Toys 4 Thoughts

[toys4thoughts-blog]

Tigers have natural number instincts - and so do you! Head on over to toys4thoughts.com and check out Smoothie War - a single or multi player game that nurtures #numbersense, #seriation and #subitizing in children up to 8 y/o. #mathgames #math #earlychildhoodeducation #imaginarynumbers #numbers #numbersense #cardinalcounting https://www.instagram.com/p/Bn9XEONBVml/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=hbzqlbsdizr5

[toys4thoughts-blog]

Manipulables may seem like a great way to teach mathematics, but many existing products ignore the fact that children do not recognize the duality of these objects: that they do not know an object can or should represent any thing (or concept, or quantity) other than itself. Studies show that learning achieved through manipulables is very nearly independent of learning achieved through abstraction, with few exceptions. Toys 4 Thoughts tackles this problem by using manipulables as a BRIDGE, not a MEANS, for learning. Check out our products at toys4thoughts.com. Link in bio. #earlyeducation #matheducation #cognitivedevelopment #mathtoys #mathgames #toys4thoughts #hapticlearning #physicalfeedback #scaffolding #teaching #tactilelearning #math #earlychildhoodeducation #shapes #area #kidsgames #kidstoys #toys #games #earlyeducation #education #betatesting #productdesign #math #toys4thoughts #toysdesignerinthemaking #numbersense #counting https://www.instagram.com/p/Bng9DhYBSK1/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=jz15ozas0l7a

[toys4thoughts-blog]

Sending out so many games I feel like Santa!! #FruitWars #mathgames #matheducation #kidsgames #kidstoys #cardgame #toys #games #earlyeducation #education #betatesting #productdesign #math #toysforthoughts #toysdesignerinthemaking #fruitwarsgame #patternrecognition #numbers #sequences #holidays

[toys4thoughts-blog]

THEY'RE HERE. AND THEY'RE OUT FOR DELIVERY THIS WEEK GET YOURS WHILE YOU CAN FOR FREE 99 [email protected] LINK IN BIO #FruitWars #mathgames #matheducation #kidsgames #kidstoys #cardgame #toys #games #earlyeducation #education #betatesting #productdesign #math #toysforthoughts #toysdesignerinthemaking #fruitwarsgame #patternrecognition #numbers #sequences

[toys4thoughts-blog]

Just gonna make one non-math/education related post (it's worth it): One of my old classmates just launched his product "SnapGraph," the product to end all art hanging frustrations, on Kickstarter. I watched him work on this personally while we studied together and it's really come a long way. Support support support!! "SnapGraph is your minimalist artwork display. Simple, Smart and Affordable. Order NOW to enjoy 25% off holiday deal! Check the details through the link in our official account bio." @snapgraphframe #photography #art #protectthosewalls #wallhangingdecor #decor #kickstarter #productdesign #industrialdesign #frame

[toys4thoughts-blog]

"The most powerful learning often happens when children are simply given the time and freedom to work things out on their own - to come up with a unique way to occupy a rainy day, to fill a blank canvas with their ideas or to follow their curiosity. We may think we are protecting them from being bored or falling behind, but ultimately we are preventing them from the open-ended experiences that allow them to discover themselves, their passion and their purpose." This. This is why I strive to make toys that are open ended, with a multitude of possibilities, and with very few rules. It is so important for kids to discover. It aids memory retention and increases self confidence - skills that make learning a fun experience rather than dreadful

[toys4thoughts-blog]

Here's a close up of all the pieces I'm sending out for beta testing: Instructions Set up cards w/ 3 levels of difficulty Make-your-own set up card templates Two options for character pieces: card stands and 3D characters (not suitable for children below 5) Grass and rock pieces w/ drawstring bag for storage Game board Can't wait to get feedback!

[toys4thoughts-blog]

I had to make the decision to make the board a lot smaller for shipping purposes. It used to be 14″x14″, it’s now 12″x12″. I personally think it can still be smaller, so I’d like to work on making it fold-able. The blocks changed to 1.5″ cubes, which I think is far more practical from a manufacturing standpoint (manufacturing cubes is far more common than manufacturing an odd size like 2x2x0.75), and doesn’t compromise the sensorial feedback that is such an important component of this game.

The one major problem is the character pieces. I didn’t want them to be stands, but as there as so many components it’s becoming more expensive to manufacture this thing. However I don’t want to compromise the quality of this game so I’m still in talks with manufacturers to try and figure out how to make those characters as cheap as possible.

[toys4thoughts-blog]

Tynker

I just discovered Tynker, which teaches kids how to create algorithms through online games.. amazing!! I played Dragon Dash and I am OBSESSED. Even I made a few mistakes, and I’m supposed to be a math whiz! Highly, highly recommend. So many wheels are turning in my brain right now.

[toys4thoughts-blog]

Suggestions

Currently looking for a test made for five to six year olds that can test how the kids progress in certain skills before and after playing the game for a week. Following diagrams Spatial reasoning Algorithmic development This will constitute my second round of testing for post-thesis research. I’ll give some kids a few questions and then see their progress on the same test after a week. I will probably get some tutors to try and do it, because a camp might not be the best place, and I am also not a tutor.

[toys4thoughts-blog]

Testing Hop & Waddle: July 11th, 2017

I played with 7 different 5 - 6 year olds for about an hour and a half. Most kids stuck around for around 15-20 minutes. Some stayed for half an hour or longer.

Only some of the kids understood the “bunny moves two spaces in one direction” rule. They would always move two spaces, but turn on the second one. This gives the bunny an unfair advantage for the set ups that I created, but if the kids aren’t able to understand it I will need to change the set up cards for them.

I was also told the “hard” level isn’t that hard

They were good at explaining the rules to each other.

The kids had fun setting up the board according to the cards, and some were making up their own set ups. They were getting better at matching the board to the diagram after a few tries.

There were two kids that definitely started becoming a bit destructive, throwing the pieces and running around with them (as this is my only set of this game, I became nervous but they did bring everything back in one piece and without hurting themselves). I thought maybe they became disinterested in the game, but they came back within 10 minutes eager to try a new set up.

[toys4thoughts-blog]

This is a good game, you should sell it.

Sammy, age 5.5