WisBusiness: Hands on history helps boys develop reading skills

By Michael Nettum
For WisBusiness.com

OREGON – For some children, learning history is a chore. But what if it that chore was turned into a hands-on game?

Curiosity Cottage, a start-up company based in Oregon, aims to design and distribute American history teaching aides for boys aged 5 through 9. Action figures, historical fiction stories and other learning tools would be available to help the boys develop reading and comprehension skills while offering them an opportunity to learn about important moments from America’s past.

Studies conducted by the National Assessment of Education Progress indicate that elementary school boys fall behind girls in reading and writing skills. Using toys modeled after historical figures and events, Curiosity Cottage plans to appeal to boys’ interest in action-oriented play and stories. Parents hope the toys will eventually evolve into a newfound interest in reading and history.

Eileen Schnabel, the company’s founder, brings not only a passion for U.S. history but also the experience of raising two young sons. Schnabel’s enthusiasm and affection for history began at a young age. Little House on the Prairie books and trips to historical homes and landmarks flourished her interest. When Schnabel’s son, Kirk, showed an interest in acting out battles from the Revolutionary War, the idea was born.

Although still in its development stage, Curiosity Cottage is quickly becoming a reality. Taking inspiration from her son’s fascination with the Revolutionary War, the first play set will be from that time period. Schnabel is working with two UW-Madison writers on the plot for a trilogy of stories that transport the reader back to America’s struggle for freedom. The stories involve two time-traveling brothers from Wisconsin, trying to stop villains from changing history.

The books are accompanied by British and American army figurines, cannons, horses, wagons and camps. A large floor mat illustrating the geography of the storyline completes the set and allows children to act out history. Schnabel and her associates are currently working with a manufacturing consultant to produce the first prototypes of the play sets. She is also a semi-finalist in the 2010 Wisconsin Governor’s Business Plan Contest.

A direct mail catalog will be one way for Curiosity Cottage to reach its customers. The company’s Web site will be another way; however, the site will also feature additional resources for parents and children alike. Schnabel will be writing a blog on her own experiences as the mother of two young boys. The site will also feature links to other materials for parents pertaining to academic, social, and developmental issues common among boys.

The site will also offer a contest for young moviemakers. Contestants will submit a video of a historical event from the American Revolution being acted out. The grand prize is a $1,000 scholarship. Schnabel hopes it promotes interaction between children and their parents.

Schnabel hopes Curiosity Cottage will become the boys’ version of “American Girl,” a company founded in Wisconsin as The Pleasant Company in 1986 that was acquired by Mattel in 1998. She noted that sales in the educational entertainment industry overall are predicted to reach $7.8 billion in 2011.

Schnabel hopes her passion for reading, writing and history will be carried through the products offered by Curiosity Cottage and inspire her customers to achieve greatness both inside and outside the classroom.

“We believe that by developing this love of history and reading that we can help our boys develop the values that will help them grow into better people, better citizens and better men,” she said.

Nettum is a student in the UW-Madison Department of Life Sciences Communication.