Archive for the ‘Educational Toys’ Category
Perfect educational toys for Christmas
Most people have to purchase a children’s toy for someone on their Christmas list, which can be frustrating due to the high demand for certain must-have items. This year, avoid the crazy rush by choosing to indulge the child on your list with an educational toy.
By doing so the child can get a toy that actually will help them develop and you get to rest easy with the satisfaction that you have made a positive contribution on their life.
One of the most popular tech-smart toys this year is the Nitro Web Notebook ‘Safe Surfing” product which has 70 interactive activities programmed into it that teach children everything from Spanish to science to art to maths. The tiny classroom learner is also connected to the web, which means the content can always be updated and allows children to interact with peers also using the same device.
For younger children, the perfect gift may be the Kidizoom Digital Camera Plus, which allows small children to use the miniature digital camera that allows them to store up to 2000 photos of their own. It is equipped with 2.0 mega pixel resolution and can be connected to a home computer or television so that children get to share their art with friends and family.
Finally, one more option for the child who is hard to shop for is the Expanded V Smile Motion Smartridge Library which contains titles from all of the most popular children’s characters such as NASCAR, Ni Hao Kai Lin, Handy Manny, UP, and plenty more.
Top Ten Traditional Christmas Toys from Toyday
This year some of the most popular traditional Christmas toys are going to be very familiar to most adults as in the Toyday top ten. To help you get your little munchkins the best gifts this year here are the top ten best sellers in the Christmas toy list of 2009.
Rubber Band Plane
Before battery power was affordable the only way to fuel a toy plane was with a rubber band. This unique idea has come back to life this year with the Rubber Band Aeroplane that is a stunning representation of a small propeller plane straight off of a private runway. It comes in an easy to assemble kit, so children can have fun putting it together before it goes on its maiden flight. For added enjoyment, the rubber hand is made of the most durable materials on the market for unlimited hours of fun.
More info here.
Every child that has a doll house or farm set will love adding in some of these plastic farm animals to their decorations. The plastic animals are solid and able to stand on their own and thus are perfect additions to any child’s play set. Included in the small affordable set are horses, cows, pigs, sheep, goats, and lambs.
More info here.
8. Kaleidoscope
Kaleidoscope
Before every toy was made from plastic there was wood, and this old fashioned wood kaleidoscope is capable of portraying each of the same wonderful rainbow designs that their contemporary plastic versions can. For children who love colorful displays, the kaleidoscope is able to provide plenty of multi-colored designs. On the outside the kaleidoscope is black with stars embossed across the cover.
More info here.
Rainbow Spinning Top
For children over a year old, this colorful top is a wonderful distraction and play toy. Made of strong metal the top is capable of spinning for hours to a subtle but pleasing humming tune. Low priced and equipped with a base for storage the rainbow spinning top is the perfect gift for the curious toddler in your life. It is also fun for older adults who enjoy a flashback to their younger days.
More info here.
Soft Babies Jingling Ball
Plush, soft, and full of colour, the soft babies jingling ball is made to please children from the day they are born. Completely safe and durable, the ball can bring hours of excitement to babies as they explore how to use their hands to shake the ball and hear its delightful jingle. Even better, as babies grow older they can use the ball to play fetch and toss making it a timeless toy that will last your child for quite some time past their infant years.
More info here.
Toy guns go hand in hand with childhood like mud on a rainy day. Luckily, if you never grew up or want to give your children the same fun that you had you can enjoy the metal spud gun which comes in a delightfully vibrant red colour. Even better, the spud gun is not only able to fire small pieces of potato, but also rubber pellets, caps, and even a small amount of water if loaded correctly.
More info here.
Every kid loves a sharp noise, especially if it is one that they can create on their own. With the fun snap bangers you can let your kids make their own snaps whenever they like simply by tossing one onto the ground. Since they are cheap and small in size you can easily pick up a few boxes of the fun snap bangers to fill up a stocking on Christmas Eve.
More info here.
Wooden Letter Train
If you want to give your child a Christmas present this year that is personalized to for them consider getting a wooden letter train for them this Christmas. All children love the charm of a wooden trail that they can pull along with them, but yours will love theirs better if it spells out their name or a personalized message of your choosing. The wooden letter train can also be used for a room decoration as well if you are looking for something to spice up your child’s room.
More info here.
Penguin Race Game
At 32cm tall the penguin race game is able to entertain young children for hours as the little penguin is able to climb the steps until it makes its descent back down to the bottom to begin all over again. Assembly is easy making it a gift that your children can start playing with on Christmas morning and all it needs to continue working is one D battery so make sure to include one in the wrapping paper.
More info here.
Guatemalan worry dolls
At the top of the top ten Christmas toy list this year are the adorable small handheld Guatemalan worry dolls. Made for children who are past the age of placing small objects in their mouth the worry dolls are perfect for children who are still scared of the dark. The box contains a small leaflet that tells your child how having the dolls near you as you sleep will relieve them of any worries.
More info here.
Teach the kids manners with these Christmas Stocking Fillers
Nice Bear, Naughty Bear cards are the perfect Christmas stocking filler to help teach manners in a fun way to children as young as possible.
Please Bear
Thankyou Bear
Bully Bear
Thirty two cards to a pack, 16 different bears are featured with captivating and easy to remember rhymes. ‘we know that everyone enjoys Bears who tidy all their toys’ and ‘a bully bear is no one’s friend And will be lonely in the end’ Each card helps a young child understand either good or bad behaviour in a very easy and fun way.
Designed specifically for young children to learn good manners and social skills they can be used for playing games like Bear Snap and Memory Bears, or for the basis of role play, comment and discussion. Nose Picker Bear ‘it really is an ugly pose To stick your fingers up your nose’!
Avril Lethbridge, creator of the concept says ‘I think children identify with these little bears, they are cute and colourful and get some important lifestyle messages across to young children in a fun and non-patronising way’.
Each card has a colourful picture of an appropriate bear with its name at the top and two lines of descriptive rhyme at the bottom. The catchy rhymes are easy to learn by heart and will soon become locked in a child’s memory.
The cards, which come in a presentation folder are just £6.99, and are light and easy to post, making them ideal stocking fillers.
The cards are the first in a series of games and products that will cover various etiquette issues, such as Table Manners, Relationships in the Playground and Making Friends.
Packs cost £6.99 inc VAT and are available from www.nicebearnaughtybear.com
Awards for top toys of 2009
Online independent toy directories were asked independent stores from all over the internet to submit what they thought were the best toys of 2009. The result was a large range of nominations with several standouts that were popular from all 300 respondents, such as the Baby Stella Doll.
Toy Shop UK’s Tim Hawkins stated that the company is glad to announce an unique top ten list that is not based on profit margins alone or on the large dominant toy brands.
Instead, Hawkins stated that the list portrays what independent retailers with the best interests of children in mind think parents should purchase this year.
There were several different categories in the awards in 2009 each that featured their own winners. For infants, the top toy this year is the 7 in 1 Activity Centre from I’m A Toy. Also possibly a great gift for infants was the winner in creative play, the Tellatale Hand Puppets from Fiesta Crafts.
Moving up to the toddler age range, the Farm Animals Chunky Puzzle by Meilssa & Doug took the honours for Games & Puzzles and the Dragon A-Z Jigsaw Puzzle by Lana Kade took honours in the ECO category. Also a great toy for toddler and for those approaching pre-school age is the winner of the Dolls category the Baby Stella by Manhattan Toy.
Finally, for older children rounding out the list as the winner in the Educational category is the Kidilook by Vtech, the Lewis Hamilton McLaren Kit by Airfax in the Models category, the Quadrila Basic Set by Quadrilla in the Construction category, and Sophie’s House in the Wooden category by Le Toy Van.
Out of these toys, the Baby Stella and the Traditional Rag Doll received the most votes from across all categories earning them a special node in the awards although interestingly enough the Traditional Rag Doll by Imajo did not make the final list of winners.