2016 is set to be an exciting year and we can’t wait to share our new toys and games with you! With over 70 new products being introduced we thought we’d start with a sneak peek of eight new toys that we can’t wait to play!
#1 Build & Spin
We love hands-on learning and construction and these new themed sets provide a perfect introduction to creative play for the younger tots aged 2 and above! If you are already a fan of our Gears! Gears! Gears!® range these bright new additions also help to develop fine motor skills and an understanding of cause and effect but with chunkier play pieces, ideal for little hands.
# 2 Rhyming Pups
Joining the growing Snap-n-Learn range, these adorable pups snap together to make rhyming words. Children can start by matching colours and identifying letters before moving on to building three-letter words and rhyming.  The Snap-n-Learn range has been very popular with parents and nursery workers who have said they love the bright colours and how easy the pieces are to join together. We can’t wait for this furry new addition!
#3 Ready, Set, Woof!
Sticking with the puppy theme, Ready, Set, Woof! is set to challenge little learners matching and colour identification skills! The aim of the game is to shake the dog bowl randomiser and match the colours to the correct hungry pup on the board. Robot Face Race™ is a lunch time favourite in our office so we’re very excited for the arrival of this younger variation.
#4 New Sprouts® Grow it!
Calling all toddlers with green fingers! The New Sprouts® Grow It! set has everything an aspiring gardener needs to create their own garden in 2016. With a watering can, trowel, three pots, two veggies and two flowers little ones will be able to help out in the garden with their own bright and durable tools that have been especially designed for little hands!
#5 Plot Blocks
If you are a fan of our story cubes you will love what we’ve got in store for 2016! The new Plot Blocks™ Story Building Activity Set guides children with picture cubes and double sided setting cards as they create their own exciting story. Combining a multitude of different settings, characters, objects and actions children can create a truly unique story with every roll. Where will your Plot Blocks™ story take you?
#6 All About Me Family CounterActivity Cards
These double-sided activity cards have been designed after listening to your feedback requests for some activities to use alongside our Family Counters. Supporting the development of early maths skills and helping children to understand the world around them the activities range from counting the amount of family counters on a bus to replicating patterns. We especially love these cards because the hands-on visual nature of the activities means that they can be used in multiple ways and support all types of learners.
#7 STEM Robot Mouse Activity Set
STEM learning spans across Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths and is currently a buzz word in education with many related skills included in the national curriculum. Next year we will be introducing a new range of STEM activity sets to support the development of these skills. We are surrounded by technology like never before including video games, smart phones and tablets. They are all forms of communication that impact our lives every single day and what they have in common is that they all involve coding! Â Our top pick from this new range is the Robot Mouse Activity set that provides early learners a fun, real-world application of these essential 21st century skills. Children can program the sequence of steps, and then watch Colby the mouse race to the cheese!
#8 Primary Scienceâ„¢ Shining Stars Projector
Last but not least, we’re over the moon to be introducing the Primary Science™ Shining Stars Projector. Little ones will be able to transform their bedroom into a secret planetarium and learn about early space science with 18 different images to project. The compact size, carry handle and stand makes it ideal for on-the- go learning so it can easily be taken to sleepovers and secret hide-outs!So keep your eyes peeled for these exciting new toys and games and much more in 2016! We can’t wait for a brand new year of learning and fun!#LoveLearning
We love hands-on learning and construction and these new themed sets provide a perfect introduction to creative play for the younger tots aged 2 and above! If you are already a fan of our Gears! Gears! Gears!® range these bright new additions also help to develop fine motor skills and an understanding of cause and effect but with chunkier play pieces, ideal for little hands.
# 2 Rhyming Pups
Joining the growing Snap-n-Learn range, these adorable pups snap together to make rhyming words. Children can start by matching colours and identifying letters before moving on to building three-letter words and rhyming.  The Snap-n-Learn range has been very popular with parents and nursery workers who have said they love the bright colours and how easy the pieces are to join together. We can’t wait for this furry new addition!
#3 Ready, Set, Woof!
Sticking with the puppy theme, Ready, Set, Woof! is set to challenge little learners matching and colour identification skills! The aim of the game is to shake the dog bowl randomiser and match the colours to the correct hungry pup on the board. Robot Face Race™ is a lunch time favourite in our office so we’re very excited for the arrival of this younger variation.
#4 New Sprouts® Grow it!
Calling all toddlers with green fingers! The New Sprouts® Grow It! set has everything an aspiring gardener needs to create their own garden in 2016. With a watering can, trowel, three pots, two veggies and two flowers little ones will be able to help out in the garden with their own bright and durable tools that have been especially designed for little hands!
#5 Plot Blocks
If you are a fan of our story cubes you will love what we’ve got in store for 2016! The new Plot Blocks™ Story Building Activity Set guides children with picture cubes and double sided setting cards as they create their own exciting story. Combining a multitude of different settings, characters, objects and actions children can create a truly unique story with every roll. Where will your Plot Blocks™ story take you?
#6 All About Me Family CounterActivity Cards
These double-sided activity cards have been designed after listening to your feedback requests for some activities to use alongside our Family Counters. Supporting the development of early maths skills and helping children to understand the world around them the activities range from counting the amount of family counters on a bus to replicating patterns. We especially love these cards because the hands-on visual nature of the activities means that they can be used in multiple ways and support all types of learners.
#7 STEM Robot Mouse Activity Set
STEM learning spans across Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths and is currently a buzz word in education with many related skills included in the national curriculum. Next year we will be introducing a new range of STEM activity sets to support the development of these skills. We are surrounded by technology like never before including video games, smart phones and tablets. They are all forms of communication that impact our lives every single day and what they have in common is that they all involve coding! Â Our top pick from this new range is the Robot Mouse Activity set that provides early learners a fun, real-world application of these essential 21st century skills. Children can program the sequence of steps, and then watch Colby the mouse race to the cheese!
#8 Primary Scienceâ„¢ Shining Stars Projector
Last but not least, we’re over the moon to be introducing the Primary Science™ Shining Stars Projector. Little ones will be able to transform their bedroom into a secret planetarium and learn about early space science with 18 different images to project. The compact size, carry handle and stand makes it ideal for on-the- go learning so it can easily be taken to sleepovers and secret hide-outs!So keep your eyes peeled for these exciting new toys and games and much more in 2016! We can’t wait for a brand new year of learning and fun!#LoveLearning
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As the evenings get darker and the countdown to Christmas is underway what better time to have a cosy night in and host a family game night? Gather the family together and escape the hustle and bustle that December brings; family games provide enjoyable quality time that boosts little learner’s self-esteem as they take on new challenges
As the evenings get darker and the countdown to Christmas is underway what better time to have a cosy night in and host a family game night? Gather the family together and escape the hustle and bustle that December brings; family games provide enjoyable quality time that boosts little learner’s self-esteem as they take on new challenges
Stanford Professor Jo Boaler says that ‘students most effectively learn “mathfacts†working on problems that they enjoy, rather than through exercisesand drills they fear. Speed pressure, timed testing and blind memorization damage children’s experience of math’. http://joboaler.com/blog/Anxiety starts early in a child’s life. If a child has a negative early experience in education, that early anxiety snowballs, leading to difficulties in learning key skills and avoidance that only get worse as children get older. However, allowing them to learn through means which are hands-on, fun and familiar can instil self-confidence in a child therefore increasing their ability to learn.  A study from Professor Jo Boaler reflects on the effects of negative experiences in maths for a child.Here at Learning Resources we pride ourselves on creating inspiring, hands-on, educational resources that are essential to a child’s learning and development. Our resources not only make learning in maths fun for children but they allow children to have concrete experiences in maths to get to grips with the very abstract notions of numbers, the relationships between them and the ways in which they work in the number system. This closely relates to the 'mastery’ approach for mathematics which the new National Curriculum focuses on, basing itself on the Singapore maths model.This mastery approach is the idea that children will have an overall deep 'number sense’ in which it will allow them to apply mathematical knowledge to solve problems. One of the theories that Singapore maths is based on is the work of Bruner (1957). He states a theory that children learn in three basic stages: by handling real objects, then through pictures, and then through symbols. It is essential to a child’s early maths skills to use very hands-on resources to concrete their understanding before progressing on to more complex stages. Piaget’s (1951) work also suggests that children aged seven to ten years old work in primarily concrete ways and that the abstract notions of mathematics may only be accessible to them through embodiment in practical resources.
We have some fantastic new maths resources to supportchildren’s development of a wide range of maths skills:
Puzzle Pies™ Mathematical games area resource which are highly motivating to children and, consequently, encourage greater levels of concentration and engagement with mathematics. Games can be used in different ways to consolidate learning, practise skills, explore mathematical relationships and develop problem-solving strategies. One enjoyable aspect of games for children is that they are put into situations where they can control their own learning as there is often no ‘one way’ to solve the problem or reach a winning solution.
Anxiety in Mathematics Learning
Stanford Professor Jo Boaler says that ‘students most effectively learn “mathfacts†working on problems that they enjoy, rather than through exercisesand drills they fear. Speed pressure, timed testing and blind memorization damage children’s experience of math’. http://joboaler.com/blog/Anxiety starts early in a child’s life. If a child has a negative early experience in education, that early anxiety snowballs, leading to difficulties in learning key skills and avoidance that only get worse as children get older. However, allowing them to learn through means which are hands-on, fun and familiar can instil self-confidence in a child therefore increasing their ability to learn.  A study from Professor Jo Boaler reflects on the effects of negative experiences in maths for a child.Here at Learning Resources we pride ourselves on creating inspiring, hands-on, educational resources that are essential to a child’s learning and development. Our resources not only make learning in maths fun for children but they allow children to have concrete experiences in maths to get to grips with the very abstract notions of numbers, the relationships between them and the ways in which they work in the number system. This closely relates to the 'mastery’ approach for mathematics which the new National Curriculum focuses on, basing itself on the Singapore maths model.This mastery approach is the idea that children will have an overall deep 'number sense’ in which it will allow them to apply mathematical knowledge to solve problems. One of the theories that Singapore maths is based on is the work of Bruner (1957). He states a theory that children learn in three basic stages: by handling real objects, then through pictures, and then through symbols. It is essential to a child’s early maths skills to use very hands-on resources to concrete their understanding before progressing on to more complex stages. Piaget’s (1951) work also suggests that children aged seven to ten years old work in primarily concrete ways and that the abstract notions of mathematics may only be accessible to them through embodiment in practical resources.
We have some fantastic new maths resources to supportchildren’s development of a wide range of maths skills:
Puzzle Pies™ Mathematical games area resource which are highly motivating to children and, consequently, encourage greater levels of concentration and engagement with mathematics. Games can be used in different ways to consolidate learning, practise skills, explore mathematical relationships and develop problem-solving strategies. One enjoyable aspect of games for children is that they are put into situations where they can control their own learning as there is often no ‘one way’ to solve the problem or reach a winning solution.
Ever wondered what it’s like to spend two weeks surrounded by toys? My colleaguesfrom our sales team have been manning our exhibition stands at the London and Nuremburg Toy Fairs showcasing over 100 of our new products for 2015. Buyers from well known retailers and education suppliers stopped by to decide what new items (if not all of them) they’d like to stock. It’s always an exciting time of year for us as the tireless work which has gone into developing this abundance of products comes into fruition. Our customers are always so receptive to our new product offering, read on to find out more…London Toy Fair HighlightsOur new Top of the Tables! Times table game took centre stage - designed to help children master multiplication in order to shoot and score. Here is Jo Moore from our product development department who demonstrated the game to customers and even the Toy Fair TV film crew. Jo is also an ex-teacher so was truly qualified to promote the true educational benefits to visitors.We also had an unexpected guest who showed a keen interest in our Nancy B range, specially designed to encourage girls to get excited about science. His favourite item was the Aquascope! We’ve since been in touch with Vernon so we can send the entire range for his daughters to enjoy. We hope it’ll help them get enthused about science.Nuremburg Toy Fair HighlightsMy colleagues Helen and Claire were lucky enough to be invited to the opening ceremony of the Nuremburg Toy Fair which also hosted the Spielwarenmesse Toy Award. Our Mental Blox Critical Thinking Challenge game had been nominated within their PreSchool Toy category which was a huge accolade for us.Lastly, I have to tell you about the customer reception we hold each year – it’s an occasion where we thank our loyal customers and seeing as it had such a GREAT theme I thought I should share. The evening consisted of key toy and education buyers enjoying the GREAT British party we put together. Guests enjoyed traditionally British food and I can’t leave without telling you about ourspecial guest – none other than HRH, the Queen. Who would have thought onewould have been visiting the toy fair?Claire JohnstonHead of Marketing and Communications
Toy Fair Time!
Ever wondered what it’s like to spend two weeks surrounded by toys? My colleaguesfrom our sales team have been manning our exhibition stands at the London and Nuremburg Toy Fairs showcasing over 100 of our new products for 2015. Buyers from well known retailers and education suppliers stopped by to decide what new items (if not all of them) they’d like to stock. It’s always an exciting time of year for us as the tireless work which has gone into developing this abundance of products comes into fruition. Our customers are always so receptive to our new product offering, read on to find out more…London Toy Fair HighlightsOur new Top of the Tables! Times table game took centre stage - designed to help children master multiplication in order to shoot and score. Here is Jo Moore from our product development department who demonstrated the game to customers and even the Toy Fair TV film crew. Jo is also an ex-teacher so was truly qualified to promote the true educational benefits to visitors.We also had an unexpected guest who showed a keen interest in our Nancy B range, specially designed to encourage girls to get excited about science. His favourite item was the Aquascope! We’ve since been in touch with Vernon so we can send the entire range for his daughters to enjoy. We hope it’ll help them get enthused about science.Nuremburg Toy Fair HighlightsMy colleagues Helen and Claire were lucky enough to be invited to the opening ceremony of the Nuremburg Toy Fair which also hosted the Spielwarenmesse Toy Award. Our Mental Blox Critical Thinking Challenge game had been nominated within their PreSchool Toy category which was a huge accolade for us.Lastly, I have to tell you about the customer reception we hold each year – it’s an occasion where we thank our loyal customers and seeing as it had such a GREAT theme I thought I should share. The evening consisted of key toy and education buyers enjoying the GREAT British party we put together. Guests enjoyed traditionally British food and I can’t leave without telling you about ourspecial guest – none other than HRH, the Queen. Who would have thought onewould have been visiting the toy fair?Claire JohnstonHead of Marketing and Communications
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