Blogs About Educational Books and Toys, the Importance of Playing

The Bright Side of Nepal – for Kids

Cultures, For Families, For Teachers, Multicultural, The Bright Side

I’m in the habit of writing something good about places in crisis so that you have something good to tell your kids when they’re hearing about devastation in the news.  The news about the earthquake in Nepal is getting worse every day as help is arriving and reporting what they see. Nepal is one of my […]

The Bright Side of Nepal – for Kids Read More »

I’m in the habit of writing something good about places in crisis so that you have something good to tell your kids when they’re hearing about devastation in the news.  The news about the earthquake in Nepal is getting worse every day as help is arriving and reporting what they see. Nepal is one of my

how to celebrate chinese new year

Ten Ways to Celebrate Chinese New Year With Your Kids Without Spending a Dime

Cultures, For Families, Multicultural, World Holidays

Chinese New Year is the perfect time to teach your children about Chinese culture by celebrating in simple, creative ways Know how to celebrate chinese new year! No need to run to the store just to have a little New Year fun. On Chinese New Year (also called Lunar New Year) you can play the

Ten Ways to Celebrate Chinese New Year With Your Kids Without Spending a Dime Read More »

Chinese New Year is the perfect time to teach your children about Chinese culture by celebrating in simple, creative ways Know how to celebrate chinese new year! No need to run to the store just to have a little New Year fun. On Chinese New Year (also called Lunar New Year) you can play the

indie toymakers to do list

Indie, Artisan, Craft, or Boutique? Are Small Toy Companies Hip Enough?

For Families, For Stores, Toys

What do you see in your mind’s eye when you compare a blockbuster movie and an indie film, packaged bread vs. artisan focaccia, or a conference hotel compared to a boutique hotel? What are the colors? The furniture? How are people dressed? How do you feel in each scenario? You can imagine it, I know

Indie, Artisan, Craft, or Boutique? Are Small Toy Companies Hip Enough? Read More »

What do you see in your mind’s eye when you compare a blockbuster movie and an indie film, packaged bread vs. artisan focaccia, or a conference hotel compared to a boutique hotel? What are the colors? The furniture? How are people dressed? How do you feel in each scenario? You can imagine it, I know

Why Make Multicultural Toys?

For Families, For Stores, For Teachers, Multicultural, Raising Global Kids, Toys

In the toy business even the rubber bands are fun. When I got a box of product samples in the mail recently, I started scrutinizing them for quality parameters.  It wasn’t until I saw that the rubber bands holding the story cards together were silly bands, that I took a moment to realize how lucky I

Why Make Multicultural Toys? Read More »

In the toy business even the rubber bands are fun. When I got a box of product samples in the mail recently, I started scrutinizing them for quality parameters.  It wasn’t until I saw that the rubber bands holding the story cards together were silly bands, that I took a moment to realize how lucky I

Bonsai Mums (Not Banzai Moms)

Cultures, For Families, For Teachers, Multicultural

Banzai Moms:  a Japanese cheer or war cry called out by mothers of children who need something to do. Bonsai Mums:  a potted chrysanthemum dwarfed and trained to an artistic shape. If you are the former, then you may need the latter. I went to a spectacularly large garden today with a conservatory, a meadow and

Bonsai Mums (Not Banzai Moms) Read More »

Banzai Moms:  a Japanese cheer or war cry called out by mothers of children who need something to do. Bonsai Mums:  a potted chrysanthemum dwarfed and trained to an artistic shape. If you are the former, then you may need the latter. I went to a spectacularly large garden today with a conservatory, a meadow and

The Bright Side of Liberia

Cultures, For Families, For Teachers, The Bright Side

There isn’t anything bright about Ebola in West Africa. It’s scary. And above all, it’s sad.  The kids in your care could maybe use a little bright side to go with the news. For those who are well, there have been some major cultural changes to reduce the spread of Ebola. People are no longer

The Bright Side of Liberia Read More »

There isn’t anything bright about Ebola in West Africa. It’s scary. And above all, it’s sad.  The kids in your care could maybe use a little bright side to go with the news. For those who are well, there have been some major cultural changes to reduce the spread of Ebola. People are no longer

Are You the True You?

Cultures, For Families, Multicultural, Play, True You

Who are you really?  How much of yourself have you really figured out? EARLY EXPERIENCES I discovered as a teenager on a school trip to France that I loved travel and especially discovering the customs and foods of other people.  It was my good fortune that my school had a trip to France, that my

Are You the True You? Read More »

Who are you really?  How much of yourself have you really figured out? EARLY EXPERIENCES I discovered as a teenager on a school trip to France that I loved travel and especially discovering the customs and foods of other people.  It was my good fortune that my school had a trip to France, that my

Pacoquinha peanut butter

World Foods So Good

Cultures, For Families, For Teachers, Multicultural, World Food

I love to travel, and while I love museums and architecture, I admit that I plan my days around the meals I want to eat while I’m there. So even when I’m not far from home, it won’t surprise you that I’m easily drawn in to any shop that will give me the chance to

World Foods So Good Read More »

I love to travel, and while I love museums and architecture, I admit that I plan my days around the meals I want to eat while I’m there. So even when I’m not far from home, it won’t surprise you that I’m easily drawn in to any shop that will give me the chance to

The Bright Side of Syria

Cultures, For Families, For Teachers, Multicultural, The Bright Side

I read this week that the 1 millionth refugee left Syria for Lebanon.  And while news organizations claimed different people as the exact 1 millionth – young mother Bushra and her two children, or 18 year old student Yahya who came with his mother and two sisters – in a way that illustrates that there

The Bright Side of Syria Read More »

I read this week that the 1 millionth refugee left Syria for Lebanon.  And while news organizations claimed different people as the exact 1 millionth – young mother Bushra and her two children, or 18 year old student Yahya who came with his mother and two sisters – in a way that illustrates that there

The Bright Side of Egypt

Cultures, For Families, For Teachers, Multicultural, The Bright Side

After the euphoria of a change in power in Egypt, resolving the remaining issues is proving sticky in Egypt for kids. Of course, not everyone is happy and protests in Cairo are routinely in the news. Sadly, since a large part of the economy was tourism before the political changes, the economy is in a

The Bright Side of Egypt Read More »

After the euphoria of a change in power in Egypt, resolving the remaining issues is proving sticky in Egypt for kids. Of course, not everyone is happy and protests in Cairo are routinely in the news. Sadly, since a large part of the economy was tourism before the political changes, the economy is in a

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