Encouraging Healthy Sleep Habits

Posted on April 11, 2013 by

Children need rest.  That’s a given. The problem is that they often fight sleep. Parents often wonder how to get their baby into a healthy sleep routine.  For everyone’s sanity and the kids’ healthy it is really a must that your children have naps during the day and good rest at night.  With that said, how you train your kids, when you train them and how strict you are with your routine is all up to you as a parent.  The following tips should serve as a guide, not as an inflexible set of rules.

Start early

If you wait until your child is a toddler to try and instill good sleep habits you may have a real fight on your hands. It is best to start when your child is still a baby. Sleep training a baby will be easier and less stressful for everyone.  When you decide to sleep train is a personal decision. Some people start as early as 3 months while others wait until their children are much closer to a year. This is a personal decision and will also depend on the temperament and behavior of your little one.

 Create a routine

A nighttime or naptime routine can be anything that works for you and your family. Depending on how many children you have, what your child enjoys or even the layout of your house, certain things may work for your family and other things probably won’t. You might read books, have a bottle, nurse, rock or have bath time.  What is important is that you do the same things each time.

 Remember that Sleep is Important for Health

Sleep is important for your and your child’s health. If they are not sleeping then you are probably not sleeping either. This is not good for anyone. You have to take rest seriously and be diligent about seeing to it that everyone gets the rest that they require. Letting your child run the show in regards to sleep will make for a very chaotic home and a very grumpy Mom!

Helping your child become a great sleeper and making sure that they get rest is your parental responsibility.   Just as nutrition, education and safety are essential to your child’s well-being so is rest, downtime and relaxation. They are not always capable of monitoring their own sleep needs and you should never feel badly for setting rules and routines that make the whole family run smoothly and happily. So start early and keep working on it!

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10 Skills Your Child Needs Before Kindergarten

Posted on April 9, 2013 by

Is your little one about to start school? Well, you may be nervous but he will do fine! Just make sure that before your kiddo heads off for his first day of Kindergarten make sure he…

1) Recognizes Some Letters

He doesn’t need to know them all and may not know them in order but he should know some letters and recognize them on sight.

2) Spells and Recognizes His Own Name

He should be able to spell his own name and recognize it when he sees it written.  That way he will be able to identify things that belong to him.  It would be wonderful if he could write it as well so that he can write his name on his papers.

3) Counts to 10

He should count to 10 consistently. He may mix up some numbers but should be able to do it at least sometimes without errors.

4) Counts Objects to 10

He should be able to count objects with one to one correspondence. This means that he can pick up ten items and count them separately.

5) Basic Manners

He should have basic manners such as saying “Please” and “Thank you” or “excuse me.”  He should know what is appropriate to say and do in a school setting. Your child should know to blow his nose into a tissue or cover his mouth when he coughs, for example.

6) Has Concepts of Print

Concepts of print are ideas related to texts and books. He should know what books are, that they have pages, that you turn the pages to read,  and so on. He probably cannot read but he should understand that words have meaning and have been exposed to text, print and books.

7) Recognizes Colors

He should know his basic colors like red, blue, yellow, green, orange and purple.  He should also be able to recognize shades of the color. For example, he should see maroon and say, “red!”

8) Recognizes Shapes

He should know basic shapes such as circle, square and triangle and should be able to identify them in books, on TV or in public.

9) Life Skills

Your child should have some basic skills that will make him self-sufficient at school.  His teacher may not have time to help him with his coat, his backpack or his other garments or belongings. He should be able to do things like zip his own pants when he comes out of the bathroom or put on his own coat at the end of the day.

10) Can Follow Directions

He should know how to listen to instructions and follow them. This may seem obvious but if he hasn’t had practice following directions he may have trouble. He needs to be able to line up, sit down, put things away or clean up after himself when asked.

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What to Look For in Toy Cars and Trucks

Posted on April 4, 2013 by

Toy cars and trucks are a staple in most boys’ (and some girls’) childhoods! The fascination with “things that go” starts early. What you look for in these toys and what types of toys you ultimately choose will have a lot to do with your child’s age, interests and personality.

Variety

GroovyCoolToys.com has a wide variety of eco-friendly wooden toy trucks and cars. Whether your child would like our Mini Recycling Truck or our Mini Taxi Cab, there is something for every child. Or, perhaps your child would like to have a whole city’s worth of trucks and cars and even a Mini Tower Crane to play all day as mayor of their own little town!

Eco-friendly

Another great thing about our toy cars and trucks is that they are made of rubberwood which is eco-friendly and non-toxic.  While your child plays you know you are doing something to help the Earth and setting a great example for future generations about being environmentally responsible.

Safe and Easy to Use

Recommended for children 18 months and up, our toy cars and trucks have large rubber wheels.They are easy to hold, handle and to roll around and, with no small pieces, they are safe for small children who still put things in their mouths.

Easy on Your Surfaces

The large rubber wheels that make them so easy for your child to maneuver are also kind to your floors and surfaces.They will not scuff, scratch or leave marks on your floors or walls.Your child can play for hours without damaging your home.

Educational Value

As with all toy shopping, you must always consider the educational value. Our trucks and cars come in such a wide variety of colors, types, styles and sizes.  Your child will build motor skills while learning all about different types of vehicles from school buses to big wheel trucks. They will build vocabulary that will help them identify vehicles that they see all of the time.

Toy cars and trucks are a ton of fun and your sons (and daughters) will learn lots and build motor skills while playing.  They can hold races, build a pretend city or imagine that they are a farmer with our mini tractor.  The possibilities are endless.

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Tips on Introducing Snap Circuits

Posted on April 2, 2013 by

Do you have a little science lover?  Introduce them to basic principles of electricity while they play and experiment with a snap circuit kit.  No amount of reading or discussing electricity will have the same value as hands-on experimentation.

Every child is an inventor at heart. They are imaginative, excited about learning and full of creative ideas.  All that they need is the right information and tools to become the next Thomas Edison!  As a parent, it is your responsibility to foster and encourage their growth and learning in any way that you can.  If you aren’t sure how to get your child started then Snap Circuits are your answer!

The beauty of the snap circuit kits on GroovyCoolToys.com is that they start out small and they grow along with your child.  You can start out small with the Snap Circuits FM Radio or Flying saucer and as your child’s knowledge and interest grows they can move onto larger kits.

Larger kits allow your child to try more and more experiments which become increasingly more involved and difficult.  It is truly a gift that will grow with your child.  Just imagine your child’s pride and joy when they can say that they have built their very own motion detector or musical recorder.

These snap circuit toys provide a great opportunity for one on one bonding time between parent and child.  Don’t know much about science? Then learn right alongside your son or daughter!  Work together to follow the instructions and build lots of interesting apparatuses.

Children learn through hands-on activities and the more experiential learning opportunities that they have the more excited and interested they will become.  Introduce snap circuits slowly by purchasing one small kit or buy a larger kit and allow them to start with the simplest experiments and try the more difficult ones over time.

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Top 10 Rainy Day Toddler Activities

Posted on March 28, 2013 by

If it’s rainy outside and you are starting to lose your mind then chances are your toddler is too! Check out these great activities to keep them busy, entertained and, most of all, learning!

1 ) Cooking

Bake cookies and then let the kiddos decorate them or let them assemble snacks like peanut butter crackers with a butter knife. Get them a “High Rise Kitchen Step Up” so they can stand at the counter and they will really feel like a grown up!

2) Cleaning

What sounds like a chore to you will be fun and exciting to your toddler. Give them a small hand broom and dust pan and let them clean up the crumbs off of the kitchen floor. Present it as a game of “seek and find” and be sure to give them lots of praise for being such a great helper!

3) Dress Up

If you have dress up clothes then great!  If not, then they can dress up like Mommy or Daddy in your clothes OR they can make costumes out of their own clothes and other items like towels or old sheets.

4) Blocks/Building

Blocks are great for building things and knocking them down! Let your toddler pull out all of their blocks and make as big of a mess as they want.Then have them help clean up!

5) Puppets

Put on a puppet show! They can act out stories they know or make up their own. Invite some neighbor children over and let them put on a show for everyone.

6) Puzzles

Puzzles are educational and fun. Let your child solve puzzles for “prizes.” If they get it all put together they can have a simple treat like a small snack or a 5 minute later naptime. Making it into a game will be fun and exciting!

7) Art

Get out the easel and let your kiddo release her inner Picasso! Try showing her great works of art for inspiration.

8) Bath Party

Fill up the bath tub with toys and bubbles and splash and play! Let them put on their bathing suit and play some music so it seems like a real “party.”

9) Yoga

Yoga is a fun, relaxing and challenging practice. Doing yoga together will be great bonding and will introduce your child to the joys of physical fitness.

10) Dance Party

Put on some music and dance, dance, dance! Jump around, laugh and get out energy while working on gross motor skills.

We would like to know; what other activities have you found entertaining on rainy or cold winter days?

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What are Science and Nature Toys?

Posted on March 26, 2013 by

If you are looking to ignite your child’s inner scientist begin by talking to them about their interests.  Be sure to ask lots of questions about what particular topics, experiments and activities really excite them. Giving a kid who loves electricity a Bug Collector Set is probably not the best idea while a lover of nature may not be interested in Snap Circuits.  What is important is making learning fun and experiential for your child.  Science can be exhilarating and enjoyable when you find something that really fires your child up.

GroovyCoolToys.com has a huge variety of science and nature toys, kits and tools. Whether your child is into robots or bugs, you will find something that they will love.

Science Toys

From collecting bugs to building a remote controlled car, science can be fun and exciting for anyone! The beauty of science toys is that each child can find something that really ignites their imagination and excitement!

Solar Kits

Solar energy is environmentally sound and just plain cool! What is more exciting or interesting than powering things with the sun? You may have a budding environmental scientist right in your own home.  Give them a head start with a fantastic solar kit.

Robotic Kits

What kid or teen doesn’t want to build their own robot? Robotics are truly the wave of the future and your child will be one step ahead with a robotic kit.

Green Science Kits

What kid doesn’t want to build a clock from a lemon or a radio from crystals? Is there anything cooler than science? With green science kits your kids perform awesome science experiments while gaining understanding of environmental issues. That is a win-win!

Telescopes/Microscopes

Let your child channel his inner lab scientist with a microscope OR give him the moon with a telescope.  Microscopes and telescopes will give your child a view of the world that they have never seen before. What could be cooler than that?

Electronic Kits

If your child is interested in electronics then you need look no further. We have lots of great options for electronic kits but the very coolest products we have are the electronic project labs with the capacity to do tons of projects all in one kit!

Science Kits

From chemistry to dynamics and everything in between, the variety of science kits on our site will surprise and excite you!  There is truly something for everyone. Teach your child to love science through experiential learning!

Snap Circuits

Snap circuits are a fun way for your child to create various electronic projects. The experiments can be simple or much more complex depending on their interests and abilities.

Mechanical Kits

If your kid says he doesn’t like science then ask him if he wants to build a dinosaur!  We bet his answer will change. Bring out your child’s inner paleontologist and watch their love of science and nature grow right before your eyes!

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Top 10 Things to Look for in a Play Kitchen

Posted on March 25, 2013 by

1) Is it engaging?

Will your child be instantly interested in it?  Is it colorful, fun and attractive?  Can you envision your child running up to it the moment they saw it?  Play kitchens are an investment and you want to make sure that the one you pick will engage your child or children and their friends!

2) Size

Consider where you will be putting the kitchen.  Is it small or large enough?  Will it take up way too much space in the playroom?  Is it so small that, in a large room, your child will forget all about it? Another important factor is how many children you anticipate playing with at once.  A small kitchen is fine for 1 but a larger kitchen will be suitable for large families or people who host lots of play dates. You may only have room in your home for our “Kitchenette – Natural” which is compact and cute.  However, your home may be large enough to accommodate our bigger kitchens too!  Just look around and think your decision through.  Be sure to read the measurements and take the time to make sure the size meets your needs.

3) Color/Style

While a girl would love our pastel colored pink “Hideaway Playtime Kitchen” a little boy might favor the “All in One Modern Kitchen.”  Of course, gender is not the only thing to consider when deciding on the style and color of your play kitchen.  Your child may prefer a kitchen that resembles the one in your home or in the home of their grandparents or friends.  This will add to the feeling that they are really cooking and baking right along with the adults.

4) Sturdiness

Sturdiness is another important factor when choosing a play kitchen. Consider the materials that it is made from and be sure to think long-term. A play kitchen can grow right along with a child and should be looked at as an investment that they will use for years to come. In that case, buying a cheap plastic kitchen would probably not be your best bet.

5) Real – Life Details

Kids love details in toys like this. The more it looks like Mom’s or Dad’s kitchen the better.  Make sure the kitchen you choose has some cute details that will get them excited. A great example is our “Complete Kitchen Center” and its blue and red knobs to signify cold and hot water. Your child will think that is so neat!

6) Storage

If you plan on purchasing pots and pans and play food you will need storage for these items.  Your child’s kitchen should have enough cabinets and shelves to fit all of the cute accessories that you will undoubtedly purchase to go along with their adorable kitchen. Think about what they will need to store. That way you will be able to keep their kitchen organized.

7) How Long Will Your Child Love It?

You may be tempted to buy a smaller, less expensive kitchen but, what you must consider, is that your child may want to play with their kitchen for many years. Do you want to have to re-invest in a new, larger, sturdier kitchen in a year?  Or would you rather buy a high quality kitchen that you can see your little one enjoying for a long time?

8) Is it a “full” kitchen?

Make sure that the kitchen has all of the appliances and other details that you know your child wants. Look for microwaves, shelves, refrigerators, etc. and make sure that you are getting everything that your child will want. If your child loves to pretend to put things away, for instance, a kitchen like the “All in One Play Kitchen” might be the way to go.  It has a plethora of shelves and cabinets that would entertain your child for hours.

9) Your Child’s Interests

Is your child interested in pretending to cook, pretending to clean or generally pretending to keep a house? Is your child interested in being a restaurant chef? Be sure whatever kitchen you choose will fit those interests!

10) Educational Value

How educational is the play kitchen?  Can you teach about food safety, organization and other lessons while they play?  Does the kitchen provide opportunities for learning by recreating an adult’s kitchen? Look at every toy you buy your child with this in mind.  What can they learn and how can you teach them using this toy? The educational value of the toys that you choose for your children cannot be overstated!

No comments Posted in Play Kitchen

Creating a Text Rich Environment

Posted on March 21, 2013 by

What’s a “text rich environment?”

It is an environment that is full of words, letters, literature and books.

Why is it important?

A text rich environment is important because it gives babies and small children exposure to words.  They understand that words can be written. Your child may see a ball and say, “ball” but that doesn’t mean that your child would understand that the spoken word can also be written down. It is important that words are composed of letters which each make their own sound. This is not something they innately know.

How do you create a text rich environment?

If you have ever been in a preschool classroom you may have noticed that things are labeled, that letters, numbers and words are clearly displayed throughout the room and that books, flash cards and other items with text are readily available. The teacher in that classroom has worked to create a text rich environment in his or her classroom.

What can I do at home?

Here are some ideas:

  • Try buying letter magnets and letting your child spell words on the refrigerator.
  • Label the doors to each room of the house.
  • Hang posters or artwork with words on them.
  • Keep books readily available and within your child’s reach.
  • Put on closed captioning when you are watching TV.

If you are interested in instilling great reading skills and an interest in words and language then creating this type of environment in your home is not only advisable but necessary. Allowing children to simply be surrounded and immersed in text, words and other language will give them a chance to see how important reading truly is.

New Little Reader Chair

(Picture above is the Little Reader Chair)

 

No comments Posted in Literacy & Reading, Pkolino Little Reader Chair

4 Fixes for Play Date Worries

Posted on March 19, 2013 by

Play dates are fun for kids… and stressful for moms!  Many moms feel pressure to host a fantastic play date that the other kids (and moms!) will love. If you are nervous about hosting a play date and you want it to be great then read on to find some great, simple tips.

Worry: The kids won’t share

Fix:  Make sure and have lots of toys, supplies, snacks and whatever else that you are worried that the children will have trouble sharing.  Encourage sharing with lots of praise.  You can even promise prizes or treats to the kids who are great sharers.

Worry: The kids will make a mess

Fix: Try organizing activities that you can keep in one room, or better yet that can be brought outside. Simple crafts, picnics and outdoor games are great ways to keep the kids entertained and out of the house.

Worry: The moms will be bored

Fix: If moms are staying, you may be nervous that adult conversation will dry up or that the moms will feel awkward. Offer drinks and snacks just for the moms and be sure to invite ladies that you think will get along. You can even bring out magazines or other conversation starters. Another great option is to rotate houses so that moms can take turns hosting and the other moms can have free time to run errands or hit the gym.

Worry: That one kid…

Fix: Let’s face it, there is probably one kid that is coming over who you are worried about. They might be a bit of a bully, have trouble sharing, or have a tendency to wander off.  Whatever the case may be, make that kid your “buddy” or “helper” for the day. Children typically misbehave because they are seeking attention. So give them tons of positive attention. Let them bring out the snacks, help clean up the mess or have them sit with you for a while for a little one on one time.

Just remember: You are a great mom for planning a play date!  Socialization and play is so important for children and the fact that you are hosting fun, engaging play dates in your home shows that you care. Don’t stress about your house staying perfect or if the snacks are the most delicious. Feel good about yourself for putting forth the effort!

No comments Posted in At Home Activites

5 Tips for Preparing Your Child For Kindergarten

Posted on February 21, 2013 by

If you’re little one is about to start school, you are probably going through a lot of emotions from fear to excitement to sadness. Read up on 5 things to do to get ready and have fun without any stress or worry!

1. Read to them often and ask them to read to you. Have them make up stories using picture clues and sight words that they recognize. Talk about what you read. Ask questions. Don’t worry so much about what you are reading just read as often as you can. This way they will go to kindergarten with a basic understanding of print, text and books as well as a love for literature.

2. Introduce them to basic mathematical concepts. Don’t just teach them their numbers. Make sure that they understand what the numbers symbolize by counting and teaching one to one correspondence.

3. Socialize them as much as possible. If they are in daycare or preschool then they will more than likely get a fair amount of social interaction with other kids their age. If they are home with Mom or Dad, then make sure they are going out for play dates, involved in activities and that you train them in basic manners and etiquette.

4. Talk about school often in the 6 months to a year before they start. Play up how much fun it will be and how much they will learn. Introduce them to other young children who are attending school already. Get them excited about Kindergarten!

5. Don’t stress out about them starting school. Show them how excited you are and let them know that you are very proud and excited that they are becoming so independent and grown up. When you are reading or working on math or other skills, try not to say things like, ” You have to know this for Kindergarten…” because that will put too much pressure on what should be fun quality time between parent and child.

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