Clixo Activity Ideas Archives

Clixo workshop at PS 29 Super Science Saturday

By Yaara

Inspiring exploration, creativity
and imaginative play

Last week, PS29 in Cobble Hill hosted their annual Super Science Saturday celebration of exploration – turning the school into a live science museum with workshops, activities, and shows! Clixo was invited to share its colorful magnetic frenzy at the event and host a day of activities- and that’s how the Clixo Toy Building Workshop came to life.

Learning while Playing

With the amazing support of the PS29 community, the Clixo team led a series of project-based learning activities that encouraged design-thinking, story-telling, collaboration, and problem-solving skills. As students and parents started dropping in, they worked individually and as a team, using planning skills and peer support to create colorful and sturdy structures of various sizes and pieces.

After learning how Clixo’s magnetic flexible pieces can be used to build playful 3D shapes that bend, connect, and click, each child started with figuring out how to make a ball from 2, then 6, and even 24 Clixo pieces. After mastering that skill – they worked together to create intricate and sturdy structures – such as the tallest standing tower or the longest snake. When one tower started leaning, the group discussed how to reinforce the base. When the snake was long enough – they went on to create a magnificent head and decorations.

Imagination and Creativity

For the final activity – children (and some parents) in various ages used their curiosity and imagination to build shapes of their own, resulting in mini-Clixo presents, caterpillars, a bouncy man, a bionic arm, and a one-of-its-kind Giraffalama!

Thank you for hosting us at your school and sharing all of your beautiful designs. We had a blast!

Learning while Playing

After learning how Clixo’s magnetic flexible pieces can be used to build playful 3D shapes that bend, connect, and click, each child started with figuring out how to make a ball from two, then six, and even 24 Clixo pieces. After mastering that skill – they worked together to create intricate and sturdy structures – such as the tallest standing tower or the longest snake. When one tower started leaning, the group discussed how to reinforce the base. When the snake was long enough – they went on to create a magnificent head and decorations.

Imagination and Creativity

Thank you for hosting us at your school and sharing all of your beautiful designs. We had a blast!

Fun and Games with Clixo

By Clixo Team

Fun and Games with Clixo

Watch

Making up games is an excellent way to introduce children to essential concepts needed in day to day life. With Clixo, it’s easy to prototype, rearrange, and experiment with the form and structure of play. Here are a few quick games we made up to get you started!

Circles, bracelets, rings, and hoops! Clixo excels at creating rounded and organic forms. Try creating different styles of hoops and balls, play a game of horse, where you challenge each other to increasingly difficult shots.

Expand your play possibilities by including paper crafts in your game. We made a pin the tail on the cat game, but the options are limitless! You could make a Clixo X to mark the spot on a treasure map, or draw an outline of yourself on a large sheet of paper and use pieces to give yourself a funny face.

Tactile play is the name of the game. We made a fun grabber crown to pick up magnetic objects. Wearable creations are an excellent way to playfully investigate the world around you. Try making a glove, a hat, or even a necklace, and see what you can grab on to!

Instead of cleanup being thought of as the end of play, we can use the stacking nature of Clixo to articulate cleanup as a form of play. Challenge a child to stack all the pieces of one type as fast as they can!

Recommended kits for this activity

Rainbow Pack

Ages 4+, 42 pcs, 8 shapes

Add to cart $59.99

Super Rainbow

Ages 4+, 60 pcs, 8 shapes

Add to cart $89.99

How to Encourage Organizational Skills in Your Kids

By Clixo Team

How to Encourage Organizational Skills in Your Kids

Clixo Building Prompts to Promote Creativity

We’re living in Marie Kondo’s world now, which means everyone is talking about organization. For kids, organization can be overwhelming. Sometimes, organization is overlooked as a skill that should be taught to kids, unfortunately.

For your kids to be organization masters, they’ll need to learn skills such as sorting, classification and prioritization. We’ve put together a list of tips to get your kids up to speed on organization. They’ll be pros in no time!

Benefits of Organizational Skills for Children

Before we get into it, let’s look at why it’s so important that kids learn organizational skills.

Ensuring your kids have substantial organizational skills is going to set them up for success in school and eventually in their careers. Learning how to stay organized is going to keep them from procrastinating or losing things they need for school or work. Organizational skills will also help your kids keep up with their classmates and stay on task.

Use Checklists and To do Lists

We love a good checklist! Getting your kids started early with checklists will help them form organizational habits that will stay with them into adulthood. Try having them create simple lists to start with such as “What to Bring to Grandma’s.” Checklists will help them stay organized and strategize when they have tasks to complete.

You can also form good organizational habits by having your kids create to do lists. These can be for homework, play dates, or chores. Get them their own notebooks to write the lists in so they feel like they’re in charge.

Get Them a Daily Planner

While most people keep track of everything in their phone these days, there’s something to be said about using a physical daily planner. Getting your kids a planner to write in will allow them to keep track of homework assignments, chores, and other tasks. You could create a reward system such as an allowance or something else that motivates them to use the planner and check it daily.

Assign Sorting and Organizing Chores

Not only will you get a little help around the house, but assigning chores that involve sorting and organizing will improve their skills. One of the biggest components to improving organizational skills is learning how to properly sort and categorize items.

The good news is that there’s plenty of this kind of work around the house! When assigning chores, give the little ones tasks such as:

Sorting Socks
Separating lights and darks
Organizing cleaning supplies
Cleaning out closets
Categorizing items in storage

Doing so will help them learn to be organized and improve problem solving skills, as well.

Get Them a Calendar

While physical calendars may seem like a relic of the past, they can teach your little ones a lot about organization. Use a physical calendar to mark down their activities. You can also use a digital calendar to do this, as well. The important thing is that your kids learn how to write down their plans and it may also help them with time management.

Establish a Morning Routine

Routines are extremely important for learning organizational skills. You can use the calendar you’ve made to break it down even further from months to daily activities. Establishing a strong morning routine can set your kids up for success throughout the day, and the rest of their lives!

Morning routines should involve waking up at the same time everyday. This leaves little room for distraction and throwing off their groove. Breakfast should be at the same time, too. This will also help your kids keep consistent energy levels and going to bed at the same time each night.

Create a Designated Homework Space

Another great way to encourage organizational skills is to designate a homework space. Sure, letting the kids study wherever they want is great, but having one specific space is going to keep them organized and on task. This is especially helpful for kids who get distracted easily. The space should be in a room away from screens and other distractions so they can focus.

Set a Homework Schedule

Your kids should be doing homework at a fixed time everyday. This will again help them form good habits and keep them organized when it comes to their school work. They should be studying or doing homework at the same time everyday, which will help them to avoid procrastination.

Do Weekly Backpack Cleanouts

How many times have your kids come home and there’s an unexplainable mess in their backpack? Having them do a weekly clean out will encourage organization and make it a habit. When your kids practice regular backpack clean outs, it will encourage them to keep it neat and less likely to have homework assignments go missing.

Practice Sorting and Organization With Toys Like Clixo

Along with real life practice, using toys to help improve organizational skills will be helpful, too! Clixo is a great tool for improving sorting and classification. For example, when they’re building with Clixo, you can give them prompts to improve different skills.

For example, give your kids the task of making something with only red pieces. They will have to sort through their Clixo set to find all of the red ones. Or, choose a specific shape that they need to use. Doing this will help them perfect organizational skills as well as work on creativity and problem solving.

Final Thoughts

To sum it up, there’s plenty you can do to help your kids get organized. While they may not focus on it in school, helping them form good habits at home is going to set them up for success. Try out our tips and grab a set of Clixo magnetic building toys today!

Prompts to Get Your Kid’s Creative Juices Flowing

By Seb

Prompts to Get Your Kid’s Creative Juices Flowing

Clixo Building Prompts to Promote Creativity

Have you been struggling to get your kid to do something creative? While they may not be interested in picking up a paint brush, you may be able to get them to create something with magnetic building toys!

Creativity is an important part of life skills for children and adults alike. Not only is it a valuable skill, research shows that creativity can help decrease stress and anxiety. We’ve put together a list of some Clixo prompts to help you get the creative wheels turning in your kids.

Can You Build a Roller Coaster?

For this one, set your kids up with plenty of Clixo building pieces. See if they can build a roller coaster that twists and turns. If they need assistance, show them pictures of roller coasters for them to model it after. They’ll need to use problem solving to see if they can build one.

Who is Your Favorite Pet?

If you have pets, ask your kids which one is their favorite. Then, suggest they recreate their favorite pet using their Clixo pieces! Clixo has plenty of flexible magnetic pieces perfect for creating the shapes needed to resemble dogs, cats and other pets!

After they make their pet, compare them to the real one and see how they stack up! Have them take their creative juices one step further and write a story to go along with their recreation, too.

If You Build a Clixo Kite, Will it Fly?

This one is going to turn into a little science experiment. Ask your kids if they can make a kite with their Clixo pieces, and see if it can fly. This might take some trial and error, but the process is sure to be fun and definitely spark some creative thinking.

How Fast Can a Clixo Car Go?

If you’ve got the Clixo Wheel Creator Pack, try this prompt with your kids. Have them build cars and see how fast they can go! You can also try racing the cars and time them to see what building methods made the fastest cars. Playing around with this prompt should definitely boost creativity and problem solving.

Let’s Make a Clixo Zoo!

This is a great one to work that creative muscle. Using your Clixo kits, make a zoo! Choose animals from a nature book and have your kids make them as close as they can. Ask them questions about the animals to teach them facts while you’re building to make it a well-rounded learning experience. At the end, you can play with your zoo animals, too!

Get Out Into Nature

Did you know you can create plants with your Clixo pieces? Challenge your kids to make a Clixo garden and give them specific plants to make. Ask them questions about the plants and teach them facts as they build their imaginary garden, it’ll be fun for everyone!

Create a Garden of Clixo Plants

Put on a Clixo Fashion Show

Playing with Clixo doesn’t always have to focus on science! Try using Clixo pieces to create wearable jewelry and put on a fashion show. You can make bracelets, necklaces and even earrings to match. When you’re done, take pictures of everyone wearing their fine pieces of jewelry to make fun memories!

Can You Make a Clixo Airport?

One of the best parts of Clixo is how flexible the pieces are. Try your hand at making a fleet of airplanes and helicopters with your Clixo pieces and see how many you can make. When you’re done, compare them to real life pictures to see how close they made them.

Write a Story and Create the Scene

Another great idea for encouraging creativity with Clixo is to have your kids write a story and then build the scene. Or, if they’re still struggling with creativity, you write the story for them and they will use it for inspiration for their building!

Build a Very Long Caterpillar

Think you have what it takes to build the longest caterpillar? Take your Clixo pieces and connect as many as you can to create one! If you have a pack with wheels, you can make it move, too!

Tips to Get Your Kids Interested in Math and Science

By Jackie

Tips to Get Your Kids Interested in Math and Science

While kids are naturally curious, creative and artistic kids are often less interested in math and science. As a parent, we know that honing these skills is important, but how can encourage an interest without making it a terrible experience for you both? Let’s look at some tips and tricks to get your artsy kid interested in math and science.

Bake Together

Baking is a fabulous way to get your creative little one engaged with math. You can teach them to count and do measurements while also teaching them about fractions. Not to mention at the end, you get a delicious result!

To get your kids into math, try a recipe for cookies or cupcakes and have them do all the measurements. Ask them questions about the fractions they’re using. You can also give them easy problems to solve such as altering the recipe size.

Science Experiments

What’s a better way to get your kids into science than doing experiments? They don’t have to be complicated to be beneficial. There are plenty of science experiment kits you can buy, or create DIY experiments. We like these ideas:

Make a lava lamp
Homemade playdough
Make homemade rock candy

Not only are these experiments great for engaging your kid with STEM skills, they also encourage either creative side! No stone is left unturned when it comes to doing fun science experiments at home.

Head to the Museum

There’s nothing better than a day at the museum! Head over to the nearest math or science museum to get your kids learning while having a blast. It can be easy for kids to run around museums and not absorb any information, so make sure you’re taking the time to slow down with them.

Go through exhibits and read the information plaques. Engage with all of the interactive exhibits, and ask your kids questions. If the museum offers an in-depth tour, take them on it!

Play Math Games

Let’s face it, many kids find math boring. You may have to *trick* them into thinking it’s fun by playing games. And, the truth is, math games ARE fun! You’ll probably enjoy yourself playing them, too. Math games for kids that we like include:

Checkers
Battleship
Monopoly
Yahtzee

The more you look into it, the more you’ll realize that most games involve math in some capacity. Your kids will never know what hit ‘em!

Show Them Real Life Examples

One of the best ways to get your kids interested in math and science is to teach them how to use it in the real world. This might not work well on the very little ones, but as your kids are growing it’s important to teach them life skills.

We use math in everyday life from keeping track of our expenses to buying things at the store. When you have math-related tasks, try to show your kids what you’re working on. Show them how you pick items at the grocery store, or balance your checkbook.

Get Out Into Nature

When it comes to teaching your kids about science, we can’t stress getting outside enough! There’s so much opportunity to learn outdoors. Take them to the park and create a nature scavenger hunt, or bring a bird watching book. Bring your camera along to take pictures of what you see, so that when you get home you can teach them about the plants and animals.

Play With Animals

Do you have pets, or friends with pets? Encouraging your kids to play with and learn about animals will teach them about biology. If you have a dog, take the time to teach your kids about how they evolved from wolves. Or, if you have a cat, watch a nature show about big cats with your kids and feline. Ask them questions once it’s over, and connect it back to your pet!

Buy Them Fun Science Tools

Along with science experiments, getting your kids science-related tools to play with will help them gain interest. When you have them at home, they’ll be able to practice and hone in on their skills. Who knows, they may find something they like and turn it into a career someday! Consider getting your kids tools such as:

Microscope
Magnifying glass
Magnets
Telescope
3D Puzzles

Watch Science or Math Related Movies

We know that relying on screens isn’t ideal, but educational movies and videos are an excellent tool to get your little ones interested in math and science. Pop on a nature documentary, or math-related video. There’s an endless supply of content out there!

Don’t Focus on Grades

If your kids are struggling with math and science, focusing on bad grades isn’t going to help. The only way to see improvement is to encourage them with positivity. When they aren’t doing well in science or math classes, focus on making activities fun. The more fun they’re having, the more engaged they’ll be.

Play With Building Toys

Building blocks are a tried-and-true way to engage your kids not only with math and science but also fostering creativity. Unfortunately, the rigid nature of blocks limits the potential, which is why Clixo toys are amazing. The flexible shapes bend and connect to create anything your mind can imagine.

Creative kids will love the free flow ability to create without realizing that they are building skills like problem solving, 3D modeling, spacial awareness and much more. Let them play open ended or try giving them prompts that will require them to think about how to construct a specific something.

Kid-Friendly Activities That Won’t Bore Parents to Death

By Clixo Team

Kid-Friendly Activities

That Won’t Bore Parents to Death

July 2022

Having children is a rewarding experience and we’re sure you love them dearly. You do everything you can for them, but one more episode of Peppa Pig could push you right over the edge. Don’t worry, there are plenty of activities to do with your kids out there that won’t bore you to death. Let’s get into it.

Cook Together

Getting your little ones to help you out in the kitchen is a great way to get some help around the house while having fun! We’re not saying you should hand your toddler a chef’s knife, but giving them a task while cooking a meal will keep them engaged and teach them a new skill. Who knows, maybe they’ll become a chef and be cooking for you someday.

Listen to an Audiobook

Reading out loud to your kids is nice, but sometimes you get tired of hearing your own voice repeating the same book over and over again. The good news is there are
plenty of fun audiobook options
for you and your little ones to enjoy together. Try finding a story you’ll both enjoy. This is a great activity for road trips, too.

Plan a Treasure Hunt or Scavenger Hunt

It’s important to get outside when you can. Instead of just letting your kids run rampant in the backyard, try planning a treasure hunt. You can set a theme such as pirates hiding treasure, aliens leaving something behind, or whatever you think your kids would be interested in! Pack up a treasure package with goodies and create clues for them.

If you don’t want to go through all that planning, you can also take them on a nature walk for a scavenger hunt. Try this printable scavenger hunt so you can find things in nature together. This activity is also a great way to disguise education as fun!

Go Bird Watching

While you’re on your nature scavenger hunt, incorporate some bird watching. It may sound boring, but trust us, it isn’t. You can get a bird-watching guidebook to start teaching your kids about the environment. It’s a great way to help them become more observant and work on their critical thinking. And who doesn’t love being out in nature looking at gorgeous birds?

Do Yoga Together

Yoga is a great way to get your kids engaged with physical exercise while also giving yourself a moment to relax. There are YouTube videos you can do together, or create your own practice. Try this one if your kids are high energy and you find yourself needing a moment to breathe. The stretching and deep breathing should relax them, and they’ll have fun moving their bodies.

Wash the Car

Okay, this one sounds like free manual labor, we know. But, having your kids help you wash the car is a way to keep them occupied and teach them about responsibility. Not only that, but it will be fun to spray each other with water and play with bubbles on a hot summer day.

Make an Obstacle Course

What’s more fun than a little family competition? You’ve probably got enough toys and other items lying around the backyard to make a decent obstacle course. Make something challenging, and have your kids help you so they are engaged from start to finish. Hold a race with prizes at the end for a fun way to kill an afternoon.

Complete a Puzzle

When in doubt, grab the nearest puzzle. Puzzles are an excellent way to keep your kids and yourself busy. The great thing about puzzles is that if you pick one with a lot of pieces, it could take several days to complete. It’s perfect for wintertime, or a string of rainy days when you can’t get outside.

Create a Time Capsule

Have your kids gather things from around the house that would remind them of their childhood, and build a time capsule. Take a moment to go over the items and reflect on why they chose them. You could also have them write letters to themselves in the future so when you find it years from now they can read them.

Build Something

No, we’re not talking about your basic wooden blocks here. Using building toys such as Clixo’s magnetic building shapes is fun for the whole family. Playing with toys like this together is great because everyone can make their own things. Not only that, these types of toys foster STEAM skills and will help your kids expand their imagination and creativity. The best part about Clixo’s building toys is that they store easily so you can take them anywhere. They’re great for being cooped up on rainy days, train rides, picnics, and more!

DIY Crafts

When you have kids, it’s always a good idea to have a surplus of craft supplies on hand. One of the best places to do this is the dollar store. You’ll get the most bang for your buck, quite literally. That way, you can set out supplies and let everyone’s imagination run wild, including yours. Give everyone the same crafting supplies, but no guidance to see what they create!

Plant a Garden

If you already have a garden, great! Set aside an area for your kids to plant their own items. Let them choose what they want to plant and teach them how to care for them. Letting them have their own little garden separate from yours will give them a sense of independence and responsibility. And you’ll be growing food you can cook together in meals, so it’s a double whammy.

Lunar New Year Puppet Show

By Tiffany

We’re proud of our diverse team and believe that our different cultures and perspectives make us a better and more interesting company.

To celebrate the Lunar New Year, our Head of Marketing wanted to take this opportunity to share a bit of her heritage and tell the story of The Great Race through the magic of Clixo.✨

We hope this encourages you to try something new with your Clixo packs. From simple 2D builds, cool 3D creations, exciting stop motion animation, to fun puppetry – start snapping and see what you come up with!

Wishing you all good fortune in the Year of the Tiger! ????

Wind Down After School

By Kate

Wind Down After School

By Kate

November 2021

The school day is over, now what? Another 3ish hours before dinner and everyone is still reeling off the school day. We’re fortunate that on a couple week days we have after school programs where the kids can be kids, or learn new skills like coding, drawing, or clay pinch pots. It’s amazing the things that are offered these days, back in my day we would play street hockey on a quiet cul-de-sac, or kick ball with the neighborhood kids. Like most parents, I like to reflect on or appreciate the “simpler times”. Keeping it simple in our home means indoor playtime, even if I have to take a deep breath prior to the great mess that follows.

I can usually gauge how everyone is feeling after school pick-up, sometimes bursting with energy (which calls for a park run), or not too often the tired and quiet side. On the quieter days we usually go straight home to have what we call “crazy imagination time”. Letting the music play in the background seems to put everyone in a good mood. It’s a bonus if I get first pick of the station because everyone seems to like it!

During playtime we often incorporate a bunch of different toys; for example, my 5-year old made a Clixo fort to keep the “baddies” away from the good guys. The container is still being used for our creations, don’t toss it just yet! I love seeing what their “crazy imagination” comes up with.

Here are some other fun Clixo creations and ideas I’ve seen

Clixo Spinning Top

Clixo Snowflake

Clixo Bowling Game

Clixo Wearable Hat

Clixo Christmas Ornament

And even if the school day is done, we can use Clixo to encourage STEM learning through hand and eye coordination, concentration and problem solving. I am honest when I say, the amount of focus involved when these pieces come out is impressive to watch. Not to mention high concentration means more quiet time!

On the flip side, if we do decide to head outdoors we’ll use our Clixo pieces as another level to elevate park play. Being that they’re magnets, it’s easy to hang creations off the playscape. Or, just recently I taught the kids how to play capture the flag. We built a “flag” out of our clixo pieces for each team, and it was a huge hit!

It’s pleasant to have such imaginative moments and let the kids wind down on their own. I encourage boredom so that everyone can get creative. It’s amazing to see what they come up with, and using these toys as tools to enhance their thinking and creative abilities.

This piece was written by Kate. Kate’s a NYC parent of two young boys, ages 3 and 5 and fur baby, Mr. Biscuits. She lives in the West Village with high school sweetheart and now hubby, Dylan. When not working or managing the school shuffle, Kate is running, cycling, painting, or as her children call it, “sitting in her lounge chair” (aka the couch). She loves a good laugh and literally dances like no one is watching.

Bath Time Fun

By Kate

Bath Time Fun

By Kate

November 2021

Hello, sweet cheeks!

If your little ones are like mine and dig bath time, adding in some fun toys promotes a great place to zone out and unwind. Like many parents, I’ve noticed that bath time acts like a sort of Zen Zone; kind of like Mom having a candlelit bath with a glass of wine… does anyone still do that? Anyway, I think it’s what we can all imagine it being like, a place to relax, decompress and for your little ones, act as a creative environment to mindlessly interact with water and toys.

I also don’t think baths have to be before bedtime, I like to fit them in when I think the moment’s right. Like right after school or after visiting the park. When I notice there’s a change in energy and I want to encourage time to unwind. As the kiddos come down from their daily high I like to send them in the tub. It’s also helpful when I need to cut back on the tv or separate the two boys from arguing. It’s a nice break and change of scenery, sort of like a reset.

Lately we’ve been experimenting with Clixo’s newest Grip and Stick pack. With it, you can stick various pieces to the bathtub wall with suction cups! We like to connect a bunch of pieces and create a Clixo mural. Our favorite activity is giving the spinner piece a good whirl, and watching which way the water flies off. It also acts as a learning experience since it helps to understand cause and effect. A water playground brought into your very own bathtub.

And of course nothing beats wrapping up that sweet babe into a cozy soft towel. It gives me a moment to sneak in extra hugs and bonding time while I add the final touches of lotion. So cute and so clean, let the calm in before tomorrow’s storm begins.

Happy splashing!

Mental Health Day

By Kate

Mental Health Day

By Kate

October 2021

Hello anxiety my dark old friend…

Today marks World Mental Health Day, and for all of us surviving the pandemic we know it has been a true testament to our mental strength, especially for those with children. Does anyone remember the days before the pandemic? Knowing you can comfortably visit an open space to burn off energy after giving your child candy? Not having to avoid eye contact with your neighbor for also having suffered loud yelling and running around inside? As a parent to a now 3-year old and 5-year old, I’ve done what any parent would do for their children, and that is to adapt even during the toughest times. My children were the light in these dark moments and it was my mission to keep them bright and joyful throughout.

If I wasn’t superhuman before, I’m now what I like to call myself “one bad mother.” I want to always be that superhero for my children even if that means talking about some of the scary stuff that’s happening in the world, and admitting that I can be scared too. Keeping the dialogue and answering any unsettling questions in a “friendlier” way was a skill I sharpened during the start of the pandemic. I chose to highlight the fact that we are trying our best to keep ourselves healthy, and our friends and family healthy as well. I would try to turn things into a positive, for example, we get to see Daddy more now that he’s working from home, we get to play more games together, or give permission to take out every toy in the toy box even if that means the dog will get ahold of them. Less scary and more fun was our new rule to live by. I know children love spending time with their parents, and this was a sweet reminder of something I sometimes often forget.

One of the many things I learned during the dark days of quarantine was the new level of boredom and anxiety that set in. Parks got closed, and maybe we should put playdates on hold for a while. Oh my goodness, how are two toddler boys in an 800 sq ft apartment going to blow off steam?? I shortly realized that you know what, it’s okay to be bored, tear the house apart or let out a swear after stepping on a minefield of toys. And like many parents I strive to limit screen time. Some may consider this a form of torture, but I took this as an opportunity to watch my children learn, create and be more independent. I loved the quiet moments sitting on the living room floor where we would play games, do puzzles, make costumes, or build a fort to get lost in. Afterall, boredom generates creativity.

I’m grateful things are slowly picking up again, after a year of remote learning we’re back in school, I think this is great for our overall mental health. As we take a few steps forward and sometimes a few steps back, I have to remind myself we’ll power through. We’ll reflect on staying positive and I’ll pride myself in being the rock my children need during the good, bad, and ugly. Stay strong and Happy Mental Health, you got this!

Earth Day Activity Ideas For Ages 4+!

By Clixo Team

Earth Day Activity Ideas For Ages 4+!

By Clixo Team

April 2021

A healthy planet is not just an option – it’s a necessity. Every April 22nd, we celebrate Earth day to raise awareness of our impact on the environment and to understand the importance of preserving the wonderful Earth we, and billions of life, forms call home.

We hope that some of our Earth Day activity ideas for little ones can help inspire an appreciation and respect for the environment. If you have suggestions for other activity ideas please share them with us! We’re all ears!

Idea #1: Sustainable Flowers with Clixo (Difficulty Level: Easy)

There’s no need to buy store-bought flowers when you can design and even wear your own bouquet of flowers!

As an added challenge, try to Google the native plants or flowers from other countries and regions and see if you can recreate your own Clixo version of these. You and your little one may stumble on a species that you’ve never seen or heard of before and learn something new about a different part of the world.

Idea #2: Animal Builds (Difficulty Level: Varies)

Hands down, the most popular Clixo builds have been of animals. Depending on the age of the child, an interesting activity would be to build “evolutions” of different animals – starting with flat 2D versions then transitioning slowly into 3D versions. 3D versions of animals can sometimes be intimidating to immediately jump into. So, starting with the 2D versions is a good way to practice observation skills as well as breaking down the whole animal into distinct body parts. Breaking things down into manageable pieces is a useful skill to practice at any age.

For instance, to make a rabbit build (pictured beside):
– The 2D version can start off on a flat surface with 2 Longy pieces for the floppy ears, 2 wheel pieces for the eyes, 2 Flap pieces for the whiskers, and a 3-dot piece for the mouth.
– The transition from 2D to 3D version of this rabbit can be created using the Ball build as the head and 2 folded Longy pieces for the ears.
– The full 3D version can involve using 10 Quad (X-shape) pieces for to create an oval shaped body and 2 large Flap pieces can be stuck in the front to act as the ears.

Idea #3: Water Builds (Difficulty Level: Medium)

With 70% of the Earth’s surface covered in water, it’s only natural to have a water-based activity! Give your old takeout containers a second life by reusing them in this project. Grab some Clixo pieces, wrap them around the takeout container and use it to create a custom boat that floats (Clixo pieces will sink on their own). This is fun way to talk about the 3 R’s (reuse, reduce, recycle) but also introduce the scientific concept of buoyancy.

Another water-based activity that is suited for younger kids can be to turn Clixo pieces into bubble wands! You can get detailed instructions for that project in this link.

Idea #4: Understanding Life Cycle (Difficulty Level: Advanced)

One of the coolest ways to use Clixo is to integrate them in little stop motion animations that show how things go from one state to another. In this particular example, we are introducing the concept of how a seed can germinate and become a flower. Some other ideas that you can try to incorporate are:
– Using Clixo pieces to explain the water cycle with different shapes as different types of precipitation
– Using Clixo pieces to explain an animal life cycle (eg. egg, tadpole, frog)

Explaining and illustrating life cycles can be an important milestone for little ones as it teaches them how to understand the world around them and how we are all interconnected in this circle of life.

Idea #5: Use Clixo to Re-tell a Story

This activity takes Activity Idea #4 (above) to the next level!

For his Pre-K class, NYC educator Mr. Andy did a Clixo version of the story, “The Very Hungry Caterpillar.” While reading the story, he used Clixo pieces to build the caterpillar, its food, and later its evolution into a full blown butterfly! Check out the link here to see how he did it.

Stories help children learn about concepts and are central to human cognition and communication. It also helps them develop empathy and cultivate imaginative thinking.

As an added challenge, instead of using Clixo to recreate an existing story, you and your little one can use Clixo to come up with your own characters, story, and adventure!

Sustainability is something we not only believe in, but we also strive to embody this in our company practices. Our pieces are proudly recyclable and our packaging has no plastic elements and is made of eco-friendly bamboo that is biodegradable.

Apart from the materials incorporated in our products, the design of our play system was intentionally designed with an appreciation for nature. Unlike other building toys that are rigid and geometrically shaped, we designed ours to be more fluid and more akin to the naturalistic shapes that are visible in nature. The play system as a whole is also designed to be more efficient and minimalist in the sense that a handful of pieces in a compact stack can yield a multitude of creations in versatile forms that can be hung, curved, looped around, or even worn.

We hope these ideas inspire you to see and celebrate the wonders of our planet in a fun, new way. Let’s help each other to build a better understanding and appreciation for the world around us, and together look for creative solutions to build a better home.

Easter Activity Ideas!

By Tiffany

Easter Activity Ideas!

Tiffany

March 2021

We’re sharing a couple of eggs-citing activity ideas to kick off a “Hoppy Easter” weekend that’s fun for every-bunny! These creative ideas are great for independent play and can also be adapted for group play across different ages (because let’s face it, adults need some play time too)!

Idea #1: Make Easter Eggs

One of the traditional symbols of Easter is the Easter egg, as eggs represent rebirth and new life. You can make your own Clixo egg by:

1. Grab 6 pieces of Quad (the X-shape)
2. Arrange them into a T-shape
3. Connect the ends of the T shape together into a round shape
4. Squish the round shape into an egg shape!
5. You can keep this simple and use this as a decorative piece or take this a step further by hiding these eggs around the house!

Some examples: Snap longy on the egg and hang it on a bathroom hook for a sneaky surprise

Or even stick it on the outside of your car (and don’t worry, Clixo pieces won’t scratch the paint!)

Idea #2: Make An Easter Bucket

This is a fun activity that doesn’t require instructions and can really allow your little one’s creativity to shine. All they need to do is grab a handful of pieces and let their hands do the thinking. There’s really no wrong way to Clixo here. They can snap whatever pieces they want together and create their own little masterpiece and personalize it however they want!

Fun fact: The Easter basket pictured above was strong enough to hold 7 eggs!

Idea #3: Make an Easter Bunny

The most iconic symbol of Easter has to be the Easter Bunny and it’s easy to make different Clixo versions of rabbits. Whether you make a 2D version on a magnetic surface like a fridge or a 3D version like in the video clip above, it’s fun to experiment with different shapes and see what you come up with!

Idea #4: Create your own Fascinator/Easter Bonnet/Headpiece

Easter bonnets are a traditional hat that is typically worn during Easter services and the Easter parade following it. The bonnet used to have depictions of Easter and spring with bunnies, flowers, etc. though recently, more creative designers have been producing more elaborate designs!

This activity is a great way to show off your (or your little one’s) creativity and sense of style! Take it a step further by holding a mini fashion show at home or doing a little Project Runway competition and seeing which family member can make the coolest hat!

Idea #5: Try a Family Game

Beyond bunnies, eggs, and spring, Easter is a time of togetherness and reflection with family regardless of faith. Making fun memories together over Easter brunch is a fun, memorable way to celebrate this holiday. We’re providing links below to two blog entries with games options that can be played in groups across different ages. Some are simple and others are quite silly – but we think that they’re all absolutely wonderful for unleashing your inner child and for making funny new memories together with family, friends, or loved ones!

Games Link 1: Featuring Clixo Bowling and Ring Toss
Games Link 2: Featuring Clixo Shake It Off and Clixo Target Practice

We hope have a “hoppy” Easter celebration and a wonderful spring season filled with new beginnings and fresh ideas!

5 Ways to integrate play into your (hectic) daily routine

By Clixo Team

5 Ways to integrate play into your (hectic) daily routine

Recess: Adults need it too!

March 2021

We recently wrote an article about why it’s so important for adults to make time for play time. Here, we wanted to quickly offer five actionable tips for how you can do that in a sustainable and fun way.

1.Take 10 Minutes to Clixo!

Instead of waking up early and going straight to emails, get your cup of coffee, sit down somewhere away from technology (even for ten minutes), and just let your hands play with Clixo pieces. (Alternatively, take a ten minute break in your workday to Clixo.) The tactile aspect of playing with shapes is proven to be relaxing, and can spark creativity. This is also a great activity for adults who want to meditate but really struggle to do the whole ‘sit still with eyes closed’ thing. The pieces give you just enough to focus on so your brain doesn’t wander, but is also incredibly calming.

2. Play Telephone-creativity With Your Kid (Or Other Kids at Heart).

This is a great, easy way to creatively collaborate. If you are lucky enough to have kids that will play with you, then we recommend following their lead, since kids are so much better primed to play than we are. Here’s how it works: first they make a Clixo creation, and then they pass it to you, and it’s your turn to modify it and turn it into something different. Then it goes back to them, and so on. You’ll be amazed at how ideas transform and evolve into totally new creations.

3. Use Clixo to Stay Focused.

If you’re genuinely booked from sun up to sun down and can’t find ten minutes for play in your workday, simply turn off your video during one of your zoom meetings and play with Clixo pieces while you listen in. You might be surprised at how much more you can focus while you have something to do with your hands. Better yet, the playing might even generate some new ideas!

4. Replace the Crossword with Clixo

Keeping our brains sharp as we age is important to all of us. Maybe you do the crossword on Sunday, or you like some evening Sudoku. Whether it’s in the bath, on the toilet, or on the subway, bring Clixo with you for some mind-sharpening fun!
(ProTip: Clixo is washable and can be disinfected with 70% isopropyl alcohol and a soft cloth!)

Challenge Yourself (and Others) by Turning Clixo into a Game

Whether you follow some of our game prompts (here or here) or create something completely unique and original – don’t be afraid to get utterly silly with it. (And be sure to share your game with us @my_clixo).

Got other great ideas for how to make time for play time? Share them with us @my_clixo and we may interview you for our ongoing series about play.

Activity Idea – Clixo Games (Part 2)!

By Mr. Andy

Activity Idea – Clixo Games (Part 2)!

By Mr. Andy

February 2021

Clixo x Mr. Andy presents: Another set of fun Clixo games that are great to play solo or in groups! Play this with family or friends, young or old(er). 🙂 (In case you missed the first set of game ideas you can access it here).

Games are fantastic for children to partake in. It will help establish understanding of rules and in group settings, it will help kids learn to take turns. These games in particular target gross motor skills and help develop eye hand coordination.

Clixo Shake it off Game

This activity is a fun way to really get the wiggles out! It incorporates full body movements and a dash of high energy silliness.

Step 1: Create a Clixo Ball with 6 Quad Shapes

Step 2: Fit as many tiny items inside as possible.
Note: the items should be able to stay inside the ball but should be able to slide out if moved around. A good item for this would be small plastic figurines, matchbox cars, or Jenga blocks (pictured above)!

Step 3: Once you have a decent amount of items inside, loop a belt or a string into the Clixo ball and tie it around the waist of your shaker.

The goal of the game is to shake the loose items out of your Clixo ball without using your hands! Don’t be afraid to get silly with it!

Clixo Target Practice

Develop (or in a grownup’s case, test) hand-eye coordination with this fun activity.

Step 1: Stack up toilet paper rolls or milk cartons like a pyramid for the pitcher to practice their throwing skills. The target should be elevated using a table, chair, box, or stack of books.

Step 2: Decide how far you want to be from the pyramid. Younger kids can start closer to the pyramid. Adults should demonstrate proper throwing technique if necessary. Once the child has gotten better, you can slowly move further away from the target.

The goal of this game is to knock down the stacked items!

Variations for Older Kids/ Grownups:
(1) Assign the goal of only knocking down the top paper roll or milk carton
(2) Stack the pyramid with items that are not as “tall” as milk cartons or toilet paper rolls. Other suggestions can include Tupperware, which are lower in height and slightly heavier.

Helpful Information for Parents

Gross motor skills are abilities that allow people to do things that involve using the large muscles in the torso, arms and legs to complete whole-body movements. Getting your Clixo Builder to move is always great!

The behavioral schemas that may be witnessed during these activities fall under the trajectory schema, studying the movement of an object, or their own body, through the air. The concept they are developing through play would be linear progression, sequences, etc.

It is important for the adult to model good sportsmanship by praising the child’s efforts and celebrating their successes. Show your child how to set up each game and allow them to set up and clean up every time afterwards. This will establish the routines and rules that come along with playing games at home or outdoors.

About Mr. Andy: Andy Yung is an NYCDOE pre-Kindergarten teacher at P.S. 244Q. He has been teaching pre-K for 8 years. His programs include a Reggio-inspired play based curriculum where children’s interest drives the learning and a Tinkergarten program which is an outdoor, nature-based play program. Besides being a pre-K teacher, he is also a father of 2 boys, an advocate for play, and a toy enthusiast. He enjoys bringing in new toys and materials for his students to explore and sharing his child development knowledge and activities with parents and teachers. To learn more about Andy check out his Instagram, his classroom account, or support his DonorsChoose projects.

Clixo x Mr. Andy is a series of creative activity ideas developed by Mr. Andy for Clixo to help parents and kids get even more fun out of their Clixo packs. Try out some these activities in your play group today and share pictures with us! We’d love to see it! 🙂

????‍???? Click here for other Clixo x Mr. Andy activities.

Activity Ideas – Math Concepts with Clixo

By Clixo Team

Activity Ideas – Math Concepts with Clixo

By Clixo Team

January 2021

Clixo x learnwithjoey presents: Exploring math skills and strengthening math concepts with your Clixo pack!

Clixo is a great tool for exploring the world of shapes. Whether it’s building classic shapes or manipulating 2D structures to become 3D masterpieces, Clixo naturally promotes the development of various geometrical concepts.

In addition to geometry, you can also use your Clixo pack to help establish foundational math skills. Strengthening important skills like number sense and conceptual understanding of operations will allow your child to access future, more complex math topics of study. Kids can use their Clixo pieces to visualize and represent numbers and operations in a hands-on way, which will in turn give meaning to important underlying math concepts. This is what math manipulatives are all about, but with Clixo, you can switch up your ordinary math tools. The following activities were created to promote math skills in a fun and purposeful way!

Activities for Ages 4-6
(Pre-K, Kindergarten, 1st Grade)

Activity: Make that Shape
Identifying and constructing 2D shapes

Materials:
– Any Clixo Pack!
– Shape Task Cards – Download here

How to Play:
1. Pick a shape task card
2. Gather the Clixo pieces needed to create the chosen shape.
(This information is given on each task card)
3. Replicate the shape on the task card
4. Talk about it using the guiding questions provided

Extension:
– Grab a piece of paper and pencil to trace the inside of the shape and have your child label it.
– Have your child create similar shapes using different Clixo pieces.

Here’s what the activity looks like (you can download all the task cards here)

Activity Variation: Circle Challenge!

Sometimes, when you put Clixo pieces together, you may spot a few circles on the inside (see picture below). See how many circles you can make by putting as many of your Clixo pieces together as you can!

Activities for Ages 5-7
(Kindergarten, 1st Grade,2nd Grade)

Activity: Today’s Number
Building understanding and fluency of math facts up to 10+

Materials:
– Clixo Quad Pieces (8 or more)
– Today’s Number Board – Download here

Instructions:
1. Choose a number for your child to work on (Let’s pretend you chose 10!)
2. Connect 10 Quads together to make a strip
3. Have your child break the 10 Quad strip into pairs (2 pieces each)
4. Ask: How many Quads are in each part? What’s the total?

Activity Goals
– Improve number sense
-Deepen conceptual understanding of addition and subtraction
– Strengthen math vocabulary: part & total
– Practice writing addition and subtraction equations (or number sentences)

Helpful Notes:
– Once your child masters this activity with smaller numbers, move onto larger numbers
– Check out the suggested prompt slides for some guiding questions.

Extension:
Write and solve story problems that match the number sentences!

See the pictures below for some suggested prompts (Download the Number Board here):

Activities for Ages 7-8
(2nd Grade & 3rd Grade)

Activity: Early Multiplication Drill
Laying a foundation for multiplication!

Materials:
– Any Clixo pack!

How to Run the Drill:
1. Choose one type of Clixo piece to work with at a time.
2. Lay out one piece in front of you
3. Ask the following questions:
– How many groups are there?
– How many circles (magnets) are in each group?
– What’s the total number of circles (magnets)?
4. Lay another piece down next to it. Ask the same questions. Repeat until you are out of pieces.

Notes:
– This drill is meant to strengthen the conceptual ideas behind multiplication
– You can introduce this drill before moving into multiplication (as a precursor) or well into a multiplication unit to strengthen conceptual understanding
– Being able to identify factors as number of groups or group size and products as the total will help ease the transition into division.
– Key vocabulary words: number of groups, group size, total

Here’s what the activity looks like (you can download all the task cards here)

Download the full set of Puzzle task cards here (More patterns available)

About @learnwithjoey: Josephine Koh is an educator who has worked for the NYC public school system for over ten years and in private homes as a learning specialist for over fourteen years. She works with a wide range of students but specializes in helping children who have developmental, behavioral, social/emotional, and cognitive challenges. Through her work both in and out of schools, Josephine has become incredibly passionate about empowering kids and families to grow in creative and healthy ways. She loves sharing tips and designing tools that will allow kids and parents to feel equipped, especially at home! Check out @learnwithjoey for more. 🙂

Clixo x @learnwithjoey is a series of creative activity ideas developed by Josephine Koh (@learnwithjoey) for Clixo to help parents and kids get even more fun out of their Clixo packs. Try out some these activities in your play group today and share pictures with us! We’d love to see it! 🙂

Looking for more activity ideas?
– Click here for other Clixo x learnwithjoey activities
– Click here for a different math themed activity by Clixo x Mr. Andy
– Click here for our full collection of activity ideas

Activity Idea – Clixo Games!

By Mr. Andy

Clixo x Mr. Andy presents: Fun Clixo games that are great to play solo or in groups! Play this with family or friends, young or old(er). 🙂

_{Bowling may not be a new concept for grown ups but for young kids, this game is engaging and so much fun!}

Clixo Bowling
Bowling may not be a new concept for grown ups but for young kids, this game is engaging and so much fun!

Step 1: Line up toilet paper rolls like bowling pins.
* If you have 10 rolls, arrange them in a 4-3-2-1.
* If you have 6 rolls, arrange them in a 3-2-1 formation.

Step 2: Have them roll the Clixo ball to knock down as many pins as they can.
* If your bowler is new to bowling, they can start close to the pins. Once they become more adept at knocking down pins, they can start moving back to make it more challenging. Adults should model bowling technique if child is new to bowling.

Here’s a variation for older kids and for groups:

_{Content by: Andy Yung, Image by: Kenneth Fremer}

A variation on this is to create bowling pins out of Clixo pieces. For added challenge, arrange the pins in a wider formation and compete with family members and friends to see who can knock the pins down.

Clixo Ring Toss
Ring Toss has been a staple in many kids’ playrooms. Here’s a Clixo spin on this classic game!

Step 1: Use your Clixo pieces to create a ring for ring toss. Make sure your ring size is big enough to go over the target (water bottle).

Step 2: Depending on the player’s age, the player can start closer to the target and move further away from the target as they improve.

Step 3: To make the game more challenging, make the ring size smaller, but not too small that it cannot go over the target.

Here’s another variation for older kids and for groups:

_{Content by: Andy Yung / Video by: Kenneth Fremer}

A variation on this is to create targets using Clixo pieces. For added challenge, stand further away from the targets and compete with family and friends to see who is the best at this game.

Helpful Information for Parents

????‍???? Click here for other Clixo x Mr. Andy activities.

Activity Ideas – Toddler Milestones

By Tiffany

Clixo x learnwithjoey presents: Promoting cognitive and physical development through the early ages with Clixo! Activities for 2-5 year olds!

Building, stacking, and imaginary play are all activities that help encourage motor and cognitive development. Clixo naturally lends itself well to these milestones but there are additional ways to use your Clixo pack to promote cognitive and physical development through the early ages. The possibilities are truly endless so I hope the following activities will inspire you to discover your own!

Please note: Clixo is recommended for ages 4+. It is important that there is adult supervision for all children under the recommended age.

—- ACTIVITIES FOR AGES 2-3 —-

_{Skills being reinforced and strengthened by this Cognitive Milestone activity}

Activity 1: Find a Match
Using similarities and differences to find a match!

Materials:
– Any Clixo Pack!
– Let’s Find a Match! Task Cards – Download here

How to Play:
1. Lay out some or all of your Clixo pieces. Make sure to mix them up!
2. Pick a task card from the deck
3. Describe the image on your card. Ask questions like:
* Which Clixo piece is on the card?
* What does it look like?
4. Find all the pieces that are the same as the one on your card.
Note: Once your child has mastered matching, move into sorting by selecting 2 or more task cards

Tips:
– Make sure to model the activity the first few times
– Start simple with less variety and pieces
– Keywords: same, different, find, match

Here’s what the activity looks like (you can download all the task cards here)

_{Skills being reinforced and strengthened by this Movement/ Physical Milestone activity}

Activity 2: Stringing Beads
Making and stringing beads to strengthen fine motor skills!

Materials:
– Clixo Quad Pieces (8 or more)
– Clixo Two-Dot Pieces (1)
– Yarn / Shoelace (any string will do but make sure it’s on the thicker side)

How to Play:
1. Use the Clixo Quad pieces to make beads (see photo above for easy instructions)
2. Tie one end of the string around the middle of the Twodot pieces as a base to catch the beads
3. Place your twodot base on the floor and start threading the beads onto the string. Count them as you go!
4. Enjoy your masterpiece by taking it for a walk!

Tips:
– You can have your child make the beads or have them already made
– Tying a dull toothpick or cut straw to one end makes threading easier

—- ACTIVITIES FOR AGES 3-4 —-

_{Skills being reinforced and strengthened by this Cognitive Milestone activity}

Activity 3: Puzzles
Fitting pieces together to complete a puzzle!

Materials:
– Any Clixo pack!
– Puzzle Task Cards – Download here

How to Play:
1. Pick a puzzle task card
2. Gather the Clixo pieces needed to complete the puzzle. (This information is given on each task card)
3. Replicate the image on the task card by fitting the pieces together. Make sure to use a hard safe (floor / tabletop / fridge door)
4. Talk about it! What does it look like to you?

Here’s what the activity looks like (you can download all the task cards here)

Download the full set of Puzzle task cards here (More patterns available)

—- ACTIVITIES FOR AGES 4-5 —-

_{Skills being reinforced and strengthened by this Cognitive Milestone activity}

Activity 4: Patterns
Learning to build patterns

Materials
– Any Clixo Pack!
– Building Patterns Task Cards – Download here

How to Play:
1. Select a pattern card (The AB pattern is the least complex pattern to start with)
2. Have your child build a pattern by iterating the selected pattern a few times
3. Have your child read and describe the pattern to you
4. Once your child has mastered the AB pattern, move onto the more complex patterns: ABC, ABB, AAB, AABB

Tips:
– Children should first know how to recognize and describe patterns before working on copying, building, and extending patterns (Activity #5)

Here’s what the activity looks like ( Download all the task cards here)

_{You can build patterns by color}

_{You can also build patterns by shape}

_{Level up by combining colors and shapes into different patterns}

Activity 5: What Comes Next?
Learning to extend patterns!

Materials:
– Any Clixo Pack!
– What Comes Next! Task Cards – Download here

How to Play:
1. Select a pattern card (The AB pattern is the least complex pattern to start with)
2. Have your child say the pattern to you. For example: “Red, blue, red, blue”
3. When the pattern stops, ask:
* What comes next?
* How do you know?

Note: For more practice, feel free to create your own task cards or make a pattern with the actual pieces and ask your child to extend the pattern.

Here’s what the activity looks like (Download the task cards here)

_{Continue the color pattern}

_{Continue the shape pattern}

Tips:
– Children should first know how to recognize and describe patterns before working on copying, building, and extending patterns
– The use of voice inflection can be very helpful when working with patterns.

Activity Idea – Clixo Run!

By Mr. Andy

Clixo x Mr. Andy presents: A fun challenge for budding engineers! Kick-start that STEAM mindset by creating a Rube Goldberg Machine!

A Rube Goldberg Machine is a machine intentionally designed to perform a simple task in an indirect and overly complicated way.

_{Inspire little ones to design and build their own unique, complicated, and fun chain reaction contraption}

Here’s an activity that’s fun for kids of all ages: Make a ball go from one end to another using a Clixo run. For this activity, you’ll need a magnetic surface to hold your machine up as the ball goes through.

In the example video, you can see that this Clixo run was stuck to a radiator. However, you can also use other magnetic surfaces such as a refrigerator door, a white board, or even a car door (don’t worry, Clixo magnets will not scratch or dent your car).

Your Clixo Quad pieces may be the superstar in this activity but other pieces will play a supporting role in adjusting or modifying the strength, shape, or overall structure of the contraption.

_{Make it as simple or as elaborate as you want!}

As an example, 3 Quad pieces connected together in a wide tube shape (as seen in the video above) can be a great shape for a ball to run through. All other methods are encouraged and welcomed!

Helpful Information for Parents

This activity is a great way to introduce kids to the “experimental mindset” and show them that iterating and trying new things (even if the first attempt doesn’t always work) is all part of the process. Often, the best way to learn new things is to simply jump in and try. In the beginning, this activity may feel intimidating for little ones, but being able to learn through play is safe, non-threatening, and fun! Every experiment teaches imparts a new piece of information, and each new lesson learned increases your child’s capability to do better and accomplish great things.

????‍???? Click here for other Clixo x Mr. Andy activities.

Activity Idea – Intro to Math

By Mr. Andy

Activity Idea – Intro to Math

By Mr. Andy

October 2020

Clixo x Mr. Andy presents: A fun and approachable way to introduce young kids to mathematical concepts! A variation for older kids is included below.

Math is everywhere! This activity is a super friendly way to introduce children to the concept of measurement so when they learn about the standard units, they can easily apply their play experience to real world mathematical concepts!

The standard unit of measurement for length in the imperial system is measured in inches, foot, and yards.

Children see things as taller or shorter, bigger or smaller. To introduce measurement using Clixo, pick any one of the Clixo crew and measure something with it. How many Quads tall are you?

Liam (pictured below), is roughly 15 Quads long! Things may not always be exact. For those instances, use smaller Clixo shapes to get as close to a measurement as possible. If we took an exact measurement of Liam, he may be 15 Quads and 1 Tridot!

Just about anything can become a non-standard unit of measure! So, have fun and get creative with it!

The concept of Estimation using Clixo pieces can also be introduced.

The Common Core Standards include estimation skills for every grade level. It’s important to introduce children to terms that include such words and phrases as about, close, just about, a little more (or less) than, and between. Learning about estimation is important for kids because it enables kids to:

_{Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them.}
_{Reason abstractly and quantitatively.}
_{Construct viable arguments and critique the reasoning of others.}
_{Model with mathematics.}
_{Use appropriate tools strategically.}
_{Attend to precision.}
_{Look for and make use of structure.}
_{Look for and express regularity in repeated reasoning.}

You can start simply by asking your child “How many Quads do you think will equal the length of your arm?” If they aren’t sure of what to say, the adult can think out loud and model it. This is a great exercise for kids and could also be a fun game for kids.

The concept of Estimation using Clixo pieces can also be introduced.

A Variation for Older Kids:

– Allow older kids to think and calculate in Clixo Measurements.
– Give them the challenge of measuring each Clixo piece in inches
– Ask them to estimate how many connected Quads would equal a foot? a yard?
(Note: this does not have to be exact, 4 connected quads is about 1 ft)

After figuring out how to convert Clixo Measurements to standard units of measurements, we can now have some mathematical fun!

Challenge your Clixo Mathematician with the questions below!

– The average Giraffe height is 17 feet.
– The average Oak Tree height is 70 feet.
– The average train car length is 55 feet.
How many Clixo Quad pieces would a Giraffe, Oak Tree, and Train Car be?

Helpful Information for Parents

Children engaged in play will often exhibit specific behavioral schemas that are consistent across children all over the world during play. One of the first thing you may see your child do with Clixo is taking the similar pieces such as the Quads and connect them together in a long straight line. This may be seen in other toys when they line up their cars or blocks one after the other in a straight line.

The behavioral schemas that may be witnessed during the initial exploration of Clixo falls under the trajectory schema. The concept they are developing through play would be linear progression, sequences, etc.

For the younger children, this activity is an introduction to non-standard units of measurements that will help develop their understanding of measurements in a stress free, fun, and authentic way. When they do learn the standard units, they will have a familiarity of measurements. For older children, they’ll be using Clixo to further develop mathematical thinking by converting measurement units.

????‍???? Click here for other Clixo x Mr. Andy activities.

Activity Idea – Shadow Play

By Mr. Andy

Clixo x Mr. Andy presents: THREE activities that invite your child to explore light, shadows, and to get creative with their Clixo masterpieces.

Gather your finest Clixo masterpieces! Whether you’ve created something from the guide book or something new and unique, we’re going to explore what their shadows look like!

_{Editor’s Personal Note: I’m a full grown adult and I was utterly mesmerized by the shadows}

What is a shadow? A shadow is a dark (real-image) area where light from a light source is blocked by an opaque object.

How are shadows created? To cast shadows, you can opt to use natural light or artificial light. You can even ask your little one questions such as: Where does natural light come from? How about artificial light?

You can invite your child to explore shadows with their bodies by having your child block the light source. You can use the sun, flashlight, or lamp. Afterwards, it’s time to create shadows using Clixo. Your Clixo work can be something that’s defined or abstract.

Activity 1: Clixo Shadow Clock: Start by positioning your structure so that it can form a shadow.

If you are using natural light from the sun, this would be a great opportunity to introduce your Clixo shadow explorer to the positions of the sun during various parts of the day. Using cardinal directions to locate the position of the sun during various times of the day will help your child understand where the sun rises in the morning (East) and where the sun sets during the afternoon (West).

The size of the Clixo shadow can also indicate the time of day. If your Clixo shadow doesn’t cast a shadow that seems to greatly favor any particular side, the sun is at its highest point and this typically occurs around noon.

This activity would require your Clixo structure to be left outdoors for an extended period of time. However, you can emulate this activity indoors using a flashlight or a table lamp.

_{This was Andy’s work. It kinda looks like Yoshi from Super Mario!}

Activity 2: Permanent Clixo Shadow: Clixo structures are meant to be deconstructed. Honor your Clixo masterpieces by drawing them and giving them a new lease on life!

Start by propping your Clixo creation up against a light source like a flashlight or a table lamp. Tape a piece of paper down where the shadow of your creation has been cast.

Your little artist may notice that there are some areas where light is able to pass through. This would be a great time to ask why they think that happens. On the piece of paper, they can opt to leave the openings as is, or opt to fill it in completely with a color or a pattern.

After your artist is done tracing the shadow, they can add details that will help immortalize their Clixo structure. Their imagination can fully come into play here. Go wild! Use all sorts of colors and art materials!

An extension on the activity: Your child can also do this activity over again by varying the height of the light source, or changing the position of the structure. This allows them to create a different piece of art with the same materials! It also gives them a valuable opportunity to explore why these shapes have shifted.

Activity 3: Clixo Shadow Puppet Theater: You don’t need TV screens or devices to entertain your child when you’ve got good old fashioned imagination!

Use your Clixo builds to put on a shadow puppet performance. Make characters from your favorite book or show. You can also develop original, new characters with their own personalities.

In a dark room, shine a flashlight against a wall and start performing. This could be a fun activity for groups of kids to exercise their storytelling skills. This would also be a great activity to wind down before bedtime.

Helpful Information for Parents

Shadow play is a great way to capture children’s attention and spark their imagination and creativity. For the younger children, allow them use flashlights to explore light concepts. It is not only fun but they are learning to manipulate the light and shadows.

For our older explorers, allowing them to explore shadows outdoors at different times of day will provide an interesting discussion about how shadows work. Have them make size comparisons of shadows throughout the day. It will make for interesting conversations about the position of the sun. As stated earlier, this would be a great time to introduce cardinal directions such as North, South, East, and West in relations to the sun’s position.

????‍???? Click here for other Clixo x Mr. Andy activities.

Activity Idea – Bubbles

By Mr. Andy

Clixo x Mr. Andy presents: Clixo Bubbles! Who doesn’t love bubbles? How about BIG bubbles?

Bubbles are simply air wrapped in soap film. Soap film consists of soap and water. In order to make super bubbles that are strong enough to become big and hold, add cornstarch! Cornstarch is used as a thickening agent in liquid-based foods. In this case, we’ll be using it in our bubbles.

_{Use Clixo to create a cool bubble wand!}

Your Clixo set will be very important in helping you create big bubbles. In order to make bubbles, you’ll need a bubble wand. The bigger the opening on the wand the bigger the bubbles. You may also create a wand that can create multiple soap films for multiple bubble fun!

Use your Clixo pieces to snap together a wand that has enclosures that can trap soap films. Longy will serve as a handle to dip your wand into the bubble solution.

_{Materials needed + Instructions for the Clixo x Mr. Andy Bubble activity}

Helpful Information for Parents

Children engaged in play will often exhibit specific behavioral schemas that are consistent across children all over the world during play. In this bubble activity, when mixing the ingredients to make the super bubble, your child may be extremely focused on mixing and mashing the cornstarch into a mush and combining it into the soap and water solution. If they are super engaged during the bubble making process, let them continue mixing! This scheme is called transforming. The concept they are developing through play would be changing the state of the ingredients used.

During the bubble making phase of this activity, allowing your child to help empowers them and builds confidence. Introduce them to the different utensils you’ll need to prep and mix the ingredients. Show them how to use a whisk and measuring cup. Make connections to math by allowing your child to pour and measure the water, dish soap, and cornstarch. These may seem like small steps but they will go a long way in helping young children become independent.

Pro Tip! It is best to blow the bubbles outdoors! Not only for keeping your home soap suds free but the wind will help blow the bubbles really well, especially if you’re using a bubble wand that has created multiple soap films that blows multiple bubbles at once.

For bigger groups of kids: Turn this into a playful contest by challenging each child to create the biggest bubble they can make. Invite them to experiment with the designs of their Clixo bubble wand. For those who are extra cautious (can’t be too careful in these COVID-times), instead of blowing the bubbles with your mouth, you can use a portable, handheld mini-fan to blow the bubbles 🙂

????‍???? Click here for other Clixo x Mr. Andy activities.

A STEAM Summer Camp Counselor Contemplates Clixo

By Clixo Team

A STEAM Summer Camp Counselor Contemplates Clixo

By Clixo Team

August 2020

From the second I got my hands on Clixo’s foldable, origami-like play pattern, I couldn’t let go.

In fact, I wondered why no one had thought of it before. As a STEAM summer camp counselor and volunteer at a reading center, I’ve often struggled with finding ways to keep kids occupied. Working with kids often means that you are surrounded by dissonant sounds: spinning chairs, phones falling off of desks, and whispered snickering at all times. I imagine that my time as a counselor would have been far easier had I gotten my hands on Clixo sooner.

I know that kids are always anxious to get their hands back on their phones, because I spent a summer telling them that they could only play Pokemon Go after we finished editing a short video. The solution has certainly never been hidden in lengthy lectures or tedious, six-part worksheets. I could tell that kids needed tactile, rewarding activities that kept them engaged. As I’m sure many parents, caretakers, and teachers know, though, solutions to prepubescent boredom are few and far between. Rather than continuing to struggle with kids running around and wreaking havoc, we might be able to replace their inharmonious sounds with a chorus composed of satisfying, magnetic clicks. Tinkering with Clixo, I could start to see a way around phone-focused distractions.

I found myself diving headfirst into realizing my creations: silly turtles, standing fans, and accessories for my sister’s stuffed animals.

“Playing with Clixo in the air, on different surfaces, and around household objects was a revelation because so many opportunities to play are now pursued on 2D planes or on the flat screen of a device.”

It felt inherently tactile, rewarding, and intuitive to bring play back into the material world. The satisfaction I felt after folding and snapping together a Clixo turtle was unparalleled, even after experiencing dozens of variations on the tired building block formula as a kid. I started to wonder how I could fold Clixo into a summer camp classroom setting.

First, I imagine that the kids would actually be engaged. I wouldn’t lose hours convincing children to try step-by-step tasks or giving rote memorization a go. Kids certainly love to fidget around – I recall recovering lost keyboards from obscured corners, and having to help retrieve missing items, including phones, from the tops of vending machines. Screen time can provide a wealth of content, and computer screens, phones, and tablets are now used in over 75% of classrooms daily. However time spent on a screen will never provide the tangible satisfaction of fidgeting around with a fun toy. Kids would be encouraged, instead, to improve gradually and learn from risk-free mistakes as they master Clixo’s simple folds, bends, and snaps, no phone necessary.

I’d be able to work with them directly, interacting in a guided play capacity to make the most of their creations. When the kids I was working with engaged with a computer screen or watched a lecture, I could feel their attention drift – children can tell when they are completing routine, impersonal tasks on a tablet. Guided play has been described as “an exemplary pedagogy because it respects children’s autonomy and their pride in discovery.” Why shouldn’t we work together to build up entire farms, aquariums, or villages by bringing play off the screen and into our hands?

“Kids feel accomplished when they experiment with Clixo because every attempt brings them a step closer to a new opportunity, shape, or idea.”

I, for one, never felt dejected playing with Clixo. For example, I salvaged a Clixo backpack into the shell of my prized Clixo turtle. Those of us who work as mentors and counselors now have the privilege to help children take their time with Clixo and discover new ways to problem-solve and grow.

Blog post by Ken Fremer, Student at Baruch College

A Guide to Competitive Fun with Clixo

By Clixo Team

A Guide to Competitive Fun with Clixo

By Clixo Team

July 2020

In the past few days, we’ve shared some independent activity ideas and collaborative and cooperative play ideas with Clixo pieces.

Today, we’d like to share two fun suggestions for some competitive play ideas with Clixo.

“Click-tionary” – Write down a list of different nouns on different pieces of paper and put them in a bowl. Break out into different teams. Have one member of the team pull out a piece of paper, take a stack of Clixos, and create whatever is on the list. Teams compete to see who can build and guess the most number of creations within a specified time.

What kids can learn: Parameters like coming up with a specified creation or making something within a given amount of time helps kids think critically and creatively.

Speed Snapper – This is a twist to the game we mentioned above where everyone can come up with a list of things to build. However, in this version, everyone creates the same thing at the same time, but goes head-to-head to see who can create the most recognizable version of that thing in the fastest time.

What kids can learn: While speed is the name of the game here, the game also develops critical and creative thinking to break down the invention into its most recognizable elements. It also allows kids to learn from others as they observe similarities and differences in how other kids tackled the same problem.

Click the hyperlinks below to see our other activity ideas / suggestions:
– Solo Fun with Clixo
– Collaborative Fun with Clixo
– Clixo x Mr. Andy
– Clixo x learnwithjoey
– Full list of activity ideas

Got ideas you want to share? Want to get in on the fun? Follow us on social media or sign up for our newsletter and join our invention adventures.

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A Guide to Collaborative Fun with Clixo

By Clixo Team

A Guide to Collaborative Fun with Clixo

By Clixo Team

July 2020

Last week, we shared a guide to independent play activities with Clixo containing some suggested themed-building exercises for kids.

Today, we’d like to share two fun suggestions for some collaborative and cooperative group play ideas with Clixo.

Big, Bold Builds – Sometimes, with bigger structures, it’s way more fun to do it with a friend, sibling, or parent. Make a giant igloo fort, a boat-car hybrid, or just a gigantic animal. Building with a friend and engaging in a little make believe can be fun for all ages.

What kids can learn: Building something together and working towards a common goal is always a great exercise in teamwork and communication.

Pass and Play – Each child has a stack of parts. One child starts with one piece and hands it to another child, who adds a new piece then hands it to the next child (or hands it back if it’s a two player game). Each child takes a turn, adding a piece each time and hanging it to the next child, until an invention slowly starts to take shape.

One variation of this game can include talking so that everyone can work towards building a common goal once an object (or an idea) starts to take shape.

A second variation of this game involves doing this in complete silence, adding a little bit of mystery and suspense to mix. It’s interesting to see if kids are able to work towards the same creation without having discussed it in the first place, or if the build shifts midway into something else.

What kids can learn: This game allows kids to just think with their hands and let an idea come naturally to them. The talking element can let kids work on their communication and teamwork skills, while the silent version can facilitate unstructured fun without overthinking. Freeform exploration can give way to fun and surprising discoveries.

Click the hyperlinks below to see our other activity ideas / suggestions:
– Solo Fun with Clixo
– Competitive Fun with Clixo
– Clixo x Mr. Andy
– Clixo x learnwithjoey
– Full list of activity ideas

Got ideas you want to share? Want to get in on the fun? Follow us on social media or sign up for our newsletter and join our invention adventures.

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A Guide to Solo Fun with Clixo

By Clixo Team

A Guide to Solo Fun with Clixo

By Clixo Team

July 2020

While interaction with adults and other kids is vital to a child’s development, many experts agree that it’s just as crucial for kids to have time by themselves. From exploring environments at their own pace, dealing with boredom and exercising self-reliance, or conquering clinginess and learning to be comfortable and expressive in one’s own identities, independent time affords children a variety of valuable and healthy learning opportunities. Also, let’s face it. A few minutes of free time for parents to do chores can be a huge help in a challenging day. ????

Clixo can help cultivate a child’s independence and creative self confidence. Our open ended toys are meant to encourage freeform exploration. But sometimes, it helps to have certain parameters in place to help spur new ideas. Telling your child to create something that fits within a certain theme (that you can discuss and decide together) can help them come up with new ways of seeing and building.

Some suggested themes/prompts can be:

“I spy” – A variation of this could be along the lines of “I Spy” where your kid picks an object in a room and makes a Clixo version of that particular object. Great for kids who are more literal minded and want to build something based on actual objects.

“Mythical Creatures and Imaginary, New Friends” – Encourage freethinkers to build “outside of the box” and have them come up with a whole new sidekick to keep them company during imaginary adventures

Superhero Gear – Build a piece of clothing or accessory that as part of a superhero persona. They can build one for their own superhero outfit or build different accessories that match their favorite superheroes

Join Monthly Clixo Challenges – Each month, we invite the #ClixoCrew to come up with creations that go with our monthly theme, then feature some of the fun, interesting, cool submissions on our site and social accounts.

Click the hyperlinks below to see our other activity ideas / suggestions:
– Competitive Fun with Clixo
– Collaborative Fun with Clixo
– Clixo x Mr. Andy
– Clixo x learnwithjoey
– Full list of activity ideas

Want to get in on the fun? Follow us on social media or sign up for our newsletter and join our invention adventures.

Next Story

Inspiring exploration, creativity and imaginative play

Learning while Playing

Imagination and Creativity

Learning while Playing

Imagination and Creativity

Fun and Games with Clixo

Recommended kits for this activity

How to Encourage Organizational Skills in Your Kids

Clixo Building Prompts to Promote Creativity

Benefits of Organizational Skills for Children

Use Checklists and To do Lists

Get Them a Daily Planner

Assign Sorting and Organizing Chores

Get Them a Calendar

Establish a Morning Routine

Create a Designated Homework Space

Set a Homework Schedule

Do Weekly Backpack Cleanouts

Practice Sorting and Organization With Toys Like Clixo

Final Thoughts

Prompts to Get Your Kid’s Creative Juices Flowing

Clixo Building Prompts to Promote Creativity

Can You Build a Roller Coaster?

Who is Your Favorite Pet?

If You Build a Clixo Kite, Will it Fly?

How Fast Can a Clixo Car Go?

Let’s Make a Clixo Zoo!

Get Out Into Nature

Create a Garden of Clixo Plants

Put on a Clixo Fashion Show

Can You Make a Clixo Airport?

Write a Story and Create the Scene

Build a Very Long Caterpillar

Tips to Get Your Kids Interested in Math and Science

Bake Together

Science Experiments

Head to the Museum

Play Math Games

Show Them Real Life Examples

Get Out Into Nature

Play With Animals

Buy Them Fun Science Tools

Watch Science or Math Related Movies

Don’t Focus on Grades

Play With Building Toys

Kid-Friendly Activities

Cook Together

Listen to an Audiobook

Plan a Treasure Hunt or Scavenger Hunt

Go Bird Watching

Do Yoga Together

Wash the Car

Make an Obstacle Course

Complete a Puzzle

Create a Time Capsule

Build Something

DIY Crafts

Plant a Garden

Wind Down After School

Here are some other fun Clixo creations and ideas I’ve seen

Bath Time Fun

Mental Health Day

Hello anxiety my dark old friend…

Earth Day Activity Ideas For Ages 4+!

Idea #1: Sustainable Flowers with Clixo (Difficulty Level: Easy)

Idea #2: Animal Builds (Difficulty Level: Varies)

Idea #3: Water Builds (Difficulty Level: Medium)

Idea #4: Understanding Life Cycle (Difficulty Level: Advanced)

Idea #5: Use Clixo to Re-tell a Story

Easter Activity Ideas!

Idea #1: Make Easter Eggs

Idea #2: Make An Easter Bucket

Idea #3: Make an Easter Bunny

Idea #4: Create your own Fascinator/Easter Bonnet/Headpiece

Idea #5: Try a Family Game

5 Ways to integrate play into your (hectic) daily routine

1.Take 10 Minutes to Clixo!

2. Play Telephone-creativity With Your Kid (Or Other Kids at Heart).

3. Use Clixo to Stay Focused.

4. Replace the Crossword with Clixo

Inspiring exploration, creativity
and imaginative play

Activities for Ages 4-6
(Pre-K, Kindergarten, 1st Grade)

Activities for Ages 5-7
(Kindergarten, 1st Grade,2nd Grade)

Activities for Ages 7-8
(2nd Grade & 3rd Grade)