RUKO AMPHIBIOUS RC TRUCK FOR GIRLS

Ruko, known for their high quality flying drones, is expanding its product offerings by manufacturing fun toys for kids which include remote control cars and trucks. They were kind enough to send me one of their new RC trucks that has a purple and pink color scheme that shows girls they can be feminine and rugged at the same time. This remote control truck has style but also is tough enough for having plenty of off road fun with it. 

I just received this Ruko amphibious remote control truck for girls; so stay tuned for an upcoming review as we take it outside to play around with it. From unboxing it, I can say my first hand impression is that this toy is durably built and meant to be played with. Here are some details about this amphibious rc truck for girls:

• It is waterproof and meant to be run across beaches, through mud puddles and gotten wet. Ruko just warns not to fully submerse the truck. So don't pretend it is a submarine. IPX6 waterproof rating.
• This Ruko RC truck includes a rechargeable battery to power it that provides approximately 50 minutes per charge of play time. The remote control does require two AAA batteries though that are not included. 
• The chassis height of the vehicle is optimized for having 4X4 off road fun. Climb over obstacles, race through different terrains, and splash through water with it.
• 1:10 scale with working head lights and brake lights. 15.3 inches long, 10.3 inches wide and 8.2 inches high.
• Anti-collision design includes sturdy front and rear bumpers. The rear bumper also serves as a carrying handle.
• Also available in blue and green tones so there is a color option that will be appealing to any girl or boy.
• Purchases made at ruko.net include FREE shipping within the mainland United States.

This girl dad appreciates that Ruko made a 4X4 toy truck with a color scheme meant to be appealing to ladies. Making toys appealable to girls to entice them into becoming gearheads and having an interest in STEM is a plus in this dad's book. I'm always geeked when my daughter shares my interest in cars and motor sports. 

NEW ALBUM FROM JESSA CAMPBELL AND THE SAPLINGS

Bringing a funky flair to dynamic music that celebrates the rich biodiversity of the forest, FOREST FLOW, the second album for families from Parents’ Choice Award-winning Jessa Campbell & the Saplings, was released today. Forest Flow is available on all major music platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, and Bandcamp. This new album from Jessa Campbell and the Saplings incorporates elements of hip-hop, pop, dance, and folk to create a fun, engaging kindie music experience that kids will love.

From her home in Portland, Oregon, Jessa Campbell writes upbeat, danceable, STEM- and ecology-based songs that are inspired by the musical tastes of her own children and informed by the styles of the adult bands with which she regularly performs. Forest Flow is a collaborative album, weaving together contributions from some of Jessa’s favorite artists and friends: GRAMMY-nominated hip-hop musician SaulPaul, LDW (Portland’s Talking Heads tribute and new wave/funk band), TravisT of Eastern Sunz (multi-award-winning hip-hop duo), Palo-Mah (Mexican-American folk songstress), and Native hip-hop artist 2 8 Tha Native.

While its focus is on ecology and STEM-related topics, FOREST FLOW avoids feeling preachy or didactic. Instead, the songs are playful and imaginative, encouraging kids to explore the natural world, discover its wonders for themselves, and get up and move their bodies. Age-appropriate and easy-to-sing-along-with lyrics make Forest Flow wonderful for family car rides or dance parties at home.

The album kicks off with “Rainbow Flow,” which features two-time GRAMMY-nominated Saul Paul and is already receiving airplay on SiriusXM’s Kids Place Live. “Movement is Chemistry,” a Talking Heads-inspired synth-pop number that is also receiving airplay on Kids Place Live, was written with and features LDW. On “Vuela, Vuela, Fly,” Palo-Mah and Campbell sing a bilingual story about monarch butterflies who start out as eggs on milkweed plants in the United States and end up traveling all the way to Mexico, where the song’s lyrics change to Spanish.

“For this album with the newer pop/dance/hip-hop sound that I’m bringing to the table, my band is made up of musicians who play with LDW,” Campbell commented to ageekdaddy.com. “These fabulous musicians are top notch players who really take the show to the next level for families. LDW’s lead singer, Lawrence Orleck, and I have been performing together for 8 years in that ensemble! Since we both have 7-year-olds, we decided it was time to write some funky music for our kids, whose musical tastes have expanded since the 2019 release of my previous kids’ album, the folk-oriented Can You Feel It?”

Make learning fun by incorporating STEM into fun things like music has been one of my parenting mantras. So, I'm GEEKED that Jessica Campbell has provided me with some free digital download codes for FOREST FLOW to giveaway. If you have a preschool or elementary school aged child in your life don't miss out on this blog giveaway!

Just complete the rafflecopter entries below before 11:59pm ET on June 18, 2023 for a chance to get FOREST FLOW for free. Winners will be randomly selected from all eligible entries. Must be a United States resident 18 years or older to participate in this promotion. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Jessa Campbell bridges the worlds of music and ecology, enchanting young audiences with the wonders of nature through her songs. With a background that includes performing in the national touring production of the hit television show Dragon Tales, Jessa is no stranger to children’s entertainment. She has traveled the world as lead singer/dancer on Holland America world cruises, sung backup for Wayne Newton, and headlined many festivals with Portland-based LDW (Talking Heads tribute and original funk band) and Taken by the Sky (Fleetwood Mac tribute band, in which Jessa performs as “Stevie Nicks”). Jessa has studied with Lorna Luft, Barry Manilowe, and Doug Hallenbeck, and she has also been privileged to learn from several world-renowned vocal teachers during time spent performing at the Chautauqua Opera House.

She began writing ecology-based songs with her young students in a “Wonders of Nature” class at a local learning center. Together, they explored simple science concepts through music, which ultimately led to the creation of Jessa’s first family album, Can You Feel It? released in 2019. Can You Feel It? landed a Parents’ Choice Silver Award, was featured on SiriusXM’s Kids Place Live channel, and enjoyed the "High Five Album of the Week" spotlight on Australia’s Kinderling Kids Radio.

BATMAN DAY 2021

Holy Coloring Pages and Activity Sheets Batman! It's Batman Day! Enjoy this Caped Crusader themed activity kit courtesy of DC Comics to have a super fun time today:

 

ARE DRONES A WORTHWHILE INVESTMENT FOR YOUR CHILDREN?

There is no doubt that playing around with drones is great fun. As children’s toys go, however, drones can be relatively expensive to buy. Therefore it is important for parents to learn more about this tech to decide if drones are worth the money to buy for their kids. Are you a mom or dad with a child wishing for a drone? Then here’s what you need to know.

THE EDUCATIONAL VALUE  DRONES
 

Technology isn't a luxury for today' children. They are going to be spending their entire lives utilizing technology in their everyday life that previous generation would have considered sci fi fantasies. It’s therefore vital that modern kids get comfortable with tech from an early age. In the real world, technology means a lot more than devices with screens, like smartphones, tablets, and, of course, computers. It increasingly means autonomous devices and robotics. 

Drones can therefore provide a great way to learn about using different types of technology in a fun and entertaining way. They can also provide a much more “hands-on” experience than other forms of tech. For example, smartphones, tablets, and laptops are all, essentially sealed units. They do what other people design and program them to do. Drones, by contrast, can be taken apart, rebuilt, and programmed. 

DRONES AND STEM 

Possibly the most obvious educational purpose of drones is helping to teach STEM subjects, particularly math, physics, and coding. The great benefit of using drones as an educational tool for these subjects is that they can help to bridge the connection between theory and practice. This can help make STEM subjects relevant to kids and hence both more interesting and easier to grasp. 

For example, you could teach subjects such as physics with the help of videos. This is likely to be a whole lot more engaging than just listening to a teacher explaining academic points. With a drone, however, children can actually explore physics principles by flying a drone and observe first-hand why their science lessons are important. 

Exploring drones mobility can also be tied to learning about math. For example, drones can turn lessons in geometry and trigonometry into into real-world uses rather than just seeing these topics as homework problems. This can give children a much clearer understanding of the role math plays in the everyday world. 

DRONES AND CREATIVITY

On the flip side of the coin, drones are also great for sparking creativity. Drones can’t take you up in the air the way helicopters can. They are, however, able to deliver a large part of the experience of flight in a very flexible and economical way. This opens up all kinds of options for exploring, including accessing places it might not otherwise be safe to view or visit.

Flying drones can therefore provide all kinds of inspiration for creative endeavors such as storytelling, art, and even music. They can also bring a whole new dimension to playtime, especially outdoor playtime. Technology has brought all kinds of benefits to society in general and children in particular. It has, however, also encouraged the development of sedentary lifestyles. 

Encouraging children to participate in sports is one way to counterbalance this. In reality, however, not all children are interested in sports. What’s more, as children get older, they can find sports teams (and even schools) pushing them towards competitions and this may not appeal to them. Flying drones can be a great way to get children outdoors, participating in an activity and having fun.

DRONES AND MOTOR SKILLS

Honing fine motor skills are crucial life lessons that are often overlooked with our youth. One of the reasons why it can be so hard for children to develop fine motor skills is that they take both focus and practice. Which is difficult to do if you’re bored with an activity. Drones keep children engaged while challenging them to push their boundaries safely. In blunt terms, the worst that can happen is that children crash the drone.

Flying a drone requires children to concentrate so they can process the necessary information to control its flight. They then need to convert this knowledge into instructions passed through their hands. As a result, they improve their perception of depth, their hand-eye coordination, and their ability to adapt to changing conditions. 

DRONES AND SOFT SKILLS 

Learning soft skills is vital children to develop into productive adults. Whether as a freelancer/entrepreneur or as an employee, soft skills are a key aspect of being successful in the work force. As with all skills, the earlier your children start learning them, the longer they have to perfect them. 

Flying a drone can be done alone. Parents and educators can, however, up the stakes by setting challenges that are easier and quicker to complete in teams. This gives children an early taste of the project work that is almost certainly going to become a fact of life for them in their later years. 

In fact, drones can even be used as part of formal educational projects. This is particularly viable towards the latter end of high school and in tertiary education. What’s more, even if drones aren’t the focus of a project, they can also be a useful tool for its completion. 

DRONES COMPARED TO OTHER TOYS

 It’s clear that drones have all kinds of educational benefits. It does, however, need to be acknowledged that there are plenty of other educational toys on the market too. Drones, therefore, need to be assessed in comparison with other alternatives. 

Probably the most obvious point of comparison to drones is remote-controlled vehicles some of which can fly. These are not, however, as robust as decent drones so their range is more limited. They also tend to need better weather to work effectively. Also, rc toys tend not to have cameras. This is a major limitation compared to drones. 

There are plenty of toys that do some of what drones do. For example, LEGO is great for both developing construction skills and fostering creativity. There are also “semi-toys” like science kits (and Raspberry Pis) that make learning fun. Many of these can deliver great value. None of them, however, offer the same range of educational benefits as drones. 

CHOOSING A DRONE FOR YOUR CHILD

While drones were originally made for adults there now are a variety of them made with children in mind. Some of these actually can be very cheaply priced. This does not necessarily make them great value. In fact, it’s generally best to pay a bit extra upfront to get better all-around quality. 

The first point you should check is whether or not the drone has a camera. Most do but some are essentially just highly advanced RC helicopters. Once you’ve established this check the overall build quality, flying time, speed, range, and charging time. Then check the controller. It needs to be easy for young hands to work. 

Remember that smaller drones tend to have shorter flight times due to their smaller batteries. That said, they also tend to have shorter charging times, again, also due to their smaller batteries. Then take a closer look at the components, particularly the batteries. Find out how easy it is to replace them. This means both in terms the ease of getting the parts and the compatibility of the available parts to your drone. Make sure to see how much replacement parts cost too because kids crash drones so your initial purchase price isn't going to be your only expense if you want to get long term use out of the drone you select.

Happy flying!

USING TECH TO HAVE FUN WITH YOUR KIDS

Many of us are spending more time at home than usual and it brings both challenges and benefits for parents. Being at home affords more time with the kids but it can be difficult to keep children and teens entertained preventing them from moaning about boredom and having nothing to do. Here are some dad tips on how to use tech to have fun with your kids that will have them geeked about spending time around the house with mom and dad.

Augmented Reality

From allowing dinosaurs to jump out of the pages of books to providing instantaneous tutorials on solving a Rubik's Cube that is in the palm of your hand there are a lot of fun and interesting uses of Augmented Reality available through today's technology. Augmented Reality (AR) provides interactive opportunities that merge real world environments with digital effects to enhance or alter perceptions of reality. From playing with Baby Yoda in our family's living room to taking a virtual tour of the Alamo seeing the site as it existed during the famous battle for Texas independence, my kids have had numerous entertaining and educational AR experiences. Whether you want to get a close up 3D look at farm animals without visiting the countryside or interact with your favorite Star Wars characters there are numerous ways to have fun with your kids utilizing augmented reality.

Robotics

Interacting with robots used to be just a fantastic idea from sci fi stories. Now utilizing robots around the house is a reality. There are robotic toys that teach kids to code and other STEM skills. Drones that you can race through obstacle courses or use for taking photography. There are even robots that can help with household chores like cleaning your swimming pool or mowing the lawn. 

Movies and Music Streaming 

It’s great to be able to go out and catch a movie or book tickets to a gig, but you don’t have to fork out a fortune or drive for hours to have a good time. Movie and music fans can benefit from streaming services and TV and music subscriptions that provide access to endless programs, playlists and new releases. You can stream music from Amazon’s music services and enjoy your own at-home concert, watch movies with popcorn on a Saturday night and make sure you’re up to date with the TV shows that everyone is talking about. 

Speaking of home concerts, you could also consider investing in additional musical equipment for your setup so that you and your children can create your own live performances. Should you both enjoy playing guitar but want to add a drummer, then you can do so without seeking extra help. You can purchase a BeatBuddy (drummer pedal) from Singular Sound, which will help you enhance your music and no longer need to fuss about controlling a drumbeat during a live performance in your home own. You can simply tap your foot and create professional feels and transitions with minimal extra effort while having fun.

Listening to music can lift your mood and movie nights are a fantastic way to bring the family together and save money on frequent trips to the movie theater. You can even star in your very own television show on YouTube.

Gaming 

Gaming has become increasingly popular in the last 12 months as people look for fun ways to spend time at home and remotely socialize with friends. There are myriad options when it comes to playing games. You can play alone or as part of a team, you can challenge opponents, you can play online and you can use consoles or a PC. Technology now allows you to chat instantaneously with other players anywhere around the globe as part of game playing experiences. There are titles to suit adults and kids and you can team up to take on competitors or organize competitions between family members. Gaming provides a release and an escape from the real world and it’s an excellent way to engage with other people when you might not be able to see them face-to-face.

Exercise 

You might assume that exercise and home technology don’t go hand-in-hand but tech can actually play an integral role in helping people to be more active. You can use wearable technology to count steps and set targets for yourself and your children, you can work out at home using gym equipment or you can get involved with virtual workouts and sessions that are suitable for adults or the whole family. My kids participated in a virtual running challenge during the pandemic.

 Being active has advantages for all ages. As well as helping to boost heart health, lower the risk of type 2 diabetes and obesity and build strength and stamina, exercise also has incredible benefits for mental wellbeing. Moving your body makes you feel good due to increased levels of serotonin and dopamine in the brain and the release of endorphins, known as happy hormones.

Dads like myself from all over the world are spending more time at home than ever before. If you’re a dad on a mission to have as much fun as possible with your kids, taking advantage of tech is a great way to accomplish that goal. You can connect with friends and family, have dance parties, have epic video game competitions and get fit with the modern conveniences that today's technological advances provide us.

E-BLOX ADDS A CHARGE TO BRICK BUILDING FUN

Constructing things with plastic construction block building sets is one of my son's favorite things to do.  So he's been having himself a really good time playing around with a pack of E-Blox® LED building blocks.  With E-Blox, kids can learn about electricity and circuitry while having fun building stuff that includes working lights embedded within their creations.  Create a lighthouse tower, creature with eyes that shine, any other countless ideas you can imagine.  Build something from scratch using one of the available E-Blox pARTS™ play sets or incorporate them into something that you've already built because E-Blox are compatible with all the major plastic brick and block building toy brands.

Combining classic style plastic toy blocks with tin-plated ones allows kids to build an electrical circuit within whatever they are building which power LED lights that are part of the buildings, sculptures or vehicles they are crafting.  E-Blox® patented technology allows for seamlessly integrating a circuit within  plastic toy construction block creations without wires to bundle and hide allowing power to flow from a battery to the embedded electrical components directly through connected tin-plated blocks.  The hands-on experience of making a three dimensional working circuit provides a great STEM learning experience and won E-Blox a 2017 Creative Child Magazine Preferred Choice Award.

E-Blox sent A Geek Daddy its pARTS Deluxe Set to try out and my son has been having a lot of fun testing it out.  Recommended for ages 8 and up, this E-Blox set contains over 100 parts that let circuits be built directly into projects to light up your builds though one 9V battery is required but not included.  There are enough pieces for kids to build their own original ideas or you can use your E-Blox components to illuminate something built from another brand's toy brick or block playset. Keep reading to find out out more about our E-Blox experience and to enter a giveaway for a chance to win a Starter Set of your own.

My son started off  discovering just the right way to connect his circuits to the negative and positive battery electrical charge connections to get his LED lights glowing through building some basic towers.  He didn't want any help from dad and it was impressive watching him work things out for himself learning to get the LED lights to glow in different configurations and layouts.  As he figured out how the tin-plated blocks needed to connect or be separated for a working electrical circuit to function it was like seeing a light bulb flickering on in his head with every success.

Once he mastered the basics of creating a circuit, my son began to get creative. His next creation was a robot with LED eyes that not only light up but change color as well.  He put a lot of effort into building this robot and it took awhile for him to get the circuit to work just right.  When it was done I could tell he was really proud of himself. Now my son wants to use his E-Blox to add their LED lighting blocks to a toy plastic brick coast guard cutter that he has on his bedroom shelf.

If you look closely at the robot's layout, the tin-plated bricks connect to the battery at one side, flow through the interior of the model, then loop back around behind it to complete the circuit.  My son was trying to have the circuit not to be noticeably distracting from the look of the robot and I think he did a good job in accomplishing that.  He was so excited when he flipped the on switch on the battery case and those robot's eyes started shining.

GIVEAWAY 

To share my son's enthusiasm for E-Blox, A Geek Daddy has a pARTS Starter Set to giveaway.  It comes with 25 parts to build 3D circuits to light up your own toy construction block masterpieces.  For a chance to win the E-Blox pARTS Starter Set just complete the rafflecopter entries below by May 28, 2018 at 11:59 pm ET.  Must be a United States resident over 18 years old to be eligible for this promotion.  Prizes can only be delivered with the continental United States and fulfillment is the responsibility of E-Blox.  Please reply back within 48 hours of notification of being the randomly selected winner with your mailing information to accept the prize or otherwise the prize will be forfeited and a new person selected to receive it. Good luck to all our entrants!

a Rafflecopter giveaway
For their ability to incorporate STEM learning into make playtime educational as well as entertaining, E-Blox have earned A Geek Daddy nod of approval.  Being able to introduce lighting effects into toy brick and block creations without having to utilize wiring is an amazing feature to take advantage of that is sure to delight and thrill any child.  Easy to use and durably built, E-Blox is a great pick up for elementary school aged girls and boys. E-Blox is sure to add a charge to the fun of playing with brick and block construction toys. For more information, head over to their website at myeblox.com.

Marvel Studios THOR: RAGNAROK Superpower of STEM Challenge

Marvel Studios is encouraging girls to unleash the power of STEM as part of the promotion of their upcoming movie THOR: RAGNAROK.  Between now and September 23, girls aged 15 - 18 in grades 10 - 12 living within the United States can submit an original STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) inspired Do-It-Yourself project for a chance to win a trip to Log Angeles.  Five finalists will be selected to present their projects in person to a panel of experts and attend the Red Carpet Premiere of Marvel Studios' THOR: RAGNAROK.

One grand-prize winner will be selected from the five finalists to attend an immersive three-day mentorship in New York City with Disney Imagineering to build her STEM story, creating a professional-level video teaching other young people how to recreate her Challenge-winning project. The winner will also have the opportunity to demonstrate her Superpower of STEM project live to the nation with a brief appearance on Good Morning America. (The Walt Disney Company is the parent company of Good Morning America / ABC News.) The video created during her mentorship will be made available to students, teachers and families worldwide on the American Association for the Advancement of Science education resource website ScienceNetLinks.com.

For application forms, eligibility requirements, official contest rules and more information about MARVEL STUDIOS’ THOR: RAGNAROK SUPERPOWER OF STEM CHALLENGE, visit www.marvelstudiosstemchallenge.com



In Marvel Studios’ THOR: RAGNAROK, Thor is imprisoned on the other side of the universe without his mighty hammer and finds himself in a race against time to get back to Asgard to stop Ragnarok—the destruction of his homeworld and the end of Asgardian civilization—at the hands of an all-powerful new threat, the ruthless Hela. But first he must survive a deadly gladiatorial contest that pits him against his former ally and fellow Avenger—the Incredible Hulk! THOR: RAGNAROK thunders into movie theaters across the US on November 3, 2017.  The film is directed by Taika Waititi and returns Chris Hemsworth starring as Thor and Tom Hiddleston reprising his role as Loki. They are joined by Cate Blanchett, Idris Elba, Jeff Goldblum, Tessa Thompson and Karl Urban, with Mark Ruffalo and Anthony Hopkins.



NO PURCHASE NECESSARY.  Ends at 6:00PM PT on September 23, 2017. Open only to girls between the ages of 15 and 18, in grades 10 - 12, as of August 23, 2017, who are legal residents and physically living in the 50 United States or the District of Columbia. Limit 1 entry per person. Winners must be able to travel on or about October 8, 2017 through October 11, 2017.

Official Rules at www.marvelstudiosstemchallenge.com for full eligibility and entry requirements, prize description, conditions, and limitations. Void where prohibited. The official contest sponsor is Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures.

BE A BACKYARD SUPERHERO

Educational publisher Scholastic has teamed up with the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute's Education and Research Foundation to create an online resource portal to help parents avoid their kids suffering from succumbing to the "summer slide" -- the phenomenon where students lose important skills they've learned over the last year during the break from school.  By visiting scholastic.com/turfmutt kids between the ages of 5 and 12 can participate in a variety of activities meant to encourage them to care for the environment and which demonstrate how science impacts the world around us.  Topics include how to take better care of green spaces, understanding how climate impacts ecosystems and the importance of living landscapes.

A band of cartoon superheroes, TurfMutt & the Outdoor Powers, demonstrate how to become a "backyard superhero" through lighthearted lessons that are meant to be both educational and entertaining.  These resources are all FREE for families to access online as well as to download and print out.  Activities include:

Digital Storybooks

Encourage summer reading by providing a child with TurfMutt's digital storybooks.  There are two to choose from.  The West Coast Mission and Saving the Planet, One Yard at a Time.  They can be read online or downloaded a a pdf file to read on a mobile device or as a print out.

Creative Writing

 After a child has read TurfMutt's digital storybooks encourage them to write their own story.  Utilize the learning portal's online story creator app to help.  Children simply add their name, select their age range, and off they go!  TurfMutt's story idea spinner suggests imaginative topics with a countless combination of options to encourage kids to get writing.  The app even includes a drawing screen so  illustrations can be added to their stories.

Outdoor-Themed Activity Sheets

Print out these activity sheets, turn off the computer and get outside to complete them.  These hands-on activities are based on STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) principles and encourage kids to learn about the green spaces around them.  The activity sheets are available in two categories --> for students in grades K - 2 and for those in grades 3 - 5.

Climate Quest Game

This video game challenges children to answer questions correctly to help TurfMutt and the Outdoor Powers move through various climate regions on an interactive map of the United States.

Educational Videos

This special section of the Scholastic website also offers several educational short movies for kids to view that cover topics about living landscapes.  They teach children how to help their families be good environmental stewards of the green spaces in their communities.



Additionally, the learning portal includes section with resources for parents and teachers to help them get kids engaged in learning STEM concepts relating to the environment.  Click here to check out the campaign partners, which include the EPA, the Center for Green Schools, and Outdoors Alliance for Kids, who want to encourage kids to be involved with the conservation and preservation of our planet's environment one yard at a time.

Arckit - Design & Build Your Dream City

The architectural modeling system Arckit is taking building block play to a new level with its brand new Cityscape and Masterplan kits.  For the first time ever people can easily create entire miniature cities from scratch simply by using their imaginations and these Arckit modeling sets.  Dream up a city layout, build it and stand back to take in a real 3D perspective of your design.  Whether a child aspires to one day be an architect or just enjoys playing with building blocks, these model kits are both an entertaining and educational way to spend some time.  Arckit Cityscape is great for young builders being  recommended for children aged 6 years old and up. While the Masterplan kits are a bit more intricate and more suitable for use by ages 12+.  Both of these types of kits are also great for adults who enjoy model building or tinkering around as a pastime.



Arckit Cityscape is designed to inspire dreamers of all ages with a variety of unique kits & components finished in a choice of architect's' white or soft pastel colors. The kits are easy-to-use and follows similar principles to other building toys. First you design your layout, then position your buildings before finishing them off with a choice of iconic roof shapes.

Arckit Masterplan mimics what building design professionals actually use in an easy to use kit filled with snap together architects' white and clear components. The system works in the same way as Arckit Cityscape but allow users to build more sophisticated structures such as skyscrapers and bridges. This advanced kit also comes with illustrative graphic stickers to create realistic building facades.

There are no rules or instructions when it comes to using these modeling kits. To start building, simply click the components together and create incredible city layouts using the foundations, building blocks, walls and tile shapes. There is no glue or mess as the construction pieces snap together. Kids learn as they play, without any boundaries to what should be done or has to be done with  Arckit Cityscape or Masterplan sets. These gender-neutral STEM toys are great for bringing out a person's inner creativity.  If someone enjoys playing with building blocks, they can take their skills to another level with Arckit!

These kits aren't available at stores yet but you can purchase a set over the Internet by participating in Arckit's KICKSTARTER campaign that has an expected product delivery date of this summer.  Arckit products are "Made in Ireland" and the pricing is listed in Euros but they are accepting orders worldwide.  To purchase a Cityscape set would be approximately $27 U.S. dollars and a Masterplan kit would be around $151.  These prices will of course fluctuate some with exchange rates.  There are also some early bird discounts on the KICKSTARTER campaign that are providing some special offers for people who make early pledges as well.

These Arckit sets really are impressive!  Don't miss out on getting them in the hands of a child or teen who would really appreciate them.  What a great way to cultivate the next generation of architects, city planners, engineers, and other future construction industry professionals.  This is really great hands-on STEM educational tool because kids are learning while they are having fun with it.

Visit arckit.com to learn more about Arckit architectural modeling systems and I encourage you to consider participating in their KICKSTARTER campaign to roll out these new Cityscape and Masterplan building kits.

ENJOY EARTH DAY AT THE MICHIGAN SCIENCE CENTER

Commemorate Earth Day at the Michigan Science Center (MiSci) during their “Make Way for Earth Day” celebration! The event features a special Science Parade at Noon throughout MiSci as well as other interactive Earth Day activities and programs that introduce children of all ages to the fields of Earth science, and allow them to get hands-on with Earth science concepts.

Plus thanks to support from Axalta Coating Systems, a leading global supplier of liquid and powder coating, guests who dress as their favorite STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering or Math) professional or wear green will receive FREE general admission on Saturday, April 22, 2017 from 10 am - 6pm.

MiSci is located at 5020 John R Street in downtown Detroit, Michigan.  CLICK HERE for directions and parking information.

Dream Big: Engineering Our World

DREAM BIG: ENGINEERING OUR WORLD, the first giant-screen movie to promote the educational STEM (Science, Technology, Math) movement, is being shown through March at the  Michigan Science Center's Chrysler IMAX Dome. Narrated by Academy Award winner Jeff Bridges, Dream Big showcases engineering wonders big and small, ranging from the ancient Great Wall of China to today's largest buildings.  Be inspired by engineering feats that allow for underwater robots to explore our planet's oceans, solar cars to race across a continent without using a drop of gasoline, and learn about efforts to make the world's large cities more environmentally sustainable.



Dream Big hopes to encourage interest in STEM with the kids that will be the next generation of engineers through sharing stories that include a young woman engineer building bridges in undeveloped countries and an underprivileged high school robotics team that tackles the odds against them to humanize the field of engineering. Dream Big's producers hope the movie will encourage academic achievement, student engagement, and parent involvement with STEM topics.

For specific showtimes of when DREAM BIG: ENGINEERING OUR WORLD is playing or directions on how to get to the Michigan Science Center in downtown Detroit, Michigan please visit mi-sci.org

National Geographic Kids: Family Field Guide

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC KiDS is know for publishing books and magazines that are both educational and entertaining for children and teens to read.  Now they're reaching out to adults as well through a FREE newsletter called the Family Field Guide targeted to the parents of National Geographic Kids' key audience.  The newsletter which is e-mailed to subscribers every other week provides tips for parents on encouraging kids to be adventurous in exploring the world and enthusiastic in learning about history, science, and other important educational topics.  National Geographic Kids' Family Field Guide provides original articles ranging from 3 Ways Star Wars Can Inspire STEM In Young Explorers to Inspire Friendships In Kids With Photos, Videos & Recipes.  The newsletter also references photographs, facts, and stats from National Geographic Kids print and online publications to assist parents in stimulating within children a life long appreciation for discovery, puzzle solving, and learning.

Knowing that today's families can be stretched for time Family Field Guide articles often provide examples of hands-on activities parents and kids can do together in 5, 15 or 30 minute increments.  For example in one of my favorite articles from the newsletter, Making The Most Out Of Sports, it recommends reading some sporty Weird But True facts if you have 5 minutes free to do something, watching Making Stuff videos about creating athletic gear if you have 15 minutes to spare, and explains how to do a balloon race science experiment if you have a half hour to spend on a project.  All three of these ideas are aimed at using a child or teen's interest in sports to encourage them to want to engage in learning.

National Geographic Kids Family Field Guide aims to help parents utilize topics that are relevant and interesting to today's youth to spark creativity within their children and get them to embrace scholastic endeavors.  It also promotes parents spending quality time with their children by providing activity suggestions that are doable even for families with the busiest of schedules.  Humorous, informative, zany, and yes even a bit geeky at times, the information contained in this newsletter is a valuable resource that is meant to be as relevant to parents who are working 40 plus hours a week as to those who are able to stay at home full time.  Oh and did I mention it is FREE?!!

CLICK HERE to subscribe to National Geographic Kids Family Field Guide.  I've signed up for it myself and really do enjoy whenever a new edition pops up in my inbox.