b5media.com

Advertise with us

Enjoying this blog? Check out the rest of the Travel & Culture Channel Subscribe to this Feed

The Chicago Traveler

Learning Curve Toys

by Matt B on February 20th, 2008

Many kids love trains, and for most of them, their fascination begins with one engine in particular: Thomas. But you and your kids don't have to go all the way to the fictional Island of Sodor to find Thomas and his friends. Many of the Thomas toys are designed right here in the Chicagoland area near Learning Curve Toys.

thomas the tank engine Learning Curve Toys is actually company-owned by RC2, the corporation behind familiar toy brands such as Thomas & Friends, Bob the Builder, John Deere, and The First Years. And for many Thomas toys, the design process begins at nearby RC2 Headquarters. There, the concepts for the next year's toy lines are developed, and marketing plans are drawn out. And while Thomas can be found on retailers' shelves just about everywhere, this particular store also hosts Thomas-themed birthday parties and gives developers a chance to see their product in action. They can watch how kids play with and react to the new toy designs. Also, the store hosts Movie Nights every first Tuesday of the month, complete with a raffle, movie screenings, refreshments, and discounts on merchandise.

Thomas & Friends was originally based on The Railway Series by Reverend Wilbert V. Awdry, inspired by stories he told his son Christopher in the 1940s. Now, Thomas can be found in books, videos, magazines, clothing, toys, and even food. Like the children they entertain, the trains have a certain innocence about them as they try to make sense of the world around them and how they fit in it.

toy trainstoy trains

Learning Curve is able to entertain children without a lot of fancy gadgets and doodads. In fact, it is this very simplicity that encourages the kids to use their imaginations and grow mentally. Parents shouldn't be surprised then if their little ones lose themselves in Thomas' little world for hours on end.

Photo credit: Nuno Leitao, massdistraction, Daniel Y. Go

Learning Curve Toys: 17W504 22nd St (Oakbrook Terrace); 630-833-1000
Mon ' Fri: 10:00 a.m. ' 9:00 p.m.
Sat: 10:00 a.m. ' 6:00 p.m.
Sun: 11:00 a.m. ' 5:00 p.m.
http://shop.learningcurve.com/

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

POSTED IN: Shopping

0 opinions for Learning Curve Toys

  • No one has left a comment yet. You know what this means, right? You could be first!

Have an opinion? Leave a comment: