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Endorsements |
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"The format and activities in 'Bright and Beyond' are perfect for parents who want to provide interactive, creative play and a broad-based head start for their child"
Marti Monroe, PhD - Child Development Educator
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"I was very impressed with the range of activities that give young children the chance to build their early learning skills. The activities are a perfect balance of fun and learning!"
Holly N. Daluisio - Director, San Pedro Co-op Nursery School, San Pedro, California
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"We LOVE the product. Thanks for providing such a parent/child friendly product. We look forward to sharing it with the parents we work with."
Meg Powell ParentLink (Univ. of Missouri)
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Pal Toys, LLC, produces smart and simple activity card decks for parents and teachers to do with young children from infancy through elementary school. Our product lines have received the "Dr. Toy's 100 Best Children's Product" and "NAPPA Gold" awards and can be found in hundreds of stores nationwide, on Amazon, or at the company's website http://www.paltoys.com/. Parents, teachers, and caretakers rave about Bright and Beyond decks. Each deck includes 52 fully-illustrated, simple-to-understand activity idea cards, with developmental skills labeled on each card for easy reference. Pal Toys products are created from the concept that it doesn't take high tech toys or elaborate set-ups for creative, educational play.
American Montessori Consulting
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I was personally impressed with the quality of the Spanish [in your Spanish decks]."
Maria Elena Cruz-Lopez, Asst. Manager Scholastic Club Leo
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PARENT COMMENTS
"We absolutely love it. I prefer the card venue over a book of ideas. It's easier to put into a play readiness priority. Thank you," Deborah L., Roseville CA
"I loved the illustration. It prevented me from having to think about 'how' to do the activity. For me, that was invaluable . . . I just want simple play." -Robin R., Topanga, CA
"I bought this deck on a whim in a teacher store when my daughter was 16 months old - wish I'd bought the 2year old deck, too, now that we're approaching that birthday. I'm definitely going to get it. The activities in this set are simple, use things you already have around the house (like paper towel tubes and ziploc bags), and truly do entertain the kid! Any parent knows that 12-24 months covers a huge range of development, and this activity set does a great job at including activities for the whole range, the younger and older ends both. Very little set-up is required, but just because they're simple does not mean they're obvious! I'm an early childhood educator and I still got a ton of ideas, things I'd just never considered before (like squirt some ketchup and mustard in a ziploc, seal it, and watch them be amazed as they squish it in the high chair.) Maybe I could have come up with some of these ideas if I really brainstormed, but who has that kind of time? I'm busy surviving parenthood. Oh so worth $10, what a steal.
Just one more example - tonight my daughter (now 21 months) and I made cookies and finished off the eggs in the carton. While I was scooping and cooking the dough she sat in the high chair playing an activity I just read the night before - Clothespin Soldiers. You turn an egg carton upside down and cut little slots/holes in each egg compartment. Then you stick clothespins in and out of the holes (we skipped the part of drawing faces on the clothespins). Even I had my doubts she would find this interesting but she sat there putting them in and out of different holes for at least 10 minutes. Great eye-hand and motor coordination practice too!" - Amazon 5-Star Review by K. Hickman "Disco Mom" Brooklyn, NY
"We love the "Bright and Beyond" activity cards!! I actually have a beach
ball taped to the doorway and we were playing with it today. I love that I
can pick a card, gather the materials (which can be found around the house)
and play. I gave the age 2 and ages 3-5 as Christmas gifts and my friends
also really enjoy the activity cards. The teacher in me just wishes I would've thought of it first!!! Thank you for making such a great product!"
Jennifer D., Chandler, AZ
"My five year old daughter carries around the preschool deck like her brothers carry around their YuGiOh cards. She will lay out five cards on the table, and say to us, "Which one do you want to do?" Once we get started, her older brothers often join in, and everybody has a great time!" -Tom K., Portland, OR
"I think they're great." Jenny M., San Pedro, CA
"Someone gave me the Age 2 deck for Christmas. I've been using them all year when it's rainy or she's bored, or I want to teach her something, or if I can't think of something to do. When my mother-in-law watches my daughter I suggest that she try activities from the deck." - Andrea A., Sebastopol, CA
"You're providing families a quality product . . . It's good for mommy - great for grandma and grandpa." - Robert M., Norwich, VT
"Overall I really like the product because it's a nice quick reference when the children have you distracted and frazzled." William D., Lakewood, CA
"I bought the 'Age 2' Bright Ideas deck from a toy store in Boise, and we absolutely love it. The activities are a great fit for my toddler and are a great starting point for creative play. You have wonderful ideas, and it's so interesting for me to see how my toddler uses your 15 minute activity and it evolves into an afternoon activity." Laura J., Boise, ID
"Great concept! Pictures are a big plus." Laura P., Irvine, CA
"[T]he baby deck . . . [is] just fantastic! We've been using it for the past couple of days and [my son] has been enjoying all the activities. I've been giving him some of the activities while he sits in his highchair during dinner. I am finally able to eat a peaceful and warm meal. How about that!!!!!" Mari O., Tracy, CA
"It's like having a whole cupboard full of games in one little packet." Beth S., Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
"My 4 year old keeps asking to do more...I'll need to buy some for my two yr old now!" Julie K., San Clemente, CA
"Thanks for a great product, they are really well done!" Ruta B., Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
"We have the baby deck and love it . . . I think many moms and dads (and maybe especially with your first child) have a hard time coming up with "creative" ideas to entertain (we just haven't had to "play" for so long.. we lose touch).. not only are they creative ideas... but the other thing we like is they are easily affordable ideas also.. even just putting to use some things we usually throw away around the house (ie: paper towel tubes) AND they're simple!!!!!" Kristin K., South Dakota.
"I purchased the Bright and Beyond: Baby cards for 0-12 months a few weeks ago and have been using the ideas on the cards with my 6 month old daughter. The cards are an easy, convenient, quick way to get a new idea when the same old games, songs, or toys are getting stale. There were definitely ideas I've heard of before or even already use, as well as brand new ideas. Although there is nothing ground breaking about the ideas on the cards, the fact that you can just quickly flip through the deck for an idea has been very helpful for us." Melanie, Amazon reviewer from Somerville, MA.
"I love these cards! I got the one year old cards first and when your little one is bored, or you find yourself letting them watch too much tv because you don't know what else to do with them, get out these cards and have fun while your little one also learns. They are so worth the money and you will use them time and time again!!" Michelle D., Amazon reviewer from Santa Cruz, CA.
"What a life-saver these "idea cards" have been! Now I have something to refer to when my 4 year is bored and wants to do something with me. We just pick a card and have a fun time learning a new "game." He loves it and so do I!!" Jennifer M., Roseville, CA.
"Love, love love these cards! My son is 1 year and the ideas are great! What is even better is that it gives me ideas of other things I could try that aren't on a card!!" Angie B., Gladstone, MO.
Great cards!!! My 22 months old LOVES THEM!!! Highly recommend! :) - Anna T., Cumming, GA.
I absolutely love the Bright and Beyond cards. I have recommended them to a number of my friends and purchased some as gifts for other people. All of the ideas are very clever and can be done with things you have around the house - brilliant ideas! Thanks for keeping us parents filled with creative, fun activities for our children. - Debbie G., Littleton, CO.
I have used some of the activities when my grandchildren are with me and we've had a lot of fun without expensive toys. I have also shared your website with a young friend who is a teacher of special needs children. - Alice D., Cambridge, NY.
We love the "Bright and Beyond" activity cards!! I actually have a beach ball taped to the doorway and we were playing with it today. I love that I can pick a card, gather the materials (which can be found around the house) and play. I gave the age 2 and ages 3-5 as Christmas gifts and my friends also really enjoy the activity cards. The teacher in me just wishes I would've thought of it first!!! Thank you for making such a great product! - Jennifer D., Chandler, AZ.
TEACHER COMMENTS
"These idea cards are easy to use. A parent or teacher could easily pull these out for a quick 10 minute lesson or activity. These cards do not require supplies and therefore require no preparation ahead of time."
Learning Magazine 2006 Product Review Tester
"I loved some of the ideas and used them with my class, including "Interview with an Elephant [Writing Deck]," "Debate a Topic [Writing Deck]," "What If . . . [Writing Deck]," and others. You can use some of them for other ages than indicated on the cards, just fine tune them up or down. I also shared them with the parents as "homework." For older kids I used them for fillers, on a rainy day, and Friday reward time."
Learning Magazine 2006 Product Review Tester
"I use the cards for quick lessons when I only have 5 or 10 minutes before lunch or prep. They provide a quick way to make a ten minute chunk of time into a potentially valuable learning opportunity."
Learning Magazine 2006 Product Review Tester
"The activities for the most part don't take a lot of effort to do. The "older" kids have fun writing prompt ideas, fun math games, etc., the cards for the youngest children include lots of interactive activities for baby and parent to do together."
Learning Magazine 2006 Product Review Tester
"My students really liked them. They got to share their problem and answer with their classmates. It gets everyone involved at once. Each student seemed occupied and on track the whole time."
Learning Magazine 2006 Product Review Tester
"Many of the cards have activities that make the lesson into a game and my students love games. The ideas involve creative aspects such as making up fun stories or quick art projects. My students love anything that allows them to compete against others and many of these ideas have the potential to allow competition and creativeness."
Learning Magazine 2006 Product Review Tester
"It was quick and fun to do. No one gets bored or disinterested. The activities were something that can be repeated at home."
Learning Magazine 2006 Product Review Tester
"All areas of the curriculum and learning are covered, large and small motor [skills], math, writing, science, social studies, etc. Depending on their age and activity a number of things are being taught.just having fun doing them is making it a positive learning experience."
Learning Magazine 2006 Product Review Tester
"All areas of the curriculum and learning are covered, large and small motor [skills], math, writing, science, social studies, etc. Depending on their age and activity a number of things are being taught.just having fun doing them is making it a positive learning experience."
Learning Magazine 2006 Product Review Tester
"I think most teachers would enjoy having a set of these for their classroom, sometimes when you have lesson plans fall through, or need something quick, for a substitute, or a good way to spend a rainy day recess these will come in very handy. They are well written and teach lots of different things."
Learning Magazine 2006 Product Review Tester
"I would recommend [them]. The cards include fun games and activities to help the students learn. There are a lot of cards that are quick to do. It is nice to have on your shelf for students to play with and have fun."
Learning Magazine 2006 Product Review Tester
"I would recommend this product especially to a newer teacher. It's always nice to have something easy and fun to do with the students that keep them happy and involved. The cards would also be a great parent gift to hand out at conferences to parents interested in working with their children at home."
Learning Magazine 2006 Product Review Tester
"A fellow teacher showed me her new Bright and Beyond: Reading cards. We marveled over the creative ideas for teaching reading to our students . . . The card format allows me to clip the idea to my lesson plan book rather than rewrite the activity in it."
Kristine W., Amazon reviewer from Selah, WA |
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