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As Christmas approaches for 2009, as a parent we start to think about the most suitable toys to purchase our children. I am often torn between the presents my kids would love to receive and those I feel I would like to offer. On the one hand there is part of me that knows they would love to a handheld gaming console like the Nintendo DS.

But there is another part of me that recognizes there are only so many hours in a day and do I really want my child to be playing a computer game instead of reading a book or playing creatively in the yard? The answer to that question is ‘No’. Having said that there is also an element of technological familiarity, I want to encourage my child to be firstly familiar with electronic devices but also I want him to be able to regulate his use of things that are highly appealing but best taken in small doses. 

I call it the Coco Pops principle. When I was a kid my parents never bought Coco Pops. Ok maybe that’s not true (I’ll put my petulant child back in the box for a bit). Let’s say they bought this type of cereal perhaps once a year. As a kid I craved Coco Pops and I think a large part of that was seeing the box all the time (on TV, advertisements in comics and on store shelves) and not being able to have it. When I left home and could purchase them for myself I went wild, having Coco Pops every day until I made myself sick.

Part of me thinks if I was simply allowed to have Coco Pops on a semi-regular basis then I wouldn’t have formed such an attachment to them.  Creating a sense of deprivation set up a situation where I craved them more and had an irrational attachment to them, wanted them all the time. If I had what I craved in measured doses this attachment would not have been created.

So with kid’s electronic toys my preference is for considered and measured interactions. That is giving them access to the best resources I can find in time slots that fit in alongside other parts of their lives. So that is to say they can use educational learning toys because they are fun but also because they will learn skills other than hand-eye coordination and competitiveness and they can use them for half an hour a day, if it fits in with our schedule.

Purchasing electronic toys for kids needn’t be a hard decision, just remember to buy a recharger!

Technorati Tags: 2009, Best, Choosing, Christmas, Learning, Toys

Every parent hopes they have chosen the best Christmas Gifts for kids in 2009 and look forward to those eager, happy little faces on Christmas day. However, making the right choice is not just a matter of spending money. It requires insight into childhood desires, as well as deciding what is good value for the child concerned. Research with some of the largest retailers shows that there are a number of standout toys and games you should consider.

As there are so many different ways that children can be entertained – and, despite your child’s wishes, you can’t try them all – some of the best options in different categories are listed below:

1. Board Games – The Settlers of Catan
Regarded as one of the best games ever designed, this trading and building game is set in the world of Catan, where strategy and judgment in trading resources is a highly valuable skill. Players are building a country, including cities and roads, and the board conditions are constantly changing. It is now the basis of many collections. Suits 3-4 players.

2. Dolls – Barbie & The Diamond Castle – Princess Liana Doll
A singing Barbie with a magical dress that is able to transform into a glittery gown as desired. This Barbie, with her long blond hair and purple tiara, is  based on the character in the movie “Barbie and the Diamond Castle”. Suitable for all aspiring Princesses.

3. Electronic Toys – Didj Custom Learning Gaming System from Leapfrog.
A handheld gaming and learning system that can be customized. It can also be connected to a computer to play enthralling games while learning schoolwork and are encouraged with a built-in reward system. There is a library of themes and favorite characters for redesigning the games. It provides all sorts of learning opportunities for children aged 6+.

4. Musical Toys – U-Dance from Tiger Electronics.
A motion-based dance game that entertains with music and dancing. The kids are reuired to keep up with the moves during sets of upbeat and fun songs. It is not only entertaining for the whole family but is also good for building fitness levels. Suits ages 8+.

5. Outdoor Toys – Triple Hit Baseball – Grow To Pro Series
This is not one of those toys which will be quickly outgrown as kids develop higher skill levels. It will provide increasing challenges as players move from beginner, through rookie to pro in developing their baseball skills. At Rookie level, the ball pops up out of the ground and dares the player to hit. The Pro level works from about 10 feet away and pitches the ball to a batter, who learns to face, swing and connect.

6. Puzzles – Safari Floor Puzzle 100 pc Floor from Melissa & Doug.
You need a bit of floor space for this beautiful depiction of an African plain or Savannah, with all the animals surrounding a watering hole. These are extra thick pieces which are easy to clean and will look like new long after other puzzles have been discarded. Children will love the colorful setting and the wildlife as they meet the challenge to assemble the puzzle.

7. Stuffed Animals – Golden Retriever from Webkinz.
No collection of toys is complete without a beautiful stuffed animal and this Golden Retriever is soft, plush and cuddly. There is a code which allows the pet to be brought to life through internet access. For children 3 yrs up who would like a pet that is already house-trained.

Technorati Tags: 2009, Best, Christmas, Gifts, Kids

As the holiday season approaches and you start to consider the best Christmas gifts for 2009, you want to be sure that what you give will be a happy experience for those who receive your gifts. This means looking beyond simple Xmas cards, gift certificates, and a hasty trip to the shopping mall. Nothing beats the look of excitement and joy as others open your gifts and warmly offer their thanks, reminding you it is the thought behind the gift which truly counts!  

Look forward to their smiles again this year, with this list of the top selling gifts of 2009, prepared from research conducted with the largest online retailers.  

1. Wild Planet Hyper Dash by Wild Planet
This product won the 2009 Top Toy of the Year issued by Creative Child Magazine. Not only a fun game, it is exceptional in developing math and athletic skills. It also challenges skill, speed, coordination, teamwork and memory. 7-12 years.

2. Hot Potato by Fundex Games
Also among the best gifts 2009 is an electronic hot potato and potato chips and requires family members to frantically toss the hot potato and not get caught holding the spud when the music stops. Good for 2-6 players.

3. American Girl 300 Wishes – Board Game by Mattel
Included are 300 wish cards, five diaries and five wish keys. The “Wish Cards” dealt to players describe fun experiences, carrers and personal accomplishments they dream of having. The aim is to match the players’ wishes with the cards they receive. 8+ years.

4. Scooby-Doo! A Haunted House Game by Pressman Toys
Similar to the TV series on Cartoon Network, this 3D plastic game is packed with action as players move about the haunted house and try to reach the top level whilst avoiding booby traps and ghosts. Suits 2-5 players.

5. Math Whiz by Educational Insights
Provides hundreds of fun math facts and challenges kids on addition, division, subtractiona nd multiplication. It can also function as a calculator. There are eight skill levels and an easy to read display screen, as well as light and sound effects that greet the answers given. 6+ years.

6. Electronic Hyperslide by Hasbro Games
Three different games that allow for individual as  well as team fun and competition on the table top, with sounds, voice commands, and electronic lights. “Guess” a sequence of colors before the buzzer declares your time has run out.

7. Bananagrams by Bananagrams
A word game featuring 144 tile letters that are placed face down while players select their tiles.  Great for family fun while you travel as it is light, portable and easy to set up. No pencil or paper required.

8. Blokus Classic by Educational Insights
A strategy board game which is the most awarded game of the Century, so far (20+ awards). Suitable for up to four players, it employs a 400 piece game board and 84 colored playing pieces. Players try to fit all their pieces on the board, touching at least one corner of their earlier pieces and not adjacent to the pieces of another player. The winner is the first to get rid of their pieces.

9. LeapFrog® Match Up!
A fun game to improve memory and reasoning skills. Pressing a button provides a clue which must be matched with options that include rhyming words, animal sounds, and opposites. Three levels of play allow children to progress at their own pace. Suits individual play or with a friend.

10. Math Mat Challenge Game
Our final selection for best Xmas gifts 2009 is a clever and exciting math game that includes an interactive, talking floor mat. There are four different games and two skill levels that help develop skills in numbers, addition, counting and subtraction. Kids step on the mat when they have the answer. The game gets faster as scores get higher.

Technorati Tags: 2009, Best, Christmas, Gifts

Most children find holidays and birthdays as very special. They look forward to these special occasions because they expect to receive gifts especially brand new toys. For parents, the toddler phase among children is the most enjoyable to observe. When babies reach the toddler stage, they come to understand how fun it is to celebrate holidays and birthdays, and other special occasions. They long for these opportunities where they can give and receive gifts. Kids love gifts, whatever kind of gift it is. But, of course, the best gifts for toddlers are toys.

The task of finding the best toddler toys can be cool and simple. This is due to the fact that there is a wide variety of a toy for toddlers that are available. Toddlers are known to be excited to almost any kind of gift. But this does not imply that it is not necessary to choose the perfect toy for your little ones. At their very young age, the best toys to give them are those toys that induce learning and mental development.

Since the toddler phase is considered as among the notable period of mental growth and development. This is the phase where children are encouraged to think and learn. That’s why the best toys for kids at this stage are educational toys. These toys can help them gain knowledge of the world they live in. Educational toys also help kids develop some vital skills such as the basic motor skills.

However, not all toys are suitable for all children. There are toys that are especially designed for toddlers. For that reason, it is important to consider the age of your child before buying a toy for him or her. There are certain ages which can play a specific type of toy.

Toddlers have the tendency to choke small parts of the toys that’s why most children toys have choking hazard sign. In this regard, it would be better if you choose toys that are specifically made for those children who are in the toddler stage. The fines toddler toys have been scientifically tested to ensure that they would be safe for your kids.

In addition, the perfect toddler toy must be fun and exciting to your kids. When choosing a toy, opt for the toy that is colorful and promotes child development. Obviously, this does not imply that the best toddler toys should be state-of-the-art electronic devices. If you still have no idea on what toy to buy for your toddler, just think of your childhood years. Try to remember the toys that you play with when you are still young. This may help you in finding the right toy for your child.

Thus, there are numerous toys for toddlers that are at hand. But educational toys are still the most appropriate toy to buy for your kids. They do not only promote learning but they are also safe to play with. Most of all, do not forget that the toy should be fun and exciting. It is of the essence that your kids get pleasure from playing with their toys. If your kid is enjoying the toy that you buy, that only means that you did a good job in your toy shopping.

Technorati Tags: Among, Best, Pick, Rest, Toddler, Toys

Selecting suitable Christmas gifts for a baby means more than finding objects to keep the little one occupied and quiet. Baby gifts and toys are often carefully designed to aid the development of the young child as abilities that adults take for granted take time for young children to learn. Here is a list of popular items that has been researched with some of the largest online retailers of baby products.

Of course every infant and toddler requires staple items such as clothes, bedding, furniture and other gear. However, babies also need opportunities to learn movement and co-ordination, as well as how to differentiate textures, colors, tastes, sounds and shapes. Musical appreciation can also be started at a very young age, as can an awareness of letters and numbers. Fun toys and games are available which aid in developing  simple reasoning skills.

Here are some of the most popular gifts for babies:

1. Sophie the Giraffe Teether – Vulli.
This giraffe is very flexible, being made of rubber, and it offers lots of parts – like ears, legs and horns – to chew on. Not only is it soft to touch, like a baby’s mother, but it also has a squeaker to keep the baby amused.

2.  Baby Einstein Takealong Tunes.
A chance to introduce the little one to baby-friendly versions of some of the greats of classical music, such as Mozart, Chopin, Vivaldi and Rossini. A large button allows the baby to make its way happily through 7 classical melodies. This is a baby’s version of an MP3 player and it also entertains with colorful lights which display on the screen. 

3. Baby’s First Blocks from Brilliant Basics
Ten brightly colored plastic blocks in a bucket invite endless sorting, filling and dumping, which also aids eye-hand co-ordination and learning to identify different shapes.  The container box has a handle which makes it easy to carry. 

4. Jacques the Peacock from Lamaze.
A beautiful peacock with lovely colors, a mirror, many textures and sounds, it was designed with the aid of development experts at Yale University. It has an easy attachment for strollers and carriers. It is easy to take with you on shopping trips and play dates. The soft velour body invites playing and snuggling and is easy for little hands to use.

5. Playskool Busy Ball Popper from Hasbro.
Winner of numerous awards, including American Baby’s Best Toy, the little one drops balls onto a spiral track and pumps a plunger. The balls scoot to the bottom and pop out the top. It has crazy sound effects and 8 bouncy songs which add to the fun.

6. Learn & Groove Musical Table from Leapfrog.
Suits ages 6 mths and up, it has lots of musical activities that make learning fun. Improves motor skills while they learn about the alphabet, colors, and opposites. The Musical Table offers a carnival of learning experiences, with sparkling lights and more than 40 songs and melodies.

7. Munchkin Mozart Magic Cube
Also an award-winning toy, the Magic Cube provides a great musical foundation for babies and small children. By touching a button, the player can subtract or add any of five musical instruments – the harp, French horn, flute, piano, violin and flute. The selected instrument plays to the beat of the music or all of them can be combined into an orchestra. It has lots of bright colors and soft, rounded corners.

8. Rainforest Jumperoo – Fisher-price.
With a rainforest setting, this baby jumper stimulates movement, with a fun seat and toys in five locations on the platform. There is also an electronic toy on the front which moves and provides music and lights that can be activated simply by the baby. An elephant, monkey, parrot and tiger add to the excitement.

9. Baby Einstein Animal Exploration Tunnel
Crawlers will love this four-foot-long tunnel which includes a chirping red bird, an apple teether, mirror toy, animal photo cards, plus links to add more toys and other baby stuff.

10. Sleep Sheep from Cloud b.
Won the National Parenting Council’s Seal of approval, along with a number of other industry awards. The plush Sleep Sheep is very cuddly and has five soothing sounds which help to calm a restless child. These include a heart beat (like mother’s), a quiet stream, spring showers, ocean waves and harmonious whale sounds. It is a great audio and tactile pacifier, which helps to block unfamiliar and disturbing sounds and relieve stress. A very good traveling aid. 

Technorati Tags: 2009, Baby, Best, Christmas, Gifts