Whatever you choose, remember two things. First, the purpose of the toys is to enhance the quality of the meeting, not to take over the meeting with play. They should be put away if the meeting becomes non-productive. Second, don't let your play become a distraction to others in adjoining rooms or offices. The Oriental Trading Company has a catalog filled with hundreds of low-cost toys.
Helpful Hints Arrive early and put the toys on the table before people arrive.
Let people discover them for themselves. Start out slowly by introducing a couple of common toys to see how people react. About the author Christopher M. Avery, Ph.D. speaks out at conferences and corporate events about how smart, competitive and independent thinkers work together most productively. His company, Partnerwerks, supports collaborative leadership with corporate seminars and custom services.