Posts tagged Imaginative

Imaginative Pretend Play with a Toy Kitchen

1 year ago

by kidbestbuy in Toys

Are you a parent or caregiver who wants to make sure that their child plays in such a way as to enhance their learning? The truth of the matter is that it is more likely than you might think! When you are looking around for a great way to make sure that your children grow and learn even as they are playing, think about the effect a wooden toy kitchen can have on them. Instead of investing in overly commercialized overpriced products, you can instead purchase a lovely toy kitchen that will help your kids expand their mind and their abilities. The Waldorf Education Theory Speaks directly to this and you will find that there are a number of different reasons why a wooden toy kitchen is one of the best Waldorf toys that you can find.

In the first place, you will find that a toy kitchen meets the Waldorf specification that toys be open ended and unstructured. There is no task that your child has to complete, and there is no set way to play with their toys. They have something that is a kitchen that they can play with. They might decide to play house, or perhaps they want to run a restaurant, or maybe they’ll decide that it looks more like a laboratory. Children should be given free rein to play as they like, and the less input that they have on what is appropriate play, the happier they are going to be. A pretend kitchen will allow them to use their imaginations.

Another interesting stricture of Waldorf toys is that they should be made of natural materials. There is simplicity of design that is integral to how children interact with their toys, and it is very important to make sure that your children have the stimulation that comes with toys that are made out of natural materials. Think about how boring it would be if all of their toys were made out of plastic. With a toy kitchen that conforms to the Waldorf education theory, you’ll find that they will have lots of interesting textures to explore.

With their pretend kitchen, you’ll find that your children have a lot of places that they can go. There are a number of different things that they can come up with to act out, and it is only a short leap from using a toy kitchen to being instructed on how to use a real one. This can be an important training step for them, and it can foster a great deal of creativity as well as sharpening their interest in the world around them. Take some time to consider what your options are going to be and what your options will look like when it comes to getting them a wooden toy kitchen that they will love.

Take some time and make sure that you consider what your options are when it comes to getting your child or children a wooden toy kitchen. How can you allow them to get the most out of their play, and what are your options when it comes to making sure that the toys that they are given are going to help them grow?

For Handcrafted Toy Kitchen sets visit Play Kitchens world.

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?The Toy Castle?? New DVD Series Presents Imaginative Ballet Stories and Encourages Creative Play

1 year ago

by kidbestbuy in Toys

Chicago, IL (PRWEB) May 29, 2006

Less and less money allotted for schools in art, drama, music, and dance is resulting in generations of children with little exposure to the performing arts. Enter The Toy Castle™, the award-winning live action series of narrated ballet stories, which dances into stores on DVD with three enchanting volumes “Beautiful Ballerina,” “Birthday Bash,” and “Twinkle, Twinkle,” May 30, 2006 from Questar Inc. Three additional titles in the series will be released in the fall.” Suggested retail price for each DVD is .99.

Appearing on many PBS stations nationwide, The Toy Castle is the first children’s DVD series to carry the American Public Television logo. Performed in the universal language of dance and mime by members of the renowned Royal Winnipeg Ballet, The Toy Castle nurtures an appreciation for dance, promotes positive character development, and encourages creative play. The series has received numerous accolades from publications such as TV Guide and Parenting, and has been awarded the Film Advisory Board “Award of Excellence,” the Gemini Award for “Best Pre-School Series” and top prizes at New York International Festivals.

“At a time when funds for arts education in schools are being drastically cut, ‘The Toy Castle’ is an initiative that brings the experience of live performances to young people, and nurtures their appreciation for the performing arts, an essential part of a fully rounded education,” said Albert Nader, chairman Questar, Inc. “There is nothing like The Toy Castle on home video or television. It is an engaging change of pace from animation. Children will embrace the delightful storybook characters.”

The Toy Castle is set in a Castle where the Toys come to life “only at night, when your eyes are shut tight.” The characters are familiar storybook icons, including Ballerina, Soldier, China Doll, Rag Doll, and others. Children learn how to constructively handle such personal and social issues as friendship, self-esteem, jealousy, being left out and expressing feelings.

Each 90-minute DVD features 12 delightful stories, and very special “Time to Dance” segments, in which Toy Castle characters demonstrate basic and fun ballet positions and movements. Each disc also contains DVD-ROM interactive educational activities and interactive games developed to enhance early learning skills and basic knowledge, such as “Memory Match,” “Puzzles,” “Strongman’s ABC’s,” “Goblin’s Piano Lesson,” “Learn to Count,” “Swaparoo” (where players can create their own Toy Castle friends), “Toy Castle Clean Up,” “Coloring Book, “Dress Up,” and much more.

Initial titles in The Toy Castle DVD launch are:

“Twinkle, Twinkle” – The toys in the Toy Castle share all the magic of starry skies, bedtime stories and warm friendships. “Time to Dance” segment teaches Demi Pointe, Tendues, Degagées, the Clown Shuffle, and the Jack in the Box.

“Beautiful Ballerina” – Spend some quality time with one of the Toy Castle’s most beloved characters in stories of friendship, caring and self-esteem. “Time to Dance” moves are Promenade, Promenade on Point, Chainnes, Pose Turns, Bourres.

“Birthday Bash” – Everybody loves a party, especially at the Toy Castle where all the toys magically come to life and friendship and thoughtfulness are the most precious gifts of all. “Time to Dance” segment teaches Petits Jetes without Arms, Petits Jetes with Arms, Waltz for Two. Blancees, and Super Stretch.

Three new Toy Castle DVDs to be released in the fall are “Dance for Joy” and “Nursery Rhyme Time,” and “Nutcracker Sweet.” For more information about The Toy Castle or to order please call 1-800-544-8244.

About Questar Inc.

Questar, Inc. is one of the most distinguished independent producers and distributors of programming for television, the home, libraries, education and the Internet. In addition to original productions, Questar distributes feature films in partnership with PorchLight Entertainment, classic television with SFM Entertainment and acclaimed non-fiction programming in association with such esteemed producers as Readers Digest and the award-wining public television series Nature.

About The Toy Castle™

The Toy Castle was inspired by The Tin Soldier, a live ballet featuring Canada’s premier dancer, Frank Augustyn. Neil Bregman saw the potential for a children’s TV classic and turned it into a one hour TV special for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Developed for television by Bregman and his wife, Katherine Jeans, The Toy Castle was the first live action pre-school series introducing children to the world of classical dance and the performing arts. Today, The Toy Castle is seen in many countries around the world, with touring live shows and an explosive fan base on the web with their interactive and educational website.

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