Comments for The Multicultural Toybox http://multiculturaltoybox.com Thu, 16 Oct 2008 03:58:51 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 Comment on Dolls with Down Syndrome by Dale http://multiculturaltoybox.com/dolls-with-down-syndrome/#comment-920 Dale Tue, 02 Sep 2008 02:00:26 +0000 http://multiculturaltoybox.com/dolls-with-down-syndrome/#comment-920 I agree with all these comments. These are just ugly dolls that do not represent Down Syndrome at all. Sorry, but the downsyndroompoppen.nl dolls just look like monkeys as do some of the other sites. Downi Creations are on the right track but I cannot buy a $175 doll for my 5 yr old Down Syndrome grand daughter. I agree with all these comments. These are just ugly dolls that do not represent Down Syndrome at all. Sorry, but the downsyndroompoppen.nl dolls just look like monkeys as do some of the other sites. Downi Creations are on the right track but I cannot buy a $175 doll for my 5 yr old Down Syndrome grand daughter.

]]> Comment on Study suggests high-achieving students are being left behind in U.S. schools by Tracee Sioux http://multiculturaltoybox.com/study-suggests-high-achieving-students-are-being-left-behind-in-us-schools/#comment-918 Tracee Sioux Thu, 31 Jul 2008 02:07:33 +0000 http://multiculturaltoybox.com/?p=56#comment-918 the bottom 10% of students "have indeed made gains as measured by standardized tests since" I don't know if this is actually true. I can't tell you how many parents I see have simply abandoned the school system to homeschool or private school, so they don't have to participate in the test. ALL those children are left behind in my opinion - they are just conveniently not mucking up the stats. Our local high school has lost its 5A status and dropped to 4A. The parents all site inflexibility with No Child Left Behind. And lots of those kids were failing. the bottom 10% of students “have indeed made gains as measured by standardized tests since”

I don’t know if this is actually true. I can’t tell you how many parents I see have simply abandoned the school system to homeschool or private school, so they don’t have to participate in the test. ALL those children are left behind in my opinion - they are just conveniently not mucking up the stats. Our local high school has lost its 5A status and dropped to 4A.

The parents all site inflexibility with No Child Left Behind. And lots of those kids were failing.

]]> Comment on Dolls with Down Syndrome by DeAnna http://multiculturaltoybox.com/dolls-with-down-syndrome/#comment-917 DeAnna Fri, 25 Jul 2008 02:23:24 +0000 http://multiculturaltoybox.com/dolls-with-down-syndrome/#comment-917 I am a mother of a child with D.S. This may be well intentioned but my first response was " This is one funny looking doll!" It does not look much like a child with D.S and/or how would you know the doll is suppose to represent to child with D.S? Refine your marketing plan. I am a mother of a child with D.S. This may be well intentioned but my first response was ” This is one funny looking doll!” It does not look much like a child with D.S and/or how would you know the doll is suppose to represent to child with D.S?
Refine your marketing plan.

]]> Comment on What do you worry about? by Suzee Ramirez http://multiculturaltoybox.com/what-do-you-worry-about/#comment-904 Suzee Ramirez Tue, 17 Jun 2008 13:57:12 +0000 http://multiculturaltoybox.com/?p=52#comment-904 I worry that my children will buy into all that the media and advertising sells to them. I'm picky about what they watch, but not extreme... I don't want them craving things they are denied -- but in this way, they are still exposed to lots of sales pitches aimed at them. I worry that my children will buy into all that the media and advertising sells to them. I’m picky about what they watch, but not extreme… I don’t want them craving things they are denied — but in this way, they are still exposed to lots of sales pitches aimed at them.

]]> Comment on Mr. Rogers sends his love by Suzee Ramirez http://multiculturaltoybox.com/mr-rogers-sends-his-love/#comment-898 Suzee Ramirez Mon, 16 Jun 2008 06:02:14 +0000 http://multiculturaltoybox.com/?p=55#comment-898 One of my favorite quotes is his: "We want to raise our children so that they can take a sense of pleasure in both their own heritage and the diversity of others." Mister Rogers I truly believe he may have been one of inspirations for what I'm doing now... One of my favorite quotes is his:
“We want to raise our children so that they can take a sense of pleasure in both their own heritage and the diversity of others.” Mister Rogers

I truly believe he may have been one of inspirations for what I’m doing now…

]]> Comment on Arts and Crafts necessity by Suzee Ramirez http://multiculturaltoybox.com/arts-and-crafts-necessity/#comment-897 Suzee Ramirez Mon, 16 Jun 2008 05:54:22 +0000 http://multiculturaltoybox.com/?p=50#comment-897 We have a lot of neat multicultural arts & crafts items on our site... http://www.multiculturalkids.com Our passion is for children to be raised experiencing diversity. We have a lot of neat multicultural arts & crafts items on our site… http://www.multiculturalkids.com

Our passion is for children to be raised experiencing diversity.

]]> Comment on Accessories for dolls with disabilities–and some dolls with disabilities by Suzee Ramirez http://multiculturaltoybox.com/accessories-for-dolls-with-disabilities-and-some-dolls-with-disabilities/#comment-896 Suzee Ramirez Mon, 16 Jun 2008 05:39:06 +0000 http://multiculturaltoybox.com/2007/08/22/accessories-for-dolls-with-disabilities-and-some-dolls-with-disabilities/#comment-896 We carry lots of neat different ability doll accessories on our site: http://www.MulticulturalKids.com -- we really think it's important for all kids to be accepted the way they are. These toys are great for kids of all abilities; for those with the different ability, and for those without so that they are more accepting and comfortable when they come across children who are blind, in a wheelchair, etc. We carry lots of neat different ability doll accessories on our site: http://www.MulticulturalKids.com — we really think it’s important for all kids to be accepted the way they are. These toys are great for kids of all abilities; for those with the different ability, and for those without so that they are more accepting and comfortable when they come across children who are blind, in a wheelchair, etc.

]]> Comment on Why I created The Multicultural Toybox by Suzee Ramirez http://multiculturaltoybox.com/why-i-created-the-multicultural-toybox/#comment-895 Suzee Ramirez Mon, 16 Jun 2008 05:32:20 +0000 http://multiculturaltoybox.com/why-i-created-the-multicultural-toybox/#comment-895 I really love what you are doing here. It supports our vision at Multicultural Kids. We are a small company trying to make a difference in the way kids look at the world -- appreciating and celebrating differences, while noticing that we're really all very alike. Peace!!! I really love what you are doing here. It supports our vision at Multicultural Kids. We are a small company trying to make a difference in the way kids look at the world — appreciating and celebrating differences, while noticing that we’re really all very alike. Peace!!!

]]> Comment on “Squashing all the actual learning and delight” by Ubiquitous Pidgeon http://multiculturaltoybox.com/squashing-all-the-actual-learning-and-delight/#comment-890 Ubiquitous Pidgeon Sat, 14 Jun 2008 21:09:35 +0000 http://multiculturaltoybox.com/?p=53#comment-890 Spending the year teaching kindergarten really reinforced my belief that the things we recognize as important for reaching children (especially small children) are actually important for everyone. Sometimes I get so frustrated by the fact that once kids hit about 3rd grade, most of the hands-on, exploratory, or open-ended stuff has gone by the board. (After NCLB, that problem sets in around, well, Kindergarten.) Not only is this devastating to the way we "do education" as a society, but it's not even good for adults. We all need multi-sensory, open-ended exploration and a variety of opportunities and methods to connect to material. As a KG teacher I don't even consider a strait lecture-style presentation (even a short one), and it's essential that every day include singing, movement, manipulation of materials, creative play, quiet time, cooperative learning, self-directed inquiry, and outdoor activity. The more of those I can pack into any single activity or project, the better. The problem, of course, is that the same things that Kindergarteners require are also necessary for everyone else. Or as I put it recently to a colleague: just because older kids and adults can sit still and (pretend to) listen for a long time doesn't mean we should. Spending the year teaching kindergarten really reinforced my belief that the things we recognize as important for reaching children (especially small children) are actually important for everyone. Sometimes I get so frustrated by the fact that once kids hit about 3rd grade, most of the hands-on, exploratory, or open-ended stuff has gone by the board. (After NCLB, that problem sets in around, well, Kindergarten.) Not only is this devastating to the way we “do education” as a society, but it’s not even good for adults. We all need multi-sensory, open-ended exploration and a variety of opportunities and methods to connect to material.

As a KG teacher I don’t even consider a strait lecture-style presentation (even a short one), and it’s essential that every day include singing, movement, manipulation of materials, creative play, quiet time, cooperative learning, self-directed inquiry, and outdoor activity. The more of those I can pack into any single activity or project, the better.

The problem, of course, is that the same things that Kindergarteners require are also necessary for everyone else. Or as I put it recently to a colleague: just because older kids and adults can sit still and (pretend to) listen for a long time doesn’t mean we should.

]]> Comment on What do you worry about? by “Squashing all the actual learning and delight” http://multiculturaltoybox.com/what-do-you-worry-about/#comment-889 “Squashing all the actual learning and delight” Fri, 13 Jun 2008 05:56:44 +0000 http://multiculturaltoybox.com/?p=52#comment-889 [...] response to my recent question, “What do you worry about?” Ephelba replied, I worry about state regulations squashing all the actual learning and delight out of [...] [...] response to my recent question, “What do you worry about?” Ephelba replied, I worry about state regulations squashing all the actual learning and delight out of [...]

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