At MudPuddles Toys, play is work

By Elena Boryczka

The Sherwood Gazette, Oct 2, 2007, Updated Oct 30, 2009

ADVERTISEMENTS

<< Prev. Page 1 | 2

“I did play therapy and learned the value of play,” she said. “I had never worked retail, I didn’t even know how to run a cash register, but I decide to open a toy store, so I studied all I could and visited lots of toy stores. And so I come to this not with a business background, more with a childhood development background.”

Miglavs takes a very integral role in the operation of her store, personally selecting each and every item that makes it onto the shelves. She constantly observes the children who come in to see what items they like and don’t like, as well as sending toys home for grandchildren and her employees’ children; this gives her an idea of what products are worth restocking.

“Because I was a teacher first and then I was a childhood family therapist and I did a lot of talks and work with young children and development and play, I know the kinds of things that are helpful. I believe, and it’s becoming our store tagline, ‘Play is a child’s job, and toys are the tools,’” she said. “So a child is supposed to play because that’s the way they learn about their world. They’re little scientists. From infants, they put things in their mouth they touch them, they throw them, they drop them, they see what happens. They’re just little scientists, and all the way up to our big scientists who are trying out putting circuits together and seeing how they work out and this and that . . . as parents we need to provide children with the things - the tools - that can help them explore. That doesn’t necessarily mean the latest GameBoy game - that might more mean a pogo stick to go outside and test their physical ability and how they can manipulate their own body.

“It’s important that a parent choose toys that are developmentally appropriate. Sometimes we’ll get a parent that says, ‘My child is really advanced’ . . . but if this child is 5 and they get a toy for an 8-year-old it’s probably going to be frustrating instead of mind opening. It needs to fit with their developmental level, and it needs to be safe and it needs to be durable.”

Olsen said each member of the staff has been trained extensively through weekly staff meetings and other exercises to help them pick the perfect toy, and it is not unusual for people to come in with absolutely no idea what they should buy.

“We have a lot of parents that come in who say, ‘My child is this age and I want to introduce them to science: I don’t know where to go, what do we do?’ That’s why we have our training every week, because all of our staff members are able to pick the appropriate item, a variety of items, they can offer the parent that will be developmentally appropriate and it can be stimulating to that child,” Olsen said.

Shop locally

Debbie Nelson and her 5-year-old son, Abram, are regular customers at MudPuddles. Nelson said when the two of them go to the laundromat Abram usually insists they stop in to check out the toys, his favorites being the knights that are sitting open on a table in the back.

“We’ll be driving around and he’ll be like, ‘We have to go to MudPuddles!’ He loves all the little toys because you can actually play with the toys,” she said.

As a Sherwood resident, Nelson said it is easy for her to get some of the same items at Target; instead, she and her family would rather support the local businesses in the community.

“We try to cater to this one,” she said, adding, “the staff is really attentive and knowledgeable, so you know you’re getting the right things. They’re really right on top of things, especially with the book selection.”

MudPuddles Toys & Books is at 16420 S.W. Langer Drive in Sherwood. For more information, visit www.mudpuddlestoys.com or call 503-625-7699.

<< Prev. Page 1 | 2