Wikki Stix are an old classic, but if you are like me, you may not realize how many things they can really be used for. During my days as a home daycare provider and preschool teacher, we used Wikki Stix occasionally as part of craft. I recently rediscovered Wikki Stix and was shocked by all of the wonderful educational and artistic activities that can be created for children of all ages.

Wikki Stix are a unique wax covered yarn that bend and twist like pipe cleaners but also stick to nearly any surface and to themselves so they can be used to create endless flat and 3-d formations. Wikki Stix can be played with on their own, used to create multi-dimensional pictures, art projects, and educational projects and they won’t melt or cause damage to surfaces. Wikki Stix can be reused over and over again (unless of course your child creates an artistic masterpiece that cannot be taken apart. . . you know, like Wikki Stix transformers), making them an extremely affordable educational toy and craft item.

Wikki Stix for Education

As a preschool teacher, I used Wikki Stix from time to time as a small addition to art projects. I wish I had known then what I know now. Wikki Stix has a huge selection of educational activities. Preschoolers can use Wikki Stix not only for art projects but to practice forming their letters and numbers. I’m a big fan of using sensory activities to teach language and we’ve used a lot of shaving cream and salt writing activities teaching my own kids to write their letters. Wikki Stix can be used to create numbers, letters, and shapes on their own or parents and teachers can use one of the great early childhood education sets that Wikki Stix has created to help teach early literacy concepts.

Wikki Stix do not have to be limited to just early childhood education. Older kids can use Wikki Stix for a limitless number of projects as part of a homeschool curriculum, for a school project, or as a supplemental educational activity. I was amazed at some of the examples of Wikki Stix being used for science, math, and social studies activities. Kids learn so much better when they can participate in an activity that is fun and fully engaging and allows them to use more of their senses.

Wikki Stix for Fun

The Wikki Stix Activity Set comes with a selection of Wikki Stix and a great lap board that can be used to create flat pictures or as a base for a 3-d sculpture. My kids loved playing with the Wikki Stix Activity Set at home but we quickly realized that it was an ideal activity to be played with in the car. The Wikki Stix can easily be used on the lap board in the car, and since they stick securely to the board (and anything else you want to stick them to) they won’t be found all over the car floor. My kids enjoyed testing the Wikki Stix out on a 3 hour car ride. They created flat pictures, 3-d figures that they played with before taking them apart and turning them into something new, and stuck them to the car window. I was worried about the Wikki Stix leaving a residue on surfaces in the car but I was pleasantly surprised to find that any residue rubbed right off of any surface, including hands and didn’t require washing.

Enter to Win

Win a Wikki Stix Activity Set.  This giveaway is open to the U.S. and will end on November 12, 2009.

Enter the giveaway by making a comment on this post about one thing you or your kids would like to create using Wikki Stix.

Please see our site’s Terms and Conditions for a complete list of our contest and giveaway rules.

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Here are your random numbers:

13

Timestamp: 2009-12-05 20:08:36 UTC

Congrats Shilo!

Busy Christmas Giveaway Event

The Annual Busy Christmas Giveaway Event is featuring so many great products this year that we had to start it early!

Visit the Busy Christmas Giveaway Event page to see all of the giveaways and find out how you can earn extra entries into this giveaway, and every other giveaway during the Busy Christmas Giveaway Event from October 1 – December 11.