ThinkFun's Education Blog
Here to help parents make learning fun!

Kids love playing outdoors. When you were a kid, you probably loved it too. However, with the advent of technology, the trend might have started changing a little. Children these days spend more time in front of a computer or mobile screen instead of heading out to the nearby ground and running and playing like a bunch. What they don't realize is what they are missing out on. Playing outdoors is so much fun and you gain a lot in the process as well.

There are many articles that give dire predictions about how much learning kids lose over the summer months. There are others that claim these statistics are exaggerated. A quick Google search turns up a multitude of articles with lots of common sense ideas like joining library summer reading programs and educational camps or limiting screen time. No matter what, it is probably safe to say that keeping kids brains engaged over the summer can be beneficial. But summer should be FUN! So how can we gamify learning activities to keep young minds active while they have a good time? What follows are some fun logic activities parents can take with them on the go. The materials are simple: toothpicks and coins. It's easy to throw a roll of coins or some round game tokens and a box of toothpicks in a beach bag or “car kit.” You can play these games while waiting at restaurants or with a little “lap desk” in the car. Included below are some numbered photographs of puzzles which I hope you and your kiddos will enjoy. Numbered solutions are shown at the end of the article.

Gamification is a buzzword that you’ve probably heard a lot lately. It’s become a popular method for increasing the enjoyment and interactivity of learning and shaping behavior in many different environments. We’re seeing it pop up in schools, businesses, and our personal lives. With so much focus on gamifying our activities, it’s worthwhile to take a step back and see what it is and how it really works.