It is the middle of November and I am back from Chicago. Yes - I went to my favorite conference - one fueled by early childcare professionals on steriods (the mad combination of free mini-meals at the Residence Inn, juice boxes and freedom from children and parents (not their own, but the ones they take care of). And yes, shooting the potato launcher was not only fun, but frighteningly addictive.
20,000 people in early childhood took over Chicago. There is something so very wrong about people wearing deely boppers in public - and especially on Michigan Avenue. This conference is also known as the suitcase spectacular.
Fly three hours with one bag crammed with clothing and personal items, and check the big old empty bag on wheels. Why? Because you will actually have to wheel it onto the exhibit hall floor to collect: in no particular order: juice box, pencils (unsharpened), pens, a caterpillar in a jewel box necklace, a calendar featuring babies, a crest kid doll, garbage bags with peach scent, pencils (sharpened), paper, more paper, more paper, montessori building block, tooth brush, sample playdough, make your own book, fruit cup and spoon, yarn, finger puppet, fiskars scissors with kid sized handles, baby wipes, toddler wipes, calendar featuring research and quotes about the importance of preK, deely boppers, connectx toy, finger cymbal (yes - the other one got lost in the frenzy), ocean sampler, toy school bus (with phone number in case the need arises to buy a real one), sing-along dvd, bag with smiling family on it, fleece hat with logo, fleece ear warmers with no logo, toothpaste sample, lysol wipes sample, more miniture candy than Halloween on a really good year.... you get the picture.
Important safety tips:
Do not pick up more than you can comfortably carry home. The hotel housekeepers do not want the stray pencils, scented garbage/diaper bags, and information on how to purchase child sized equipment from catalogs that are thicker than most city phone books.
Do not purchase the seasonal clothing in bulk. You know this type of clothing. It's the turkeys on the sweaters, wreaths on the socks, pumpkins on the turtleneck kind of thing. Discretion. Discretion. Discretion. I'm not one to turn down socks - but more than 3 types of seasonal clothing on one person at one time is wrong. And to be kind, I think the sweater was just stretched out from carrying and dragging too much stuff...the resulting placement of the turkeys was just unfortunate.
And finally --- above all - do not get suckered into buying the wheelie crates. Those things are dangerous in the hands of crazed attendees.
I did manage to purchase some things for home, work and school. If you are ever needing a really cool science toy or tool - check out stevespanglerscience.com. It is one of best online catalogs around - and really, when you need 32 pipettes, moon sand, fizz color tablets and one lizard in an egg - go for it.
1 comment:
Happy Confravation! I have so many questions, but here are 2:
1 - what is the difference between toddler wipes and baby wipes?
2 - Montessori only makes 1 block? What kind of zen "it takes a village message is that?"
so glade to get your update. remember that thinking about blogging is also blogging...
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