Glitter. Glue. Paint. These are just some of the supplies you might have in your arts and crafts arsenal at home. And what better time to break them out and get creative than during National Craft Month? That’s right! The whole month of March is dedicated to an international celebration of creativity. No matter what […]
National Craft Month: Promoting Creative Play Read More »
By Chase Kassel I have been collecting Nerf Blasters since I was 8 years old. At the time, I couldn’t imagine the N-Strike line getting larger or better. By the time I was twelve, however, I had built a four-foot by eight-foot wooden board to put half of my collection on. The whole collection consisted
Choose the Right Nerf Blaster: Darts vs. Discs Read More »
Yeah, I know. A kid probably thinks there’s no such thing as “too many toys.” Parents, though, well that’s another matter. We often hear about moms who bemoan the fact that their kids have so much stuff that they can’t play with it all—and they end up tripping over the toys, or some version of that.
As a mom raising a bilingual and bicultural child, I’m well aware of the importance of play for so many aspects of my daughter’s development. We know that immersing her in the Spanish language in fun and engaging ways is the best way for her to absorb the language. Not only do we want her
5 Ways to Discover Other Cultures Through Play Read More »
If you’re planning to head to the stores the Friday after Thanksgiving in search of hot deals, you might want to rethink your strategy. Black Friday may be a thing of the past. In 2011, a large number of retailers opened up their stores Thursday evening for Thanksgiving deals, especially in the toy aisles. I
Goodbye Black Friday, Hello Black Thursday Read More »
Virtually any time I go to a gathering and people find out what I do, I get the same question. “I have an old [fill in toy name here]. What is it worth?” Really, it never fails. While I know a lot about toy history, our focus here at Time to Play is on new
My good friend Lenore Skenazy over at Free Range Kids tipped me off to a story in the New York Times about an alarming new product—food pouches for kids. The basic idea seems to be that when the young ‘uns are hungry, you just strap on the feedbag. Or in this case, hand them an expensive pouch with some processed foodstuff that lets the little tikes suck out a meal, rather than eating. The inventor says this helps busy parents keep their kids fed without the fuss of having to prepare a meal. He also confuses Lenore’s concept of being “free range”—learning to be responsible for one’s life without a parent hovering over every second—with being so over-schedued that there’s never time to eat.
The End of Civilization—No Really, I Mean it This Time Read More »
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 »
It’s not just celebrities that are on the party circuit! It seems like there’s a kids’ birthday party every weekend—and, gasp, sometimes it’s your turn to throw the shindig. When you’re the hostess with the mostest (and sometimes the leastest inspiration), the idea of adding a goodie bag (what celebrities call “swag”) to your planning
Your Lovely Parting Gift: Goodie Bag Ideas Read More »
I love children’s books and everything about the moments I get to share with my kids while reading to them, and now, them reading to me. (*sigh*…How fast they grow.)
That’s… Really NOT Okay Read More »
At our house, we have toys coming out your ears. With three boys ranging from three to twelve years-old, We probably have about every toy they sell in the “boy aisles,” or at least that’s the way it seems at times. I recently decided that enough was enough and set up a rotation plan for
Rotating Toys = A Happy Mom 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 »
I write this column every year, and this year won’t be different. Halloween has always been one of my favorites holidays with respect to spending time with my kids. The choosing of the costume (always a long hard decision), trick or treating, and Halloween parties have made Halloween a huge event. (In recent years, the trend has continued to grow as more and more adults look to the holiday as one just for themselves and their families.)
National Trick or Treat Day Read More »
This year will mark my twelfth year for trick-or-treating with kids. I’m a seasoned pro. I can spot the candy my kids will toss out from a mile away. I know which neighbors give out the full sized bars and which will give us toothbrushes. The boys rely on this information when they are “in
Halloween Fun: Trick or Treat or Toys? Read More »
Everyone likes to collect things. I think it’s in our hunting/gathering, human nature. My collections sometimes turn into a bit of an obsession. A few of you parents will understand (and probably nod your head) as I explain. It started off innocently enough. My oldest boy enjoyed the Toy Story series. When he was three,
When does collecting turn into obsession? Read More »
Lots of toys these days give some form of response that’s intended to be positive reinforcement for the play experience. For instance, the toy lights up or makes sounds when kids get the answer correct, or the toy makes an animal noise when they put the right piece in the puzzle. It’s been proven over
Parents v. Positive Reinforcement Toys Read More »
I don’t know about you guys, but I hate it when my kids are wanting to play with a certain toy and they end up dumping the entire contents of their toy box, or bins, on the floor and start looking for all the tiny pieces. Anyone with as large of a collection of Fisher
Death of the Toy Box 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 »
How many times have you heard a father tell a son, “No you can’t have a doll, boys don’t play with dolls!” In my house, I used to hear that a lot. My oldest is turning twelve next month and he grew up knowing that boys play with trucks and girls play with dolls. End
Why Can’t Boys Play with Dolls Read More »
