Articles

January 2012:

Getting Ready For Spring With Ride On Toys

What happens when the snow melts away, the sun begins to shine and we can again go outside without boots, hats and mittons? That's right, ride on toys begin to appear in every driveway.  Kids love this activty and what better way than to express interest in their greatest hero's -- their parents. There is no greater expression of love than the copying of behavior, and what kid does not like to copy the way their parent drives the car. Electric ride-on toys have been favorites of kids for decades. Nearly every little girl loves driving in the Barbie Car running errands to the store and riding around the neighborhood. The sense of independence and feeling of being grown up can lead to hours of imaginative play. Playing house takes on a whole new dynamic when your little princess can drive the corvette to work or swing by the grocery store.

Little boys love being behind the wheel of electric ride on toys as well. Playing army, or being an adventurer feels more real when that little explorer can jump into a jeep and head out over the rugged terrain in search of treasure. Or maybe they are looking to imagine themselves in a race car, rounding the far corner of the drive way they can take the lead and win the checkered flag.

The imagination of a child can be limitless, and really cool powered ride on toys can take them to the far reaches of the planet or just down to the local market for a gallon of milk. What little boy does not look to the stars and wish one day that he can be an astronaut exploring the surface of the moon in a lunar rover. With the electric powered mobility of an electric ride on toy the backyard can be transformed into the crater marked terrain of the lunar surface. Your young astronaut will spend hours collecting rocks and taking one small step for man and one giant leap for toddler kind.

Every young kid loves fire trucks. They are neat. They are big. They have flashing lights and ladders. Most importantly the real life heros of our towns and neighborhoods ride around in them. Our kids see that truck and get excited, we know this because just about every 4 year old in the back of a minivan will let his mom or dad know if a firetruck is anywhere within line of sight. A ride on fire truck can provide a child a hero like experience while they race around the drive way and help those in need.

Regardless of the motivation, it cannot be denied that most children love ride on toys. Either through imitation of mom and dad zipping over to Starbucks, or taking the lunar rover on an extended expedition a parent can easily see the joy that this type of play will bring to a child.

 

December 2011:

Support Your Teen Through Play

 

One day your little girl is still dressing up her doll and the next she’s experimenting with your makeup.  From toy cars, your son’s interest shifts to real cars.  The changes your child undergoes can catch you by surprise and you should remind yourself that they can be overwhelmed by many conflicting feelings as they outgrow their childhood habits. 

As your child enters their teen years, the different physical and behavioral changes they undergo are accompanied by a shift in their interests.  As you know from personal experience, the teen years can be a difficult period and, as parents, you want to make sure that their transition from childhood to puberty is as smooth as possible.

As their childhood toys were instrumental in helping them learn their first words and develop their motor skills while giving them countless hours of fun and precious memories spent playing with you, so can teen toys help your young teen develop the confidence they need to face the many challenges ahead of them. 

Nowadays, toys aren’t just for children anymore.  Technology continuously produces gadgets that appeal to people of all ages.  The internet has created a completely new species of recreation in the form of interactive games that fascinate children, teenagers, and adults alike.  At the same time, children seem to be growing up way too fast and, teens especially, are engaging in activities that are often unproductive.  Teen toys are an excellent means to keep your child always young at heart while also allowing them to explore new and beneficial interests that they may want to seriously pursue as they continue to mature.     

There are a wide variety of teen toys that will surely fascinate them while also educating them, toys that will engage them and help them discover and develop new skills and sharpen their knowledge.  Your child may find board games, puzzles, or card games extremely entertaining.  They may enjoy exploring the wonders of science with science toys and kits.  They may also become absorbed playing with electronic or mechanical toys for hours at a time.  They may find delight in building models. 

Teen toys are certainly a wonderful way to learn through play.  Educational toys for teens are especially helpful for those who are struggling with certain subjects in school.  There are toys you can get them interested in to help them improve their math skills, memory, problem solving skills, or knowledge in history or geography, among many other things. 

Most teens also experience problems with self-esteem and interacting with people outside their family.  Through play, you can help your child improve their self-confidence and adapt to different social situations.  Things that may worry them or they find difficult to understand will seem easier to handle when they discover, while having fun, that they are capable of a lot more than they give themselves credit for. 

As your child grows older, most especially when they enter the adolescent stage, they may feel uncomfortable discussing their problems and concerns with you.  As their parent, you would, of course, be sensitive to their needs.  At the same time, you would want to approach their worries in a way that would not seem intrusive.  Teen toys provide you with an excellent opportunity to bond with your child and encourage them to open up to you.  Playing with them, the way you used to when they were younger, gives you the chance to continue guiding them in the right direction, helping them realize their full potential, and molding them. 

Sustaining your child’s continued physiological, mental, and behavioral development can be made easier for you and more enjoyable for your child when done through play. 

 

December 2011:

Stretch Your Child's Potential With Yoga

If you can do it, so can your child.  Yoga, as an exercise, often involves complex moves and breathing techniques that may be quite difficult for some adults to master.  When modified to suit a child’s physical and mental dexterity, however, yoga offers the same physical, mental, and spiritual health benefits that it does to adults. 

Especially in today’s hectic world, children are often exposed to external factors that trigger stress.  Most activities that children engage in can cause frustrations, tiredness, and strain.  Through yoga, the state of calmness and relaxation that adults are able to achieve by practicing breathing and stretching exercises can also be experienced by kids.  For example, a child can learn that when he or she is having difficulties completing a home assignment, he/she can employ some of the breathing exercises learned in yoga class or from a yoga DVD to help him/her become calm and focused. 

Children also seem to have a limitless source of energy and curiosity.  Yoga for kids can help direct their need for constant sensory, motor, and mental stimuli towards a positive and beneficial activity.  Through yoga, children develop discipline, balance, and improved concentration.  When practiced with other children, many yoga poses also help develop cooperation and trust. 

Also as a result of their boundless energy, many kids find it difficult to relax.  Yoga techniques help children achieve a relaxed state.  They learn to stimulate a sense of inner peace through focused breathing and visualization of calming images or enjoyable activities. 

Yoga for kids does not only involve learning the traditional breathing exercises and poses; kids learn the basic principles of the ancient art through singing, playing, and imitating.  They quickly develop flexibility, core strength, balance, and concentration; at the same time, they can use the poses they learn to play games or to make up and act out stories that let them take on animal characters and engage in imaginary activities.  Because learning is fun, kids are able to acquire the skills and knowledge of yoga fairly easily. 

The benefits of yoga for kids extend far beyond the yoga mat.  Because yoga is known as one of the most effective stress relievers, it can help prevent stress-related illnesses and unhealthy stress-triggered behaviors.  Yoga is also an excellent way to maintain a healthy weight, not only through the physical elements of the exercise, but also through the discipline that it instills.  With the obesity epidemic among American children still persisting, as well as the associated increased risk for diabetes and many other diseases, helping children develop an interest in physical activity, in particular, and healthy living, in general is key to safeguarding their health. 

Today’s cool electronic gadgets also draw children’s attention away from active play.  It is now normal for a child to spend hours at a time playing with their gadgets or browsing the internet.  Hours and days of physical inactivity is unhealthy, especially for a growing and developing child.  Because yoga is fun and engaging, parents will not have any difficulty getting their child interested in a physical activity that is good not only for their body but also their mind and spirit.             

Through yoga, children are given the opportunity to learn and appreciate at an early age the importance of having a healthy body, mind, and spirit.  As a result, they develop healthy habits that they carry with them and practice even as adults.  In this day and age of unhealthy fast foods, excessive servings, and sugar-laden drinks, molding a child to become health-minded has become even more important.  Parents can help their child become more aware of their body and health and to adopt healthy behaviors by getting them interested in yoga.   

 

November 2011:

Teen Toys - The Uncomfortable Gift Transition

As we transition our lives from the carefree times of a child to the responsibility of being an adult we all cross an awkward period known as the teen age years. Different children begin this transition at different times and in the end we as parents are left wondering, what is that kid interested in? Often times this can be most difficult at the beginning of the teen years; especially when your pride and joy still has a little of that cherub look in their face.

What Do Teens Want?

What we have found is that kids entering their teen age years in that period affectionally dubbed by the news media as “tween” years still like toys. Sure they might not be as into GI Joe, and My Little Pony; but that does not mean they do not want play things. Kids want something that is cool, something that can make their mind think, something that when sitting on the desk in their room they don’t have a problem saying to their friends “Oh yea? Cool isnt it, Mom and Dad gave me that for Christmas.” So what exactly makes a good gift for one of our “ ‘tween teens”? First of all let’s start by addressing the awkward elephant in the room. The misnaming of the objects we are referring to as teen toys. These teen things are so so much more than just a toy; which is good because your “ ‘tween teen” is so so much more than just a girl or a boy.

Things That Look Cool On A Desk Or A Dorm Room

Dinosaur model kits made of aluminum are a good gift to bridge that gap. The dinosaur touches the child inside, while the complexity of the kit building process really engages the young developing mind of your teenager. The modern shiny finish will look good on your students desk and could even travel to a college bookshelf as a reminder of home.Triceratops is a personal favorite around our house, and that classic dino never goes out of style.

Green Energy Anyone?

Maybe your teen has a predisposition to clean energy and saving the planets future. Why not nurture that scientific mind with a scientific gift. Several of our Green Energy Kits such as the lemon clock or solar cells are sure to please the young einstein in your household. Again these gifts are something that does not look to childish for a teenager and gives them something to show off a bit. Despite what they may tell you, it does mean quite a bit to them to have their friends know they are smart.

Robots Are Always Cool

Maybe your ‘tween is the next explorer to the bottom of the ocean, or maybe they will visit some where else just as alien on another planet. You never know, the next robotic neurosurgeon may just be sleeping down the hall from you and just needs that little spark of interest to flash in their mind. Most modern exploration is being done with robots, why not foster the involvement with some of the robotic kits by Elenco. We have robot kits that do pretty much everything from play soccer to walk like a spider. Lastly lets remember robots..... Ones that really work are especially cool at any age.

We hope that this article has given you some suggestions to help bridge that awkward gap in your child’s life. We know it feels even more awkward to be a parent at this stage. Your teen deserves the best and you are the best parent. Why not be a cool parent by selecting the right gift for that next green energy entrepreneur or scientific mind in your life? You will be glad that you did.

 

November 2011:

The Educational Value In Teen Toys.

Teenagers pass through different stages of life just as babies and toddlers do. While these phases are perceived to be very different there are some developmental similarities. When speaking about teen toys our intent is to portray a specific age group but not discount the educational benefit. Ideally our teens will benefit from an environment that fosters creativity and imagination, although still be cool and interesting. That leaves the question then, what are teen toys? We would like to believe and challenge parents to shift their perception and perhaps the miss naming of these items with the word toy.  What teen’s want is more innovative creations and no, video games aren’t included in this list, although occasionally they won’t hurt. What we are talking about are building projects that can be produced, recreated and built upon. There are also electronic boards, science kits, telescopes and many other items that are interesting and will keep a young teenagers interest.  

Why is this so important?  Due to rising educational demands and challenging classroom criteria there is likely to be a movement towards home based learning or assisted learning.  Teenagers can benefit greatly when they have role models in the home that promote and support creative learning. Things we allow our teens to experience today will effect them for their entire lives. If we can cultivate this time in a creative positive light think of the experiences that can be reflected upon going forward. Understanding that life lessons and personal development are skills created during these years will provide a solid foundation for future growth.  Also don’t forget that many of these toys are also engaging and really a lot of fun.   By equipping them with these tools you are allowing them to build their self-esteem; at the same time you as a parent will be spending quality time with your son/daughter and your relationship will become stronger. 

So then what other skills can be acquired? Social skills are developed through educational and innovative products. Many of these products can be worked on with another person, thus social interaction and conversation skills can become stronger. This development cannot be experienced through a video game. Most importantly you’re giving your teen the gift of creativity and being open to creative new ideas. Modern business schools have been teaching that often time’s strategies and business growth are restricted due the lack in creativity and an inability to think outside the box. Teaching our teens to be forward thinkers and dream the unimaginable will produce amazing lifelong results.

Over the past few years the selection of toys targeted at teenagers has really advanced. Manufacturers are putting more thought into what teenagers should be exposed to so that they stand out in the classroom and ultimately in life. They have a passion and a mission towards providing the highest quality products and in-turn are working with educational departments and teachers to bring innovation and uniqueness to each product idea.

Our recommendation to every parent would be this; allow your teens to build their interest and talent directly through toys that encourage critical thinking. Our selection of products is enormous and you’ll find something unique in each category for each stage of life. Another great feature is that product price points vary so finding a gift on any budget is possible.   We also encourage parents to research the product and see if it has received any awards. Many times this is a great indication of the product’s uniqueness and functionality. Reviews are not paid so you can be assured that awards are based on unbiased opinions. This honesty in review of the product should assure you that the products really do offer an outstanding value.   One of our favorite awards is the Oppenheim award.   Check out what items have scored top marks with the tough panel of discerning parents

September 2011:

Young Children Do Benefit From Pretend Play

What are the benefits of pretend play for children? Playing pretend games, also known as "dramatic play," has been a time-honored tradition for kids since time immemorial. Before there were even real toys with which to play, children were using the materials around them, such as sticks, pebbles, leaves, and other natural objects to create imaginary worlds for themselves. It's all a natural and important part of growing up.

By engaging in pretend play, children are learning how to interact with others and figuring out how the world works. In many cases, such as playing "house" and "school," they are also learning how to be adults. Kids don't need a lot of fancy toys to play these types of dramatic play games. They just need imagination. To a child, imagination is everything. Many kids have vivid imaginations, and can easily envision a tree being a real house or a stick being a real horse, etc. When they get together with other children to play, the games can become very involved, almost like an episode of a TV show, except it's all perfect improvisation.

Parents can help children learn the valuable skills that pretend play teaches by encouraging them to play a variety of games or toys. As a parent, if your child is bored or looking for something to do, you could suggest a pretend game, either for the child alone or for him or her with their friends. Examples of great toys that foster pretend play are play kitchens, dollhouses, wooden toys or wooden building blocks. There are even pretend shopping carts, vacuum cleaners and food. These provide children with an opportunity to mimic their parents and have fun at the same time. Sometimes, you can even play along, since you probably remember playing such games as a child. Not only will this help the two of you to bond, it will allow you to model for your child what good pretend play should be, so he or she can do it with comfort and ease with friends when you're not there, and never run out of ideas for scenarios to imagine!

Remember, there's much more to pretend play than simply "house" or "school." Engage your child's imagination with ideas such as pirates, princess, favorite cartoon characters, and more. If you're struggling to find ways to engage in these ideas you might want to check out indoor play sets. There are submarines, fire houses and pirate ships that will create the necessary background to let imagination happen. You can even go educational by teaching them about history and encouraging them to play games such as pioneers, pilgrims, even Ancient Egyptians or cavemen! The possibilities are endless, and the educational opportunities are there. Help your child engage in more in-depth pretend play, and the rewards will be amazing.

June 2011:

Understanding Your Child's Need to Play With Educational Toys

Educational toys for kids are a must-have for any home with children. Believe it or not, even the youngest of children can benefit from educational toys. In fact, they have a need for this type of plaything. Toys that are educational in nature, yet fun, can teach children valuable skills about living in the grown-up world. They may not even realize they're learning skills they will need later in life, but one day, they will probably look back on some of the toys with which they played as children and realize what valuable lessons those toys provided.

Most of us had at least some educational toys for kids when we were little. Remember the Speak and Say toy? This was common for most kids throughout the 1960's through 1980s, and you still see it around today. It's a simple toy that involves pulling a string that makes a dial go around on a circular board, and whatever the dial lands on is a picture of something, usually an animal. There is a speaker inside the toy that will say something regarding the sound the selected animal makes, such as, "The sheep says Baaaa." It's very educational, and fun for small children.

Of course, toys don't have to have electronics in them to be educational. In today's world of going green and living organically, many parents are turning to simpler toys made of natural materials for their children. These toys can be just as educational as anything electronic. The important thing to remember is that educational toys need to teach children some valuable lesson they will need either in the world of school (once they enter it), or in the adult world, while being entertaining and engaging. There are plenty of organic and eco-friendly toys that fit this description. You'll find them made out of such materials as cloth, wood, and recycled objects.

A child's ability to learn from toys is one of the most inspiring moments for many parents. Childrens' minds are like sponges and they pick up on new ideas very quickly so use every moment to teach them valuable skills. Even simple toys like wooden blocks, play trucks and activity sets can be very educational. Think like a child, use your imagination and both child and parent will benefit from that quality play time.

Older children will benefit greatly from more advanced educational toys. Products like science kits, solar kits and more complex building systems are wonderful tools. Kits such as these are very popular in schools so your kids will appreciate the chance to build confidence at home, all the while learning something new.

When looking for educational toys for kids, remember that the sky is the limit. Don't deny your child a good foundation of knowledge just because you don't think it will be fun. These are your child's formative years. Give him or her good educational toys, and he or she will have a head start on the rest of the world later... and still have terrific memories of the fun toys they played with when they were young!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6381257

Archived Articles:

March 2011: Non-Battery Operated Children's Toys: How Battery-Less Toys Affect Children's Play Time