Family Entertainment

"Since its beginnings over twenty years ago as creator and producer of enriching stories and highest quality dramatized audiocassette and video productions, NEST (NestEntertainment.com, NestLearning.com and NestEducation.com) has become a leading creator, producer and distributor of engaging, inspirational and educational consumer products and resources to homes, schools, libraries and churches

We help educators be more effective, student’s succeed, and families experience healthier relationships. The community of academic and faith-based educators, involved parents, families and caregivers recognize NEST as a premier source for inspiring, educational and entertaining resources for both children and adults.

As a media company and we are committed to using the Internet, digital media and other technologies as positive resources to inspire a passion for lifelong learning and the enjoyment of wholesome family entertainment and consumer products. In addition to our extensive library of proprietary interactive DVDs, dramatized audios, resource books and motion pictures, we offer a broad array of third party produced academic and faith-based curriculum, supplemental materials, supplies, toys, games and other resources.

Our goal is to help loved ones share with each other their values, morals, knowledge and wisdom through personal interaction and online community. We believe that we can help transform lives and positively impact our culture by developing children with positive character traits, spiritual strength and sound academic skills through our vibrant, fun and profitable company." ... more

"The JESUS Film Project is reaching out as never before to a key unreached people group: Children! “The Story of Jesus for Children” is a video/DVD which will give every child, both churched and unchurched, a chance to see and hear the gospel of Jesus in a way he/she can understand, in every possible language worldwide. (see our Languages page for current list).

“The Story of Jesus for Children” provides a solution to the challenge of teaching children the truth about God and His Son Jesus.

This video uses 40 minutes of the original “JESUS” film and integrates into the drama 22 minutes of new footage with children who might have lived in A.D.30.

The video allows children to hear and see the whole story at once, answering questions in clear and concrete terms, and providing fast action. It ends with an invitation, by a child to children, to accept Christ into their lives." ... more

" You have landed on Coin of the Month Club (www.coinofthemonthclub.com), a website devoted exclusively to integrating world coins into unique gift package subscriptions designed to remind a young person of you while promoting an interest in coins of the world and a better appreciation of the importance and value of geography, history and adventure.

Coin of the Month Club's spokesperson - pilot and world traveler, Anna Windwrite, wants to send actual coins minted from countries around the world to a special young person in your life, if not to start a lifelong hobby collecting, then as a memorable, educational, and lasting gift from you!" ... more

ABC Feelings

"Benefits From Using ABC Feelings' Child Development Resources :

-Encourages Child Anger Management and Conflict Resolution
-Improves Relationships Through Effective Communication Skills
-Building Self-esteem in Child
-Expands Vocabulary
-Teaches Feelings Awareness and Exploration
-Promotes Truth and Integrity Resulting in Character Development
-Stimulates Creativity and Imagination Through Interactive and Educational Activities
-Builds and Restores Values and Virtues." ... more

"BrainConnection.com is dedicated to providing accessible, high-quality information about how the brain works and how people learn.

Many discoveries are being made in areas that relate to the human brain, including language, memory, behavior, and aging, as well as illness and injury.We believe that access to this information can provide practical tools for teaching and learning as well as valuable insights into almost every aspect of our daily lives.

Echoing Mozart: Discovering a Link between the Brain and Music

When Gordon Shaw and Frances Rauscher published the results of their study on the relationship between music and spatial task performance in 1993, the "Mozart effect" became a popular term. It referred to the study's findings that ten minutes of listening to Mozart can boost one's spatial-temporal intelligence. But why Mozart? According to Marion Diamond, who describes the inception of Shaw's hypothesis in her book, Magic Trees of the Mind, the idea began when Shaw attended a lecture on how the brain transmits neural messages. This lecture led Shaw to formulate a theory of how neural impulses are organized into patterns by the cerebral cortex. Shaw's theory took the form of a long and complex mathematical model which for many of us, Diamond explains, "needs a major English translation into something like this: The neurons in the brain have certain natural firing patterns that act as an internal neural language. These patterns can be mapped and also altered through learning and experience.

The connection between this mathematical model and Mozart, however circuitous and intuitive, was made, says Diamond, after a "wizard of computer music...gave the mathematic equations a 'voice' and a 'face.'" And their voice seemed to echo Mozart." ... more

"In March 2008, SpaceToys.com was purchased and relocated into a 20,000 square feet facility in East Windsor, Connecticut. This move will allow SpaceToys to implement a state of the art inventory and shipping system to better assist our customers. SpaceToys has helped organizations around the world bring Space Exploration to their Friends, Family, Children, Company, Museum, Local Community, Educational Facilities and more. We work with warehouses in Arizona, California, New Jersey, New York, Tennessee, Vermont, Colorado, Texas, Portugal and now Connecticut to bring you the best in NASA related Space Toys for the Future Astronaut and Space Collecting Enthusiast. The new owners bring extensive business, logistical and manufacturing knowledge to blast SpaceToys to an "Out of this World" level. SpaceToys is also now a minority and veteran owned company. Please visit us often, we are committed to bring new, excited and unique space related items to those explorers and collectors. "What's Your Mission?"

SkyScopes Space Toys is in the business of bringing you the best in high quality educational toys, museum quality replicas and educational space products.

Our goal is to promote Space Exploration. We often give demonstrations to schools and help sponsor other science-based community events.

The founder of SkyScopes, Greg Hancock, has always had a passion for space exploration. He has been collecting space exploration items for over 18 years.

During that time many of the items he wanted were difficult, if not impossible, to find. This is why he developed SkyScopes Space Toys.

SkyScopes Space Toys now offers over 2000 products. We sell and distribute Toys and Replicas to children, collectors and museums all over the world." ... more

"The Space Place was started in February 1998 as an education and public outreach project of NASA's New Millennium Program, which continues to be its primary supporter. Its target audience is elementary-school-age kids. The Space Place have wanted to reach this young audience with the message that science and technology and learning about space are fun and within their grasp. The Space Place is designed with a kid-friendly look and feel. It is modular, so visitors can pick and choose different standalone projects or activities that interest them at the moment.

Not many sites about space science and technology are written specifically for kids. This one is and does not link out to other sites that are not written for kids. In addition, it is non-commercial, free, and avoids the sensory overload of flashing advertisements and irrelevant popup windows.

It leads the visitor one small step at a time through subjects that people might consider too difficult for a lay person, let alone a child. Challenging subjects such as the electromagnetic spectrum, conservation of momentum, orbits, gravitational waves, tidal forces, binary and hexadecimal notation, and interferometry are treated simply and concisely, with everyday analogies and metaphors, concrete examples, and compelling illustrations. " ... more

HearthSong
"Since its beginning in 1983, HearthSong has been committed to helping parents follow their instincts to provide their children with age-appropriate, wholesome, quality playthings. That's because at HearthSong, we believe childhood is a vital chapter in life-a special time when children can be occupied with the joy of being children. And, equally importantly, a time when children need to experience as much creative, imaginative play as possible because kids experience so many of life's first lessons through play.

The first HearthSong catalog was printed in black and white, with pencil drawings of carefully selected toys and books and mailed from the home of founder Barbara Kane by her family. The name HearthSong was chosen to reflect core family values - the Hearth, a traditional symbol for the center of the home, and Song, a symbol of family spirit and of a special playfulness that parents and children enjoy together.

Over the next 25 years, HearthSong evolved into a nationally known and respected source for quality children's toys, games and crafts. Parents who found unique toys for their children decades ago tell us they're now thrilled to be finding the same kinds of educational, entertaining toys to give to their children's children.

Our selection of products has grown and expanded too. But we can still guarantee that each item is carefully selected for its quality, safety, and relevance to your child's development - and we are steadfast in our commitment to provide you with Toys You'll Feel Good About Giving® " ... more

"BrainBuilder was created by ABT Media, a division of Advanced Brain Technologies.

Advanced Brain Technologies (ABT) is a neurotechnology company that develops and distributes interactive software and music-based programs for the improvement of memory, attention, listening, academic skills, sensory processing, brain health, peak performance and more. ABT was founded in 1998 and is located in Ogden, Utah.

Our family of products includes an extensive line of interactive software and music programs including: BrainBuilder®, Sound Health®, Music for Babies™, Shelly's Interactive Computer Learning Series™, as well as professionally administered therapeutic products including The Listening Program®, Spatial Surround® HD, ABT Bone Conduction System™, and iListen®.

In addition, we offer professional training, certification and continuing education opportunities to health, therapeutic, education and music professionals as providers of The Listening Program. Our international network includes providers implementing ABT products in home, school, clinic, hospital and corporate settings on six continents.

ABT products are improving the lives of countless children and adults by training brain function at its core." ... more

"As you peruse Fat Brain Toys, you may find something missing. In fact, if you're accustomed to the toy selection found at most stores, you may find lots of items missing. Missing are the licensed, violent, cheaply made toys that end up in the trash can shortly after being played with by your child. But what you will find instead are THOUSANDS of quality, open-ended toys, games, and gifts that entertain AND educate.

For nearly nine years, we've been carefully choosing the best toys from around the world in addition to aquiring the single largest selection of American-made toys found anywhere. But our unparalleled selection of quality toys is but one of many reasons that makes Fat Brain Toys unique:

• We provide toll-free support by our award-winning customer care before AND after the sale
• We stock nearly every product we sell from our own centrally-located warehouse
• Most in-stock orders placed by 3:00 p.m. CST are shipped the same day
• We ship orders worldwide including military APO's & FPO's

But more than anything, we are still a small, family owned and operated business that takes great pride in our ability to offer exceptional service to each and every customer." ... more

"Brain Building Toys was founded by two educators, Kelly and Tyler Webster. Their combined 25 years of teaching and enthusiasm for child development lead them to creating an online educational toy store. They felt they could reach more families through the internet than a brick and mortar establishment (and they have a child to test the products).

Kelly and Tyler have studied educational philosophies such as Montessori, Piaget, and Steiner (Waldorf) to name a few. Kelly is a Montessorian by nature and is very active in the AMI (Association Montessori Internationale) society. They are continuously educating themselves and believe education is what creates true motivated free thinkers.

For those of you who have been loyal customers from the beginning (thank you) you will know that Brain Building Toys only started with a few educational toys and educational games. This is because Kelly and Tyler are very methodical and meticulous when it comes to buying the right toys and games for your children. One of their main criteria is Quality over quantity and they want to make sure you and your children will enjoy and learn from their educational toys and educational games. All children need smart toys!" ... more

BrainWaves Educational Toys

"Brainwaves Educational Toys is a family run online toy store offering America's best selection of Educational Toys, Science Kits, Rockets, Construction Toys, Electronic Kits, Chemistry sets, Brain Teasers, Games and Just Plain Fun

Remember the fun you had as a kid, exploring, building, creating and pretending? We at Brain Waves Educational Toys are dedicated to helping you provide your children with the same opportunities-- Opportunities to last a lifetime.

BrainWaves Educational Toys has assembled a range of products that are fun, challenging and have lasting value. Whether you’re looking for a science project, birthday gift, creative activity, family game or just something to make them go WOW!, Brain Waves has them all and for all ages, including adults.

QUALITY SCIENCE & EDUCATIONAL TOYS

Brain Waves, The Intelligent Toy store is located in Scotts Valley, California. Brain Waves is conveniently located to efficiently serve all parts of the United States." ... more

Brilliant Puzzles

"Our passion and love for puzzles, brain teasers and educational games drove us to open our online store and offer our huge selection to our online buyers.

We proudly present one of the largest varieties of brain teasers and educational games of all kinds. We are developing, designing, producing, sourcing and selling lots of brain teaser models, puzzles and games.

Our mission is to provide the best extensive selection of wooden Puzzles, Brain teaser puzzles, metal & wire puzzles, secret puzzle boxes and Classic wooden games.

We strive to give our customers products that are unique, affordable priced and crafted with quality.

We offer huge selection of beautiful handmade Wooden puzzles and games built of natural wood, secret puzzle boxes handmade by skilful craftsman, as well as high quality metal and wire puzzles." ... more

"Growing Tree Toys is more than just a website full of wonderful educational toys – Growing Tree Toys is a family-owned retail institution in the hometown of State College, PA! For over 30 years, the brick and mortar store has been changing the way children play by providing them with the highest quality toys available. After 25 years of selling toys to only the local customers, GrowingTreeToys.com is “opened” in late 2003, aiming to provide the same excellent toys and excellent service that has made us successful for years.

The Growing Tree Toys retail location has helped bring happiness to “Happy Valley” by providing the best toys for children while creating awareness about how essential play is to their healthy physical, emotional, and social well being. Our knowledgeable staff strives to help customers find the perfect toy for any child, providing insight into the value of play and expert advice on the thousands of fantastic toys we carry. In addition to the amazing selection of toys, we offer many exciting activities for children at our store throughout the year that help inspire creativity and foster imagination – but most importantly, these activities are fun!

GrowingTreeToys.com is more than just a toy website – it’s the perfect virtual representation of our store, offering customers the amazing service, wonderful toys and robust features they deserve while shopping online. Featuring a carefully chosen, well-rounded toy selection, unique product details and descriptions, great information on play, helpful suggestions for gift givers, the best gift finder available, and so much more, GrowingTreeToys.com is truly a specialty toy website with the health and happiness of children at heart." ... more

"Toys“R”Us, Inc. is the world’s leading dedicated toy and juvenile products retailer, offering a differentiated shopping experience through its family of brands. Merchandise is sold in 873 Toys“R”Us and Babies“R”Us stores in the United States and Puerto Rico, and in more than 600 international stores and over 140 licensed stores in 35 countries and jurisdictions. In addition, it exclusively operates the legendary FAO Schwarz® brand and sells extraordinary toys in the brand’s flagship store on Fifth Avenue in New York City.

With its strong portfolio of e-commerce sites including Toysrus.com, Babiesrus.com, eToys.com, and FAO.com, Toys“R”Us, Inc. provides shoppers with a broad online selection of distinctive toys and baby products. The company also operates Toys.com, which offers customers exclusive deals FAO.comfrom the company’s e-commerce sites." ... more

"MindWare is an award-winning creator, manufacturer, and distributor of Brainy Toys for Kids of All Ages. Our diverse product line includes games, puzzles, brainteasers, arts and crafts activities, mysteries, mazes and more. Our goal is to place high quality toys that teach and entertain into the hands of children and adults. Our founder, Jeanne Voigt, started MindWare in 1990 with a small retail store in the Uptown area of Minneapolis. From there, the company has evolved into a cataloger, web retailer and distributor. MindWare mails catalogs to consumers and educators throughout the United States.

MindWare proudly distributes products to parents, homeschoolers and educators both in the U.S. and around the globe.

Our mission is to market a collection of unique learning products that engage, educate and entertain.

Over the years, MindWare has been dedicated to providing children with high quality educational products. MindWare has also developed its own Brainy Toys for Kids of All Ages. Our first product, Bella’s Mystery Deck, which debuted in 1997, is still a best seller a decade later. In 2001, after countless requests from retail stores, MindWare started offering its line of products to independent retailers nationwide.

MindWare's wholesale division (www.mindwarewholesale.com) supplies our MindWare products to specialty toy stores, the educational supply industry, gift stores, museum stores, arts and crafts stores, mail order catalogs, online retailers and other retail outlets worldwide." ... more

Our Mission
"Thinking Maps, Inc. is committed to improving the quality of teaching and learning through the effective implementation of Thinking Maps in schools and school districts around the world. Through quality training, materials and support services, we will equip learning communities with the tools necessary to become successful thinkers, problem solvers, decision makers, and ultimately, lifelong learners.

What are Thinking Maps & How Do They Work?
Thinking Maps, developed by Dr. David Hyerle, are visual teaching tools that foster and encourage lifelong learning. They are based on a simple yet profound insight: The one common instructional thread that binds together all teachers, from pre-kindergarten through postgraduate, is that they all teach the same thought processes.

Based on thorough and well-accepted academic study and brain research, the eight Thinking Map tools correspond with eight fundamental thinking processes. More than simple task-specific graphic organizers, our tools can be utilized individually or in various combinations to form a Common Visual Language for students and teachers at all grade levels, in all subjects." ... more

"Kids.gov is the official kids' portal for the U.S. government. It links to over 2,000 web pages from government agencies, schools, and educational organizations, all geared to the learning level and interest of kids. Kids.gov is maintained by the Federal Citizen Information Center (FCIC), those folks in Pueblo, CO 81009.

Kids.gov is organized into three audiences: Grades K-5, Grades 6-8, and Educators. Each audience tab is divided into educational subjects like Arts, Math, and History. Within each subject, the websites are grouped as either government sites (Federal, state, military) or other resources (commercial, non-profit, educational). The sites listed under the other resources category are maintained by other public and private organizations. When users click on these links, they are leaving Kids.gov and are subject to the privacy and security policies of the owners/sponsors of the outside websites." ... more

"SmartLab Toys makes educational toys with a book component for kids ages 4 - 12. We believe that kids learn best through hands-on exploration, so we offer that experience wrapped up in a fun toy and a cool book.

In 2004, SmartLab started out with eight science kits. Two years later, we expanded into arts and crafts. Our roster of award-winning toys now stands at nearly 50 products that stimulate both sides of the brain.

We are guided by a desire to both entertain and educate. We like to think we hide the vegetables in the cake, so to speak. And, as our 10-year-old fan Simon says, "One thing I like about your books is they teach you stuff, but they're not just Blah, Blah, Blah like some science books." Now that’s success!

Unleash some serious fun with SmartLab where toys and books collide!" ... more

"1789 was the year America's Constitution was signed and George Washington became the country's first President. It was also the year Cornelius Holgate established a woodworking shop on the outskirts of Philadelphia in the Colonial town of Roxborough.. .we have been in continuous operation ever since! Through the generations, our company has made numerous wooden products for home, farm and industry.

Shortly after the Civil War, Holgate moved to Kane, Pennsylvania, to be near the area's abundant hardwood forests. In 1929, our company expanded its product line by making educational pre-school wooden toys. Holgate's early toy designer was Jarvis Rockwell, brother of famous illustrator Norman Rockwell who visited the Holgate factory on several occasions. Jarvis Rockwell's concern for safety, durability and educational play earned him recognition as America's premier toy designer during this period.

With the great consumer success of its toys, Holgate began concentrating on this segment of it's business. Today Holgate is synonymous with toys... and still making the finest wooden toys in America. Our factory is now located in Bradford, Pennsylvania, still in the middle of America's premier hardwood forests. Today, Holgate is recognized as the premier maker of children's wooden toys in America." ... more

Crafty Puzzles

"Jigsaw Puzzles and Brain Teasers are a great way to pass the time. They can also be used a educational aids for children and adults alike. All of our puzzles are in 3D form and can be used as a display once completed. The puzzles come with a leaflet and colour photograph the help with assembly. We do not send instructions so no one cheats, but these are easily obtained from us and are available on our website.

The Crafty Puzzles Company. A small family organisation that began trading in 2004 specializing in 3D Wooden Brain Teasers toys.

We now stock a unique range of Decorative Collapsible Wooden Puzzles and Interlocking Jigsaw Puzzles. The Ultimate Brain Teasers, these 3D Logic Puzzles will sit proudly in your office or home. They will test your problem solving skills and sometimes your patience." ... more

"Diamond Farm Book Publishers, a division of "Yesteryear Toys & Books Inc.", was established in 1974; as North America's premier source of agricultural and natural history books and videos. Over 400 different stock titles catering to all subject areas of agriculture and wildlife. International Mail Order Service." ... more

"Yesteryear Toys & Books Inc is the World's Largest Source of model toy steam engines from Mamod, Wilesco, Cheddar, Krick, Tucher & Walther, Hermann Bohm, and Blechspielzeug . Complete range of stationary steam engines, traction engines, toy steam trains, model boat kits, marine steam models, collectible tin toys, and stirling hot air engines." ... more

"You can use the TouchMath program to give young children a head start, supplement a grade-level curriculum (pre-K–3), provide enrichment activities and reinforcement, and achieve the best possible outcomes for students with special needs. TouchMath is an intuitive process, designed by and for young learners.

TouchPoints
The secret to TouchMath is simple. In fact, it can be summed up in one word: TouchPoints.
Each numeral from 1 through 9 has TouchPoints corresponding to the digit's value.

- Numerals 1 through 5 have single TouchPoints
- Numerals 6 through 9 have double TouchPoints
- As students count the TouchPoints, they associate numerals with real values. They learn that a numeral (3, for instance) is not just a squiggle on a page. It represents a quantity such as three apples, three ladybugs, three buttons or three TouchPoints.

Touching/Counting Patterns
Students count aloud as they touch the single TouchPoints once and double TouchPoints twice. This multisensory approach engages students on auditory, visual and tactile/kinesthetic levels.

To ensure that students arrive at the right answer, it is important that they touch the TouchPoints in the correct Touching/Counting Pattern for each numeral." ... more

"If you're a doll collector, whether antique or contemporary, looking for good company and lively, intelligent discussion, you've found the place!

The Antique Dolls Collectors Online Advisors is a online community of doll collectors working together to create a friendly, and informative site for doll collectors online -- we offer information and advice as well as a place to just relax, sip your well-deserved coffee and soak up some knowledge about antique collectible dolls, gain some moral support and much encouragement." ... more