Posts Tagged ‘educational toys’

Kiditec Educational Toys Boost Keen2learn Range

Tuesday, September 28th, 2010

Keen2learn, the well known on-line shop for educational games and teaching resources has expanded its popular range of educational construction toys. “Education has to be fun to compete for a child’s time” said Alistair Owens managing director at www.keen2learn.co.uk.

Although the market is awash with so called ‘educational toys’ Owens claims many have dubious educational value. “The term has been misapplied by marketing operations wanting to make their products sound more appealing to  parents” he added.

The keen2learn team spent some time scouring the market to find a product range that provides practical interest, fun and learning. They found the ideal in the Kiditec construction range. “These toys have real educational merit and meet the keen2learn mission of ‘learning in disguise’ said Owens. Designed and manufactured in Switzerland, quality is a key feature and the range is set to sell well to discerning parents in the UK.  The constructor kits are extremely sturdy and the large components make it easy for small children to assembly.  The parts interconnect to form a variety of different animals, cars, aeroplanes and cranes depending on which kit is used. The robust design allows children to play safely and even ride on certain finished toys. Although full assembly instructions are provided and Mum and Dad can help, most children quickly learn how the models are assembled and make  them into another animal, their imagination is all that is required. The parts are all interchangeable between  the other kits, making the range a huge source of practical enjoyment.

The most popular education toy from the Kiditec range is the Multicar. The kit allows the child to build a ride-on car that can be changed into a scooter or a truck, it just depends on their imagination. Learning in disguise is the sales slogan for keen2learn and certainly the new range of educational toys fits the bill precisely.

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More Teaching Resources and Educational Games from keen2learn

Tuesday, May 18th, 2010

The demand for educational products to support children’s learning in school is growing. The range of fun learning products from keen2learn has been increased to match the demand.

Keen2learn have just added a host of New Products to their on-line web site explained managing director Alistair Owens. He gave the reasons for the range extension: “Keen2learn offers an extensive range of educational games, toys and puzzles that support the National Curriculum. The web site is growing each year as schools, nurseries and parents seek the teaching resources to support children’s learning in school and home for ages 5 – 15 years old. We’re continually asked by new suppliers to promote their products in our range” he said. “This is especially the case for the smaller suppliers who have a great product but find it difficult to reach the market. Many are ex teachers who developed some fantastic games based on their experience in the class. Over the past couple of years we have trebled the selection of teaching resources and supply to many customers overseas.” Keen2learn now operate as an educational supermarket offering a wide range from over 65 supplier’s on one site – saving teachers and parents the need to hunt around multiple sites explained Owens.

Examples of some the latest additions to the site:

Pond life camera

Rainbow fraction tiles

Handwriting Separate And Joined Letters

Medieval Realms

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The Opportunity To Engage Partners In Schooling Support Takes a Huge Leap Forward

Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010

Parent support is fundamental to improving the learning process through a  greater awareness of  their child’s progress in school . Using educational games, toys and the internet at home can help children learn in a way that suits them. Having parents alongside gives children constructive support and a great insight into their progress, ability and the details of the National Curriculum.

Becta, the original name for the British educational computerised training association, in case you’re ask, are behind the drive to engage parents in the schooling process. Children who use the internet at home do better in maths and reading tests, are more interested in their studies and have more fun learning. The Home Access scheme encourages  children to go over schoolwork at home, do homework online, contact classmates and teachers, get information and work together on projects with parents.

Research shows that children achieve more highly when parents talk to them about their experiences of school and learning. However, a recent report showed 82 per cent of parents felt left in the dark when it comes to their s child’s schooling.

The online reporting to become available to parents will allow parents to see their child’s progress dynamically rather than end of term reports or parents night.  Research also showed this level of parental involvement at home heightened their awareness of a child’s progress at school leads to a dramatic improvement in a child’s achievement.  Playing educational games, board games or ICT games at home can replicate the teaching resources in class and bring enjoyment to revision in the form of CDROM literacy, numeracy, chemistry and physics quizzes that can lead to an improvement of two grades at school.

The recent scheme launched by the DCSF to fund 270,000 poorer families with a laptop computer and online access to schools will allow these children to catch up.    Teacher advice in areas where help is needed will allow them to enlist parents help. Their interest and involvement in a child’s learning and education is more important than anything else in helping that child fulfil their potential.

Key benefits:

  • Home -school communication is improved considerably.
  • Communications of a very a positive nature is encouraged
  • Contact can be established with all parents, irrespective of the nature of the catchment area
  • Father’s become more involved in their children’s education
  • Parents give a significant amount of quality time to their children
  • Parents become more knowledgeable about the school curriculum
  • Parents become more involved in the assessment of children’s progress
  • Equality of educational opportunity is addressed
  • Esteem between parents, pupils and teachers is enhanced
  • Promote team promoting family learning activities
  • Underpinning home- school agreements
  • Raising standards of attainment.

Research by the PTA showed the effect of parents and what they do at home to support learning can account for 80 per cent of a child’s academic success.

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Educational Games Site Security Boosted By Secure Socket Trading

Tuesday, November 10th, 2009

At Keen2learn we have always taken data protection to heart and are pleased to have been able move tot the next level of security by adopting a new security system over whole site. Like many sites we had a Secure Socket Layer (SSL) imbedded on the credit card transaction, but unlike most educational games sites we now the SSL security operating over the whole site. This means that any details you enter on the site are encrypted for peace of mind.

If you take a look at the bottom right hand corner of any page on the site you see a triangular Comodo logo. Hover over this to see the instant record of our site security. That the easy bit, behind the scenes there was a huge amount of data and design mods required to install the system – so not for the feint hearted. We’re lucky and have a brilliant team in Robin and Adrian who tackle all opportunities with great skill and gusto.

Adrian, our luminous designer, burnt a huge amount of midnight oil and all the candles he could find at both ends during the exercise. He is a night owl by preference but we would imagine half of Yorkshire had seen an eerie glow over the past few nights.

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Educational Games Website Launches New Attack On Drip Pricing Cons

Wednesday, November 4th, 2009

Plans announced by the OFT to investigate dubious pricing practices on the internet have been welcomed by Keen2 learn, the educational games website, which has attacked many pricing techniques as misleading and “a whisker away from illegal cons.”

The pricing practices exemplified by budget airlines leave many customers reeling at the additional charges hidden until the final pages of the checkout. Know as “drip pricing” they cover a host of extra charges for electable and non electable features. They include carriage, VAT, handling fees and minimum order value surcharge. The list is as long as the inventiveness of the perpetrator. The worst is the charge for using a credit card when there is no other way of funding the transaction. “It’s ludicrous for a website operator to charge additional fees as means of generating income by stealth. It has the same connotation as charging a premium for the phone call through 0870 numbers before they were exposed” said Alistair Owens MD of Keen2learn. “There are huge advantages to web site operators and customers from ecommerce. We should resist any sharp practice based on web anonymity that would meet with contempt in face to face contact in a high street shop”.

Keen2learn provides educational games and teaching resources to schools. The games, matched to the National Curriculum, have equal application with parents wanting to give their children extra personal support at home. The fun games develop positive interaction with parents rather than watching them slog through conventional homework at arms length. “We are at the start of the learning curve for children. An ethical base is at the heart of the operation. This includes “non-drip pricing” that has absolutely no hidden extras; the price you see alongside each product is the final price you pay” said Alistair Owens

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Keen2learn Top 10 Educational Games For October 09

Friday, October 30th, 2009

Many people ask us what are the favourite educational games, toys and puzzles on www.keen2learn.co.uk. They change a round a bit as new products are released and classes move onto a new part of the curriculum. We thought we would introduce a top 10 list to let you know each month. The list is a measure of all sales and includes what both teachers and parents are buying to support the National Curriculum.

1.    Crystal Rain Forest: This firm favourite uses maths skills and logo programming language to help save the planet. A firm favourite in the class and now available to also play at home.

2.    Alphabet frieze: One for the early learners this great wall frieze is the ideal decoration for the classroom and bedroom wall.

3.    Spelling Board Games. Nobody wants to spell – unless it is part of this popular English games pack.

4.   Bunja: This maths game is based on MP3 technology provides hours of fun and is small enough to fir in a pocket when travelling around.

5.   Feel Good Friends: Parents and teachers have found this game developed to boost the self esteem in children is great fun for anyone to play.

6.   Early Learning Songs: Rhyme and alliteration. Children love playing with words that sound the same. These songs develop their awareness of rhyme and alliteration with repeating words and sounds.

7.   Hand counting puzzle: Learning  to count with this colourful wooden puzzle. Suitable for ages three to five years.

8.    Melody Mix: A great little set. Complete with 10 musical instruments including a xylophone, drum, tubular chimes, triangle, cymbal, bells, maracas, castanet, double guiro, a pair of rhythm sticks, 2 strikers and 1 scraper.

9.    Geopolitical Inflatable Globe: This 24″ Inflatable World Globe includes country capitals, important cities, time zones and important geographic features. Great for school and home use!

10.   Geniass: Revision Game: The unique and exceptional educational revision resource in the form of a board game. It is great fun to play, promotes personalised learning and improves exam grades at Key Stages 3 & 4. Geniass was described in the Times Educational Supplement as an “inspiring game” and was short listed for the Science Museum’s Toy and Game of the Year Award. Parents and teachers alike have described it as a “brilliant idea” that is “fantastic fun”. The best invention since the calculator!

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Primary Schools Close the Doors On Entrance Appeals

Friday, October 30th, 2009

Alistair Owens http://www.keen2learn.co.uk

Our primary and secondary educational teaching resources are becoming overloaded. Parents wanting the best schooling for their children are finding access to the better primary schools problematic. Preparatory schools feeding the intake, increased birth rate and immigration have caused a surge in applicants and a huge growth in failed appeals.

Complaints from parents finding the school gate closed to new entrants have soared by 24% this year. The recession hasn’t helped as children are being transferred from independent schools to reduce costs. Not unsurprisingly the schools have had little option but to reject appeals. If they have filled their quota the only course of action is to increase class size, which would rather defeat one of the main strengths of a good school.

Considerable time is needed to prepare an appeal by parents, and each hearing at the school can take 30 minutes. Multiply this by the total number of appellants and the resultant energy dissipated is colossal, with little positive outcome for either side. Worryingly some parents have  sought legal representation to support their case. This tends to favour the better off  and the advent of a legalistic culture in admissions is of some concern to the Local Government Association.

The solution is difficult. The performance of our schools has been severely criticised over recent years and the expansion of good schools is an evolutionary and  lengthy process. Critically therefore we cannot expect a rapid solution to this growing problem. But one very positive option  lies in the hands of parents.

Already  parents with sufficient disposable income hire tutors for their children. This one to one educational support proves extremely beneficial, and ironically, provided inevitably by  teachers from the local school.  But parents still have low cost options. One is to participate in the educational games used by the teachers  in the classroom to support the lesson. These teaching resources  in the form of educational games, toys and puzzles are now available for use at home where the one to one link between parent and child can have surprising results back in class. Providing an essential element of lesson practice, parents do not need to be a teacher. It provides a dynamic insight to performance rather than end of term reports,  and most of all it is fun.

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User Feedback Sparks Educational Games Site Overhaul

Thursday, October 29th, 2009

Operational for the last four years http://www.keen2learn.co.uk has continually adopted developments in e-commerce and web.2.0. But a recent review with customers allowed the educational games, toys and puzzles website to implement extensive user improvements.

Keen2kearn was originally developed to give parents the chance to buy the educational games and toys used by teachers in school. This allowed them to support their children’s progress in class by playing these fun games at home. Since the launch of the award winning site teachers have also appreciated being able to access the 1350 products on the site from over 55 suppliers. “Keen2learn allows us to search one site and avoid wading through countless supplier sites or paper catalogues and place an order on account or credit card” said Beverly Smith, maths teacher at a York primary school.

Version 5.0 of the keen2learn site has just been launched. Although continually updated over the years the recent in-depth review with site users allowed a major update that more than matches the big players. “The review allowed us to understand a number of points we had overlooked. Using the site all day develops short cuts that obscured an original irritation. “Our user panel opened our eyes to a better way of doing things” said Alistair Owens managing director at keen2lean.

Key changes in version 5.0 include:

1.    A sophisticated onsite search with predictive text and synonyms to allow a much quicker selection

2.    Ethical pricing. All prices shown on the site are the final price  you pay. There are absolutory no hidden extras that emerge at the checkout!

3.    Latest site security measures include a secure socket layer (SSL) operational throughout the checkout. Payment is supported by MasterCard secure code and verified by Visa allowing clients to add their own pin security.

4.    The additional security allows us to deliver to a different address than the billing address. A handy facility for relatives seeking to buy a useful present for the family.

5.    Age Filter; dial in the age of a child to show age related products

6.    More products per page with more detailed product shots. Text is now split into key points for parents, and a more detailed information drop-down for teachers.

7.    New sections on renewable energy games and PSHE

8.    Improved News and blog section gives product information and opinions on educational issues and the opportunity to follow keen2learn on Twitter

9.    Images are now thumbnails with hover-over that reveals an enlarged image.

10. What do you think? Keen2learn now has a star rating letting
customers record their thoughts and opinion of the products

A positive opportunity now exists for parents to give children support with their schooling. The fun educational games from keen2learn are all used by teachers in the classroom. By using them at home children have the chance to practice the lesson content at their own pace. Its great fun and the family can join in. The pressure on teachers and the educational system is enormous – children need all the help they can get.

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PSHE Educational Games Added To Keen2learn

Wednesday, October 21st, 2009

Personal, Social and Health Education educational games for the classroom and home have been added to the Keen2learn range. “We’ve had great success with our original selection of self esteem games, and are really pleased to be able to extend it” said Alistair Owens MD at www.keen2learn.co.uk

Going to a new school or moving up to a new class can knock the confidence of children. Building their self esteem, overcoming bullying can often be overlooked. These educational games are used in class as a teaching resource but have equal application at home to help parents explore the feeling and wishes of their children.

The new range includes self esteem, bullying, feelings and emotions, social awareness, health and nutrition. A great way to explore and extend children’s awareness and social interaction. The games are used as a teaching resource in the classroom have equal application as a game at home. Playing the game with  children can give parents a greater insight into issues which can be affecting their children who often suffer in silence.

Emotion Balls PE00002

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Customer Reviews of Educational Games

Monday, October 19th, 2009

As part of the recent upgrade to http://www.keen2learn.co.uk on-line website customers are being asked to submit their  review of the products. A simple start rating with the chance to record their own thoughts and  observations is designed to give fellow customer an  independent view. “We like to think we have selected the best products around and it’s good to hear customers, teachers and children’s thoughts and rating after they have used the educational games, toys and puzzles we have on the site” said Stuart Owens Director at keen2learn.

To complete a rating go to the product page, scroll down to the bottom to fill in a very quick and easy statement. Don’t worry of you are not first we will add all comments and the star rating is the average score.

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English Literacy Games Start At home

Sunday, October 18th, 2009

Many parents shy away from reading bedtime stories to children. Busy schedules are often the claim to the reticence from parents. But this task can be immensely rewarding fro the children in the schooling process and to parents who involve themselves in educational games that are the very foundation of literacy.

Reading for the first time to children can be as daunting as speaking in public to many people. Once you have broken the ice it gets so much easier. Feedback from you children as they look forward to the next chapter – or want the same story again and again is the reward. Stories fire the imagination in ways videos and TV can never achieve and is a tremendous help in the schooling process. Instead of regarding it as a parental homework chore look at it as a shared adventure.

Dads Fail to Read Bedtime Stories

Bedtime Story intrigued Mother And  Famous Son.

Bedtime Stories Are Being Abandoned

Dads Falling Behind In Bedtime Reading Stakes


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