02.19.2011
I’ve been catching up on the LA Times from last weekend and I came across this article about the fact that kids who spend more time outside may be lowering their risk for near-sightedness later in life. Considering I just wrote an entry about TV harming babies’ brains, I thought it was fitting that I provide another example of how important it is for kids to be creative and see the world without a screen in front of them.
01.13.2011
I was at the park today with a little girl I was babysitting and I closely observed the other patrons. Many were sitters, others were mom and an occasional father and grandparent were there as well.
I was reminded of the time when I would go to the park often when I babysat in college and realized that about 14 years later, there seemed to be more men involved in the child’s care. Of course, it could’ve just been the way today rolled out but nonetheless, it was nice to see some men. And not just that, they were actively engaged with their kid.
I did notice that the boys were more rambunctious than the girls which is typical, I think. One caretaker I struck up a conversation with was watching three girls at the same time and said give her girls any day; boys don’t stop. Ha!
01.07.2011
I recently was sent photographs of the kids I used to baby-sit and it’s been a while since I’ve seen a picture of the boy for whose birth I was present. I stood in my kitchen and just stared because I couldn’t believe that 13 years had passed. I know it sounds cliché and the passing of time only gets faster with each year we witness, but it was just hard to accept.
I’ve been told often by someone I know that children are ours not only temporarily but really just as a loan. Yes, they are ours biologically and we have that tie to them, but… they really aren’t. We bring them into the world but we don’t own them. From the beginning the child experiences life on their own with his/her interpretations and understandings so, ostensibly, we’ve never truly had them.
The pictures of the kids that I used to baby-sit reminded me how precious is our time and how important it is to value your loved ones. We don’t get yesterday back and we don’t get to relive today. I think children are part of that reminder.
01.05.2011
The other day, I did something that, of late, I’m getting really good at. And I’m not proud of this special skill I’ve developed.
About six months ago, I started forgetting pots and pans on the stove while they’re cooking. It started out with a couple of “oops” and slight burns to a pot but I soon graduated to burning a pot so severely that the bottom of a stainless steel pot came off. Yes, the entire, ½ inch bottom layer of the pot came off as if I took a meat slicer and sliced the puppy right off.
This concerned me, to say the least, and I’ve been making an effort to use our kitchen timer and focus on one to two things at a time when in the kitchen.
Well, the other day, I decided to heat up some water for tea and, while waiting for the kettle to start whistling, I thought I’d get ready for a shower. I figured that I’d get my tea ready and while I showered it’d cool down for me to drink. I put the kettle on and 15 minutes later, in the middle of my shower, I realized I left the kettle on. I launched myself out of the shower, threw open the bathroom door to find our cats meowing at the door (something they never do) and dripped my way to the kitchen to take off the shrieking kettle. I thanked God that I, at least, filled the teapot with more than enough water so there was no danger of burning (off) anything.
But…
…I couldn’t help shake off this feeling of dread. What’s going on with me? I asked myself. I got back into the shower and was reminded of an article I read in Parenting Magazine last spring about parents who accidentally leave a child in the car and he/she dies. I started the article with judgment and “How could you?”-type questions but when I finished it, I thought about how quick I was to judge. I leave stuff on the stove all the time and forget about it. I’ve driven to places, spaced out, and couldn’t tell you how I got there. Life happens and when routines get altered at the last minute anything can happen.
Nonetheless, this terrifies me. Who’s to say I couldn’t be one of those parents who leave their child in the car? I often space out and I’m always thinking of, at least, 50 things at once. I plan my life days in advance, I use post-it notes and calendars, I go over my routines in my mind…but that might not be enough. I can barely live with the “almosts” I experience now, I can’t imagine having to live with the death of my child knowing that I caused it.
12.21.2010
Happy Winter Solstice!
It gives me great joy to give a child a gift especially when I hedge my bets that the child will love what they’re getting. I gave two little girls gifts in the last week and it brought me such warmth to see how happy my (our) gift made them. I feel like Mrs. Claus.
11.01.2010
I’ve been feeling inadequate lately and the main culprit for this is that I’ve been doing a lot of comparing of my life with others. I hate when I do this because it offers nothing good but, alas, I fell down that rabbit hole and now I’m dealing with it. (Or not.)
It seems like those with kids have all the answers to life. They’re always happy and life is lived for their kids, through their kids, and by their kids. This really makes me feel like a horrible individual that in order for one to be happy and content, one must have kids. We mainly hear stories of the fantastic, funny, imaginative, etc things that kids do and how all those things accumulated make a parent’s life so much richer. I, personally, would like to hear more stories of parents juggling life, their relationship with each other, work and time alone successfully. As magical as having a kid may be, I’m not so sure that it’s necessarily all magic all the time. But hell, maybe I’m wrong.
10.31.2010
I was very happy to volunteer at the Heritage Square Museum today passing out candy to trick-or-treaters. For someone who’s so damn unsure about having kids, I sure to a lot with and for kids. Sigh… But, I love it.
There was an incident that made me shake my head at parents. A very pregnant mother came in with her daughter of about 2-years old who immediately recognized that a friend was there (same age). The two started to play and and the mother decided to take out her phone/camera. She starts taking photos when her kid has a huge sneeze that produced a runny snot. The other little girl’s mother didn’t have a Kleenex and asked sneezy girl’s mom if she had one but that mom just kept fiddling around with her phone doing whatever. The other mom and I momentarily made eye contact (and I’m sure the same thought was going through our minds) as sneezy girl started to take her friend’s toy away which, as you can imagine, didn’t make the 1st girl too happy. I wanted to yell out to the mom, “Will you wipe your kid’s snot already? I know it’s Halloween, but no one wants to look at this.”
My favorite two costumes belonged to a boy and girl also of about 2-years old. The little girl was dressed up as Raggedy Ann and she was so darn cute that I just wanted to pick her up and tickle her silly. But that probably would’ve looked weird.
The little boy’s costume was a monkey with a curly tail and a banana coming out of a pocket. At one point his dad was filming him and the little boy kept walking up and down the pathway giggling up a storm. I watched the scene somewhat jealous to not be a part of that kind of magic. Later, this little boy made me realize an aspect of children I haven’t really explored on my blog yet. But I need to meditate on the thought a little.
Overall, a very nice Halloween and I hope that those of you with kids had a nice one as well.
10.17.2010
I haven’t had Doritos® in probably over 10 years and I’m sure you’ve seen the following ad as a runner-up for the Doritos® - Crash the Super Bowl 2010 but I think it serves as a great example of simplicity, succinctness in message, and well performed especially by the little boy. For someone like me and for someone with my interests and creative pursuits, these are important lessons. Enjoy!
Top 10 Children’s Toys 1990-2000:[1]
1. Pogs – Originating in Hawai’i in the 1920s it didn’t make its way to the North America until the late ‘80s/early ‘90s. They consist of small cardboard discs with printing, artwork or pictures on one side with a larger, heavier disc called a slammer to play the game. Each player drops the same amount of pogs into a stack and uses the slammer to knock as many pogs off as they can. The one with the most pogs was the winner.
2. Tickle Me Elmo – In 1996, it was Rosie O’ Donnell’s show who propelled this toy to famedom. Tyco Toys gave her 200 of these and Rosie used the toy as a gag throwing one of them to the audience every time a guest used the word of the day. This created such frenzy that children and parents began to demand one quickly outnumbering the supply. People were going on EBay and charging exorbitant amounts of money and people actually paid thousands for one.
3. Furby – Created by David Hampton and Caleb Chung, the talking doll hit the markets in 1998. These toys could be taught words and phrases, were required to be fed and slept regularly. They originally sold for $35 but demand for them drove the price up as high as $100.
4. Super Soaker – Originally created in 1982, engineer and creator Lonnie Johnson experienced a series of setbacks before perfecting his model. It hit the shelves in 1990.
5. Beanie Babies – Invented by Ty Warner in 1993, what put these toys on the map is his idea in 1996 to retire the first eleven babies. They instantly became a collector’s item.
6. Game Boy – This game first came out in Japan in 1989 but it didn’t hit American markets until 1991. It holds the award for being the most successful video game system in history. Since its debut, it has grown with advanced models coming out in 2001 and 2003.
7. Buzz Lightyear – Here’s another story similar to what happened to George Lucas with Star Wars. No major toy company believed that the toys in Toy Story would sell as actual toys for children. But soon, they were proven wrong and the small toy company, Thinkway Toys, couldn’t keep up with the demand. The most popular action figure was Buzz Lightyear.
8. Power Rangers – The 1975 Japanese TV show Dinosaur Task Force Zyuranger eventually became The Mighty Morphin Power Rangers in 1993 (in Japan). When its popularity began to fade, Saban Entertainment decided to alter its marketing strategy and sell the show with toys. The new Power Rangers with action figures emerged in 1996.
9. Tamagotchi – Aki Marita created this virtual pet that she could have as a companion. This toy created an entirely new toy category.
10. Pokemon – This was originally a game for Game Boy in 1998 although Nintendo released it in Japan in 1996. As a result of its success, a TV series and trading cards were created and when released in the US, it was paired with an animated TV series. In 1999, a movie was released.
Top 10 Children’s Toys 1980-1990:[1]
1. Cabbage Patch Kids – These dolls hit the shelves in 1983 and even though 3 million of them were made, they sold out. Originally created by Xavier Roberts in 1977 who designed them to put himself through college. In 1982, Original Appalachian Artworks, Inc. produced the dolls for a wider market and the following year they made their debut.
2. Trivial Pursuit – Canadians Chris Haney and Scott Abbott developed this game over a conversation they were having about some missing pieces to their Scrabble game. Soon partnering with two friends, it took several years before it took off. In 1983, licensing was given to the US manufacturer, Selchow and Righter, who successfully marketed the game.
3. My Little Pony – Invented by Bonnie Zacherle, Charles Muenchinger and Steven D’Aguanno it was produced by Hasbro and debuted in 1982.
4. Koosh Balls – I totally remember these. Ha! Born from an idea that engineer, Scott Stillinger, had by tying rubber bands together to make a ball, the Koosh Ball is made from approximately two thousand rubber filaments tied around the core. Its name comes from the sound the ball makes when it lands.
5. Transformers – Although I remember these, ask any boy who grew up in the ‘80s if he had one and he’ll give you a “Hells yeah” look. Hasbro released these toys in 1984 with a story line coupled with a television series, a movie and comic books. Cross promotion at its best!
6. Pictionary –Another huge hit for Hasbro released in 1987. It was so popular that a TV game show was developed in the ‘90s based on it.
7. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles – Boy I found these annoying. But I’m a girl. Back in 1983, friends Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird were goofing off with cartoon sketches when Kevin drew a turtle with nunchuks strapped to his arm. Peter then said, “Why not a teenage mutant ninja turtle?” They both liked the idea so much they developed a comic book that they self-published. As a joke, they took out an ad in the Comics Buyer’s Guide and were surprised when distributors made serious bids and calls. They called themselves Mirage Studios and sent a press kit to the Associated Press. The attention skyrocketed their popularity and three thousand issues of their comic sold out fast. They were connected to Playmate Toys who agreed to distribute action figures only if a TV deal was secured. In 1987, a mini-series was created and The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles had become an empire.
8. Chia Pet – I can still see the commercial. Animal figures that grow “fur” originally come from the south of the border but Joseph Enterprises Inc. trademarked the name and marketed them. The first Chia Pet was a ram and came out in 1982.
9. JENGA – Brought to the US by Milton Bradley, the word is Swahili for “to build.” Leslie Scott, an Oxford University student, developed the game in the early ‘70s but it wasn’t until the mid-late ‘70s that her friends convinced her to sell it. American Robert Grebler imported the game to the US and Canada and in 1985, creating a JENGA fund-raising tournament for the Heart Foundation, it came to the attention of Milton Bradley who bought the rights.
10. All Terrain Armored Transport (Star Wars Walker) – This is considered to be the most expensive toy ever in 1980. It is a fictional vehicle that made its debut in Empire Strikes Back.
Top 10 Children’s Toys 1970-1980:[1]
1. Atari VCS 2600 – Founded in 1972, Atari, Inc. paved the way for the gaming industry future. Nolan Bushnell sold Atari, Inc. to Warner Brothers and when the Atari VCS 2600 was released in 1977 it sold for $199. But in 1982 with the release of Nintendo, Atari’s sales plummeted. Today people search garage sales, thrift stores and flea markets for this very system and its cartridges.
2. UNO – In 1971, an Ohio barbershop owner, Merle Robbins, created the card game and eventually a fan bought the rights. The new owner formed International Games Inc. making millions off the game. In 1992, International Games became a part of Mattel.
3. Rubik’s Cube – In 1974, Erno Rubik was a lecturer at the Department of Interior Design at the Academy of Applied Arts and Crafts in Budapest, Hungary, and created a cube to help demonstrate his idea that simple things could be duplicated and manipulated into many forms. Word of mouth spread about the Cube and, in 1978, the Ideal Toy Corporation went to Hungary to see the toy in play. One million were immediately ordered and its popularity spread throughout the world helping define the ‘80s.
4. SIMON – I loved, loved, loved this game. Created by Howard Morrison and Ralph Baer, it was the first of its kind. The game has a microcomputer inside controlling the game and keeping it competitive.
5. Dungeons and Dragons – Invented by Dave Arneson and Gary Gygax and has grossed a ton of money for its fantasy and adventure toys and games.
6. Hungry Hungry Hippos – Oh another favorite of mine! Created in 1978 by Milton Bradley and was designed and marketed specifically for smaller children.
7. Connect Four – I was definitely a child growing up in the 80s; another fave! Created in 1974 by Milton Bradley and in order to win, you had to rely on strategy.
8. Star Wars Action Figures – I love the story behind the movie Star Wars and even though I haven’t heard any good rumors about George Lucas, I have to respect his mindset when he was making the movie back in the ‘70s because he had every single odd against him including natural disasters and a studio that wanted to shut him down. When the movie did come out, everyone was blindsided by its popularity and Kenner Toys had sole rights to the toys but they had no toys made because, like everyone else, they thought the movie would flop. That X-mas, they realized they wouldn’t have the action figures made in time so they invented a marketing strategy where they’d sell an empty box to children with, basically, an IOU. In 1977, kids received an Early Bird Certificate Package for X-mas and months later received their action figure. Try doing that today.
Original packaging. These puppies goes for hundreds of dollars now.
Originals unpackaged.
9. Magna Doodle – Invented in 1974 and is a magnetic drawing toy with a drawing board, pen, and magnetic shapes.
10. NERF Balls – Originally created to be used as an indoor volleyball game, in 1970 Parker Brothers decided to nix that concept and market the NERF as “The World’s First Official Indoor Ball” and was released as such in 1972.
Top 10 Children’s Toys 1960-1970:[1]
Hot Wheels – Barbie’s creator’s husband, Elliot Handler, invented Hot Wheels while experimenting with free-rolling wheels in 1968. The cars became revolutionary because of their speed and tricks. Artist, Rick Irons, who worked for Mattel at the time created the car’s logo.
Back then.
Today (more or less).
Top 10 Children’s Toys 1950-1960:[1]
1. Barbie – She debuted in 1959 invented by Ruth Handler and supposedly based on her daughter. Ruth is co-founder of Mattel and Barbie put them on the map as toy makers.
This is what Barbie looked like when she debuted.
2. Play-Doh – Created by Noah and Joseph McVicker as a non-toxic reusable wallpaper cleaner in 1955. A schoolteacher inquired about a safe modeling clay substitute and Joseph sent her some of their wallpaper cleaner, and the kids loved it. The brothers created Rainbow Crafts Company and renamed their product Play-Doh.
3. Frisbee – 2 ideas created this product. The first, a Connecticut pie baker, William Russel Frisbie, came up with a marketing plan in 1870 to sell his pies. He impressed his name on the bottom of reusable tin plates that his company sold their pies in with the intention that housewives would take the plate to bake a pie, see his name, and think about how much easier it’d be to just buy one. His business boomed and in the 1940s, students at Yale used the tins to throw them to each other and catch them. The second idea came about in the 1950s when Walter Frederick Morrison designed a saucer disc and sold his idea of playing catch with them to Wham-O. While the president of Wham-O toured college campuses across the country he noticed what the students at Yale were doing with the tins. Coming back to CA, he renamed the saucer disc after Frisbie only changing the “i” to another “e” to avoid legal issues.
What Frisbie's pie tin looked like.
4. Tonka Trucks – After failing at making and selling garden tools, a group of teachers turned that failure into success by taking the left over materials to make toys. The toy truck they created was named after the lake Minnetonka.
5. Matchbox Cars – Creator Jack Odell made a miniature brass model of a car for his daughter to take to school for Show and Tell. To help her carry it, he placed the car inside a matchbox making the toy a huge hit.
6. Yahtzee – A wealthy Canadian couple approached Edwin Lowe, a toymaker, to make copies of a game they created. He loved it and bought the rights. It was originally called The Yacht Game created for people to enjoy the game while cruising on the ocean.
7. Skateboards – Wow, I had no idea this actually dates back to the 1930s! It wasn’t until 1958 that the skateboard was manufactured as we know it today.
8. Hula Hoops – These have apparently been around for thousands years. The modern form of it was born out of a trip to Australia by a friend of the company Wham-O who saw children twirl bamboo hoops around their waist for exercise during school.
9. Mr. Potato Head – Creator George Lerner initially designed and produced this for kids to take and use face pieces as push pins for them to push into fruits and veggies. Companies declined to market it saying they didn’t think parents would want to waste food. In 1952, Mr. Potato Head debuted through television advertising where kids would use real potatoes to make countless faces. In 1960, plastic pieces were used instead.
10. PEZ – Originally created as a mint dispenser in 1927 by Edward Haas, an employee of PEZ, Oskar Uxa, eventually changed the design of the dispenser so that it would look more like a cigarette lighter. In 1955, the company decided to place heads on the dispensers in order to market them to children.
What PEZ must've originally looked like.
A vintage PEZ with Olive Oil's face (from Popeye).
[1] http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/460516/top_ten_toys_of_yesterday_the_1950s_pg2.html?cat=25
All images are found on Google Images by typing in the product name and "1950s."
