Friday, July 22, 2011

What Is The Best Age To Introduce A Child To Electronic Educational Toys?


When searching for a new toy for your child, you may experience a bit of sensory overload when walking through the toy department. There are all kinds of colors screaming at you with huge numbers and letters to accompany them. However, there are more than just colors and numbers getting your attention. There are also lights, sounds, and talking toys. If the kids are with you, they are really excited and decide it is time to turn on every single toy that makes noise so that they can hear them chiming, ringing, singing, and beeping all at the same time. Obviously the kids know how to operate these toys, which means they have been introduced to them at one time or another. So what is the right time to introduce a child to electronic educational toys?

We see them everywhere for all ages. We see them for babies, toddlers, and school age kids. For babies, these toys will have very colorful buttons on them that may make animal sounds and say what the animal is or play music for them. For toddlers, the toys will say the name of an animal when the little one pushes the button or will even start teaching numbers and letters. For school age kids, they can improve their spelling and math skills in order to do better in school. The possibilities are endless, but that still brings up the debate of when a child is too young for electronic education toys. Or are they too young?

The consensus seems to be that children who are of school age should be the ones introduced to electronic educational toys. The reason for this is because children of this age are more likely to understand the different functions of the toy instead of being constantly confused as to what all it can do. For children younger than that, it is believed that non-electronic toys require more imagination. Electronic toys do teach numbers, shapes, and the alphabet, but non-electronic toys encourage creative thinking.

Also, although electronic educational toys are interactive, the interaction of non-electronic toys ties in with the concept of creative thinking. Non-electronic toys also encourage children to interact with each other, whereas electronic educational toys are primarily made for individual play. Non-electronic toys also promote physical activity.

But the good news is that by the age of 5, a child has developed many of these skills and can be introduced to electronic educational toys to help them in their studies. However, it is still beneficial to incorporate non-electronic toys into a child's life to allow them to continue using their imagination. Although the child may have an electronic educational toy, it is still beneficial to use old fashioned flash cards, alphabet blocks, refrigerator magnets, and other such toys to promote imagination and learning. One such way to promote imagination is through the use of building blocks that allow children to build things.

Yes, the electronic educational toy market is huge. There are actual consoles and so many games and educational programs that it can make a parent's head spin when walking through the toy department. Even after leaving the store, the toys that come home continue to make a parent's head spin with all of the beeping, music, and other various sounds that appeal to children. However, despite the constant noise these toys make when the kids are playing with them, when a parent hears the toy say, "Well done," "correct," or "good job," a parent can't help but have a smile on their face because they know they have a little genius on their hands.




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Wooden Toys Surpass Plastic Toys


When it comes to plastic toys and wooden toys, there is more of a chance that plastic toys will be purchased. However, consumers don't seem to consider buying a wooden toy for their kid instead. In a few ways, it would be more worth the while to get.

Let's think of a few differences between the two. Plastic toys: they can break easily and the edges could harm the little children. Wooden toys, on the other hand, are more durable. If you were to stand on a toy truck made of plastic, there is a great chance that it will break, possibly leaving sharp edges that could cut your child; and be fit only for the rubbish.

Standing on a wooden truck is more likely to result in damage to you or whoever stood on the truck though one wouldn't actually suggest it. They can be played with for years and years and still look like new. Speaking of years and years, wooden toys may provide family stories and build up fun memories in the mind. When after so many years you get to see your very old toy, as they are very durable, old memories freshen up. Wooden toys can be passed on from generation to generation. Because the design is very seldom complex, they don't date.

Here are some more reasons why wooden toys should be chosen over plastic. Many plastic toys are mechanized and do a lot on their own without the help of the kid. Wooden toys tend to be more passive, which means that the child has to become more involved and this can stimulate their imagination and be more stimulating. A more passive toy may also encourage greater problem solving skills. Another reason is wooden toys can make for a nice decoration for your home when the child outgrows them.

Wooden toys do not contain any harmful chemicals whereas plastic toys contain PVC also known as Vinyl which can be harmful to children should they ever put the toy in their mouth. Provided they are not painted with lead based paint which is only likely if it is an heirloom or if it is a cheap foreign import, wooden toys do not present any health hazard whereas plastic toys can be full of chemicals that are harmful if the child ever puts the toy in their mouth.

Wooden toys give a picture of the craftsmanship as compared to a plastic toy. Plastic toys generally do not depict any creativity by hand. Therefore, wooden toys are considered to be better than plastic toys. They bring joys and refresh memories in the future.




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Thursday, July 21, 2011

Choose The Right Toy For Your Kids


The first time you look through the toy department you may be struck by how much more expensive toys are today than you remembered. Toys don't have to be expensive, though. And with toys, expense has nothing to do with quality. We've all heard the story about the parents who bought their child an expensive toy, and all the child wanted to do was play with the box. A good toy for one child isn't necessarily a good toy for another child. When you purchase a toy, you need to consider your child's age, gender and personal preference. Here are some examples.

As you are getting ready to buy a toy for your little one, keep it in mind that the toys you pick need to be age appropriate for your child. Children go through various stages of development at different ages. Toys need to stimulate the child's mind during play.

Choose interactive and fun toys for infants and toddlers.

Infant Toys and Toddler Toys should stimulate and entertain children from the ages 12 - 24 months or 1 - 2 years. Educational infant toys from famous manufacturers such as Leap Frog, Fisher Price and other infant toy makers are very popular. Infants and Toddlers love toys which make noise, which are colorful and interesting.

Children's Toys And Preschool Toys From The Ages 3 to 4 Years

Preschoolers love toys that stimulate the imagination, offer a challenge and are basically fun to play with! This year, innovative use of technology has ensured hours of fun for this age group. The top toys of 2007 for preschoolers include a wide range of choices like R/C vehicles, toy pianos, games, bikes and much more.

Kids Toys And Kids Games For Kids Aged 5 to 7 years

Kids between the ages of 5 to 7 years have to be kept busy with suitable kid's toys and kid's games. Girls usually love doing some sort of art or craft activity, and boys tend to prefer playing electronic and video games.




Choosing kids toy can be tricky, and you don't want to see useless toys to pile up in corner. So be wise and considerate, your children are going to love them and keep them.





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Clever Ideas for Toy Storage


From grocery stores to the doctor's office, babies take toys everywhere! It's common to see a baby grasping a stuffed animal or a favorite rattle almost anywhere they go. Toys comfort baby and can help them to feel secure when they are in a rapidly changing environment. As a baby grows, so to does the collection of toys that begin to invade their bedroom...and the living room...and Mom's purse, etc. So what is a clutter-loathing parent to do?

Storage options for baby toys range from no-frills to whimsical designs. The classic toy box can now be found shaped like a car or ship, or decorated with the latest cartoon movie superstar. Of course the classic wooden toy chest never goes out of style. Toy boxes are definitely an economical hit, but they lack the organizational compartments that make finding baby's favorite toy a breeze.

When little ones look through a toy box, they will inevitably empty it to find the one car or doll that they wanted, which was, of course, at the bottom of the box. Some cleverly designed toy boxes resemble benches or chairs, or made to look like other toys, like a dollhouse or firehouse. Using bins is another option, and these can easily be found with their own organizational shelving system. Bins can be color-coded by type of toy, and can be lifted out of the rack and replaced with ease. There are even spinning carousel-style bin systems, which rotate to quickly access any toy.

When using bins for toy storage, you can create a label to identify the contents of each bin. You can also use plastic bins to store toys that are no longer used every day so that they can be put away in a closet or under a bed. Like to travel with baby? Consider a fabric toy box for its light weight, or a box with handles for easy transport. Other features to look for include soft sides to cushion baby's toys against bumps and scrapes, interior panels that fold up to allow quick storage when not in use, removable storage compartments and exterior pockets.

Use an appropriate storage system for different types of toys. Books belong on a bookcase, not stuffed in a toy box. There are thousands of bookcase designs from which to choose. Put stuffed animals that aren't played with daily in a net hung up in the corner of baby's room. Keeping toys put away correctly will help them to last longer and stay cleaner.

If you're short on space, use a toy box that fits under the crib or bed. You can also put smaller items, like cars or blocks, in individual plastic containers before putting them away. When you organize baby toys, they are less likely to be lost and can be enjoyed longer. Teach your child from a very young age to take care of his toys and put them away correctly. Not only will the toys last longer, your little one will develop good habits that will last a lifetime.




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Interactive Toys For Learning


It's unfortunate that more people don't know this, but toys and playing are absolutely vital for a person's development. This isn't only true for babies and children, it's just as true for adults. Yes, even adults need to take some time to goof off and indulge their curiosities now and then if they hope to continue growing and changing as human beings (or have you never spent hours and hours researching random topics on the internet, just for fun?).

With the right developmental toys, playtime can be a whole lot more than something kids do for amusement. With the right toys, playtime can be a productive learning process. Every toy a child might become interested in has some potential to teach, as the child experiments and, well, toys around with it, but some of the best toys are the ones that capitalize on a child's tendency to experiment and aim to teach valuable life skills.

Most obviously, we all recognize on sight such educational wooden toys for babies and toddlers as the ring tower, which uses circular, wooden rings of various colours and sizes to teach children about, well, colours and sizes. These toys are excellent for babies and young toddlers still learning how to interpret and interact with the world around them on the most basic levels. There are also the traditional wooden shape blocks which can be dropped into a box through the corresponding holes, and various other classic toys used to teach basic interaction skills.

If you're looking for baby learning toys or toddler learning toys, you may also want to look into baby walking toys to encourage, well, learning to walk. Bath toys are another excellent form of educational baby toys to encourage basic life skills.

For the slightly older child, these kinds of toys are, of course, kind of boring. Once a child becomes interested in learning mathematics or learning to read, it's kind of hard to find tiny wooden blocks all that amusing anymore.

For the child who has surpassed the need for such basic learning toys, there are, of course, toys like Intellective toy laptops, which teach a variety of reading and mathematic skills, and of course, the classic puzzles and kids games, creative toys, such as Lego sets (check out the Star Wars lego toys if your kid's a real space nut), Duplos, Mega Bloks, and build-it-yourself castle and doll house play sets. Sorry for the run on sentence, but the list really does go on and on.

For the yet MORE advanced child, who might consider all that stuff to be children's toys, between the ages of say, 8 and 12 (though each child advances at his own age, so use your own judgment), there are more advanced toys, like model kits and remote control cars toys. Such toys aren't generally seen as being educational, but they do require a degree of construction and maintenance (which can encourage the kind of habits most of us wish we had when we bought our first used car as a teenager).

It's important to know what kind of interactive learning toys are right for your child, based on their level of development and their own personal interests. Most toys will have a suggested age group, but that's all that that really is: A suggestion. Nobody knows your child like you do, so look to provide them with the toys that seem custom built to their specific needs, and remember that, as helpful as playing can be, the best way to nurture a child's growth is by taking time to help them learn basic life skills and indulging their curiosities.




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Bird Toys - The Varieties of Bird Toys and What They Offer Your Parrot


If you have a pet bird or are considering getting one, bird toys are an absolute necessity. A bird requires toys for entertainment and stimulation. Even if you often interact with your bird, you will need bird toys in the cage for your bird.

There are many different types of bird toys available for you to buy. There are toys that are meant for mental stimulation for your bird, toys that are designed specifically for destruction and toys that allow your birds to preen the toy, rather than over preening themselves. You should have all types of bird toys available for your bird and should rotate them frequently in the cage.

Bird toys are made from many different materials for your bird to enjoy. Toys that are made from paper and natural materials like woods and natural fibers are good choices for your bird, because it gives them something to chew on. Birds enjoy chewing and breaking things apart. It is not only entertaining to them, but it also helps promote healthy beak structure. Other safe materials for them to chew on and destroy are rawhide and leather, or toys made from food substances.

There are many toys that are also made from non-natural materials. Plastic, fiberglass and metals are common choices of materials in bird toys. They are used often in toys that are for mental stimulation. These toys give the birds the mental stimulation they need to prevent boredom from occurring, which can cause severe issues like feather plucking. Birds must have adequate amounts of mental stimulation and these toys should be rotated frequently to prevent the birds from getting bored with them.

Preening toys offer the birds clean, hygienic feathers or materials for the birds to preen. When birds become to bored, they can start preening themselves too often which can lead to feather conditions. When you offer them toys that will allow them to spend time preening, you can help to prevent these conditions from occurring.

When you choose bird toys, you need to choose ones that are the proper size for your birds. Toys that are small, such as toys for parakeets, cockateils and other small parrots, should not be given to large birds like Macaws or African Greys. Giving a large bird toys that are too small can pose choking hazards. Make sure that when you buy your bird toys, you ensure they are the correct size for the bird that you own.

There are so many bird toys for you to choose from, you will certainly have a hard time deciding which ones to buy! You'll be amazed how many types of birds toys there are for different species of birds. When you shop for bird toys, you should choose toys in a variety of materials for your bird to enjoy. You should also make sure you buy different toys for simulation, destruction and preening so that your bird will never become bored and will stay a happy bird.




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Baby Educational Toys


Everyone wants their child to become a doctor or engineer or s successful businessman. No doubt, every child has the potential but it needs to be churned. For this, one needs to build up interest of the child. Every child isn't born a scholar. The grass root education matters a lot for child to gather pace to become something in life. How this starts? The answer is from your own home. There is no doubt that home can be called the first school of the child where a child learns everything. To make child acquainted with the things, the toys play an important role.

Educational toys always play an important role for letting the child to learn things. A child is blank and from the medium of toys he starts understanding things. In his early childhood, toys are his best friend as they keep surrounding him for most part of the day. So imparting education through educational toys is a novel idea. When a child is in early childhood, he grabs the things in fastest manner through play and there educational toys plays their role. Educational toys can make him learn new things and also provide fun and happiness to child as these are toys and a child loves to play with toys. Thus through educational toys a child can grab more rather than any other means.

Market is flooded with different types of educational toys but it is up to you to select which kind of toy for your preschooler child. To select educational toys you should have criteria to select them and following questions will help you to decide the criteria:

o Do you want to increase the imagination power of your child or need an educational toy?

o Is there some weakness in your child which you want to correct?

o What are the strengths of your child?

o Is the educational toy you are selecting for your child, meant for his age?

o Is the toy holds good reputation and holds plenty of good reviews that the toy will help your child in making his basics sound and clear?

o If other parents have used the same educational toy for their child, was it beneficial and seemed to work?

These are some questions which help you to make choice for educational toys for your child. You should forget that only educational toys are not meant to be bought for your child. For proper growth along with educational toys your child needs toys which are imaginative and should help in overcoming his weakness and making his strengths stronger. In other words, you need to have a balanced collection of electronic toys, educational toys and those toys which your child likes most like dolls, building blocks, and action icons. One must understand this thing that each child is different and it is not imperative that if one child loves educational toys, the other one also should have the same taste for educational toys and must should not force his/ her wishes on child at such a fancy age as it is the age where the child grows and the way he grows builds up the stage for his future.




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Difference in Toys of the Past 10 Years to the Present


It is no secret that toys have been changing in the last ten years. With all of the technological advances made by toy makers and manufacturers, the word "toy" means something completely different than it did to the past generations. Parents will remember when toys meant things like dolls, tea sets, non battery operated cars and trucks, train sets and Lego blocks. Their children however, will remember toys like Nintendo, X Box, Guitar Hero, Robot toys and remote controlled cars, trucks and planes.

Granted, there were some technological toys on the market ten years ago, but they were nowhere near the toys of today! If the toy making trends are to continue on as they have been, I am sure that the next ten years will find us buying robots for our children that have the ability to convert into a few different types of toys.

Ten years ago, the top few toys on the market that children were asking for were toys like the Furby, the Tickle Me Elmo, the Tamagotchi, Beanie Babies and the Teletubbies. There was nothing too technological about these types of toys, and all parents understood them, and how they worked. (Except for the Tamagotchi...some parents may have had some trouble understanding what the point of an electronic pet was!) After that year, the next fads in toys were toys such as, the Baby Furby and, believe it or not, the Yo Yo! The Yo Yo came back on the scene after being completely redone and presented as the new and improved ProYo. Baby Furby was just as big a hit as the Furby of the year before, and toy stores made a good profit off of this interactive toy.

After these toy trends were over, the TV show, "Who Wants to be a Millionaire" hit the airwaves, and of course, the board game came out before Christmas and was asked for by many kids that year. Along with this popular game came some toys that were a lot more technologically advanced than the toys of Christmas past. One example of this type of toy is the robotic pet. This toy was very popular with both parents and kids, because it provided a type of surrogate for a real pet, without being smelly, dirty or noisy. The robotic pet did a lot of real, pet like things without the hassle of having to care for a real pet. It was also a great idea for families with pet allergies.

After the robotic pet, technology basically took over the toy industry, and now there are toys like, more advanced robotic toys, video games, X Box, Guitar Hero, Nintendo Wii and all of the plug and play games. There are actually toys that allow kids to exercise without even stepping outside! There are still toys in the stores that are like the ones we had years ago, such as doll, cars, Thomas the tank engine train sets, and the like, but kids these days are asking more for the technological toys. Toys have almost become a popularity contest - kids want what their friends have, and if they don't own certain toy, they are not "cool" to their classmates.




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Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Children's Ride on Toys Now and Then


Ride on toys gained popularity in the 1950's and 1960's and became favorites for many children growing up during this time. Classic riding toys were made of wood or metal, many times from very sturdy materials such as steel. The ride on toys of this era resembled the latest automobiles and airplanes, and there were always wagons and tricycles.

The original ride on toys were made of much more durable materials than the ride on toys of today, although some of the materials such as steel also meant that the toys were not as safe as the ones made today. Sometimes classic ride on toys also contained lead paint, which was not identified as a hazard until years later. Even though antiques ride on toys didn't have all the safety features of the ones today, they can still make great presents with a new finish.

Many craftsmen specialize in repairing and restoring antique ride on toys and restore them so that they are safe for use. If you are a handy person, you can also find antique toys at auctions, yard sales, and vintage shops that you can restore yourself. Some crafters make new ride on toys that resemble older models and are made of similar high quality materials such as wood. This is a good way to get a classic ride on toy that you know is safe and durable. Artisans will sell their classic riding toys at craft shows, vintage toy shops, and online. If you want your child or grandchild to experience the fun of a classic riding toy, you can either get them a restored antique or a new ride on toy that resembles the ones from your childhood.

Whether you buy a restored antique ride on toy or a newly manufactured one, make sure that they meet current safety requirements. Toys should not contain lead paint, which is usually not a problem for toys that are newly manufactured or for antiques that have been refurbished. Some of the most durable materials used in antique ride on toys such as steel, are not the safest materials and have been replaced by lightweight yet durable metals. Most modern ride on toys and refurbished classic toys have rubber pedals for a non slip finish as well as non slip rubber tires. Padded seats and non toxic paints are also safety features of new and refurbished ride on toys.

Ride on toys whether they are antiques or modern replicas make great gifts for young children. Most children love ride on toys and will have hours of fun riding, pretending, and letting their imaginations soar. There are many different ride on toy designs, from cars and trucks to airplanes and even boats. Some ride on toys have pedals and others are just scooted along by the child's feet. You should consider the age and ability of the child you are buying for when you decide which type on ride on toy is right for them. Classic ride on toys are gifts that will be loved by children and appreciated by parents.




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Making Memories With Traditional Toys


Traditional toys are often thought to be the building blocks of a healthy childhood. These toys have been a significant part of children's play for centuries and are distinct from other toys because of their ability to stimulate creativity and imagination. Every playroom should include a variety of traditional toys to encourage healthy growth and development and there are many different types to consider.

Wooden Toys

Children's toys made of wood were first played with in ancient civilizations when little girls fashioned their personal playmates from sticks and twigs tied together with string to resemble dolls. Today, wooden toys come in many different styles and are favoured because of their durability and safeness. These toys are designed for all ages, from infant wooden rattlers to detailed wooden toy sets for school age children.

Dolls

Dolls are an important part of childhood and are often a little girl's very first friend. Children develop language skills, social skills, and even problem solving skills while they play with these traditional toys. A wide selection of dolls accessories make playtime even more fun and can create endless play possibilities. Accessories like cribs, prams, highchairs, and even bunk beds can turn playtime into a pretend adventure that expands the imagination.

Ride On Toys

Little legs and big imaginations are all that is needed for lots of fun with these traditional toys. Ride on toys give kids the wheels that take their playtime to a whole new level, not to mention new places. Miniature airplanes, trikes, and even classic hobby horses are the perfect toys for strengthening large muscles and encouraging typical toddler exploration. Wooden ride on toys that are foot powered are great toys for toddlers learning to walk and for preschoolers who are not quite ready to pedal.

Role Play Toys

Children's toys that encourage children to pretend and imagine are crucial to proper development. Role play toys are props that help children develop scenarios and reproduce real life encounters in their play. Dress-up clothes, miniature appliances, puppets, and child sized tools help children to sort out the many roles of adults through their own play experiences.

Dolls Houses

Dolls houses are traditional toys that continue to enchant and thrill children everywhere. Miniature houses, furniture, and families create magical childhood moments that are valuable teaching opportunities. While role play toys give children the chance to pretend they are anything from a mommy to a fireman, dolls houses are toys that allow children to make their own characters, as well as their own story line, for more play possibilities.

Wooden Jigsaw Puzzles

Jigsaw puzzles are fun, relaxing, and promote a number of skills that are necessary for a successful life. Wooden jigsaw puzzles are a popular choice because many are crafted by hand for higher quality and a longer life. These traditional toys:


Enhance fine motor development
Develop essential cognitive thinking skills
Build logic and problem solving abilities
Improve hand and eye coordination
Teach specific lessons, like geography or numbers

These traditional toys [http://www.monkeyshine.co.uk] and other open-ended toys that invite children to imagine while they play are essential tools for a strong body and mind. Most importantly, traditional toys provide hours upon hours of creative fun.




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Educational Versus Edutainment Toys


Today's parents feel pressured to use technology to begin their child's education in utero. For example, the BabyPlus Prenatal Education System promises to "give your baby a headstart" by playing rhythmic patterns to help stimulate early learning. It is time, therefore, to step back and evaluate the true value of toys that incorporate technology to teach.

Toys that are formed from high-tech electronics embedded with semiconductor chips are generally known as edutainment toys. The quality and substance of their play may be limited by the number of buttons a child can push. Some promise to challenge a child by allowing him or her to interact with the educational content to learn it. For example, V.Smile offers a Baby Infant Development System aimed at introducing interactive learning to kids 9 months to 3 years. They can watch educational videos with this system or push buttons on a tray to influence what is happening on a television screen.

Some older toys are also adding electronic bells and whistles to appeal to the current technologically sophisticated generation of children. Dolls now interact with the Internet. Wooden Brio trains make electronic sounds and can be controlled by infrared remotes. The classic Fisher-Price Rock-A-Stack now also comes in a Dance Baby Dance version whose center rod lights up and plays songs when the rings are stacked on it.

Open vs. Closed-ended Toys

An open-ended toy encourages free play with an unlimited number of outcomes. For example, a building set can be used to construct a variety of different structures. A closed-ended toy, on the other hand, has a limited and often soon exhausted number of outcomes.

Not all closed-ended toys are bad. After all, a stacker is a classic closed-ended educational toy: it can only be put together correctly in one way. However, to solve a stacker, a child must develop and use logic and fine motor skills. The child benefits from the repetition of playing with the pieces of a stacker, manipulating them with his or her fingers over and over and thinking about how they fit together until the solution is mastered and then repeated for pleasure.

A closed-ended edutainment toy, on the other hand, may only require a child to press a few buttons. Eventually, it leads to a dead end and the child grows bored and tosses the toy aside. As Martha B. Bronson notes in The Right Stuff for Children Birth to Eight, although a child can have a rich play experience with any toy, basic, open-ended toys encourage this type of experience more than rigidly programmed toys with only one or two functions do. This sort of edutainment toy is not timeless. It is meant to be replaced sooner rather than later by the next big product in edutainment that uses the latest in technological innovations.

Often people assume that toys that use new technology are more innovative and educational than non-technological educational toys. In fact, childhood specialists such as Jane Roberts (president of Young Media Australia, a consumer advocacy group), question how educational and interactive high-tech edutainment toys really are, noting that "[p]ressing buttons and having items do things for you is fairly limiting in terms of how children learn." Furthermore, many traditional toys are themselves becoming more innovative about stimulating a child's imagination and creativity without having electronics in them. For example, the blocks in FoxMind's Cliko game can be used for a variety of games that are challenging to children and adults alike.

Negative Impacts of Edutainment Toys

Overall, parents might not want to encourage children, especially younger ones, to use too often edutainment toys that involve televisions and computer screens. The authors of "Effects of Preschool Television Watching on First-Grade Children," found that preschoolers who watched more television than their peers did worse in school and were not as well socialized when they entered first grade. Researchers Frederick Zimmerman and Dr. Dimitri Christakis found that babies watching Baby Einstein DVDs and videos scored lower on language skills than babies who had never watched them at all.

In addition, Allison Sloan notes in Shopper's Guide to Healthier, Greener Toys that computers and television sets emit EMFs, "invisible forcefields whose possible health effects, from headaches to sleep disruption to cancer, are the subject of heated debate." Children's developing brains are in the greatest danger from such outside influences.

A final caution about edutainment toys is that they can foster in children an acceptance of a disposable consumer culture. A timeless toy such as a set of wooden unit blocks will hold up under heavy use for generations and can be played with at the same time by children (and adults!) of a variety of ages. Edutainment toys, on the other hand, are usually played with by only one child at a time, and they generally have a shorter playtime and life span. Children quickly master and get bored of them, or their high-tech components break, rendering the toy useless, and then they are discarded, releasing toxic chemicals and metals into the environment.

What Parents Can Do

As technology and the Internet permeate society and people's lives more and more, it does make sense to introduce children to computers and other inventions that they will need to use as they grow older. A toy is not necessarily bad or useless because it incorporates technology. That said, smart parents should examine the stated purpose of an edutainment toy, evaluate how and what it teaches, and determine if their children could receive equal or greater value from a simpler, classic toy. Roberts warns against the dangers of a parent using high-tech toys as babysitters, substituting interaction with a machine such as a single-player computer game for what should be "the best learning for young children-real-life experience when they model, create, explore, and develop their own initiatives through play."




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Toy Recalls


Recently there have been a number of toys that have been recalled for a variety of reasons. These recalls have included everything from dangerous levels of lead being present in the paint on some toys to the exterior of some toys being treated with a chemical that is similar to a date-rape drug when ingested. As a parent, you may be worried about which toys are safe for your children and which are not. There are a few simple steps that you can take to protect your child from toys that have a potential to be dangerous.

If you are worried about the toys that your child may already possess, you can obtain a complete list of toy recalls from the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission. This agency has a Web site online that can provide brand names of all toys that have been recalled since 1972. The commission also lists how many of the toys were recalled, the company that manufactures it, and the danger that caused the toy to be recalled. The agency also lists the country where the toy was actually manufactured and the stores where the toy was sold. It reports how many incidents or injuries have occurred as a result of the defect and give parents advice about what to do with the recalled toys.

So if you are cleaning out your child's toy box and find some toys that you may have questions about, you can find all the information you need on the commission's Web site. There are also various publications available that can inform you about potential problems that are not listed in the commission's reports.

When buying new toy, you should be cautious. If your child wants a particular toy, you can check with the commission to ensure that there have been no complaints about that toy. You can also check with the manufacturer to discover if the toys were produced overseas, since these toys seem to have the most recalls. You may want to avoid shopping on the Internet or out of a catalog and to shop in person as the store where you choose to go may be able to answer any questions you may have.

Another good idea is to shop wisely. For example, if your child has a tendency to put things in his mouth, avoid toys that are painted or have small pieces that could break off in his mouth and get lodged in his throat. You should also be aware of the suggested age group of a particular toy and avoid purchasing any of these items that are in a higher age group than your child. You should read all labels and hazard warnings to educate yourself as to how dangerous a particular toy is. You may also decide to avoid complicated toys and opt for simpler ones such as dolls or choose to buy electronic games or books as an alternative.

It is sad to say, but toy recalls are becoming an increasing problem. Most parents feel that the government's regulations are not strict enough when importing these toys from other countries. Until the government improves its testing regulations or until more toys are manufactured in the United States, parents are wise to proceed with caution when purchasing toys. If you do the necessary research, you can help to ensure that your child will have a safe toy to enjoy.




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Choosing the Most Auspicious Toy For Your Little One


A grown-up can keep their most favorable toy for many years but it can be fresh in his or her memory during all of their lives, because this very particular toy was the one he or she was so was passionately fond of. The toy can be for example a teddy bear, a talisman, bringing luck or simply any lovely and pleasant thing. That is why toys are very important for children. The toys create a special world where children grow up, develop and learn to live.

How to choose a good toy?

How can you make a good choice of toys for your babies? First of all it is very important and significant for a toy to benefit an infant rather than to do them harm. You must avoid buying toys containing harmful and bad for the health substances, which might cause different allergies, toys which have fluff on them coming out from inside of the soft toy and toys which can't be washed problematically. Toys as well as all goods manufactured for children must be

hygienic packed and sold in specialsed stories.

Toys have to be chosen taking into consideration the baby's age group. You have to be very attentive and careful buying a toy for a little baby, make sure that the new toy is not scary for them. If a child of 8-9 years can play with a scary spider monster, a little baby will be scared and will burst into tears. That is why soft playthings purchased for a little baby have to look friendly and make the infant happy.

At the young age big and simple shaped toys (cube, ball) have an encouraging and favorable effect on babies. The playthings should be of bright colors but not too bright. And the first thing you must be sure of is the toys safety from the point of view of traumatic injuries. You have to avoid purchasing toys with sharp edges and sticking out pieces of iron and springs or toys with some parts which can be easily taken off. Babies furniture must be safe too.

The magic power of toys

When a child reaches the age of 3-4 years there is a special group of toys for him or her, which is more complex and diverse. These toys satisfy many wants of growing kids: they can design and reproduce using different construction units, systematise their models with toy animals, furniture. Even they can work out accumulated energy and aggression using guns, bows and other military machinery and equipment. . For the girls this period is the doll epoch. At this age girls adjust to the social environment. With the help of the toys they create an atmosphere of home, cafe, school etc. And such toys as kitchen cookers, toy baby carriages, dolls and others can be considered as toys of great value. Children imitate their parents, doctors, and teachers and here soft toys with dolls are their wards: pupils, patients and their own children.

Dolls and soft playthings are real beings for children; the toys have names, dispositions and fates. And children usually treat them in the way their parents do, feeding the toys, taking them for a work, putting them to sleep and even give them a nice spanking.

Purchasing a toy is a challenge but it can turn into a real pleasure if you follow the advice and suggestions.




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Dog Toys For Large Dogs and Aggressive Chewers


Many people assume that just because a dog toy was purchased from a pet store, it is automatically safe for their dog. But this is not the case, as several toys are made for dogs of certain sizes and with certain play/chewing styles, and some toys can be dangerous for dogs if they are not properly supervised.

Large dogs or dogs that chew aggressively both have very specific needs when it comes to dog toys. Large dogs should always be given toys that are made for large dogs, because the smaller toys could become choking hazards.

Similarly, aggressive chewers (especially large aggressive chewers) can suffer from a whole host of issues with improperly selected toys. Any plastic, hollow squeaker toy is automatically out without proper supervision, because these toys can cause choking and vomiting if swallowed, and aggressive chewers tend to easily rip pieces of plastic from these toys apart. Also, furry toys, like stuffed animals, are also at risk of being ripped and eaten, and so should be purchased with extreme caution.

Still, for these two types of dogs, there are still several toy options. First, all of these toys are still made for dogs, and so if you do have time to properly supervise your dog, each is a nice gift. But for those that like to leave toys with their dogs, large ropes make great chew toys. They also clean teeth, and are less likely to be ripped apart, making them ideal for the aggressive chewing dogs.

Large dogs can still enjoy most any toy, as most dog toy makers do have "large breed" versions of all of their toys, you simply have to find them.

Also, brands like Kong use thick rubber which is more durable than traditional thin plastic dog toys, so these toys can stand up to even the roughest chewers. Hard rubber toys are ideal for any dog that seems to be destroying its toys faster than you can purchase them.

Finally, any toy that a dog needs to "solve" - for example, a large plastic dome with treats inside that a dog needs to paw around with in order to receive the treats - is a great toy for active dogs (but not for dogs that are easily frustrated). Any large plastic dome toy should still be watched at first, however, because dogs that like to "kill" their toys (shake their toys violently back and forth) may try to do so with their heavy plastic toy, causing untold amount of damage.

Dog toy manufacturers have done a much better job of creating toys for larger dogs and aggressive chewers. Still, it is a good idea to consider each toy carefully before handing it over to your dog, and supervising your dog for a while to ensure it is using the toy correctly.




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Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Bird Toys - Bird Toy Safety Every Parrot Owner Should Know


Birds are kind of like children. They love their toys and they love to play. But just as a responsible parent would practice good safety measures with their children and their toys, a bird owner also needs to practice good safety measures with their pet as well.

The first step to proper bird safety comes with buying the actual bird toy itself. Though it shouldn't be this way, many bird toy manufacturers make toys that are actually quite unsafe for birds. Ideally, these toys would never be allowed on the market, but unfortunately that isn't the way it is. So when you go to purchase new bird toys, you need to make sure that they are safe toys that will not be harmful to your bird.

Bird toys should be made with safe materials. While there are some bird toys made from plastics that are quite safe, you should still thoroughly examine these toys before you purchase them. Plastic ingestion can be very harmful to birds. Before you buy the toy, make sure it does not have cracks in it that will easily split. Avoid buying the toy if the plastic looks brittle or damaged. These toys may easily break, and the bird could end up swallowing the plastic and getting sick.

If you are buying toys that are made with wood, make sure the wood is a type that is safe for birds to chew on. Some woods are toxic to birds and can make them ill or even be lethal. Before you purchase a wood toy, make sure you know what type of wood that it is made from so you can ensure it has been manufactured from a wood that is safe for birds.

You should avoid buying toys with small chains to them, as bird claws and nails can get tangled in these chains and cause injury. Instead, look for toys that are hung with rope. When looking for toys with rope, make sure the the rope is a cotton rope with a tight weave to it. Do not buy toys that have loose weaves, or look like they may come apart easily, because this can also cause the bird to become entwined in the toy.

Proper bird toy safety continues after the purchase of the parrot toys too. The second step to proper bird toy safety is to be mindful of the toys after you have given them to the bird. When the toys start to become worn and are breaking apart very easily, take them out of the cage and throw them away. If there are rope toys in the cage, snip loose ends of the rope as you see them or throw the toy away all together if it is getting very loose.

Following these few simple bird toy safety tips will not only keep your bird healthy, but will also show it how much you care for it. When you are mindful of your birds toy safety, you can rest assured they will live a long and healthy life with you.




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Dog Toys - Options You and Your Pet Will Love


It has been said that a tired dog is a happy one. That may be true. However, it is certainly true that a tired dog has a happy owner. Dog toys and play serve a valuable function for you and your pet-besides wearing him out and keeping him out of trouble, toys can stimulate his mind.

Boredom is often the cause of a lot of bad behavior with dogs, such as chewing furniture, digging holes, or constant barking. Pet Toys, by alleviating the boredom, may help alleviate the problem.

Dog Psychology and Dog Toys

One thing you have to know about pets is that they like to work. They like also like to play. Most of all, they like to be involved. They also need exercise every single day.

Dogs are pack animals and need structure and interactions. For a pet dog, that means you are the pack. You need to do more than just feed and water your dog. You need to care for his mental health. And there's more to that than locking Fido out in the yard with chew toys.

Somewhere out there are pet toys that are right for you and your pup. Below are a number of options for toys that will improve indoor playtime beyond the simple and rather repetitive games like fetch and tug of war.

Hide and Seek Dog Toys

Hide and seek dog toys, usually featuring a cute yet hunt-able animal in effigy, are a good choice to amuse your dog (and yourself). The concept is simple-the plush toy stuffed squirrel hides in a plush toy tree trunk. You get your pet excited about digging it out of its hiding place.

If your dog has the habit of destroying his toys, this may be a perfect toy for him. He can dig the stuffed toys out of the base repeatedly rather than dig the stuffing out of a traditional stuffed animal. These toys have built in squeakers, making it easy to get your dog worked up about finding the toys.

These are great toys for smaller dogs (under forty pounds), especially terriers. Terriers, named for their digging, will love digging the toys out. These dog toys will also make your dog smarter by encouraging him to figure out how to get the dog toys out of their hiding place.

Hidden Egg Dog Toys

Alternatively, there are pet toys available with squeaky eggs in their stomach. They operate on the same principle; your pet practices gutting his prey, and his prey-your pet toys-live to be gutted another day.

Dog Toys with Treats in Them

Most pets love those old standards, chew toys. Many pups are quite content to gnaw their chew toys to oblivion, but most need more mental stimulation, at least some of the time.

Toys with treats in them give your pet a challenging puzzle to solve, that presses their instinctual buttons and rewards them at the end with a dog treat. An example is a plastic cube with treats inside which the dog must find a way to get out of the cube. The cube is also adjustable, so as your dog figures out how to get the treats out, you can make it harder so he won't get bored.

Another example of this type of dog toys is a rubber ball that helps clean your pet's teeth when he plays with it. Your dog bites the slits in the ball. His teeth sink into the grooves. The grooves stimulate the gums and clean the teeth, and dispense treats or kibble for your pet. These chew toys come in various sizes for different sizes of canines, but also come in different degrees of toughness so you can adjust for the destructiveness of your dog's chewing ability.

Dog Toys Stimulate Your pet's Mind As Well As His Teeth

These toys all have one trait in common: they can reward your dog as the task is completed. This provides mentally stimulating play for your dog, which can help keep them from being bored, and a contented, tired pet is less likely to destroy everything you own by chewing it.




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Ride On Toys - Traditional Toys With Endless Possibilities


Ride on toys have been a magical part of childhood for generations. For decades, these traditional toys have empowered little legs and young imaginations to explore all sorts of adventures, from driving to the grocery store and changing the oil to racing across a track like a professional race car driver. Whatever the adventure, ride on toys have been a childhood necessity for generations.

Available in all sorts of styles and designs, these toys are ideal for toddlers who are quickly developing control over their large muscles and beginning to walk. During this stage of development, most children are growing at a rapid rate and are learning new skills at the same speed. Ride on toys encourage the natural tendency to explore and, at the same time, enhances early creativity.

Developmental Benefits of Traditional Ride On Toys

Ride on toys, like many traditional toys, offer children a well rounded play experience that addresses most of the critical areas of childhood growth and development.

- Physical development is enhanced as little ones test the power of their legs with the classic foot to floor operation of traditional ride on toys. While most of the physical benefits of these toys are concentrated on gross motor skills, fine motor skills can also be developed by incorporating games with small blocks and toys to pick up on the go.

- Cognitive skills are built when children test the many different ways they can push, pull, or drive their toy. They will also experiment with the size and shape of the toy in relation to its surroundings as they manoeuvre through obstacles like people and furniture.

- Social and emotional skills are also a part of play time with ride on toys as kids come and go, interacting with others as they imagine.

- Language can be enhanced through these traditional toys as well. Children may learn new words, make new sounds, and even create stories around their play, expanding their vocabulary and their experiences.

Ride on toys are favourites for parents because of the rich educational value, but are just as popular among toddlers and early preschoolers because of the tremendous amount of fun they provide. Today's best ride on toys are designed much like those of many years ago, offering strong, durable construction from high quality wood.

Types of Ride On Toys

Boys and girls alike have been long time fans of these traditional toys [http://www.monkeyshine.co.uk/traditional-toys-21], although originally ride on toys were designed with boys in mind so they could imitate dad with the family car. Today, ride on toys can be found to fit every little personality and interest, from little red fire trucks and colourful choo choos to classic hobby horses and trikes.

Ride on toys are beloved traditional toys that have helped generations of children enjoy play time. Toddlers everywhere continue to be fascinated with the magic of their own wheels. Ride on toys enhance creativity and build the muscles your child will soon use to pedal. These are the ideal training toys for pedal cars and bikes and promise hours of fun for your toddler.




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Educational Toys Help Kids Develop Life Skills


Educational Toys and Life Skills

Educational toys not only promote developmental skills in children. They also help children acquire and improve essential life skills. Creativity, self-confidence, independence, responsibility, and integrity can all be cultivated through the use of carefully selected educational toys.

Creativity

One hallmark of educational toys is how well they support creative, open-ended play. A tray of wooden food can inspire a child to spend a whole afternoon running a pretend restaurant or planting and harvesting crops on a pretend farm. A set of blocks can be turned into a tower, a road system, a fort, a car, or even different animals. And the possibilities for a pound of modeling clay are endless! The more time a child spends exploring all the different things a toy can become, the more developed the child's powers of imagination will be. This fosters an open-mindedness to new possibilities that will help the child think of creative and innovative solutions to any challenges he or she ends up facing as an adult.

Self-Confidence

One way to build self-confidence is through play that encourages a child to assert him or herself. Singing, performing, and acting in front of an audience all help children assert themselves both in the planning stage and during an actual performance. Children also learn to assert themselves by acting out scenarios or performing informally with peers. Open-ended toys such as musical instruments and dress-up clothes and props encourage this type of play.

Taking risks that pay off will also develop a child's self-confidence. Susan G. Solomon, author of American Playgrounds: Revitalizing Community Space, notes that "Children need a chance to take acceptable risks, learn cause and effect, make choices and see consequences. If they don't learn to take risks, we'll lose a generation of entrepreneurs and scientists."

To take such risks, children must develop powers of risk assessment and decision making so that they can be sure that the risks they plan to take are, in fact, acceptable. The act of riding and controlling large toys such as bicycles requires children to calculate physical risks. The logic needed to play certain strategy-based board games like Monopoly, chess, and checkers involves risk assessment such as whether or not to invest in a property or risk one piece for a future, greater gain.

To improve their ability to calculate risk, children should also develop their decision-making skills. Science and engineering kits can help by requiring children to use observations and directions to make decisions about how to run an experiment or build a working machine. Puzzles and building construction sets can also hone this skill.

Independence

In general, allowing children to direct their own play and be in charge of what to do during their free time helps them become more self-sufficient and resilient. In particular, certain educational toys foster skills such as problem solving, taking charge of a situation, and leadership.

One aspect of being independent is being able to solve a problem on your own. Working with a construction toy system allows a child to explore different solutions to the challenge of building various items. Logical challenges faced on your own, such as figuring out how to use a set of pattern blocks to replicate certain complicated patterns, also build problem-solving skills.

Another aspect of being independent is taking charge of a situation. This can be as simple as providing your baby with two toy choices and allowing the baby the autonomy to make his or her own decision about which to play with. Beyond that, you can also encourage the development of independence by allowing your child to direct what roles you will take on when playing with your child or letting your child be in charge of how a toy will be played with. Providing your child with open-ended play sets such as farms, fire and police stations, pirate ships, tree houses, and train stations creates a situation where your child can control what scenarios he or she will act out that day.

A third aspect of being independent is taking a leadership role. While unit blocks and communal building sets of oversized hollow wood blocks, huge foam blocks, or sturdy cardboard blocks can foster cooperation skills, they can also offer opportunities for one child to lead others in a positive way to build a specific construction that that child has in mind. Educational toys can also help children become self-motivated and self-directed so that they can lead themselves to accomplishments without always relying on outside support and affirmation.

Responsibility

To become good citizens, all children should develop a sense of personal, societal, and environmental responsibility. In general, trusting children to take good care of their toys, to play nicely with them and put them back where they belong when play is done, can begin to foster a sense of responsibility. At the most basic level, a chart such as Melissa and Doug's Magnetic Responsibility Chart can help a child keep track of his or her personal obligations. Beyond that, specific toys can develop other kinds of responsibility.

When a child is provided with an open-ended toy such as a construction set that must be assembled by the child, he or she will take on the personal responsibility of following the directions and making sure the toy is put together correctly. This will train the child to take a sense of pride and personal responsibility in any future jobs he or she is expected to do. And, when a child takes care of a doll or pretend pet, he or she also develops a sense of personal responsibility for fulfilling his or her obligations to someone else.

Role-playing of obligations can extend to creating a sense of responsibility to society. When a child pretends that he or she is a construction worker or a doctor, that child is practicing taking on adult responsibilities that must be fulfilled if people are to live together in communities. Such role-playing socializes the child and allows him or her to get used to the idea of becoming a contributing member to such a community once he or she is grown.

Finally, science kits that encourage children to study the earth can educate children about why people must take care of animals, land, resources, and so forth. Plus, toys that are crafted from sustainable materials (such as Plan Toys) or bioplastics (such as Green Toys), or designed to use recycled materials (such as the Uberstix Scavenger sets), encourage a respect for the conservation of natural resources. This in turn leads to a developed sense of responsibility for caring for the environment.

Integrity

Educational toys can also help children develop integrity. Using costumes and props to role-play situations such as customer and server can help children practice politeness and manners. Acting out scenarios such as taking care of an injured doll or animal can foster compassion and empathy. And playing competitive games fairly by taking turns and following the rules develops a child's appreciation for right and wrong.

The educational benefit of toys for child development cannot be underestimated. The childhood pursuit for play and discovery continues into adulthood. Children develop fascination about their surroundings from playing with toys and continue to pick up hobbies late into their adult life.




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How Do You Choose Your Baby Toys?


When you are picking out toys for your baby, no doubt you want to purchase toys that your little one will love. However, there is a lot that will go into the decision of which baby toys to purchase. You see, there is much to consider, such as the price, the safety, your baby's development, and a whole lot more. If you're a bit nervous about picking out the best safe baby toys for your new baby, then here are a few great tips that will help you make the right decision.

Tip #1 Avoid Toys with Small Parts

First of all, when you are picking out newborn baby toys, it is important that you avoid purchasing toys that have any small parts. Small parts can break off the toy and your baby may put the part in their mouth, which could cause them to choke. You don't want to rush to the hospital with a choking baby, so it is best to avoid the toys with the small parts for safe baby toys that you feel more comfortable with.

Tip #2 Go with Toys that Stimulate the Senses

You'll also want to go with toys that stimulate your baby's senses, such as musical baby toys or other educational baby toys. Your baby's senses are developing fast, so you'll want to go with toys that cater to their senses and help to develop them as well. So, keep this in mind when you're picking out baby toys for your little one.

Tip #3 Do Some Research

Doing some research is important, whether you are purchasing a baby teething ring or a new baby rattle for your baby. One of the best ways to find out more about a specific toy is to get online and read reviews from other parents about the toy. If you find a lot of negative reviews, then you may want to avoid purchasing that particular toy for your baby.

Tip #4 Think About How Long the Toy Will Last

You may also want to consider how long the baby toy is going to last before you buy it. If you only think the toy is going to last a week or two, or you think your baby is going to get tired of it quickly, you may want to settle on a different toy that you think they'll play with a lot longer.

Tip #5 Make Sure Toys Meet Safety Standards

Making sure that toys meet safety standards is also very important. Whether you are purchasing plastic toys or wooden baby toys, you'll want to make sure that they are safe for your baby. So, make sure that you check to see if the toy you're consider is a safe baby toy and meets the safety standards that it should.

Tip #6 Read the Package for More Information

The package information can also provide you with a lot of helpful information about the toy. It usually is a great idea to read this information on the package before purchasing baby toys so you are sure it is the right toy for your baby.




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Multi-Featured Electronic Toys For Kids of All Ages


There are all kinds of toys available now in the market, ranging from very traditional wooden painted blocks to very techno multi-featured electronic toys like robots, interactive video games etc. Electronic toys have a wider market now when compared to the market scenario about a decade back. Well acclaimed toy manufacturers like V-Tech, Fisher Price and Leap Frog are some of the more popular manufacturers of Electronic toys.

Earlier on, it was a common assumption among buyers of toys that electronic toys are only for grown up kids. That was probably because then the market for electronic toys was also quite limited. But now, electronic toys for younger children aged between 3 and 6 years are also available. The electronic toys for this age group are generally more user friendly and with simple features. The simplest example would be of toys that run with batteries like an electronic train, vehicles, miniature musical instrument toys like piano, keyboard and the talking doll etc.

Of course now the variety of electronic toys available is mind-blowing. It's interesting to see how these toy manufacturers convert products that are ordinarily used by adults - like cell phones, DVD systems etc. - into miniatures that are known as sophisticated electronic toys. Though the options are many when it comes to these toys, one has to use discretion to decide which toys offer entertainment plus learning for your children. It's easy to get carried away with multi-featured techno toys that often represent the ever-growing competition among kids to collect the most popular toys.

Toys have now acquired a new-age definition, they are not just meant to entertain and amuse but they are very well part of education and training strategies too. It gives an interesting perspective to look at the toys that have been acclaimed as the most popular and in-demand electronic toys. Especially if you are parent to a fast growing child and like to know what kind of toys your kid will want to buy now, you will appreciate this information.

Among the top-most electronic toys are Electronic Cell phones that serve as a glorified walky-talky. It's comparatively a new toy, but most of the electronic toys shops have it now. It works almost like a cell-phone and allows you to talk to your friends that are within two kilometers radius; you can also send text messages. It works on batteries and has an in-built digital camera too. Other popular toys include interactive robots that can sense anything or anyone moving around them.

Also are robots that come with specific characteristics like the kind who change their expressions and dance when you play music to them. There are other toys that can alternatively qualify as electronic gadgets more than toys, like the Pen-top computers. These toy computers are capable of playing music, solving your math problems and much more. Fly Pen-top computer is one such toy that had also won the most popular toy award recently. Interactive story telling units and loads of other such DVD and computer based games have flooded the market and choices are plenty.




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Monday, July 18, 2011

Choosing the Right Dog Toys For Your Dog


Dogs and puppies love dog toys, but how do you know what toy is right for your dog? With so many choices available, from plush toys, to tennis balls, to rubber toys, the right choice isn't always obvious.

First, consider the size of your dog. A large dog certainly requires a different toy than a small dog, for instance. One of the most important points to consider is that all toys you buy should be of a size that your dog can't swallow. Even large dogs may accidentally swallow a ball that is too small for their mouth, especially if the dog is running and playing with the ball in it's mouth.

Another point to consider is how rough your dog plays and it's energy level. Is he or she a real strong chewer? Then stronger, more dense toys will be needed. Or does the dog simply like to cuddle with a toy? Then a soft, plush doll type of toy would be the answer.

Safety should be your first concern when choosing dog toys. Read the label carefully. What is the toy made from? Are some parts toxic? Sometimes, inner parts of dog toys are made of toxic materials, so it's important that you keep an eye on the dog while playing with this type of toy. If the toy falls apart or is chewed apart, you need to take the toy away and throw it in the trash.

If you're in the habit of leaving your dog for long periods each day, consider a toy which will involve activity for your dog, such as a toy that bounces funny, makes noises or has a treat hidden inside. These toys will keep your dog occupied while you're not at home.

When you give your dog a new toy, make sure to remove any labels, price tags, bows, ribbons or packaging. These can cause your dog to choke.

Often, the simplest toys will keep your dog the most occupied and happy. Consider a thick, strong rope that's tied into a knot on one end. Dogs can spend hours trying to unravel this type of toy.

You'll also want to rotate your dog toys, for instance, if you give your dog some new toys for Christmas, then put the old, summer toys away for a while. Variety is good for your dog and rotating toys will help to keep their attention.

Rubber toys are good choices for dogs, they tend to last a long time, resist damage and resist bacteria and have a bounce that can keep a dog's attention for longer periods of time. Watch out though, as a strong chewer can break off a piece of rubber and they can choke on it. Once a rubber toy has broken apart, throw it away.

Take the time to inspect your dog's toys once in a while, and throw away any that look too dirty or that look like they may be falling apart. It's also a good idea to wash your dog's toys in a mild dishwashing soap when you can.




Lydia Quinn writes for KnineTraining.com, offering a dog training toolkit [http://www.kninetraining.com/] and free gourmet dog treats recipe book for instant download. Visit us at: [http://www.kninetraining.com/]





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Child Development Toys


Parents interested in encouraging the positive development of their child's cognitive, physical, or social skills can make sure their child has access to child development toys that not only provides a child with entertainment but also encourages their healthy development.

Child development toys play an important role in a child's learning process. When children play with toys they not only interact with one another and develop social skills, they also make choices, solve problems and apply some control over their environment.

Child development toys that encourage cognitive development include puzzles and memory games. Matching games, sequencing games and number games are excellent toys that encourage a child to develop number sense and numeration as well as their sequencing skills.

Child toys that encourage scientific thought include water and sand play toys that involve measuring, sifting and pouring of different sensory material.

Child toys that encourage large muscle development include bicycles, climbers, slides, large balls and planks. Child toys that encourage small muscle development (which is important in developing those small muscles in the hands that enable a child to hold writing tools) include puzzles, small blocks, connecting toys, and even markers and crayons.

Dramatic play toys such as dolls, doll furniture, doll clothing, dress up clothing and kitchenware are excellent child toys that encourage a high level of imaginary play.

Keep in mind, when choosing child toys, to choose open-ended toys, such as play dough, blocks and paint. The play opportunities with these open-ended toys are limited only to a child's imagination.

It is also important to match the child toys with the child's developmental age (which might be higher or lower than their physical age.) Take into account the child's skill and growth level when choosing child toys, because a toy that is too difficult will cause frustration. (For example; a child development toy requiring a child to string beads is terrific if the child has developed some eye-hand coordination. But if the child has no eye-hand coordination this toy will only aggravate, discourage and disappoint the child.)

A child development toy that is developmentally appropriate can help build a child's self -esteem and allow the child to build a positive self concept. (The first time your child rides her bike without any assistance from you she will feel a sense of control and an "I can do it!" attitude.)

You will want to keep safety in mind when choosing child toys. If the toy is for a young child, make sure there are no removable parts which a child could swallow, choke on, or stick in their ears. Make sure the toy is easy to clean, so that you can cut down on germs, and also make sure the toys do not have any sharp or jagged edge.

Get in the habit of checking your child's toys regularly to ensure that there are no broken pieces, and be especially careful of electrical toys, because poor wiring may cause damage.

Selecting high quality child toys can allow your child the best opportunities to develop their learning and their social skills.




Daniel D. Dwase is publisher and co-owner of http://www.child-development-guide.com -- a website for the development of children from birth to teens offering helpful tips and advice for parents, early year's professionals, and students.





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The Importance of a Toy is Great


Have you ever had a chance to watch two little boys with toy steering wheels imitating real drivers on the road? How amusingly they look when they allow a group of girls to cross the imaginative road, looking at imaginative traffic lights. Producing a funny sound of a car working engine they give the girls a lift to an imaginative store where another group of children trying to sell there products; toy rabbits, bears, pails, puzzles by retail. Only then you realize the informative value of toys, their cognitive power. Many toys enable children to explore the world of make believe as they try to imitate grown-ups. Toys play almost the greatest part in babies' development enhancing their mental or personal growth. They help children to develop possibility of knowing the world as well as to improve their coordination. So, there in no doubt, that children and toys is something indivisible. The best gift for a baby is a toy, but we often are confronted with a problem which toy to choose to please the baby.

Besides safety and quality a toy has to be interesting not for a minute or an hour then forgotten, but for a long time. That is why buying a toy for a baby you have to take into a consideration the baby's age and taste. Following this suggestion you have all chances to purchase an appropriate toy.

There are several age groups which can be broadly categorized:

The first category includes toys which are intended just to keep the baby entertained. These playthings are usually classic toys as teddy bears, dolls, rattles and etc. They lack the educational value, but their importance for babies is to enhance their physical and mental development. During the first year of babies they learn much about the world they now belong to, feeling the toys they develop to develop skills for color and pattern recognition as well as their hand/eye coordination. Very little children are not able to interact with their toys, so dangled in a cot a bright toy can take all the infant attention for a pretty a long time. It's important to keep in mind that you have to rearrange the toy in the cot from time to time, because a newborn's eyesight is not focused well enough. And the toy must be held in a proper distance, For example babies of first three months can see objects at a distance of 8 inches.

The second category is musical objects, whether the toys play gentle music or a lullaby or talk, they can be called stimulating toys, because such toys develop the infant's senses. Music stimulates and calms the babies. And moreover they enjoy pressing a button to hear songs or playing a toy piano or a guitar imagining that they are very talented musicians

There are also a group of baby toys manufactured for developing skills, they, as a rule, are more complex than a soft pink elephant, of cause if it doesn't trumpet and walk when you wind it up. Skill development playthings are very popular and your baby never seems to get tired of it. It is also very significant to choose toys of different texture for your baby to improve senses of texture. But picking out a toy for an infant, his or her age should never be ignored; otherwise the baby will ignore the toy, because it will be too simple and uninteresting or too advanced and complex.

The place to buy a toy

The easiest way to purchase a toy is via the Internet; such a lot of sites dedicated to baby toys are at your service. The Internet can offer not only a product and its complete description but you can find the reviews about that toy, written by the people who have already bought this particular plaything and can share their high or low opinion of it. Though salespeople at many toy stores can help you too recommending their products, but you always have to keep in mind that they are people with interests at stake. It is not enough to go to the first toy store and pick out any toy, do some research to get the best result.




You are on the right way if you want to purchase baby toys with confidence. We present a magic world for your loved children, giving some advice and suggestions on buying playthings. With our help you can make a smart choice of kids and baby toys





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Best Baby Toys For Your Little Ones


Your baby deserves the best toys. There are so many to choose from. How do you know which are the top toys? Kids toys that help your child to learn and keep them busy as well are easily what you want in any item. Unfortunately, it isn't a matter of choosing a specific toy company. While some toy companies have set goals to meet certain educational specifications when designing their toys, the brand name doesn't always make the best toys. When choosing toys for your baby, consider the different features you need to look for. There are distinctions that set the best baby toys apart from the others. These are easily categorized based on the senses that the child uses to learn from. You need to consider the visual appeal, the physical appeal, and the auditory appeal.

Visual Appeal: There is probably nothing more stimulating in terms of the best baby toys than the ones that provide the most visual attractiveness. Happy innocent faces and a bright variety of colors are two of the features that are implemented in well-made learning toys. Colors alone are significant. Different colors can provoke different feelings. For example, red has been shown to stimulate the adrenal glands, which helps with strength and stamina. Pink helps relax the muscles. Orange has positive influences on the emotional state. Yellow stimulates the brain and also helps with memory and clear thinking. Green creates feelings of comfort. Blue makes us feel relaxed and calm. It is no wonder that best baby toys are brightly colored and explains why babies are usually happy when surrounded by these types of toys.

Physical Appeal: Have you ever wondered why babies touch so many things? One reason is their need to experience a variety of textures. The benefit of touching helps increase the amount of perception that the child experiences. When shopping for the best baby toys choose those toys that have different textures. Soft, rugged, ridged, bumpy, crinkly are just some of the few different textures you'll find in toy products today. Many toys combine mediums to allow for additional texture appeal. For example, a doll designed specifically for a baby may have an ultra soft body, a hard plastic teething ring in place of a hand, and rubbery feet so that an infant can feel several different sensations with a single toy. Allowing your child to explore with his sense of touch increases his tactile stimulation needed for that part of his cognitive development.

Auditory Appeal: Sound is said to be the sense that develops first in babies. As a result, they use this sense quite a bit when learning about their environment. The best baby toys offer a variety of sounds. To find the right toy, determine if the sound is clear. Make sure the sound is not too loud or too quiet. You will want the child to be able to hear the sound but not have it hurt his ears. Also, consider choosing toys with human voices. Toys that contain different words help increase the child's cognitive development and his vocabulary.

For the best baby toys, choose those that provide these essential components of learning. The top toys offer a variety of sound, visual and touch sensory projectiles. If you're looking for the best toys to offer your child, choose those that provide these sensory outlets. Kids toys should always have educational purposes as well as provide fun activities. With the selection of educational toys on the market today, it should not be difficult to find these types of toys.




Please visit us to see our top 10 list for the best baby toys and to see more of the best kids toys.





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Toddler Toy Basics


Introduction

Toddler Toys offer toddlers a myriad of activities to explore, introducing them to ride on toys, puzzles, and more. We believe that the best toddler toys are the one which are age appropriate and support the physical, emotional, social, cognitive and language development of toddlers. Some toddler toys at this age include singing toys, toys with buttons to push, blocks, shape sorters, pull and push toys to name a few.

Learning

Remember, like I said, even toys as basic as blocks are considered learning toys: when toddlers engage in the great fun of building up and tearing down they're developing skills they'll eventually need to grasp basic principles of math. This cannot be stressed enough. Children's toys that introduce your young one to auditory processing, cognitive learning and gross motor development. If possible the best thing you can do is provide your little one with a variety of toys and learning experiences in a warm supportive environment. Pressuring a child to learn or going overboard by making every interaction with you a lesson, may lead to taking the fun out of learning. Kids do not feel like they are learning, but rather playing.delimiter

Toy

Toys need to entertain as well as educate your toddler. Toddler Toys will keep developing important skills, while introducing the fun of play. Push toys (like the Corn Popper) give toddlers an opportunity to enjoy the benefits of physical exercise and improve the coordination important to development. Even toys as basic as blocks are considered learning toys: when toddlers engage in the great fun of building up and tearing down they're developing skills they'll eventually need to grasp basic principles of math. Toddlers will love to play with these following toys: climbing toys , toddler pull toys, toddler push toys, toddler riding toys, swinging toys, play tunnel, slides, rocking toys (including toy rocking horse)and balls. If you're on a budget, get the balls and the push toys or even think about checking about programs such as Free Cycle, where people sign-up to give away things they don't need any more for free.delimiter

Language

You can use any toddler toy to improve your child's language development. Play with your child and talk to them about the toy. Explain to them how it works, the colors of the toy, or the function. Also, teaching your toddler to share toys will improve his/her social skills, also increasing their ability to communicate with others without screaming "MINE."

Conclusion

There are many types of toddler toys out there for your toddler. When choosing, just remember that the toy is not as important as how you present the toy to them. Use every opportunity as a way to teach and develop them into the person they are going to be for the rest of their life. Toddlers are at the age at which people are most impressionable, they pick up everything and immolate everything. So, let the games begin, and learn a little too.




Amy Bew is a devoted parent and has published other online content. She is the owner of [http://toddlertoys.foundithereonline.com] and a member of the Found if here online network @ [http://foundithereonline.com]





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