Ever since this adorable ‘lightening hero’ shirt and cape set arrived on our doorstep a few days ago, Henry has taken it off only to swim, bathe, and sleep. And every friend, acquaintance and stranger who sees my little super guy wants to find out where to pick up this fun and unique get-up.

The brainchild of best friends Jossamber Shapiro and Jessica Wise, Little Capers are alternative super hero shirts that come with detachable capes. When Jossamber’s son Jacob became obsessed with all things super hero, the two friends decided there had to be a better solution than a clothes pinned dish towel hanging from a shirt or from the back of a pair of pajamas.

In this day of over the top commercialized characters and marketers vying for your children’s attention from the time they are babies, the non-commercial aspect of Little Capers shirts is a refreshing change and a way to promote creative play where the sky is the limit.

Velcro attaches the capes to the neck of the 100% cotton super soft shirts. Featuring both long and short sleeves, Clever Parents faves include the Lightening Hero, Green Earth and Pink Earth Heroes, Peace Hero and Heart Hero shirts. Afraid your baby is too young to cart around a cape, but you’d like to have a shirt nonetheless? Pick up a Smallest Heroes cape-less shirt made especially for the 6 to 24 month old crowd.

Find your favorite at www.littlecapers.com

Visit Clever Parents TV to see the vidcast featuring Little Capers: Episode #27: Say Good-bye to Car Clutter & Hello to Alternative Superhero Shirts

Dot’s Toys selected the refreshed BRIO line based on play value, innovative design and unusual color combinations. Check out these details on seven of Dot’s Toys new BRIO introductions.

Squiddo
BRIO brings together a funky squid and ocean theme to magnetic push-and-pull play. BRIO’s signature beech wooden railway track is painted ocean blue for four fish to travel. Of course, the perfect place to store the fish pieces is behind the red zipper on Squiddo’s smiling face. 18 Months and up. $55.00

Frogster
Meet Frogster and his three baby frogs. The baby frogs have magnetic coupling buttons – found on all BRIO wooden railway – so a little one can make short or long vehicles. Frogster, the large green frog with bulging eyes and dotted tummy has a zipper to close a pouch that can keep the frogs in one place when they are not being used. 18 Months and up. $39.95

Darling
The sweet rosemal design on Darling, the soft white horse in this new set, recognizes BRIO’s Swedish heritage. This little Darling can be a tunnel for the horse cars (also with Swedish decorative motifs) or can be played with separately, just as toddlers do! Three little horses are included and can feed on the magnets on their mommy’s tummy or be pulled along by the magnetic pull cord attached with a soft apple. 18 Months and up. $55.00

Race Cars
BRIO’s race cars are now available in four colors including black, apple green, passion pink and classic red. The racecar driver is tucked in his seat with a chrome rollbar, sleek body design and white walled rubber wheels. Any toddler will want to see just how fast these babies go. And, guess what, they do! 12 Months and up. $9.95

Pull Along Engine
The new Pull-Along Engine from BRIO looks sleek and powerful. When pulled the wheels turn and the smokestack rotates, too. This classic design has a retro look which is accented with multiple coats of black enamel paint. 12 Months and up. $14.95

Colored Blocks
BRIO Blocks go modern with a trend-setting color palette that says “Baby, the world is not just primary colors!” This 50-piece block set includes a glossy finish of black, white, apple green, pink and red on 6 different shapes of beech wood. 12 Months and up. $26.95

Labyrinth
Labyrinth is really a combination balance and strategy game. BRIO developed this in 1946 and has sold over 3 million since. Going really bold in 2006, they have introduced this bright red Labyrinth with 2 additional beginner boards: just the thing to engage school-aged children. 6 Years and up. $49.95

To learn more visit www.dotstoys.com

The hippest, design-conscious gift givers can breathe a sigh of relief. There are toys out there they will feel good about giving this holiday season. Yes, a 125-year old company has been thinking like a kid again. It’s BRIO and Boy! are their new toys cool!

BRIO’s introductions include bold, non-traditional colors and design that will unlock a child’s desire to explore and imagine. Parents will swoon when they see the new BRIO and won’t even insist on them being shoved into a toy box when not in use. They are that good looking and evoke a playful spirit in both young and old alike.

I like the simple design, punctuated with whimsical characters like frogs, horses and squids. Yes, I mean squid. In fact, one product is named Squiddo. (There’s also Frogster and Darling). BRIO got it right when they applied it to their classic wooden railway – having the soft pieces play the role of tunnel. They also got the colors right. BRIO moved away from their boring primary-color palette. Their 2006 introductions embrace pink, apple green, yellow and periwinkle blue. How refreshing this is for both parent and child! After all, our world is not just red, green, blue and yellow.

In my view, BRIO is leading toy innovation with these new items. It’s exciting to see. I applaud them on being so hip, bold and old!

See 7 picks from the new BRIO line or go straight to Dot’s Toys.

Wide open spaces are getting to be hard-to-find these days, but you don’t need lots of land to get a taste of Mother Nature. A backyard garden, beach, neighborhood pond or local nature center could be the beginning of a lifelong relationship with living things and our planet.Here are a few tools to enhance that natural experience. All are available at Dot’s Toys

Bug Nets and Bug Boxes – Every child needs a bug net to capture and study butterflies, fireflies and pond critters. Our bug boxes have a Lucite and screen view so the specimen gets air while under observation. This year we have a new pond net with a telescoping handle and a round, flat bottom. It makes reaching much easier and safer.

Antworks – Antworks was developed by NASA engineers and is now available for your boy or girl wonder. Just poke a few holes in the nutritious gel, add the ants and watch as they dig tunnels. By keeping and caring for animals children learn tons about their pets. (Did I say ants were pets?!)

Leaf Presses – You can use a book or better yet try a leaf press. I know some people who have pressed leaves and the colors have stayed for years. Children can learn to identify the trees they came from based on the leaf pattern. Our leaf press is made by tweber in Wisconsin.

Nature Kits – An easy-to-tote guidebook is important to take along on nature hikes. Our About Bugs, Pond Dipping and About the Seashore Kits include instructions, identification cards, a net and notepad and pencil to record detailed observations.

Butterfly/Praying Mantis Home – If you haven’t been to a butterfly, or praying mantis exhibit you can start your own garden with the World Alive kits. Just order the eggs and watch the entire metamorphosis begin.

Block and Tackle –Children can learn the fascinating fundamentals of a block and tackle to raise and lower playthings and gear from a bunk bed, a backyard deck or a tree fort. (Parental supervision is recommended for children under 8 years of age.)

I’ll never forget the day my 5-year old twins, Sam and Corey, loudly hummed the “Indiana Jones” theme song as they rigged up their own method of rappelling down a snow-covered ravine near our home. What was so odd was that they sang at all. Once they reached the age of five they rarely hummed or sang. I don’t know why, but they just did not like to sing.

But on this day the adventure in the ravine coaxed them out of their silence. They broke into song spontaneously. And, this song became their anthem each time they went back into the woods.

One started humming, then the other joined in – “Dah da dat tah! Dah da dah!” It was delightful. I took note listening to them sing, bit my lip so I would not giggle and followed them. I watched as one went first while the other held the end of a 20 foot rope tied around a tree. They had an idea which tree would work best and after some Charlie Chaplin-like slips and slides made it to the bottom.

They explored. They hummed. The tune slowed as Sam observed a plume of dust that erupted out of a dried puff ball when he stepped on it or when Corey peeled the bark off a downed birch tree to see the trails of worms and bugs that once lived there. The pace quickened again as they saw something new and raced to explore it. They tested their balance on long, wide tree trunks that stretched across a creek – knocked down by a storm. Together, they experimented with how much weight tiny pools of ice could handle before their snow boots broke through the ice and covered their boot tops.

At some point we broke open the lunch they carried in their backpacks and sat on boulders and tree stumps and we munched and they hummed. On occasion each would signal for the other to stop chewing and listen closely so they could determine what was making a “scratch, scratch, scratching” sound in a tree or under snow-encrusted leaves.

Sure, it was 20 degrees. But it didn’t have any impact on their escapade or wonder in this natural playground.

I had similar experiences when I was young. My sisters and brother and I would romp barefoot across 40 acres to our secret canyon, a marvelous rendezvous owned by a local charity foundation. Part of the property was a naturally-shaped ampi-theater and we put it to good use, performing spontaneous plays and pushing dead trees across the crevasse. The well-shaded sandstone walls produced a lovely green carpet of moss. This became the ideal setting for bringing gnomes, fairies and other little people to life.

I may have been humming back then, I can’t remember. But, I’m convinced nature brings out our best and feeds our sense of wonder. It also feeds elements of our physical, emotional and spiritual appetite.

For years Sam and Corey continued to explore their ravine. I thought it was a common activity, but discovered many kids don’t have this or any other natural opportunity. Richard Louv, author of Last Child in the Woods, calls that a “nature deficit” when you don’t. His book compiles leading edge research on why experiences in nature are essential to a child’s development and to the well-being of the earth. Part of the research includes his interviews with nearly 3,000 children and parents. During one of these an honest San Diego fourth grader told him, “I like to play indoors better, ‘cause that’s where all the electrical outlets are.” That interest seems to be echoed by many children today, Louv found.

With this observation and others, Louv makes us aware of just how much childhood has changed in a single generation. Take our space to roam, for instance. This has shrunk to one ninth of that of 1970. Plus, there is great fear (mostly ours) of things that keep kids indoors: traffic, strangers and virus-carrying mosquitoes. The big change though is in how children spend their time (too often with our encouragement). The bulk of that is stolen by TV, PC and hand-held video games. Louv’s statistics prove that kids today are able to identify cartoon and licensed characters better than trees and animals.

Louv’s research points to studies that confirm creativity is enhanced by childhood experiences in nature. So, he suggests finding ways for children to lead their own exploration of nature – taking walks and hikes, going fishing, or just exploring their own backyard where the tall grass meets the short. Or camping out under the stars. A parent’s enthusiasm will easily be contagious so reading Huckleberry Finn, the Boxcar Children or My Side of the Mountain – all terrific read-aloud books – can only help.

Montana-born Michelle Launstein connects easily with Louv’s notion and easily fits outside play into her suburban lifestyle. “Being outside in nature is just something you do,” she says. While life in Wisconsin is different for her three kids than when she was growing up, Michelle is always encouraging them to go outside and explore. It’s paid off. Six-year old Anna claims that her absolute favorite thing to do is play outside in her friend Libby’s backyard. She is very specific, “Not Libby’s new backyard, her old one.” Both she and Libby nod as they looked at each other and then at me. I ask them to explain and Anna, who once shouted out a greeting from the top of a 25-foot tree says, “It’s got the best trees to climb.”

I nodded as the pair continued to tell me more and thought Anna would not be one of the Louv’s “nature deficit” statistics. Then a little tune began to roll around in my head. “Dah dah dat tah!” You know the one.

Next, read Robin’s article Toys as Tools to Explore Nature which highlights some excellent toys (think bug boxes, leaf presses and nature kits) to enhance your experience when you’re in nature with your children.

Blocks
Let’s begin with the basics.� Starting as early as one year of age, children use blocks to explore fundamental aspects of design and shape and connection.� I think blocks are amazing examples of “open-ended” playthings.� The moment children start playing with blocks, they begin noticing elements of size, shape, feel and color.� They build with them and classify them.� It’s hard fro me to imagine any other plaything that does so much to enhance spatial thinking.� Blocks are fabulous…and essential for every toy chest.�

Games
Like most kids I grew up playing games.� Starting with simple memory games and Go Fish moving up to checkers and Monopoly, my brothers and sisters and I learned how to compete according to rules each of us understood and take turns.� (Gosh, that wait time was terrible sometimes!)� Luckily, games are still a big part of family time today.� Many parents tell me they have dedicated game nights or rely on a game to get them through bitter cold or rainy days.� My guess is that families are once again beginning to appreciate the face time they have when they play together.� It’s kind of a joint workout for the brain and an opportunity to have a few laughs and enjoy one another.� I’ve observed lots of families playing games and I really think those parents and kids have a leg up on understanding one another.� In the short run, they’re enjoying each other’s company.� In the long run, they’re creating healthy, playful opportunities to compete and interact.

Figures/Dolls & Puppets
I love the three-to-five year-old preschool age because a child’s universe is so much about pretend play.� Their princess or warrior outfit becomes almost thread bare because they have held just too, too many tea parties or knocked off dozens of dragons.� Puppets fit a hand so well because they’ve performed for so many audiences over the years.� In trying to think that age again, I can only believe it is pretend play that ultimately unleashes a child’s imagination.

Crafts
Just one gift of a craft kit could start a youngster on a lifelong hobby.� My mom taught me to sew when I was little and by the time I was in middle school I had made entire wardrobes for my two dolls and outfits for myself.� I still can’t believe I mastered the art of button holes and putting in a zipper, but I did.� I was proud of my accomplishments and didn’t need a lot of coaxing to model my finished pieces when we had company.� Children gain so much satisfaction from creating things from scratch.� For myself, I found that learning how individual pieces fit together was also transferable to other things.� Knitting, beading, weaving or painting can offer the same feeling of accomplishment and mastery.

Ball
A ball is the most open-ended toy I can think of and is used by children in different forms all over the world.� In its simple form, a ball brings children together and amuses them when they are alone.� The cool thing about a ball is that the child is the one who determines how to play with it.� It’s a perfect example of a toy being powered by a child, not batteries or an electronic chip.� Naturally, children master fine motor skills when using a ball and that mastery can last a lifetime.

Clever Parents is excited to introduce a new column, Play – Pure & Simple from Robin Lehnert, toy industry insider and founder and owner of Dot’s Toys, an online store that specializes in fine children’s toys. Prior to founding Dot’s Toys, Robin worked for a variety of companies in the toy industry most recently at BRIO, the world’s largest producer of wooden toys.

Play – Pure & Simple focuses on high quality, ‘open-ended toys’ which Robin defines as “toys that truly engage children on an imaginative level, and enhance the child’s sense of creativity and accomplishment.” Play – Pure & Simple, provides insights into the wonders of playtime. Topics include the value of play, research that supports its value, reviews of toys that enhance playtime and suggestions to parents and caregivers on how to be a better partner in play.

Given the plethora of multi-colored, battery-powered, noise-making, ‘closed-end’ toys out there, we think that this column is well worth your read.

To kick things off, Clever Parents asked Robin to introduce herself and tell us about what things parents should look for in toys and what she looks for in toys through her 10 point selection criteria.

Clever Parents: Tell us about yourself and your company, Dot’s Toys.

Robin Lehnert: I launched Dot’s Toys (www.dotstoys.com) in October of 2003, just months after leaving the US headquarters of BRIO, the World’s largest producer of wooden toys. At BRIO I was the PR and Promotions Manager and I recognized that there was a tremendous need for high quality, open-ended toys – toys that truly engage children on an imaginative level, and enhance the child’s sense of creativity and accomplishment. At BRIO our toys did engage children on those levels. But as far as I was concerned, too many of the toys that we competed against functioned simply as “pacifiers”; in other words, video or computer games, and radio-controlled toys that eliminated any need for the child to expand their own imaginations or explore aspects of play that weren’t set in stone – so to speak – by an established computer code.

Instead, and especially when it comes to imagination, I feel that it is absolutely essential for a child to be able to set their own rules, create their own worlds, and explore beyond the limits of conventional toys. And based on the response I get on our Web site and through our emails, I know there are thousands of parents who absolutely feel the same way.

So even though I take great care in choosing only toys of the highest quality, my approach to toys is really based on selecting toys that offer genuine “play” value. In other words, which toys will provide children with the opportunity to stretch the limits of their curiosity? What toys offer them the opportunity to engage in an experience of self-discovery? What toys offer them the opportunity to engage other playmates – including adults? And why have so many toy companies forgotten that imagination and creativity and discovery are what toys should really be all about to begin with? I’ll admit it: I’m on a mission to help children enjoy a genuine play experience and provide parents with the resource that can make those precious moments of simple play and genuine wonder possible.

CP: You mention on your website that you select toys and play accessories that help stimulate a child’s wonder and creativity. How do you select your toys? Do you have focus groups with children? Explain your 10-point criteria system.

RL: I think the “why” we select the toys we do, mentioned above, helps explain part of the “how” process. But in addition to Toy Fair (New York is always just a fun place to visit for us Midwesterners), I regularly consult with manufacturers on their current offerings as well as their toys in development. Some of our manufacturers may use focus groups. But we don’t. Instead, I’m ultimately the person who decides which toys we’ll carry. And my decision is based on the experience of raising my own children, combined with an enduring love and fascination with children in general, and the realization that a child’s opportunity to abandon themselves in the pure pursuit of play can vanish in the blink of an eye. Today especially, play is not an opportunity to be taken for granted. Our motto is “It’s great being little,” and I intend to help parents make their child’s years of discovery a great – and fascinating – experience.

We agree with the less is more approach to toy buying. Children do not need a lot of toys. What they do need is a lot of play experiences. We believe a thoughtful selection of toys will provide children with most of the play materials they need. We consider the following characteristics when choosing toys for Dot’s Toys:

CP: What research findings (about child development or otherwise) do you think are important for parents to know about?

RL: In a recent survey of parents and caregivers, it was found that parents (especially dads) felt that play most impacted a child’s social development. The fact is, play greatly impacts intellectual, language and literacy and social development equally.

Our thoughts: The good thing is modern dads are even more interested in learning about their child’s development and are improving their knowledge of early childhood development as we speak. They are tuned in and paying attention.

Scientific research shows that generally, a 15 month old child is too young to be expected to share his toys, however approximately 60% of adults believe they should be able to share.

Our thoughts: This is pretty amazing. Basically, this says we expect more than a child could even begin to deliver.

Parents spend a lot of physical, emotional and financial energy on things they believe will encourage their child’s healthy development. Most parents place too much emphasis on activities (like flashcards, educational TV and solitary play on the computer) that developmental research shows are less beneficial to intellectual development.

Our thoughts: Many parents rely on marketing as opposed to individual research about these types of toys. While living totally without the TV, computer and flashcards may be totally impossible, we hold strong and cherish wholesome, two-dimensional play.

CP: What should parents look for in selecting a toy for their children?

RL: “Open-Ended” toys are the best toys because they give children the opportunity to increase their competence & confidence.
An “Open-Ended” toy

• Can be endlessly fascinating
• is fun!
• is challenging.
• is unstructured.
• has no right or wrong use.
• has unlimited possibilities.
• can be used in a variety of ways
• can be used by children of different stages of development
• responds to children’s play needs & interests

CP: What toys did your boys play with when they were young?

RL: Figures – Sam and Corey played with army men, action figures, plush animals and Calico Critters. When they were ten and experimenting with vinegar and baking soda they had GI Joe rappelling from tree to tree in the middle of some explosive volcanic adventure in our backyard; It all started on their first birthdays. We gave Sam a beaver puppet and Corey a raccoon. These became their pseudo “blankies.” They wouldn’t go anywhere -daycare, care rides and the first few overnights at a friend’s home – without them. They were cherished and spawned an interest in these animals that led to their individual book collections about beavers and raccoons.

Arts & crafts – Sam and Corey have filled dozens of sketchbooks and continue to do so today. They were big on making up their own comics. They have developed entire casts of characters and have even created their own logos. We treasure all of the drawings they’ve shared with us, and have many of them framed and hanging around the house.