As families prepare to help kids draft their “Dear Santa” letters, Toys”R”Us today announced the launch of ‘Wish List,’ making it easier for gift-givers to grant gifts for kids this holiday season.

Using Wish List, parents and kids together can create a tailored list of toys based not only on what the child wants, but on his or her age, interests and abilities. This helps guide gift-givers to make appropriate toy selections and provides parents and families more input on the gifts their children receive for holidays and birthdays. Wish Lists can now be created, updated and maintained online at Toysrus.com/WishList and in all Toys”R”Us and Babies”R”Us stores nationwide.

“At Toys”R”Us, we know that creating wish lists during the holiday season and for other special occasions are among the most memorable experiences a child can have,” said Greg Ahearn, Senior Vice President, Marketing and e-commerce, Toys”R”Us, Inc. “Wish List provides families a fun way to spend time together, and at the same time, gives parents the opportunity to set realistic expectations with their kids about the presents they may receive.”

To begin the Wish List process, parents and caregivers create one master account online or through in-store Registry Centers or Guest Services stations. Once registered, Wish List participants can generate as many Wish Lists as they would like for each of their children, tailoring them for specific occasions, such as birthdays or holidays. Together with their little ones, customers can browse and select products with scanning devices in Toys”R”Us stores or with the click of a button online to create and update a running list.

Customers who create a Wish List for their child can enjoy the following benefits:

Customize a Child’s List with the RIGHT Toys — Wish Lists guide gift-givers to toys that are age-appropriate and suitable for an individual child’s skill level, helping to ensure that a child is not frustrated or bored with a toy.

Set Expectations in Advance of the Big Day — The exercise of building a Wish List can be used as an opportunity to teach kids about the cost of certain products and which items are within budgetary reach, so they are not disappointed if they do not receive a particular toy.

Rely on Expert Advice from The Toy Authority — In making Wish List selections, toy-buyers can consult with the company’s knowledgeable store associates or utilize the Gift Finder application on Toysrus.com for toy suggestions for a child’s Wish List.

Share Wish Lists Easily with Gift-Givers Near and Far — Notifying friends and family of a Wish List is as easy as sending insert cards that include the registrant’s Wish List number. Wish Lists can then be printed in-store at Wish List kiosks, Registry Centers or Guest Services stations. Wish Lists can also be shared via e-mail or through social networking sites, such as Facebook and Twitter.

Avoid Duplicate Gifts — Once a gift is purchased, it is deducted from the Wish List, just like a gift registry, so kids do not receive more than one of the same gift.

Maintaining a List is Simple — Regardless of where it is created, a Wish List can be updated and maintained in any store or online. And, long after a birthday or holiday has passed, items that have not been purchased remain on a Wish List, in the event that friends and family want to give “just because” presents.

Source Toys R Us

University Games has acquired the rights to create educational toys based on children’s books by award-winning author Mo Willems. University Games plans to design a broad range of games, puzzles, and other merchandise inspired by the fresh illustrations and humorous dialogue of the Mo Willems’ “Pigeon” series, published by Hyperion Books for Children.

Beginning with the New York Times bestseller, Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!, Willems’ series follows the caprices of the spastic and often demanding Pigeon. As The New York Times has pointed out, “The Pigeon is one of this decade’s contributions to the pantheon of great children’s book characters.” University Games is excited to adopt the character of the Pigeon as well as the uncluttered and childlike illustrations by Willems, which they see as ideal material for children’s games and merchandise.

“We are thrilled to have the Pigeon join our line-up of outstanding learning games for kids,” says University Games’ CEO Bob Moog of the licensing deal. “University Games has specialized in bringing books to play for young children since the introduction of the Green Eggs and Ham(TM) game in 1995. Mo Willems’ work will translate wonderfully into our style of game and puzzle.”

Mo Willems began his career as a writer and animator for television, where he won six Emmy Awards for his writing on Sesame Street. His first children’s book, Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!, was awarded a Caldecott Medal and has been translated into many languages. He has since garnered two more Caldecott Medals and a Theodor Seuss Geisel Award for his book Don’t Put a Bird on your Head! He lives and writes in Brooklyn.

Source: University Games

With your toddler’s enjoyment to play independently with his or her toys, it is important for the little ones to try various manipulative activities that promote movements.

Stacking toys are among the most popular toddler must-haves for worthwhile activities such as nesting, building, lacing, and stacking. Every toddler is bound to have at least a couple of sets of these because these are perhaps the most basic form of toddler toys. These educational toys bring fun for your toddlers as they enjoy stacking colorful rings, building a tower, recognizing shapes, colors and sizes and put nesting cups one onto another.These also serve the purpose of developing mental skills of toddlers.

These toys are recommended because of these promote refining of motor skills, hand-eye coordination, problem solving skills, recognition of shapes and sizes, reasoning, and color recognition.

There are varieties of stacking toys to choose from. Each toys are made of good non toxic materials and the colors of the toys are concrete enough for the toddlers to be guided by proper color recognition.

Visit www.educationaltoysplanet.com for details about the varieties of these toys.

Woodcraft Puzzles are construction kits that are popular educational toys for children as young as 6 and adults. They are made of 3mm good quality plywood boards and fun to build. Every owner will proudly display a woodcraft 3D model; they are simple but beautiful works of art.

The 3D wooden puzzles are educational and Do-it-yourself fun. They increase children’s patience and ability to focus and are a wonderful way of getting children away from TV and computer.

There are lots of designs to choose from, from dinosaurs, ships and boats, buildings, aircrafts, construction trucks to delicate dollhouses. Each individual design is pre-cut and assembled by pushing the pieces out of the board with fingers and slotting them into each other to create a 3D model. It is safe as no tools or glue are required.

The assembled 3D models are simple but also beautiful works of art which would make stunning displays around your home or in your children’s bedroom.

To look at the different designs, go to www.woodcraftpuzzles.com.

Educational toys are such an integral part of the growing experience of children. Not only do they entertain them, they also teach them critical thinking skills if applied in a proper setting. This is why it is the responsibility of parents to ensure that the toys of the baby are of top-notch condition for child safety. Here are some points to consider:

Almost all toys have recommendations for the proper age range; this is due to hazards of choking especially for toys with very small parts. Take note of this when buying a toy for your child. Moreover, look if it has the approval of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)

Immediately inspect the toy if it has jagged or sharp edges. It should also withstand chewing as much as possible. For toys that were handed down to your baby, make sure not to expose the baby to toys with paint dating back to 1978 as it may contain lead.

Balloons are also something you should not give to your child until they are about eight years old. It poses a strong risk of choking as well.

There are many educational toys in the market catering to children of all demographics - economic class, gender and age. Most of these toys are of the commercial types with many brands leading the way - video games, dolls, and action figures just to name a few. But the interesting to point is that these commercial toys are not around during the earlier decades. One type of educational toy was a constant throughout the years: puzzles.

Puzzles are good for your children because it sharpens their logic and critical thinking skills. It involves piecing together individual parts in order to see the big picture and that is a skill which will be hugely beneficial for your child as he/she grows older.

Moreover, puzzles are a good way to let your children spend their evenings at home. Because of its meditative nature, puzzles are also quiet activities which is beneficial for your home’s aura.

Puzzles grow in difficulty with each variety. Thus, you can use this as a development gauge for your child. There are many types of puzzle from those that involve the alphabet and numbers. Moreover, they make for a good bonding time with the family.

Educational toys do not have to be restricted to cerebral games and action figures. It can also encourage children to break a sweat for more child development. An interesting example are the Wheelybugs, colorful mobile toys geared for babies and toddlers ranging up to five years of age from Hippychick.

Wheelybugs are pleasing to the eye with its dazzling color. They do not appear as clutter at home and parents are assured that these toys are easy to use for your toddlers. A stand-out point of interest for these educational toys is its handmade craftsmanship.

Wheelybugs are designed with user-friendliness in mind. Its wheels are created from plastic castors which makes movement smoother from vertical to sideways. It is efficient on level surfaces and should not be used on pavements, laminate flooring, and more importantly, grass.

It offers heightened levels of comfort with a padded sponge for its seat. For help against the elements, it has an extra coating of polyurethane.

Seat belts are very crucial in ensuring the safety of your children while riding in your car. However, children can get curious and even stubborn sometimes and play around with their seat belts by unbuckling it. This is the reason why a driving safety group, Project 8, urges parents to set ground rules when it comes to seat belts: these are only for mom and dad’s hands.

Project 8 offers car seat safety checks throughout the year. The organization believes that it isn’t unusual for kids to get out of their seats. However, parents should always be in control to ensure that child safety is always uncompromised.

If your child has strong fingers and a hard-headed mindset, you can always offer rewards like educational toys when they stay strapped in. Sticking to your rules can keep parents in the driver’s seat.

“We never let him buckle himself or unbuckle himself. We always unbuckle both of them,” says Jaime Knutson, mother of two.

Project 8 will be offering car seat safety check seminars later this month. They also conduct car seat checks on Saturdays in Sioux Falls at Fire Station 3 on Minnesota and 37th Street from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
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What mother of preschoolers or other children hasn’t found broken crayons in the couch, under the couch, and all over the floor?  You may even have been frustrated to find a crayon in the laundry, way after it’s too late to salvage the clothes in that load.  Help your child create crayon wax-melting art to keep from having to throw all the broken crayons away.

Melted wax is dangerous for anyone, especially for children.  Please be careful when trying any of the following crayon wax-melting art projects.  Adult supervision is definitely a must for melted wax artists.  Here’s how to do it:

In the oven:  Set your oven to 250 degrees.  Create new crayons by melting the old broken pieces.  Break the pieces up into smaller pieces and sort the crayons with like colors.  Place the crayon pieces into an old muffin tin.  Put the tin into the oven and then turn the oven off.  Watch the crayons so they don’t melt entirely.  When the crayons have melted sufficiently, remove them from the oven and then place the tin into the freezer for half an hour.  Take the tin out and then pop the new, larger crayons out.

Double Boiler:  Another way to melt peeled crayons is over a double boiler.  Use an old pan that you were going to throw away.  Get a larger pot and place water in the pot to boil.  Put the old pan into the water so it floats.  Put the crayons into the upper pan and allow them to melt.  You can then use a ladle or measuring cup to remove small amounts of wax.  Dribble or paint the melted wax onto paper or into old candy molds.  You can also dribble or pour melted wax on wet sand.

Color on Fabric:  On a blank sheet of paper, create a design you’d like to have on a T-shirt or other piece of fabric.  Color the design heavily, using plenty of crayon.  Set your iron to cool and allow it to heat up.  Place newspaper between the layers of fabric so the colors don’t bleed through.  Then iron the paper until the design shows through.  For best results, use 100% synthetic fabrics.

Sun catchers:  Children love the colors that are thrown across the room through sun catchers.  You can help your child create a melted crayon wax sun catcher.  Give your child a pencil sharpener and let them make crayon shavings.  Fold a large sheet of wax paper and sprinkle crayon shavings on half of it.  With a warm iron, run the iron over the wax paper quickly.  Allow the wax paper to cool and then cut it into various shapes.  Make butterflies or flowers with holes in them where you can tape the melted crayon wax sun catcher on the back so the light and colors shine through.

Let the artist come out in your child.  However, since you’re working with crayon wax-melting art, be sure to supervise closely to keep your child from injury.  The artwork they create will spread colorful light across your room and into your heart.

Everyone in the family has the responsibility to help keep the home running smoothly.  Obviously there are some chores very young children can’t do like shoveling snow.  What are the age-appropriate chores for the winter months?

There are many benefits of giving children chores to do.  It helps them learn responsibility, time management, and helps them play a contributing role to the success of the home.  Usually younger children are eager to help out.  It’s only when they get older that they start fussing and being slow in getting their chores done.

Toddlers as young as two or three love to do what their mommy and daddy do, so it’s a great time to enlist their help and begin to teach them how to do chores.  You might as well take advantage of their willingness to help while you can because it won’t last for long.  Of course, you’ll want to supervise them as they’re just learning, but it’s good for them to learn the proper way to do chores as early as you can.  Children this age can:

* Put their gloves and hats inside their coat pockets so they don’t lose them.
* Dry off pets that have come in from outside.

Preschool children still want to be helpful but they want to do things for themselves.  Thankfully they’re a little older so they don’t need quite as much supervision.  They can help around the house during the winter months by:

* Sweeping the porch or walkway right by the main door.
* Helping to carry shopping bags into the house.

Early school-age children are at the age that they may not want to help as much.  The level of supervision at this age is much less than with the younger children.  They can:

* Help take care of and walk the pets out in the yard.
* Take garbage out to the garbage cans outside.
* Sweep the sidewalk leading to the door.

Pre-teens are going to start pushing the boundaries so they may argue about doing chores.  At this age your child can:

* Help shovel snow from the sidewalks and driveway.
* Take garbage cans out to the road.
* Help scrape ice from side windows on your vehicle.

Teens are able to do much more without supervision, but they will likely fuss the entire time they’re doing their chores.  Teens can help out by:

* Shoveling the sidewalks and driveway.
* Depending upon how you heat your home, teens may be given the chore of chopping wood.
* Teens may have their driver’s license, so they may be able to help drive if your vehicle gets stuck in the snow.

When the colder weather comes, it’s important for everyone in the family to pitch in to do the chores.  It’s also important for children to learn to help with the success of the household.  To be sure everyone is helping, give them age-appropriate chores for the winter months.  When it’s time for spring cleaning, they’ll already be knowledgeable and able to take on their new chores.

Parents often go overboard when buying Christmas presents for their children, especially when that child is their first.  What parents find out, after their babies are old enough to sit up and play, is that babies usually love boxes more than the toys that were originally in them.

Don’t become too discouraged.  It happens to nearly every parent.  When someone suggests that you may not want to spend so much on actual gifts because an infant won’t be able to appreciate them, you might want to listen.  If they have children of their own, you may be able to avoid some of the same frustrations they’ve had.

What is it about boxes that draws the attention of babies?  Part of the appeal may be that boxes are large and easily manipulated.  Boxes are also lightweight so they won’t hurt if the baby drops them.  Finally, as everyone knows, nothing tastes better than cardboard!

Since babies love boxes so much, don’t fight it.  Take advantage of their interest in boxes to begin to teach them to use their imagination.  Your baby won’t totally develop their sense of imaginative play until they are pre-school age, but there’s no reason to wait too long before encouraging this type of play.

Actually, if you haven’t looked at toys lately, you can buy pretend food to use in play kitchens.  These are smaller than normal foods, so they’re easy for little children to handle.  There are also plastic foods that are safe for children to put in their mouths.

One box that parents probably have in large numbers is wipe boxes.  Not only can they be used to store small things in, they can be used to build with like building blocks.  If your baby is a boy, he can put his chunky cars in the box and then take them out and play with them.  Little girls, once they start playing with baby dolls, can put their baby’s clothes in the wipe boxes and even use the wipe box as a bed.

With babies, it seems that simple is best.  They really don’t need to have toys with all the bells and whistles.  Lights and noises at this age may get their attention, but they may not hold that attention for long.  Give them a couple of small boxes and they’ll be happy for quite some time.

As your baby grows, they have the potential to turn almost anything into a toy.  They’ll find things in your home that you may not wish them to play with, so be concerned about baby-proofing your home.

Babies grow up so fast.  One minute they’re brand new, small, and helpless.  The next thing you know, they’re trying to get around on their own.  Give them simple things to play with.  Babies love boxes and they’re great items to help them use their imagination.

If your children are asking for a pet, a pet rock might be the answer.  You can tell them they can have a pet rock to see how well they handle the responsibility before you allow them to get a goldfish, hamster, or larger pet.

There are a number of things about pet rocks that make them Mom’s best friend.  Consider these benefits when offering to “get” your child a pet rock:

* You don’t have to buy them.  Yes, people were silly enough to fall for a marketing ploy, as ingenious as it was, but you really don’t need to buy a pet rock.  You or your child can find one right outside your front door.  Of course, you may want to find one that’s unusual so it won’t get lost if it falls on the ground.  In all actuality, you can find a new pet rock anywhere.

* You don’t have to feed them.  Pet rocks are just that – rocks.  They’re inanimate objects that just sit there.   They don’t eat, so you don’t have to feed them.  You also don’t have to worry about buying food for them, which could help with budgeting concerns.

* Since they don’t eat, you don’t have to worry about taking them outside to use the restroom.  There’s no mess to clean up after, which will make your life as a Mom just a little bit easier.

* You won’t have to wonder if your child’s pet rock will bite anyone.  That’s often a concern with having a pet dog or small pets like hamsters.  With kittens or cats you may be concerned about their scratching and biting.

When looking for a pet rock, try to find one that’s smooth.  You also want one that’s not so small that you lose it or so big that your child can’t carry it.  Something that’s pretty like polished rose quartz may be a good bet for little girls.  Boys will probably like something that’s a little rougher.

Unlike a living pet, your child can decorate their pet rock to their liking.  Decide which side of the rock is its face and then allow your child to draw a face on it.  Your child can determine the type of face it has, whether serious, silly, or smiley.  They can also glue on wiggly eyes that you can find in any craft store.

Face it, Moms, at one point your child will ask for a pet.  Giving them a pet rock may at least buy you some time until you can decide as a family whether owning a live pet is in your family’s future.  Consider a pet rock - Mom’s best friend because they are easy to care for, cost nothing, and are easily replaced.

Walking through the toy department of your favorite store can give you sensory overload.  There are bright colors, all sorts of shapes and textures and lots of toys that light up and make noise.  If you have a child or children with you, they might find every toy that makes noise and turn them all on at the same time.

Scenes like that might make you long for the days when toys were simpler.  While kids tend to pick up the most noisy or flashy toy when given a choice, simpler toys are good for them as well.  Giving your child toys that require more of them than just pushing buttons gives them an opportunity to learn and develop physical skills.

Non-Electronic Toys Require Imagination

One of the drawbacks of electronic toys is that they require little imagination.  While they may help teach your child the alphabet, numbers or shapes, they do little to encourage him to think creatively.  There are toys that can accomplish both objectives.

Alphabet blocks, for example, have been around for many years.  They introduce children to colors, numbers and the letters of the alphabet while allowing them to build things.  They teach hand-eye coordination.  Your child can use them to experiment with cause and effect relationships, filling and dumping and more.  The more your child uses his imagination, the more fun toys such as blocks are.

Non-Electronic Toys Encourage Interaction

Electronic toys are usually best suited to individual play.  While it’s good for kids to be able to entertain themselves, they also need to interact with others to learn social skills.  Non-electronic toys lend themselves to interaction.

Going back to the block example, you or another child could help your child build something with the blocks.  He can share the blocks with others.  You can ask your child which block is which color, or which one has a certain number or letter on it.  All of these activities teach your child how to cooperate and get along with others.

Non-Electronic Toys Encourage Physical Activity

Playing with electronic toys usually requires very little movement.  But there are plenty of non-electronic toys that encourage children to be physically active.  This is just as important as educational value and most toys designed to promote physical activity can also be used for learning with a little creativity.

Non-Electronic Toys Last Longer

Electronic toys tend to have shorter lives than their non-electronic counterparts.  Many non-electronic toys are also appropriate for a wide range of ages.  The blocks and balls that your child played with as a toddler can still provide him with hours of fun after he starts to school.  Electronic toys, on the other hand, are often designed with a specific age group in mind.  Once your child has mastered the toy and is ready to move on, it often goes to the bottom of the toy box.

Electronic toys often have educational value, but your child needs a variety of toys that stimulate his imagination and encourage the development of necessary skills as well.  The types of simple toys that were around when we were growing up are often just as much fun for our kids as they were for us and they allow kids to learn while having fun.

Finding the right educational toys for your child can be tricky.  Most toys have an age range on them, but that range usually refers to the ages that the toy is safe for, not the ages that it’s learning level is appropriate for.  Even toys that are designed for a specific age range may not be on the level of some kids in that age range.

The best way to determine which toys are right for your child is on a case-by-case basis.  Different children learn at different rates.  Some may be behind the average child of the same age, while others may be ahead.  In order to determine what is appropriate for your child, you will need to assess how he is doing with the things he already plays with.

If your child appears to have mastered all of the games and puzzles he currently has, he needs something more challenging.  That doesn’t mean that you have to get rid of his favorite toys.  It just means that he needs things that are not so easy for him in addition to the things he is comfortable with.  Children need challenges in order to learn and not providing those challenges will result in boredom.

If your child is struggling with toys and games designed for kids his age, it might be time to back up a little.  It could be that he didn’t quite master skills that he needed earlier in life and those skills are a prerequisite to the things kids his age are doing.  The toys he had when he was younger may not have even covered those skills.  Either way, there is no shame in going back and teaching those skills to your child.  You can put the things he is struggling with away until he is ready for them.

What If My Child Needs To Learn Certain Skills For School?

If your child has fallen behind and is not ready for school, you may need to hold off on putting him in school.  But if he is just lacking a couple of important things then you can work on them with him at home.  Many schools offer assessments for children who will be of school age, and taking advantage of that can let you know where your child stands and what he needs to work on.

Once you have determined what your child needs to work on, you can quiz him on it at home.  If he has educational toys that will help him with it, get them out and play with them together.  If he doesn’t, see if you can find any.  Making learning the new skill fun will help him keep a positive attitude and prevent frustration.

Forcing your child to advance to the next level too soon will only do harm.  Not challenging him will leave him bored and inhibit his natural learning processes.  By assessing what your child can do well and what he is having trouble with, you can ensure that he learns on the level that is right for him.

Does your child have a full toy box but only play with a select few?  Toys that only do a small, limited number of things often get tossed aside.  They are fun for awhile but pretty soon they become too predictable.  That results in boredom and kids don’t like to be bored.  So they find something else to play with and the boring toys end up in the bottom of the toy box.

The best toys are those that require imagination and can be used in a variety of ways.  Here are ten toys that are good for keeping your child’s attention.

1. Blocks - Blocks are a staple for kids and they never seem to outgrow them.  They are one of the simplest types of toys around, yet their possibilities are limited only by the child’s imagination.  Younger children can also use them for such learning activities as counting games and experimenting with basic addition and subtraction.  Blocks provide numerous learning opportunities and keep kids busy.

2. Dolls and Stuffed Animals - Children love to pretend that their dolls, action figures and stuffed animals are real people or animals.  This can provide them with hours of entertainment.  They may even play with two or more at a time, making different voices for each one.  That’s not only fun for them, it’s fun for you to watch too.

3. Play-Doh - You probably played with Play-Doh when you were a kid.  Chances are that if you did, you have fond memories of it.  Similar to blocks, Play-Doh allows children to make anything they can imagine.  The factories and tool sets you can buy to go with it are nice but they are not a necessity.

4. Wagons - A wagon can be used in numerous ways.  Kids can use it to transport their toys from one place to another  but that’s only the beginning.  It can serve as a vehicle for their stuffed animals or dolls, a pull-along “tray” when they’re playing restaurant or even as transportation for the child himself with you pulling it.

5. Art Supplies - Budding Picassos can spend hours making new masterpieces.  Art is a great way to keep kids occupied because it fosters creativity and self-esteem.  And you get the added bonus of new refrigerator decorations.

6. Musical Instruments - Most children love music.  The only thing better than listening to it is making it themselves.  If real musical instruments are not an option, there are toy drum sets, xylophones, kazoos and more that kids can play with.  They could even get other kids together and form a band.

7. Housekeeping or Gardening Tools - Kids love to imitate adults.  A kitchen set, toy vacuum cleaner or a set of gardening tools can help them do so more accurately.  You could enlist them to help you when you’re doing housework or yard work.  They will stay occupied and feel a sense of accomplishment.

8. Sandboxes - A sandbox full of toys provides a wealth of opportunities.  Kids can learn a lot by playing in sand.  They can use sticks to make designs, add water and make sandcastles, or make trails with their toy cars.

9. Dress-Up Clothes - Playing dress-up lets kids put together outfits and pretend to be anyone or anything.  You don’t have to buy a dress-up set.  Just get out all of the old clothes you can find and let their imaginations run free!

10. Balls - Balls not only keep a child busy, they also encourage physical activity.  There are numerous ways that children can play with them, so they never get boring.

Years ago, children did not have electronic toys and video games to play with.  All they had were things like dolls and dollhouses, toy cars and jump ropes.  No matter what toys they played with, they had to use their imagination to a certain extent.

Today, kids have all sorts of electronic toys to choose from.  Even many books talk and allow children to interact with them.  While there are benefits to these types of toys, it is still important to let a kid’s imagination flourish.  Here are some toys that encourage imagination and creativity, providing learning opportunities that many modern toys do not.

* Play-Doh - It has been around for decades, but Play-Doh has withstood the test of time.  It can get messy, but letting your kids play with it can bring forth imagination like few other things can.  Your child will make all sorts of things with it and you can help by providing tools that make interesting shapes and textures.

* Dress-Up Clothes - Playing dress-up is a great activity for kids.  Providing a variety of costume pieces for boys and girls lets them design their own outfit.  That can lead to pretending to be any number of people or things, and imagination is a prerequisite for pretending.

* Blocks - Blocks come in many shapes and sizes these days.  Any of them are good for encouraging imagination.  Old-fashioned wooden blocks have the added benefit of teaching kids how balancing works.  Soft blocks are safe for smaller children.  Legos interlock to allow children to move their creations from place to place.  All of these allow children to build virtually anything they want with a little creativity.

* Dolls and Action Figures - Dolls and action figures that do not talk make it necessary for a child to put words into their mouths.  That requires plenty of imagination.  Your child can make up stories and scenarios featuring them and she might ask you or a sibling or friend to play the part of another doll or figure.  If it is possible to change their clothing or use props with them, that’s even better.

Imagination is not only a fun way to learn, it is also effective.  While children may learn such things as letters, numbers and even phonics from electronic toys, they are no substitute for learning by doing.  Imaginative play often leads children to figure things out for themselves and things learned that way are not soon forgotten.

Imaginative play also often results in a child asking questions that she might not have thought of otherwise.  This gives the parent or caregiver a unique opportunity to teach her about things that she is specifically interested in.  And it’s no secret that children who are interested in learning learn better.

Children love to play with toys that are fun.  They sometimes entertain themselves for hours with a favorite toy.  Wouldn’t it be great if they spent that time learning instead of just playing?

Educational toys allow children to play and learn at the same time.  Finding toys that your child enjoys playing with and learns from might take some trial and error, but it is well worth it.  The right toys can help your child learn skills that she will need in school, and those same skills will carry over into adulthood.  Here are some fun and educational toys that many children love to play with.

Bead Mazes

Toddlers love those bead maze toys that are found in many pediatricians’ waiting rooms.  Smaller versions are available that they can play with at home.  These allow children to practice grasping small objects, and you don’t have to worry about them swallowing anything.  They also promote problem-solving skills and they’re usually brightly colored to provide visual stimulation.

Play-Doh

Have you ever met a kid who didn’t love Play-Doh?  It’s great for a wide range of ages, and it helps kids develop fine motor skills and learn their colors.  Best of all, it requires them to stretch their imaginations and be creative.

Building Toys

Building toys come in many forms, shapes and sizes.  Blocks are the most common type of building toy, and kids can think of a seemingly endless number of ways to use them.  They can build houses, towers, animals and more.  Groups of children can work together to build something, making blocks great for learning social skills.  Alphabet blocks have the added benefit of introducing letters, numbers and colors.

Art and Music Toys

Kids love to draw, paint and make music.  Art supplies and musical instrument can provide hours upon hours of entertainment.  They encourage abstract thinking, creativity and imagination.  A group of kids with musical instruments can also play music together, developing social skills such as teamwork and conflict resolution along the way.

Electronic Games

Electronic games are designed to teach such things as shapes, alphabet, numbers, phonics and math.  Some such games are quite entertaining.  They make sounds and light up when kids get something right, providing both visual stimulation and positive reinforcement.

It is important, however, that electronic toys are not the only ones that kids play with.  Most such toys do not encourage creativity like simpler ones do, and if electronic toys are all that a child plays with, he will miss out on more creative learning opportunities.

Toys that are educational allow kids to learn and have fun at the same time.  When both things go hand in hand, kids enjoy learning and retain the things they learn better.

Toys are among a child’s first possessions.  They entertain kids, but they also help them learn about the world around them.  Early experiences with toys can have lasting effects on a child.

There has been much debate about which toys are the best for children.  Some argue that high-tech toys provide the best educational opportunities, while others say that simpler toys that require imagination and creativity teach a child to think for himself.  But most children end up with a mixture of both types of toys and perhaps that approach gives them the best of both worlds.

Electronic Toys vs. Non-Electronic Toys

Electronic toys keep a child entertained with lights, sounds, and pictures.  Small children can learn about cause and effect from them.  When they push a button, they get a specified response from the toy.  When they push a different button, they get a different response.

Electronic toys often reward a child with a funny sound or other response when they do something correctly.  This built-in positive reinforcement is good, but it should also be accompanied by positive reinforcement from parents.  Often it is not and that is one of the reasons that some experts prefer non-electronic toys.

Non-electronic toys are often more flexible than electronic ones.  They can be used in a variety of ways.  Take Play-Doh or alphabet blocks, for example.  They require imagination and creativity, but they can be used to make almost anything the child wants to make.  They also have added benefits of refining fine motor skills and providing opportunities to learn colors, letters, and numbers.

Toys That Encourage “Grown-Up” Behavior

Kids love to do what Mom and Dad do.  Whether it’s cleaning the house, mowing the lawn, or working on the car, they are often eager to help.  Things like toy kitchens, tool sets, and toy vacuum cleaners let kids “work” with their parents.  These kinds of toys are great because they encourage responsibility and build self-esteem while also building motor skills.

Violent Toys

Most parents won’t allow their children to watch violent shows on television.  These shows could scare the children and they promote behavior that is not acceptable.  But many do not realize that war toys can have similar effects.

Most experts say that children should not be allowed to play with guns or other toys that promote violence.  There is the potential for many negative effects.  These toys send the message that violence is acceptable and conflicts should be resolved by fighting.

It may not be readily apparent, but the toys that a child plays with can have profound effects on them.  Providing a child with toys that encourage learning in a healthy way can be a huge asset to your child’s development.  Children who learn at home develop skills that they will use for the rest of their lives.

Most children have little trouble expressing their creativity.  Just ask any mother who has had to clean crayons and markers off of a freshly painted wall.  Providing toys that allow your child to get creative encourage imagination and allow her to learn by doing.

Creativity isn’t just about artwork.  It can be expressed in a number of ways.  Here are some of the best toys for encouraging creativity in your child.

Building Toys

Blocks of any kind are great for kids of all ages.  They can be used to build almost anything your child can imagine.  Legos allow kids to make more durable masterpieces, but it’s important to get the big ones for children who still like to put things in their mouths.

There are also other types of building toys, such as the magnetic K’nex, that allow greater flexibility and different ways to build.  There are even kits that allow older kids to build their own remote control cars.

Art Toys

Drawing is a favorite activity for many children.  You can encourage your budding artist by giving her toys that make it easy to express herself.  Washable markers make messes more bearable.  Magnetic drawing boards, Etch-a-Sketches, and other toys that allow drawing without using crayons or markers eliminate the mess altogether and are great for travel.

Finger paint is a favorite of young artists, but it can be messy.  Letting your kids indulge in it once in a while is good for them, and with some preparation you can avoid any permanent damage.  Smocks and lots of newspaper will protect their clothes and your table.

Musical Toys

Music is a wonderful learning tool for children, and it’s even better when they make it themselves.  You can find durable toy instruments for even the youngest budding musician.  Babies love plastic tambourines, maracas and xylophones.  Toddlers and preschoolers can play a kazoo or recorder.  If your child expresses great interest in the piano, beginner piano lessons might be a good investment.

Children who love to sing might enjoy a karaoke machine.  There are also microphones that do special effects so your little singer can sound like a pro.  And there are lots of sing-a-long CDs, DVDs, and toys available.

Craft Kits

There are all sorts of crafts that kids can do.  Kits that come with everything needed for a specific craft project make crafting easy.  You could buy individual craft items and let your kids’ imaginations take over.

Creativity comes naturally for kids.  Giving them toys that help them express themselves is a great way to encourage them to do so.  Kids who are allowed to be creative often have a greater interest in learning and as a result they are more likely to do their best in school and life.

First time parents know how hard it is to pick out an age appropriate toy for a child. Even those who have several children often find it difficult. There is much more to choosing the right toy for your child’s age than meets the eye. Here are a few tips to help you decide which toy best suits your little one.

* The age on the box is not always a good indicator of how appropriate a toy is for your child. That doesn’t mean that you should ignore it completely, because it usually represents the ages that the toy has been deemed safe for. But a toy that is safe for a certain age group is not necessarily appropriate for it’s educational level.

* A toy that is good for one child may not be the best choice for another child of the same age. Children learn at different rates, and while many toys are made for the average child of a certain age range, your child could be ahead or behind. Rather than relying solely on numbers, take cues from what your child is comfortable with.

* Babies need toys that are safe and stimulating. Bright, contrasting colors, unusual textures and interesting sounds are good things to look for. Toys that make noise or light up in response to the baby’s actions provide an opportunity to learn about cause and effect.

* Toddler toys should allow the child to develop his motor skills or learn about shapes, colors, animals and other basic things. Those that incorporate both motor skills and intellectual development are even better. Social skills are also beginning to develop at this stage, and items that your toddler can share with other children are a good way to encourage this. But it’s important to remember that young toddlers often prefer to play alongside other children rather than with them.

* Preschoolers are ready to learn about letters and numbers. There are all kinds of toys that can help with this, from alphabet blocks to talking books. Finding something that your child enjoys playing with that teaches these things will be a great asset to him.

* Some toys are good for a wide range of ages. Building blocks and simple wooden puzzles with large pieces, for example, can grow with a child. He could learn different things from them as a baby, toddler and preschooler. Some electronic toys are designed to teach children different things at different ages as well.

Finding the right toy for your child’s age is not as difficult as it sounds. The trick is to be less concerned about numbers and more concerned about your child’s developmental level. As long as a toy is safe for your child, if he is having fun and learning from it, that is always a good thing.

In order for children to learn, they need to stretch their minds.  That means that they need to be challenged.  Reviewing things they already know helps them remember them but in order to go forward they must learn to grasp new concepts.  Challenge also keeps a child interested.

While challenge is a very good thing it is important not to go overboard with it.  Doing so will just cause the child to become frustrated.  He might give up on the task at hand and even develop distaste for the entire subject.

So how do you know how much challenge is too much?  Sometimes it is difficult.  It is important to keep activities attainable while still making sure that the child is in fact learning new things.  Here are some ways to do that.

* Electronic educational toys often allow parents and children to choose a skill level.  Make sure that your child is working on a level that is appropriate for him.  If you’re not sure, watch while your child goes through the levels starting with the lowest.  Determine the highest level he has mastered and have him work on the next one.

* Most computer learning games automatically go to the next level when a child has mastered the previous one.  If there is an option to save the game at each level, try to make sure that he does so.  Then, instead of going back through things he already knows each time he plays, he can start out on a level that is a challenge for him.

* An older child’s schoolwork might be a good indicator of what he has mastered and what he needs to work on.  If there is an area he has trouble in you could expand on it at home.  If he appears to have mastered everything you may want to talk to his teacher about giving him more advanced work to do at school or at home.

* If your child has educational toys that he doesn’t play with try to determine why.  He will probably just tell you that he doesn’t like them, but it could be that they are either above or below his individual level.  If you can get him to try them while you supervise, it could provide some valuable insight and help you make better selections in the future.

Working on a level that is comfortable for your child yet provides a challenge is crucial to his educational success.  Too little challenge will cause your child to become bored and too much could cause frustration and low self-esteem.  Always remember what is good for one child might be very different from what is good for another child of the same age.  Taking cues from your child will help you decide what level is the best for him.

Kids love toys.  If you have any doubts about that, just take a child into a toy store.  She will probably find a number of things that she feels she just can’t live without.

Toys are more than just fun and games for kids.  Most toys provide at least some opportunity for children to learn.  The best toys engage a child’s senses, spark their imaginations and encourage them to interact with others.

Babies and Toys

Babies are eager to learn about the world around them, and they have much to learn.  Every new shape, color, texture, taste and sound is a learning experience for them.  Giving your baby toys that are safe and stimulating will help him discover his senses.

Rattles and toys that make music are favorites of infants.  Toys with contrasting colors are fascinating to babies and stimulate their developing vision.  As they grow, infants can use toys to explore object permanence and cause and effect relationships.  They also need objects such as blocks to help them build motor skills and hand-eye coordination.

Toys for Toddlers

Toddlers can play with a wider variety of toys than they did when they were smaller.  They might still enjoy some of the toys they played with as babies, and that’s fine.  The same blocks they played with a year or two ago can provide them with new and different educational opportunities as their knowledge expands.  But they also need toys that are designed with kids their age in mind.

Shape sorters are great for toddlers.  They teach them how to match similar items and provide parents the opportunity to teach them the names of the shapes.  Lego blocks provide an opportunity to learn more about colors and symmetry while they develop their motor skills.

Toys for Preschool and School-Aged Children

When children reach preschool age, it’s time to start learning about letters, numbers and language skills.  There are lots of toys that encourage this type of learning, from simple alphabet puzzles to high-tech electronic gadgets.  These can give your child a head start by introducing her to the things she will be learning in school.

Kids who are in school can supplement their learning with fun and educational toys.  Giving them the opportunity to have fun while practicing the things they are learning in school will increase their retention of those things.  And when your child finds an educational toy she really likes, she will be more likely to play with it, reinforcing the things she has learned.

Children can learn a lot from playing.  When you give your child educational toys and play with them with her, it gives her a chance to bond with you, learn, and have fun at the same time.  And making education enjoyable will help your child retain the things she learns and develop a positive attitude toward learning.

Kids love video games, but most such games have little or no educational value and many even glorify violence.  So it’s no surprise that parents often put severe limits on the types of games their kids can play and how often and long they can play them.

That’s not to say that all video games are bad.  Many educational toy makers and children’s book publishers have used the popularity of video games to their advantage and created educational computer games.  Kids find these fun and entertaining and adults like them because they teach kids new things and reinforce what they are learning in school.

Computer Games for Preschoolers

In this the “Information Age”, it is becoming increasingly important for children to become comfortable with computers when they are young.  Computer games are available for kids as young as preschool age.  While your child probably won’t be able to do much typing at that age, you can help her learn how to use a mouse.  And that is all that most games aimed at young children require.

Preschoolers can play games that help them learn the alphabet, numbers, shapes and colors.  Some games help a child learn to match objects or develop early phonics skills.  These games serve a dual purpose of educating your child about the subject at hand and getting her comfortable with the computer.

Computer Games for Grade Schoolers

Once your child starts school, computer games can help her grasp concepts that she is having trouble with in school in a fun and pressure-free way.  Finding educational games that feature her favorite cartoon characters will keep her interested, and she may not even realize just how much she is learning.  If you find a game that allows two players to compete, you or a brother or sister could play along with her to provide some lighthearted competition.

Those who are having trouble with reading or math often find computer games particularly useful.  Games that introduce phonics, addition and subtraction are plentiful.  The key is to find a game that will keep your child’s attention while focusing on the specific things she is having trouble with.

How Much Is Too Much?

Although educational computer games are good for children they should still be used in moderation.  Sitting in front of a computer playing the same game for hours on end will not benefit your child.  She needs to participate in physical activity and non-electronic educational activities as well.

Opinions vary, but a half hour to an hour a day is a good rule of thumb for video game limits.  There’s no point in pushing your child to play every day, either.  If she doesn’t want to play, then requiring her to do so may cause her to dislike the game and defeat the purpose of it.

Computer games are a fun way to help your child learn new things and do better in school.  When used in moderation, they can supplement other teaching methods nicely.  Providing appropriate games and letting your child decide when to play while setting time limits will maximize the benefits of these great educational resources.

Puzzles come in many forms.  There are the traditional jigsaw puzzles, 3-D puzzles, sliding block puzzles and matching puzzles.  They can have anywhere from a few pieces to thousands of them.

Puzzles that are appropriate for a child’s age and developmental level provide a fun yet challenging learning experience.  Puzzles for toddlers are very different from puzzles for school children.  Here are some things to look for in puzzles for every age.

Babies and Toddlers

Babies and toddlers can learn a lot from the right kind of puzzle. Shape stackers are a good type of puzzle for babies because the pieces are easy for small hands to grasp.  The wooden puzzles that have a board with pictures of the corresponding pieces allow a toddler to learn how to match objects. The pieces fit loosely, so they’re not too hard for small hands to put together.  Foam jigsaw-type puzzles are also good for babies and toddlers.

Hand-eye coordination is another important thing that puzzles teach.  It can be tricky for a little one to get the pieces where they belong at first, but after a few tries she will be delighted to see that she can do it.

Another benefit of toddler puzzles is that they can help teach the names of colors and shapes.  You can help by pointing out the colors or shapes of the pieces that your child is matching.  Some puzzles have pieces with letters, numbers or animals on them, and you can use those in the same way.

Preschoolers

Puzzles for preschoolers may be a little more advanced.  Jigsaw puzzles with a few large pieces are good for this age group.  They are still developing fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination, so they are probably not ready for puzzles with small pieces yet.

At this age children can benefit tremendously from working together to solve puzzles.  They might share strategies such as sorting pieces by color or searching for patterns.  This aids in social development and communication skills as well as intellectual development.

Schoolchildren

Elementary schoolers can move on to more advanced jigsaw puzzles.  The pieces can be smaller and the designs more complex.  Children of this age can still benefit from the teamwork lessons learned by solving puzzles together.

Once she has become adept at putting together flat puzzles, your child might enjoy working on three-dimensional ones.  These add new challenges and make nice bedroom décor when they’re finished.  Many of them do not even require glue to stay together.

Puzzles are a fun way to learn important skills.  They also provide a great opportunity for your child to work with you or other children toward a common goal.   The educational benefits of puzzles are greater than those of many more complex and higher priced toys and they can be reinforced with each new puzzle your child completes.

Blocks are one of the most basic toys you can find.  It may seem they don’t really do anything and in their simplest form they’re just little wooden cubes.  But to a child, they represent a world of possibilities.

Blocks are great toys for children of all ages.  Infants love soft blocks to look at, squeeze, chew on and drop.  Toddlers like to put blocks in boxes and pour them out or pile them on the floor.  Preschoolers can build towers, houses, animals and more with blocks.

Blocks are a great way to keep your child occupied, but they also have lots of educational benefits.  Here are some ways that children learn from blocks.

Social Development

Blocks are fun for one child, but two or more make them much more interesting.  Young children enjoy playing with blocks in groups.  It is a great way to encourage children to learn to share and cooperate with others.  As your child grows, she and her playmates may learn to work together to build things.

Physical Development

Small children can gain hand strength from blocks.  They are also one of the best toys for developing hand-eye coordination.  Babies like to drop or throw them.  Toddlers will attempt to arrange and stack them and eventually learning to balance them.

Intellectual Development

Alphabet blocks are one of the best educational toys money can buy.  Most of them are brightly colored and feature letters of the alphabet and numbers.  Young children can begin to sort them by color and eventually they will learn the names of the colors.  Then they can begin to learn the letters and numbers.  Once your child has mastered his letters, the blocks are great for quizzing him on which letter makes which sound.

Blocks are also excellent for introducing math.  They can put the numbers in order to practice counting, and they can count the blocks themselves to learn how to count objects.  Eventually they can use them to experiment with addition and subtraction.

Creativity

Building is quite the creative process for children.  It’s a great feeling when they learn to balance several blocks on top of each other.  From there they will begin to build simple structures.  Then they will move on to elaborate houses, schools and even castles.

Lego blocks provide more flexibility in building.  They also allow kids to move their creations to other locations.  While regular building blocks are better for smaller children, Lego blocks are a good replacement when they seem to have outgrown them.

Kids can learn a number of things from blocks.  Because they are learning through participation, they will retain the knowledge more readily.  What more could you ask for out of an educational toy?