Eco-Friendly Sensory Play

So, as you read last week the boys are doing Virtual Remote learning for school and I have been trying to find some fun stuff to do with Sydney. Sydney would be in preschool this year so I am looking for fun sensory type activities for her to do but also trying to become more Eco-Friendly. I am so excited I was able to work with Zimpli Kids. They have so many amazing products that make for the perfect Eco-Friendly Sensory Play.

Who is ready to make 10 liters of Goo? I know we were! Sydney and I had such a blast playing with this Eco-Friendly Sensory Play Gelli from Zimpli Kids. It is so easy to create this Gelli and the powder is 100% safe! All I had to do was grab a bowl, add some water and the powder and watch the magic happen. Sydney had a blast playing with this goo. I hid toys in it and had her try to dig them out. When I say literal hours of fun I mean it.

Once we were done we simply added more water to help dilute it and flushed it down the toilet. I especially love that Zimpli Kids Gelli Play is certified Biodegradable and is safe for the skin, drain safe, and STAIN FREE!

Get your Zimpli Kids Gelli Play here: https://amzn.to/3hKccBS

Seriously, who doesn't love Slime? Have you ever bathed in it? Well, with Zimpli Kids Slime Baff now you can. This stuff was so cool that even Brayden had to join in on the fun. I simply filled the bathtub with warm water and added the powder mix. Once you fill your tub about halfway wait about 10-15 minutes for gooey slimy goodness. They had so much fun playing in the tub and if you have young kids who hate bath time these are the perfect bath toy to keep them enthused. Once your kids are done simply add more water to dilute and it will go right down the drain.

You can get your Zimpli Kids Slime Baff here: https://amzn.to/31B104A

Zimpli Kids has so many amazing and safe toys for your child to enjoy. Here are some more of our favorites:

Zimpli Kids Unicorn Slime Play: https://amzn.to/2DcsPXM

Zimpli Kids Snoball Battle Pack: https://amzn.to/2YKNvh4

Zimpli Kids Color Change Gelli Baff: https://amzn.to/3b6jJrR

I am so impressed with the quality of Zimpli Kids products and appreciate that they ensure they are safe for our kids. Make sure to follow them on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zimplikids/

What is your child's favorite sensory play game? Leave me a comment below.

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Our First Week of Remote Learning

Well, it is that time of year again. The dreaded Back to School time only this year for many of us that may look completely different. My kids are doing complete remote learning for at least the first semester. Since many areas have not started yet I wanted to share our first week with you. Brayden is in 5th grade, Tony in 4th grade, and Sydney in preschool.

Monday: Okay, so let's talk about the first day. The first day of school is always the hardest but this was definitely a new experience for all of us. We live in North Carolina and the entire state was having issues getting the kids onto the server. Since all of us were trying to get on at the same time it definitely caused some issues and some setbacks. It took about an hour and a half to get everything sorted out but after that, it was mainly learning the platform and where to go to navigate all the different classes.

Tuesday: On Tuesday, we were able to log on with ease but it was still challenging trying to figure out the platform. I wish I had something to count my steps because I was constantly going back and forth between the boy's bedrooms trying to help them navigate through it all. It was definitely hectic trying to be Wonder Woman making sure that they had all the tools they needed while trying to also have my 4-year-old leave them alone during school hours. I did, however, occupy her with some apps like ABC Mouse so she could learn as well.

Wednesday: Well, on Wednesday we had some shared tears. I am not gonna sugar coat this. This is definitely challenging especially with numerous children. The boys have a few live Zoom meetings throughout the day followed by recorded videos with lessons. Each subject has its own specified area within their platform so it is pretty easy to navigate but I already am having trouble helping with some of the math because it is way different then what we learned when I grew up. I decided to try and make it a little fun and we decided to wear some masks to help alleviate some of the stress. It definitely helped lighten the mood so we could focus on the next subject.

Thursday: We seem to be getting the hang of this. The boys got up, got dressed, brushed their teeth, and actually made it to their morning Zoom meetings on time. That is a win in my book. One cool thing is that if they finish their schoolwork early they can be done for the day. Now, this can actually be a blessing and a curse. Brayden was done at 1 pm and Tony actually had to work passed the 2 pm time and we finished at 3:45 pm. Besides the daily Zoom calls that they need to attend you can pretty much work at your own pace.

Friday: HOORAY! We made it! Wow, this week was filled with a roller coaster of emotions but heck we have been on that roller coaster for the last 5 months! Things seem to be going smoother today and I hope it remains that way in the coming weeks. This is definitely a new way of learning and will take some time to get used to. I know my kids miss seeing their friends and being able to socialize from beyond a computer screen. I appreciate all the teachers and the schools for adapting to this new way of life. It is hard on us as parents but it is also uncharted territory for all the teachers as well and from what I can see they are all doing an amazing job so a big shout out to them!

So before I bid you adieu, I took to Instagram to ask what questions you all may have about remote/virtual learning so I am going to do a quick Q&A.

Question: How do you stay structured?

Answer: Great question. So the boys start "class" at 8 am so I make sure to wake them up around 7. This gives them an hour to get ready, eat some breakfast, and wake up enough to be able to function for their Zoom meeting. The school and the teachers have been great with providing a daily schedule and checklist that I can reference throughout the day to make sure they complete everything for that specific day.

Question: How involved are the teachers?

Answer: The teachers have been great. I can email them if I have any questions and they are quick to respond. They also have a mixture of pre-recorded videos that are instructed by different teachers. I like that they did this because I feel that is helping the kids stay engaged to see different faces throughout the day.

Question: What if the kids need additional help? Answer: Of course, each school will be different and each child is different. We seem to be lucky in that we can reach out to the teachers for support. Also, when the kids submit an assignment we have a comment section. I have hopped on a few times and left comments if we have any issues or need further guidance.

Question: How do you keep the kids concentrated?

Answer: Truthfully, this is the biggest challenge so far. While the boys have class I take away their phones, tv remotes, Playstation controllers, and pretty much anything that can make it harder for them to focus. I also check in on them about every 30 minutes (sometimes more) to see if they need anything and to also make sure they are still paying attention. I also have them tell me every time they have to submit an assignment to let me review it before they send it. This is keeping them honest on completing the work because they know that I will be checking.

Question: How do you manage to work as well?

Answer: Well, right now I am not sure on this one. I actually had to take some PTO and tried to work a little bit but pretty much as soon as I would clock in they would need my help. I did, however, completely have to change my work schedule to accommodate virtual learning. Make sure to tune into my Instagram stories where I will share more insights into this journey as I live through it.

In conclusion, this isn't going to be easy but we are all in the same boat. This is uncharted territories for not only us but for all the teachers, schools, and most importantly for our kids. There will definitely be stressful times but try to make it fun. We have all survived so many crazy things in the past few months that this is just another challenge for us to conquer. We've got this!! If you have any questions please leave me comments below and I will gladly help if I can.

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The Best Educational Apps for Kids During a Pandemic

So, it's that time of year again... it's time to go back to school. Well, due to COVID back to school is going to look very different this year. Most states are opting for full remote learning or going only a select few days a week and many parents are opting for homeschooling. Let's face it, back to school time during a pandemic is plain different. We decided to keep Brayden and Tony home and are doing virtual learning for at least the first semester and going from there. Sydney is set to start kindergarten next year so right now we are going to be doing some educational apps with her. There are so many apps out there and I wanted to let you all know about some of our favorites!

ABC Mouse: https://www.abcmouse.com/

This is by far my favorite kid's app around. All 3 of my kids have used it and loved it. It is Sydney's favorite app and I actually plan on it being her "school" while the boys do their remote learning. It has a very easy to use interface that she can use the app by herself at 4 years old. It is great for kids aged 2-8 and the activities change with each age bracket. Your child also earns tickets for completing lessons that they can use to get virtual prizes. ABC Mouse costs around $9.95/month or $79.99/year and they often run a free trial. It is definitely worth the investment.

Ages 2-8

Duolingo: https://www.duolingo.com/

Duolingo is an amazing and free educational learning app for kids. It is also FREE with the option of going premium to remove ads with Duolingo Plus for $6.99/month. Your child can learn languages such as Spanish, French, German, Japanese, Italian, English, Korean, Chinese, and many more. They also have personalized learning so the lessons will adapt to your child's learning style. Your child will earn virtual coins and unlock levels to keep them motivated. A study actually showed that 34 hours of Duolingo is equal to 1 university semester of language courses!

Age 4+

Khan Academy Kids: https://learn.khanacademy.org/khan-academy-kids/

Khan Academy is a great educational learning app and they even offer supplemental resources for remote learning (https://khankids.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/360040315632-How-to-use-Khan-Academy-Kids-for-remote-learning)! This app will engage your child in core subjects like reading, writing, language, and math. The characters are adorable and they keep my kids engaged through their learning. Khan Academy Kids was actually developed by learning experts at Stanford! It is also 100% free. Read that again. 100% free! You will never see ads and you will never need a subscription. I love how easy the controls are in this app and your child can go through a learning path or click what they want to play with.

Ages 2-7

PBS Kids: https://pbskids.org/apps/play-pbs-kids-games.html

PBS has been my go-to channel for educational shows for as long as I can remember. Did you know they also have a variety of free apps? They can have books read to them by Daniel Tiger, go on ABC adventures with the Super Why Crew, and more. They also have an app completely dedicated to educational games. Your child can play games with their favorite PBS Kids characters such as Daniel Tiger, Wild Kratts, Super Why, Dinosaur Train, The Cat in the Hat, and many more. They add new free games all the time so your child will never get bored of going on adventures with their favorite characters. The games are designed to help your kids stay engaged with science, math, and creativity. PBS Kids also has a new weekday newsletter that offers activities and tips that can help your kids play and learn at home during COVID.

Ages: 2-8

These are just a handful of the best educational learning apps around in 2020. Leave a comment with your child's favorite educational learning app.