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If you’re like me, you’re trying to find ways to keep the kids busy during the summer without completely melting their brains with too much television and video games. I don’t just want to give them boring book work to complete either, especially when we’re traveling for an extended period of time. So what’s a parent to do? Why not use learning with playtime this summer to keep them happy and their skills sharp?
About Gakken Plus
Gakken is the number 1 educational publisher in Japan. Founded in 1946 by Hideto Furuoka, the mission of Gakken has always been to produce fun-first, educational materials for children. Gakken is well-known to Asian families for its bestselling workbooks. Gakken is also well-respected in academic circles – publishing popular teaching materials for preschools, kindergartens, and primary schools. In addition to its substantial publishing business, Gakken also runs 14,000 learning centers called “Gakken Classrooms” and operates nursery schools – all inspired by the successful formula used in their workbooks.
Play Smart Picture Puzzler Workbooks
A great collection of puzzle/activity books full of games and activities like cut & paste, coloring, matching, problem solving, and more! Current titles include:
- Ages 2+
- Early Learning
- Brain Boosters
- Skill Builders
- Animal Picture Puzzlers
- Color & Shape Picture Puzzlers
- Ages 3+
- Early Learning
- Brain Boosters
- Skill Builders
- Animal Picture Puzzlers
- Vehicle Picture Puzzlers
- Ages 4+
- Brain Boosters
- Skill Builders
- Animal Picture Puzzlers
- 1-2-3 Picture Puzzlers
- School Skills
Play Smart Wipe-offs Workbooks
Each book contains more than 60 activities to help with focus, fine motor coordination, school skills, and more. Plus, these pages can be wiped clean and used again for endless fun and practice! Current titles include:
- Amazing Mazes
- Colors, Shapes, and Patterns
- Dot-to-Dot
- Early Math
- Play-Again Picture Puzzles
- Preschool Prep
My Thoughts:
I love using workbooks with my kids, whether just for extra skill practice or during their lessons. The kids enjoy the different colors, themes, and ideas that they see in the pages and almost look at them as non-school related fun activities. And I’m totally okay with that! During the summer break especially, or when we have some extended travel time, I make sure to keep some of these Play Smart Puzzler and Wipe-off Workbooks on hand to keep them busy. If we’re in the car, the kids can easily grab their dry erase markers for the Wipe-off books, and even clean them and swap with another sibling! Or if we’re spending a rainy day inside, I have their coloring supplies handy so they can work on the Puzzler books to solve puzzles, match pictures, practice their tracing, and more.
We enjoy the different titles they have available for their different education level. Plus, it means they don’t get bored since they can change books as soon as they are ready to swap for another book. As a parent, I love it when my kids are learning while also playing because they seem to have an easier recall with the information. They don’t get burnt out with all the different activities to choose from, plus they have free printables you can access online!
If you need a few ideas to help get your child started, or to offer a challenge once they’ve mastered a page or particular activity, consider the following suggestions:
- Set a timer to have your child race again a previous time or against Mom or another player!
- Have them practice with their non-dominant hand
- Turn the book upside down while they complete the page
- Pick out a particular color or pattern of colors they must use to complete the page or activity
- Use tracing paper to let them copy a design or picture
The books also contain stickers, both to reward for a job well done as well as to complete several pages. This is a wonderful way to have your child exercise some independence over choosing which sticker they’d like to use as well as learning how to carefully line up a sticker in the indicated outline. Don’t worry, the instructions and page numbers are clearly marked so we as parents or caretakers don’t get too confused. The Gakken Workbooks are great to take along for errands, waiting at appointments, quiet time, and even as a way to spend quality time with a grandparent or sibling. Be sure to pick up a few or all of the titles today!
Make sure to follow Gakken Plus on social media:
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We’ve added Gakken Plus to our Summer Fun on MDR 2018 Gift Guide! Check it out here!