Stories, Not Data at Heart of Human Motivation

Recently, the Vancouver Sun ran a story under this title describing how stories are really at the heart of human motivation, much more than data. Stories have the essential quality of being able tap into the emotional "root system" that drives all of us. At Think-a-lot Toys, this is music to our ears.

As the author of the article points out, "The work of the great mythologist Joseph Campbell demonstrated that human beings the world over are wired to respond to storytelling. This is because we are emotional, meaning-making creatures first, and what stir us are efforts and opportunities that capture our imagination." Stories, it seems, drive us and have driven us for centuries. And the better we get at telling stories--and listening to the wisdom of others' stories--the better we become at motivating not only ourselves but others.

In fact, the former CEO of Sony Pictures, Peter Guber, has just come out with a new book titled "Tell to Win"and in it he shares that a lifetime of refining his own storytelling ability has accounted for the lion's share of his success. He shares how he motivated people first through their heart or gut and then followed up with the reasons to act. And, framing his vision through stories were key to his success.

What this tells me is that storytelling is an important art that we need to nurture throughout life. Whether we are regaling others with our humorous or heartbreaking stories of daily life or we are sharing the deeper stories of our own hero's journey, it is important to remember that storytelling is more important than data, just as imagination is more important than knowledge.

Albert Einstein captured this well when he said that "not everything that counts can be counted and not everything that can be counted counts."

For the full version of this story by Juma Wood, visit http://www.vancouversun.com/business/Stories+data+heart+human+motivation/4804320/story.html

More Ways to Use Think-ets

Think-ets are great for telling stories. They are also great for playing memory games or the strategy game, "Who's Last?"

But one enthusiastic player wrote in with all the ways she can think of to use Think-ets in addition to the games we list. These will surely stimulate creativity, critical thinking and who knows what else. Thanks to Diane Black!

SUGGESTIONS for PLAYERS:

1) Make up a themed story (school story, story featuring a particular person--real or not, camping story, Halloween story, birthday story, fun variation on a book or movie already known, etc)... each person could also take a turn at declaring the theme (e.g. declaring trumps)

2) Sounds: order items by initial sounds or by ending sounds, or alphabetically, or by number of syllables... or voice the sound that each makes, or "could" make .

3) Language: give a verb (or adjective, or proper noun) relating to each item... put items down by "sentence" or by "paragraph" to separate and begin to get concept of organizing speech/writing

4) Visual: sort by color/etc. attributes: (darkest to lightest... solid color vs. pattern... palest to most saturated colors.... same color or same color familiy... as "color wheel")

5) Sort by size ...sort by shape--perhaps least amount of "stick-out-ness"... make solid shapes with lines/columns --e.g., lines of rows to make a square or rectangle shape

6) Make a circle/triangle/square/diagonal/radius, etc., outline with the items

7) Nest objects as close together as possible (leaving least amt of empty space), like puzzle pieces ...pick one object up without moving others (like pickup sticks)

8) Use tweezers, chopsticks, etc. to pick up ...then perhaps immediately stack, or toss into a circle, magazine, piece of clothing, or pouch/bag, etc.

9) Add other objects to the 15... e.g., a number of the same items like rocks or beans, then use those as another object (3-D mountain) or as a path, or an outline of scenery feature (like a corral or map)... or add various objects one might find around the house, or could make

10) Add a piece of aluminum foil to the 15 objects --it can be scrunched or bent to make all kinds of shapes, requires no glue, and can be torn into more pieces ...plain paper can also be twisted or bent into various shapes

11) Make a tunnel or an arch from twisted paper/foil or anything around, then try to flip objects through it (like playing marbles), or put objects on a tilted surface then try to slide them through....... or make ramps and jumps of various kinds for objects

12) Draw a scene to go with the story as it's made up, or for the story to conform to... or draw something for each object to sit in, etc., or that relates to it

13) Draw a path on paper or napkin at a restaurant (possibly with obstacles or other things), then move object inside path without touching edges of path or obstacles ...or have the drawn objects be part of story... or make a regular game with a drawn "board" by using other scraps of paper/etc as indicators of the # of spaces to move (or could have stop-for-one-turn, or jump-ahead-six or similar icon marked on path ...or use a die or a spinner or draw straws, etc., or add something like rock/scissors/paper, to decide how many objects to use for a round of play)

14) Or instead of drawing on something temporary, at home make a more permanent "board" or scene by gluing (onto cardboard or something a bit stiff) string or yarn as paths, wads of green paper for bushes, tunnels, etc.... if make the board or scene in a shallow box, can be covered and taken with pouch when not at home

15) To avoid having a "winner," avoiding having an end if there's a path...and/or just play for a certain amount of time, or until players want to move on to something else.

OK, then. Go get busy!

Think-ets and StoryPlay Cards as Writing Prompts

Sometimes it just takes a little thing to get us motivated. A word said. A gesture made. Or even a miniature given. Teachers have found that using tactile objects or illustrated cards are a wonderful way to get kids out of their inertia and into a whole world of their imaginations--and Think-ets and StoryPlay Cards have been a fun way to get kids thinking and then writing.

Teachers love having these two classroom tools in their classroom because of how they can spark their imaginations and get them going on writing a story. Writing can sometimes be a tedious job when you just can't think about what to write about. Most of us have had writer's block. But having a little story prompt, like a Think-ets trinket or a StoryPlay Card, can launch kids into the unknown and get them writing.

How does it work? Theoretically, it works because we are often motivated by something that triggers not only our minds but also our hearts. Emotion is a great driver for a story. When kids connect with a Think-ets trinkets or StoryPlay Card, they do so because they love what they choose because it has some meaning for them. It connect with something in their emotional worlds. And then, they can begin to write about something meaningful to them.

Practically, it works like this. Lay out your set of Think-ets trinkets or StoryPlay Cards and have kids pick one that they like. If you have time, get them to talk in pairs with a partner about why they picked the object or card and what it reminded them of. Many kids love having time to talk about it with someone else before they get started. It further fuels their creative juices.

Parents who want their kids to be more imaginative love these tools. And, it works equally as well for adults as with kids, though adults may prefer the StoryPlay Cards to miniatures.

We all know the power that imagination has on our lives. It creates new ideas, new products, new jobs, even whole new industries. It can also combat boredom and help in resolving conflicts. But perhaps best of all, it creates tons of fun.

Play and the Over-Scheduled Child

What has happened to free play these days? It appears that in our rush to greatness, we have scheduled ourselves so thoroughly that being able to have free time--and free play--is becoming a rare thing. And, it may be doing more harm to our children than we think.

A recent report by IKEA, the international home furnishings retailer (wonderfully enough), shows that 78% of all parents agree that "children should be allowed to play without it having to be educational." Now, we all like a good educational game, like Think-ets, but when we start to dictate to our kids that all play needs to accomplish something educational or that everything our kid does has to be productive in some way, we may have gone too far.

Studies show that, worldwide, our kids are more stressed than they were a decade ago. This stress can be so great that it even can lead to mental illness. Parents, too, face plenty of social pressure from a variety of sources telling them that their kids need to be high achievers. But it appears to be time for some parents to back off.

Fortunately, the answer is simple and right in front of us: more free play without structure or goals. We need to give our kids time to run around or play "just for the fun of it." No rules. No agenda. No goal in mind. According to the IKEA report, this may be one of the best ways parents can help facilitate a child's healthy development.

So, go ahead. Play a game, have some fun, and let kids be kids by allowing them to play, or think, or dream, or draw without a purpose in mind. We like to call it open-ended play. It may be just what the doctor ordered.

Imagination is Like Fire

"Imagination is like fire. No—strike that. Imagination is fire... Perhaps you have figured out a few ways to make sparks and fan flames. Now comes the question: to what ends shall you use that fire?"

This bold quote and question comes from one of the best books recently published on the subject of imagination. It's called "Imagination First: Unlocking the Power of Possibility" by Eric Liu and Scott Noppe-Brandon. And, it calls us to recognize and use one of the most powerful tools in our toolbox...our imagination.

They go on to say that, "The New Commission on the Skills of the American Workforce paints an ominous picture of the surge in skilled labor in China, India, and other emerging economies—juxtaposed against an aging American workforce that needs serious retooling. In every sector, our competitors’ investments in education and technology are eroding the edge that has traditionally justified the pay of American workers. As China and India climb the skills ladder, there is, in the view of the Commission, only one potential competitive advantage left for Americans: our imagination."

You heard that right. Our biggest resource is likely the power of our imagination--and we better harness it if we want to stay competitive in the world economy. It's why we here at Think-a-lot Toys believe so much in the power of imaginative play.

On the brighter and lighter side, isn't using our imagination fun, too? If you have ever played with our game Think-ets and heard some of the whacky, creative stories people come up with, you will surely agree.

Unplugging is the New Freedom

This Memorial Day weekend couldn't have been better. Sunshine with a bit of rain; outdoor activities, barbecues, and pleasant easy-going conversation with people that matter. I noticed one wonderful thing: it felt good to be unplugged. By that I mean being far from the digital barrage of information, if only for a brief weekend, felt good--even freeing.

Unplugging ourselves on a regular basis is critically important in today's day and age. If we want to live a life of balance, it is important that we create time and space away from the computer and in front of real human beings and nature. The value it brings us is immeasurable. Unfortunately, it is slowly becoming a scarce resource.

The Alliance for Childhood says in their recent newsletter that over the past decade, we have seen profound changes--both good and bad--in the landscape of childhood. We have seen the disappearance of unstructured play, the growth of passive screen time and standardized testing, the rise of childhood obesity, and the disconnection of children from the natural world.

It's time for us to take a long hard look at how much free time we give ourselves and our children and how we can make a conscious effort to uplug more often. One of the best ways to unplug ourselves is to go outside and play in nature. Another way is to play games that don't have batteries or a screen. Our games at Think-a-lot Toys are designed to be open-ended and to be played both outside and in.

Think of all the things you can do without being plugged in. You don't always have to have all the information at your fingertips. In fact, wandering and not knowing are sometimes the healthiest and most creative acts we can do.

I like to think that unplugging ourselves from the digital age once in awhile is the new freedom--and a freedom that is worth fighting for.

The Importance of Encouraging Free Play

A leading colleague in the field of toys and games wrote this letter to Mrs. Obama that I thought was so good it was worth sharing in its entirety. It's a wonderful ode to the importance of open-ended play--something all of us here at Think-a-lot Toys believe in wholeheartedly...

Dear Mrs. Obama,

I was very pleased to read about your efforts in getting America's children active through your “Let's Move America” program.

For those who may still be unaware of your initiative, it has set as its goal “…solving the challenge of childhood obesity within a generation.” One way that the initiative seeks to get some of that weight off is through getting kids to get out from in front of their computer screens and go outside and play.

I applaud your desire to see children to play outside and be active. I firmly believe, however, that there is an even bigger reason for children to play outside than improving their physical health and losing weight. They need to do it so that we and they can continue to maintain a civil society and a robust democracy.

Does that sound like an oversized statement? Hear me out: Outdoor play teaches children to be good citizens of a democracy; it teaches them to be leaders; it teaches them to be entrepreneurs; and it teaches them to get along with their neighbors. Here's why: Unlike indoor games, outdoor games typically don't have strict rules. Buy a board game and you will get a precise set of regulations. Play outdoors and you will usually have to establish the rules yourself.

When we were children, we had lots of free time, particularly in the summer when school was out. If we decided, for example, to play Wiffleball, we and not our parents decided which bush or tree was a base and whether hitting the ball out of the yard into the street was a home run. In addition, we chose our own captains, the captains chose their own teams and everyone had to decide (with no parent or umpire present) if someone was out. In short, we made the law, we obeyed the law and we enforced the law.

Don't get me wrong, indoor games are vitally important to a society as well; they teach us how to regulate our lives within a legal structure, and if there is a disagreement on the interpretation of the rules, we learn how to parse them and make a “legal” decision. Outdoor games, however, give us something more. They don't just teach us how to obey and interpret the law, they teach us how to make and enforce it as well.

And that's not all: You don't have to have lots of money to play outdoor games. In fact, you don't have to have any. All you need is a ball, a jump rope, jacks, a piece of chalk or a stick. If you want to play hide and seek or tag, you don't need anything but raw energy and imagination. Outdoor play is the peoples' play.

So why don't kids go out and play today?

They simply don't have the time. There are too many soccer league practices, too many music lessons, too many adult-organized play groups and too many hours spent riding in the back seat of a car. When they get home, they need to do their homework. It's no wonder we hear so much about the amount of hours kids spend in front of TV and computer screens.

Children haven't just lost the time devoted to free play; they have lost the spontaneity that comes from having no adults in their way. Remember how much fun it was to play with no adults around? In fact, 'grown-up' was almost a bad word in those days. Who needed them? As long as we stayed on the block and no one got hurt, cried, fought or yelled too loudly, we got to do pretty much whatever we wanted. Mostly, at least to our parents, we were seen and unseen. Like little wills of the wisp, we scurried down alleys, climbed over fences and crawled under porches. We were out there, our parents keeping half an ear and an eye out in the hope that they might spot us. Children today, however, are overly guarded and guided. Adults hover over them, choosing teams, establishing rules and setting boundaries. Children simply do not have any freedom. They are in a perpetual lock down.

So, here is an idea, Mrs. Obama, ask America's parents to give their kids back their free time and their freedom. Let them employ their imaginations, their backyards and their friends to choose what they want to do as well as when, how and with whom they want to do it. We will all be better off for it.

Respectfully,

Richard Gottlieb

(Richard Gottlieb is president of Richard Gottlieb & Associates LLC, a provider of business development services. He has 35 years experience in the toy industry in sales and sales management. He can be reached at richard@usatoyexpert.com)