Most Appropriate Educational Toys For your Children

by: Adwina Jackson

Children learn about the world through toys. Different toys fulfill different developmental and educational purposes, and understanding this variety and the needs of your child will help you in selecting the most appropriate toys for your child.

Here are some significant needs of children that can be fulfilled by the right kind of toys:

• Creative development: Lewis Carroll’s Alice captured the essence of childhood with her eager phrase: “Let’s pretend...” Watch how many things your child can do with an empty cardboard box. Other examples: Clay, paint, dolls, crayons, play dough.

• Intellectual development: Just pulling a simple wagon, your child is learning about the relationship between force and velocity. Other examples are books, miniature ovens, bicycles and science kits.

• Physical development: Through toys and games, children develop their strength, motor skills, hand-eye coordination and muscle control. Toys for this are balls, bikes, blocks, shovels, and all outdoor games.

• Sensory development: Children learn about textures, smells, colors and sounds through toys. The toys for this are musical instruments, clay, blocks, puzzles.

• Social development: Through toys, children learn about each other and about friendship. They learn how to get along with others, and the mechanics of personal relationships. What happens when your child builds a sandcastle together with a friend? What happens when your child refuses to share a toy? Board games, dolls and puzzles are some toys that can help your child’s social development.

• Personality development: Games and toys build confidence and self-esteem in children, and help them learn about themselves through their likes and dislikes. Solving a puzzle, building a house with blocks, riding a bike -- all these exercises help your child feel a sense of accomplishment and self-worth.

The best toys for your child are the ones that provide an enriching learning experience in a fun way and are helpful in the development of basic skills of your child. It is important that you think deeply before buying a toy for your child and evaluate what learning experience your child will have while playing with that toy.

Using Toys

With time, your child will learn how to take responsibility for her choices, actions, and belongings. The following are some guidelines with which you can help your child become responsible without compromising on her safety:

• Talk to your child about proper care and storage of toys. Fix a place of storage and do not allow toys to be left on the floor or outside the house.

• If there is more than one child, separate their toys to make sure that the younger ones may not play with toys appropriate for older children. Explain this, and related safety hazards, to the older children.

• Participate in your child’s play and set good examples of safe play. After playtime, show them how to put the toys away safely, and slowly allow your child to take responsibility for the toys.

• Teach your child to recognize unsafe toys and safety hazards. Check their toys (especially electric ones) regularly for damage, and urge them to let you know if a toy breaks or seems unsafe.

Appropriate and Allowable Toys for Children

In this chapter, we will discuss the skills and needs of children at different ages, and accordingly choose safe and appropriate toys for each age group.

• 3 to 4 years

During this time, children use their imagination to imitate adult activity, and participate actively in physical games. Their knowledge of safety hazards and self-defense also increases.

Appropriate toys: Puppets, farm and community play sets like tea sets, climbing structures, miniature ovens, toy telephones, simple board games, tricycles, boxes, dolls and stuffed animals, water play toys, puzzles, balls, simple musical instruments etc.

• 4 to 6 years

At this age, children learn about social skills and cooperation by participating in preschool group games. Their physical coordination develops, and the foundation of printing and writing is also laid at this time.

Appropriate toys: Transportation vehicles of all types like
bicycles with helmets and training wheels toys, drop boxes, sleds, creative materials, painting material, books and records, stencils, puzzles, balls, action figures, dress-up clothes, housekeeping props,
dollhouses, character toys, simple construction toys etc.

• 6 to 9 years

Children learn about getting along with others, and about the adult world of sports, games, and careers. At this stage, children develop their intellectual and social interests and make strong friendships, likes and dislikes.

Appropriate toys: Board games, marbles, jacks, puppets, doll equipment and accessories, craft kits, construction toys, complex puzzles, jump ropes, art material of all kinds, roller and ice skates etc.

• 9 to 12 years

Preteens become active in team play and learn how to handle detailed projects in arts and science. They learn to prioritize their interests and give more time to select hobbies. They also begin to operate video games and computers.

Appropriate toys: Skates, skateboards, science kits, craft kids, tested and approved electric toys, electric trains (UL approved), construction sets, science kits, craft kits, costumes, larger bicycles prop boxes, puppets, fashion and career dolls, doll house and furniture, musical instruments, books of specific interest, work bench with real tools etc.

It is important to remember that children are different and have individual characteristics and interests. Only you can know your child’s specific interests and abilities at the different stages of their development, by supervising and participating in their play.

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About The Author
Adwina Jackson has a deep concern on parenting. Get her inspirational guides about Educational Toys at http://insparenting.com/guides/educational-toys/.

Also, grasp her other motivational parenting tips at http://insparenting.com, a worth-to-visit daily updated blog.

Excitement of Educational Toys

by: Marina Neiman

To raise a child smart and bright,
The "tools" you use, are must be right!

To build a long-lasting beautiful house you will need: the right tools, the high quality material and a knowledgeable person to do that. Nobody will start building a house without proper education, great understanding and a proven plan. And no house can be built without strong and solid foundation.

Don’t you agree raising an intelligent, smart child is a similar process? Don’t you think that to be just a Parent is not enough? Don’t you feel we, as parents, have a great deal of responsibility; the "house" we are building should not collapse under the wind, should survive earthquakes and hurricanes? Do we have a sufficient education? Do we have "the right tools"? Do we use the materials of the highest quality? Sometimes, choosing the right answer is quite a puzzling task.

There is no need to get a bachelor degree in "parenting", and "diploma" is not required to raise a child. Clear vision, great determination and desire are essential in this challenging and exciting process. And it is crucially important to understand and be aware of what "the right tools" are. With tons of information and commercials coming our way every day, it is a bit confusing to make the best choice for your child. What should we consider: computer game or developmental puzzle game; electronic toy or simple educational wooden toy; Barbie doll or old-fashion bright hand puppet? With a lot of factors to think about, choosing the right toy of an educational, developing and learning nature is a very difficult job.

A child’s brain develops in a predictable sequence from the least complex functions to the most complex. The interaction of our genetic inheritance (nature) and environment (nurture) determines how child brain will develop. Providing our children with the right educational toys ensures ongoing stimulation and properly balanced child development. Our experiences affect our brain development. What we see, hear, smell, taste and touch are experiences, which make connections in our brain and make us smarter. Connections that we repeat become stronger. To find the most appropriate educational toys that stimulate child developmental, learning progress and fun for children to play with, it is vitally important. Choosing the right developmental toys and games will create the most wonderful and motivating experience for your child.

Ignite the passion for learning in your child with exciting and inspiring educational toys and games! There are many great child activities to try: color and shapes recognition, first letters and early reading, imaginative and logical thinking or basic math practice - just to name a few. There are games, which are easy to play, but teach like tutor, and the others - are exciting board games and stimulating activity for all family. Educational toys and games are simple and fun way to capture children's attention and interest. At the same time, they playfully challenge children to learn and master life essential skills.

Follow your own instincts; memorize your own childhood with books, games and "plain toys". Spend more quality time with your children, play and interact with them, read and tell them stories. Do not let your kids sit alone with electronic toy or in front of the computer or TV for long hours! Chose right, and enjoy watching your precious child growing strong, smart and capable of any achievement!

Educational Toys, Software and Kid's Furniture Enhance Learning and Growth

by: Grace West

Educational Toys, Software and Children's Furniture Magnify Growth and Learning

Educational interactive games fosters learning and entertainment all at once. Better any child's educational abilities while using interactive spelling, science, math and language software. A child's schooling is considerably increased as they experience and examine a wide array of challenges and circumstances that enlist well advised educational concepts. Computer programmers along with educators and parents have been able to design software that builds in difficulty as the kid betters in their understanding. They additionally reassure the child to continue trying without causing them to feel as though they've failed. Learning software has been developed for every level, every age group, and every subject imaginable.

Doctor's office toys are ideal for any office or foyer. Kids appreciate time waiting for appointments with doctors when they can play with fun, enjoyable and developmental toys and playthings. With the large selection of activity centers that are available right now, kids should be distracted, entertained and not bothering patients and patrons. Waiting rooms differ in sizes and shapes, which is why activity centers can be found in a large variety as well. We have activity centers to suit the needs of every office.

Kid's furniture helps their creativity to take root and take an active part in their growth and development. To illustrate, children love playing dress up since they're part of a fascinating world allowing dreams to become a reality at least for a moment in time. From art desks to kitchens, your child will love their own, ever developing and changing world of pretend. Locating quality children's furniture that's sturdy, handsomely decorated and enchanting is not as difficult as many think. Just make certain your kid's furniture has a non-toxic coating and is made of real wood (not particle board or compressed wood) to assure durability and high quality.

Maxim and Elenco are two brand names we endorse highly when shopping for the very best educational toys and presents for your children. They specialize in making playthings captivating and educational. With a large range of learning toys that magnify a child's dextral and creativity skills, you cannot miss with any of their products and merchandise. Kids will enjoy working and construction with their busy imaginations. The sky is the limit when playing with these acclaimed toys, playthings and building sets. Your future genius, space explorer, scientist or discoverer should have the ideal beginning for their future--Joy.

Toys for Bigger Boys - Marine Leisure Trends, Personal Leisure Hovercraft

by Mike Glanville

Mention the word hovercraft, and most people think of lumbering passenger craft capable of taking 100 passengers or more, but personal leisure hovercraft (Hov Pods) make hovercraft ownership possible, typically these craft are 2-3 seaters, around 12 foot in length, and capable of speeds of up to 50 mph. Fun for all the family!

Hovercraft offer a unique and liberating feeling of freedom, as you fly from beach to sea, or scoot over rivers and lakes; hovercrafting can be a very addictive hobby. Radio control hovercraft are OK too, but why let your pet hamster have all the fun? Leisure hovercraft take three adults and can reach speeds of up to 50 mph.

Hovercraft handle a wide range of terrain; imagine a PWC, snowmobile, quad-bike, boat, 4x4 rolled into one. Start the engine and you’ll rise about 8 inches in the air, as if on some anti gravitational levitation sci-fi vehicle. Bemused onlookers peek under your skirt to see where the wheels are; there aren’t any. Increase the throttle, and move forward on the cushion of air. You have freedom to float off, over any flat surface.

Launch at anytime, regardless of tide conditions. No need to worry about submerged rocks, manatees or coral, you have no propeller in the water to damage the marine environment, you’re as free as a bird to fly here and there, sliding, gliding, performing 180 turns or 360/7200 spins. Strong currents may impede the progress of boats, but hovercraft are not in contact with the water, so rise above that sort of problem. No need to check your depth meter, you have no propeller to worry about, just levitate and drive.

It is difficult to describe the immense sense of freedom hover travel provides, people expect a bump when travelling out of the water and straight up the beach or slipway, but there is no discernable difference. Hovercraft are very comfortable, you don’t slap into water, and jar your back like PWC riders do, you glide and side on your soft cushion of air.

Some liken the drive sensation to a sort of ride-on skateboard, but forget the confines of the skate park, find some grassy hills, or beach or desert sand dunes to play on.

Leisure hovercraft such as the Hov Pod are very versatile, able to drive in many different locations, great for exploring, hunting and fishing.

From a practical standpoint, the first benefit of hovering is being able to launch practically anywhere. No need to launch from a trailer down the slipway, boat fashion, just unhitch on dry land, no need to get your feet wet, just drive down the slipway or over the mud and sands to the sea. Upon your return, just drive up the slipway or beach.

No need to position the trailer under the craft, or wade into the wet stuff, just drive up and step out onto dry land. Some folk use hovercraft to reach waterfront properties, tidal or weather conditions can make island based property impossible to reach, and in winter conditions, the risk of using the wrong vehicle (PWC or Snowmobile?) could have catastrophic repercussions.

Small leisure hovercraft (Hov Pods) also have plenty of commercial applications. Rental operators hire them out to event organisers, or civil engineers and environmental scientists for taking mud samples. Hov Pods are very useful for rescue work, particularly mud, quicksand and ice. According to Wikipedia, even David Blaine has trouble holding his breath under water for more than 7 minutes and 8 seconds, so there is no time to lose while reaching mud victims; rescue boats are not practical; rescurers have to wade through the same mud the victim fell into.

It takes just ten minutes to understand the basics; you just use a normal handlebar for steering with twist grip throttle. Steer to the left or right, and the rudders will direct the air accordingly.

Once you have mastered the basics, the real fun begins. You can do 180 turns up the beach, or perpetual 360s, 720 spins and so on. As you can drive on both sea and land, you’ll probably want to combine both in a little beach hugging exercise. You can turn in graceful loops, or slide and glide where the mood takes you. You can access areas that are simply out of bounds for any other craft. SuperYacht captains use them as tenders.

Manufactured in Southampton, England, the Hov Pod is enjoying tremendous success and is now being exported all over the world.

Marketing - Fun and Toys

by: Robin J. Elliott

I was approached by a man who had unsuccessfully been trying to sell his franchises for four years. We looked at what the market really, really wanted and then doubled the price of the franchise and added a free trip for two to Disneyworld. I sold all the franchises in four months. When we added a free television set for anyone who bought a house from us, my wife, Rika, and I sold more houses.

Why do they have conventions in Las Vegas instead of some unknown, small town? Because people want to play. They want an excuse to buy toys and have fun. Instead of thinking about what YOU want all the time, think about what your prospects want. Instead of hidden costs, try obvious perks. Trips, toys and trinkets are proven to work, especially when there’s a choice. People don’t want points or money or discounts as much as they want toys.

A man wants to buy a PDA. His wife says he should rather pay down some debt or buy a new refrigerator. He is then offered the opportunity to attend one of two seminars – one is for $800 and the other one costs $1500 but includes a “free” PDA. Guess which seminar he will attend. Some people need to justify toys and fun and when you give them the opportunity to do so, they’ll grab it.

Try adding a digital camera to your product or service and increase the cost of the product or service by the price of the camera, and see what happens. Give your customers an excuse to have fun.

“Belinda, I know sales are down and I need to clean the garage out, but you know I have to attend that sales convention in Vegas and the river rafting “team building” will really help our sales.”

“Bob, I know the kids are sick and you’re busy, but you’re just going to have to play Mom for a week while I take my sales team down to Hawaii for our convention. I need to train them up to increase sales and the spa treatments will help us bond.”

Free gifts also work really well. My friend buys a Mercedes from the same dealership every time because they always send his wife a huge bunch of yellow roses. Get creative and think about giving people a great excuse to buy from you.

Nanny Cams. A Toy for the Voyeur, or a Necessity for Every Parent?

by Steven Rubin

John and Melissa were enjoying their dinner at a local restaurant. It was the first time in six months that they had gone anywhere without their newborn baby.

Melissa spoke up, "I hope we did the right thing, leaving our baby alone with the new nanny". In a calm voice John replied, "Honey, it's been a long sleepless six months. We deserve this night out. And besides, I'm sure our nanny is qualified to take care of our little girl for one night".

"You're right" Melissa said, "let's just enjoy this dinner". But a few moments later Melissa's cell phone rang; in a panicked voice Melissa said to John "WE HAVE TO GO NOW! SOMETHING’S HAPPENED TO OUR BABY! Without hesitation, they flagged down the waiter, paid their bill and headed for home as fast as they could.

When they arrived home, their nanny explained that the baby had rolled off the couch and hit her head on an end table. “She seemed O.K. but I called the doctor anyway,” said the nanny. “He’s on his way over here right now”.

With suspicion running through her mind, and not knowing what to believe, Melissa immediately went to her bedroom and turned on the monitor to her DVR (Digital Video Recorder). Weeks earlier, Melissa had purchased a hidden nanny cam disguised as a teddy bear, after hearing a story in the news about an abusive babysitter. In a few seconds she had her answer, the baby did just roll off the couch. That didn’t make it ok, but Melissa wanted to trust her new nanny and now she felt a little more certain that she could.

It is always difficult for a parent to turn over the care of a child to someone else, and every parent who does so has concerns. Hidden cameras are one way of alleviating some of that worry.

Nanny Cams are just another name for hidden cameras. They are usually disguised as part of the décor in a room. These days, technology allows us to create cameras that are small enough to fit into many everyday items, such as stuffed animals, flowerpots, and even kitchen appliances.

Nanny cams have become very popular in recent years for good reason. With the rise in domestic violence against children, you don’t have to be paranoid to want to keep an eye on things while you’re away. There have been many news stories centered on hidden cameras that have recorded a caregiver in the act of abusing a child.

Nanny cams are not only small and discreet, but they are also becoming more affordable than ever before, so you can purchase more than one to maintain surveillance in multiple rooms of your home.

With a DVR (Digital Video Recording) system, you’ll be able to monitor and record all of your hidden cameras from one central location.

Experts say it is generally legal to use a hidden camera that records video without the consent of the nanny. However, the laws vary from state to state on whether you can record audio. Before taping conversation without consent from your nanny, check the laws in your state.

To protect your nanny’s privacy, and to make the best use of your nanny cams, only place hidden cameras where she will be interacting with your child. Never place nanny cams in bathrooms or private bedrooms. This would be considered as voyeurism and in most states you could be charged with of invasion of privacy.

Nanny cams have many uses other than just monitoring nannies or caregivers.

Nanny cams can also be used for watching over your child while they are sleeping, monitoring them while they are playing alone or monitoring your older teenager while they are home alone with friends.

Hidden cameras have also been used to catch cheating spouses in the act, and they are very popular with private investigators and law enforcement agencies that use them for covert operations.

Even if you do not suspect any type of abuse or misconduct from your child, nanny or spouse, the peace of mind in knowing there is not a problem is well worth the cost of the camera.

Three Questions To Ask Yourself Before You Buy Toys For Your Kids

by Peter Legrove

so you can buy a useful toy.

Some toys are over hyped and others that I quite like, are never advertised. When I see new toys or the kid wants something she saw on TV, I usually ask myself “What can this toy be used for” and “How long will it keep the kid interested.” The last question I sometimes never ask, cause I never get that far is “Does the toy teach anything or does it build imagination or some other characteristic.”

These three questions, hopefully will give me an idea about the usefulness and longevity of the new toy. If the toy passes the first two questions then it is into the realm of learning. Some toys never make it this far, they are just ornaments. I don’t look at the safety aspect as most toys are safe, but I am careful with little bits and pieces.

For the first question I think about what you can do with the toy. Whether you can play alone or with friends. Can it be used with other toys to do other things, or is it a one hit wonder.

As an example we will use the Star Wars Darth Vader Mask. This little toy is very popular because of the film, but I think its usefulness is very limited. You could use it in pretend play but how long will that last. I would say this type of toy is used for sharing, a sort of play and share toy to see who can come up with the most outrageous line. It is not really the type of toy you could play with by yourself.

For the second question I think this toy would be discarded quite early, as there seems to be very little to keep the kid amused. Once you have said your few lines what do you then. Then again there are all the accessories to buy to go with the mask, like the clothes and boots. The money is in the accessories these days. Unless your kid wants to be an actor I would not get around to asking the third question.

The toys I do like are the LEGOS, the MEGA BLOKS and the PLAYMOBILS that the kids use to build things. Gone are the days when I was young and LEGO was a bucket of bricks that you could make anything with. The only limit was your imagination.

Nowadays imagination has gone out the door to be replaced with an operator’s manual so you get all the bricks and accessories in the right place. They are still fun to do. The finished product is a beautiful crafted masterpiece that usually ends up on top of the piano or coffee table until the cat destroys it.

So far for my kid the max is three times to redo one. So I would say the novelty wears off after three attempts. These toys build finishing ability and teach how to follow a plan. Also they are good for a rainy afternoon as they can take some time to finish. But the downside is they can be very pricey.

For these toys the answer to the first questions would be-- the kid can build something. They can see the finished product and match it with the picture to see if it is correct. The next answer would be they can remake it or make there own design. And for the last question I would say the kid should definitely learn something while putting the blocks together.

Using these three questions I somehow manage to buy what I consider to be useful toys. Therefore I am not swamped by the advertising hype or the “Keeping up with the Jones” sort of thing.

Choosing Safe Toys For Your Toddlers

by Abby Johnson

Soon it is going to be time for the Holidays and the buying of presents and gifts do you have a toddler you are going to be buying for? There are so many toys and games to choose from when out shopping, but if your Holiday gift list has a toddler on it make sure that you are buying a gift that is age appropriate.

One of a toddlers or infants first reaction when getting their little hands on something is to usually put it in their mouth. Please pay particular care to toys that may cause a choking hazard. This would include small toys and toys that have small removable parts. Not to mention the fact that a toddler can’t really comprehend a toy that is designed for older children, they tend to get frustrated. Toddlers and infants do not have the same skills and abilities as opposed to a child of the age five.

Toddlers and infants love stuffed animals and plush toys, but be aware of small and removable items from these toys as well. Pay close attention to the construction of the toy, maybe it isn’t so hard to get those eyes or that nose off? Remember it is more than likely these parts will end up in the child’s mouth. Also, with any toy make sure that the edges are not sharp.

Electronic toys usually seem like fun but they are not suitable for small children. Children under the age of eight do not know how to properly take care of or handle an electronic toy that may have a heating element in them. Even if your tempted by a good deal, just pass it up they are unsafe for toddlers.

Most toys these days are labeled for age appropriateness, by stating not suitable for children under a certain age, they should warn against choking hazards and other concerns too. These are important guidelines to stick to even if you feel something else looks fun and your child would love it. It’s not a bad idea to read the instructions because if it is too hard to understand then certainly your toddler wouldn’t understand either.

You know that plastic wrap that many toys come in? Be very careful of disposing of that, when it’s removed from the toy it is best to dispose of it right away as it can be a suffocation threat or hazard. Also with the packaging of toys be mindful of those ties that hold the toy in place when they are displayed at the store, the twisty ones that hold the toy in place, make sure you discard these quickly as well.

The U.S. Product Safety Commission can tell you if a toy has been recalled for some reason. Even the major toy companies such as Fisher Price and Disney can make mistakes and market a toy that ends up being a hazard to young children. You can also check on toys that you may already have at home for an older child The U.S. Product Safety Committee has a website with all this information to the public at http://www.cpsc.com.

If you don’t have access to a computer their phone number is (800) 638-2772. If you find a toy on the recall list in your home they will tell you what to do with the toy.

In closing, pay attention to the labeling and warnings on the toys you are thinking of purchasing and also refer to the recall list and give your tot a happy, safe Holiday.

Educational Baby Toys are Lots of Fun

by: Anita Eracybab

If you don’t have a baby or haven’t had one it may be a difficult task trying to figure out what kind of gift to buy. What we are going to focus on here is a specific age group which is the best way to go about buying gifts for babies since they are changing so rapidly. Babies this age are crawling all over and some are beginning to walk so toys that they can play with in this way are especially desirable.

At this age objects are now more than just objects to look at, they now look at them as things to play with. They are also interested in interactive games and problem solving so with that in mind let’s look at some toy ideas.

First off, in keeping with the idea that babies this age are beginning to walk around a bit, push toys are a good choice. The push toys will help them keep their balance as they are learning to walk, just be sure that it has enough weight to give the baby some exercise while working on their motor skills.

Shape sorters are also good choices at this age requiring the baby to sort through shapes and solving problems of how to place one shape inside another and so on. The toys will keep a baby occupied for hours on end.

If you have a sandbox for the baby to play in, sandbox toys like buckets and shovels will be a lot of fun.

Toy telephones and computers are also great. Babies learn a lot by watching us and they will talk forever to an imaginary person on the other end of a toy phone. They love toy versions of adult items. Toy laptops that make beeping noises can be a great gift as well.

Three dimensional pop up books that foster interactivity can be very interesting to babies.

The last items on our list for now are is building blocks. Blocks will be a staple toy that babies will enjoy for years. Wooden blocks, Lincoln logs, Big Lego’s, and other similar blocks will provide hours of creative, motor skill building fun.