Would it surprise you to know that the time children 8 and younger spend on mobile devices has tripled in four years? In today's digital world, families are exposed to more screen time than ever before. Smartphones, tablets, YouTube and many popular games, are just a few of the many sources of electronic connection that vie for time and attention from both parents and children. More and more research is showing the detrimental effects of television and computers on young chi

A big part of my everyday is observing children. Watching them play, interact, communicate and share. I also see children who struggle to “play” with our open ended simple wooden toys. The idea behind “open ended” toys is that they do not have one purpose or way to play with them. Wooden blocks can become a castle, a house, a walkway, a sandwich or a stairway to the sky. I’ve seen groups of kids texting each other (gasp!) on little wood rectangles. The thing is, in their