choosing the appropriate skills and age related best educational puzzles with big knobs. These are some our recommendations below. Fish Bowl Jumbo Knob – 3 Pieces A cute fishbowl big knob puzzle contains three happy residents for puzzle play. This extra-thick three-piece wooden puzzle includes a fish, a turtle and a crab, each with jumbo wooden knobs for easy grasping. Full-color, matching pictures appear underneath each piece. A great activity to encourage hand-eye coordination and visual perception skills. Buy Fish Bowl Jumbo Knob Guidecraft Shape Sorter Chunky, tactile Shape Sorter big knob puzzle blocks explore simple shapes and colors while encouraging cognitive development and kinesthetic learning. Appealing and easy-to-hold, screened rubberwood shapes have oversized knobs with soft-touch plastic grips to increase fine motor skills and coordination. The durable puzzle board is sanded smooth and reinforced with soft plastic handles. Children develop identification, color recognition and sequencing skills while exploring simple shapes and colors. For Ages: 18 months+ Buy Now! Memory Circles Four part circle big knob puzzle with giant knobs for grasping and fitting. Positions below each circle provide a space for the child to hide objects for recall. The puzzle base spins to make memory tasks more challenging.

• Develops foreground and background perception skills.
• Develops fine motor coordination and eye-hand coordination.
• Teaches the child will learn the names of colors and common objects.
• Facilitates the early development of memory abilities.

Buy Memory Circles Jungle Friends Jumbo Knob Puzzle Standing against a lush green background, a lion, an elephant and a giraffe in this big knob puzzle are waiting to play. Extra thick wooden puzzle includes three pieces, with jumbo wooden knobs for easy grasping. Full-color, matching pictures appear underneath each piece. Encourage hand-eye, fine motor and visual perception skills. Buy Now! Rainforest Friends Jumbo Knob Puzzle This extra-thick wooden rain-forest puzzle includes jumbo tiger, toucan and monkey pieces with wooden knobs that are easy for toddlers to grasp. Full-color, matching pictures appear underneath each jungle piece. A perfect big knob puzzle for one-year-olds as they develop hand-eye coordination, fine motor skills, visual perception skills and beginning vocabulary! Rainforest Friends Jumbo- Buy Now! Giant Knob Shape Puzzle Geometric shape big knob puzzle with giant knobs designed to fit the palms of small hands. Large knobs, rarely found on children’s puzzles, are especially helpful to very young children and children with motor coordination difficulties. Product Features

• Increases grasping strength.
• Develop fine motor and eye-hand coordination.
• Improves visual discrimination skills.

Giant Knob Shape Puzzle Vehicles Jumbo Knob Puzzle Eight big pieces with oversize knobs make this the perfect first puzzle! The bright, cheerful artwork big knob puzzle features a collection of favorite vehicles in the air, land, and sea. Each one has its own illustrated well in the sturdy wooden puzzle board, encouraging young children to match the pictures, maneuver the pieces, and build important fine-motor and cognitive skills through play. Vehicles Jumbo Knob Puzzle! Large Farm Jumbo Knob Puzzle Big knob puzzle with seven favorite farm animals and a farmer stand out against the big red barn. Extra thick wooden puzzle includes eight pieces, with jumbo wooden knobs that are easy for children to grasp. Full-color matching pictures appear underneath each piece. Encourages hand-eye, fine motor and visual perception skills. Large Shapes Jumbo Knob Puzzle Eight familiar shapes are brightly colored with bold outlines in this big knob puzzle. Extra thick wooden puzzle includes eight pieces, with jumbo wooden knobs for easy grasping. Full-color, matching pictures appear underneath each piece. Encourage hand-eye, fine motor and visual perception skills. Large Shapes Jumbo Knob Puzzles Animal-Go-Around Memory big knob puzzle with 6 different knobbed shapes to grasp and fit. Spaces under each animal allow the child to hide common objects and recall their positions from memory. Child watches the animals go around on the spinning base to make the memory task more challenging.

• Child learns to fit complex shapes and recall the position of objects in relation to each other, an important readiness skill for mathematics.
• The relationship of objects in space, combined with the rotation of the entire relationship system challenges the child to form strong mental images – an essential skill for developing memory abilities.
• Recommended Age: 36 months – 5 years

Animal Go Around- Buy Now!

Technology in Early Childhood Education

Technology in Early Childhood Education – By Viki Budik While working towards my master’s degree at BU I became interested in the use of computers and technology in early childhood education.  Due to the innovative nature of my classes my interest in the subject grew and opportunities continued to come my way.  For example, in one of my classes I created a workshop for undergraduate students.  In 1985, while conducting research for the workshop, I had the chance to attend Simon Papert’s workshop at MIT.  Papert was the father and creator of the Lego logo and during his workshop presented the eight-year-old children that were part of his research.  Attending Simon Papert’s workshop was not only a motivational experience for me but inspired me even further. In 1985, technology had already begun to make its impact on society.  It had gotten to the point where it was clear that technology would grow tremendously in the near future, but no one was entirely sure how it would do so by the change of the millennium.  Due to this fact, it was extremely difficult to envision or predict how these changes could affect education, which led to challenges in my career field. I had moved to Boston in 1985 with my Macintosh computer.  At that time, I was one of the only students who wrote papers with a Mac.  Realizing how technologically incredible my computer was along with the inspiration I received from Simon Papert led me to create a workshop for teachers in NAEYC.  The workshop was based around how to use Macintosh computer programs in the classroom. After two years of presenting my workshop to the public, I moved to San Francisco where I began a second masters at Berkeley. At that point in my life, I became a computer teacher at elementary schools.  Once I began having children of my own, I devoted myself to making an activity center for early childhood education, which I called “Y Grow Up.”  Being the owner and director of “Y Grow Up,” was extremely rewarding and I was proud to give children as well as parents a fun yet educational experience every day.  Using my many years of research and experience, I offered a variety of mommy and me classes, thinking skill activities, and computer activities. In 1985 I had a vision, that in every preschool classroom there would be a computer area where teachers could successfully integrate technology to the curriculum.  I knew that one day, technology would hold the same importance as math, science, clay, paint, etc.  Now that vision has become a reality, and I see that while so much has changed over the years due to technology it is important that certain ideals remain the same.  If computers are going to be a part of a child’s daily education, teachers must ensure that they hold a positive attitude toward technology while realizing that it is merely a tool to enhance human knowledge and creativity; not mask it. The question now stands: Is simply training teachers on how to correctly integrate computers into the curriculum through workshops enough or should it be a requirement on both undergraduate and graduate levels?  In reality, technology is a part of life that is inevitable and not granting children with the knowledge necessary to use it correctly is holding them back from their fullest potential.  The children are our future and in order for teachers to fully prepare them for that future they need to be fully educated in technology.  Therefore, it should be a requirement for teachers to study technology on both the undergraduate and graduate level because technology in the classroom isn’t only important; it is inevitable. Twenty-five years later, I went to visit colleges in Boston with my daughter.  While visiting MIT, I reminisced about the workshop I had attended there and to my surprise learned that one of the eight year olds from Simon Papert’s research was now a professor in the Lego Logo Lab.  At that moment I felt like a part of history, I felt amazed.  The work that has been done in the past has not been diminished by technology, but kept alive and growing because of it. It is obvious that the children of today will be the leaders of tomorrow, but how greatly they lead depends on the knowledge we instill in them from a young age.  When used correctly, technology can be the greatest determining factor in how the children of today grow into who they will become tomorrow. With that said, it is important to remember that children under two should not be exposed to iPads and tablets at all times, but parents can still use them as a learning tool after the age of three. Sometimes we see adults misuse these tools as a sort of distraction for kids, but what they do not realize is that before a certain age, these sorts of technology items are not so beneficial for the young ones. This also leads to development issues and social skills are diminished. I strongly encourage parents to simultaneously use technology as well as traditional toys, games, puzzles, puppets, art supplies, and musical instruments with children. Using toys will not only help them learn and use their imagination to build things with toys, but it will also help them develop social skills and be interactive with one another.

Y Grow Up’s Top 7 Skills Developed through Educational Toys

Because play is children’s work, and playing with parents creates a special bond, here are seven skills that can be developed while playing with your child with educational toys for kids.

1. Sensory

This EduFit Mega Pack mat is one of the best sensory baby toys you can find in the market with a variety of sensory toys to stimulate the different skills. 2. Texture Textured dominoes are an ideal way to help children develop tactile discrimination and visual perception. Great for visual and tactile skills, games and sorting/sequencing activities.

3. Thinking

Playing with your child helps them develop greater levels of imagination and cognitive ability skills Giving children the base to face challenges throughout their maturity levels of mind-boggling educational toys. Helping develop their sorting, sequencing, counting, memory and puzzling skills through problem solving toys and games. The award-winning Deluxe Mini Play Cube is an educational toy for kids and an absolute favorite amongst children. Little ones love the various activities available that provide hours of engaging and intriguing play. It features 5 popular toys in one: The Mini Rollercoaster Express, Pathfinder, Counting Abacus, Fun Gears, and Learn the Alphabet. Each side offers a distinct sensory learning experience for children, promoting basic learning skills such as visual tracking, math skills, hand-eye coordination, color recognition and more!

4. Social

Playing with parachutes encourage children to develop their social skills by teaching them to interact with other. Parachutes are educational toys for kids and can be used in many different settings and with different groups as well. It is an activity that is great for family time, play dates and classrooms. It is also great because they need several kids to hold parachute which encourages team work and also allows them to learn how to share evenly. Children who played with their parents also participated in other activities, had positive mental health, stronger friendships and experienced a stronger family bond

5. Fine-Motor Skills

Seven favorite farm animals and a farmer stand out against the big red barn. Extra thick wooden puzzle includes eight pieces, with jumbo wooden knobs that are easy for children to grasp. Full-color matching pictures appear underneath each piece. Encourages hand-eye, fine motor and visual perception skills.

6. Visual

This Center flexible mirror is an educational toy for kids that attracts inquisitive baby to look in and see me!

7. Language

Letter puzzles are a wonderful way of helping with language skills. You can interact and create words with your child and extend it with concrete things around the house.

Bringing the best to YGrowUp.net from the 2017 Toy Fair!

As you may know or not know, January and February are some of the coldest months in New York. This year however, that was not the case. It was 60 degrees and the weather was beautiful outside! Every year that I attend the toy fair it is -5 degrees and I usually end up running into the location and running back out straight to my hotel. Thankfully this year, I and some other toy fair visitors and exhibitors were able to fully enjoy the city and mingle after the fair was over. It was a very exciting and exhausting weekend to say the least. There was a lot of walking through the three floors and whooping 840,000 square feet of the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. I had the opportunity to not only visit and touch base with our current companies, but I was also able to exchange ideas and speak to the best educational toy companies from all over the world. These companies were presenting their new products and have potential to be part of ygrowup.net family, which is why I will be bringing their products to Ygrowup.net in the coming months. One of the most impressive parts is seeing companies that started along with us in 1994 when we had the Y Grow Up Activity center in Weston, FL. Some of them have now grown exponentially and it is just such an exciting feeling to see them bring new toys and keep the good old ones too. I remember testing their products with our children in our Mommy and Me classes. Some of those products are still in the market, which proves their quality over and over again. Children need these types of toys to help them with developmental stages and that is why we return to the toy fair, year after year, to be able to bring these toys to our parents, grandparents and teachers to provide the best foundations of learning process with your children. We are also excited to share some news! YGrowUp.net will be introducing a new area for new moms with newborns from 0-3 months.  We will also present a variety of packages recommendations for baby showers and playrooms. These packages help you design and rearrange rooms to give children’s a sense of security in their own safe environment. We have many other goals for 2017. One of them is the idea of introducing parents with all-in-one learning kits for babies, toddlers and preschoolers. We will soon be adding new toys for the thinking skills, scribbles colors and puddles, civic center, and supermarket area, taking in consideration the age levels for the children. Don’t forget that we will have a Giveaway, make sure you’re in our mailing list and follow us in our social media account (Y Grow Up Toys- fb, Instagram, Pinterest).  Finally, the exciting news! We are currently working on a big project and we are aiming to have our own line of products and toys very soon! We are also working on something very exciting for expecting mothers and the babies in the womb, we will keep you posted! Please make sure to check out our website to search for the release of the new 2017 toys. Since they are not readily available, we are asking you to please sign up on the waitlist, in return you will be treated with priority once they are released. They should be available between March and May 2017. All the best, Viki Budik, M.S. Ed Owner, Y Grow Up ygrowupmiami@gmail.com

Scribble Colors and Puddles (Art Area)

Y Grow up’s signature name to help children develop their Picasso skills. We offer a variety of creative paint, tools, and activities to help children develop creativity through messy and fun activities to use inside the classroom. These are some of the best products that we recommend for the art areas inside the classrooms or in playroom settings. Artist Studio Ready, Set, Art Caddy Store, spin, and create! Keep all of your art supplies in one place. Finger Crayons Creativity is at the tips of your fingers with these durable, stackable crayons. Thirty bright crayons are perfectly sized for little hands to hold in their palms or place on their fingertips. This helps children with fine motor skills and helps them develop creativity at an early age. Arts and Crafts Center Encourage collaborative creativity with this handsome work space. This feature-rich Arts and Crafts Center offers solid wood leg construction and an easy-to-clean white MDF surface, with child-safe t-molding edges. wide paper roll loads below the table, and feeds across the tabletop for a continual canvas. Two white and wood-panel stools enable children to practice working together and sharing. Artist Studio With this neon paint children can experience brighter colors and it creates enthusiasm within them. This item is wonderful to have in the art center. Mini Do a Dot Markers Sturdy mini felt tip is great for drawing and dotting. It’s a great complement to our regular DotArt Marker to add moor creativity and Color mixing for your new unique art projects. Discovery Table For indoor or outdoor use, the Discovery Table has three different activity areas, each with its own drain valve. The blue tub is supported by a sturdy, steel frame and has casters (2 locking and 2 non-locking) on all four legs for easy mobility. Comes in two different heights. Lids and tables sold separately or together as a set. Toys Artist Studio Colossal Art Set For artists who love to be creative this 315 pieces Colossal Art Set has all the art supplies you need. Color, draw, doodle, paint or sketch all day long. Make a mountain of masterpieces! For artists of every age! Mini Double Discovery Table Lightweight, low profile tub tables for tactile experience.  Easily removable for emptying or replenishing. Easy assembly (no tools required) with anti-slip heavy duty rubber floor protectors.

Ideal Classroom and Playroom Activity Toys

  At Ygrowup.net you can find the best classroom and playroom educational products. Six Sided Play Cube A new and exciting twist to our play cube series, the Six Sided Play Cube combines 7 fun activities into one ultimate play center!  Innovative design coupled with excellent activities, this cube provides hours of stimulating play.  Each side features a different activity: the Pathfinder, Learn the Alphabet, Counting Abacus, Fun Gears, Magnetic Circle Express, and Zigidy Zag Panel. The cube is topped with the classic roller coaster wire and bead mazes. This toy is truly a multi-sensory adventure, helping children develop hand-eye coordination, visual tracking skills, letter and color recognition, & much more! Entertaining, engaging, and educational with no loose pieces.  Great for the home, schools, waiting rooms, and any child-friendly play area. City Transportation Wall Panel The City Transportation Wall Panel brings out the excitement and bustle of city life! Kids have so much fun using their imagination to move the cars around the panel, while attempting to avoid any head on collisions!  The beautiful artwork and attention to detail make this activity panel a decorative addition to any play area, waiting area, schools and more. It also helps children build on valuable skills such as hand-eye coordination, visual tracking, and sensory-motor skills. They will be having so much fun they will never even notice they are learning at the same time! Busy Train Activity Panel Looking for multiple fun activities in one? The Busy Train Activity Panel provides just that and more!  Featuring five fun panels that include Tic Tac Toe, Gears, Flipper Game, Paddle Wheel and Traffic Memory games – kids will never get bored!  The adorable circus-train themed artwork, with a lion, monkey, giraffe, elephant, and conductor in front makes this a decorative wall piece and child-magnet for any room. This wall panel makes excellent use of space and is completely self-contained, with no loose pieces. Perfect for the home, classrooms, play rooms, and waiting rooms alike! Mini Circle of Fun The Mini Circle of Fun combines four benches of fun activities in one! It can be set up in a circle, serpentine shape, or individually to provide endless play.  The four benches include: The Caterpillar Pathfinder, Circle Express, Gear Panel, and Wire & Bead Mazes. The design encourages group play and promotes basic learning skills such as eye-hand coordination, visual tracking, color recognition, and more.  A great activity center for doctors’ offices, schools, waiting rooms and even the home City Transportation Table The excitement of city travel is brought alive in the City Transportation Table! Kids have so much fun using their imagination to move the cars around the tabletop, while trying to avoid any collisions. The table features 12 separate wooden pieces that kids can move around the tracks, keeping them busy for hours. Also several children can play together, encouraging group play and interaction. It also promotes hand-eye coordination and hones fine motor skills. And don’t worry about loose pieces, the whole toy is self-contained, making it great for play rooms, homes, schools, offices, and waiting rooms. Base Line Table & Chair Set

• This ideal toddler table provides a wide open space for eating, learning and playing
• Children can work independently, standing or sitting
• Vibrant colors and smart design
• Conveniently sold as a set; table and 4 chairs
• Table has gray top and red trim
• Chairs are royal blue, candy apple red, shamrock green and canary yellow
• Durable, built to last with no exposed hardware
• Lightweight, simple to move
• Easy-to-clean laminate surfaces
• PVC legs and leg boots reduce noise
• Ages 14 months – 3 years
• 5-year warranty
• Has achieved GREENGUARD Gold standard

Doctor Role Play Costume Set The doctor will see you now! With this set your little doctor will be fully equipped with a jacket and face mask, a stethoscope with sound effects, a reflex hammer, an ear scope, a syringe and a name tag for personalizing. My Busy Town When you’re out and about in town, baby is looking and taking it all in. Keep their imaginations growing and help them discover of the world around them with My Busy Town activity cube by ALEX. 5 sided fun includes curvy bead mazes, peek a boo open and close doors, racing car rollers, animal matching and ABC tiles that are all part of this amazing journey of learning through play. A sturdy wooden base that will withstand even the most demanding ‘trips’ into town, this toy is as stable as it is fun and colorful to look at. Watch your baby grow their own world with My Busy Town! Farm Wall Panel The Farm Wall Panel is decorative, fun, educational, and keeps kids busy! Children are endlessly entertained as they move the wooden farm animals to travel and graze around the beautiful farm. Wooden figures include a horse, cow, goat, rooster, sheep, duck and pig which children can guide along the paths to various locations on the farm such as the barn, paddock, pig pen, hen house and pond. The farm landscape includes, grazing animals, tractor, rows of corn, pumpkin patch, haystack and greenery. While guiding the farm animals along the paths, children’s eye-hand coordination, visual tracking and sensory motor skills are challenged. Kids experience the excitement of farm life with this very special wall toy. No loose pieces and wall mounted, it is a great space-conscious addition for the home, schools, doctors’ offices, and all waiting rooms! School House Wall Panel The School House Wall Panel is a fun, educational, and decorative activity panel.  The colorful graphics reminiscent of a little red schoolhouse attracts children of all ages and the different activities will keep them entertained for hours! Kids will learn counting and color recognition with the Counting Abacus bead learning game, which includes 10 beads on each row. The colorful spinning gears introduce little ones to the principles of mechanics and physics of motion through fun play.  And in the center, The Learn the Alphabet toy, made of individually embossed wooden blocks, teaches kids their ABC’s along with corresponding words that match the letters (ex: A=apple). No loose pieces. Perfect for daycares, preschools, waiting rooms, homes and any child friendly environment!  

The Best Infant Toys at ygrowup.net

The best infant toys at YGrowUp.net

Enjoy with babies and toddlers appropriate age infant toys that help develop special bonding and learning experience with their parents and appropriate toys for their levels. These innovative infant toys will help them discover their skills with puzzles, art, sensory toys, motor skills and language skills. Kaloo Perle Maxi Bear Sofa Kaloo Perle Maxi Bear Sofa is cozy and comforting. This bear is made of super soft microvelvet fabric with sturdy arms that act as support for a baby. It features a fully embroidered face, coordinating fabric details, and canvas bottom for stability. This will become your child’s favorite infant toy seat!. Play With Me Gym This award-winning crib and gym mat is never-ending fun! Lay it down flat, or put up the overhead canopy-either way, it’s sure to be a great time! Comes with colorful infant toys that easily attach to the gym, and is a great way for keeping babies occupied and entertained. Specially designed to be the ideal naptime companion. My First Gym Colorful rattles and rings encourage reaching and kicking. A mirror reflects the smiles. Self Discovery: Enhance baby’s perspective with visual, tactile, and auditory cues. Gross Motor Skills (Physical Skills): Boosts coordination, balance, and physical strength. A wonderful infant toy for the beginning months of your baby. See Me Picture Mat Rainbow-colored mat made of durable 14 oz vinyl. A wonderful infant toy mat for tummy time! Insert six pictures in the clear pockets to add new interest. Center flexible mirror attracts inquisitive baby to look in and see me!  

Beep-Beep & Play Activity Toy

This sit-in play car lets little ones rev up and take off for fun! With a clicking steering wheel, light-up dashboard, rear-view mirror, and an engine that plays music when the key is inserted, this activity infant toy will keep your child happily occupied while building physical, cognitive, and social skills. There’s even a cup holder on the side and a mesh “trunk” in the rear to take favorite toys along for the ride! Packed with whimsical novelties, this car engages the senses and nurtures growing skills.  

5 Toys that Promote Thinking Skills

5 Toys That Promote Thinking Skills Y grow up takes very serious the cognitive development in children.  We offer toys that are very well picked by our professionals to help children develop their Einstein potential thinking skills. Giving children the base to face challenges throughout there maturity levels of mind-boggling educational toys. Helping develop there sorting, sequencing, counting, memory and puzzling skills through problem solving toys and games. Shapes The child learns to grasp and fit 3 dimensional shapes, and to discriminate between 3 basic geometric shapes. The child also begins to develop a self concept by watching his/her performance in the mirror. An innovative idea combining shape sorting activities with a mirror. Young children are fascinated when watching themselves perform. Child sits in front and straddles the box. When a shape is placed through the opening it slides down and lands between the child’s legs, allowing the child to repeat the activity over and over without assistance. Mirror extends the child’s attention span. 5 removable plates provided. Child works first with individual shapes and graduates to all 3 shapes. Color Matching Unlock each box to explore what’s behind each door! This set of six wooden lock boxes is ideal for learning shape, color, and spatial relationships. Strengthens problem-solving and fine-motor skills. Wooden lock boxes to reinforce fine motor skills • Match the chunky geometric shapes to the cutouts on each box • Transparent colored windows to view what’s inside • Educational Focus: Strengthens problem-solving, fine-motor skills and develops finger dexterity • Age recommended: 2+ Sorting First chunky pegs are perfect for tiny hands. Baby can stack, sort and match chunky colored pegs while developing motor skills and hand-eye coordination. This 20-piece baby block set set includes colorful chunky pegs and pegboard. For ages 18 months Problem Solving Circle Play Center – Kids love playing with all of the fun activities on this toy, using their imagination to move the beads on the wires, sorting and matching the blocks, moving around both the colorful gears and the beads through the pathfinder maze, and using a magnetic wand to magically move the balls through the circular maze. This play table not only keeps kids entertained for hours, but promotes play-based learning, enhancing and challenging fine motor skills, shape and color recognition, eye-hand coordination and creative problem-solving skills. Playtime has never been more fun and engaging! This table is great for the home, play rooms, classrooms, and waiting rooms! Puzzle Skills Seven favorite farm animals and a farmer stand out against the big red barn. Extra thick wooden puzzle includes eight pieces, with jumbo wooden knobs that are easy for children to grasp. Full-color matching pictures appear underneath each piece. Encourages hand-eye, fine motor and visual perception skills.

5 Award Winning Toys

5 Award Winning Toys

Ygrowup’s award winning toy are an excellent choice for you to reward your kids with! Ygrowup.net is constantly researching all the educational toy companies to provide parents with the best award winning toys. You can find them in our website. These are our 5 pick toys for different ages. Spanish with Little Pim The Spanish Complete Set introduces 360 fundamental words and phrases your kids will want to repeat again and again. As your children discover the words for their favorite foods and feelings (and more!) in Spanish, they are also learning the perfect native pronunciation. Use the videos as their first introduction to Spanish and watch your kid’s progress! The colorful books and flashcards reinforce and expand on the videos, providing our most comprehensive introduction to Spanish for your little one. uKloo Early Reader Treasure Hunt Game Shh! Don’t tell the kid’s that it’s educational! Disguised as a treasure hunt, this multi-award winning children’s literacy game gets kids physically active as they read clues and search to find a hidden surprise. There’s even a Picture Helper poster to look up words when kids get stuck! The children are so engaged, they begin reading without even realizing it. Great for beginner and reluctant readers, ADHD and children of all abilities. Selected as one of the 10 best classroom games and toys by the American Association of Educators. Developed by a mom with the help of educational advisors, kids and parents. Tiggly Chef Welcome to the silliest kitchen in Tiggly Town! Learn early addition concepts and think flexibly about numbers while helping Chef prepare his signature Spicy Hula Monkey Cake, as well as over 40 other outrageous dishes. Tiggly Town’s greatest, most mustachioed Chef tells you what he needs to prepare his preposterously silly recipes, and you help by adding the exact number of ingredients Chef asks for to get the recipe right. You can even suggest your own recipes to Chef. While ingredients are added, mathematics symbols appear on screen explaining your actions, helping you naturally learn numbers and early addition concepts. Surely Chef will encourage you to follow instructions and think flexibly! I Can Spell! Alphabet Puzzle Young minds are ready to spell before the hand is ready to write. Giant alphabet puzzle with letters in bright primary colors. Letters are raised above the surface of the puzzle board, for easy removal and fitting. TAG’s unique spelling tray allow the child to stand up letters and build words by copying word cards provided with the puzzle. The puzzle is made of high impact laminate surface which is durable. • Develops fine motor coordination by handling letters and placing them into the puzzle. • Improves visual discrimination skills by discovering the differences among shapes and colors. • Teaches the names of letters and their sounds. • Presents alphabetical order. • Introduces spelling with simple words. Beep-Beep & Play Activity Toy This sit-in play car lets little ones rev up and take off for fun! With a clicking steering wheel, light-up dashboard, rear-view mirror, and an engine that plays music when the key is inserted, this activity toy will keep your child happily occupied while building physical, cognitive, and social skills. There’s even a cup holder on the side and a mesh “trunk” in the rear to take favorite toys along for the ride! Packed with whimsical novelties, this car engages the senses and nurtures growing skills.