Luckily, families can do plenty of fun and educational STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) activities together at home. From growing giant crystal snowflakes to programming Ozobot robots, these hands-on projects combine the wonder of science with the joy of the winter season.

Ozobot Winter/Holiday-Themed Lessons

For families with Ozobot robots, there are several engaging coding and STEM activities perfect for the winter season:

The Snow Plow

Team up to design and build a tiny snow plow for Ozobot, enabling it to clear a roadway track of “snow” as fast as possible. Use Blockly programming skills to tackle this mini snowstorm challenge.

Dreidel Bot

Ozobot transforms into a dreidel bot, ready to teach kids how to spin, play, and enjoy this classic Hanukkah game.

Decorating the Kwanzaa Unity Cup

Students will identify the seven basic symbols of Kwanzaa, and then create a decorative sleeve for a Unity Cup.

Reinbot Landing Practice

Santa’s reindeer need to be precise to land safely on each rooftop during their Christmas journey. Using launchers and Color Codes, you’ll program your “Reinbot” to land on the rooftop, testing and adjusting to ensure a flawless landing!

Countdown to the New Year

As the new year approaches, take Ozobot down memory lane and count down the final 30 seconds in style.

Exciting STEM Activities for Winter Break

Grow Giant Crystal Snowflakes

Learn how to make giant crystal snowflakes that won’t melt away, using just a few simple ingredients. This experiment allows kids to explore the science behind crystallization and create beautiful window decorations.

Ice Fishing Experiment

This ice-themed science experiment is a hit with kids of all ages. All you need are some ice cubes, a bowl of water, and a few household items to “go fishing” indoors.

Snowball Catapult

Design and construct a mini catapult that can launch “snowballs” (e.g., cotton balls or crumpled paper) as far as possible.

3D Paper Snowflakes

Making intricate 3D paper snowflakes is a classic winter craft that also teaches spatial reasoning and fine motor skills.

Snowstorm in a Jar

Bring the wonder of a snowy day indoors with this mesmerizing “snowstorm” science experiment. Kids will love watching the flurry of “snow” swirl around.

The Importance of Winter Break STEM

Keeping students engaged in STEM activities over winter break is crucial for several reasons:

1. Preventing the “Summer Slide”: Just as students can experience learning loss over the summer, the winter break poses a similar risk. Hands-on STEM projects help maintain critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
2. Nurturing Curiosity: The wonder and experimentation inherent in STEM activities foster a love of learning that extends beyond the classroom.
3. Building Confidence: Success in these projects boosts children’s self-esteem and makes them excited to tackle new challenges.
4. Strengthening Family Bonds: Working together on creative, educational activities is a wonderful way for families to spend quality time and make lasting memories.

This winter break, embrace the power of STEM learning and watch your children’s minds blossom, even as the snow falls outside. With the right mix of fun and education, you can keep their skills sharp and their spirits bright.

The post Winter Break Prep: At-Home STEM Activities to Keep Kids Engaged appeared first on Ozobot.

In this blog post, we’ll explore several STEAM-powered activities that students can easily do at home during their Thanksgiving break. From coding adventures with Ozobot robots to DIY science experiments, these educational and entertaining projects will ensure students stay intellectually stimulated while enjoying their time off.

Ozobot STEAM Activities

Ozobot is a fantastic tool for introducing students to coding, robotics, and computational thinking. During the Thanksgiving break, students can dive into these Ozobot-powered STEAM activities:

1. Seasons Changing: In this lesson, students use their knowledge of life and earth sciences to guide Ozobot through the changing seasons. By programming the robot’s movements, they’ll deepen their understanding of what causes seasonal shifts. 
2. Gratitude Party: Students will identify things they’re grateful for, then construct 3D shapes like flowers, pyramids, cubes, and prisms to decorate Ozobot’s “Gratitude Party” path. This activity combines engineering, art, and math concepts.
3. Turkey Trot: Learners will build a race track and use Ozobot Blockly to program the robot to speed to the finish line in a virtual Turkey Trot. This coding challenge puts their programming skills to the test.
4. Run, Turkey, Run!: Students will use their math abilities to maintain Ozobot’s “points” as it escapes a hungry Thanksgiving turkey. This activity playfully reinforces addition and subtraction concepts.

Additional STEAM Activities for Thanksgiving Break

Beyond the Ozobot-centric projects, students can also engage in these hands-on STEAM activities during their Thanksgiving holiday:

1. Thanksgiving DIY Slime Recipes: Making homemade slime allows students to experiment with chemistry, explore textures, and tap into their creativity. Themed slime recipes like “Pumpkin Pie Slime” or “Cranberry Slime” add a fun Thanksgiving twist.
2. Cranberry Raft STEAM Engineering Challenge: This activity challenges students to build a raft that can hold as many cranberries as possible, teaching principles of buoyancy, design, and problem-solving.
3. Make Your Own Butter: Making homemade butter is both a fun and educational process. Students can explore the science behind turning cream into butter, and enjoy a tasty Thanksgiving treat.
4. Tracing the Veins of a Leaf: After a Thanksgiving Day walk, students can collect colorful autumn leaves and explore their intricate vein structures. This hands-on science activity promotes observation and appreciation of natural patterns.

By engaging in these diverse STEAM projects over the Thanksgiving break, students will not only have fun, but they’ll also keep their minds active, build important skills, and potentially discover new academic or creative passions. Exploring STEAM topics during holiday downtime is a great way to make the most of school breaks.

So as you and your family prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving, be sure to incorporate some of these enriching, educational activities into your plans. Your kids will thank you for the opportunity to learn and play in equal measure!

The post Engage Students with STEAM Learning Over the Thanksgiving Holiday appeared first on Ozobot.

Whether you’re planning to stay indoors or venture outside, here are 7 fun and simple spring break activities to keep your kids entertained throughout the week!

Host a Family Movie Night: Turn your living room into a cozy movie theater and host a family movie marathon. Pick a selection of classic favorites or new releases, grab some popcorn and blankets, and enjoy an evening of cinematic fun for the whole family. 

Explore a Museum: Plan a trip to a museum and spend some time wandering the exhibits. Whether it’s an art, science, or history museum, your kids are sure to learn a thing or two along the way. Some museums are free on certain days of the week or offer discounts for kids, so remember to check before you go. 

Free and Fun STEAM Activities: Explore coding and robotics at home with Ozobot Evo. Kids can learn programming concepts on-screen and screen-free with Color Codes, allowing hands-on engagement to make learning fun!  If you have an Evo coding robot, discover a few Spring-themed lessons and easy STEAM activities in Ozobot Classroom, our free online lesson portal.  

Bake in the Kitchen: Baking gets kids involved in the kitchen, and sets them up for a tasty treat. For those with older children, have a bake-off! Each family member prepares a baked good and compares to see whose is the tastiest! 

Create a Scavenger Hunt: Scavenger hunts are one of our favorite spring break activities because they encourage children to engage with the world around them. You can organize a scavenger hunt by creating a list of items for your kids to find, from the living room to the backyard. The list can be as simple as specific items to find in their environment, like leaves or books.  Or you can make it more of a learning exercise where they have to hunt for facts or put together clues to solve.  

Picnic in the Park: If weather permits, pack a picnic and some lawn games, and head to your local park for a leisurely lunch al fresco. Let your kids play, marvel at the blooming flowers, look for insects and enjoy the fresh air while soaking up the springtime temperatures.  

Volunteer: Find a volunteer opportunity for your entire family to join and help instill the importance of giving back to the community.

Tip: Don’t take on too much: A full week at home with your kids might seem like a long time, but you may be surprised at how fast it goes by. Remember, your children still have chores, homework, and friends to see. Keep plans flexible with shorter spring break activities, rather than overwhelming schedules.  

With these indoor and outdoor spring break activities, you’re sure to create cherished memories and keep your kids entertained all holiday long. Whether you’re getting crafty indoors or heading outside and exploring your community, spring break is the perfect time for family fun and adventure! 

For more ideas and easy STEAM activities for kids, check out Ozobot.com. 

The post 7 Fun-Filled Spring Break Activities for Kids appeared first on Ozobot.

Get in the Kitchen 

What brings a family together better than food? Embrace your inner chef and embark on a culinary journey by hosting a “Make Your Own Pizza Night.” Set up a variety of toppings, sauces, and cheeses, and let everyone personalize their pizza masterpiece. The process of crafting your own pizza not only results in a delicious meal but also encourages creativity and teamwork in the kitchen. 

Learn & Challenge 

Try playing a board game!  Pull out a board game you haven’t played in a while (Scrabble is always a classic) or try out the new Ozobot Color Code Magnet Kits for a board game with a STEAM twist. Color Code Magnet Kits offer an exciting hands-on STEAM learning experience perfect for all ages, even as young as Pre-K.  Explore the world of coding while having fun with the whole family. 

Outdoor Adventures

Take advantage of the summer weather by heading outdoors for a family bike ride. Explore your neighborhood, local trails, or a nearby park. Biking outside has many benefits including supporting physical activity and cognitive health while also providing an opportunity for quality bonding time. After your ride, set up a picnic to dine al fresco. Spread out a blanket, enjoy the fresh air, and savor a meal together amidst nature’s beauty. Don’t forget the sunscreen!

Backyard Hangout 

Looking for more fun family activities? Transform your backyard into a cozy movie theater for a memorable movie night. Hang up a white sheet or use a projector screen, set up comfortable seating, and dim the lights as the sun sets. Prepare some popcorn and snacks, and let the cinematic experience begin. Choose a family-friendly film that everyone can enjoy. Watching a movie under the open sky adds a touch of magic to the evening.

Go Virtual!

No robot? No problem. Download the free Evo App and experience Evo in AR (Augmented Reality) with MetaBot. Dress your 3D robot in one of the limited-edition summer costumes like Evo at the Beach,  Shark Fin, or Duck Floaty and watch Evo come to life right in your space. 

In the hustle and bustle of daily life, dedicating time to family activities is a wonderful way to reconnect and create a sense of togetherness. Whether you’re strategizing your Scrabble moves, learning to code using Evo and Color Code Magnets, putting on your chef’s hat, or pedaling through scenic paths, you’re building a treasure trove of memories that will be cherished for years to come.

So, gather your loved ones, embrace the spirit of adventure, and make this Family Fun Month truly exceptional. Let the laughter, creativity, and joy that these family activities bring be the foundation of stronger ties and heartwarming memories that will last a lifetime.

The post Celebrate Family Fun Month with Five Memorable Family Activities appeared first on Ozobot.

Ozobot Curriculum Student Portfolios

Our Introduction to Color Codes Curriculum and Introduction to Ozobot Blockly Curriculum Student Portfolios are great tools to use in the classroom. Available for grades K-5, they are filled with interactive activities and lessons to aid students in their STEAM learning! Curriculum is available in packs of 12 Student Portfolios, and an Answer Key is sold separately by grade. 

The Perfect Backpack 

When choosing the right backpack to carry all your binders, books, and tech for the year, there is a lot to consider. Such as the color, how many pouches it has, and so much more. Lucky for you, we’ve done some research and picked our two favorites! The JanSport Right Pack and The North Face Jester DayPack. They both come in different colors and have plenty of storage for all your snacks and books! 

Replacement Color Code and Line Following Markers 

If you’re in need of replacement markers, for any reason, we’ve got you covered! Color Codes Markers and Line Following Markers are both sold separately in the Ozobot Shop.  

3D CAD Library Accessories 

Does your school have a 3D printer? If so, then you’re in luck! Our 3D CAD library is a free database of ready-to-print accessories for Evo. From a pen-holder to bowling pins, these accessories are free and functional to help students learn to code while having a little fun with their bot! 

Reusable Water Bottle 

A good reusable water bottle is necessary for returning to school and staying hydrated throughout the day! Here are some of our favorite reusable water bottles, first is Hydroflask. Hydroflask comes in a variety of sizes and colors and it’s insulated so your water will stay cool all day! Second, is Greens Steel, like Hydroflask, Greens Steel water bottles come in a variety of colors and they have an array of sizes! Last but not least is CamelBak. CamelBak water bottles come insulated and non-insulated and in different sizes and colors. No matter what reusable water bottle you pick, you’ll still be ready for school and helping the environment! 

Back-to-School Accessories

Now that Evo has some stylish 3D printed accessories, it’s time to make sure you have some accessories as well! From notebooks to pencil cases, we have some amazing suggestions on where to go to stock-up. Target has wonderful back-to-school accessories in their Ready for School collection. We especially love the lunch bags to fit every style, and that they prioritize safety and health with classroom cleaning products as well as wellness collections. 

We hope this back-to-school shopping guide helps you feel ready to take on the 2022-2023 school year! 

The post Top Back-to-School Essentials appeared first on Ozobot.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., one of the most recognized names in civil rights, social activism, and nonviolent resistance, has been quoted saying, 

“In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.” 

With racism at the forefront of everyone’s minds, and the importance of being an advocate more than apparent than ever, we take a look at what the research on bullying can help kids learn about taking action and being an advocate for their BIPOC peers, so we can make the equality MLK, Jr. envisioned in his famous “I have a Dream” speech a reality.

Bullying and racism in schools is far from a thing of the past. While in recent years there has been much conversation about addressing and preventing bullying, StopBullying.Gov reports that 20% of students ages 12-18 still report being at their school. Students who have been bullied most often reported reasons including physical appearance, race/ethnicity, gender, disability, religion, and sexual orientation. 

In 2020, during the global COVID-19 pandemic, school districts were forced to close campuses and start up distance learning models. Cyberbullying has been on the rise with the innovation of social media and technology, but with students stuck at home, many parents and teachers have been concerned about an increase in cyberbullying rates. 

One in five (20.9%) tweens (9 to 12 years old) has been cyberbullied, cyberbullied others, or seen cyberbullying. (Patchin & Hinduja, 2020). 

There is still research that needs to be done to find a solution, but a promising intervention strategy has been identified—and it’s one that we think Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. would stand behind as a solution for speaking up for BIPOC peers.

As reported by StopBullying.Gov, there are four main roles that students play in the dynamics of bullying: 

1. Kids who bully: These children engage in bullying behavior towards their peers.
2. Kids who are bullied: These children are the targets of bullying behavior.
3. Bystanders: These children remain separate from the bullying situation. They neither reinforce the bullying behavior nor defend the child being bullied. Some may watch what is going on but do not provide feedback about the situation to show they are on anyone’s side.
   *These kids often want to help, but don’t know how.
4. Kids who defend: These children actively comfort the child being bullied and may come to the child’s defense when bullying occurs.

It is important that we empower children to go from Bystander to Defender. Not only because it is the right thing to do, but because research has proven peer intervention to be highly effective in curbing bullying and minimizing its effects.

A study completed by Hawkins, Pepler, and Craig entitled Naturalistic Observations of Peer Interventions in Bullying, concluded that 57% of bullying episodes stop within 10 seconds when a peer intervenes on behalf of the student being bullied. That’s more than half! Yet, that same study showed that only 19% of the peers observed intervened in bullying situations. 

So, why aren’t more kids stepping in? According to Eyes on Bullying, it could be because the bystander thinks it’s “none of their business,” they fear getting hurt, they feel powerless against the aggressor, they think it’ll make things worse, or they just don’t know what to do. 

This is why it’s important to give our kids the tools they need to help others. Let’s look at another quote from MLK Jr, “courage is the power of the mind to overcome fear.” These kids may not be the ones being bullied, but they are also afraid. They are filled with confusion and conflicted feelings. Most likely, they want to step in and help, but the fear of retaliation overpowers that desire to speak up. 

We have to give kids the courage and confidence they need to stand up for others. Another study done by Thornberg, et al, says “bystanders’ beliefs in their social self-efficacy were positively associated with defending behavior and negatively associated with passive behavior from bystanders – i.e. if students believe they can make a difference, they’re more likely to act.”

What can a bystander do that will help the individual being bullied?

The Youth Voice Research Project (2010) found that victimized students reported the following bystander strategies that made things better: 

• Spent time with me (54%)
• Talked to me (51%)
• Helped me get away (49%)
• Called me (47%)
• Gave me advice (46%)
• Helped me tell an adult (44%)

It is notable that the peer actions reported as most helpful are also the safest for peers as well, and represent acts of alliance rather than of confrontation. Even the relatively silent and thus totally safe action of calling a student at home to give support was reported to be helpful much more often than it was unhelpful. 

What can we do to teach our kids to be defenders?

• Help them identify racist bullying. Childline breaks it down nicely, and their points can be adapted for a child’s development level. Racist bullying includes:
  • being called racist names or being sent insulting messages or threats
  • having your belongings damaged or having to see racist graffiti
  • personal attacks, including violence or assault
  • being left out, treated differently or excluded
  • people making assumptions about you because of your color, race or culture
  • being made to feel like you have to change how you look
  • racist jokes, including jokes about your color, nationality, race or culture.
• Encourage them to befriend the person being bullied. As we have seen in the data listed above, spending time with the other student or talking to them were the two most effective strategies reported. 
• Give them different scenarios in which they can help the victim get away. This can be something simple, such as asking the victim to come look at something, or come play with them. 
• Equip them with good advice to give the victim. Recent studies have proven that the strategies we have been giving kids to stand up for themselves is only making the situation worse, in most cases. Telling the person to stop, walking away, doing nothing and telling the bully how they felt were reported most likely to make things worse by The Youth Voice Research Project. Preferred advice to equip our kids with, according to the Youth Voice Research Project, would be to tell an adult (either at home or school), make a joke about it, or tell a friend. These gestures have been proven to be more effective in making the situation better. 
• Talk about it! Parents, sit down and have a conversation with your kids about bullying. Don’t assume that your child knows what to do in these situations. Make sure that they get praised when they help others who are being bullied. Let them know how proud you are of them. Teachers, let your classroom know the effectiveness of peer intervention. All kids should be confident knowing that they won’t get in trouble for “tattling.” Positive reinforcement goes a long way! 
• Take advantage of resources. Education week has a great list of resources for talking to your students or kids about race, racism, and Black Lives Matter.

“Parents, school staff, and other adults in the community can help kids prevent bullying by talking about it, building a safe school environment, and creating a community-wide bullying prevention strategy.” -StopBullying.Gov

Educators: Help spark the conversation about bullying with our Evo The Troll lesson! This cute lesson lets you explore what Internet trolls are, and why their behavior is bad and should be discouraged. 

Do you have strategies for turning kids into advocates for their BIPOC peers? Let us know in the comments!

The post What Can Martin Luther King, Jr. and Research Teach Us About Empowering Kids to Be Advocates for BIPOC Peers? appeared first on Ozobot.

So many amazing women already balance work, home, and raising kids, but the COVID-19 pandemic and distance learning initiatives have also appointed them with a new title: “homeschool teacher.” With kids stuck at home, it can be incredibly challenging to come up with ideas for entertainment that are not only educational, but also don’t involve staring at a screen. Toss in the fact that many Americans are working their full-time jobs from home and the never-ending household chores, and it makes perfect sense of why moms are feeling burnt out. 

We know this is such a challenging time for mothers and the emotional toll it is taking will be hard to overcome, but we want to provide as much support as we can. We’ve put together some tips for moms to celebrate themselves this year while practicing social distancing.

Say “No” To Mom Guilt, “Yes” to STEAM

When it comes to the kids, we’ve got you covered. Say no to self-doubt and snag an Evo For Home and watch your kids learn to code with and without screens! Keep them engaged, entertained, and educated while you get things done because you are a STEAM Supermom.

Mother’s Day STEAM Activities for Kids >  

Practice Self-Care

Time is valuable and there never seems to be enough of it to complete essential tasks, let alone set some aside for self-care. As hard as it is to prioritize yourself, especially during this time, it needs to be high on your task list for your health! Even just 10 minutes a day for the activities below can make a big difference in your mindset. 

Get Physical 

• Go for a walk outside (it’s not off limits!) 
• Take a stretch/yoga break 
• Participate in a “plank o’ clock” like we do at Ozobot HQ! Pick a specific time of the day where you will stop what you are doing and plank for an allotted amount of time. 
• Spend some time in your garden. Flowers are proven to improve emotional health!

Give Your Brain A Boost

• Write in a journal
• Do a crossword puzzle (or jigsaw puzzle)
• Draw or color
• Read a short article or a book 
• Meditate

Pamper Yourself

• Sneak in a nap
• Take a hot bath
• Give yourself a mani/pedi
• Lounge on the couch in a bathrobe and make your kids feed you grapes (totally kidding!) 

Master Your Skills

• Get back into a hobby you once loved 
• Try a brand new dinner recipe 
• Take a virtual drawing or painting class 

Make Time With Friends

• Have a virtual happy hour
• Join an online book club 
• Meet up for a tailgate hangout (six feet apart!) 

Delegate Household Responsibilities

• Give your kids age-appropriate household chores 
• Enlist your partner to be in charge of dinner some days, help with laundry, and play with the kids while you practice self-care.

Sometimes it’s hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel, but this pandemic will end and we can all go back to our normal lives, or adopt a new normal. In the meantime, we hope you will take these suggestions into consideration, not only for Mother’s Day but for every day. You deserve to take care of yourself. Hang in there, mamas!

The post Mother’s Day: Social Distancing Edition appeared first on Ozobot.

Parenting is never a walk in the park, but social distancing has taken it to another level with many parents having to entertain and educate kids while at the same time managing work from home or essential worker-related responsibilities. Others are balancing this sudden homeschool situation with the stress that comes with unemployment.

For parents of young kids, this can be especially tough. Younger kids have a strong urge to learn through play. In fact, the American Academy of Pediatrics states that it is through play that children at a very early age engage and interact with the world around them. With playgrounds and play dates out of the question, it can be difficult to figure out how to fulfill this essential, educational need. 

Even though these times are rough and lives are at risk, remember that your kids are a part of living history. Schools are closed, sports are cancelled, and people are quarantined on a global level. Your kids could go on to share this experience with their children or grandchildren. No matter what this pandemic will be talked about for generations to come, and it can provide an opportunity to talk to your kids now about current events and related emotions.

All families and situations are different. So we’ve put together some broad-reaching suggestions to help parents and guardians balance their days and make the most of these uncertain times. 

Balancing. It. All.

Routine, routine, routine. Without some sort of homeschool-esque schedule (whether rigid or flexible), things will go awry. We’re not saying you need to create a detailed timeline every single day (unless that’s your thing, to which we say kudos to you!). Just writing down tasks before starting the day can make a big difference. 

Plan Ahead

• Get together with your child’s teacher to understand what distance learning strategy the school is implementing. 
• Determine which school work tasks need to be completed and when. 
• If you have a significant other, check in with them to divvy up housework and/or distance learning responsibilities. 

Set Up a Daily Guideline

Each night, make a checklist of the most important things that need to be accomplished the following day. You can write them in order of priority, if that is best for you. Having a physical checklist to look back on throughout the day will help you. 

This is your guideline. If you do not check off every box, give yourself some grace. Remember that you are doing the best you can under the circumstances.

Embracing the Moment

This situation is extremely challenging. Anxiety, stress, and feelings of isolation are common emotions for everyone right now–parents and guardians included. Remember that although it feels like it, this will not last forever. 

This time may be forcing parents to reevaluate their parenting strategies. Now is the perfect time to bring your family together in new ways. 

Distance Learning Resources

Apart from the remote learning assignments distribubted by the school, there are more ways to keep your child’s brain working during this time: 

• Watch some kid-friendly movies to inspire them to become scientists or inventors.
• Develop new hobbies or interests.
• Put the ‘A’ in STEAM at home.
• Plug into nature.
• Try some fun, DIY science experiments with items you already have in your home. 
• Play around with OzoBlockly Games (no Ozobots required!) 

Family Activities

Now more than ever, weekends are going to be your lifeline. Without school or work duties, events, sports, or any other prior engagement, you can take those two days to really spend time with your loved ones and connect with each other on a deeper level.

• Start journaling together. We came across this free printable document from Natalie Long of LONG Creations. It can be an excellent place to start. With this time capsule activity, kids can write, draw, and document what they are experiencing and put it in a safe place to revisit later. 
• Garden together. What better way to practice social distancing than to create a backyard oasis of beautiful flowers and plants? 
• Implement a “Something for” daily guide:
  • Something for my brain: Read a book, write a story or poem, play a math game, etc.
  • Something for my body: Dance, go on a walk, ride a bike, or Go Noodle.
  • Something for the Earth: Pick up the yard, observe nature, or help with recycling.
  • Something for my family or friends: Write a letter, make a gift, or call someone.
  • Something for my creativity: Color/draw, make up a play, sing, or cook/bake.
  • Something for my home: Clean my room, scrub something, laundry, or do some chores.

We know this is a very challenging time for families. Many parents have become newly-minted homeschool teachers without any training, while also working their full-time jobs and dealing with the stress of the COVID-19 pandemic. With some distance learning and a lot of deep breaths, we can come out of this situation stronger than ever. 

The post History in The Making: How Parents Can Embrace Distance Learning appeared first on Ozobot.

July just so happens to be Anti-Boredom Month, and it’s all about learning to be entertained by more than just consuming technology. We all have smartphones, tablets, computers, and televisions in our homes. This makes it incredibly easy for kids to turn to a screen to combat boredom. 

Maybe you’re thinking we’re about to tell you to turn into the perfect Pinterest mom and plan out your kids day with baking, crafts, and museum days. We won’t. While it is great to have some structure in place during the summer break, experts say that parents need to provide some unstructured time, too. We don’t need to “cure boredom,” we need to embrace it. 

Boredom is essential for tapping into life skills

New research from toy company Melissa & Doug and Gallup, shows that boredom encourages imagination and creativity. When children are left to their own devices, they’re compelled to be more creative and imaginative in finding ways to amuse themselves. “Giving them opportunities to try things of their own volition builds their sense of discovery and curiosity and helps them explore what brings them joy,” says Melissa, co-founder of Melissa & Doug. 

Being bored also helps children with their problem-solving skills because they have to rely on themselves to tackle the “problem” of being bored, according to The School Run. 

Boredom also builds confidence and improves mental health. “When they have free time, they can try new things, test their limits and take risks, which will all build their confidence,” Melissa says.

Dr. Vanessa LaPointe for Huffpost writes, “Children need to sit in their own boredom for the world to become quiet enough that they can hear themselves. It is only when we are surrounded by nothing that something comes alive on the inside.”

Mark Oliver, teacher and writer for Mother.ly writes, “when our kids are bored, it helps them find value in their own experiences and develop their own unique worldview, which makes them psychologically stronger for the future.

Children who experience a lack of programmed activity are given an opportunity to demonstrate creativity, problem solving, and to develop motivational skills that may help them later in life. Michael Ungar, family therapist and author for Psychology Today says, “A motivated child is one who is raised to seek new experiences, not one who is endlessly protected from boredom.”

How can parents implement positive boredom strategies?

Hearing the word “bored” is like an alarm for parents. We are taught by society that we need to provide constant entertainment for our kids. However, as we have now learned from new research on boredom, we need to set some healthy guidelines on structured AND unstructured play time. 

For most parents, this will not be an easy task. The key is to ease into the following tools, and choose the ones that work best for your family. 

1. Step back. This is probably the hardest option, but also the most impactful. “Do nothing. Don’t swoop in with an activity idea. Don’t hand them a phone or the remote. Sit on your hands, bite your tongue, and let your kids be. You might be surprised to see just where their boredom takes them,” Melissa writes. 
2. Team up on it. Be bored together. Show solidarity and face the empty time as a pair. Lay on the grass side-by-side and look up at the boring clouds. On a boring stormy summer day, watch the boring raindrops race down the window pane. Model for your child how to quietly reflect on one’s own thoughts and the world around you.
3. Attack it. Encourage your child to create a long, master list (that can continually be augmented) of any and all ways he/she can come up with to fill their blank canvas. Have it be the list to pull out whenever you hear the words, “I’m bored.”
4. Make it a game. Encourage kids to turn their boredom into a game. The object? To use their own brainpower and whatever screen-free items they can find in the physical world around them to outwit the boredom. In fact, kids may even enjoy inventing their own games with their own rules to help keep the boredom at bay.
5. Create a boredom box. This includes a handful of special items that only come out when there is one of those days with nothing to do. Maybe it includes a special joke book. Or an extra special set of colorful markers. Or a stamp collecting book with stamps. And then once that period is over, the items go back into the box so they retain their specialness.

What have you done to foster a positive boredom outlook for your kids or students? Let us know in the comments!

The post What Happened to Boredom? Why Your Kids Need to Experience It appeared first on Ozobot.

Modern dads seem to be more involved than ever before. Long gone are the previous stereotypes of fathers working long hours, coming home after dinner, and patting their kids on the head as their mother starts the bedtime routine alone. Now, dads are establishing a work/family life balance, or becoming full-time lead parents.

Research across families from all ethnic backgrounds suggests dads who are actively engaged with their families help to promote their children’s social and emotional development. So this trend toward more involved, caring dads is certainly a positive one.

The Fatherhood Project, a non-profit fatherhood program in the Department of Psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, spotlights some of the research findings of beneficial outcomes for children with engaged fathers, including:

• Positive health outcomes in infants
• Better emotional, academic, social, and behavioral outcomes
• Children who feel a closeness to their father are: twice as likely as those who do not to enter college or find stable employment after high school, 75% less likely to have a teen birth, 80% less likely to spend time in jail, and half as likely to experience multiple depression symptoms.
• High levels of father involvement are correlated with higher levels of sociability, confidence, and self-control in children. Children with involved fathers are less likely to act out in school or engage in risky behaviors in adolescence.
• Children with actively involved fathers are: 43% more likely to earn A’s in school and 33% less likely to repeat a grade than those without engaged dads.

Apart from the many positive benefits that come from involved fathers, one of the best characteristics that these modern dads are exhibiting is humor. Fathers these days are not taking themselves too seriously, and are often taking to social media with the hashtag “dadlife” to document their triumphs and fails.

This sense of humor is not only beneficial to children, but also to moms, and dads themselves as it can lighten up the whole mood of the household.

We’ve put together some of our favorite #DadLife tweets to illustrate this refreshing take on fatherhood, because, let’s face it, being a parent is hard. Not everyone has the privilege of being raised by two parents. We could all use some laughter in our lives, and these dads make the long days of parenting comical and relatable.

This Father’s Day, let’s take some time out to celebrate how far dads have come in the last several decades. Thanks, Dad!

The post #DadLife: Why Modern Day Fathers Are The Best appeared first on Ozobot.