CHRISTMAS TOY IDEAS

WOW, time just flew by!  It does seem that the older we get the faster time goes.  The Christmas season races at us adults at lightening speed but crawls at a snail's pace for the kids. When I was a small child summers seemed endless, and I thought Christmas would NEVER arrive.  Just the thought of a visit from Santa, leaving out milk and cookies, and decorating the tree would emote such an excitement that words can't describe.  I have no doubt that many of our readers, parents and grandparents alike, are experiencing the beginnings of this.  The list of wants, the letters to Santa have begun. 

Unless we have a verbal request or written list, the hard part is actually deciding what on earth to buy.  We want something that will hold their interest for more than 15 minutes, something that will last for a long time, something that can be passed down to and shared with other children, something that expands the mind and/or allows  creativity and imaginations to flourish.  So for this reason, I thought our latest blog would include a list of some of the toys frequently requested as well as some items that we carry at our store.  So here we go.

1)  Frozen ANYTHING.  The outstanding success of the Disney film Frozen has created the Frozen "craze."  That is one of the top requested items in our store, and apparently throughout the states as well.  So if you have a child with even the smallest interest in Frozen, you can't go wrong (in my opinion anyway).  This holiday season we will be carrying Frozen puzzles, sticker books, and books with CDs.

2)  Dolls and accessories.  This just seems to be a given at Christmas.  Dolls of all shapes and sizes.  In lieu of the popular American Girl dolls, we carry German-made dolls from Gotz, which are of beautiful quality.  The baby dolls are even bathtub friendly.  Extra clothing is also available.  This category also includes doll houses and furniture.

3) Trains.  Currently, WTTS carries Chuggington and TOLO train sets, which are very popular with the smaller children.  What is particularly nice about the Chuggington line is that it is interchangeable with wooden train tracks from other makers such as BRIO and Thomas.

4)  Games of all kinds.  Word games are still right at the top of the list:  Bananagrams, Zingo, and Sight Words are still flying off the shelf and are games we get lots of positive feedback on, specifically on how much fun they are.  Good old chess is still around, and for those of you who want to learn this game of strategy, try No Stress Chess, which comes with learning cards and a board that shows you where to move, and once you become familiar with the game you can flip the board over and just have a regular chess board.  I even bought one for myself and highly recommend it. 

Also, remember the old classics like Clue, The Game of Life, and Racko, which never seem to fade away.

5)  Brain teasers and other "thinking" games.  There is the Rubik's cube, Rush Hour, and new for 2014 from ThinkFun is the marble game Gravity Maze.  For kids (and adults) who like a real challenge, this game is.  I found even the "beginner cards" to be a bit difficult.  It is the perfect blend of marbles, mazes, and brain work.

 6) Arts, crafts, and hands-on play.  This would include any type of art supply, jewelry making supplies, building with wood, blocks, and Legos.  Kids love sandboxes, which is usually a seasonal activity, but now there is Sands Alive!, a sand with a doughy texture that isn't granular.  Kids can mold it, squeeze it, play in it like sand.  Actually, my massage therapist also has some on her desk for clients to handle.  Manipulating and playing with it really can relax and calm you.

7)  General play.  Still one of our biggest sellers is the line of TOLO, and right behind it the Wow! toys.  Both these products have bright primary colors and enhance creativity and role playing. 

8)  Science.  Science and computers are not only the way of the future, but are important in today's culture.  Purchasing toys and kits that introduce children to the world of science is increasingly important.  The popular Science Wiz kits for chemistry, DNA, electricity, etc., are big sellers during the holiday season, and they can be used over and over again.  For the pre-computer generation a new game is available called Robot Turtles, a kind of pre-programming game for ages 4 and up. 

Hopefully these ideas will help you in determining not only what type of toy to buy, but what would be the most appropriate category for your child.  In this day and age, the options are seemingly endless.  Some of the above listed games are available for demonstration and inspection, and we hope that you will stop in and try them out.  We are always here to assist you and hopefully make your Christmas shopping experience as stress-free and easy as possible.  Happy Thanksgiving and holidays to you, and thank you for shopping local.

THANK YOU!

We at Wider Than the Sky want to extend our thanks and gratitude to everyone who attended and participated in our first annual neighborhood toy store day!  It was a resounding success!  We appreciate our customers who shop locally; it is because of you that we are still here today during these challenging economic times, particularly in the Northeast Kingdom.

Our goal was, is, and will continue to be the stocking of quality toys that stimulate, educate, and provide the ability to create.  With all our busyness, we have lost so much of "family time."  We aim to provide products to our customers that hopefully will bring families together again, such as playing a board game, doing an art project, or just reading together.

"Your local independent toy store is the ideal place to find quality, developmentally appropriate playthings for children of all ages", newborn to teens, and those now known as "tweens", along with puzzles and games for the entire family. "You’ll find a wide variety of open-ended toys and a knowledgeable staff that will help you make informed selections. The independent toy store is an integral part of your local community, serving as a resource for families and others interested in encouraging healthy growth through play. Shopping in locally owned stores keeps much of your purchase dollars in your local community. It’s a win-win experience: You get great service, creative products, and support local merchants at the same time."*

    

Again, to all our customers who participate in the local shopping experience, we say thank you for your support and loyalty.

* Source: "World's Best-Kept Shopping Secret," Deborah Scholl/Susan Oliver, ASTRAtoy.org.

SUMMERTIME ART

Wow, winter went out like a lamb and summer came in like a lion!  We went from a very looooonnngg winter to tropical summer weather.  Though it is hot, the heat doesn't deter us hardy Vermonters from being outside, especially after such a miserable and endless winter, and because we like to spend time outdoors with our families during this short season, I thought this month I would suggest a few art projects to do with your kids, preferably outside, soaking up the sun, and just plain enjoying what nature has to offer.

WTTS now has tie-dye kits in stock. Yes, you can create cool T-shirts, but there are other things you can do with tie-dye.  I came across a website that showed a tie-dye wall made with scraps of fabric.  That got me to thinking... how about dying some fabric and making pillows or cushions to sit on, or even a small tent!  I personally have never seen a tie-dye tent and think it would be totally cool.  It sounds like a lot of work coloring all that fabric, but just use larger pieces of scrap fabric and it will go quicker and the task won't seem so daunting. If you spend time at the beach with your kids, perhaps the kids could dye and customize their own beach towel using an old white bath towel you have lying around.  Really the options are endless.

Of course we have to talk about paint: Finger paint, poster paint, acrylic paint.  If you like to garden, gather a few old pots and have your children stylize their own, maybe they can create their own pot/planter garden.  Decorating rocks can be fun, too. I also came across a website that gave instructions on how to make "swirly rocks." You heat up the rocks in the oven, then take the paper off some crayons and the heat of the rock will melt the crayons and make wonderful designs.  However, if you are afraid of having a child handle such a hot item, you again could just have your boy or girl paint the rock. I remember doing stuff like that when I was growing up.  We even used glue and made turtles and other little animals out of pebbles, rocks, leaves and other things.  Rocks also make great pendants/necklaces. Keep them natural (just find one that "speaks" to you, with the right shape and color), or you can decorate those, too. 

My final suggestion for an outdoor art activity is to create mobiles, window hangings, and chimes out of nature's gifts such as shells, leaves, twigs, seeds, even peach pits.

Whatever project or activity you would like to do this summer with your child, nurture their creativity and curiosity. Explore with them, create with them, have fun with them. 

Have a wonderful summer and remember your sun screen!

GIRLS AND SCIENCE

Let me begin by saying I was never "girly-girl."  While my neighborhood friends played with Barbies and dress-up, I created environments for my dinosaur and animal figures; I climbed trees; I caught toads; I hiked in the fields. One of my most memorable gifts was a microscope set for which I collected plants and ants and inspected them. Luckily, I had parents who nurtured my interest in science and nature. My young friends talked of careers as nurses, teachers, dancers, models, and motherhood; I dreamt of being an archeologist. By age 10 I had my first book on the career of archeology and for a 6th grade report I wrote a paper on hieroglyphics. This was back in the late 60s when the number of women in the fields of science and math were few and far between.

About a month ago, while at my local salon, the owner was telling me that they were going to check out colleges for her daughter. I asked what the daughter wanted to study and the woman said, "engineering!" That conversation became the inspiration for my latest blog.

Progressively, over the past few decades, there has been a slow  but gradual insurgence of women in the sciences, including biochemistry, computer science, and environmental and nature studies. This also became evident during our Christmas season at WTTS. Many customers came in inquiring about and purchasing science kits for girls. We sold chemistry and DNA sets from Science Wiz as well as brain teasers. This is such a welcome change in my eyes!  With our ever-changing digital age and global weather patterns, and the transition to the "going green" way of life, science is really coming to the forefront, and priming our young girls for careers in these areas is becoming increasingly important.

We still have a long way to go in terms of getting girls interested in and obtaining careers in the fields of science and math, as compared to their male peers. There are statistics available from the US STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) program for girls, as well as from the European Platform of Women Scientists (EPWS): A note on girls in science (US data). Comparatively, the statistics from both are relatively close. The percentages of women in the scientific fields are as follows:

FIELD OF STUDY                   EPWS             STEM

Biological Sciences                52.9%             45.9%

Chemists/material science    33.1%             43.1%

Environmental Science/

 Geoscience                          29.3%             28.9%

Computer science                  24.1%             18.4%

Industrial engineers               14.9%             17.8%

Chemical engineers               13.1%             22.3%

Civil engineers                      10.4%             13.1%

Aerospace engineers             10.3%

Electrical engineers                 7.7%               8.8%

Mechanical engineers              6.7%               5.5%

The Website SchoolFamily.com has a short article (copyright 2014 Parent Institute) listing a few things parents can do to promote interest in math and science for their daughters. These include:

1) Discuss her career interests and encourage goals, then determine what courses she will need to achieve her career goals.

2) Keep a positive attitude regarding math. Studies have shown that girls have equal mathematic aptitude as boys, but girls eventually find it is "too hard." Hone her math skills by teaching her to budget and learn about household expenses.

3) Bring her to museums, science learning centers and planetariums, and have her bring some friends along.  These field trips could also include companies/organizations that employ scientists and mathematicians, such as hospitals, labs, or computer companies.

An article in the SEDL (Southwest Educational Development Laboratory) website newsletter and a study performed by Halpern, et. al., in Encouraging Girls in Math and Science, also stated the importance of exposing girls to female role models who work in the fields of math and science.

In the future, WTTS plans on expanding its science section, carrying items that hopefully will help inspire more interest in these areas for girls, as well as boys. However, we currently do have Mensa-approved games. Books also serve as a good introduction into the field of science, and books on astronomy, wildlife, geology, and some microbiology are also available at WTTS.

Once again, thank you for reading, and we wish you all a wonderful long-awaited spring!

CONGRATULATIONS TO US!

Wider Than the Sky has become a member of the American Specialty Toy Retailing Association, otherwise known as ASTRA!  This is a wonderful union, as ASTRA and WTTS share the same philosophy: Providing children with healthy, reliable, quality toys that promote creativity and imagination, providing excellent customer service, and showing commitment to our customers. We are very excited!

ASTRA was founded in 1992, currently has over 1400 members, and is the largest association serving the specialty toy industry. They are promoters of buying locally. They understand and value the importance of the independent retailer in today's economy. They also provide us, as a retailer, continuing education, ranging from legislative updates to the latest trends and best toys for kids, as well as networking, so that we can continue to be "in the know" and provide YOU, our devoted and loyal customers, with the best service and product for your child, to educate you on safety and learning.

At WTTS, we have a sign hanging from our ceiling that states, "All our toys are powered by imagination," and our inventory does indeed include these types of toys. ASTRA is a promoter of such toys. Below is their specialty toy fact sheet that can be found at their website.

Specialty toys, in general, are different from mass market toys in several ways:

• Specialty toys are available at locally owned neighborhood toy stores rather than big box chain stores.
• Specialty toys tend to focus on the features of the play rather than the features of the toy. They are likely to have less electronic gadgetry and more play value.
• Generally, specialty toys are not based on licensed characters from television or movies, children playing with them have a greater opportunity to use their imagination and make up "the story" themselves.
• Specialty toys are sold at independent toy stores that specialize in customer service and have staff members who are highly knowledgeable about toys and play.
• Specialty toys tend to be of higher quality than mass market toys and last longer—often through all the children in a family and then into storage for the next generation—than mass market toys.
• Typically, specialty toys are not heavily advertised on television and promoted to children as "must haves."

The majority of our toys do fall into these categories. Specifically, in terms of advertising, how often do you see Schleich animals advertised, or Tolo products? Rainbow Loom was all the craze, but I didn't happen to see any commercials for it.  The same is true for Science Wiz and other science kits, brain teasers and any other game that is Mensa approved, and good old fashioned jigsaw puzzles that promote hand-eye coordination, shape and color association, and problem-solving abilities.

ASTRA does not only provide services to its members, but also resources for you. Their website has multiple informative articles on all areas of play, tips for parents, tips on choosing toys, and toys important for different stages of development. At WTTS we do try to pass some of this same information on to you.

We look forward to sharing our continued learning with you! Have a wonderful spring!

FINDING BALANCE

Many of our customers relate to me their woes about childrens' obsession with technology.  As we all well know, this is the age of the iPad, iPod, cell phone, iPhone/smartphone, Nook, KindleFire, and too numerous to mention others.  This personally became even more evident to me during this past Christmas, when two of my grandchildren spent most of the day playing on their new Xbox. There was very little interaction with the rest of the family for a good part of the day.  This incident sparked my thinking about the importance of technological and traditional play and finding a balance for both.  The reality is that technology is here to stay.  The children use it in their schools, many education institutions are beginning a shift towards "digital learning" via laptops and iPads instead of notebooks and pens. We as parents and grandparents need to acclimate ourselves to this new way of living, which many of us have.  HOWEVER, the importance of sharing the old-fashioned, hands-on type of play should still be incorporated, as this form of play enhances other skills that the technology cannot. 

Four ways to establish the techno-tradition balance are:

1) Engage your child.  Play a video game for a set time, then take out the board game, Legos, or throw a ball outside.

2) Limit screen time, be it TV or videogame.

3) Put YOUR techno stuff away and limit YOUR screen time!  Children will often follow by example.

4) Learn about the digital devices.  If you are not familiar with a particular device or app, ask your child about it.  This opens up a line of communication, allows you to be "aware" of what your child is doing, and puts you as the parent "in the know."

Determine the balance based on the benefit each of these provides.  Both do have benefits.  Watching my grandsons manipulating the Xbox wireless controller is mind-blowing to say the least.  Talk about developing fine motor skills!  Fortunately, their mother allows them to play programs that enhance their spatial skills; they were actually "building" cities, laying bricks, creating environments.  On the other hand, one of my granddaughters was playing on a small iPad when I first arrived, but then she received a "Rainbow Loom", a nationwide sensation that uses rubber bands to create jewelry.  Well, her iPad was down and she was ready to do a hand's-on project!  My other grandson played with his truck.  I believe that the key is to provide access to both these learning tools, but to monitor "screen" time very closely.  The children are part of the electronic age, they need to be knowledgeable in order to fit into our changing lifestyles and educational system.  They also need to continue to use their hands-on creativity and imagination.  By incorporating both into their world, we also incorporate the new electronic age, with baby steps, into our own, so that we can relate to their world and they to ours.  Providing both techno and traditional toys forms a bridge between two very different generations, so that we can understand each other's worlds.

TOYS FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

Approximately every month WTTS receives a retail publication which contains articles pertaining to all areas of the retail industry, including a children's section called "Playthings."  The most recent edition had a very interesting article entitled "Learning Ability: Industry tips for Choosing Toys for Children with Special Needs."  As we have had quite a number of customers specifically requesting assistance in choosing a toy for a child with special needs, the most common being autism, we thought it might be helpful to summarize and pass on a few of these tips to our readers, to hopefully help assist and guide you on things to keep in mind when trying to decide on an appropriate playtime activity for your special needs child. 

As with any other child, children with disabilities, no matter what it is, still need to develop their basic skills.  Below is a list of these and a few suggestions of play items that may foster development in these areas.

1)  Gross motor skills: Bouncy balls, bikes, jump ropes, swings and slides.

2)  Fine motor skills:  Blocks, finger paints, shape sorters, crayons, musical instruments.

3)  Language skills:  Anything that teaches shapes, colors, numbers, letters, and sounds, dolls, talking toys.

4)  Cognitive skills:  Puzzles, brainteasers, books, board games.

5)  Social skills:  Dress-up/role playing, anything that encourages group play, such as family games. 

The article stated that in terms of autistic children, items with "visual cues" work well, such as toys that teach understanding of expression and emotions.  As an example, we carry Expression Handle Stamps by Melissa & Doug, and I Feel Stamps by Alex.  We also carry many items listed in the above basic skill categories such as blocks, art supplies, books, and dress-up items, and would be more than happy to assist you and make suggestions as to what might be an appropriate choice for your child.

With that being said, however, there is not a "one size fits all" toy for children with special needs, as the severity spectrum has such a wide range.  A parent knows their child and, of course, should buy what they feel the child might enjoy.  Also, the child's developmental age versus chronological age should be a prime consideration.

According to the article, 1 in 20 children has a disability, and because of this, more and more toy companies are including special needs information on their websites and packaging.  If you are interested, you can check out some of the websites that were listed in the article if you would like to learn more:

www.Toysrus.com/DifferentlyAbled*

www.Lekotek.org*

www.ToyInfo.org

www.Parents-Choice.org

www.AstraToy.org

Thank you once again for visiting us, and the staff of WTTS wish all of you a most wonderful November and upcoming Thanksgiving.

The above info is courtesy of Gifts and Decorative Accessories, vol. 114, No. 8, "Learning Ability: Industry Tips for Choosing Toys for Children with Special Needs," by Kristin Morency Goldman.

*NOTE:  These websites contain guidelines specific to special needs children.