How To Make STEM Learning Fun

With just under two weeks left to the unofficial launch of summer (Memorial Day) and school being out in just over a month, you may be wondering how to make sure the kids make the most out of their summer and not get too rusty upstairs. We’ve got three tips to help you make STEM learning this summer fun!

 Take a Field Trip

via GIPHY

 

There are plenty of cool places around town that are perfect learning opportunities for children. A trip to the local zoo or botanical garden puts the “S” in STEM and is a great way for children to connect with plants, nature, and animals. Getting kids acquainted with concepts like sustainability and the importance of our ecosystem will never be easier. Cultivate their curiosity by exposing them to different environments and activities.

STEM Activities from Home

In addition to going out, there are plenty of activities you can do at home like gardening and cooking. 

Gardening is a great way to help teach children about plants, insects AND nutrition. You could also do something as simple as grabbing something from your pantry and direct all the components and processes that had to go into making that food product. You can easily do that with other objects all around the house. Inspire kids to uncover the context of the built world they live in by asking them questions.

Baking and cooking also provides a way to teach your children STEM related concepts on the sly. Calculating measurements to make that delicious summer treat is good for the brain and sure to provide some joy for everyone. Homemade popsicles anyone? 

Let’s Use Our Hands  

Toys and games can help develop an appreciation for science, the arts, strategic and mind-stimulating activities, and spending time with family and friends. Although school will be out, play doesn’t have to end!

Brands like K’Nex and our very own Paper Punk, provide toys/activities that both excite and educate kids without them even knowing. 

Remember, learning is as fun as you make it! We challenge you to come up with more ways to make STEM learning fun. Let us know how you do by tagging us @PaperPunk.

ICYMI: Our Color + Build kits have been featured in the Toy Insider Spring & Summer Gift Guide.

Check out the gift guide to find other cool STEM toys, like Paper Punk, that will keep the kids entertained for hours on end!

International Day of Happiness

Yesterday, we celebrated International Day of Happiness by asking you (and we did it ourselves) to Paper Punk It Forward and see for yourself – it was awesome. #PaperPunkItForward.

While we were reading some of your submissions, we couldn’t help but find ourselves really digging deep into what happiness is and when were we happiest.  So, we went out and asked a couple of people when they were most happy and here’s what they had to say:

“When I’m hanging out with friends. We get to talk and share stories about our life. Relax. And just spending time with people who you care about is a great experience.” – Kelly

“When I’m at home with my husband and puppy. They’re the love of my life.” – Vanita

“Marathoning Netflix shows and ordering takeout with my husband.” – Jill

“I’m happiest when I’m on an adventure. I love to experience new things and explore new opportunities. It’s really when I feel most alive.” - Amanda

We wanted to include a couple of submissions from our happiness campaign cause well, it made us pretty freaking happy:

I'm happiest helping people become their most creative self…especially making things with their hands!

What makes you happy?

Use our brand new Color+Build GRAFFITI Block kit to construct a positive message and pay your positive message forward for a chance to be featured in our virtual graffiti wall! By tagging us @PaperPunk and using the #PaperPunkItForward hashtag, you will have the chance to be part of our Paper Punk It Forward campaign.

March 21, 2017 by Grace Hawthorne

Paper Punk’s Color + Build Kits Are Here!

They’re here!!!!!! Paper Punk’s new COLOR+BUILD My Life as a Fashion Designer and COLOR+BUILD Graffiti Happy Blocks Kits are now available for purchase at Target and here online! 

 

We are so psyched to share these two new products with you, your friends, and family. The Paper Punk play pattern just added a few new dimensions of coloring, story telling, and dream making with these COLOR+BUILD kits. We just know you will love making your mood and planning your fashion empire with us! In our tech driven lives, it’s too easy to get caught up in too much screen time. That’s why our kits are designed to feed your imagination and build your brain through hands-on play —all while spending quality time with loved ones. So… put down that iPad, turn off the TV, and allow your inner artist and dream of being a fashionista become reality.

In light of the launch, we’ve started a fun campaign around the Graffiti Block’s kit specifically and would encourage you to #PaperPunkItForward! All of the details are below! Enjoy :)

March 15, 2017 by Grace Hawthorne

Paper Punk Takes New York City

Like most people:

There’s something about the big city, bright light buzz of Times Square or even the pure bliss of riding your bike through Central Park that is convincing/motivating enough for anyone to consider a move to the Big Apple.

As we’ll be making my way to New York in a week, we can’t help but be excited to not only enjoy the sights (Street Style) of New York Fashion Week (NYFW), but also to debut our new Color + Build kits at New York Toy Fair.

Some of our favorite looks from last year’s NYFW street style edition include: 

You may be wondering, what is New York Toy Fair? New York Toy Fair is a trade show where thousands of toy, game and youth entertainment products showcase to media and this will be the first time we preview the new kits.

One of my favorite quotes by Lauren Hutton goes, “Fashion is what you’re offered four times a year by designers. And style is what you choose.” With our Color + Build Fashion Designer kit, we wanted to give you the chance to be the next Alexander Wang or Stella McCartney and create/style your own outfits however you want.

While we are previewing more than one new product, you’ll have to stay tuned to find out what the new kit will entail.

In the meantime let us know, how does your style describe you? Tell us using @PaperPunk #MakeSomething