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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Hi!  I thought you all would be interested to learn that in 2010 Eastern Connecticut State University’s Center for Early Childhood Education launched an annual study “that
 looks at how young children in natural settings play with a variety of toys. Each year, nominated toys are placed in preschool classrooms and videotaped using remote cameras. Researchers use a scientific instrument to determine which toys best promote children's
 development in three areas: thinking and learning, social interaction and cooperation, and self-expression and imaginative play.” The study is called Toys That Inspire Mindful Play and Nurture Imagination, but for short it is called: The TIMPANI Toy Study.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:#333333"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:#333333">This year’s winner?
</span><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:red">Tinkertoys</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">!<span style="color:#333333">  Read more:
<a href="http://nutmeg.easternct.edu/mt-static/early_childhood_education/2011/11/tinkertoys-determined-to-be-timpani-toy-of-2011.html">
http://nutmeg.easternct.edu/mt-static/early_childhood_education/2011/11/tinkertoys-determined-to-be-timpani-toy-of-2011.html</a>
<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:#333333"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:#333333">Last year’s winner?
</span><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:red">Wooden vehicles and traffic signs</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:#333333">!  Read more:
<a href="http://www.easternct.edu/mt-static/press_releases/2010/11/timpani-research-reveals-best-toy-for-children.html">
http://www.easternct.edu/mt-static/press_releases/2010/11/timpani-research-reveals-best-toy-for-children.html</a>
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Things to keep in mind:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><![if !supportLists]><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Symbol"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">        
</span></span></span><![endif]><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Toys examined in the study are nominate.  We don’t know who nominates them nor which toys were nominated.  We do know that this is not an examination of all
 toys on the market.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><![if !supportLists]><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Symbol"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">        
</span></span></span><![endif]><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The study takes place in preschool classrooms, not children’s homes.  We know that environment and the adult present have an impact on child behavior, we don’t
 know how that differs from classroom to classroom nor how children may play with these toys in their own homes.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><![if !supportLists]><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Symbol"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">        
</span></span></span><![endif]><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The way children in this study play with the winning toys is getting the outcomes we strive to reach with the children we work with during home visits, storytimes,
 and other programs. This is certainly something to watch  in the future!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><![if !supportLists]><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Symbol"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">        
</span></span></span><![endif]><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">This study just started last year so there are only two annual winners thus far. 
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black">This may be something to share with families as they are shoping for holiday gifts.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black">Enjoy,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black">Katie
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black">Katie Anderson, Library Development Services<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black">* Youth Services Consultant * Oregon Center for the Book Coordinator *<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black">Oregon State Library, 250 Winter St. NE, Salem, OR 97301<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black"><a href="mailto:katie.anderson@state.or.us"><span style="color:blue">katie.anderson@state.or.us</span></a>, 503-378-2528<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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