Use puzzles, prepare the child for reading

Do you want to help your child develop those all important pre-reading skills? You can do that by doing jigsaw puzzles together. Puzzles help develop vital thinking processes that need to be developed before reading can take place.

Babies learn to recognize things by their shape. The position of the object is not important. A cup is a cup, whether it is standing upright, lying in it's side or upside down; it is still a cup. A jigsaw puzzle introduces the concept This position is important. recognition capabilities have grown more refined.

There are important learning experiences that can be derived from gambling activities. First, the hand-eye coordination is necessary in order to manipulate the piece into place. To mount the piece is just the observation of the hole shape and the shape of the pieces of the puzzle. At first a small child, the problem faced by trial and error and sometimes force. The guide and the example of a parent beginsto solidify the process. The youngster starts to develop spatial awareness and mental manipulation as well as increasing physical dexterity. Skill and ability develops as the child learns to place the piece in correctly and internalization of the process occurs.

The role of the parent is very important. Talking about the picture and demonstrating the correct method to complete it, will facilitate the child's learning process. This creates a great opportunity to increase your little one's vocabulary, as well as increase the recognition of objects and situations outside the child's immediate world.

Early childhood puzzles can be purchased in varying degrees of difficulty as your youngster's spatial and reasoning skills become more developed. Children learn to recognize color and shape by playing. Adult conversation increases the potential of the young learner's understanding and development. The green shape only fits in the green hole. This type of matching activity develops early reading skills.

When introducing a new puzzle spend time doing it together at first. Make this a happy social time and lots of fun. Do a puzzle long enough to maintain interest and attention, but be ready to move on to another activity as focus begins to wane. Eventually children will want to do puzzles by themselves as their dexterity and confidence increases, With praise and encouragement children will practice until the skills become familiar. Then is the time to introduce puzzles with a greater challenge.

In this technical age do not forget the simple jigsaw puzzle. The benefits and educational value of doing puzzles with your children far out weigh the small amount of time and money a parent invests in this great learning tool.

Children's Books And Educational Toys - Can They Still Be Fun And Have Educational Value

It was no contest. Given a choice between a ball and a book, my son would never have cracked a book binding. Giving him educational toys was a lot like giving him medicine. He didn't want any part of either one. Fortunately, things have changed a great deal in the 20-odd years since he was a youngster. Educational toys, just like children's medicines have come a long way. Children's medicines taste good enough that tiny tykes will resist taking them only a little and learning toys have become a lot more enjoyable. For example, today there is great educational software for the family PC.

Now, that isn't to say that you can walk into a toy department or a top quality toy store such as Toys R Us and randomly start slinging items labeled 'educational toy' in your shopping cart. You must take care when selecting educational toys. Fortunately, the 'educational' aspects of the toy can be kept well hidden behind the fun the child derives.

Toys such as jigsaw puzzles, word games, Disney games, word puzzles and other learning toys are great cognitive educational toys. These toys require that the child use his or her imagination. They develop creativity. They make the child think.

These games and educational toys have another, more important, aspect. They are fun. The child has fun while learning to use his or her imagination and reasoning skills. Children learn through play and these toys are the tools of play. They are the tools of learning.

The key is selecting cognitive development skills and educational toys that are appropriate for the child. For example, teaching a three-year-old to read or do multiplication may seem like a cool idea for your little prodigy, but it is much better to make sure the child is having fun reciting the alphabet and counting numbers with the help of interactive Disney toys, books on tape and other such toys. When the learning play is fun, the child will progress at his or her own pace with only minor supervision from you. Frustrating the child by expecting too much, too quickly will actually retard learning.

Jigsaw puzzles are another example of great educational toys. They teach the cognitive skills of learning the relationship between sizes and shapes. They also teach fine motor skills in putting the pieces of the puzzle together.

The second key is to tie educational toys and learning to the child's current interests. These interests change as the child develops. Learning is much more fun if it is associated with something that has already captured the imagination of the child.

Educational toys do not have to be about thinking and learning. The second category of educational toys is those toys that develop physical skills such as coordination and fine motor skills. Babies begin learning coordination with a rattle. Legos are great toys for teaching the fine motor skills required to assemble the blocks.

It is much easier to encourage most youngsters to play with toys that help teach physical skills because stored energy and growing muscles demand stretching and movement. Given the opportunity, what four-year-old won't ride a tricycle miles and miles around the dining room table or up and down the front sidewalk? While riding the trike, the youngster is developing strength and coordination, both of which are important for future development.

The various ball games that children enjoy are important for the same reason. They help the youngster develop strength, agility, speed and coordination. They also go one step further. Because most ball games are team sports, they teach concentration, teamwork, good sportsmanship and strategy. These are all important cognitive and emotional skills that will be necessary for the child to develop into a well-rounded and productive adult. So, Mom, the next time your youngster picks up a ball and begins playing with it, you might look at it as a valuable educational toy.

One of the most important toys in your child's playroom is you. You need to spend some time, enough time, playing with your child to help supervise play with educational toys. You need to spend enough with your child that you can monitor his or her interests, ensure that the educational toys they are playing with are appropriate and encourage them to have fun with those games.

Educational toys are fun as they teach. They are different than schoolbooks and school assignments. Educational toys do not mean tedium and drudgery. Educational toys are designed to teach or develop the child.

This brings up a final point. Another important benefit of parental supervision is the ability to keep track of those toys and games that do little to help develop either your child's cognitive skills or physical skills. There are some games and toys on the market that are so complete that they do all of the work for the child. The child does not have to be creative or exercise growing muscles or developing coordination. In fact, these games can actually be counterproductive by promoting lethargy and laziness.

Using Toys and Music in Training Sessions

As a trainer it is vital for you to be able to identify which areas of the course will be dry and tedious for the group, so that you can find a creative way to present the information, which will then lead to enhanced learning.

Try creating some fun and laughter. Some trainers dismiss games and activities as time wasters or childish. Yet this is the best way to deliver complex information: far better than having delegates fall asleep through boredom or, worse still, reduced to tears because they feel so overwhelmed by the complexity!

The average adult passive attention span is about 20 minutes. Taking a break every half hour would be disruptive. Instead, use a quick Brainteaser or Energiser, a short trivia quiz, or a course related puzzle.

The time before lunch can be a seriously low energy time for delegates. Avoid videos here as this encourages the delegates to snooze, particularly if the lights are lowered. Keep the energy moving with a very active group exercise after the mid-morning break - skill practice would be good here; put sweets and treats out on tables, plus small 'toys' for them to play with e.g. Lego pieces, koosh balls, puzzles, tactile children's toys.

Put more toys out for the afternoon break. Try yo-yos and Frisbee. Most people can't resist having a go, remembering what it felt like as a child - which helps to utilise right-brain learning during the session.

Use the toys to assist the actual content delivery. A fun quiz can be made more enjoyable by asking learners to use some of the larger toys as part of the quiz.

Music

I'm often asked about the role of music in the training environment. Does it help, is it just gimmick, is one type of music better than another? There has been a lot of research carried out into the effectiveness of music in learning - I do believe music has a role in the training room. It can be used for:

o Prior to Start - makes the training room more inviting for learners to enter, helping break down barriers and fears, as well as setting the tone for the workshop

o Break time - makes the training room 'friendlier' for those learners that stay in the room during that time

o Socialisation - bringing learners together

o State changer - helps manage learner states as specific music can enhance precise states for learning

o Priming - to prepare the learner for the next learning experience

o Movement - to get learners up and moving

o Emotions - to aid bringing emotions into learning

o Calming - to slow and calm the mind and body down

Beware the use of music when learners are trying to concentrate - it can interfere/compete with the attentional system

Also beware of using music for more than 10-15 minutes at any one time - learners will become habitualised to it and it will loose its impact.

The Value Of Jigsaw Puzzles For Very Young Children

Jigsaw puzzles have a lot of educational value for children of all ages. This is because to do a jigsaw requires a child to use several different aspects of the thinking process.

A baby learns to recognize objects by their shape and not necessarily what position the object is in. A chair is a chair whether it is upright, lying down, or upside down-it doesn't matter. The simple puzzles produced for younger children develop more refined and defined skills and recognition.

One of the first things a young child will learn is that it does matter which way up the pieces to fit in the hole. A typical early childhood puzzle is wooden with a picture and has spaces where the pieces fit to complete the picture. With a street scene, for example, there might be a separate car shape, bus shape, and a truck shape that complete a puzzle. These puzzles are typically robust as the first response of a child is to try to force the piece into place taking no notice of its shape. With adult guidance the young child learns to manipulate the piece until it does fit exactly.

There are several learning experiences that can be drawn from these very basic puzzles. Firstly it's the hand eye coordination to manipulate the puzzle piece into position. To get the piece in also involves observation of the shape of the hole and the shape of the puzzle piece. At first the child deals with the problem by trial and error. The example and guidance of an adult begins to solidify the thinking process. The child starts to apply spatial awareness and mental manipulation as well as physical. This comes however, after the child has learned to put the piece in correctly through trial and error and memory.

The role of the adult at this stage is very important. The conversation about the picture, talking and demonstrating the correct method to complete it, accelerates the child's learning process. Puzzles can create a great opportunity for increase in vocabulary, and recognition of objects and situations outside the child's immediate world. The fact that the child learns that the piece only fits one way is in fact a pre reading skill. A letter needs to be the right way up and not backwards or upside down in a word.

These early childhood puzzles can be purchased in varying degrees of difficulty as the child's spatial and reasoning skills become more developed. The child also learns through puzzles the recognition of color and shape with, of course, adult conversation increasing the potential of the child's understanding and development. The green shape only fits in the green hole. This type of matching activity develops early reading skills.

At this stage it is good to introduce a new puzzle and do it with the child at first. Make this a happy social time and lots of fun. Do the puzzles with the child long enough to maintain the child's interest and attention, but be ready to move on to another activity. Eventually when the child's dexterity and confidence has increased, he will want to do it by himself. With praise and encouragement the child will practice until the skills become familiar. Then is the time to introduce puzzles with greater challenge.

Puzzles help develop the reasoning and deduction process of thinking. As well as skills such as spatial awareness, matching and sorting. Above all, jigsaw puzzles present a great opportunity for language development and a happy social interaction with your child.

Discover The Truth About Learning Educational Toys

One would have to assume that developmental or educational toys are based on cognitive development. There is more than one theory of cognitive development, however, Piagets theory seems to be the most accepted. Using this theory, let us take a look at toys that are best suited through the stages of development. Continue reading and discover the truth about learning educational toys.

Even Piaget admitted that each child develops differently and that the theory was flawed based on how smoothly some of the transitions were. Some of the challenges to the theory have been based on the beliefs that a child's economical, family, and social influences all effect cognitive development. Keep all of this in mind when deciding on toys that will best help the development of a particular child.

According to the theory there are four distinct stages of development. The first is the sensorimotor stage; lasting from birth to approximately two years of age. During this stage, the child will learn coordination between hands and eyes, learn the result from a repeated occurrence, plan an activity on their own, try new things, and creativity and insight begin to develop. By the end of this stage the most important goal is for the child to have learned object permanence.

Toys that can be grabbed in the hands and pulled, will be the favorites in the beginning of this stage, while later in the stage puzzles made of large shapes develop the skills and memory games. DVDs available, and these young people, help develop language skills.

The pre-operative, after two starts and ends at about seven. At this stage, develop curiosity and reasoning. At that moment the child begins to recite stories of fantasy and magical worlds of play to develop. You are not to associate in another point of view of the position of people with their own.

The kind of games for this step couldpuppets, dolls, any type of toy that the child can create an adventure with. You may even want to make a trunk of dress up clothes and allow them to act out plays to develop their self esteem. There are a variety of good computer games as well as other games to encourage healthy role play.

The third stage is the concrete operational stage, and last between the ages of seven and eleven. Many important changes take place in this stage of development such as, sorting objects, relationship recognition, classification of sets of objects, problem solving that involves multiple issues, the ability to comprehend that things can be changed and then put back in the same way, and conservation.

Any type of games that promote logic skills at this stage would be excellent toys. Many of the computer games available are specifically designed for this. Word and math puzzles are also great to keep in the car for trips and when you have to wait in waiting rooms.

The formal operational stage is from eleven until adulthood. Abstract thinking begins at this point. They are able to draw their own conclusions from different occurrences and apply information as they have learned it. They can now make a plan to solve a problem, and they are capable of experiencing and understanding love.

There is no shame in the old fashioned board game that encourages family activity. Children that are encouraged to participate in family activities will develop a greater sense of self esteem. Any type of toy that deters a child from isolation is the best kind for this age group. Sports equipment with family involvement, or learning to play chess is an excellent idea.

Dog Puzzles - A Good Gift Idea for Any Dog Lover

Everyone loves dogs, I'm sure you and even your next door neighbor own one, two, or even, more of them at home! Dogs give people the companionship and comfort at any time and give back the love by being good pets and protectors of their owners. Are you looking for the next best gift idea for your friend who loves dogs? There are dog toys and even dog puzzles that make for great gift ideas with different designs and various types to choose from.

Does your friend prefer small corgis? Do golden retriever designs spark more interest? There are toys and puzzles that are sure to make things interesting for dog lovers out there, like elegantly vintage puzzles that have 1,000 or more pieces that are good for a challenge or even wooden or plastic dog shaped puzzles that are good for displays and designs around the house and even in the dog's kennel or bed. There's never a dull moment thanks to those dog puzzles!

If you're looking to find those puzzles and toys you can easily find them in specialty hobby and toy shops, they are also incredibly affordable because they are made from inexpensive materials most especially the puzzles. You can get online too if you're looking for other specifically designed puzzles for dogs with intricate designs like those with grandeur garden landscapes with dogs or even royalty themed puzzle designs of dogs sitting beside people royalty.

Don't just settle for any gift idea for a dog lover, dog puzzles will sure be something worth treasuring!

Top Australian Toys For Kids

Australia seem to be a world away but it doesn't half to be. Australia produces high quality toys young children will love and enjoy, and also might learn something to.

When we think of Australia many of think of their adorable native animal the Koala bear offered by Windmill Toys. These stuffed animals will make great sleeping companions for all young children. They also offer other native animals such as platypus's, kangaroo's, crocodile's and wombat's.

For those who wish to participate in a Australian game they have that covered too. The popular Australia game called The Kookaburra Game consists of 5 different native Australian animals pieces and race through the Australian bush. This game will surely provide a good source of entertainment.

Another Australian born game is Passport To Australia a family fun adventure game and whoever fills their passport base with all 8 State and Territory plaques to form a complete map of Australia. The questions of Passport To Australia refer to geography, history, demographics, and government. The game can be played 1-4 individual players or 1-4 teams.

If those were enough board game for you the Monopoly Australia Here & Now Edition will surely be all the board game your family and friends could handle.

If your child is into puzzles there are numerous Australian theme puzzles such as the Giant Downunder Puzzle (300 pieces), The Great Australian Jigsaw (500 pieces), and Native Australian Animals Plain (17 large wooden pieces ideal for young children). A more challenging puzzle would be the Kangaroo (500 piece) by Artist Robert Campbell. This puzzle would also make a fantastic wall art piece once completed. Jigsaw puzzles not only provide a challenge putting them together but if one choose so they can use them as wall art.

If your child grows weary of 2-D puzzles there are also 3-D puzzles available such as the Rubik 2x2 Australian Animals Cube. These 3-D puzzles are for young children to improve their problem solving abilities. These puzzles have various Australian animals on them.

Just like American Girl Dolls, there are also Australian Girl dolls for your little girls. Each doll have their own traits and personality so your little girl can find one to match. Parents or children might ask, why get a Australian Girl Doll instead of an American Girl Doll? A good way to introduce a young child to another culture or heritage is through toys.

If you liked these toys and would like to see more great toys please go to Great Kid Gifts.

Kids Play Toys

When deciding what toys to get for your child, there are many things that you will need to think about, including their gender, age and abilities. You will also have to think about your budget and getting the most for your money. Kids play toys come in different shapes, sizes and price ranges and it can all be very daunting. You should look at what your child enjoys playing with as this can help to make the decision about what toy play sets they would like.

Your child's age will often determine what you buy them to play with. Even though some children will develop quicker, it is best to look at the recommended age for the kids play toys. You should always try to find toys that are fun to play with but also offer some type of educational benefits as well. You will want the toy play sets to help them develop and progress and there are some toys that are designed with this in mind.

Kids are very curious and love to copy their peers so any toy play sets they can use to copy you are ideal. You may want to look at kitchen sets and tool benches that can help your child to develop certain skills. They will love playing with these toys and can spend hours in pretend play using the skills they are learning to make you fantastic pretend items. Kids play toys you buy will often depend on the space you have in your home. Although you want your children to have a vast range of toys, you can often buy far too much.
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You should try to watch your child to see what type of toys they are attracted to and then buy the type of toys they enjoy. Some children love puzzles whereas others prefer construction toys. You should try to encourage them to play with different toy play sets, though. If they prefer one type of toy, this is fine and you can help them to develop their skills using this toy. Taking your child to a toy store and letting them look around will often help you to see which toys they prefer.

You should try to buy quality toy play sets as these will last longer and be safer for your children. Cheaper toys tend to break easily and you will need to replace them soon. You should try to buy kids play toys that will help to stretch their abilities and enable them to learn. All children love to learn new things and doing this through toys is an ideal way. Your child will be learning how to count, play, develop social skills and share without even knowing it.

Choosing bright colorful toy play sets is essential to keep your child interested in the toys. Once they have outgrown them, you can keep them for siblings. If you are going out to buy toy play sets, remember to set a budget as you may want to spoil your child. But they won't mind as long as they get toys.

Top Ten Reasons to Buy Wooden Puzzles

Dear readers,

This article is dedicated to my top ten reasons as to why you should buy a wooden puzzle instead of another type of toy. This top ten is for the parents out there who are looking for suitable gifts for their kids or great brain teasers for their colleagues and friends. It is also for anyone who is trying to make a decision on what to buy for themselves or for others. So, without further adieu:

10. By using a wooden toy, you are helping to reduce the nation's dependence on oil. Plastic comes from oil so instead of having to have millions of plastic toys, buy a wooden toy and we can begin to move away from being an oil dependent nation.

9. Wood is a renewable resource! Unlike fossil fuels (where plastic comes from), wood can always be renewed. Wood toy companies make it their top priority to replenish the sources they use, because they realize that these trees belong to the Earth more than anyone else. When you use a plastic toy, the The earth is that fossil fuels are robbed. But with the wood, future generations of trees have to love.

Eight wooden puzzles for children to get excited about mathematics, for example, on the subject. No child wants to memorize tables for math, or trying to read books full of complicated theory to understand a sit behind algebra. The children want to play! Kids want to have fun! mathematics wooden puzzle makes math fun! What better friend could ask parents and teachers? One instrument, the baby laughand laugh while learning math.

7. Wooden brain teasers make buying gifts easier than ever. Who here hasn't stressed about their annual Secret Santa? There is only one criteria when determining if someone will enjoy a brain teaser and that is if they have a brain! Anyone with a brain, big or small, would love a brain teaser. So instead of buying spy kits to try and figure out what your person may like, just get them an awesome puzzle! That way you can spend more time on making money for your company instead of looking for gifts for your colleagues.

6. By having your children play wooden games, your children wont be watching violent action games and getting the impression that they can jump out of a moving train at 100 mph, dodge hundreds of bullets, and crash three stories without a broken bone.

5. Grandma and Grandpa will remember you longer. Brain games have been proven to help fight off deadly diseases like Alzheimer's. Brain puzzles are like little brain gyms which put grandma's neurons on treadmills.

4. Wooden puzzles are saving families! Instead of dad on the TV in the living room, mom on the phone in the kitchen, son is killing ninjas on his video game console, and daughter is instant messaging in her bedroom, now everyone is together and laughing and interacting through family puzzles. Wooden family game puzzles are great at taking the disassembled family and stringing them back as one unit!

3. Wooden puzzles, especially brain teasers, are great at making the mind sharp. Just like granny needs a brain gym, so does everyone else. Wooden brain games, teaches important skills such as problem solving, logic, and hand and eye coordination. It also teaches visual and memorization skills for important trial and error strategies.

2. Wooden games promotes confidence. Anyone can mash buttons on a video game but completing a tricky game or a neuron bending brain teaser is a real feat. We want to see happy confident children, adults, and seniors. The feel good feeling of completing a wooden puzzle cannot be replicated with a video game or a text message. Everyone should be able to feel great from completing a tricky brain teaser.

1. Finally, and this is the most important, wooden puzzles are fun. Believe it or not, but in the 21st century, a wooden game can be super fun. Wooden puzzles does not have to be reserved for the 18th century. In fact wooden games can be much more fun than modern technology. Whether its playing a wooden puzzle before bed or at your desk instead of working, wooden puzzles are super fun. They are challenging and rewarding. If there is one thing wood companies work on, its the fun factor. At the very least, give it a try. If not you can always go back permanently to the video games and TV. But I say give it a real try. For all you know your a genius when it comes to wooden puzzles and brain Games.

How to play the best place for your parrot or a bird of large size

Play time for your pet bird is like going to the best party of the year! They get excited as you open the door to their cage and sweetly speak to them with an eager tone in your voice. They feel the freedom and joy that can only be found on an entertaining playstand that has lots of fun things to do! Large bird stands and Manzanita playstands are just 2 of the many kinds of play areas you can purchase for your pet bird. They need stimulation and exercise on a daily basis; and some fun isn't a bad thing either! Knowing what birds like best can help you choose the best type of play stand for your bird, so take a look at these tips and you'll know right away which one is best for your feathered friend!

o Bring nature into your home's habitat. Your bird craves the outdoors and the feeling of branches in its feet. With Manzanita playstands, your bird will feel like it's escaped into the wild! The branches are curved and have lots of texture, which promoted their natural desire to walk, climb, and grasp. This is also great exercise for their entire bodies, most especially their feet and legs. Balance is also challenged on these types of playstands because they have both vertical and horizontal planes that allow your bird to climb across as well as up and down the branches. You can even find tree-like branches as tall as 4 feet to satisfy every bird!

o Manzanita playstands are great by themselves, but adding challenging puzzles, toys, and accessories to your bird's cage and play area will give it something fun to do and chase away boredom. Puzzles are brightly colored and are designed to make your bird work to open, slide, or detach something; this is great fun for them! There are also treat hiders, which are great because they can figure out how to get to something they love (like a grape or seed treat from the pet store) and they feel a real sense of accomplishment when they get to it.

o Look for large bird is, if you have a large parrots, cockatoos, macaws, or, for example. The largest amusement park to give your bird much needed room to move and exert a large scale. Many times, this bird is large with huge rings are bigger than the birds and the love of many levels of vertical climbing fun. You can also play at various levels are made for birds to small and medium-sized enterprises, so if you have a smaller bird, you can find a large play area for them!

o Make sure to buy somethingrolls on casters or wheels so you can move the play stand around from time to time. This is important to give your bird a change of scenery and keep them feeling like they've got somewhere new to explore. Many bird owners prefer a play area that has a tray at the bottom to catch bird droppings and food particles; look for this as well.

No matter what the size of your bird, a playstand makes for a great place for them to socialize, move around, and have fun every day. For them, it's like getting to go to "the party event of the year" every day!

Discovery Toys Review

Discovery Toys is a 30 year old direct sales company specializing in educational toys. It functions with the typical direct sales model using party plan marketing, offering incentive trips and the earning of free merchandise to their employees. The company makes toys for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and elementary age kids; and specializes in toys such as: puzzles, marble games, books, blocks, etc.

You can shop and order Discovery Toys online, or have one the Educational Consultants bring products directly to your home. Also, people can get involved with the Hosting Program where they invite their friends to meet a consultant; the hostess of the event will then recieve dicounts and other benefits. Consultants also use Hosting Parties to reqruit potential future sales representatives. Consultants receive commission from representatives under them. This is the premier wayof making the most money with Discovery Toys.

People wanting to get involved with Discovery toys must purchase a Starter Kit. Each starter kit retails for about $125. The starter kit will include the following:
1. Samples of 17 of our best-selling learning toys across all age groups.
2. Business tools and supplies to start your business.
3. FREE personal website for 3 full months.

In conclusion Discovery Toys is a good company that can be trusted. The business opportunity within this company is similar to that of any multi level marketing company today. To create success within the multi level marketing industry you will need to recruit friends and family, attend and promote hotel meetings, attend and promote product parties, attend and promote home presentations and attend company sponsored seminars. Although Discovery Toys provides good services and products, the actual reality of a normal person making any sort of profit is very small and would be very difficult. It would take hundreds of people, a lot of time, and the proper skill and knowledge to achieve your financial goals.

Wooden Educational Toys

It is advisable for parents to sometimes break the monotony of purchasing plastic and electronic toys for their children. Wooden toys are an excellent alternative to the usual modern toys. Wooden toys are a unique selection of toys that have gained immense popularity. The companies that manufacture wooden, educational toys offer high-quality wooden toys. Wooden educational toys are preferred by parents all over the world, because they are environmental friendly and do not have sharp edges that can harm children. They are also highly durable and are a wise investment for learning, enjoying and giving as gifts to friends and relatives.

Wooden puzzles are great for teaching children problem-solving skills and hand-eye coordination. An elegant wooden educational toy like a bead sequencing set, introduces children to complex spatial processing. This toy teaches hand to eye coordination, matching and Color Sorting and advanced reasoning skills. Wooden Toys in the forms of riddles and puzzles that tease the intellect are very popular toys for children. They entertain children and help them think laterally to develop their skills.

Puzzle, puzzle, shapes, with different images and various forms are few buildings abundant educational wooden toys. This wooden toy, because of its colorful look and soundstructure, make great companions for infants.

There are wooden educational toys for all ages. Baby toys like wooden alphabet and alphanumeric blocks are soft and colorful. They are crafted for safety and durability, and are designed to stir a child's senses and curiosity. Other wooden toys for children include different kinds of animals, sorter pounding toys, vehicles and action toys. Most toy manufacturing companies have their own websites and offer a facility to order online. These sites display pictures and prices of the entire range of toys available.

Shopping for Educational Toys

Any kind of store provides the platform to choose and buy the various necessary objects required for different purposes. Educational toys are no exception to that. They provide the parents an opportunity, to choose and give their kids the best toy suited to meet their child's playing, and learning needs.

Parents can choose the appropriate toy for their children from the large number of toy stores spread all over the country. Most of these stores have a tie up with the various toy manufacturing companies, and suppliers who provide the latest and most popular toys to their store. However, some of them may serve as the retail outlet of their own production house.

Most of these stores offer a number of departments to choose a toy from. Toys are usually sorted according to age groups, the type of the toy (such as construction toys, puzzles, dolls, or arts and crafts). Most of them have different section for boys and girls, to classify the toys according to gender specification. In case parents prefer any particular brand of toys, some stores sort the toys according to the brand and company name. Good store organization makes shopping easier and more comfortable for the customers.

Toys can be ordered directly online, through the Web sites of these stores, or by visiting their retail store locations. The payment and the delivery policies may vary from one store to another, depending on their terms and conditions. Prices may vary according to the brand, the age group it is made for, the materials used, and the different functionalities of the toy. However, parents are advised to compare, and check the different toys offered, by the various stores before buying the toy that would suit their child perfectly.

How children learn through play Puzzle Wood

Preparing your child for school is an important step in their lives. However, there are many ways to give them an advantage wooden puzzle of learning. Children can learn a lot from wooden puzzles and other problem-solving. Not only can direct knowledge, but may encourage them to learn by themselves.

After the desire for independent learning is one of the most powerful benefits that the child might have. To promote thisYou should give them puzzles at an early age. Even if the child still in primary school, they can still challenge. The level of the puzzle should, however progressive they are to be determined.

The level of support your child has nothing to do with their age. Some children are simply more likely to solve the problems of others. You should never do is force your child to work on something. Rather than ordering them around to meet your needs, you shouldencourage them in different ways, more successful.

The way to do it with wooden puzzle is to arouse their curiosity, which renders them alone to solve the problem as a mystery. Puzzle games could literal word games, form, o. Many children who are members in good thinking and problem solving can be attributed to put together a puzzle with his family. Finally, as they become more members of the family's role is more of a carefulone, and less of a participant.

Children of outdoor games and learn from these puzzles is huge. What is not as active learning, some adults may be the basis for a life of discovery seem. If children are allowed to solve their own puzzle wood, tend to develop the ability to think box, the outside. They also tend to see the picture more clearly than other children.

Although many parents take this as a sign that they needtheir children to push as hard as possible. This is not the case, since children often stopped when cranked. You have to leave to develop their learning potential at their own pace. The best way to encourage your child to give them more information on a theme, do as they grow. You can also play games to help them learn the words and animal names.

Of course, if the child is in elementary school you want something a bit 'moreadvanced than this. Children of all ages generally enjoy mathematical puzzles, learning to help them, because to have fun. learn the trick to get them, you think the game is fun, so they do not realize they are learning. Of course, with interesting pictures on the sheet problem or a puzzle never hurts. So if your child learn to promote, it is important to give them as many puzzle games and educational institutions as they wish. If you wish, you can just do not even know thatLearning. Of course, if they are older, which will not do as they do this trick, but it can help younger children. Remember not to push and go on their pace, not yours.

Your cat may be more than toys for the need for stimulation

Cats, like people need stimulation - both physically and mentally. They love challenges, puzzles and problems to solve. Without stimulation, they become lethargic and bored. Without him, they are more likely to eat and to demonstrate chronic bad behavior, as always licking their fur. Bob Walker and his wife, Frances Mooney have developed their house to a level that ensures that their cats stimulated royalty. His house, now the famous "Cat's House" in San Diego,nothing but a fantastic kitty box.

Walker and Mooney have fixed bridges, large geometric shapes, ramps, stairs, run a column sisal floor to ceiling, and to study many openings for cats and the cats hide in this way to be active, play with others or alone if they so choose. It also keeps the cats feet and threatened all the time.

People Magazine has this house "the world's largest jungle gym for cats." While you can not decidecompletely renovate your home with activities of cat eyes, you might want to consider what cats like to get more interesting. They love to climb. They can increase the seats which will be removed by others and feel less vulnerable.

There are simple steps you can take at home to increase your cat's activities and entertainment. When you create many objects to climb higher and some perch or hide, is not realistic for the home, consider how you might create someSimulation of these. If you have a large piece of furniture where your cat can be allowed to perch, you could end up on a chair or table could use it as a springboard to embark on his chest. The same applies to the shelf space in a library, a stable ladder or on the refrigerator. Cats can climb trees, hide, and add the cat sensing his domain from a height on the possibilities of stimulation.

Of course, you also need to have some programActivities for your cat. For example, I had a cat, Lhotse, starting to play ball with a plastic lover. He would jump and hook it into the air with one leg and then place it on the floor. With a little encouragement, they have since learned, is to get back to me for a running game to catch. Another cat is a fan folded piece of paper I to a long piece of rope I pulled behind me, bound as I ran from room to room he was hunting. If you have a ceiling fan in one room, you can add along cable with an object slightly weighted in order to end a knife and slowly.

Places and objects to climb the cat to jump, stretch their legs, and hide exploit their "inner Tiger" designed to participate in the activities in which they would in nature. Whatever you want the content to stimulate the cat, next only to provide toys for you will strengthen your bond with your cat and help them psychologically. Of course, if you feel happy and construction of a suspensionFootbridge is to thank you for your cat.

wooden toys Imagiplay

ImagiPLAY Toys

Buying "green" products made from environmentally-sustainable, renewable resources has gotten easier and easier, thanks to a growing demand for these items and the availability of online shopping. Wouldn't it be wonderful if you could find toys that are made with "green" methods and are produced by fairly paid manufacturers? Thanks to ImagiPLAY Toys with Integrity, you can find a wide selection of toys you can feel good about buying for your child or giving as gifts.

The Company

The founder and president of ImagiPLAY, Barbera Aimes, studied language and music across the Unites States and In Japan before settling in Boulder, Colorado to establish her business. Barbera believes in the value of play and in creating positive change. Her goal is to "help children appreciate our world. " ImagiPLAY toys make available safe, earth-friendly toys that teach children the alphabet, counting, and eye-hand coordination, all while fostering imaginative play and teaching about the diverse animal species our world contains.

How the Products are Made

ImagiPLAY's toys are all made from environmentally-friendly products. You won't find plastics and other synthetics among their products, so you don't have to worry about lead and other toxins. ImagiPLAY uses primarily plantain-grown rubberwood from rubber trees grown in managed forests. This wood is not only beautiful, it is durable and splinter-free, and allows for the trees to have a "second life" after their sap-producing years are over.

Not only are the products made from earth-friendly products, but they are manufactured in a way that respects their makers: because the factories where these toys are produced are close to the places where the workers live, those who make these toys can maintain a healthy life/work balance.

So, not only can you rest assured that they products you buy are helping to sustain our earth, you can know that they are produced in a way that fairly treats the company's workers.

The Products

You'll find toys for toys for babies and toddlers, and beautifully crafted animal figures for older children available through ImagiPLAY. Their baby rattles are crafted from smooth, beautiful, managed forest beechwood, and polished with beeswax. Toddler push toys in a variety of shapes, from hybrid cars to ducks, are made of rubberwood so they are safe for your child and your floors.

Puzzles, blocks, and bead mazes, all made from earth-friendly wood, will entertain your toddler for hours. Check out the veggie cutting set, which allows toddlers to "cut" vegetables made from colorful wood and to reassemble new vegetable creations with Velcro.

ImagiPLAY's puzzle playsets are puzzles and figures in one. After your child takes apart the three-dimensional pieces of the rainforest puzzle, he will want to play endless imaginative games with the figures, learning about different species as he manipulates the colorful, easy to hold pieces.

Colorific Earth Puzzles and Natural Dream Puzzles are interlocking, three dimensional, wooden puzzles that will spark your child's interest in the animals they represent as well as teach him hand-eye coordination. Wooden playsets such as A Day in the Kingdom or a Day on the Farm feature characters and sets to foster imaginative play, all made from easy-to-hold, durable wood.

Room décor items are also available, featuring giraffe bookends and wild animal coat hooks. Collectible animal pairs feature zebras, wolves, lions, and other sets of wild animals in both natural wood and painted wood. These animals will be sure to spark some imaginative play and to encourage your child to learn more about the animals these toys inspired.

Toys For Tots

Christmas, birthdays or other special events are a real treasure especially when you have tots in the house. For them every toy is a treasure to hold, they get thrills from quiet toys or noisy toys. Most of all a lot of toys meant for the very little ones are colorful and grab their attention unlike anything else out there. Here are some of the top toys for tots for this season. You will find something for every child.

Here are 5 top toys for children aged birth to 24 months that are sure to delight.

LeapFrog Spin and Sing Alphabet Zoo - Ideal for children 6 to 36 months of age. Children will discover the alphabet from Alligator to Zebra. LeapFrog does an excellent job of introducing letters A-Z and animal names and sounds. The playful musical responses that are rewarded at each touch will keep young children entertained.
IQ Baby Knock-Knock Blocks - Blocks are always a sure win with most kids, especially when they are soft and can be squished, bitten or thrown. These colorful blocks, covered in satin are great for children 1-2 years old and come 16 to a set. Ranked #7 and #10 in Amazon categories Toddler Toys and Baby & Toddler Toys these blocks teach young children cause and effect.
Melissa & Doug Deluxe Wooden Barnyard Animals Jumbo Knob Puzzle - Today when electronic toys reign supreme, most parents opt for whatever toy will give their kids the edge when it comes to education and learning, but what about plain fun and the thrill of simplicity? That where this great toy comes in, rated #12 in Pegged Puzzles this back-to-basic barnyard puzzle features smiling animals, and is made of wood and lets those one and older just have a little fun.
Melissa & Doug Stop Sign (Vehicles) Jumbo Puzzle - Like their companion puzzle, Barnyard Animals, this wooden toy aimed at children over 1 presents three extra-large vehicles on a stop sign. Extra-large knobs allow smaller hands to handle the puzzle pieces easily. Great puzzle to help develop matching skills.
Power Wheels Little People Tot Rod - How many kids don't like cars? This 6-volt, 4 amp battery powered car will let kids cruise up to 2 mph forward and like their adult counterparts comes with a 1 year limited bumper-to-bumper warranty. It also has safety features like parent assist to ensure that the little ones don't get themselves into any trouble.

There are many types of toys available for toddlers, from the basic "let's have fun" to others that mix fun and education that teach children cause and effect, and matching. Many toys are bright and colorful, so they will keep kids attracted and entertained for hours.

Melissa & Doug Wooden Puzzles Help Toddler Development

Wooden puzzles encourage many types of physical and emotional development among toddlers, while at the same time providing durable, low-cost toys for toddlers. Non-toxic puzzles with smooth-edged pieces are safe for toddlers, as well as easy for them to pick up and move around.

With today's global economy, there are a slew of wooden puzzles to choose from. Costs are relatively low thanks to slave labor wages paid to oppressed workers in China and other communist economies. Popular brands include Melissa & Doug, Ravensburger, and Parker Brothers.

Wooden puzzles can help toddlers develop their physical motor skills and their hand-eye coordination. Because a puzzle requires the child to manipulate several relatively small objects, this will develop their physical skills. They will learn to visually match the puzzle piece with its corresponding space on the puzzle board, and then will learn to physically manipulate and fit the piece in this room. Also on colors and shapes on the card to find the colors and shapes of their pieces of the puzzle that will engage different brain areas of the child are the same.

Puzzle can improve a child's cognitive ability, including their ability to problem-solving and reasoning. Each piece of the puzzle fits into an exact location, and the child may have to rotate the puzzle piece or flip around. A child is frustrated as they struggle to make the gamefit. However, with continued puzzle play, the toddler's problem-solving skills will improve with repeated successes at solving their problem (making the puzzle piece fit).

Problem-solving requires persistence and steadfastness to stay with the task until it is solved. It requires breaking the problem down into smaller steps, then solving each step one at a time, while maintaining a focus on completing the overall objective. Each of these problem-solving skills is required by

The top 10 most popular games for boys in 2010

Buying toys for boys can be really hit or miss for some people. Those that don't do their homework before they hit the stores are going to find it more difficult to actually pick a toy to buy. The good news is that boys are relatively easy to buy for if you know what you're doing. By using our list of popular toys for boys in 2010, you should get some great ideas on what to get all the boys on your Christmas 2010 shopping list.

The Top 10 Most Popular Toys For Boys in 2010

The following are some ideas on what the most popular toys for boys are going to be in 2010.

The Nerf N-Strike Stampede ECS is really hot this year so far. This may change in the next few months, but for now, the Nerf N-Strike Stampede ECS is on the top of a lot of wish lists.
The The World Smallest Palm Size Micro Alloy Shark Helicopter is small in size, but big in fun, which is why it's so popular for boys of all ages in 2010.
For younger boys who love Batman, the Fisher-Price Super Friends Batcave is a great play set.
For older boys, the LEGO Minotaurus Game is a lot of fun and selling like hotcakes right now. It's a LEGO board game that your kids can create.
When it comes to Toy Story 3 toys, the Toy Story Talking Buzz Lightyear is big again this year. Make sure you get enough batteries - unless you want it to stop talking eventually!
For outdoor riding toys, the John Deere Gator HPX Ride-On is very popular with boys in 2010.
Tween and teen boys go gaga over the EyeClops Night Vision Goggles Stealth V2.
Younger students who do not like big enough for a Wii, the system of Fisher Price Smart Fit. Are you a TV to plug in, if necessary, but this should not be a problem.
A lot are very popular LEGO sets in 2010, but many guys like building LEGO Hogwarts.
As high-tech electronic toys, Family Flex is the game sold quickly. It couldwant to pick this one up when you see it.

There are many other popular toys for boys in 2010, but this list should give you some great ideas on what to get all the boys in your life. Christmas 2010 is right around the corner, but if you start now you should get all of your shopping done before the big rush. Just remember to get extra batteries!

Some Benefits of Wooden Toys - Durable, Develop Imaginations, and Educational

Wooden toys offer some advantages that may not at first be obvious. It is true that a wooden toy cannot make a noise. It cannot move by itself. It does not have a remote control. It uses no batteries. It cannot do all the wonderful things that electronic toys do.

However, rather than being a drawback these things are actually beneficial. Not that there isn't a place for those types of toys but rather that the wooden toy is a valuable addition to the toy collection of any child.

* Durability

Wooden toys are usually strong. They do not break easily. Because of their strength they can stand a lot more weight and pressure than other toys. This lends them to being played with in more ways than most adults would think of when deciding which toy to get for their child.

* Imagination

Wooden toys allow the imagination a huge scope. Because the toy does not have any resemblance to the television programs that the children have watched their imagination has a chance to be unleashed. The number of different ways to play with the toy is only restricted to how well the child can use their imagination. The more a child exercises their imagination the stronger it becomes.

There are many advantages for a child in having a strong imagination. It is a vehicle which allows one to entertain oneself at any time and in any place. Most people would agree that that is very useful, not just in childhood but throughout life. Children also use imagination to explore their world, feelings and problems. It allows them to integrate their feelings, dreams and actions. In short it is a valuable vehicle to them becoming well adjusted members of society.

* Educational

The actual toy determines which educational factors can be developed. All wooden toys will have some educational or developmental benefit.

For example wooden puzzles can help to develop hand eye co ordination and problem solving. Of course puzzles made out of other materials offer the same advantages. Wooden puzzles, being stronger and more durable may perhaps offer them for longer.

Bead sequencing sets or other sorting games can offer hand eye co ordination and reasoning skills.

Anything that stimulates the process of discovery and learning will enhance the educational and developmental process of children. Wooden toys of all sorts can fit into this Category.

Versatile wooden toys are suitable for the new children's play every time with them when they play with them. For this reason, children often play again with this toy. This makes wooden toys include a wide range of life for every child.

The Benefits of Toddler Toys For Parents and Their Children

In today's market, there are many educational toddler toys available that will help children develop their skills at an early age. Colorful puzzles, creative play objects or toys featuring the alphabet or numbers are very beneficial to children because they bring enjoyment and facilitate learning at the same time. For parents, taking time to consider the educational benefits of a play object could go a long way for their toddler.

Using even the simplest objects, parents can present their toddlers with exciting opportunities for learning new things. It has actually been proven that toddlers who are exposed to educational toys are better prepared for kindergarten and eventually attain a higher success rate throughout their school years.

A number of toys have also gone digital. There are different varieties of video games and computer games for toddlers that not only provide visual entertainment, but serve to enhance their learning skills and provide educational benefits.

Aside from promoting learning, toys for toddlers could also facilitate more bonding moments between parents and their children. As parents guide their toddlers when they play with traditional toys or digital ones, the time they spend together enhances their closeness, and lets them learn more about each other.

It is always important to consider the early development of a child. Simple things such as toddler toys could help them become smart, intellectual human beings in the future. Taking advantage of the benefits of such simple objects can bring advantages not only for the child, but for the parents as well.

Advantages of Educational Toddler Toys

A newborn offspring wants to explore the world from the very beginning of his life. Toddler's exploration gives him or her a great range of knowledge and knowledge paves the way for language. For a smart growth of a toddler, toys have a great impact. Some toys allow to make physical activity in a tender age and this activities lead a child's physical growth. So, when a parents are going to buy toys for the child its equally important to buy educational toddler

Pre-trip checklist

Need a checklist of pre-trip?

Here are my suggestions to get started ...

One month before:

If you do not already have one, enter an e-mail to stay in touch. To keep in touch throughout the world, I use a Yahoo email address. Since Yahoo is accessible from any computer in the world, so is my e-mail. If you set up a new account, use only letters and numbers in your ID and password. Make your own list of contacts. There have been times when I had trouble findingForeign symbols on keyboards, including the @ symbol.

I scan my important documents and e-mail to my Yahoo address. If I need a copy, I can access my account via e-mail

Verifying ATM card uses a 4-digit PIN. And you know your PIN by the numbers not letters. Most international ATM machines only have numbers on them.

Call your bank and credit card companies and let them know that you're gone and where. Carry more than a credit card in case of emergency.

For aPurse, wallet I use Magellan's Secret Deluxe Waist. I find it very convenient and easily accessible.

Make sure that the state of your luggage and replace if necessary. They differ in some way: neon luggage straps yarn bow on the handles, colored tape on the sides,

Make copies of your itinerary in your suitcase.

Learn how to make calls abroad from the country you are visiting. If you want to take your phone, your phone callProvider of information.

If you have a pet, do pet sitting areas.

Confirm all your reservations. If this is a journey by car, take your car in an investigation.

Check your wardrobe. You have the right clothes for your trip? Otherwise, go shopping

One week before:

Put your newspaper on the party to stop.

Keep your e-mail or for someone to take it.

Prepare emergency contact information to leave with friends and neighbors.

CheckYour medications. Do you have enough for your trip and possible delays in emergency?

By public transportation? Plan your trip airport / train station / port / etc

Gather all the documents in one place. Put copies in a different place.

Get your camera and accessories ready. Enter your camera's manual and extra batteries for the charger. Read the fine print on the back of the charger.
Most of the taxes now working with two streams and that's itshould lead socket adapter.

Two days ahead:

Put your lights on timers.

Imagine too busy "kit" for you and all who are traveling with books, puzzles, toys, etc.

Watch the weather at your destination to make sure you wear the right clothes.

Eating out or perishable items, that are in your refrigerator.

The bag should drive with drugs and all that are not easily interchangeable with your packedDestination.

Make money for your trip. For travel within the country, travelers checks are fine, but at international level can be very difficult to convert. The ATM is usually the best way to get local currency

One day before:

Take your pet to the kennel, or if the stay at home to confirm arrangements with the Pet Sitter.

Water your plants.

Customize the A / C or heat according to

When traveling domestically, you can print your boarding pass.

Contain someSnacks in your carryon, especially when traveling in the U.S. where the airlines do not feed us anymore.

Set the alarm and sleep well at night.

Review Melissa and Doug Toys

Melissa and Doug Toys have been in business for the past twenty years. Their line of wooden toys has been expanding every year until they are one of the top makers of wooden puzzles. ALL of their toys either meet or exceed the US governments standards for safety in toys.

I love these toys! Many of them bring me back to my own childhood and that of my children. The wooden puzzles are fantastic. Besides the usual ABC and 124, wooden puzzles, they offer animals, cars, trucks, and shape puzzles. Many of the wooden puzzles have sounds to help your children learn their shapes, numbers or alphabet.

The shape sorter selection is great. Solid wooden boxes with cutouts for standard shapes and even one for the shapes of animals, will delight your younger children. They also offer the cutest assortment of push clacker" toys I've ever seen on one place. There is a duck clacker, an elephant clacker even an alligator!

If your children are budding artists, they will love the assortment of arts and crafts available. A particular favorite of mine is the wooden treasure chest that your child can decorate themselves. Everything needed to make an imaginative and original item is included. Their easels are solid and sturdy and either come alone or with paint, chalk and crayon accessories.

Dollhouses?? Oh yes! beautiful wooden dollhouses, some furnished and if they aren't, their are room packages available. Wonderfully detailed and not just doll houses! There is a barn and a stable for all the horse lovers; a castle for your knight in shining armor or your little princess.

Doll furniture like cribs, beds and even a high chair are made to take years of loving abuse!
A particular favorite of mine is the Tree House. It has a pulley systems, working trap door, porch swing, hammock and retractable stairs. It's about 20" high and is sure to please even the most discerning youngster.

Plush Animals are a favorite of the younger children and Melissa and Doug Toys have not left them out. There are wonderful white tigers, bears, dogs of all breeds and even a huge giraffe. These plush animals will delight your toddlers and offer that extra ounce of comfort when needed.

How Can You Use Learning Toys To Teach A Two Year Old?

If you are the parent of a two year old, you have probably already encountered some of the problems that parents face with teaching a curious and active child. Since two year old children are already learning their physical skill capabilities, it might be time to find ways to encourage better hand-eye coordination, along with developing their mental skills. Learning toys for toddlers can add a new dimension to their playtime because there are educational toys that are perfectly suited to stimulate their mental creativity.

Simple crafts and artwork are things that two-year olds love to do, but toys like puzzles and building blocks can help them express their creativity and learn at the same time. Finding the perfect learning toys for two year olds might seem difficult at first, but most of the major toy manufacturers have done research on those that are most effective. Through time-proven research, they have developed playthings that provide interactive education, while providing hours of fun for your toddlers.

Activity sets and educational games can be colorful, educational and provide simple fun for two-year old children. Bath toys like fishing games, preschool laptop toys and even beach play sets are learning toys that allow a toddler the opportunity to use a variety of skills in various settings. Ride-on toys, push toys and easy wooden puzzles, wooden maze toys or activity tool sets can help toddlers learn different activities that keep their minds and hands occupied. Having fun with entertaining learning toys can make teaching your child an effortless task, while keeping them from becoming bored.

There are many different learning toys to consider for this age group, but there are some children that might be more advanced physically or mentally, than others. As a parent, you just need to consider some of the age-specific toys for toddlers and you are sure to find the ones your child will enjoy playing with and learning with. The best way for parents to learn about the perfect educational playthings can be from other parents. Two year olds can be challenging, but teaching your child can be simple, when you take advantage of educational toys and games that are specifically designed for them.

Toddler Educational Toys Can Make Learning Fun

Toddler educational toys can have many definitions. To put it simply, it may mean that the development of teaching skills. It could also be a child to develop their creativity and explore their imagination. Educational me also means development. This is the ultimate goal of learning for the child during the game.

There are some really great games and toys on the market for small children, the education level is high. I think these are great foryour child. Just always keep in mind that you want your toddler to have FUN while learning. You want them to always associate learning as FUN.

If toddler educational toys can encourage your toddler to become interested in letters and Math skills, then they will carry that interest with them throughout the rest of their school years. It is about starting good habits to last a lifetime. I talk about this often. You start your child out young learning good habits.

Toys can make learning FUN. If your toddler is excited and having FUN while playing, they are going to want to play more there fore learn more. Simple but true. I am speaking from experience Moms and Dads. I have a 3 year old and my husband and I have taken this approach and it has worked.

When my son started pre-school, his teachers were blown away by what he already knew. From his colors to his shapes and even his numbers and counting. He started out ahead, because we helped prepare him for pre-school. The funny part about it was that JeNoah didn't even know it. That is why it is important as parents to make the proper choices even in their toys. You know what else? He had just as much FUN when he played with his toys, or when he played video games. Just as much FUN but was learning at the same time. It just doesn't get any better than that. I have a few tips and advice that will help you know what to look for when choosing toddler educational

Melissa and Doug Train Sets - The Teaching Toys

Many parents and teachers are very familiar with the Melissa and Doug toys. This brand is among the most renowned in the field of educational toys like wooden puzzles and other toys for younger children. And one of the classic and much loved by children, the characteristics of Melissa and Doug.

The wooden trains are a great way to get your child to be creative and to develop a contribution to their logical thought. Almost everything you needreconstruct the actual amazing world of train adventure is included in every Melissa and Doug train package. Each train set usually has more than 130 pieces of train and railroad items. They are strategically designed and well-made to take your child's imagination to the make believe world of train yards.

You can find tracks that go up in order to move the trains to the top. There is also a large roundhouse engine outbuilding. Included in the package are numerous tracks that form the bends and straight lines. In addition, traffic signs, trees, and workers add up to create the life-like feel of the railroad life. Also included are various kinds of trains, switches, magnetic-tipped cranes, suspension bridge, T-junctions for passing lanes, roundtable, and trestle bridges. With all of these pieces, you and your child can definitely build the sort of train station that you want.

Truly, the Melissa and Doug train set can carry a young imagination to new heights. It can also provide endless excitement and fun for the kids. The toys are high quality and known in every household as well as classrooms for being versatile. Buying this classic wooden railway train set will not be a waste of money since you can actually pass it on to the next generation if taken care of properly.

The durable solid wood the train set was constructed from will provide many years of happy railroad playing. There are some parts however, which are made from other materials like sturdy plastic and steel suspension bridge, steel rivets on trucks and trains, plastic wheels, steel and small set screws as accessories. Other than those mentioned here, the rest of the Melissa and Doug train set in solid wood.

All accessories and pieces of track are ground to make a smooth surface. The screws are driven in depth, so that the surface of the elements is smooth and even for small hands. Also, took down the title andeasily, so there is no other tool needed to link all the pieces together. With more than a hundred pieces of tracks to link and bridges to work on, the main challenge for your child is to be and remain organized in order to assemble all the bits correctly.

To conclude, from the humble beginnings of Melissa & Doug, the company has turned out to be one of the most respected and world renowned toy makers of today. The toys that they have produced through the years have reaped many "Best Toy" awards ceremony for parents and educators of the body. Because of their popularity Melissa and Doug in television shows and print media have been identified.

Learning Toys Let Your Kids Have Fun While They Learn

Today you are fortunate to gift your children with educational toys which help them to have fun and at the same time learn a lot. The toys are aimed towards the development of a young child's creativity skills and metal abilities. Certain toys also help in the physical development of children; you can sum it up by saying that learning toys enhance the all round development of a young child.

There are learning toys designed for all ages. The toys for an infant will be different from that of a toddler's or a teenager's. When you are shopping for learning toys, try to analyze what your child will achieve from playing with the stuff. Good learning toys are made from non-toxic elements, do not have sharp edges that can hurt a child, and are also brightly colored. The child should be interested to play with a learning toy, only then will the target be achieved.

Learning toys need not be expensive; look for the appropriate toys at the stores. The best place for finding educational toys is online. You can have simple stacking toys, like building blocks for putting the mental ability of the children to test. With building blocks, kids can differentiate among the different sizes, shapes and colors of the blocks. Jigsaw puzzles and word puzzles help increase the mental ability and the vocabulary of your children.

Painting and drawing sets help a child be more creative. A child can express herself or himself better with art supplies, such as crayons, markers, safety scissors and heavy construction paper. Learning toys can be simple and great tools for education.

For youngsters, you can also have video games. Remember, it is best to avoid gifting video games which do not help in the development of a child. Refrain from gifting video or electronic games to babies.

Why look online for educational toys?

The point of looking online for educational toys is that reputed online stores have toys categorized according to the ages of children. A reputed site will have the different toys displayed; all you have to do is go through them and select the one you want for your baby or youngster.

The prices are also mentioned for each toy. This is good as it will help you make a buy within your budget. Also find out about the shipping policies and the process of delivery of the online store that you have selected. Research learning toys well online and make a smart buy.

Christmas Jigsaw Puzzles

Any mention of Christmas can turn the mind immediately to scrumptiously delicious treats. After having had your fill of them you can relax your body and exercise your mind with a few food-related jigsaw puzzles. Christmas cookies, candy canes, fruitcakes, and gingerbread houses are examples of food themes related to Christmas. This type of Christmas jigsaw puzzles are a hit with children as they really look forward to Christmas treats. These puzzles are in keeping with the flavor of the season.

When Christmas beckons everyone gets busy bringing down decorations from their attics. Christmas jigsaw puzzles with decoration as the underlying theme appeals to everybody and goes with the mood of the day. Christmas candles, Christmas centerpiece, Christmas lights, Christmas ornaments, Christmas tree, etc., are themes used in jigsaw puzzles related to Christmas decorations.

Warm family feelings come to the fore during Christmas season. Happy fun filled family times are the order of the day. Jigsaw puzzles make for great family fun times. Themes like Christmas at home, Christmas greetings, Christmas kitten, holiday greetings, and home for Christmas are jigsaw themes that suit the occasion well.

The true spirit of Christmas is driven home by the use of several symbols. These symbols are available in jigsaw puzzle form, as well. Some examples are holly, the meaning of Christmas, mistletoe, pinecone, angel, church, carolers and wreath. These typical Christmas symbols make great pictures for jigsaw puzzles. Solving these puzzles familiarizes children with these symbols. Conversation about these symbols goes a long way in introducing the concept of the true spirit of Christmas.

Santa, his entourage and his sack of gifts are also very popularly used themes in jigsaw puzzles. All toy shops carry a wide range of Santa jigsaw puzzles.

Jigsaw puzzles are great for exercising the brain in a fun way. And by integrating the theme of Christmas with them they play a dual role of exercising the brain as well as familiarizing Christmas and the related symbols and values.