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A group of like-minded mothers have discovered a way of providing their children with high quality children’s educational toys and they’re only paying 20% of store price. These mothers aren’t spending hours in discount stores or second hand toy stores. They’re buying high quality, highly sought after children’s educational toys and instead of paying $100 they’re paying only $20. They’ve organised themselves in groups of 5 or 6 and each mother is buying a toy worth $100. These toys are then circulated within the group so that the group has toys to the value of $500 - $600 and each child has a one month turn with the toy before passing it on to the next family. Ute Fumeaux, CEO and founder of child-educational-toys.com is a mother of 3 who empathised with the thousands of mothers who find it tough finding the extra cash for those high quality children’s educational toys on the market. But then, Ute came up with a great idea, one that to date has probably saved her 100’s of dollars…………….In fact this idea has saved 4 of her friends 100’s of dollars. It was such a simple idea, that when Ute shared it with 4 friends in her mother’s group, they laughed. It just seemed too simple not to be something that everyone did. The idea? Toy Sharing Hang on let’s clarify. 5 mothers of boys and girls of similar ages got together – had a look both on-line and at the multitude of toy catalogues in the mail box. They each chose $100 worth of high quality (relatively unisex) children’s educational toys. They then set up a share system or toy library system with the toys. Each family had 1 month turns of each of the toys. At the end of each month the toys were rotated within the group. Now let’s have a look at what this meant firstly for the children: • New high quality educational toys each month. • Just when they were bored/no longer using the toy as often, it went to someone else and a new toy arrived. • More space to play as their rooms were less cluttered with toys • There was more money available to the family for other ‘necessities’. And then of course from the parents perspective: • Because new toys were circulating every month, there was always an answer for “can I have…” • Money saved • Less unused toys lying around the house • High quality educational toys were available to their children. This process may seem simple but we all know there are 1000’s of families feeling the pinch who still like to be able to provide high quality children’s educational toys for their children. Well why not try Ute’s idea and save yourself 100’s of dollars and be able to give your children their toys? For more information about saving money on bringing up your children and much more go to www.child-educational-toys.com About the author: About the Author Ute Fumeaux Sydney Australia Learn more about your child Ute Fumeaux is a fast-paced educator who blends the experience of raising her own 3 children with years of study and observation. She provides solid practical advice that answers many of the questions parents have about raising and educating their children. Learn more about Ute and her advice at www.child-educational-toys.com
Educational Toys That Stimulate Chidrens Mind Barbara De Oliveira
When children start to walk more steadily, run, push, pull, climb and grab things - they are growing from infants to toddlers. Between their first and second birthdays, they are self centered and get busy doing various things like - to flip light switches, pour things in and out of containers, unwrap packages and empty drawers. The toddler stage is very important in a childs life. It is the time between infancy and childhood when a child learns and grows in many ways. Everything that happens to the toddler is meaningful.
How do I know this
I am a mother of two boys who I love dearly. I decided to stay home and raise my children with the best education and values I could provide. We made sacrifices and reorganized our lives for them. I learned the importance of educational toys as we saw our sons playing together with toys all around the house. This is when I realized the value of educational toys and started lulu-baby.com, to help other parents provide greater richness and diversity to their children. I truly believe that educational toys are the one option that can make every parent’s dreams true.
A toy which is worthy, gives colorful success in the end. Same goes to educational toys too. Each toy can have some educational benefits. Sometimes you may have to ask your self, “How can this toy be educational to my child” The answer may be obvious, or you may have to dig a little to find a lesson or value with the toy. But, the rewards are worth it as you watch your children play with the toys in a meaningful way, and actually learn something in the process.
Here are some ideas to encourage your children to get more out of their fun time.
Baby Einstein
Infants and toddlers are apparently big fans of the Baby Einstein series, with titles like Baby Mozart, Baby Shakespeare, and Baby Van Gogh making regular rounds in their familys DVD. I learned the importance of educational toys. The shine in my sons’ eyes while watching several of the Baby Einstein Videos taught me that I can provide happiness to the little one. "These videos have a lot of colors and shapes that hold his attention," says another Mom. The complete line of Baby Einstein educational videos and DVDs stimulate the growing mind.
And what child doesn’t love the magic of puppets Whether it’s a ferocious dragon, a wiggly octopus or a friendly dog. These lovely puppets offer terrific “hands-on” fun that is sure to ignite any child’s imagination. Playing with Baby Einstein Puppets with a parent or adult helps babies interact with others and aids in language development.
Little Tikes
These are for babies 6 to 36 months and are aimed at giving children experience. My older son enjoys climbing up and down the Castle Climber has been one of our best investments towards our childrens growing up.
Little Tikes offers a variety of play sets that help fuel their imagination. Little Tikes toys do not entertain children the way so many toys and products do. They allow a childs imagination to run free and expand. There are not a lot of bells and whistles, but children do not need that all the time. They get sensory overload. Little Tikes produces toys that not only allow children to educate themselves, the toys encourage imagination and education.
Little Tikes makes shape sorters, infant sensory stimulation toys, outdoor toys that promote large motor skill development, and even furniture for a nursery, toddler or preschoolers bedroom or playroom.
Already the leader in plastic furniture for children, Little Tikes is building on its established reputation for safety and durability by launching its first line of wooden furniture - natural interiors. So the furniture looks great “as is” or decorated with paint to match a childs personality. The light wood furniture -including a table, chair, desk, easel, toy box and storage center- is perfectly scaled for kids and designed so that its looks at home in any interior or room of the house.
I can go on for another page as a typical Mom. But I would encourage you to visit my web site lulu-baby.com for more information. You may be wondering where the name lulu-baby came from. You will know once you visit my web site.
We, as Moms are very busy, we are always running around to take care of our babies. Online shopping is a great help for us busy Moms. Buying good products from the convenience of my home has become part of my life.
Our web site aims to be more than a web store, but a good resource for Moms, a place to find good products for you and your child.
With our deepest love for children, let’s bring a lot of laughter into our homes.
About The Author
Author Name and Bio: Barbara De Oliveira. Mother of two children. Lulu-baby.com website owner and RN Registered Nurse Web Site: http://www.lulu-baby.com lulu_baby123@yahoo.co.in
Stuffed Toys that are Suitable and Safe. Carolyn Schweitzer
Adorable stuffed dogs are a favorite gift for dog lovers. Learn what to look for and what to Avoid.
Although its hard to say when the first stuffed dogs appeared, I would guess that it was soon after dogs were domesticated. We do know that as long as there have been children, there have been dolls, rattles, miniature weapons, and hand-made animals. Anthropologists have found evidence of toys dating back to the earliest records of human life.
Play is universal and cross-cultural. Though it may vary among cultures and generations, its clearly instinctive and a key part of our development. A childs play is his way of learning about himself and his world. Play opens the door to a childs imagination. Some of our fondest memories from childhood are recollections of time spent playing with special people and favorite toys.
A classic among childhood toys is the Teddy Bear, who made his appearance in 1903 and is still popular today. Although the Teddy Bear may be famous because of his political affiliation he was named after Theodore Roosevelt, just about any stuffed toy can become a childs favorite. Especially for infants and toddlers, theres great comfort and reassurance in having soft, cuddly companions like stuffed dogs to snuggle up with.
As surely as children play with toys, their needs and interests change as they grow and mature. As a child matures, a stuffed toy may come to represent a favorite animal in nature. Toy stuffed dogs might be huggable versions of media characters like a cartoon or comic strip dog "Snoopy", "Scooby Doo", "Blues Clues", etc.. Finally, stuffed dogs can play the role of imaginary family pets.
When shopping for stuffed dogs for small children, keep in mind the childs age, interests, and abilities. Be especially careful when selecting toys for children under age 3. Labels help consumers narrow down which toys are right for a child, but here are some general guidelines regarding stuffed toys for children from birth to three years of age:
For children in the one to three year age range, avoid toys with small parts that could be swallowed, aspirated inhaled into the air passages or lungs or inserted into the nose or ears. The eyes and noses of stuffed dogs should be securely fastened and the seams well sewn. Avoid stuffed dogs with any sharp corners, rough edges, or strings.
Here are some specific guidelines to keep in mind according to a childs age:
Birth to 6 months
For the first few months babies cant grasp with their hands, so choose toys that stimulate with sight and sound. High contrast, black-and-white or brightly colored toys and toys that make noise like a squeeker toy will get baby s attention. Puppets can be used by adults to entertain baby.
Once the baby has learned to grasp, look for textured toys that are safe for mouthing. Choose stuffed dogs with short pile fabric.
Never hand a toy from the crib, stroller, playpen, etc., or around babies neck.
6 months to 1 year
Infants become more mobile at this age and interact more with their toys. This is also the age when they love to drop things, so nice soft stuffed dogs will earn points with Mom for the absence of loud crashing sounds as they hit the floor!! Of course, your peace and quiet could be spoiled by the fact that toys that squeak when squeezed are popular at this age. Puppets are still a great way for parents to hold a childs attention, and theres even one popular brand that doubles as a washcloth at bath time.
The stuffed dogs you choose should still have a short pile fabric. Babies start teething at 6 months, and will definitely chew on their toys, so make sure you buy toys that you can throw in the washing machine
1 to 2 years
During their second year of like, children love to explore. Their play is more physical and involves experimentation and imitation of adults. At this stage, stuffed dogs might be seen as "pretend pets" to befriend and care for. This could be a good rehearsal for the real thing. Children are not instinctively gentle with animals. Interactive play between parent and child, using stuffed dogs as props, can be a fun way to introduce them to the idea that a pet should be handled with gentle loving care.
At this stage, objects still get mouthed, so stuffed dogs should still have short pile fabric.
2 to 3 years
Finally, you can graduate to nice, furry stuffed dogs! The long pile isnt considered a hazard--mainly because children age 2 to 3 no longer place everything in their mouths.* Kids this age have developed good hand coordination and like to put it to work with arts and crafts and simple puzzles. Plain stuffed dogs make use of a creative imagination. You might also consider a doggie hand or finger puppet. These work the mind as well as hands and fingers!
*No more thumbs or pacifiers at this age!! It will affect your childs oral and dental development.
3 to 6 years
After age three, make-believe is a favorite pastime and children interact with each other, using toys as props. Its common at this age to develop strong attachments to favorite toys, and express feelings towards a particular doll, teddy bear, or stuffed dog. Toys representing favorite cartoon or TV characters might be the objects of affection. Puppets are also lot of fun for games of make-believe.
6 to 9 years
By now, more sophisticated games and toys are likely to have replaced stuffed toys. The exception is young collectors, looking for stuffed dogs to add to their menageries. Collectors defy age categories; the "beanie baby" craze is a great example of this. Personally, I never played with dolls as a kid but had an enviable collection of stuffed animals, and am still a sucker for a cute stuffed toy. Puppets are still appealing, as well as some of the nontraditional forms of stuffed dogs. These might include a pair of slippers in the form of a favorite dog breed, or bookmarks made to look like stuffed dogs.
9 years and up
Especially as they approach their teens, children want to impress their peers and leave "childish" toys behind. Stuffed dogs, and stuffed toys in general, are only for young collectors in this age group. There are variations on stuffed dogs you might do better with. For example, a pair of dog slippers, a dog backpack or purse, or stuffed dogs suspended from key chains. Young and old1 golfers would love a plush golf head cover in the shape of their favorite dog.
Finally, since your household or the one youre shopping for may have children of different ages, here are some general rules you can follow for fun and safe play:
TEN STEPS TO FUN AND SAFE PLAY * When shopping for toys, keep in mind the childs age, interests and abilities. Read toy or packaging labels for age ranges and safety warnings. Be especially careful when choosing toys for children under three. Select toys that are free of small pieces or pieces that separate or can be broken off, are lightweight, have no sharp edges or points and are non-toxic. At home, read instructions for assembly and use. Keep product literature in case of future questions and complete warranty cards. Remove and discard all packaging from a toy before giving it to a baby or small child. Consider the home environment in which a child will play with a toy and younger children who may be there. A toy intended for an older child may be dangerous in the hands of a younger one. Always provide toys in conjunction with sensible supervision. Supervise children when they play and set good examples of safe play. Remind caregivers, including grandparents, of play-related safety concerns Do not leave toys on stairs. Choose a safe storage place for toys. Anything large enough for a child to climb inside should have a cover thats easily removed. Check toys at least every three months to determine their safety. Make any repairs immediately or throw away damaged toys.
* Source: www.toy-tia.org
About The Author
© 2004, Carolyn Schweitzer. Lifelong dog-lover, power-shopper, and former family dentist Carolyn Schweitzer is owner and editor of Great-Dog-Gift.com. If you need inspiration for stuffed dogs, visit her at http://www.great-dog-gift.com/stuffed_dogs.html. The site offers a wide range of choices for dog gift shoppers, plus shopping and gift-giving tips. Shes always looking for new dog gift ideas and dog stories to share with her readers. You can reach her by email at netbrainer@verizon.net.
netbrainer@verizon.net
Guide To Choosing Educational Toys For Children Eugen Lisov
Educational toys for children
In the last few years, parents started getting more and more interested in choosing all sorts of educational toys for their children. Because a parent wishes the best for his child, a toy that is labeled as educational is very likely to be bought easier than others.
But what is an educational child toy
Well, there is no definition of the term "educational toy" from what I know. However, what I do know is that an educational toy is a toy that helps a child learn something good, something that will help in the future. Play is the most important activity of any child. Learning thru play is a reality; it can and it is done unknowingly every time your child plays. The parent must however control the play so that it remains on an educational course.
There are also toys that arent exactly educational for children … Toy guns and other such toys that somehow tend to violence and other bad behaviors are not recommended. You must avoid such toys. Although these toys may be a good source of fun for youngsters, on the long term they will only do harm.
How do educational child toys and games work
A I said above, play is a child‘s main activity. During the play, a child learns many new things. Toys and games must be integrated into the play to make their job. This is not hard, because play consists of several games that require using toys. Any toy can be educational, as long as it does not develop a bad behavior, and it is used in your childs play. A toy must be used in order to be educational for a child.
To be clearer about how educational child toys and games work, I will take one example: Hide and seek.
Lets take a look at Hide and Seek. You do remember this game, right Can you remember the rules Ok, I will still list them here, and comment on them and explain its educational side.
The first rule is that every player must obey the rules. I know, I know its obvious, but if players would not respect the rules, would there be any point for the rules to exist Every child must learn and obey them, or else they are not allowed to play the game. The educational part of this is that the child learns to accept the fact that he cannot do everything he wants, that there are some limits and he must not pass them in order to keep his privileges.
One of the children in the group is chosen to count to 100 at the home tree this helps young children learn the numbers in a pleasurable way, not like in school, without peeking this educated the child to use fair play in all areas of the life. Meanwhile, the others must find a good hiding place, one that is both hard to discover and close to the home tree. This stimulates the child to think fast to the best solution to a given task.
After he finished counting to 100, the child says "Ready or not, here I come" and then he must search for the other players. He must be very careful. Once he finds a player hiding, he must run back to the home tree and shout his name. He must be vigilant so that he can hear any sound that might indicate the position of the other players.
The players who are already spotted must not tell where the others are hiding. This too educates children to use fair play.
The first player spotted is the next one to count to 100.
Youd never think that hide and seek, one of the most common games in childhood, could be so educational, right Yes, it is a very educational game. And its not the only one. Pick any game you liked playing when you were a child, and analyze its rules, as I did above. Youll be amazed.
Hide and Seek is oriented mainly towards developing fair play and physical skills.
Heres another example of educational child game that helps developing more advanced skills: Monopoly.
I wont bore you with its rules. This game introduces your child into the basics of modern business life. Acquiring high value properties, negotiation, taxes. Yup! This game educates your child to become the biggest businessperson on the Wall Street. Monopoly has rules that are more complex and it requires greater concentration. Specific jargon and names that mean much to the entrepreneurs get your child closer the world of business.
Toys are amongst the first objects a child gets in contact. Understanding how things work is a direct result of solving problems with toys like "Why this fits there", "Does that fit here", "How big is that". Toys help your child learn to grab, pull, push, synchronize the movement of the head with that of the hand.
Toys are indispensable when playing. Playing with a great variety of educational child toys helps your child develop his imagination, understand that different objects have different properties, and learn how to combine them to create other interesting objects.
Read the whole article on choosing educational child toys.
About The Author
Eugen Lisov is the creator of Child-Toys-Guide.com, a site focused on helping parents worldwide to choose the best toys for their children. If you offer your child a bad toy, its the same as if you dont offer your youngster any toy. Please feel free to browse my site; it will only help you when choosing toys for your child.
Why Kids Toys Are For Kids Jennifer Gove
I have made a discovery in my adult life, kids toys were made for kids. Now I know you may be puzzled about this because we all have sat down and played with our children, but if you peer deeper into this issue you will see as I do.
Lego Mines…
Tell me why it is a child can run blind folded through a room littered with Legos. Yet me I carefully navigate threw the room watching my step, stepping like that of a cat carefully then it happens. I step down onto one of these plastic “toys” and it rips threw my heal. Of course that sends me to the floor only to have Legos sticking me in the rear. These blocks were not intended for adults.
Play Doh is wonderful, entertains the kids for hours, the mess it not to bad if you can stand the smell of the stuff. You have to love it though as a fashion statement. Where you sit in it unknowingly and you wear it on your hind side to the store. Of course you see this handsome man looking at you fanny, and you prance about feeling young and exuberant , only to get home and have you husband point out the gray blob of play doh stuck to your bum.
My kids like many other love to color, who would have though a pack of 96 crayons could be an issue, well if you have toddlers about you better love the arts because you walls will have plenty of art. The kind your can’t remove unless you want to spend hours scrubbing think layers of the wax off your walls. But the very best thing I LOVE about crayon is how the melt in a car on a hot summer day. Like the time we took a trip to the beach, a lovely day it was. The kids happily colored in the back seat then we got there swan and came back to a car with a puddle of wax in the back seat.96 crayons and a huge colorful melting puddle. Six car details later you can still see our lesson it nice tints of yellows purples reds and greens.
Hot wheels are great, ya gotta love any thing that sends kids into a fit of move the fridge my car is under there. Or how about how they act as little unsuspecting roller skates that send you flailing across the room failing about the room.
My favorite is the super balls. That pelt about the room like little rubber bullets. They send you running for cover. Then they roll away…leaving your kids screaming you can never find these things once they go out of your site. I have eight kids. They love these little rubber balls. Of course they bounce them at a high rate of speed that only a child could get out of one of these things. I can tell you .They HURT!!! They ignore my pain and scream ear splitting head cracking screams to chase the balls that is theirs or the one they wished was theirs. Little arms searching wilding for the lost balls. Cries of anguish for those that are missing…You don’t have to remind me…in the adult world kids toys are for kids.
About The Author
Jennifer is a stay at home mother of eight and owner of Http://simplymoms.com . A wonderful parenting site just for mothers that offers - Forums, Chat, EDD Calculator, Baby name finder and more! admin@simplymoms.com
Night Vision Devices -- The Ultimate in BackCountry Toys Chuck Fitzgerald
Many nights in the backcountry are far from dark. A bright moon and a sky full of stars can throw off enough light to allow for reading a book, but add cloud cover, mountains or trees and it gets dark awfully fast. When you need to see in the dark, you have two choices - you either turn on a light, or use one of the many available night vision devices NVD. The NVD could be the ultimate backcountry toy.
Like choosing many other types of technology, choosing the correct NVD is all about how you are going to use it. When most people think of night vision capabilities, they think about spy movies, the military or law enforcement - applications where it is vital for the good guys to see without being seen by the bad guys. A drop in pricing over the past few years has made a NVD affordable for campers, hunters, hikers and a wide variety of other outdoor enthusiasts. However, high-end devices used for specialized purposes remain quite expensive.
There are two broad categories of NVD. Image Enhancement devices collect small amounts of light and amplify them to the point where the human eye can observe the object. Thermal Imaging devices capture the high end of the infrared light spectrum which is emitted as heat by objects. Image Enhancement devices will provide a much crisper image with detail while Thermal Imaging devices show regions of heat. Currently, five Generations of NVD exist. Generations 0 and 1 are less expensive and typically produce a poor image quality. Generations 2, 3 and 4 have increasingly better image quality and an equally increasing price to match.
Applications for NVD are actually quite diverse. They include but are not limited to: military, law enforcement, hunting, wildlife observation, surveillance, security, navigation, hidden-object detection, spelunking and entertainment. NVD can be found on helicopters, rifles, camcorders, cameras, boats….just about anywhere. A new craze found at up-scale gatherings is called “A Dinner in the Dark Party” where guests wear an NVD throughout their dining experience.
Many outdoor enthusiasts are beginning to discover the wonderful world that can be found after darkness falls in the backcountry. If you like to camp, hike or hunt, chances are good an NVD will be perfect for you. Use this information and you’ll Get It Right The First Time. Get Outdoors!
About The Author
Chuck Fitzgerald is Owner and President of Arizona based BackCountry Toys, an online store providing backcountry specialty gear and educational information for outdoor enthusiasts. Visit www.BackCountryToys.com to receive the free newsletter "FreshAir” or call 800 316-9055. chuck@backcountrytoys.com
Some of the stereotypes we have about the brain and aging are being dispelled by recent research. Here are some myths and new reality.1. Myth: Once you're born, all you can look forward to is a long and steady loss of brain cells. REALITY: “Stem” cells in the brain can create new neurons, and idle neurons will extend their branches to carry signals to and from other neurons indefinitely, under the right conditions.2. MYTH: We can’t get smarter as we age.REALITY: Mice in an enriched environment (new toys and playmates), increased 4000 new neurons in the hippocampus (crucial to memory and learning) compared to 2400 in the control group. Older mice’s brains also got bigger and better quickly! (Diamond and Rosenzweig, Elizabeth Gould, Princeton)3. MYTH: Creativity diminishes with age.REALITY: According to Ralph Warner, author of “Get a Life: You Don’t Need a Million to Retire Well,” “older artists often do well, commonly experiencing a sustained burst of exciting creativity after 65.”4. MYTH: There isn’t much you can do to avoid Alzheimer’s.REALITY: According to David Snowden, Ph.D., “Aging with Grace,” hardworking brains (the ones that keep learning new challenging things) do well because their stimulated cells branch frequently. This results in millions of new synapses so the brain actually becomes larger and a larger brain can cope better with the effects of brain diseases, like Alzheimer’s and strokes. Theoretically because it has more active tissue, and therefore a greater number of ways to work around diseased or damaged areas.5. MYTH: What you’ve got, is all you’ll ever get.REALITY: According to Paula Tallal, Rutgers neuroscientist, “You create your brain from the input you get,” i.e., intellectual stimulation strengthens the brain because in the normal course of living, our brains constantly reorganize themselves, which is called neuroplasticity.” Neuroplasticity accelerates with the amount and complexity of the new information our brains receive. 6. MYTH: As you age, it’s too hard to learn new things, so stick with what you already know.REALITY: According to Arnold Scheibel, head of UCLA’s Brain Research Institute, the brain’s axons and dendrites (which send and receive messages) grow fastest with new material. “The important thing is to be actively involved in areas unfamiliar to you,” say Golden and Tsiaras, in “Building a Better Brain.” “Anything that is intellectually challenging can probably serve as a kind of stimulus for dendritic growth, which means it adds to the computational reserves in your brain.” Sounds to me like building new hard drive, yes? 7. MYTH: Watching the Discovery Channel suffices for stimulation.REALITY: Dr. Robert Friedland reports that adults over age 70 with brain-stimulating hobbies were two and a half times less likely to suffer from the effects of Alzheimer’s later in life than were those whose main leisure activity was watching TV.8. MYTH: In order to stimulate and grow the brain, you must engage in formal schooling.REALITY: According to Warner, traditional academic subjects aren’t the only answer. The key is to find something both new and challenging to you. Therefore, if you’re an engineering professor, for instance, you’re better off learning how to grow roses, write poetry, or fly a plane. 9. MYTH: I can ignore it for a while and it will still be there when I get back.REALITY: According to neurologist Oliver Sacks, our body’s economy dictates that if neurons dedicated to perform a given skill are not being used, they’ll either atrophy or be co-opted to some other function. 10. MYTH: Intellectual stimulation is enough.REALITY: Aerobic exercise may be especially beneficial to brain function in aging people, because it tends to keep blood vessels in better shape (Marion Diamond). Mice that exercised regularly on a running wheel grew twice as many new brain cells (in the hippocampus) (Salk study).So there you have it! Jog on out for those new toys and new playmates and get a better brain and a better life! And it’s never too late unless you don’t start now.
About the Author
Susan helps people enhance their brains and develop their emotional intelligence. Visit her on the web at http://www.susandunn.cc. Mailto:sdunn@susandunn.cc for Free ezine; put "ezine" for subject line. Coaching, ebooks, teleclasses. Susan trains and certifies EQ coaches. Email for info on affordable, fast, no-residency program.
Many nights in the backcountry are far from dark. A bright moon and a sky full of stars can throw off enough light to allow for reading a book, but add cloud cover, mountains or trees and it gets dark awfully fast. When you need to see in the dark, you have two choices - you either turn on a light, or use one of the many available night vision devices (NVD). The NVD could be the ultimate backcountry toy.Like choosing many other types of technology, choosing the correct NVD is all about how you are going to use it. When most people think of night vision capabilities, they think about spy movies, the military or law enforcement - applications where it is vital for the good guys to see without being seen by the bad guys. A drop in pricing over the past few years has made a NVD affordable for campers, hunters, hikers and a wide variety of other outdoor enthusiasts. However, high-end devices used for specialized purposes remain quite expensive.There are two broad categories of NVD. Image Enhancement devices collect small amounts of light and amplify them to the point where the human eye can observe the object. Thermal Imaging devices capture the high end of the infrared light spectrum which is emitted as heat by objects. Image Enhancement devices will provide a much crisper image with detail while Thermal Imaging devices show regions of heat. Currently, five Generations of NVD exist. Generations 0 and 1 are less expensive and typically produce a poor image quality. Generations 2, 3 and 4 have increasingly better image quality and an equally increasing price to match.Applications for NVD are actually quite diverse. They include but are not limited to: military, law enforcement, hunting, wildlife observation, surveillance, security, navigation, hidden-object detection, spelunking and entertainment. NVD can be found on helicopters, rifles, camcorders, cameras, boats….just about anywhere. A new craze found at up-scale gatherings is called “A Dinner in the Dark Party” where guests wear an NVD throughout their dining experience.Many outdoor enthusiasts are beginning to discover the wonderful world that can be found after darkness falls in the backcountry. If you like to camp, hike or hunt, chances are good an NVD will be perfect for you. Use this information and you’ll Get It Right The First Time. Get Outdoors!
About the Author
About the author: Chuck Fitzgerald is the President of Arizona based BackCountry Toys, an online store providing backcountry specialty gear and educational information for outdoor enthusiasts. Visit www.BackCountryToys.com to receive the free newsletter "FreshAir” or call (800) 316-9055.
Toys are fun both for our dogs and us. Lucky for us there are endless choices. But did you know how important toys are for your dogs - puppies especially. Toys play a great role in the emotional and mental development of puppies. They also act as solutions for inappropriate chewing, boredom, and separation anxiety. In fact most dog trainers recommend that new puppy owners buy lots of toys for the newest member of the family. Variety is the spice of life. Most experts recommend buying different kinds of toys for your dog so that you can discover which ones he really likes. You might be surprised with the answers. Berry, my 95 pound German Shepherd just loves cuddling up his stuffed animals. Who would have thought!Trainers and behaviorists recommend that their clients have three sets of toys. Primary toys are your dog's favorite. Leave these out for your dog when your not around. This helps reduce separation anxiety because your dog associates you leaving with his getting his favorite toy.Secondary toys are the toys to have out when you are home. Be sure to pick up the primary toys.And finally the third set of toys is used to rotate with the the first set. Trainers recommend swapping toys every 3 days or so. This helps keep your dog interested in all his toys.And always choose toys wisely. Try to buy toys that match your dog's size. And always make sure there are no dangerous small pieces that your dog can chew loose and swallow or worse yet - choke on.Check out this link to check out the gang's favorite toys:http://www.allaboutdogcare.com/favorite-toys.html
About the Author
Margaret Svete, best-selling author, television and radio personality, and dog rescuer helps dog owners discover easy dog care tips. Subscribe to the premiere dog care ezine, The Dog Enquirer, at http://www.allaboutdogcare.com
a new concept-bears aren't all cuddly!! The new site everyone is talking about, and featuring the now massive cult status"Stiffsteiff Teddy Bear" family. Watch their decidedly dubious dealings, their awesomeand amazing antics, their pathetic pathos!These bears will transform your life,and also contain alternative pursuitsin their missions, which are worth following, and more pleasurable, lessobese than being glued to the TVfor hours on end.The Stiffsteiff bears will allow you to LAUGH, and have FUN, without resorting to crudity, smut, or porn.This is somewhere your kids can actually go without you wondering about the content, and they will learn new thingsthrough following the bears; gardens,countryside, photography, ponds, walks,National Trust houses. I am sure you would rather have them being interestedin proper, real pursuits than being coopedup in their room with a TV and a computerfor friends,their only contacts with the worldaround them via a mobile phone which helpsto teach them how never to spell and howto successfully become introverted withoutreally having to try too hard!! So instead of games, through their computerthey LEARN there are more worlds thantheir important seeming virtual world.For bigger kids there are superb fullydownloadable photos, and the originalscan be requested and delivered via email. There are practical, pictorial step bystep projects showing how to do variousjobs outdoors, ponds, lawns, landscapes,gardens. Also there are computer tips,and an amazing feature where the author of the site, an ex systems programmerwill ressurrect cds sent to him deemedruined; so your holiday snaps might well NOT be beyond repair!!He also fixes pictures, either via emailor by scanning in posted snaps, and returning them undamaged and muchenhanced . Pictures fade, and crack cds survive and endure.This superb site can be found by typing "Stiffsteiffs" into ANY search, or by clicking the link below now.http://www.stiffsteiffs.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk Now I know why people PAY for domain names!!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Ex systems programmer. Originally Civil Engineer.Now not so civil! Live in Rubery. Age 50. Trying to get people to get out and have fun instead of intoverting obesely by the TV or playing endless computer games.
Every children in the world whishes to have toys and every parent trys to give them what they want. So until they grow-up children spend most of their time playing with different toys. If you are careful when you choose toys for your kids you can even consider that you are making an investment. But you have to know if you are making a good investment or not. There are many educative and safe toys. but you can also find many dangerous toys on the market this days. In this article you will find five tips for choosing safe toys for your children. After all every parent is concerned about their children safety. So you should consider this five thighs when you choose a toy: size, shape, surface, strings and supervision. Size: you should avoid buying toys with small parts like buttons, wheels, eyes. This small parts can come off and be easily swallowed. So if you have a child under three years you should consider the size of the toys. Shape: try as much as you can to avoid buying toys with sharp edges and blunt ends. Look for toys with smooth surfaces. You should also avoid plastic, glass or metal toys that can bend and cut. You wouldn't want your kid to be hurt because of a toy hat you bought. Surfaces: another issue that you should consider when you decide to buy a toy is the surface. Usually a toy should have a label from where you can find out if it includes any toxic substances. There are toy that are painted with toxic paint bot that contain toxic liquids that can leak and harm your kid. Strings: toys made from strings or that contain parts made of strings can also become dangerous. If the child is to young he could get wrapped around wrists or neck in the strings. Supervision: Last but not least you should provide your child a safe place to play with his toys. And you should monitor him as much as possible so you can be sure that nothing bad can happen. In conclusion, when a child is playing is almost the same thing like when an adult is working. We all must understand that it's a very important issue to provide our kids with safe toys. This includes choosing toys that are right for your child's age. You should also follow exactly the manufacturer's age recommendations. You mustn't think that you child is to smart to play with toys for his age. We can never be to careful!
About the Author: Get your gifts, gadgets & toys at http://www.gadgetsquick.co.uk - The coolest gadget site on the internet!
Source: www.isnare.comDo you remember how it was when you where a child? What was your main activity? Was it working? Of course not. Your main activity was playing. You had no concerns. You needed toys and your parents where supposed to provide you with them. They had to find toys you wouldn't throw away and believe me, it wasn't easy for them.Now you are a parent and you are in the same situation as your parents years ago. You're looking for toys that your child will like. That's why you must know how to choose the right toys. My parents made one common mistake: they would buy me toys that they considered wonderful. But usually, when they would give me the toy, I would either consider it too girlish or too boring. It wasn't fun for them to see how a toy they bought for me to play with would stay forgotten in my closet.How to find out what's the right toy for your child?Just watch your child closely to determine his preferred activities, skills level, preferred band(s) and movie(s), and so on. Based on these observations you can get a clue on what types of toys your child would prefer. For instance, if your child loves the movie Lord of the Rings, I bet that he'll also like Lord of the Rings toys… ( http://www.child-toys-guide.com/lord-of-the-rings-toys.shtml )Now don't just go into the first toy shop and buy the first Lord of the Rings toy you find. Observations aren't enough. There are some other very important factors you must consider. Adding them into the equation helps ensure you that your child will have lots of fun with the toy you'll choose to buy for him.Here are the factors you must consider when choosing toys for your child:- Child's age -- This is very important. If you buy toys too advanced for your child's age, chances are that he might get injured. Toy manufacturers struggle to make their products as safe as possible, but if you don't follow their recommendations, your child may suffer. On the other hand, if you buy toys made for children with age under that of your child, he will consider them too boring. The best thing is to choose toys designed precisely for your child's age. Here are two articles that will help you choose toys for babies ( http://www.child-toys-guide.com/baby-toys.shtml ) and toys for toddlers. ( http://www.child-toys-guide.com/toddler-toys.shtml )- Child's gender -- This is exactly what I said above that my parents bought me toys that I considered to be girlish. I'm a boy, but the same is with girls too. Any detail that may make the toy look as for the other gender than that of your child will make the toy undesired.- Toys your child's friends play with -- When your child is playing with his friends, watch to find out if he manifests interest in any of his playmate's toys. If he does, then it's very likely that he would like to have a toy similar the one his friend has.- Sometimes, a child tells his parents what toy he likes or wants, thus saving them from a lot of hard work. But don't count on this. Some children aren't very keen to talk with parents unless they really want a certain toy.- Safety -- This is the most important factor you must consider whenever you need to decide what toy you should buy for your child. Unfortunately, this is also the most overlooked one. Usually, parents forget to check if the toy they choose for their children are safe.- Is the toy educational? -- It's a good thing if the toys you choose for your child can help him develop new skills.And please remember that the age difference between you and your child is of at least 20 years. The fact that you liked a toy when you were a child does not mean that your child will love it too. Children from different generations like different types of toysMake sure you offer the toy to your child in the appropriate manner!When you offer the toy to your child, don't do it in a "Here's your toy. Now go and play with it" manner. If you do it this way, that toy won't mean a thing to your child. Rather, try to make a game. Hide the toy somewhere where the child can easily find it, and encourage him to look for it. Laugh with your child, search for it together… And when the he finds the toy, don't just let him play by himself. Get involved in your child's play. Make that the fun of a lifetime. A parent is a child's first and best friend.
Copyright © 2005 Eugen Lisov
About Eugen: Eugen Lisov is the creator of http://www.Child-Toys-Guide.com a site focused on helping parents worldwide to choose the best toys for their children. If you offer your child a bad toy, it's the same as if you don't offer your youngster any toy. Please feel free to browse my site; it will only help you when choosing toys for your child.
Basic guide to choosing toys for babiesA baby’s only activities until the age of two months are sleeping and eating. He is not interested in anything else. After two months, the baby starts being more curious about the world around him. At first, he just watches the activity in the room. At the age of 4-5 months, he is already moving his arms and legs with a lot of energy.At this point, as a parent you should stimulate the baby to continue this rhythm. The best way to do this is through play. And since play is unconceivable without toys, you should consider getting some for your babyResearches made in the last few years revealed that babies too can have an assortment of toys. Babies respond to sight, sound and touch. Toys that stimulate these senses can help your baby learn about the world around him, how things work and so on.To help you find best toy for your baby, I’ve made here two age groups, birth to 6 months and 6 to 12 months. The difference between these age groups is huge because a baby grows very fast and so his needs differ from month to month.Toys for babies of one to six months: In this period, a baby isn’t very active. He is mostly sleeping. When the baby is awake, he does not seem to be interested in anything else but eating and crying.At the age of two months, the baby starts following every activity in the room. He is able to focus his vision on an object for a few moments. This is when you must introduce the baby in the world of toys, if you haven’t already done so. Use black and white and high contrasting color toys. The baby can’t play at this age because he can’t make complex moves like grabbing, or turning around.At the age of four months, the baby is already moving his arms and legs. He has more energy than ever, and he is eager to use it. He is able to grab things and crawl. In this situation, a new activity is making room in his life: play. Although it is very rudimentary, play is very important for the baby’s development.Here are some toys I recommend you to buy for your baby: Juggling toys Animal shaped toys made of rubber Little mirrors that can’t injure the baby Toys made specially for chewing Little colored circles bound together Musical toys Be a bit more careful with musical toys. Buy musical toys for your baby only after you have checked that the sounds they produce aren’t very powerful. Musical toys that produce sharp noises are dangerous because babies tend to get the sound source close to their ear, which, being fragile can be affected.To read the whole article, visit http://www.child-toys-guide.com/baby-toys.shtml
About the Author
Eugen Lisov is the creator of http://www.Child-Toys-Guide.com, a site focused on helping parents worldwide to choose the best toys for their children. If you offer your child a bad toy, it’s the same as if you don’t offer your youngster any toy. Please feel free to browse my site; it will only help you when choosing toys for your child.
(NC)—During the holiday season, stores are packed with a variety of toys and games, making it hard for parents to know which types are appropriate matches for their children. By selecting toys that offer a combination of fun and education, parents can do more than just stimulate a child's enjoyment – they can enhance reading and math skills while nurturing problem solving and imagination. Sylvan Learning Centre suggests parents give the gift of learning this holiday season, and offers the following top learning toy selections:
Top learning toy selections for Holiday 2003 All items are available at Zellers stores across Canada 1. Imagination – LEGO Bionicles™ let children ages seven and up play with collectible biomechancial characters in an evolving story of life in the fictional land of Mata Nui. Bionicles encourages storytelling and role-playing and stimulates imagination, logic and verbal skills. ($9.88) 2. Family fun – Classic board games Monopoly™, Scrabble JuniorTM, Life™ and Clue™ are back and so is family game night. Playing games together is a great way to encourage family time and learn about counting, managing money, spelling and strategy. For various ages. ($18.95-$35.45) 3. Measurements – The Easy Bake Oven™ is an ever-popular classic and still making the sweetest memories! Children ages eight and up learn how to measure ingredients and use addition and multiplication if baking for more people. ($24.86) 4. Shapes, colours and imagination – The Playdoh™ Creation Station gives children three and up the ultimate playdoh set with tools and molds to create all kinds of fun shapes. Children can use their imaginations to create almost anything! ($44.98) 5. Reading – The LeapPad™ Learning System marries learning with laptop technology. Children ages four and up can use their personal LeapPad console to run a variety of learning software that teaches reading, phonics and vocabulary. ($54.97) 6. Letters and sounds – Alphabet Pal™ features several ways to play and learn, teaching children three and up the alphabet song, colours, letters and letter sounds. ($34.88) 7. Math – The forever favourite Yahtzee™ lets children take turns rolling the dice to fill their scorecards with different combinations. While having fun, children improve math skills including addition, multiplication and probability. For children ages eight and up. ($9.98) 8. Motor skills – Little Tikes Goofy Giggles™ encourages little ones to follow him around as he helps them learn to crawl. Children will be moving around just in time for the holidays! For infants. ($29.97) 9. Hand-eye coordination – Sims Double Deluxe™ lets players create neighbourhoods of simulated people known as "Sims" and control their lives. Sims and other video games help children with hand-eye coordination, memory stimulation and complex problem solving. ($39.96 – $59.96) 10. Organization – Children learn how to stay organized, track homework assignments and activities and follow schedules just like mom and dad with personal organizers like the Palm Tungsten E™. For various ages, Palm organizers help children manage their workload and personal life. ($299.97) Sylvan Learning Centre is the largest organization of its kind in the industry. Sylvan's trained and certified teachers provide personalized instruction in reading, writing, mathematics, study skills and test-prep. For tips on helping your child develop stronger skills, visit Sylvan Learning Centre's "Tips for Parents and Students" page on the web at www.educate.com/tips. For more information about Sylvan Learning Centre, phone 1-800-31-SUCCESS. - News Canada About the author: News Canada
Wooden toys for childrenWooden toys are one of the best alternatives for the huge number of toys made of plastic and other synthetic materials that you can find in all toy stores.In addition, most wooden child toy are handcrafted. This makes them look wonderful. Not only that they are great toys for children, but they are also incredible works of art.Wooden children's toys in the pastPeople started being preoccupied with manufacturing toys for their children many thousands of years ago in order to keep children busy while parents were working.Because modern materials like plastic and rubber were not yet discovered, the only material available to be used at creating child toys was wood.Although rudimentary at first, wooden child toys became very popular with children from rich families in Egypt and The Roman Empire.One such case was that of a ten years old girl from a wealthy roman family. She was mummified and put to rest in her tomb alongside with her most loved things.One of her personal objects found was a wonderful wooden toy doll. It was really carefully carved and varnished, proving that parents in the Roman Empire were preoccupied with the quality of the wooden toys they choose for their children.It is not known whether other materials besides wood were used to manufacture toys in that period.Wooden children's toys in the presentNowadays, toy manufacturing is a huge industry. Although wood is no longer the main material used to make child toys, wooden child toys are still very popular.The reason is simple: wooden toys are great toys.They have many advantages over other types of child toys. Here are just some of them:Wooden child toys are ecological. Wood is a natural product and it's biodegradable. Manufacturing wooden toys does not involve as much pollution as other toys. Also, because wood is a natural product, wooden toys aren't dangerous to a child's health.Wooden child toys are more resistant to shocks than other toys. Some children destroy toys regularly. Because wooden toys can't be damaged that easily, their life expectancy is bigger.Wooden child toys look wonderful. Wooden child toys are usually handcrafted, meaning that parents that like handmade objects can consider these toys works of art, as well as toys.Wooden cradles are very popular too. Unlike metal cradles, wooden cradles are easier to install and to maneuver. Accidents happen less frequent with wooden cradles than with metal ones, and the ones that do happen are less harmful.
Copyright © 2005 Eugen Lisov
About Eugen: Eugen Lisov is the creator of http://www.Child-Toys-Guide.com a site focused on helping parents worldwide to choose the best toys for their children. If you offer your child a bad toy, it's the same as if you don't offer your youngster any toy. Please feel free to browse my site; it will only help you when choosing toys for your child.
K.A.G.O.Y. (“kids are getting older, younger”) is an acronym that popped up in the toy industry literature about 6 years ago. KAGOY is the allure, to younger kids, of toys meant for older kids, for example, 6 year old girls abandoning baby dolls for make-up and their male counterparts leaving their Legos for video games. A recent Google search of K.A.G.O.Y. revealed that age compression is still an ongoing phenomenon and is becoming even more pervasive.So what is an internet toy retailer, much less a brick and mortar toy retailer, to do? If you’re not selling electronic games, what can you do to attract young customers and keep them coming back to your website in the future?Most kids over 6 years old may seem to have abandoned traditional toys, but they tend to become more involved in sports. Choosing action toys that encourage skillbuilding in sports they participate in, like soccer, baseball and karate, may be one strategy. A good example of this is the O-Ball. This hollow toy is about 6” in diameter with a shell of webbed, hardy plastic. It’s a great toy for a newborn child because they can grab it and safely put it in their mouth. A young child can learn throwing and pitching skills with it because it is so easy to grab and hold. Take a look at the O-Ball at: http://www.sillyasstoys.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=83 Offering toys that have a sports theme is also a strong selling tool. An example of this is the Inside-out Ball, a soft plastic ball that looks like a sports ball (baseball/basketball/soccer design) on the outside, but once it is turned inside out, the ball looks like a sea anemone. The Inside-out Ball is even large enough for kids to stretch over their heads for a “spiky hair” look. It appeals to both the sports side and the goofy side of kids. It sells to kids as young as 3 and as old as 18! Check them out at:http://www.sillyasstoys.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=457K.A.G.O.Y. kids also are very visual and interactive. Since one-on-one demos are impossible on web sites, video demos can intrigue young shoppers. D’Lites is a magic light trick item that www.sillyasstoys.com sells and there is a funny and effective video presentation on the product page. After looking at the video, a customer realizes, with a little practice in front of a mirror, he or she can master the trick and look very cool in a crowd. Watch the videos at:http://www.sillyasstoys.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=49 . For the Noseflute, www.sillyasstoys.com has a “five easy lessons” video with the president of the company doing several well-known songs. If nothing else, it’s great entertainment that attracts kids to the web site. You can view these videos at:http://www.sillyasstoys.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=82.These are just a few ideas of how to interest younger kids in toys and how to pique their interest in your products if you have an online toy store.
About the Author
Sheryl Luebke is the Vice President of Sillyasstoys.com. Sillyasstoys.com is an online toy store for unusual toys and games such as Airzooka, Giant Microbes and the Zing Shot.Copyright 2005 by Sheryl Luebke – website: http://www.sillyasstoys.com.Permission is granted to reprint this article, either online or in written publications, as long as this resource box and the link to Sillyasstoys.com are attached at the end of the article.
What does a smart toys do, and how does playing one affect your child? Parents today are concern about the development of their children especially brain development. As a result, they tend to find brain-building toys that ‘claim’ to help to boost the level of intelligence. When there is a demand, there will be a supply. Now stores are filled with various ‘smart toys’.
So, what is a smart toy? In a nutshell, a smart toy incorporates some level of computer technology that could respond according to the child’s actions and can even identify the child’s skill level, hence could adjust the game accordingly. A robotic dog that just walks and barks but not in response to anything the child does is not considered smart toy.
In addition, smart toys tend to enhance play by interacting with the child through ‘open-ended’ play suggestions that allow the child to step in to define the play scenario. For example, a smart ambulance toy may say, "Help is needed over there," suggesting a rescue play pattern without dictating play. Since the child is not told what to do is free to use their imagination to continue the play, thereby sparks the child’s creativity.
Here are some examples of smart toys
While smart toys are usually expensive, can you make sure you get the best return on your investment? In other words, can smart toys really make your child smarter? To a large extend, there is no conclusive proof that smart toys are going to increase your child I.Q. If so, is it worth spending money on smart toys?
Pete Stavinoha, child psychologist of University of Texas Southwestern said toys touting brainpower don’t necessary score higher than the classics, like puzzles and blocks. Stavinoha said how a toy impacts a child's development depends on how it's used, the interaction it promotes, the language used to discuss the toy and the level of pretend play it promotes. Traditional toys like building blocks, crayons and puzzles work as well as the more sophisticated "brain builders."
"Playing with crayons, drawing and painting unleash the creativity in a child and encourage old-fashioned imagination and exploration," he said. "A child can learn problem solving and persistence with simple building blocks, by rebuilding structures when they wobble and fall," Stavinoha said. Even simple play such as parents reading out loud with action using storybook that full of colorful picture to the child could promote their imagination.
When it comes to computer games, Stavinoha claimed that there are not real-life experiences. For example, when a child run into a roadblock on a computer games can always reset the games and start all over again. As a result, the child has no difficulty to overcome.
Stavinoha said the children that succeeded later in life are those who have learned through play that life has challenges and overcome them while they play and in the process boost their self-confidence. Most importantly is for parents to participate and to interact with their children when playing. Even the best toys won’t help children develop if they’re left to play alone. However, parents are reminded to leave enough space for their children to be creative. Do not interrupt when they are concentrate playing (even though the way they play is different from you). Only provide guidance and encouragement when they have hit their limit.
Traditional games, play or toys are as good as expensive brain-building toys. To go back to the basics, look at this article for some ideas on simple toys or games that could be as good.
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About the Author
Andrew Loh, the editor of 'BrainyZine' newsletter teaches parents to nurture a smarter kid. Find out more today and subscribe to his newsletter at: http://www.brainy-child.com/
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