Back to School promotion with Smile Zemi

 Looking for educational resources for homeschooling or at-home tutoring services? Considering a Learning Center or a Tutor? Wanting to give your children the best education? Keep reading to discover a home learning system that makes learning fun.

Sponsored post with Smile Zemi

  As a parent, you want the best for your child when it comes to learning. A child that does well in school will have more opportunities when it comes to the future. When your child does well in school, they will be able to get the education that they need to be able to go to the college that they desire and may even get scholarships to pay for college. Face it, smart kids are a good thing.

 As a mom of 5 kids, I know how important doing well in school helps a child with their future job. The time to help kids to be successful in school is when they are in elementary school. A good education early on helps kids learn how to be motivated to way to keep succeeding in school. I like to think that I did a good job with my children's education. My three older kids are adults and have all done well in school, 2 of them were high school valedictorians. My middle child was able to attend a military academy and graduated as an officer. He is now learning how to fly jet fighter planes for the Navy. My oldest son was just promoted to an officer in the Naval branch of the military. My oldest daughter is a stay-at-home mom by choice. My 2 younger kids are in high school and are in the top 1% of their class. 

How are my kids so smart? 

As a parent, I have always made learning a part of my kid's life. From the time that they were toddlers all the way to when they graduated college, I gave my kids the resources that they needed to learn. That meant puzzles and books when they were little and making sure to include learning in things like baking and shopping. When they got older, we made many trips to the library for nightly reading. I gave my kids what they needed to learn and encouragement to do well in school. I made learning fun for my kids and helped them to learn the rewards of doing well in school. 

 When learning was tough for my kids, I gave my kids the resources that they needed, like a tutor and online learning programs, to help them learn. I made their education a priority and talked to my kids about the benefits of doing well in school. Along the way, my kids took charge of their learning and were self-motivated to do well in school.

Smile Zemi makes learning fun and promotes independent learning.

 Smile Zemi is a learning tool that will help your child succeed in school. Smile Zemi is a learning system that replaces a learning center and tutors. Smile Zemi is a learning tablet that fosters children's critical thinking and problem-solving skills to help them succeed in school. I reviewed the Smile Zemi learning system and you can read my full Smile Zemi review here. 

What is the Smile Zemi Learning System?

 Smile Zemi focuses on teaching Common Core State Standards (CCSS), targeting grades 1-5. This is a learning system that promotes independent learning by offering fun exercises coupled with rewards for accomplishments! All the learning takes place from the comfort of your home on a learning tablet. You can even load lessons onto the tablet to take the fun learning on the go. That way your child can use the fun learning system while in the car or in the grocery cart.

Boost your child's learning with Smile Zemi, our tablet-based home learning service tailored to meet the needs of elementary school children, grades 1 to 5. 

Learn more ~ SmileZemi.com

With the Smile Zemi education program, you don't have to worry about potential learning distractions as the included tablet has no access to the Internet or games. You select the learning programs and Smile Zemi provides the learning tools. This unique learning tool even has quizzes so you can see your child's knowledge of the learning material.

Smile Zemi Back-To-School Special Offer

From August 14th - September 10th, the Smile Zemi tablet fee of $329.99 will be $0.00 with a special coupon on the Smile Zemi Website. 

~ When you purchase a full year of the Smile Zemi learning program, you will receive a free tablet. 

~ The Smile Zemi program only operates on the included tablet and is required to use the learning program.

~ This Back-To-School Special Offer saves you $329.99!

~ Learn more ~ SmileZemi.com

More about the Smile Zemi Learning Program

 Smile Zemi is the first tablet-based educational learning system tailored to meet the needs of elementary school children grades one through five and specifically designed to improve academic performance aligned with Common Core State Standards.  Developed by JustSystems, one of Japan’s largest manufacturers of educational software, Smile Zemi features a professionally developed curriculum and materials, including instructional videos, exercises, and quizzes to help students most effectively study Math and English Language Arts (ELA) on their own and in support of Common Core State Standards.

Why Smile Zemi?

When it comes to learning, there is never a thing as too much learning or the thinking that my child does not need to learn more. Even as adults learning never stops. The Smile Zemi learning tablet is perfect for all school-age kids. It does not matter if your child is home-schooled, attends private school, or public school, this learning tablet will enhance their learning. 

~ Smile Zemi is an at-home learning system for grades 1st- 5th that allows students to work independently on Math and ELA subjects.

~ The perfect learning tool to help your child get ahead in school.

~The durable and sturdy tablet is designed for learning purposes only, with no access to web browsers or games.

~ Includes step-by-step approachable, fun exercises, and easy-to-understand explanations.

~ Follows Common Core State Standards and enhances children's problem-solving and reading comprehension skills.

~ The tablet learning system tracks your child’s progress and parents can monitor it in real-time via smartphone.

~ Designed to achieve results you would expect from tutoring or learning centers! 

~ Provides Motivating Rewards to keep your child engaged in learning.

Smile Zemi's Mission

~ We are dedicated to continue working to help children discover the joy of learning and to experience significant personal growth through learning.

Smile Zemi Back-To-School Special Offer

From August 14th - September 10th, the Smile Zemi tablet fee of $329.99 will be $0.00 with a special coupon on the Smile Zemi Website. 

~ When you purchase a full year of the Smile Zemi learning program, you will receive a free tablet. 

~ The Smile Zemi program only operates on the included tablet and is required to use the learning program.

~ This Back-To-School Special Offer saves you $329.99!

~ Learn more ~ SmileZemi.com

Discover Smile Zemi With a FREE Tablet Deal

 Looking to enhance your child's education or learning? Check out an innovative home learning service that makes learning fun.

I received a Smile Zemi learning program in exchange for this article

 We as parents want the best for our kids when it comes to learning. We want to see our kids succeed in school. As a busy parent, it can be hard to juggle work, family, and your child's education. So what is a parent to do when it comes to giving your kids the best education?

 In a perfect world, you can choose to homeschool but the stress may not be good for the child or the parent. If one was wealthy, they could send their child to the best private school. The reality is most parents can't afford the cost of private schools and most parents are not qualified to teach their kids at home. Even if parents have the education to home-school, they may not have the time or patience.

Are you a busy parent juggling work, family, and your child's education? It's time to say goodbye to the stress! 

 Discover Smile Zemi, the innovative home learning service designed to take the pressure off and make learning fun. This unique learning platform offers personalized lessons that adapt to your child's needs, boosting their confidence, and academic skills. This learning program will help set your child up for success. 

Smile Zemi is an effective alternative to tutors and learning centers

 All children can benefit from additional learning. There is no such thing as too much learning. The more learning help the child receives the better for so many things. A good education will help your child succeed in school and in the future.

 The Smile Zemi is a program that can help kids learn beyond what they learn in school. This learning program can enhance a child's learning and reinforce learning from what they learned in school. Smile Zemi makes learning fun.

Back to School Special ~ Get a free tablet ($329.99 value) with the purchase of the Smile Zemi Learning Program.  ~   limited time only ( ends July 31st, 2023)

Checking out Smile Zemi

 I had the opportunity to check out the Smile Zemi learning system. This is a learning program that I wished I had access to when my kids were younger. This learning program would help kids succeed in school. The Smile Zemi is geared toward elementary school-age children in grades 1st-5th. While my boys are in high school, I was able to have my oldest granddaughter check it out. 

 My granddaughter is starting kindergarten next month and has attended pre-k. So she has experience with online learning. There were some lessons that I felt my granddaughter could do like Rhyming Words. So I introduced the Smile Zemi educational program to my granddaughter.

 I liked that this learning system for kids was available on a tablet. The tablet is needed for the learning program. Right now, you can get the tablet for free. I liked that the tablet was large and came with a protective case. I was able to bring the Smile Zemi Tablet to my granddaughter's house.

 I preloaded the Rhyming lesson for my grandchild to check out. The lesson had pictures and audio so that made it easy for her as she is learning how to read. I liked that the lesson included a learning section and then a practice test. So my grandchild was able to learn about words that rhyme. The fun part came when she was able to interact with the lessons with a digitizer pen.

Smile Zemi makes learning fun

 My granddaughter enjoyed watching the lessons and taking the practice tests. I loved seeing her excitement when she got the answers to the test right. The program told her "great job" when she got the right answer correct and "good try" when she answered incorrectly. There was even a how-to-solve section to give her additional help. I loved that my granddaughter could hear the instructions and see the words as they were being spoken. This would help her learn how to read.

The Smile Zemi learning device made learning fun for my granddaughter and I loved that there was so much learning available. 

All the grades of learning included:

+ Math

+ ElA

+ Word Study

What is Smile Zemi?

About Smile Zemi 

Smile Zemi is the first tablet-based educational learning system tailored to meet the needs of elementary school children grades one through five and specifically designed to improve academic performance aligned with Common Core State Standards.  Developed by JustSystems, one of Japan’s largest manufacturers of educational software, Smile Zemi features a professionally developed curriculum and materials, including instructional videos, exercises, and quizzes to help students most effectively study Math and English Language Arts (ELA) on their own and in support of Common Core State Standards.

Smile Zemi is a tablet-based home learning service that promotes independent study by offering fun exercises coupled with rewards for accomplishments!

Smile Zemi has fun rewards

+ When your child completes 4 lessons, they will earn a fun reward 

Smile Zemi has a Parent Portal

+ This learning system has a parent portal that is password protected, so parents can apply clock settings, progress reports, and more. Parents can also access the parent portal through an app on their phone.

Smile Zemi is a flexible home learning service 

+ This may just be what your child needs to improve their confidence and academic skills

+ More affordable than home tutors and learning centers

+ Can be used outside the home for learning on the go

Back-to-School is just around the corner help kids start the school year off with Smile Zemi! 

Back to School Special ~ Get a free tablet ($329.99 value) with the purchase of the Smile Zemi Learning Program.  ~   limited time only ( ends July 31st, 2023)

~ The offer is valid under the condition of continuing the subscription for one year.

At Home Learning With Thames & Kosmos

My school district just announced the plans for the school year and I am not sure what to expect

       I received samples of products to facilitate this post. This page may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases 

 It may still be summer here but that does not mean that the learning has to stop. This C lung virus pandemic has made it harder to motivate my kids to do any type of learning or schoolwork. So other than daily reading, I have pretty much given my boys a break from learning. Their last two months of online school were boring for them and I am not blaming the teachers as most of them have never done online instruction. My boys don't want me to be their teacher and I don't blame them as I have no clue how to homeschool two middle school boys. I am glad that the boys are allowing me to be their gym teacher as they join me every morning for running. The boys caught the COVID slide earlier this summer and they are still experiencing side-effects from it. Just last week the school district announced their plans for the school year and the boys and I have mixed feelings about the school year.


Online school with some at school learning 

 Next month school will begin with 5 weeks of online school. Then in the middle of September, the boys will attend school four days a week, every other week. The rest of the learning will be online. I am not really seeing the benefit of the boys attending school at all since they will only be going for 8 days a month. Why not just do all online teaching? My boys are just happy that they can go back to school. I am hoping that their teachers have used the past 4-5 months to figure out how to best teach online school so my boys will learn. I have also made a plan of how to boost their immunity so they will hopefully not catch the covid virus at school.

Board games to enrich learning

 My boys have rediscovered board games and I am glad. Playing board games not only gets them off the electronic devices but they are also getting some learning in. Shh! Don't tell my boys that they are learning as they want nothing to do with that as they are on summer break. My boys started playing card games and other non-electric games when their older brothers were here. It was great to see all my boys enjoying games like Monopoly and Risk. Now that their older brothers have gone back to school and overseas, playing games are not as fun with only 2 people.  So I was glad when I discovered some learning games that can be enjoyed with 2 players.


 The learning games from Thames & Kosmos are keeping the boys entertained while also giving their brain some memory exercises. These exciting thinking and puzzle games are making me feel better about my boys not being in school right now. I also am not feeling guilty about not doing the homeschool thing. My boys have friends who are homeschooled and I mentioned that I was going to talk to their friend's mom about what program she uses for homeschool. The boys said, "no mom, don't do that as we will be going back to school." I am glad that the boys are ok with returning to school. So check out the fun games that the boys are enjoying.

Brainwaves

Brainwaves is a series of games developed by game designers and neuroscientists with which players can challenge their episodic memory — their recent memory of autobiographical events. These compact, card-based games are designed and scientifically proven to exercise the brain to improve memory functions. These innovative memory games place demands on three types of brain functions: fluid intelligence, working memory, and long-term memory.


 My boys received Brainwaves: The Astute Goose and Brainwaves: The Wise Whale to explore and play. These were card games that challenged their memory and they had my boys using their brain with critical thinking skills. I liked that my boys were having a friendly competition that used their brainwaves. 

 In Brainwaves: The Astute Goose, my boys had to identify a burglar hiding in a crowd. They had to remember things like what did they look like, what color were their clothes and other things to correct figure out which burglar committed the crime.

In Brainwaves: The Wise Whale, my boys had fun playing a matching game to see who could gather the most different colorful sea creatures cards. This was a fun brain-training game for the whole family.

Ubongo

Ubongo is a fast-paced, addictive, and easy-to-learn geometric puzzle game. Players race against the timer and against each other to solve a puzzle of interlocking shapes. The faster you solve the puzzle, the more gems you get. 

 Ubongo reminded me of the computer game Tetris but I loved that this game was offline. This was a fast-paced game that was an easy way for my boys to learn about geometry. The boys had to quickly fit the geometric puzzle shapes on their puzzle boards in the right order. The first person who solves their puzzle shouts " Ubongo!" and then the countdown is on for the other player who then have a time limit to earn some points. The fastest player wins bonus points and after eight rounds, the player with the most points wins. My boys really enjoyed playing this game as it was a portable game so they could play it on the floor. This game even challenged me with my thinking when I played with my boys.


Drop It 

This colorful, inventive family game is easy to learn but deceptively mind-boggling! One at a time, each player drops a shape into the vertical game board’s drop zone. Players earn points for the highest level that their shape reaches when it lands and extra points for touching bonus circles. But be careful: Don’t break a landing rule! The shape you dropped is not allowed to touch matching shapes or colors after it lands. If you break a landing rule, you will go away empty-handed. The winner is the player or team with the most points at the end. 

Drop It was a game of chance that involved a lot of thinking. My boys had to figure which shape to select and then the best place to drop it in the stand-up game board so the shape would hopefully land where they wanted it to go. This game also had plenty of rules that encouraged even more critical thinking. It was a mind-boggling game that made my boys think before they dropped a shape as they did not want to break any landing rules. The winner is the player with the most points at the end of the game. I am glad that my boys read the rules of this game as it took me some time to learn how to win the game.

 So I am glad that the boys had some learning games to entertain themselves during the day when it was too hot to play at the park. These board games are summer fun essentials for my boys. That way mom and dad could get some work done during the day. The school thing is still stressing me out but not because of the respiratory virus but more because of all the rules that the boys will have to follow at school. The boys will have to wear face masks at school and I need to buy more of these lightweight face masks for kids. They also have to stay 6 feet apart from their friends and not share anything. So that means no giving a friend a pencil or passing a note. They can't even drink from the drinking fountain or sit next to friends at lunch. Kind of makes school stressful for both the kids and teachers.

 I think parents and teachers need some G&Juice to help us with stress. These hemp-infused sparkling beverages are not only delicious but they will help us chill out. Each can has less than 2 grams of sugar and only 20 calories. They also have 20 mg of hemp-derived CBD and the four mouth-water flavors contain no artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives. The flavors of this bliss out juice are Coconut Vanilla, Ginger Peach, Strawberry Lemonade, and Blueberry Mojito. The best part is CBD is the non-psychoactive portion of the plant, which means consumers won't "get high."

 So all I can do now is take one day at a time and as I told my boys we won't worry about school just yet as we still have a couple more weeks until school starts. This school plan for online school and some in school learning will have to work for the boys. I am sure that my boys will do fine and the will learn. This too shall pass.

What is the plan for your kid's school this year?

Greg Landry Homeschool Science Resources

This post is sponsored by College Prep Science.

 So many of my friends are homeschooling their kids and I admire them. The homeschool community is growing and I am amazed at all the resources that are available to parents. Greg Landry a veteran in the homeschooling community and this below article is a must-read for parents and educators.

 Greg Landry is a homeschool science pioneer and offers online classes (for science leaning students and “non-science” students, science labs, ACT prep, a podcast for homeschool moms, and homeschool student-produced print publications.

 Greg says he is first and foremost grateful. "The Lord has made me very aware of my need for a grateful heart. I'm grateful for a God who knows me and loves me (with all of my faults), for my family, for the thousands of homeschooling families I've had the privilege of  working with over the past 20 years, for the magnificence of His Creation, and for the trials in my life (James 1:2-4 ) that shape and mold me, humble me, produce perseverance, and mature me in my faith."
Greg is a husband to his bride of 30+ years, a homeschool dad, and a former college professor. He and his wife homeschooled their two daughters. Both of them have graduated from college, and Greg says, "most importantly, both of them love Jesus. For that, we are very grateful."  He grew up in French / Acadian South Louisiana (three of his grandparents were French speakers) and he loves the South Louisiana culture. At age 18 was invited to tryout with the Philadelphia Phillies baseball organization. He played baseball and football in college and holds a master of science degree from LSU (Louisiana State University).

 He has a heart for students and a passion for science... but more specifically a passion for teaching students to see God's hand in every aspect of His creation that surrounds us. His goal is to help them see that God's creation didn't just happen by chance - it wasn't an accident, a fluke of nature.
Greg has spent the past 20+ years teaching science. He taught at a university, taught thousands of homeschooled students, has mentored students planning to pursue science / pre-med degrees, has designed and directed a university anatomy and physiology/biology cadaver lab, has published and presented scientific research, has academically counseled hundreds of college pre-professional (pre-med, pre-dental, pre-physical therapy, etc.) sophomores and juniors, has designed science labs for homeschooled students and has written science lab manuals.

 Ten years ago he originated the "pre" classes (Pre-Biology, Pre-Anatomy & Physiology, Pre-Chemistry, and Pre-Physics) as a means of minimizing the intimidation of high school level science and preparing middle school age students for specific high school level classes. As one homeschool mom described it, "Greg has a unique ability to pull out the most important information and present it in a way that's interesting and easy to understand."

 The thrust of Greg Landry homeschool science is to give homeschooled students access to Christian Worldview science that is focused on scientific inquiry, critical thinking, process reasoning, data collection, and the graphical and written representation of research. Greg says, "we want to prepare competent, confident students for their remaining high school years, their college years, and life.

Greg and his wife live near Nashville, TN. His desire is to follow the Lord's leading in teaching students to illuminate the incredible creation the Lord has put all around us. It reveals His glory!
​Homeschool dad, scientist, and former college professor, Greg Landry, offers live, online homeschool science classes, Homeschool ACT Prep Bootcamp, the Homeschool Mom’s Science Podcast, in-person two-day science lab intensives nationwide, freebies for homeschool moms, and student-produced homeschool print publications.

The Benefits Of Watching TV With Younger Kids

Parents need not feel guilty about their kids watching TV

Sponsored post

  As a parent of young children, you want to do the best job of raising your kids. You want your kids to learn so they can be a smart kid when they head off to school. So before your child is even born, you read books about how to successfully raise your child. You feed your kid the best healthy food and buy them the educational toys. You have the best plans to read to them daily and you may even be the parent who says " my child will never watch TV!" So you do your best and attempted to make homemade baby food only to discover how time-consuming it is. You spend hours a day reading books to your children and teaching them their ABC's and then reality hits you.

You discover that raising a child is the hardest job that you have ever had but something inside, (that thing called love), of you, makes you never quit. You realize that it can be tough to keep your child from watching the television so you give in and let your child watch Paw Patrol. Then the mom guilt sets in and you wonder if it is ok to let your toddler or preschooler watch TV. As a mom of five, I say TV watching can be beneficial for younger kids but as with all things it should be done with limits.



 I have raised five kids. My oldest is 29 and my youngest is 11 years old with 3 others in between. I allowed my children to watch the big box called the television and my kids turned out just fine. Two of my oldest kids were valedictorians of their graduating high school class. One of these kids is attending the Merchant Marine Academy and another older child served in the Navy and is currently working as a diesel mechanic. The two younger kids are in the gifted program at their middle school. So they were not hurt by watching tv but I did place limits on their tv viewing and did not use the TV as a babysitter. I used technology to help my child succeed.

Helping Your Child Succeed In School 

 Where kids are concerned, TV can get a bad rap, but with healthy viewing habits and parental supervision, limited “screen time” can be a positive experience for children. Watching tv shows that are geared towards younger kids can actually benefit kids in many ways. TV watching can be a safe activity for kids. When I talk about TV being beneficial to kids, I am talking about kids who are ages 2+.  The American Academy of Pediatrics has some good recommendations on digital media for younger kids and I agree with their below statement.

 Limit digital media for your youngest family members. Avoid digital media for toddlers younger than 18 to 24 months other than video chatting. For children 18 to 24 months, watch digital media with them because they learn from watching and talking with you. Limit screen use for preschool children, ages 2 to 5, to just 1 hour a day of high-quality programming. Again co-viewing is best when possible and for young children, they learn best when they are re-taught in the real world what they just learned through a screen. So, if Ernie just taught the letter D, you can reiterate this later when you are having dinner or spending time with your child.

1. TV can help kids learn 

 My kids grew up watching Sesame Street and this educational show helped them to learn things like their ABCs as the fun songs reinforced the learning that was happening at home. Shows that are geared towards kids can make learning fun and give parents ideas on learning activities to do with their kids once the show is over. Watching their favorite TV character bake cookies can lead to a lesson in math when mom or dad later that day bake cookies together. Sometimes these educational children shows teach kids words or lessons on how to be nice to their friends. I remember when my son was at the zoo looking at the monkeys and he said:" look at their habitat." This child was only 2 at the time but he had learned about animals and their habitats from a kid's TV show. My oldest daughter was reading chapter books in kindergarten and I think that our daily reading along with a children's TV show made reading fun for her.

2, Interactive play

 When kids see their favorite characters from shows like Paw Patrol putting out fires and rescuing cats, they then take those experiences when they are playing with friends. The shows can spark their imagination so they are out in the yard pretending to put out make-believe fires. Think back to your childhood and think about a tv show or a movie that you had fun role-playing with your friends. I loved to imagine that I was Cinderella while my friends were the ugly stepsisters. Preschoolers’ shows are especially effective for generating ideas for learning activities and using characters to motivate kids.



3. Motivate kids to read books

 Reading books to kids is always a good thing to help them learn. A topic on a children's TV show can spark your child to want to learn more about that topic. So you can head to the library and check out books that pertain to that. While at the library, you can even find books that have stories and learning activities from your child's favorite TV show. I remember when grandma gave my kids books that were based on Sesame Street and they not only contained great stories that my kids loved for me to read to them but they had learning activities that taught my kids how to count and match.

4. Encourage exercise

 Exercise is always a good thing, even for kids. I think playing outside is the best way for kids to get exercise but on days that the weather does not cooperate, a kid's TV show may be the thing to help kids burn off some extra energy. It is way more fun to dance and jump with a favorite TV character, especially when mom joins in. When my kids were little and it was too cold to get outside, I would put on some music and we would have a blast dancing in the living room. Back then, there were not many TV shows that encouraged kids to move. Parents today can easily find a children's show that has kids dancing and singing.


5. Downtime or mom time

 I admit that I have used TV for sanity moments or for times that I needed to get something done. I have allowed my children to watch a children's television show when my kids were driving me crazy and I just needed a break. I also have turned on the TV when I need to get something done and the kids would not stop interrupting me. I admit that the educational tv show was able to rescue me at that moment and sure I could have done something else. It is OK once in a while to let your kids watch TV so you can get something done or for a much-needed sanity break. 



Tips for safe TV time

 While TV can be beneficial to kids, too much screen time is not a good thing and may interfere with their behavior and development. We parents are our kid's best teachers and we should not rely on children's TV shows to be a replacement for our attention and teaching. We should at all times know what are kids are watching and follow some guidelines when it comes to kids and TV viewing. So here are some of my tips for safe TV time with children.

Limit the amount of TV time
 
 Kids ages 2-5 should only be watching 1 hour of TV per day according to the American Academy of Pediatrics*. So that usually means 2(30 minute) shows a day. That way TV viewing does not interfere with things like playing outside, reading books, and playing with toys. This includes watching shows on tablets while grocery shopping or during car trips. Kids can become addicted to screen time and may not learn how to entertain themselves or use their imagination.

  I know it is easier to get the grocery shopping done when your child is watching a movie on a device but this time instead could be one that you involve your child in. When they are young, use this time to talk to them about the different items that you see in the store. Have them be your helpers and give them simple tasks like putting the cans of food in the cart or selecting which apples to buy. You are your child's greatest teacher and a trip to the grocery store can be a great learning time. One of my pet peeves is seeing young kids on their parent's phones while they are in stores. Once I even saw a kid playing games on the phone at the zoo. Stores offer so much for kids to look at, so while they are young, stop giving them the phone and allow them to look at things. Another bonus is you don,t have to worry about your phone get damaged.

 My kids do not watch shows while in the car unless we are on vacation. Even then I set limits to the amount of time they can have on their kid-friendly tablets. For daily car trips, they listen to music and sing along or they look out the window. When my family traveled by train earlier this year, I brought with other activities so my kids were not on electronic devices the whole time. My boys enjoyed playing board games while on the train much more than watching movies. Kids may get cranky in the car but offer them books or talk to them.



Monitor what they watch

 Kids are like sponges and they can pick up things like bad words from TV shows that are not geared for kids. So, allow kids to watch tv shows that are made for kids on channels that are geared to kids like Nick Jr. and PBS. If possible watch the children's TV shows with your kids or be in a room that allows you to see the TV. So let the kids watch TV while you clean the dishes but make an effort to pay attention to the show so you can later re-teach something that was on the show. For example, if the letter of the day was B, later that day you can point out items that start with the letter B to reinforce their learning.

Set rules

 It is always a good rule for the child to ask if he can watch tv so they know that mom or dad choose when it is TV time. When you do approve of TV time, let them know how many shows they will be watching so they will not be upset when the tv is turned off. Have a couple of parent-approved channels or shows so it will be easier to select what shows the child can watch. Kids thrive on routine and repetition so having TV time at the same time every day will help cut back on kids asking if they can watch TV. So if your child knows that they get to watch a kid's show after breakfast, they will not ask to watch TV before naptime.

No TV in bedrooms

 Kids need their sleep and having a TV in their bedroom will interfere with healthy sleep habits. It is also hard to monitor what they are watching if the TV is not in your viewing range. Having a TV in the playroom is ok when it is a safe TV for kids. A kid-friendly TV that offers educational content and kid-friendly apps is a good choice for the playroom.

 Ematic just introduced the first-ever PAW Patrol™ TV and this adorable pup-themed TV is perfect for every fan of the hit Nickelodeon show. The 32” TV has a built-in TV Tuner and HD LED display and comes equipped with a matching “Pup Pad” remote, so kids can access all their favorite channels and shows. Loaded with a multitude of high-end functions, the PAW Patrol™ TV from Ematic is built for kids but parents will enjoy it too! Featuring a high definition display resolution, ultra-fast response time and closed captions, this TV is fun for kids and doesn't compromise on the most innovative features available today. This fun TV is available at Walmart.com at a parent-friendly suggested retail price of $129.99.


Watch the shows with your kids

When you choose to watch educational children's tv shows with your kids, you can take what they learned and turn them into learning opportunities later that day or week. If you noticed that the show was discussing about cleaning up their toys, then later in the day when it is time for your child to clean up her toys, you can reference back to the show. If the characters in the show visited a museum, then your child will be excited later when you take him to a museum.

Embrace technology

 When a kid heads to school, chances are they will be learning how to use a computer. Computers are the future so giving them time on electronic devices like a computer or TV can help them be prepared for school. I know that my boys had computer classes starting in first grade and now in middle school, most of their homework is on the computer. So a kid-friendly tv and remote can teach your children the basics of technology. Pressing buttons on kid-friendly remote can teach them about technology and recognition of symbols. They are also learning cause and effect. You don't have to worry about your kids breaking your fancy remote control or messing up your TV programs.

*Limit digital media for your youngest family members. Avoid digital media for toddlers younger than 18 to 24 months other than video chatting. For children 18 to 24 months, watch digital media with them because they learn from watching and talking with you. Limit screen use for preschool children, ages 2 to 5, to just 1 hour a day of high-quality programming. Again co-viewing is best when possible and for young children, they learn best when they are re-taught in the real world what they just learned through a screen. So, if Ernie just taught the letter D, you can reiterate this later when you are having dinner or spending time with your child.

Interactive Learning In The Kitchen With Eat2explore

Make learning fun with cooking

      I received a food subscription box from Eat2explore to facilitate this post.

  As a mom to five kids, I have learned that the best way to help kids learn is to make it exciting and fun. That way kids will have no clue that they are learning. I am that mom who wants to help my child to succeed in school so they can get a good job later on. One way that I like to teach my kids is through cooking. Cooking can teach kids not only the skills that they need but also teach them math, science, and even history. Yes, you can teach kids history through cooking and make your kitchen an interactive learning place. You can make learning history fun for kids with Eat2explore. Eat2Explore is a fun subscription box for kids that includes tasting ingredients from other countries as well as fun learning materials so you can create delicious recipes with your kids while learning about other cultures. The best part is eating food dishes from other countries without having to hop on a plane.

Cooking Subscription Box for Families

 My boys were sent a food subscription box from Eat2explore and the theme for the month was Japan. This monthly subscription box was a great weekend activity for some quality time with my boys. My boys are starting to enjoy cooking and this food craft box is something that they look forward to just like the delicious Gramma dessert boxes that we get every month. The Gramma subscription boxes have helped my boys learn how to make cookies and the Eat2explore boxes will help them learn how to make healthy meals. My boys will one day move out and will have to cook so learning how to make healthy food is always a good thing.

What is eat2explore and is in the cooking subscription box?
Eat2explore is a monthly cooking subscription box that contains food from around the world so experience food from another country along with a history lesson. Your kids will learn about other cultures while tasting new food. This subscription box is the beginning of learning about people around the world.



What is in the box:
3 recipes (4 servings each)
essential spice/sauce mixes
shopping list for fresh ingredients
educational country brochures
educational activity sheets
fun cooking tools
flag pins, stickers, passport

Learning so much through cooking

 Kids learn so much through cooking. Cooking teaches kids math as they have to measure the ingredients. Cooking also teaches kids many basic skills like how to use a knife safely and how to use a stove. Kids also expand their reading with cooking as they read the recipes. The activity sheets that were included in the box will give my boys some learning like math, science, social studies, and science. My boys can do the activities while waiting for the food to cook. There is even a word search and a Hiragana Chart so my boys could learn how to write in Japanese.

Okonomiyaki


Trying new foods
 The Eat2explore box included just the spices and sauce that we needed to make the international dishes so we had to head to the store to buy other ingredients like soba, salmon, and green cabbage. These are new foods to my boys so they were excited to try them. Some of the recipes also called for meat but I liked that one had a vegetarian option. Since we don't eat meat, I will substitute fish for the chicken in one of the recipes, and that way we can still experience the flavors from the sauces and seasonings. I really like that the recipe cards have pictures on them. This month the boys and I made the Okonomiyaki which is a Japanese cabbage pizza. It was super easy to make. The included sauces made this cabbage pizza so yummy. This pizza reminded me of tempura veggies that were made into a pancake. The recipe called for shredded cabbage but I made it easier and used a coleslaw mix. I also did not add the bacon. I do declare that our recipe looks very similar to the photo above that was included in the box. The boys are excited to cook the Salmon teriyaki with the toasted nori and Japanese sticky rice. We will cook this recipe next.

Where can I try out eat2explore?
You can find more information about the Eat2explore subscription box from around the world boxes and their monthly subscriptions on their WEBSITE. This box is a great way for the whole family to learn about other cultures.

What country would you like to learn more about?

The Process Of Turning An Office Into A New Photo Studio

My messy office is being transformed.

Our busy weekend started with a graduation and a track meet. My son graduated high school as the salutatorian of his class! He was almost the valedictorian as he had been number one in his class for 3 years. The girl who was the valedictorian retook a class last summer and had a .033 increase on my son as he had a 4.5-grade point and she had a 4.533-grade point. My son also ran state track the same day and received 6th place with a 4.28-mile time! I am so proud of this boy who is either headed off to the Merchant Marine Academy or the Naval Academy! My son is anxiously awaiting to hear from the Naval Academy. 

The painting of the doors!

We purchased some pine folding doors at Lowes for the new room and decided to whitewash them with gray paint. I am glad my husband took over that job as he would not let me paint. The last time I painted, I think most of the paint ended up all over me. I don't have a process photo of the doors but will show the end result in the next post.

Click here to see the after photos of my new room
Post #3 https://www.momknowsbest.net/2018/05/pictures-of-my-new-photo-studio.html

I reused the old storage cube system.

I decided to incorporate my old storage system into the new room. This smaller cube storage unit would be a great place for me to store products as they get delivered. That way they would be out of sight until I was able to take photos. My youngest son was excited to rebuild it for the new room. 

My husband put together the Ikea storage system with no complaints.

 My husband had no problems putting together the furniture from Ikea and said that Ikea is the only place that he will buy particle board furniture from. It was easy to put together the shelf unit as the pieces all came pre-drilled and the instructions were easy to follow. My husband also hung the new doors and moved the wall shelves up higher. The doors gave him some trouble as we did not account for the baseboards in the measurements. It took us all day to build everything but we did it!

Keep reading to see how the new photo studio/workroom looks.

     The before picture. Click HERE for the after picture.

Post #1 https://www.momknowsbest.net/2018/05/how-this-blogger-updated-office-into.html

Post #3 https://www.momknowsbest.net/2018/05/pictures-of-my-new-photo-studio.html

Botley The 100% Screen-Free Coding Learning Toy & Giveaway

 Coding helps children prepare for the future! Keep reading to discover and awesome giveaway.

         I received a sample from Learning Resources to facilitate this post.

  A few years ago most people did not know what the words Coding, STEM, or STEAM meant. These words are now huge in the educational system. My boys have taught me so much about Coding, STEM, and STEAM in the last few years. My boys have an advantage in the job fields by learning these items from their teacher. I have seen first hand how STEM and Coding have given my teen an advantage in getting scholarships and college preference. For the past four years, my teen has been building underwater robots, flying high altitude balloons and more in his JROTC unit at high school. His JROTC unit leaders have done a great job of helping my son decide to pursue a career in engineering. My son has a passion for Coding and STEM. My son recently won a huge National Navy ROTC scholarship that will pay for all of his college and I know that his Coding and STEM experiences had a huge part in him receiving this scholarship. My son was also accepted into the Merchant Marines Academy. It is wonderful that my son has two options to choose from. My son also received a 2018 New Mexico Excellence in STEM Award that came with a nice scholarship check. He was even interviewed by the news. As you can tell, I am one proud mom.

  Through all of my older son's experiences, I know that STEM (or STEAM as my younger boys gifted teacher likes to call it) and Coding are so important to start at an early age. To think what else my older son could accomplish if he had the Coding toys that are available today to young kids. One toy that I am excited about is Botley™ the Coding Robot! This cool robot makes coding a fun learning experience for kids as young as five years of age. This 100% screen free Coding robot is a toy that my younger boys are having fun with as well as learning at the same time. I am glad that Botley is preparing my boys for the future. Botley is ready to use right out of the box, 100% screen free and includes a 77-piece activity set.

        Let's Get Started!

Never coded before? No problem. I’m ready to use right out of the box and I will have your kids coding in minutes. I can be introduced to children as young as 5, but I grow with them as well – so we’ll have many fun years together!

           Endless Activities, Endless Fun

Coding cards, detachable arms, interactive obstacles, coding games and more – with my 77-pieces, there are endless hours of fun to be had. So, see what I can do because I’m always up for the challenge.

Screen-Free, Yipppeeee!

That’s right, you can learn to code and do it completely screen free – no phone or tablet required. I have an easy to use remote programmer, which transmits your commands and off I’ll go!

Look What I Can Do!

With my advanced features, I grow along with your kids' coding skills. Code me for up to 120 steps, loop me and program me to go around objects with my if/then logic. Turn on the black-line follow mode and set up a path for me to travel. And that’s not all – I even have hidden features to unlock!

Meet Botley

Now go check out how you can get this incredible toy!

https://www.amazon.com/Learning-Resources-Botley-Coding-Multicolor/dp/B077MRB9Z9/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1516637151&sr=8-3&keywords=botley /

Giveaway
I have a Botley The Coding Robot to giveaway to one lucky reader who supports STEM. Head on over to HERE to support STEM Education and to see how you can win $500 in educational toys for your school. Entering is easy and you don't have to sign up for anything. Then come back here and enter on the giveaway form below.

This giveaway is open to US residents 18 years of age or older.  Chances of winning this giveaway depend on the number of entries. All entries will be verified. The winner will be notified within 48 hours of the end of the contest and will then have 24 hours to respond to the email or a new winner will be chosen. Void where prohibited

Entry-Form