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.

10 Tips To Help Kids With Online School

Are you frustrated with virtual school? These 10 tips will help.

   I received samples from Fluidstance to facilitate this post.

 The kids are back in school and their classroom is quite different this year. Even the school supply list is different, as who would have thought that we would be buying face masks and an abundance of hand sanitizer. I have been doing this mom thing for 30 years and I have seen the school supply list change over the years with the additions of soap and plastic bags. I used to joke with my husband that soon the teachers would be asking for toilet paper. I never would have guessed that my kids would be wearing a face mask or staying home doing school on a computer.


 Whether your kids will be returning to a physical school, settling in to learn at home, or a combination of both, school will be a challenge this year if not downright stressful for parents. The pandemic has turned out lives upside down and we need to make the best of our situations. We need to also create a healthy environment so our kids can be successful with learning at home. As parents, we want the best for our kids and while I want my kids to head back to their school building, I also want to keep my kids safe. So I have some tips that I have been using with my boys to help them succeed with doing school at home.

1. Eat a healthy breakfast

  A healthy breakfast is always the best thing to help kids do well in school. So have kids start the school day with a breakfast that provides their bodies with nourishing food. A breakfast that includes protein, carbohydrates, and fruit is what I recommend for growing kids. The protein is good for strong muscles and the carbs will give the kids the energy they need to learn while the fruit will boost their immunity. My boys have been making smoothies every morning but other breakfast ideas that they enjoy are peanut butter sandwiches with sliced fruit, oatmeal, homemade breakfast bars, and even leftover pizza. Even chocolate pancakes can be part of a healthy breakfast when they are loaded with protein. Stay clear of food that is high in sugar like sugary cereals, pop tarts, and donuts, unless they are healthier donuts made with zero-calorie sweeteners like Swerve, as sugar gives quick energy that leads to an energy crash that will leave kids falling asleep during their Zoom meeting.

2. Start the day with exercise



 Starting the day with exercise can help teens wake up and help younger kids be able to focus better in online classes. I have found that morning exercise is great for the body and does wonder for my brain and I am more productive when I go running in the morning. While you may not have the time or patience to get your kids out for a morning walk before school, even five minutes of movement will help the kids be ready for online learning. So put on some fast music and have the kids dance for two or more songs. Make sure to join in on the fun as we stay at home moms need exercise too.


3. Create a learning space

 To help kids learn better at home, create a learning space for them. This space does not have to be fancy but it should be a space, like a desk, that they can associate with learning time. I am not telling you to run out and buy your kid a desk but rather provide a space in the house without any distractions and a clutter-free space for their Chromebook and school supplies. So a bedroom or the living room couch is not ideal learning spaces. This is a time to clean off the kitchen table or even use a walk-in closet for a learning space like my friend did. In my house, there are four people working and doing school so I am upstairs in my college kid's bedroom while my husband is in the living room. My older son is at a table in my photo studio and my younger son is working at the dining room table.

4. Provide useful school supplies

  A clean and clutter-free workspace will help kids learn better. Too much clutter will distract the kids and make it hard for them to focus on the online classroom meeting. While kids are doing most of their learning online, having somewhere to take notes is always a good thing. FluidStance's Slope, a personal desktop whiteboard keeps their workspace clutter-free and helps save the environment. This unique whiteboard is also great for doodling.


  I really like that it is raised off the table and on an angle. While the intended purpose of the Slope is designed to fit perfectly in the space between your keyboard and the monitor, which means that you can slide your keyboard under it for storage, freeing up extra space on your desk, it does not work with the school-issued Chromebooks. For older kids, the Slope can be used to the side of their computer for a great place to take notes or make a to-do list. While for younger kids, the Slope can be placed over the keyboard of their computer while they are watching an online classroom Zoom Meet. That way kids can not touch the keyboard and accidentally log out of their Zoom Meeting. The younger kids can keep their hands busy with doodling on the Slope while listening to their teacher.

5. Keep them moving

 Kids have a hard time sitting still for long and having to sit at a computer all day is hard. Even my teen said to me that he is tired of sitting all day. So get the kids off their chairs and let them wiggle on a FluidStance Balance Board. This fun balance board is for kids who need to keep moving when they're doing their homework, gaming, reading, and more. So it is perfect for computer instructional learning as it enables non-distracting motion while also giving kids some healthy exercise. Standing to work is better than sitting.

 Research by The Mayo Clinic showed a 15% increase in heart rate and 19.2% increase in energy expenditure when users were on the Balance boards. The balance board keeps you moving and healthy by combating the negative health issues associated with a sedentary lifestyle, so they are great for adults too. The Balance board is just plain fun to stand on.

 The minute you step on to the Balance Board and start moving, you’ll notice a difference in how you work. Your mind will focus, while your body will respond with natural micro-movements that will soothe stiff joints, burn calories, keep you awake and alert. This unique board will also strengthen and stabilize your body.

6. Provide healthy snacks

 To help kids learn better, kids need snack breaks. So stock up the fridge or pantry with grab and go healthy snacks that kids can grab between classes. I like to make a batch of healthy vegan peanut butter cookies for my boys to snack on as they are loaded with healthy peanut butter. My boys also like snacking on Plant-Based Healthy No Bake Salted Chocolate Brownies. For more healthy snack ideas for kids check out this article on healthy after school snacks. Snacking is good for kids.


7. Keep them hydrated

 Kids need encouragement to drink water throughout the day. I know from experience that I get busy and I don't make time for drinking water. 75% of Americans suffering from chronic dehydration and mistake hunger for thirst. Dehydration can make you feel tired and make it difficult for kids to pay attention to their online classroom.

 So make drinking water easy for kids with a 70 oz Fillup water station. Fillup is your very own Water Tower, that keeps a personal supply of water right at your fingertips. The 70-oz. size holds a full day's supply, and a double-walled tank keeps water cold for 24 hours. So place this unique water station in a place where kids can grab a glass of water quickly. The Fillup will remind kids to quench their thirst throughout the day.

 Fillup can be used anywhere: on your desk—whether at home or in the office, on your bedside table, in your kitchen, on your back patio, and more. Like all of the FluidStance products, Fillup's minimalist design and premium construction use BPA-free, eco-friendly materials. Plus, did you know that by using Fillup, you can save 4 plastic water bottles per day?

8. Provide fun learning materials

When kids are not engaged in online classes, make learning fun with STEM activity kits. At home school and learning do not have have to be like traditional school lessons and I have realized that my kids are still learning even without me having to make lesson plans. I have learned to utilize fun STEM Science Experiment Kits that make learning fun. I have discovered some science kids that engaged my boys in educational fun so the school learning. These STEM kits make learning math and science fun for kids.

9. Non-traditional ways to learn 

 Learning does not always have to take place in a book or online. Think outside the classroom and teach kids math and science with baking. Making a loaf of frog bread teaches kids math through measuring and mixing. Watching yeast turn water into foam is a science lesson too. So kids will love a learning lesson that involves eating.


 You can also teach kids art when you use food ingredients to turn bread dough into a work of art. This Focaccia Bread Flowers recipe is so fun to make. Another way to teach kids through fun is with fun educational learning games that stimulate the brain. Kids will learn how to solve problems and even reading with games that are so much fun.

10. Have patience 

 This online learning thing is new for most everyone. So try not to stress over it. Stress makes the learning environment and home a bad place. Give yourself as a parent some grace and don't try to be the perfect teacher for your kids. Kids need you as a parent more than a teacher. Also, have patience with the teachers and the school system as everyone is learning how to best teach the kids through a virus pandemic. Kids may not have their best learning this year but they will be ok. When things are safe again and kids can go back to school, the kids will catch up on learning. Instead of trying to have the perfect homeschool for your kids, instead, focus on having a healthy loving home for your kids. Even when you think kids are not learning, they really are. This year the learning may not be in a traditional school but it is going to be ok.

Make Learning Fun With Free Online Math Games

Are you homeschooling your kids? 

Sponsored post

Things have drastically changed for many families in the past month. Most people are having to stay at home to help flatten the curve of a respiratory virus and for so many, that means kids are not going to school. That means parents are now left with the job of teaching their children and that can be adding to the stress of this pandemic virus outbreak.


 Many parents are also working from home so teaching their kids may be hard while they are trying to do their own work. While some parents are able to figure out how to best homeschool their children, many like myself are struggling with teaching their kids things like math. For the past couple of weeks, I have let my children just play on the computer and outside as I just am not able to work and homeschool at the same time. Even if I had time on my hands, I just don't feel like I am able to teach my kids and that has been leaving me with the mom guilt. Sure I have been searching online for math programs and encouraging my kids to read more. I even suggested that they write about their daily life, they were not happy about that. My kids just don't want their mom to be their teacher. So I put the idea of me homeschooling my kids out of my mind as I did not want to add any additional stress to our house. I am ok with not teaching my kids but I knew that my kids needed things to do and me allowing them way too much screen time was not the answer. I knew that their computer time needed some learning time. So I am glad that I discovered a website that has free online math games.

Make learning time fun with free online math games

 My boys are tweens and are independent learners. They were succeeding in school thanks to these school learning tips and I wanted to keep them learning while they are at home for the rest of the school year. So while I did allow my boys to be on the computer more, I also made sure that some of the computer time was allocated for learning time. One website that my boys are enjoying has plenty of fun math games that are teaching them math and refreshing their math skills. The best part for me is these math equation games are free and the games do not require email sign-ups or logins. Nor are the math games monetized with ads. These are the best educational games for kids.

Math games for all ages

 I love that the website that has math games has games that teach all ages. So my boys spent their screen time learning addition, division, multiplication, and subtraction at a level for their grade. There were plenty of games to keep my boys engaged in math learning. Each of the different games had a star difficulty rating so my boys could select the game that matched their middle school learning level. There was even math games for preschoolers.


Math and puzzle games to train the brain

 The math games went beyond basic math skills and included logic-based math games. My older son enjoyed a math game called CalcuDoku that combined math and sodoku for a challenging math game. My younger son enjoyed playing the Grocery Cashier that tough him math life skills. My boys were having so much fun playing the math games that they forgot that they were learning. I was happy that my boys were learning math with fun computer games. The list of math games even included some crossword puzzles, word searches, and other word-related games so my boys were even enhancing their language art skills.

Math games for homeschool teaching

 The online math games are not only free to play but can be useful for homeschool teaching and for teachers. These educational games are great for teachers and parents who are looking for ways to teach kids math on the computer. So kids will have fun learning math while they are at home. The math games are colorful and interactive so they will keep kids entertained. The games that teach math kept my boys busy and they even played some of the games together which is good due to the fact they have to share a computer. While my boys were stimulating their brains on the computer, this mom saw them smiling and laughing together. My mom's guilt about not being able to homeschool went away as I was finally figuring out a way to homeschool my boys in a way that they liked. My boys were again learning while at home. So if you are looking for a way to teach your children math, you need to check out these free online math games that will make your job as a parent/teacher a bit easier.

Summer Learning With The Electric Motors Catalyst

The ultimate kit for young tinkerers to think outside the box

              I received a STEM learning kit to facilitate this post.

 School may be out for the summer but that does not have to be the end of learning. They say that when kids take a long break from school it can hurt their learning as they forget what they learned in school. So I like to keep my kids learning during the summer break. I want my kids to succeed in school and that to me means providing my kids with opportunities to keep learning. Summer learning does not have to be boring for kids with books and worksheets. There are many ways to make learning fun for kids with activities and STEM learning kits. I make learning fun for boys so they will want to engage with the materials that I provide them. My boys love robotics and creating things. My youngest has a knack for building things and wants to invent things. He was to be an inventor or engineer when he grows up.

Check out some of the ways I help my child succeed in school

https://www.momknowsbest.net/2018/08/helping-your-child-succeed-in-school.html

 One of the fun summer learning activity that I have for my boys this summer is a fun hands-on-STEM kit. The Electric Motor Catalyst kit from Tinkering Labs will teach my boys science, technology, engineering, and math. This exciting learning kit has over 50 parts in it and allows my boys to use their creativity to create over 16 inventions. The best part is the inventions don't take long to build everything is included in the box, even batteries. The STEM kit has examples that show kids what to build but it also allows for kids to build beyond those inventions.

Ten Challenges to get minds moving

 The STEM kit includes ten challenge cards with ideas to help kids think outside the box and take the include parts to make something like a machine to scramble an egg. I love that the challenges take 30-60 minutes to create as any longer seems to frustrate my boys. The ideas do not require kids to have any tinkering experience and are designed to get their hands and minds moving. 

A box of fun that teaches

 My boys were super excited to start creating with the Electric Motors Catalyst kit. The instructions were super easy for them and they did not need my help. I loved that they were able to work together and have fun. My boys stay busy for a long time and I loved that they were not on electric devices all morning. I was able to get work done while they created some cool machines that did everything from scrambling an egg to drawing a picture. Their gifted teacher would be proud to know that they were enriching their minds with learning during their summer break. This kit is just one of the many activities that my boys will do this summer to enrich their learning. We will also be visiting the children's Explora museum several times as we have a family membership. 

Storage bag included

 I loved that the learning kit came with a cloth storage bag so clean-up was easy. All the parts were available for my boy's next invention. The bag of parts then was easy to store in the box with the instruction books. The bag of parts was just the beginning of my boy's creation as they used their creative minds beyond the box and started adding other things to their inventions. Every time that my boys played with the Electric Motors Catalyst they came up with different ideas on how to build with the 50+ parts. 

What learning activities do your kids do in the summer?

Extend The Learning Outside The Classroom With VTech and LeapFrog

Summer is over & it’s time to start thinking about school!

       I received some toys from VTech and LeapFrog to check out for my new granddaughter.

  My boys are all back in school. The youngest two are now in 5th and 6th grade and the older two are in college. So now it is time to shift the focus from all day fun to learning along with fun. I believe that kids learn best when there is some fun involved. My children have always been good students as I developed the love for learning at an early age. When my kids were young they enjoyed using interactive learning toys when they were not in school. These toys along with mom interaction helped my children learn things like ABCs, Math, reading, and so much more. Then when they started school the interactive toys helped them increase the things that their teacher taught them. The fun toys that played music and had bright lights along with buttons to press were also great for long car trips. My boys had fun and learned at the same time.

Check out these tips for helping your child succeed in school 

  Now that my boys are older, they prefer learning games on the computer instead of the handheld interactive learning toys. My daughter just had a baby so as a first-time grandma, I am now looking at some fun learning toys that VTech and LeapFrog have that introduce important skills. My grandbaby is still too young for these type of toys as all those flashing lights and sounds are too stimulating for her growing brain. I believe that these types of toys are great ages 2 and up. I also believe that electronic toys should not replace interaction between a parent and a child. Parents should still read and sing to their children. I am one that uses the trip to the store with my child as quality time and I will use this opportunity for learning by having my kids help me look for items in the store. It cringes me when I see young kids in a shopping cart watching a movie on a device and a parent talking on the phone. I once even saw a young child watching a movie on a phone while walking behind their parents in a store. We parents need to slow down and spend time with our kids even if it means talking to them while at the grocery store.

Interactive toys can enhance learning

  Notice that I said these toys can enhance one on one learning that kids get from parents or teachers and should not be a substitute for learning. These type of toys can help the parent teach their child as the sounds and bright lights stimulate senses and encourage fine learning. They can also help build important skills. My boys would play with these toys and I would have fun with them. I just loved singing the ABCs with my boys. I love the learning toys that have a digital writing pen as it saves paper as they are learning to write.

Check out my favorites for my new grandbaby!

VTECH® Touch & Discover Sensory Turtle™ 
           Ages 3+ months

   I like this cute turtle as it can be enjoyed without the electronic part, making it a perfect toy for younger kids. My grandbaby can get some great fine motor skills and sensory play as she touches the different textures on the turtle. I love that this cute colorful turtle is also soft so little ones will not be hurt when they drop it. The turtle also has a mirror as babies love looking at themselves. When my granddaughter gets older, her mom can turn the turtle on so the baby can press the buttons to learn her colors. This cute plush will be great for long car ride entertainment.

 When the Touch & Discover Sensory Turtle™ comes out of his shell, he's sure to entertain your little one! This cuddly plush turtle features a variety of textures, colors, and patterns to stimulate your baby's senses and encourage fine motor skills. Play peek-a-boo with the cute and cuddly turtle by tucking in his head and legs to change him into a soft, wobbly ball for 2-in-1 play. The chunky button on the top of the shell is easy for little ones to press and lights up in a variety of colors as it responds with sounds, music, and cute phrases. The shell includes a baby-safe mirror, rattle, and ring. There's plenty to see, touch and explore with this textured tortoise!

LEAPFROG® Go-with-Me ABC Backpack™     Age 3+ years

 When my daughter starts teaching the baby her ABCs, this Backpack will help my granddaughter recognize the letters and help her to write the letters. I like that everything stores inside the case so nothing gets lost. I can see little ones having fun carrying the interactive toy on their back and pretending to go to school. The toy will help my daughter to help the baby associate the letters with sounds and words as they place the letters into the spaces. I remember the fun that my boys use to have pressing buttons on their ABC toy and the repeating the letter and the word that the toy would say. This would be a perfect toy to take along for doctor appointments to help pass the time while waiting for the doctor in the boring examination room. I never understood why all the fun toys were in the waiting room and there was never anything to play with once we got back to the exam room, except for a couple books that we read through quickly. This mom could only do so much singing or I Spy while waiting forever for the doctor.

Embark on a learning adventure with Mr. Pencil and the Go-with-Me ABC Backpack™. This one of a kind toy lets toddlers interact with the alphabet in awesome ways. Using the write and erase board, kids can practice letter writing and draw with Mr. Pencil. The screen shows how to write each letter step-by-step and then shows how to turn each letter into animals. Inserting the 26 letter pieces into the letter spaces teaches the letter name, letter sound, an animal that begins with that letter and more. Little learners can play seven different activities and when they’re done, the plastic backpack holds all the pieces inside. Clip the backpack closed and wear like a real backpack for learning on the go. Draw, learn and get going!

LEAPFROG® Storytime Buddy™
      Age 2+ years

 This cute puppy will be great for long car trips and helping my grandbaby fall asleep. I always read a story to my boys at bedtime but there were some nights that they had trouble falling asleep after the story and they wanted to stay up all night. So I would turn on some music or play a book on a tape to help them fall asleep. This cute puppy is soft so it can stay in bed with them and maybe when the baby wakes up she will play with the toy for a bit so mom can get that much-needed sleep. This toy can encourage a love for reading in young kids while helping them learn numbers, shapes, and other items. It is never to early to start reading to babies, my daughter who is also a teacher even brought a children's book to the hospital when the baby was born. I am not sure if she got a chance to read to the baby as the baby was having trouble learning to eat. My grandbaby is going to be smart as I know that my daughter will read to her plenty as my daughter read to her younger brothers. I remember the first time I brought one of the youngest boys, who was 18 months at the time, to the library and how he got so excited about seeing all the books.

Encourage a love of reading with the plush Storytime Buddy™! Choose from five books about Buddy and his friends Bella, Cooper, Mona, and Pepper and Buddy will read each one. Beginner readers can read along while learning about emotions, shapes, numbers, colors, and opposites. Kids can also interact with Buddy by answering reading comprehension questions and singing along to happy learning songs. When it's time for bed, they can snuggle up and drift off to sleep as Buddy quietly reads bedtime stories or plays Brahms' Lullaby while his tag becomes a color-changing nightlight.

Which LeapFrog or VTech toy is your favorite?