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A Childhood Memory

Sunday, 14th of June 2009

I just announced a new challenge in our newsletter, and I wanted to make sure that you didn't miss it (well, you could just subscribe and then you'd never miss these things). It's easy and fun.

Write me a childhood memory that I'm allowed to share on my blog (http://sciencetoys.blogspot.com). I'll identify you by first name only. The memory can be from your own childhood, or it can be something about your child, grandchild, niece, nephew, student, or other child in your life. If I get at least 10 responses, I'll randomly pick one to win a $10 gift certificate good at PlayFair Toys. If I get at least 100 responses, then the certificate will be for $100. So tell your friends! The more who enter, the more chances to win. To enter, just email me the memory that you want to share.

Don't wait! Writing down a memory helps you experience it again, brings it back into focus. Well, and there's the $100 you might win! I'll accept entries up through midnight on June 28th. Why not dash off a quick email to me right now, before you forget and lose a chance to win $100?

To help you get started, I wrote one of my own. I had a lot of fun remembering that night, and I can almost hear the bells, it's so vivid...

The time is June 1966; the place, Chapel Hill, North Carolina. I stand at the top of the concrete drive that slopes down to my grandparent's garage. I breathe in the thick, rarified air filled with the smells of Carolina red clay and tomato plants, of the lingering scent of the neighbor's barbeque, of the faintest honeysuckle on the vine. The thick air and my connection to this earth root me here. I am joyous, giddy with the realization that I am home, that this is my place, will forever be the town where I drew my first breath. I feel I have been a part of it forever, that in some ways I am as old as the clay. The evening bells toll across town from the UNC campus. I move in a slow dance to their echoing joy, awestruck knowing that everyone hears those same bells, that we are all part of this same moment. The sky is gray with the last light, and soon the bats and fireflies will add their own spectacle to this miracle in which I find myself.

Go ahead - share - write. It's fun. I look forward to hearing from you!

Marilyn

It All Began With a Toy Piano

Friday, 22nd of May 2009

Quick note: This section of PlayFairToys.com is getting out of hand, so I post most of my musings on my two blogs - playfairtoys.blogspot.com and sciencetoys.blogspot.com. I am only reposting some of these here. Check the blogs for more musings!

Today I'm what kids call a "grownup", although I love to believe that, if you showed me the picture that the Little Prince drew, and I was not already in the know, I'd be certain that it was a boa constrictor that swallowed an elephant, and not merely a hat. Of course, I've spent much of my life fascinated by creatures such as boa constrictors and elephants and have always been rather bored by hats, at least the ordinary kind that exist only to serve the very ordinary purpose of protecting one's head from the elements. Because I try, in my heart, to remain a kid always and forever. And so I will share a secret about myself that may not be obvious to the world, looking at me as a company leader, ex-professor, writer, mom, and more.

I love music. I play music. I have, in my house, one grand piano, one electronic grand piano (so that I can play without waking anyone), 2 keyboards, a harp, and about 5 guitars (I believe that we are losing track of the guitar numbers as my son now has begun this process of collecting and playing musical instruments, too). And yes, I play them all. I'm not really all that good at it, which is why it remains a hobby. I have never had the fortitude or patience to memorize a long piece of music, or heck, even a very short one. I'd rather move on to the next piece, trying each one, enjoying it for what it is and never worrying about perfection. I did actually play in a band once, and was even paid for a performance! It was at the Tanana Valley State Fair, and I immediately blew my earnings at a tent near the stage that was filled with rhythm instruments from around the world. Oh, guess I forgot to list those above! I have baskets of them.

This lifelong love affair with music began the day that my mother brought home a very small toy electric organ, all of 2 octaves, with numbered keys and a songbook to match. It was like unlocking a code. I had already been in the habit of gravitating toward any piano in sight (alas our house was instrument free at this point), the neighbors of my grandparents in Chapel Hill were happy to let my plunk away for hours on end, and work out the tune to simple songs - "On Top of Old Smoky", "Twinkle Twinkle", "Chopsticks", and so on. It wasn't so much "playing by ear", although as I worked at it I did develop some skill in that arena, as trial and error. As I spent long hours doing this, I did begin to develop an intuitive feel for notes, scales, and more.

But now, here in our own house, was a "real" organ! And the sounds it made were magical, because it included buttons that would play a chord, and of course with the wondrous, easy-to-read music that was included, I could make sounds like I'd never done before. I began to collect music whenever and wherever I could, and would run to my mother asking her to help me unlock those parts that were not obvious - accidentals, and the ultimate magic of understanding how rhythm was coded. After years of lobbying we finally got our very own spinet, and there was no stopping me. On my own, I discovered the Circle of Fifths, the various types of scales and their relationships to one another, and was heavily drawn to the genius of Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, and Chopin above the simple folk and nursery songs I'd started with. Somewhere along the way guitars caught my eye, once again starting with begged and borrowed instruments, and so my musical adventure broadened further.

So when I heard that the Schoenhut Toy Piano Company was looking for a kid who wanted to help them give away 100 My First Pianos, I knew that I wanted to be part of this. I understand the power of music. I know that even a small toy piano, keyboard, or other instruments can give children a lifetime gift of awe and joy that comes from making their own music.

So I added my own challenge to their challenge: If a Colorado kid wins the contest, PlayFair Toys will donate 2 Schoenhut Toy Grands and award the winner a $100 gift certificate to spend at PlayFair Toys. Read all about the contest, which ends June 15, 2009, and my challenge here.

Never underestimate the power of the right toy at the right time. It's now well established that children who have certain types of music education in early childhood have better math skills than those who do not. I think that is all fine and good, I am pretty darn decent at math myself, but fundamentally, to me, music is about joy. So whether you wish to help spread some joy around, improve math skills, or simply help kids in need get a very fun toy, I urge you to spread the word about this exciting challenge. Please spread the links about this challenge to anyone who may wish to know about it. The contest is simple to enter and runs for a very short time.

Here's to music for everyone!

Marilyn

Want to comment? This article is also posted at sciencetoys.blogspot.com.

All Children Are Not Created Equal!

Friday, 15th of May 2009

Save Money on Holiday Toy Purchases

Monday, 24th of November 2008

With our local schools out all week for Thanksgiving, it's definitely close to "that time of year." For the next 4 weeks, our email frequency will increase as we bring you tips and thoughts to improve your holiday shopping experience.

One thing that appears certain - this will be a different holiday than past years for many families. And another thing that is certain is that every parent and grandparent longs to show their children love through special gifts and toys. I am going to be addressing holiday toy buying in tough economic times in the coming weeks. Read on to hear my tips on how to make the most of your holiday toy experience.

It all started with a friend who read my last newsletter, and responded by telling me that the newsletter was great, well written and interesting, but that I'd missed the mark by not talking directly about the one thing foremost on so many people's minds these days - the economy. He went on to tell me the story of a plumber who had increased his business significantly by educating his customers about how much money they would save if they purchased "on-demand" water heaters. Even though the original purchase price is higher than a regular water heater, the savings over time quickly makes up for the difference, making this an economical choice.

Well, that had me stumped for a while. I kept thinking that no matter how hard I tried, I could not come up with a way that buying toys could actually save a family money! They can save sanity, and they are important, and they are fun. But I just could not think of anything to tell you that is the equivalent of "Buy a chess set and your electric bill will go down by X amount of dollars in the next year!" I can tell you to buy an on-demand water heater, but I can't tell you to buy it from me.

At least, at first that's what I thought. But then as I let this idea percolate, I realized that I have plenty to say about how you can save money through buying your holiday and every day toys wisely. And I want to share that with you. Each of my newsletters in the coming weeks, and there will be 2-3 each week, will feature some aspect of this strategy. I will make some recommendations for specific products, but the main point is to give you the information you need to make the best choice for your family.

My premise is this - there are certain decisions that you cannot afford to make right now. In a challenging economy, bad decisions have a larger impact than when things are good. The things that you cannot afford to do right now are: (1) to create waste, either of time or money, (2) to weaken your family, or (3) not do all you can to support your children's health. OK, really, you can't afford to do these things any time! But we all do some of the time. When times are good, it is much easier to coast along and not think hard about the choices we make. But when every penny counts, suddenly we have the opportunity to focus in on the values that matter the most to us.

Tip #1: Consider Toys That Will Become Heirlooms
You can't afford to create waste right now, by purchasing junk that will not last. How many toys are broken within a day? How many times do we devalue gifts by giving too many, overwhelming children and relegating many of them to the trash heap in short order? What values do we impart to our children when we do this?

Instead of quantity, think about selecting toys that are so well made they will become a family heirloom. My "heirloom potential" feature will focus on suggestions that have the potential to span generations. Think wooden railway, wooden dollhouses, rocking horses, and some new toys that have the potential to be passed along to the next generation.

Tip #2: Purchase Toys That Strengthen Family Ties
Next to our own health and our own lives, our families are the most valuable things that we have. We need each other. The hectic times we live in often present challenges for families trying to maintain togetherness. If there are stresses on the family, they impact all members.

Almost any toy can foster family togetherness and bonding if you play with your children. But there are certain types of toys that are outstanding in this area, that most easily cross age groups and generations and that foster social interactions. You will play with them more if the play is truly interesting to you, too. These toys include games, puzzles, and many construction toys and sets. Pretend play and drama can also strengthen your family. My "Family togetherness" features will review toys that encourage strong families.

Tip #3: Purchase Toys That Keeps Kids Healthy Through Activity
Our health is the precious gift we are all born with. Childhood obesity is now considered epidemic. Depending on how it is defined, somewhere between 1 in 20 and 1 in 5 US children are obese, and about 1 in 3 are somewhat overweight. Childhood obesity is the leading cause of pediatric hypertension, is associated with Type II diabetes, increases the risk of coronary heart disease, increases stress on the weight-bearing joints, lowers self-esteem, and affects relationships with peers. There is one cure for obesity - eating less calories than are burned. This means plenty of physical activity, to start children on a lifetime of health and good habits.

Being active comes naturally to most children, and many of the sedentary habits that they take on are only there because we've made it easy. Television and video games are hard to walk away from. Encourage physical activity all year round, for optimal health. My "Physical Activity" feature will help you find toys that will make TV sound as boring as it really is.

And here's where my argument comes full circle - keeping your children healthy and at a reasonable weight will save money. I happen to think it is even more important that it may actually save their lives, but this will also manifest as saving money. Overweight children have far more health issues than those at a healthy weight. Part of our national economic dilemma is due to our health care crisis. Although that is a complex issue, each of us plays a role in solving it when we make decisions to stay healthy and to keep our family healthy. So there - go ahead and save money and energy for your home with an on-demand water heater. But when it comes to your kids - let's not try to save their energy! Let's get them to use that energy up, so they grow into healthy, stimulated adults. Save money, time, and sanity by buying well.

With fond regards,

Marilyn Walker
Owner, PlayFair Toys

Want to leave a comment? This article is also available at our blog.

Goodbye Longmont, Hello Boulder!

Saturday, 16th of February 2008

The sun shines brightly
On my shiny white backyard
Green will soon be here

What would our world be like without seasons? Even growing up in Florida, where winter was a mere suggestion, I was aware of seasons, of changing patterns in light, temperature, and growth. I've spent my adult life in Colorado and Alaska, where the seasons are dramatic and beautiful. They make me feel so much a part of this earth - a reminder that I am one small piece of a large system that is very connected. Now that Valentine's Day is past, although winter still holds us firmly in her grasp, I know that spring is not that far away.

Now we will start to see robins. Soon we will be able to buy strawberries that have flavor again. And one day, in the next few weeks, I'll be out walking and I'll see, in some spot that gets just a bit more warmth than others, the very first flowers popping out, diminutive species grown from bulbs, here to let us know that the cycle of life is still going on. A college roommate once told me, "Everything always changes. That's how we know we are alive." Although it's a simple statement, it's always struck me as a very profound one. There are times when we mourn change, but it is very much a defining part of our nature.

And so I am writing to let you know that, at the end of business today, February 16, 2008, PlayFair Toys will close the doors of our Twin Peaks Mall location in Longmont, Colorado, and not open them again. And yes, there is some sadness about this. We have staff there who have been with us for years who will be moving on. There are customers who have found in our store a refuge, a place to come with their children, a place filled with wonder and fun. We are glad that we were able to be there for you, in your community, and we enjoyed every one of you.

Yet this is not all sorrow, no, not at all! In fact, this is actually quite good news. Because it means that we can fully focus our attention on our strongest location, our Boulder toy store, and make it even better than ever. Because what we are, what we have always been about, is a destination business. Our Boulder store survived being the only remaining retail business on the Crossroads mall property as it was torn down and redeveloped into 29^th Street. That was not a fun time for us, but it was always heartening to see how our customers found us even when construction made that difficult. In 2007, I began studying the concept of destination business, the idea that there are certain businesses where the phrase "location, location, location" is not the success driver at all, but rather the businesses themselves are so exciting, so unique, that people will seek them out. PlayFair Toys withstood that test, and it made me realize that, instead of trying to expand into multiple locations, I needed to really work on strengthening that uniqueness at our "Flagship" store.

2008 is PlayFair Toys' 26^th year in business in Boulder. The Longmont location was an experiment of sorts. If you've been to Twin Peaks lately, you'll understand that this decision is a necessity for a small, locally-owned business. But the hard times at the mall represent a great opportunity for us and for you, our faithful customers. We have some amazing new plans for 2008 that we're not quite ready to announce, but that will make the store even more intriguing than ever.

Meanwhile - goodbye Twin Peaks, hello Boulder! We are more than worth the drive. And to further entice you to visit, I make this very special offer. Come into our Boulder store, and tell us that you read this blog and want to take advantage of our "Hello Boulder T-shirt deal!". This lets you purchase our unique, cannot-buy-them-anywhere-but-PlayFair, 100% heavyweight cotton t-shirts with the professor's wild and silly grin on the front, for only $8! Yes, only $8 for a cotton shirt, designed and printed right here in Boulder County. These normally sell for $16.95, still a great deal, but we are giving you this special opportunity only through March 15, 2008, as a way of thanking you for reading this and for being a part of our lives. Remember, just say that you want the "Hello Boulder T-shirt deal!". We currently have shirts available in natural fibers with red ink, deep purple with white ink (not coincidentally just perfect for Boulder High School students and families), and deep red with white ink (also not coincidentally just perfect for Fairview High School students and families).

With appreciation,

Marilyn Walker, Owner

Want to leave a comment? We repost Marilyn's Musings on Professor PlayFair's blog.

The Many Sides of Value

Thursday, 29th of March 2007

The word value has been bouncing about in consciousness lately, so much so that I thought I'd share some thoughts about it. Value is a word so bantered about that its meaning has become lost, or at the very least mixed up. We talk about a purchase being a "good value", we talk about "family values", and we talk about "the value of money." The juxtaposition of these various meanings recently struck me as being quite interesting in this day and age. In order to graduate from high school, we had to write a "Values Essay", a statement of what we believed in and why. All these years later, I cannot remember what I wrote, but I can remember that the exercise of writing the essay made me think hard about what values really were. I was recently struck by the word value as it applies to a purchase or a transaction (i.e., the "good value" meaning), and value as it applies to personal beliefs, or what we think is important. These things are not as different as they might at first appear.

PlayFair Toys was founded on a very specific set of values - to offer toys that are nonviolent and that do not encourage gender stereotyping. We recognize that not everyone shares these values - they are very specific. From its somewhat hip-based roots, in a funky Victorian house on Boulder's legendary Pearl Street, the business grew into a national catalog presence with multiple retail locations. But the core values of the business remain the same - we work hard to find wholesome, quality playthings that will help your child grow and develop. We hold strongly to our beliefs that children deserve toys that promote certain values - equality of all people, integrity, imagination, cooperation. It's also very important that we offer you real value in the monetary sense - that you come away from your purchases feeling they were worth your money.

One thing that I like about the word "value" is that it does not equal "cheap". It is sometimes misused in that way, but its core definition means that it was "worth it," whatever the cost was. Our society has moved toward embracing "cheap and plenty" over "value", and I believe that this has led to a loss of value - a loss of quality of life. Our society now often shops in large, impersonal stores where the help knows nothing about the products - they were chosen and negotiated by a buyer in a corporate office a long way away, one whose only goal was maximizing return. Our society shops online on humongous internet sites that don't have a phone number you can call, that strive to offer you every product under the sun, but that have absolutely no mission other than to grow larger and larger each day. We have become detached, and that is a real loss.

As the owner of PlayFair Toys, it's very important to me that our values, my personal values and the company mission, be front and center and at the core of everything we do. I believe that we offer you great value in every sense of the word. Whether you shop here at the website or in our stores, you are buying toys from a company that cares about you and your children. You can talk to us, and we will listen. My challenge to you today is to ask yourself what your own values are, what you care about the most, and to wonder if you are living them. If so, congratulations! If not, maybe it's time to take a break and do the grown-up version of my high school assignment - think about what is most important to you, and then figure out how to live it.

I value my time and yours, so I thank you for the time spent reading this!

Until next time,

Marilyn

Marilyn's Musings

Wednesday, 20th of September 2006

Thoughts from the owner

I am hoping to use this space to do what I have so often fantasized about doing - talk directly to you, my friends and customers, about the issues that I know are important to us as parents, teachers, friends, and citizens. I know that you care deeply about these things, because I hear you say it when you come in. These important topics range from families and parenting to global environmental issues. The world is no simple place.

Perhaps you are wondering how this is all relevant to toy stores and buying toys. I will use this first-ever column to tell you a bit about myself.

Long before I owned a toy business, I was a professor and researcher of ecology. My specialty was in understanding how plants distribute themselves on our landscapes. I mostly worked in the world's coldest environments - the tundra of high mountains and the Arctic. I did truly love the work. I felt emotionally connected to the plants. A lot of my focus as I did that work was in trying to determine what would happen to these very special ecosystems if our climate was changing rapidly, growing warmer. My students and I were seeing some very disturbing trends and evidence that these ecosystems were changing in ways that could alter the course of many lives, including ours.

I left the academic/research world for a multitude of reasons that are too complex and lengthy to get into here. To some degree, I felt that I'd done my best work there and that it was time to move on. I had trained good students who were already becoming leaders in their own right. But mostly, I felt drawn to this world of the toy store. I am a mother as well as a scientist, and my greatest joy in life has been watching my child develop and grow. As much I wanted to have an impact on the greater world, and I still do, I also wanted to make sure that I was having the most significant impact in the arena where it mattered the most - my family and community. Toys and books have always held a prominent place in our lives. But I am starting to give away future columns here, and this is long enough already! Mostly, I want you to know that PlayFair is owned by someone who cares deeply about the earth and the creatures who dwell here. I want this caring to extend into my business and how I run my business. I want you to feel cared for when you shop at PlayFair Toys, because you are.

With fond regards,

Marilyn Walker
President & CEO