Press Releases
30 JANUARY 2008
BTHA expands online offering for parents and teachers
The British Toy & Hobby Association (BTHA) has created two new online resources on toys and play.
The first is designed to give parents information on the benefits of active play both for the child and the wider family. It brings together research from around the world on studies done on the effects of active play.
All types of play, from fantasy play to rough-and-tumble, have a crucial role in children’s development. It is the primary activity that promotes the skills that will be needed throughout life. Active play helps to make children less shy, more popular and more cooperative. Studies show that it can improve academic performance and creativity, reduce disruptiveness in the classroom by teaching self-control, and contribute to ensuring children become active adults. Active play reduces the risk of developing conditions from obesity to dementia, and possibly even attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Active play and healthy development will be launched at the Toy Fair on 30th January 2008. It can be viewed at http://www.btha.co.uk/value_of_play/healthy_development.php.
The second resource is for teachers of Key Stage 1 students. It is designed to give teachers the information they need to teach young children the difference between “old” and “new”. The pack uses toys to engage the interest of five to seven-year-olds. The images of old toys have been given by the V&A Museum of childhood and members of the British Toy & Hobby Association have given the new images. The pack contains lesson instructions and resources for each lesson.
Teachers can download the document at:
http://www.btha.co.uk/publications/BTHA_Key_Stage_1/History_of_Toys.pdf from the first day of Toy Fair – January 30th 2008.
Notes to editors:
Toy Fair is the UK’s largest business exhibition of toy, games and hobbies and takes place between January 30 and February 2, 2008 at London’s ExCeL.
Media can register now for a complimentary pass at www.toyfair.co.uk
The author of the document, Dr Jeffery Goldstein will be available at the Toy Fair on Wednesday 30th January and is contactable through the press office.
For more information:
Natasha Crookes or Roland Earl
BTHA
80 Camberwell Road, London, SE5 0EG
Contact at Toy Fair (30th January – 2nd February)
T: +44 (0) 20 7069 6200
Contact outside show times
T: +44 (0) 20 7701 7271
natasha@btha.co.uk
www.toyfair.co.uk