Father's Day is right around the corner, and the Wee Workshop has the perfect DIY for all those dapper dads out there. Make your own ties! Just color them in, cut them out and celebrate dad. Download it now and get crafting together.
But wait, there's more.
Each week, we release a new super cute, super fun, and totally free activity page "From the Wee Workshop." They're designed to spark imaginations and conversations, and each one is only available to download for a limited time. They're great activities to keep your kiddos engaged and learning all summer long.
Preparing for Easter this year, we were on the hunt for an alternative to candy in our kids' baskets. The best idea? The Easter Bunny is going to hide individual wood blocks that the kids can gather up.
Check out our new Wee You-Things wood blocks for a fun, spring-colored option. One set includes three different puzzles and a set of mix-and-match stackable characters. It's heirloom quality—so it'll stick around much longer than eggs and Peeps.
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"The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go." We salute you, Dr. Seuss.
We've been picking out holiday gifts for the kids in our lives. As moms, dads and designers, we always have an eye out for happy design. Here are a few of the inspiring ideas that made our favorites list this year.
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As parents of young kids, and as iPad app developers, we're part of the discussion of whether – and how – kids should be using tablets.
We grew up watching (and loving) Mr. Rogers, who struggled with a similar quandary based on television – the new technology of his time. Fred Rogers felt strongly that TV should not be used as a substitute for human interaction, but as a tool for fostering communication between grown-ups and kids.
A joint statement this year by the Fred Rogers Center for Early Learning and the National Association for the Education of Young Children said, "effective uses of technology and media are active, hands-on, engaging, and empowering." The statement also suggests that, "interactions with technology and media should be playful and support creativity," and that, "when used appropriately, technology and media can enhance children's cognitive and social abilities."
We created the Wee Alphas app with this in mind. It was designed to encourage meaningful interactions between preschoolers and grown-ups. The app includes tips and questions to help parents encourage learning experiences, including practicing ABCs, discovering new words and concepts and inspiring creative thinking.
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As older kids head back to school, parents with younger ones at home are looking for new learning experiences to support their kids' development. And many are pulling out their iPads.
Thirty-nine percent of children age 2- to 4-years-old have used an iPad, iPhone or similar touch-screen device to play games, watch videos or use other apps, according to a survey last year by Common Sense Media, a San Francisco-based nonprofit group.
"We know from our own experience that an iPad can be a really meaningful teaching tool for kids, if used the right way," said Wee Society co-founder Jill Robertson. "We designed the book app Wee Alphas for parents and preschoolers to use together. It's about creating an experience that's fun for both kids and adults. Fun first, and learning follows."
With Wee Alphas, each letter of the alphabet is hidden in clever, colorful illustrations of animals that feature silly rhymes. A sketchpad encourages kids to practice drawing their own "special letter." Wee Society collaborated with indie rock band Rabbit! on the sound effects and music that kids love and adults won't mind listening to again and again. The app also includes a guide to help parents create teaching moments while using Wee Alphas with their kids.
Apple named Wee Alphas on its list of New & Notable apps in the education category; and KinderTown, the respected "educational app store for busy parents," selected Wee Alphas as "an outstanding app for home and school." In their review, KinderTown added that the app "combines incredible design with a solid understanding of how kids learn."
