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.

Why Kids Toys Are For Kids

by Jennifer Gove

I have made a discovery in my adult life, kids toys were made for kids. Now I know you may be puzzled about this because we all have sat down and played with our children, but if you peer deeper into this issue you will see as I do.

Lego Mines…

Tell me why it is a child can run blind folded through a room littered with Legos. Yet me I carefully navigate threw the room watching my step, stepping like that of a cat carefully then it happens. I step down onto one of these plastic “toys” and it rips threw my heal. Of course that sends me to the floor only to have Legos sticking me in the rear. These blocks were not intended for adults.

Play Doh is wonderful, entertains the kids for hours, the mess it not to bad if you can stand the smell of the stuff. You have to love it though as a fashion statement. Where you sit in it unknowingly and you wear it on your hind side to the store. Of course you see this handsome man looking at you fanny, and you prance about feeling young and exuberant , only to get home and have you husband point out the gray blob of play doh stuck to your bum.

My kids like many other love to color, who would have though a pack of 96 crayons could be an issue, well if you have toddlers about you better love the arts because you walls will have plenty of art. The kind your can’t remove unless you want to spend hours scrubbing think layers of the wax off your walls. But the very best thing I LOVE about crayon is how the melt in a car on a hot summer day. Like the time we took a trip to the beach, a lovely day it was. The kids happily colored in the back seat then we got there swan and came back to a car with a puddle of wax in the back seat.96 crayons and a huge colorful melting puddle. Six car details later you can still see our lesson it nice tints of yellows purples reds and greens.

Hot wheels are great, ya gotta love any thing that sends kids into a fit of move the fridge my car is under there. Or how about how they act as little unsuspecting roller skates that send you flailing across the room failing about the room.

My favorite is the super balls. That pelt about the room like little rubber bullets. They send you running for cover. Then they roll away…leaving your kids screaming you can never find these things once they go out of your site. I have eight kids. They love these little rubber balls. Of course they bounce them at a high rate of speed that only a child could get out of one of these things. I can tell you .They HURT!!! They ignore my pain and scream ear splitting head cracking screams to chase the balls that is theirs or the one they wished was theirs. Little arms searching wilding for the lost balls. Cries of anguish for those that are missing…You don’t have to remind me…in the adult world kids toys are for kids.

Dora The Explorer: Toys Where Your Children Can Learn

by: Low Jeremy

It is a fact that today it is very hard to find a toy that is both fun and educational. Most toys today are violent in nature and can be harmful to your child’s psychological development. This is why you should choose your child’s toy wisely and be sure that it can be fun to play with and at the same time educational.

If your child is in preschool, one of the best toys available today is the Dora the Explorer Toy. You may have watched the show on Saturday morning cartoons, and you may notice that it is really fun to watch and at the same time very educational for your child. With colorful graphics and great storylines, you can be sure that your child can really learn from Dora the Explorer TV show.

Dora the Explorer cartoons are great because it is designed especially for preschoolers in a play-along adventure where they can identify things found in nature, like animals, plants and other things that they can learn about. They can interact with Dora by helping the cartoon character solve problems as she journeys through forests, lakes and other places that will surely excite your child.

Because of the popularity of the show, Dora the Explorer merchandise is now available in stores. They have school bags, lunch boxes, coloring books, pillows and even toys designed like Dora the Explorer.

It is a fact that toys are a part of a child’s development. They play with it to have fun and it enhances their imagination. Dora the Explorer toys are great because they can learn from it. For example, in Dora the Explorer coloring books, a child can enhance their imagination by letting them determine what color they should put in an object. They will color each object based on what they see in the TV show and in the surroundings.

They also have printable activity pack which is available online. You can easily download it and start printing it right in your own home for free.

Since the TV show will include teaching your child some basic Spanish words and phrases, there are available toys that can teach your child about the language and also a little bit about Spanish culture. You too can spend time with your child and learn a bit of Spanish yourself. The toys also includes problems which your child can solve with your guidance and at the same time, learn something.

Dora can also teach your child math and develop their music skills the fun way. You yourself know that learning while having fun is a great way to absorb lessons rather than forcing your child to learn how to count. With Dora the Explorer, your child can really absorb what is being taught because they have fun in the process. It is much easier to remember things if you are having fun.

Dora is also available in puzzles where your child can enhance their imagination by figuring out where to put each piece of the puzzle. They will surely have fun figuring out where to put each piece for hours.

Dora the Explorer toys are available in different age varieties. You should choose which toy to buy for your child according to his or her age. This is because some toys for older kids can be more complicated and may leave your child bored and some can be too easy to figure out. The toy should be both challenging enough to your child and at the same time, provide education.

TIN TOYS- A FAVORITE FROM THE PAST

by Libby Pelham

Next time you are walking by a toy store, take a minute to poke your head inside. You may see something you haven't seen in years - tinplate toys. Tin toys were a favorite of children from the turn of the century though the late sixties. Whether it was a car, a roller coaster or something as silly as a duck riding a bike, boys and girls alike loved playing with these toys. Demand for the toys waned during the seventies as safer toys made of plastic came into fashion, but now both antique and replica tin toys are making a nostalgic comeback.

Tinplate toys were first produced in Germany in the late 1800s as a cheap and durable substitute for wooden toys. They were called tinplate because they were made of thin sheets of steel covered with tin. Many of the tin toys were mechanical - they could be wound for movement or pulled to make sounds. Older toys were hand painted until the offset color lithography process was discovered. By the early 1900s, both the US and Japan had joined in on the production. Today's tin toys are made primarily in China.

You might remember names like J. Chein, Schuco, Marusan and Louis Marx. These companies were among the more prolific manufacturers of tin toys in their heyday. Tin toys not only provided hours of fun, but were made with such detail that they opened up a whole new world of imagination and play for the children. There were practical tin toys; ovens, irons and sewing machines for the future homemakers; telephones, adding machines and typewriters for the budding young entrepreneurs. There were tin cars that would speed across the wooden floor of the house, trains that looked lifelike and robots that offered the promise of a high tech future. There were tin toys of cartoon favorites like Popeye and Mickey Mouse and real life cowboy Roy Rogers. Then there were the tins that were just for fun; a monkey playing drums, an egg-laying hen, even an elephant on a bike.

If you were one of the lucky ones to keep a tin from your childhood, you probably want to know how much your toy is worth. You can take your tin toy to a qualified antique appraiser, but there are also some things you can do to determine its value. Do you remember what year you received it? If you don't remember, check to see if it has the country of origin marked on it. For example, a toy that is marked Germany was created after 1890, when the McKinley Tariff Act required all imports to be marked with the country name from which it came. Toys marked "Made in US Zone Germany" or "Made in Occupied Japan" range in date from 1945 until 1952 and are highly sought after items. Patent numbers on a toy can be submitted to the US Patent Office for the date of the patent application. But, age is not always a good indicator of value. Some older items, because they are so common, are not of great value including chemistry sets, die-cast miniatures, banks, and scooters.

There are factors that determine price other than age. Condition of your toy is important. If it had holes made from wear, missing tabs that used to connect the pieces or flaking paint, the value will be diminished. On the other hand, if your item is large, the value may increase. The larger items were not produced as frequently as smaller items. Do you have the original box? Having the original box your toy came in can often double the price. A manufacturer's mark also helps determine price. You can search eBay to see at what price a tin like yours is selling. Books on antique toys at your local library may also offer insight.

Tin toys can be bought at antique stores, estate and garage sales and both in-person and online auction houses. If you are buying in person, be sure to inspect the item well. Check to make sure it is an antique, unless you are looking for a reproduction. Make note of the condition. If the price is high, the condition should be good to excellent. If you are buying online, ask for photos if they are not readily available. See if there are other sellers that have the same item for sale and compare the prices. Also be sure to check the feedback of the seller to see what other buyers think of their online business. Arm yourself with the knowledge of what an original should look like versus a reproduction. No matter how much care was taken with a tin toy, it should show some signs of wear. Also check for a zip code mark on the toy. If there is a zip code, the toy was made after 1963, when the zip code was created.

You can also search eBay to buy a tin toy that you may remember from your childhood, but weren't able to keep. You will need to decide if you want an original or a reproduction. Reproductions will be cheaper, but may not look exactly like the original. For example, some cartoon character antique tins may look slightly different from today's image (see picture) because the characteristics have changed over the years.

Finally, take care of your toy if you decide to keep it. It is best to store the tin toy in the original box, if you have it. If you want to display your tin toy as a loving reminder of your childhood, be sure to avoid sunlight as that might fade the paint. A damaged toy may be repaired, but be very careful with repairs. If you try to repair it yourself, even doing a little touch up painting may damage it further and reduce the value. Check with an antique dealer in your town to see if they can do the repairs and how much it would cost.

Pedal Cars and Planes; Fun the Old Fashioned Way

Today, many children are spending far too much time sitting indoors in front of the TV or video game screen. Get 'em up and moving for some old fashioned fun with their very own pedal cars and planes.

Pedal cars and planes promote creative play, while getting your child out in the sunshine and fresh air for some much needed exercise. And pedal cars and planes are far more enticing than ordinary bicycles. Remember how much you wanted to drive your very own car when you were little, just like mom and dad? Give your child that opportunity with one of the many pedal cars and planes offered by SensoryEdge.

Let your child emulate everyday heroes with an old fashioned Police Comet Pedal Car, or the fabulous No.7 Fire Truck with working bell and ladder hooks. These gorgeous recreations of the emergency vehicles of yesterday are crafted with quality in mind. What child wouldn't be thrilled to the bone to find one of these pedal cars under the Christmas tree this season?

The 55 Classic Pedal Cars look like a classic auto show replica. These beauties come in a rainbow of colors and you won't believe the quality of materials used in constructing these pedal cars. Real chrome steering wheel and hubcaps, and solid duralast tires compliment this pedal car's all steel construction. Overall, a great investment for years of playing fun to come. This pedal car is sure to become a family heirloom to pass down to the grandkids.

Let your child's imagination fly high with a classic Red Baron Pedal Plane. This unbelievable pedal plane has a moving spring-loaded propeller that really moves when pedaling, a sealed ball bearing drive, non-slip pedals, and high-traction tires. Your little ace will never want to come back down to earth.

Pedal cars and planes offer the opportunity for the kind of creative play that opens up a child's mind to life's possibilities. SensoryEdge has a selection of pedal cars and planes that is simply unmatched anywhere. Take a look and see if you don't agree.

-source from sensoryedge.com

Collectible Toys & Values

by Robert Odak

It started in 1982. It seems as though they just sort of showed up on the nation's toy shelves: He-Man and The Masters of the Universe, a new line of 5"-6" action figures from Mattel. Two aspects distinguished these notable figures. First, they were the most ambitious sword and sorcery figures on the market, as the average size at that time was 3"-4".

Of course, as everyone with a television set knows, He-Man was one of the earliest toy lines to be released simultaneously with its corresponding TV show. This raised the ire of parents everywhere who charged the that TV cartoons were nothing more than half-hour commercials. However, the TV networks never complained. Since the shows virtually were commercials, they were provided at relatively low cost.

At the time, this line really had a lot going for it. The size and bulk of the figures made them perfect for display and they had a nice chunky feel. They weren't very well articulated, as they were poseable only at the neck, shoulders, and hips, but they had a nice level of sculpting detail and a muscular, in-your-face ruggedness that made them very appealing. Mattel pioneered the re-using of molds, and various He-Man characters came and went, only to reappear with slight alterations and new paint jobs. The He-Man mold was used for an impersonator named Faker, who was simply He-Man with blue skin. Later, Prince Adam was released, He-Man's "civilian" identity. Beast-Man was an early casualty of the toy line who reappeared later, covered with green flocking as Moss-Man. The amphibious Mer-Man was repainted as a skunk (honestly) and given new armor to become Stinkor. And, of course, the various body parts were used over and over again for many characters.

What made the He-Man line especially interesting was that the figures had special action features build into them. Here's a list of some of the more notable special action gimmicks: spring action waist (He-Man), blood pumping chest (Mosquitor), the ability to fold up into a rock (Stonedar and Rokkon), extending eyes (Mantenna), water squirting mouth (Kobra Khan), bad smell (Stinkor, and I kid you not!), and spring-powered fist (Spikor, inspired by Big Jim's Torpedo Fist, also by Mattel.)

For you investors out there, there are some figures rarer than others. First, there are figures from the first series which were discontinued in the second year. They are Zodak, Beast-Man, Mer-Man and Stratos. Other rare figures came out at the end of the line, which were only produced for a short time. They are: King Randor, Scare Glow, and Sorceress. The other figures are all fairly common. Many dealers snapped these up and are desperately trying to unload them. Your average He-Man figure can be had for $10.00 or less, but for those rare figures, it's anyone guess.

So, here's the list of figures you've been waiting for, broken down by category (good guys and bad guys).

He-Man's Unstoppable Men of Power
1. HE-MAN: Star of the series with spring-back waist for power punches. Also came in Battle Armor, Flying Fists, 5th Anniversary, and Thunder Punch versions.
2. BLAST-ATTACK: Humanoid who flies apart during battle.
3. BUZZ-OFF: Insectoid bee-man.
4. CLAMP CHAMP: A rare black character with spring-powered clamp arm.
5. DRAGSTOR: Wheeled warrior. An abrupt marketing change placed him with the Evil Horde, so technically, he should be in the "Bad Guys" section.
6. EXTENDAR: Standing erect, this figure's limbs can be raised high.
7. FISTO: A humanoid, much like a pumped-up Falstaff with a big, meaty silver fist that springs up.
8. GWILDOR: Elfin sorcerer character from the movie (played by Billy Barty).
9. KING RANDOR: Listen up, investors, this Leader of Eternia is the rare one!
10. MAN-AT-ARMS: On the television series, this is Teela's dad. He is heavily armed and armored, with a mean scowl and a silly hat.
11. MAN-E-FACES: Throwback to face-changing Big Jim. This guy had a rotating head with pleasant and decidedly upleasant faces.
12. MEKANECK: Robotoid with pop-up head.
13. MOSS MAN: Green ally for He-Man, master of camouflage. (I'll say he is, it's really Beast-Man!)
14. ORKO: A character with a funny voice and no face. Invented for the cartoon, he wormed his way into the toy line.
15. PRINCE ADAM: Break out that He-Man mold again, but paint clothes on this this time.
16. RAM MAN: Semi-articulated figure that popped up, thanks to a spring mechanism.
17. RIO BLAST: Here's a human warrior armed to the teeth!
18. ROBOTO: As the name implies, this is the robot in the series.
19. ROKKON: Alien with ability to fold into a rock.
20. ROTAR: He sits and rotates like a top.
21. SNOUT SPOUT: An elephant which squirts water.
22. SORCERESS: Second rarest figure (hey investors, I said, "Second rarest figure!") and well-sculpted. The den mother of the He-Man Clan.
23. STONEDAR: Rokkon's pal.
24. STRATOS: Early winged character which comes in two versions: red wings and blue wings. Even more common is the version with no wings, often found at flea markets.
25. SY-KLONE: Samurai-like spinning tornado warrior.
26. TEELA: The first of two female figures, beautifully detailed with muscular thighs.
27. ZODAC: Jet-powered fighter, a prominent cast member in DC's failed He-Man comic book. Also an early casualty of the toy series.

Avenging Servants of Skeletor
1. SKELETOR: This figure also came in Dragon Blaster, 5th Anniversary, Terror Claws, and Battle Armor versions.
2. BEAST MAN: Orage ape with whip for driving slaves.
3. BLADE: Villain from the feature film, a bald guy with a log of knives.
4. CLAWFUL: A figure with lobster claws for hands.
5. EVIL-LYN: Yellow-skinned sorceress. Collectors will notice that this figure was contructed from the Teela mold.
6. FAKER: If the name is any indicator, this figure is simply He-Man in blue.
7. GRIZZLOR: An ape who is a member of the Evil Horde, an offshoot group of villains.
8. HORDAK: Leader of the Evil Horde, and more interesting than Skeletor. His armor had a spiffy bat motif, long before armored bat-men were the rage. (Also came in spin-arm "Hurricane" version.)
9. HORDE TROOPER: Hordak's evil robotic soldier.
10. JITSU: Evil Oriental strongman with gold karate-chopping hand, for those off jobs around the castle.
11. KING HISS: Leader of the Snake Men, another renegade group of villains. Pop off his human guise and -- Aargh!
12. KOBRA KHAN: Water-spitting member of the snake men.
13. LEECH: The biggest sucker in Hordak's gang. His mouth and arms are suction cups.
14. MANTENNA: A member of Hordak's tropps with bulging eyes.
15. MER-MAN: Aquatic menace who is molded in a real nice shade of green.
16. MOSQUITOR: This figure has a bug's head and a transparent chest so that when he sucks the blood out of people, you can see it pump though his chest!
17. NINJOR: Evil Ninja.
18. RATTLOR: Another Snake Man with a pop-up head.
19. SAUROD: Monster from the movie and yes, he's another snake character.
20. SCARE GLOW: Hard-to-find skull-headed phanom. His head glows in the dark.
21. SNAKE FACE: Snake Man with snakes that pop out of his face.
22. SPIKOR: A radical purple monster with a spiked head and pop-out weapon arm.
23. SSSQUEEZE: Snake Man with pop-out grabber arms.
24. STINKOR: Mer-Man's back and now he's painted black! He's a skunk and the selling point is that the figure smells bad!
25. TRAP JAW: One of my favorites, an ugly barbarian with a "metal" jaw.
26. TRI-KLOPS: Trap Jaw's best friend has a rotating visor with three different eyes.
27. TUNG LASHOR: Yet another Snake Man with a snaky tongue.
28. TWISTOID: Evil top-like monster.
29. TWO-BAD: Ultracool binary bad guy makes a dent in the competition. His arms have pull-back action for power punches.
30. WEBSTOR: A blue monster who webs up his foes and climbs walls, predating Venom by at least a year or two.
31. MODULOK and MULTI-BOT: Evil members of the Horde you could piece together like Cootie game figures.

The line was diverse enough to include He-Man's animal pals, and Skeletor's beastly baddies. They were: Zoar and Screech (good and bad birds), Battle Cat and Panthor (good and bad felines), Stridor and Night Stalker (good and bad robotic horses), and animalistic vehicles called Bashasaurus, Mantisaur, Land Shark, Monstroid and Spydor. Later came a line of cybernetic dinosaurs: Bionatops, Turbodactyl, and Tyrantisaurus Rex.

Let's face it, Eternia's a big place. He-Man and Skeletor can't exactly take a cross-country bus to meet each other on the field of battle, can they? Here are the vehicles from the He-Man line:

HE-MAN VEHICLES
1. TALON FIGHTER: Plane with Point Dread rock.
2. WIND RAIDER: Sailboat-style vehicle.
3. BATTLE RAM: Attack vehicle.
4. ATTACK TRAK: Has battery-operated movement.
5. JET SLED: Small sled on blister card.
6. LASER BOLT: This vehicle could rear up for battle.
7. BLASTERHAWK: It fired disks.
8. DRAGON WALKER: Motorized sliding vehicle.
9. ROTON: Spinning tank.
10. ROAD RIPPER: Pull cord sends wheels spinning.

And in the catagory of weapons and equipment:
1. STILT STALKERS: Battle stilts.
2. BATTLE BONES CARRY CASE: This case was shaped like a dinosaur skeleton.
3. BEAM BLASTER: Laser battle accessories.
4. MEGALASER: Blister-carded cannon.

This thing that always impressed me about the He-Man line wasn't the figures or vehicles, and it certainly wasn't the cartoon. No, what impressed me was the line of detailed and inspired playsets. These sets were actually whole environments with mountains, caves, pits, and grottos. The first one was CASTLE GRAYSKULL, a plastic mountain which opened up so you could have adventures inside and out. It had everything you need to make a classic playset: several levels of action, a trapdoor, and a cool weapons rack with weapons.

SNAKE MOUNTAIN was Skeletor's hideout. It was constructed similarly to Castle Grayskull, but came witha voice modulating microphone so you could frighten away intruders.

The FRIGHT ZONE reminds me of Mego's Mission to Gamma Six because it has a cave, a monster to snare characters' feet, and a hand puppet creature.

Last, but not least, we have the SLIME PIT, a turture area where slime ozzes from a dinosaur skull.

Overall, I have to admit that the Masters Of The Universe were pretty darn inventive. Figures incorporated action features, playsets were devised with inventive gimmicks, and the sheer imagination it took to create some of the characters is truly scary. (Take, for example, Stinkor!)

Love it or hate it, He-Man and his friends made a lasting impact on toy history. Somewhere even now, in Toy Heaven, Skeletor falls off a kitchen table over and over again, in an endlessy looping He-Man toy commercial. And somewhere, playing endlessly, is that million-dollar chant: HE-MAN, HE-MAN, HE-MAN...

Choosing Toys to Enhance Children's Development

From rattles and teddy bears to tricycles and fairy wands, toys are an ever-present part of early childhood. But as many parents of young children have found, particularly when confronted with the towering racks at most toy stores, choosing quality, age-appropriate toys can be a challenge. Not only are the "right" toys a matter of individual taste, but some are much more likely to enhance children's development and learning than others.

The best toys are those that actively engage children, physically and mentally. They can also be used in a variety of ways, depending on the child's interests, ability levels and imagination. According to occupational therapist Marian Hammaren, these are very important elements to look for in toys, regardless of a child's age or developmental stage.

"A child's job is to play and explore, but today kids are being raised in an environment that encourages a much more sedentary lifestyle," says Hammaren.

For this reason Hammaren suggests that families overlook glitzy, electronic toys (many of which can only be used in one way) and computerized games (which don't require children to be physically active) in favor of more basic toys that help enhance the gross motor skill development of young children.

Gross motor skills are those that come from the physical activities that kids do naturally-running, jumping, crawling, climbing. The stretching and strengthening of muscles in early childhood lead to other refined motor skills, such as grasping and pinching-skills needed to hold a crayon or pencil or cut with scissors. They also allow children to hold themselves upright, make eye contact and sit for lengths of time when learning such skills as reading and writing once they reach school age.

BABES IN TOYLAND --
An age-by-age guide to choosing toys

BABIES (birth to age 1)

You are your child's first, and most fascinating, plaything. Every time you coo, tickle or snuggle your children you are teaching them about a range of human emotions and interactions in ways that no colorful plastic clown could ever do. Between three and six months, the roster of favored toys may include rattles, a host of teething toys or brightly colored stuffed animal friends. But by and large, babies spend their first year content to learn about the world through their association with their parents, with siblings and with themselves.

Around the first birthday, a child's world begins to expand. Now children are mastering use of their hands to grasp and release objects. A perfect example of this is the child who can ceaselessly pick up and drop Cheerios from the tray of the highchair. They are also beginning to understand the people and objects in their world by grabbing, pounding, mouthing, tearing, etc. Many may be pulling themselves up to stand with support from mom, dad or the coffee table.

At this point, store-bought toys pale by comparison with all of the other objects that are up for grabs (literally). However, some objects that are favored by children at this age include boxes with lids and chunky objects that cannot be swallowed to put in and take out of the boxes, toys that include pegs to be hammered through a hole or balls that roll down a chute. Search your recyclables for unbreakable wide-mouth containers and toss in a few blocks or balls that fit easily inside. Toys that can be taken apart, such as stacking toys and wooden or plastic puzzles with oversized pieces, are also appropriate though children won't be able to put them back together yet. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, safe toys for babies are those 1.68 inches in diameter or larger. More information on toy safety can be found at the website, www.cpsc.gov.

TODDLERS (Ages 1-3)

At around 12 to 15 months, children's ability to grasp objects and manipulate them becomes more advanced. They are making the connection between cause and effect ("If I yell really loudly, Mommy will come running!"). Here begins the fascination with making noise by banging on pots and pans and repeatedly opening and closing cabinets and drawers both to see what's inside and to hear the noise they make.

"What is really cool with kids at this age," says Hammaren, "is that with a little imagination you can make almost any of the items that you use everyday developmentally appropriate and fun." Along this line, Hammaren suggests creating a drum set from an empty oatmeal canister and a wooden spoon. A sturdy set of chunky wooden blocks that come in various shapes and sizes and toys, such as stacking rings, where one object fits in sequence after another, are also good additions to the toddler toy chest. As they near their second birthday, many toddlers enjoy kid-sized versions of the tools that mom and dad use everyday. Toy brooms, vacuum cleaners, lawn mowers and gardening tools are wonderful props for playing at being grown-up and can give children's muscles a workout too.

Once toddlers hit age two, they can distinguish simple forms and shapes. Now is a perfect time for shape sorters and wooden puzzles (the type in which a shape, often with a peg attached for grasping, is fitted into one of a few spaces in a frame).

At this point most children have developed strength and control over their bodies and no longer need to use their arms for support. This frees them to explore with their hands and arms like never before. Balls become favorite playthings for many children. Try large beach-type balls for rolling and catching. Large wooden or colorful plastic stringing beads are great for enhancing hand/eye coordination. You can make your own set using empty thread spools and a couple of long shoelaces with knots tied in the end.

PRESCHOOL YEARS (Ages 3-5)

By age three, most children are masters at running, climbing and jumping and are beginning to show interest in other, more structured types of play. Children at this age will begin scribbling and cutting. Some non-destructive ways for children to practice their cutting skills include snipping along the edge of a piece of paper to make a grassy border for a collage or cutting Playdoh(tm) or cooked pasta tubes into pieces. Paper, finger paint, chunky crayons and blunt tipped scissors are good choices for craft supplies.

Many preschoolers love to don a cape or crown and pretend to be a favored superhero or a member of royalty. Though store-bought costumes can be beautiful, they are also pricey. Find a sturdy box to fill with items from your family's closets and jewelry that you no longer wear. Oversized scarves can become turbans, skirts and belts; old sunglasses and hats are great for going incognito. Just remember-never give children items such as ties and thin scarves that can be wrapped tightly around their necks and cause strangulation or that include beads or other trim that can be removed and swallowed.

Hammaren suggests that parents resist the urge to stock up on "educational" toys with the goal of jumpstarting children's learning. She says that at this age a good set of building blocks is still a wonderful toy that can be played with in many different and imaginative ways. They are also more likely to teach math skills than expensive electronic toys that work only when you push certain buttons or when they have charged batteries in them. Dolls are also great basic toys that can be used for role playing, making up stories and other verbal exchanges and practicing emotions.

Other toys that teach valuable
school readiness skills include:


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See 'n Say(tm) toys



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Toys for water play



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Lacing cards to encourage hand/eye coordination



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Dot-to-dot games or books that provide practice with numbers and teach sequencing



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Bikes and other riding toys



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Legos(tm) and Duplos(tm) and wooden toy trains to add an imaginative element to block play



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Simple board and card games that require children to take turns help develop their social skills



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Many older preschoolers develop a beginning interest in sports. At this point sports don't need to be formal or competitive. Buy an inexpensive soccer ball to kick around the yard or make a bowling set from empty milk cartons or soda bottles and a ball.


-from littlekidstuff.com

Dangerous Toys: Overview

Dangerous Toys: Overview

When buying toys it is important to do so with care. Keep in mind the child's age, interests and skill level. Look for quality design and construction in all toys for all ages.

Make sure that all directions or instructions are clear -- to you, and, when appropriate, to the child. Plastic wrappings on toys should be discarded at once before they become deadly playthings. Be a label reader. Look for and heed age recommendations, such as "Not recommended for children under three." Look for other safety labels including: "Flame retardant/Flame resistant" on fabric products and "Washable/hygienic materials" on stuffed toys and dolls.

Check all toys periodically for breakage and potential hazards. A damaged or dangerous toy should be thrown away or repaired immediately. Edges on wooden toys that might have become sharp or surfaces covered with splinters should be sanded smooth. When repainting toys and toy boxes, avoid using leftover paint, unless purchased recently, since older paints may contain more lead than new paint. Examine all outdoor toys regularly for rust or weak parts that could become hazardous.

New toys intended for children under eight years of age should, by regulation, be free of sharp glass and metal edges. With use, however, older toys may break, exposing cutting edges.

Older toys can break to reveal parts small enough to be swallowed or to become lodged in a child's windpipe, ears or nose. The law bans small parts in new toys intended for children under three. This includes removable small eyes and noses on stuffed toys and dolls, and small, removable squeakers on squeeze toys.

Toy caps and some noisemaking guns and other toys can produce sounds at noise levels that can damage hearing. The law requires the following label on boxes of caps producing noise above a certain level: "WARNING -- Do not fire closer than one foot to the ear. Do not use indoors." Caps producing noise that can injure a child's hearing are banned.

Toys with long strings or cords may be dangerous for infants and very young children. The cords may become wrapped around an infant's neck, causing strangulation. Never hang toys with long strings, cords, loops, or ribbons in cribs or playpens where children can become entangled. Remove crib gyms for the crib when the child can pull up on hands and knees.

Toys that have been broken may have dangerous points or prongs. Stuffed toys may have wires inside the toy that could cut or stab if exposed. Regulations prohibit sharp points in new toys and other articles intended for use by children under eight years of age.

Projectiles -- guided missiles and similar flying toys -- can be turned into weapons and be particularly dangerous to the eyes. Children should never be permitted to play with adult lawn darts or other hobby or sporting equipment that have sharp points. Arrows or darts used by children should have soft cork tips, rubber suction cups or other protective tips intended to prevent injury. Check to be sure the tips are secure. Avoid those dart guns or other toys that might be capable of firing articles not intended for use in the toy, such as pencils or nails.

Keep toys designed for older children out of the hands of little ones. Follow labels that give age recommendations -- some toys are recommended for older children because they may be hazardous in the hands of a younger child. Teach older children to help keep their toys away from younger brothers and sisters.

Even balloons, when uninflated or broken, can choke or suffocate if young children try to swallow them. More children have suffocated on uninflated balloons and pieces of broken balloons than on any other type of toy.

Electric toys that are improperly constructed, wired or misused can shock or burn. Electric toys must meet mandatory requirements for maximum surface temperatures, electrical construction and prominent warning labels. Electric toys with heating elements are recommended only for children over eight years old. Children should be taught to use electric toys properly, cautiously and under adult supervision.

Infant toys, such as rattles, squeeze toys, and teethers, should be large enough so that they cannot enter and become lodged in an infant's throat.

Under the Federal Hazardous Substances Act and the Consumer Product Safety Act, the Federal Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) has set safety regulations for certain toys and other children's articles. Manufacturers must design and manufacture their products to meet these regulations so that hazardous products are not sold. Unfortunately, the CPSC is not always successful in keeping dangerous and defective toys off of store shelves. Each year thousands of children are injured or killed while playing with poorly designed toys.

If your child has been a victim of a dangerous toy product, it may be important to contact an attorney who can help you protect your legal rights. Please keep in mind that there may be time limits within which you must commence suit.

-from InjuryBoard.com

What toys might you find in a toy chest?

by wo_manifest

Depends on the mindset of the parents and maybe on the gender of the children. I would say, stuffed animals, trucks, blocks, board games and puzzles. See and say, popping pushtoy, pulltoys, dressup clothes such as petticoats and out-of-style shoes, beat up record player or tape player and some scratched up records or pulled out tapes. A few balls, such a baseball, basketball, football, soccerball, a baseball bat and glove, roller skates and some forgotten snack foods. At least that's what was in OUR toychest.

TOY SELECTION

Toy Selection

The following are some suggestions for suitable toys for children of various ages. They are offered as a guide to help in your selection, but remember that all children are different. Study your child and get to know his or her interests, abilities and limitations. Not all children enjoy the same kinds of play: one child will be interested in building with blocks or doing puzzles; another may prefer riding bikes or playing ball; your child may enjoy pretending with a dollhouse or playing board games. Try to match the toy to your child and keep in mind that his or her interest in a toy will often carry through more than one age group. (Graphic omitted)

Babies: Birth to One Year

Experts agree that even babies need an assortment of toys. Since infants respond to smell, taste, sound, touch and sight, properly selected toys provide a small baby with opportunities to learn about size, shape, sound, texture and how things work.

Choose toys that:

* have pieces that are too large to swallow
* are lightweight for handling and grasping
* have no sharp edges or points
* are brightly colored
* are non-toxic

Brightly colored, lightweight toys of various textures stimulate a baby's senses. For young infants, toys to look at and listen to are best. Rattles, squeaky toys and crib gyms are ideal for grasping when the baby is ready to hold objects.

Soft dolls or stuffed animals made of non-toxic materials are fun to touch and hug but are not designed for sucking and chewing. Make sure the seams cannot be easily torn or bitten open and that eyes and noses are securely fastened. (Graphic omitted)

A baby who is sitting up is ready for blocks with pictures or bright colors. Nesting cups or boxes and stacking rings are also favorites. Babies at this age enjoy their first sturdy picture books showing familiar objects. Balls and push-pull toys are good choices when a baby can crawl and walk.
(Graphic omitted)

Toddlers: One to Three Years

A busy toddler needs toys for active physical play-- especially things to ride and climb on, such as a low tricycle or a wagon to ride in and pull. Outdoor toys such as large balls, inflatable toys, a wading pool and an sandbox with digging tools are all good choices.

Toddlers begin to enjoy make-believe play just before their second birthdays. To imitate the adult world around them, they use play food, appliances and utensils, child- sized play furniture, simple dress-up clothes and dolls. Children in this age group are particularly interested in sorting and fitting toys, all kinds of blocks and simple puzzles. Toddlers also enjoy musical instruments such as tambourines, toy pianos, horns and drums, as well as listening to tapes.

Pre-Schoolers: Three to Five Years

Pre-schoolers are masters of make-believe. They like to act out grown-up roles and create imaginary situations. Costumes and equipment that help them in their pretend worlds are important at this stage. Some of the many possibilities include pretend money, play food, a toy cash register or telephone, a make-believe village, fort, circus, farm, gas station or restaurant, a puppet theater and play with dolls and doll furniture.

In a child's private world, a favorite toy is both a companion and protector. Dolls and teddy bears, for example, have helped countless children to cope with difficult moments. Children will sometimes express their feelings to toy "confidants" and share emotions with them that they might otherwise keep to themselves.

Transportation is fascinating to young children. Trucks, cars, planes, trains, boats and tractors are all fun at this age and beyond. Larger outdoor toys, including gym equipment, wheeled vehicles and a first two-wheeled bicycle with helmet and training wheels, are appropriate now.

Visualization and memory skills can be sharpened by play that requires use of imagination or mental computation, with the introduction of board games, electronic toys and word and matching games geared specifically for this group. Construction sets, books and tapes, coloring sets, pains, crayons, puzzles, stuffed toys and dolls continue to be favorites.
School Age: Six to Nine Years

Board games, table-top sports games and classics like marbles and model or craft kits help develop skills for social and solitary play. In experimenting with different kinds of grownup worlds, fashion and career dolls and all kinds of action figures appeal to girls and boys. Printing sets, science and craft kits, electric trains, racing cars, construction sets and hobby equipment are important to children for examining and experimenting with the world around them.

For active physical play, a larger bicycle, ice and roller skates, a pogo stick, scooter, sled and other sports equipment, along with protective gear, are appropriate. Even though group play is enjoyed, children at this stage also play well by themselves. Paints, crayons and clay are still good selections, as are costumes, doll houses, play villages, miniature figures and vehicles, all of which help children to develop their imaginations and creativity.

Many games and electronic toys geared to children in this age group are labeled "educational" because they have been designed to help children learn specific skills and concepts, such as games which require forming words, matching letters of the alphabet with various objects or learning about money through handling play coins and currency.

Video games appeal to children, teenages and adults. Many games offer increasingly challenging levels of play, as well as opportunities to develop coordination skills and a sense of the meaning of strategies in relationships, usually through competition against an opponent.
THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE, EVER, FOR SENSIBLE ADULT SUPERVISION
(Graphic Omitted)

Nine to Twelve Years

Children begin to develop specific skills and life-long interests at this age. Give considerable attention to hobbies and crafts, model kits, magic sets, advanced construction sets, chemistry and science kits and puzzles. Peer acceptance is very important at this age. Active physical play now finds its expression with team play in a variety of sports. Social and intellectual skills are refined through board, card and electronic games, particularly those requiring strategy decisions.

Video and electronic games, table tennis and billiards (pool) are very popular at this stage. Dramatic play holds great appeal. Youngsters in this age group like to plan complete productions including props, costumes, printed programs, puppets and marionettes. Painting, sculpting, ceramics and other forms of artistic expression continue to be of interest, as do books, tapes and musical instruments.

Teenagers

After age twelve, children's interests in toys begin to merge with those of adults. This is apparent in the growing market for sophisticated electronic games and computer-based systems, which are often considered "family entertainment" rather than toys. They also will be interested in board and adventure games. Collectors of dolls, model cars, trains, miniatures and stuffed animals often begin their hobbies in the teenage years.

-source from kidsource.com

HOW TO CHOOSE SUITABLE TOYS

by Lesia Oesterreich

Toys don't have to be expensive. After all, cardboard boxes in the backyard and measuring cups in the sink are favorite standards. But when you do need to purchase toys, you may find it helpful to know what toys to choose and which to avoid for children of different ages.


Infants & Toddlers
Infants and toddlers learn about the world through their senses. They are interested in the sight, sound, smell, texture, and taste of things. Objects that can be sqeezed, dropped, poked, twisted, or thrown are sure to cause delight. Toddlers also enjoy any item that can be stacked, poured, opened, closed, pushed, or pulled.


Pre-schoolers
Preschool children learn by doing. They are busy developing new skills. They like drawing, painting, and building. They also spend a great deal of time pretending. Dress-up clothes, pretend "props," and puppets are big favorites. Preschoolers are energetic and active. They need large balls to roll and throw, wagons to pull, and tricycles to ride.

School-age Children
School-age children feel more grown-up and love activities that lead to "real products" such as jewelry, "designer" T-shirts, or stamp collections. They also develop a keen interest in sports and enjoy having adult-like physical equipment such as softball gloves, tennis rackets, or skates. They have a better understanding of rules and enjoy playing with others. Board games, cards, or dominoes teach math concepts and problem-solving skills.

In addition to choosing age-appropriate toys, it's also a good idea to get several sets of popular toys. Young children often have difficulty sharing. Toddlers simply do not understand the concept and preschoolers have very limited skills in trading or negotiating. Have several play telephones and a ball for each child to make the day go more smoothly.
Before you buy. . .

You will be spending money and time choosing and buying toys. Here are some questions for you that can help you get going on the right track with toys and equipment:

* Will children of different ages enjoy it?

* Is the toy durable? Will it last?

* Is the toy safe?

* Can the toy be used in a variety of ways?

* Does this toy encourage cooperation or does it encourage aggression @ violence?

* Is it easy to clean?

* Can I make it for less money than I will pay for it?

* Can I buy a more useful toy for the same money?

* Do I need more of these for the number and ages of children in my home?

* Do I have something at home that is similar and for the same kind of play?

* Should I buy this new or look at second-hand stores, auctions, rummage sales, and flea markets?

* Can I find some of the toys I need in the want ads in the newspaper or local advertiser paper? Will it help to advertise: "Wanted by registered child care home - tricycle and wagon"?

* Can I explain the purpose to local merchants and get them to give some of the materials free?

* Can I get the parents involved in making toys or equipment?

* Is this item essential? Can it wait?

* Should I buy books or borrow books from the local library?

* Are there child care resource and referral programs that loan out toys & books?