Mara Kaplan is the driving force behind Let Kids Play, a consulting firm working to ensure that all children have excellent play opportunities. She is an educator, a parent of a child with disabilities and a season advocate for inclusive play. She founded an indoor playspace for children with and without disabilities and was its executive director for over 13 years. Mara has an elementary education degree Indiana University in Bloomington, IN. She received her MBA, with a concentration in nonprofit management, from Boston University.
Today Mara shared her passion for toys. Not just any old toys but toys that we should seek out to help raise our playful tots.
Especially at this time of year we hear a lot about toys through advertising. We take a step back and evaluate toys and find ones that create value- our kids will want to use them over again.
Mara talks about many things including,
What do I look for when choosing a toy?
I look for toys that are open ended, children can play with them in multiple different ways. Also toys that grow with the child. So that it’s not something I’m just going to play with today or the next month………..Listen to the show to find out Mara’s examples.
Links, transcript and downloads
Letkidsplay.com for the email newsletter
Links mentioned in the podcast download the transcript
Download Alternative Play Activities Holiday Gift Guide
Contest
*Mandatory entry*
- Listen to this podcast for the mystery word. You can download the podcast below and play it in that player
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- Enter it along with your name and email address in the form below ( or via email) for a chance to win Too many toys by David Shannon. We love this book and reviewed it earlier this year.
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Winner will be picked by Random.org.
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Winner must make contact within 48 hours otherwise prize will be forfeited and a new winner chosen.
Deadline Tuesday 15 December 2009 MST 11:59.
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I think it is such a valid point about focusing on the process not the product. I find that whatever play we do is much more enjoyable this way as well.