The Benefits of STEM Learning

• Stay Current – with the ever-expanding technological world we live in, STEM learning helps children keep up to par with the latest advancements.
• Logical Thinking Skills – children who are introduced to STEM learning at a young age will grow up to have deeper logical thinking skills.
• Outside of the Box Thinking – STEM education helps broaden children’s thought process to think outside of the box when faced with a problem to solve.
• Boosts Confidence – STEM learning will often have a child building something when the child accomplishes this feat, they are able to feel more confident with themselves.
• Make a Difference – STEM learning will provide children with the necessary skills to make a difference in society as they get older and master these skills.

STEM Learning Through Play

There are many ways to teach a child in the areas of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. With daily playtime activities and group events, children can be open to STEM learning by playing with toys as simple as LEGOS. Snapology offers a wide range of activities and projects for children to learn coding, robotics, animation and much more.

Many parents see their child fascinated with video games; did you know that STEM learning can teach your child how to create their own video games? STEM learning is an intriguing part of education that can play on your kids’ strongest desires and interests. From video game creation to animation and coding their own sites, STEM learning is something that any parents can incorporate into their child’s life with ease.

Whether you’re looking to host an afterschool event, a birthday party or looking to start a kid’s franchise, Snapology offers many options for parents and educators seeking to add an entertaining way to encourage STEM learning into children’s lives. STEM education is a vital component of the educational plan for children. The children of today will grow up to live in a world where technology surrounds them even more than today’s times.

If you’re interested in learning more about Snapology, there is a new franchise opened in Clearwater, FL that is perfect for birthday parties and other events. If you aren’t in Clearwater, they are accepting new franchise owners in many parts of the country

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Usually in the Spring, we begin receiving offers from the school to take school pictures again (because the one time in the Fall is not enough). Or we want to get in our Sunday’s best around Easter-time, and get our family portraits done. Rather than spending a fortune for every little picture, you could save a bundle on your portraits by taking advantage of the Spring 24 Portrait Package at only $19.99. Plus, along with the package you get a FREE $100 16×20 Canvas with this coupon you get by clicking this LINK. Offer expires April 23, 2017.

Image Credit: Portrait Innovations

Included in the portrait package is 1-10×13 Wall Portrait, 2-8x10s, 4-5x7s, 4-3x5s, 8-2x3s, and 5-5×7 cards, plus a high resolution CD with your favorite pose. And, you can save 20% on all additional purchases in studio. Portrait Innovations never charges sitting fees so bring the whole family.

Image Credit: Portrait Innovations

They have such a great variety of props (like bunny ears and giant Easter eggs), backgrounds, and poses; you’ll be sure to enjoy dressing up for the day and getting creative with your pics. My family can’t wait to check it out ourselves, and we’ll be sure to share our own portraits soon!

Appointments are limited so schedule your appointment today! http://www.portraitinnovations.com/appointments

Disclosure: The author received a comparable portrait package in exchange for sharing this special. No additional compensation was received. All opinions expressed her own. 

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If you are like me, you grew up watching Sesame Street on TV. I always wanted to meet the characters in person, but never got the chance until we went to Beaches. That’s why it’s so cool that they are doing a multi-city experiential tour around the US called the K is for Kindness Tour. And to top it off, it’s FREE!!!

And if you are living in South Florida, you are in luck. The tour is coming to Pembroke Lakes Mall on Saturday, 1/21/17  between 11am and 4pm. There will be multiple 15-minute shows, so don’t worry if you aren’t there by 11am.  (Pembroke Lakes Mall offers family-friendly events throughout the year, so be sure to check out their events calendar).

I am so excited! I finally get to meet Cookie Monster! I used to lug around a stuffed version of him with wiggly eyes that really moved. I loved opening and closing his mouth to chomp on the cookies. To me it didn’t matter that the cookies fell right out, because that’s what happened on the show too! Also making appearances in this tour are Elmo & Abby Cadabby! Dittles loves Abby. I mean, how could she not love a little girl with pink skin & purple hair? And Elmo is adorable!

Here’s a bit more about the K is for Kindness Tour:

HBO and Sesame Workshop—in partnership with local public television stations—announced the launch of the Sesame Street: K is for Kindness Tour, a free, multi-city experiential tour timed to and inspired by the new, 47^th season of Sesame Street, the gold standard in children’s television. Created especially for preschool fans and their families, this immersive, limited-engagement tour features hands-on digital learning fun, participation from local libraries in each community including bilingual English / Spanish books and activities, “meet and greets” with the costumed characters, a 15-minute interactive live stage show starring walk-around versions of the series’ beloved characters Elmo and Abby Cadabby, and other special surprises!

“Teaching kindness has been at the core of Sesame Street since it first arrived on television and remains just as important today as it was then,” says Dennis Williams, Vice President of Corporate Social Responsibility, HBO. “The Sesame Street: K is for Kindness Tour continues in this tradition of presenting such important lessons to preschoolers.  As a proud partner with Sesame Workshop and local public television stations, we will bring the joy of Sesame Street to communities and share this magical experience with children and their families who will be able to see, touch, and interact with their favorite Sesame friends up close.”

“In keeping with the Sesame Street mission, the K is for Kindness Tour aims to spark imagination, inspire a love of reading, cultivate kindness, and provide an element of surprise for children at each and every stop,” says Scott Chambers, Senior Vice President and General Manager, North America Media and Licensing, Sesame Workshop. “The tour complements Sesame Street’s kindness curriculum, which is woven throughout the new season.”

In addition to a “kindness” curriculum, the new season of Sesame Street also features everyone’s favorite furry red monster, Elmo, in a new updated, fun, and fresh version of “Elmo’s World.”  In 25 five-minute installments, lessons are taught through pre-school relevant topics, live action films, and interactive thinking games such as matching, sorting, and counting. Kids accompany Elmo and his friend Smartie, an animated cell phone and learning tool, as he uses his imagination to dive into the topic of the day.

Elmo and the rest of his friends can be seen throughout season 47, as well as in previous episodes of Sesame Street currently available on HBO and PBS KIDS and on Sesame Street’s YouTube channel. Sesame Street content continues to be available to PBS KIDS viewers on weekdays and Sundays on local stations, and on the PBS KIDS Video App.

Produced by the nonprofit educational organization Sesame Workshop, Sesame Street is underwritten in part by Beaches Resorts and UnitedHealthcare.

Get Social with GGP Pembroke Lakes Mall

Twitter: @PembrokeLakes

Instagram: @PembrokeLakes

Facebook: @PembrokeLakesMall

Get Social with Sesame Street

Twitter: @SesameStreet

Facebook: @SesameStreet

Youtube: /SesameStreet

Doesn’t this sound like a GREAT event? I am so looking forward to it. In fact, I am driving down from Orlando to see it for myself! I hope you can make it out to Pembroke Lakes Mall on the 21st. If you live somewhere else, be sure to check their tour schedule below to find out their next stops.

The K is for Kindness: Sesame Street Pop Up Tour is coming to a town near you! Stop by and share a smile! pic.twitter.com/MjwSaYA0CP

— Sesame Street (@sesamestreet) January 13, 2017

Disclosure: Bloggin’ Mamas has partnered with GGP Pembroke Lakes Mall to share this free family-friendly Sesame Street event with our readers, and are being compensated for this partnership. All opinions expressed are our own.

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I got a chance for the CARAVAN at the Gregory Hotel (2 West 35^th Street off 6^th Ave) to do my makeup and hair before some of the shows I attended. Here’s a before photo, taken the morning of, sometime around 5 or 6 am at the airport:

And here’s my AFTER photo:

To read my full post, and check out some more of what I got the chance to experience, please visit CARAVAN NYC Dolled Me Up for NYFW.

Disclosure: I received the above mentioned services in exchange for this post. All opinions expressed are my own. I was invited to participate by Bloggin’ Mamas collaborators, the Blogger Babes.

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As always with anything Care Bears, the graphics and images are really sweet, adorable and colorful.  The music in the app is sweet without being irritating like some other kids apps I’ve played.  I liked that Belly Match is totally on brand with the Care Bears ideals using encouraging (self-esteem building) comments like “Perfect”, “Super”, and “Beartastic”, which I know sounds funny coming from an adult, but actually made me feel good about my performance.

The game itself is quite easy to pick up on, but that doesn’t make it boring at all.  You are able to play a lot and feel like you are really moving up and earning levels and points which is great.  So many apps these days bombard you with messages at every turn to buy something or click on an ad or video, etc.  Belly Match let’s you do a lot unbothered.   

For those of you who are social gamers, you’ll like that you can log into Belly Match and play your friends (and brag about scores), via Facebook. For me, Belly Match is a way to destress a bit.  (Not going to get that by a full fledge social media competition.)

I do have to admit that my kids were much better at the game than me.  But in talking with other moms, don’t think this phenomenon is unusual at all.  Sadly though, even my niece’s toddler seemed better at it than me.

Also fun is the “Belly Bonanza” which is a quick matching game that comes up when you achieve a high enough score on games.  The “Bonanza” is a quick timed competition that is super fun where you can earn extra points.  Overall, Care Bears Belly Match gets a digital thumbs up from me!  

Care Bears is free for both Android and iPhone.  WATCH TRAILER HERE.  

Download here for Android:  

https://181887.measurementapi.com/serve?action=click&publisher_id=181887&site_id=107448

Download here for Apple:  

https://181887.measurementapi.com/serve?action=click&publisher_id=181887&site_id=90570

Google Play

Disclosure: This is part of a sponsored collaboration between Bloggin’ Mamas and its advertisers. All opinions expressed are our own.

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Talking Toms Bubbles Shooter is the biggest game of the year from Outfit7, owners and creators of the the enormously successful Talking Tom franchise.  With over 3 BILLION DOWNLOADS to their name, Talking Tom Bubble Shooter is app 21 in the lineup and it is no disappointment!

Talking Tom Bubble Shooter is an immersive and innovative bubble shooter game set in a vibrant theme park, bursting with colorful challenges and “power-up” opportunities. Fans can play solo or go head-to-head for double bubble trouble in a thrilling tournament of triumph and skill. The most sophisticated bubble shooter on the market, Talking Tom Bubble Shooter enables greater control, speed and accuracy when aiming bubbles – making it the perfectgo-to for the casual player and the competitive spirit.

Players young and old can aim for bubble brilliance at every level. I find this game totally addictive and have been fighting off my kids from taking my phone to play!  Users pop through layers of bubbles to win games and progress through the theme park, collecting stickers, coins, gems and power bonuses, such as “Mighty Bombs,” “Accurate Lightning” and “Unstoppable Lasers,” as they go.

What the “kids” (those under the age of 20) really seem to like are the collectible stickers that unlock more characters to play as – including new character, Talking Hank, and the stylish Talking Angela.  Some items are also customizable which really make the experience more interesting. Gems can be used to get hold of more stickers, boost energy levels, and more; and you can earn these (if you aren’t such a good player like me) by watching videos, downloading other apps or purchasing them.  (Free is never really free in the apps world right?)

Talking Tom Bubble Shooter is available now to play for FREE iOS, Android, Windows and Amazon.  http://outfit7.com/apps/talking-tom-bubble-shooter/

Watch the game teaser video and get the taste of the action:

Disclosure: This is a sponsored app feature. All opinions expressed are my own.  

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THE BOOK OF LIFE opens in theatres nationwide on Friday, October 17, 2014.

ABOUT THE BOOK OF LIFE

From producer Guillermo del Toro and director Jorge Gutierrez comes an animated comedy with a unique visual style. THE BOOK OF LIFE is the journey of Manolo, a young man who is torn between fulfilling the expectations of his family and following his heart. Before choosing which path to follow, he embarks on an incredible adventure that spans three fantastical worlds where he must face his greatest fears. Rich with a fresh take on pop music favorites, THE BOOK OF LIFE encourages us to celebrate the past while looking forward to the future.     http://www.bookoflifemovie.com/

THE BOOK OF LIFE  

Animation

Release: October 17, 2014, in 3D

Director: Jorge R. Gutierrez

Produced by: Guillermo del Toro, Brad Booker, Aaron D. Berger, Carina Schulze

Screenplay by: Jorge R. Gutierrez & Doug Langdale

Starring the voice talents of (in alphabetical order): Christina Applegate, Ice Cube, Hector Elizondo, Diego Luna, Zoë Saldana, Channing Tatum

THE BOOK OF LIFE, a vibrant fantasy-adventure, tells the legend of Manolo, a conflicted hero and dreamer who sets off on an epic quest through magical, mythical and wondrous worlds in order to rescue his one true love and defend his village.ook of

Disclosure: The Book of Life Movie sponsored our South Florida Bloggin’ Mamas event the Pink and White Havana Night at Hialeah Park.

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Well a Social Good campaign explaining just that came across my desk on behalf of Goodwill. It’s called “Donate Stuff. Create Jobs.’

A simple item donated to Goodwill® can help provide job training programs, employment placement services and other community-based programs for people who have disabilities, lack education or job experience, or face other challenges to finding employment. In fact, Goodwill is the leading nonprofit provider of job training programs and career services in the United States and Canada.

Did you know that donating one bag of clothing and one bag of books can equal up to 2.3 hours of on-the-job training for someone in your community? Add to that a used lamp, a dusty computer and perhaps a box of DVDs and CDs, and that number nearly doubles to 5.2 hours! Click Goodwill’s Donation page and see the “Donation Impact Calculator” – it’ll tell you how many service hours will be generated thanks to your tax deductible donation.

Once you see how vital you can be to your community but giving items you no longer use or need, I’m sure you’ll be happy to donate. Here’s the Goodwill Locator tool that not only specifies drop off locations, but it can help you find Goodwill stores, headquarters, and job training facilities nearby.

About Goodwill Industries International

Goodwill Industries International is a network of 165 community-based agencies in the United States and Canada with affiliates in 13 other countries. Goodwill is one of America’s top 25 most inspiring companies (Forbes). Goodwill agencies are innovative and sustainable social enterprises that fund job training programs, employment placement services and other community-based programs by selling donated clothing and household items in more than 2,700 stores and online at shopgoodwill.com®. Local Goodwill agencies also build revenue and create jobs by contracting with businesses and government to provide a wide range of commercial services, including packaging and assembly, food service preparation, and document imaging and shredding. In 2012, more than 6.7 million people in the United States and Canada benefited from Goodwill’s career services. Goodwill channels 82 percent of its revenues directly into its programs and services.

To find a Goodwill near you, use the online locator at www.goodwill.org, or call (800) GOODWILL. Follow them on Twitter: @GoodwillIntl, and on Facebook: GoodwillIntl.

Disclosure: This post is part of a Bloggin’ Mamas Social Good campaign run in conjunction with Element Associates, the Ad Council and Goodwill.

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