Browsing Tag

LEGO

Importance of Play

The Importance of Play With Famed Pop-Up Book Artist Matthew Reinhart

Posted on July 1, 2018

Matthew Reinhart

 

“I remember enjoying making up stories, building unique Star Wars environments, and filling them with all my toys, much more than actually playing with my friends within them.”

Matthew Reinhart
New York Times Best Seller

 

If you want to talk about how play can lead to a successful career, just ask our good friend, author and pop-up book magician Matthew Reinhart. From Frozen to Game of Thrones, Matthew makes stories and paper come to life with equal parts engineering and imagination.

Matthew Reinhart

Matthew recently helped Disney Pixar pay homage to its iconic character universe with PIXAR: … READ MORE

Science & Tech

10 Cool Science & Engineering Videos That Will Amaze Your Kids

Posted on December 18, 2017

Okay let’s be real.  We all need a little down time and while it may be tempting to use television as the babysitter, here are some super cool, worthwhile science and engineering videos to watch with your kids and thought starters for how you can explore these concepts at home.

 

Science Videos for kidsCandy Lab: I want candy!
No spoilers on this video … you’ll have to watch and see. Nerd exploration at home…try this technique with Play-Doh. Make colored rolls and wrapping them together using a thin flat piece.  Continue to roll until the roll is as thin as you … READ MORE

Reviews

How to Shop Confidently for Educational and STEM Toys

Posted on August 22, 2017

STEM Toys

We know many of you are already thinking about holiday shopping … or at least are looking for some fun STEM toys for your Nerds in these last weeks of summer vacation. So, as you scan the many STEM toy offerings out there, take our Imperfect Dad’s advice in his first article for Parent.co, and look beyond the popular STEM toys’ label before you buy!

Excerpt from Parent.co

Beware of STEM-Washing

As I walked the three-story labyrinth of more than 1,100 exhibitors at the Toy Industry Association’s 2017 Toy Fair in New York City, I got the feeling that every … READ MORE

Product & Book Reviews

Meet LEGO Boost: The New Robot on the Block

Posted on August 4, 2017

LEGO Boost Review

LEGO Boost Review:
Making STEM Learning Fun and Nerdy

Looking for a fast, easy and fun way to get into robotics? Meet LEGO Boost, the new LEGO robotics system that allows you to build and code as easy as snapping a few bricks together. With the LEGO system of play and the new Bluetooth-enabled LEGO Move Hub, you can build endless combinations of interactive models.

For years, LEGO Mindstorm has been considered the pinnacle of robotic engineering toys, but many found the system complex and challenging for younger, less experienced LEGO fans. LEGO Boost bridges the skill level for aspiring … READ MORE

Engineering Nerds In Real Life

Meet Matthew Reinhart and His Amazing Paper Art

Posted on May 24, 2017

Taking Story-Telling and Origami to a Whole New Level

reinhart_monster2

 

“I think everyone is born an artist – we just forget it or lose confidence as we get older because we think we aren’t good enough. Kids don’t have those art hang-ups. I envy them!”

– Matthew Reinhart

 

Even before they get to preschool or elementary art class, our kids have explored and expressed their creativity through paper. They’ve feverishly scribbled with crayons into coloring books (and, sometimes, onto walls, furniture, and family pets), made collages with construction paper, and dipped curious fingers into paints to turn blank sheets … READ MORE

Product & Book Reviews

What We Learned at New York Toy Fair

Posted on March 15, 2017

 

During the holidays we published our Raising Nerd Wish List, a shopping guide for parents looking for the best Nerd toys and books for their Nerds. Last month, Raising Nerd’s Imperfect Dad traveled to a place where those wishes come true: New York Toy Fair 2017.

For the past 114 years, the Toy Industry Association’s North American International Toy Fair has welcomed thousands of toy manufacturers, mass and specialty retailers, distributors, importers, and inventors from nearly 100 countries. The first Toy Fair in 1903 included fewer than 10 exhibitors, including Lionel Trains. This year’s event boasted more than … READ MORE