Gimmicks

How do you feel about gimmicks? Gimmicks are often thought of as low quality, fleeting, trendy or even evil. On the other hand, the rules of the natural world and the growth of our bodies and minds are real and lasting. When these two forces collide, it can be incredibly powerful. Case in point:

National Geographic Angry Birds

I can't tell you how long my dear son spent looking at these books in Barnes and Noble yesterday and he didn't even think he learned anything despite the fact that these books are full of information about animal identification, habitat, geography and behavior. Thankfully, our local library has several books from this series in circulation. I will definitely be recommending it to gift givers this holiday season.

I am generally not a fan of gimmicks, but when used well, they can be great tools for helping children build important skills. I recommend that you check out trendy books and see if they meet your standards. You may be pleasantly surprised!