Toys

Rachel Nunez asked:


Educational toys enable children to learn as they play. Educational toys help a child acquire new skills and improve their current ones all the while having fun. Educational toys are great at this - in encouraging learning in a fun environment. Educational toys are not only fun but practical. Of course, there are important factors that a parent needs to consider in getting the best educational toys for their children:

1. Consider the child’s age when choosing educational toys. There are educational toys in the market available for all age groups. Check the labels of toys for age appropriateness. Electronic toys, breakable toys, and those with minute parts are definitely not for infants. Consider safety fore mostly. The best for smaller kids are ones that activate the senses and are good for motor skills - toys producing, sounds, turning buttons, push and pull, filling and emptying, bobbing bath toys, squishy toys, clay or shapes. A one year old would probably only throw number or letter blocks without recognizing the idea of numbers. So not too complicated; neither should you underestimate a preschooler with toys meant only for younger kids. Maybe you should challenge them with more books (picture books and pop-ups are so much fun) or chalk boards, flash cards, toy clocks and globes, and puzzles.

2. Also consider a child’s interest. A child could be interested more in sports than in music or art for example. Observe if he likes to bang things more than scribble. Try to get an idea of your child’s “field” before buying educational toys.

3. Let your child’s imagination work. Children’s play is often centered on their little worlds, and getting their minds working creatively greatly stimulates and develops their minds. The more the toy encourages creative thinking and make-believe, the better. Toys that are good at this are building blocks, arts and crafts, coloring books, stuffed animals, doll set, action figures, cars, and science and discovery toys like binoculars, archeology tools, veterinarian kits, habitats, and the likes.

4. Watch-and-learn toys are magnificent. Toys that are imitative of adults’ activities always get a child’s attention. The average cooking play set goes a long way in a child’s learning. So does sports toys like ping pong play or dad’s favorite shooting hoops basketball and profession toys like doctor’s kit.

5. Educational toys should be fun. The best way for a child to learn is probably by having fun. Whatever that interests your child stimulates his brain to get ready for learning. Educational toys serve this purpose. It is important for educational toys to be entertaining to foster brain activity stimulation. It has been scientifically proven that this brain stimulation through activating interest in a child help develop thought and reflex patterns and a good hand-eye coordination. Plus, fun is an important factor in choosing an educational toy since the child won’t even notice that lessons are being taught while he is playing. And lastly, fun is great way to get a child’s attention and focus in the first place. Thus, educational toys should be fun in the best way they could be.

Exposure to educational toys in the early formative years of learning, during times of perception with awe and surprise, when a child’s brain acts like a quick sponge absorbing great new experiences playing a huge part in a child’s capacity for learning in the later stages of his life. It is then responsibility of every parent to provide educational toys for their child to get them a head start in early development helping them explore the world around them. Grab some of these tips and watch your child maximize his abilities.



ANTWAN

Mr Parkle asked:


I naturally don’t mean only stores with mice and balls etc. I’m searching for the better toys like those from Hartz or the Panic Mouse. I have found a few, but I’m not paying $100 shipping for a toy that only costs $25.

ASHLEY

Lily Morgan asked:


We have probably all had a toy box of some kind or another when we were growing up. Memories of keeping all of our favorite toys in a special box and dragging that box out for some Saturday afternoon fun on the living room floor are probably still in our minds. Keeping the tradition of toys and toy boxes going is important for kids because it helps them build a foundation for some great memories as they start to grow up. A toy box is a wonderful, safe place to put all of the toys your child has and to avoid the clutter of leaving them lying around, too.

You can get a good toy box just about anywhere that sells toys, but take the time to look around for one your child will enjoy. Size matters with a toy box, and it is important to make sure that the box you choose can hold all or most of your kid’s toys. If you can’t put the majority of toys from your child into the box, you’re really just defeating the purpose of having one in the first place.

Now, there are toy boxes, toy chests and toy bins. It certainly is an exciting world of toys, isn’t it? There are all sorts of little add-ons you can purchase for your toy box or bin, like an organizer for storing even more toys. These organizers are similar to little tool shelves for your kids, as they make finding a favorite toy easy, and make storing the toys in a generally clean fashion. Toy organizers are usually available anywhere you can find toy boxes or other toy storage ideas.

Whether you have ended up with a toy box, bin, chest or a massive toy organizing facility designed exclusively for your home, you’ve probably only accomplished half of the battle of organizing the toys of your child. The other important component of this ongoing issue is actually getting your child to use this stuff!

A number of strategies will help get your kid to pick up his or her toys and use that shiny new toy box for something other than decoration. For starters, you will need to make sure that you have put the toy box in a place that your child can reach. Teach your child how to use the toy box safely, too, so that he or she doesn’t get their fingers caught in the hinges or so that children end up locking themselves inside. There are a number of safety issues with the toy boxes available, actually, so ensure that you pick one that seems safe and operates easily.

The next bit of fun you can have in terms of getting your child to use the toy box is to work with him or her. Get your child into the habit of putting his or her toys away by giving a set time in which to accomplish the chore and participating in the cleanup with the child. Do this while he or she is young and you will develop a strategy that will last a lifetime.

Buying a toy box or toy organizer can be a lot of fun, especially with all of the inventive choices available. Teaching your child to use it, on the other hand, can be a different matter altogether. Luckily, with a few pointers and some patience, you should be able to have fun with the toy box and actually use it to put those toys away, safe and sound.



MERLE

Christopher Peace asked:


What kinds of musical toddlers toys are available for my toddler?

There are many different types of musical toddlers toys that are available for your toddler’s pleasure. Things such as maracas, xylophones and tambourines are an excellent start for your budding musician’s future. These musical toys, such as the Pylones Pig Maraca, entice your toddler with the sound of a rattle. These will entertain and amuse your toddler, while they may make you to want to cover your ears. These maracas and tambourines are constructed of solid materials and are created to take a lot of abuse. They are also painted with fun animals such as a pig, a bee and so on.

Are there other sorts of musical toddlers toys that are available?

Yes there are other sorts of musical toddlers toys that are available for purchase. Just look in your local toy store in the toddler section. If you want music playing toys, there are things such as recorders and toys that play music that are available for purchase at any toy store. These toys are also popular and explore the toddler’s fascination with sound. This also teaches simple music skills. For a quieter toy, look into toys that are animated such as the Teddy Ruxpin or similar items that not only use music but animation to tell a story. But be certain when you are choosing this type of toy that it is indeed for a toddler and not for a child that is older.

How sturdy are these types of toddlers toys

These types of toddlers toys are very sturdy, however you must be careful not to give a toddler something that will break off in pieces and possibly cause a choking hazard. Each of these toys will usually be age appropriate. They all are usually sturdy and will last for a long time, providing much enjoyment for your toddler. These toys will broaden your toddler’s horizons and will provide many hours of entertainment and musical play. They are ideal for encouraging a love of music in your toddler. With the music playing toys, they will also enrich your toddler by allowing your toddler to hear music that they didn’t create themselves.

How costly are these musical toddlers toys?

These musical toddlers toys are comparatively priced and will not cost the parent an arm and a leg. These toys are good value for the money spent and usually provide a quality toy for your toddler’s enjoyment. These toys are good for expanding your toddler’s horizons and usually provide quality entertainment for any curious toddler. If your toddler is curious about music then a musical toy is a must get for your child. With these toys painted in wonderful colors and making music, your child is sure to enjoy these toys as they provide hours of countless pleasure. With the usage of these toys in your child’s life, they learn a lifetime appreciation of music and all things musical. These types of toys are sure to enrich your toddler’s life.



EDUARDO

? ????y ?? ??by ???xíã Ÿ????í ? asked:


She is exactly 3 months old and she still doesn’t try to reach and hold toys. She just stares at them. She does however like to have her hands in her mouth but she won’t hold and reach for toys!

Was this supposed to happen by now?

DANA

Rachel Nunez asked:


The toddler age group encompasses those children at the age ranging from two to five. This is the period wherein kids being to grow physically and mentally. This is also the period which is said to be hard for the parents. Why is this so? It is because the children at this stage are at the peak of their curiosity. They are very inquisitive on almost anything. They are also full of energy and vigor that sometimes parents find it difficult to keep pace with them.

Because of this, it becomes even more challenging to find the right gift for your kids. A great gift for kids is something that helps stimulate their liveliness and interest in a very creative way.

However, with the toy scares that are happening these days, it becomes even tougher to choose a toy present for your children. Many toy makers recall their toys in the market as they are hazardous for kids. For this reason parents are faced with a taxing challenge on what toddler toy to buy, particularly now that Christmas is coming near. With this, it is imperative for the parents to select the toys that are safe for their toddlers. How to do it? It is so simple.

First and foremost, you need to check the quality of the material from which the toy is made of. Is it made from cotton or wood? It is best if you opt for toys that are made from natural materials. Toys of this sort are proven to be safe for kids since they do not contain harmful chemicals like lead. With natural toys, you can be sure that your toddlers are out of harm’s way.

If you are going to shop for a toy for toddlers, you must keep in mind to opt for the toy that is safe and child-friendly. Among the safest toys that you can give as a present are wooden toys. Toys that are made from wood are guaranteed safe for babies as well as toddlers. There are many kinds of wooden toys to choose from. These usually include wooden trains, play kitchens and others.

On the other hand, you may also choose soft toys as Christmas gifts for your little ones. What are soft toys? Soft toys are those toys that are manufactured from all natural soft materials such as linen and cotton. As a matter of fact, the most popular soft toys for babies are those which are made from organic cotton. These include soft chew toys like teddy bear and puppets.

All things considered, finding the best toddler toy for your little ones this Christmas is really not so complicated. All you need is to know which toys are safe and unsafe for your kids. To ensure that your children are in safe hands, choose only those toys that are proven to be safe and harmless to kids. Wooden toys are the best choice when it comes to safety. Also, choose toys that are not only safe for kids but also promotes learning and education. Most of all make a research on what toys to buy for toddlers. You need to do this before you go toy-shopping. In this way, you will be able to pick out the best toy gift for your children as well as save time and money in shopping.



AVERY

Rachel Nunez asked:


A toddler spends most of its waking hours playing. When your baby hits the first year a whole new range of abilities opens to him to explore his surroundings. Toys being a permanent fixture in his daily confines, keeping them safe for play is a crucial element of a childproofed play area. Consider this; the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) reports that in the US alone, an estimated 210,300 toy-related injuries were treated; 35% of which involved children below 5 years of age.

Guidelines for Toy Selection

Even before any toy gets anywhere near your toddler, you can already ensure their safety and appropriateness to your toddler’s age through a careful and thoughtful toy selection.

A good starting point would be opting for age-appropriate toys. Look for a “recommended age” sticker on the toy package. This would guide you on which toys can be handled by your child given his control ability and level of maturity.

You must also consider the size of the toy to make sure that the toy or any of its parts could not fit into your child’s mouth. Weight is another matter to bear in mind. You don’t want your child injured should the toy accidentally fall on him. The toy should also be free from parts that can be easily detached such as buttons or strings or chords that may pose the danger of strangulation.

Tips for Toy Sanitation

The kind and quality of toys are not the only factors that could render them unfit for use or hazardous to your little one. Dirt and harmful bacteria and pollutants that attach to toys could pose danger as well. Let us face it; you can not sanitize your child’s environment nor his toys one hundred percent. But you can certainly make sure they are cleaned properly.

One thing to bear in mind is that not all toys are cleaned the same way. The trick is in knowing which toys may be tossed in the dishwasher and which ones should be washed by hand, or spray-cleaned or machine-washed.

Most toddler toys may simply be soaked in warm, soapy water. You may add in a small amount of cleaning agents such as a dish soap or liquid soap or dishwashing detergent to get them cleaned.

Large plastic toys should be regularly washed with soap and rinsed using a hose to carefully remove hard-sticking dirt. Stuff toys on the other hand may be handled by the machine unless you find a tag instruction against doing so. The dishwasher is a good cleaning agent for hard plastic toys. The toys are exposed to the dishwasher’s hot temperature which thoroughly sanitizes them.

One may also find sanitizer and disinfecting sprays and use them with caution making sure the toys are wiped properly after spraying. Such products are good to use especially if the toys had been exposed to other children who may have colds and cough that your toddler could easily catch.

Think about this way, the practice of careful toy selection and regular sanitation is comparable to providing your little toddler with healthy and enjoyable friends to play with and as useful as making sure your child gets his required daily dose of vitamins. Like a proper diet which includes an apple or two a day, such practices are sure to help keep the doctor away.



RYAN

Ami asked:


I was looking in toys r us the other day, and I couldn’t find the puffle toys. I was wondering, what section are the puffle toys in? You dont have to answer that question, but it would be helpful!

BENNETT

Anti-PVP Guy asked:


Does anyone know what happens to the toys on the shelf at places like Wal*Mart or Toy’s R Us when the manufacturer ceases production, or replaces them with a new line, and all of the sudden the old toys, “disappear” from the shelf? I know sometimes they move them to clearance isles, but sometimes they just disappear. Does anyone out there know? Are they sent back to the manufacturer? Are they melted down to make more toys? Are they donated to charity for some kind of tax write-off?

JORDAN

Rachel Nunez asked:


Parents like to see their kids happy. For them, their kids only deserve the best. In view of that, even when it comes to toys, the children ought to have only the best toys. You might think that it is quite difficult to choose toys for your kids. But, actually, it is not. With all the toys that are available in the market, there is nothing to worry about.

There is a wide variety of toddler toys to choose from. How to know which toys are best for your children? Your toddlers are at the phase wherein they are extremely active and curious about everything. For this reason, it would be best if you choose toys which motivate your kids to learn and have fun at the same time. Although there are some parents who choose toys based on the brand or manufacturer. But this should not be the case. It is not the brand or the name of the company that determines the quality of the toys and its value to children.

Even if there are toy manufacturers who produce toys that correspond to certain educational requirements, it does not mean that they always make toys that are best for kids. That’s why when selecting a toy for your kid you need to judge the toy according to its specific features. There are several characteristics that make a toy different from all the others. These can be classified according to the sense that the kid utilizes in learning. This means that you have to assess the toy based on its visual appeal as well as physical appeal to kids.

Another important thing to consider is safety. When buying a toy for babies or toddlers, make sure that it is safe. Do not purchase a toy which is hazardous for your little one. See to it that the toy that you will buy is lightweight. Also check if the toy has choking hazards. Does the toy contain small parts that have the tendency to drop easily? Always bear in mind that babies are fond of putting almost anything into their mouth. For this reason, it is important to beware of toys with choking hazards.

The next thing to consider in buying baby and toddler toys is the color. Generally speaking, it is best if you choose toys that are brightly-colored. Kids are attracted to toys with different colors. Colorful toys are known to be effective in grabbing the attention and interest of the kids. Without a doubt, most babies like brighter colors better compared to the pastel ones.

In addition, the age of the baby should also be taken into consideration. There are some parents who fail to realize that they are purchasing toys which are not yet suitable for their babies. More often than not, they tend to buy toys which are very sophisticated for their little ones. They feel that they can boost the development of their babies. But this is not right. Your babies will not be able to build up their skills in advance if their toys are very complex to meddle with. As a result, they will just pay no attention to these toys.

In view of that, it is essential that you consider the preferences of your kids. Try to consider their likes and interests. This can be a big help in finding the most suitable toy for your children. Toddler toys are available in many different features. As parents, it is your job to check the toys that your children are playing with. Make sure that they make the most of their playtime productively and safely.



ALBERTO