Items tagged “Education & Development”

Pockets of Learning from Soft Skills Learning Products offers a full line of uniquely designed, educational fabric toys that are made to last through generations of repeated play. These fabric toys can withstand the love and rigors of several siblings and will hold up as they hold a child’s interest. The toys and gifts can be personalized and make cherished gifts for children from birth to age 5. My Quiet Book is one of Pockets of Learning’s best sellers, along with the Lullaby and Goodnight Book and Right at Home Book in which the child helps each little animal find its home.

In a recent article about Vera Wang, it was noted that everyone at the company adopts “the look”, which is monochromatic and slightly unisex. Stop into the Ralph Lauren offices, and you’ll immediately notice how much everyone there looks like an ad for the clothing giant. In fashion, you really can’t help but look the part. But ideally the uniformity in wardrobe reflects the employees’ deeper understanding of the brand and willingness to soak up every aspect of the corporate culture. What’s your corporate culture?

Due to changing family dynamics and busy schedules, many children grow up eating their meals on the run or in front of the TV or computer, so less emphasis is placed on the face-to-face interaction that used to be part and parcel of family mealtimes. Does this mean that we’re destined to devolve back to our cave dweller eating habits? Not necessarily. Staci Erickson is one of the parents leading the back-to-manners revolution. Her product, Golly Gee-Pers Table Manners Cards, helps communicate the basics of table manners in a way that kids will understand and enjoy.

When it’s time for that first school report of the year, it might seem strange to guide kids to a real live book. After all, with the proliferation of iPads and Internet search engines, something simple like an almanac might seem like a light rail to Luddite town. The World Almanac for Kids 2014 has changed a bit from the tomes of your youth. Gone are the text-heavy tellings of the year that was and the year to come, the new World Almanac is colorful, engaging and interesting. As holidays approach, encourage gifts without cords by stocking this and other educational volumes to expand our future generation’s minds.

There are hundreds of “educational” products on the market targeted towards a child’s brain development, but how can one be sure that they actually engage children while enhancing learning? Plus, many learning products target soft skills like teamwork or inter-personal abilities, not the challenging STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) material. Funnybone Toys, known for its emphasis on brain-building fun, has now been lauded for two of its educational products. Disruptus™ specifically addresses innovation — based on ideas, objects, and the unpredictable roll of the dice. Arrazzles™ involves the manipulation of geometric configurations

It seems like it’s harder to find companies who are still manufacturing their goods in the U.S.A. So many companies have made the decision to take their manufacturing overseas. While they realize less expense, it comes at a cost for those in the United States. There still are companies that are committed to manufacturing in the U.S.A. The Matching Dots, Paty, Inc., Papersalt and Sugarbug’s Closet are four companies that are proud to be manufacturing their product lines in the U.S.A.

Board games rarely get as much exposure as they did in the days before electronic entertainment became the default, but there are still some great board games being created and marketed, and kids can still find pleasure in playing these fun, mentally-stimulating games. One of the selling points of board games is that they’re usually fairly easy to play and are appropriate across a wide range of ages, so they bring the generations together and encourage healthy competition. Zazzy Pals is the creator of a new multi-use pet-themed game set called Canine Cardz.

Trade shows present many opportunities beyond sales meetings. They are an occasion to see new products, spot trends and network. While it is natural to line up your sales team in a phalanx when a competitor strolls by your booth, there may be benefits in meeting other vendors, speaking with them about their successes, and being open to synergistic prospects not possible for your company to achieve on its own. Like licensing, co-branding will expand your product line and can introduce your brand to a new segment of retailers and their customers…

Stories that feature animal characters are so prevalent in the children’s’ book section that in many libraries, they outnumber books with human protagonists. Kids love animals and always have; they tend to be able to connect to these furry or feathered creatures and identify with their curiosity and innocent view of the world. Kids also may find it easier to face fears and work out moral dilemmas when these challenges are seen through the eyes of a friendly non-human character. The Extraordinary Love Story of Aye Aye and Fedor is a heartwarming story that shows kids how “human” animals can be, and how important it is for us to protect them and their environments.

There are many things parents can do to ensure their older child feels secure and prepared in the face of becoming an older brother or sister. Resources abound to help teach young children about the pregnancy and birth process, to help them relate to the newborn, and to normalize common feelings of envy, wonder, and nervousness that can accompany welcoming a new sibling. Here are a few t-shirt and book ideas to help children transition to becoming big brothers or sisters: Just Tees Please, Tee With Sugar, Jabberwocky Books and I See Me! Inc.

I met the President of HABA USA, Lea Culliton, when she first started marketing the German toy brand in the U.S. and she was comparing options for print advertising to the trade. Early on, I could tell that Lea was precise, organized and understood the relationship of carefully-defined marketing budgets, rates and circulation. She was smart, honest and direct in her decision making and was willing to make a year-long investment in advertising. I admired her as an astute businesswoman. After over 10 years, my opinion of Lea has proved constant. We developed a business friendship based on mutual respect. Many others also value her as a leader in the children’s industry.

If a parent had a nickel for every time a child said “I’m bored”, they might be rich. Point those parents away from Pinterest and into an actual book. We know, in this day and age of blogs and social media pitting parent against parent for the most creative craft, a simple book seems revolutionary. And maybe it is. Imagine Childhood: 25 Projects that Spark Curiosity and Adventure is like going off the grid. It’s everything whimsical and magical about the world outside electronics, and forces adults to get into a child’s head.

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