We can't really let our competitors know what's coming SOON to a Target near you. But here are some hints to whet your appetite and make you giggle. What's coming? Something that glows, something that rolls, something that drives, and something that's odd.
All somethings B. as all our toys are—good for kids, all kids, and our planet.
When is a toy more than a toy? When it can open a seemingly closed door, tap an imagination thought dry, or be used in play therapy for hope and healing.
We recently got a letter from the loving occupational therapist of a little boy at The Home for the Innocents. It was a letter that changed our lives forever.
Turns out a little boy in her care, a beautiful boy unable to walk or talk or stand on his own, brain damaged because of abuse he sustained, scared and vulnerable every day...for the first time in years made "happy sounds" after receiving Meowsic on his 7th birthday. He memorized the witty kitty songs, hummed along to them, and laughed again a laugh that lights up the halls. When this wonderful therapist bought him Woofer, magic ensued again and now he hoots and howls to "Pepper the Puppy."
All kids, regardless of their strengths or limitations, have a spirit of curiosity and creativity that we at B. marvel at and try to spark. Our toys have received a lot of kudos in our two and a half years on the market. None have touched us as deeply as being highly rated by Able Play™ for children with special needs. Fourteen of our toys have earned 5 stars by AblePlay's comprehensive rating system which focuses on the developmental areas of cognitive, sensory, communications and physical abilities of a child. To think that our toys not only foster fun, but also healing, growth and development, is a humbling honor. And a profound privilege.
All kids are more alike than different. All are special in different ways. Some kids are extra special. Or need extra help. Extra attention. Extra love. But through the eyes of our hearts, our kids—all kids—are just kids. Just?! "Just" the most important little people in our lives. I never could have imagined how close to home "special needs" would come. In the flash of an instant. A year and a half ago, my 9 year old niece suffered an unthinkable stroke in the middle of the night, while she slept. All of a sudden and admittedly with a newfound lens, I began to look at all toys (and all products) differently. It's been a year since Amy Wickstrom, play therapist, child counselor and founder of More Than A Toy interviewed me about product development. She and I clicked immediately because, like Amy, I firmly believe in the heart-opening power of play. I took that rare interview in Ana's honor. I always have a soft spot in my heart for someone in need. But honestly, B. never officially set out to make toys that helped kids with special needs—just to make toys that would encourage imaginative and emotional and HAPPY growth and exploration in all children. Turns out our efforts, in fact, help a LOT of children who need an extra boost in certain areas of development. Toys can be, as Amy says, "more than a toy." They can be a therapeutic path to healing, an enticement to trying, a practice of skills, a respite from pain, a few minutes of peace for parents, or years of joy for children.
Which brings me right back around to Anastasia. It’s one of those serendipitous paths in life that brought me to a point where toys I work on are highly rated for kids with special needs… just at the point when a child I dearly love has special needs. I will never ever again be able to design a toy and not remember this.
For my sister, and all of you who carry the extra load of a child who needs 'extra' care, I wish support and strength, programs and progress. My sister Karin did not know how strong she had to be until she had to BE that strong. I am in awe of her—and all of you—who, day in and day out, love with the strength of a mountain, hope with the depth of an ocean, and dream with the immensity of the sky.
Ana has remarkably re-learned to ride a bike since I took that interview. She is talking more and more. She is working on her fine pincer grasp with her affected hand. So, as my sister and I seek toys that foster that skill in an entertaining way (stickers, mosaics, beads, Legos), I dream of toys that are...for Ana, and for so many kids like her...more than a toy.
With love and admiration, —Gisela
This very touching video by UAJessFam to a song by Martina McBride reminds us that there but for the grace of God go we.
Every time we create a new toy we try to challenge convention and defy expectations. (Even our own.) This time we took it to the extreme. We are so excited…after sooooo long…to finally introduce one of the most innovative toys we have ever made. Symphony in B. Just wait until you play with it. You won't want to stop.
When we created this toy we wanted children to feel like the conductor of a world-class symphony. We wanted them to choose instruments one at a time and hear the beautiful music build. We wanted them to recognize that one song can be played hundreds of different ways, depending on which instruments are playing it. But most of all, we wanted kids to have fun and nurture that love of music we all seem to be born with.
Symphony in B. has 13 instruments to choose from. Pick up to 6 at a time and put them in the "orchestra pit" and hear them play together. Then change up the instruments (all of them or one by one) and hear the beautiful, musical transformation. With 15 songs and symphonies to choose from and 13 instruments to play, there are literally millions of gorgeous combinations. You could even play the same song 100 times and not have it sound the same twice. It's truly magical. And addictive.
How does it sound? If you know anything about us, you know we've always eschewed the nasally, synthetic sounds that are typically assigned to children's toys. Yuck, yucky, yuck-yuck. The music of a toy should make kids' hearts sing. (And should make parents' hearts sing, too. The sound of a musical toy should fill the house with the same kind of joy the sound of a child's laughter does.)
So we asked ourselves, can gorgeous, rich music come from a toy made for children as young as 3 years old (and as old as 13…okay 93)? Turns out it can. But it's not easy. :)
We professionally (and meticulously) recorded the rich music of 13 carefully chosen instruments from around the world, including clarinet, flute, tuba, trumpet, xylophone, drums, cymbals, piano, accordion, koto, guitar, violin and sitar. (Do you even know what koto is? You will now!) It's truly gorgeous. We've even programmed lights to teach the sections of an orchestra and show which instruments are woodwinds, brass, percussion, keyboards and strings.
Yes, I know. I've gone on and on. (Aren't we allowed to do that about our babies?) But this toy is more than a toy. It's more than we ever thought possible when we set out to create it. It's a revolution. And it's a whole lot of fun.
-Lisa Jobe-Carmack
P.S. This toy is so hard to explain in words we decided to make a video. We invited nieces, nephews, cousins and friends to join our own kids for an all-day Symphony in B. play date. Watch the video above and see (and hear) for yourself.
As part of the B. family you've seen our furry friends get involved time and time again. Here's another great example of how they inspire us so!
Meet Taco, best friend and resident howler. Watch her sing along with the guitar. (A sure bet for Fido Idol!) Now you can have the same fun, only with a guitar that does the howling for you. Check out the Woofer guitar with electric, acoustic and howl modes. Good human!
Yup that's me hopping on one foot. :) We just got back from the 2012 International Toy Fair in New York. We loooove showing off our new creations. And we have a B.ig one to unveil in about 4 weeks. Quite likely the coolest musical toy you've ever seen. If you've not yet signed up for our B.mails or joined us on Facebook, you will want to be among the first to know when "Symphony in B." hits the shelves. Because the first small test shipment will sell out very quickly. We just know it!
We stood on our soap boxes for 3 days and told everyone who came by about our mission to make toys that are a sea change in the industry: beautiful enough to leave out when company comes over, respectful of our planet, generous to children less fortunate than ours.
How do we do it? We love it. We care. We play.
Beyond the visible signature patterns and colors…we labor over the ‘feel’ in a child’s hand, the thickness of the plastic, the smoothness of a strap, the curve of a corner, the recyclability of our packaging, the size of the box, the meaning of each word, the kerning of the font. We really sweat these details. Wake up with them in the middle of the night! Tweak and finesse them until we have everything juuuuust right.
Where possible the toys come with self-storage (the drum holds the instruments, the clinic roof houses the tools). We hate toys that leave a pile of trash as big as the toy itself when unpackaged. And yet, when clear trash plastic is inevitable, we’ve paid extra for the most recyclable #1 PET plastic. And we've designed even the recycling symbol to be B.eautiful.
But most of all, in our heart of hearts, in that spot where we are parents first, we make open-ended toys that encourage a child’s own stories to lead the fun. That engage that most powerful engine of creativity—a child's imagination. That support and celebrate our mission: JUST B. JUST YOU. B. YOU. That trust children to know how to play.
