Dr Amanda Gummer is a Play Expert and child psychologist. Dr Gummer has a PhD in Neuropsychology, a postgraduate certificate in Higher Education and over 20 years’ experience working with children and families.
She founded the Good Play Guide in 2012 to provide an independent, expert accreditation service for children’s products, which has now expanded to incorporate 4 further Good Guides now under the Good Play Guide Umbrella – Toys, Apps, Baby and Learning.
Dr Gummer is widely considered as the UK’s go-to expert on play, toys and child development and can be seen regularly in the media, including BBC News, Sky News, The Daily Mail and many more, offering advice on news stories and issues surrounding children, families and child development.
In this session, Dr Gummer discusses the sense of satisfaction and empowerment that children gain from mastering STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics) concepts and how it boosts their confidence.
She analyses trends in STEAM toys and apps, such as the use of technology to enhance learning and the teaching of technical skills like coding in an offline, playful way.
Dr Gummer also talks about the STEAM accreditation process and the importance of multidisciplinary elements in STEAM Apps. She shares recommendations for reliable sources of information on STEAM toys, including the Good Play Guide, Play for Change Awards, and the Genius of Play website.
Lastly, Dr Gummer advises parents and gift-givers to prioritize the fun factor in STEAM toys, as children are more likely to engage and learn from them if they enjoy playing with them.
National STEM day is on November the 8th 2023.
Links:
https://www.goodplayguide.com/blog/balancing-the-play-diet/
https://www.facebook.com/GoodPlayGuide
https://twitter.com/GoodPlayGuide
https://www.instagram.com/goodplayguide/
https://playforchangeawards.eu/
https://www.toyassociation.org/
https://www.thegeniusofplay.org/
Toys that Dr Gummer discusses:
https://www.goodplayguide.com/reviews/discovering-stem-astronomy-travelling-to-space/
https://www.goodplayguide.com/reviews/discover/
https://www.goodplayguide.com/reviews/hexbug-nano-zone/
https://www.goodplayguide.com/reviews/locbloc-counting-blocks/
https://www.goodplayguide.com/reviews/national-geographic-butterfly-growing-kit/
https://www.goodplayguide.com/reviews/connetix-50-piece-rainbow-transport-pack/
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Episode Includes
- Episode Certificate
