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Barbara Kane founded HearthSong in 1983 because of a
growing conviction that, "…too often, in our culture, children are
pushed to grow up too fast. I started HearthSong to make a statement
reinforcing what parents themselves know is true, right and
healthy--that childhood is a very special time." Children need time to
be children.
A catalyst for Kane was a major national news magazine's cover story on
"superbabies." This article, and her own observations, made her more
aware of how our society pressures parents to teach their children more
and more facts, at earlier and earlier ages. In Kane's view, "Earlier is
not necessarily better. It's important that children learn basic skills,
but at the right developmental age. Most of all, children need time for
creative, imaginative play. In fact, it is through play that children
learn most readily."
Kane chose the company's name to reflect her values: the hearth, a
traditional symbol for the center of the home, and song to symbolize the
family spirit, the joy that parents and children can experience
together.
Originally printed in black and white, with pencil drawings of carefully
selected toys and books, and mailed out of Kane's house by her family,
the first catalog was a success. Circulation has grown from a mailing of
several thousand catalogs to the current mail quantity of 19 million.
Our merchandise selection and product development goals are inspired by
Kane's philosophy of child development, drawn from a broad base of child
psychologists, parents, religious teachers, toymakers, and
educators-especially those from the Waldorf school of thought. Kane felt
strongly that childhood is a unique period in the life of an individual,
that the consciousness of a child is completely different from that of
an adult, that there is a specific purpose and a specific pattern to
childhood and to the development of a child's consciousness, and that
adults can help or hinder the accomplishment of that purpose and
pattern.
With a love for children, a reverence for life, and a desire to support
you in your task of parenting, we offer you our service and our
products: toys you'll feel good about giving. |