LOS ANGELES, Sept. 28, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Today,
Los Angeles preschoolers joined
actress, author, neuroscientist and mom, Mayim Bialik at the
first-ever Fisher-Price Think-a-Thon, an event aimed to inspire
little learners to be big thinkers. The event showcased toys from
the new Fisher-Price Think & Learn line which are designed to
teach young learners 21st century skills they'll need to
be successful in the future.
Inspired by "hackathons" where coders meet to do collaborative
computer programming, preschoolers at the Fisher-Price Think-a-Thon
came together to get the most out of playtime. The children
participated in skill-building play activities with Think &
Learn toys, including a Code-a-pillar Obstacle Course, Smart
Scan Color Chameleon Color Bingo, and Smart Scan Word Dash
Hide & Seek.
"Since before I even became a mom, I've been fascinated by how
children learn and how their brains work," says Bialik. "Children
have an innate desire to figure things out in the most creative
ways and as a scientist and a mom myself, I enthusiastically
encourage creating environments where children can experiment.
Nurturing that innate curiosity through play is the best way to
encourage a love of learning, whether they're interested in
becoming a doctor, an actor, or anything else they can dream
up."
Developed to expose preschoolers to key 21st century skills like
communication, critical thinking, creativity and collaboration as
well as the 3Rs -reading, writing and
arithmetic, the Think & Learn line of toys encourage active,
hands-on play. For example, children experience following
directions with the Smart Scan Word Dash and problem solving with
Code-a-pillar, while some Think & Learn toys teach colors and
counting– all important skills that prepare children for
school. In a study recently conducted this month by
Fisher-Price with parents of children 2-10 years of age, 87% of
parents agreed that hands-on play was a "very important way for
their child to learn" and 90% strongly agreed that "trial and
error" was a great means of learning.
"What's been missing in the preschool aisle are toys created to
both engage kids in really fun, active play and build skills
for school and life," said Lisa
Mancuso, SVP of Fisher-Price Global Brands. "With the Think
& Learn line, we are aiming to bridge that gap and are thrilled
with the response from children and parents."
"Preschoolers learn best and retain more when they're engaged in
active play," said Deborah Weber,
Director of Early Childhood Development Research, Fisher-Price.
"When children are physically rearranging the Code-a-pillar
segments to cause a different outcome, or scanning two colors on
the pages of their favorite book with Smart Scan Color Chameleon to
create the color purple, they're making the connections that spark
a-ha moments. That's learning and it's all fun!"
The Fisher-Price Think & Learn line is available now. Visit
www.fisher-price.com/thinkandlearn to learn more about the toys,
find a retailer, or get play tips to replicate some of the
Think-a-Thon activities at home and extend the play.
About Fisher-Price
In 1931, Herman Fisher and Irving
Price embarked on a journey to change the toy industry.
Their goal: creating playthings that inspire a child's development.
More than 85 years later, Fisher-Price remains deeply rooted in the
belief that play is the way children learn best. To this day,
understanding the importance of play in building a child's skills
is the fundamental principle, as the company strives to enrich the
lives of families with young children around the globe. United by
the passion for a child's safe care and development at each age and
stage, the people of Fisher-Price work tirelessly to bring families
the best toys and baby products in the world. Some of the company's
best-known brands include Laugh & Learn®, Little People®, Power
Wheels®, and Imaginext®, and it's also a leading developer of
character-based toys for children's programming such as Thomas
& Friends™, Blaze and the Monster Machines and Mickey Mouse
Clubhouse. Fisher-Price is a subsidiary of Mattel, Inc.
(NASDAQ:MAT). For more information, visit www.fisher-price.com
(U.S.) and www.fisher-price.ca (Canada) or connect with Fisher-Price on
Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest.
Contact:
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Fisher-Price
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Weber
Shandwick
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Brenda
Andolina
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Nicole
Mayo
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(716)
989.7568
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(212)
445.8393
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Brenda.Andolina@mattel.com
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NMayo@webershandwick.com
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Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160928/412708
Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160928/412709
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SOURCE Fisher-Price