Unlocking the Power of Learning: Investing in Kids' Manipulatives and Program Supplies
*Any links provided may be affiliate links and may provide me with a commission. The cost to you is no higher and I only every share products or resources I have used and truely recommend.*As librarians and educators, we are always seeking effective ways to support children's development and enhance their learning experiences. One valuable investment that can significantly contribute to their growth is purchasing kids' manipulatives and program supplies. These tools not only make learning enjoyable and interactive but also foster creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. In this blog post, we’ll explore the how investing in these resources can be a game-changer for our library programs and education.
Let’s talk about the 5 main things you should consider regarding adding manipulatives to your library offerings!
1. The Value of Spending within a Budget:
Before delving into the benefits of buying kids' manipulatives and program supplies, it's essential to emphasize the significance of spending within a budget. Financial planning helps us make informed decisions and ensures that we allocate our resources wisely. Especially if you are working with grant funding! It can be easy to get so excited about the variety of manipulatives available and overspend. Setting a budget for educational materials allows us to prioritize our community’s needs while also being mindful of the library budget.
2. Enhancing Learning Through Manipulatives:
Manipulatives, such as brain flakes, puzzle toys, and magnet blocks, offer hands-on learning experiences that engage children's senses and imagination. These interactive tools encourage exploration, experimentation, and problem-solving while also allowing kids to practice skills such as motor skills, reasoning, color differentiation, and so much more. For example, building blocks can help children develop spatial awareness, logical reasoning, and fine motor skills. Math manipulatives, on the other hand, enable kids to visualize abstract concepts, making mathematics more tangible and enjoyable.
3. Fostering Creativity and Imagination:
Program supplies, including art materials, musical instruments, and science kits, unleash children's creativity and imagination. Engaging in artistic activities helps kids express themselves, think outside the box, and develop their fine motor skills. Exploring science and conducting experiments instills a sense of curiosity and promotes critical thinking. By providing these supplies, we empower the children in our communities to explore their interests and passions, nurturing well-rounded individuals.
4. Developing Social and Emotional Skills:
Kids' manipulatives and program supplies often encourage collaborative play, fostering social interactions and communication skills. Group activities, such as board games or team-building projects, promote cooperation, problem-solving, and conflict resolution. Moreover, engaging with these materials can also serve as a stress-reliever, allowing children to process emotions and develop emotional intelligence.
5. Long-Term Benefits:
Investing in kids' manipulatives and program supplies is an investment in their future. By providing them with the tools and resources they need to learn and grow, we equip them with essential skills for success. Additionally, these resources can be used repeatedly, benefiting multiple children throughout your community while also promoting a holistic approach to education.
So, where do you start? Let me share 10 of my favorite manipulatives for a variety of ages!
~These Rubber Band Boards used to be so popular and you would see them in every classroom, recently it seems like they have been a rarer sight, but they are still a fantastic manipulative that combine fine motor skills, logic reasoning, and creativity! You can get plastic sets or wooden boards. I recommend the wooden boards like the one I linked HERE because they tend to hold up longer in my experience. These also have low maintenance costs since the only resource that might need replaced is rubber bands which are fairly inexpensive! To make this more fun, purchase some rubber bands in a variety of sizes (like these!) and see what the kids can create!
~I love, love, love these fun non-motorized robot models kids can build right along with the fun story included of two kids on an adventure to an automated candy factory. These robots are such a simple and engaging way to introduce kids to engineering concepts while they utilize their motor skills, visual-spatial skills, and so much more!
~Who doesn’t love a good marble run! I am not exaggerating when I say I have seen kids play with this marble run for HOURS building and re-building and problem solving all while practicing so many skills from teamwork to design thinking and having FUN! If I could only choose 3 manipulative to have this would definitely be one of them.
~Magnet Building Blocks are a must have! These can be used for so many different programs and challenges and just every-day building! Don’t underestimate how engaging the endless possibility of magnet building blocks can be! These ones are tried and true in a library and hold up marvelously!
~I am a big advocate of including a variety of art manipulatives into library collections! These Foil Fun Art kits are perfect for little fingers and creatively engaging enough to keep older kids just as entertained! This is definitely something that would be great for a single program or will need replaced more regularly. Don’t discount them just for that though! These are a unique and fun way for kids to practice critical thinking, fine-motor skills, and focus.
~These magnetic robot blocks are perfect for little fingers to start building and exploring with magnetism, creative thinking and reasoning, and shape recognition. Kids can assemble and reassemble a total of 5 separate robots. Additionally, a great thing about these magnetic robots is that they are interchangeable pieces so if one or two go missing you don’t have to replace the entire set.
~If you haven’t heard of fischertechnik yet you are missing out! fischertechnik has so many different sets and an amazing variety of tools to teach kids engineering, robotics, and coding. THIS SET is a great beginner set you can build off of but is also self-contained if you choose not to purchase anymore pieces beyond this initial set. With this set kids can build 5 different machines to learn about machinery and hydraulics. This is definitely a manipulative for older tweens and teens. They are more complex, but still fully fun and enjoyable!
~These magnetic blocks combine building with art and are one of my favorites!! Introduce kids of all ages to popular world famous paintings that they will assemble in puzzle-like fashion out of magnetic blocks!
~This straw connecter construction set enables the ultimate creativity for kids. What will they build? A Fort? A Rocket? A Bridge? There are SO MANY possibilities! These are fantastic for a variety of programs from a storytime where attendees are challenged to build something from the story, to an STEM program for older kids who are challenged to build the tallest tower. I love a versatile manipulative and these definitely fit that description!
~Perhaps the manipulatives with the most fun name are the Hedgehog Blocks! These bristle blocks are easy for little fingers and fun for big fingers too! From playing restaurant to building a treasure chest the only limits for these blocks are your imagination! Flexible, Durable, and Fun they are a perfect choice for any library!
BONUS!
-Brain Flakes are another great interconnecting building manipulative. I have used these in libraries for a variety of programs and after 5+ years they are still one of my children’s favorite toys! LINKED HERE
-Robot Building Factory! This is another great robot building set for little fingers where kids can use their imagination and create a variety of different robots. As a plus, this set works with all Learning Resources “1,2,3 Build It!” Sets. LINKED HERE
-Soy Candle Making Kits are another program that use creativity and incorporate artistic skills while attendees use their hands and practice a variety of skills. While this kit is fantastic and fun, it is also more suited to use for older teens or adults. LINKED HERE
As librarians and educators, we have a responsibility to our community to provide an environment of learning for our communities. By spending within a budget and investing in manipulatives and program supplies, we unlock a world of possibilities for their growth and development. These resources not only make learning enjoyable but also foster critical skills such as creativity, problem-solving, and social interaction. So, let's embrace the power of educational materials and empower our communities to reach their full potential!
