16-year old JESS ROBUS releases debut Children’s Book #ArnoldtheNotDinosaur

Hi Guys, 

Childhood, family, identity, belonging and everything in between…

That is what sixteen-year-old author Jess Robus aims to tackle in her newest book Arnold the Not Dinosaur, set to be released on the 22nd of April 2023.

Beautifully illustrated by Holly Evers, Arnold the Not Dinosaur tells the tale of the great green galumphing dinosaur Arnold who must grapple with issues of personal identity and staying true to himself in a world full of people insisting that he must be something other than what he truly is.

Jess’s first book, an original anthology of poetry entitled a few slivers of Light, published in 2021, chronicled her experience with anxiety & depression in a way that was accessible to her fellow teenagers.

With Arnold the Not Dinosaur, she hopes to open discussions around mental health and identity with younger children - providing an opportunity for healthy dialogue around complicated questions.

This book is perfect for children aged 0-7 years old, although readers of all ages can appreciate the sensitive story and beautiful illustrations.

Jess states excitedly, “I wrote this kids’ book when I was twelve years old – still a kid myself! – because I knew even then that I wanted to share the important message of kindness and self-acceptance with other young people. I’m so incredibly excited to release this book and open important conversations with young people, letting them know that they are loved, wanted, and good enough just as they are.”

The book is in a Dyslexic-friendly font, making it easier to read for those that battle with Dyslexia.

Award-winning speaker and 5-times best-selling author, Nikki Bush had this to say about Arnold the Not Dinosaur; “Jess's youth gives her unique insight into diversity and inclusion. Invisibility and not fitting in are real issues for children and can be damaging to their self-concept with long-term ramifications into adulthood. Children are a work in progress. Each one is different in some way that makes them unique. This book is a celebration of uniqueness and difference. Arnold the Not Dinosaur is a great conversation starter and a contribution to creating a kinder world.”

Arnold the Not Dinosaur is set to be released on Saturday, 22nd April 2023 as part of the weekend of World Book Day Celebrations (which is recognised on 23rd April)

The book retails for R130 (excluding postage & packaging) and will be available for purchase on Jess’s Website as well as via PayStack. Pre-order requests can currently be emailed to Jess at jess@jessrobus.com

The book will also be available at upcoming Storytelling Sessions that are currently being scheduled and finalised around Joburg and Gauteng.

Keeping checking her website for additional information and dates.

ABOUT JESS ROBUS:

Jess Robus is a 16-year-old high school student, poet, author and mental health advocate. She can usually be found listening to music, singing, writing, immersed in a book, or reading up on various obscure topics and she absolutely loves spending time with her friends.

She’s an avid songwriter, debater, performing arts aficionado, and budding linguist and her dreams include studying English at a UK University, writing for Marvel or Broadway (she’s not picky!) and eventually learning how to skip.

Jess has been writing since the age of 8 years old. She wrote her first poems at 8, wrote the lyrics and music for her first song at 9 years old and in 2021 published her first anthology of poetry called “a few slivers of Light”. She uses writing as a means to process the world around her but she also loves writing escapism. To date she has written poems, short stories, fan fiction, songs, and two mini-musicals and her new children’s book is due for release in April 2023.

Mental health and awareness around it are very important to Jess and after struggling with anxiety & depression she used her first book as a means to open conversations on these issues. She has spoken at a number of schools and literary platforms and is also a youth ambassador for Edu360 - a school for the neuro-diverse.

“Arnold the Not Dinosaur” is a beautifully illustrated children’s book and is about family, belonging, identity and everything in between.

To arrange school talks, book readings and book signings, please contact Jess on jess@jessrobus.com

(Photo Credit: VividImages Photography)

Follow Jess Robus on Social Media

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Till next time...Aashish Thanks you Cheers!!!

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Big Edutainment Value in Magformers Basic Plus 14 Set @Solarpopgoplay #Magformers

Hi Guys,

Magformers - Intelligent Magnetic Construction Set for Brain Development BASIC PLUS 14 SET is a STEM-authenticated educational product that helps kids in various ways. The 14-piece set comes in three shapes - triangles, and squares with square and circular holes. You can buy more such sets to create several new designs as showcased in the Idea booklet.  The Magformers range of products has won more than 50 awards in educational toys worldwide. Magformers has big edutainment value. 

Magformers gives you infinite possibilities of build and construction options.

The toy is brought by Solarpop Go Play and is available at various stores online and in stores like CNA, Hamleys, Everyshop, Takealot.com and Toy Kingdom.

Magformers Basic Plus 14 Set is ZAR 299 on sale at Takealot - https://www.takealot.com/all?filter=Brand:Magformers 

Basic Plus 30 Set is priced around ZAR 800 and there are a variety of different versions which you can buy as per your choice of the build! 

Magformers will develop 8 essential mental skills in your kids - 

1. Sensory development
2. Modelling
3. Creativity
4. Curiosity
5. Mathematical Thinking
6. Imagination
7. Scientific Thinking
8. Reasoning

Magformes opens up What If? which fosters curiosity and creativity. The kids do get the ability to reason and think logically. Also with magnets, you always know that the polarity (positive and negative) needs to be correct for them to join together and this is the biggest lesson in itself for kids. 

The magformers are made from BPA free HQABS plastic and neodymium magnets. It gives hours of imaginative, creative and tactile play for your 3+ years older kids. 

It's a perfect gift for birthdays, and Christmas stocks for your playschool, homeschool and classrooms. I am sure that the money invested in these Magformers is the best investment you can do for your kids.  

Check them out!

Cheers!!!

Subscribe to my YOUTUBE Channel for historical tech, new gadgets, product reviews and mystery unboxings. #TheLifesWay Link to all social media platforms - https://t.co/gUHjo8DQ7h Your Lifestyle and Technology Blog for the last 10 Years!!!

Creating Balance for You and Your Baby! @FisherPrice #FisherPriceSA

Hi Guys, 

Navigating your busy life while trying to strike a balance isn’t always easy. When achieved, this balance can help reduce your stress levels, foster healthy relationships, and allow you to chase and achieve bigger goals. Fisher-Price has three tips to help you and your baby find the perfect balance every day.

1. Creating balance for yourself

Reduce your stress levels by taking a five-minute ‘vacation’. The Canadian Mental Health Association recommends we take five minutes a day to recharge by daydreaming about a person, place, idea, or about anything at all. Prioritising your needs, and allocating your spending accordingly, reduces your financial stress. Finding multifunctional toys, which grow as your baby does, is a good way of investing as they reduce the need to buy products at every stage of development. Something as simple as accepting a compliment does wonders – plus reflecting on it after the fact makes us feel good, and allows us to be kinder to, and appreciate ourselves more.

2. Creating balance for your baby

A Walker is an ideal way for your baby to find balance. The Fisher-Price 2-Sided Steady Speed Walker is an interactive learning toy that “grows” with your baby. All the way from sitting to pulling up, to finally taking their first steps. The unique, car-theme lets little ones stand and push along from either side, and both sides feature a variety of engaging activities. Smart Stages technology helps teach the alphabet, opposites, and counting as little drivers “cruise” around.

Features and benefits of the walker include 3 ways to play as baby grows from sitting to standing to walking all around; 3 Smart Stages learning levels with 50+ songs, sounds and phrases that teach the alphabet, counting and opposites; 10+ activities that help keep baby busy, including pretend car dashboard with the light-up steering wheel, 3 shape blocks to sort, and more; and, helps develop fine and gross motor skills while introducing early academics for infants and toddlers ages 6 months to 3 years.

3. Creating balance for you both

Support structures help ease any pressure you and your baby may be feeling. Find advice from support groups or forums or ask a family member or friend to lend a hand when you need it. We all get sick, and accidents happen, knowing you have strength in numbers helps you navigate the challenges you face.

Friendships can help you understand that you’re not alone, and babies find a different kind of stimulation when playing with other children. Play dates can help to support both of your needs, and they’re a great opportunity to have fun and reconnect with friends.

About the Fisher-Price 2-Sided Steady Speed Walker

The Fisher-Price 2-Sided Steady Speed Walker is an interactive learning toy that “grows” with your baby from sitting to pulling up and taking their first steps. This unique, car-themed baby walker lets little ones stand and push along from either side with helpful Steady Speed wheels to keep a slow pace for beginners. Both sides feature a variety of engaging activities, including an interactive dashboard and steering wheel to “drive” the pretend play. Plus, Smart Stages technology helps teach the alphabet, opposites, and counting as little drivers “cruise” around, with 3 levels of play featuring songs, sounds and phrases that deepen the learning as your child grows.

• Interactive baby walker with 2 sides of activities and 3 ways to play as baby grows from sitting to standing to walking all around.
• Walk from either side! Steady Speed™ wheels help slow the pace for beginner walkers.
• 3 Smart Stages® learning levels with 50+ songs, sounds and phrases that teach the alphabet, counting and opposites.
• 10+ activities help keep baby busy, including pretend car dashboard with a light-up steering wheel, 3 shape blocks to sort, and more.
• Helps develop fine and gross motor skills while introducing early academics for infants and toddlers ages 6 months to 3 years.

Cheers!!!

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Benefits of Card & Number-play for Kids @Mattel #Uno #UnoFlip #UnoAllWild

Hi Friends, 

It would be challenging, if not entirely impossible to find someone that has never played a card game. Card playing is one of the oldest and most traditional pastime activities for all ages. They have not only proven to improve motor and cognitive skills in children but also encourage hours of family fun as well as multiple therapeutic benefits when used by Play Therapists.

The earliest reference to card playing took place in China in the 10th century, but there is no record of how the cards were made or how the games were played. Though history has it that Italy and Spain were probably the first European countries where cards were played, these cards were hand-painted and therefore regarded as luxury items only available for the rich.

Since then, the cost of card production was reduced significantly and their availability and popularity only grew, making them favourites over other traditional games.

Benefits of playing with cards

Although playing cards is a good way to pass the time and is not only entertaining but also relaxing, there is a whole list of hidden learning opportunities for children as well as cognitive stimulating opportunities for the elderly. In fact, recent studies have shown that playing cards with children have an entire series of educational and emotional benefits.

Card games can help children develop their motor skills

Dexterity and eye-hand coordination are practised by playing, manipulating, shuffling, and sorting cards during a game. A simple action of holding a few cards in a small hand can help young children develop motor skills. The ability to move quickly and easily can also be developed in card games such as Skip-bo where a player must simultaneously place, draw from a deck, and hold cards during the game.

Card games can enhance cognitive skills

There are many cognitive skills triggered by playing card games. From memorising to matching numbers, pattern recognition and the promotion of more complex mathematic concepts can all be promoted in one game. Increasing levels of difficulty can also practice a child’s ability to focus longer and concentrate better. Planning skills are triggered when the game allows for the opportunity to find different ways of winning as most card games allow some room for new, as well as more experienced players. In that way, the play can be extended for many years as little children can play with the help of an adult in the early years and progressively develop into independent players as their skills develop. Skip-bo is a game where the basic skills of counting and concentrating are cognitively stimulating without being too challenging for the very young or the elderly.

Card games foster emotional intelligence

Card games allow children to take part in healthy, friendly competition in the safe, familiar environment of the home. Achieving the goal of winning or experiencing the despair of losing are both feelings that can be processed by the players. Patience and fair play can be fostered from early on and card games are beneficial to do that. All card games require communication, negotiation, taking turns, comprehending rules, and challenging each other. These skills and character traits can all be practised with something as simple as playing a game of cards.

Benefits of colours and numbers on cards

Research studies recently showed that the pairing of numbers during a card game significantly improves the ability of children to recognise, show and mention number symbols. Numerical comparison, colour or shape-matching card games were also shown to improve a child’s numerical identification skills, as well as how to compare the value of the symbols. It’s fair to say that parents can confidently assist their children to learn fundamental mathematical concepts such as number recognition and comparing by playing games such as Skip-bo.

Play therapeutic benefits of number card games

Therapists working with children during play therapy often make use of card games to have fun and build a therapeutic relationship or to facilitate a process whereby children can learn, express, and grow emotionally. Typically, card games work so well for relationship building as the act of card playing is safe, playful, and familiar to most children. It helps them to relax in the therapy session and “open up” with less inhibition.

There are many ways in which the numbers and colours in card games can be utilised during psychotherapy for children. Slight changes to the original card game can offer opportunities to make use of certain colours or numbers to allow children to answer certain questions pertaining to specific feelings. For example: if you place a red card on the table you need to think of a time that you were angry, while a blue card might allow the child to talk about a time when he was sad.

Numbers on cards can be used to teach new skills. For example: If a child pulls a number 3 from a deck of cards, they should think of three ways to relax during a time of stress. Or number 3 could answer the third question from a different pile of emotion cards that are offered at the same time. Card games can even be used during online play therapy with children.

With so much social distancing, staying-at-home periods during this pandemic, as well as online therapy now becoming a reality, cards might as well top the list for good old fashion social, emotional and cognitive stimulation. It may be the cheaper and healthy alternative to electronic games and offer an excellent opportunity to limit screen time.

Cheers!!!

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5 Ways to use UNO Through Education #Uno #UnoFlip #UnoJr @Mattel

Hi Friends, 

When something is colourful and fun, a child is able to participate without too much effort, allowing them to relax and embrace the opportunity to learn. Uno is a fantastic way to create a platform for this. While using the different ways mentioned below a child will absorb different skills through playing the game, giving them the opportunity to master different skills like counting, memorising, matching, building, creative thinking and using their gross and fine motor skills.

Here are a few activities that could be used with your set of Uno cards.

Teach Kids about Matching: For Children 1 to 4-year-olds

We are surrounded by colour and observe it daily therefore it plays such a big role in our emotions. Colour is also the most important factor in design and creativity for preschool children and even for children up to ages 7 to 8. While some colours stimulate, others lead to relaxation, comfort, tiredness or sometimes anxiety. The reaction to each colour originates from our subconscious. From birth, colour plays a large role in visual development. As kids get older it will stimulate their minds and later on assist with educational skills.

Here we need to recognise the different colours and be able to separate them accordingly. Have your child paint 4 different colour paper plates. This is not just creative and fun, but painting allows them to use the muscles in their hands as well as assist in holding their paintbrush and working with paint and water in the correct manner. Playing relaxing musing while doing this activity will assist with relaxation and creativity.

Once you have coloured all 4 plates and they are dry. Let the child use the deck of cards to separate them according to the colour on the plates.

For 4 -6 years you can do the same activity but add the numbers to be matched for the child to recognise different numbers on the cards, also placing them according to colour.

Teach Number recognition: For Children 2 – 6 years

Matching and sorting activities help children to develop a range of thinking skills and build the foundations for later concepts. Use a pegboard and pegs for this activity. Let the child take a card from the pack, then peg the right colour as well as the number of pegs on the board, according to the card drawn.

One main use of a pegboard is to improve fine motor skills for toddlers, this task does not come so easy. To grasp the peg and successfully place it in a small hole is a big accomplishment for most toddlers. Adding the Uno cards to this activity allows them to practice some maths while having fun.

This can also be done with older children 6 – 10 years, using 2 separate cards to add, subtract, divide or multiply. They will then use to pegboard to peg the correct answer. (Alternative boards or coloured items can also be used for this activity)

Find It: For Children, 2- 10 years old

The player will draw a card from the pack. Once turned around you need to run as fast as you can, finding items with the same colour as on the card, as well as however many items as the number shown on the card.

This game allows creative and fast thinking. Remember where they have seen objects in the house or class that would match their given colour. Thinking out of the box and planning to successfully complete their task. This activity will build stamina and aids muscle development. For younger players, it allows excitement as well as a feeling of achievement when they come back with what was asked for. When little ones play, always make a fuss and congratulate them.

Maths Challenge: For Children Ages 6 – 10

Mathematics challenges teach number confidence, improves memory and quick-thinking skills. Kids will find enjoyment through a game instead of having to use a worksheet to finish their activity. Giving them the opportunity to change their perception of learning about numbers in a positive way. Playing with numbers will provide the child with a practical and tactile experience.

What you need to do is first use some string to create a “washing line”. Get some washing pegs and draw or paint your own maths cards like these.

Draw cards from 2 different decks. Hang your first card then an ‘add, divide, multiply or subtract symbol and then your second card. Then allow the kids to work out the answer.

Build a Body: For Children Ages 4-8 years

You will need a line made with string and washing pegs. Use your Uno cards to build the body. This activity will work on their fine motor skills as the cards are slippery and thin. It will be an activity where focus and persistence are needed. Make sure there is the correct cards hung to give the resemblance of a body….the head, arms, tummy and legs.

All children may not have the same abilities to interpret a form when it comes to body awareness. This can result in them having difficulties with personal space. Encouraging body learning helps children develop an appreciation for their bodies. Identifying body parts and being intentional about using them is a cognitive, physical, and language-enriching process.

The activities mentioned in the proposal mainly focus on the development of early learning and Foundation phase children. Allowing play to assist in making learning more fun. Once love for something has been set it is easy to build on those love.

Cheers!!!

Support me if you like reading this blog post by buying me a cup of tea or coffee - https://www.buymeacoffee.com/TheLifesWay Contact at thelifesway@gmail.com to collaborate and promote your services and products. Subscribe to my YOUTUBE Channel for giveaways, product reviews and mystery unboxings. #TheLifesWay #10YearsofTheLifesWay. Namaste!

A Memoir - This Month Last Year - Dec 2020 www.thelifesway.com #TheLifesWay

Hi Friends,

It's the birthday month of The Life's Way blog which was started on 27-Dec-2012 and since then it has never looked back. I may not be getting the sponsored posts to make it a second income stream but I intend to pursue that goal in 2022. Let's give it a Fire in the belly kind of try in 2022. If anyone wants to work with me and use my influence however big or small it may be - then they need to be onboarded to make the payments else I will restrict myself to participating in online social media contests so that I can win more stuff to do more unboxing videos on my Youtube Channel.

1. 8 Years of www.TheLifesWay.com #TheLifesWay #BlogAnniversary #8YearsofTheLifesWay #2222Post - I completed my 8 Years of blogging last year and it was the 2222 posts and in this year I am almost at 2500 posts before I close the year or write the 9th year post. These kinds of posts help me connect the dots and I can see what I missed or gained in the whole process. I love my blog and will continue to enjoy the same in the coming years and will see if I can create more video content.

 

2. #TheLifesWay on @GoogleMaps #MyYearInReview 2020 @GoogleAfrica #LocalGuides #LetsGuide - Google Maps is one of the platforms where I can contribute and measure my performance on a daily basis based on the increase in the number of photo views and review views. I really like these kinds of tracking to just boost my ego as other than that I have not received anything from Google for the same. So it's just a charity programme which you do and forgets about. I will stop linking my ego to this programme going forward. 

3. #TheLifesWay on @Youtube #MyYearInReview 2020 @GoogleAfrica #Youtuber - It was my first year on Youtube and these were the stats sent by the Youtube team for my channel. I did put up a lot of videos in 2021 and let's see if the stats improved or not but still I am far from the 1000 subscriber mark and nor I have earned anything from the videos on any platforms. I still love creating videos and have a lot of unboxing stuff that I have to share with my audiences in the coming future. I can also do giveaways if any brands sponsor those. 

4. @SamsungSA Launches The Pioneering Curved #Gaming Monitor #OdysseyG9 - It's almost a year since this Gaming Monitor was launched and I am currently using the same. It's a full circle of life thought the screen is a 1000R curved or can be called a semi-circle. I am grateful to Samsung for sending the same for review. I am totally in love with this gaming monitor. 

5. Family Who Plays #ScrabbleSA Together, Stays Together @Mattel #8YearsofTheLifesWay - Scrabble South Africa team sent me this package to unbox and play with my family which I really loved shooting. I am thinking of more such activities on my blog posts and youtube channel. 

Last Year I was planning for India Travels as well as Dubai Trip at the start of the year and ended with a trip to Sani Pass. This year around I am not so sure where I am headed towards but wherever I am going to go will have some of the scenarios to keep me engaged with my family and fun with friends. I am thinking about what are my strengths and let's play on the same rather than comparing myself with others are doing. I have to live my own unique life rather than someone's else. I hope the Universe will grant me this knowledge to identify my own uniqueness and I wish the same for you!

Cheers!!!

Support me if you like reading this blog post by buying me a cup of tea or coffee - https://www.buymeacoffee.com/TheLifesWay Contact at thelifesway@gmail.com to collaborate and promote your services and products. Subscribe to my YOUTUBE Channel for giveaways, product reviews and mystery unboxings. #TheLifesWay #9YearsofTheLifesWay. Namaste!

Learning to Play Alone With Laugh & Learn Smart Stages Puppy and Sis @FisherPrice

Hi Friends, 

By Dr. Bettye M. Caldwell Ph.D. Professor of Pediatrics in Child Development and Education

Parents often feel they must occupy their baby’s every waking moment or boredom will set in. Not so. Not only is learning how to play alone an important skill to grasp, but your baby will be more cheerful overall if you don’t play together 100 per cent of the time. If your child needs downtime, she may turn away, get restless, or cry. Tune in to the baby’s cues. When you respect a wish for independent play (supervised, of course), you show that being alone can be a good thing.

Also, encourage your child to develop self-entertainment skills. Engage them in a favourite activity. Play for a few minutes, then step back to observe. Once your baby is comfortable with you being some distance away, walk out of sight for a few minutes. (Of course, make sure the area is carefully baby-proofed, and keep your baby within your sight.) When your child first realises you’re gone, they may fuss but will probably settle down in a few minutes and become absorbed in the activity or toy. Wean yourself from being the driving force of play; you’ll help boost your child’s creativity.

While learning through play is your baby’s “work,” for you it can be one of the very best perks of parenting.

Our parenting advice is given as suggestions only.

Laugh & Learn™ Smart Stages™ Puppy and Sis

Have you already met Smart Stages™ Puppy and Sis? These soft and cuddly pals are entertaining companions for little explorers at the age of 6-36 months. They respond to your baby's touch with exciting sing-along songs and phrases that introduce more than 100 first words, parts of the body, colours, shapes and more! And because every baby develops at their own pace, Puppy and Sis come with Smart Stages™ technology, so you adjust the level to unlock new content as your child grows. There are a variety of songs, sounds and phrases within each of the three levels of play. And Puppy and Sis's light-up, multicolour heart even twinkles along to the music!

Level 1 – Explore – Baby can press Puppy and Sis’s hands, foot, heart, nose or ear to hear first words, colours, the alphabet, parts of the body and more!

Level 2 – Encourage – In this level, fun phrases reward little ones as they're encouraged to count along, find colours, and identify parts of the body!

Level 3 – Pretend – Puppy and Sis are ready to play pretend with fun sing-along songs and phrases that engage toddlers in exciting and imaginative play, all while expanding their vocabulary!

Cheers!!!

Support me if you like reading this blog post by buying me a cup of tea or coffee - https://www.buymeacoffee.com/TheLifesWay Contact at thelifesway@gmail.com to collaborate and promote your services and products. Subscribe to my YOUTUBE Channel for giveaways, product reviews and mystery unboxings. #TheLifesWay #9YearsofTheLifesWay. Namaste!

Introducing #LinkimalsSA Llama - Lights and Colours #FisherPriceSA @FisherPrice

Hi Friends,

Fisher-Price has been the world leader in providing great toys to keep our kids entertained and when they also learn something new, nothing like that. I came across these Linkimals and really love this colourful representation of some 5 not so known animals to kids as generally the books are filled with Elephants, Lions, Tigers, Rhino and Cow etc. The animals chosen by Fisher-Price for this Linkimals range of products is Sloth, Otter, Moose, Hedgehog and Llama. I really appreciate the fact that these were new to me too as earlier in my life, I have never seen toys based on these animals. The basic idea behind these Linkimals is that these toys come with the motto of "We Link, We Sync, We Play and Learn Together". 

The toy my kids received was Llama - Lights and Colours which teaches Stacking and Colours to kids from 9 months onwards. My little one started saying open open open as soon as he saw what's inside the box delivered by the courier. Stacking was something new to my 2 and half-year-old child and this one really played beautiful songs every time you place or take out these ascending sized plastic doughnuts or rings on the stacking pillar. The stacking exercise really brought fun sounds, lights and encouraging phrases as my son figured out how to drop the rings around their Llama. Also, Llama has more than 25 songs, sounds, tunes and phrases (like Hello; Let's Play; Hello Friends; How are you today?; Peek-a-boo!; Llama; Keep Stacking). 

Coming to the second function of the toy is Colours. When you press the Llama's head, the kids will get a round of colourful lights and songs including one about colours also. Plus, when Llama recognizes other Linkimals friends, they create a synchronized music and light show! so you can definitely all of them to your collection every season for your kid. So these are the 5 toys in the range and each performing a different learning experience for your kids and babies ages 9 months and older. 

Sloth - Smooth Moves - R750

Otter - A to Z - 

Moose - Musical - R300

Hedgehog - Happy Shapes - R650

Llama - Lights and Colour - R450 

Koala - Counting - R700 ( I found this on ToysRus Website)  

All these toys definitely bring about a great learning experience as it engages your baby's developing visual, auditory, and tactile senses. Also, it develops their Curiosity & Wonder as the baby discovers the fun of cause and effect as they press the various button to activate music and lights. The Llama works on 3 AA batteries (included in the package) and has a power on-off along with 2 volume settings to control the audio. 

Linkimals: https://www.fisher-price.com/en-us/shop/brands/linkimals

They are available in SA already at all leading retailers: https://www.toysrus.co.za/fisher-price-linkimals-musical-moose-interactive-toy-with-music-lights-and-learning-content

Cheers!!!

Support me if you like reading this blog post by buying me a cup of tea or coffee - https://www.buymeacoffee.com/TheLifesWay Contact at thelifesway@gmail.com to collaborate and promote your services and products. Subscribe to my YOUTUBE Channel for giveaways, product reviews and mystery unboxings. #TheLifesWay #9YearsofTheLifesWay. Namaste!

Playing with @Barbie Dolls Allows Children To Develop #Empathy & #SocialProcessing Skills

Hi Friends, 

Barbie® and neuroscientists from Cardiff University have collaborated on a new study which for the first time uses neuroimaging as evidence to explore the effects of doll play 

• Evidence shows that doll play activates brain regions which are associated with social information processing and empathy, indicating that doll play enables children to rehearse, use and perform these skills even when playing on their own 
• Other findings show that doll play allows children to develop empathy and social processing skills more so than solo tablet play, even when playing by themselves 
• To understand the relevancy of the study, Barbie independently commissioned a global survey in 22 different countries questioning 15,000 parents which showed 91 percent of parents rank empathy as a key social skill they would like their child to develop, but only 26 percent were aware that doll play could help their child develop these skills 
• Today Barbie launches an online hub featuring resources for parents, caregivers, and children, to support them in their social processing skills which has been developed alongside leading empathy expert, writer, and educational psychologist, Dr. Michele Borba 

Barbie®, and a team of neuroscientists from Cardiff University, announces findings of a new study conducted using neuroscience for the first time to explore the positive impact doll play has on children, bringing to light new evidence that doll play activates brain regions that allow children to develop empathy and social information processing skills, even when playing by themselves. 

Over the past 18 months, senior lecturer Dr. Sarah Gerson and colleagues at Cardiff University’s Centre for Human Developmental Science have used neuroimaging technology to provide the first indications of the benefits of doll play at a brain level. Through monitoring the brain activity of 33 children* between the ages of 4 and 8, as they played with a range of Barbie dolls, the team found that the posterior superior temporal sulcus (pSTS), a region of the brain associated with social information processing such as empathy, was activated even when the child was playing on their own. These benefits of solo doll play were shown to be equal for both boys and girls. 

Dr. Gerson explains: “This is a completely new finding. We use this area of the brain when we think about other people, especially when we think about another person’s thoughts or feelings. Dolls encourage them to create their own little imaginary worlds, as opposed to say, problem-solving or building games. They encourage children to think about other people and how they might interact with each other. The fact that we saw the pSTS to be active in our study shows that playing with dolls is helping them rehearse some of the social skills they will need in later life. Because this brain region has been shown to play a similar role in supporting empathy and social processing across six continents, these findings are likely to be country agnostic”. 

To gather the data for the study, the children’s play was split into different sections so the Cardiff team could capture the brain activity relating to each other kind of play separately: playing with the dolls on their own; playing with the dolls together with another person (the research assistant); playing with the tablet game on their own and playing with the tablet game along with another person (the research assistant). 

The dolls used included a diverse range of Barbie dolls and play sets, with all Barbie dolls and sets returned to starting positions before each child began their test to ensure consistency of experience. Tablet play was carried out using games that allow children to engage with open and creative play (rather than a rule or goal-based games) to provide a similar play experience to doll play. 

The findings of the study show that when children played alone with dolls, they showed the same levels of activation of the pSTS as they do when playing with others. Another finding of the study is that when children were left to play tablet games on their own, there was far less activation of the pSTS, even though the games involved a considerable creative element. 

To understand the relevancy of these neuroscience findings, Barbie independently commissioned a global survey** that asked more than 15,000 parents of children in 22 countries. Results of this showed 91 percent of parents ranked empathy as a key social skill they would like their child to develop, but only 26 percent were aware that doll play could help their child develop these skills. During this time at home, parents are increasingly worried about ensuring their child is developing social development skills, with more than two-thirds (70 percent) saying they are concerned about how this isolation might affect their child and how their child interacts with others. Similarly, 74 percent of parents are more likely to encourage their child to play with a toy if they knew it was proven to help their child develop social and emotional skills, like empathy. 

“As leaders in the dolls category, we’ve always known that doll play has a positive impact on kids, but up until now, we have not had neuroscientific data that demonstrates these benefits,” says Lisa McKnight, SVP and Global Head of Barbie and Dolls, Mattel. “The findings of this research highlights that playing with dolls, such as Barbie, offers positive benefits in preparing children for the future through nurturing social skills like empathy. As we continue to inspire the limitless potential in every child, we are proud to offer dolls that encourage skills we know are highly valued by parents and are determinants in children’s future emotional, academic, and social success.” 

Barbie will be supporting these findings with an online hub, Barbie.com/Benefits, featuring resources for parents, caregivers, and children, to assist them in enhancing and applying their social processing skills. These resources have been developed alongside leading empathy expert, writer, and educational psychologist, Dr. Michele Borba. 

Michele Borba says: “The latest scientific findings from Cardiff University and Barbie are extraordinary and so relevant to the times we are living, given the limited social interaction our children can have. It’s been shown that children who have developed empathy and social skills early in life can have better grades, stay in school longer and make healthier choices overall. Empathetic children might also be more likely to stand up for a child being bullied and try to engage and resolve the conflict. Understanding that kids can help develop these skills through playing with dolls like Barbie, is remarkable and a helpful tool for parents.” 

The results of the study are published today in Frontiers in Human Neuroscience as ‘Exploring the Benefits of Doll Play through Neuroscience.’ Recognising that this study is a first step towards understanding the positive impact of doll play with further research required to build on these initial findings, Dr. Sarah Gerson and the Cardiff University team along with Mattel, have committed to further neuroscience studies in 2021.

*Study was conducted with 42 children (20 x boys and 22 x girls) aged from 4-8 years old with full data captured from 33 children.
**Survey by OnePoll in July 2020 in 22 different countries questioning 15,000 parents of children aged from 3-10 years old.

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Support me if you like reading this blog post by buying me a cup of tea or coffee - https://www.buymeacoffee.com/TheLifesWay Contact at thelifesway@gmail.com to collaborate and promote your services and products. Subscribe to my YOUTUBE Channel for giveaways, product reviews and mystery unboxings. #TheLifesWay #9YearsofTheLifesWay. Namaste!

#KeishaAndYou - Gabby Duran and The Unsittables @DisneyChannel @DStv 303 #Unboxing

Hi Friends, 

I received this mystery package from Disney Channel and it was kids-oriented stuff so Keisha started unboxing the same on her youtube channel and she really loved the contents of the mystery package. Do check this out and also subscribe to her channel and I am making sure that some video gets posted every 15 days on her channel which can be anything from playing board games or unboxing mystery packages or doing some challenges with her friends. 

Gabby Duran and The Unsittables is a TV show on Disney Channel DStv 303 for your viewing pleasures. Disney Channel offers a lot of such programs which keeps the kids entertained along with some kind of civic lessons they can learn from all these shows. 

Here is the video - 

Did you like it? What more she can do on her channels? If any brand wants to send anything do contact me on thelifesway@gmail.com or editor@thelifesway.com 

Cheers!!!

Support me if you like reading this blog post by buying me a cup of tea or coffee - https://www.buymeacoffee.com/TheLifesWay Contact at thelifesway@gmail.com to collaborate and promote your services and products. Subscribe to my YOUTUBE Channel for giveaways, product reviews and mystery unboxings. #TheLifesWay #9YearsofTheLifesWay. Namaste!

#LetsBeKids New Brand Campaign by @FisherPrice

Hi Friends, 

The new campaign invites grown-ups to grow-down and rediscover the joy of playtime! 

The launch coincides with the first-ever review of scientific studies looking at evidence of the positive effects that playing with children has on parents, which has been completed by leading child development expert, Dr Jacqueline Harding 

Fisher-Price, the leading infant pre-school brand, has debuted a new multi-year, 360-degree marketing campaign titled, “Let’s Be Kids,” that celebrates seeing the world as kids see it, with optimism and humour whilst also extending an open invitation to grown-ups to grow-down and rediscover the joy of playtime. 

The campaign launch coincides with the first literature review of academic studies on the positive effects that playing with children has on parents and grandparents conducted by Dr. Jacqueline Harding, a leading child development expert and a senior lecturer at the University of Middlesex, UK. 

Dr. Harding, who has looked at more than 100 research papers across neuroscience and behavioural psychology for this report, states that playtime should be seen as an essential ‘antidote’ to adult stress commenting that “there is tons of research out there looking at the value of play to children, but less is known about the mutual benefits for adults.” 

Dr. Harding continues: “By looking at scientific research across a range of disciplines around play, we are starting to recognise that grown-ups can reap huge advantages like reduction in levels of stress hormones, increase a sense of well-being, or even for older generations, the active play has the potential to prevent cognitive decline that can happen as people age – all by engaging with playtime.” 

“Let’s Be Kids” campaign includes a series of video spots that feature much-loved Fisher-Price toys from its almost 90-year history, including a hero 60-second brand anthem video starring American actor John Goodman. Goodman is cast as the classic farmer from Fisher-Price’s Little People collection walking through a fantastical world amid a treasure trove of nostalgic characters inspired by iconic toys such as the Chatter Phone and First Words Puppy. Additional spots focus on specific products and portray the magic of what a child is seeing and feeling while they’re engaged with a toy. 

Ruth Henriquez, EMEA Marketing Director for Fisher-Price says: “At Fisher-Price we have always given a unique voice to the culture of childhood and this refreshing new modern campaign is a fun and imaginative way to recapture the joy of childhood by inviting parents back into this world and as the science backs up, there has never been a better time to engage in playtime!” 

Dr. Harding concludes: “Research shows that children laugh about 600 times a day, while adults laugh about five if we are lucky. We need to bring playfulness back and who better to show us how than our kids! Sitting down and playing could be not only the best thing you can do for your child. It could also the best thing you do for yourself as a parent.”

Here is also the link to the official campaign page: https://www.fisher-price.com/en-us/lets-be-kids

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Support me if you like reading this blog post by buying me a cup of tea or coffee - https://www.buymeacoffee.com/TheLifesWay Contact at thelifesway@gmail.com to collaborate and promote your services and products. Subscribe to my YOUTUBE Channel for giveaways, product reviews and mystery unboxings. #TheLifesWay #9YearsofTheLifesWay. Namaste!

Unboxing #CloudeesSA from @Mattel #KeishaAndYou #TheLifesWay

Hi Friends, 

Keisha received another kind of collectables toys from the house of Mattel Games which she was not aware of and I too was not aware of the same too. It was a total surprise when the lovely silver rainbow box reached our home. Reyansh totally fell in love with the box and immediately went to open the box. I though told him to let's take some photos and then you can open and Keisha too loved the packaging. 

Cloudees is a kind of small toys which you can tag to your bags using the keyring that comes in the packages and there are various varients which you can collect and add to your collection. The toys are really cute and Keisha loved the same especially the soft cloud-like stuff that is the highlight of the box. There are 14 large pets to collect and is priced at R279  for the large pet's pack at takealot which you can definitely buy for your kids or to gift someone who will enjoy the same. Similarly, Mini Pet series also has 14 toys to collect and is priced at R149 each at takealot and each one has 3 surprises in the package for kids to reveal. 

Check out this youtube video and subscribe to the channel of Keisha and You where she unboxes various toys and games for your viewing pleasure - 

Thanks to Mattel for sending their toys and board games from time to time for Keisha to unbox and share it with her subscribers. Let's watch and enjoy all the fun!

Cheers!!!

Support me if you like reading this blog post by buying me a cup of tea or coffee - https://www.buymeacoffee.com/TheLifesWay Contact at thelifesway@gmail.com to collaborate and promote your services and products. Subscribe to my YOUTUBE Channel for giveaways, product reviews and mystery unboxings. #TheLifesWay #9YearsofTheLifesWay. Namaste!