Taking Legos to the Next Level at FIRST Robotics

September 29, 2015 by

Books, building blocks, musical toys, board games, and sports equipment – these are the only things my children are allowed to play with during weekdays.  Call me old-fashioned but I’d rather my kids play with the games I used to play than spend all their spare time with their faces plastered on digital screens. Among those I’ve mentioned, books and building blocks are their most favorite.  They can spend hours reading a book or building whatever their imagination wills them to.

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4-year-old Jakei fascinated with the pulley we built together. 🙂

This is also why I signed up for the FIRST Robotics event organized by the Mommy Bloggers of the Philippines last August (yes, this is a superduper late post! wondermama was not so wonder-y the past weeks).  What better way to spend the weekend than learning how to build robots!  So cool!

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Upon arriving, we were ushered to the waiting area for kids.  In here, kids can play with LEGOs while waiting for their classes to start.  There’s a separate waiting area for parents in the lobby but since we were there to learn more about FIRST Robotics, we were allowed to stay inside the rooms.

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Before the trial classes began, we were given a short presentation about what First Robotics has to offer. Read all about it at FIRST Robotics: Raising Visionaries and Innovators. After the briefing, we were led to the different rooms.  Each age group has its own room where age-appropriate materials are provided. Those age 4 – 6 use LEGO Duplo to develop their fine motor skills. Age 7 – 8 kids learn how to use basic visual programming using LEGO WeDo. Those who are age 9 and older are taught how to create their own functional robots using LEGO MindStorm.

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Although they were only one year apart, my two kids belonged to different age brackets and had to stay in different rooms. I chose to stay with Jakei knowing that Jade would be able to manage on her own. So off Jade went to the World of Science and Technology room while Jakei and I went to the World of Adventures and Inventions.

Jakei’s FIRST Moving Lego Robot

Since Jakei has been very adept at building LEGO models on his own at home, I didn’t assist him that much during his class.  Their lesson started with a short story about two friends who were playing hockey and who needed another player for their team.  Building this players became the task of Jakei and the other kids. They had to build a hockey player that had a movable arm for hitting the puck into the goal.

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After successfully building their robots, the kids tested them out through a fun competitive game of hockey.

My Jakei had fun during the game and, thankfully, did not throw a fit when he lost. I think having been able to build a robot with moving parts made him a winner already.

Jade’s FIRST Shot at Programming

After Jakei’s game, I checked on Jade in the 7-8 class.  They were almost finished with their robots when I came.  I was amazed that the kids were able to build their robots with minimal supervision. They were using the LEGO WeDo software that provided step-by-step instructions.  What was even more amazing was that they were able to program their robots using basic visual programming.

Watching my daughter’s eyes sparkle with excitement when her crocodile moved and made a sound was such a sight to behold.

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Free Trial Classes at FIRST Robotics

Lego + Robots + Kids = FUN FUN FUN!  

We definitely loved our experience at FIRST Robotics!  What’s not to love with learning being so much fun?! If you have kids age 4 to 16, I encourage you to enrol them in one of the programs at FIRST Robotics. Call (02)696-3333 to schedule a free trial class or visit their website at http://www.firstrobotics.ph/ for more information.

In FIRST Robotics, children become leaders not followers, problem solvers not whiners, and builders not daydreamers. And what parent wouldn’t want their children to become those. 😉

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To know more about First Robotics, read FIRST Robotics: Raising Visionaries and Innovators.

 

Filed Under: Busy Bees, for the KIDS, Kids At Work Tagged With: , ,

Learning Fabumousely with Geronimo Stilton Academy Pawbooks

September 12, 2015 by

Alright! I admit it. I’m guilty! – Guilty of raising would-be hoarders. At their young age of six and seven, my two kids are now budding book collectors (it’s in their blood, you know).  They’ve already started their collections of Roald Dahl, EB White, CS Lewis, and their favorite writer to-date, Geronimo Stilton.  Oh yes! I’ve got two mouse-ter-ful readers at home.

More Geronimo Stilton books from the Scholastic Sizzling Summer Sale!

More Geronimo Stilton books from the Scholastic Sizzling Summer Sale!

On our trip to the bookstore last July, my daughter Jade saw the Geronimo Stilton Academy Pawbooks on display and asked if we could buy one (Of course, she would ask – what would you expect from a Stilton fan?!). However, we had already paid for the books she had chosen.  I promised her I’d get her one on our next trip to the bookstore.  By some piece of cheese luck, she got all six Pawbooks (and a whole set of Geronimo Stilton books!) during the Scholastic Trade Launch we attended last August.

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Mouseterful readers make fantabumouse spellers! We won the great word hunt coz of our great teamwork – I cut the letters, she pasted them. 🙂 Jade won one whole set of Geronimo Stilton books but swapped them (except for two books) with Kuya Jed who won a set of Thea Stilton books. Thank you, Kuya Jed!!!

Scholastic Trade Launch

Although the trade launch was held in far far away Powerbooks Greenbelt 4, my Jade and I endured more than an hour’s drive through metro traffic and bravely faced the monsoon rains just to see Geronimo and Thea.  We wouldn’t have missed the event for the world!

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We arrived at Powerbooks an hour early but boredom was not a problem.  We were surrounded by BOOKS!  And Jade could spend hours reading transported into her own world of imagination.

After buying a Rainbow Fairies book (also a Scholastic book!), Jade joined me in the event area and saw the Geronimo Stilton Academy Pawbooks in my bag.  Oh yeah, I’m sure you know what happened next!

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While Jade was busy working on two of the GSA Pawbooks, I browsed the other books. I couldn’t help wishing we had such books when we were young.  My sisters and I would have greatly enjoyed working on them.  (I’ll let you in on a little secret – I answer some of the pages in the Pawbooks, too! tee-hee!)

Geronimo Stilton Academy Pawbooks

With Geronimo Stilton Academy Pawbooks, mouse-ter-ful readers can became fabu-mouse writers as well – just like Geronimo!

Geronimo Stilton Academy

The Vocabulary Pawbooks contain fun puzzles and activities that help readers understand word formation, build their vocabulary, and engage them in using new words they learn.

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The Comprehension Pawbooks help develop reading skills such as predicting outcomes, inferring, sequencing, recalling details, and drawing conclusions.  Fun activities in the Pawbooks engage children and motivate them to read. Structured activities develop their comprehension skills.

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This October, a new set of Grammar Pawbooks will be released. Now, that’s something to watch out for!

Fun, Entertaining, and Engaging.  This is what sets the Pawbooks apart from other workbooks.  Admit it, most English workbooks are booooring.  You just have pages and pages filled with words and nothing else.  Well, Pawbooks have the same quirky illustrations and witty humor as Geronimo and Thea Stilton books.  These make learning English a lot more fun.

Learning English will become as enjoyable as chewing off a large chunk of cheese!

When Jade first saw the Pawbooks, she just wanted to see what was inside. As she was browsing through the pages, she saw an excerpt from The Curse of the Cheese Pyramid – one of the books we brought with us for the book signing.  Her eyes lit up as she exclaimed “Ohhh! I know this. It’s from the Cheese Pyramid!” After this discovery, she asked for a pencil and started working on that Pawbook.

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Geronimo Stilton Academy Pawbooks are targeted for kids age 8 to 13 who want to develop their literacy skills.  Although my kids are just age 6 & 7, they still love working on the Pawbooks.  When I asked Jakei, my 6-year-old son, if the Pawbooks were easy to answer, he said they were not easy BUT he still likes answering the exercises.

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A few days after the launch, Jade had to stay at home for a few days due to colds and cough. The GSA Pawbooks kept her busy. She even worked on them while nebulizing. 😉

Geronimo Stilton Pawbooks are very affordable at only P299 each (that’s the price in NBS).  Really a small amount to pay for learning. Oh and if you want pawsome online games and activities, check out the Geronimo Stilton page in Scholastic.com where you – oh, okay, your kids – can create your their own Geronimo Stilton comic book.

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So, she received two sets of GSA Pawbooks, won a set of new Stilton books, and won GCs to Mind Museum. BUT, this has got to be the highlight of her day – MEETING THEA STILTON!!!

One final thing, Geronimo and Thea Stilton will be at the Manila International Book Fair on September 20. You can have your Stilton books stamped by the siblings on that day. Yey! 🙂

geronimo stilton at mibf

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For more information on the Geronimo Stilton Academy: Pawbooks, visit Scholastic’s website at www.scholastic.asia or Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ScholasticAsia

Filed Under: BookWorms, for the KIDS, Kids At Work, Products We Love Tagged With: , ,

Kids Will Be Jollier with The New Jolly Joy Box!

August 26, 2015 by

We have more reasons to love Jollibee Kids Meals!!! I know all kids already love it but Jollibee has made it even more jollier with the new Jolly Joy Box.

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Fun Learning with the New Jolly Joy Box

The Jolly Joy Box is more than just a simple package for your Jollibee Kiddie Meal.  This cute little red box with Jollibee’s jolly face printed on it has more surprises inside. When kids take out their meals and their toys, they can unfold the Jolly Joy Box to reveal learning activities – there are puzzles to solve, words to form, and various challenges to overcome.

The Jollibee Finger Twister, Spot the Difference, Jollibee Face Maze, and Your Favorite Jollibee Meal(jumbled letters) will not only entertain our kids but will also help nurture their creativity and imagination, and develop their problem-solving skills.  This interactive packaging is sure to make meal time so much more fun and exciting.

Jollibee and Friends Road Rollers

This August until September, the Jollibee Kids Meal comes with Jollibee and Friends Road Rollers.  After they finish their meals, kids can drive to wonderful adventures with the Fire Truck Troopers, the School Bus Buddies, and the Ambulance Rovers.

JJB School Bus Buddies

Roll out some fun on the way to school. Pull the bus backwards, insert the cards on both sides, and watch it drive to school.

JJB Fire Truck Troopers

Fill the toy with water, press the spray button, and put out fires to save lives!

JJB Ambulance Rovers

Quick! Take the victims of the fire to the nearest hospital.  Switch the light of the siren on and drive as fast as you can!

Jollibee Kids Meal with Pineapple Juice

Here’s another good news for moms like me!  The Jollibee Kids Meal now comes with regular pineapple juice. No need to pay extra to have that soda changed to a healthier drink. Yey!!!

Order all three Jollibee Kids Meals – Yumburger (P84), Jolly Spaghetti (P87), and 1-piece Chickenjoy (P104) – to collect ALL three Jollibee and Friends Road Rollers.  You’ll have not only food for the tummy but also food for the brain! 🙂 ♥

Filed Under: for the KIDS, Press Release, Products We Love Tagged With: , ,

Ready for Battle with Ceelin Plus

August 24, 2015 by

Every single day we send our children out to battle. It’s a sad truth but our world has changed so drastically that we find ourselves gasping for survival (literally gasping in some countries). Air and water pollution, ozone depletion, global warming…all of these have wreaked havoc on our climate.  The weather has been so erratic that our bodies have difficulty adjusting – sometimes from extreme heat to frigid cold. Aside from that, strains of viruses and bacteria have grown more aggressive, more lethal.

“Ang mga sakit, madaling makahawa, mabilis lumala, mas nagtatagal”

This is why we, as moms, make our kids’ immunity our topmost priority in ensuring that they remain healthy and strong to ward off diseases. In our family, we boost our kids’ immunity with Ceelin Plus.

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Proteksyong Plus with Ceelin Plus

During our kids’ toddler years, they would easily get sick after a trip to the mall or to other public places.  Our little Jade used to be hospitalized annually for pneumonia and would have bouts with flu every few months.  One of the medicines their pediatrician prescribed was Ceelin Plus Zinc.  Since our kids started taking Ceelin Plus, bouts with cough, colds, and flu have been few and far between.

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Ceelin Plus offers an extra layer of protection for our kids.  The first layer of protection, the Ceelin helmet, is Vitamin C.  The second layer, the Ceelin shield, is Zinc. Together, these two reduce the severity and shorten the bout of sickness.  The ZincPlus technology used in formulating Ceelin Plus ensures the optimum levels of Vitamin C and Zinc for superior protection.

We give Ceelin Plus to our kids every day “para ang sakit hindi tumalab, hindi lumala, hindi tumagal”.

It’s Kid-loved, Mom-approved, Pedia-recommended!  Why else would we look for another vitamin supplement?

Of course, aside from giving them Ceelin Plus, we also encourage our kids to eat healthy and be active. With the extra protection they have, we’re not afraid to let them play outside.

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Times have indeed changed and while we do still worry about our kids’ health and their future, our fears our allayed by our partners in health.

Ang batang naka-Ceelin Plus,
may Proteksyong Plus!
Filed Under: for the KIDS, Products We Love Tagged With: ,

The 3rd Singapore Math Learning Festival

June 25, 2015 by

Only 10 days left before the 3rd Singapore Math Learning Festival! Parents, teachers, and school administrators are all enjoined to register and take part in this year’s learning fest aptly themed Preparing for the Future: Creativity and Innovation through Singapore Math.

Galileo Learning Festival

As parents and educators, it is our responsibility to prepare our children for the future. We must help equip them with the necessary skills that will make them global citizens of the future. We can do this at school, at events like this, and even at home if you make the most of resources like animated explainer videos.

For years now, educators have been honing learners’ 21st Century Skills needed for them to succeed and thrive in the new global workplace. Among these 21st Century Skills, Creativity and Innovation are the key ingredients needed for solving problems and creating solutions. This is why using the Singapore Math method has become more popular the world over.

Singapore Math is an effective tool in promoting creativity and innovation. It has refined traditional ways of learning math and has transformed how learners see mathematics. Critical thinking skills are greatly improved as learners find creative ways to solve math problems.

This year’s Singapore Math Learning Festival aims to educate parents, teachers, educators, and school administrators with creative and innovative teaching strategies in using Singapore Math. As a parent myself, I do encourage fellow parents and educators to attend this conference and be active partners in raising globally competitive learners.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: for the KIDS, PLAYhouse preSCHOOL, Press Release, Resources Tagged With: , ,
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