“ABC’s, 123’s, but don’t forget your Do Re Mi’s!” - is the slogan for our new, award-winning CD and DVD set, The Tuneables – I Love Music! Never have we seen such an exciting product to teach young children the fundamentals of music. This duel set of CD and DVD is now available at Timbuk Toys for $29.99 - that’s less than the cost of a private music lesson!
Innovative and interactive, The Tuneables introduces children to basic musical concepts, while simultaneously introducing them to a host of engaging characters, who live in Tuneville and resemble musical instruments. There’s Mo (short for Mozart), the charming Stradivarius violin, who runs the music shop, as well as: the bell family, who reside in the music shop, and look like penguins; Pete the trumpet, who lives in the Brass Light District; Clara the clarinet, who lives on Woodwind Way; Sunny the symbol and Snare the snare drum, who both live on Rhythm Road; and last, but not least, Gloria the piano, who can always be found at the concert hall. Just like each child, each tuneable has a unique and special gift. Pete, Sunny, and Snare love to march, and to teach children about identifying beats; while Gloria and Clara share a passion for singing, while teaching children about tone and pitch.
The Tuneables is based on the belief that, “Proper modeling is fundamental for music education,” explained Julie Johnson, one of the series’ creators, and a daughter of its founders. “Just as there are nuances in language, such as accent and dialect, music has the nuances of tone and pitch.”
As Julie explained, the first Tuneables video includes three main parts: The rhythm section, which teaches children how to identify dominate beats; the voice flexibility section, which teaches them how to distinguish between their talking and singing voice; and the tonal patterns section, which teaches children to recognize and imitate specific notes. “In this first video, we’re just focusing on the tones Do, Mi, So. In later videos we will ad Re and Fa,” said Julie. “My father actually wrote a lot of the music [for the video]. I was surprised and impressed that he could do so much with just three notes!” When the series is complete, there will be a total of 15 videos that will build off one another to gradually introduce more challenging concepts.
As a musical program, The Tuneables, of course, places an emphasis on auditory learning; however, it is visually stimulating, as well. In the tonal portion of the video, children see Gloria’s piano keys moving, and the bell family’s bell-y lights illuminating, so they can recognize patterns. In the rhythm section, a side panel shows a ballerina dancing, a cowboy boot tapping, and children walking, to the beat. Plus, there is a phenomenal segment that illustrates tonal variation, as someone gradually fills a glass with water, while striking it with a mallet.
The Tuneables takes its cues from the Mozart Effect, which Julie paraphrased as the theory that, “Exposing children to music, at a young age, improves their intelligence exponentially.”
“The biggest obstacle to music education is that many people don’t understand why it’s important,” said Julie. “But, the people who get it are all over The Tuneables!” It’s true! The Tuneables has won a Parents’ Choice Award, and has received mentions in both The Washington Post and The Fort Worth Star-Telegram!
The Tuneables, Julie explained, is the brainchild of a parent company called The Music Intelligence Project, which began as a research think tank for the development of innovative products to teach elementary music, and was founded by her own parents. “My parents know everything there is to know about music,” said Julie. “But, my sisters and I got involved on the business end.”
The company’s website (musicintelligenceproject.com) includes a plethora of tips for parents and educators-for example, did you know that singing in the key of D is best for young children?-making it a value resource not only for kids, but also for adults! The same can be said for The Tuneable’s website, (thetuneables.com) where parents and teachers can download coloring pages, and where children can join The Tunies Club to receive e-mails from their favorite characters!
In an additional effort to facilitate the music education process for adults, each Tuneables CD & DVD set comes with a Parent Guide, which includes lyrics and succinctly explains the objectives of each segment.
“We all have certain aptitudes, but music is something you have to teach,” said Julie. “When you get it young, it sticks with you. Music is a life-enriching, soulful experience, and a gift you can give that will last a life-time!”
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Discover The Fun… in the sun!
Spring has sprung, and the Timbuk Toy Experts are eager to help you Discover the Fun of fun in the sun! Here are some simple tips for outstanding outdoor activities…
Races and Challenges
Hula-Hoop Pass: Have children stand in a circle, holding hands. Place a hula-hoop over the linked arms of two children. Instruct the children to pass the hula-hoop around the circle, without dropping hands. Time them to see how quickly they can complete the challenge. Can they go faster on their second try? How about their third?
Available at Timbuk Toys:
• Rainbow Laser Hula-Hoop (Plastic)
• Large, Medium, and Small Neon-Colored Hula-Hoops (Plastic)
• 27” and 33” Fabric Hula-Hoops (Cloth)
Parachute Popcorn: Have a group of children grab onto a parachute, but instruct them not to move yet. Place several soft balls on top of the parachute. (Gertie balls and/or foam balls are ideal for this.) Now, tell the children to move their arms up and down, so the balls bounce! The bouncing balls will look very much like popcorn! How many balls can the children keep on the parachute? How can they work as a team to prevent the balls from dropping?
Available at Timbuk Toys:
• 10’ Parachute
• 6’ Parachute
• Gertie Balls
• Foam Balls
Ball and Frisbee Relay Race: Divide a group of children into teams of three or four players each. Give each team a Frisbee and a tennis ball. The first player on each team holds the Frisbee, upside down, and places the tennis ball on top it. Then, he or she attempts to run from the starting line to the finish line, without (quite literally) dropping the ball. If any player drops the tennis ball, that player must return to the starting line and begin again. When the first player reaches the finish line, he or she throws the Frisbee, then the tennis ball, to the next player in line. The first team to get all of its members across the finish line wins the game! (For an added challenge, only allow players to hold the Frisbee with one hand.)
Available at Timbuk Toys:
• 160 Gram Freestyle Frisbee (Hard Plastic)
• Squidgie Disc (Soft Plastic)
• Superdisc Neon-Colored Frisbees (Soft Plastic)
• Skylighter Glow-In-The-Dark Frisbee (Soft Plastic)
• Wiffle Balls (Can be substituted for tennis balls)
Obstacle Course: Create an obstacle course for your kids, or suggest that they create obstacle courses for each other. Use cones, hula-hoops, and cardboard blocks to get started.
Available at Timbuk Toys:
• Plastic Cones
• Cardboard Blocks
• Rainbow Laser Hula-Hoop (Plastic)
• Large, Medium, and Small Neon-Colored Hula-Hoops (Plastic)
• 27” and 33” Fabric Hula-Hoops (Cloth)
Scavenger Hunt: Create a list of objects for your children to find around a park, or in your backyard. Get into the spirit of exploration with compasses, shoe lights, and eco-flashlights (no batteries required – for every minute you pump the handle on one of these adorable animal-themed flashlights, you get five minutes of light)!
Available at Timbuk Toys:
• 4-in-1 Compass, complete with compass, carabineer, thermometer, and whistle!
• Expedition Shoe Lights
• Eco-Flashlights, in zoo or farm animal styles
Who says you can’t play with your food?
Play Food Picnic: Want to have a picnic, but avoid the ants? Serve up some salami, bologna, (and fun) with the Melissa & Doug Sandwich and Cutting Food Play Sets! The realistic crunch, as the wooden knife slices through each wooden treat, is as satisfying as any feast! And, when it comes to presentation, there’s no cuter cutlery than that which comes with the Melissa & Doug Bella Butterfly Picnic Set!
When you have gobbled all the play food you can muster, wash it down with a real or imaginary beverage from the Green Toys Tea Set! Made from recycled milk jugs, this fun and fancy tea set allows you to be eco-friendly, while sipping and socializing in the great outdoors!
Available at Timbuk Toys:
• Melissa & Doug Cutting Food Play Set
• Melissa & Doug Sandwich Set
• Melissa & Doug Bella Butterfly Picnic Set
• Green Toys Tea Set
Outdoor Art
Bubble Paintings: Pour bubble mixture into several disposable containers. Add different food colorings to each container. Then, blow bubbles over a large sheet of poster or easel paper. When the bubbles pop, they will create bright, beautiful designs!
Available at Timbuk:
• No-spill Bubbles
• Squeeze Bubbles (No blowing required!)
• Bubble Machine
• The Bubble Thing by Klutz (For making GIGANTIC bubbles!)
• Easel Paper
Water Paintings: Create sidewalk masterpieces with just water and a paintbrush! Simply have your child dip a paintbrush in a bucket of water and paint away! When the water evaporates, paint something new! For unique, unusual, and utterly silly inspiration, see what stokes of genius you may experience with Alex Funky Brushes. Their broad bristles, combined with a bucket of water, might even encourage some experimentation with SPLATTER painting!
Available at Timbuk:
• Funky Brushes by Alex
Just Like You
A Mower that Will Mow You Over: While mowing the yard, have your tot trot along with the NEW Melissa & Doug Tootle Turtle Lawn Mower. Children can carry their tools and toys in the storage compartment under Tootle’s shell, while the plastic fuel can, clicking dials, and pull-cord simulate the “real deal” with satisfying actions and motor sounds!
Available at Timbuk Toys:
• Melissa & Doug Tootle Turtle Lawn Mower
• John Deere Pretend Lawn Mower
Grow Young Gardeners: For fashion-conscious gardeners, it is imperative to coordinate one’s tool tote with one’s lawn mower, and the Melissa & Doug Tootle Turtle Gardening Tote will allow them to do just that! With convenient side pockets, to aid organization, children can always find the tool that’s “just like yours!” The sturdy fabric and woven handles are built-to-last, while the tools themselves can be washed clean in seconds!
Available at Timbuk Toys:
• Melissa & Doug Tootle Turtle Gardening Tote
Go for a Stroll: While pushing your baby in the stroller, let an older sibling give their own baby a ride. Our realistic umbrella strollers feature a colorful fabric seat, a metal frame, contoured handles, and an adjustable seat strap to help responsible young caregivers keep their dolls and teddies safe.
Available at Timbuk Toys:
• Doll Strollers
Spring has reached sunny Colorado, and the Timbuk weather report says, “100% chance of fun!”
Races and Challenges
Hula-Hoop Pass: Have children stand in a circle, holding hands. Place a hula-hoop over the linked arms of two children. Instruct the children to pass the hula-hoop around the circle, without dropping hands. Time them to see how quickly they can complete the challenge. Can they go faster on their second try? How about their third?
Available at Timbuk Toys:
• Rainbow Laser Hula-Hoop (Plastic)
• Large, Medium, and Small Neon-Colored Hula-Hoops (Plastic)
• 27” and 33” Fabric Hula-Hoops (Cloth)
Parachute Popcorn: Have a group of children grab onto a parachute, but instruct them not to move yet. Place several soft balls on top of the parachute. (Gertie balls and/or foam balls are ideal for this.) Now, tell the children to move their arms up and down, so the balls bounce! The bouncing balls will look very much like popcorn! How many balls can the children keep on the parachute? How can they work as a team to prevent the balls from dropping?
Available at Timbuk Toys:
• 10’ Parachute
• 6’ Parachute
• Gertie Balls
• Foam Balls
Ball and Frisbee Relay Race: Divide a group of children into teams of three or four players each. Give each team a Frisbee and a tennis ball. The first player on each team holds the Frisbee, upside down, and places the tennis ball on top it. Then, he or she attempts to run from the starting line to the finish line, without (quite literally) dropping the ball. If any player drops the tennis ball, that player must return to the starting line and begin again. When the first player reaches the finish line, he or she throws the Frisbee, then the tennis ball, to the next player in line. The first team to get all of its members across the finish line wins the game! (For an added challenge, only allow players to hold the Frisbee with one hand.)
Available at Timbuk Toys:
• 160 Gram Freestyle Frisbee (Hard Plastic)
• Squidgie Disc (Soft Plastic)
• Superdisc Neon-Colored Frisbees (Soft Plastic)
• Skylighter Glow-In-The-Dark Frisbee (Soft Plastic)
• Wiffle Balls (Can be substituted for tennis balls)
Obstacle Course: Create an obstacle course for your kids, or suggest that they create obstacle courses for each other. Use cones, hula-hoops, and cardboard blocks to get started.
Available at Timbuk Toys:
• Plastic Cones
• Cardboard Blocks
• Rainbow Laser Hula-Hoop (Plastic)
• Large, Medium, and Small Neon-Colored Hula-Hoops (Plastic)
• 27” and 33” Fabric Hula-Hoops (Cloth)
Scavenger Hunt: Create a list of objects for your children to find around a park, or in your backyard. Get into the spirit of exploration with compasses, shoe lights, and eco-flashlights (no batteries required – for every minute you pump the handle on one of these adorable animal-themed flashlights, you get five minutes of light)!
Available at Timbuk Toys:
• 4-in-1 Compass, complete with compass, carabineer, thermometer, and whistle!
• Expedition Shoe Lights
• Eco-Flashlights, in zoo or farm animal styles
Who says you can’t play with your food?
Play Food Picnic: Want to have a picnic, but avoid the ants? Serve up some salami, bologna, (and fun) with the Melissa & Doug Sandwich and Cutting Food Play Sets! The realistic crunch, as the wooden knife slices through each wooden treat, is as satisfying as any feast! And, when it comes to presentation, there’s no cuter cutlery than that which comes with the Melissa & Doug Bella Butterfly Picnic Set!
When you have gobbled all the play food you can muster, wash it down with a real or imaginary beverage from the Green Toys Tea Set! Made from recycled milk jugs, this fun and fancy tea set allows you to be eco-friendly, while sipping and socializing in the great outdoors!
Available at Timbuk Toys:
• Melissa & Doug Cutting Food Play Set
• Melissa & Doug Sandwich Set
• Melissa & Doug Bella Butterfly Picnic Set
• Green Toys Tea Set
Outdoor Art
Bubble Paintings: Pour bubble mixture into several disposable containers. Add different food colorings to each container. Then, blow bubbles over a large sheet of poster or easel paper. When the bubbles pop, they will create bright, beautiful designs!
Available at Timbuk:
• No-spill Bubbles
• Squeeze Bubbles (No blowing required!)
• Bubble Machine
• The Bubble Thing by Klutz (For making GIGANTIC bubbles!)
• Easel Paper
Water Paintings: Create sidewalk masterpieces with just water and a paintbrush! Simply have your child dip a paintbrush in a bucket of water and paint away! When the water evaporates, paint something new! For unique, unusual, and utterly silly inspiration, see what stokes of genius you may experience with Alex Funky Brushes. Their broad bristles, combined with a bucket of water, might even encourage some experimentation with SPLATTER painting!
Available at Timbuk:
• Funky Brushes by Alex
Just Like You
A Mower that Will Mow You Over: While mowing the yard, have your tot trot along with the NEW Melissa & Doug Tootle Turtle Lawn Mower. Children can carry their tools and toys in the storage compartment under Tootle’s shell, while the plastic fuel can, clicking dials, and pull-cord simulate the “real deal” with satisfying actions and motor sounds!
Available at Timbuk Toys:
• Melissa & Doug Tootle Turtle Lawn Mower
• John Deere Pretend Lawn Mower
Grow Young Gardeners: For fashion-conscious gardeners, it is imperative to coordinate one’s tool tote with one’s lawn mower, and the Melissa & Doug Tootle Turtle Gardening Tote will allow them to do just that! With convenient side pockets, to aid organization, children can always find the tool that’s “just like yours!” The sturdy fabric and woven handles are built-to-last, while the tools themselves can be washed clean in seconds!
Available at Timbuk Toys:
• Melissa & Doug Tootle Turtle Gardening Tote
Go for a Stroll: While pushing your baby in the stroller, let an older sibling give their own baby a ride. Our realistic umbrella strollers feature a colorful fabric seat, a metal frame, contoured handles, and an adjustable seat strap to help responsible young caregivers keep their dolls and teddies safe.
Available at Timbuk Toys:
• Doll Strollers
Spring has reached sunny Colorado, and the Timbuk weather report says, “100% chance of fun!”
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