Toddlers Toys

Teaching Your Children With Toys

2011-01-16T02:45:00.001-08:00

One of the best things about kids playing is when they are able to learn something at the same time. It is easy to teach your kids with toys when you find something that they think is fun but they get something from it at the same time. For example, when they are little and you are trying to promote good hand eye coordination, you may want to get a toy that they need to move things around and put in a certain spot. Or perhaps you are looking to teach shapes and you can find them as well such as blocks.

Once they become toddlers, you are going to want for them to start learning things such as going to the potty, cleaning up their toys and dressing themselves. You are going to find books that you can read to them that will help with this. Being able to teach your kids with toys on how to do these things is great because they are going to think that cleaning up their toys is a fun thing to do. You will find toys that help in all of these areas to make it fun for them.

Such as, there are dolls that you can get that will show them how to put on their clothes and get dressed all by themselves. They can learn how to button a shirt put on their pants and even tie their own shoes. It is so exciting when you can teach your kids with toys because they are learning the things that you want them to and they are not putting up a fuss because they think that you are getting them to do something that they think is work. It is great to make it fun to do stuff.

Of course once they get older and they are in school, you could always look into things such as flash cards and make a game out of them. It is always interesting when you can make a learning experience fun instead of it feeling as though it is work. When you find that special thing that you child likes the most, you are going to find that being able to teach your kids with toys was a great invention since it will make your life easier in the long run. They will have a great time as well.

If you are not sure just what you should buy, you can always do a little research on the internet and you are going to find a lot of different things. It is important to teach your kids with toys that will stretch their imagination, peak their curiosity and develop their creativity. With puzzles, games, dolls and crafts, you are going to find that the possibilities are endless in the ways that you can make learning fun for your children. There are toys that can work on their motor skills or even help to enhance them at school such as toys that are for science.

Ten easy ways for you and your children to make the world a better place

2009-10-18T02:03:00.000-07:00

It can be difficult, as a family, not to become swept up in consumer culture. Millions of Americans are in debt, and many of us have lost touch with our communities, as well as experiencing a loss of perspective about our privileged lifestyle. It is a benefit to ourselves, our children and society at large to think of ways that we can participate in our world to make it a better place.

1. Volunteer to mentor a refugee family. Many cities have refugee assistance programs that you can sign up with. Tell the agency that you would like to volunteer with your children, and they can match you with a family that also has children. Your children get the benefit of learning about other cultures and lifestyles, as well as a different perspective on their own lives. After working with refugees, children are less likely to whine about not having the “right” clothes, etc. Although these things may still be important, they will no longer hold the place that they once did in the children’s consciousness. Volunteering with your children will also help the refugee family to more easily integrate with their children into our society. It is an enriching experience for all concerned.

2. Participate in community clean-up days. While picking up trash and debris, you and your children will be working to improve the environment while meeting like-minded people. Any chance you have to expose your children to other families who share the same values is an opportunity worth taking.

3. As a family, examine what you buy and the impact that it makes on the earth. Learn about the companies that you buy from as well, and how they treat their workers. This becomes a valuable social studies lesson, and raises everyone’s consciousness about the world we live in. The next time you go shopping with your kids, discuss whether or not you really need the object, and if it worth the cost to the family and to the environment, and if it is in alignment with the family’s values. This also applies to eating out at fast food chains as well.

4. Take a family vacation where you volunteer to help build a house in Central America, or assist in an environmental clean-up. Your children will get to see how people in other cultures live, and have the satisfaction that comes from helping others.

5. Choose not to eat meat and animal products that come from factory farming. Instead, take your children to the local farmer’s market and buy free-range meat and dairy products as well as organically grown vegetables.

6. Recycle together. Teach your children which materials can be recycled, and what happens to them after they arrive at the recycling center.

7. Be a good neighbor. When a neighbor is ill, or someone new moves to the neighborhood, participate in the traditional practice of bringing over a homemade dinner and introducing yourselves. You help to build community this way. Additionally, you and your children can participate in your neighborhood watch program, or your neighborhood association, both of which often hold meetings and events. It is a great way to get to know people and to participate in making your neighborhood a safer place to live.

8. Buy some cookies and put them into bags to store in your car. When you are driving around with the children doing errands and see a homeless person, give anyone who is soliciting money some cookies. This provides an excellent model for your children about how we should treat all people as human beings deserving of eye contact and conversation. Of course you will want to reinforce that children are not to talk to strangers, but add that it is okay if Mommy or Daddy is present. If you feel comfortable giving money or something else, by all means do so. The important thing is that your children learn to respect all of humanity.

9. Teach your children to write thank you notes. This is fast becoming a lost art, and is a social skill that will help your children become successful in their dealings with others in life. It is always good to teach an attitude of thankfulness. Talk about how good it makes the person who gave the gift feel to receive a handwritten, personalized note.

10. Walk places together. Not only will you use less gas, thus making it easier on the environment, but also you’ll become more familiar with your neighborhood and the individuals in it. You will have more time to spend with your child talking, and children have a way of making you notice things such as perfect spider webs and so on, that you might otherwise overlook. You are also teaching them that driving is not the solution to every trip in the neighborhood, thus modeling conservation.

Each family has different values and may feel comfortable doing some of these things, but not others. This is simply a list of ideas to get you started. What can you and your children do to make your world a better, kinder, safer place?

A biting toddler (Why do they do it?)

2009-09-16T03:22:00.000-07:00

Biting is as normal to toddler

-hood as self-inflicted haircuts are top reschoolers. Parents who don’t experience this milestone with their child can consider themselves lucky. This doesn’t, however, do much to ease the fear of a parent whose child is biting others.

By looking into the life of the toddler, the causes and methods of discipline for dealing with a biter become clear.

Toddlers are Curious:

Observe the typical toddler and you will quickly discover the way in which they explore their world. They touch, smell, observe, manipulate, and taste. They’ve learned that their actions cause others to react. Some toddlers bite to see what reaction they receive. How does the child they bite react? How do the adults feel about it?

Toddlers are Emotional:

We’ve all heard of the Terrible Twos. Children

at this age experience a great deal of emotions – happiness, sadness, fear, and anger are very common, and yet hard to explain or control. Two-year-olds throw themselves on the floor, kicking and screaming for no apparent reason. They sob uncontrollably when their favorite bedtime blanket or stuffed animal has gone missing. If someone takes a toy from them, or they want what someone else has, they get angry.

Toddlers Have a Limited Vocabulary:

Conversing with a toddler is a difficult task. They have acquired many new words; yet in many cases don’t quite know how to put their thoughts together in a way that adults, or even they, understand. There are still many things in the world that don’t have names, including expressions of desires, needs, and emotions.

Toddlers Crave Attention:

They may not be as demanding of our time as they were as infants, but toddlers still require a great deal of time, attention, and affirmation from parents. Often times if a child feels as though he isn’t receiving the attention desired, and observes that he is given attention when in trouble, he will settle for that. As soon as this child discovers biting, and the quick attention it brings, the behavior is likely to continue.

So, what is a parent or other caregiver to do when a child bites? First reactions are crucial. Don’t over-react. Chances are the injured child will be fine, and live to play another day. Go to the children, turning your focus to the bitee rather than the biter. Comfort the crying child first. Show the child who bit what their action caused, and explain that it hurt. Most importantly, remain calm. By doing so you are explaining to the biter what their action caused –pain. You are also showing them that hurting others will not provide them special attention.

If a child becomes a frequent or habitual biter, a bit of careful investigation is in order. The child should be observed, identifying the triggers for biting, and hopefully interceding before the bite occurs. What takes place before the bite? Is the child angry? Bored? Tired? Overwhelmed?

Consider what it is like to be a toddler; full of emotions, curiosity, desire for attention – and lacking a way to effectively communicate that. Give the child words for their emotions: “You wanted the doll Julie was playing with, didn’t you? When she wouldn’t give it to you, you wanted to bite her. I feel like that when I’m mad. Were you mad, Sarah?”

Provide them alternative behaviors: “When I get mad like that, it sometimes makes me feel better to just tell someone I’m mad.” Or “When you get mad like that, and feel like you have to bite, try biting something you can’t hurt.” And then give them something else to bite, like a scarf or small towel.

If they are bored, redirect them to another activity: “Sarah, you look like you aren’t having any fun. Would you like it if I helped you find something else to do?” This not only gives them words for their feelings, it also helps them learn to find solutions to their predicaments on their own.

If the child is seeking attention, afford them the attention when they are behaving in ways we desire, so they will strive for that attention rather than negative attention. When you see them playing nicely with others, praise the behavior: “Wow, Sarah! You and Jacob are doing a very good job taking turns pushing the truck.”

Remember, while they have an extensive vocabulary, some words lack meaning. "Be good" has very little meaning. Tell them what you want, and what you don’t in simple, specific language.

Toddlers that bite aren’t bad children. Rarely are they overly aggressive or mean. They are simply acting out an emotion, or reacting to a situation in the only way they know how. With careful attention, a bit of creativity, consistency, and patience, this stage can be overcome.

Is Your Child A Picky Eater?

2009-05-11T02:39:00.000-07:00

We’ve all been there, caught up in that all-too-common mealtime saga: dealing with the picky eater. We argue, we reason, we bribe, we threaten, and still we are faced with a defiant glare or a tear-streamed face. Eating is not supposed to be like this. We try to cook good food for our children, but they just won’t eat. They don’t “like” it. What are we supposed to do?

First of all, the most important thing to do when dealing with a child who is a picky eater is not to turn the issue into a power struggle: parent vs. child. There’s no point saying, “You’ll sit there until every bit of food on that plate is finished,” because you may find your youngster staring defiantly at the plate an hour later. As well, these types of strategies breed resentment, and often lead to a child’s developing psychological issues about food.

However, there are some strategies for dealing with a picky eater that leave everyone’s dignity intact and still allow your child to enjoy a well balanced diet.

1. The first thing a parent needs to do is to relax a bit about the issue. Your child is remarkably adept at knowing what he needs and when he is hungry. Provided with healthy choices in food, he likely won’t go too far astray.

2. Never force feed, bribe, or plead with your child to eat. Guilt doesn’t work either. Saying, “There are thousands of starving children in the world, and you should be grateful to have something to eat,” is just not going to register with a young child. Force feeding is really a form of abuse. Stop and think of someone doing that to you. Bribing only teaches a child how to be manipulative. For example, “If you eat all your supper, I’ll take you to the movie.” If you’re not careful, your child could be demanding a new car before too long! Pleading is just downright humiliating for the parent, and for the child, quite amusing as she sees how much control she has over her parents. All of these behaviours teach a child that there are always conditions attached to food, and eating becomes a very negative experience for her.

3. Eat with your child. Plopping your child down at the table with scrambled eggs and toast while you tear around the house getting ready for work is not particularly conducive to your child’s enjoying those eggs. More likely, he is going to focus on the fact that he is alone with no one to talk to. And of course, a great way to get Mom or Dad’s attention is to refuse to eat or complain about what’s on the plate. You and your child need to get into a routine where you get up fifteen minutes earlier to enjoy that first meal of the day together. A pleasant chat while you’re both eating breakfast together is a much nicer way to start the day, and having to get up a little earlier will be worth all those lost tears.

4. If your child is like most children, she needs three meals a day and two snacks in between. Children have smaller stomachs, and they just can’t eat large amounts in one sitting. So serve smaller quantities at meal time, and when your child is hungry mid-morning, offer her a healthy snack, such as fruit, cut up vegetables, or cheese. Be careful to set a limit on the amount and type of snacks you offer in between meals. Even too many healthy snacks will leave you with a child who comes to the supper table with a full stomach. Be alert to how much liquid your child consumes. Most children require three to four cups of fluid each day, and not too soon before meals. So don’t allow your child to be filling up on fruit juices or she will not have room to eat solid foods.

5. Children don’t have large stomachs, so don’t feed them adult size portions. A child faced with a big plate of food will often feel overwhelmed. Often parents will feed their children from a small plate filled with food. This still gives the child the illusion of a whole lot of food. One neat trick is to serve your child from a regular size dinner plate and just give him very small portions in the centre of it. The child registers only a small amount of food and is more likely to eat it. Of course, if he’s hungry and asks for more, that’s great. If not, trust that he’s eaten enough to fill himself at that meal.

6. Make the food as attractive as possible. Kids love colour, and a variety of colourful food on the plate is more likely to stimulate their taste buds. Sandwiches cut in shapes are always a big hit. Meatballs placed on top of the spaghetti in the form of a smiley face are appealing to kids. Use your imagination.

7. Once you have presented your child with her plate, give her the freedom to choose what and how much she is going to eat. A child knows when she is full. Forcing her to clean the plate can make her ill, lead her to develop aversions to particular foods, and possibly contribute to weight problems later on in her life. So, she didn’t eat her peas tonight. Maybe she did eat some of the salad at lunch time. It’s a matter of overall balance, not whether she gets a perfect balance in every meal.

8. Be flexible. If you’re planning to serve spaghetti, and you know your child hates it, consider cooking the elbow macaroni he loves. Same thing, different packaging. Be careful, though, not to get too extreme with this, or you could end up cooking different meals for everyone at the dinner table.

9. Your child just won’t eat vegetables? Well then, give her more fruit. Vegetables are often an acquired taste, so just put two pieces of carrot on her plate, and don’t make a scene if she doesn’t eat them. Next time you serve carrots, do the same thing. Eventually your child will start to eat a few vegetables. Keep in mind that if your child will not eat any fruit and vegetables, then you should check with your doctor. Nutritional supplements might be necessary for a period of time.

10. If your child absolutely can’t stand what is being served at a particular mealtime, then have one alternative that you regularly offer. For example, he won’t eat the meatloaf, potatoes, and carrots. Then he gets a tuna sandwich that you know he will eat. He won’t eat the vegetable-beef soup at lunchtime, then he gets a bowl of cereal. At times you may feel like your child is eating nothing but tuna sandwiches and cereal, but if you follow the above tips, these incidents will occur less and less frequently.

Feeding a picky eater does not have to be a never ending battle. Respect a child’s tastes and ability to gauge how much she needs to feel comfortably full. Don’t make mealtime an event where there has to be a winner and a loser. And remember, one bad day is not enough to declare a disaster. Look at the balance of foods your child has been eating over the past week, and you’ll likely discover that things are better than you thought.

Good Toddler Games And Toys

2009-05-09T05:01:00.000-07:00

When your child is one, two or three years of age, everything is a game for them! Life is fun. It’s neat to explore and be curious about how things work, and they enjoy playing with you.

When you’re looking for good toys for your toddler, the first thing you should be concerned with is safety. You want to make sure the toys don’t have any sharp edges, loose or small parts. Children at this age are known to put everything and anything in their mouths--especially their toys. You want to look for these things, especially make sure that the stuffing is all in any stuffed toys and to make sure all plastic parts are secure to toys.

You also want to avoid any toys that are made of glass or that may contain toxic substances. These toys can be dangerous for your son or daughter. In addition, any toys that are overly heavy can be easily dropped on feet and can really hurt!

The games you play with your toddler should all include fun and encourage curiosity and creativity. Don’t be so obsessed with learning. By the time your child turns two years old, some good games include ones that are a bit more physical... like running around, racing, playing catch, building things with blocks, and riding toys.

Some other good toys for toddlers of this age include some various gymnastics-type toys. Perhaps get a balance-beam type toy for your child to practice balance, or a pull toy that makes a lot of noise (those are always lots of fun!).

As your toddler progresses, you’ll want to start some activities that involve arts and crafts such asfinger painting, coloring, and art sculpting (perhaps with playdough). Then they’ll start learning music, and you can teach your child different songs and singing games. And of course a very good game for toddlers is to play make believe. Help your child develop stories in their own minds!

Games Babies And Toddlers Can Enjoy

2009-04-21T03:15:00.000-07:00

Sure you know how to play patty cake and the itsy, bitsy, spider but here are some other great games to play with your infant or toddler.

--Make puppets out of brown paper bags and put on a puppet show for them.

--Show them how to make a ramp for their cars and trucks and watch them roll.

--Make an alphabet book by cutting out pictures from magazines that represent each letter.

--Blow bubbles and give them a fly swatter to try and hit them with.

--Play "bozo buckets" with balls and buckets. See how many balls they can get into the buckets. Move them farther away as your child gets better at it.

--Fill a big plastic container with water and let them sail their boats and play in the water.

--Make an indoor obstacle course for them to crawl over with pillows blankets, laundry baskets, etc.

--If you're brave, buy some face painting crayons and let them "paint" your face.

--Let them star in their own movie by videotaping them and then playing the tape back to them on your television

--Teach them how to stack with margarine tubs, plastic boxes, etc.

--Even young toddlers love to dance: turn on the music and let them rock!! (This is also great for tiring them out).

--Play hide and go seek...they will love to hide and have you find them.

--Give young baby "airplane" rides and watch them squeal.

--Teach your baby how to recognize different textures. Let them play with sand, play dough, etc.

--Build sand castles or let them bury you in the sand.

Fun Games For Babies

2009-04-21T03:07:00.000-07:00

Now that you are a new parent you’ve got a veritable sponge of a human being before you just waiting to be entertained and have you teach him all sorts of new and exciting things. Well, how do you do that? If the mere thought of this terrifies you, relax. You will never have a more appreciative audience than your baby and he will never heckle you or make you feel idiotic. Babies learn largely through play and by watching others do things. They learn to talk by being talked to and learn to play by being played with. If you are afraid you will look silly or don’t know what to do, here are some games you can play with your baby that will get you started on your way to a wonderful play partnership.

Peek-a-boo is not only a game, it is a tool for teaching babies that when you go away, you will come back. Start out using a cloth diaper or small receiving blanket. Put the cloth over your head while sitting in front of the baby and say, “where’s mommy?” Pull the cloth away and say PEEK-A-BOO! After you demonstrate this to your baby a few times, put the cloth over baby’s head and say, “where’s baby?” You’re bound to get giggles even with the tiniest baby and most baby’s are able to pull the cloth away on their own from the very beginning.

Patty-cake is a time-honored classic game for babies. You can either demonstrate the game to your baby or take the baby’s hands and help him do the clapping himself. Although there are variances to the rhyme depending on where you are from, the basic rhyme goes like this:

Pat-a-cake, pat-a-cake, baker’s man (Clap to the beat of the words)

Bake us a cake as fast as you can

Roll it and pick it and mark it with a B

Throw it in the oven for baby and me! (Throw baby’s arms up in the air)

I still remember the horseback riding game from when I was a child and it is a fun game for babies who love to bounce. Put the baby on your knees and hold his hands, while bouncing the baby on your knees sing to the tune of “Here we go ‘round the mulberry bush”:

(Bouncing gently)

This is the way the gentleman rides, gentleman rides, gentleman rides,

This is the way the gentleman rides, so early in the morning.

(Bouncing a little higher)

This is the way the lady rides, lady rides, lady rides,

This is the way the lady rides, so early in the morning.

(Bouncing harder and swaying back and forth)

This is the way the farmer rides, farmer rides, farmer rides,

This is the way the farmer rides, so early in the morning.

(Bouncing fast and crazily, but not too hard!)

This is the way that baby rides, baby rides, baby rides,

This is the way that baby rides, so early in the morning.

A fun tickling game for babies is to start at the baby’s feet and while walking your fingers up the baby’s body to his armpit, say, “there’s a mousie under the barn and it’s gonna get baby under the arm!”

Your baby will most likely be the author of many new games once you get him started, so be ready for hours of his own brand of fun. Don’t be afraid to make up your own games and just enjoy being with your baby.

Preparing Your Child For Nursery School

2009-04-18T05:33:00.000-07:00

You should start preparing your child for school as early as you can. You want your child to be well prepared, so she can handle the transition easily. Many times children who aren’t used to the school or being away from their parents, aren’t as ready for the challenges of school as other kids are.

In the months leading up to when you’ll need to make the decision about whether to enroll your child into kindergarten, you’ll want to take certain steps to start figuring out whether you’re child is ready for such a change. Life is full of new experiences for youngsters, so to a certain degree you need to be aware that sometimes the best way to find out how ready your child is for the nursery school learning experience is to simply enroll her in school and see how she does.

One of the best things you can do is to take your child to the school in the early summer months before the fall when your child will start school. Introduce your child to the school and tell her what goes on in the building and what to expect. Walk into the classroom if you can. This may build excitement about the situation for your child.

Introduce your child to her teacher, if you can. Let your son or daughter realize that you and her teacher will get along great... and that the teacher is a good person. Help your child feel more comfortable around the teacher.

Talk with your child about her concerns about going to school. Tell her about what it was like when you started nursery school and about how afraid you were. But help her understand what school will be like as much as you can. Be open. Don’t discourage your child from telling you how she feels about school.

You’ll perhaps want your child to spend more and more time away from the home and away from you. Perhaps this means letting your child play with your neighbour’s kids for a couple hours in an afternoon, or stay with grandparents or aunts and uncles for awhile. This is an opportunity for your children to communicate with people other than you and for them to get used to being away from home. This can relieve the separation anxiety that sometimes happens to children when they first go to school.

Once your child is in kindergarten, it’s your job as a parent to help her learn. Don’t rely solely on your child’s teachers to do all the work. Help your child with her homework with her about what she is learning. Continue the educational process at home.

Kindergarten can be a trying time for kids. It’s something they’ve never experienced before, and at such a young age, anything drastically new like kindergarten can be difficult. It can be quite an emotional time. But if you ease the strains of kindergarten and of other times that can be emotionally difficult as early as possible, you’ll all be better off.

Learn To Say No To Your Children

2009-04-17T04:51:00.000-07:00

As an average sort of parent, you were probably upset the first time you had to tell your toddler "No" when he did something wrong and now the toddler is older and you still have to use the word "No" and you will as long as he is living at home and perhaps for years.

Being a person is what growing up is all about and when a child expects you to say "Yes" all the time, then it is time to rethink your parenting skills. It is wonderful to say "Yes" to life and the world and also to your child, but we live in a world that requires us to say "No" and also mean what we say. We have to be in charge of our children as we are the parents. If we reverse these roles then we will have major problems.

You surely need to respect a child's push toward autonomy but you will have to find ways to show him that you, too, recognize that he is growing into his own person, with expanding rights and privileges. He can't see that this transition from helpless babyhood to responsible adulthood takes a long, long time and comes gradually, but you can help him to come to this understanding.

If you don't say "No" when you feel it is in the best interests of the child, then it becomes a battle of wills. You will feel that you have not only lost the battle, but the war, because the child will not listen and obey your requests and decisions. You have to realize that you are trying to raise your child to have pride, dignity, and good judgment as you have learned these traits yourself from your parents. To be an adult takes a lot of practice in being a person.

Be consistent, don't ever change rules and/or punishments from day to day. Set limits; have only a few rules and then don't budge an inch from them. Elastic limits lead to insecurity. Make sure the child knows exactly what to expect.

For example if your teenager has a curfew of ten p.m. and you allow him to talk you into extending this curfew to ll p.m. then it becomes a pattern that he will expect to be allowed the later curfew. Sure there will be special occasions such as a school dance, but he still doesn't need to be out any later than you instruct him before leaving your home. Once you give in to him then it will be harder and harder to set your limits and have the standards that you have had in the past.

At times if you give in you will start to feel as though you are losing control and at this point you need to sit down and think about what you are doing and immediately regain control. A child will actually respect authority if it is given with love, confidence and caring and realize the rules are necessary. Sure you will have bad times when he wants to argue with you and request limits be changed or extended and sure there will be exceptions but hold your ground, so to speak, you'll be glad you did. Don't say "Yes", when you want to say "No", then sit and wonder why you changed your limits and standards.

Dealing With Step Children

2009-04-16T07:19:00.000-07:00

In the 1970's, America watched as The Brady Bunch homogenized two families into a perfectly blended home, as if nothing in the world was unusual about their circumstances. In half hour sequences, these bell-bottomed step siblings resolved benign disputes of jealousy, bad manners, and mindless pranks as if they were counting on viewers to forget their origins. America bought it, romanticizing their uniqueness.

Today, there is nothing unique about combined families, the numbers having risen dramatically in the last thirty years.Kids with stepparents are often labeled as "his, hers or ours." The rise in combined families has opened our collective eyes to just how fictitious The Brady Bunch truly was. Problems that can be solved in thirty minutes aren't problems at all, and stepmothers are seldom embraced from the beginning as "our mom" by teenage boys. In the beginning, liking each other may very well take a backseat to learning how to overcome power struggles and tolerate each other.

The dynamics of step families differs with each personality. Clashes are inevitable. Most of these conflicts are rooted in insecurity, brought on by uncertainty. Kids coming into a combined family are most often those who have endured either a divorce between their natural parents or the death of a parent. Their emotional senses have been brought to new heights. The foundation they once held as stable and solid is gone, and life is no longer routine.

Stepparents often find themselves the brunt of these kids' frustrations and fears. This is uncharted water for everyone, so the adults end up playing their role without the advantage of experience. Be reassured, you are not alone. Millions of people are desperately trying to find their footing in this new position. Here are a few tips that will help you keep things in perspective:

Don't push. Kids can sense a public relations job a mile away. Let them draw closer at their own pace.

Be yourself. Trying to change yourself to suit every situation will wear you out physically and emotionally, and it offers only temporary solutions, at best.

Be realistic. Life is rarely like a sit-com. Some differences simply are not "fixable," and everyone must learn to make allowances. Identify and respect their boundaries, and expect them to do likewise.

Don't accept manipulation. Yes, even "good" kids are professionals at the art of manipulation.

Don't overreact, but be sure they know you are aware of what's going on.

Depend on spousal cooperation. Together, you and your partner must address the issues, agree on a few simple ground rules, and agree to count on each other for support. Keep those areas where you disagree between yourselves and work on them privately.

Be consistent. Build as much certainty into your family life as possible. Details such as dinner time, bed time, homework checks, etc., help kids adjust much easier. Schedules help to establish stability, a factor that can have a huge influence on behavior and attitude.

There are no secrets for creating the harmonious structure from a '70s sit-com. But, time, communication and mutual respect bring some wonderful and often unexpected rewards to the combined family. You may be surprised to find you've gained a new friend from the experience.

Parenting : Gentle Discipline For A Toddler

2009-04-15T04:34:00.000-07:00

As a baby becomes a toddler, most parents start to think about how best to discipline their child. It would be nice if discipline were a one-size-fits all solution but, like most parenting-related topics, it’s not. What works for one child will not work for another. Good discipline takes parental creativity, consistency, and dedication.

Though it may be hard to believe at times, toddlers are not purposefully disobeying the rules to get you mad. They have a very short memory and are highly impulsive and inquisitive. A parent will find themselves needing to tell their toddler the same thing over and over again – often, even if a toddler is aware of a rule, he or she is not capable of obeying it. Eventually, they will learn – and spankings, slaps, yelling, or ostracizing is not necessary. Loving guidance and active involvement are much more effective than barking commands from across the room.

With a toddler, pick your battles. Some toddler behaviors are annoying, but are not harmful. For example, banging a pot with a spoon may be grating on your nerves, but before you scold your toddler for this behavior, consider if it’s bad enough to warrant disciplinary action.

Here are some tips to help parents elicit their toddler’s cooperation without hitting, yelling, or withdrawing emotional attachment:

- State requests in short, easy to understand sentences. “You need to sit down.”

- Allow the child to make a choice, if possible. If your toddler is resisting getting dressed, try allowing him to pick from two outfits. This takes the focus off the power struggle (getting dressed) while also allowing him to feel in control.

- Explain the reasoning behind your requests when appropriate. (“Please do not bang on the fish tank; see how it scares the fish? Poor fish!”)

- Use the word “we.” “We sit down at the table when we eat.” This makes your requests and rules sound less like demands and more like expectations, which is what they are, in reality.

-Try redirecting. If your child is heading toward something that is off limits, try offering him a particularly enticing toy and drawing his attention away from the off limits item.

- Phrase rules using positive words and phrases. It’s hard for a toddler (or an adult) to obey a negative like “don’t touch that.” Instead, offer an alternative, such as “put your hands behind your back and just look.”

- If your child has difficulties with transitions (particularly leaving), give him advance warning. “We’re going to leave in 1 minute, so say goodbye to your toys.”

- Know what to expect of your child developmentally. Expecting a one year old to sit quietly through an hour’s worth of adult conversation is unreasonable. Expecting a one year old to play quietly with some adult involvement is more reasonable.

- Treat your child how you want him to treat others. You are your child’s most important role model. If he sees you yell and scream, he will learn that yelling and screaming is how we handle frustrating situations. If you remain calm and model good behavior, your child is much more likely to behave in the future.

Living with a toddler every day can be frustrating, but gentle discipline will pay off in the end.

Going Green is Child’s Play

2009-04-14T07:13:00.000-07:00

Children’s world reflects their aspirations through their toys. Not very long ago, remote-controlled technology-laden wonders coming in all shapes and sizes – robots, dolls, cars, appliances, you name it, were a rage.

Push-back springs and simple hand-pushed four-wheel drives had given way to battery-hungry simulations of SUVs and F1 racing cars. Dolls were no longer meek plastic beauties waiting to be put to bed; rather, they’d talk, cry, for food… with batteries thumping life into them. Paper rockets and craftwork gave way to aerodynamic plastic rockets in all kinds of attractive colours – longer-lasting and requiring no assembling, these were in demand albeit expensive.

Today, the games and toys are still very much the same. But, their colour has changed. Kids’ world is going green, faster, it seems, than even that of their parents. Even before they are able to pronounce or understand ‘global warming’, the tiny tots are already showing adults the way with eco-friendly toys hitting the markets.

The trend is unmistakable as light-weight plastic doll houses are replaced by beautiful, extravagant wooden ones; wooden cars wear a sleek look, sporting modern designs that give the plastic-metals ones a run for their money; even plastic products come with a prominent “bisphenol-A free” tags.

Take for instance the PlasmaCar. The slipper-sole shaped tiny car available in bright colours can fulfill a child’s desire to vroom around, quite unbelievably, sans any battery or power source whatsoever.

Quite literally, it is powered by a kid’s restless energy.

Says regional director of LightBlue, promoters of the product in UAE, Desley Beattie, “It’s a fantastic way to keep a child busy having a good time. PlasmaCar can support adults up to 220 pounds of weight and can achieve child-safe speed of 10km/hr, all by simply turning the wheel.”

What makes it really swell is, “It can go into reverse as well” she says, adding, “just put your feet up and turn the wheel... and there you go. Stop turning and the car stops. The toy works on the principle of roller skates.” Priced at dh147 per unit, you’d wish cars for us adults came with that description.

Move over to kitchenettes, doll houses, space stations, bunk beds, et al… in wood. Cute in toy-like proportions, their realistic functions make them fascinating. Kidkraft’s sales manager Sarin Goott says pointing to a bright red steel-and-wood kitchen, “We are a European company and all our products are made from wood. These are a rage back home and we are beginning to attract a lot of attention in the Middle East too as well. Our products are as operationally real as possible, keeping in mind safety of children.” She says pointing at various components of the bright-red kitchen, “Kids can fill up water in the sink here, the set comes with an apron, The idea is to use wood as effectively as possible. It’s eco-friendly, long-lasting and has a very real feel to it.” Most fascinating is a range of products for babies like teethers, bottles, rattles, made from corn, simply put. Can’t believe it? It’s true. It’s corn, transformed into ecolgreen, a bio-polymer. It becomes a bio-degradable plastic — corn starch being its main material.

The South Korean company Home Care that manufactures the wonderfully green products, even bagged a ‘Most innovative baby product at the show’ award at the International Toy Fair held in Dubai last month.

Showing a cooking kit, company’s representative Cho says, “These products compost 100 per cent through natural biological processes, releasing no toxins or endocrine disruptors.” So, what’s health for you baby, is health for your planet too!

Awareness among parents is clearly on the rise for, even while buying plastic items, they are conscious of avoiding components that are harmful not just to children but also to the environment.

Salesperson representing ‘Pur’, a Thai company that manufactures baby products, Sunil Prakash says, “All our products are high-grade plastic, free of bisphenol – A, which is a cancer-causing substance.” Ayman Al Shawy, another toy dealer exhibiting wooden building blocks and cardboard furniture, stresses the importance of toys made of recyclable materials. “These products are safer than plastic toys. Yes, they do cost more than plastic but for people with an environmental conscience, it’s not a very big price to pay.”

And, that’s exactly what Marianne Shaw, 33, a mother of three, thinks. “These days, children themselves are becoming more aware of environmentally-friendly products, thanks to the subject being widely discussed in schools. Even my youngest one, aged six, questions the use of plastic bags, containers and toys. A lot of wasted wood can be used to make toys. I am certainly for it.” While global warming and related conditions may prove to be grave in near future, for once, there’s hope that steps may begin with a child’s play

Have A Happy Easter Holidays

2009-04-10T09:39:00.001-07:00

Many thanks to all my visitors who clicked on the advertisements on my blogs.It's helped to raise £50.00.
It will be donated to the NSPCC.

Have a Happy Easter and take care of yourselves.I will be away until Tuesday 14th April when the blog will be next updated.

Again Many Thanks
Ralph

Saving on toys and child products

2009-04-09T09:13:00.000-07:00

Parenting can be very expensive. The cost of everything from clothes to toys can really add up. But Action News has found some unique ways you can save money on a variety of children and baby products.

The Browns use BabyPlays.com, which is a toy rental website. Celeste likes it because she can test toys before buying or forego buying for little Fiona all together!

"A one-year old has the attention span for two days for a toy and then she's done with it. So it's just a wonderful idea."

BabyPlays has toys appropriate for infants on up to kids' 5-years-old. The cheapest plan allows you to rent 5 toys every sixty days for $26.99 a month.

"They come vacuum sealed in this plastic, they're sterilized, they're clean, they're safe."

Expert Mom Shannon Choe runs Premier Baby Concierge a service for expecting and new parents. She recommends RentaToy and BabyPlays to her clients as a money-saver and a time-saver.

"When you return it it comes with a tape and a pre-addressed envelope to send back so very simple."

Here's another option we've told you before about Replay Toys in Warminster. At the toy consignment store many items are about 80-percent off regular retail prices!

If you live near Center City check out Toybrary. It operates out of the Church of the Holy Trinity on Rittenhouse Square.

"You can borrow toys for two weeks and bring them back and get a whole new set," said Molly Garza.

"The membership fee is $60 for a year-long membership which allows you to take out five points worth of toys at a time. Each toy is assigned a point value the large majority of toys are two or three points," said Marilyin Webber.

Toybrary is open from 10:00 to noon on Wednesdays and 11:00 to 1:00 every first and third Saturday of the month.

"I am a children's and maternity consignment boutique."

For designer labels for less look no further than Worn Yesterday in Manayunk.

This is a brand called Cakewalk who's made by Oilily. The original price around $85 for this cute little dress tunic and my price is $16.80," said Davida Levin.

Here you'll also find tiny tuxes and other kids' formal wear and everything is a third or more off original prices. There's even an entire rack of clothes for just a dollar!

"A lot of the baby, children, and maternity clothes and shoes here are brand new. In fact, they still have the tags on them; take a look at these Belly Basic dresses. This one was originally $140 but here it's $48. And this blue spring dress was originally $118 but here it's $36.89."

QuickSmart Scramble Bug : What Will They Think Of Next?

2009-04-08T07:13:00.000-07:00

The Australian International Design Awards reveal a bank of talent.

You can build your house with brick veneer and dry your laundry on a manually operated, upturned rotating umbrella. You can serve wine from a foil bladder in a nifty cardboard box. Eat pavlova with a knife-and-fork-and-spoon-in-one. And you can make an impossibly glamorous decorating statement with a beaten-metal amoeba lounge, if you take out a second mortgage.

Were it not for our national flair for daft ideas there'd be no Hills hoist, wine casks, Splayds or Marc Newson. Solid homes would be for the rich. And we'd still be waiting for a dual-flush toilet.

Creative breakthroughs occur in all fields - think of the dinky-di cochlear implant and the ute. And now there's the Flaik, a racy-looking performance-tracking device for skiers and snowboarders, which took the top prize at last week's Australian International Design Awards. It's a clever toy stuffed with GPS technology and other forms of artificial intelligence to record speed, distance, altitude and airtime and comes hot on the heels of last year's winner, an LED bicycle headlight called the Gator.

Is someone having too much fun? The influential British commentator Alice Rawsthorn believes design is inherently optimistic and "driven by the belief that every problem has a solution, and new usually equals better".

Melbourne's Jacquie Andrews would agree - and so would her mother. "I was forever hearing her complain about the volute springs rusting on her pruner [secateurs]. And if you've ever used a pruner with a rusty spring, you'll know how hard it is to open and close it," she says.

As a result, Andrews created the sleek garden tool that earned a design award for Cyclone Industries. Eighteen months in the making, in which half-a-dozen ideas bounced between industrial designers in Melbourne and a manufacturer and engineer in Shanghai, the winning secateurs have an internal pivot spring with an international patent and a handsome, sturdy chassis.

How many designers does it take to make a happy rolling insect? "We have a studio of eight. And we like everyone to pass comment - that's the point of getting cross-fertilisation of ideas," says John Seddons from Ideation Design, the company commissioned by toy manufacturers Funtastic to create QuickSmart Scramble Bug, a ride-on toy for toddlers: "It just had to be fun. It had to be simple. It had to be appealing. Little people look at the face and they smile, so they relate to it as a character rather than a vehicle. The trick is, you're designing not only for the child but for the parents."

The bug is lightweight and collapsible, and has four castor wheels that allow riders to scramble in any direction - Seddons has first-hand experience. "We play on the toys ourselves, so I'll ride it around and get a feel," he says. "I'm [190 centimetres] but I can get it moving. If it's holding someone who's 80 kilos, it can accommodate someone who's under 10 kilos."

There are few lone inventors in the field of industrial design, where creating contraptions that improve the quality of life shares billing with commercial success.

"Design is not necessarily the genesis of an idea but invention cannot exist without design if it is to sell," says Stephanie Watson, the awards' manager. "You need to comply with standards, you need to consult with environmental experts. You've got to arrive at a product that's safe for the consumer to use."

Simon Duff runs a small sustainable design company called Fusedesign, which received a Design Mark prize for a modular meeting table commissioned by Thinking Ergonomix.

"It's all designed for disassembly, which is a big environmental statement, because it means it can be taken apart for recycling at the end of its life," he says. The main materials are steel and aluminium, again for easier recycling, "and the aluminium I've specified is recycled.

Duff believes the push for green products is still "being driven by a sales point of view", and probably will be until tougher regulations are enforced.

The stakes, of course, are high. This line-up of finalists included a rangehood that telescopes to an illuminated induction cooktop, an integrated barbecue and an all-in-one kettle and toaster. All the big appliance brands were in with a chance. For the first time, international companies were also invited to compete, which saw Tupperware win a gong for a colourful, collapsible nest of storage containers. An award earns a seal of approval from Standards Australia, which generally leads to increased sales.

Hugo Davidson, the founder of the team behind the Gator bike light, agrees. "A year's supply sold in a week," he says.

How To Teach Your Toddler Manners

2009-04-07T08:24:00.000-07:00

It's true - you'll never get your 2-year-old to chew with her mouth closed. But you might be surprised what she can learn. If you get the idea of manners across early and often, she'll catch on faster - and resist less - when you start adding some specifics later.

Be an inspiring role model. Start by setting an example .It may sound simplistic, but the best way to have polite kids is to be polite. And at age 2, your child wants nothing more than to be like Mom and Dad. If your spouse is standing in front of the refrigerator when you need to open it, say, "Excuse me." If your child gets used to hearing courteous speech around the house, that's the kind of speech she'll use herself.

Start with the basics. Saying "please" and "thank you" is usually the first bit of courtesy any parent tries to teach, and you can start as soon as your child is using some words to communicate, usually sometime after the first year. It's going to be a long time before she gets "please" and "thank you" down, but once your toddler starts talking you'll probably find yourself automatically tacking on the polite words and pausing for her to repeat them. Parents have been doing this for generations.

Ask her to join you at the table. Learning to sit still for more than five minutes straight is a major achievement for a 2-year-old.Make sure your goals are reasonable: Fifteen minutes at the dinner table can be terribly hard work for your squirmy toddler. You might want to set incrementally increasing goals,. And remember, this is a 2-year-old we're talking about - expect backsliding, and try to stay cheerful about it.

Encourage polite greetings. At 2 years old, your child can certainly learn to say "hello" when arriving for visits or meeting new people and "goodbye" when it's time to depart. She will be wildly unreliable about it, saying "Hello" very sweetly on one occasion and then collapsing into shyness or bursting into tears on the next. But in general it's a good move to teach these salutations because they pave the way for the more advanced stuff. Some preparation helps here: "When we get to Grandpa's, we're going to say, 'Hi, Grandpa,' okay?"

Try for playdate civility. Toddlers' first quarrels are usually over sharing their toys, which from their perspective is an outrageous thing to ask of them. Don't expect sainthood, but you'll do your child a favour if you start teaching her now that when other kids are around she can't hog all the toys, whether at home or at daycare or preschool. Lay down some simple ground rules: If there's a favourite one-person toy, everybody takes a turn with it. Nobody gets to decide how somebody else plays with a toy, as long as the toy's not being damaged.

Nobody gets to hit, shove, or call people names. Respond to infractions with a clear warning, and, if necessary, an immediate end to the playtime. Finally, don't forget to praise your child when she does behave generously or thoughtfully around other kids. And don't forget to lead by example; grabbing the TV remote from your spouse and changing the channel is the exact sort of behavior you want to discourage in your child.

Four Benefits of Kids Puzzles

2009-04-06T06:09:00.000-07:00

We all know that our children need certain skills and abilities for success in the future. Without these basic traits, they could end up having trouble in school or even later in their careers. That’s why as parents who are committed to providing the best opportunities for their children you’ll be interested in learning why kids puzzles of all kinds are always a good choice for them.

Hand Eye Coordination

Being able to make our hands and eyes work together may seem easy to you and me but it isn’t a skill we mastered without a great deal of practice. While many parents improved their hand eye coordination through video game playing, there are better ways to achieve the same results with our children, such as kids puzzles.

One example is building toys, such as the Medieval Castle Building Set from Smalltime Child. The set includes more than 100 pieces which children have to arrange in specific ways to create a castle. Each of those hand movements must be coordinated with what the child is seeing or the entire thing is going to fall apart. Continued practice using the set will further enhance the child’s abilities.

Fine Motor Skills

Unlike gross motor skills which begin developing as soon as babies begin moving on their own, fine motor skills need more help. You can begin by giving your baby small toys which require gripping and other hand movements. However, when the child reaches the toddler stage you may want to begin introducing kids puzzles as a way to help hone these skills.

Why are fine motor skills important? For one, they are going to help your child develop the physical ability needed to hold a pen or pencil and write with it legibly. Drawing, playing an instrument, working with clay, and even playing some sports requires well developed fine motor skills and the foundation of those begins in early childhood.

Social Development

Regardless of the type of kids puzzles, social development is something that goes hand in hand with them in many cases. That’s because building a medieval castle, connecting rhyming words, and finishing images with laces are great activities to do with others.

Cognitive Abilities

When we’re talking about kids puzzles, we’re talking about one of the best tools available to help improve your child’s cognitive abilities starting at an early age. Cognitive abilities, including problem solving and reasoning, are going to be essential throughout your child’s life. Without them, he or she is likely to face an uphill battle in school, in the workforce, and in every other aspect of his or her life. That’s not something most of us want for our children.

With kids puzzles, children are forced to make connections and to determine how to solve problems. They see relationships in the kids puzzles that help them find a solution. By giving your child these kids puzzles, you’ll be able to see real improvement in these abilities and will help set your child on the right path for a bright future.

Keeping Those Energetic Toddlers Entertained

2009-04-05T06:03:00.000-07:00

Those toddlers are just full of energy! Some days it might seem impossible to keep up with them or keep them entertained. There are many fun activities to stimulate those little minds and maybe wear them out for a nap! Here are some ideas for activities for toddlers ages 18 months to three years:

Out and About Activities

• To keep those busy toddlers entertained in the car, as you are driving name things that you see and ask your toddler to point to them. For example, ask them “Where is the tree?” or “Where is the truck?”

• Waiting in the doctor’s office can be a challenge with a toddler. While you are waiting ask your child to walk over to the object you name.

• Before you set out on a car trip, choose a Color of the Day. As you re driving in the car, shopping at the grocery store, or waiting at the doctor s office, help your toddler point to all the things she sees that match the color you ve chosen. Help her identify those items.

• A fun and mess free activity for toddlers to do while in the car or at the grocery store is sandpaper art. Cut various colors of yarn into different lengths. Show your toddler how the yarn sticks to the sandpaper. They can create a design, pull it off, and start over again.

Activities for the Outdoors

• What toddler doesn’t like playing in the mud? Fill a plate with thick mud and smooth into a flat, even surface. Have your child press his open hand into the mud and remove. Place the mud in the sun to dry. This won t last, but its fun to look at for a while.

• Let them dig for hidden treasure. Hide small objects in the sandbox for your toddler to find as they dig about. Use an old kitchen colander to sift through the sand to help find the treasure.

• If your toddler will stand still long enough, trace their shadow on a big sheet of newsprint or other paper. Let them finger paint their shadow or color it with crayons or markers. You could also use pavement and sidewalk chalk for this activity.

Rainy Day Indoor Activities

• When you are stripping your beds, give your child the sheets from all the beds you re changing. They can use them to create houses, tents, forts, or anything else they can dream up. When playtime is over, help your child gather up the sheets and put them in the laundry basket, then take them to the laundry room together.

• Place chairs in a maze around the room. Let your child crawl among them or walk over them, or use them as a train for her stuffed animals.

• Have some fun bowling with your toddler. Line up three or four (or more) empty plastic soda bottles or unopened paper towel rolls. Show your toddler how to roll a large rubber ball to knock them over.

Play It Safe – Child Security

2009-04-04T00:04:00.000-07:00

It’s amazing to find that the very product made for kids may prove to be dangerous. There are thousands of stories where child safety has been ignored in the manufacturing of toys. In a world were the meaning of ‘family time’ is quickly diminishing, toys are toys are fast becoming a child’s best friend. Although a scary thought, it is the responsibility of parents, the world over, to ensure that the toys purchased for their children are safe for that age group.

The importance of this fact cannot be taken lightly. Not by manufacturers or by parents. It’s easy to reach for a toy that is economically friendly, but a truly caring parent will first ensure that the child’s best interest is served. Children are young and may not in a position to make the right choice. So that choice is up to you. Make it a wise one.

Today parents can pick from a myriad of toys that cater to each and every age group. Before you buy a toy, take a minute to think about the effect it will have on your child. Not only physically, but emotionally as well. The latest gadget might just have a lot of entertainment value but may not bet the ideal choice for your child. Opt for toys that are age specific and safe. Trusted brands should be your first pick as they follow quality regulations as part of the manufacturing process.

A very serious hazard while playing with unsuitable toys is choking. Small children have a habit of putting objects in their mouths. Therefore avoid buying toys for babies that have removable parts or easily breakable parts. Small kids almost always bite their toys so ensure that the toys are sturdy and strong.

Inquisitive children may be more at risk. Their desire to explore the unknown may take them down a path that is dangerous. Thus is it important to supervise ‘play time’ for toddlers and pre teens just to be safe. But what happens if you have two age groups in the same house? You are bound to have different varieties of toys.

The safe option would be to put away the older child’s toys at a higher level which cannot be reached by the younger child. Children must also be instructed to play with toys in the right manner. Another good idea would be to audit the toy chest once in while to remover sharp objects and broken pieces.

All in all, a child’s security is solely Dependant on what kind of toys you buy and how he/she plays with it. Every parent should take every opportunity to ensure that their child is exposed to a secure play environment. Since children may not know what type of secure environment they require, every parent should keep a close eye on the child. This could mean making frequent short visits to the child’s bedroom, keeping a close eye to the child when he is at the play ground and making sure that the toys that he is playing with are not dangerous in any way. Finally it is the responsibility of the parents to see to it that the child’s safety is not compromised in any way.

Your Child's Early Learning Years

2009-04-03T23:51:00.000-07:00

Though all of childhood is an exciting learning experience, the beginning of formal education whether a part time nursery school program or a full day of kindergarten is a momentous occasion. The best preparation is emotional in nature. The child who feels secure and loved and who has had experiences with developing positive relationships with adults and other children is well equipped to venture forth.

Nursery school and preschool are educational environments for preschoolers from age 2 to 4. Unlike childcare, which may also include appropriate educational experiences for preschoolers, nursery school and preschool are not full day, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. programs. Most involve half or full day schedules that fall within the hours of a regular school day, or approximately 8:30 a.m. to 3 p m Some nursery school and preschool programs, however, do offer extended days to accommodate the schedules of working parents, and include such childcare routines as lunch and naptime. Nursery schools emphasize the teaching of social skills and, for 4 year olds, kindergarten preparation. The terms nursery school and preschool are usually used interchangeably, although programs for 4 year olds are generally called preschools or pre K programs.

There's no hard and fast rule about the need for nursery school, though most kids who attend nursery school do benefit from the experience. A good nursery program allows children to learn a great deal from peer interactions and from teachers trained in early childhood development. Kids in preschool programs also have fun.

A nursery school program provides your child with more opportunities to meet and play with other children and to form attachments to other caring adults. Although 2 year olds may normally play alone even when they are with other children, they usually do enjoy : watching and imitating each other as long as a loving and responsive adult is present to help prevent grabs for one another's toys and to soothe hurt feelings and hurt knees. Three and 4 year olds seek out children to play with, and if your child doesn t otherwise have many playmates available, a preschool is a great resource for widening his social circle.

Nursery schools provide children with new experiences and activities they can't enjoy at home. Most families do not have the physical space or the equipment to allow a child to run, jump, climb, and play, whereas a good preschool is designed for such activities and has the right playground equipment right outside the door. A preschool generally has a wider variety of creative materials available than you have the resources or the space at home for. In addition, a nursery school teacher, trained in early childhood development, can guide your child in his social interactions and his use of play materials in appropriate ways. The preschool experience can also help prepare your child for the more formal setting of a kindergarten.

Smart Or SimpleToys : What Do Kids Look For?

2009-04-01T07:27:00.000-07:00

Remember the bygone days? Kids used to play with pebbles and find the stones entertaining. A trip to the market was fascinating and the circus was a treat. However, kids have evolved over the years, into hi tech beings with more demanding requirements. However, there are simple things in life that will get most kids to smile. So as a parent, what should you choose? Simple or smart toys?

This is a very difficult question as, it’s almost impossible to gauge a child’s interest levels, especially when they are young. It is entirely up to the parents to decide. As you know your child best, you can make a wise decision. One of the deciding factors would be the age of the child. A baby or a toddler should be given simpler toys that will both entertain and help the baby learn about the environment. Handing a toddler a computer game wouldn’t make sense as the child’s mind has not developed to a level where he or she can comprehend what to do.

The danger is giving younger children complicated toys is that they will fail to understand its purpose and may get frustrated. Children as that age have a very short attention span, thus give them toys that will engage them thoroughly.

As children grow bigger their thinking skills expand and thus they are able to handle more complicated toys. Most children love to be challenged. Smart toys are the ideal gift for a pre teen who is looking to ‘figure it out’. Smart toys don’t always have to be computer related. There are dozens of intricate puzzles that will keep a pre teen occupied. Once they solve the mystery or fix all the pieces, there is a sense of accomplishment that is hard to find when playing with stuffed animals or dolls.

At times kids want their parents to buy smart toys, because of peer pressure. Catering to peer pressure is not the purpose of toys in the first place. This is not a problem faced while buying baby toys but this problem manifests itself during pre teens. Parents should only buy toys according to what the child can handle. Many times children may even have temper tantrums in a bid to get the mom or dad to buy a toy that they really want and that the parent may feel is not beneficial to the child. It is therefore the parent’s responsibility to ensure that they get only what the child needs without giving in to the demands of the child. Giving into a child’s demands shows the child that they can get anything they want when they have a temper tantrum. This behavior should definitely not be encouraged in a growing child.

However, the truth remains that there are certain simple toys such as dolls and balls that never go out of style. Every child must have simple toys in their toy chest to remind them of their childhood. These are toys that later become keepsakes even as we grow older. Your decision should be based on the interest of the child. In most cases the child will reveal his/her preferences to you. So keep you eyes and ears open and you will soon know what toys to buy.

Tips for the Best Toddler Toys

2009-03-30T06:58:00.000-07:00

Now that your precious baby can do more then eat, sleep, and cry its time to purchase some toys to entertain as well as educate your toddler. Toys that educate as well as entertain and are becoming more apparent in the market place. Not all toys ill promote intellectual growth and stimulation, so it is important to become aware of what is best suited for a toddler for their educational and learning purposes.

There are an abundance of toys on the market today, even more then years past and the amount is only increasing by the year, where does a parent begin? Each decade that passes more toys are being developed and become more elaborate and sophisticated. In some cases the toddlers would have more fun playing with the box the toy came in rather then the toy itself.

Typically, toys for toddlers would be very colorful and with bright shapes and designs. Toys that can be stacked, squeezed, sorting shapes and patterns are a good way to stimulate the toddlers mind. Recognizing shapes and different colors early in their life will make it easier for them to retain the information later. Animal toys that make sounds are also valuable because they promote hearing different animals and recognizing them by sounds without seeing them, eventually. Word association toys are a great way to build up a toddlers vocabulary slowly.

It should be noted toddler toys should be relatively large in size, which means large enough where the toddlers can’t put very small pieces in their mouth because that raises the possibility of them choking or swallowing the toy. Many toys come in a one piece set where the toys can’t be broken up into smaller pieces. Toys should not have extremely sharp edges or corners but more rounded, soft edges as well. It should be noted toddler toys should be relatively large in size, which means large enough where the toddlers can’t put very small pieces in their mouth because that raises the possibility of them choking or swallowing the toy. Many toys come in a one piece set where the toys can’t be broken up into smaller pieces. Toys should not have extremely sharp edges or corners but more rounded, soft edges as well.

Common sense must be taken into account when buying toddler toys, the most expensive toys are not necessarily the best. It is important to get those “creative juices” flowing in a toddlers mind. Taking an active role in a toddlers learning development can only do good for them. A toddlers mind is comparable to a sponge, it absorbs the liquids it comes in contact with. Since a toddlers mind is at a stage where its willing to absorb all this information, the right educational toys is the water to be absorbed. Surrounding a toddler in a fun, educational environment will only benefit them.

Help Cultivate Your Child's Creativity

2009-03-29T06:05:00.000-07:00

Every child has his or her own creativity but how can you help cultivate this creative side in him or her?

For me this is one problem I encountered during my growing up years. I was an artist and I knew I could do things that my other friends cannot do well, like playing the piano, drawing and some other stuff that really made sense.

But the thing is I just fell out of interest on those skills. Yes I can still play good music but when I stopped practicing I felt that my creativity started to become stagnant. I still do know how to draw but not as good as before. I can still do stuff but not as imaginative as when I was in high school.

I got stuck to what I only knew. I think I didn't progress at all and the interest had gone off my system. Now that I have my own children and I see their potential I will not let this thing go its natural death. I want this potential to progress. In order to maintain or develop the creativity of a child here is a guide to help your children.

Whenever your child create something great, post their art works in a prominent spot of your home for them to be inspired to do original things. Create a secure environment where your child feels safe to express and be himself. Attend their school programs in which he is a participant. The child will feel important and he will strive to do a great job. Join in their activities at the very least and show an interest in their artistic activities.

Surround your home with art. This need not put a hole in you pocket. Buy prints of your favorite painting if your child is fond on doing drawing, CD's of piano music if she likes music, beads and other craft materials if she is fond of doing crafts. Encourage them to voice out their opinions on the things that they really love to do. Help them to actualize their vision. The best thing is really to listen to their dream and help them to pursue it.

Respect your kids for who and what they are. Some children are really moody when they are born artists. Respecting your child's uniqueness and stressing that differences are valued will help him build his self confidence which in turn inspires the confidence to do original things.

To have a child who has lots of idea and is very creative is very special for us parents. Not all parents get to have children like these. Always be on their side and guide them. feed them all the necessary things that can stimulate their ideas and skills.

Most of the time these comes from the genes. They say if you are an artist somehow you will have a kid who will pursue the arts as well. But even it is in the blood still it needs the tricks let the spark stay on with the child.

Bicycle Safety For Children

2009-03-28T09:07:00.000-07:00

One of the most enjoyable activities in a child’s life is bicycle riding. Kids seem to use bicycles to go everywhere. Teaching your child the proper bicycle safety can prevent them from sustaining any serious injuries.

The first step to safety with a bicycle is the bicycle itself. Making sure that the bicycle is kept in good operating condition is important. Your child should check the brakes regularly and in the case of hand brakes, worn pads should be replaced. Rims that have missing spokes should also be replaced to ensure that the wheels are sturdy, especially if your child is doing a lot of jumping. Reflectors and headlights are helpful accessories if your child rides in traffic frequently. You should also check that your child’s bicycle is adjusted properly for his height. If the child cannot touch the ground properly, this situation can make his ability to stop and start difficult and can pose a serious threat when riding in traffic.

Clothing is a very important element to practice bicycle safety. Your child should wear a helmet at all times to prevent him from sustaining a head injury. Smaller children who are still shaky on their bicycles may want to wear elbow and knee pads also. For children who ride regularly in traffic, reflective or light colored clothing is recommended, especially for riding past dusk in the evening. These clothes will enable oncoming motorists to see them against the dark sky.

Younger children should not ride in traffic at all and older children should refrain from doing it unless there is no other choice. Your child should try to stick to marked paths or trails instead of busy city streets. If your child does need to ride in traffic, he should always remember to travel in the same direction as the traffic. Hand signals should always be performed when turning in traffic so the motorists will know which way the child is going to go. The standard hand signals are extending the left arm straight out to turn left and bending the left arm at the elbow with the forearm pointing up to turn right. These only take a few minutes to do and can prevent your child from being hit by an oncoming vehicle.

For older children, riding double is never a good idea. Single seated bicycles are not designed to be ridden with two people on them. It throws your balance off and both you and your passenger can be hurt in a spill.

Many children also enjoy jumping on their bicycles. This is not recommended on a bicycle with a standard design. For children that want to do a lot of jumping, the mountain bikes that are on the market hold up best during this activity. The rims are reinforced and do not bend as easily to make for easier landings. It is recommended that these children should do this kind of jumping in existing bike ramp areas. Building ramps and jumps on their own can be a key for disaster.

Bicycling can be a lot of fun, but it can be dangerous as well. By teaching your child bicycle safety, you can ensure that he has a safe and enjoyable experience.

Picking The Perfect Toys For Your Baby

2009-03-27T07:06:00.000-07:00

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

Tip #1 Avoid Toys with Small Parts
First of all, when you are picking out newborn baby toys, it is important that you avoid purchasing toys that have any small parts. Small parts can break off the toy and your baby may put the part in their mouth, which could cause them to choke. You don't want to rush to the hospital with a choking baby, so it is best to avoid the toys with the small parts for safe baby toys that you feel more comfortable with.

Tip #2 Go with Toys that Stimulate the Senses
You'll also want to go with toys that stimulate your baby's senses, such as musical baby toys or other educational baby toys. Your baby's senses are developing fast, so you'll want to go with toys that cater to their senses and help to develop them as well. So, keep this in mind when you're picking out baby toys for your little one.

Tip #3 Do Some Research
Doing some research is important, whether you are purchasing a baby teething ring or a new baby rattle for your baby. One of the best ways to find out more about a specific toy is to get online and read reviews from other parents about the toy. If you find a lot of negative reviews, then you may want to avoid purchasing that particular toy for your baby.

Tip #4 Think About How Long the Toy Will Last
You may also want to consider how long the baby toy is going to last before you buy it. If you only think the toy is going to last a week or two, or you think your baby is going to get tired of it quickly, you may want to settle on a different toy that you think they'll play with a lot longer.

Tip #5 Make Sure Toys Meet Safety Standards
Making sure that toys meet safety standards is also very important. Whether you are purchasing plastic toys or wooden baby toys, you'll want to make sure that they are safe for your baby. So, make sure that you check to see if the toy you're consider is a safe baby toy and meets the safety standards that it should.

Tip #6 Read the Package for More Information
The package information can also provide you with a lot of helpful information about the toy. It usually is a great idea to read this information on the package before purchasing baby toys so you are sure it is the right toy for your baby.