Summer can be a tricky time for parents. On one hand, your little ones are out of school which allows for more family and play time. On the other hand, your little ones are out of school… and it’s up to you to keep them entertained while reinforcing all they have learned in the past school year and preparing them for the next. Thankfully our friends at Gift Hero have a great selection of educational toys, and the teachers here at Citibabes have shared their top picks for summer learning.
-Tracey Frost Rensky, CEO and Co-founder, Citibabes
School is out for the summer and your children are on a mission… a mission to be involved in all things fun! And who could blame them? As a parent, it’s your mission to find fun and educational ways to keep your child happy and savvy all summer long. The teachers from Citibabes are pleased to aid you in your mission by highlighting their favorite toys from Gift Hero. These toys are sure to deliver big on summer fun and summer learning to ensure children don’t lose the valuable skills they’ve acquired throughout the school year.
Jenny Pham, Director of Suzuki Education
TOMY Water Symphony: The age on this Gift Hero toy is 18 months and up, but it is never too early or too late to make music a part of child’s everyday environment. Dr. Suzuki (creator of the Suzuki Talent Education Method) found that if we fill a child’s world with sound, they can become as fluent in music as they are in their Mother Tongue.
Many parents ask me, “How much practice should my child be doing every day?” I reply that practice is best when it’s incorporated into everyday activities. Sit down on the kitchen floor and sing a song while the pasta is boiling! Stomp out rhythms when you’re walking down the street! The TOMY Water Symphony is the perfect way to practice listening and creating even during a bath. Parents, who doesn’t sing in the shower?
Kristin Bartlett, Teacher, CitiCamp Sr.
SepToys Design Blocks: These design blocks are great because children are tested on their special skills and ability to create three dimensional objects on the ERB test. This is a fun way for children to build these skills at home during the summer while having fun. Plus, there are so many different possibilities for creating different designs and objects, as well as possibilities for more complex designs and objects as the child gets older and more skilled. This is a toy that really helps a child learn math concepts and building skills while having the opportunity to be creative at the same time.
Keri Snyder, Director of Children’s Programming
Ogosport Super Sports Disk Pack: Designed for children ages 4+, these sports disks are perfect for summer play as they are easy to pack and carry on your vacation and can be used to play volleyball, baseball, tennis, Frisbee, or whatever your little ones can imagine! Plus, catching and throwing with these disks help develop coordination and motor skills.
Sarah Rinaldi, Teacher, CitiCamp Jr., Fashion Plates, Art Station II, Paint & Play, Green Art, CitiArt, Think Tank, and CitiMix classes
Stomp Launcher: I recommend the Stomp Launcher for summer time fun. This compact toy can be brought with you on vacations and to family outings. Since the rockets are made of foam, there is little risk of injury. This will allow the children to become more spatially aware since the rocket shoots up in the air. Also, this toy focuses on cause and reaction which is a key component in learning.
Kid’s Watering Can Kit: I also recommend the Kid’s Watering Can Kit to promote pretend play. Growing up in Connecticut, I was constantly around my mother who is a gardener and always wanted to be right next to her learning about planting and gardening. This toy gives children a feel for real gardening tools, yet is safe and age appropriate. Living in the city, gardening is a lost skill which should still be shown to children and this toy can do just that.
Aaron Goldschmidt, CitiCamp Director and Head Teacher
Quercetti Filo: I love the Filo by Quercetti. Leave it to the Italians to create a simple and creative activity to keep older children ages 3.5+ busy. This lacing set uses lacing pens and special boards so children can easily create and take-apart provided designs or create their own beautiful ones. The toy develops manual dexterity, hand-eye coordination, and encourages creative thinking. Most importantly, it will keep children busy for hours and is easy to travel with, making it a hit over the summer.
Karla Morey, Creative and Training Director
Floating Ducks & Stacking Cups: It’s that time of year when the discovery and learning that comes along with play moves outdoors. These versatile toys are sure to provide endless moments of active exploration for your little one. Great for water play and easy to tote, these ducks and cups are a great addition to your summer outdoor play collection of toys.
By Citibabes’ Teachers
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