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What is a Toybox Tale Technically?
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TECH SUPPORT OVERVIEW

  
How to do YOUR OWN Toybox Tales!

Kids and teachers all over the country are discovering this new, fun, and highly entertaining method of teaching today's kids with stuff from their world!  As a result, we get a lot of questions, many are answered below, yet some we are unable to provide answers to, due to the nature of the technique and the variety of equipment that churches have available.  

RE: Toybox Tales Tech Support and Tech Questions    

Keep in mind that "Toybox Tales" ( www.toyboxtales.com ) is a FREE service done by church volunteers.  It is not officially a part of Kidology, though Kidology certainly links to it and promotes it as people like to see what Karl is up to in his local church ministry.  We may not be able to provide tech support or answer every technical question, but there is a tech support box at the bottom of this page.  Our 'techie' is a full time student and his time is limited.  If the question is answered on this page, you may not get a reply, but we will answer what we can.  This page will be updated from time to time, but support is primarily limited to this page.  There is so much involved with computers, cameras, cables, switch boxes, video cards, software, that we cannot explain it all in an e-mail, and most churches will probably have different equipment and different ways of doing it.  You are best off to get someone in your church familiar with computers, video display, and video editing software to help you.  They should be able to see what we've done and duplicate it.  Remember, displaying it on a screen is a perk, and something I did to be able to share with you.  You can simply do it on a table in front of your kids and they will still love it: no camera, no screen, no complicated software or set up.  Just play! (That's how I did it before Toybox Tales went on the web!)

 
RE: Other Formats 

Toybox Tales are offered in Windows Media files, and some in Quicktime format.  CD-ROM and DVD versions are available as well.  Click here to view the Kidology Store.

RE: Is It Easy?

As for whether it is easy or not -- that's a tough question to answer.  For me it is easy, as I have been playing with toys for years, and have done a lot of adlib puppetry for over ten years.  Plus I am a professional children's performer, so I can ad lib jokes and voices and rapid back and forth with some ease.  (My wife says I have never grown up!)  :)  So on one hand, it is easy.
 
However, there is a tricky side as well, as there is a lot going on at once, so some people record in advance.  I have tried recording in advance, but I end up taking over an hour to film a five minute thing because I keep starting over!  My standard is too high when pre-recording.  When you do it live you are forced to 'move on' no matter what happens!  (I did have one week that was soooo bad I didn't put it online! It was a disaster in my opinion, even though the kids loved it.)  There is a lot to do though, when you are doing it live.  You have to monitor the screen and watch your placement of figures and props, do camera angles/panning/zooming etc.  You are trying to keep the figures standing (you'll see them fall on me, but the kids find it funny so its no big deal) and deal with the smaller objects as well.  Plus keep voices straight and get through your story as quickly as possible.  I try to stay under 10 minutes, but I have gone over (having too much fun at times)  There is a lot you are doing all at the same time, plus trying to be funny.  It is quite a feat to be concentrating on so much technically while at the same time focusing creatively on the story you are telling.
 
Having said all that, the secret to why this is so effective is the simple fact that you are PLAYING as kids play.  So mistakes are not only OK, they enhance it!  Falling figures, goofed up lines, and other 'mistakes' is what it looks like when kids play.  Mine have to be a little better because I have the added pressure of knowing they will go online and be showed at churches now literally all over the world -- how's that for pressure?!?  But you don't have to be pressured.  If you are simply having fun and playing with a purpose in front of the kids, they will love it and will love you more because they will see that you understand their world.
 
So is it easy?  Yes and no -- best to try one and see how ya do.  You are welcome to copy my stories if you want, or make up your own based on the toys you have.  I have been using toys for years in my teaching.  It is just that today's technology has allowed me to do it in a way cooler way by making it viewable to a larger audience on a large screen.  It's a refreshing alternative to viewing a professional video production.
 
Toybox Tales is not about the techno-side (though I enjoy it).  It is about making a connection with kids in their world -- the world of playing.  The best feedback I have gotten is from moms who have said that my Toybox Tales has changed the way their kids play -- they now make up little stories about the Bible and Christian life, and that is just too cool!
 
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