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A wonder to behold it was, with many colors bright, And the moment I laid eyes on it, it became my heart's delight. It went zip when it moved and bop when it stopped, and whirr when it stood still. I never knew just what it was and I guess I never will.
—Peter, Paul & Mary
The simplest toy, one which even the youngest child can operate, is called a grandparent.
—Sam Levinson
A PERSON ONCE TOLD ME that when she was little she didn't get much of a chance to really be a child. So as a grownup she decided to do something about it. She bought a big box of crayons, and a whole bunch of toys she didn't have when she was small. She smiled as she remembered her own children coming to her and saying, “Mom, can we play with your Tinker Toys?”
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Bubble Toys by Pustefix provide many delightful ways for you to share the simple pleasures of blowing bubbles! For instance, push on the sides of the Bubble Bear or Bubble Rocket and up pops a wand full of bubble solution. To order visit http://shop.store.yahoo.com/tangenttoys/pusbubtoy.html.
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Fun Magic Coloring Book. Contact your local area magic & novelty shops or purchase from www.magical-tricks.com/magiccoloringbook. The first time I saw this demonstrated at a magic shop in the hill country of Texas I was like a five-year-old kid, amazed by what looked like real magic. Even when you find out how this book works, you'll still be impressed!
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Hearthsong. A delightful collection of high quality toys, games, craft materials and other nurturing items for children of all ages. Visit www.hearthsong.com to rediscover the spirit of play you may remember having as a child.
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Hula Hoops that break apart into individual segments (six segments = standard 30" hoop) are available from Project Adventure at http://www.pa.org/store/props_games.php or by calling 800/468-8898. Great for traveling teachers, workshop leaders and facilitators! The rest of their online equipment, props & publications section is a terrific source for creative toys & props to use with classes, groups, or just messing around with the other kids on the block.
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Into The Wind is the leading mail order kite store in the US. For beginner models to professional stunt kites in a remarkable variety of sizes, shapes & colors, call 800/541-0314 or visit them at www.intothewind.com. As kite flyer John W. Jordan once remarked, "You'll never find an unhappy person at the end of a kite string!" Anywhere the wind blows, you can have fun!
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Jugglebug offers a complete source of juggling information & equipment, including how to use juggling as a very playful and powerful resource for learning in any classroom. For more information contact them at 518/695-4209 or www.icanjuggle.com.
Klutz began in 1977 when three friends self-published the now legendary Juggling for the Complete Klutz. At their Intergalactic Headquarters (still located in Palo Alto, CA) the Klutz staff continues to create award-winning, hands-on, multi-sensory learning books and activity guides for children. Most of these publications come with some sort of instrument, toy or craft material attached. Kids rave about them, but a whole lot of grownups also use Klutz materials to stay playfully sane, de-stressed and filled with laughter, fun & glee! Visit them at www.klutz.com or call 800/558-8944 to explore the whole amazing collection and order more stuff for your own toy box. Here are a few of my favorite "100% Klutz Certified" publications.
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Juggling for the Complete Klutz. John Cassidy. This classic book — over 2.5 million copies sold — will help you master a skill you may have been wanting to learn ever since you first went to the circus. Each book comes with 3 juggling bags attached so you can start practicing right away. This book really works!
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The Best Card Games in the Galaxy gives you a set of classic rules, strategies and a deck of cards. What else do you need?
The Book of Classic Board Games includes rules, pieces and playing boards for 15 games that never go out of date.
The Klutz Book of Magic. John Cassidy & Michael Stroud. Here's everything you need to get started in the art of amazing yourself, your friends, family members, colleagues, absolute strangers, and anyone else who'll wonder how you did that.
The Klutz Yo-Yo Book comes with — you guessed it — a take-apart yo-yo and written guidance that will have you performing tricks you didn't know you had in you.
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The Unbelievable Bubble Book. John Cassidy with David Stein. The fiendishly clever but simple "Bubble Thing" attached to this book will have you quickly creating six foot (or longer) bubbles that will stop traffic, get the neighbors talking, and help you make new friends wherever you go.
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Koosh Balls in three different sizes — as well as a great selection of other toys & educational resources — can be purchased at www.presentationresources.net/toys.
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Light & Sound Energy Ball. "By touching 2 metal strips simultaneously, your body becomes an electrical path that allows the ball to glow and hum." A delightful way to demonstrate that people really are connected to each other when they hold hands in a circle! It also safely illustrates the scientific concepts of circuits, conductivity, and resistance. Order from the ABoyd Company at 888/458-2693 or www.aboyd.com.
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The National Toy Hall of Fame honors classic toys beloved by generations of children and grownups, and includes a fascinating history for each one. To see if your favorites from childhood are among the 31 toys in the growing collection, visit www.strongmuseum.org. If they aren't, you can fill out a convenient online nomination form.
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Silly Putty. Accidentally invented during World War II by a scientist attempting to create synthetic rubber, over 300 million plastic eggs filled with this magical substance have been sold in the past 50 years! Recently inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame, Silly Putty now comes in 13 colors & continues to delight the young at heart. Learn more than you thought you ever wanted to know about its history, science, and manufacture — including the winners of The Top 50 Silliest Uses for Silly Putty Contest, how you can order a 5 pound block of the stuff and how to earn your online Master of Silly Putty degree — by visiting the Silly Putty University Campus (The Home of Higher Silly Putty Learning) at www.sillyputty.com.
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Tom Kuhn Yo-Yos. Dr. Tom Kuhn — a San Francisco dentist turned yo-yo inventor/designer and respectfully known as their mentor "Dr. Yo" by the Smothers Brothers — is responsible for designing the first really modern yo-yo 25 years ago. You can buy the original take-apart 3-in-1 No Jive Yo-Yo and many other models — plus replacement axles, strings and other accessories — by calling 800-548-6724 or visiting http://www.yoyoguy.com/yoyo/tkuhn/.
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Toys In Space—Exploring Science with the Astronauts. Carolyn Sumners. A wonderfully creative book that helps children and adults explore the scientific principles of how common toys operate both on Earth and in the microgravity of space. Carolyn Sumners also wrote “The Physics of Fun” (Technology Review, 87:20-7, Nov/Dec 1984) that discusses how to use toys & amusement parks as playful but practical science labs. (Liftoff to Learning—Toys in Space II is a classroom curriculum videotape & written guide exploring the same topics and can be ordered from NASA. A RealPlayer online video of this film and a summary of this material can be viewed at http://quest.nasa.gov/space/teachers/liftoff/toys.htm.)
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The amazing X-zylo follows in the honored tradition of Frisbees, Foxtails, Aerobies and other classic throwing/flying objects. Using principles that have amazed even NASA scientists, the X-zylo ". . . flies faster than a Frisbee and farther than a football." In fact, this 1-ounce, 3.75" diameter plastic cylinder — otherwise known as a "flying gyroscope" — has been thrown over 600 feet in one direction! For more information and to order your own, visit www.flyingproducts.com.
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