John and Danita Thomas are big fans of the phrase "I wonder."
In fact, the couple have built a whole career on curiosity, inspiring children and their parents to consider the creative possibilities of "concocting" everything from edible clay to sidewalk chalk. In their four best-selling Kid Concoctions books, as well as in the related DVDs and activity kits, the Thomases offer a simple master recipe: use common, inexpensive household items to create things that kids will love and learn from. "It's all about making something a child can see and touch and focus on," Danita emphasizes. To test their ideas, the Thomases have often turned to their four kids, now ages 6 to 20. Many of their concoctions have started with the magic words, "I wonder if we could make that?"
The Thomases have dedicated themselves to Kid Concoctions since 1997, working from their home office in northern Ohio. Over the years, they've presented their message in hundreds of television segments. More recently, they've opened their own retail stores and even formed a kid musical group that sings about concocting.
We talked with this creative duo about their work, their favorite concoctions, and the importance of developing and nurturing creativity in kids. Be sure to check out their how-to's for concocting delicious Gelatin Oranges, fun-to-care-for Grass Head Guys, quick and inexpensive Super Sidewalk Paint, a memory-preserving Walk of Fame Stone and mystery-gift Treasure Stones.
