Abby Allen Abby Allen

How Creative Play Builds Career Readiness in Young Children

Did you know that when your child builds with blocks or creates art projects, they're actually developing essential career skills? Research from the American Academy of Pediatrics reveals that creative play isn't just fun—it's fundamental to building the problem-solving, communication, and leadership abilities that modern employers value most.

From critical thinking and resilience to innovation and collaboration, creative play naturally develops the exact competencies that predict professional success. As automation reshapes the job market, these uniquely human skills become even more valuable for future career readiness.

Discover the science behind creative play and learn practical strategies to maximize your child's career development through hands-on activities. Every moment of creative exploration is an investment in your child's future success.

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Abby Allen Abby Allen

5 Easy Apple Crafts for Kids: Perfect Fall Activities for Creative Learning

Apple season is here, and there's no better time to combine learning with creativity! Whether you're looking for a quick afternoon activity or want to dive deep into apple-themed learning, these five apple crafts will have your kids excited about both art and education. From simple paper plate projects perfect for toddlers to interactive games that blend crafting with play, discover fall crafts for kids that use materials you already have at home.

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Abby Allen Abby Allen

From Craft Meltdowns to Creative Confidence: How Supply Independence Transforms Family Art Time

Every parent knows the scenario: excited kids ready to craft, then tears when supplies can't be found. This comprehensive guide shows how teaching children to independently manage their craft supplies transforms frustrating meltdowns into confident creativity. Discover practical strategies for building supply independence, from creating family craft stations to gamifying supply checks with GlueStick. 
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Abby Allen Abby Allen

Why Kids Need to Fail: Teaching Resilience Through Kids Crafts

Last week, my seven-year-old's paper airplane nose-dived into the grass, followed by tears and 'I'm not good enough!' Today I realized something hard: she needs practice learning through failure, but I need just as much practice letting her fail. Here's the research-backed science behind why stepping back is one of the most important gifts we can give our children, plus hands-on projects that turn every 'oops' into an opportunity to build resilience.

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Abby Allen Abby Allen

12 Kids Crafts That Help Imagination Take Flight

There's something magical about watching children's eyes light up when they create something that actually flies. Whether it's a simple paper airplane or an elaborate hot air balloon, flight-themed crafts combine creativity with basic physics principles, making them perfect for inspiring young minds. These 12 engaging projects will help your kids explore the wonders of aerodynamics while developing fine motor skills and unleashing their imagination.

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Abby Allen Abby Allen

How to Explain the Science of Flight for Kids: Making Aviation Magic Understandable

Have you ever watched your child stare up at an airplane soaring overhead and ask, 'How does that heavy thing stay up there?' The science of flight might seem complex, but with the right approach, even preschoolers can grasp the basic concepts. Discover simple experiments, hands-on projects, and kid-friendly explanations that turn aviation curiosity into exciting STEM learning adventures right at home.

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Abby Allen Abby Allen

Creative Crafts to Inspire Your Kids' Future Careers

What if simple crafts could unlock your child's career potential? Our latest blog features hands-on projects that introduce kids to exciting professions—from construction and artistry to scientific discovery. Each craft uses everyday household materials and comes with step-by-step guidance, making it easy to turn craft time into career exploration time.

Whether your little one dreams of building bridges, creating masterpieces, or exploring the secret lives of bugs, these activities help children discover their interests while developing essential skills like problem-solving, creativity, and confidence.

Ready to nurture tomorrow's innovators? Dive into our complete guide and watch your child's curiosity bloom—one craft at a time.

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Staci Shepherd Staci Shepherd

Press Release: GlueStick Launch

Saint Anthony, MN — July 1, 2025 — A new app is changing the way families create together. GlueStick, now available on iOS and web, helps busy parents turn everyday household items into meaningful, hands-on projects for kids. No prep, no stress required.

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Staci Shepherd Staci Shepherd

Exploring the Top Features of GlueStick

If you're a parent or caregiver looking for screen time that actually adds value, or if you’re a teacher, grandparent, or babysitter hunting for something fun and engaging to do with kids, you’re in the right place. In this blog post, we’ll walk through what you can expect when you open the GlueStick app for the first time, and how its thoughtful design makes crafting with kids easier than ever.

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Abby Allen Abby Allen

Dive Into Summer Fun: Nine Ocean-Themed Crafts That Make Waves with Kids

Dive into summer creativity with 9 ocean-themed crafts that transform everyday household items into magical sea creatures! Perfect for kids who love marine life, these beach-inspired projects include seashell jellyfish, painted turtle rocks, paper plate jellyfish, and more. Each craft uses materials you likely already have at home, making them budget-friendly and eco-conscious. Great for rainy days, summer camps, or extending those beach vacation memories year-round.

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Subscription Box Showdown: How KiwiCo, Green Kid Crafts and Kids Art Box Stack Up

Parents love subscription boxes for good reason - there's nothing quite like the excitement of a package arriving with everything you need for a creative afternoon with your kids. But with options ranging from $24-48 a month, parents need to think carefully about what kits are going to be best for their families.

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Abby Allen Abby Allen

Finding Family Inspiration

It can be hard to inspire ourselves to find the time to plan, create, and clean up after creative pursuits for our children. Therefore, it’s important to find the ideas that inspire you as a family. Here are a few ideas on how to get those creative energies flowing in ways that everyone will enjoy and that will motivate children to continue creating on their own.

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Abby Allen Abby Allen

Celebrating International Women’s Day

International Women’s Day means a little more to me this year as a founder launching her very own brand. I’m proud of my accomplishments. I’m proud of how far America has come in just a few short years as women lead the post-pandemic recovery. But there’s more work to do to achieve entrepreneurial equity.

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Abby Allen Abby Allen

The GlueStick ABCDEs: Art, Building, Craft, Design, and Engineering with kids

Whether it's a paper collage, a hemp necklace, or a Lego set, novice crafters take instructions from a mentor, follow them to learn basic skills, then find the confidence to forge their own creations. These experiences are critically important. Creating something from scratch builds self-esteem, teaches the value of trial and error, of hard work, patience, diligence, and attention to detail. The things we make as kids make us the adults we grow to be. That's why the language around how and what we encourage kids to make matters.

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