July 29, 2008
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Cinderella in Forms
I am so frustrated with myself. Here I sit... trying my best to remember the name of my favorite 'alone' toy. Alone toys were a rare and special treat in a household of multiple crumb crunchers. Please excuse me a moment while I shake up this cranium of broiling memories of ... I remember now ...
COLORFORMS
Colorforms, invented by Harry Kislevitz, are toys produced by the Colorforms Corporation. Colorforms are paper-thin, die-cut vinyl sheet images and shapes that can be applied to a slick cardboard background board, much like placing paper-dolls against a paper backdrop. The images stick to the background via static cling and can be repositioned to create new scenes.
That's it. Colorforms; wonderful, quiet and all mine. I loved the colors and all the tiny pieces made to meld with the larger main pieces. But mostly, I liked the texture. Yes, I'm sure that was reason for my delight. They were so smooth, silky, slippery yet at the same time they would stick the background... without glue. What an improvement over cutout paper-dolls. I liked those too but was always so impatient to have them ready. I felt one spent entirely too much time cutting, trimming and sorting the pieces. I wanted to have at the fun part right away.
The disassembly was as anticipated as the assembly. I must admit that ever since I can recall I have had a slight (?) case OCD. So each time I would finish my carefully planed and manicured scene, I would remove each individual vinyl form and reset it into it's original cutout space exactly as it was when brand new from the box. This took time. All playing took time back then but this especially took time. Once all had been returned carefully and tenderly to its original state, I would turn again to the coated cardboard to carefully redesign and layer another new scene. With my Colorforms each piece was a part of an evolving story; an imaginary narrative that always accompanied the choice of apparel or scenery. That was important. Did the placement fit the mood. Was 'she' pleased with my choices. When I say 'she', I mean Cinderella, of course. Colorforms came in all types of setups much the way Mickey D transforms the look of their Happy Meals to reflect the newest movie characters. Everyone knows that Cinderella was the best.
I know that's not the way it's done any more. You simply go to your computer and click,drag and drop. A quick flick of a button and voila your page is clear and ready to start all over again. I believe click,drag and drop becomes too boring too soon. No nuances; simply click,drag and drop. Wipe. Next. Repeat. Done. Not so with my beloved Colorforms. Today I struck out in search of Colorforms. And I found that you can still get them. But they are not the same. Learn this.. Educate that... Where is the joy of creating what only you can understand. I'm glad Dora will help you learn all the states of the union.. whoo hoo. (NOT). I would be happier if we could do it in Cinderella's pumpkin coach with the tiny mice and the fluffy gowns and a happy ending born somewhere deep in the heart of this child.
Can't be... No Cinderella!!!
Comments (17)
hummm...I know nothing about colorforms but I'm gonna go find out! lol
Your observation about Colorforms is typical of what has happened in our culture. Play is disappearing. Kids, drawn to and nurtured by moving images, have for the most part lost their ability to generate stories from limited resources. It's a sad thing, but one that's not going back. Technology's stranglehold on our culture is not going to loosen. But that's partly why I do what I do, to get kids verbally brainstorming stories and then draw it for them. It's funny how often kids imaginations seem to wake up right before my eyes.
@ideaguy - Not funny. No, more like amazing and wonderful and beautiful. We have a rule in the family. No tech during the 'good weather' of late spring, summer and winter. In fact the g'kid's parents box up and put away all the electronic baby sitters. If the weather turns sour they may allow a video or an hour of a favorite kiddie show. Otherwise they schlep the kids in the van and cart them over to g'ma's. And we play!!! And while we play we may even learn a bit about gardening, or swimming, or what's hidden in the hedge three houses down, he he. Or we may spend an hour discussing the finer points of ROADKILL. We spend two mornings a week at the local library's storyhours. Tomorrow we are going to investigate how many things a hula hoop is useful for. I intend to string one up in the garage at the end of our exploration and use it as a frame for a tent for our afternoon's reading/snack. yay.
@tkperito - well, you are my hero for today. How utterly, wonderfully fantastic that your g'kids have such a creative, explorational (not a word, I know) person in their lives. How big this is going to pay off over the span of their life. I'm seeing many interesting "seedlings" from the ideas planted in my daughter during our year of "Adventures in Graceland" (I posted our explorations at http://www.brucevanpatter.com/graceland.html). You know, you should document what you do with them. Keep a running journal or blog it! I, for one, would love to see the things you discover.
How much I want to be that kind of grandparent. Financially, things are not looking good, so I don't know if I'll have the time to explore. Who knows? Well, God does. I'm hoping that he'll allow some free time to give to my g'kids.
@ideaguy - One does not find free time... one makes it. I try to make the everyday 'stuff' I do into 'times together'. Yes, whatever it is I am trying to accomplish will probably take twice as long.. but, oh well. Most of our fun is born of poverty of funds and richness of imagination.
I don't remember these ones. I do remember something similar made of felt though. I have just googled them and will remember them for the long cold winter inside months here.
x
I think I remember Colorforms but I know I didn't have them, I would have loved them and I to am OCD so would have probably put them back after play. LOL
I loved my dolls spent many quiet hours with them in play, thanks for stirring those memories I forget to dust them off often enough.
I like your comment that we"don't find free time... we make it" I needed that!
Thank you again!
@sarahsD - I have not seen any of the new modern Colorforms. Somewhere somebody commented on the thin, flimsy state of the pieces. That's a shame because the one's I played with, well forget how long ago lol, were thick and flexible. They came on their own board or were worked into the lower and side edges of the background board.
I had some of these when I was a kid, mostly dolls that I'd "dress" with different outfits and then make little skits with them doing various things. Naturally its one of the few things that survived and my daughters play with them now.
I had these as a kid. Muppets and shapes. I would get a new pack each summer before a road trip to play with on the windows. Man that brought me back. I wonder if I can find some for my daughter.
@tkperito - hmm well you know this modern age, things become more disposable.
Saw your footprints among my page... and just thought I would say hello.
@xangpastor - Hello to you, too. I enjoy your post. Thanks for stopping by.
Never heard of these before. Though I did have paper dolls as a kid.
I Looked it up apparently you can get the original set through Amazon. Don't know if it comes with Cinderella though
http://www.amazon.com/University-Games-73414-Original-Colorforms/dp/B000BNEODU
@katiethehappycat - They were created in 1951, so lots and lots of sets and themes have been made over the years. Let's say that I was playing with mine in the late 50s to early 60s.
Oh, I had those, too! I had forgotten the name of them, though. It was so fascinating the way they would stick to the board. I suppose they think they must address the "educational" side of play, since they are so "low-tech". But they were so much fun!
RYC: Thank you, I hope we can have the sale and get it over with, I usually just end up donating everything when it rains like this, but as I said my Daughter could use the extra cash before going to school.
Karate is a spectator sport to me as well I watch as my son participates!
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