stem toys

Introduce your child to #stemlearning fun with Botley the Coding Robot from @learninghandson #learningresources

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Disclaimer: I received this product from Learning Resources for review, however the opinions are 100% my own (along with my kid’s two cents)

Various studies have shown that kids younger than 9 spend an average of two hours a day watching or playing
a device with a backlit screen. I am one parent who is constantly seeking ways for my daughter to disconnect and spend less time with tablets and more time in “real life”. I enjoy finding ways for her to expand her S.T.E.M. knowledge and I recently learned of a company whose mission is to help kids build educational skills!

#outandaboutAva unboxing the latest stem learning toy from Learning Resources, meet Botley the Coding Robot! | Photo Credit: SobeSavvy.com

Learning Resources has been the leader in educational toys and for over 30 years, they have made learning fun for girls and boys! You can have any of their products conveniently delivered to your door as they are available to buy on Amazon. We recently got the chance to meet

Botley the Coding Robot for my 6 year year old, fondly referred to as #outandaboutAva on the blog, to learn more about coding in a fun, friendly way

.

Her first reaction was..”look at Botley, it’s so cute”. She loved the name and its design. Her and her Dad got right to reading the instructions, which was very easy to follow. This toy is ready to use right out the box.

No screen, app or download is needed. This colorful and charming little brains on wheels is programmed solely via a remote control programming transmitter.

My daughter can input various directions in various order commands. Once she finalizes his route, she hits transmit and Botley starts rolling per her pre input commands.
Botley has sensors that can avoid and stop prior to objects
or walls. Botley also makes quite a few delightful sounds and robotic laughs. Whether looping commands or one steps, Botley makes coding so much fun! If you are looking for the perfect entry to coding for your child starting at age 5, consider making Botley the Coding Robot the newest member of your child’s toy family

!

#outandaboutAva gives Botley the Coding Robot from Learning Resources a BIG Thumbs Up! | Photo Credit: SobeSavvy.com

For more information, go to http://www.learningresources.com

Celebrate #GirlDay2018 + National #EngineersWeek with @American_Girl ! #EWeek2018 #Stem

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Did you know that its National Engineers Week? February 18th thru 24th is a week dedicated to increasing public awareness and appreciation of engineers and their work. With two uncles that have careers as electrical engineers, my 6 year old daughter may just become one herself when she grows up! She has an increasing desire to know how things work and when they don’t, she wants to know what can be done to fix it.

Learning, Building, Creating with #outandaboutAva

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, women represent 50.6% of the US population yet make up only 11.7% of all engineers. Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day on February 22, 2018 (part of the larger observance of National Engineers Week) is all about changing that forever and American Girl is inspiring young girls with their 2018 Girl of the Year, Luciana Vega.

Luciana’s first book unlocks behind-the-scenes storytelling

Luciana shows what it can mean to be a girl of strong character today, where creative thinking, collaboration, and STEM literacy provide opportunities for meaningful growth and development. Technology continues to revolutionize what we do and what we know, and Luciana is a character that can bring visibility and valuable lessons to girls at a time in their lives when they’re learning about their infinite potential to change the world.

Saturn V, the rocket that was built to send people to the moon and used in the Apollo program in the 60’s and 70’s, is just one part of the journey to create Luciana’s character

This doll and her story inspires young girls to be curious, courageous, and determined. Bringing this story to life is an all-star advisory board that includes: Dr. Ellen Stofan, former NASA Chief Scientist, Dr. Deborah Barnhart, CEO and Executive Director of the U.S. Space & Rocket Center, Maureen O’Brien, Manager of Strategic alliances at NASA, and Dr. Megan McArthur Behnken, NASA Astronaut.

Luciana’s Mars Habitat unlocks space missions

I love how American Girl sparks a passion for science and problem-solving in our girls while developing toys, books, accessories that complement STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) curriculum. Take a look at this video sharing Luciana’s development and story theme:

More than just one day, Introduce a Girl to Engineering is a national movement that shows girls how creative and collaborative engineering is and how engineers are changing our world. Read more about the #GirlDay February 22 observance on American Girl’s Explore site. Here is a link to that article which is filled with information on how/where to celebrate and more :

http://www.americangirl.com/explore/articles/introduce-a-girl-to-engineering-day/

Thanks American Girl for inspiring girls to learn and be creative thru play. This helps in developing a child’s mind and lays the foundation for a great engineer one day! Be sure to visit americangirl.com/luciana to explore bonus content and discover all the interactive ways to play.

#OutandaboutAva meet Luciana Vega, American Girl of the Year 2018

What ways are you celebrating engineering week? Do you have a girl that creates and play with an American Girl doll?