Fisher Price Little People Time-to-Learn Preschool is an amazing playset to collect. It can be played by 24 months to 5 years old. For younger toddler, Fisher Price Little People Time-to-Learn Preschool may give an introduction to learn colors, shapes, numbers one through twenty. The size of each little people figurine is suit to the small hands of toddler so it can be easily grab. In order to introduce toddlers to numbers, each little people figurine carries different number. As seen from its name, Fisher Price Little People Time-to-Learn Preschool, it accommodates a preschool setting with an interactive sidewalk introducing toddlers to numbers, matching (the number in the mat with the number that little people figurine carries), counting, colors and shapes. The sidewalk takes toddlers to travel from one to ten, following songs, fun sound effects and spoken words. Besides, Fisher Price Little People Time-to-Learn Preschool provides playground activities too, such as sandbox and slide. The mat becomes the base of the schoolhouse and there are quizzes and interactive games on it. Just touch the mat to activate it. Click here to know more about Fisher Price Little People Time-to-Learn Preschool.
Christmas gifts are one of the main appeals of Christmas especially for kids. As parents, you may confuse to find out the most popular Christmas gifts for your kids. Christmas gifts may be hard to select. It is much easier to wrap an empty box and put it under the Christmas tree. However, it will disappoint your kids to get nothing during Christmas. Besides, Christmas gifts are a form of our concern and love for our kids. Whether you make it yourself or buy some at store, Christmas gifts are the most exciting present kids always wait for.
Before you leave the house and pick some Christmas gifts at store, you may read my article “Best Selling Christmas Toys 2008” to check the best selling Christmas toys 2008. This article was written based on my little internet research. There are some sites that also recommend which toys should be purchased as a Christmas gift this year. There are also sites which are trying to predict what toys will be sold out this Christmas. My job here is to collect the information from those sites and to make a list of what toys are the best selling Christmas toys for you.
I do hope this article will help you identify some of the toys you should be looking out for. There are lists of toys for girls and boys as a guide to help you find Christmas gifts for your kids and others on your Christmas list.
Click here to find out the Best Selling Christmas Toys 2008!
Merry Christmas!
It is almost Christmas again and some of you probably have not got the Christmas gift idea yet for your toddlers to put under the Christmas tree this year. If you are looking for such Christmas gift idea then you might find one which is entirely dedicated to toddlers and it could be an everlasting and enlightening Christmas gift idea ever. The Christmas gifts for toddlers are heart touching and toddlers are in no doubt to love them. You will be delightful to see their little faces got surprise. Among the numerous Christmas gift ideas, most of them are hot sellers of the Christmas.
Click here to read what’s your Christmas gift idea for toddlers?
Someday, somehow, every baby will be a toddler. Meaning to say, babies will reach more height and should be moved from the baby crib to a toddler bed. This is to prevent the toddler’s falling or even jumping out of the baby crib. Nevertheless, deciding to move the toddler from the crib to twin bed or to a toddler bed is not that easy. The factors below should be put into your consideration before you take the decision.
Readiness It is not easy for some toddlers to move directly from a baby crib to a twin bed. They sign that they are reluctant to move and make a fuss in the transition. This is because the size of the twin bed is too big compared with that of the crib, and this big size makes them feel uncomfortable. If this happens, then you may go with toddler bed first before jumping to the next step. For toddlers, toddler beds are more sheltered, closely fitting and thus make them feel much more comfortable. Moreover, there are many toddler beds with sweet and mesmerizing design that will help your toddler to transit from the crib to the toddler bed smoothly.
Independence The twin bed is definitely higher than the toddler bed. If toddlers do not have enough height or build up the ability to get off and on the twin bed, then you should think another option and go with this, the toddler bed. A toddler bed is made lower from the ground. This is to help toddlers easily get off and on the bed without any difficulties. Well, you can still go with the twin bed but choose the one of which the height is not too high from the ground.
Bed Rails This is very important and I believe toddlers need bed rails, especially the very young toddlers since they have not developed the capability to keep staying within the boundaries of the bed while they are sleeping. With the bed rails built in the toddler bed, your toddlers will be secure and save from falling. However, if your decision is to pick the twin bed, then you need to purchase the bed rails separately and equip the twin bed with them. Please do some research on bed rails before buying because not all bed rails posses the same safety level and quality.
Practicality Ok, let’s be honest to ourselves. Many of us are hesitant to purchase a toddler bed because of the short-period of its use. Generally, a toddler bed can only be used for 3 or 4 years. However, some toddlers grow and reach certain height faster than other toddlers do. In this case, you should estimate your toddler’s physical development before making decision. If you suppose that your toddler will quickly grow and become out of the size of the toddler bed sooner, you’d better buy a twin bed or perhaps an adult bed.
To conclude, the most important consideration when you buy a bed for your toddler is the safety matter. Different kids experience different pace of growth and as a parent, you are the one who know exactly the most appropriate bed for your lovely toddler.
About the author:
Francisca Cahyaningsih is a mother of one toddler and owner of super toys for super toddlers weblog which covers various articles around toddler toys, games, tips and gift ideas for babies and toddlers.
Below is the second part article of the best toddler toys 2008 for 3 to 5 years:
#6 My First LEGO DUPLO Set
Blocks, which are sturdy and colorful, are very interesting to play by all age and gender. These ones are the first set for 18 months to 5 years toddlers since these ones are bigger and safe in terms of choking hazard. Besides, they are less likely to get lost and easy to put together and take part. For girls, they usually like the little kitty that is one of the pieces. For younger toddlers, at first they like to knock down what parents create, but later they can build something too. For some people, maybe we share the same wish to have this with more than 30-pieces. However, parents can buy some more blocks to expand the building since blocks never end. They are great fun, long lasting and educational.
#7 TAG Reading System – Pink by LeapFrog
This unisex product helps toddlers to recognize words, develop memory and build toddlers’ reading interests as well as their independence. It is available either in green or pink. The pen has been loaded by a book. You can download other books using a computer through a simple process. This tag is educational, high quality and also fun for 3 to 7 years kids. Toddlers usually like listening to stories and older toddlers enjoy following along in books just by touching the book with the TAG. The TAG will read whole story with little tones so that toddlers know when they need to turn the page. However, you can just play the audio if your toddlers do not want to follow along. This TAG also provides activities pages so that toddlers can play interactive games by touching different letters, pictures and words. This TAG can hold 5 books at a time and other books can be added and removed quickly.
#8 Play-Doh: Fun with Food – Meal Makin’ Kitchen by Hasbro
This safe and easy clean up toy sounds like for toddlers around 3 to 7 years especially for girl, but some boys love it so much. Toddlers may like the idea of cooking and imagination of “making dinner” in their kitchen for their mom and dad, too. Besides, I think that it teaches to clean up when done or the play-doh dries out, to wash the dishes and it’s just a lot of fun. This toy can help toddlers to grow with as toddlers figure out how to use all parts of this toy. This toy shares great colors, great mold presses for foods, and great fun for the whole family.
#9 Candy Land Castle Game by Hasbro
It’s a unisex cool cute colorful sturdy game for toddlers around 3 to 6 years to learn about shapes and colors and sharpen their motor skills as well as the concepts of rules and taking turns. It is fun for toddlers pulling the little lever to make the pieces shoot out. It is also very durable. When I looked at it for the first time, I doubted and thought that it would be broken in a short time. However, it remains good though it has been bumped into the floor many times. Other thing I like from this game is it does not need batteries and does not produce noise. What a great game it is.
#10 40-piece Wooden Beginner Pattern Blocks by Melissa & Doug
This toy is good quality, very sturdy, easy to clean, entertaining, portable and best of all great for the imagination like all Melissa & Doug products. It is also fun to assemble and it a good aid in developing toddlers’ motor skill starting from 2 up to 5 years old. With various color and shapes to learn, regardless the fact that your toddler has or has not known yet, it is a fun educational toy. Parents also may not use all pieces to increase the level of difficulty through using two shapes to substitute one shape. It is so because the size of one rectangle equals two squares and one square equals two triangles. Let the older toddlers have more imaginative challenge.
If you check my list, you maybe find that some of the toys above are not included in the top rank of bestseller toys. Let me explain. The bestseller toy is not always the best one. Sadly, many parents still buy a toy due to its top rank in the bestsellers without considering other crucial factors such as ages, educational function and safety. They buy the toy because many other parents do and because the toy is in the top rank. Their consideration is based merely on the rank. I myself often find the most wanted toy is not the best one.
To conclude, the list above is just my suggestion based on my research. You may agree or you may not agree, you may argue and you may not argue. My purpose here is to provide my readers with the information they want to seek. And always remember, when you buy a toy, pick the toy that is suitable for your toddlers age and interest, safe, durable and educational. Don’t judge a toy by its rank.
Click here to view part 1, Christmas gift idea or selected toys as Christmas gifts
Francisca Cahyaningsih is a mother of one toddler and owner of a weblog http://www.toddler-gift.blogspot.com which covers various topics such as toddler toys, games, tips and gift ideas for babies and toddlers.
The best toddler toys 2008 and toys for toddlers between ages 3 and 5. These two key word phrases are quite interesting for me since after I analyzed my blog stats, I noticed that some of my readers typed these two phrases in their search engine before they came into my blog. What is more, these key words appeared several times, one day and the other days. Unfortunately, as I also realize, this blog has not provide adequate information for such information. Therefore, I am motivated to write a post concerning with these issues. I decide to write one post which covers both issues, the best toddler toys in 2008 which is for toddlers between 3 and 5 years old.
I began some internet researches and looked for some awarded toys out there and I combined this research with my survey in the 3 top toy departments in the internet. They are KBToys.com, Amazon.com and Toysrus.com. This is due to the fact that these three toys departments are the top three in Google search engine result with the key word toy store and toy and I assumed, based on SEO matters, these toy departments bring more than enough traffic or buyers (or perhaps the highest traffic among others) to their stores through the search engine. After surveying toddler toys in these 3 toy departments, searching for the most wanted toddler toys, the bestseller ones, investigating the value, educational function, safety and durability, reading many buyers review and doing some scoring, I finally get this top 10 list of toddler toys 2008. Check this out!
#1 Wooden Shape Sorting Learning Clock by Melissa & Doug
This unisex indoor toy can be played by toddlers from 3 up to even 7 years. This wooden toy is sturdy even it has been dropped on the wood floor many times. Toddlers can learn four things in one toy, i.e. colors, numbers, shapes and time. This toy with colorful numbers and different shapes shows the hour, minute and second through clear labeled hand. Toddlers around 3 years usually like the shapes and colors, while 4 and 5 years toddler like learning about time. It does not only give entertainment but also education.
#2 Play-Doh: Mountain of Colors by Hasbro
This unisex Play-Doh is good for 3 – 6 years toddlers to play for hours. Toddlers can make all creations based on their imaginations. Besides, toddlers can develop their motor skills. Moreover, it is long lasting, accessory variety, safe for toddlers and it is easy to clean up. You can take this as an alternative for indoor activities like in front of the television during winter. It’s worthy to have.
#3 Laughtop Fun-2-Learn by Fisher-Price
Physically, the design is surely attractive. This toy is also easy to use, portable, sturdy and of course educational. I believe that this toy is able to keep toddlers amused for quite a while. This toy includes some games such as letter and sound recognition. It can also invite toddlers to sing. I like the graphics and the mouse character as the computer mouse is so cute. I think it is a great buy.
# 4 Zingo by ThinkFun
Heard from its name, you may relate this toy to Bingo. Basically, it is like Bingo with a twist that toddlers focus more on images. So, young toddler will recognize the image first and later learn the vocabulary. It helps toddler a lot in developing their memory, matching, concentration and sportsmanship. Besides, these durable board games with several play variations are also good for social interaction since it can be played by up to 8 players. I remark this toy on the excellent play value and durability.
#5 Leapster® Educational Game: Kindergarten by LeapFrog
This leapster is like a game boy or video game, but it has some good ideas as an educational tool. Toddlers can learn letters, numbers and even spelling. It is a great toy with simple controls and easy to set up. Besides, lots of levels in this game give a challenge for toddlers to grow.
Two awards in 2004 also go to this toy, i.e. Parents’ Choice Recommended Award winner and Award of Excellence, Technology & Learning Magazine. So, you may put it in your shopping list.
Click here to view part 2, Christmas gift idea, or 10 most wanted toddler toys 2009.
About the author:
Francisca Cahyaningsih is a mother of one toddler and owner of a weblog http://www.toddler-gift.blogspot.com which covers various topics such as toddler toys, games, tips and gift ideas for babies and toddlers.
We usually give presents to our toddlers on their birthdays. Other perfect time to give a gift is during the holiday. Games and toys are often being chosen to purchase.
Below are some tips in selecting safe toys for toddlers:
Find a qualified toy which is appropriate with your toddler’s age (follow recommendation on the label), interest and ability.
Ensure that the toys are played in a secure environment.
To avoid a choking hazard to babies and toddler under age 3, you may put a small tester into your consideration to find out whether small toys are harmful. It can be acquired at baby or toy specialty stores.
Avoid several toys with the following conditions:
toys with sharp edges or points
toys with cords, straps or strings longer than 6 inches toys that generate loud noises
toys with bullets
toys with latex ballons (mylar balloons can be used instead)
After buying some toys, we need to check toys regularly since a part of them maybe broken. It could be harmful for your toddler. If necessary, you may discard that toy out of his reach or repair it immediately. Besides, it would be better for you to supervise your toddler while playing or join with him playing. Then after playing, you can show your toddler to put the toys in a proper place to keep your house tidy.
Click here to find tips for your toddler safety and view other toddler toys
About the author:
Francisca Cahyaningsih is a mother of one toddler and owner of a weblog http://www.toddler-gift.blogspot.com which covers various topics such as toddler toys, games, tips and gift ideas for babies and toddlers.
Toddlers and Reading?
Posted on: June 27, 2008
By Francisca Cahyaningsih
You can develop your toddlers’ skills in language by reading aloud. It helps your toddlers in building their vocabularies with words they listen, read, understand and try to use. Books give fun and they provide valuable playful materials. Based on my experience, my toddler loves turning on the pages, feels the texture of some books we have (pop up one or fabric one-Taggies book please check them out in http://www.taggies.com), looks at the colours, pictures and texts. Most of all, reading with your toddler is fun. Enjoy this special time together.
Below some tips in choosing some books to read with your toddler:
Pick simple picture books, with the name of the object written there, to help them out understand concepts such as size, colour, shape and time.
Find picture books with simple sentence, a small number of words on each page, and simple plot.
Look for pop up books and textures to feel.
Select some books you and your toddlers will always enjoy to read again and again.
Pick some books with rhymes so your toddlers can remember them easily.
The benefits that your toddler can acquire from reading a book are your toddler could enrich their vocabulary, he learns language passively before he can talk and he builds reading habit which might help him a lot in the future. You can start to read one book and repeat it several times. This activity will help your toddler to get used to hear them and keep the same vocabulary in his mind.
In general, by reading a simple book, he might be thirsty of reading more and more to fulfill his curiosity to know some other things. Later when your toddler is a bit older, around three years if I may say, you can start giving him nursery rhymes.
Now it’s your turn to pick up a book and read it with your toddler.
Click here to view other toddler’s readings
About the author:
Francisca Cahyaningsih is a mother of one toddler and owner of a weblog http://www.toddler-gift.blogspot.com which covers various topics such as toddler toys, games, tips and gift ideas for babies and toddlers.
By Francisca Cahyaningsih
During infant, a bath time is very relaxed and soothed for both parents and babies. He has not made a strong movement. Only his eyes look around and there is almost no blink at all. As the time goes by, he grows stronger to make some simple movement like splashing and playing around in his bath. When your toddler becomes bigger and older, he may get bored of only playing the water. Toys can help you to make your toddler enjoy his bath time though some toddlers are scared of getting their face wet and / or having their hair washed. The most important thing is that pleasant bath time can make your toddler enjoys bathing. Though not all parents are lucky to have their toddlers that don’t mind bathing, do not worry since you may have a try on some bath time games below:
1. Provide your toddler with a basket filled with bath toys, e.g. rubber ducks, plastic animals, plastic toys of his favourite characters like Mickey Mouse, Spongebob, etc.
2. Bring one or two small bath toys that already frozen in a plastic cup of water and see the melting ice. If you mind to freeze the toys, you can just take some cube ice and do the same thing.
3. Put in some drops of food coloring to the water to have a colorful and fun bath. Later on he can choose and negotiate the colour he likes each bath time.
4. Get a shower pump for the bath. As your toddler pushes the pump, bath water is sucked up and pumped out of the shower head.
5. Soft sponge can be used to teach your toddler part of his body as you wash that part of his body. Besides, by using sponge, you can show it floating. That must give your toddler some more fun. As an alternative, you can use a small washer to name each part as you do.
6. Almost all infants and toddlers are afraid of having water splashed on their faces. You may try to take your toddler in the shower with you occasionally to make him get used to with water. It will make washing his hair and swimming easier later in his life. However, if your toddler is still afraid of doing it, you may let him wear goggles to avoid shampoo getting in his eyes.
7. Put a number of small bath toys in the water and give your child a net to catch them with.
8. Pouring water out of a plastic cup or bowl from a height can keep your toddler fun during bath time till end.
9. Blowing bubbles in the water using a straw can be one of fun activity your toddler might really enjoy. Otherwise, you can provide him with soapy water and blow it through some round hollow things to make some different bubbles.
10. In the last part of the bath give your baby to a cup and teach him to fill a bucket with water. After he finished bath and wear his cloth, ask him to go outside and water the garden with the bucket of water. It is a good example of reusing the water which might set in your toddler’s mind.
Click here to view other toddler toys
About the author:
Francisca Cahyaningsih is a mother of one toddler and owner of a weblog http://www.toddler-gift.blogspot.com which covers various topics such as toddler toys, games, tips and gift ideas for babies and toddlers.
My Toddler’s Daily Activities
Posted on: June 23, 2008
by Francisca Cahyaningsih
Like another toddler, my thirteenth-month little boy is full of curiosity. He wants to touch anything new and tries to grab it. Even the pattern of the floor makes him nuts as he failed to take it. He has enough toys to play, but daily activities get more portions to imitate. Here are some of my toddler’s daily activities I might share with:
Drive his own “car”
My toddler moves his car using his feet. Once he rides his car faster than usual, then oops… he fell down. So I keep an eye one him to make sure his condition. What about you?
Play any wheel or something round
Before he started to walk, my toddler likes to make the wheel of his car moving. He couldn’t ride it, so he just played with the wheel. Now the wheel of his knocked-down stroller becomes his favourite besides a ball of course. Sometimes he tries to make the ring moving like I and his daddy do.
Make his own “music”
My toddler looks happy to hold an empty plastic bottle. It is so because he can hear sound after he squeezes it. Besides, he likes to knock it to any other thing around him to produce another sound. As soon as he knocks it, he laughs happily. He repeats it more and more.
Feel the texture of a wall / carpet
Most toddlers enjoy feeling the texture and touch a surface of some things like clothes, wall, floor, carpets, etc. My toddler has his favourite carpet in his bedroom and outside wall to touch since it has a bit rough surface. So whenever he is his bedroom, he always touches and feels the texture of the carpet like he does when he sits on a bench.
Knock down puzzles
My toddler and his three-year cousin are great in knocking down the puzzles. They do it willingly and leave them sheltered for me to reconstruct.
Pick up and throwing away his toys
In this world all toddlers enjoy throwing away a thing they hold I guess. Once I read in an article, it is apart of developing stage. It happens to my toddler as well, he likes to take and then throw away his toys, balls, plastic bottles I put in his playing yard box.
Pretend to call or receive a call
He often takes his toy or sometimes just touches his ear as if listening to the phone. When I got a phone call, he will respond it quickly by trying to take it and listen to the speaker.
Push his tricycle
Sometimes my toddler gets bored of sitting in his tricycle and he prefers to push his tricycle. I cannot let him do it by himself since he has just started to walk.
Have a nice moment with your great toddler…!
Click here to view other toddler toys
About the author:
Francisca Cahyaningsih is a mother of one toddler and owner of a weblog http://www.toddler-gift.blogspot.com which covers various topics such as toddler toys, games, tips and gift ideas for babies and toddlers.
Toddler Toys|Gifts for Toddlers|The Nature of Toddlers 
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