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BEST AND SAFE BASEBALL / SOFTBALL HELMET FOR KIDS

2013-02-14T07:37:00.000-08:00

Baseball/Softball T-Ball Batting Helmet (N.O.C.S.A.E Standards)

All-Star designed the BH6110 Cool Lids helmet specifically for youth players. The high impact resistant ABS molded shell is significally smaller than standard baseball and softball shells. It also features a dual density foam liner with super soft fitting foam that conforms to the player's head. Wide channel in back allows for pony tails. Super soft UltraCool fabric cover over the foam wicks away moisture and increases player comfort. Liner is treated with Aegis Microbe Shield that effectively stops the growth of mold and mildew for the life of the product. Black face mask attached. Meets NOCSAE standard...

Rank: #154725 in Sports & Outdoors
Size: Youth Ages 4 to 8 (5 7/8" - 6 3/4")
Brand: All-Star
Model: BH6110
Hat Size Under 6 3/4

Baseball is among the most popular sports in the world, played by children as young as 5 and adults past age 60. What every player has in common is the need for adequate head protection when batting or playing catcher. Helmets must meet strict standards for safety and protection. The National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment, or NOCSAE, was founded in 1969 to set those standards.

Size and Fit

A baseball helmet must fit different head sizes and be adjustable for slight variations between standard head sizes. Properly fitting a helmet must involve allowing for required padding. The helmet must stay in place at all times without the need for repositioning or adjustment. A helmet manufacturer must pass tests for NOCSAE standards on three product samples in order to be approved.

Muzzle Distance

This standard is based on the approved testing procedure in which a pneumatic ball launcher fires a baseball or softball with the release point, or muzzle, positioned 24 inches from the point of impact on the helmet. This assures that the helmet can withstand a direct impact, not only the lighter pressure of a glancing blow.

Baseball Impact

The safety standard states that a baseball helmet, whether for a batter or a catcher, must withstand the impact from a standard baseball or a softball. A standard, approved helmet must withstand an impact by a baseball that weighs between 5 and 5 1/4 oz., or 142 to 149 g, has a circumference of 9 to 9.25 inches, a Coefficient of Restoration (CR), a measure of hardness, of 0.5 to 0.55, and a construction as specified by Major League Baseball. Respective softball parameters are 5 7/8 to 6 1/8 oz., or 155 to 174 g, circumference of 10.875 to 11.125 inches, and CR of 0.43 to 0.47. No softball construction standard is specified.

Velocity

A helmet must withstand a hit from a ball traveling at about 58 to 62 mph. The impact must not crack or shatter the helmet and the helmet must be able to remain in place. It should not fit so loosely that it can be knocked off the player's head by an impact. Standards apply at 67 to 77 degrees Fahrenheit, an average range of playing temperatures.

Impact Position

A helmet must meet a standard for impact from any of five directions. A ball must produce no damage when striking the helmet from exactly the front; the back; 90 degrees from the front/back axis, regarded as the side or the position of the required ear protector; from 45 degrees between the front and side; and from 45 degrees between the back and side.

Drop Test

A batter and a catcher need durable headgear if they collide in a home plate pileup with a runner and a hard-thrown ball, or if they fall while dodging or chasing a wild pitch. NOCSAE relies on a helmet drop test to assure safety in such situations. When dropped from head height, a sensitive instrument inside a test helmet must record an acceptable value called a Safety Index to show that a player's skull and brain are protected.

Purchase

Check the flier produced by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, "Which Helmet for Which Activity?" for the proper equipment. A batter's helmet must adhere to the NOCSAE ND022 standard and a catcher's helmet must adhere to NOCSAE ND024. The same helmets are recommended for use in softball and T-ball.

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The best outdoor toys for summer

2013-02-13T00:13:00.000-08:00

Forget gimmicky new ideas and passing fads, the best outdoor toys for toddlers are the simplest: swings, sandpits, playhouses and garden tools

Best for ... little green fingers

Plastic garden tool set, and metal watering can,

Now, it may be that you have no desire whatsoever to furnish the means for a toddler to start digging in your beloved begonias. However, should you wish to nurture the first stirrings of an interest in horticulture, then these tools should do the job. Also available in pink, the little ones seem to have just as much fun trying to put all the bits back in the carry box as actually doing any gardening (thank God). The watering can is also a perennial toddler favourite and, being metal, can be safely left outside to weather the summer.

Toddler review: "I don't want to stop watering, Mummy! Noooo!"

Best for ... classic fun

Folding slide,

It's an unusual tot who doesn't enjoy a slide. No, the bright plastic colours won't exactly give class to your garden, but you probably abandoned hope of that a while ago, didn't you? This one is a good size for novice or timid sliders (though plenty of larger ones are also available) and folds up into two pieces for easy storage over winter in a garden shed. The rungs are rounded and easy for little legs to negotiate, and the sides are high enough to avoid sideways spills. It takes about 30 seconds to assemble, which is key when you have eager little hands tugging at your legs demanding to know if they can go on it yet.

Toddler review: [crying] "I can't go on my slide 'cos it raining! I'm sad!"

Best for ... homebodies

Playhouse,

This sweet tent is extremely easy to put together. It comes in a cardboard case (surprisingly compact for the size of the tent) and all the frame pieces are pre-strung, making construction idiot-proof. Then you simply slip the canvas cover over and tie at the bottom for safety.

Easy to put together also means handily quick to disassemble, as you wouldn't want to leave this out in a rain shower. It also means you can quickly pop it up indoors and keep toddlers happy on a rainy day. The door folds up (there's another tie to secure it if you prefer to be able to see indoors ...) and the window is covered in a light mesh, presumably for added safety.

Toddler review: "Is this my tent house? Can I have this tent house? I love my tent house!"

Best for ... baby drivers

Cozy coupe GB edition,

If you've ever been to a toyshop or playgroup where they have one of these, you'll have witnessed the ugly scenes as toddlers battle it out for the first go. You need a bit of space (and a disregard for your lawn and borders) to let them lose on this in your garden, but if you have the space - or a nice big green area nearby - your reward will be one very happy toddler, as they can happily spend (depending, of course, on their attention span) a considerable amount of time making frenzied beeping noises and zooming around. One clever feature is that the floor can be put in or removed. For very small children, you can leave it in and push them around yourselves; then once they get older, remove it and they can do the running around with their own two legs. As with all Little Tikes toys, it's sturdily built and easy to construct, taking about an hour for a single person to put together at an easy pace.

Toddler review: "Beep! Beep! Broom broom!"

Best for ... nostalgic parents

Wigwam,

Admittedly your toddler is going to be pretty baffled when you start waxing lyrical about your own childhood, Hiawatha and why, no, you absolutely can't call them Red Indians, but they will still love this simple wigwam (or is it a teepee? Answers on a postcard please). It's easy to put up, which is good as of course the cloth covering isn't waterproof so will have to come down again sharpish in a shower. The colour is perhaps not the most practical, but the canvas is washable, so you can get rid of the grass, chocolate and ice-cream stains easily enough. This is actually a very good indoor toy too, if your child's bedroom is big enough (it measures 150cm by 140cm).

Toddler review: "I hiding Mummy! I hiding in the tent! You can't see me!"

Best for ... pampered princesses

Playhouse,

Now, this is clearly not the budget choice - there's no getting around that price tag. But if you are feeling generous, or possibly guilty, this is one amazing present. It takes roughly one stress-free hour to assemble (that's solo - the instructions suggest two people and while that would no doubt be quicker, it isn't essential) and requires no tools more complicated than a two-euro coin. Don't cheat and use sterling, now. There are no metal parts on the simple plastic fittings, which means no possibility of prying fingers getting trapped, or rusty metal in the garden. The two windows open and shut, there's plenty of space inside for growing children, and the little front garden and window boxes offer the ideal opportunity to start encouraging those green fingers. The only problem you will have is dragging them out when it's time for tea or bed.

Toddler review: "This is MY house Mummy! Not your house! You go away from my house! My house got windows!"

Best for ... making a splash

Sand and water table,

Another classic toddler favourite: liberally dispersing sand throughout your garden and traipsing it into your house will certainly keep them happy for quite some time. This is a basic model, perfect if you don't want to splash out lots of cash or suspect it might be a one-summer-only job. An added bonus is that the removable trays are very easy to clean - sand and water do, after all, tend to make mud.

If you want do want something more multifunctional and durable, and in-keeping with your no doubt terribly tasteful garden furniture, the Great Little Trading Company has a clever sandpit/picnic table hybrid.

Toddler review: Totally absorbed silence.

Best for ... little siblings

Singing animals playmat,

What to do if you have a small baby to keep an eye on while the toddler demands you help them up the swing? This playmat from Chicco is a good practical choice for indooors and out - it's machine washable, though obviously you need to remove the electronic component first, and robust enough to stand being run over by that toddler car. There are both animal sounds and nursery rhymes for them to listen to, and mirrors or teething rings to grab at. You never know, it might even give you 10 minutes to sit down and have a cup of tea.

Find the toys that are suitable for children by clicking on the category or type the toys name in the search box at the top of this page

Best Toys for hot summer holidays

2013-02-13T00:03:00.000-08:00

The summer holidays can be stressful for parents at the best of times, but the Met Office has suggested that this year's will be a hot one, which could make it even more of a headache than usual.

Those with small children may want to invest in some new outdoor toys in order to keep the little ones entertained, as the fine weather seen over the past couple of months is set to continue throughout August.

For the boys, the Bumper Firepower Trike in red and black could be the hottest choice of the summer.

Suitable from approximately three years of age, the traditional style tricycle has chunky wheels for extra stability and costs just £37.99.

Girls may prefer the Bumper Starlet 12'' bike, which comes in purple and pink and costs £74.99, a saving of 11 per cent on the RRP.

Suitable for children aged three and over, it sports tassels on the handlebars for added style and stabilisers to ensure smooth riding for your youngsters.

For little ones enjoying the paddling pool, an inflatable ring such as the Barbie Hearts Swim Ring from Halsall International could be a great purchase, providing peace of mind to young children in the water and a fun Barbie design, all for just £2.95.

Boys will most probably enjoy the company's Ben 10 Swim Ring more, which comes at the same price, a saving of 25 per cent on the RRP.

Even the youngest of infants can have fun outdoors this summer with a play gym such as the Little Tikes 5 in 1 Adjustable Activity Gym for £33.95 or the Red Kite Lets Fly a Kite Playgym at £29.95.

Babies can use these play mats as a means of discovering the world around them while remaining in a safe and protected environment, with the attached toys likely to keep them amused for hours.

Rebecca Sherwin, forecaster for the Met Office, said: "It is going to be a lot more settled than the heavy downpours we saw in some places last week ... Most places will be mainly dry. Things will be a bit warmer as well."

Although the right outdoor and garden-friendly toys, play gyms and sports equipment is likely to keep most youngsters engaged, they can't stay outside all day.

It is important that parents also take an active role in entertaining their kids, spending as much time with them as possible, especially during the summer holidays when the whole family may have vacation time together.

Research from moneysupermarket.com indicates that 3.4 million households will struggle to meet the costs of entertaining children for the duration of the school break.

But buying toys from Kiddicare.com - the UK's favourite baby site - could save parents money, which they could then put towards other activities and entertainments.

A vox pop of residents from Sheffield revealed some of the ways that parents cope with their young ones during the holidays without breaking the bank.

David Withers said: "The best bet is to try and occupy them on a beach, where we can get a bit of a rest too. It's not easy though."

Kate Riley added: "I try to get them doing as much as I possibly can, whether it is sport, clubs, seeing friends, whatever. It's good for them to keep busy, and it gives me a break from them."

Find the toys that are suitable for children by clicking on the category or type the toys name in the search box at the top of this page.

Toys for the summer holidays

2013-02-12T23:55:00.000-08:00

With the long summer holiday drawing to a close, you might be wondering how to keep your kids busy for the last few days of summer. Thankfully, Littlewoods Ireland has an extensive selection of toys in a wide range of prices to keep both boys and girls entertained before it’s back to school!

With just a couple more weeks left of the six-week break, school might be the last thing on your children’s minds, but with Littlewoods’ toys combining both fun and education and encouraging their creativity and imagination, your kids can keep their bodies and minds active without having to open a textbook!

5-in-1 Sports Set. With Olympic fever still high, inspire your child to unleash their inner athlete and keep active with the Featuring outdoor activities like net tennis, badminton, swing ball tennis and children’s volleyball it’s ideal for boys and girls wanting to learn new sporty skills. With the new football season starting, your kids can also imitate their favourite players with the set’s soccer game, for endless hours of open-air entertainment.

Best Toy

If the weather isn’t great, our Fireman Sam Colouring Table is the perfect indoor activity, firing up your child’s imagination and allowing them to express their creativity through drawing. Or how about our Disney Princess Rapunzel Tea Pot, a perfect buy for girlie girls, ideal for outdoor picnics and make-believe indoor tea parties with her favourite dolls.

If you’ve planned a family day to a park and are wondering how you can keep the older kids entertained, then the Monster High Filled Backpack is perfect for girls who are beginning to grow out of family games. Containing a ring binder, A5 notebook, pencil case and spinning pen, it will keep them entertained for hours and can even be used for school come September. Alternatively, our Disney Cars 4-piece Bag Set is ideal for boys on the move, with a trolley bag, backpack, trainer bag and wallet-purse, so he can select his favourite bag to fill with their kit, snacks and activities.

With something suited for everyone at Littlewoods Ireland, you can relax knowing that your child has something to do for the rest of the six-week break, come rain or shine!

Find the toys that are suitable for children by clicking on the category or type in the search box at the top of this page

Best Summer Holiday Toys

2013-02-12T23:46:00.000-08:00

With the summer holidays just one month away – perish the thought! – it might be time to think about how best to keep the kids entertained during the break. School might be the last thing on your children’s mind during the long break, but there are a wide variety of toys and games which are not only fun, but educational too. Of course, once the mind has had some exercise, why not get their bodies working out too, with some brilliant outdoor play sets!

Megabloks Need For Speed Dream

Garage

If the weather’s not looking too good, why not stay in and do something that’s quite literally constructive! Building the Megabloks Bloktown Buildable Pony Stable is an activity that the girls will really enjoy as they imagine themselves to be owners of a real live stable of ponies. The boys can get in on the building fun too, with the Megabloks Need For Speed Dream Garage allowing them to fix up their dream cars before taking them on a spin around the living room!

Fireman Sam Colouring Table

Fire up the imagination even more with some arts and crafts; the Toy Story Stationery Set is a fun way to get your little Picasso to express their creativity through drawing. Follow it up with the Fireman Sam Colouring Table to really bring their creations to life!

While the football season is over for the summer, your kids might still want to play as their favourite footballing superstars – so why not treat them to the inflatable goal set. This portable goal is easy to set up and carry around, which will be great for letting their sporting imaginations run wild as they can take penalties or even practice some one-on-one!

Inflatable Goal and Two Balls

For the older ones who want to work on their skills, the Kickmaster Pro Training Kit has all the added extras they’ll need for some intense football training. It contains a boot bag, shin pads, a football pump and some cones to set out, with which to work on their dribble or fit in some target practice too. It even comes with a pair of good quality goalkeeper gloves for some sting-free shot-stopping.

With all these great ideas for your kids to enjoy over the summer holidays – come rain or shine – here’s hoping for six weeks of stress-free fun!

Tips for Choosing Toys for Toddlers

2013-02-12T23:41:00.000-08:00

Toddlers are little explorers who learn by doing. Play gives your child a great opportunity to develop and practice new skills at her own pace by following her unique interests. The toys and playthings your child has available to her can shape her development in important ways.

While it may seem like choosing toys for toddlers should be easy, as you walk into a toy store today, the only thing that's easy is feeling overwhelmed. There is a huge array of toys that have been developed for the toddler market. How do you choose which are right for your child? How can you tell which are high quality and which will last? Which will engage your child's interest for more than a few days or weeks? Below are some ideas for choosing toys that will grow with your child, challenge her, and nurture her overall development (her thinking, physical, language and social-emotional skills).

Guidelines for Choosing Toys for Toddlers

Choose toys that can be used in a variety of ways. Toddlers love to take apart, put back together, pull out, put in, add on, and build up. Choose toys that are "open-ended" in the sense that your child can play many different games with them. For example, wooden blocks or chunky plastic interlocking blocks can be used to make a road, a zoo, a bridge or a spaceship. Toys like this spark your child's imagination and help him develop problem-solving and logical thinking skills.

Examples: Blocks, interlocking blocks, nesting blocks or cups, and toys for sand and water play
Look for toys that will grow with your child. We all have had the experience of buying a toy that our child plays with for two days and never touches again. You can guard against that by looking for toys that can be fun at different developmental stages. For example, small plastic animals are fun for a young toddler who may make a shoebox house for them, while an older toddler can use them to act out a story she makes up.

Examples: Plastic toy animals and action figures, toddler-friendly dollhouses, trains and dump trucks (and other vehicles), stuffed animals and dolls
Select toys that encourage exploration and problem-solving. Play gives children the chance to practice new skills over and over again. Toys that give kids a chance to figure something out on their own—or with a little coaching—build their logical thinking skills and help them become persistent problem-solvers. They also help children develop spatial relations skills (understanding how things fit together), hand-eye coordination, and fine motor skills (using the small muscles in the hands and fingers).

Examples: Puzzles, shape-sorters, blocks, nesting blocks or cups, art materials like clay, paint, crayons or play-dough
Look for toys that spark your child's imagination. During your child's third year, her creativity is really taking off as she is now able to take on the role of someone else (like a king) and imagine that something (like a block) is actually something else (like a piece of cake). Look for toys that your child can use as he develops and acts out stories. Pretend play builds language and literacy skills, problem-solving skills, and the ability to sequence (put events in a logical order).

Examples: Dress-up clothing, blocks, toy food and plastic plates, action figures, stuffed animals and dolls, trains and trucks, toddler-friendly dollhouses, toy tools, and "real-life" accessories such as a wrapping paper tube "fire hose" for your little fire fighter. The all-purpose large cardboard box is always a big hit for toddlers and is free. (Call an appliance store about picking up one of their refrigerator boxes). Boxes become houses, pirate ships, barns, tunnels—anything your child's imagination can come up with!
Give your child the chance to play with "real" stuff—or toys that look like the real thing. Your toddler is getting good at figuring out how objects in her world work—like television remotes or light switches. She is also interested in playing with your "real" stuff, like your cell phone, because she is eager to be big and capable like you. Toys like this help children problem-solve, learn spatial relations (how things fit together), and develop fine motor skills (use of the small muscles in the hands and fingers).

Examples: Plastic dishes and food, toy keys, toy phone, dress-up clothes, musical instruments, child-size brooms, mops, brushes and dustpans
Toss in some "getting ready to read" toys. Books, magnetic alphabet letters, and art supplies like markers, crayons, and fingerpaints help your child develop early writing and reading skills. "Real-life" props like take-out menus, catalogs or magazines are fun for your child to look at and play with and also build her familiarity with letters, text, and print.
Seek out toys that encourage your child to be active. Toddlers are doing all kinds of physical tricks as they are stronger and more confident with their bodies. Your job is to be an appreciative audience for your little one's newest playground achievement! Look for toys that help your child practice current physical skills and develop new ones.

Examples: Balls of different shapes and sizes, tricycles or three-wheeled scooters (with appropriate protective gear), plastic bowling sets, child-size basketball hoop, pull-toys (e.g., toys that your child can pull on a string), wagon to fill and pull, gardening tools to dig and rake with, moving boxes (open at both ends) to make tunnels to crawl through
Look for toys that nurture cross-generational play. While adults and children can play almost anything together, there are some toys that are designed for adult participation. As your child approaches age 3 and beyond, early board games—that involve using one's memory or simple board games that do not require reading—are fun for all ages to play. Consider starting a "family game night" when all of you play together. Board games encourage counting, matching and memory skills, as well as listening skills and self-control (as children learn to follow the rules). They also nurture language and relationship-building skills. Another important benefit is teaching children to be gracious winners and how to cope with losing.

Common Questions on Choosing Toys for Toddlers

What are the benefits of sounds, lights and music? Many, many toys for toddlers are ablaze with buttons, levers, lights, music, etc. Often these toys are marketed as "developmental" because the toy has so many different functions. Unfortunately, this often has the opposite effect for the child. The more a toy does, the less your child has to do. If your child can sit and watch the toy "perform", then it is likely more entertaining than educational. In addition, these toys can be confusing to a child who is learning cause-and-effect. If a toy randomly starts playing music, or it is unclear which button made the lights start flashing, then your child is not learning which of his actions (the cause) produced the lights and music (the effect). In short, the most useful toys are those that require the most action on the part of a young child. The more children have to use their minds and bodies to make something work, the more they learn.

Can toys actually "make my baby smarter", as the packaging and advertisements often claim?
Proceed with caution. Most products that make these claims have not been proven to increase children's intelligence. In fact, safe household items (plastic bowls for filling and dumping, pillows for climbing and piling up to make a cave, old clothing for dress-up) are often the best learning tools. Remember, the more your child has to use his mind and body to problem solve and develop his own ideas, the more he learns.

Top 10 Kid's Outdoor Toys For Your Backyard

2013-02-11T23:05:00.000-08:00

Long summer days seem endless at times. Keep your kids busy and entertained with these popular Outdoor Toys. Easy to use and fun to play with, these outdoor toys can be easily set up and used in your backyard. Your kids will get some fresh air and exercise, as well as have a great time playing outdoors with these fun toys. Want to have some fun with water? Then try the water toys where kids will enjoy squirting each other and getting drenched. Become a kid again and join in the fun!

1. Naturally Playful Sand and Water Activity Center

This handy sand and water play center is ideal for your backyard. Nicely blending in with outdoorsy textures and colors, this center comes with an umbrella to sheild your child from the hot sun. There are 2 partitions, one for upto 20 lbs of sand and the other for upto 2 gallons of water. A great alternative to a traditional sandbox, not to mention the added fun with water too.

2. Ultimate Beach Ball Sprinkler

This wonderful summer toy is sure to be a big hit with the kids. This big beach ball inflates and connects to your water hose. When the water is turned on, the ball turns into a sprinker, with water spraying out on all sides. This is perfect for your backyard or garden and will keep the kids busy for a while.

3. Kid Galaxy Flex Blaster

The new Flex Blaster water gun from Kid Galaxy is a cool product with an equally cool attitude. Be warned, this is no ordinary water gun - it shoots water out of its two eyeballs. Yes, you did read right! The unique pump action causes the water to shoot pretty far out of the two flexible plastic pipes ending in eyeball shaped nozzles.

5. Crabbie Sandbox

This friendly looking red Crabbie Sandbox with its own lid holds upto 300 lbs of sand. This is pretty roomy for 2-3 kids to play in. A nice feature is the inclusion of built in seats at the claws of the crab. This is durable, sturdy and is sure to be a hit with all the younger kids.

6. BBQ Grill and Glow

This BBQ grill trolley is a colorful pretend-play toy which your kids will love! Ideal for the garden, the BBQ trolley has a pretend gas tank, wheels, realistic "fire" lights and fun grill sounds. It includes six pieces of play food and utensils. Kids love to pretend that they're dishing up yummy hamburgers on the realistic fire that actually lights up. This kiddie barbeque is a perfect buy for little kids to make them feel like they're grilling and barbequing just like grown ups!

7. Naturally Playful Teeter Totter

This little see saw from Step2 is made to look like wood and stone, thus blending in beautifully with the backyard. It is constructed very sturdily, and is lots of fun for 2 little ones to play on. A third seat in the middle could be used for a third little one, but it may be slightly uncomfortable.

8. Gazillion Gazooka

Have you ever heard of a bubble fight? That's just what you can do with this awesome bubble blower from Funrise Toys. Your kids can blow upto 3,000 bubbles a minute with the Gazillion Gazooka. Simply twist on the bubble bottle (which is included), and you're ready to fire away!

9. Radio Flyer Kid's Wheelbarrow

Kids will enjoy wheeling this wheelbarrow around the garden. This is an extremely sturdy wheelbarrow with a steel body with smooth-finished hardwood handles. Durable, sturdy and useful, this wheelbarrow is great for your kids to develop an interest in gardening or just to have some fun.

10. Hasbro Super Soaker Artic Shock Water Blaster

The Hasbro Super Soaker Artic Shock is great toy water gun with 2 options - spray a stream of water through the main nozzle, or add ice to the water for some extra shocks! Very promising water toy for some great water fights in your backyard!

From: hxxp://summer.about.com

LEGOS AND CHILD CREATIVITY

2013-02-11T08:16:00.000-08:00

For my five-and-a-half-year-old son, Zachary, it’s all about Lego. After obsessions with Thomas the Tank Engine, Disney’s Cars and the sea creatures from BBC’s Blue Planet series, he has turned all of his attention to the iconic Danish bricks. His love of Lego has seen a Tribble-like explosion into all corners of the house. We have handed out Lego at his birthday, when he graduated from Junior Kindergarten and just because - as in just because he pleaded so much at Walmart and the promise of a quiet play date was just too tempting. Of course, Zachary’s Christmas wish list consisted almost entirely of Lego.

For the most part, I like having a kid who’s Lego-obsessed. I’m always pleased at the rapturous approval I get from other parents when I tell them about Zachary’s passion. Lego is seen as creative, educational, great for developing fine motor skills, and there’s a whiff of nostalgia about it all.

But I’ve been following the current debate over the evolution (some argue devolution) of Lego. And I’ve begun to wonder. Is there a dark side to the “wunder” toy? Do creativity and imaginative play still rest at the heart of the Lego experience? Or have marketing ploys and bossy instructions squeezed the joy right out?

Give a Lego box even a cursory glance, and you’ll see things aren’t what they used to be. Pieces now come in colors like chartreuse, and shapes such as skeletons, monsters and space missiles. There are bombs, evil villains, and every sort of teeny, tiny weapon. According to Time magazine, change came by necessity. In 1998, the Lego Group posted its first ever losses and then sales dwindled for years. In 2004, the company reported a $374 million loss but also enacted a drastic turnaround plan. This involved more Lego sets with lucrative tie-ins including more of the Star Wars line first introduced in 1999, Batman in 2006, Indiana Jones in 2008 and a series of videogames. On the business end, the company drastically cut its work force and outsourced packaging and production to Eastern Europe and Mexico. The plan worked: In 2006, the Lego Group boasted $281 million in profit and sales have been robust ever since.

The current backlash against Lego was stoked by Michael Chabon’s recent book, Manhood for Amateurs: The Pleasures and Regrets of a Husband, Father, and Son. Re-connecting with Lego while playing with his four children, Chabon found himself chafing at “the authoritarian nature of the new Lego” and its “provided solution.” What Chabon and other parents I know object to is the corporate branding and rigid instructions provided in the sets, which, they argue, stanch imagination and discourage the construction of random, teetering creations.

This might be true but it hasn’t hurt sales; parents are buying more Lego than ever. “Even as other toymakers struggle, this Danish maker of toy bricks is enjoying double-digit sales gains and swelling earnings,” said a September article in the New York Times. Amidst the clash of messages, adult fans of Lego (or AFOLs as they call themselves) have attempted to bring some clarity. Roy T. Cook, a professor of philosophy at the University of Minnesota and one of 14 officially sanctioned Lego ambassadors in the U.S., posted a response to Chabon on an AFOL blog. Cook calls Chabon’s essay a “significant contribution to the debates about the nature and role of LEGO as a medium.” However, the real question, insists Cook, is whether the changes to Lego “constitute an improvement, in that it gives creators more resources with which to carry out their creative projects, or is it regressive, eliminating many of the challenges which creators need to overcome or circumvent - challenges which, when overcome, result in superior creations?”

I think the kvetching about corporate influence and lost creativity is overblown. (Even Chabon told the LA Times, “: I recognize the possibility that I might be overstating my objections.”) I don’t know what’s so bad about by-the-book construction. My son is five years old. If he wants to sit for three hours and painstakingly put together a new Mars Mission ETX Alien Infiltrator, I’m in - that kind of focus on anything is admirable. I also don’t think Zachary’s commitment to building using the instructions signals a surrender to corporate designs. He’s simply learning to build. As Chabon points out in his essay, inevitably, all Lego construction ends up a fantastic, crumbled “stew” anyway. The pieces get mashed together and something new rises up every day: the Lego camper morphs into a rock monster-mobile. Indiana Jones dresses up like a pirate.

I can appreciate the critiques. And, with our overflowing bins, and a stream of new releases, I wonder how much more of the stuff we need. Yet, it became clear to me recently which camp we’ve joined. Just before Christmas, Zachary and I were in a small toy store pondering Lego sets. Beside us a woman dismissed the towering wall of options and huffed at a clerk: “I want a set with bricks. Just bricks! Do you have any of those?” My son stared at her, incredulous at her lack of enthusiasm. For him, Lego is hands-down the most captivating toy medium yet. Since Christmas, he and his friends have shared hours of fun, reveling in their new Lego sets. And there have been amazing quiet times too, Zachary absorbed in play. The other day, he was building his new Lego Coast Guard ship. With pieces scattered across the living room floor, he looked up and said: “Mommy, I’m in Lego heaven.” After a quick smile, he got right back to it.

This article was written by Connie Jeske Crane for Babble.com, the magazine and community for a new generation of parents.

From: hxxp://www.babble.com/kid/child-development/legos-creative-play-child-toys-imagination/

9 Ways to Support Your Child’s Creativity

2013-02-11T08:08:00.000-08:00

Kids are natural innovators with powerful imaginations. And creativity offers a bounty of intellectual, emotional and even health benefits.

One study found that kids’ imaginations helped them cope better with pain. Creativity also helps kids be more confident, develop social skills, and learn better. Below, three experts share how parents can encourage their kids’ creativity.

1. Designate a space for creating. Carving out a space where your child can be creative is important, said Pam Allyn, executive director of Lit World and Lit Life and the author of many books, including Your Child’s Writing Life: How to Inspire Confidence, Creativity, and Skill at Every Age.

But this doesn’t mean having a fancy playroom. It could be a tiny corner with a sack of LEGOs or a box of your old clothes for playing dress-up, she said. Allyn has seen creativity flourish in the most cramped spaces, including the slums of Kenya. The key is for your child to feel like they have power over their space, she said.

2. Keep it simple. Just like you don’t need to create an elaborate play area, you don’t need the latest and greatest toys either. Child educational psychologist Charlotte Reznick, Ph.D, suggested keeping simple games and activities. For instance, she plays LEGOs with her child clients. But instead of following instructions, the kids let the wheels of their imagination spin and build what they want.

3. Allow for “free time.” It’s also important to give your child unstructured time, Allyn said. Spend a few hours at home without activities scheduled, so your child can just putter around and play, she said.

4. Help your kids activate their senses. Expose your kids to the world so they can use all of their senses, according to Reznick, who’s also an associate clinical professor of psychology at UCLA and author of The Power of Your Child’s Imagination: How to Transform Stress and Anxiety into Joy and Success.

Again, this doesn’t mean costly or complicated trips. Take them to the library, museum and outdoors, she said. Ask them to imagine what traveling to faraway places, such as the African safari, might be like, Reznick said. What animals would they encounter? What would the safari look like? What would it smell like? What noises would the animals make?

5. Discuss creativity. Ask your kids when they come up with their best ideas or have their most creative moments, Allyn said. If it’s in the car while getting to soccer practice, honor that by keeping a notebook, iPad or even a tape recorder handy, she said.

6. Cultivate creative critical thinking. As your kids get older, ask them how they approach certain problems and how they might do things differently, Reznick said. Have your kids brainstorm their ideas on paper or use mind-mapping, she said.

7. Avoid managing. “Children have an amazing innate ability to be creative when they play freely on their own, and unfortunately, the act of overparenting dampens or even wipes out that innate ability,” according to Mike Lanza of Playborhood.com and author of the upcoming book Playborhood: Turn Your Neighborhood into a Place for Play. So it’s important to figure out how to facilitate your child’s creativity without managing it, he said.

Lanza and his wife don’t hover over their three boys as they play, and they also don’t enroll them in many activities. Recently, Lanza’s oldest son invented an intricate game of marbles with its own complex rules. (As Lanza said, he doesn’t really understand it.) He’s even adjusted the rules so that his younger brother can win once in a while and the game continues.

Kids learn a lot by playing on their own. Lanza cited Jean Piaget’s The Moral Judgment of the Child, where he discusses “how children develop moral sensibilities and reasoning through playing marbles on their own.”

He also mentioned Alison Gopnik’s The Philosophical Baby, which describes how babies’ brains work. Gopnik asserts that babies are born experimental scientists that take in scrolls of information by trying things on their own and tweaking as they go. Being more hands-off helps kids figure out how to problem-solve and create in their own unique ways.

8. Help kids pursue their passions. Pay attention to your child’s interests and make these materials and activities available to them. Lanza’s oldest son is especially interested in geology, so Lanza buys him books on the topic along with rock samples.

9. Take the time for your own creativity. Since kids learn from watching their parents, be creative, too, Reznick said. Join your child when they’re drawing or building or coloring. One little girl wanted her parents to help her build an art jungle in the living room, she said. At first mom was hesitant. But this provided a great opportunity for the family to bond, and everyone had a fun time.

From: hxxp://psychcentral.com

Legos Help Autistic Kids Develop Creativity

2013-02-11T08:01:00.000-08:00

With the help of multicolored Legos, children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) were able to express their creativity — an often challenging skill for those with ASD.

Children with autism spectrum disorder may often feel uncomfortable or discouraged when asked to replace usual repetitive activities by creating something original. However, researchers were successful in teaching all six children (ages 6 to 10) who participated in the study to play with Legos in a more creative manner.

“In everyday life we need to be able to respond to new situations,” said Deborah A. Napolitano, Ph.D., assistant professor of Pediatrics at University of Rochester Medical Center’s Golisano Children’s Hospital and the study’s principal investigator.

“If a child has only a rote set of skills, it’s hard to be successful.”

In the beginning of the study, the children wanted to continue building the same 24-block Lego structure again and again; however, as the study progressed, they began reaching beyond their comfort zones to create original buildings featuring various color patterns or different shapes.

For example, it was a big step to attach a yellow Lego onto a blue one when only red blocks had touched blue blocks before. This situation represents problems that children with ASD might encounter in real life scenarios, such as learning to say hello to an acquaintance or friend who shows up unannounced.

“We really can teach kids just about anything as long as it’s systematic,” said Napolitano.

Five of the six children in the study had moderate problems with restricted or sameness behavior. However, by the end of the study, each of the six study participants managed to make changes to every Lego structure they had built.

As each child began playing with their Legos, the instructor walked around giving a “good job” every once in a while, to assess whether the child seemed likely to change the color pattern or structure of the Legos. After acquiring baseline information regarding the children’s preferences (such as changing Legos’ color patterns versus Legos’ structural patterns) researchers began the first intervention step.

This first phase of the study included a set of sessions that took place over several months. At the start of each session, an instructor asked the child to build something new. If a child seemed unsure of what to do, the instructor built something unique and then asked the child to also build something different. If the child succeeded in creating a new structure, through trying new color patterns or structures, he or she was rewarded with a small prize, such as playing with a favorite toy.

In the next phase, the children were asked to build something novel with wooden blocks — rather than Legos — to see if they would apply their new creativity skills in a mildly different situation. When this was over, they were given Legos again, but this time, they received no guidance and were only told “good job” without the prize. This was done to see if the children would still experiment with creativity.

Finally, during the last phase, the children were once again given a prize for attempting to create a unique Lego structure.

A few months later, researchers checked up on the children and discovered that they were still able to create novel structures by using a variety of colors and shapes.

“The study’s findings could pave the way for new studies testing interventions that attempt to improve a wide variety of social skills and behaviors among people with ASD,” said Napolitano.

“With positive reinforcement and teaching sessions, such tasks as engaging in novel conversations, posing new questions and creating new ways to play could be within reach for children with ASD.”

The study’s findings have been published in the Journal of Applied Behavioral Analysis.

Source: University of Rochester Medical Center

From: psychcentral.com

HOW TO CHOOSING RIGHT TOYS BY AGE

2013-02-10T02:40:00.000-08:00

As you are getting ready to buy a new 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. Here's a guide to the right toys you need to buy depending on your child's age. Just pick the age group your child falls into, and you will find the top toys for that category.

Baby Toys and Infant Toys

The time from your baby's birth to when he or she turns one year old is when the most amazing changes take place. Baby toys at this stage need to stimulate the senses, particularly the senses of sight, sound and touch. That's why so many baby toys at this stage are colorful, textured or make noises. Picking the right toy for baby is not easy. Here are some wonderful baby toys which are best suited for your baby between the ages of birth to 12 months. You will also find excellent advice on how to choose the right toy for your baby.

Toddler Toys

Toddlers are a bundle of fun! Kids at this stage are full of energy, raring to explore everything around them. They love to do all kinds of physical activities like pulling, pushing, lugging, knocking down, emptying and filling. Toddlers are at their peak of their curiosity where they have to touch and investigate everything they see. It's a wonderful age to learn, explore and discover.

Preschool Toys

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

Toys for Kids Ages 5-8

This is a wonderful age indeed. Kids are very curious at this age and they want to explore, invent, create and conquer. Children between the ages of 5 and 8 enjoy a wide variety of toys and games that help them use their imagination. Here are some toy suggestions for this age group.

Tween Toys - Toys for Kids ages 9-12

Children grow up so fast, don't they! The ages of 9 to 12 are when kids are shaping up their personalities. They love playing fast-paced games, learning musical instruments, figuring out complicated mechanisms and much more. Here's a look at some good toy choices for this age group.

Ages 13 and Up - Toys for Teens

Teens often prefer electronic toys like music players and video games, but there are many other hot, new toys that appeal to them, too!

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From: http://toys.about.com

THE BEST TOYS AND GAMES FOR ADHD CHILDRENS

2013-02-10T02:26:00.000-08:00

Long before my son was diagnosed with ADHD, his preschool teachers noted his "inappropriate" manner of play. It was "not goal directed," they said; when given two dinosaurs, rather than engage them in battle with each other he would simply throw them at his classmates. Matchbox cars, Ninja Turtles, Duplo blocks, Playdough, and yes, finger paint all followed a similar trajectory.

My son was still too young at the time to have been diagnosed accurately with what turned out to be textbook ADHD, but his chaotic and aggressive manner of play was a powerful early clue. Likewise, early and continual interventions through play had a powerful impact on his ability to concentrate, focus, and follow through. It also helped him develop social skills such as cooperating, communicating, negotiating, sharing, and taking turns.

Child psychiatrists and psychologists have long used play as a therapeutic tool for children with problems such as ADHD, clinical depression, and anxiety disorders. Many children can express themselves through play when meaningful discourse is not possible. Conversely, play is an indirect way for therapists to recast children's perceptions, cognitions and behaviors. As Carol Brady, Ph.D., a Houston child psychologist, puts it: "Children communicate metaphorically through play. As a therapeutic tool, it's like giving a sugary pill instead of a bitter pill."

In a home setting, Brady believes, parents also can use play to help their children achieve impressive gains in attentional and social skills. And while the market abounds with expensive and therapeutic "toys and games specially designed to help children with ADHD," Brady says many conventional, inexpensive toys such as Go Fishing, Clue and Chinese Checkers can be just as beneficial. "It's not so much the game as how you play it," Brady says.

Here are several of the toys, games, and methods Brady recommends for parents and their ADHD children.

Ages 4-6: the power of fantasy

Four to six-year-olds enjoy fantasy toys because they allow for exploration of new experiences and feelings in a safe context. Doctor kits, stuffed animals, family and animal figures, and action or monster figures enable the children to act out roles, situations, and emotions. For children with ADHD, fantasy play is even more important.

Younger children with ADHD may feel isolated and confused because their disorder prevents them from communicating effectively their experiences, fears and concerns. They may have a problem or a story to relate, but they are too distractible to stay with the task from beginning to middle to end. Similarly, they tend to be impulsive, rather than anticipatory thinkers; that is, they act on their impulses before considering whether or not it's a good idea. That's one reason ADHD kids so often find themselves "in trouble" or without friends.

When skillfully directed by parents, fantasy play helps ADHD children learn to stay with a string of tasks long enough to bring them to a conclusion, and teaches them to consider consequences before acting. Constant practice through play enables children to transfer these skills to real life.

Parents should plan ten minute play sessions once a day — longer periods run the risk of the child falling out of attention, and the parent becoming frustrated. Using the toys as props, initiate the fantasy game by suggesting to the child, "Let's make up a story about the horses" — or about whatever fantasy figures are involved.

Fostering follow-through and completion

Continue by prompting: "Once upon a time..." and let the child start to make up and act out the story. You can even play act one of the roles in the fantasy, taking the part of one or more play figures and interacting with the child's.

While the child always directs the fantasy, the parent's role is to redirect when necessary to maintain focus. Every time the child veers of track, you can gently direct the child back to the game — for example, "I was really interested in that horsey story. Tell me what happens next."

If the child is not finished with the fantasy as the ten-minute period concludes, the parent can prompt the ending. "Oh, it's getting dark. Time for horsey to get ready to go to bed," or "The boy's mommy is calling him to come home for dinner now." Take another minute to finish the story and put away the toys.

Start with simple themes: the horse is running around the pasture, and then it's time to have a snack and go home. After a few months, you'll probably notice an improvement in your child's ability to stick with the task. At that point, you can step up the challenge gradually by making the themes increasingly more elaborate (After the snack the horses go out to find a secret treasure). You can even expand the venue of the game from the playroom floor to the whole house.

Rehearsing social behaviors and consequences

Non-ADHD kids who naturally play fantasy game from beginning to end have ample opportunity to rehearse, abandon, and try out new behaviors in this safe and sheltered context. But ADHD kids are different; without parental involvement they may not be up to this task.

Therefore, throughout the story the parent should interact in ways that encourage the child to rehearse social behaviors, experience logical consequences and eventually anticipate outcomes.

Some examples:

"If the baby horse goes out without his mommy, do you think he might get lost?"

"If the girl breaks all her toys, what will she have to play with?"

"If the boy hits his friend, maybe the friend will get hurt and not want to play with him anymore."

Parents also can respond within the fantasy — for example, taking the part of the injured party. If the child's figure hits yours, you might say: "Ow, that hurts! I don't want to play with people who hurt me. Can you try being more gentle?" ADHD children, so used to being chastised, can be more responsive to correction when it's not directed personally at them.

The parent-child relationship benefits from this kind of play too. Says Dr. Brady, "What parents can gain along with the satisfaction that they're helping the child is time to enjoy each other, unlike most times where you're telling your kids what to do or making them do something. And its doubly rewarding because kids in this age group are so much fun and they say the cutest things."

Ages 6-10: rehearsing lifetime skills

Elementary school is a time during which children develop increasingly sophisticated social and cognitive skills that will carry them to high school and beyond. It's an especially critical period for children with ADHD; if they fall behind their peers in this domain, it sets the stage for failure in the future.

"From six to ten, most children learn how to take turns, play by the rules, pay attention to detail, strategize, handle frustration, deal with failure, and recover from disappointments," says Dr. Brady. But ADHD kids often find themselves excluded from the very peer activities such as team sports and cooperative board games that help them build these skills. Their lower frustration tolerance, shorter fuse, and difficulty staying on task can be off-putting to potential team and play mates. When ADHD children are shunned, they miss opportunities to develop socially and cognitively with their peers. This snowball affect can take years to counteract.

From: hxxp://www.additudemag.com

Top 10 toys for hyperactive childrens

2013-02-10T02:18:00.000-08:00

Child development expert reveals top 10 toys and selection criteria for children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder

New York, November 16, 2004 – Shire and the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio today announced the top 10 toys for children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), along with selection criteria designed to help guide parents this season as they shop for toys for a child with ADHD. All the toy selections as well as the criteria used are posted on ADHDSupportCompany.com.

The Top 10 list of toys has been developed based on the specific needs of children with ADHD, including the need to better focus attention, to gain self-confidence and to learn to socialize and interact appropriately with other children. The selection criteria used to choose these toys may provide useful guidelines for parents to consider when shopping for toys that their child with ADHD can enjoy. Together, the toy list and criteria may help parents interact with their child and also assist them to direct the child's energy in a more productive way.

"There is no doubt that children with ADHD have special play needs. Choosing the right toys for them to play with in order to help their growth and development can be a challenge," said Stephanie Oppenheim, child development expert and co-founder of the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio. "The Oppenheim Toy Portfolio list provides a selection of toys that have been carefully reviewed to specifically meet the needs of children with ADHD."

This holiday season, Shire is pleased to provide an opportunity for any parent who has a child with ADHD to enter to win one of the toys featured on the Top 10 toy list. To register for the give-away, simply visit www.toys.adhdsupportcompany.com and fill out the entry form before the December 15, 2004 draw date.

The 10 toys that the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio has selected as the best toys for children with ADHD are:

Gertie (R) Balls from Small World Toys (Appropriate for preschool, early school years)
Cranium Hullabaloo TM from Cranium (Appropriate for early - late school years)
Magz-x 106 TM from Progressive Trading (Appropriate for early - late school years)
Wonderfoam (R) Giant USA Puzzle Map from Chenille Kraft Co. (Late school years)
Letter Factory Game TM from Leap Frog (Preschool, early school years)
Leap Pad (R) Plus Writing Learning System from Leap Frog (Preschool, early school years)
I Never Forget A Face Memory Game from eeBoo (Preschool, early school years)
Old Century Shut-the-Box from Front Porch Classics (Late school years)
Deluxe Tumble Treehouse and Skycoaster from Maxim Enterprises (Preschool)
Bird Diner Kit (R)from Balitono (Early - late school years)

As the holiday season approaches, parents can use the following criteria developed by the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio to choose the most appropriate toys for their child with ADHD:

Play to their strengths. Many children with ADHD have plenty of energy that they need to use so physical activity should be encouraged. For example, sports like swimming or karate can provide a valuable outlet.
Build confidence. Children with ADHD have trouble completing lengthy tasks because they often become frustrated and discouraged. While bringing home an elaborate and complicated puzzle or construction set might seem like a great treat, it may be too intimidating for a child with ADHD. Instead, start out simpler and give your child a puzzle or construction set that has fewer components and is recognizable, such as an oversized map of the United States.
Remove distractions. Does your playroom look like a toy store? Children with ADHD are easily distracted when there are lots of toys around vying for their attention. To help your child focus, it might be helpful to have a play table where only one game or toy can be played with at a time. Place other toys in closed cabinets. In this case, less is definitely more.
Keep it short. Games with short play times are a better choice than those with lengthier ones. Selecting games with only a few easy to understand rules is the best choice for children with ADHD.
Dramatic play. Giving children the props for pretend play, whether it's a set of costumes, puppets or a playhouse, also are solid choices for helping children to develop their imaginations and communication skills. Role-playing with dolls, stuffed animals or action figures allows children to express feelings that they might not otherwise be able to do directly.
Artistic expression. Many children with ADHD are often told that they are not doing something the right way. Open-ended art supplies like clay, big markers, or paints give children an opportunity to express themselves in a non-verbal way. There is no right or wrong way to use these art supplies. As a parent, it is also your job to provide positive reinforcement. For example, you can help coordinate an art show for family members to attend.
Make sure everyone is on the same team. Be aware that you can help children cope with ADHD and create a supportive environment that involves the whole family. Extended family members should be encouraged to interact with children who have ADHD, but be sure that these family members have reasonable expectations. For example, children with ADHD cannot be expected to sit still for long projects or games. It is important for everyone to be aware and considerate of each other so that no one will end up frustrated or in tears.

About ADHD

ADHD is a significant mental health concern that impacts patients, their families and their social circles. In fact, ADHD is the most commonly diagnosed mental health disorder in children and adolescents with approximately two million U.S. children, or three to seven percent of all school-aged children, diagnosed with ADHD. Children with ADHD often are inattentive, impulsive and hyperactive – difficulties serious enough to interfere with their ability to function normally in home, academic or social settings. These symptoms continue beyond the school day, affecting all aspects of the child's life. ADHD is a neurological disorder that manifests as a persistent pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that is more frequent and severe than is typically observed in individuals at a comparable level of development. Hyperactivity is seen less frequently as the patient ages; however, inattention and impulsivity often remain.

From: hxxp://www.eurekalert.org

Choice Game Ideas to Build Early Reading Skills

2013-02-09T17:39:00.000-08:00

Learning ABCs does not have to be all work and no play!

The holidays are behind us it's time to get back to basics, routines, and encouraging the healthy development of our children.

There are so many healthy life skills children can learn through playing games such as sportsmanship, teamwork, eye-hand coordination, manual dexterity etc. Another benefit is building reading skills.

One such game that motivates children to practice reading is Zingo. Not all kids like to read, especially if they’re not really good at it yet, but throw in an addictive fun twist and you might just change how your child feels about reading.

That’s where Zingo by Thinkfun Games comes in.

The rules are simple. It’s like Bingo but with a twist and with its game boards filled with pictures and matching labels, it motivates children to practice reading.

The object of the game is so simple children as young as 3 years old can play.

Slide the red dispenser forward to reveal two of the game tiles which show a picture and a word. In the case above, an “owl” and a “bat.” You can then ask your child to ‘read’ the words on the tiles. If your child cannot ‘read’ the word yet he can learn it by associating the ‘word’ to the picture on the tile and now you’ve made some critical ‘word association’ headway in his learning. The first player to say the name of their match takes the tile and places it on their board. Then you slide the dispenser again and drop two new tiles.

The first to fill the board is crowned the ‘official winner’ creating a perfect opportunity to also show how to be good losers and offer a heartfelt ‘congratulations’ to the winner.

In addition to Zingo, ThinkFun also offers another early literacy game called ‘What’s Gnu’ where you spread out cards showing two letters and a blank. One player slides the tile dispenser to drop two tiles.

Players must race to use the letters that are revealed to make a word on one of the cards.

The player who has made the most words when the tiles run out wins the game. It’s a motivating, entertaining way to practice sounding out words and is PERFECT for beginning readers.

From: hxxp://www.yummymummyclub.ca

VALENTINES DAY FOR KIDS

2013-02-09T17:36:00.000-08:00

Second only to Christmas in prettiness, Valentine’s Day is an invitation to express our warm and fuzzy feelings. And we mostly do it with cute sayings and all things heart-themed, pink and maybe frilly! For kids, it can mean creating glittery Valentines cards, heart crafts including the words ‘I love you’, and of course, lots of candies.

But you have to ask, do kids really understand what it is all about? One Valentine’s gift that will help add some depth to this loving holiday is the Kimochis Nesting Heart.

The Kimochis Nesting Heart is a set of two plush hearts, one nestled cozily inside the other. The larger has a sweet heart face that is exposed when the small one is removed. Both have a loop so that they can be attached to backpacks, belts, zippers and so on.

Kids understand the hearts instantly. Check out this review from Play at home.com for a lovely example. For a child it can symbolize a safe place to put tender feelings. It invites them to share those feelings with others by offering either the outer or the inner heart, even if only for a while. (We all know that giving away your heart too easily can get you into trouble!)

After Valentine’s Day, your Kimochis Nesting Heart will become a treasured part of your family’s emotional life. It can help children with any of life’s little separations like starting school, sleepovers, going away to camp, Mommy or Daddy going on a trip or if a child must spend time in hospital.

The heart can be quietly tucked into a pocket for private reassurance or hung from their belt for all to see, offering a comforting symbol that those who love them are close by.

A playful ritual for separating the hearts when you part and putting your hearts back together when you are reunited will reassure your child (and yourself!) that the nesting heart will keep you connected while you are apart.

Don’t be fooled into thinking the Kimochis Nesting Heart is just for little kids. Older kids love them too. Can you think of a better BFF gift? And teens? Not that hard to imagine, is it? Hiding the heart in unexpected places, can be a great way to break the ice after an argument with your spouse too.

When words are hard to come by the Kimochis Nesting Heart can help you communicate from the heart with every member of the family.

From: http://www.yummymummyclub.ca

6 Valentine's Day Gifts Kids

2013-02-09T07:58:00.000-08:00

Valentine's Day is a special time to tell your loved ones how much you care for them, and what better way to do that than let your kids to get messy with new crafts! They can make heartwarming gifts for you and your partner, friends, family, teachers, nannies, etc.

With help from popular craft bloggers, here are some ideas for fun and easy Valentine's Day crafts your children can create with you, with your nanny or all by themselves.

For Parents: A Deck of Cards

Michelle Barneck, a mom from Utah who runs the blog A Little Tipsy, has posted directions for a number of holiday crafts. One of her top Valentine ideas is this deck of "52 Reasons Why I Love You" cards. The best part is it's so simple and easy to make. Purchase a deck of cards and cover the face side with colored construction paper (or if you don't have cards, simply cut pieces of card-sized construction paper). You can help your kids up to this point, and then they can decorate each card with a different reason they love you (I love when we play board games together, I love when you make me cookies, I love when you hug me, etc.) and present it as a full deck of cards.

For Grandparents: A Mini Photo Album

For something that makes a wonderful grandparent memento, have your little Valentine make an easy mini photo album. Craft blogger and designer Shaleah Soliven, who runs The Gold Jellybean, has a lot of great ideas, one being an album made of old book pages. Follow the step-by-step guide on her website, where she'll tell you how to paint over pages and form frames for special photos.

For a simpler version, take construction paper and glue your photos to different pieces. Decorate the paper with crayons, glitter and stickers. Punch holes on the sides and tie your album together with yarn or ribbon. Create a memorable cover as Soliven does, perhaps with a finger-painted heart or hands. Your kids will have a blast creating this one-of-a-kind gift.

For Teachers: A Rubik's Cube

You child's teacher has been challenging your child's mind for months. Now your little one can return the favor. One of the more unique ideas for Valentine's Day, a photo Rubik's Cube, is a perfect puzzle. Barneck writes that because Valentine's Day is often so commercialized, it's easy to get lost in un-exciting gift-giving. She explains this Rubik's Cube idea, "Is something that's more original and something with a little more meaning."

To make her Rubik's Cube, help your child select six photos that the teacher would like: class photos, pictures from school trips, shots of the classroom, images of the teacher's favorite things, etc. Print out the photos and draw easy-to-cut lines on them that follow the squares on the cube. Help your children cut and paste the photo squares onto their respective places and voila: a brand new Valentine's gift for special someone.

For Nannies: A Coupon Book

A nanny is a very special person in a child's life. Don't forget to create a Valentine's Day gift for her too. Two crafty moms who run the site Chica and Jo, have developed a number of crafts, recipes, decorating ideas and more. One idea they had for Valentine's Day is a coupon book, based off the ever-popular candy conversation hearts. They write, "Love coupons have always been a popular Valentine's Day gift because they can be so fun to customize."

This book can be made similar to the mini photo album by simply decorating and perforating small pieces of lightweight paper and tying it all together with some string or ribbon. Print out and paste or draw large hearts on each page, then have your kids write special coupons for their nanny to use (do the dishes, help with baking cookies or clean my room, etc.). Your nanny will love the idea and the time your kids spent creating this personalized gift.

For Siblings: A Mason Jar Memory Game

Every kid loves games. The memory game is one of the simplest most entertaining games to play, and crafty mom Maggie came up with a great way for young artists to create their own version of memory with a Valentine theme. One of the benefits of the game, as Maggie notes, is that "it still makes a fun and easy-to-make learning game for your kids!"

On her blog Smashed Peas and Carrots, you'll find many variations of the game -- matching, using different colors, words, numbers or pictures. Your child can pick the one that works best for their sibling. Maggie provides downloadable images for you to print from your computer and cut out. These heart images can be glued on to small mason jar lids (or whatever you have handy) and in two easy steps you have your own handmade Valentine's game!

For Friends and Classmates: A Candy Card

Of course, you can't have Valentine's Day without handing out Valentines. And a Valentine plus candy is sure to make these cards a hit in your child's classroom. Chica and Jo created a candy-filled card with nothing more than paper doilies and embroidery floss. To make their card, write a Valentine sentiment on a red, heart-shaped doily, place it on top of a second doily.Then thread the two together part of the way with the floss or very thin ribbon. Have your child add candy inside and then thread the card completely.

Why spent money on generic store-bought gifts when your child can make them at home. It's a great activity for a cold or snowy day and it will be a fun thing to do together. Creating something homemade -- whether it turns out exactly how you thought it would or not -- is truly from the heart and what Valentine's Day is all about. Happy crafting!

From: hxxp://www.care.com

The right method choice toys for baby

2013-02-09T07:19:00.000-08:00

If want to edit the effectiveness of the child, you can let the children play in the state still ranked as image, shape … If the baby timid when buying toys, you choose what to play that baby with you.

Toys for children not only stimulates the imagination and creativity of children, but must match the characteristics, preferences of each age group.

Here are suggestions to help parents choose the best toys for your child:

General principles when selecting toys for baby:

Toys must ensure hygiene, make sure the safe, easy to clean.
Raw materials used for toys is not harmful, not shape next corner.
Toys are not to sound too big will affect your baby’s hearing.
Toys suspended in front of children (for children under 3 months old) must frequently change locations, to avoid the baby looked too long on a point or a direction.
Toys must be beautiful, lively appearance, can create excitement and enthuse develop the imagination to be.

Select toys by age

Stages under 4 months old: You should buy for the baby toys that develop the visual, hearing and the work of your hands. These toys to color dash, has a new sound.
Stages of 5-10 months old: Now baby can have hands on understanding sensitivity so you can choose for the baby toys sensitivity, photogenic, and the sound and is easy to move.

Stages of 11-18 months: you should buy for the toy and the sound and movement can be as go cart, trolley, rickshaw for kids … to help children have training skills to walk ..
Stages 18 months-3 years: Power and wisdom of children have developed more. Baby like clones and the practice of adults action . Thinking the baby’s visual images. Therefore, you should buy the children toys that the simulation of social life such as cooking toys, toys doctor …
Stages of 4-5 years old: the Ministry and has not engaged with the toys are more like simple things that can move, such as: dolly to move the limb, or eye changes the clothes …
Stages of 5-6 years old: You should choose to buy the toys promote intelligence of children such as clay, sort toys, animals picture, games …

Select toys by the children character

For children too active: Recommended toys in the state still to fix the active habit of baby. The game’s ratings as knead land oriented attention to your baby’s hands and brain to remove, fit image pair, will gradually overcome the habit of active kid.
For the baby is cowardly: You should choose toys in the state, such as automobile, aircraft, tank or other type … toys need to play with you to help the child more fluently and quickly.
For the hasty baby: Please select a toy to work to fix the hurried for the baby. Some toys create with paper, wood, fabric to manually baby will do training for the patient, detail, do not be very impatient.

From: http://parenting.thewomanlife.info

DRUMS SET FOR KIDS WITH CHAIR

2013-01-28T00:30:00.000-08:00

Mini drum set recommended for ages 3-5
Built using real drum specifications; using Birch wood and features authentic metal hardware
Set includes, a 12 inch Bass Drum, 8 inch Tom Tom with holder, 8 inch Snare with holder and Cymbal holder with 8 inch Cymbal
Includes: Drumsticks, Bass Drum Pedal and a junior drum throne
Set requires some assembly

Mini drum set recommended for ages 3-5
Built using real drum specifications; using Birch wood and features authentic metal hardware
Set includes, a 12 inch Bass Drum, 8 inch Tom Tom with holder, 8 inch Snare with holder and Cymbal holder with 8 inch Cymbal
Includes: Drumsticks, Bass Drum Pedal and a junior drum throne
Set requires some assembly

De Rosa Children's Drum Set is the quintessential drum kit for any young aspiring drummer. This set comes with everything your drummer will need to start playing. Built using real drum specifications the De Rosa Children's drum set is made using Birch and features authentic metal hardware. The materials used the De Rosa Children's Drum Set are equivalent to materials used in higher priced adult Drum Sets. All sets require some assembly.

Assembly instructions are included, plus an assembly video can be found online on YouTube by searching DeRosa DRM316 online Assembly Part 1 & Part 2. This set can be tuned for your enjoyment. Invest in De Rosa Children's Drum Set to enrich your Child's future and musical experience.

Bounty Hunter TK4 Tracker IV Metal Detector

2013-01-28T00:11:00.000-08:00

When you purchase a metal detector, you’re investing hundreds or perhaps thousands of dollars in a highly specialized piece of electronic equipment. Whether you’re a beginner or an expert, you want to choose the best metal detector for the job. So, before you buy, it’s important to read reviews, ratings and other educational information about metal detectors.

we offer you a complete metal detector learning library. In it you’ll find an extensive collection of helpful materials on today’s top-rated models and brands.

Rugged metal detector ideal for detecting treasure in extreme ground conditions
Motion All-Metal mode, Discrimination mode, and 2-Tone audio mode
Preset ground balance neutralizes response to mineral content in the ground
Disc/notch control distinguishes between targets and unwanted metals
Ships in Certified Frustration-Free Packaging

Fisher-Price I Can Play Basketball

2013-01-27T23:59:00.000-08:00

An easy to attach ball return scoop lets pros practice free throw skills without having to chase the ball after making a basket.
Adjusts to four different heights: 3, 4, 5 and 6 feet high with a sturdy base that can be weighted with sand or water.
Grows with your child from small to tall and from beginner to pro!
Includes child size ball for multi-player, one-on-one fun or team game play.
Recommended Age Range 2 Years and Up

I Can Play™ Basketball gives toddlers an “I can do it!” sense of accomplishment! Toddler-friendly sure score™ rim guides the ball to the basket! When they’re ready, it’s easy add more challenge. Just lift off the rim! Adjusts to four height positions for “grow-with-me” hoop shoot fun.

LeapFrog LeapPad2 Recharger

2013-01-27T23:46:00.000-08:00

LeapFrog LeapPad2 Recharger Pack (Works only with LeapPad2)

Includes a rechargeable battery pack set and an AC adapter for more hours of play on your LeapPad2 learning tablet
Included AC adapter also allows for immediate plug-and-play fun and learning
Appropriate for children ages 3 to 9 years
Recharge your LeapPad2 for hours of learning fun
Only works with the LeapPad2 learning tablet (sold separately)

instructions for use:
• Insert the rechargeable battery packs into your LeapPad2 tablet.
• Plug the AC adapter into the LeapPad2 and the wall outlet to charge your system.
• Unplug and enjoy hours of on-the-go learning fun!

Package Dimensions:
9.5 x 5.6 x 3.1 inches
Package Weight:
.9 lbs.

Skip Hop Treetop Friends Activity Gym

2013-01-27T23:30:00.000-08:00

Multiple fabrics plus activities on the mat: crinkle leaves, squeaker flower and tree trunk baby-safe mirror
Ages: 0 and above
17 developmental activities
5 playful multi-sensory hanging toys
Oversized round mat surface

Our adorable ACTIVITY GYM features soft linen and patterned arches and includes a matching supportive Tummy Time pillow. Five hanging toys attach to 13 easy-to-hang loops offering irresistible multi-sensory play for baby at every stage of development. A mirror and built-in sounds and textures on the mat add to the fun.

Ages: 0+
17 developmental activities
Nature-inspired graphics and textures
Five playful multi-sensory hanging toys
13 loops to hang toys low or high or on the mat
Multiple fabrics plus activities on the mat: crinkle leaves, squeaker flower and baby-safe mirror in the tree trunk (mirror is removable for machine-washing)
Linen and patterned arches
Two-minute assembly
Supportive Tummy Time pillow
Oversized round mat surface
Dimensions (inches): 36 wide x 19 high
Safety-tested to meet or exceed ASTM, CPSIA, EN71 and applicable safety standards

BEST GIFTS TOY: FURBY PLUSH RED & BLACK

2013-01-27T23:15:00.000-08:00

Furby responds to your voice and to music
Pet Furby's head; tickle its tummy or pull its tail and see what happens
Feed Furby with your finger
Application is optional and works with iPad; iPod touch and iPhone with iOS 4.2 or later
Includes 1 Furby and instructions

As with the original Furbies there are lots of ways to interact with it; you can feed it, speak to it, tickle it, listen to music with it, shake it (If you want to make your Furby un-happy) and even turn it upside down for a new reaction. But we warn you, be careful as how you treat your Furbies will change and shape it’s personality.

Furbies will take on many different personalities and depending on how you play with it will depend on how it changes. Play nice and your Furby will be nice and love you! Be horrid and cruel and your Furby will not want to play and won’t interact with you.

When you take your Furby out the box for the first time it will speak mainly Furbish (That’s Furbys native language)

The more you play with it, the more you speak to it the more English it will speak and eventually your Furby will mainly speak English.

While you are teaching Furby to speak English you can use your Furbish dictionary or iPhone app to translate furbish to english.

Other ways to interact with your 2013 Furby is to tickle it and stroke it, there are many sensors all over it’s body that respond to touch and movement so be sure to experiment while you play. If you turn it upside down or pull it’s tail you will make your Black & Red Furby angry.. Grrrr!

If you play your favorite music Furby will dance and sing along, Furby may decide to prefer certain music as it’s tastes evolve through its experiences.

The LED eyes are expressive and will change depending on it’s mood, there are 10 different expressions.

As mentioned there is now a free iPhone/iPad app you can download to translate Furbish but also to feed your new friend with a huge assortment of foods; from burgers, to sandwiches, pizza and even chilli! You can make your own creations and Furby will decide what food it likes and will let you know with a naughty burp! (That always gets the kids laughing!) The App is optional and works with iPad, iPod touch and iPhone with iOS 4.2 or later.

Develops a distinct personality
New Expressive LED eyes
Recognises and communicates with fellow 2012 Furbies
Sings and Dances to Music
Responds to touch and movement
Responds to light and dark
Can play games
New soft Plush Black fur
Moveable ears to express feelings.

Plush Fur Color – Red Fur
Eye Color – Black
Ear Color – Black
Feet Color – Black
Tail Color – Blue
Hair (Mohawk) Color – Blue

SPECIAL PRICE: FURBY GRAY TALE

2013-01-27T23:02:00.000-08:00

furby responds to your voice and to music
Pet Furby's head; tickle its tummy; or pull its tail and see what happens
Feed Furby with your finger
App is optional and works with iPad; iPod touch and iPhone with iOS 4.2 or later
Includes 1 Furby and instructions

The Furby is here in gray and teal! Are you ready to take care of it? The more you interact and talk to your Furby, the more youll help to shape its personality. Youll have to feed it, nurture it and speak to it. It responds to music and touch tickle it, shake it or pull its tail to see what happens. An optional app for interactive play is compatible with iPad, ipod touch and iPhone IOS 4.2 or higher. Includes instructions. Ages 6 and up.

Manufacturer's Suggested Age: 6 Years and Up
Articulation: No articulation
Includes: Instruction Manual, Figure
Interacts With: iPod touch, iPhone, iPad
Material: Fabric
Dimensions: 7.87 " H x 7.76 " W x 4.88 " L
Weight: 1.59 Lb.
Care and Cleaning: Spot Clean
Battery: Required, not included: 4 AA

Best Gift For Child: Furby Teal Pink

2013-01-27T22:53:00.000-08:00

Furby responds to your voice and to music
Pet Furby's head, tickle its tummy, or pull its tail and see what happens
Feed Furby with your finger
App is optional and works with iPad, iPod touch and iPhone with iOS 42 or later
Includes 1 Furby and instructions

Product Description
Time to dust off your FURBISH dictionary because FURBY is back and ready to take the world by storm! Feed it, speak to it, tickle it, play music for it and shake, tilt or turn your FURBY upside down. But be warned - how you treat your FURBY will shape its personality! Are you ready to handle a FURBY?

Who will your FURBY become? It all depends on how you play with your FURBY. When you first meet your FURBY, it will speak mostly FURBISH. But the more you play with FURBY, the more English it will speak. It responds to your touch, your music, and even to other FURBYs (each sold separately). But remember: your FURBY has a mind of its own!

You can also download a free app to help you translate FURBISH, as well as virtually feed your FURBY and other interactive features. App is optional and works with iPad, iPod touch and iPhone with iOS 4.2 or later.

The beloved, bilingual FURBY is back!
It speaks FURBISH and English!
Who your FURBY becomes might surprise you!
FURBY responds to your voice and to music!
Pet FURBY's head, tickle its tummy, or pull its tail and see what happens!
Feed FURBY with your finger!
Get the free FURBY app* that lets you virtually feed your FURBY and translate its FURBISH language!
*App is optional and works with iPad, iPod touch and iPhone with iOS 4.2 or later.

Includes 1 FURBY and instructions.

Introduction

Time to dust off your FURBISH dictionary because FURBY is back and ready to take the world by storm! And you had better be prepared because FURBY has A MIND OF ITS OWN. Feed it, speak to it, tickle it, play music for it, and shake, tilt or turn your FURBY upside down. But be warned - how you treat your FURBY will shape its personality! Are you ready to handle a FURBY?

Overview

How you treat your FURBY will shape its personality!

Who will your FURBY become? It all depends on how you play with your FURBY. So when you are feeding, tickling, shaking, tilting or turning it, pulling its tail, speaking to it or playing music for it, keep in mind that your actions will shape its personality. Who your FURBY becomes may surprise you!

FURBY has A MIND OF ITS OWN. You see, FURBY has likes and dislikes just like you. You will discover them as you and FURBY get to know one another. FURBY may not react or behave the way you expect or the way you want, so you may be happy about some of its reactions and not so happy about others!

There is something you should know about FURBY. FURBY can be unpredictable. Be careful how you treat FURBY. Who your FURBY becomes may surprise you. So, are you ready to handle a FURBY?
FURBY responds to other FURBYs (each sold separately). Introduce your FURBY to other FURBYs and see what happens. Again, you never know how your FURBY will react, so it may get along well with some FURBYs and may have a bad attitude with others.

Feeding and FURBISH fun!

When you first meet your FURBY, it will speak FURBISH. But the more you play with FURBY, the more English it will start speaking. Not sure what your FURBY is saying? Do all those ee-tays and noo-loos have you scratching your head? Then check out the complete FURBISH dictionary at www.furby.com or in the free FURBY app to translate FURBISH into English and find out what FURBY is talking about. Feed your FURBY! Pretend to give FURBY food with your finger. Get the free FURBY app that lets you virtually feed your FURBY: Feed it a hot pepper and you may see fire in its eyes. Try different foods and see how it responds. Because FURBY reacts differently depending on its personality, you may be surprised by what FURBY says and does.

FURBY has A MIND OF ITS OWN!

FURBY is back and it has A MIND OF ITS OWN. Feed it, speak to it, tickle it, play music for it and shake, tilt or turn your FURBY upside down. It even interacts with other FURBYs (sold separately). But be warned - how you treat your FURBY will shape its personality. Who your FURBY becomes may surprise you! For additional interactive fun, you can download an optional free FURBY app that works with iPad, iPod touch and iPhone with iOS 4.2 or later for virtual feeding, accessing the FURBISH-English dictionary and the FURBISH translator. (Not all functions of the app work with older devices.) So, are you ready to handle a FURBY?