Avoiding the COVID Slide this Summer With Top STEM Toys #Partner

***Disclosure: I received samples to facilitate my post. All opinions are 100% honest and have not been influenced in any way.***

The world is weird right now. 

Very, very weird. 

For many families, school ended in March, long before summer began. Okay, not really ended, per se....But kids did largely switch to online, remote learning when it became evident that this Pandemic was hitting too close to home for schools to remain safe. My kids have always done remote learning, so this hasn't seemed to abnormal for them, thankfully. I am so grateful that living in the Times of the Coronavirus  hasn't really phased them. I know for many, worlds have been flipped upside down, and that's got to be challenging. 

One challenge that my family hasn't been immune to? Trying to avoid the COVID slide...Or summer slide....Let's face it: Kids can lose their academic edge when school isn't in session, and this virus has made that all the more likely to happen. It's stressful for the kiddos, too! One way to help kids stay sharp in these weird, weird times is to help them learn while engaging in play. STEM themed toys like the ones I'll be showing today are a great place to start! 

With CREATTO, you can design and construct illuminated, three-dimensional creations that literally light up your life! The kit includes flexible yet durable interlocking plastic tiles and a string of LED lights that you can piece together to make animals, decorations, or your own custom creations.

Each set includes an illustrated manual with easy, step-by-step instructions for multiple designs, but the building possibilities are nearly limitless using your imagination. 

We made the elephant first, and the instructions were pretty easy to follow. The addition of LED lighting made this project extra neat for my kiddos. 

Creatto is available in 3 fun sizes: mini, medi, and maxi. Kids can choose to build: Moonlight Elephant Safari: Ages 6+ MSRP: $9.95; Magical Moose & Forest Friends: Ages 6+ MSRP: $9.95; Starlight Kitty & Cutie Crew: Ages 8+ MSRP: $19.95; Shimmer Shark & Ocean Pals: Ages 9+ MSRP: $29.95; Sparkle Unicorn & Friends: Ages 9+ MSRP: $29.95.

Solar Powered Rovers to the rescue!
Want to build fun solar-powered vehicles and devices that move using electricity generated directly from sunlight? With this kit, you can construct five motorized models. Build three types of solar cars, a solar fan, and a solar robot model. Conduct science experiments with each model to learn about gear ratios, solar cells, and more. The ultralight materials, including strong bamboo rods, make your models speedy and durable. A modular gearing system lets you test out three different gear ratios. 

Experiment with a solar cell, electric motor, gears, and ultralight materials. Build five different solar-powered models. Learn about how solar cells work and  about the energy from the sun.

This kit is super cool, and we love seeing our creations come to life with the help of the sun. This was fairly easy to build, too, making it ideal for even elementary aged kids. (With adult supervision, of course!) 

Ages 8+ MSRP: $19.95.

Last but certainly not least, let's talk about the magic of magnets!

​Create 3D structures from 2D nets with Magformers Basic Plus 14Pc Set. Build with 4 Squares, 8 Triangles and 2 Inner Circle Square shapes. Create houses, towers and our ‘magic ball’. Learn to build using combine, roll and pull-up techniques and see what your imagination can create! Build along with the step-by-step instructions and develop color and shape recognition, fine motor skills and problem-solving ability.

The original and authentic Magformers. Perfect for brain development, critical thinking and STEM education. Follow the Step-by-step educational idea booklet for ideas and instructions. Each geometric shape contains magnets that never reject, so you’ll always hear the Magformers click. When playtime is over, use the magnetic power to simply stack and store. MSRP: $24.99; ages 3+.

These are just a few awesome toys that will help keep young minds sharp, even during this very atypical summer vacation. We have enjoyed our "Scientific Adventures" this summer, and enjoy how versatile these products are, allowing kids to create something new each time they play.

How are YOU managing this summer? Are you alright? How are you combatting the summer or COVID slide with your kiddos? I'd love to hear your ideas!
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