A few years ago we wrote about Toys for Makers.  We started looking for toys that inspired kids to explore, to construct and deconstruct.  Many toys, and most video games tend to celebrate someone else's creativity.  They allow you to immerse yourself in a toy or game that may have play value, but doesn't encourage any creative input.  Kids need to explore their creativity, and we need to find them toys that let that happen.  We're updating our Toys for Makers section of our online catalog with some of our latest finds.  We'll also be using this space to introduce you to some of the best.  Today's toy is for the youngest Makers.  It's not just for building, it's for observing and critical thinking.  The toy is called Bunny Peek a Boo , but don't let the cute name fool you.  BPB is a challenge for 2 year olds, and we've been dragooning every little customer we see into playing (2 year olds are very enthusiastic game players!)  They understand the challenge and love solving the "puzzle", then flipping the card to see what's next.

Hot Science Toys?

Two of the hottest toys this season seem to be Remote Control Machines from Thames and Kosmos and Snap Circuits Light from Elenco.  These are both toys I've written about and would be great for any science loving kid on your list.  What puzzles me is that we have plenty of these items in our store, and while we have sold a few, almost all the excitement for these toys has been through on-line orders! I think the shoppers for these items spend too much time in front of a computer screen - time to head to your local toy store - we have lots of toys for scientists and geeks - but you'll never know if you don't leave your desk!

Games for Makers

Continuing with the theme of building skills for kids through play, I have a trio of family games to recommend. These games fall under this rubric:

17. Storytelling. We survive socially by telling each other stories. Encourage children to tell stories and release their imagination through whatever toy they have in their hands.

The first two are Rory's Story Cubes and Tell Tale from Blue Orange. Give the story elements and let your imagination run. Rory's Story Cubes are wildly popular, with many mentions around the internet. Tell Tale is new, but already a Best Toys for Kids award winner. Our staff favorite is Telestrations. This game is pictionary meets telephone in a family game that is both a riot to play and an insight in to how best to communicate with others. All these games build skills in the most entertaining way.

Toys for Makers P2:Joining Things

Joining Things. Gluing, nailing, soldering, welding, tying, lacing, riveting, taping, stitching, screwing. Most of these are cheap to learn — give them an old log, a hammer, and a bag of nails, and let them bang nails until that log looks like a rusty hedgehog. Nearly any craft project or model kit. One of the areas we have endless choices: Number one for Makers - the Make-Do kits. These kits make projects out of recycled materials - imagination and joining all in one! We have a section on our web site just for Building/Joining skills This is one of my favorite categories, and it's a category that is always evolving, so call us for our latest ideas!

Toys for Makers Part I

Yesterday I posted about the Curriculum of Toys. This list is a great starting place, and a reinforces what we do with our toys at The Golden Apple - we want toys that help kids grow! Not what used to be sneered at as "educational toys", but toys like the Trebuchet Kit from Mindware. From the Curriculum:

Forces. Gravity, levers (moments), projectile motion, friction, pulleys, mechanical advantage, gearing and gearboxes, torque. Mobiles, trebuchets, magnets, juggling, throwing and ball sports, board sports, sailing, seesaws, slides, Lego, and bicycles!

We've identified these toys as specific to learning about force: Mindware Trebuchet Mindware Catapult Zcurve Bow Magnet Science I'll update with more toys as we develop the list. Keep Making!