At this writing, we are about halfway through the annual Screen Free Week, the brainchild of the Campaign for a Commercial Free Childhood (CCFC), an advocacy group that tries to reduce the impact of advertising on kids.
A Screen-Free Week. Why You May Want to Try It Read More »
Call me old fashioned. Toilet training is a rite of passage. It is something children need to master before entering school. Toilet training can generally start around 22 months to 30 months, and typically boys are trained by 38 months and girls at a slight more precocious 36. Effective toilet training requires muscle control, awareness of body activity and the motor skills to get on the toilet. In talks with pediatricians, it’s evident that this can evolve naturally, as children grow up and are increasingly uncomfortable with a soiled diaper. That’s when parental guidance comes in, educating the child about the body, supporting his or her growing awareness and being gently reassuring in the inevitable accidents that happen along the way.
Game Of Thrones—Toddler Edition Read More »
I grew up in a much less technology-powered time, as virtually any adult did today. We had no iPods or internet, and other than game shows and the occasional horror movie there was nothing on TV for kids in the afternoons—and even those weren’t primarily directed at kids. It simply wasn’t possible to live in
Broadening Horizons Read More »
Recently, I had the opportunity to see an amazing show called “Circus in a Trunk,” performed by The Piccolini Trio, three exceedingly talented young people who are making a living clowning around.
When I was a kid, my family loved word games—Scrabble, Anagrams a now sadly long-forgotten game from Parker Brothers called Probe. We would banter in puns and parody and in our home being quick-witted was the same as being a sports star.
Please Try This At Home: Fun With Language Read More »
I’m hoping that this is the year we can all start having an honest conversation about toys, gender identity and socialization. It’s certainly a topic that can get people all worked up, but is it real? I don’t think so. Like so much in the media in the “age of outrage,” this is often something that’s cooked up so that people can a) pontificate on talk shows and b) sell books or consulting services. Either way, some people are getting rich making you think that a color (pink) has the mystical power to form the personality of the girls in your life.
You know about renting films, cars, even handbags or bridesmaids dresses. But how about renting toys for your kids? Is this a good idea? Certainly several sites and some news outlets have been buzzing about this as a new trend. While it might seem a good idea, there are some things you’d probably want to consider before signing up for one of these programs.
Toy Rentals—Are They Worth It? Read More »
With Christmas less than a week away, many of us are very concerned about giving as we race around to try to finish our shopping for everyone on our lists. (I know I’m nowhere near finished, and this may finally be the year that everyone gets funny socks.)
Giving and Receiving on Christmas Read More »
Sometimes you just have to laugh. I wonder if there isn’t anything in the media or entertainment world these days that can’t provoke adult outrage from someone seeking—and too often getting—publicity. And it all usually comes from one very popular but horribly misguided practice—adults projecting their unresolved personal issues and political agendas on anything that comes in their sights. It doesn’t matter if their opinions makes no sense or ignores the facts; it’s all about getting attention and shocking.
Storytime: Navigating the (Apparent) Minefield Read More »
Were you one of the 212 million shoppers that the National Retail Federation said hit the stores over the Black Friday weekend? Or have you waited for this week to get the Cyber Week deals that are being promised? I was in Los Angeles for the weekend, and visited toy stores all over the area
Holiday Shopping 2011: The Main Event Isn’t Always Buying Read More »
A mom I know and respect recently talked with me about conversations in her 7-year-old daughter’s class among the kids about how rich their families were. Now before you roll your eyes, understand that this is an age when kids are trying to locate themselves within a peer structure—it’s a natural thing we do as humans—and material status is tangible to kids. So let’s assume that they are not intentionally being monsters but, as kids do when they begin to interact in the world as separate individuals looking for simplistic ways to locate themselves within the social order in which they find themselves. True, these kid interactions can create awkward questions and situations at home, but so can questions about body types, clothing, personal habits and myriad other topics that are new to kids as they first encounter the world outside their homes and realize they are encountering things that are different than what they know. Even as a child blurts out, “Why is that person so like that?” at full volume in a public place, we have to struggle to realize that they are trying to get a grasp on this big, strange world they suddenly find themselves in. They don’t know topics are off limits or inappropriate for a high decibel discussion, even as you, the adult, want to disappear.
An Attitude of Gratitude: Recalling What Thanksgiving is About Read More »
One of my favorite things to do at this time of year when toys are top of mind for nearly everyone, is to explain to baffled adults-admittedly most of whom don’t have young kids-the wonder of a toy that does “nothing,” for example, a doll, stuffed animal, or other toy that doesn’t have an electronic chip in it. Second best is the incredulous question/statement, “You mean that’s ALL it does?!”
It does NOTHING? Ha! That’s what you think! Read More »
From a Line Around the Block to the Broadway Stage About this time last year, I had the inspiring and heartwarming opportunity to attend the open auditions for Ballet Girls in “Billy Elliot.” It happened again this year, with nearly 200 girls and their parents waiting for hours outside the Broadhurst theatre in New York
Dreams Coming True Read More »
I’ve read a lot this summer about the so-called “brain drain” that happens when kids aren’t engaged in learning, and I’ve talked to parents who believe it’s occurring with their kids. Personally, I never experienced it because both my parents were teachers, and our summers though filled with play were also, as I see it now, filled with learning. My mom especially kept coming up with projects that kept us engaged and learning—when we weren’t outside riding bikes or playing pick up games. In a few weeks family lives will be more structured around specific school activities, but that’s no reason that the fun or learning should stop.
Year-Round Learning…And Play Read More »
School’s out, but there are always opportunities for learning. This summer, the tragic case of the murder of Caylee Anthony gives us a chance to talk with kids about our court system and how it works, reality—and the media. If you haven’t followed this, a young mother Casey Anthony was accused of murdering her preschool
Summer Civics Lesson Read More »
The Supreme Court has ruled that barring the sale of violent video games to minors violates the First Amendment. This ruling should be applauded, and I agree with the Court that the nature of content does not override the protections of the First Amendment.
Free Speech and Common Sense—What The Video Game Ruling Means Read More »
So much is written about how kids are consuming electronic media, lulled into a stupor by electronic games and generally disengaged. That may play well in the media, but is it reality? I’m starting to think not so much. I’ve been talking to a ton of parents lately about their plans for the summer and
Make It a Classic Summer Read More »
Summertime is all about great play—and at our recent Spring & Summer Showcase, we got to play with a wide variety of creative, engaging toys designed to make the summer fun for kids.
Keeping Summer Safe… And Sane Read More »
That grinding sound you hear is my teeth, and that loud crash you just heard was me throwing a toy against the way.
Zen and the Art of Toy Assembly Read More »
Children’s worlds—and the toy and products industries—always reflect the adult world. I’ve long said that if one really wants to understand adult perceptions and values, one need only look at what is being reflected in toys, entertainment and lifestyles targeted to children. It’s not that complex. Kids want to be grown up, and they want
Debunking “The War on Childhood” Read More »
The Harry Potter exhibition opened in Times Square this week with a gala event that included appearances by members of the cast, a red carpet and a preview of the exhibit. If you’re in New York, you’ll want to get to the Discovery Center in Times Square. The exhibit is amazing and for anyone who
Anyone who knew my family when I was growing up, and I’m blessed that there are still many in my life who did, will tell you that our house was at the best of time organized chaos. With four highly rambunctious boys into all kinds of activities each usually with a friend or two
Take Time to Stop and Smell the Cardboard: The Value of Family Game Nights Read More »
They’re gorgeous; they’re funny and just a bit gruesome. They’ve developed a fan base that would impress any star—and they’re dolls. Mattel’s Monster High dolls to be exact. They’re the teenage children of the classic monsters of literature and movies, and they are going to high school. Moreover, since they’re from the House of Barbie,
A Monstrous Good Time: Why Monster High Matters Read More »
As you probably know, 2011 is shaping up to be a big action movie year—and that means lots of toys. We got a special sneak peak at the new Pirates of the Caribbean on Stranger Tides earlier this week. Now it’s too early to tell how well the film will do, but based on the
Yo Ho Ho! And a Boatload of Toys Read More »
