Learning Expressions

BOOING: Halloween Family Fun

A Glimpse into a Growing Tradition


Have you heard of Booing? Until a few months ago I was completely in the dark about it, but it’s becoming quite the thing these days. Slowly but surely, neighborhood by neighborhood, Booing is becoming a tradition, and with good reason. It’s fun for the whole family, stirs up the same excitement as a game of Secret Santa or the impending arrival of the Easter Bunny, and builds a sense of community. In the middle of the second largest commercial holiday in the country (History.com estimates that Americans spend $6.9 billion annually on Halloween candy, costumes, and decorations) it’s nice to have something that teaches kids about the gift of giving.

 

A Booing How To

For those who get Booed this Halloween, or for those who would like to begin the tradition:

1. Make two copies of a Booing poem and the “We’ve been BOOED” signs. (Included in the materials below.)
2. Prepare two personalized treat buckets with fun Halloween goodies, treats, and toys. Most Learning Express locations are Booing Headquarters, providing everything you’ll need.
3. Stealthily deliver the bucket of treats and signs to two neighbors or friends that don’t already have a “BOO” sign on their front door or window. Ring the doorbell and RUN!
4. Watch and see how far and quickly the BOOs spread by Halloween!

Download Booing Materials.

A Booing History

Booing really started to pick up about four years ago, and little is known about how it came about, but its roots can be traced back to the 1980s. According to Associated Content staff writer Timothy Sexton, the one thing that is certain is that, “It is a uniquely American contribution to the history of Halloween.” Booing also goes by the names “Ghosting” and, my personal favorite, “Hobgobling.”

Beyond the Boo

For more quality family fun around Halloween time, I’m a big fan of craft projects. Disney’s Family Fun website has some great suggestions. I’m particularly intrigued by the ghost lanterns made out of empty milk cartons. There’s also a section where you can upload photos of your own inventions.



Halloween Safety

No post about a family-focused Halloween would be complete without a few words to the wise about Halloween safety. Here’s a list of things to remember:

Dress-Up Smarts

• Choose fire-retardant costumes. Look for a label that indicates flame-resistance on any clothing, wigs, or headpieces you purchase. If you’re making the costume yourself, examine the fabric content and talk to the salesperson to help you choose the least flammable material.
• Use makeup instead of masks. Hypoallergenic, non-toxic face paint is a better choice than a mask, which may obscure your child’s vision and hinder breathing. If you do opt for a mask, cut oversized holes for the eyes and mouth, and encourage kids to take the mask off each time they cross the street.
• Avoid oversized costumes and shoes that can cause tripping. Choose comfortable shoes and make sure clothes don't drag on the ground.
• Select light-colored costumes when possible. This makes it easier for drivers to spot trick-or-treaters. For costumes that have to be dark, accessorize with a white pillowcase for stashing loot and standing out in the dark.
• Attach reflective tape to costumes to make them easier to spot. A few strips on the back, front, and bucket should do the trick. If your child is planning on biking or skateboarding, stick some tape on that as well.
• If you’re not going to be with them, ensure emergency information—name, number, and address—are somewhere on your child’s clothing or on a bracelet.
• Choose accessories that are smooth and flexible. Look for swords, knives, and other accessories that don't look too realistic or have sharp ends or points.
• Accessorize with a flashlight, watch, and cell phone to help kids see where they’re going, know when to head home, or make a call if they’re in trouble. Make sure they know their curfew and how to contact you.
• Depending on where you’re located, the weather on Halloween night can vary drastically. Have a matching colored turtleneck at the ready that can be worn beneath the costume in case it’s a chilly night.

Stay Safe on the Trick-or-Treat Beat

• Make sure children under 12 years of age are supervised by an adult or teen chaperone if you can't take them around yourself. Teens should have a curfew.
• Safety in numbers! It’s best for kids of any age to travel in groups of three or more. Plan a route with your child, making sure they know to call you if they deviate from the plan. Keep the route to familiar streets and houses, working up the street then back down without crisscrossing. Set a time limit when they should come home or call you.
• Remind kids to visit well-lit, familiar houses. Make your child promise to stick to the stoop and never go inside unless the grownups are family friends. Remind kids to say “thank you” for their treats!
• Review pedestrian rules. It’s easy to overestimate your child’s ability to remember to cross at corners, wait for walk signals, and stay on the sidewalks. Between the evening’s excitement and the novelty of being out at night, reviewing traffic safety is a good idea. Remind them to walk, not run between houses.

Prepare for Treat-Seekers

• Turn on the porch lights and replace burnt out bulbs.
• Decorate the walkway or steps with lanterns instead of candles. Battery-powered light sources such as light sticks are just as decorative and not as dangerous.
• Let adults do the carving. Give your child a marker to draw the pumpkin pattern, but keep knives in your own hands. If you plan to use a candle in the pumpkin, small votives are the safest bet. Stash the lit pumpkin on a sturdy surface away from anything flammable and don't leave it unattended.
• Remove tripping hazards on your porch, walkway, and driveway. Clear your lawn of hoses, branches, bikes, wet leaves, or wires that could trip trick-or-treaters.
• Keep pets inside. Between the noise, visitors, and pranksters, Halloween is not very pet-friendly. Keep dogs and cats in a closed, quiet room if possible.
Sift Through the Loot
• Check candy wrappers. Pinholes, tears, or unusually loose packages can indicate possible tampering.
• Remove choking hazards for young children, including hard candies, small toys, peanuts, or gum.
• Don't let your child eat anything that isn't sealed. Unless you know the source, throw away homemade or fresh food items.
• Keep candy and wrappers away from your pets. Chocolate can be deadly to animals, and they can choke on hard candies and wrappers. Store candy well out of your pet’s reach.
• Regulate candy intake. Set a daily limit on your child’s consumption and set a deadline for when leftover Halloween candy gets thrown out.


Have a Boo-tiful Halloween!



- Toy Talker

TOP TOYS OF 2009

ATTN: Holiday Shoppers!

There are a lot of things to take into consideration when a company like Learning Express sits down to choose the Top Toys for the holiday season. Just think about it. The only real measurable factor is past sales, but that only gets you so far when you’re trying to predict future performance, especially on products that are brand new. I think it’s often the things you can’t quantify that are most powerful—the reputation of the vendor, the quality and fun factor of the product, consumer trends in the market, gut instinct, and, for an educational toy retailer, the play value.

I can hardly believe it’s time already, but next week Learning Express will reveal its Top Toys of 2009 to the media. (By the way, I think they’re going to up and move Christmas one of these days. It seems to be creeping steadily into fall and summer.) For this week’s blog I was able to sit down with the Learning Express buyers to find out how each of these products made it into the top ten.

Learning Express Top Toys of 2009

Ages Birth +

Gentle Giraffe on the Go™ by Cloud B – Take the comforts of home on the road with this travel-sized pal. Four timer-controlled soundtracks sooth the senses and help a child feel right at home no matter where they are. $24.99

The Gentle Giraffe is a great edition to the “on the go” series by Cloud B, which began with the Sleep Sheep. The plush is super soft and you’ve got to love your whimsical animal characters. The four “soundtracks” are white noise with a jungle influence. My personal fav is “Victoria Falls.”

Ages 3+

Crocodile Rocker by Original Toy Co. – Rockin' reptile! Your child can climb on this low rocking crocodile for a gentle, stable ride. Smooth, safe and sturdy; kids love the motion. Suitable for indoor or outdoor use. $54.99

No Assembly Required gets big points in my book. There are some stickers (eyes and a suitably gator-ish grin), but no tools involved at all. One to three children can play on it at time so it’s a great value for its size. The indoor/outdoor factor is also a selling point because we all know that kids will inevitably drag in what is intended to be out and take out what is supposed to be in.



Wooden Cupcake Set by Melissa & Doug – Junior bakers, tie your apron strings! Tea time is more fun with individual cupcakes to frost and decorate. Gentle magnets hold frosting onto the cakes and candles onto the tops. Decorate with icing markers, which are easily wiped away for fun again and again. $19.99

One of last year’s best sellers in the pre-school category was the Melissa & Doug Slice and Bake Cookie Set, and the Cupcake Set is continuing the craze. Melissa and Doug established their brand with “old-fashioned” wooden toys, which are unique and quite nostalgic in a world dominated by plastic. This product was released in September and the sales are already very strong so it’s expected to be a big hit this holiday season.


Ages 5+

Twinkle Tiaras Sticky Mosaic Kit by the Orb Factory – It's anything but a sticky situation when young royals sit down to create their own personal tiaras!  One thousand fabulous foam pieces with foil, jewels and plenty of sparkle create a palette fit for a princess. Kit makes six different tiaras, which makes for six times the fun or a great party activity. $19.99

This is a very easy mess-free craft project, but it produces a great finished product. If you use it as a birthday party activity each princess will have her own tiara at the end, which is a great alternative to your standard pointed hat. I love all things creative and crafty and the Orb Factory has got it covered.

Dodge Tag by Diggin – Dip, dodge, run and throw! Get the kids moving with a new kind of fun! Don a mesh vest and grab three balls, then try to hit your opponent before he hits you. Balls that stick are considered a hit. A great get-up-and-go activity.  $19.99

This is another versatile indoor/outdoor game that gets kids off the couch. That can definitely be a challenge during the winter months so it’s great that this works just as well in the basement as out in the yard. Each Dodge Tag set equips two players and helps build target skills and endurance. 

Groovy Scrapbook Kit by Alex – Capture the moments that mean the most!  This kit contains everything you need to make a groovy album, including a 48-page hardbound spiral scrapbook, stickers, frames, borders, scissors, glue sticks, fabric flowers, easy instructions and more! Available exclusively at Learning Express. $19.99

Everything retro is “in” right now, and this scrapbook kit is every bit as groovy as it claims to be. I like that kids can save their memories and do a craft at the same time. It makes for some quality quiet time or a fun group effort.

Magformers Carnival Building Set by Rainbow Products – Magical magnetic models! This colorful construction set includes powerful geometric magnets encased in jewel-toned plastic. Pieces rotate to attraction position upon contact, allowing for easy and elegant building. $54.99

This set is really unique. It’s a building activity, which teaches spatial and structural awareness, without the tools. Each piece has magnets along the edges and they only attract, never repel, so the possibilities are limitless. This particular set comes with instructions for a couple different designs, including the Ferris Wheel, but the geometric pieces make for some great open-ended play.

Ages 7-8+

Pentago Game by Mindtwister – Do the twist!  It's harder to create a row of five marbles than you think in this fast and fun strategy game. Each turn also includes a twist of one of the board's individual panels.  It's simple, yet sophisticated.  $19.99

There’s been an increasing trend in favor of games that are simple to learn but challenging to play. Pentago definitely falls into that category—it takes moments to learn but a lifetime to master. This would be perfect for a Family Game Night.

Cap it Off Jewelry by Alex – Put a cap on it with our exclusive bottle cap jewelry-making kit. You will be able to make oodles of “bling” including earrings, necklaces and bracelets from bottle caps!  The kit includes bottle caps, stickers, bracelets, buttons, beads, cords and more. $16.99

Bottle cap necklaces are HOT right now. Again, it’s the whole retro thing that’s back in style. These are particularly adorable and great for tween girls. One of the big selling points is that this hands-on kit combines craft and fashion.

The Dangerous Book for Boys Classic Chemistry Kit by Thames and Kosmos – Here's a kit that will teach kids everything their parents never learned about basic chemistry. From atoms to elements and on through the periodic table, they’ll experiment with compounds, mixtures, solutions and suspensions. $36.99

This science kit is based on the Dangerous Book for Boys, which was incredibly popular last year. Tween boys can be tough to shop for, especially if you want an alternative to video games, and some classic chemistry is the perfect solution. There are a ton of different experiments, but making a stink bomb is bound to be popular.



Here’s wishing you a happy holiday shopping season!

- Toy Talker

Solving the Puzzle for Autism

Watch the video in full size on YouTube.

When Sue Ambrose approached Learning Express about her product, the Autism Ribbon Floor Puzzle, we were the ones who were floored. The puzzle is something I’m excited about for a number of reasons, but I think what makes it truly special is the family and the story behind it.

A recent study conducted by the Department of Health and Human Services found that 1 in every 91 children born in the USA has Autism. That means that 1% of our population will be on the spectrum, which highlights the fact that this is an important issue for everyone involved in developmental education. Luckily, childhood disabilities are increasingly at the forefront of public attention, and awareness, fundraising, and community support are steadily growing, which is great news. But, as wonderful as all these initiatives are, most of these efforts focus on research for treatments and cures; they focus on the all-important future, but not on the present.

That’s part of what inspired Sue Ambrose to found Puzzles for Cures. Sue is the mother of three and the parent of a special needs child. Ever since her son Anthony was diagnosed with cerebral palsy she's been taking him to specialists and participating in parent and therapy groups, many of which focus on Autism.

Sue wanted to establish an organization that focused on spreading awareness about childhood disabilities, so with the help of her father Mike Fritz, she developed an educational toy to do just that. The first Puzzles for Cures product to hit the shelves is the Autism Ribbon Floor Puzzle, and Learning Express is the preferred destination. The puzzle is available at many of our stores in Connecticut, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania.

As Sue says, "I wanted to do something for the moms that have helped me over these last few years. I've learned how to an 'advocate' for my son, and I've learned to ask questions about his schooling and care. I've also learned not to take 'no' for an answer when it comes to my son's safety and well-being, and how to fight the insurance companies when they deny care. These are things that connect the families of special needs children, regardless of whether their child has cerebral palsy or Autism or something else entirely. We're all together in this."

The Puzzle

As if the cause wasn’t enough, the Puzzles for Cures product is also brilliant. The Autism Ribbon Floor Puzzle passes my 3F’s (Form, Function, and Fun) with flying colors. The puzzle is manufactured by Melissa & Doug using “non-toxic coatings, which meet or exceed all U.S. toy testing standards.” Thirty-six interlocking pieces made of “easy-clean” material create a quality toy, perfectly suited to elementary school classrooms, physician waiting rooms, and kitchen tables. In the function category, the puzzle develops hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills while promoting Autism awareness. And as for fun, I’ve always been a puzzle person so this is a no-brainer. There’s just something satisfying about slotting that final piece into place. What’s great about this particular puzzle is it’s larger format. It can be a solo activity or fun for the whole family.

Autism

The Autism Society of America defines Autism as “a complex developmental disability that typically appears during the first three years of life and affects a person’s ability to communicate and interact with others.” The organization also explains that, “Autism is defined by a certain set of behaviors and is a 'spectrum disorder' that affects individuals differently and to varying degrees. [Asperger’s Syndrome, for example, is on the spectrum, but is characterized by milder symptoms and a lack of language delay.] There is no known single cause for autism, but increased awareness and funding can help families today.”

For more information, check out the resources below.

www.autism-society.org

http://www.autismspeaks.org/

http://www.autismtoday.com/

There are plenty of books available on Amazon that may also be of use. State-run Autism organizations may provide listings of the local workshops and seminars in your area.

Building Community Awareness

When I asked why she was so keen to partner with Learning Express, Sue said, “It’s exactly what Puzzles for Cures needed—an educational toy store where parents can come in, learn, and take something away that will help them teach their children at home. We want to foster understanding in the community, and Learning Express is the perfect environment for that.”

Learning Express is proud to be a part of Sue’s vision. I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next!

And what about you? Autism and other childhood disabilities touch the lives of so many people. Are you the parent of a special needs child? Do you work with children who have Autism? Do you volunteer? Fundraise? Carry the puzzle at your Learning Express store? Do medical research? I’d love to hear your stories.

-ToyTalker

Raising Readers

It was the great Dr. Seuss who once wrote, “The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” A couple thousand years earlier Cicero, the Roman philosopher, said that, “A home without books is a body without soul.”

Literature is the essence of knowledge—the documented record of the things we know, the things we believe, and the things we imagine. A love of reading is one of the greatest things we can pass on to the next generation. That’s what inspired me to explore the current state of affairs in literacy education. I was also curious about what the most recent studies recommend for parents, educators, and shopkeepers (storytime anyone?) to help raise the readers of tomorrow.

Where We Are

In January of this year the National Endowment for the Arts released a report called “Reading on the Rise: A New Chapter in American Literacy.” For the first time in 25 years, they found an increase in the number of adults who had read a novel, short story, poem or play in the previous 12 months. The chairman of the endowment, Dana Gioia, gave credit to grassroots programs like Big Read, Oprah’s book club, and blockbuster titles like Harry Potter and Twilight. (For the full analysis see the New York Times article.)

Reading Together

Another possible factor for the rise in adult reading could be book clubs. I’ve definitely noticed an increase in the number of people I know who regularly attend or even start up their own groups. Among its many other distinctions, the month of October is National Reading Group Month, which celebrates “the joy of shared reading.” (Incidentally, October is also Spinach Lovers Month, Right Brainers Rule! Month, and Organize Your Medical Information Month. For a complete list visit http://www.brownielocks.com/october.html.)

So, why do book clubs work? Communal reading is encouraging; it motivates and stimulates. NEWS FLASH: The exact same thing works at home. Kids learn by example. They mimic parental habits and behavior, so the idea is that if a child sees their parent reading on a regular basis it’ll pique their curiosity.

Everything I’ve found in my research also touts the importance of reading aloud. There are many resources out there with helpful hints, including my personal favorite The Read-Aloud Handbook by Jim Trelease, now in its sixth edition.  Check out Jim’s website at http://www.trelease-on-reading.com. He’s got a read-aloud book of the week up there as well as some excerpts from the book, including the Do’s and Don’ts of reading aloud.



Independent Reading

At some point in a child’s reading development (somewhere around the fourth grade for most kids) independent reading should start to overtake group reading. It shouldn’t be entirely replaced, (my mother, for example, continued to read aloud to me through the sixth grade, which was the year we did Great Expectations), but the balance shifts.

I found a post in the blog Educating Alice, which is written by an elementary school teacher and talks about this very thing. Among other things, she discusses how kids have to learn what their tastes are and what kind of environment they need for reading.

 The Educating Alice post also talks about how teachers are working to encourage reading outside the classroom with 30-minute independent reading homework. To help alleviate the number of mom-am-I-done-yets, there’s a great Digital Bookmark available from Learning Express, which has a clock and timer for this very reason. If you’ve got the opportunity, doing your own independent reading while your child works on the assignment is a great idea.



Somewhere In-Between (for Tweens)

Somewhere between reading aloud and independent reading is the parent-child book club, which has been growing in popularity in recent years. This is especially great for building strong relationships because it mixes peers with parents in a group activity. A great resource is PBS Kids, which has a whole section dedicated to parent-child book clubs—how to establish and sustain a group, how to have great discussions, etc. (http://www.pbs.org/parents/readinglanguage/articles/bookclubs/main.html) Groups can focus on reading aloud, independently, or a combination of the two.

Ready, set, READ

I sincerely hope that the trend found by the National Endowment for the Arts continues to rise and that literacy levels see an all-around increase. In the meantime, I wish you happy reading for yourself and your family.

…oh the places you’ll go!

- ToyTalker

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