After you peruse this version of our blog check out our new and improoved blog on Word Press.  It is developing into a great read for teachers and parents.

http://kodokids.wordpress.com/

According to Piaget, "...children learn by encountering problems they feel compelled to solve; experiencing emotions such as puzzlement, curiosity, surprise, and frustration; and engaging in the intellectual and emotional work of overcoming obstacles to solving those compelling problems.”

Quoted form the new NAEYC book Ramps & Pathways, a Constructivist Approach to Physics with Young Children, by Rheta DeVries and Christina Sales.  Get this book here!

What a great book! That one passage alone contains so much.  “...children learn by encountering problems they feel compelled to solve...”     Wow, it is such common sense, unfortunately it is not common knowledge.   Every teacher should read this book, then share it with every parent. 

Having access to great materials is so important for teachers and parents alike.  Why is it so difficult to find bulk material like a big bag of corn starch to fill a sensory table so the kids dont have to crowd around one little bowl. Dont retailers know that kids need more?! Enough is enough.  Kodo Kids is now offering bulk sensory materials!  Corn Starch, soy beans, sand, clay, coco, flax... Have more ideas? Please let us know and we will find it and sell it in large multi-child sized quantities!

A variety of manipulative materials in the classroom provide children the experience of different textures, smells, and physical properties. Parents often overlook the importance of these experiences and thus it is up to teachers and care providers to present children with interactive, hopefully messy hands on play experiences with many different materials. We have found three materials we feel give a good starting point for exploration into manipulatives. Jurassic Sand, Clay and our new offering Coconut Husk. We advocate for a permanent installation of sand and clay so the children can play in either at any time. Coconut husk is a different story. It is compressed into a very hard dry block which expands slowly in water to be about 3 or 4 times its size. It becomes a dark, soft and squishy pulp that absorbs water and feels great between the fingers. Smoosh it, stack it, strain it out. Once the kids are finished toss it out in the grass or garden or better yet plant seeds in it and start a whole new project.

Its springtime! Here in Colorado the birds are just beginning to visit the feeders and the seeds in the garden have just been planted.  Adults and kids alike feel the energy in the air as the sun becomes more intense and the out of doors begins to call.  This energy has kicked our minds into outdoor product development.  Very soon we will have a new water pump product and more Slurry Chute components to keep those kids outside exploring and discovering.  For those of you who have our Discovery Boards, take them outside!  Send the kids on missions to find bugs then examine the bug bellies from underneath.  Use them to dry leaves or squish dandelions. 

As many of you may have read in prior posts, I attended Bev Bos' Good Stuff for Kids conference last year in California. It was an incredible three days during which time I learned (and played) a ton! One of my favorite things at Roseville Community Preschool was the massive 350 pound ball of clay. I could have immersed myself in the clay for days, but unfortunately had to return to reality. When I returned, I made a quick post and put up a picture of the clay. Since then, I have had dozens of people ask me if we sell clay. After saying no far too many times, we thought...why in the world don't we sell clay? Kids absolutely love it! So, without further ado, we are now offering Kodo Clay. Kodo Clay is a natural clay which is incredibly soft and pliable. With proper storage, it will stay that way for quite a long time. It is a white-gray color so that it will not stain or mark surfaces or clothes like dark red clay. And because we are true believers in letting kids get as messy as possible, we thought this was a pretty necessary element! Check it out! We sell it in 25 lb increments and typically recommend 50 lbs for most classrooms. We will be posting activity ideas soon!

2010 will be a big year for Kodo Kids. We have several new product launches planned and will be expanding on some of our current products. Our first addition will be to our wildly popular Slurry Chute line. We are developing new accessories that will keep those kids active and engaged even longer. Water will be a focal point in some of our designs as will basic physics incorporating pendulums and levers. Our designers have many, many ideas that are currently being tested and refined. Time will tell which ones make it as Kodo Kids products.
Kodo Kids also has exciting plans to partner with a well known early childhood guru to bring some of her wonderfully creative ideas to market. I can’t reveal the identity of the guru at this point, but you will not be disappointed at the results of our collaboration!
We are excited to begin this year with so many opportunities and with such optimism! We will do our best to keep you informed of new developments. Sign up for our newsletter, we only send emails once very few months and would never sell you info. Please remember, we do what we do because we love making great things for kids. So if you have a great idea give us a call and we will help bring that idea to life. Keep them playing, keep them learning!
Sincerely,
Chris Hume

Last night my wife and I attended a gift exchange party.  Each year I try to bring something unique and this year I brought Jurassic Play Sand.  There are several couples with young children so I thought it would be a hit and for some it was, but for most it was not.  The gift was opened and the recipient (who has a 3 yr old and 1.5 yr old) exclaimed “what is this, its just sand! For kids to play with, that’s ridiculous!”  Not letting on that I was the one responsible for bringing sand I read the description and expanded a bit, as to explain.  They still did not get it and after revealing who brought each gift several dumbfounded people asked me questions like “why is sand good for kids”.
It saddened me greatly to see such, well, ignorance about what children find extraordinary.  The first time a child interacts with Jurassic sand it is remarkable.  Kids loves it, understand it, and frankly, need more things like sand, dirt and other natural materials in their lives.  Unfortunately parents don’t understand that.
Once again I am reminded why all of you teachers out there are SO important!  You provide our children with opportunities to explore, learn and discover in ways parents will not.  You are incredibly important for children by presenting them with experiences they would otherwise never have.  Keep exploring new materials and offering new experiences, but also try, as difficult as it might be, to educate parents about why sand (among other materials) is so good for kids. 

Happy Holidays to all! It is hard to believe that 2009 is rapidly coming to a close, but PHEW what a year! We attended many conferences this year (both local and national) and made many strides as a company. Just a year ago we were a brand new company with one product;  however the overwhelming response from teachers looking for fresh, innovative products was the fuel to our fire over the past year. We diligently worked on what we know best- on creating new products to foster growth in children though play. As a result, we are now able to share three new products- the Cozy Cubby, Slurry Chutes and Discovery Boards.

We just returned from the annual 2009 NAEYC conference in Washington DC. For those of you who have not had the opportunity to attend, we hope you will get the opportunity in the future. Over 25,000 people attend the four day conference, where there are hundreds of learning sessions/presentations, and countless vendors looking to share products and services (not to mention give away lots of free stuff).  This was our second trip to NAEYC and both years, we were absolutely blown away by all of the enthusiasm and energy. Despite the “tough” year for many, the excitement level was unbelievable this year. It was truly awesome to wrap up the year with such an amazing experience.

So what’s on deck for 2010? All the wonderful feedback from educators and customers throughout the year has helped solidify and reaffirm our philosophy. Kodo Kids is dedicated solely to helping children (and educators) grow through play. This means more exciting products for children, activity ideas, and a commitment to share our knowledge and expertise with educators. We hope you will follow along with us on our journey in 2010 our products are sure to be nothing short of inspiring.

So thank you to all of the wonderful educators out there, and also to our loyal customers! We extend our warmest holiday greetings to you and your families! 2010 here we come!

As a dad I have found being a parent very rewarding. Not only because of the love and joy having a family provides, but also for another reason, I can be a kid again!!! I have an excuse to take the time to fling marbles across the room, cover myself in colored shaving cream, make way too much flour and water, and just forget about adult reality. Here are a few ideas for you dads who just want a little time to play kid to kid with your children.
Remember, at all times, it’s the process of the game or activity not the final product that is enriching for you and your kids. Be in the moment and enjoy each minute you spend, don’t worry about where the project ends up. Keep it “open-ended” and keep it safe.

Boys- Think physics. Anything that moves is fun.
Girls- They love a story line. Follow her instructions and make the fantasy come alive.
Boys and girls are different, but do all these activities with every child. “Girl” stuff is great for boys and “boy” stuff is great for girls. Forget societies influence, princesses and football, they get enough of that elsewhere. Just let them play! 

Ramps: set a board, large piece of plastic, a sheet, or anything that makes a ramp, up on the couch to elevate the end. Lay on the floor with your child and roll marbles, cars, oranges, or anything else thats roundish, up and down the ramp. Try dropping them down the ramp from above. Put an empty cereal box at the bottom and try to make it in. To keep your mind going think about the physics, the ball rolls up, pauses and rolls back down, hits another and deflects. Momentum, de/acceleration, trajectory… You can explain it to the kids, but they don’t care, they just want to play with you! Just have fun and be a kid. 

Dirt: when was the last time you were really dirty, just for fun? Find a few magnets, some shovels and a small jar or container. The best magnets are cow magnet, long slender silver cylinders. www.stevespanglerscience.com/product/1407 Now go out and find dirt or sand and start digging. Put your magnet in the dirt and rub it around. You know what happens, iron fillings will stick to it and are a hidden treasure for kids. Start filling up the container with filings, it will be a project your kids will work on for years to come. While you’re out there with the shovel, try digging to China, build some mountains for army men, make a house and village for the pony. You can always add water! Just play and get dirty!

Check it out, the Skinny Spin was reviewed on the Wired Geek Dad Blog.
www.wired.com/geekdad/2009/10/chalk-spinner/  It sounds like the reviewer/author, Jonathan Liu really understands the intention of our products.  With so few men involved in early childhood development it is wonderful to see a dad be so involved with his children and have a thoughtful understanding of their needs and desires.  Stay involved with them Jonathan!  It is great for your kids and very rewarding for you.

We have a new space. Its big, bright and beautiful! With the launch of our two newest products we decided it was time to find more space. Now we have room to organize, increase our productivity, and of course make a great play space. Although like children with a big bucket of blocks I’m sure we will spread out quickly and take over the entire space. Oh well, at least we will be having fun!

Wow, our last post was over a month ago! We have been very busy in the prototype shop creating new products.
We have two new products about to be launched. The Discovery Board and Slurry Chutes. The discovery Board is quite simply a clear piece of Plexiglas a little larger than a piece of paper. A simple concept with endless possibilities! From painting with colored shaving cream to squishing cherry tomatoes between two boards children are fascinated by this unique way to manipulate everyday materials. See the guide for more fun ideas. www.kodokids.com/discovery
The concept of Slurry Chutes has been with me for a long time, but thinking as an adult I wanted to make the product too complex. One day playing with my son in the sandbox he poured sand into a hole in a rock and it hit me, keep it simple. Kids love simple things that have the option to be complex. That night I sat down and designed out a series of configurations which sand can be poured into and flow out. Slurry Chutes is the result. I know I’m being vague, check it out and you will see. www.kodokids.com/chutes

As a little boy and now as a big boy I love ramps.  My son and I were sitting in the living room last night playing with marbles.  An urge came over me to make the play more dynamic and the thin sheet of styrene plastic I had stashed in the garage popped into my head.  I ran and found it then placed it against the couch and the floor creating a smooth arching ramp.  We played and played with that ramp rolling the marbles up and down, side to side, launching them into the air.  It was just as I remembered from childhood.  A very simple game that teaches complex physics.  Momentum, gravity, acceleration/deceleration, strength and coordination. To name a few.  Plus the sounds.  As the marble runs up or down the plastic ramp the pitch changes with the speed the marble travels.  A fantastically absorbing play opportunity! 

Here at Kodo Kids we have a dilemma.  What do we call our products, toys, tools, equipment or something else?  To me the word toy conjures an image of a plastic product designed purely to entertain a child.  Our products are so much more than just entertainment devices.  Through the children’s eyes, yes our products are just really fun, but from a teachers perspective their purpose is much more complex.  They entertain, but also teach, intrigue, and involve the child more than a toy.  Some teachers even think of the larger Chalk Spinners as interactive pieces of furniture that become integrated into everyday classroom activities.   That is not a toy, it’s a tool. 

This is an idea that I just love! 350 pounds of clay!!!  Located at the Roseville Community Preschool in Roseville, CA. 

Welcome to the Kodo Kids’ blog.

We have developed this blog to share our thoughts and experiences, and the occasional crazy idea or inspiring event. We want to share things that we love- and hope you will love too.  New product ideas, ideas for do-it-yourself projects, and great things happening in our child filled lives. 
Please share with us your experiences with our products or other great things you have found. 
Now, lets share, communicate, explore, and create things kids will love!