Resources for Imaginative Play

Want to Get Your Kids Into College? Let Them Play

2011-11-04T10:19:00.000-07:00

Really? Play gets kids into college? What could be better?

At Think-a-lot Toys, we've long advocated that play is an important factor in education. Play gets kids to have fun while learning new things. It teaches them how to interact socially and emotionally in healthy ways. So when I came across an article by a Harvard professor and an early childhood teacher who serve as "Masters" of a residential house at Harvard, I felt it was worth passing on because it shatters some of our beliefs that we have about how to create smart kids.

Their article says that while most parents think that while play-based education is good for a kid's childhood, skills-based education is what will get them into Harvard. After working with Harvard students for many years, they both came to the conclusion that in fact, this belief is wrong and should be switched. A play-based curriculum is better at getting kids into Harvard than a skills-based one.

Why? Because a play-based curriculum teaches kids how to play well with others. It teaches them how to listen to the feelings and ideas of others. It teaches them how to disagree, problem solve, be flexible and live with disappointment. And it teaches them how to control their impulses, which research says is the best predictor of school success.

How does this relate to getting into college?

Well, these authors write, "As admissions officers at selective colleges like to say, an entire freshman class could be filled with students with perfect grades and test scores. But academic achievement in college requires readiness skills that transcend mere book learning. It requires the ability to engage actively with people and ideas. In short, it requires a deep connection with the world." And play seems to be one of the best ways to get kids to engage with others and connect with the world in a constructive way. As they said, "They all know how to work, but some of them haven't learned how to play."

So, it appears that a play-based education really does get kids into college. As parents, we can make sure our kids have enough play in their life and we can advocate for having enough play at school and even in the classroom. Having games like Think-ets, StoryPlay Cards and Story Speller in the classroom may help get them into a great college.

To read the full article, visit http://www.cnn.com/2010/OPINION/12/29/christakis.play.children.learning/index.html

Storytelling in Education

2011-10-12T09:54:00.000-07:00

I came across an amazing statement the other day about the importance of storytelling in education.

"Amidst the bustle of our visually-oriented, technologically-enhanced, multi-tasking, competitive world where we share information through text messaging, sound bytes, cell phones, and disks that we burn, we need to be reminded of our humanity... Storytelling helps students be active not only in presenting but also in focused listening and reacting, enhancing the vital skills of communication."

This comes from a statement from the Youth, Educators and Storytellers Alliance of the National Storytelling Network (aka YES! Alliance) and I think it hits the nail on the head. Too often we spend time in digital communication rather than face to face communication. Storytelling, in all its forms, is a shared form of communication that brings us closer to our humanity.

According to their report, some of the benefits of storytelling in education include the following:

it enlivens the delivery of curriculum
it encourages students to think about issues
it can deliver emotional and factual content beyond a child's vocabulary or reading ability
it helps students stretch and expand their thinking
it expands visualization skills as children form pictures in their minds.

Indeed, we tell stories naturally. At dinner parties. In casual conversation. By the campfire. Even in business presentations. Learning to tell stories effectively is a useful skill and when we bring our silliness, imaginations and creativity to our stories we further engage our audience.

Sure, there are ways to manipulate stories to our own ends. And there are ways that we over indulge our emotional responses when we share our stories with others. But the art of storytelling requires that we balance our own personal stories by listening to our audience and blending our emotions with fact.

The YES! Alliance recognizes that storytelling has an important role to play in education. We here at Think-a-lot Toys couldn't agree more.

(To read the full statement from the YES! Alliance, go to: www.storynet.org/resources/YES Position Paper.pdf)

Think-ets is...Major Fun!

2011-09-21T12:01:00.000-07:00

We're thrilled to say that our game Think-ets has just won the "Major Fun" award from, who else...Major Fun!

Major Fun is also known as the award-winning designer and educator, Bernie DeKoven! Bernie has been inventing new ways to play since the early 1970s when he developed a curriculum in social skill development through games for the School District of Philadelphia and helped the New Games Foundation develop its international training program in facilitating large scale community play events.

What we love about him is the quality of his reviews and the insight into games, culled from years of experience. Check out what he wrote about our "game" Think-ets:

"But despite all the games that can be played when you open one of these packages, I’m not going to talk about the games. Instead I’m going to talk about what makes Think-ets such a great toy as opposed to a game.

A quick story. When I handed my daughter (9) and one of her best friends (11) a couple of bags of Think-ets, one of the first things they did was arrange the pieces. My daughter went for shape and color and her friend by alphabetical order. They created other patterns and spent half an hour or more just moving the pieces into lines. This actually seemed to fit some of the games mentioned in the instructions, so I suggested one of the other games and they shrugged without much enthusiasm but went right on playing with the pieces. They soon left the table and went off to incorporate the Think-ets into a rather complicated game of school they had going upstairs.

My guess is that most people will experience Think-ets in the way my daughter and her friend did. They are fascinating toys. They are vehicles for imaginative play, and in this capacity they are incredibly engaging. For a game to work—for anything to be considered a game in the first place—the players must agree to follow a set of rules; a prescribed set of behaviors must be followed. A game is a common set of behaviors. By contrast, a toy might suggest methods of play, but a toy is not limited to a single set of actions. You want your cowboy action figure to dive to Atlantis? Fine. You want it to actually be a dog instead of a human? Sure. That dog has a pet spider that looks a lot like my car keys? That’s great…

Hey! Gimme my keys!

Think-ets are Major Fun not because of the games that are included in the package, but because the collection of trinkets lends itself so well to the imagination."

See what I mean?

So, if you're looking for a great game, or toy, check out his site. You will be pleasantly surprised to see reviews from a pro. Check him out at www.majorfun.com.

What's In a Story?

2011-06-28T14:06:00.000-07:00

Have you ever really listened carefully to the stories that your kids or your friends tell when they are engaged in storytelling? It's an amazing exercise and may even give you lots of information about them.

Kierran Egan is a professor of education at Simon Fraser University in Canada and author of the book, "Teaching As Storytelling: An Alternative Approach to Teaching and Curriculum in the Elementary School." He argues that schools often ignore the power and educational use of children's imaginations. Kids make sense of the world through stories. It helps them manage the information that comes in. And, teaching through storytelling is an important tool that should be used in the classroom.

So, what does this really mean? Well, it means letting the kids learn about abstract concepts like loyalty and betrayal, courage and cowardice, and honor and selfishness through stories--both those written by famous people and those written or told by themselves. Stories have a way of tapping into symbolic expression, which lies a little deeper under the surface and which gets kids totally engrossed.

So, grab your bag of Think-ets or StoryPlay Cards and tell your kids or friends to tell you a story. Short ones are fine. Then, take a moment and really look at the story elements they included. I like to think of stories as little inkblot tests, they sure can tell you a lot about what a person is thinking. And that, can be really interesting--and boatloads of fun.

Conversations That Feed the Heart

2011-06-08T07:48:00.000-07:00

Conversations of the heart are important. They bring us closer to the deeper feelings we have inside that drive us. And, they bring us closer to the things we are thinking about or are truly joyous about. In our busy world, having these kinds of special conversations is important and one of the main reasons we created our StoryPlay Cards.

Our StoryPlay Cards were designed as a multi-purpose deck so kids wouldn't get bored with them. You can use them as storytelling cards. You can use them to play card games. And you can use them to start conversations of the heart. Here is how it works.

Spread out some StoryPlay Cards face up. You can spread all of them or just 20 random ones. Take a moment to pick the one that says, "This is me right now!" Maybe it's the Path, Sword, Gift, or even the Shadow. Whatever it is, it is saying something that is important to you. We are driven by forces inside us and it's good now and again to look at and even dialogue about these things.

Last month, my daughter and I sat down and did this little card choosing with some close friends and their kids. I chose the Cocoon because I had just finished a long project that was exhausting and I needed a little inward time. We all went around and heard about the card that we picked. What is so precious about this is that we each got to know a little bit more about each other and it brought us closer.

Our world is indeed on the fast track of change and getting together with others to share in laughter, creativity and personal insight is a good thing.

Stories, Not Data at Heart of Human Motivation

2011-05-18T17:09:00.000-07:00

Recently, the Vancouver Sun ran a story under this title describing how stories are really at the heart of human motivation, much more than data. Stories have the essential quality of being able tap into the emotional "root system" that drives all of us. At Think-a-lot Toys, this is music to our ears.

As the author of the article points out, "The work of the great mythologist Joseph Campbell demonstrated that human beings the world over are wired to respond to storytelling. This is because we are emotional, meaning-making creatures first, and what stir us are efforts and opportunities that capture our imagination." Stories, it seems, drive us and have driven us for centuries. And the better we get at telling stories--and listening to the wisdom of others' stories--the better we become at motivating not only ourselves but others.

In fact, the former CEO of Sony Pictures, Peter Guber, has just come out with a new book titled "Tell to Win"and in it he shares that a lifetime of refining his own storytelling ability has accounted for the lion's share of his success. He shares how he motivated people first through their heart or gut and then followed up with the reasons to act. And, framing his vision through stories were key to his success.

What this tells me is that storytelling is an important art that we need to nurture throughout life. Whether we are regaling others with our humorous or heartbreaking stories of daily life or we are sharing the deeper stories of our own hero's journey, it is important to remember that storytelling is more important than data, just as imagination is more important than knowledge.

Albert Einstein captured this well when he said that "not everything that counts can be counted and not everything that can be counted counts."

For the full version of this story by Juma Wood, visit http://www.vancouversun.com/business/Stories+data+heart+human+motivation/4804320/story.html

More Ways to Use Think-ets

2011-05-11T13:51:00.000-07:00

Think-ets are great for telling stories. They are also great for playing memory games or the strategy game, "Who's Last?"

But one enthusiastic player wrote in with all the ways she can think of to use Think-ets in addition to the games we list. These will surely stimulate creativity, critical thinking and who knows what else. Thanks to Diane Black!

SUGGESTIONS for PLAYERS:

1) Make up a themed story (school story, story featuring a particular person--real or not, camping story, Halloween story, birthday story, fun variation on a book or movie already known, etc)... each person could also take a turn at declaring the theme (e.g. declaring trumps)

2) Sounds: order items by initial sounds or by ending sounds, or alphabetically, or by number of syllables... or voice the sound that each makes, or "could" make .

3) Language: give a verb (or adjective, or proper noun) relating to each item... put items down by "sentence" or by "paragraph" to separate and begin to get concept of organizing speech/writing

4) Visual: sort by color/etc. attributes: (darkest to lightest... solid color vs. pattern... palest to most saturated colors.... same color or same color familiy... as "color wheel")

5) Sort by size ...sort by shape--perhaps least amount of "stick-out-ness"... make solid shapes with lines/columns --e.g., lines of rows to make a square or rectangle shape

6) Make a circle/triangle/square/diagonal/radius, etc., outline with the items

7) Nest objects as close together as possible (leaving least amt of empty space), like puzzle pieces ...pick one object up without moving others (like pickup sticks)

8) Use tweezers, chopsticks, etc. to pick up ...then perhaps immediately stack, or toss into a circle, magazine, piece of clothing, or pouch/bag, etc.

9) Add other objects to the 15... e.g., a number of the same items like rocks or beans, then use those as another object (3-D mountain) or as a path, or an outline of scenery feature (like a corral or map)... or add various objects one might find around the house, or could make

10) Add a piece of aluminum foil to the 15 objects --it can be scrunched or bent to make all kinds of shapes, requires no glue, and can be torn into more pieces ...plain paper can also be twisted or bent into various shapes

11) Make a tunnel or an arch from twisted paper/foil or anything around, then try to flip objects through it (like playing marbles), or put objects on a tilted surface then try to slide them through....... or make ramps and jumps of various kinds for objects

12) Draw a scene to go with the story as it's made up, or for the story to conform to... or draw something for each object to sit in, etc., or that relates to it

13) Draw a path on paper or napkin at a restaurant (possibly with obstacles or other things), then move object inside path without touching edges of path or obstacles ...or have the drawn objects be part of story... or make a regular game with a drawn "board" by using other scraps of paper/etc as indicators of the # of spaces to move (or could have stop-for-one-turn, or jump-ahead-six or similar icon marked on path ...or use a die or a spinner or draw straws, etc., or add something like rock/scissors/paper, to decide how many objects to use for a round of play)

14) Or instead of drawing on something temporary, at home make a more permanent "board" or scene by gluing (onto cardboard or something a bit stiff) string or yarn as paths, wads of green paper for bushes, tunnels, etc.... if make the board or scene in a shallow box, can be covered and taken with pouch when not at home

15) To avoid having a "winner," avoiding having an end if there's a path...and/or just play for a certain amount of time, or until players want to move on to something else.

OK, then. Go get busy!

Think-ets and StoryPlay Cards as Writing Prompts

2011-04-25T14:51:00.000-07:00

Sometimes it just takes a little thing to get us motivated. A word said. A gesture made. Or even a miniature given. Teachers have found that using tactile objects or illustrated cards are a wonderful way to get kids out of their inertia and into a whole world of their imaginations--and Think-ets and StoryPlay Cards have been a fun way to get kids thinking and then writing.

Teachers love having these two classroom tools in their classroom because of how they can spark their imaginations and get them going on writing a story. Writing can sometimes be a tedious job when you just can't think about what to write about. Most of us have had writer's block. But having a little story prompt, like a Think-ets trinket or a StoryPlay Card, can launch kids into the unknown and get them writing.

How does it work? Theoretically, it works because we are often motivated by something that triggers not only our minds but also our hearts. Emotion is a great driver for a story. When kids connect with a Think-ets trinkets or StoryPlay Card, they do so because they love what they choose because it has some meaning for them. It connect with something in their emotional worlds. And then, they can begin to write about something meaningful to them.

Practically, it works like this. Lay out your set of Think-ets trinkets or StoryPlay Cards and have kids pick one that they like. If you have time, get them to talk in pairs with a partner about why they picked the object or card and what it reminded them of. Many kids love having time to talk about it with someone else before they get started. It further fuels their creative juices.

Parents who want their kids to be more imaginative love these tools. And, it works equally as well for adults as with kids, though adults may prefer the StoryPlay Cards to miniatures.

We all know the power that imagination has on our lives. It creates new ideas, new products, new jobs, even whole new industries. It can also combat boredom and help in resolving conflicts. But perhaps best of all, it creates tons of fun.

Play and the Over-Scheduled Child

2010-08-25T15:32:00.000-07:00

What has happened to free play these days? It appears that in our rush to greatness, we have scheduled ourselves so thoroughly that being able to have free time--and free play--is becoming a rare thing. And, it may be doing more harm to our children than we think.

A recent report by IKEA, the international home furnishings retailer (wonderfully enough), shows that 78% of all parents agree that "children should be allowed to play without it having to be educational." Now, we all like a good educational game, like Think-ets, but when we start to dictate to our kids that all play needs to accomplish something educational or that everything our kid does has to be productive in some way, we may have gone too far.

Studies show that, worldwide, our kids are more stressed than they were a decade ago. This stress can be so great that it even can lead to mental illness. Parents, too, face plenty of social pressure from a variety of sources telling them that their kids need to be high achievers. But it appears to be time for some parents to back off.

Fortunately, the answer is simple and right in front of us: more free play without structure or goals. We need to give our kids time to run around or play "just for the fun of it." No rules. No agenda. No goal in mind. According to the IKEA report, this may be one of the best ways parents can help facilitate a child's healthy development.

So, go ahead. Play a game, have some fun, and let kids be kids by allowing them to play, or think, or dream, or draw without a purpose in mind. We like to call it open-ended play. It may be just what the doctor ordered.

Imagination is Like Fire

2010-07-19T07:58:00.000-07:00

"Imagination is like fire. No—strike that. Imagination is fire... Perhaps you have figured out a few ways to make sparks and fan flames. Now comes the question: to what ends shall you use that fire?"

This bold quote and question comes from one of the best books recently published on the subject of imagination. It's called "Imagination First: Unlocking the Power of Possibility" by Eric Liu and Scott Noppe-Brandon. And, it calls us to recognize and use one of the most powerful tools in our toolbox...our imagination.

They go on to say that, "The New Commission on the Skills of the American Workforce paints an ominous picture of the surge in skilled labor in China, India, and other emerging economies—juxtaposed against an aging American workforce that needs serious retooling. In every sector, our competitors’ investments in education and technology are eroding the edge that has traditionally justified the pay of American workers. As China and India climb the skills ladder, there is, in the view of the Commission, only one potential competitive advantage left for Americans: our imagination."

You heard that right. Our biggest resource is likely the power of our imagination--and we better harness it if we want to stay competitive in the world economy. It's why we here at Think-a-lot Toys believe so much in the power of imaginative play.

On the brighter and lighter side, isn't using our imagination fun, too? If you have ever played with our game Think-ets and heard some of the whacky, creative stories people come up with, you will surely agree.

Unplugging is the New Freedom

2010-06-01T10:19:00.000-07:00

This Memorial Day weekend couldn't have been better. Sunshine with a bit of rain; outdoor activities, barbecues, and pleasant easy-going conversation with people that matter. I noticed one wonderful thing: it felt good to be unplugged. By that I mean being far from the digital barrage of information, if only for a brief weekend, felt good--even freeing.

Unplugging ourselves on a regular basis is critically important in today's day and age. If we want to live a life of balance, it is important that we create time and space away from the computer and in front of real human beings and nature. The value it brings us is immeasurable. Unfortunately, it is slowly becoming a scarce resource.

The Alliance for Childhood says in their recent newsletter that over the past decade, we have seen profound changes--both good and bad--in the landscape of childhood. We have seen the disappearance of unstructured play, the growth of passive screen time and standardized testing, the rise of childhood obesity, and the disconnection of children from the natural world.

It's time for us to take a long hard look at how much free time we give ourselves and our children and how we can make a conscious effort to uplug more often. One of the best ways to unplug ourselves is to go outside and play in nature. Another way is to play games that don't have batteries or a screen. Our games at Think-a-lot Toys are designed to be open-ended and to be played both outside and in.

Think of all the things you can do without being plugged in. You don't always have to have all the information at your fingertips. In fact, wandering and not knowing are sometimes the healthiest and most creative acts we can do.

I like to think that unplugging ourselves from the digital age once in awhile is the new freedom--and a freedom that is worth fighting for.

The Importance of Encouraging Free Play

2010-05-06T08:08:00.000-07:00

A leading colleague in the field of toys and games wrote this letter to Mrs. Obama that I thought was so good it was worth sharing in its entirety. It's a wonderful ode to the importance of open-ended play--something all of us here at Think-a-lot Toys believe in wholeheartedly...

Dear Mrs. Obama,

I was very pleased to read about your efforts in getting America's children active through your “Let's Move America” program.

For those who may still be unaware of your initiative, it has set as its goal “…solving the challenge of childhood obesity within a generation.” One way that the initiative seeks to get some of that weight off is through getting kids to get out from in front of their computer screens and go outside and play.

I applaud your desire to see children to play outside and be active. I firmly believe, however, that there is an even bigger reason for children to play outside than improving their physical health and losing weight. They need to do it so that we and they can continue to maintain a civil society and a robust democracy.

Does that sound like an oversized statement? Hear me out: Outdoor play teaches children to be good citizens of a democracy; it teaches them to be leaders; it teaches them to be entrepreneurs; and it teaches them to get along with their neighbors. Here's why: Unlike indoor games, outdoor games typically don't have strict rules. Buy a board game and you will get a precise set of regulations. Play outdoors and you will usually have to establish the rules yourself.

When we were children, we had lots of free time, particularly in the summer when school was out. If we decided, for example, to play Wiffleball, we and not our parents decided which bush or tree was a base and whether hitting the ball out of the yard into the street was a home run. In addition, we chose our own captains, the captains chose their own teams and everyone had to decide (with no parent or umpire present) if someone was out. In short, we made the law, we obeyed the law and we enforced the law.

Don't get me wrong, indoor games are vitally important to a society as well; they teach us how to regulate our lives within a legal structure, and if there is a disagreement on the interpretation of the rules, we learn how to parse them and make a “legal” decision. Outdoor games, however, give us something more. They don't just teach us how to obey and interpret the law, they teach us how to make and enforce it as well.

And that's not all: You don't have to have lots of money to play outdoor games. In fact, you don't have to have any. All you need is a ball, a jump rope, jacks, a piece of chalk or a stick. If you want to play hide and seek or tag, you don't need anything but raw energy and imagination. Outdoor play is the peoples' play.

So why don't kids go out and play today?

They simply don't have the time. There are too many soccer league practices, too many music lessons, too many adult-organized play groups and too many hours spent riding in the back seat of a car. When they get home, they need to do their homework. It's no wonder we hear so much about the amount of hours kids spend in front of TV and computer screens.

Children haven't just lost the time devoted to free play; they have lost the spontaneity that comes from having no adults in their way. Remember how much fun it was to play with no adults around? In fact, 'grown-up' was almost a bad word in those days. Who needed them? As long as we stayed on the block and no one got hurt, cried, fought or yelled too loudly, we got to do pretty much whatever we wanted. Mostly, at least to our parents, we were seen and unseen. Like little wills of the wisp, we scurried down alleys, climbed over fences and crawled under porches. We were out there, our parents keeping half an ear and an eye out in the hope that they might spot us. Children today, however, are overly guarded and guided. Adults hover over them, choosing teams, establishing rules and setting boundaries. Children simply do not have any freedom. They are in a perpetual lock down.

So, here is an idea, Mrs. Obama, ask America's parents to give their kids back their free time and their freedom. Let them employ their imaginations, their backyards and their friends to choose what they want to do as well as when, how and with whom they want to do it. We will all be better off for it.

Respectfully,

Richard Gottlieb

(Richard Gottlieb is president of Richard Gottlieb & Associates LLC, a provider of business development services. He has 35 years experience in the toy industry in sales and sales management. He can be reached at richard@usatoyexpert.com)

The Importance of Play in Education

2010-05-04T10:15:00.000-07:00

Do you remember what you learned in elementary school? For most of us, that was a long time ago and we probably don’t remember much. But we often remember those fun events where we learned and played at the same time. Barbara Mehler is the media specialist at Bedford Hills Elementary School in Lynchburg VA and she came up with a very creative way to engage the kids at her school. She created a Think-ets Competition, based on the Think-ets game by Think-a-lot Toys.

She realized that there were lots of events where kids who excelled in sports got support and recognition for their talents but there weren’t events for kids who were great thinkers. So, she created a Think-ets Competition at which students played the classic game, “What’s Missing?” in pairs. The winner of each pair would advance to the next round--and if they were smart enough, they would reach the finals. The winner of the finals would win a free Think-ets game.

As she said, “We based the competition around the memory game, “What’s Missing?” because what we have been doing in the library for the last month is exercising your brain without watching television or being in front of a computer. I have gotten a lot of different kinds of games for our school but none of them have taken off like Think-ets. They think it’s just the most marvelous thing. I cannot express the excitement and enthusiasm that this game has created among our students.” Now isn’t that cool?

When kids get engaged in something they love, they often “take it to heart.” The simple game of Think-ets has been such a game for this elementary school. Any other elementary school want to take up the challenge? Send us your story and we'll send you a free game.

The Impact of the Digital Age on Imagination

2010-04-22T15:35:00.000-07:00

Author and renowned storyteller, Laura Simms, has a lot to say about the need for imagination in our world. Her perspective is a powerful reminder that imagination is critical. But here's what got me--she talks about the impact that the digital age is having on imagination.

She says, "Imagination is essential. It keeps alive our access to embodied compassion, inner reflection and delight. In these times of dependence on digital communication, it is important to find ways to enliven imagination, make meaning, and drench ourselves and/or our children in the visceral delight of sharing our stories."

It makes one wonder...are we allowing enough free time for kids and adults to use their imaginations free of outside influence such as licensed products? Do we encourage creative thinking where thoughtful, even deep questions, are encouraged?

The digital age often bombards us with information. Much of it is useful. But too much of it crowds out our ability to think, feel, and question. It may be that many of us need less time in front of the computer and more time in front of other human beings and in nature where our minds can be freer to think creatively.

We need space, and imagination is like the space between the digits of our digital world.

Innovation and Imagination

2009-12-11T14:51:00.000-08:00

It seems these days many people are talking about the importance of innovation for turning our economy around. Columnists David Brooks, Thomas Friedman, Paul Krugman all talk about it. Our country has many resources but perhaps one of our most valuable resources is the resource of imagination and our ability as a nation to innovate. We not only have the talent, but we also have the business and cultural environment that encourages innovation--something not all countries have.

What I wonder about is whether we recognize the connection between innovation and the role that toys and games play in creating imaginative and innovative people. Play has an essential role to play in this equation. It is time to encourage all aspects of the imaginative mind and our internal imaginal worlds. Let kids' imaginations run free. Let our own hearts and minds dream big.

The world is full of success stories showing how a little idea turned into something huge, even magnificent. What we can all do is to say we care about the imaginal world of our kids and our colleagues.

One way to encourage the imagination is to buy gifts and games for the holidays that stimulate open-ended thinking and open-ended play. And then, it's up to us to play them with a spirit of wonder and amazement over the wild ideas that come out.

Go ahead. Find yourself a game or gift that inspires your imagination. You just might find out how much fun you will have in the process.

Top 10 Tips for Buying Good Toys

2009-11-25T06:49:00.000-08:00

Here’s a list of 10 tips for buying good toys for all the kids in your life (and consider yourself a kid if you’re young in spirit and love to play!)

1. Buy toys that engage their imagination. In a survey of kids done by a toy industry magazine, kids said that they want toys that spark their imagination. Kids are full of ideas, so buy games that tap into this amazing power. (Example: Think-ets, Legos)

2. Get toys that have many different ways of playing with them. Kids want layers of fun. They want games that have different rules, levels, and applications. This way, their toy isn’t boring after awhile and keeps on giving just when they start to fade. (Examples: Playing Cards, Bananagrams)

3. Intrigue them enough to make them want to invent a toy themselves. All kids like to invent. Whether it’s a scientific experiment or a fantasy play, they want to create something new. Look for games and toys that are simple, innovative, and that “think outside the box.” Inspire your kids. (Example: Fractiles, Flashflight Flying Discs)

4. Buy games of quality. There is nothing worse than getting a toy home and having it break after a short period of time playing with it. If at all possible, buy the toy that has a sturdy and satisfying feel to it. It will last far longer and its play value will far outlast your original investment. (Examples: ‘Bedroom at Arles’ Wooden Puzzle by Think-a-lot Toys, Doinkit Darts.)

5. Try something different. It’s a big toy world out there and while we all know and love our favorites, like Monopoly and Pictionary, there are many hidden and not-so-hidden gems waiting for you. Ask your friends, your neighbors and your specialty toys store sales clerks what’s new and different. (Examples: Djubi, Magformers)

6. Avoid licensed products. OK, this may be hard for some of us but the problem with buying too many licensed toys is that they limit kids’ imagination. Products that come with their own scripted story tend to do the thinking for the child and don’t allow kids to create their own stories, which are limitless. (Example: Knight/Dragon Cape and Hood by Creative Education of Canada)

7. Choose simple toys. A good toy is 10 percent toy and 90 percent child. The child's imagination is the engine of healthy play. Simple toys and natural materials, like wood, boxes, balls, dolls, sand, and clay invite children to create their own scenes—and then knock them down and start over. (Examples: Sand, Clay, Dolls, Balls)

8. Be Easy on the Environment. There is a growing awareness that we need to start buying toys that are not only good for our kids but good for the planet. Many new toy companies are stepping up and creating great products that use recycled materials. Kids will know you care when they see you buying toys that are “green” and use minimal packaging. (Examples: Tea Set by Green Toys, ImagiPLAY’s Wooden Toys)

9. Choose toys that support right brain thinking. Daniel Pink, author of A Whole New Mind says that the future belongs to a different kind of person with a different kind of mind: designers, inventors, teachers, and storytellers, etc.—those who are empathic, inventive and have big-picture capabilities. All kids—boys and girls—need toys that engage the right side of their brains. (Examples: Scratch Art, Piano Wizard)

10. Listen to Your Kids. By this, we mean listen to your kid’s passions. Sure, they might want the latest hot toy or game—and one may be fine—but also think about each child in particular and find out what really moves them and what they are ready for. Think back over the year and see if there are times when your kid was truly engaged and then find those toys and games that meet this passion. (Examples: Your Own Eyes and Ears)

Most importantly, have fun when buying good toys for your kids. Nothing ruins good play by getting stressed out when you are out to bring more fun into the world. Make your toy-buying journey a destination in and of itself.

The Stick...An Open-Ended Play Classic

2009-11-19T07:04:00.000-08:00

Sometimes it is hard to beat the simple things in life. Kara Bowman, educator, wrote the article below about the stick being inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame. Her article shows that when it comes to good toys and games, there is nothing better than something simple, something that is open-ended and limitless in its possibilities for play. That's our goal at Think-a-lot Toys. Open-ended play means open-ended thinking where you are limited only by your imagination. Listen to what she says about the stick...

"Consider this: The Children’s Discovery Center in San Jose, California had a problem. They had a 1,200 square foot open space for changing exhibits, which was empty for a month this fall between the departure of one show and the arrival of the next. A museum staffer had an idea: she taped up some discarded boxes and threw them in the exhibit area. After adding a few dozen more boxes, some crayons, masking tape and safety scissors, the museum found they had one of their most popular exhibits of all time: Box City. Given that the museum has had exhibits costing up to a million dollars in the same space, what makes Box City one of the most popular attractions in the museum?

Before we get to that question, consider this: The National Toy Hall of Fame inducts toys each year based on specific criteria including the toy's icon status, the longevity of its popularity, how the toy encourages learning or creativity, and innovation. Past winners have included Legos, the Barbie doll, crayons, Tonka trucks, the jigsaw puzzle, and other usual suspects. Based on their criteria, in 2008 the Hall of Fame’s judges inducted … The Stick. "It's very open-ended, all-natural, the perfect price -- there aren't any rules or instructions for its use," said Christopher Bensch, the museum's curator of collections. "It can be a Wild West horse, a medieval knight's sword, a boat on a stream or a slingshot with a rubber band. ... No snowman is complete without a couple of stick arms, and every campfire needs a stick for toasting marshmallows. This toy is so fantastic that it's not just for humans anymore. You can find otters, chimps and dogs playing with it."

The box? The stick? What is it with open-ended play that makes it so appealing that kids will put down the several hundred dollar video game system to play with a ball of silly putty? It could be that our children’s brains know what they need to develop optimally, just as their bodies know when they're hungry. Research has shown there are several advantages to a child's development if they engage in play that has no defined expectations or outcomes.

Open-ended play develops the imagination. Imagination is the ability to form a mental image of something that is not there. Starting around age two, children can understand the symbolic nature of one thing standing for another, such as a box for a boat and a towel for a sail. The abilities to think symbolically and abstractly are the basic building blocks of creativity and intelligence. Albert Einstein even said, "Imagination is more important than knowledge," and he's no slouch in either department!

Creative play also helps children develop their social and emotional abilities. Kids will try on adult roles and test out ways of acting and being. In this way, they can develop their 'what-if' abilities, which is one way to strengthen their understanding of consequences. Children solidify their learning by not just taking things in passively, such as with screen time, but by mimicking and recreating what they have seen. They can also express themselves emotionally under the guise of being a character and children who playact are known to develop their ability to empathize. Creative play has also been linked to increased cooperation, problem-solving skills, leadership skills and behavioral control, such as using words to express oneself and waiting one's turn. Hmm… Maybe we should have time-outs to play house in Congress. It couldn't hurt.

Spending a lot of time in creative play also helps build cognitive skills. According to a National Public Radio report, "While... play might look a lot like time spent doing nothing much at all, it actually helps build a critical cognitive skill called executive function. Executive function has a number of elements, such as working memory and cognitive flexibility, but perhaps the most important is self-regulation - the ability for kids to control their emotions and behavior, resist impulses, and exert self-control and discipline. Executive function - and its self-regulation element - is important. Poor executive function is associated with high dropout rates, drug use and crime. In fact, good executive function is a better predictor of success in school than a child's IQ." (Creative Play Makes for Kids in Control, February 28, 2008)

So how can we give our children this elixir of all good things? Unlike most parts of parenting, it's very simple: 1) provide a safe space, either in the house or outdoors, 2) provide open-ended materials that will help spark creativity, and 3) provide the gift of time. (Why Creative Play Matters, Zrinka Peters, education.com) Children who have ample opportunity for creative play will be comfortable with it and find occasion for it everywhere. For example, when my daughter was in kindergarten, I received a note from her teacher one day that said, "Would you please talk to your daughter about pretending to be a dog at lunch and eating her meal with her hands behind her back? It was okay for the first week, but now everyone is doing it and they’re not all as neat as she is."

You can provide materials that will spark the creative drive in your child. Toddlers love to mimic so you can provide them with toy household goods or dress-up clothes. Other items that can stimulate creativity are stuffed animals or other figures, and large building blocks. Preschoolers also enjoy creating whole small worlds, such as dollhouses, airports, or towns. They also enjoy dolls, dinosaurs and other representative playthings. Elementary aged children add to the repertoire with puppets, play-dough, adult-style dolls, and more sophisticated building blocks and construction materials. All children love age-appropriate art supplies such as specialty papers, pens, paints and scissors. To encourage creativity, just make sure there are lots of uses, rather than one correct outcome such as with a coloring book or painted figurine. (Structured play is fine at times, too, and can teach skills such as following rules and sequencing.) One caveat regarding encouraging creativity is to stay away from TV show and movie character costumes or props since playacting things seen on the screen is often an act of re-creation rather than creation. What you want is to inspire their own imaginations, like the kids who were given a bunch of rubber gloves in their preschool class. One said, "I'm a doctor." Another pronounced, "I'm a scientist." And a third one exclaimed, "I'm a mommy changing her hair color!"

This holiday, consider buying gifts that are simple and versatile. They will expand your kids' minds.

www.think-a-lot.com

Pediatricians Urge Free Play

2009-03-25T15:28:00.000-07:00

How do your kids play? Are they getting enough free play time? Are you?

Highlights from a new American Academy of Pediatrics report on the importance of play at home and at school. Here is what they're saying...

Children need free play at home and at school
Play is essential for the cognitive, physical, and emotional well-being of children and youth
Undirected free play:
- Allows children to develop imagination and physical, mental, and emotional strength
- Helps children conquer fears, practice adult roles, and develop confidence
- Allows children to learn to work with others, share, and self-advocate
- Builds active, healthy bodies

Play is essential for learning
- It helps children adjust to school settings
- It enhances learning readiness, learning behaviors, and problem-solving skills

Free play and recess are declining in American schools
- In 1989, 96% of school systems had at least one recess period
- In 1999, only 70% of kindergarten classrooms had recess
- Today, school responses to the No Child Left Behind Act often results in reduced time for recess, creative arts, and physical education

This report clearly shows that free play is critical for the healthy development of children--and this includes "inner children"!

Our world is becoming increasingly focused on technological play to the detriment of free play. Kids, and adults, spend a lot of time--perhaps too much time--in front of a computer. While they may be playing fun, interactive games, it is vital that we build in enough free play with "real person face time."

What does this look like? Play time where there is no agenda. Games where there are open-ended rules or options. Person to person face time where we are physically and emotionally together. After all, we are social-emotional beings. Basically, it is making stuff up--either by ourselves or with others. After all, isn't that what the great artists, inventors, entrepreneurs, and engineers do which make our country great?

Hey, get out there and PLAY! Make stuff up!

The Fringe Benefits of Failure, and the Importance of Imagination

2008-09-02T16:13:00.000-07:00

When JK Rowling delivered one of the most powerful speeches at Harvard University's spring commencement on the importance of imagination, she made headlines. Of course, she might have made headlines with almost any speech she gave, but in this she took another vital stand for the role that imagination plays in our lives.

In her speech, she focused on the role that imagination plays in imagining a better future for those who are powerless. "We do not need magic to transform our world," she said. "We carry all the power we need inside ourselves already; we have the power to imagine better."

So when we talk about getting kids and adults to use their powers of imagination, we are really talking about not only loosening our minds and the routine thinking we often employ but we are talking about how we can think outside the box to help others.

"Imagination gives one the ability to empathize with others," she said. "Imagination is not only the uniquely human capacity to envision that which is not, and therefore the found of all inventions and innovation. In its arguably most transformative and revelatory capacity, it is the power that enables us to empathize with humans whose experiences we have never shared."

With the fast paced onset of computer games, we desperately need to balance this with non-computerized games that stimulate the imagination. Buy games that encourage imaginative thinking. Support kids and co-workers when they have different ideas. Imagine what is possible when kids interact with others in person using their imaginations and cooperative group skills.

Read the whole address from JK Rowling

Child’s Play: What Has Happened to Playtime and Should We Be Worried About It?

2008-07-24T14:24:00.000-07:00

Kids today don't play as much or as spontaneously as we did when we were kids. Child advocates blame hectic lifestyles, pressure to achieve and high-tech toys and media. Without imaginative, free play, they say, kids are losing valuable life skills.

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