Mother of an Autistic Teen Enthuses about Red Toolbox

By Laura Landau, as told to Red Toolbox

I am the mother of Itamar, an autistic 16 year old teenager. My son is communicative, intelligent and quite independent, but as a person with autism, he is also stubborn and it is not easy to convince him to participate in activities that are not on the computer.

About a month ago we received a Red Toolbox Bird Feeder kit and toolset as a gift from a friend for Itamar, and at first I was very skeptical about his capacity to follow-through with the project from start to finish, as many projects don't hold his attention very long, and he gets frustrated or simply loses interest. Based on previous experience, I was doubtful about his capability to build (or help build) with wood and more importantly, his willingness to work.

But from the moment we opened the toolkit, he was fascinated. He put on the toolbelt, picked up the screwdriver and said “Now I’m a real carpenter!” 

Itamar worked with his father from the beginning until the end. First, they read the instructions together (very clear, comprehensible and easy-to-follow), prepared every part and every tool they needed before they started, which allowed him to organize the work and get himself organized, as well; and asked me to photograph the entire project ─ yes he was very proud!

Of course they didn’t finish the work the first day, as for people like Itamar, working for 20 minutes is a

major achievement due to lack of consistent attention span, but he finished the birdfeeder in three stages and was very excited when he saw it hanging from the tree. He insisted on immediately filling it with birdseed.

For two weeks, he wore his toolbelt every day to school and he tells everyone who passes near our house that he built that bird house! “Yes! I really did!”  

I highly recommend Red Toolbox kits for special needs children and teens and we are looking forward to choosing our next project to work on together. Thank you Red Toolbox!! 

Red Toolbox: A Perfect Father’s Day Project : An Island Life

Red Toolbox: A Perfect Father’s Day Project : An Island Life

http://www.examiner.com/parenting-in-cleveland/national-family-month-spotlights-family-fun-company You can buy "quality time in a box" for dad this Father's Day. Red Toolbox, a new and innovative line of specially designed tools, offers quality time in a box for kids and parents. (These tools are for moms too.)

Red Toolbox founder Ami Rosenfeld grew up with the Do It Yourself (DIY) business, as his father was the founder of Israel's renowned Hyper Rosenfeld chain, founded in 1956.

Ami always enjoyed working on projects and learning more about how things worked. The father of four children and a DIY enthusiast, Ami noticed something was missing in the DIY market - there were no carpentry-type projects for children and no "real tools" for children. Ami would get out his tools to do household chores, and he'd immediately get a ready-made audience, as his four children would join the party. That, along with his passion for the industry gave life to Red Toolbox. http://amplify.com/u/a15ize

In my house, home improvement is a family event. My kids love to lend a hand whenever they can. Sometimes they are so anxious to help, they tend to get in the way instead of being of assistance. I don’t want to discourage them from helping, but at the same time, I don’t need them in the way. So what is a dad to do? Get them a kid size tool set.



You can find kid tool sets at most home improvement stores — Red Toolbox has a 10-piece for just $20. It comes with the basic stuff dad has in his tool belt, just smaller versions. It is a great way for them to learn the names of commonly used tools. So as they follow you around, you can have them hand you your tools on request. For instances, next time you ask one of your kids to grab a speed square, they won’t get confused in the fact it is shaped like a triangle.



So go out and reward your kids with their own set of tools for the eagerness they display in lending good-old dad a hand. http://amplify.com/u/a15iz8

http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2011/06/1 DIY Toolbox Kit for the “Handyman Dad & Kids” : The Red Toolbox line features a variety of tools ergonomically designed to fit a child’s grip. Plus, they have cool carpentry kits – like making a billiards or air hockey table – that Dads and kids can create together, allowing them to spend valuable time with each other while learning new skills. Red Toolbox products are currently available at Lowes. Additional information can be found by visiting Red Toolbox (www.red-toolbox.com). Prices range from $8.98 to $12.98 http://amplify.com/u/a15iz1

A big sister reviews Red Toolbox's tool set and treasure chest, perfect for her 5-year old brother's level. "They have a bunch of different projects and they make it easy to determine which one would be best for your child. They have three levels. 1 {beginner}, 2 {Intermediate} and 3 {Advanced}. The kit we got is level one so perfect for my little brother." This would make the perfect Father's Day Gift that you can do with your child!



{Can't Wait to Win It?}



You can find a bunch of awesome tool sets and kits on the Red Toolbox Site. (www.red-toolbox.com)



{What's up for Grabs?}



Red Toolbox Tool Set with the Treasure Chest Kit



{Mandatory Entry}



Visit Red Toolbox and tell me which kit you would want to make with your child!



{Extra Entries}

All Extra Entries are worth 1 extra entry unless otherwise noted!



Follow Red Toolbox on Twitter



Like Red Toolbox on Facebook http://amplify.com/u/a14zhz

Little BGCG Reviews: Red Toolbox Review & Giveaway

Little BGCG Reviews: Red Toolbox Review & Giveaway: "Spending time with your kids, teaching them how to do things with out the TV, Computer etc is SO important and it's one of the reasons I lo..."

Red Toolbox

Red Toolbox

Preschool Kids Can Benefit from Carpentry Projects Too!

Preschool Kids Can Benefit from Carpentry Projects Too!

The Red Toolbox philosophy is based on creating opportunities for mothers and fathers and their children to spend quality time together, as they work, create and have fun! Their products create a perfect environment in which to work as a creative team. Parents are offered the chance to get closer to their kids, spend more time with them and share their guidance and support, while enjoying the mutual satisfaction of making something useful! And don’t forget: Uncles, Aunts, Grandpa and Grandma can join in the fun too.



Woodworking projects and carpentry helps children to:

Gain control over their bodies through development of hand-eye coordination, manipulative skills and muscular strength

Analyze, evaluate and apply solutions to problems. Read more: http://redtoolbox.wordpress.com/2011/05/26/red-toolbox-makes-sure-families-have-fun-while-getting-back-to-basics/ http://amplify.com/u/a149fr

http://redtoolbox.wordpress.com/2011/05/29/hey-parents-red-toolbox-needs-your-input/ http://amplify.com/u/a149a3

Now younger siblings can get in on the Red Toolbox action with their very own carpentry projects. If you have children aged 4+, you will be thrilled to know now there are now a whole new set of Red Toolbox kits suitable for preschool kids!! Based on the same values of working together with the parent and learning new skills, the new kits include: a plant sprouter, mini basketball, mini soccer, street board, truck catapult, rubber racer and a candy maze! http://redtoolbox.wordpress.com/ http://amplify.com/u/a13jn5

Quality Time in a Box: Can We Build it? YES WE CAN!

Quality Time in a Box: Can We Build it? YES WE CAN!: " Can we fix it?™ Now we can! HIT Entertainment, one of the world’s leading providers of high quality children’s entertainment, has entered ..."

Can We Build it? YES WE CAN!

 Can we fix it?™ Now we can! HIT Entertainment, one of the world’s leading providers of high quality children’s entertainment, has entered into an agreement with Red Toolbox, a new and innovative line of ergonomically designed tools and carpentry kits for kids, to develop a line of tools for children inspired by Bob the Builder™.  The line, which will be appropriate for Bob the Builder’s preschool fans (age 3+) and completely functional, is meant to provide young children with the opportunity to work on their own build-it-yourself projects and imbue them with the same “Can We Fix It? Yes We Can” spirit that serves as the foundation of the beloved television program and overall brand.  The products will make their trade debut at the National Hardware Show May 10-12 in Las Vegas and will be available at home improvement and mass retailers later this year.  This is the first license for Red Toolbox.

The Bob the Builder Red Toolbox line offers a set of real tools specially designed to suit a preschool child's grip, accompanied by a selection of exciting projects for teaching and applying various skills. Specific items include hammers, goggles, gloves and helmets in bright colors featuring favorite Bob the Builder characters. In addition, Red Toolbox with market and manufacture kits where children can build wood replicas of Bob’s Machine Team including Scoop and Scrambler.

“We’re thrilled to offer preschoolers the opportunity to use the exact same real-working tools they see Bob using to build his projects,” said Stacey Reiner, Vice President, Licensing – US & Canada, HIT Entertainment Global Brands. “Red Toolbox offers a unique product line that will let kids build in real life alongside their family members, while empowering them to create projects and solve problems on their own.”

“Bob the Builder is a perfect fit for Red Toolbox products,” said Ami Rosenfeld, Founder and CEO of Red Toolbox. “We both share a similar philosophy that promotes teamwork, safety and problem-solving. Kids will love emulating Bob the Builder while they nurture their decision-making and fine-motor skills.”

Bob the Builder and his machine team are ready to tackle any project. As they hammer out the solutions that lead to a job well done, Bob and the Can-Do Crew demonstrate the power of positive-thinking, problem-solving, teamwork and follow-through. Most importantly, from start to finish, the team always shows that The Fun Is In Getting It Done!

Bob the Builder was created in the UK in 1998 and made its US television debut in 2001. The show currently airs in over 240 territories and in 45 languages. It can be seen daily in the US on PBS KIDS and Sprout®. Episodes are also available for download through iTunes. For more information about Bob the Builder, and the Can-Do Crew please visitwww.bobthebuilder.com.     

About Red Toolbox

The Red Toolbox line features a variety of tools ergonomically designed to fit a child’s grip as well as original carpentry kits that kids and parents can create together, allowing them to spend valuable time together while learning new skills. The one-of-a-kind kits feature a level system, with each level increasing in complexity, allowing children to develop important cognitive skills and enhance their creativity as they advance forward. Red Toolbox products are currently available at Lowe’s stores nationwide and at Lowes.com. Additional information can be found by visiting www.red-toolbox.com.

About HIT Entertainment

HIT Entertainment is one of the world's leading independent children's entertainment producers and rights-owners. HIT's portfolio includes properties, such as Thomas & Friends™, Barney™, Bob the Builder™, Fireman Sam™, Angelina Ballerina™, Mike the Knight™, Pingu™ and Rainbow Magic™. HIT represents Chapman Entertainment’s Fifi and the Flowertots™ and Roary the Racing Car™ in North America, as well as Wallace & Gromit™, Shaun the Sheep™, Timmy Time™ and Aardman Classics from Aardman Animations.  HIT also acts as representative for The Wiggles® in the UK. Launched in 1989, HIT’s lines of business span television and video production, content distribution, publishing, consumer products licensing and live events and has operations in the UK, US, Canada, Hong Kong and Japan.  HIT is a part-owner of US-based preschool channel, Sprout^®. For more information, visit www.hitentertainment.com.

Quality in a Box: Enjoying Children's Woodworking Tools With the Whole Family

Carpentry, one of the oldest professions that can be traced down through history, is still an important skill today. As a matter of fact, carpentry for children can be traced all the way back to the year 8,000 B.C., when family members used stone axes that they made themselves, to build their homes. Both a practical and complex talent, learning children's carpentry at a young age can help develop hand-eye coordination, and give a youngster a useful hobby for their entire lives. Who knows? Starting off early with carpentry tools for kids could even grow into a future profession!

No matter what carpentry skill level your child is at, Red Toolbox takes quality time to a whole new level with multifaceted carpentry tools for kids and wood building projects for parents and children to enjoy together - while reaping the benefits of creating useful products. As Red Toolbox was uniquely designed to focus on building genuine and useful children's carpentry projects that a child can feel proud about using and displaying, both the parent-child bonds and the child's self-esteem are strengthened. 

Through building real kids' carpentry and wood assembly projects, with genuine carpentry tools for children, designed to fit a child's hands and abilities, Red Toolbox also helps children learn to create and work with others, as well as relying upon themselves. Children are stimulated and challenged with the carpentry for kids projects, as when one project is completed, the child and parent team "graduate" to higher levels according to age, ability and desire. In an era of passively watching TV or playing endless computer games, Red Toolbox makes DIY for children a relevant, interactive and bonding adventure for families from all over the world. 

Some of the woodworking tools for children that can be bought from Red Toolbox include: 2" clamp, cordless drill, file, fret saw, hand saw, mini hammer, flat screw driver, Philips screw driver, 3 meter (10 ft.) tape measure, tool belt for kids, toolbox for kids, workbench and more being developed all the time. Tools also can be purchased in a variety of sets, including: 5, 6, 8, and 10 piece toolsets, as well as a number of combination kits and tools.

Building Family Time: Woodworking For Kids

"I can do it too!" is a commonly heard exclamation from kids watching their parents working on various DIY woodworking projects, and Red Toolbox has made sure that those words can come true. Children are by nature creative and given the proper, kid-sized real tools, are very capable of participating in a wide variety of wood building , wood assembly and home improvement projects; fostering a sense of pride and accomplishment for both children and parents. Children are also highly competent in producing ideas that work and DIY woodwork and carpentry gives them the opportunity for self-expression, while strengthening family ties.

Setting aside time and space for DIY wood work for kids projects inspires creativity, confidence and builds self-esteem. Many lessons can be learned from wood building for kids with parents and carpentry projects, including follow-through, persistence and the knowledge that the child can build something that can be used for years to come. In addition, wood building for kids and family carpentry ventures teach a lot about practical mathematics applications, as they must take into account how many nails and screws are needed, how many turns of the screwdriver and how shapes and planes fit together, as well as planning, measuring and how to use kids' tools safely and effectively. Fine-motor skills and the principles of design also come into play when embarking on a wood building for kids or assembly project. Therefore, DIY wood work for kids is much more than entertainment: it is a mini-school at home, bringing together the entire family to build something useful and fun. 

As they get older, all of their experience in DIY wood work for kids projects will allow them to become more independent and sure of themselves in many settings, as they have learned skills that they can take into any profession.