KIDS TOYS FOR TRAVEL

The school summer holidays are fast approaching. Six long weeks of keeping the kids amused.

Are you dreading those long drives to the coast etc? And the kids always shout “I’m bored” or “Are we there yet?” Well fear not, the solution is simple, why not stack up on travel games! They’re big enough to keep the kids quiet, yet small enough to fit in the tiniest space, even a handbag. Also suitable for boat, train and plane travel.

There are old favorites like, Ludo, Snakes and Ladders, Chess, Backgammon, Checkers and Solitaire. No need to worry about pieces going missing as they are magnetic, so they don’t fall off the board and onto the floor or down the side of seats. They pack away easily so there’s no fuss. You can buy as a complete set or individually.

Activity books are also great when traveling. Some come as an activity pack, that includes crayons and their own plastic wallet, these have coloring in, puzzles and games. Ideal for the younger ones.

Dice even playing cards, can be put into a pocket they can be used anywhere even on the floor.

Other travel games such as, Monopoly, Scrabble, Othello, Connect 4, Battleships, Cluedo and Trivial Pursuit are smaller versions of the original board game. These don’t have magnetic pieces. They can be stored in car door pockets, or in children’s backpacks, to be played on planes, trains and boats, as well as in the car.

Of course you don’t have to pay for keeping the kids quiet, you could always make up games of your own, such as Geography, you take it in turns, starting from the letter A then B and so on, you can use countries, towns, street names, and villages. Or you could use the last letter of the previous word for the next one, either of these are great fun when you get to the letter Y, as it gets harder. Or you could take paper and pen and make your own crosswords. There’s also I Spy.

Travel games can be bought at toyshops, online, even newsagents and supermarkets have started stocking them. The magnetic ones are $2-$3 each, and the miniature ones range from $6 to around $15. The complete sets vary from stockist to stockist.

These games are not expensive, but well worth investing in, just to keep everyone happy and relaxed. Have a great summer!

Copied with permission from: http://plrplr.com/81375/kids-toys-for-travel/

KIDS EDUCATIONAL TOYS

The modern day busy parent tries to compensate for his or her lack of time for his or her children by investing a great deal on education. Thus, it is not a surprise how many of such parents move mountains just to provide their kids entertaining products that not only encourage play, but also instill discovery and learning.
Makers of toys worldwide recognize this growing trend and are, consequently, coming up with new and improved lines of children’s educational toys and games almost every month. What was once limited only to specialty toy and game shops, educational toys and games are now a staple in every children’s oriented stores around the world, even at general mass retailers, like Wal-Mart and K-Mart.
Statistics show that the sales of toys and games have declined over the years. However, educational toys have been on the rise, as more parents opt to purchase products that would give them the most value for their money, as compared to, say, buying Bratz dolls and Hot Wheels.
Educational Toy Catalogue
You can find and choose from over a hundred educational toys in an educational toy catalog. Educational toy catalogs are, indeed, convenient because they spare you time from having to scrutinize the toys you would probably see on the racks in various toy stores. With an online educational toy catalog, you get to decide which toy to purchase for your child, even if you are just sitting down.
Educational toy catalogs do not just advertise any kind of toy; they only commercialize toys that can stimulate your child’s knowledge, at the same time keeping your child’s interest. Just click a specific toy that you want to use to be able to help your child in his or her learning and you will be receiving your order withing forty-eight hours.
You do not have to worry about the quality of the product you have chosen, for catalogs guarantee that their quality will not lessened.
You can choose from various toy categories such as Children’s Books, Creative Plays, Animal Antics and other categories that are sure to pique your child’s curiosity.

 What Educational Toys Do Kids Actually Enjoy Playing With?

As parents and educators, it can be a challenge to find educational toys kids enjoy playing with. A great educational toy needs to achieve that perfect balance between being fun to play with and educational at the same time. Toy manufacturers try to come up with enjoyable and educational electronic toys, as well as more traditional toys. But the big question is, are any of these toys they successful?
The fact is, there are so many different kinds of toys out there that it can be hard to decide which is right for your child. Not to mention the fact that each child has their own personality, interests, and strengths. With all this is mind, how can you really find educational toys kids will enjoy playing with?
Let Them Test the Toy
It is important that you let your child test the toy out in the store first, especially if the educational toy is expensive. What happens if you buy an educational toy and then they dont like it? You may or may not be able to return it at that point. You can save yourself time and money by finding a store that has a good policy about letting children try before they buy.
 Fun Educational Toys For Kids
Were you aware that The Good Toy Guide recommends Brio Trains as one out of five highly recommended educational toys for preschoolers? According to them a Brio Train is,
“a train with interactive details that encourages children to master small movements and hand eye coordination. Controlling the train and constructing the tracks creates an awareness of cause and effect, early scientific understanding and basic mathematical concepts.”
Additional manufacturers as well build spectacular train sets and supplies. They meet these standards and are also looked at as fun educational toys for kids.
Before we go further, though, hold your ear close to your computer, because I am going to whisper to you a secret…. there aren’t really educational toys. No sir. Toys are simply props. It is in the actual play that sets exactly how valuable a particular toy can be for the child that has been playing with it.
Toys don’t nurture cognitive qualities. What they are able to do is inspire children to build them, and provide a child an outlet to be inventive and enterprising.
 Educational Games For Babies 6 To 12 Months

By six months of age your baby may be sitting unassisted, her coordination skills are growing in leaps and bounds, and she will soon be crawling, standing, and then walking. Six to twelve months is a fun time for parents and babies. Play a variety of games with your little one and watch her quickly master new skills, like language skills and fine and gross motor development.
Between 6 and 9 months your baby will love to experiment with simple cause and effect relationships like pressing a button to play a song. Little ones also love to explore sounds by banging spoons and toys together or on the table at this age. Give your baby an assortment of pots, coffee cans, and containers along with wooden spoons and metal spoons. Encourage her to play the drums as you sing along. The Fisher Price Laugh & Learn Toy Bench is a great toy to satisfy those banging urges. It also offers a number of educational benefits, like color and letter recognition, and provides opportunities for your baby to explore cause and effect.
Games with balls are a lot of fun at this age. Use soft, squishy balls to roll back and forth across the floor with your baby.

GUIDE YOUR CHILD ON TOY CHOICE

A model vehicle or toy vehicle is a miniature representation of an automobile. Other miniature motor vehicles, such as trucks, buses, or even ATVs, etc. are often included in the general category of model cars. Because many miniature vehicles were originally aimed at children as playthings, there is no precise difference between a model car and a toy car, yet the word 'model' implies either assembly required or some attempt at accurate rendering of an actual vehicle at smaller scale.A car is a vehicle that has wheels, carries a small number of passengers, and is moved by an engine or a motor. Cars are also called automobiles or motor vehicles. Trucks and buses are motor vehicles as well. However, trucks and buses are larger than cars, and they carry heavier loads.

Choosing toys

Many toys have age-range information on their packaging. This can be useful, but in terms of play, it’s only a guide. Your child’s interests and stage of development will probably give you a better sense of what to choose. Age-range information can be important for safety, however – for example, when toys contain small parts that could be swallowed by a baby. In these cases, it’s wise to follow the recommended age-range information.

For your baby, the best ‘toy’ and play partner is you, a carer or other close family member. Your baby will delight in watching your face, listening to your voice and simply being with you. She’ll also enjoy looking at a brightly coloured mobile, listening to a wind-up musical toy or learning to reach for a rattle. When your baby can sit up, she might also like things she can bang – a wooden spoon to bang on a pot is every bit as much fun as a purpose-built toy.

Toddlers love to play with boxes, and often find the wrapping a present comes in more fun than the present itself. Other good choices for toddlers include construction toys (for example, Duplo) and clothing for dress-ups.

Older children often like to solve problems and use their imagination. Puzzles or games that get your child playing with others are also good choices.

Here are some general guidelines to keep in mind when shopping for toys:

• Toys made of fabric should be labeled as flame resistant or flame retardant.
• Stuffed toys should be washable.
• Painted toys should be covered with lead-free paint.
• Art materials should say nontoxic.
• Crayons and paints should say ASTM D-4236 on the package, which means that they've been evaluated by the American Society for Testing and Materials.

Steer clear of older toys, even hand-me-downs from friends and family. Those toys might have sentimental value and are certainly cost-effective, but they may not meet current safety standards and may be so worn from play that they can break and become hazardous.

And make sure a toy isn't too loud for your child. The noise of some rattles, squeak toys, and musical or electronic toys can be as loud as a car horn - even louder if a child holds it directly to the ears - and can contribute to hearing damage.