The Creativity Institute

Grammyland Delights

2011-10-25T15:26:00.000-07:00

Along with running The Creativity Institute, my husband and I are musicians and songwriters. Through our affiliation with NARAS, the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, we’re able to vote on music known and unknown to be nominated for the annual Grammy awards.

Over the last couple of weeks, we’ve spent hours and hours listening to musicians of various genres. What an exciting and inspiring endeavor it has been! Sure, we encountered some artists who were at various levels of lackluster, but, overall, we came across some amazing talent lurking in the wings of discovery.

Here are just a few of the musical acts who were a delightful surprise for me: Parris Lee, Carolyn Malachi, Light of Love, Allison Tartalia, LR-60, Kathy Sanborn, Terri Lynn Carrington, D Woods, Sylvan Street Jazz, Linda Chorney, Vernell Brown, Jr., Bombastic Meatballs….I could go on and on.

And what I love most about this experience is that it is pure creative food. Have you ever felt an urge to paint after walking through a gallery? Or wanted to design an outfit after watching “Project Runway?” Or maybe start that book you always knew you had in you after reading a particularly memorable story? Embrace the bountiful creative buffet at every opportunity. You can never get too much.

If I weren’t feeling so good right now, I might jump on my soapbox about keeping the arts alive in schools…but, for now, I am drifting happily on a music high and expect to stay there for a while as I explore the full repertoire of the artists we’re just getting to know.

I encourage you to listen to some music you’ve never heard before, and if it feeds your soul a little bit, meet me in the clouds!

Gwynn
The Creativity Institute

We’re Spoiled!

2011-10-09T20:38:00.000-07:00

For his birthday, we recently gave our neighbor’s little boy an activity house made by The Original Toy Company. We knew he’d like it, because he’d shown interest in shape sorting toys at our house. But we were especially pleased by his mother’s reaction. She was surprised and delighted to see that this toy is crafted of wood, and beautifully crafted, I might add.

I realized how those of us at The Creativity Institute have come to take it for granted that the toys we offer are of superior quality. We’ve been in the toy business for almost eight years now, and we’re just spoiled. Oh sure, we’ve been very picky about what we carry, and we’ve discontinued a line or two that we appraised and decided weren’t worthy of our brand. But our neighbor’s appreciation of the workmanship of this relatively inexpensive toy reminds us that not all toys are made alike.

Most of our toy vendors are not the giant, multi-national brands, which produce in great mass and measure quantity sold as the more important definition of success. In fact, a number of our manufacturers are relatively small, some even family-owned. They offer lines of artistically crafted blocks, trains, easels and more, their beloved designs honed by tradition and a commitment to quality.

We love our toy vendors. We know them personally and have come to respect their integrity. And that’s why we like being a specialty toy store. We carry the toys that become classics and make parents feel as good as the kids.

Gwynn
The Creativity Institute

“…permission to have crazy ideas”

2011-09-18T17:05:00.001-07:00

My partner and I spent many years on the creative side of the advertising and marketing industry and still do a bit of consulting. It was a fun, exciting career, but you were only as good as your last campaign. Expanding the horizons of your imagination was a necessary and ongoing pursuit. This fascination with the importance of thinking beyond obvious boundaries ultimately led to the creation of our store, The Creativity Institute…which brings me to the phrase “…permission to have crazy ideas.”

I borrowed it from an article in “Fast Company” about a company that built has been building a culture of creativity. It talks about inspired employees and customers and the resulting growth. But what does “…permission to have crazy ideas” mean to us as parents, grandparents and educators?

Creativity is freedom. Freedom to think without repercussion. Freedom to push the imaginary envelope without ridicule. Freedom to find the crazy in all of us that frequently leads to brilliance.

Adulthood offers more than enough opportunities to squash creative egos. For those of us fortunate enough to be in positions to inspire kids of all ages, please inspire, motivate, encourage…and most of all, give permission to find the crazy.

Gwynn
The Creativity Institute

Crazy for Cards

2011-07-19T21:08:00.000-07:00

Working in the creative department of ad agencies brought lots of exciting artistic opportunities through the years. Despite busy schedules, we were constantly called on to make custom cards for employee or client events…birthdays, promotions, new babies, etc. And they usually had to be fast and clever. Some were more challenging than others, but it was always a good exercise in creativity.

It’s also a great exercise in creativity for children, and as long as they know they can’t fail, it’s fun for them. Help them along with hints if they need it. You can ask them questions such as, “What does Grandpa like to do?” Encourage the child to fill the card with things that are dear to the recipient. If Grandpa loves to fish, the child could draw or cut out a giant, colorful fish. And have fun with the message. For instance, for the giant fish concept you could write, “I hope your birthday fun is THIS big!

A homemade card for someone special is a gift in itself, an heirloom to treasure. And the simple act of creating it can be an incredibly rewarding experience.

Gwynn
The Creativity Institute

The Potion

2011-06-29T22:23:00.000-07:00

When your schedule accommodates the needs of several children, not to mention your other obligations, it's hard to make time for one-on-one experiences with your kids. But when the opportunity arises to give all your attention to one child for a little while, the results can be both memorable and enriching.

Once, a simple walk with my 8-yr. old daughter turned into a delightful treasure hunt. As we headed out, she asked if we could gather “things” along the way to make a potion. What a fun idea! We gathered things both organic and not. Cedar balls, cypress blades, pine needles, pansy petals, acorns, string and more. When we got it all home, I gave her a large bowl, spoons for stirring and water to add to it. Together, we mixed it up. Surprisingly, it had a pleasant, room-freshener aroma (thanks to all the cedar balls).

Best of all, she was inspired to create wonderful stories about the magical powers of our “potion,” all the while pretending to be a wizard.

Practically anything can lead the way to pretend-play, but if you need inspiration, consider puppets or maybe even a playtent. Imagination is a wonderful thing, and watching it flourish is a joyful experience for both parent and child.

Gwynn
The Creativity Institute

And the moral of the story is...

2011-05-17T08:07:00.000-07:00

We’re trying to advance good values for children and help positive behavior support(PBS) programs by creating original puppet show scripts that use light demonstrations to get across the message. The combination of the drama, the puppets and the humor hold the children's attention while the points are being made. Some of these are scripts based on the model of Aesop’s Fables with positive “morals” that also communicate positive values to children.

The scripts are available with and without puppet sets, and can even be acted out by children not using puppets.

http://www.creativityinstitute.com/Positive-Behavior-Support.aspx

Gwynn

New double-sided easels offer four surfaces for creativity.

2011-05-15T05:04:00.000-07:00

We now feature double-sided easels with four different art surfaces. Our newest Beka easels have a 24” x 24” chalkboard on one side, a 24” x 24” marker board surface on the other, plus a 24” x 24” red felt panel that can be attached to either side. The red felt surface has three built-in pockets that conveniently hold felt accessories (sorry, accessories not included.) In addition, the red felt panel can also be hung anywhere. And with the optional paper roll mounted on the built-in paper holder, there are really four different art surfaces that can be used on these versatile Beka easels! Check out our newest Beka easels here.

The Creativity Institute Adds Two New PBIS Puppet Show Scripts

2011-05-04T14:19:00.000-07:00

The Creativity Institute has recently added two more skits to their library of original puppet show scripts. These two new puppet show scripts are in line with the ideals of Positive Behavior Support that educators are now focused on. While these puppet show scripts are sold individually, they are also available in combo sets with the hand puppet cas t that can perform them. And although they are written for the puppet stage, they can also be performed by children acting out the parts without using puppets at all.

"Get in Line, One at Time" is an original puppet show script that demonstrates the positive behavior support message of how the friends don’t get anything done trying to all push at the same time, but come to understand the value of standing in line. The script has four speaking parts and the puppet show length is approximately 3-4 minutes.

"Friends Are as Friends Do" demonstrates how the puppets don't like being friends with a bully who isn't trying to be anyone's friend. This script has four speaking parts and the puppet show length is approximately 3-4 minutes.

The Creativity Institute writers have developed these scripts to be easy to perform while communicating a value lesson to the children. And we’ve thrown in enough humor to keep it interesting.

Also included with this puppet show script are puppet show stage directions that The Creativity Institute has put together to help staging more professional and enjoyable puppet shows, such as tips on simulating walking, moving mouths, etc. You’d be surprised how many people close the mouth on each syllable, which is the opposite of how people talk and the opposite of what puppeteers should do.

Ask children what the music looks like.

2010-06-20T09:20:00.000-07:00

Put on some music, give a child a piece of paper and ask them to draw what it looks like. They may be confused at first, but try to answer their questions without leading them. Suggest that they choose colors and make drawing motions that “match” what they are hearing. Is it fast, lively music or calm, soothing music? Will they perceive it as happy, tense or sad music? The feelings that music generates can produce different abstract or representative images.

Tell the children to put down on the paper any color or shape that they think the music looks like. As soon as they draw anything, give them another piece of paper, change the music to a very different style and ask then to draw what this new song sounds like. The contrast in styles to the second or third piece usually helps them understand what it is you’re trying to get them to accomplish and they’ll get more comfortable with the process. And they’ll soon be asking for more songs to draw.

Sid

The Creativity Institute

Finding scripts to stage your own puppet shows

2010-06-18T13:20:00.001-07:00

Too often after you've assembled your puppets, a puppet stage and a troupe of little actors, the missing ingredient is the script. While there are a few sources of scripts written specifically for the puppet theater, there's a wealth of other resource materials to create your own puppet show scripts - some ready to perform, some easy to adapt.
Since comedy is a great form of entertainment for children, one place to find source material for puppet shows is in existing comedy routines. Classic comedy routine scripts and pre-recorded comedy soundtracks are available in libraries, bookstores and throughout the Internet. The Web is full of comedy routines already in script form. The Creativity Institute website offers links to several of these classic collections, as part of our mission to help bring out the creative potential in children. Plus, we are constantly researching and updating these resources. Simply find something that suits your puppet theater cast in level of sophistication and in the number of parts, and you're ready to go.

- The Creativity Institute

Old-fashioned Ways to Inspire Children

2010-05-05T14:31:00.000-07:00

In “Old-fashioned Ways to Inspire Children” By Nicole Dean, Ms. Dean lists many of the basic toys and playthings that can captivate and inspire children without fancy electronics. Among the ones she discusses are books, felt boards, blocks and Legos, art supplies, puppets, musical instruments, dress-up clothes, dollhouses and safe kitchen utensils. These are many of the same categories that The Creativity Institute specialize in as toys that nurture creativity in children. Read the whole article on our website at http://www.creativityinstitute.com/old-fashionedwaystoinspirechildren.aspx

For more ideas on how to stimulate growing imaginations and make children more creative, visit The Creativity Institute for dozens of articles on creativity in children.

Big Art Idea

2010-02-20T18:23:00.001-08:00

This is a big idea to give children a chance to explore art and express their creativity in a giant-size way. Take billboard panels, tack them to a fence or wall with the blank backs showing, and let children create mural masterpieces. I did it with my children and they loved the novelty of this new giant-size art medium.

Local billboard and advertising poster companies usually print overruns of campaigns so they have extras. And those giant-size billboards are made of individual panels that are about 4 feet by 5 feet. They usually throw these extras away after the advertising campaigns have expired, so just contact them and tell they why you want them. Avoid the vinyl billboards, because they don’t hold paint and markers well. Poster paints work best because they cover big areas.

Just tack or push-pin these panels backwards on a big flat surface, such as a fence or wall, and let the children go to town. The whimsy of this new, giant-sized art medium will, in itself, challenge and stimulate their creativity in new ways. When they stand facing this big, empty canvas, they'll be letting their creativity flow as it's never done before. And it’s a great way to get them outside in the fresh air when the weather’s nice.

For more ideas on how to stimulate growing imaginations and make children more creative, visit The Creativity Institute for dozens of articles on creativity in children.

Tolerate the Offbeat

2010-01-25T10:12:00.000-08:00

"Tolerate the offbeat" is one of the guidelines presented in an article posted on The Creativity Institute entitled “Creative Play Helps Children Grow” by Marilyn Lopes. To nurture creativity in children, she suggests that you encourage the unexpected responses and output from your child as well as the expected. Give them positive reinforcement when they use their imagination. That’s why The Creativity Institute specializes in toys that are “open-ended” and give a child creative options, such as blocks, musical toys, puppets and art supplies. We don’t carry games and puzzles, because they only have one “correct” outcome.

You can read Ms. Lopes full article here:

http://www.creativityinstitute.com/creativeplayhelpschildrengrow.aspx

For more ideas on how to stimulate growing imaginations and make children more creative, visit The Creativity Institute for dozens of articles on creativity in children.

The Creativity Institute Announces New Puppet & Script Sets

2008-08-21T00:12:00.000-07:00

The Creativity Institute Announces New Puppet & Script Sets

New Orleans, LA - Puppets are great educational toys for stimulating creativity in children. But too often, children are given puppets without the right guidance and, to the child, they become nothing more than dolls. To get the full creative benefit of puppets, simple puppet show scripts can make all the difference. That’s why The Creativity Institute, an educational toy store and information resource on child creativity, has developed a series of puppet-and-script packages that bundle puppets with corresponding scripts. The packages make it possible for children to start performing as soon as a set arrives.

The Creativity Institute’s first puppet-and-script set was an adaptation of four Aesop’s Fables. Because of positive feedback from customers about the Aesop’s Fables series, The Creativity Institute developed two new sets of scripts of original ideas written in a similar style. Entitled “Gwynn’s Fables,” for the author and Creativity Institute founder Gwynn Torres, the scripts in these series communicate values such as sharing, imagination, cooperation and honesty.

“All of our original scripts and adaptations are written with young performers in mind,” explains Torres. “These are child-friendly stories with comical interchanges and absolutely no violence.” “No one gets eaten,” she adds with a laugh.

The scripts have "acting" parts for two to four puppets, though some require the voice of an additional off-stage narrator. Depending on ability, some children may be able to perform more than one role in the same show. And the puppet-and-script packages use animal puppets in all of the roles, so they transcend cultural and gender lines.

In the script package called “Gwynn’s Fables Set 2,” there are four stories, including:
"First Things First (Don't Procrastinate)," which demonstrates the disadvantages of putting things off. Although the other animals keep encouraging their friend, the monkey, to join them in building sleds, the monkey chooses to put it off and isn't ready when the snow falls.

"Fair Offers (Cooperation)" illustrates the value of working together. The animals want to go to a fair in a neighboring town, but can't get there in time unless they all pitch in using their individual capabilities. (The set includes both a two and four-puppet version of this script.)

"Out of the Box (Imagination)" is all about thinking creatively. Four different animals come across an empty box, and each imagines a unique use for it.

"Trading Places (Look Before you Leap)" demonstrates the importance of thinking through a decision. The horse hears about the attractive features of the mouse's house and insists they trade, sight unseen, only to later discover how small it is.

"Gwynn’s Fables Set 3” has four different original scripts, which include:

"No Excuses (You can't succeed if you don't try)" demonstrates the value of not giving up and trying your best. Duck is full of excuses why he's not participating in the art contest until Elephant challenges his excuses and gets him to try.

"What a Pal! (Fair Weather Friends)" shows how the Lion discovers who his real friends are when he needs a favor.

"To Tell the Truth (Honesty)" shows why it's important to tell the truth when Froggie dishonestly takes all the credit for helping out, but has the tables turned on him when Teacher figures it out.

"The Fun of the Game (You Don't Have to Win Everything)" shows how the animals respect Lion much more when he learns he doesn't have to win every game.

The “Aesop's Fables” puppet script set includes Creativity Institute adaptations of four well-known fables: “The Mouse and the Lion,” “The Hare and the Tortoise,” “The Fox and the Grapes” and “The Fox Who Had Lost His Tail.”

A fourth original puppet-and-script set by The Creativity Institute is the puppet stage adaptation of the traditional folk-song "Old MacDonald.” This is a puppet show that's great fun for any number of children to perform and perfect for audience participation. The script uses the supplied eight-puppet cast, but if you have additional puppets, you can use whatever mix of song verses and puppets you choose. Children can even double up on parts, which usually produces hysterical results.

The Creativity Institute also offers most of the script sets separately for customers who already have puppets. All of the scripts can be easily adapted to any assortment of puppet characters. Plus, customers don’t have to wait to receive their scripts. When an order for scripts is placed on The Creativity Institute website, the customer receives PDF versions of the scripts within a couple of hours, often immediately. The Creativity Institute even offers a free downloadable, ready-to-print sample of one of their scripts on their website’s page of puppet show ideas at http://www.creativityinstitute.com/puppettheaterscriptideas.aspx.

All sets of Creativity Institute puppet show scripts come with their own stage directions guide for producing more professional and enjoyable puppet shows. These include tips on how to simulate walking and how to coordinate the movement of puppet mouths (almost everybody does it backwards, closing the puppet's mouth with each syllable rather than opening it.)

The Creativity Institute encourages visitors to the site to explore the practically limitless puppet shows that can be performed with just a few puppets and a little imagination. Ideas can come from favorite stories, real experiences, dramatization of lessons, and even movies and TV shows. The Creativity Institute website provides links to sources for hundreds of these scripts, along with lots of ideas and resources for finding material to develop new shows.

The hand puppets offered by The Creativity Institute in their packages are manufactured by PlushPups, maker of quality hand puppets for children. All are machine washable and made of durable fabrics. And for the ideal "venue" for presenting memorable performances, they also have a selection of http://www.creativityinstitute.com/puppettheatersandpuppetstages.aspx manufactured by Guidecraft, Beka, Maxim, Alex, TAG Toys, Wood Designs and Kid's Adventure.

Puppet shows provide endless opportunities for children to find expression through acting out stories, and the only limits are their imaginations. For more information, visit The Creativity Institute website at http://www.creativityinstitute.com, or give them a call toll-free at 888-814-TOYS (8697).

Keeping creative on the road

2006-06-16T21:02:00.000-07:00

Our friend Gavin had an idea that was truly inspired for the family beach vacation. He brought canvases, paintbrushes and paint for every member of the family. He asked everyone to paint anything they wanted by the end of the vacation. Even the smallest member of the family got to participate. Mom created a special beach scene just right for the baby's tiny footprints. Everyone painted, and everyone had a great time. Best of all, when they got home, Gaving hung all the canvases together on one wall, creating a work of art to inspire and preserve great memories.

- Gwynn, The Creativity Institute

Getting children ready for their first day of school.

2006-06-16T20:52:00.000-07:00

Leaving their comfortable routine of home and taking that first big step away from the nest can be a big, and often traumatic, event for a new kindergartner. While some children begin showing signs of an interest in school in advance of the big day, it's not necessarily always the case with all preschoolers. There are, however, ways you can prepare your children to help them transition into the exciting and wonderful experience that awaits them. As many of their difficulties will often to relate to socializing with other children, you can help ready your child through such activities as playing board games. One of the standard dynamics of most board games is having to take turns. Getting a child used to this concept can make their integration into groups a lot easier.

Another suggestion we've found for parents is to involve children in activities that encourage the use of their imaginations, such as playing with building blocks, modeling dough or art supplies. This helps children not only become more creative but also helps them to understand the consequences of their actions.

- The Creativity Institute

Is it right, wrong or creative?

2006-06-11T22:41:00.001-07:00

I read a story about a first grader whose teacher gave her a rectangular sheet of paper and told her to "cut it the long way." The child cut it diagonally, which is the longest cut you can make on a sheet of paper. Unfortunately, it wasn't what the teacher had in mind and her teacher told her she was wrong.

This is not an uncommon occurrence in childrearing, both in school and other childcare situations. Teachers who prize creative responses and original thinking by children can make a world of difference in their lives. Valuing creativity and nurturing it from infancy can have tremendous benefits.

- Sid, The Creativity Institute

Bookmarks that make memories

2006-06-11T22:19:00.000-07:00

When my children were little, I was always trying to find stolen moments to read. My girls knew reading was (and still is) one of my most favorite and cherished activities. They also knew I was always misplacing bookmarks. One day they presented me with a handful of delightfully colorful bookmarks they had painstakingly created themselves with old paper samples and crayons. Needless to say, I've never lost any of these bookmarks. I consider them treasured heirlooms.
The point of this bit of sentimentality is that bookmarks make thoughtful gifts your children can make for family members, Godparents, teachers or anyone. Put clear packing tape or clear contact paper on both sides of the art, and the bookmarks are instantly laminated. Punch a hole in the lamination and add ribbons or tassels for a fancier look. You can even make them into ornaments or key rings.

- Gwynn, The Creativity Institute

Playing with blocks can be good for children with ADHD

2006-06-11T22:14:00.000-07:00

Toys for children with ADHD should be simple and encourage the use of their imaginations, and one of the most basic toys is blocks. Block play can be great for many ages. From simple stack-up and knock-over fun to imaginative building. Blocks teach problem-solving skills, because a child discovers how stacking and matching can produce different results. They can also become components of pretend play, because a child can fantasize what the structures are. There are also big foam blocks that are almost "life size" and let children create their own fantasy playhouses. These lightweight blocks are so versatile, they can be climbed on or tunneled under. Magnetic block and construction sets have pieces that connect in more ways than can conventional plastic snap-together blocks and allow even more imaginative opportunities. And don't forget the versatility of the classic wooden building blocks.
Blocks, like many traditional toys, have other educational advantages for a child with ADHD. The number of positive outcomes is limitless, so children can continue playing until they've reached a level of personal satisfaction.

- The Creativity Institute

The toy piano goes to college

2006-06-11T16:51:00.000-07:00

In 1948, experimental American composer John Cage, featured the toy piano as the central musical instrument in his Suite for Toy Piano. Last November, David Claman, an assistant professor at Massachusetts' College of Holy Cross, began a project called the "Extensible Toy Piano Festival." Part of the project was to digitally sample the sounds of the toy piano and post them on the college website to make them available to musicians and composers for experimentation and entry into the festival's composition competition. While the mechanism of a toy piano has a simple mechanism of hammers hitting steel rods instead of strings, some toy pianos, such as the Schoenhut toy piano, are tuned very well across their three-octave range. Toy pianos may be a child's toy, but many a serious musician started on one.

Listen to some toy pianos being played here.

- The Creativity Institute

Big names started with little blocks

2006-06-11T16:35:00.000-07:00

Children's building blocks provide an opportunity to experiment with form and flow and many aspects of architecture and structural engineering - at very early ages. A child can test his imagination to the limits of the stacking and arranging that the blocks will allow. Frank Lloyd Wright was one famous architect who commented that he satisfied his early interest in building structures by playing with Frobel blocks. Frobel blocks are the wooden building blocks of uniform scale relationships developed by Friedrich Frobel in the 1830s for children to learn the elements of geometric form, mathematics and creative design. "The maple-wood blocks... are in my fingers to this day," said Frank Lloyd Wright, attesting to the influence of the Froebel blocks on his work.

Frank Gehry is another world-renowned architect talks about playing with wooden building blocks that his grandmother salvaged from a lumberyard. Gehry created such architectural masterpieces as the Guggenheim Bilbao, Vitra Museum in Germany, The Walt Disney Concert Hall, and others.

Different types of blocks, whether wooden, interlocking, large or small, all have different properties and give a child a different set of variables with which to create and solve challenges. Give them a set and watch how long blocks can keep them occupied.
- The Creativity Institute

Playthings are all around the house

2006-06-11T00:30:00.000-07:00

Stuck at home with bored kids? Sit them down at the drawing table for a round of Kitchen Kreatives! Give them plastic measuring cups, spoons and other unbreakable items with interesting shapes. Make sure they have lots of paper, colors and pencils. Show them some paintings by Picasso, Miro and other masters of the abstract, and ask them to create something wild using the kitchen utensil shapes.

- The Creativity Institute