We had the good fortune of connecting with Anna Ten and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Anna, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Thank you for your question! To be honest, the idea for our business, Papaton Shadow Theater, came about quite spontaneously. While on vacation with our 1-year-old daughter, my husband and I discovered that she loved watching shadows on the ceiling when we used the flashlight on our phone to read her bedtime stories. The next day, we were already creating a prototype of an app that could be used to create shadow stories without any concrete plan for our business. 
All the thoughts about the brand and business came to us much later, only when we decided to create the playset itself. We wanted to offer a way for parents to connect with their children and create lasting memories through traditional family activities.
 In today’s fast-paced world, it’s easy for families to get caught up in busy schedules and overlook the little moments that matter. Our mission is to encourage families to slow down and embrace these moments, no matter how small they may seem. While we may not be changing the world, we hope to bring joy and fun to the lives of children and families everywhere.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
At our company, we take pride in always keeping quality family time in mind. At the same time we realize that technology is a part of our modern world. And we are proud to have created a game that seamlessly integrates offline products with technology, without any negative impact. Our goal is to show parents that technology can be a positive addition to playtime, rather than a replacement for physical play or a simple babysitter. By using technology in a thoughtful way, we can enhance the gaming experience and create a unique atmosphere for the entire family to enjoy.

As a still growing company, we face obstacles every day, especially since we offer both offline and online products. Challenges come from both sides here. We have learned that it’s important to believe in what we’re doing and to not be afraid of trying new things. There’s no recipe for success. It’s all about experimenting and learning from trial and mistakes. Communicating with different companies, listening to people, reading a lot of materials helps us to develop our products and take our decisions.

We want parents worldwide to know about Papaton Shadow Theater and what a wonderful activity is for children that encourages creativity from different angles. We’ve received feedback from a lot of parents who believed their children were not creative, but during shadow theater play, they discovered that their children could create stories that many authors would envy.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I absolutely adore traveling and am always on the lookout for new and distinctive destinations. Currently residing in Orange County, CA, I highly recommend visiting Laguna Beach and exploring Treasure Island Beach as the first item on your itinerary. To fully experience the energy and ambiance of the place, I suggest going early in the morning, taking a stroll along the trail, and walking back barefoot along the ocean shore. It’s an incredible experience! After your walk, head over to Harvest restaurant, which is conveniently located opposite the beach, and enjoy a delicious breakfast while taking in the stunning view.

Another must-do activity is cycling along the Newport Beach trail to get a true sense of California. Other my number one recommended locations to visit include Corona Del Mar Inspiration Point, Oceanside, Carmel-by-the Sea, Ojai, and the famous trip along the picturesque number 1 highway to San Francisco.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Of course my husband Anton who has been a great support and an integral part of the development of Papaton Kids. And our children, Diana and Daniel, have been our main source of inspiration for creating Papaton Shadow Theater. Not only have they inspired us, but they have also been our helpers and provided valuable feedback, making them excellent advisors.

Website: https://papatonkids.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/papaton.kids

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anna-ten-ab9b62a2/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/PapatonKids

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/papaton.kids

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@papatonkids

Other: We are always happy to tell you more about Papaton Shadow Theater. Still if you have anything to ask us about contact us at hi@papatonkids.com.

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutLA is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.