Teacher-Made Toys

AS A preschool teacher, I utterly enjoy and am constantly challenged in thinking of new and fun ways of teaching academic concepts.  Especially at the preschool level, I always make sure that there’s lots of fun, adventure and discovery added into the lesson plans.  One of the things that we teachers do is to create toys or what we call “manipulatives”, that will creatively teach the little ones the skills that they need to learn before they can move up to the next level in school.  These toys are geared towards teaching math, reading, writing, sorting, matching, fine motor and gross motor skills, among others. As teachers, we have our favorite manipulatives as we see how effective these have been in teaching our students.

T-MATO Loop Bands (Photo by Cat JL)

T-MATO Stringing Beads (Photo by Cat JL)

Last year, I was inspired to “commercialize” these simple teacher-made toys as I realized how it could also bless many other children at home, especially homeschooling families, as well as other preschools.  I invited a co-teacher and good friend of mine, Teacher MM Cusi, to join me in the venture and she wholeheartedly embraced the vision.  Together, we brainstormed and worked on setting up the business and sampling our first products. It was a fun and enjoyable process and we proudly launched in September 2013.

My partner MM Cusi & myself at the Launch

T-MATO's Launch at the Weekend Souk at The District, Ayala

It’s been quite a challenging start for us as our toys are not as animated and entertaining as the products you’ll find at the toy stores.  We have designed our products in such a way that will engage children in long periods of play through the guidance of mothers and teachers.  This is to help them focus and have longer periods of attention span.  

T-MATO Color Beanies (Photo by Cat JL)

In spite of this, we have received so much positive feedback especially from mothers and teachers here in Bacolod, in some parts of the country and even in the US and Australia, who have expressed their interest and appreciation for what we do.  One of the moms who purchased all of our products, expressed how grateful she is for being able to buy these toys and not have to make them herself because she believes in how helpful these are to her child.  Other Moms have told us how engaged their children are in playing with our toys and how they have truly mastered the skills that our toys were meant to teach.

T-MATO Color Popsicles (Photo by Cat JL)

We have also brought back one of the ‘old school’ toys from my generation, the chinese jackstones, which has gotten a lot of attention especially from mothers like myself!  I think it’s great that these old games are brought to life again, although I suspect that the moms play them more than their children.

T-MATO Chinese Jackstones

This business also supports the local community as we have tapped one of the Gawad Kalinga sites to manufacture the goods for us.  These are mostly handmade using materials that are safe, durable and as much as possible, locally sourced.

T-MATO Movement Dice (Photo by Cat JL)

T-MATO Fishing Game

It is my hope that through these toys, many children will have positive experiences in learning.  That through these efforts and through the passion and love of parents and teachers, we will be able to raise a generation that’s capable and well-equipped in facing the 21^st century, with their values strong and very much in tact to guide them.

Teacher-Made Toys (T-MATO)

(Published for Sun Star Bacolod Lifestyle Section, March 27, 2014)