Toys for kids of all ages!

Lego, Meccano, Clickits and good old fashioned wooden blocks – all open your child’s mind to building.

Children love to build things. From an early age, they will take whatever is available and begin stacking. Making houses, forts, castles, and whatever else their imagination conjures up can keep children occupied for hours. And important skills are learned through playing with construction toys. These include hand-eye coordination, logical thinking, and bringing a creative idea to fruition. The toy industry has embraced this childhood activity by producing a full line of building blocks and construction toys.
There are now dozens of choices for children who want to enjoy construction toys. From simple alphabet blocks to Scrap Metal Sculptures, kids have a wide range from which to choose. Here are some of the top sellers:

Lego: What began as simple interlocking bricks has turned into an entire industry. According to the Lego Company, children spend over 5 billion hours a year playing with Lego bricks. Lego comes in a variety of sizes (big ones for little hands and little ones for big hands) and specialized Lego kits make up a large potion of their product line.
Gearbotics: Kids can make their own robots with Gearbotics. Kits include claw arms, wheels, motors, and lots more, and the company makes things kid-friendly by color coding all of their parts.
K’Nex: This company bills itself as the maker of the world’s most creative construction toy. Knex sells a variety of kits, from deluxe bridge building to simple levers and pulleys.
Ello: Launched specifically for the female market, Ello allows girls to “create anything they can imagine.” Girls can design houses, towns, and even a water world from colorful pieces that snap together. Ello creations can be decorated after they are built.
Rok Works: Rockenbok takes the basic construction set and adds a new twist by integrating radio-controlled vehicles. Kids can create roads that will carry the vehicles and garages to house them.
Zome Systems: Zome is based on mathematical and molecular models and it is frequently used in classrooms to teach algebra, geometry, and more. Although it can be used as a teaching tool, Zome is also a lot of fun. For example, kids can create 3-D shapes, and then dip them into bubble mix to create truly crazy bubbles.
Mega Bloks: Similar to Lego, these blocks can be used to create everything from action figures to street racers. Like most toys in the construction category, Mega Blocks offers different product lines for younger and older children.
Whatever your choice, parents can’t go wrong with construction toys. From simple blocks to complicated architectural designs, construction toys show children that they can learn while having fun. On a frantic afternoon, remember to pull out the construction toys and watch as kids quiet down and start constructing things that they have plucked from their imaginations.

Some of the first building sets to enter the marketplace were Tinkertoys, the Erector Set, and Lincoln Logs. Tinkertoys were introduced at the American Toy Fair in 1913, and were an instant sensation. Children took the thin rails and round spools and created engineering masterpieces. The Erector Set was created by A.C. Gilbert. He began selling his “Mysto Erector Structural Steel Builder” the same year that Tinkertoys hit the market. It quickly became the toy of choice for young architects across America, as they set about taking the metal beams and building skyscrapers and bridges. Lincoln Logs followed shortly thereafter. Wide-eyed children found them under their Christmas trees in 1916, and the interlocking logs became part of history.
Each of these original construction toys has been updated and modernized to include hard plastic parts and brightly-colored pieces. They have proven to be as popular with this generation as they were with previous ones.

Technorati Tags: knex, lego, meccano, wooden building blocks

Toys to stimulate and enhance your baby’s senses and emotional development
Toys for babies are more than just play items. They can have the potential to develop your baby’s continuously growing mind and to stimulate your baby’s senses. The first months and years of a baby’s life are a very important time as they lay the foundation for helping your baby realize his or her full potential.
Play gyms, activity gyms, play nests – these words all relate to one item, that is a firm favourite with babies from newborn up to about 12 months.
Often decorated with well known and lovable characters, Winnie-the-Pooh, tigger, Eyore, zoo animals, etc – they can consist of detachable, hanging parts such as animals, or other characters, some come with bright twinkling lights and bells and other make funny sounds, or musical
sounds, and some even do both.

Seek out toys that feed your baby’s curiosity, toys to excite your baby’s senses and toys that stimulate your baby’s sight and hearing.

On many baby toys you often find mirrors attached somewhere – this is so that baby gets to find
and see its own reflection, and crinkly, soft, scrunchy textures for baby to touch, squeeze and
stroke. All of this is extremely important for developing young minds. Babies are like a sponge, they are ready to absorb whatever information they can – and boy – they can’t grasp it fast enough!
We have sought out some of the finest in developmental toys, and just plain toys for fun too, from high calibre brands such as Fisher Price, Tiny Love, vTech and Brio.

Technorati Tags: Baby Toys, fisher price, learning toys, sensory toys

Looking for action heroes? We’ve got Spiderman, Superman, Xmen and much much more!
All children look up to action heroes – and most children want to be just like them! From the fantasy super worlds that action heroes such as Spiderman and Superman, amongst others, inhabit, we are quite sure you will find whatever you are looking for. Who can forget the awesome powers possessed by the Xmen? Or the Incredible Hulk? To little eyes and ears, these action figures are something to be marvelled at.

Those amazing superheroes, Spiderman and the Xmen, saving the world yet again! Kids everywhere want to be just like them – we have a range of superheroes based on their classic comic book adventures.
Action heroes make excellent toys for kids because they transport your child to that magical place where there are no limits to their imagination. They can pretend to have amazing powers just like Spiderman who can spin webs and scale walls! Or Superman who can fly at the speed of light and save the world! Or be like Batman with his handy gadgets that help the crusade for the good against evil.
Collectors of Marvel legends will also find kids toys that suit their taste.

Technorati Tags: hulk, incredible hulk, spiderman, superman, transformers, xmen

An article by Carolyn Schweitzer

Adorable stuffed dogs are a favorite gift for dog lovers. Learn what to look for and what to Avoid.
Although it’s hard to say when the first stuffed dogs appeared, I would guess that it was soon after dogs were domesticated. We do know that as long as there have been children, there have been dolls, rattles, miniature weapons, and hand-made animals. Anthropologists have found evidence of toys dating back to the earliest records of human life.

Play is universal and cross-cultural. Though it may vary among cultures and generations, it’s clearly instinctive and a key part of our development. A child’s play is his way of learning about himself and his world. Play opens the door to a child’s imagination. Some of our fondest memories from childhood are recollections of time spent playing with special people and favorite toys.

A classic among childhood toys is the Teddy Bear, who made his appearance in 1903 and is still popular today. Although the Teddy Bear may be famous because of his political affiliation (he was named after Theodore Roosevelt), just about any stuffed toy can become a child’s favorite. Especially for infants and toddlers, there’s great comfort and reassurance in having soft, cuddly companions like stuffed dogs to snuggle up with.

As surely as children play with toys, their needs and interests change as they grow and mature. As a child matures, a stuffed toy may come to represent a favorite animal in nature. Toy stuffed dogs might be huggable versions of media characters like a cartoon or comic strip dog (“Snoopy”, “Scooby Doo”, “Blues Clues”, etc.). Finally, stuffed dogs can play the role of imaginary family pets.

When shopping for stuffed dogs for small children, keep in mind the child’s age, interests, and abilities. Be especially careful when selecting toys for children under age 3. Labels help consumers narrow down which toys are right for a child, but here are some general guidelines regarding stuffed toys for children from birth to three years of age:

For children in the one to three year age range, avoid toys with small parts that could be swallowed, aspirated (inhaled into the air passages or lungs) or inserted into the nose or ears. The eyes and noses of stuffed dogs should be securely fastened and the seams well sewn. Avoid stuffed dogs with any sharp corners, rough edges, or strings.
Here are some specific guidelines to keep in mind according to a child’s age:

Birth to 6 months
For the first few months babies can’t grasp with their hands, so choose toys that stimulate with sight and sound. High contrast, black-and-white or brightly colored toys and toys that make noise (like a squeeker toy) will get baby ’s attention. Puppets can be used by adults to entertain baby.

Once the baby has learned to grasp, look for textured toys that are safe for mouthing. Choose stuffed dogs with short pile fabric.
Never hand a toy from the crib, stroller, playpen, etc., or around babies neck.

6 months to 1 year
Infants become more mobile at this age and interact more with their toys. This is also the age when they love to drop things, so nice soft stuffed dogs will earn points with Mom for the absence of loud crashing sounds as they hit the floor!! Of course, your peace and quiet could be spoiled by the fact that toys that squeak when squeezed are popular at this age. Puppets are still a great way for parents to hold a child’s attention, and there’s even one popular brand that doubles as a washcloth at bath time.

The stuffed dogs you choose should still have a short pile fabric. Babies start teething at 6 months, and will definitely chew on their toys, so make sure you buy toys that you can throw in the washing machine

1 to 2 years
During their second year of like, children love to explore. Their play is more physical and involves experimentation and imitation of adults. At this stage, stuffed dogs might be seen as “pretend pets” to befriend and care for. This could be a good rehearsal for the real thing. Children are not instinctively gentle with animals. Interactive play between parent and child, using stuffed dogs as props, can be a fun way to introduce them to the idea that a pet should be handled with gentle loving care.
At this stage, objects still get mouthed, so stuffed dogs should still have short pile fabric.

2 to 3 years
Finally, you can graduate to nice, furry stuffed dogs! The long pile isn’t considered a hazard–mainly because children age 2 to 3 no longer place everything in their mouths.* Kids this age have developed good hand coordination and like to put it to work with arts and crafts and simple puzzles. Plain stuffed dogs make use of a creative imagination. You might also consider a doggie hand or finger puppet. These work the mind as well as hands and fingers!
*No more thumbs or pacifiers at this age!! It will affect your child’s oral and dental development.

3 to 6 years
After age three, make-believe is a favorite pastime and children interact with each other, using toys as props. It’s common at this age to develop strong attachments to favorite toys, and express feelings towards a particular doll, teddy bear, or stuffed dog. Toys representing favorite cartoon or TV characters might be the objects of affection. Puppets are also lot of fun for games of make-believe.

6 to 9 years
By now, more sophisticated games and toys are likely to have replaced stuffed toys. The exception is young collectors, looking for stuffed dogs to add to their menageries. Collectors defy age categories; the “beanie baby” craze is a great example of this. Personally, I never played with dolls as a kid but had an enviable collection of stuffed animals, and am still a sucker for a cute stuffed toy. Puppets are still appealing, as well as some of the nontraditional forms of stuffed dogs. These might include a pair of slippers in the form of a favorite dog breed, or bookmarks made to look like stuffed dogs.
9 years and up
Especially as they approach their teens, children want to impress their peers and leave “childish” toys behind. Stuffed dogs, and stuffed toys in general, are only for young collectors in this age group. There are variations on stuffed dogs you might do better with. For example, a pair of dog slippers, a dog backpack or purse, or stuffed dogs suspended from key chains. Young (and old1) golfers would love a plush golf head cover in the shape of their favorite dog.
Finally, since your household (or the one you’re shopping for) may have children of different ages, here are some general rules you can follow for fun and safe play:

TEN STEPS TO FUN AND SAFE PLAY *

• When shopping for toys, keep in mind the child’s age, interests and abilities.

• Read toy or packaging labels for age ranges and safety warnings.

• Be especially careful when choosing toys for children under three. Select toys that are free of small pieces (or pieces that separate or can be broken off), are lightweight, have no sharp edges or points and are non-toxic.

• At home, read instructions for assembly and use. Keep product literature in case of future questions and complete warranty cards.

• Remove and discard all packaging from a toy before giving it to a baby or small child.

• Consider the home environment in which a child will play with a toy and younger children who may be there. A toy intended for an older child may be dangerous in the hands of a younger one.

• Always provide toys in conjunction with sensible supervision. Supervise children when they play and set good examples of safe play.

• Remind caregivers, including grandparents, of play-related safety concerns

• Do not leave toys on stairs. Choose a safe storage place for toys. ( Anything large enough for a child to climb inside should have a cover that’s easily removed).

• Check toys at least every three months to determine their safety. Make any repairs immediately or throw away damaged toys.

* Source: www.toy-tia.org

Technorati Tags: safe toys for babies, stuffed toys, toy safety

Toys for Girls and Boys – An Article by the British Toy and Hobby Association

Toys are vital to your child’s development. The National Toy Council has prepared a series of leaflets Toys & Children to help parents to understand better issues relating to toys. This newly revised leaflet is designed to help in the selection of toys for girls and boys.

Why do boys and girls play differently and often prefer different toys? Someone said that if you gave footballs to 100 girls and dolls to 100 boys, within an hour the boys would be kicking the dolls and the girls would be nursing the footballs. Research shows that gender differences begin in early childhood.

SEX DIFFERENCES IN PLAY
Boys are usually more physically active than girls so boys prefer active, noisy play, and girls choose more social and passive forms of play. Boys are attracted by action and sound effects and making things happen, as in computer games. There is overlap, of course, with boys and girls sharing many play interests and activities – puppets, drawing, games, puzzles, wind-up animals, and modelling clay, to name a few.

Although boys and girls play differently they are alike in basic ways. Both need variety in their play – playing alone,
playing with others, playing quietly and playing actively. No single toy, or type of toy, can satisfy all a child’s
play needs. It is important for all children to experience a wide variety of play, and to be offered a range of
toys and play opportunities.

TOY PREFERENCES
Differences in the toy choices of boys and girls appear from as young as 9 months of age (1). Many boys prefer
male super-hero dolls and vehicles, while girls prefer baby dolls and toy household objects (2).

Girls are more flexible – they play happily with soft, cuddly toys, as well as with action figures, chemistry sets, and video games. Boys are quicker to reject a toy that they consider a girl’s’ toy (3).

WHAT MAKES THEM DIFFERENT?
Why do boys and girls play differently?
There are two basic explanations. The usual explanation is social: that sex differences are learned as part of
gender socialisation (learning the roles of males and females). Children are influenced by the adults, and
later by the other children, around them. From babyhood, adults give cars and other ‘boys toys’ to boys and dolls
to girls, thus teaching them which toys are ‘appropriate’ for them (4). Later these sex differences are further strengthened by the child’s friends and classmates. Toy manufacturers often package and advertise toys ‘for boys’ or ‘for girls’. So a pink toy chest with a Barbie doll design is seen as a girl’s toy.

The alternative explanation is biological. Recent research increasingly supports this. Even monkeys show sex differences in toy preferences similar to those in children – young males preferred balls and cars, while young females preferred dolls and a pot.
The young monkeys played equally with ‘neutral’ toys, a picture book and a stuffed dog (5).

Other biological factors like hormones are also important. In one study, girls with high levels of androgens were more likely than other girls to prefer ‘masculine’ toys (6). Males and females evolved with different styles of visual perception and colour sensitivity. This may explain why boys and girls prefer different different colours and why boys’ prefer active toys (7).

WHAT SHOULD I DO?
It is important to offer children – both boys and girls – a wide variety of toys and opportunities for play.

Toy buyers should not limit themselves by thinking that a particular toy is only for a boy or only for a girl.
Children need a variety of play experiences to develop fully.

Don’t worry about allowing boys to play with dolls or domestic toys; there is no evidence that toys influence a boy’s masculinity or result in feminine traits. Children use their imaginations with toys, any way, so you may
find boys slinging dolls at each other, while girls use action men to go on dates with Barbie.

To encourage boys and girls to play together, combine neutral toys such as teddies, toys for baking, games, mats for dancing, etc, with traditional boys’ and girls’ toys in play areas.

————————————————————————-

(1) Anne Campbell, et al., (2000). Infants’ visual preference for sex-congruent babies, children, toys and activities: A longitudinal study.
British Journal of Developmental Psychology, 18, 479-498.

(2) Anna Servin, Gunilla Bohlin, & Lisa Berlin. (1999). Sex differences in 1-, 3-, and 5-year-olds’toy choice in a structured play situation.
Scandinavian Journal of Psychology, 40, 43-48.

(3) Eileen Wood, Serge Desmarais, & Sara Gugula. (2002). The impact of parenting on gender stereotyped toy play of children. Sex Roles, 47, 39-49.

(4) A. Pomerleau, D. Bolduc, G. Malcuit, & L. Cossette. (1990). Pink or blue: Environmental gender stereotypes in the first two years of life. Sex Roles, 22, 359-367.

(5) Gerianne Alexander & Melissa Hines. (2002). Sex differences in response to children’s toys in nonhuman primates. Evolution & Human Behavior, 23, 467-479.

(6) M. Hines, & F. R. Kaufman. (1994.) Androgen and the development of human sex-typical behavior: Rough-and-tumble play and sex of preferred playmates in children with congenital adrenal hyperplasia.
Child Development, 65, 1042-1053.

(7) Gerianne Alexander. (2003). An evolutionary perspective of sex-typed toy preferences: Pink, blue, and the brain.
Archives of Sexual Behavior, 32 , 7-14

————————————————————————-

The National Toy Council is concerned with child welfare and promoting a sensible attitude towards toys and
play. Its members include representatives of the Child Accident Prevention Trust, British Toy & Hobby Association, National Association of Toy and Leisure Libraries, The Trading Standards Institute, BBC Children’s
Television, Kidscape, national press, academics, retailers and toy safety experts.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

BTHA, 80 Camberwell Road London SE5 0EG

Technorati Tags: girls toys, toys for boys

It is always a challenge to find a proper and useful toy for your child. On the one hand a toy must be useful for the baby’s development, on the other- it must be harmless. To select a correct toy for the baby you know some of his or her peculiarities of thinking and behaviour at stages of his or her development. Let us help you to discover the interesting and beautiful world of baby toys for your child from the ages of 3-6 months old.

In the period of 6-9 month the agility of your baby develops and becomes more complicated. He or she is grabbling freely and even tries to stand up onto two legs. Simultaneously small hand mobility develops: little one tries not just to grip the object in his palm, but also take it with his or her fingers.

Formerly a baby got acquainted with his or her surrounding objects occasionally, now their actions are purposeful. Liberalisation of the little person’s horizon will depend on adults. It is a serious thing for you to show your baby how to play with various toys: how to bang a little drum, how to play the small piano and press the keys, how to handle and ring the ball. At this age babies still chew and play with the rattles and tweeters, but they are also interested in more compound toys like little cars and books with bright pictures (note, always buy books with thick cardboard for small children!).

This age is a special period of time for the parents. Expression “being all eyes” more precisely describes the given situation. Some parents try to restrain the moving activity of their children from considerations of safety or not having enough time to look after them. But you must protect your child only against that is really dangerous to them. Children must learn out from their mistakes.

At the 9 months old the child understands that he or she can play with two toys simultaneously. For example, if they beat one toy on another, a sound will appear (tinkling, rattling) and the child likes these kind of sounds. Now they can play with bricks and pyramidions. In the beginning the child will smash and destroy the built houses and castles, but with time he or she will try to build them on their own. There are special meccanos of flexible plastic for 7-9 month old babies. As a rule, these are open-ended rings, which are linked easily together (though children like to nibble them).

By now a child can play simple games with the adults like “clapping palms”, “cuckoo”, and “let’s fly” etc. Ask your baby to find this or that toy, asking “Where is the rabbit?” If your child does not understand or finds a difficulty in finding the toy, help him “See, the rabbit is here!”

Attention!

1) Toys must not be broken or cracked easily; these contain fine details, which can get into child’s mouth or nose.

2) Plush toys are given to the child only in case if they are easily cleaned.

3) When the child begins to open the surrounding world in his or her room, cover the sharp corners of the furniture with something soft, close up plug sockets, and clear the wires away from the floor.

4) When entering your child’s room, dear parents, do not forget that your child might be standing behind the door.

5) Look carefully after your child and what he or she plays with. Among their “toys” can be not only the safe Mother’s slipper, but crackling plastic sachet (your child certainly will want to try it on).

Any baby store can offer you a wide range of toys, but, dear

parents please see carefully what toys you buy your little one, as not all are good and safe for them.

© 2007 First Baby Shop. This article may be used by anyone, anywhere as long as the author’s bio and links are included.

Angela Minster

http://www.articlesbase.com/home-and-family-articles/what-is-the-better-choice-of-the-toys-for-a-baby-in-the-period-of-69-months-old-106758.html

Technorati Tags: Baby Educational Toys

The thought of buying baby stroller toys can be extremely exciting, especially once you hit the sores that are filled with cute looking things that your baby would love to play with. Not only do they amuse the babies, a good selection of toys can also help sharpen the baby’s mind, and can train his or her mind to work smarter. Nice baby stroller toys also make for great room accessories when they are put in open shelves or simply as they are left lying around on the baby’s room floor. To make sure that you buy the best possible baby stroller toys keep the following in mind:

1. Soft- Toys with a soft surface, having a smooth finish, are what you should watch out for. Make sure there are no rough edges around or on the toys that can hurt the baby’s skin. It is generally suggested that even after you have bought the toys, you keep checking them regularly if they have the potential to develop, out of wear and tear, rough edges.

2. Large- You should select reasonably large toys, with large sub parts. This ensures that even if your baby takes the toy in his or her mouth, he is not able to swallow it down. However, do not opt for toys that are so large, which the baby cannot even take under his or her grip. Also, in spite of being large they should be as light weighted as possible, so that the bay can hold it up easily.

3. Strong-The baby stroller toy should be manufactured very well, so that the parts do not keep coming off. Chances that the baby would try to damage it are quite high, they might throw them away, kick the toys or simply try to pull its parts apart. Therefore the stronger and the more tough to break the toy, the better.

4. Washable- The toys should be easy to clean, and preferably also be such that they do not attract too much dirt and dust. The baby would tend to take the stroller toys in his or her mouth over and over again, and there is not much you can do about it. The best way to make sure that it does as little harm to the kid’s health as possible is by keeping it clean. Washable toys that do not get dirty easily are surely very important.

5. Fun without being risky- A baby stroller toy which is not fun is no use for the baby. Get toys in bright colors that look attractive. Toys that make sound, and are capable of keeping the baby occupied, are things that can really delight them. Do not go for complicated toys for the baby, since they are too small to understand them. The best toys are those that are simple to understand, such as toys that the baby can play with by juggling with it. Also the toy should not be risky. For example a long colorful rope might look amusing but does not make a good toy, since it might entangle the baby.

Keep these basic precautions in mind and buy safe toys!

Stuart Sherm

http://www.articlesbase.com/parenting-articles/helpful-hints-in-buying-baby-strollers-563134.html

Technorati Tags: baby strollers

Having a baby is a great joy for parents. Bringing a baby into the world brings many responsibilities. It is important to be prepared well in advance to buy some essential products for your new born baby. Taking proper care of baby is one of the responsibilities in every mother’s life. Try to buy some innovative products that make babies’ lives easier and comfortable.

Strollers provide an excellent service to parents and child caregivers. These vehicles make it easier to safely transport a child. Select a best child car seat and use it properly from the moment you bring baby home to every car ride after that. Play yards are also ideal for travel as a crib for younger babies to nap in. Get babies bedding set with a crib bumper. Ensure that the sides of the bedding set are cushioned. Having the proper baby furniture and bedding is essential. It would be nice to have a whole room designed to a nursery theme with crib, rocker, bassinet, and changing table. Baby Cribs, Cradles and Bassinets that are well designed and comfortable allow babies to sleep deeply and longer.

As for baby clothes, pamper your baby with cute outfits, little booties, and hats. Not to forget diapers, they are essential to keep changing very often. Make sure you buy plenty of them in order to avoid last minute shopping. When shopping for toys, always insist on buying safety products.

You no longer have to hunt around at your nearest baby store to get the best variety of products. Shopping online is the easiest and best way to get the largest variety and the most information about baby products. Buying them involves lot of expenses. But you can make great savings online. There is one site that offers coupons to get discounts. There is a wide variety of stores where you can get all baby items under one roof. You can select the stores and find coupons just with the click of a mouse. You can save anything from 10% – 50%. There are free shipping offers and also there are promotional offers where they would give you fabulous discounts and carry home surprise gifts. Coupons are the best deal for great savings especially when purchasing in bulk. This would save time and money.

Shop online and visit the site for coupons and coupons codes and make best use of it to avoid huge expenses.

<a href=”http://www.coupons4save.com” target=”_blank”> www.coupons4save.com </a>

M S Nath

http://www.articlesbase.com/babies-articles/how-to-buy-baby-products-online-and-save-money-738749.html

Technorati Tags: early learning centre toys

So there is a new baby in your life and you’d like to purchase a few baby gifts to welcome it into the world. Perhaps it’s the baby’s first birthday and you’d like to celebrate with a heart felt present. Well there are several factors that go into purchasing a fun, safe and economically sound gift for a baby.

First and foremost when you think of a gift the most important factor should be safety when you are buying for a baby. Safety can mean several things. First, all today and most baby related items come with indicators that tell you for what age the product is appropriate. This is important to pay attention to because the older the age groups the more intricate and likely the more smaller the pieces of the toy are likely to be which could cause a choking hazard. When thinking about toy safety for baby gifts you must also give consideration for toy recalls. Many toys get recalled every year due to safety issues and there are many online resources that can help you determine which baby items have been recalled.

Second, a great baby gift is a gift that helps to develop motor skills, cognitive skills and intelligence. Many times these types of educational toys are overlooked for simpler, shinier and more colorful toys that can do very little to help a child hone and advance their skills. A well thought out choice for a gift can give the child years of educational enjoyment. Shop around and avoid picking out the first thing that catches your eye. Focus on those toys that will enhance a child’s play time and your gift will be a sure fire success!

Any toy that helps a child develop is usually a good value but once you determine which toy you would like to purchase, do a little online research for the quality of that toy. Just because it hasn’t been recalled doesn’t mean it’s a solid value. Some toys tend to break just hours after a child gets their hands on it. Not only does this run the risk of having an upset child it runs the risk of dangers from sharp corners or small broken pieces that can cause choking. Mommy blog and children’s toy review sites are all over the Internet. Put a toy’s name in a search engine and you are sure to find tons of responses from mothers who have had first hand experiences with the toy you are interested in. Who’s better to tell you the quality of a toy than a mother? No one!

Following these tips will help you ensure the baby gifts you purchase are of high quality that will supply the baby in your life with hours of enjoyment, entertainment and education.

Kimberly Green

http://www.articlesbase.com/gifts-articles/purchasing-toys-that-are-high-quality-and-that-will-help-your-children-develop-723903.html

Technorati Tags: Educational Toys, educational toys for baby

An article by Tony Bancroft

Despite serious reductions in funding for arts programs in public schools, there is a great need for studying music. Band, orchestra, and choir all offer students a chance to work together in a social and intellectual group setting and excel at complex tasks.

The trick for parents is to enroll their children in high quality programs and assist them in purchasing high quality instruments. There are indeed many benefits to be realized from a musical education and a quick reference guide is listed below.

Playing a Musical Instrument Can:

• Help your child develop a commitment to excellence

• Help your child develop self-esteem

• Provide an opportunity for your child to experience self-expression, creativity, and heightened achievement

• Engage the imagination

• Contribute to a balanced, positive, challenging, and stimulating education

• Prepare your child for other stages of development and participation in society by fostering dedication and sensitivity

• Increase your child’s brain development, math abilities, and higher thinking skills

• Help your child develop perseverance when things are looking bleak and hopeless

• Raise your child’s awareness

• Expand your child’s knowledge

• Help your child develop mind and body coordination

• Contribute to your child’s spiritual growth

• Help your child develop teamwork skills

• Be a source of great fun!

About the Author:
Tony Bancroft, Music Teacher and Author of “Growing Your Musician:
A Practical Guide for Band and Orchestra Parents” assists parents in developing their musical children. He is an alumni of Yale University and UCLA. He can be reached at www.growingyourmusician.com

Technorati Tags: music education, music for kids, musical toys