Perfecting the Art of Conversuasion
… Certainly not me! I’m off to the Fisher-Price headquarters in New York for a couple of FUN-filled days. Along with three other #FisherPriceMoms Play Panel members (Tammi, Caroline and Lisa), we’ll grab a sneak peek of the newest toys, tour the facility, and even get to spend time at the famous Fisher-Price Play Lab!
Hence, this is me signing off for the next couple of days. Have a splendid week, and I’ll catch up with y’all on Saturday!
Dear Santa,
Great news! This Christmas eve, you can skip our house during your frenzied gift-giving spree. That’s right; we’re all good. You see, Christmas came early this year; the boys were treated to the “Cadillac” of presents (ha ha ha! pun intended) courtesy of Fisher-Price, and since they’ve been more than blessed with good health, a loving family and kick a** toys, please re-route their presents to someone less fortunate. We’ll be doing the same in appreciation of the kind gesture from Fisher-Price; the money we had set aside for Christmas presents will be used to help feed the hungry, and the boys will have to make do with one present… albeit one big, shiny, freaking awesome present.
Kind Regards,
Lena
p.s. However, if you happen to find a spare Danier winter coat in your sleigh – particularly style #192980026 – I won’t be offended if you shove it down the chimney. Is my husband reading this? Hint, hint.
Earlier this month, you may have seen me tweet out a photo of a great big box. Inside the box: The Fisher-Price Power Wheels Cadillac Escalade Ride-On. If F-P wanted to blow my mind, congratulations: mission accomplished. I am speechless.
(Well, not really – I don’t think it’s humanly possible for me to shut my mouth for more than 2 minutes. Perhaps blown away is a better description. I am blown away.)
Why it rocks:
The Toys ‘R’ Us Cadillac Escalade is loaded with luxury features! Premium sound system includes a real-working FM radio and sound boosting rear speakers. See-through windows, chrome wheels and grill and doors that really open and close add to real driving fun, with a battery charge indicator that lets kids know when it’s time for “refuel”! Drives two speeds forward (2.5 and 5 mph, max.) plus reverse on hard surfaces and grass with a high-speed lock-out for beginners and Power Lock Brake System.
Why it’s relevant:
Ryder has always been obsessed with cars. He collects them, races them, makes those little boy “brrrrr” sounds, and even has names for them: Yellow Mommy’s Car, Blue Mommy’s Car, Red Mommy’s Car, etc. I know, terribly creative. At last count, he has 88 Hot Wheels….
“How does Reid like his new present?”
“He loves it!”
“What does he love most about it?”
“Er… he’s still kind of playing with the box…”
How many times have you heard that children are more obsessed with the packaging than an actual toy? Before I became a parent, I marveled at how a child could give up a shiny, new toy in favour of a dingy old cardboard box. However, after repeatedly witnessing this phenomena in action, I can now vouch that exploration and discovery begins with the outer shell.
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| GET OUT OF THE BOX REID |
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| OK SERIOUSLY YOU’RE CUTE BUT GET OUT |
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| ONLY 12 MINUTES LATER… |
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| TIME TO GO CHECK OUT THE ACTUAL TOY |
Cardboard boxes are the ultimate blank slate for children; a box can morph into a number of objects only limited by the child’s imagination. In fact, a large banker’s box recently turned from a car to a fort to a garbage can – yes, Ryder found it amusing to sit in a pretend trash can – all within a matter of moments.
So why is “pretend play” so darned important? According to Dr. Kathleen Alfano, a widely-regarded expert in early childhood development, “Pretend Play is more than fun – it helps develop thinking and problem-solving skills and strengthens social and communication skills, as well. It lets your child ‘try on’ endless new roles and new ways of looking at the world, which helps build empathy and imagination.”
Dr. Alfano’s Tips to promote “Pretend play”:
Provide a collection of dress-up props for role-play
Plant seeds for imaginative thinking by reading lots of books together
Provide toys that encourage creativity and imagination
Make up stories with your child, building on each other’s additions
Arrange play dates with others to foster social and imaginative play
Listen to music with your child and act out how it sounds (sleepy, happy)
Take turns “being” things that begin with each letter of the alphabet
Sometimes be your child’s play partner, sometimes just observe
Use your own imagination and awaken your own inner child
Ryder and I love to make up stories. Sometimes I’ll let him take the lead; I’ll put a few of his favourite toys in front of him and let him create a scenario – at the moment, a recurring theme is taking mommy’s car to the grocery store to buy Ryder grapes. And it’s absolutely amazing to see how he incorporates making sure Reid comes home for a nap; how daddy must remember his money; even how mommy needs to make a list. At times he’ll sling a pail over his shoulder, calling it his “purse”, and he never forgets to grab a old set of keys that he keeps handy. In short, he takes mundane activities from our everyday life and weaves a brilliant tale that is funny, creative and always entertaining. This is the power of pretend play.
Does your child have a vivid imagination? What are some of the ways he/she engages in pretend play?
I’m not that mom.
I’m not that mom who has huge expectations of her child. I’m not that mom who takes her little one to early math centres so he can get a leg up on the “competition” (other JK’ers). And I’m certainly not that mom who favours structured socialization over good old fashioned toys (at least not at a tender age). Not that there’s anything wrong with those moms; for better or worse, our parenting styles are simply different. As for me, I guess you could say that I believe in the power of play, and learning through play.
Because it’s more than just banging on a piece of wood or plastic, isn’t it? Every time I see Reid attack one of his toys, he’s learning. He’s sensing, discovering and imagining. In fact, sometimes I can actually see the wheels turning; I anticipate his next move, wait for his next toothy grin, brace myself for the next burst of energy.
A toy as simple as the Fisher-Price Go Baby Go Bat & Wobble Penguin has brought on so much enjoyment! He’s been playing with it for about 3 months on and off, and whenever he’s in a surly mood, I bring it back out to cheer him up. In fact, the pictures below were taken just seconds after a crying fit – not sure if you can see the red rims around his eyes, but this toy definitely stops the tears in my house!
When Reid first encountered the penguin, he’d simply bat it back and forth with much enthusiasm but no real direction. Now, after a little bit of friendly swatting, he picks it up and takes it with him to the couch, babbling away as he sits down beside it. Then, he treats the toy as his best pal; an arm casually swung around it as he pretends to watch the television. Now tell me he hasn’t learned a thing or two about socialization?
Here are a few interesting tidbits from the article, Play and Skill Development on Fisher-Price.com:
– As children play with toys, with one another, and with adults, they acquire and improve the skills necessary for formal learning in later stages of their lives.
– Along with the skills of eye-hand coordination and control that come from playing with toys will come a fantastic amount of concept development—understanding the meaning of relationships and intrinsic characteristics of objects.
– One thing parents want to be sure and look for in toys they buy their children is that the toys should communicate directly to the children and not necessarily require adult explanations. For example, the child knows immediately if he has worked a puzzle correctly.
Get back to basics and let kids be kids! And, check out Fisher-Price Play to find the perfect age and stage appropriate toys for your LOs!
Who doesn’t love a good contest? Especially when it celebrates your baby’s oh-so-important achievements!
Simply register at FisherPricePlay.ca and you’ll have the chance to win a “Celebrating Milestones” prize pack of Fisher-Price toys valued at $200, plus a spa gift card valued at $200! There’s a prize every month until October, so link on over today!
Here are the contest rules:
*Contest open April 14 – October 31, 2011. Milestone story not required for entry. All consumers who register at FisherPricePlay.ca during the contest period will be eligible to win one (1) of six (6) prize packs from Fisher-Price (each valued at $400). Draws will take place monthly, starting in May 31, on the last day of the month, until October 31, 2011. Winners will be contacted directly by email, and may be asked to share a milestone story at that time. All non-winning registrants will carry forward and are eligible for subsequent monthly draws.
If you have a chance, be sure to share a milestone story – us moms love to ooh and aah over all those precious highlights! I’ve had the pleasure of witnessing a few milestones over the past month or so – little Reid turned 1 at the end of May (I think first birthdays are always a baby’s most celebrated milestone), he began to walk shortly after, and just recently he has started calling out “Mama!” when he wants to be picked up! It is such a joy to see the changes from day to day, especially since he was just a tiny little baby only a year ago.
As for Ryder, we just cleared a major milestone – after going over two weeks without a single accident, I can semi-confidently say he’s toilet trained! Of course, I know that there are relapses, random accidents, times of illness, etc. that can be a setback to toilet training, but for the time being we are insanely proud of our little man!
Be sure to visit FisherPricePlay.ca to find toys that help celebrate children’s milestones. As they play, laugh, and grow you’ll both enjoy countless milestone moments together, and Fisher-Price is there for each and every one of them.
Every day, for the last few weeks, Ryder spends the first few moments of his morning pressed up against the sliding doors to our backyard.
“No snow,” he declares. “Go outside.”
If you could only see the little finger and nose prints I have to clean off every night! But it’s all in good fun – he’s just so looking forward to getting outside! And I can’t blame him…
According to Dr. Kathleen Alfano, Director of Child Research at Fisher-Price, there are numerous benefits to outdoor play, including:
– Playing outdoors is a form of exercise that promotes wholesome physical development
– Playing actively outdoors also increases flexibility, fine and gross motor skills and is related to the development of a wide variety of physical skills
– Toys that require balance and coordination, such as skates, scooters and bikes, teach children new skills, encourage the development of self-confidence and satisfy their interest in exploration
Before the rain settled in this past week, the boys and I enjoyed many late afternoons playing outside. I am continually amazed at the coordination of my little ones – Ryder is able to bend, stretch and roll around with ease, and Reid seems fearless while cruising along the patio set. In fact, on a daily basis, I can almost see them master new skills as they happen; learning to hit a ball from a tee, peddle with coordination, satisfy curiosity of new surroundings.
I can’t wait for the warmer (and drier!) weather to roll in… lots of outdoor play on the way!
Do you have a little boy who’d love to peddle away in a cool Thomas & Friends Kid-Tough Trike? Visit my friend Tammi over at My Organized Chaos for a chance to win this rugged trike! It’s got all the features you’re looking for: a wide, stable wheel base, easy-grip handlebars, big foot pedals plus great Thomas & Friends styling. There’s even a secret storage compartment under the seat!
But what if you’ve got a little girl? Don’t worry – I’ve got you covered on this one…
One lucky Canadian reader will win a Barbie Tough Trike! Tough enough for years of fun and adventure! The pretend key turns and clicks—there’s even a secret storage compartment under the comfort-ride seat for all her trinkets and treasures! Durable tires and rugged treads pair-up for “off-road” fun, plus it’s got all the essentials you look for in a trike: a wide, stable wheel base, easy-grip handlebars and big foot pedals.
To enter, simply visit Fisher-Price and choose your favourite outdoor toy (check off category to view), then leave a comment here telling us what it is!
You can also qualify for extra entries! Remember, you must leave a separate comment for each. You can:
(1) Follow my blog, Listen to Lena!
(2) “Like” Listen to Lena! on Facebook
(3) “Like” Fisher-Price on Facebook
(4) NEW Follow Listen to Lena! on Twitter
(5) Tweet about this giveaway (http://tinyurl.com/3m7kh4t). You may tweet daily.
I’ll draw for a winner on May 29th. Special thanks to Fisher-Price, and good luck!
I’m part of the Fisher-Price Play Panel and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this group. The opinions on this blog are my own.
When Ryder was just a wee one, I worried that he wasn’t getting enough “educational” stimulation.
Shouldn’t he be watching those baby reading DVDs? What about trying that baby sign language stuff? Why is that child rearranging blocks while Ryder just ambles on by and throws them around?
Turns out, I didn’t fully appreciate the Power of Play.
Because when Ryder first reached for his Chatter Telephone, he learned to pick up the receiver. Later, through imitation, he discovered that he could use the dial pad to make a “phone call”. And lastly, chatting away with his friends fostered creativity, socialization and imagination. Not bad for a toy telephone, eh?
Fisher-Price realizes that when a child picks up a toy, it’s about more than just fun.; it’s about mastering milestones. Every child goes through milestone moments at every age and stage of development; therefore, Fisher-Price launched its 2011 milestones campaign to communicate to mothers the range of Fisher-Price toys available that help babies grow and develop in various ways, depending on what milestone they are experiencing at a specific time. The milestones are: soothe, sense, move, discover, socialize, learn, create and imagine.
And trust me, they know their stuff. Leading the program is Dr. Deborah Weber, a trusted voice in the toy industry. She is widely regarded as an expert in early childhood development, and is Senior Manager for the Fisher-Price Child Research Department, which is the toy industry’s most respected Center for research on childhood development and play. Plus, she’s a mom of two!
Here are a few of Dr. Weber’s tips for helping your child meet developmental milestones:
Soothe: Keep your baby close to you in a swing or bouncer when you are doing things around the house such as cooking or laundry. It will make them feel comfortable and confident to know that mom is by their side.
Learn: Encourage your child to play with toys in different ways. Be sure to join in the play with them and show them all of the special features of the toys including the lights, sounds, different shapes, colours and interaction, as seen with the Fun with Friends Musical Table.
Sense: Establish a routine with your baby by putting on a soothing mobile at the same time every night. When your baby hears a familiar Ocean Wonders tune or sees a familiar visual, they will know it is bedtime and will feel soothed and relaxed.
One of the most fascinating things I’ve seen lately is Ryder playing with toys that are meant for Reid. Even though he should have “mastered” the milestones associated with the toy long ago, he continually finds new ways to play with the toy and make it relevant to him. A school bus playing music becomes a ghetto blaster; toy rings become donuts that are frosted with paper confetti. I am continually amazed by his imagination, confidence and coordination, and it’s refreshing to see that Fisher-Price toys definitely do grow with him!
For more information on the power of play, visit Fisher-Price Play.
A few of y’all have heard whispers of me collaborating with Fisher-Price… and I’m happy to announce the rumours are true! In conjunction with Mom Central Canada, I have the distinct privilege of being part of the Fisher-Price Play Panel!
We all know how important play is for our children’s development, and Fisher-Price has been a trusted name when it comes to quality toys and gear that are sure to keep your little ones engaged and to help them reach their next milestone. In fact, on the Fisher-Price website, you can actually choose a development milestone – and then find a product that is perfect for your child! From the Go Baby Go! Crawl-Along Drum Roll, Brilliant Basics Chatter Telephone to the Drillin’ Action Tool Set, the toys have been a staple in my house, throughout my boys’ development.
As a part of the Fisher-Price Play Panel, I’m hoping to help other moms make early childhood more fun and enriching by sharing Fisher-Price reviews, my go-to favourites, and everything you need to know about Fisher-Price toys and the items they offer to help all children play, laugh and grow.
(Did I mention we had the chance to participate in a cool photo shoot? That’s Ryder hanging on the Little People Lil’ Movers School Bus!)
Look for my reviews and recommendations soon!