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By Mom Unplugged, March 7, 2008 1:41 pm

For the last few weeks I have been talking about The Bubblegum Books TV Turn-Off Week contest: Show Your Shiny Side (open to all preschool and elementary-aged kids, whether traditionally schooled, or homeschooled - deadline is next Friday, March 14th). The contest is based on a neat book entitled Something Shiny, Something Round by Julie Goulis and illustrated by John Ferguson.

I have a fun surprise today: Brad Hauber of Bubblegum Books very kindly sent me an autographed (signed by author Julie Goulis), hardcover copy of their book Something Shiny, Something Round to give away on my blog! Thanks Brad!

The book’s rhyming text tells the story of three children playing outside on a snowy day. While they play, they come across a shiny, metal hubcap in the snow. The children imagine all sorts of different things that the hubcap might be and the colorful illustrations show their imaginings inspired by the shiny, round disc: a pirate adventure at sea, a warrior with an ancient shield, etc.

One of the most fun things about this book are the activity ideas at the end based on some of the children’s adventures. This is a very clever and useful tie-in to this story of children engaging in simple, imaginary fun.

There are two other books in the series (also by Goulis and Ferguson): The Things a String Can Be (the theme for last year’s TV Turn-Off Week contest) and the most recent, The Topsy-Turvy Towel. Let’s hope that Bubblegum Books continues this very worthy series.

I am so happy to be able to give away a book that really illustrates and encourages imaginary play. This seems to fit in so well with my recent posts about the newly discovered benefits of simple, creative play (Imaginative Play and Cognitive Function and Creative Play Makes for Kids in Control), as well as the Shiny Side contest.

So, if you are interested in winning this autographed book, please leave a comment. I will close comments next Friday night and will randomly draw a winner who will be announced here on Saturday, March 15th.

Even better, is that you have TWO chances to win. Head over to Wildwood Cottage where Jenny is also giving away a signed copy of Something Shiny, Something Round. She too, will announce her winner on Saturday, March 15th.
Good luck!

Comments (5)

By Mom Unplugged, August 22, 2007 6:30 pm

I remember a fun game we used to play when I was in elementary school. Our teacher would have someone bring in an object from home that they would show to the class. The other kids would have to guess what that object was for. It was fun trying to find something really obscure and hearing the creative guesses that my classmates came up with. It was so fun, that I remember it to this day (and believe me, it was a long time ago).

Kids know how to be creative. Often as adults we forget that skill. If it doesn’t have instructions, then we don’t know what to make of it. Our grownup brains love to have rules and guidelines and instructions to help us use a tool, or cook a meal, or play with a toy or game. Most of us expect that things should be done “properly.”

It is so entertaining to give a child a toy (or a “mysterious” object for that matter) without any explanation of “The Rules,” and to watch what happens. My kids really love playing with my button tin for example.

The idea for this post came from a post by Celtic Mommy that I really enjoyed. She wrote it back in June but it has remained in my mind as an interesting topic. Her post is called Playing Games and is about how her 3 year-old is into playing Blokus and Connect Four.

These games are “for” older children than Emerson, yet he enjoys them immensely - in his own, creative way. No grownup has told him: “No, you have to play it this way,” so he has made these games uniquely his own and learns a lot in the process.

Emerson plays Blokus like Tetris, he stacks the differently sized and shaped pieces, trying not to leave any gaps. He plays Connect Four by making different patterns with the black and red disks. I really think that this kind of creative pattern play has to lead to good things for the brain.

So the next time your kids are bored, don’t get out a video, get out a game. Even if it is “too old” for them. Let me know what happens!

(Of course in this day and age, I unfortunately feel compelled to add this: obviously if a game is “too old” due to small parts, be careful that none of them go in the mouth or other orifices, etc., etc., etc. I can see it now - “But ‘Mom Unplugged’ said it was OK to put Blokus in the crib with my five month-old!” NO! NO! NO! That is NOT what I said!!!!!).

Thanks to Wikimedia Commons and photographer Roy Levien Aldaron for this photo. View license information here.

Comments (2)

By Mom Unplugged, July 15, 2007 9:31 am

This game / puzzle / toy is wonderful in its simplicity and versatility. It consists of twenty distinctively shaped colorful wooden blocks, each with its own matching wooden “card.” It all comes packed in a drawstring bag.

The main game consists of drawing a “card” and then finding the matching piece in the bag entirely by feel. My kids also like to lay out the cards and fill them in like puzzles. Children can sort the blocks by shape or color. They can even play a memory game by laying the cards shape side down, drawing a shape, then trying to find the matching card by memory. My children have even played with the blocks as blocks and made up little stories with them (some shapes are people and animals).

This is my favorite sort of toy since the possibilities are almost endless! 3D Feel & Find encourages imagination … plus think of all the play possibilities you get for the price of one single toy!

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By Mom Unplugged, June 5, 2007 9:07 pm

We have several Selecta games, and they are all good quality, simple, nice games.

This one, “Grief Zu” in German, “Grab It” in English is fun for younger players. Adults joining in will have to slow down a little.

There are 24 wooden tiles (images are printed and lacquered on to last - not like glued on paper which peels off quickly) and four dice, each side of which depicts a very simplified, silhouette image of one of the tiles.

Players take turns throwing the dice, then all players try to be the first to find and grab the matching tiles. The player with the most tiles wins.

Adults will find this boring, but little ones really seem to enjoy it. Plus it is built to survive a lot of play.

Another great thing is that the picture tiles can be used for sorting or story-telling activities too!

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By Mom Unplugged, March 1, 2007 11:17 am

How about a simple little wooden kitchen set for your budding chef? It can be hard to find quiet versions that allow the child to imagine the sounds.

We have an earlier version of the single stove unit (see below), and it has lasted about four years now with no mishaps.

This one photo seems nice because it has the stove and sink for not that much more than the stove alone. There is also a refrigerator available too. I wish my appliances were this pretty!