Creative Learning Toys
1200 E. Paris SE Suite 4
Grand Rapids, MI 49546
Phone: (616)-975-9019

Today’s families are busy (and scheduled) more than ever. With grocery carts that provide a toy car to ride in (far away from Mom or Dad) and DVD players in cars, there can be too many “no talk” zones. And why is that important? Because, as Dr. Catherine Snow, one of the most expert researchers in the area of early language and literacy learning says, “Everyday conversation is the basic activity in the world for three-to-five-year-olds…. For young children, it’s through the talk that learning goes on.” And that keeps being a benefit as your child grows. The tangible benefits of regular conversations with our children include:

• improved vocabulary
• strong listening abilities
• improved thinking and reasoning abilities
• broadening of knowledge
• understanding of more complex concepts
• strengthened family relationships where learning happens in a comfortable supportive environment

Did you know that the vocabulary level of children in 1st grade can predict at least 30% of their success in comprehending what they read when they are 16 or 17? So, what do the conversations look like in order to have those results? They don’t need to be overly structured; sometimes great conversations are simple ones in which you talk about the sounds of words, make rhymes, play with changing the first letter of your child’s name and being silly together. 

In any case, we need to be careful that our conversations are full of more than just “correcting and directing”. The more complex the sentences, the more unique and interesting words that are used, the more you explore ideas by talking about them, the better the benefit. Reading aloud with your child and talking about what you are reading is also a terrific way to squeeze in some chat time. Don’t be afraid to allow interruptions and ask questions that start with “how” or “why”. You’ll be amazed at what your child tells you! Chat while you function in the world – at the grocery story (have that child up close to you when they are small, walking by you and helping with the shopping as they grow), while driving to the bank, soccer practice, or school. Reconnecting with a quick talk when your child and you meet up in the afternoon or at day’s end keeps you connected. Discuss openly situations you encounter together and help your child understand the world. Talk a bit when you say goodnight. All of this contributes to a literacy-rich environment which will help your child build the tools for coping with the fast amount of information (a lot of it still in text) that we must deal with in our modern society. Carrying on regular, generous, thoughtful conversations takes an effort on the parent’s part. There are few other activities that bring such strong results, before your children are readers, as it establishes a strong foundation that will bridge over into their reading abilities, even as they go on to learn how to read for themselves. One last reminder: Don’t make your conversations too structured. Avoid: “OK, we’re going to talk now because we need to.” The more natural these conversations are, the more your child will integrate these habits and skills into their everyday lives. They will have ready connections between the academic language they are learning to read in school and what they have heard and used at home. And, as I always say about reading, conversation is a tool for life.

Cathy Puett Miller AKA The Literacy Ambassador is a national literacy consultant, author of the new eBook, Powerful Picture Books: 180 Ideas for Promoting Content Learning (available at http://www.inspiringteachers.com/catalog/ebooks)/powerful_picture_books.html and, soon to be released Anytime Reading Readiness: Fun and Easy Family Activities That Prepare Your Child to Read. Visit her website at www.readingisforeveryone.org for even more tips and ideas to grow your children’s literacy in fun, playful ways.  New titles available in November, 2009 at http://www.maupinhouse.com/puettmiller.php.

August 4, 2009

Dear Chairmen and Ranking Members:

I am writing in regard to the Committee hearing set for September 10, 2009 in which the Hon. Inez Tenenbaum, Chairman of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), is scheduled to testify on the implementation of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA).

I am extremely disappointed and surprised that no small businesses impacted by the new law have been invited to share their experiences in testimony before the Committee. The small business owner who has worked diligently for many years to produce safe toys and has conformed to all the testing requirements, both voluntary and mandatory, through third party labs has been thrown in to a turmoil. The law has had so many interpretations over the last months that no one is able to determine how and what needs to be done.

In our small companies products are made in small quantities and therefore many common components are used in order to keep product costs down. Under the new law we now have to treat these common components as entirely different entities for each toy they are a part of. We have to test some of our components 25 and 30 times, at cost of several hundred dollars each time, even though they have already been documented as safe by an independent testing lab. This is just one of several issues in this law that could be made simpler and less expensive without being any less safe. Most of these problems have to do with a lack of knowledge and understanding of actual manufacturing processes and need to be addressed to prevent small businesses from failing.

Small business in the children‘s industry has been actively calling for hearings since the passage of the CPSIA because of the issues that threaten our very existence and the availability of important playthings for our children. Issues that, if addressed, could allow us to survive this unbelievably difficult time and continue to make toys that would be as safe as the Congress intended. Companies in the small business segment have an excellent record of safety and are asking to be heard so we can continue to make excellent products. These issues need to be explored by the Committee based on the testimony of real companies suffering real pain.

The deck is stacked against small business under the new law. Ironically, while we are left to puzzle over how to “ascertain” co-hort information on products, the new law awards a freebie to large businesses who seek to test their own products.

I strongly believe that the perspective of businesses like our company is essential to a complete picture of the problems caused by the CPSIA and its implementation. Thank you for your consideration of this important matter.

Sincerely,

Peter F. Reynolds

President

The Little Little Toy Co., LLC

peter@littletc.com

So we did the family meeting thing.  We started with the ”something has to change” parent speech. Alexandra, our youngest, suggested we needed a family game night.  We verbally patted her on the head and went on about our lecture-as-solution technique.   Persistent person that she is, Alexandra wouldn’t let go of her approach to world peace.  She continued to bring up her game night request.  Finally, wanting to honor her sincerity and enthusiasm and confidence, we agreed to her suggestion.

The Power of Play

It seems our daughter is wise beyond her years.  The experience of playing together truly did shift our family dynamics.  Alexandra’s instinct really brought home the wisdom I have heard seasoned specialty toy retailers tout every spring during their “turn off the TV week” promotions.  Board games really do foster communication and joy and build new skills.

One of those skills, we found, was our children’s creative use of adjectives to describe how lame they find their father.  Whatever.  A caring father is willing to be the fall guy for higher learning.

Good Dads

I started thinking about the difference between “being a good dad” by setting up the swing set vs. “being a good dad” by participating in a game.  Swing set assembly was important to the joy of my children when they were younger.  Game playing turned out to be joy for me!

My kids were tough on our first game night–but very entertaining.   I noticed the strain of minor fracases was replaced by laughter.   And that laughter shaped us beyond the hours of game playing.  Days later we were a kinder, gentler group!

I saw cognitive leaps as Sean made up his own rules, rules he was subtly crafting to leave me in the dust and to make us all laugh.  I discovered that overt and humor- filled “cheating” stretched all our brains and deposited priceless family lore in the memory banks.

I am the newly crowned Sorry World Champion.  I’m making them beg for a rematch.

www.amhersttoybox.com

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