Important Advisory:

The Asterisk on the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Lead-Free* Platinum Award list indicates that samples from only one particular batch of these toys tested lead free.  Other production runs or samples of the same products may contain lead.

We have not had the other toys on our website independently tested for lead content. For the future, we are requiring companies to provide us with documentation that their products have been tested by an independent lab and found to be free of surface and embedded lead, as well as phthalates.  

You don't need to bring home flashcards or workbooks to help kids keep this year's hard won school skills alive and well. The big idea is to look for playful ways to build reading, writing and math into their everyday activities.

Reading Summer reading should be about reading for pleasure-not because it's assigned-but something kids want to do! Harder isn't always best. Lot of kids are not ready to undertake a 700 page Harry Potter book on their own-may be something to read out loud but not for the young listeners. Kids need time to consolidate their skills, to read with fluidity and ease rather than always struggling. That's why kids often enjoy reading series with a familiar cast of characters. Most of us remember reading one Tom Swift or Nancy Drew after another. There are more choices now kids like having a say in choosing books that match their interests:

• For beginning readers there are many wonderful series -
• My 7 year old grandson Matthew's favorites are Fluffy books by Kate McMullan(Scholastic) These are about a funny guinea pig and his adventures. Or look for Willam Hooks' Mr. series as in...Mr Bubblegum or Mr. Baseball which about funny family situations.
• Beginning chapter book readers love series about kids like Amber Brown, a 9-10 year old whose parents are divorced- that's just one issue she deals with on a regular basis. (by Paula Danzinger, Penguin) o Older readers like reading about kids from the past. Both boys and girls enjoy reading the diary format in the Dear America series.
• They like mysteries like the classic Boxcar Children (by Gertrude Chandler Warner, Albert Whitman)or the Zack Files (by Dan Greenburg, Grosset)
• If they love sports they'll love Matt Christopher's many series about sports for both girls and boys.(Little Brown)

Books are not the only route- the object is to develop their appetite for reading-

1. They enjoy magazines like Sports Illustrated for Kids or Nickelodeon. Collectors will spend hours pouring over Baseball Card Books. Summer is a great time for kids to get into hobbies.
2. You can help kids into the newspaper by following stories about the baseball pennant or other events that are of special interest to your kids.

CRAFTS

Stelth Reading: Books/craft connection: Kids are often more willing to apply their reading skills for something they want to do:

• Body Handwriting book from Klutz-Younger kids will love following the directions and using fine motor skills to make puppets on their hands.
• Beadling Book (Klutz) for older kids who really need to follow the step by step directions to make these beaded bugs-I'm totally addicted. Crafts that are engrossing-develop kids ability to stay with a task-results are not instantaneous.

Writing & Fine Motor Skills Crafts really help kids with more than reading. Many craft activities also help kids develop the fine motor skills they need for writing. Practicing letters over and over is not always the most productive way to gain those skills.

• Motivate writing with wonderful stationary kits like Creativity for Kids Stationary Case ($30/ 800-311-8684) or the Scratch-Art Kit ($15/ 800-377-9003) that kids use to design their own note paper with a stylus that is not that different from a pencil. This is a craft that appeals to both boys and girls--and the note paper is perfect for writing.
• Kids can use the "Free Stuff for Kids" (Meadowbrook Press, $5) book since that's always been an attractive way to motivate kids to use their writing skills. (Lots of things are 50cents-$1 and require kids to address a SASE). They can write to their Congressperson/favorite author/sports figures.

GAMES THAT COMBINE SCHOOL SKILLS

• Lego Creator Game (Roseart) This is a brand new game that involves some reading, counting and visual perception-kids have to collect the pieces to build a small model- the first to make a vehicle wins. 7 & up. Toy Supermarket & Specialty Stores.

Almost any game can be used for strengthening math skills. Whether you're playing catch or Monopoly- get you child involved in keeping score...may take longer- but it's worth it: Any board game has math built into the action.

• Boggle (Milton Bradley) You can keep their spelling skills alive and well with games like Boggle--but instead of scoring with the usual point system-change scorekeeping to match your child's needs and abilities. For example, if your child need to work on the 5 or 7 times table-give each letter that value and have your child "skip" count by that number- it's a great way to practice multiplication tables.

Big idea to keep in mind is to look for ways to incorporate skills into everyday events.

Typical summertime fun like running a lemonade stand has lots of learning opportunities:

• making signs-there's writing; o making lemonade and change-there's math
• running the stand-there's the staying power while they are waiting for customers. These are informal but important ways of learning.