One year ago we visited one of the best schools of the world, “Al Centro Internazionale Loris Malaguzzi” in Reggio Emilia, Italy. This school is well known all over the world for being the international center of the Reggio Emilia Approach to Education. One of the main sources of inspiration for all the activities and stories featured on our magazine, Timbuktu.
Most of us approached storytelling through rhymes. The first stories we have been told as kids were probably poems. Why do kids love poems? Are rhymes important for the child development? Indeed, they are.
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Sometimes, there is really no limit to where imagination, and a certain tendency to dare, will take you. Have a look at what these architects dreamed up; it’s a series of buildings that look like they’re out of a child’s imagination, where we bet your kids would love to go.
1 – The picnic basket building
This is the Longaberger Company main office building. They are in Newark, Ohio, and you guessed it: they make baskets.
There is something utterly special about dollhouses. They are authentic wonders, and seem to hold perfect little lives in them – they are great toys, sure, ready for all sort of adventure to happen inside them, but they are also amazing objects, that hold their fascination intact much after you’ve grown up.
Ancient, new, designed by architects, made by artists and moms: here are five amazing ones, for you to dream of them in utter awe.
1 – Queen Mary’s Dollhouse
Sir Edwin Lutyens was one of the most prominent architects in the 1920s. So much so that he designed and planned a city, and not just any city: he planned built New Delhi, in India. But he wasn’t only interested in huge cities, he could work very well in small spaces too – very small, like Queen Mary’s Dollhouse.
You know what’s the best part of this amazing dollhouse? The library! It’s full of real, tiny books. The dollhouse is at Winsor Castle and can be visited through a virtual tour here. [read more]
We are very proud to announce that Timbuktu is featured on Flipboard, the best social news magazine out there!
There have been many moments in 2012 when we have felt worried for our children: we have a feeling that this was the year we read most terrible news about children, and when we had to explain to our kids tragedies that should never have happened. But there is a lot of hope, and it comes from children themselves: many of them have achieved incredible successes this year, making the world a better place for grown-ups too. We had many to chose from and they were all equally amazing, but here are our five children of the year: we want to close this 2012 with them, and send our best wishes to all the kids and all their parents for a wonderful, fantabulous 2013!
1 - Azza Abdel Hamid Faiad, 16, Egypt. Scientist.
Egyptian teenage scientist Azza has found a way to turn plastic waste into fuel. Using an inexpensive catalyst, she is hoping to create $78 million worth of bionfuel each year. The economic impact of his discovery could be great of Egypt, considering that the country currently consumes one million ton of plastic every year.
A couple of days ago, we stumbled upon an amazing series of pictures by Thierry Cohen. Like this one, of San Francisco.
By superimposing the sky outside urban spaces to the cities we know, the photographer shows us how the sky would look, at night, if it weren’t for light pollution. It’s completely mind-blowing: we bet looking at a sky like this any wish would come true! What would you ask the stars? [read more]
It’s nearly the end of the year, and not any year: 2012 has been the first year of our blog, and an incredible year for Timbuktu! As part of the celebrations, we made a little roundup of our most popular blog post this year. So, whether you are a new friend or you’ve been supporting us from the beginning, here are our most popular posts of 2012 – let us know which are your favorite, and what you’d like to read more about!
1 - Funniest letters to Santa Claus ever!
This was it! Our selection of 10 really funny letters written by kids to Santa Claus was a holiday success, proving that all the parents and adults reading this blog still remember they were children once, and enjoy a laugh.
Do you remember this fantastic colorful school in Paris? Well, France did it again, and here is another school that will make both you and your kids pretty jealous:
A yellow giraffe as a pillar! Who wouldn’t want to go to a school like that?
Christmas is the time for love, family, good food and… nostalgia. This is why we thought you’ll enjoy our list of the best vintage Christmas commercials of all times!
To get in the Christmas spirit, you can try watching these commercials, or doing some of these things (it’s not too late!).
1) Mac Donald’s gifts certificate, 1975
