Play Talk
The Play Talk Blog shares stories, play ideas, and parenting resources to support growth, creativity, and joyful learning at every stage.
Toys that Support Development for Newborns to 3+
Skwish - A Tensegrity Toy Invention
Manhattan Toy's Monstrous Halloween: Trick or Treat With MiO!
Halloween is one of our favorite holidays! That's because little ones are encouraged to use their imagination
Wood Toys for Endless Indoor Fun This Fall!
Temperatures are dropping, which means adding layers before heading outside to...
As September draws to a close, we reflect on the toys we've created throughout the year and turn our focus to the holidays and the busy shopping season.
Perhaps you are starting to think about the toys you may be gifting...
Preparing for the First Day of School
Worried about Your Child’s First Day of School? Here’s What You Need to Do By: Kaila Weingarten, MSED I used to wake up early with a pit in my stomach the first day of school. Now, the nervousness is rolling over. My daughter will be entering preschool. How to prepare her for the first day? I’m going to start now. There is so much to get used to from the big yellow bus, to the classroom environment...
Epic Summer Bucket List for Kids: 40 Fun Ideas
By: Kaila Weingarten, MS ED The summer is reaching it's end, but there is still plenty of time and ways to enjoy the remaining days of summer. Searching for som..The Creation of MiO - Part 3 MiO's Release to the World!
The Creation of MiO: MiO's Release to the World! – Part 3 of a 3 Part series MiO'S RELEASE! IT’S FANTASTIC! The line has been in development for well over a yea...The Creation of MiO - Part 2 Becoming MiO
The Creation of MiO: Becoming MiO - Part 2 of a 3 Part series WHAT MAKES OUR PLAY ENVIRONMENT UNIQUE? There was much internal excitement, because we knew that w...The Creation of MiO: Part 1 First Steps
The Creation of MiO: First Steps - Part 1 of this 3 Part series MIO – FIRST STEPS The original idea for MiO sprang from a series of events - a lecture at the Nu...Building Blocks for Success: MiO Block Play
Do you have old fashioned blocks? Or have the simple building toys lost their appeal to snazzier toys? Here’s one rule to learn: The more a toy does, the less likely your child will be to use her imagination when playing. One milestone I assess in children is, “Can he stack seven blocks at age eighteen months?” I often wonder if children are missing this skill due to lack of exposure to blocks.
Behind the Scenes: A Toy's Journey From Idea to Best Friend
Today's Forecast: 100% Chance of Indoor Fun!
And the Winner is . . . Manhattan Toy!
Ages & Stages: Best Toys for Baby's Development
Five Ways to Celebrate Earth Day!
10 No-Nonsense Spring Cleaning Tips
Sensory Learning Tips YOU need to know
Five tips for Surviving Travel with your Children
Baby's Snuggles: The Inspiration for Snuggle Pods™