Lego Land Discovery Center Boston

During April vacation of this year, the boys and I ventured up to Somerville, Massachusetts for a brick-building good time at Lego Land Discovery Center.  The boys had a great time, BUT make sure you do your research first before heading up.  There were quite a few things I found less than perfect for the experience.

Cost
Purchase online for discounts and guaranteed entry.  If you go on a whim, chances are you will not get in at your desired time.  I saw quite a few families have to be turned down or told come back at 3:45 pm (it was 10 am!).

Food
You cannot bring your own food, except for infant formula. There is a SMALL food court with a minimal selection of moderately healthy choices.  But unless you and your kids like lunch meat, you are out of luck.  There were a few salads, a few wrap choices, and a few plain sandwich options, but no peanut or soy nut butter options.  There are baked chips, fruit cup and veggie cups with hummus.  But not all kids *like mine* eat them.  Either eat before you get there or after.  And if you leave, you cannot reenter without having to purchase another set of tickets.

Activities
Activity Pack- You can purchase a $5 lanyard activity packet that acts as a stamp collector pad.  You are supposed to go through  the site and find 5 press stamps to fill.  I have always liked this idea because it helps provide a goal for some children, like a treasure hunt.  Problem was, three of the embossers were broken.  This was really annoying and disappointing for my boys.  If an embosser isn't working, why can't they just make a rub mark or an ink stamp to compensate?

Store
Damn you, Lego, for the attached store that you can browse before and after. It includes a small selection of Lego Sets and make your own dude, but ultimately you can get the same products at stores or online for a heck of a lot cheaper.

Don't get me wrong; it wasn't all disappointing.  There were also quite a bit of fun to be had...

Lego-licious Play- There were plenty of stations to enjoy building and creating.  There was a race car test track station.  Even the columns had Lego pits from which to build and destroy colorful architecture.  There is an indoor gross motor center, a Lego movie short playing every 15 minutes, and two amusement rides.  Even the bathrooms are decorated in everything Lego!

Penny Squisher
Yeah! for 2 quarters and 1 penny you can add to your collection of squished pennies!!!

Parking
So Lego Land Discovery Center Boston is located in Assembly Row which is a large shopping center with a variety of high end shops. You can find free and cost parking available dependeing on the time you get there.

Accessibility Note
This is a very stimulating place.  It is noisy and colorful.  If anyone in your group has sensitivity to external stimuli, you may want to plan your trip on less busy days and times.  Also, if anyone in the group uses an adaptive mobility device (wheelchair, walker, etc), call ahead and check on the accessibility of the rides.  I don't remember seeing any particularly easy to enter accessible units, but they may be available.  For the most part, there is plenty of space to maneuver and access the play stations.

Bottom line, yes, go.  Have fun.  Enjoy the day.  It does make a nice day trip and is totally appropriate for your Lego lovers.   But keep in mind some of the issues we encountered so you can have a succeessful trip.

Minecraft: Inspiring Kids to Work Outside the (x)Box

If you don't know what Minecraft is, be thankful.  I consider it Mine-Crack because my kids are addicted to it.   It reminds me of old-school Duke Nukem with its pixelated graphics.  Though I find it visually nauseating to watch, I know tons of children and adults who enjoy it.  So I choose to embrace it as a motivator to work on other skills, without them REALLY noticing. 

Pixel Paper Crafts
This is a great site in which you can search craftable mobs, creepers, withers and more.  Once chosen, print them out.  Once printed, the child works on cutting, folding, pinching, glueing, etc. There are a variety of easy and difficult block designs.  You can differentiate skills and needs by pre-snipping, adding directions and numbers, or coloring.  Also, check out the Minecraft Fortune Teller, to build in intrinsic hand strength and coordination!

Legos
There are tons of sets dedicated to Minecraft. Following directions, bilateral tasks and fine motor development are always addressed with the use of legos!  Or the children can create their own.

Block Art
Using snipped up sponges, paints and square pieces of paper, the children can design their own mobs.  Challenge them by using clothespins to pick up the sponges.

Looming
Here is an example to make a Creeper Loom Bracelet.  Looming is a great activity to build attention and spatial awareness.

Minecraft Bingo
Scanning and visual discrimination skills can be supported during Minecraft Bingo activities.  Language concepts such as Same and Different can easily be integrated into the activities as well. 

Slime
Make Minecraft more sensory challenging with fun do-it-yourself Glitter Slime using colors common to the game.  Bonus, if you happen to have Minecraft figurines, hide them in the goop!

Learn to Draw Tasks
Step by step copying or imitating tasks to build Creepers are based on many basic prewriting strokes. And if you really want, you can always sing a Mat Man inspired version like "Creeper has one head, one head, one head...."

Self Regulation Chart
Here is an amazing way for kids to learn how to identify feelings and actions using a 5 point scale, all relating to Minecraft characters.

Graphing Fun
Plotting squares, coloring in small spacing, or using it to inspire Perler bead activities or bead lacing keychains.

Word searches
Meet Penny has a whole printable pack of 50 activities, including word searches.  But you can always create your own using free websites like Discovery Education

Building Literacy Skills
There are tons of books about Minecraft.  If you have a struggling reader or one that shows little interest, try offering reading selections like Minecraft Hacks.  Many of the sections are short so they are not overwhelming to the readers.  And when they do finish the book, the reader can feel accomplished.

There are tons of activities available on the internet inspired by Minecraft.  Just search Minecraft crafts and you will be amazed with what is out there.  Hopefully this gives you a little taste of what is available to get your students and children off the virtual crafting table and onto a real one.

What's on Your List?

Ah, yes.  The holiday season is upon us now, with just a FEW WEEKS to get all of that shopping done.  Thanksgiving is late this year. which leaves even less time to focus on the candy canes and latkes.  So, I figured to get a head start on the hustle and bustle of the mistletoes and menorahs.  Disclaimer: I live in a world of boys. If I didn't quite hit on "girly" things, well I am just thankful that I am not immersed in the world of Elsa and Anna this year.  Here are my top  Chrismakkah gifts (in no particular order).

Spot It!
I love this game for so many reasons!  First, Spot It! is super portable. I always throw it in the soccer bags or pocket books because it can help pass the time during appointments, practices, and restaurant waits.  And now that they have expanded their already extensive line to include Disney themes like Frozen, Planes, Doc McStuffins, Jake and Neverland Pirates and Pixar, there is truly something for everyone. It makes a great stocking stuffer or Hanukkah gift!  And the kids don't know that they are building amazing visual perceptual and language skills. BlueOrange flat out, just knows how to play!

Legos
Well, this is a given. Besides the home security factor of stepping on loose bricks causing immense pain to any intruder, the Lego family of products provides hours of entertainment.  From Duplos for the little hands to the Lego Architecture sets for the over-achiever enthusiast, Lego has something for EVERYONE!  Add in-hand manipulation skills, attention, and direction following to the play, and the result is a classic therapeutic and engaging activity.  And look on November 15th for the release of new Minecraft additions!

Books
Maybe it's because we are a house of readers, but books are definitely on the list this year.  Between the Minecraft Handbooks, the new Diary of a Wimpy Kid The Long Haul (scheduled to release on today, November 4th) the Fly Guy series for the younger reader, and the The Book with No Pictures, there are amazing choices available to foster the love of the written word.  And if you have older kids to buy for, then consider an eReader.  Not only is it electronic, and inevitably awesome, it still provides access to books.

Subscription Craft Kits
I've written before on how much our family loves the Kiwi Crate.  We strayed off for a month just to try something new, the Happy Trunk, but it just wasn't the same; the quality and engagement just wasn't there.  Luckily we are back and with a renewed love.  Kiwi recently introduced the Tinker Crate, which is a STEM based build and play activity kit.  Targeted for 9-14+, the kits are phenomenal.  This month, the kit was focused on building a motor.  How freakin' cool?!  If you are interested in the gift that keeps on giving, a monthly to yearly subscription to one the Kiwi Crate clubs is the way to go.

Under $15 Stocking Stuffers:
Basically, anything from ThinkFun!  Math Dice, Swish, Word Around.  You can't go wrong. These are quick and easy games that are engaging, practical, and fun.  Rory's Story Cubes are another fun stuffer for the kids and speech therapists in your life.  Let the picture dice guide your imagination to create the next Super Stuffed Animal adventure or the fairy tale of Princess Penelope Pickle Pants.

Hope you have received a little inspiration.  Please add to the list if you want to share some of your faves this year!