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The Tribes of Toy Nation: The Enthusiasts
July 24, 2008
Mary Couzin is one of Toy Nation’s biggest cheer leaders. She is passionate about games and toys and her ChiTAG (Chicago Toy and Game Fair) is a notable expression of that passion. It is the country’s only toy industry direct to consumer trade fair.
Having started as a game inventor, Mary now helps other inventors through her Discovergames.com website and her Inventor Forum. Mary is also involved with the American Library Association, the city of Chicago and many other civic and private sector arenas in the support of toy and game play as an important element in creating better and smarter citizens.
Below is an interview I conducted with Mary:
Richard:
Mary, Why are you so passionate about play?
Mary:
Because play is important. We’ve lost sight of the importance of real face-to-face play.
For example, a recent study found women and men of every race, age, and education level has fewer friends than in 1985. The study called the sharp declines startling. Such weakened bonds of friendship means people have fewer places to go in times of trouble and that puts more pressure on immediate family.
Play crosses race, gender, and ethnic lines as well as promotes social skills, team building, leadership and social equality. It increases test scores and IQ in our young and delays the onset of Alzheimer’s in our old. So, not only is it a fun way to get to know people or know them better, it is good for our souls, minds and hearts.
Richard:
What Are You Doing to Promote Play?
Mary:
Six years ago I founded the Chicago Toy and Game Fair to promote play to the public. This year it is at Navy Pier on November 22nd and 23rd and information about attending and exhibiting can be found at www.chitag.com. We are working with the Toy Industry Association, City of Chicago, Navy Pier, American Library Association, CARES Mentoring Movement and others to make this the best Fair ever. Chicago Mayor Richard Daley is our Honorary Chairperson.
Richard:
Getting Mayor Daley involved is quite a coup. How did you make that happen?
Mary:
Last year the City of Chicago sponsored “The Art of Play” which sponsored hundreds of play events encompassing the entire city of Chicago throughout the summer. This resulted from an idea we had put forth to Mayor Daley. As it turned out it was one of the city’s most successful programs ever.
Richard:
I tremble to ask this but are you doing anything else to support play?
Mary:
We have started working with schools and libraries on bringing play to the kids. This resulted in a newsletter that reaches over 250,000 educators and librarians and a new website to anchor the newsletter, www.gamesforeducators.com.
We have also started a fundraising program using games with Out of the Box Publishing and other companies – “the fun fundraiser without calories!”
In addition, we are working on an exciting project to bring games and game clubs into every school and library in the US.
I am also working with a number of companies to re-up Coke’s “I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing in Perfect Harmony” song, but substituting ‘Sing’ with ‘Play’. This project would promote libraries as a place to play. Libraries are becoming community centers and one of their initiatives is to bring toys and games into the library. I am on the American Library Association’s “Libraries, Literacy and Games Ad Hoc Committee.”
Richard:
Tell me about your work with inventors.
Mary:
I started www.DiscoverGames.com 10 years ago to help other game inventors. I found a need for this after inventing a few games and toys myself and finding little information for inventors. The website is packed with free information for inventors and if they wish to join as a member, we’ll help promote their products around the world.
In the two days proceeding ChiTAG, we host the “Toy and Game Inventor Expo”. Two days packed with useful topics by top industry leaders from Hasbro, Mattel, Buffalo Games, TIA, Go! The Game Store and many others. Attendees and speakers will have an opportunity to actually mingle and have fun while learning about the industry. More information can be found at www.toyandgameinventors.com.
This year we are hosting a “Toy and Game Inventor Dinner” November 21st honoring Jeffrey Breslow for Lifetime Achievement. We will also be honoring a “Toy Inventor of the Year”, a “Game Inventor of the Year” and a “Rookie Inventor of the Year.” Information about the “Toy and Game Inventor Expo’ can be found at www.toyandgameinventors.com.
I am looking forward to the day I see our toy and game inventors on the cover of the Rolling Stone.
Richard:
You may get there first. Thank you Mary.
Posted by Richard Gottlieb on July 24, 2008 | Comments (12)
