Add these puzzles and riddle books to your kids' Easter Baskets this year!

Soon, the Easter Bunny will be making his rounds filling children's Easter Baskets with tasty treats.  In addition to candy, consider giving your kids some puzzles and games as well.  I recently received the following products from Banana Panda to try out in exchange for an honest review.  You can visit the Store Locator on the Banana Panda website to find a store that carries these products near you.  They can also be purchased on Amazon.  

First, we have the Suuuper Size Puzzle Alphabet Train.  Recommended for children ages 3+ (it contains small parts so it isn't suitable for children under 3), this puzzle makes learning the alphabet fun for your little ones.  This is 52 piece extra long puzzle (it's 137.5" long when put together) is great for introducing kids to the wonderful world of letters.  Jump on board one of the longest puzzle trains!  The conductor is an astronaut and each of the 25 train cars carries amazing passengers and incredible cargo.  The detailed, funny illustrations will encourage your kids to learn the alphabet and discover new words.  Each train car contains at least one animal or object whose name starts with the letter that is specified on that car.  As kids arrange and assemble the large puzzle pieces, they will learn perception and concentration.  It also promotes hand-eye coordination.  The jumbo puzzle pieces measure roughly 6"x2.5" and are made of high quality, thick cardboard.  They're perfect for little hands to pick up and maneuver.  It comes in a keepsake box that has a handle, making it a great gift.  Choo!  Choo!  All aboard! 

    
Next up is the Looong Puzzle Safari.  This puzzle is recommended for ages 3+ (it contains small parts so it isn't suitable for children under 3) and will introduce your kids to the savanna and its inhabitants.  Your children can explore the wide open spaces of the savanna with the meerkat, zebra and a little monkey.  As they put this long puzzle together (it's 38.5" long when completed), they will see a baby elephant, hippo and crocodile trying to stay cool under the warm summer sun.  This jigsaw puzzle has 40 colorful pieces that are made of thick, sturdy cardboard.  Each puzzle piece measures roughly 4"x3", which makes them the perfect size for little hands.  As they complete the extra long, panoramic puzzle, the vibrant, detailed artwork will be revealed.  There are plenty of exotic animals for your kids to find.  Assembling this puzzle will help develop your childrens' perception, concentration, hand-eye coordination and manual dexterity.  It comes in a handy keepsake box with a sturdy handle, making it a great gift!

          
Next is the Figure It Out Puzzles Vehicles in Action.  Recommended for ages 3+ (it contains small parts, so it isn't suitable for children under 3), this is four puzzles in one box.  Each puzzle gets progressively bigger, allowing your kids to improve their skills gradually.  When your cat is stuck up a tree or there's a hole in the road, you need help!  And these vehicles are ready to come to your aid.  It's a perfect gift for little fans of action vehicles featuring four progressive puzzles.  One has 9 pieces, one has 12 pieces, one has 15 pieces and one has 35 pieces.  There are also eight figures included that will enable children to create their own stories and play in a variety of ways.  Sorting and assembling the thick, high quality cardboard pieces into the four different puzzles will train perception and concentration, improve manual dexterity and foster curiosity and imagination.  The handy box that it comes in has a practical handle and makes it a great gift.

  
And finally we have the Peek-A Boo Riddles.  I received the one for age 3 Advanced, but there are others.  One is for age 3 Beginner, one for age 4+ and one for age 5+.  This is a collection of educational books containing rhymed riddles in a unique presentation.  Illustrated fragments of the answers to the riddles are visible through a special viewing window, making guessing great fun!  The books for 4+ and 5+ year olds feature additional fun facts and activities for curious preschoolers.  Each book has 80 pages and is bound with a rivet.  The box is pocket size and travel friendly, making it perfect for on the go fun.  The riddles will engage your children's senses and support language learning.  They will help expand and reinforce knowledge and vocabulary and will also awaken curiosity and imagination.  Parents and children can learn about the world together in a funny and enjoyable way.

Where Can I Purchase CBD Oils

Where Can I Purchase CBD Oils

Image Credit: Pixabay

So you’ve been hearing about CBD oil for months now and you’ve finally decided to give it a try. However, you might struggle in trying to figure out where the best place to purchase CBD products is. Many different types of locations sell CBD products, each with their own advantages and disadvantages. So which locations should you be looking at? Here’s where you can purchase CBD oils.

Drug Stores

As CBD becomes more accepted by the medical community, it becomes increasingly more common in standard drug stores. CBD has many health benefits, making it a great over the counter solution to many ailments. While CBD is certainly not a cure-all, it definitely has some advantages in medical use. As a result, you may be able to purchase CBD products at your local drugstore. CBD products may be hard to find in these types of stores, and their product range might be limited compared to some other options. However, drug stores carry many other products, allowing you to shop for other things while you pick up your CBD products.

Smoke Shops

An interesting place to purchase CBD oils is at smoke shops. Many smoke shops around the country have started to sell a wide assortment of CBD products, ranging from oils to edibles. While you might not always find the top brands at these locations, they still can provide you with some CBD products that can provide benefits. In addition, many of these smoke shops will also sell pieces that you can use with your CBD products. For example, you may be able to buy a CBD vape at a smoke shop, allowing you to use your CBD oil if you didn’t already have a method to.

Online

A simple way to get your CBD oil is to shop online for it. Shopping online has several advantages that going to physical locations can’t compete with. First, shopping online is extremely convenient, as it allows you to shop from the comfort of your home or anywhere else. Second, shopping online allows you to compare a wide range of prices and products from many different websites. The only downside to using the internet to shop CBD is the lack of personal contact you’ll have. You won’t have an expert or a clerk telling you what works best and which brands are most trusted, meaning that you’ll have to do all of the research on your own.

Specialty Stores

Since the market has exploded for CBD in recent years, many businesses have begun taking full advantage. However, some stores have devoted their entire inventory to taking advantage of this opportunity. These specialty stores sell only CBD products and things that compliment the use of CBD. These stores are great as they offer a wide range of CBD products for you to try and staff is usually knowledgeable enough to point you in the right direction. However, since the market is relatively new, there aren’t that many CBD specialty stores out there. In addition, those that are already established aren’t on the best footing financially. As a result, you may find difficulty trying to find CBD specialty shops in your area.

How to Avoid These 9 Homeschool Science Mistakes

This post is sponsored by College Prep Science. Copyright 2020 by Greg Landry. 

Having taught science to several thousand homeschooling and college students over the past 20+ years, several things stand out to me. I've put together a list of 9 homeschool science mistakes and 9 concrete steps we can take to better prepare our budding scientists.

Mistake #1 – Generalizing the names for, and thus the way we teach, science. Call it Biology, Chemistry, Physics, etc. and not “General Science”, “Physical Science”, etc., even in the young grades. Doing this virtually eliminates the intimidation that comes with “Physics” etc. in the high school years and clarifies what you’re teaching in the middle grades.

For example, at College Prep Science, rather than a homeschool year of “Physical Science," we teach a semester of “Pre-Physics” and a semester of “Pre-Chemistry.” Rather than a homeschool year of "Life Science," we teach a semester of "Pre-Biology" and a semester of "Pre-Anatomy and Physiology."

Mistake #2 – Not doing enough testing.

Testing in the sciences prepares our students for the rigors of high school level homeschool science, college science, standardized testing, and assures that they are learning the material and how to take tests. Of course, it should be age-appropriate, but we should be testing.

​Mistake #3 – Teaching science year-round.

I know that many parents are proponents of year-round school (no summer break), but I believe it’s actually counter-productive. From experience with thousands of students, I believe that students need to know they can work hard for a prescribed period of time and then have a total break from classes for a while.

Mistake #4 – Not starting the high school sciences early enough.

I know it’s easy to put off starting the high school sciences, but it’s important, especially if the students may be a college science major. Critical decisions should be made going into 8th grade. The critical factor is being ready for standardized testing and being able to fit in the needed sciences in the high school years. High school Biology should be taken in the 9th grade for most students and in the 8th grade for very capable students who will likely be science majors.

Mistake #5 – Not beginning to take the ACT early enough.

Success on this standardized test is critical for college admissions and plays a direct role in how much financial aid a student will receive. Taking these tests twice per year beginning in 9th grade gives students experience and confidence which enables them to do well when they take this test for the final time in 11th or 12^th grade. See my article on this topic, “6 Reasons to Ditch the SAT and Laser Focus on the ACT.”

Mistake #6 – Not training students to write good lab reports.

As a college professor, I saw the pain of students who came in as science majors without good lab report writing skills and experience. Students get better at this with experience – there’s no substitute for that. Lab reports are simply the written record of the scientific method. It takes lots of practice to develop the skill needed to do well on these.

Mistake #7 – Not creating a lab manual for every science class.

A lab manual is a collection of observations, data collection, and lab reports from a class. This gives students one place to neatly keep all of this information and gives them a sense of accomplishment. It’s impressive to have them lined-up on a shelf from all of their science classes. It’s also required by some states or umbrella groups for homeschoolers and some colleges want to see lab manuals as evidence of labs being completed.

Mistake #8 – Being squeamish on Creation.

Despite what you may hear in the media and elsewhere, God wrote the book on science. We need to boldly teach our students about God’s creation. Science and the world around us support biblical creation.

Mistake #9 – Not using graphing extensively.

Graphing, when done regularly through the middle and high school grades has a unique ability to develop critical thinking skills in students that not only benefit them in math, science, and academics in general, but also in life! We encourage families to have students construct one graph daily as part of their homeschooling day. They can graph anything. Let them run with it and you will be surprised at how creative they are. The resulting skills can be very beneficial.

​Homeschool dad, scientist, and former college professor, Greg Landry, offers live, online homeschool science classes, the Homeschool Mom’s Science Podcast, in-person two-day science lab intensives nationwide, freebies for homeschool moms, and homeschool print publications that students can be a part of.

Paw Patrol DVD

PAW Patrol is one of my son's favorite shows!  I know I have some Moms and Dads out there with kids who like these pups, too.  I am thrilled to offer you this giveaway to wina copy of the DVD.  Enter via the giveaway form below.

PAW Patrol is on a roll! The Mighty Pups are back and ready to use their super powers to help those in need. In this all new adventure, they team up with their new super pals, the Mighty Twins! There’s more mighty action than ever in the PAW Patrol: Mighty Pups Super Paws DVD, arriving March 3, 2020. Packed with favorite characters, new surprises, and more, the PAW Patrol: Mighty Pups Super Paws DVD will be available from Paramount Home Entertainment and Nickelodeon Home Entertainment for the suggested retail price of $10.99.

Air Fryer and Tub O' Towels Giveaway

Air fryers are all the rage these days! Lots of people are using them but many wonder how to clean an air fryer the best way. Today on Thrifty Nifty Mommy, Janessa is sharing tips to help you clean your air fryer quickly and easily.  We've partnered with Thrifty Nifty Mommy for a great giveaway today! One person will win a GoWise Air Fryer plus Tub O' Towels cleaning wipes to make air fryer cleanup a breeze!


 Founded in 1915, Federal Process Corporation began with just one product – Gasoila (pronounced Gas-oil-ah) Hard Set Sealant. In 1994, a product was created for the industrial business to remove sealant, now known as Tub O’ Towels. However, once it was discovered that this strong wipe had thousands of uses outside of the industrial space, it was introduced to the retail market in 2011. Now, seven years later, Tub O’ Towels Heavy Duty Cleaning Wipes is a staple in auto body shops and garages across the US. Tub O’ Towels is not just for greasy outdoor projects (although they are perfect for that too!). Tub O’ Towels is also great for cleaning the daily messes that all of us deal with. These heavy-duty wipes can be used on strollers, car seats, car interiors, carpets, floors, walls, kitchens and so much more! If you'd like to win this fun prize package, just enter using the Giveaway Tools entry form below. The giveaway ends on Friday, March 13th, 2020 at 11:59pm EST. Good luck!

Entry-Form

Disclosure: This giveaway is not affiliated with Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or Instagram. Prize fulfillment is the responsibility of Tub O' Towels and not the bloggers promoting it. This giveaway is open to residents of the US who are 18 years of age or older. Void where prohibited. If you have any questions about this giveaway, you can contact Janessa from Thrifty Nifty Mommy.

5 Realities of Substance Abuse Recovery

Any individual choosing to put aside their substance abuse and addictions is courageous. They recognize they can't sustain the life they're living, and they know recovery will be good for them. It's hard for anyone who hasn't struggled with substance abuse to understand the magnitude of choosing to enter a recovery program.

Substance abuse recovery is a different experience for everyone, but most people who haven't battled their addictions don't know what to expect. Besides staying with a program for a few weeks or months, it's nerve-wracking not to know what will happen or how it will help. Addicts and their loved ones shouldn't have to feel anxious during a time when they should only focus on the positivity the program will bring to their lives.

Read on to learn five realities of substance abuse recovery so you and your loved ones know what's coming down the road. With the right mental preparation and perspective, everyone can support each other through the recovery process.

1. Take Things Slowly

Many addicts enter recovery programs believing they'll learn the secret to leaving bad habits and behaviors behind. While they'll get the help they need, there's no cure for substance abuse. Instead, they'll learn to take things slowly and focus on one day at a time.

Recovery requires lifestyle, environmental and social changes, so it will take a while to form new routines and get used to a different way of living. 

2. Prepare to Battle the Brain

Some people think that choosing recovery over addiction is a choice, but it's much more than that. Anyone recovering from substance abuse must battle their brain every day to reprogram it. Every time someone gives in to addictions like drug and alcohol abuse, it frays nerves in the brain and rewards the action with dopamine, leading to faster and increased addiction habits. Recovery removes this euphoria and leaves people with withdrawal symptoms and muted dopamine reactions.

3. Avoid Finding Another Addiction

Once addiction leaves an empty hole in the life of someone in substance abuse recovery, they often fill it with another one. They may obsess over fitness routines, throw themselves into school or constantly consume drinks high in caffeine. It's better to learn how to balance healthy interests. Perhaps instead of experimenting with drugs or alcohol in college, students can join a club or activity.

4. Grieve Your Losses

The removal of addiction leaves people feeling like they've lost their old way of life. They leave friends and habits behind for an unknown routine and social group. Anyone in recovery programs should embrace feelings of grief to work through the symptoms in healthy ways. 

5. Find Your Own Way

Recovery looks different for everyone, so no two experiences look identical. As long as the person in recovery keeps gratitude at the center of their life, they can remain focused and encouraged. Thankfulness shows them how they've grown and what they can look forward to, instead of focusing on the lifestyle they've lost.

Create a Support Group

Outside of the people who run a recovery program, former addicts need to create a support group of friends and loved ones. The encouragement and love will help them keep their focus and maintain their recovery in the long term. 

ONN DVD Player and Secret Life of Pets 2 Giveaway

One WINNER will win a ONN DVD & The Secret Life of Pets 2 DVD Movie

Value $40.00

Date: 2/26~3/07/2020 12am

USA Only 18+

Hosted by: Night Helper

Disclosure: We reserve the right to make revisions, to cancel, or suspend this contest for any reason. We are not associated with any of the companies named above. The odds of winning are based on the number of entries received Open to the US 18+ only. Confirmed Winner(s) (by Random.org) will be contacted by email. Winner(s) have 24 hours to respond before a new winner is chosen. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited by law. The sponsor(s) will be responsible for product shipment to winner(s) of this giveaway. Night Helper Blog (and any other blog participating) is not responsible for product shipment/delivery. This event is in no way administered, sponsored, or endorsed by, or associated with, Facebook and/or Twitter, Google, Pinterest. This disclosure is done in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission 10 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements. Entrants must only enter with either one email address, IP address and/or Facebook account, anyone found violating these rules will be disqualified. It is at the sole discretion of the admin of the giveaway if the winner has met the rules or not. a Rafflecopter giveaway