Art Lovers Gift Guide From Educents

Art is a broad and important part of life, and fostering artistic expression in kids sets them on a positive path, whether it's hobbyist, professional, as an outlet or pure aesthetic expression. The common thread is that it is creative, expressive, it can inspire us, and lead to that wonderful thing called "flow." So this holiday season, why not give a gift that fosters that gift of a lifetime. Rather than leave you to a google rabbit hole, I thought I'd share some inspiring gifts for budding artists in your life. Find 12 winners broken down in the following categories:

• Hands-on visual art
• Music - appreciation and musicianship
• Art history - giving context to culture
• Digital art & design - for our "digital natives"

Each section is geared toward an age range, but let's be honest - there are plenty of adults in your life that will like these, too!

I'm a bit biased as I've always loved art, but I think it is so important to introduce young children to different art processes as well as continuing art education in K-12 studies. I hope you enjoy this gift guide of unique products Educents has put together for art lovers!-MBM

*This post contains affiliate links. That's just a fancy way of saying that if you purchase something from a link you click on, I will get a little bit of credit in my own Educents account to help buy my own kids school supplies. :) 
 

Hands -On Art Activities

What a Color World Poster from Pirasta

It's a wonderful world. And this giant coloring poster is just what the doctor ordered for quiet creative time this winter. The huge poster map (63" x 36") gives scale and context to our globe. Details include a delightful celebration of cultural diversity, from traditional dress and historical landmarks to iconic foods and natural wonders. It's definitely a conversation starter. You can lay it on the ground and invite friends to join in, hang it on the wall with painter’s tape, or even tape it to the ceiling or under a table to unleash your child’s inner Michelangelo. Mom point - these posters are made in the USA and are printed with vegetable ink on recycled content paper! “Grandkids age 3-15 all coloring together! Asked each to color the [places] they live/lived in or have visited. Great conversations as they learn and share while coloring together.” – Grandma Z.

Just Add Milk Science & Art Carton

Create art using materials from the fridge! This low-cost art experiment is the ideal stocking stuffer or small gift for extended family members. Just Add Milk is a kit for all children - boys and girls - and mom and dad, to express themselves in an educational way. Create your own natural science experiments with some at home ingredients. Just add the milk! Learn a brief introduction to surface tension and experiment with other ingredients around the house such as food coloring, soda pop, vinegar, and glue! Kids love watching what might happen when you add food coloring to milk. Once their creations are complete, they will have a fun story to explain how to create milk art.

Coloring Book Set

Bring coloring to the next level with these beautiful intricate designs! Coloring isn't just for kids anymore, it's for everyone! Let this package of 6 coloring books serve as a generous gift to one artistic child, or as 6 gifts to kids and adults in your family or community. While coloring can be a wonderful form of artistic expression, it’s also a great way to exercise brains - coloring requires focus, logic, and coordination. Much better than hours of television, as much as we like our stories - and far more meditative. Kids and families who love to color will rise to the challenge of turning these intricate, black and white sheets of paisleys, mandalas, and zen designs into blooming pages of colorful artworks. The pages are perforated so that each one can be removed, easily be colored, and even framed! So inspire your child to explore their creative side, and discover the fun and relaxing benefits of coloring!

The Art (and Sound) of Music

Maestro Classics Complete Set

Dive into the depths of music appreciation and storytelling with the Maestro Classics 12 CD Music Collection. The high-quality collection includes 12 CDs, each with a 24-page activity book, that feature classic musical tales such as The Nutcracker, Peter & the Wolf, the Story of Swan Lake, and the Tortoise & the Hare. In the activity books, your child have fun solving musical puzzles and games while learning important musical concepts and vocabulary. Good practice for parents, too! Pair listening to classics with the coloring above, and you have cozy, enriching plans for the whole family for months - and an appreciation for the arts that will last a lifetime. Plus, get over 50% off on Educents! “The Maestro Classics are so much better than having some kiddie movie soundtrack while we drive. We can have a mini music appreciation class while we're on the road and the colored booklets that it comes with are perfect to follow along since it gives some background to the composer. Some run for about 45 minutes to an hour so this classical collection ensures there are no repeats per car ride!” -Sarah

Sounds Like Fun Shake Rattle Roll

                   
Let the festivities begin with this handcrafted set of musical instruments to your family’s quality time. Whether you’re a seasoned musician, or there is a spark of musical interest in your family - this set of musical instruments is guaranteed fun for the whole family. The wooden set includes seven pieces: A bucket drum with a natural skin head, a pair of drum sticks, a single jingle stick, a handled castanet and a pair of mini maracas. It also includes a parent-friendly activity guide with fun ideas on how to use the instruments to encourage child development.

eMedia Play Piano Deluxe

 

For beginner pianists wanting to become more skilled and confident players, the eMedia Play Piano Pack Deluxe is an amazing value! This package not only includes a high-quality, full-size keyboard, but it also comes with two full piano courses containing over 450 lessons taught by instructors from the Juilliard School of Music. The piano course software contains videos and interactive feedback technologies to help your child learn quickly and understand lessons more easily. Before your teen knows it, they’ll be proficient at playing piano chords, reading sheet music, and performing solos! “My daughter and I decided to learn the piano together, and we love this! The keyboard is a good size, with good sound. The software is very extensive. It provides a full curriculum of over 300 lessons, end-of-chapter tests, and lots of videos. Someday we might try lessons, but this is a great way to start!” –Leslie

Violin Starter Set

                   
It’s easy for anyone ages 5 and up to learn how to play the violin! Truly becoming a master of music takes years and hours of practice, but kids can’t always start out that way. Many kids have very short attention spans. Luckily, the computer-based violin lessons included in this Violin Starter Set is just a few minutes long, which is perfect for those days your family is in a time crunch or the kids just can’t sit still. In the lessons, an animated character named Val the Violin guides students through lessons by New York City Ballet violinist Sabina Skalar. eMedia My Violin guides you through the core elements of violin playing in over 160 lessons. It covers such basics as proper violin, hand and finger position, the elements of correct bowing technique, how to tune the instrument, and play rhythmic tunes. Games make learning fun, and your child will learn songs that they can share with friends! “My daughter wants to learn the violin but I didn't want to shell out a fortune to pay a teacher or purchase an instrument--this is perfect for the price. It's beautiful, comes with extra strings, and comes with everything you need to learn to play and take good care of it. Really like the case and the presentation. My daughter was thrilled when she opened it and excited to start using it!” -Celena

eMedia Teach Yourself Acoustic Guitar

                     
Empower kids to create music! Does your child dream of taking center stage to share their art with the world? Gift the tools of artistic expression for the holidays. This Guitar Starter Set has everything your child needs to start learning the very musical instrument that played by visionaries like Santana, Taylor Swift, and Jimi Hendrix. In the Guitar Starter Set, kids get a quality beginner acoustic guitar with a resonant, bold sound. The computer lessons allow kids to learn at their own pace. The lessons use video instruction to illustrate proper technique and guide your child through how to tune a guitar, how to play simple guitar chords, and all the guitar basics. Guitar lessons are fun when kids practice with the 70 songs across a multitude of styles with hits made famous by Bob Dylan, Steve Miller, the Rolling Stones, and others. “Perfect for beginners. My daughter has been wanting to learn to play the guitar but unfortunately, we're unable to afford lessons. So, I purchased this Teach Yourself Guitar pack and it's great! My daughter has had it for a few weeks now and is really starting to pick it up....all by herself! The included DVD and other helpful media are awesome.” -Kristen

Electric Guitar and Lessons

                   
This electric guitar starter kit is the complete package designed to let first-time musicians start rocking. At some point in their life, no matter how briefly, everyone dreams of being a rockstar. Performing in front of thousands, selling out huge stadiums and touring the world are just a few of the draws. But even the biggest names in music started somewhere. Lesson plans and music tutors can cost a ton of money, time, and energy and might not even work, but there is a solution that does. The Alfred Music Electric Guitar starter set is the perfect place for any aspiring rock legends to start their journey. For one reasonable price, your child will get a high-quality 3/4-size Firebrand™ electric guitar, portable amplifier, gig bag carrying case with straps, Firebrand™ portable electronic tuner with batteries included, a set of Firebrand™ guitar picks, and the Alfred's Kid's Guitar Course (Book, CD, DVD and Software). There isn't a better value out there. You get the book, CD, DVD, Software, beautiful 3/4 size electric guitar for kids, padded carrying case, amp, tuner with batteries included, guitar picks: everything.

Art History Buffs

Welcome Box + 1 Month History Unboxed

                   
A great way for kids to live history, and bring context to modern life. History Unboxed is perfect for any family that wants to get kids more involved in studying history. Recipes, crafts, art, myths, and relatable details enable students to experience history with many of their senses and form a lasting and meaningful bond with the past. And the best part? Everything ships right to your door. All you have to do is open the box and start learning. The adventure begins when the first box arrives to your doorstep. As your child completes the art activities in the box, they will be time traveling with brother and sister duo Zane and Ava. Zane and Ava magically travel through time, and their adventures will present the time period to your child through the activities in the box. Each month will feature a different time and place with hands on crafts, activities, and art so that your child can learn about history in a memorable and exciting way. “Comprehensive and perfect! Our favorite thing in the box was truly amazing. We filled the terracotta bird with water, blew into it, and the song was as lovely as any songbird! I wish I could have all of their past boxes!” -Celena

Artists of the World Kit

                   
Add history to art projects for hands-on learning! This complete ‘experiential’ enrichment learning kit for children offers 10+ hours of hands-on learning. The kit contains all resources and materials required for the program - making it easy for parents to get kids started with limited hand-holding. This kit is introduces kids to 6 world famous artists through activities, multimedia interaction, games and puzzles. Through this program, your child will appreciate art, recognize the work of top artists, recreate his/her own masterpieces and enjoy the fun lessons. The kit covers Van Gogh, Da Vinci, Monet, Michelangelo, Picasso and Warhol. “I've seen other art programs teach things like lines and composition while others take more of an art history approach. This does a little of both! I would say it leans more toward the history side of things but with real hands-on application.” -Amanda “I'm using this with my 4 children whose ages range from 8-11. We love it! The workbooks are nice and colorful, the lesson plans are incredibly easy to follow, and the durable box came packed with absolutely everything we need, down to the glue and pencil sharpeners. The variety of artists (6 different ones) and mediums is great. Highly recommend it!” - Celena

Famous Artists Study

                   
 Help your young artist "de-code DaVinci" and different kinds of visual expression from the greats. In this online course, art students will study 10 renowned artists and discover 10 art movements in history. The Famous Artist Online Unit Study is all tied together by creating art exhibits about each artist in a virtual art gallery. Watch videos and visit websites to learn about the artists’ lives and styles and create masterpieces inspired by each artist. No downloads, books or papers are needed. Everything is just a click away. “Not only have we been introduced to some great ideas and discussion, we've also learned to use some new digital/on-line tools! Beth has put a tremendous amount of time and love into this course and it is well worth the cost to enjoy this experience with your kiddos!” -Lynna Brooke “These unit studies are phenomenal. Beth has perfectly blended technology and the much loved unit studies together to make a hard hitting learning tool.” -Forest

Photography & Design

Design Your Own Fashion Portfolio

               
Fashion-forward kids will love this Fashion Design course, and you will love that your child is learning a unique and applicable skill! While your child creates their own fashion collection, they’ll be learning important graphic design skills that can be used in a variety of careers, gaining fashion business knowledge, and working within a professional design program. Plus, parents love that this is a safe learning environment where kids design age-appropriate garments. It's $100 off, too. “What a unique, fun, and educational course! My daughter loved everything about this course. She is so proud of her fashion portfolio! More importantly, she learned how to use professional software - a skill she can use in the future.” –Annie

Shutter Teacher Photography Lessons

                       
Photography is a great way for students who lack the ability to draw or paint explore their creative side. From the great outdoors, to food, to machines - no matter what your child is interested in, there is a way for them to explore it through photography. This downloadable lesson is great for students who want to be able to work on their own time at their own pace. Included in this package is 15 downloadable pages of lessons covering the history of photography, the photographer's toolkit, exposure, camera settings, lighting, composition, and careers in photography, lesson plans & instructor notes - explains how to structure the class/course, a printable card game - laminate and use as a learning game, a printable sheet of photographer badges and much more. Plus, it's over 60% off. Awesome!

Create Beautiful and Affordable Holiday Cards with Paperless Post

              Hey folks! Hard to believe the holidays are almost here, isn't it? Well, ready or not, here they come! Do you have your holiday cards ready yet?

This post is a partnership with Nakturnal.

             Paperless Post makes it super easy (and affordable!) to create beautiful holiday cards. Whether you want to keep it simple and elegant or go extravagant, they have a design that will fit your wants, needs, and budget. You don't have to take my word for it, but trust me, I've checked them out and there is something for everyone! Check out a few of their examples below.

             Paperless Post offers an array of services. If you're not into the whole family photo greeting cards, they also offer regular cards as well as online ones. Throwing a Christmas party? They have you covered on invitations too! Paperless Post isn't just about the holidays, either. You can find a wide selection of greeting cards, invitations, and thank you notes for other occasions too, again, both online and printed versions. Birthday cards, wedding invitations, charity and fundraiser event invites, you name it!

             You can, of course, customize your greetings too. Choosing your text color/font style/size, background design, and what photo and wording you like are all options. You can even have your return address printed on the envelopes so you have one less thing to worry about! Naturally, prices vary for each add on (such as envelopes), so be sure to check out their website to get a better idea of how much your greeting cards might cost.

             Oh! And don't forget, if you haven't already, now is the time to be getting photos taken for your holiday cards. We've still yet to have professional pictures done since having kids, but you know what I think is the most fun part of having pictures done? Choosing outfits! I'm sure we're all familiar with Carter's and their adorable, but affordable clothing. Another company that you may not have heard of is Hanna Andersson. They offer unique, super, super cute clothing for boys and girls alike. Also, if you have little girls, my friend recently opened her Etsy shop, The Pixie Company, and offers matching mother daughter necklace sets as well as elegant headbands.

             So, what are you waiting for? Go get those greeting cards taken care of with Paperless Post so it's one less thing to stress about as the holidays approach. You can stay up-to-date with them and keep a lookout for discounts on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Mixed Bag Mama was not compensated monetarily for this post. I did receive "store credit", but that in no way affects my opinions.

Is Someone Missing?

            So...Funny things happen to your brain when you have kids. In fact, I'm pretty sure we're all clinically “unstable” at one point or another. Seriously. Whether you're having one of those days where you feel like hiding in a corner and rocking back and forth in the fetal position or going through the prolonged effects of “baby fever”, I think we can agree that we all have fleeting moments of psychosis as parents. My current mental imbalance as far as parenting goes? Wondering whether to go for baby #3 or not.

            I know, I know. If you've been around awhile, you might remember in my gender reveal post for Ripley that I said LOTS of things about being done with babies. And I meant them...Or at least I thought I did...Or I did at the time. Who knows. A lot of things happen in a year's time, though, and you sometimes come to a point where you really have to contemplate things and come to a solid conclusion. Hear me out...

            When Ripley was first born, we were both pretty adamantly against having any more kids, even though we had always talked about having 3. For us, the very real prospect of having THREE GIRLS is @#%$ing frightening! It's still scary as hell almost 10 months in with Ripley. I already shudder to even ponder the teenage years with TWO. Yet, we still decided to hold off on John having a vasectomy. It seemed a little too final, especially if we changed our minds down the road. (Ha. Funny in hindsight, right?)

             As Ripley has gotten older, though, she has turned out to be just as good of a baby as her older sister, amazingly...Which I believe tends to trick your brain into wanting more. Or at least that's part of the “problem”. “Well crap, if they're that easy, what's one more?!” you think. However...

             In hindsight, we wish we would have had our second sooner, just from the way Myka has acted with her little sister. Not that she's been terrible, but I feel like things would have been easier for her if she were younger when we had Ripley. But, like my husband keeps reminding me, it wasn't for lack of trying. ;)

             With that being said, I felt like I/we had to make a decision soon. If we have another one, I want them to be closer in age than Myka and Ripley are. As scary and unappealing as being pregnant again this soon sounds, Ripley is quickly approaching her first birthday. Babies take the better part of a year to cook. If we're going to do this thing, we need to do it, like, now. Scary.

             But, would having another one really be the end of the world? Short answer: Probably not. As much as I hate to admit it, yes, we'll probably have another girl...But we can always hold out hope we might get a boy this time, right?

             For now, we're taking the “we'll see what happens” approach, if you get my drift. The only really bad thing about having a third is the whole “where the hell are we going to put him/her?” situation. Our house only has two bedroom. Which is fine, because our bedroom is so big we could easily make it into to smaller rooms if we needed to. We would like to add on eventually anyways, but wondering where the heck we're going to get money to do so is a very real concern. It's the only thing that really worries me. Yes, even more than having three girls. ;)

             Other than that, though, I've been having more and more fleeting moments recently where I feel like someone is missing...Then I realize all four of us are accounted for and feel silly. See? There my brain and crazy hormones go again trying to trick me. ;)

             How did you know when you were done having kids?

Coconut Baby Giveaway

Coconut Essentials Coconut Baby Moisturizer Giveaway! 13 Winners! $78 TRV

Sponsored By: Coconut Essentials

Hosted By: Love, Mrs. Mommy

Pamper your baby organically and all naturally. Coconut Baby uses certified organic coconut oil and other all natural products to nourish a babies delicate skin without using harsh chemicals, dyes, or perfumes. Can also be used to treat cradle cap in newborns.

13 Winners!!

3 Winners will receive a Coconut Baby moisturizer!

10 Runner's-Up will receive a $3.00 off coupon!

Open To US entries - Must be 18+ to enter Giveaway Dates ~ 11/10 12:01 AM EST through 11/24 11:59 PM EST

Good Luck!

Entry-Form

Disclosure: Love, Mrs. Mommy is not held responsible for sponsors who do not fulfill their prize obligations. Love, Mrs. Mommy received nominal monetary compensation to host this giveaway. This giveaway is in no way endorsed or sponsored by Facebook or any other social media site. The winner will be randomly drawn by Giveaway Tools and will be notified by email. Winner has 48 hours to reply before a replacement winner will be drawn. If you would like to participate in an event like this please contact LoveMrsMommy (at) gmail (dot) com.

Holiday Gift Guide for Science Lovers

  Did you catch last week's holiday gift guide from Educents? This week's is for the science lovers! My 4 year old LOVES anything to do with science. I'm sure if you have a science lover too, no matter their age, you will find something to keep them entertained for hours!-MBM

*This post contains affiliate links. That's just a fancy way of saying that if you happen to click on a link in this post and purchase something, I will receive a little bit of credit on Educents to help buy homeschooling stuff for my own family. :)*

 

Gifts for Ages 3 to 7

Slimy Squishy Polymer Bucket

Science makes SENSES with this bucket of colorful, creative fun.

Experimenting with squishy, squashy polymers creates the perfect opportunities for young children to engage in sensory play and to naturally use scientific processes while having fun.

The Slimy Squishy Polymer Bucket comes with items such as test tubes, biodegradable cups, mixing spoons, coloring tablets, and an experiment guide to help you make the following: Gobbledy Goop, JellyStones, Water Marbles, Glow in the Dark Spit Balls, Slippery Spheres, Silly Squares, Space Sand, and Super Snow. Adding a little water to crystals and powder will create lots of science fun for your little ones. Use this bucket to learn, create, and play with your child. That's part of the fun of parenting! There are many ways to enjoy preschool science fun with the Slimy Squishy Polymer Bucket. Use the super snow to practice writing letters and numbers, teach the importance of listening and following directions by allowing your child or student to work independently after being given instruction, and make Space Sand and use it to discuss the sea and coral reefs.

"My son LOVED this bucket! Each activity was super fun and engaging, He made a snowman from the snow, he took the bouncy balls outside and him and his friends threw them on the ground to watch them explode, he stacked the cubes.. there was so many fun things to do! Thanks for putting together a super fun bucket of activities!" -Faith

Magic School Bus Science Club

Turn your next craft day into an educational one!

The famous Magic School Bus series has been getting kids excited about STEM for two decades. The Science Club Kit takes the story based learning to the next level with comprehensive, hands-on kits that come right to your doorstep each month for a full year. And each month, you have at least 7 experiments!

This is a great choice for families with multiple children, kinesthetic, and visual learners - and just a fun, educational activity for a rainy day! The kits include experiments related to Volcanoes, Weather, Water, Fossils, Bacteria and Fungi, Star and Planets - the world around us. Best of all, each kit comes with a colorful, Magic School Bus themed manual and a paired guide for adults. You don’t need to be a science nerd to be able to have fun leading and learning as a parent. There’s also an online clubhouse with further information for young explorers.

This is truly a gift that keeps on giving. “We bought these kits almost a year ago and my kids have been loving them. Each month they arrive, the kids get extremely excited to get together the materials to do the experiments...It gives a good outline and the kids enjoy understanding what is needed to make everything work. I would recommend this to a friend.”

“My children are really enjoying their science now! Any time they get to do hands on, it's awesome!” - Kristina P

Solar System Wall Stickers

Reach for the stars! Literally.

             
Learn the solar system while developing motor skills. Use the Solar System Stickers to map out the galaxy on your dining room wall. The solar system wall stickers set teach planet recognition, solar system configuration, constellations, phases of the Earth's moon, seasons of the year, Earth's axis and rotation around the sun, and spelling! Unlike other decals, Peel, Play & Learn wall stickers are made of a fabric material that do not rip or tear – a huge bonus when you have a child with minimal fine motor skills. They do not damage your walls or wall paper (we only have painted walls, so I couldn’t try that out) and they stick to textured walls. Lastly - they are BPA free, which is important to me. "Gabe is very interested in space at the moment and I hardly had the box open before he wanted to play with them. My son was desperate to use this set as soon as he saw them, and together with his younger sister Evey, we decided to map out the Milky Way Galaxy on the dining room wall. We talked about each sticker and I prompted the kiddos to try and remember the correct order of the planets." -Patti B.

Gifts for Ages 8 to 11

Rock N Learn Science Collection

Award winning science curricula that happens to have music videos. Yes.

Science is just plain cool - it can help explain the world around us and even our own bodies. But if we’re being honest, scientists often use big words that can be difficult for kids to understand (much less pronounce). Rock ‘N Learn has introduced a great solution that doubles as a fun holiday gift. The Science DVD Collection helps kids learn about many difficult concepts in science through a series of four hilarious and engaging DVDs. Whether your child is curious about the solar system, animals, gravity, electricity, weather, or the human body, these DVDs are a perfect gift to help your child take their knowledge of science to the next level.

"First of all, I have to confess that this DVD is not only my kids' current favorite, it's mine too! I was confident that my 9-year old son would enjoy it as he loves science. Not only was I right, even my 5-year-old daughter was fascinated by the DVD. My kids constantly are telling me what they have, learned from Marko the Pencil and his friend Bailey. One day I am hearing what photosynthesis (big word for a 5-year-old!) is all about and the next thing they are explaining plant cells.” –Elina

I Love a Mystery Book Set

Invite kids to be a math & science detective!

             
There are few better feelings than seeing your child light up, prideful when they solve the answer to a question on their own. To give your child this confidence, look no further than the I Love a Mystery Book Set for your holiday gift. The concept behind these mystery-solving books is super simple and highly entertaining for kids of many different ages. The set includes three books, two filled with science mysteries and one filled with math mysteries. Each mystery takes about one minute to read and solve, with one page covering the mystery and the next revealing the answer and a picture that helps explain the answer. Kids love the fun stories (you’ll be asking your child to put these books down and go to bed finally) and you’ll love that the topics can be related to real life, such as calculating distance in a toll road and understanding probability of rolling certain numbers with dice. “I love that these are short one page mysteries that you can read to your child at night. They always start a conversation and give me an opportunity to understand his current concepts of the world and tweak them. I would highly recommend these.” -Cari

Know Yourself Subscription Kit

Engage your five senses in learning!

Isn't it helpful when you're learning something new and there is some context? A beautiful combination of human body science, history, and imaginative fun come together in the Know Yourself Adventure Series. These high-quality subscription kits are the work of talented experts and artists who know how to keep kids laughing and entertained while learning important concepts. Delivered monthly, each Know Yourself Adventure includes a Time Skaters comic book, science experiments and corresponding materials, historical lessons and healthy recipes. Each kit has an amazing theme like nothing you’ve ever seen before - for example, in the third kit, your child will travel to 1553 China to learn about the circulatory system! Choose a plan that works best for your family by opting in for a 3-month, 6-month or 12-month subscription, and give your child the gift of self-literacy this holiday season. “The kids could not contain themselves when the box arrived, they were anxious to get their hands on everything, which is totally acceptable for this box! Along with supplies we needed to learn about the five senses were many extra fun reading materials. My son was really excited about the comic book and my oldest daughter found herself thrilled about the secret notepad and special pen. The pen contains a flashlight on the tip that reveals all of the secret messages she would write inside.” –Miss Frugal Mommy

Gifts for Ages 12 to 14

Microscope Experiments

Seeing is believing - but it's unbelievable what kids can discover with this set.

This high-quality microscope is not only a powerful tool on its own, but it also comes with an engaging and low-hassle experiment kit.

The Levenhuk LabZZ M101 Lime Microscope allows young and curious learners to study insects and plants, finding living microorganisms in a water drop and many other exciting things! Curious children will be able to work from directions about what to explore, or go off on their own and learn the magical wonders of the natural world down to the smallest levels possible.

The Levenhuk includes quality optics that can be compared to many ‘adult’ microscopes. Children can zoom up to 16x in the eyepiece, as well as six levels of magnification: 40x, 64x, 100x, 160x, 400x and 640x. The microscope is durable, but light, and operates on batteries which come included. The microscope is ready-to-use right out of the box, perfect for a gift.

Also included with the microscope is an activity kit, which including items such as an "Attractive Microscope. Scrutinizing the Microcosm" user guide, forceps, sea monkeys, flasks with yeast, pitch, sea salt and brine ship, 5 ready-to-use specimens, 5 blank slides, dropper, and a dust cover to protect it.

Survive Inside the Human Body Books

An educational gift for comic book lovers!

These bright and colorful books look like regular comics, but they’re deceptively full of engrossing information about human anatomy.

Survive! Inside the Human Body is a series of manga (Japanese-style comic books) that follow the journey of students through a human body. It’s a classic story, but presented in a way that’s never been seen before. Perfect for grades K-6, these comics contain anatomically-correct guides, real lessons, and a lot of age-appropriate humor.

Science can be one of the most dense and difficult topics to teach children, but this book does an amazing job of making it approachable. Visual learners will get a kick out of this book, and may retain information better than other learners. The fast-paced story will leave kids eager to see what happens to Dr. Geo and his rag-tag group of amateur scientists next. Topics covered in the book include the human body, the effects of the food we eat, medicine, genetics, the digestive, circulatory, and nervous systems.

“My 7 year old son LOVES these books (we bought all 3!). He has read and re-read them. They are perfect for before bed or in the car. Very informative and interesting.. he can not get enough of the comics!”

Explore with me Geology

This stuff makes every walk outside way more interesting. And kids love it!

Is your young learner interested in geology? This set of six packs contains a half-dozen rocks and minerals kits. Included are igneous, metamorphic, sedimentary, minerals, fossils, and Rocks and minerals. It’s perfect for ages 8 and up, but really anyone expressing an interest in science will get a kick out of these kits. So you might be asking - what’s so interesting about rocks?

Geology is one of the most interesting fields of science out there. It's literally everywhere. And rocks are the oldest things on our planet! The rocks under our feet tell a story that’s thousands of years old. Scientists still don’t know everything that there is to know about these building blocks of our world, but they’re learning new things every day. Rocks are responsible for beautiful mountains, volcanoes, earthquakes and much more.

This set contains an amazing array of rocks for a budding geologist to learn from. The Explore With Me kit introduces children to the various types of rocks by providing examples of each. Kids will learn facts about what differentiates them, and can explore ideas such as how they are formed, where they can be found, and much more.

Gifts for Ages 15+

The Manga (Comic Book) Guide to Relativity

Because pictures speak a thousand words...and kids love comic books.

Manga textbooks are revolutionary learning tools changing the way our kids absorb information. The Manga Guide to Relativity is a textbook completely in comic book form that can help your teen understand one of the most difficult subjects in physics, Einstein’s theory of relativity.

The book takes teens through a fun story in which super-relatable high school student Minagi learns about the non-intuitive laws that shape our universe. Before your teen knows it, they’ll be mastering concepts like inertial frames of reference, unified spacetime, and the equivalence principle. They’ll see how relativity affects modern astronomy and discover why GPS systems and other everyday technologies depend on Einstein's extraordinary discovery. “I found the story to be compelling and amusing, often sending me into the giggles, and the explanations to be understandable, which is what you want from a textbook (and not always the case when it comes to physics). What I love about books like these is that they can grab readers who might not otherwise be interested in the topic (I rarely pick up books about Einstein's theories, for example) and teach concepts in news ways. The Manga Guides definitely have a place on my bookshelf.” – Sarah Zielinski, contributor at Smithsonian.com

Laminated Chemical Periodic Table

Function? Check! Fashion? Better than a lot of interior decor I've seen...

This Chemical Periodic Table Poster is a building block of education because it features the building blocks of all matter!Everything that we know of in the physical universe are made up of the elements listed on this table. Knowing and understanding this is one of the keys to unlocking a young learner’s love of science. The earlier they start to think about these the more excited they will become in the world around them. This is an invaluable tool for anyone involved in the scientific field, and it can hang on the wall or on your door. It contains key data on all the elements, conversion factors, physical constants, and chemical structures. This 18”x24" laminated version of the periodic is reusable, durable, and crisply presents all the elements and a guide of how to read each one. Much better than a band poster. “Love this poster, size and clarity. We have it on the wall and everyone from my 14 yr old to my 6 yr old like to quiz each other about it.” - Deb H.

Life of Fred Chemistry

                 
Have you heard of Life of Fred? The LoF series is a huge hit among homeschoolers due to the way it blends story -based learning with fun. Plus it's effective. That's why there are whole communities dedicated to it! Life of Fred Chemistry uses a unique blend of storytelling and educational guides to make any subject fun and engaging for kids - with the same characters and everything! The series follows Fred, a math genius who lives in a quirky town where there’s always another adventure waiting around the corner. But fortunately Fred’s expertise expands beyond math. These books are incredibly easy to understand, due to the story-like nature of the books, but aren’t as dense or difficult to comprehend as a massive science textbook. “Even though I loved Chemistry in school, I really wish it was taught the way that Dr. Schmidt teaches it! He uses real life type situations to teach about chemistry. I love how he tells us what we need to really know about chemistry and not just useless facts to memorize. The fact that the book is written by a math teaches helps a lot too, because the formulas and math in this chemistry book seem easier to learn and comprehend! This one is going in our permanent library.” - Cheryl K
 

Want to see more? Check out this awesome Holiday Gift Collection for Young Scientists. And you can use the code GIVETHANKS for 10% off, free shipping and 5% back.

Glow in the Dark Leaf Craft

             Hey folks! How is your fall going so far? Hopefully you are enjoying some down time between Halloween festivities and the craziness that is Thanksgiving and Christmas.

             Even if you're not normally much of an outdoors person, most people can't resist spending some time in the fall foliage this time of year, right? What better way to spend a nice afternoon outside than to go on a nature walk with your kids! Gather some leaves up from the ground, take them home, and prepare for craft time to unwind after your walk. :)

What You'll Need:

-glow in the dark paints

-leaves

-paintbrushes

-tape

*Paint both sides of your leaves with glow in the dark paint and let dry. We just happened to have this kind that we found on sale a year or two ago. I have found that you really need to lay it on for it to actually show up in the dark. Also, I didn't think to paint both sides when we did ours, so the leaves still ended up curling some, so I recommend doing both sides to kind of seal/preserve the leaves. I painted an entire pumpkin with this last year and it kept it so well preserved that it started rotting from the inside out and it wasn't carved at all!

*Using whatever other colors of glow in the dark paint you have, paint whatever designs you like on your leaves and let dry. Again, we just happened to have these. They come in handy for little ones since they have the little tips.

*Put them up for decoration wherever you like. We had this fun little tissue paper, contact paper, and brown paper bag tree we had already put up for decoration in the window, so I thought they went well with it. Plus, hopefully they're getting some sunlight to charge the paints!

Wonder Forge BRIO Fire Station & Suspicion Game Giveaway

Hosted by: Queen of Reviews, IMHO Views, Reviews & Giveaways, Tammie's Reviews, Giveaways & More, Networking Witches, Dorky's Deals, Easter Babe's Theory, Krazy Kat Freebies, Deliciously Savvy, Love, Mrs. Mommy, Life, Naturally, Everyday Gizmos Sweeps & Views, Michigan Saving and More. Heartbeats ~ Soul Stains & Giveaway Lovers

Sponsor: Wonder Forge

Prize: BRIO Central Fire Station & Suspicion Game RV $100

BRIO Fire Station - At the rescue fire station you have to be prepared for action. When the alarm goes off, slide down the slide to the fire truck which is ready for take-off, with sirens and all. The toughest fireman climbs up to the helipad on the roof. Come on, hurry up!

Suspicion - You’re invited to a masquerade party at the estate of art collector Baron Whitetooth. Little does he know, you’re a world-class jewel thief. And you are not alone. Keep your identity a secret as you maneuver through the mansion pocketing priceless gemstones. Observe the other guests and use deduction to unmask the other crooks before they catch you.

Dates: 11/5-11/19

Open to: US Residents 18+

Enter to win using the widget below. Good luck!

Entry-Form

Disclosure: Mixed Bag Mama did not receive compensation for this post and is not responsible for prize fulfillment.

Lugz Boots Giveaway

Hosted by: Queen of Reviews, IMHO Views, Reviews & Giveaways, Tammie's Reviews, Giveaways & More, Networking Witches, Dorky's Deals, Easter Babe's Theory, Krazy Kat Freebies, Deliciously Savvy, Love, Mrs. Mommy, Life, Naturally, Everyday Gizmos Sweeps & Views, Michigan Saving and More, Heartbeats ~ Soul Stains & Giveaway Lovers
 Sponsor: Lugz

Prize: Winners Choice of Size and Color Lugz Empire HI VT Boots RV $89.99

The Empire Hi VT is a water resistant and slip resistant plain toe boot that features our patented Flexastride memory foam technology. This boot features a velvet upper and has the perfect blend of style and comfort to protect your feet year round.

DETAILS:

• Velvet upper
• Padded tongue & collar
• Flexastride molded memory foam insole
• ASTM-F1677, Mark II tested slip resistant rubber sole

Dates: 11/5-11/19

Open to: US Residents 18+

Enter to win using the widget below. Good luck!

Entry-Form

Disclosure: Mixed Bag Mama did not receive compensation for this post and is not responsible for prize fulfillment.

Make Math Fun with the 1-10 Counting Owls Activity Set (Review)

             Hey all! I hope you have been enjoying all of the fun kid-related posts lately! Today I have another fun learning game to share with you from Learning Resources: The 1-10 Counting Owls Activity Set.

             If you've been around here for any length of time, it should be no surprise by now that I love anything that makes learning more fun for kids, especially tricky subjects like math. (Maybe that's just me? I was never and will never be a math person!) The 1-10 Counting Owls Activity Set is the perfect tool to help your child learn and solidify not only counting, but early math concepts as well. It is especially useful if you have a visual or hands on learner!

             The Counting Owls Activity Set comes with 37 pieces and is geared towards children age 3 and up. The set comes with an owl branch, 25 owls, spinner, 10 activity cards, and activity guide. Children can practice counting from 1-10 (and more), learn simply addition and subtraction, patterning, and more. Not only will children pick up on math concepts, but they can practice color identification as well with the five different colors of owls that comes with the set.

             Here are mine and Myka's thoughts on the Counting Owls Set:

*I love that there are so many different ways to play and learn! I love anything multi-functional and with so many different activities, children should stay engaged for longer and find activities they like.

*Myka really likes making the patterns from the activity cards. She's still having a hard time understanding some of the other “games”, though. I'm not sure if she's just being willfully ignorant or is having a hard time understanding that the cards are double sided for different games and that the spinner doesn't really need to be used with any of the card activities either.

*Through interacting with this, I discovered she can identify more numbers than I thought. (sneaky little minx)

*Myka is very much a visual and hands on learner, so the owls are handy for corresponding something tangible to the “idea” of numbers, if that makes sense. You can especially see the gears turning in her head when I demonstrate simple addition and subtraction.

*Since there are 25 owls included, you can technically use this set past the number 10. Plus, you can show multiplication, grouping, etc.

*I like that the Counting Owls Set can be used for multiple ages. Plus it's durable enough to last through more than one child, which is always a bonus when buying toys or educational materials, amiright?

*You can also use the owls for other math activities outside of the ones included in the set.

*The one issue we have had is getting the owls in the branch. At first I thought it was just because she's super impatient and kind of a spaz sometimes, but I have a bit of a hard time too sometimes.

             Overall, I would recommend this for pre-school aged children who are just starting out with numbers or even simple math. Learning Resources and Educational Insights (their sister company) has TONS of fun products for kids and families, so be sure to check both sites out! (You can find the Counting Owls Activity Set on Learning Resources.) Stay up to date with them on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, and YouTube.

Mixed Bag Mama was not compensated for this post. I received this item in order to facilitate my review. Regardless, all opinions are my own.

Homeschool Gift Guide 2016

 

             Not sure what to get your homeschooling friends or family? This gift guide from Educents makes it easy peasy, no matter what age you're shopping for!

*This post contains affiliate links. That's just a fancy way of saying that if you happen to click on a link in this post and purchase something, I will receive a little bit of credit on Educents to help buy homeschooling stuff for my own family. :)*

Gifts for ages 3 to 8

Life of Fred Math Books

Learning math, like literacy, is the key to endless doors in life. Story-based math learning has proven time and again to be one of the most enjoyable and effective ways to encourage this life skill. Math savant Dr. Stanley Schmidt created lovable characters Fred and Kingie whose adventures are so engrossing kids don’t even realize they’re learning m-a-t-h. Gift a child in your life the beginning series to set them up for success in life. Don’t forget to add a plush Fred doll, adding another positive dimension to learning math. Friends help friends succeed - whether it’s math learning or otherwise. This holistic teaching method is sure to bring joy and success to your homeschool and beyond.

Reusable Wall Stickers

From the wonders of the solar system to the miracle of the human body, these interactive play sets spark curiosity, delight and learning in every child. Made from reusable, non-BPA decal materials, they can go on walls, car windows and any surface ready to be used for fun, discovery, and knowledge mastery. The durable mini-sets are especially portable, great for road trips or plane travel, and to pack for a play date. Mona MELisa is a family owned and operated business, and manufactures products in the USA. Educents is proud to have her as a member of our community. “The mini sets are perfect...We are homeschoolers and these are a great way to reinforce learning and encourage self exploration/learning...What I love is when they get folded over or dirty can get back to full use and clean....so durable.” - Marlene G