ASTRA Marketplace 2011

I'm just home from ASTRA marketplace. This is where specialty toy store owners and specialty toy manufacturers gather to plot and plan what kids will play with in the coming year! I had a great time, and I'll be posting more about what I learned and found. What I'm thinking about though is play. How can I make play more important - I make my living by retailing play, and I want it to have enormous value, because if it's valuable, people will want it.
This TED video is from TED Bulgaria, but it's very easy to just switch "America" for "Bulgaria". Play makes your brain bigger! How is that for an endorsement!

Steve Keil: A Manifesto for Play

What to do when there's no power...

It would appear hurricane Ike's damage is not big news nationally... a financial crisis must be a bigger item than a human disaster! There was, however some interesting toy-related Ike news recently. It seems that when the power goes out, kids get bored very quickly, or at least they are challenged to find ways to play the old-fashioned way. Here's a story from the NYT:
With Power Out, Children Find Idle Time Hard to Fill
We live in earthquake country, and our day is coming. It would probably be wise to put a few fun family games like Ruckus or Five Crowns in the survival kit along with the canned goods!