Saturday, July 31, 2010

Safe and appropriate educational toys for children

There are times when we struggle to find the children, your toys. They have no idea of what toys are perfect for these people. And 'in fact is a fact on that issue. Your child is learning at great speed, taking in everything that is round, and picking up habits, information and words.

They must be involved in the child's learning and offer more opportunities for them. Therefore, you must understand how and to what extent children perceiveobjects that surround them:

or Vista

or Visual spectrum

Touch or

O Sound

or Motion

It helps to always remember that you do not want expensive toys to stimulate baby. It could take home a very trendy toy for your child only say that babies find the packaging far more interesting. Your child just needs stimulation and a way to express their creativity, and this can be done as a home-made toys.

TheHere are some tips for using common items found around the house to inspire and involve the child:

Magazines: Under the supervision of leaving your baby leaf through a magazine and enjoy the colors.

or sock puppets: a sock, say embroider eyes and nose and your stories about the baby doll. (Do not use buttons for eyes or nose, as they are choking hazards.)

or laundry baskets: Children love to sit in the laundry baskets. If the basket is large enough, and your baby can sither, let them have a good time in, while you gently rock.

O Containers: Used (clean) containers, cups and colorful non-toxic toys for big things from the child or simply as teething rings!

or cardboard boxes: they are the favorites of the growing child. The boxes are simple and safe and offer good opportunities for creativity. Your child can make a box of crayons in a home game and colored with non-toxic, so it's nice and personal.

Doensure that the toy is safe and clean edges, no loose parts and sharp. and monitor your child grow and participate in the games to watch your children!

Classify and identify

Keep in mind that toys should be unbreakable, no small pieces and sharp edges, and nontoxic. Be vigilant and check toys for potential hazards. However, the risk of toys are often packaged in a way that is difficult to identify potential safety. In these cases,is absolutely necessary that you categorize the toy in a higher category (plastics, electronics, non-toxic, etc.) and thus avoid inappropriate purchases:

or electric toys should be avoided altogether.

or plastic bags should be easy and can be completely removed.

or toy choking hazards for infants should be avoided.

toys do not contain recommendations for appropriate age groups.

balls or pellets or smaller than 1.75 inch chokeDangers.

or strings, ropes and chains can strangle young children. Make sure these toys are less than 12 "in length.

toys or projectile rockets can be self-harm.

Or is there something that you are not sure how toy durability, materials, or use will be on the safe side and avoid necessarily buy it.

Here are some examples of safe and appropriate toys:

Squeak or toys: These toys are large enough to excludeChoke accidents. Squeak toy printed Troublemaker fill in all senses of your child.

Or bells: Make sure that these great goals. Remember too that sounds babies have a passion for the high notes, like babies, like the creation of noise toys.

o cloth dolls animals washable dolls with embroidery and bright colors are safe and fun and develop the child's imagination.

Or Mobile: Cradle other phones "and Hang 'toys with sound and movement aretoy for your baby. Make sure the string toy is less than 12 "in length.

Awards or: Unbreakable colored cups and other objects are smooth, safe and fun for children.

or balls: rubber balls with textured surfaces to attract and relate to children strong.

Or Music: Music to make toys.

Books: picture books and books to games with simple rhymes noise.

It 'important to always remember that toys areunbreakable, non-toxic. Also, remember that toys for children, the choice is of fundamental importance is safe, but there is no substitute for adult supervision and involvement.

Friday, July 30, 2010

New Transformers movie bring new toys

In 2009, the popular Transformers series has been relaunched with continued hot movie several years ago. Revenge of the Fallen Shia LaBeouf and Megan Fox brought together again as Sam and Mikaela, who were fleeing from the angry, evil Decepticons. The Decepticons are a race of evil alien robots from the planet Cybertron, the battle with the Autobots, a race of robots from good guy to do the same planet. These robots are powerful and elusive, as is dressing up as vehicles oreveryday objects, then in their personal robot warriors, ready to turn the fight!

Along with the popular action, adventure and sci-fi movie is a line of toys, action figures and other merchandise. Transformers was no exception, and toys are real-time updates the previous version, the children enjoyed many decades later. The best known of these robots are transforming Optimus Prime, red and silver truck leader of the Autobots, andBumblebee, the yellow Camaro sports car that prevailing in the new movie. Bumblebee is man's best friend Sam and helps protect from the evil Decepticons. It also lends some support in scoring with his girlfriend Mikaela, played by Megan Fox.

Of course we can not forget the bad toy robots are available, including their leader, Megatron. Megatron will be used to provide a powerful laser beam robot, but was converted into a tank. Together with otherTransformers Soundwave and Starscream as he unleashed a war against evil Autobots and the Planet Earth. These new toys are just as exciting for the old, as children of modern series introduced imaginative, the most popular and fun. Expect them to continue to be sold hot and collectibles for many generations in the future!

Thursday, July 29, 2010

Kids Ride on Toys - indoor or outdoor fun

Children around toys for children are suitable for all ages. Some children aged six months to enjoy the vehicles pulled children from a parent's brother or plastic. Children under eighteen are thrilled to lead toy motor, which are almost fully developed and young people skills leave children or gasoline powered vehicles can be done with electric motors.

There are gas-powered luxury vehicles and battery-powered toys. There are toysare the pedals, and push and pull design for small riders. Tricycles and bicycles are two of the most common and popular types of driving toys.

Scooter and skateboard equipment requires protection of the child, as well as similar toys. Some toys are those in which requirements should preferably be in the driver choice, or you have a scooter or board size, meet. The toy must be large in size and ageappropriate.

Kids love Snow Country sleigh. These toys are available in sizes and shapes for all types of children. Whether you are an experienced driver or a beginner snow, riding a sled down a snowy slope is an exciting experience. In the summer time, there are some toys tied to the water horse.

be protected as you travel on a scooter or skateboard, your child needs, with the use of safety equipment. Toys which depend on the size of your child for agood measure, take him or her to play together. Toys should always be the security for the size and age of child motivation.

Plastic cart, trolley, metal and wood use all common structural materials. Cars can be seen in many different styles available. Carts are young and can also be used to carry the child the toy.

A toy gas-fired power is one of the most expensive children's toys. You cancost up to $ 10,000. vehicles batteries for children costs about $ 100 to $ 500 These are for the youngest child and the family of moderate income.

Pedal-Powered Toy for driving are the least expensive form of car-style toys. This may, for one year all the way to acquire up to twelve years. Can a car with a molded plastic or metal frame available.

Very expensive toy with the availability of gasoline, but are usually meantfor children of almost adult size and age. battery vehicles are less expensive. You can start your children around with a collection of toy pedal car values for years to twelve years each. The pedal cars, metal or plastic can be varied according to age and size of the child.

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Wooden Playhouse and Other Children's Outdoor Toys

A wooden playhouse is one thing that can keep children busy and entertained for a long time. There are many times during a family gathering or a party, when children tend to get ignored and the elders are too busy to take care of them. They might get bored in those times. Outdoor toys like the wooden playhouse can pull out all the children to the front yard where they can create their own fantasy world away from the elders. During vacations or on weekends, this is also a good way to keep the children active and playful, giving you the opportunity to stay at home, spend some time with them and yet keep them entertained.

Outdoor toys like the wooden playhouse usually cost between a hundred to a couple of thousand dollars depending on what components they have. A simple wooden playhouse is more like a colorful hut with lovely windows where children can play hide and seek with their friends and cousins. A wooden playhouse can also be used to play with pets or keep them there when there are too many people inside the house. The wooden playhouse could be on top if a climbing frame with access ladders, climbing bridges made of rope rails to give some climbing exercise to the children. They are sometimes coupled with sandpits, watch decks, where children can enact out of their own imagination playing as soldiers, pirates or whatever it is that comes to their mind. A wooden playhouse is equipped with some gadgets and other toys like telescopes giving the children a sense of mystery and adventure. The various things that children can do in the playhouse are what keep them attracted to it for a long time. The climbing and creativity does them a world of good too.

Some of these playhouses and climbing frames are multi activity facilities too with other components attached to them. For example, they come with a wave slide and a 2 seat glider so that the kids can imagine themselves gliding. They can also simulate the situation of a theme park where they can splash into the waters, scramble up and slide down and never get tired all day. Some of these playhouses come with a hose attachment too, to splash more water on the slide and the grass around. When fixed at the top next to a tree, the wooden playhouse doubles up as a tree top watch tower from where they could look into the binoculars keeping an eye on the imaginary jungle full of wild animals, right out of their minds. These playhouses and outdoor toys are usually covered with shower proof fabric roofs keeping the children dry even during the rain. The ropes and molded plastic are also strong and very durable so that you don't have to feel anxious about the kids playing on them. These are suitable for kids up to 12 years old and you can watch them from far playing in those houses creating their own stories.

Monday, July 26, 2010

Outdoor Water Toys

With the long hot summer just a few months away you may be thinking of ways to make sure you little one's stay cool but still have plenty of fun. So why not invest in an outdoor water toy. Kids may hate having to take baths but they love water if they can splash and play in it outdoors. So if you want to hear the sound of laughter and bright smiles then a water toy is the perfect choice.

Water balloons are fun and they aren't expensive at all. You can set your kids up in the garden with the water bombs and the garden hose and they can soak each other until their hearts are content. If you don't want to join in the fun stand back so you don't get wet.

If your kids are older you can find slingshots that have been specially designed to fire water balloons. Water guns are also a very popular choice with kids and they can have endless fun running around the garden shooting their siblings or friends with cool water on the hot days of summer. Water guns can be very affordable but there are those guns that are more powerful that are a bit more expensive but they aren't too costly. There are also targets available on the market today making your children's water fight more challenging.

You can also find sprinklers that have been designed especially for kids to play in. For the smaller child there is the Elmo sprinkler. This sprinkler allows you to adjust the water flow so even the smallest child can have plenty of fun without being splashed in the face. For the older children there are sprinkler toys that wiggle, move and spray water everywhere.

Another great choice is slide and slip mats. The original slip and slides have been around for forty years and are still as popular today as they were then. There are so many different designs available on the market today.

Pools are always a hit with kids and you can also get in there with them and enjoy the fun.

There are many different sizes available to buy today from 3ft pools for the small children to huge 15ft family pools. If you want to splash out a bit more then an inflatable water slide will be a huge hits with your children and with so many designs and sizes available there is bound to be one that will suit your children.

Sunday, July 25, 2010

Imagination Makes Toys Fun

Have you ever seen a child given an expensive gift, only to see them discard it within a couple of minutes? I'm guessing that you have. Why is it that simple toys often offer children the most fun.

There are undoubtedly numerous psychological explanations that can be used to explain this behaviour. Of course, it's true to say that many younger children have little awareness of the value of items.

One of the main reasons why they discard more expensive gifts is often than simple toys can provide more room for their imagination to fill. It's imagination that is the driving force behind many games. Indeed, while we may think that this imagination is considerably weaker for adults, what would we all do without the power to imagine?

Our imagination allows us to escape from the mundane and the predictable. It gives us the ability to dream and to hope that better things may be just around the corner. It has a lot to do with many of us believing that we might find a better life by moving house, or changing occupation. Is it really belief, or simply imagination?

For children, the strength of their imagination can be seen when they turn the most simple toys into racing cars, football pitches, aeroplanes and ships. The changes may not be physical, but their minds allow such changes to take place.

This ability has helped to ensure that many classic toys and activities have retained popularity for years. Take the example of climbing frames, for example. Surely these pieces of equipment should have long since lost popularity? The reality is that they have retained popularity, largely because they continue to inspire.

The latest range of TP climbing frames take things on to a new level but the basics remain unchanged. After all, why change something that works so well?

Saturday, July 24, 2010

Give Your Child an Exercise Outlet With a Ride on Pedal Toy

A ride on pedal toy is the perfect way for your child to get some great physical exercise. It's no secret that our country is known for having indoor couch potato syndrome. We live in a world full of computers, games, movies, and gadgets galore. It's so easy to sit our butts on the couch, relax, and grab the remote, the mouse, or the Wii Nunchuk for an afternoon of lounging around.

I think we can safely say that our children can develop some of the same bad habits that we as adults can develop. Not all children, of course, but some of them. Teaching children the value of outdoor physical activity at an early age is very important. One way of doing that is to get them a ride on pedal toy.

I don't think any of us can dispute the fact that a ride on toy promotes good exercise but let's take a close look at the actual benefits. Physical exercise increases gross motor skills when the large muscle groups are worked. Your kids are going to jump on their toy and pedal like crazy until those little legs can't pedal any more. They'll work one set of muscles when they pedal forward and an entirely different set when they pedal backwards or hit the brakes. This continually works the large muscle groups.

They'll also get a great upper body workout with this type of ride on toy. There's no other way to get around town then by steering their toy around all those corners. If they run into some rough roads, whether they be grass covered or rough gravel, they may bounce around a little which will make them hold on tight to stay in their seat. This will use extra energy and strength. Or how about setting up an obstacle course where they have to maneuver their vehicle around things by using some inventive steering techniques?

By exercising both their upper and lower bodies together, your children are getting an incredible cardio-vascular workout. This type of workout increases heart rates so they burn more calories, increase core strength, and most importantly strengthen their hearts. You couldn't ask for a better exercise regiment than this.

They'll also be increasing their stamina, expanding their lung capacity, and toning every muscle in their body. At this point you don't have to even worry about the dreaded couch potato syndrome because this doesn't pertain to your kids. They're getting a fantastic workout with their ride on pedal toy and they'll soon be more fit than we are.

Ride on pedal toys are a great tool that will allow your child to become physically fit. They will grow developmentally and at the same time be stimulated by the great outdoors and all of that fresh air. They'll become more self-confident, more independent, and more aware of the things that go on around them.

Thursday, July 22, 2010

Newton's Law Meets Murphy's Law

Don't you hate that pit in your stomach when you know you've made a big mistake but you're not exactly sure how bad the fallout will be? Then you lose a night's sleep tossing and turning, beating yourself up for doing something that seemed reasonable at the time, but now you know it wasn't. Do you remember back to high school when even minor decisions carried the weight of the world?

Enter my son, high school freshman, perfectionist, and science lover working on his first science lab report of the year two days before it was due. He had written formal science lab reports before, so it should have been a fairly straightforward assignment. But he panicked - the all-out, I-can't-think-straight- and-I'm not-even-sure -of-my-name kind of panic that renders one incapable of coherent thought.

He couldn't get a graph of his data to look right when all of a sudden it dawned on him: his lab group had done the experiment backwards and all of his data was inverted. Because they were using some new high-tech equipment to perform the experiment at school, there was no chance of us replicating it at home. Gone are the days of science experiments with simple household supplies.

We let him have a good cry, assured him that this wasn't the end of the world, and then together came up with some strategies to handle the situation. He would contact the teacher first thing in the morning to see about the possibility of re-doing the experiment on his own time. If that wasn't possible, we would encourage him to write the paper explaining his skewed results in light of his errors. Either way, some good life lessons were being learned.

By morning, his head had cleared and by that afternoon, I had my son back. He had been able to re-do the experiment during lunch ( my son who is hungry as soon as I put away the food had given up his lunch period to do this!). He confidently came home and with a renewed sense of purpose  diligently worked to complete the paper.

The whole episode reminds me of those VISA commercials:

Cost of trying to write a lab report with incorrect data:1 night of tears, 2 stressed parents, and 1 missed lunch period to re-do the experiment with the teacher

Value of redeeming his self-confidence and knowing that he overcame one of life's many hurdles on his own:

Priceless.

Parenting. It's everywhere you want to be.

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Victorian Playhouse - The Ultimate Gift For Little Girls

Recently, my friend had invited me and my kids to her 6 year old daughter's birthday party. At the party, after the cake-cutting, wish-making was all over, my friend and her husband told their daughter that there was a surprise gift for her birthday. Then they asked her to close her eyes and lead her to their perfectly maintained backyard. When the girl opened her eyes, she was not the only one to squeal in delight and joy. Almost everyone in the party including myself gasped in wonder at the beautiful, one of-a-kind gift; it was a gorgeous Victorian playhouse.

The playhouse was about 8ft tall and equally wide. It was painted in a gorgeous pink color (which my friend had painted herself) with 2 dutch doors-one for adults and a smaller one for children. There were charming shutters with working windows and even flower boxes on the house. The windows even had safety glass and screens for protection. There was a charming dormer above the kid-sized door with a decorative heart accent. The gingerbread trim and the dutch doors made the playhouse look like a fairytale house. The exterior was built with durable siding materials so that the playhouse would be protected and insulated all year long.

My friend's daughter and her friends were awe-struck. They all ran into the playhouse to inspect and enjoy it. I had always admired my friend's backyard with its pretty landscaping and colorful flowers. The playhouse seemed to enhance the beauty of the backyard, giving it a fairytale feeling. I was sure that my friend's little girl felt like a fairy-tale princess! Later, I told my friend how pretty the playhouse was and asked her about the details.

She said that the playhouse came in individual parts and had to be assembled, (which was easy enough even if it took some time), the exterior paint could be selected according to your choice. She agreed that the playhouse was slightly expensive but it was a small price compared to the pure look of joy and delight in her daughter's eyes. That feeling of happiness, she said, was priceless.

I was sure that my friend's backyard with its picture perfect playhouse would be the talk of her neighbors for quite some time. The playhouse would be occupied with little girls playing and imagining themselves as little princesses! It was indeed the ultimate gift that a little girl could wish for.

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Nanny Jobs

One can easily get a baby sitters job in America and it is not a problem. For a person who is interested in a nanny jobs there are plenty of options. Different types of nannies jobs have different pay rates and you can hire nannies that suit your requirement. There are part time nannies jobs; people who want to work part time can do so. The person who is looking for nanny jobs has plenty of options today. It all depends on her as to what kind of job she wants for herself. Every job requires specific skills; nannies job too demands a few qualities. If a person has them then it can be the perfect job for her. It is ideal for a person who is fond of kids. She will never feel bored as she will have children around her to play with all the time.

Try to find out your strengths and weaknesses before applying for a nanny job. If you know your habits and are clear about your long-term goals, then this can be a good job for you. You will have to know whether baby sitters job is the job for you or not. There are nanny jobs, part time nanny jobs, nanny housekeeper jobs or summer nanny job available. You can take up the one that suits you. Employers want to know your qualities and experience before hiring you for the job. You can look for nanny housekeeper jobs or summer nanny jobs as well if you want. Women are best suited for baby sitters job as they can give motherly love to the children. Do some careful introspection to see whether you really want a nanny job or not.

One must enjoy the work; only then a person will like to continue in the job. Normally, everyone enjoys the company of kids and so a nanny job is never boring. On the contrary, it is fun to be with little kids. They are energetic and looking after them will keep you on your toes the whole day long. Who knows you may be the perfect person for the job. One does not know before trying. If you are applying for a nanny job, you must mention your past job experiences. Parents like to hire experienced nannies and are willing to pay them adequately. They feel that an experienced baby sitter can handle their children the best.

A person without any nanny experience need not worry at all. Parents look for nannies who know their job. A person with little experience in child care may also be preferred. The other thing that parents observe is how comfortable a person is with kids. Does she have the right temperament to deal with children or not? If she is short tempered she may not be considered for the job at all. A person with a degree in childhood education or child psychology will be preferred. If you feel it is the job after your heart, you should go ahead and do it.

Sunday, July 18, 2010

Kids Gain Confidence With Outdoor Toys

Being a kid these days can be a stressful time compared to even just a few years ago. At school many children can go through stages of a lack of confidence with their school work, their weight or even just spots when they start to progress to their teenage years. There are many ways to improve confidence in children with exercise being one of them and this can be achieved with something they love, toys.

There are many children around the world who are an only child and do not know what it is like to have a brother or sister. This can be a little lonely for some although not for every child so interaction with other children is very important as they grow up. Even children who do have a brother or sister can lack confidence due to the above reasons but a main point of today's lifestyle is weight.

Kids can grow up very quickly so its important to make their childhood as enjoyable as possible and this can be easily down without sweets, chocolate or sitting in front the television. To get outdoors and play can have a great impact on children, their confidence and weight which they may have gained over the winter months.

When children play outside, they receive fresh air, exercise, excitement, fun and great enjoyment. Even fresh air can play an important part as it allows oxygen to enter the body and lungs instead of stagnant air when sitting indoors with the heating.

Exercise though is a main benefit so having an outdoor toy or two in the garden can accomplish the objective for children to exercise with such toys as a trampoline, climbing frame or maybe a ride on bike which can come in some very exciting designs.

The trampoline is a well known favourite with children enjoying the feeling of being sprung into the air over and over again. They can easily spend hours on a trampoline, using many muscles in the body they do not usually use which burns calories while they are having fun.

Interaction with other children is important to so if a child is an only child, it can be important to invite friends over to play in the garden. Children who play on their own do not learn how to interact with other kids as much or gain the life skills of this interaction between children.

A child who does not have any or many friends and plays on their own can easily become an outcast at school and a loner. There are so many possibilities for children to mix in with each other so invite friends over for parties or just to play and get their imagination running wild with the great range of outdoors toys available for your garden.

Saturday, July 17, 2010

Making Educational Toys - The Pinhole Projector

This pin hole projector demonstrates the principles of early photography and also the nature of light. To make these great educational toys all you need is an empty Pringles tin, some silver foil or wrapping paper, tape, a pair of scissors and a hammer and nail.

First you will need to cut about 5cm off the bottom of the Pringles tin and using the hammer and small nail, pierce a hole in the middle of the metal base at the bottom of the 5cm piece you cut off. This hole will allow the light travelling in straight lines from whatever is being viewed into the pinhole projector.

Next, you need to place the plastic lid onto the top of the Pringles tube and tape the two pieces back together but this time with the plastic lid toward the opening of the 5 cm cut off piece of tube. The plastic lid, now set within the tube 5cm away from the pin hole in the base, acts like a screen for the light projecting through the small hole in the metal base to produce an upside down image upon.

Next wrap some silver foil or wrapping paper around the tube to make it look neat and tidy and block out any light through any gaps.

Now point your new science toy [http://www.sciencetoy.co.uk/shop/catalog/browse?sessid=] with the pinhole towards a nice bright image like a tree on a sunny day and if you look through the open end you should see an upside down image projected onto the plastic lid.

Why do you think the image is projected upside down? If light travels in straight lines, light from the bottom of an object would travel through the pinhole and end up toward the top of the screen whereas the light travelling from the top of an object would pass through the hole and end up at the bottom of the screen.

Playing with educational toys helps children understand scientific principles however making educational toys allows even more insight into the workings of the educational toy as well as being a lot of fun.

Friday, July 16, 2010

What Can Be Done to Get Your Child to Stop Hitting?

Some children have an issue with hitting. They hit greeting people. They hit when angry. They hit as a way of getting someone's attention. This can be a problem as you don't want your child to get into the habit of hitting everyone and everything. There are things that you can do that will help you get your child to stop hitting so much.

When your child hits, never give the child positive attention for this. This will get your child in the habit of hitting so someone will pay attention to him or her. Let others know that they shouldn't pay any attention to your child if hit.

Develop your child's social skills. If your child has a way of talking to someone and getting attention through verbal skills, the hitting will be less. Work on ways for your child to talk to you and others when wanting something.

When your child is angry and hitting, do not ever give into their demands. Ignore them a bit with a time out or punishment so that this behavior is not a tool they that use against you.

Be very gentle with your child when you are frustrated with him or her. Your child can pick up on your aggression. If you are forceful physically, your hitting child will see that physical force is a solution to problems. Being calm is best. This helps keep the child from getting more angry and calm down better.

Watch for the situation where your child starts to hit. Try to avoid these situations from happening as much. Obviously these things are frustrating your child to the point of hitting.

Don't let any hitting happen during the day with play. This can enforce the behavior as something that is fun or acceptable. Try to limit this as much as you can. Distract your child with another toy if he or she starts to hit with it.

Thursday, July 15, 2010

Green Parenting Tips - 4 Things You Can Do to Be Greener

This article gives you 4 things you can do to become a greener parent.

1. Lighten The Load - For many parents the laundry pile can seem like it never ends. One of the best things you can do for the environment is to try and cut down your laundry pile. A great way to do this is to make sure you and your children get the most out of their clothes before they go in the laundry pile. Try avoiding putting clothes into the hamper after one use, as it really doesn't need a wash that soon. Also try to only do full loads to get maximum efficiency from your washing machine. If your clothes aren't soiled then try using cold water if possible, as it is unnecessary to use hot if your clothes are relatively fine anyway. Also try to avoid using a tumble dryer and opt for air drying instead. This is of course much easier to do in the summer than winter.

2. Recycle & Reuse - Instead of buying new clothes constantly and new stuff opt for second hand things instead. Many parents want to give their babies the best and they think that this means brand new. It doesn't. You can provide your baby with everything they need by buying second hand. This will not only save you money but is much better for the environment.

Also once your baby outgrows their clothing, either keep them for the next baby or give them away so they can be recycled by others. You could even try selling your items on a website like eBay if you are short on money.

3. Change Your Light Bulbs - Instead of using the traditional incandescent light bulb switch to fluorescent/eco-friendly bulbs. They do cost a little more but they last a lot longer than traditional bulbs and also use less energy.

4. Turn It Off - The standby light of electrical equipment is a complete waste of electricity. Instead of leaving your appliances on standby all night to consume energy that is unnecessary, turn the appliance off at the plug socket. By turning it off when not in use thousands of pounds of carbon dioxide could be kept out of the air every year. To make things easier you could plug all appliances into a multi-socket making it easier to turn all appliances off at once.

These 4 things are a great starting point for changing your life and being less wasteful but there are also many other things you can do too. Take it slow and don't overwhelm yourself. Going green is very rewarding to your and the planet.

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

3 Great Children's Toys You Can Make Rather Than Buy

Children's toys can get really expensive fast. That's one thing parents learn pretty quickly. There are some great toys out there, but the expense can be hard to deal with.

Add in that many are plastic and really not so environmentally friendly, and it can be a bit of a problem.

But some toys you can make rather than buy, saving money and even reusing things that might otherwise have been recycled or even thrown out. Here are some ideas to get you started that don't require a ton of sewing or construction skills.

Playhouse

What child doesn't love a good playhouse? The popular ones are plastic and can be left outdoors in all weather or kept indoors. And they're pricey, ranging from about $30 for a cardboard one they can color on, to a few hundred dollars for the fancier ones.

Even that $30 for a cardboard one is expensive when you realize you can get the cardboard pretty easily for free.

My children for a couple of years had a cardboard playhouse that was made from a double thickness box my husband got from the blinds department at Home Depot. He worked there at the time, and just had the night crew save him one. Not a hard thing to ask for, as they're going to dispose of it anyhow.

That house was strong enough that the kids climbed on its roof regularly as they played. No problem. It tolerated pretty much everything they could throw at it, sometimes literally.

It took some time with a utility knife to cut the doors and windows, but it worked out really well. And being free was a great bonus.

When the box finally broke down enough it went into the recycle bin. We'll be doing the same soon with a washer or dryer box we happen to have handy.

Bowling Set

You've probably seen the plastic bowling sets at the store. While they're not all that pricey, relatively speaking, you can make your own.

All it takes is soda or water bottles (20 ounce or 2 liter size, your preference) and a ball. If you don't drink much soda in your family and don't buy bottled water (yay!), you can always talk to friends about giving some to you. You probably know someone who would have bottles available.

Stilts

Kids love to be just a little bit taller. You can buy plastic stilts for fairly inexpensive, but they're really easy to make. My daughter's preschool had these, and the kids loved it when the teachers pulled them out. There was usually a line for them.

Take two coffee cans and two pieces of rope. The rope should be long enough that, doubled up, it can reach from your child's hands to the floor with just a little to spare for knots and of course growing room.

Punch two holes in each coffee can, on opposite sides, a short distance from the bottom. Thread the rope through each hole and tie a knot on the inside end. This will form a loop for your child to hold while walking on top of the cans.

Any of these toy ideas can be painted or decorated as you like, but I think it's best to let the kids decide how to decorate them. It's just one more part of the play for them.

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Jumpking Trampolines and Outdoor Toys

There are many types of trampolines available as well as a great variety of other outdoor toys which give children a fantastic variation of activities outdoors for fun but also deals with the ever increasing issue of obesity

For starters, trampolines in themselves give a all over body workout from the toes to the head, whilst are such good fun you do not even realise you are exercising. NASA actually class trampolines are the best exercise there is as it has a very good aerobic impact, and strengthens muscles whilst giving internal body organs good circulation. As well as the normal bouncing up and down on an individual basis, there are many games children and adults can play on a trampoline to increase the enjoyment even more, but only viable on large enough trampolines.

When safety is concerned, a Jumpking trampoline for example can come with a safety enclosure which makes it more or less impossible for people bouncing on the trampoline to fall off so peace of mind to parents. If a enclose does not come with a particular jumpking model, they can be purchased afterwards and takes about 15-20 minutes to install. A unique trampoline, the oval trampoline gives a large area to jump on plus a different design that steers away from the normal round or rectangular shape.

As well as trampolines as an ideal summer, if not all year round outdoor exercise there are several other large outdoor toys for the back garden. One of these is the wooden climbing frame, which differs from a metal climbing frame in many aspects. The first obviously is that it is made from wood, very high quality wood in fact that does give a old fashioned look and sits unobtrusive in any back garden no matter the size.

These wooden climbing frames give a great range of activities from small children, right up to teenagers who enjoy them as get away areas. Many of the climbing frames come with towers, swings, slides and climbing nets as well as seating, tables and different levels or balconies. As they are large structures, many have been designed so that anyone can put them together no matter what there construction skills maybe, but two people or more are usually required for safety, if not anything else.

A more subtle outdoor toy is the playhouse. Again, the most popular are made from wood and steered more towards girls than boys, but there are usually several structures which appeal to boys more such as cowboy huts and ranches, or lookout towers. The details of a playhouse is very very good and to high quality, giving a great look and children love them. Quite often, these are given as presents from Grandparents to Grandchildren and can last for decades as the build quality is very high, like climbing frames.

With the amount of exercise a child can get from jumpking trampolines to wooden playhouses, parents can enjoy the peace and quiet indoors whilst comfort in the thought that their children are playing away from dangers such as busy roads, and that they are getting good exercise to without them even realising.

Sunday, July 11, 2010

Easy Tips to Help Your Child Earn Extra Cash!

So you have a teenager who is asking about how they can earn some money. Many parents choose for their children not to have a typical labor job after school so that they can focus more on their school work. So looking in to other ways your child can earn money possibly at home or in the neighborhood may be just the answer some teenagers are looking for.

So your child spends half their life on the internet anyway, why not find out if it is possible to monetize the time. Many adults make money on the internet, and it is also possible for many children to do it too! There are sites online which everyone knows about. There are many auction sites where children can sell the stuff that id "old" to them and make some money for it. People sell and profit from selling anything you can imagine on these online auction sites. You can have your child gather everything that they no longer wish to have, and begin to list them on these sites. You may want to initially guide your child in to the best way to set this up, and how much they should ask for their stuff. If they are consistent with how often they list, say make it listing day every Monday after school, then they could be bringing in regular income in just a week.

If this particular suggestion is not an option, they could consider just doing a garage sell at home. The money for them will not be regular as it would if they did it online, but they would probably earn a large chunk of money at once. Then the parent could truckle it out to them over a few week or month period of time, similar to an allowance. They could also take their unwanted items to consignment shops, or resale stores to pick up a few extra dollars here and there. It is important that you not always do this for your child, so they can learn to do the trade themselves, and it will help them to learn the value of their things.

It all in being creative and setting forth a plan that your child can be consistent with to keep money coming in for them, if you chose to not let them have an after school job.

It will also help, you, the parent, lighten up your spending load.

Saturday, July 10, 2010

Wooden Playhouses For The Back Garden

When looking to brighten up your back garden for your kids, then a great idea and very popular are play equipment such as swings, slides, sandpits. Most of this equipment comes very easy to assemble and can be great fun while at the same time saving time by not having to go to the park.

A very popular option is a wooden swing set. These are very safe due to them being very sturdy. They come in many different varieties, some can just be a swing or others can be a swing with monkey bars, climbing ropes and a sand pit. These are very easy to get and offer good value for your money.

Childrens' play equipment is often purchased with a ready to build kit which means you can have it assembled in a short space of time and with minimal effort. The kits are often joined by very simple to understand step by step instructions. All children have their own favourite toys, games and activities and so a lot of companies are now offering a more personalized service meaning the equipment can be tailored to your Child's interests.

Another very popular piece of equipment for your child to play with is wooden playhouses. These have come on leaps and bounds in the last few years and can be found in many shapes and sizes and designs. A playhouse can open up a child's imagination and be a great help for their development throughout their early childhood. These can be attractive additions to a garden due to their natural wooden look or can easily be painted to meet your child's needs and preferences. They are very easy to look after and can be put up almost anywhere.

Wooden playhouses are very popular nowadays due to the fact they are brilliant value for money and can last many years with little effort and can be sold on very easily. They can also be made into anything your child wishes such as castle, dragons cave, secret dungeon or cowboys ranch, the possibilities are endless.

Wooden playhouses will also ensure your child plays in a safe environment where you can keep a watchful eye over them whilst still giving them plenty of educational play on their own or with friends and even better gives them plenty of exercise with healthy fresh air.

There are many websites that can give you lots of information for you to look at when you decide to buy a playhouse, a good website will give you photos of all the different makes, shapes and sizes along with size charts and colour schemes.

Friday, July 9, 2010

Play Kitchens and Legos Are Toys That Stand the Test of Time

Why is it that toys such as play kitchens or a box full of Legos have been around, what seems like, since the beginning of time? I don't know specifically when Legos were brought onto the toy scene but I'm almost 40 years old and they were around when I was a young girl. The same goes for play kitchens. These toys have stood the test of time giving multiple generations of kids hours of creative fun learning. So what do these two toys and others like it have over the latest fad? The answer: the ability to use your imagination and creativity.

When kids are given toys that stimulate the mind increasing their inventiveness and self esteem, those toys have a much greater sustainability in the market place. Think of all the one hit wonders that have crossed your path as a kid and those that you have already seen cross the paths of your own children. Most of them, I'm sure you will agree, lack the proper stimulation that something like Legos or play kitchens can provide. Eventually most of those "one hit wonders" find their way into the garage sale pile or a box for Goodwill.

The minds of developing young children are like little sponges that yearn to discover experiences for their burgeoning existence. Toys that help to do that not only increase a child's self esteem but also help to advance the creative and cognitive abilities of a person's brain.

Also, both Lego's and play kitchens give the parents fun activities to enjoy with their children. Kids love nothing more than to have their parents participate in their world; staying present while you craft and imagine with your beloved family.

Toys that allow the imagination to wander and the mind to originate will always be a welcomed addition and one, that I bet, will hold their interest far longer than any fad toy will.

Thursday, July 8, 2010

Little Tikes Playhouses

If you grew up in the 60s or 70s may not be aware that there is something like a home game of pool, not to mention a company from the popular Little Tikes. Yes, not only for large homes are no more. Sometimes the children - perhaps your grandchildren get - their little house in those days.

Do not let your children or grandchildren, the children only play homeless on the block. The right thing for your local dealer and pick up a mega headLittle Tikes Playhouse. Children can choose to play in the box do not go, but there will be your best "and" Have done in this world is not that what really matters?

I recommend that parents and grandparents of children just do your best and get a stable built Little Tikes Playhouse tinier inhabitants of their world to find ways and can make a home game, or hide. These small structures are hard and strong and are about as going to kid-proofToys may be. It fits easily in the cave or room, or even in a bedroom of the child.

You may not remember as far back, but I guarantee you, a small home when you were little wanted. Oh, maybe not anything like the elaborate miniature, perfect customized vacation in the courtyard of a rich girl who is accustomed with their Easter eggs, you have a year and I did not see constructed play.
No, just a nice little place 'of their own hide fromStresses of everyday life kid, like brothers and sisters, babysitters, neighbors and children annoying. The great thing about the Little Tikes Play House is that you do not need a building permit to put up, and is inside or outside.

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Outdoor play houses

An outdoor theater is fun for children and offers them the opportunity to use their creativity. These houses Come play in many sizes and patterns. Before you buy for your home game, you probably want to decide what size you want. You and your child may be, may decide the style, and what you want in it. Your choice of styles, including but not limited to, Victorian, Cape Cod, gingerbread, house, or even a fire station, a kitchen, or Church.

It is advisable to also consider whether a fence or any other type of fence around them or in part provided. There is also the opportunity to play a house with a porch. Some theaters are skylights, and some are on a plane. If you buy a second with a stick, you might want to get one with a ladder and / or slide up and down.

There is also the task of deciding what type and how to put a lot of furniture you want in this> Play House. Some have play kitchens, bedrooms, and / or residence. There are several types of roofs and windows available. Can curtains or blinds to the window, and / or maybe carpet inside. Some have more than one door, and most have more than one window. Some of these houses are playing with flowers. You may wish to add your flowers, and maybe a rocking chair on the porch.

Monday, July 5, 2010

Enuresis in children

It can be a frustrating journey for parents seeking a fee for his enuresis in children. There are also different methods are used to treat bedwetting, and is also before the commission of a lot of time or cost, the special treatment that need to be properly informed.

One of the better known treatment is a moisture alarm. This could take the form of pants or have a special pad to the mattress. The humidity sensor of the alarm sends a radio signal to aRecipients in general, more parents, the child will awaken quickly if moisture is detected. This approach has some processing, but has a high recurrence rate and therefore treatment should be repeated as often as necessary.

Another treatment for enuresis in children would be in the form of synthetic hormones used to regulate hormones to mimic bladder control during the night are. This method has had some success, but must bemanaged and monitored by a doctor, and many parents may be wary of giving hormones to their children. Similarly, antidepressants are sometimes prescribed for enuresis in children. These drugs are at risk because they have side effects.

There are also many creative techniques that can be used to treat bed wetting. One example is a graph where the gold stars to sleep all night without wetting the bed will be awarded.

Honestly, when it comes to bedWetting in children is most effective can be done to get the best and comprehensive information and advice. There are some specific data that will be invaluable in determining your approach in dealing with your child's bedwetting problem.

Sunday, July 4, 2010

Top Ten Christmas toys for girls

If you're stuck on what your little princess for Christmas, if so then to get this, you can help.

This year's top ten girls toys for Christmas are listed below.

Before Lulu the cat, this is the collection and real fur is so realistic that you think your child has a real pet in the house. This adorable puppy to give your child countless hours of fun. This toy is truly the cat's meows and you can move the face. More of your attentionChild pays this little kitten will tell you that more is their friend.

According Teletubbies are these characters from one of the most popular television programs for children and children they love.

Tinky Winky, Dipsy, Laa-Laa and Po encourage children to sing and dance with them. With a teletubbies toys at home, your child will be safe, giggles and lots of fun.

Third Igglepiggle Talking Igglepiggle toy is this little fully active and dancesand bounces. This toy can also tell your little stories. Igglepiggle in the night is one of the most popular TV shows for kids today Garden. This is intended to be a hit with your children if they have a fan in the Night Garden.

Fourth Talking De Li, toys Waybuloo it looks like a kitten and love to show your child a lot. De Li's character is kind and loving. You can see, De Li collect food and this will show your child as good-natured Of Li. The toy is required for this Christmas to be embraced by all girls.

Fifth Zambia the baby elephant. This toy is made of fur real friends in the series. The stuffed animal can move down to the trunk and wiggles his ears and makes realistic sounds as the chewing and the elephant trumpets.

Your little princess will love this toy, may give kisses and curl around your finger to show his trunk, you, he is their friend.

Sixth Honey My Baby Pony, thisToys> emits realistic sounds and movements. You can feed it a carrot and watch her ears wiggle and eyes blink.

All little girls want a pony, and why it is so realistic it will be a cheaper alternative. This is guaranteed to be a more of Christmas toys this girl.

Seventh Go Go Pet Hamster, if you're a hamster, you also love this. All hamsters have different colors and personalities and unique characteristics. Your littleGirls can play for hours and cuddle this cute little toy and is required to be a hit this Christmas.

Colour Me eighth start a song, toy keeps up to eight triangular crayons. It fosters imagination and creativity in the game the child, and they will really enjoy him. This toy is the artist in your child shine through. This toy is suitable for children aged 2 years and more.

Ninth Talking Upsy Daisy, this character from one ofpopular TV shows for kids today, a perfect gift for his In The Night Garden fans. This toy can dance and sing, like daisies, while also growing encouraging to see that your child will enjoy outdoor activities.

10th Baby Annabel Doll, Toy This is suitable for children 3 years old. This sweet baby doll makes realistic sounds when his embrace. It also makes sucking sounds when drinking from his bottle. Her daughter was playing with this love mummyDoll.

Saturday, July 3, 2010

Rainforest Jumperoo - Fisher Price Review

As we all are well aware of the babies are a real pain in the back (yes, we love them no less). There are a lot of toys are now a lot of time, this period has been developed over a long time. a young mother (as soon as time), these toys have been surprising in this article will do a detailed review of staff Jumperoo Rainforest "(rhyme not intended).

The Jumperoo originally released in the United States and has been a great successProduced there, jumped across the pond and came to our stores in the UK, Mothercare to a name. The rainforest brand have many other accessories for babies and were so successful, try the application, the time Mothercare currently 5 weeks of lead.

The dimension of Jumperoo is big enough, my house is small and compact, this toy tends to take a lot of space. The silly games several attachments to keep a child mesmerized do just that.The noise can be annoying to our parents, but every child to have a number one hit will just keep giggling and gurgling.

My personal experience with this product is fantastic, my little one could jump up and put an end to this game for hours on end, so that there is a God send. Children are so time and that every parent feels relieved when they go to bed (this does not mean that I love him very much). Gives them the opportunity to make their feet and relax, or alternatively, a setClean around the house. Not only that this product will always be my baby for the reception hours, but when it is finished (so children can always do), he is usually ready for a nap, I feel like a second chance to do what I do.
If I was to evaluate the entire product of 10, an eighth would probably wish I could give it a 10 because I honestly do not know what to do without it now. For me it's like a machine, I'd be lost without it. The problem is the size of the base onlyseems particularly strong. Yes, come apart and fold down, but if you're in a small apartment or a house, this would be very difficult to live. My final consensus is if you have a Rowdy / Active bit, 'Well, this is the toy for you.

Friday, July 2, 2010

Fun Toys from the past

Toys are one of the things that everyday toys seem to change with many companies on creative limits to entertain children as long as possible with the most games and activities. The question is: is the imagination gone too far and brought the children into a false sense of need.

Not long ago, there were children like a yo yo, a circle and stick a jump rope or just play kiss chase run or play hide and seek. The children were happy, carefree, saying that largely because of these simple toys equally owned by each child or shared.

These toys were simple and at that time was stretched their imagination with their own ideas and not something that adults thought it was amazing from a group trying to think like a child. This seems to be played in many companies in good standing with the movie beside the children's attention, the latest computer game with fantastic graphics, and audio captureInteraction.

It feels like the computer age has the capacity of a child to think for themselves what to do to entertain themselves and their friends began to develop a series of action, adventure and sports games, a way needs to think and just follow what someone else has the idea.

This is where parents play equipment for children are much better in many respects like any game console, be it a simple platform game on the latest sports interaction simulationfor the family.

Springboard was a huge feeling of excitement, fun and laughter and has no obligation to sit in front of the television with a controller in hand and the feeling on the screen even hypnotized. Instead, children can enjoy the fresh air, exercise (even if you do not realize they are exercising), and total fun bouncing in the air and down again and again.

For more ideas for outdoor toys, interaction, imagination, and yetfunny how the zombies next roll is a wooden climbing frame, go-karts and wooden playhouses. These are self-self explanatory, but many families are forgotten, play outdoors, compared to the joy, the device Next game connection, and then sit and occur against a family member or friend without using their legs.

Overall, outdoor activities lead to more exercise, healthy children and even children, that sleep should be much easier than sitting infrontfrom a computer or console, cola drink and leave with a lot of energy at the end of the day. Completely different from a few years of yoyo and hula-hoop and stick.

Thursday, July 1, 2010

Toys for older children

Somehow it seems like a shame if our children are growing year for simple toys, the first enjoyed during his. Want to challenge them and this can sometimes mean that you need to buy expensive new.

The advertising industry must play an important role at this point. Many of our children are exposed to advertising on TV, online and in magazines. Even if you limit the amount of advertising seen their children, islikely that they will be influenced by their own colleagues.

Unfortunately, toys and games they want, some are probably too expensive. And what about those who are seen as cool, but not break the bank?

Sky Challenger helicopters play a big success last year or so have been and still retain their popularity. The radio element of the game certainly helps, but the main selling point is that you can use, wereto have air battles.

This is fun, but in a safe environment. Since prices were kept relatively low, these toys that children are more likely, though not too expensive. You can use the prices in different stores where they compare in traditional stores and online.

So what you need to know about the game when you are going to make a purchase? The first thing to say that does not really suitable for young children. ManufacturersRecommendation is that are 8 years old - which feels about right.

After flying objects in a room with high speed is not particularly suitable for younger children - certainly not when you're proud of objects in your home!

Check the helicopter is not as easy as could be, especially in the first period while learning to use the game. While young love with the controller, may still be a challenge, especially for someAdults!

How about the element of backlash? Sounds a bit 'messy?

Fortunately, this part of the game is really only leads to a disruption of the signal from the remote control helicopter, making it difficult to keep standing control. Fortunately, this chaos is free, depending on where the helicopter crash lands!

No doubt a great game and also suitable for older children. There are hours of fun here for people aged 8 years.