Use this search box to find articles that have run in our newspapers over the last several years.
By Evan & Debbie Gardner First Grader/Mom & PRIME Editor My seven-year-old son, Evan, and I have been having a ball with the world lately. I mean that literally. We've been testing out several of the products offered by a company called Hug A Planet, and I can honestly say that getting to know more about our world (and the planets) has never been so much fun. Right now, the soft-sculpture map of the continental United States is resting on Evan's bed, the totally soft globe of the world is doubling as a pillow in our living room and, well, we just finished playing catch with the moon. But these three-D maps, manufactured in Essex, Vt., are more than just fun and games. Painstakingly researched and annotated, each one takes geography very seriously, and as such is a really sneaky way to get your kids interested in learning about the world around them. For example, I took a good look at the moon before we put it away for the day. Every major topographical structure, such as the Sea of Tranquility, is listed, as are the locations and dates of all lunar landings, both American and Russian. The map of the U. S. showed major cities, interesting facts, and, surprise!, Alaska and Hawaii to scale on the back! The soft globe was just as exacting about the countries and major cities of the world. My son's reaction to these learning "toys" was, "Mom, these are awesome!" Award-winning learning tools Based on our personal experiences with the Hug A Planet products, it's easy to see why they have garnered so many awards, including the Parent's Choice Best 25 Toys 1978-2003 Award as well as kudos from such media outlets as the Wall Street Journal, Redbook, Woman's Day Family Circle, Family fun and Better Homes & Gardens magazines. Plus, each item comes with additional educational materials listing even more facts and figures (the hang tag on Planet Earth says the Earth is 4,600 million years old, lists the number of elements, gives the age of life on earth, how long man has inhabited the planet, and tons more stuff!), so there's plenty of learning that you and your kids can do after that game of catch-the-planet. Where to get them Hug-A-Planet products, which include Classic and baby versions of the Earth, a topographically correct planet Mars, a three-set soft-"globe" set of constellations and stars, the Hug America pillow, an Earth and Moon set, and more, are priced from $9.95 to $29.95, with a super version of the Earth priced at $79.95. All items are available for order online at www.hugaplanet.com. | ||||||
