1. The Brain is like a tree. It’s not a container with a set amount of space. There is no limit to the amount of information a person can learn. Encourage your audience to be their best. Expect it! Believe in and encourage each person’s potential.

2. Create a multi-sensory learning environment. Students learn best through multiple senses - visual, auditory and kinesthetic. Vary activities and provide toys and tactile items from Business FUNdamentals to appeal to the kinesthetic side of
learning.

3.  Create a relaxed environment. Casual dress (where at all appropriate) allows participants to be a little more comfortable. Recall happens best when brain wave patterns show a relaxed state (alpha waves). When you use toys and tactile items in the classroom you will help to promote a relaxed environment thereby calming fears and concerns, and putting your students at ease.

4. Incorporate all kinds of learning beyond the classroom. Seek ways to keep key information in front of students through posters, signs, job aids, cards, etc.

5. Add color to the learning environment. Color stimulates the right brain and has a powerful impact on recall/association. Use Mr. Sketch markers to break away from the tradition blue, green, red and black. They are scented too!

6. Tell Stories to illustrate your point. Ask Questions, Talk about Outstanding events, Remember to use association and that people learn through repetition.

7. Incorporate physical activity into the learning process that people get to move throughout the day, even if they just change seats, move into small groups, write on flip charts, etc.

8.Take frequent breaks, even if it is simply a five minute stretch break. Some kind of break is recommended every 60 minutes even if it’s just moving around.

Many of our clients ask us why they should use toys and tactile items in the workplace. Aside from years of experience and the testimony of hundreds of facilitators and trainers, in many different industries, that you should use them "because it works," we have provided the real reason for using them here.

Get Serious About Your Office Toys  

 By Mike Kerr

Five-year-olds must know something we grown-ups don’t. After all, most five-year olds aren’t stressed out, creativity peaks when we’re around five and most youngsters laugh over 400 times a day (adults muster about a dozen laughs a day). Clearly, folks, we have two choices if we want to balance this score card. We can start making our children’s lives a lot more miserable OR we can take a positive lesson from these small people.

Short of us assigning children management positions, what can we take away from these tykes that would help us live a more balanced, creative work life? For starters, how about their toys? No, I’m not suggesting you sift through junior’s sandbox, clearly you’ll have to buy your own toys. And better still, stockpile a cache for your office and share them with co-workers, clients and business associates.

Now this might sound a tad unorthodox, but trust me, I was in senior management.

What sort of emergency could cause a grown man to reach for a yo-yo? Why on earth would a professional business person need access to a slinky?

Here are 10 serious reasons to take your office toys seriously.

1. Wacky office props are great "humor-aids" (HA’s!) – helping us access our sense of humor during stressful periods. Some psychologists believe our sense of humor is the opposite of stress, so accessing your humor is one of the easiest ways to combat stress.