Making the World a Better Place to Play!™
We’re pleased to share this guest post from our friend Maria Canon of Hobby Jr. about an interesting, and practical topic. A hobby gives a child an outlet for self-expression and a means of self-accomplishment. They will learn basic principles like “practice makes perfect” as they discover that the more time they invest in their
Well, here we are coming up on Easter again, and I’m more than willing to bet that very few of us thought a year ago that we would still be struggling through with the challenges of the coronavirus. Yet, here we are. Difficult as it may have been, if you’re reading this, you made it
For those who live in areas where winter still has its grip on the weather, cabin fever is nothing new. The excitement of the holidays has probably worn off. It’s not possible to go outside and run around, and tensions may be running high. Those are common every year, but as we find ourselves in
There is absolutely nothing “normal” about what our world is experiencing right now. Moreover, the idea that we are going to “return to normal” within the next few months is a fantasy. Unless and until COVID-19 is controlled and there is a safe and effective vaccine, we are not going to be able to resume
There’s an annual ritual for many kids across the country at the end of June—summer camp. There are day camps and sleepaway camps, and while many around the country are trying to operate this year, many are not. The ongoing impact of COVID-19, has upset plans and challenged families to create activities for the long
As we shelter at home during the Coronavirus pandemic, play becomes more and more important to relieve stress, pass time, forge connections and keep the mind engaged. In a previous post, we have discussed the ways in which play is essential for development, managing emotions and stress, and for entertainment and self expression. It’s impressive
The news stories keep coming about parents paying massive sums to secure college admission for their kids. From the C-List actors to C-suite executives to anyone with enough cash, they are committing fraud and buying their way into slots in top-tier schools their kids (presumably) can’t otherwise earn. It’s cheating, of course,
There’s a lot of talk about gender and toys going on these days.That’s not surprising, it’s a hot topic in the culture, and as we always say, the toy industry always reflects the culture at large. True to conversations around any “not button” topic these days, some of the talk is substantive, and some of
In a world completely dominated by video in which the average kid spends more than 2.5 hours a day watching narrative entertainment on a screen, is reading still relevant? That’s a leading question; you know where I’m going to come down on that. After all, reading belongs in a well-balanced toy box—not just for learning
