Educational Toys and Games

 Kids love animals because to me, such as cats and dogs, are very interesting and fun to play with. I would also guess that another reason they like animals are because they are so loveable. Some animals like fish or turtles or even lizards and snakes, these animals aren’t very appealing although some parents allow their kids to have fish. Personally I don’t know why…. But best guess is because fish are the least messy pets you could have. Lizards and snakes to me are cool in a way but look very scary and by watching their scaly, dry, shedding skin well, that’s just disgusting. It really gives me the chills, so take my advice and DON’T get a reptile as a pet. Although if you are interested get a stuffed alligator….. he will not bite!

The love a child has for an animal is also very good. On the safe side of course. If you notice dogs once they have been with someone for a while, they tend to be very protective around them which is a very good thing. Children and adults get attacked; the dog comes and saves the day. Terrific! Super dog!  They can start off simple - a plush dog! Any kind, Yellow Lab, Chihuahua, Golden Retriver - whatever they want! And DON’T forget if you buy them a Plush Dog, no midnught walks :)! I forgot to mention, kids want to be loved, cared for, and love playing and goofing around. If you are a parent who works seven days a week and is really busy on weekends and you usually drop your kid to a babysitter, then having a pet is good. Someone to play with and they are protected, also keeps them company. Absolutely no loneliness there. They don’t have to love animals for the company or the fun; they can be kids who just find them appealing to be around and enjoy their colors and ways they move. Slither, swim, waddle, walk, slip, slide, crawl and so many others. Pets are fun……I should know. 

Check out an entire collection of stuffed animals big and small.

Fish and turtles aren’t the only options when it comes to water-dwelling pets.  Sea monkeys are definitely a cooler and more exciting alternative.  Kids will be enchanted with these creatures which are really a type of brine shrimp but were dubbed “sea monkeys” because of their animated moves.
 
Educational Insights offers fantastic sea monkey kits for novice pet owners and for those who already own these swimming beings.  The Sea Monkeys Night Life Gems, for instance, which is ideal for kids 6 years and older, provides amazing illumination that would enable youngsters to view their frolicsome pets for hours.  Each set comes with a water purifier, growth food, an aquarium, instant live eggs, five close-up view ports, a submarine searchlight, an air pump, an aero-vent aquarium cover with magnifier, a calibrated feeding spoon, and three gorgeous, sealed-in-glass gem stones with phosphorescent pigments.  
 
If you wish to know what your frisky pets are up to in the wee hours, you’ll like Educational Insights’ Sea Monkeys Super Sleuth Set.  This fascinating find has several awesome features, such as the Super Sleuth Searchlight, the 50mm 3x magnifier, and the big, glow-in-the-dark monkey statue attached to the bottom of the tank that boosts algae growth and oxygenation, and attracts the creatures to its light.

Children are constantly full of energy and never run out of things to do. They are exploring the world around them and every scene or situation can be a learning experience for them. As parents, we need to guide our kids by engaging them in various activities that are both fun and educational.

Parents can organize play dates with kids of the same age bracket. This way they can make new friends and learn how to deal with their peers. A play date can be held indoors at one parent’s home or outdoors in the garden, or in a nearby park. If the play date is to be held outdoors, then make sure there are children’s outdoor toys to keep the youngsters active and busy.

In the United States we are dealing with a horrifying epidemic—obese children. Due to poor diets and sedentary lifestyles many kids these days are overweight and many more or obese. Many elementary schools have opted to cut out physical education classes in favor of academics. In many cases parents are responsible for making sure their child gets enough exercise.

Parents can make exercise fun for kids. They can start getting their kids interested in exercise by providing them with some fun toys. Kids’ pedal cars are a great way to ensure your child gets needed activity and has fun. Try organizing some kids’ pedal car races in your neighborhood.

Every year the toy makers come up with the animal of the year. This year dinosaurs will rule and takeover the planet once again. We like dinosaur toys and puzzles that are easy to play with and create imagination.  Plush dinosuars are always sparking the imagination of dinosaur lovers.  Stuffed dinosaurs are available in any size and are relatively inexpensive.  Teachers and parents enjoy using Dinosuar Stamp Set - they are great make believe tatoos! Children can represent the T-Rex with a puppet that can roar (of course in your childs voice).  Melissa and Doug are known for their incredible puzzles and the dinosaur sound puzzle is also a hit.  The floor Dinosaur floor puzzles add an extra splash of color in any child’s room. Let’s not forget the educational value promoting fine motor and hand/eye development. The beginner 3D puzzles are a great way to introduce matching skills and improve manual dexterity. Individual puzzles pieces can be used for pretend play too! Pricing is going to be in every decicision in this years holiday season. With the economy as it is I can imagine inexpensive quality dinosaur toys will be on the big guys sleigh.

When people think of puppets they probably are thinking of television programs, like the Muppets and Sesame Street. It’s true that the characters in these programs are puppets. But they are far different than the puppets that came about hundreds of years ago in China.

A puppet is a figure whose movements are controlled by someone through, strings, rods, or hand movements. Early puppets were thought to be used as tribal ritual masks and had hinged jaws and jointed skulls. Somewhere along the line these puppet masks evolved into doll-like figures with moving appendages. Hand puppets were common during early times, because they were easy to transport and manipulate.

Many cultures used puppets for ritual and entertainment. Egyptians crafted jointed, terra cotta puppets while Native Americans used puppets during ceremonial dances and harvest festivals

Before you child is ready to hit the road on a bike, he/she will most likely cruise the neighborhood on a trike. Trikes, or tricycles, are three-wheeled bikes, meaning they are more stable for your youngster and a great segue to a standard two-wheeled bike.

Bust just because a trike is more stable does not mean it is completely safe. Therefore, when your little speed demon takes to the streets, keep these tips in mind.

• Always, always have your child wear a helmet. There is no excuse and no exception. Your kid might not reach the speed or height of an adult bike, but that doesn’t mean he/she can’t get hurt.
• Be present when they ride. As an added bonus, it’s a great time to squeeze in that extra exercise. While they are peddling around the block, follow on foot. This way, they’re safe, and you’re healthy.
• Make sure the trike is a good fit. Your kid is growing quickly, so make sure the trike is still a safe size. Too big or too small can be awkward and, consequently, unsafe.

All in all, use general bike safety rules and common sense, and your kid will have an enjoyable and exciting toy.

I have a little 4 year old daughter and a 6 year old son that love to interact with toys. They was just introduced to the the Calico Critters Cottontail Rabbit Family. The entire family is a fuzzy Critter and wears a tiny little cloth outfit. Not only are the figures sturdy and appear to be well-made, but the clothes the characters are wearing are cute and a good quality. Each cute creature is poseable, playful, dressable and completely collectible! We have so many tech toys to entertain our children they can’t entertain themselves (or their parents). Calico Criters are a soothing reminder the world can be a simple place for children. The entire line comes with so many different families; Hawthorne Hamster Family, Norwood Mouse Family, Fisher Cat Family, Lambrook Sheep Family, Dalmatian Dog Family, Marmalade Bear Family, even Fox and Monkey Families! The Calico critters live in Cloverleaf Manor and they are sweet and innocent. It is a relief to see toys without violent characteristics. The creator of Calico Critters has a story behind each family. The Cottontail Rabbit Family is down-to-earth and hardworking. They take great pride in their family and the skilled work of Father, Aaron’s furniture making.

My daughter plays with the accessory set Baby Play Nursery School. The nursery School is packed with activity and fun, with lots of things to do all day long: jump up and down the bright colorful stairs, climb the small ladder to the rooftop patio. My son (six years old) is in charge of outside play. The critter students behave and play “nicely.” My son helps teach and then they all play and chill out in a super cool pool - that my daughter loves. Of course, after filling their tiny brains with education in the classroom - they need to play.

Calico Critters Outdoor Furniture Set includes a great sandbox. A picnic table with umbrella, chairs, plates and cups are also included in the set as well as a tricycle. Each piece is well-constructed and sturdy. Unlike so many of the plastic toys we buy, this furniture set is made of wood (even the toy pail and shovel), and it shows in the quality. Pieces are sturdy and do not break off easily - what a relief! There are so many ways to expand this line that I know exactly what to get next gift time!

What was the first official toy? Who played with it? Let’s face it - there’s always been children. Have you ever asked yourself - in the beginning, what “toys” did children own? Men, women, and children have all loved to have fun with toys since their very beginning. And probably always will.

A ball couldn’t have been to difficult to invent - although we have changed the color and size to fit our needs. In 1969 Parker Brothers introduced the Nerf ball, a polyurethane foam ball that is safe for indoor play. By year’s end, more than 4 million Nerf balls were sold. In 2000 B.C. Egyptians began to play a game that resembles modern-day checkers. The object of the game is to clear the board of the opponent’s checkers or to block the opponent’s checkers so that they cannot be moved. If a player cannot move, that player loses the game. Checkers haven’t change too much. The company Melissa and Doug created the same game Old Fashion Checkers with a classic feel to it.

Video game systems - now that’s a game the cavemen couldn’t even dream about. In 1985 the first Nintendo Game System was born. When was that little guy Mario born? 1986. Hasn’t he aged gracefully? After 23 years Nintendo leads the market for the younger generation of gamers. The newest sytem: Nintendo Wii Video Game Console System . It arrived over 2 years ago and stores cannot keep the system on the shelves. The newest version gets kids (and adults) off the couch! Nintendo believes the sky is the limit on who to target. They are releasing Wii Fit on May 20th. An excercise program on a gaming system. Wii Fit wants to change the way you think about fitness. It wants to change how you excercise, how you balance, and even how you move. It will tell you your BMI and will track your progress in “getting fit.” I guess it’s not just a video game - it’s a money making machine for Nintendo!