News

Posts Tagged ‘News’

Robot Fest

Monday, April 11th, 2011

This weekend I met with the organizers of Robot Fest & Mid-Atlantic Mini Maker Faire to discuss plans for an Ellie Bellie Kids/Classic Play! kids’ activity table at their event.

After chatting with them about their vision for the event (can I just sidebar here to say, they are such lovely champions for creativity and innovation), I started generating some ideas. (more…)

Tags: News
Posted in Features, News, Science Fun, Technology | No Comments »

Well hello Friday! So lovely to see you again. You know what Friday? I rather like our little routine together. I sit in my pink fluffy robe and scroll through the tabs I’ve left open all week in my browser. You know, all those many, many tabs to the super fun and fabulous things I want to share with all my friends. Then I copy and paste, do a little o’ this, a little o’ that and voila! Together, we create link love magic.

So Friday (and pause for dramatic emphasis) I think you’ve earned this:

(more…)

Tags: News
Posted in News | 8 Comments »

And Now the News…

Friday, March 11th, 2011

Well hello there. Thanks for stopping by. I’ve taken the liberty of gathering some links I think you’ll enjoy. If you’ve been here before, you know the drill. If not, here’s how the links are grouped: fun links, smart links, and all about moi links (that last category is purely for vanity’s sake).

Now before we get into the Happy Friday Links, I want to take a moment to say something about the real news today out of Japan. We’ve watched the footage of the devastation and are rendered speechless. Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Japan.

(more…)

Tags: News
Posted in News | 3 Comments »

And Now the News…

Friday, February 25th, 2011

Well the lovely 70 degree weather from last weekend didn’t last. On Tuesday, the kids had a day off school because of snow. But since that storm, the snow has melted and my neighbor’s tulips have sprouted. This has lifted my mood considerably.

Okay, enough about the weather, let’s get to the news! Here’s all the news that’s fit to click—the fun, the educational and the all-about-me links (purely for vanity’s sake I assure you).

image from notcot.com

(more…)

Tags: News
Posted in News | 2 Comments »

Interview with Meg Rosker of Let Children Play!

Wednesday, February 23rd, 2011

Today I want to introduce you to someone. She’s a play advocate who is helping beat the Playvolution drum. Her name is Meg Rosker and you may know her from this NY Times article, or perhaps her Back to Basics: All of Us Need Play and Recess article on Mamapedia or, you may have seen her post Throwing the First Punch igniting conversations on Twitter and Facebook feeds everywhere.

Meg was kind enough to agree to an interview so you guys could get to know her, the work she’s doing and the very real need to bring on the Playvolution! Do you guys like that? I threw it together and I’m making it stick, or at least trying to anyway.

Enough of my rambling, let’s meet Meg!

You are a champion for play. How did you arrive here?

When I realized that my life was influential upon not only the lives of my children, but on the lives of millions of other children as well, I saw how important it was that I took action to advocate for play. This is something that all children everywhere have in common. They all need to play.

The Playvolution has started to take off recently. But there have been those championing it for years. Who do you look to or read for inspiration?

Lenore Skenazy of Free Range Kids is my biggest inspiration. She took a risk to stand up for what she knew was true. Children need to explore and find themselves independent of adults looking over their shoulder. She took the risk of being dubbed “America’s worst mom” because she knew she needed to reach out to all families. She receives a lot of ridicule at times, but she has consistently advocated for our kids in a world that spends a lot of time worrying and being fearful, rather than molding responsible, happy citizens. She could have simply taken care of her own children, but instead she reached out to all families in America so their kids could have the same freedom in their lives that her own children experienced.

What can parents do to address their children’s developmental need to play?

It is the parent’s responsibility to encourage and reward their children as they express themselves in their own, unique way.

What were your favorite playtime activities as a kid?

I imagined myself being my dreams. I spent a lot of time day dreaming and pretending in the backyard. I used to dream I was Barbara Streisand or Audry Hepburn. Other days I would speak in a British accent in the grocery store to my mother. I danced in the backyard to the Beach Boys, made berry and mud soup in the yard with friends, I dressed up the cat and pushed him around in a baby carriage and even played dentist with the dog.

What are your favorite playtime activities with your kids today?

I bring out a lot of inventive possibilities for them to play with and then see what they are interested in at that particular moment. Sometimes it’s a box of cars, modeling clay or blocks. Other times it may be playing with pots and pans filled with water or flour or both. My son enjoys dressing up as characters from history, like a civil war soldier or a knight. All my kids love to play babies by putting pillows in the laundry baskets and laying down inside. They get pretty inventive!

What role do you see parents playing in bringing back play?

They have to stand up to the so called “experts” that say play isn’t important. The research is out there and our experience as parents tells us that play time and children are forever linked. Play time is a valuable learning time, not to take a backseat to other academics.

What role do you see schools playing in bringing back play?

Their role is to initiate parents to stand up and speak out. Schools aren’t doing a lot right now. Their resistance is the catalyst to move the play movement forward.

Anything you’d like to add that I haven’t asked?

Parents have to believe that they have a right to speak out. They feel that the people they entrust to educate their children know more than they do. In certain areas this may be correct, but the area of play is where educators today fall far short of the mark, to the point of harming or restricting the natural development of our children. As it is the right and obligation for every citizen to vote, it is the right and obligation of every parent to speak out.

Meg Rosker is a play advocate, mother, writer and former public school teacher. She lives with her three kids on the beach in Florida. She writes at www.letchildrenplay.com

Tags: friends, News, Parenting, playvolution
Posted in Guest Posts | No Comments »

And Now the News

Friday, February 18th, 2011

A week that started out with a celebration of love ends with spring time weather. This, my friends, makes me positively giddy. It’s also given me a touch o’ the spring fever. I’m not breaking out the flip flops yet, but just let’s say, I may be dusting them off.

Let’s get right to it shall we? Here’s all the news that’s fit to click—the fun, the educational and the all-about-me links (purely for vanity’s sake I assure you).

from cpb.org
He’s calm. He’s cool. He’s collected. And he understands the importance of public broadcasting. Heck yeah, I’d be his neighbor.

from Nilsen Life
I’d say they’re totally transferable skills. Preparing for re-entry.

from aMuse Toys
Yes, I shall take a case of these!

from joyababy
Swoon and love. That’s all you need to know—swoon and love.

from Small for Big
I just want to climb into this happy picture and have a picnic.

from Charlotte’s Fancy
I am a complete and total sucker for poster propaganda. Especially, when it involves m’veggies.

images: Victory Garden of Tomorrow

And here’s a look at what’s going on in the play revolution…

Can play help close the achievement gap?

It was worth the watch for many things, but in particular, this line at the end, “When children are just playing, just doing the everyday things they’re doing, what they’re really doing is a bunch of experiments to figure out how the world works.” Thanks Made by Joel Facebook Fan page for the link.

Before I go, here’s where you’ll find me hanging out these days…

Stop the presses! This really is an amazing deal. And no, it’s not for an ipad.

Talking tech: if you can’t beat ‘em, maybe pick up a controller and join ‘em.

I’m going to try to squeeze all I can out of this one, obviously: I make my first video debut. (this one really is just pure vanity isn’t it?)

Well folks, that’s it. Hope you all enjoy a lovely weekend! See you on Monday, when we should have some new updates in our spy play series.

Tags: News, Parenting
Posted in News | 4 Comments »

Behind the Scenes Stills and Video

Wednesday, February 16th, 2011

The weekend before last, we had a photo shoot for an Ellie Bellie Kids catalog. The concept for this catalog, along with a new campaign, Just Go Play! came from Dave K Cooper (our photographer). The idea was to keep it simple and just let the kids play. You’ll notice off the bat, the background and clothing were kept simple and gender neutral. The idea being that the colors of the products and the kids’ energy (i.e. play) would be the focus.

Don’t you just love multi-layered meaning like that? An empty stage set for the imagination? Oooh, I get all goosebumpy just thinking about it.

Now after having done many photo shoots for Classic Play! and Ellie Bellie Kids together, Dave and I have developed a sort of rhythm. Dave, who, you probably know by now is my husband, is amazing when it comes to capturing fantastic images. And me? Well, I am not afraid to make a ninny out of myself for a smile or giggle.

We make a pretty darn-good team, if I do say so myself. Although, in an effort at full disclosure, I’ll say working together on a creative project with your spouse can…ah…let’s just say it can be an exercise in communication.

Anyway, if you’re like me, you’re curious about what goes on behind the scenes. Well, today I’m here to share.

First up is a link to some behind the scene stills captured by the very talented and all-around-super-great-guy John Waire.

And here’s a short 30 second video shot and edited by the filmmakers of Zinnia Films. It’s my first ever time on camera (ack!) and I talk about the direction our line is taking.

Ellie Bellie Kids Photo Shoot from Zinnia Films on Vimeo.

I think Dave, John and David beautifully captured the energy of the day. We had such a great time! And I have to say, it was an incredibly rewarding experience to see the kids having such genuine fun with our toys—unscripted, unprompted fun. That, to me, is success.

Tags: News, silly
Posted in Ideas and Inspiration | 2 Comments »

And Now the News

Friday, February 11th, 2011

What a week! What a week! I’ve had a pretty exciting Friday so far. It started with a business meeting, lunch, then a trip around the mall trying to look all nonchalant while holding my pants up (long story). Next on the agenda: date night! How’s your Friday been so far?

As you know from last week, I’m starting a new series on Fridays where I try to bring you all the news that’s fit to click publish—the fun, the educational and the all-about-me links (purely for vanity’s sake I assure you). Let’s get to it shall we?