by The Tiny Toy Shop
Many parents wonder what their children are learning at school and are they learning the "right material". Many parents and educators will look at the indicators set fourth by their state. Another great resource to check out is http://www.worldbook.com/wb/Students?curriculum. This resource provides curriculum standards across North America. Whether your child is attends public schools, private schools, charter schools, or receives an alternative education; this can be a great place to compare your child's education with that of the nation and continent.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Educational Toys: Making Kids Smart By Having Fun
by: Rony Pollock
Kids are like sponges. They absorb. But the similarity ends there. While sponges absorb, they shrink and disintegrate before long. Kids, on the other hand, soak up day to day experiences and when the right mindsets are instilled, they continually thrive. That’s why it’s important for parents like you to carefully select the toys they play with. Associating fun and play with learning is a fundamental aspect of every child’s growth. And one of the best ways to make this happen is through educational toys.
It All Starts at Home
The home front is crucial to a child’s development. This is where curiosity is first explored. This is where a child learns about colors, shapes, and sounds, what Yes and No mean, and that asking “why” can almost always generate an explanation. The first lessons brought about by childhood generally come from the people around the household. That’s why all activities of your kid should be carefully selected. The right books, appropriate TV programs, and educational toys can supplement and enhance your child’s learning process, making the early stages of learning easier and enjoyable.
Lessons of Playtime
Playing is every child’s first priority. Playtime may only seem to provide pure entertainment, but it is also an integral part of your child’s mental and emotional growth. While it’s good to provide children opportunities for skill formation, such as music or art classes, it’s also ideal to give them ample time to play. Doing so, would provide the following benefits:
- Personality development
- Awareness of their potentials
- Promote independent thinking
- An avenue for creative thinking and problem solving
- Improvement their motor skills
- Enhance their ability to think and communicate
- Value-formation
Guidance is essential to bring out the best in children. But it doesn’t mean that you should totally organize the whole experience for your child. The important thing is to provide supervision and the appropriate tools for play and let your child take it from there.
Toys that Fit
Giving your child high-quality educational toys will liven up and enhance the process of sensory and learning development. The right toys for the right age needs to be considered too. A rattle wouldn’t capture the interest a five-year-old kid. Here’s a quick guide on what educational toys children may enjoy at a certain age:
Infants – The keywords are soft, safe, and colorful. Vividly colored rattles and squeaky toys will stimulate their sense of touch, sight, and hearing.
1 to 2 years – This is a stage where children start learning how to maneuver the things in their hands. They are also beginning to discover that some things are paired together. Toddlers will enjoy building blocks and toys that will allow them to identify and match shapes.
2 to 3 years – Children are beginning to get more creative at this age. They like role playing with other kids or by themselves. Puzzles, Play Cubes, and educational toys that stir their imagination are the best options.
4 to 5 years – Kids are into creative thinking and decision-making by this age. Educational toys that can help enhance these developments include puzzle games and constructions toys.
As children grow older, they become more independent in their choices of what toys to play with. They usually forego free play for games that involve rules and friends. They learn to be competitive. This is the time where parents’ guidance is most crucial. But if you’ve established the foundation by providing your child with educational toys early on, then you may have a child who’s well-developed emotionally and smart to boot.
Kids are like sponges. They absorb. But the similarity ends there. While sponges absorb, they shrink and disintegrate before long. Kids, on the other hand, soak up day to day experiences and when the right mindsets are instilled, they continually thrive. That’s why it’s important for parents like you to carefully select the toys they play with. Associating fun and play with learning is a fundamental aspect of every child’s growth. And one of the best ways to make this happen is through educational toys.
It All Starts at Home
The home front is crucial to a child’s development. This is where curiosity is first explored. This is where a child learns about colors, shapes, and sounds, what Yes and No mean, and that asking “why” can almost always generate an explanation. The first lessons brought about by childhood generally come from the people around the household. That’s why all activities of your kid should be carefully selected. The right books, appropriate TV programs, and educational toys can supplement and enhance your child’s learning process, making the early stages of learning easier and enjoyable.
Lessons of Playtime
Playing is every child’s first priority. Playtime may only seem to provide pure entertainment, but it is also an integral part of your child’s mental and emotional growth. While it’s good to provide children opportunities for skill formation, such as music or art classes, it’s also ideal to give them ample time to play. Doing so, would provide the following benefits:
- Personality development
- Awareness of their potentials
- Promote independent thinking
- An avenue for creative thinking and problem solving
- Improvement their motor skills
- Enhance their ability to think and communicate
- Value-formation
Guidance is essential to bring out the best in children. But it doesn’t mean that you should totally organize the whole experience for your child. The important thing is to provide supervision and the appropriate tools for play and let your child take it from there.
Toys that Fit
Giving your child high-quality educational toys will liven up and enhance the process of sensory and learning development. The right toys for the right age needs to be considered too. A rattle wouldn’t capture the interest a five-year-old kid. Here’s a quick guide on what educational toys children may enjoy at a certain age:
Infants – The keywords are soft, safe, and colorful. Vividly colored rattles and squeaky toys will stimulate their sense of touch, sight, and hearing.
1 to 2 years – This is a stage where children start learning how to maneuver the things in their hands. They are also beginning to discover that some things are paired together. Toddlers will enjoy building blocks and toys that will allow them to identify and match shapes.
2 to 3 years – Children are beginning to get more creative at this age. They like role playing with other kids or by themselves. Puzzles, Play Cubes, and educational toys that stir their imagination are the best options.
4 to 5 years – Kids are into creative thinking and decision-making by this age. Educational toys that can help enhance these developments include puzzle games and constructions toys.
As children grow older, they become more independent in their choices of what toys to play with. They usually forego free play for games that involve rules and friends. They learn to be competitive. This is the time where parents’ guidance is most crucial. But if you’ve established the foundation by providing your child with educational toys early on, then you may have a child who’s well-developed emotionally and smart to boot.
Educational Toys to Improve Attention Deficit Disorder
Educational Toys to Improve Attention Deficit Disorder
by anutt
Children with attention deficit disorder often struggle in school because of their short attention spans. Many quickly decide that they are "dumb" or "stupid" when the simple truth is that their condition is causing them to fail in the traditional school setting, which requires children to focus on one activity for an extended period of time. If you are a parent of a child with ADD or ADHD, you can actually use toys to help improve your child 's attention span and, in turn, performance in school. Here are some ways to use educational toys to improve attention deficit disorder.
What Your Child Needs from You
As you consider toys to use to help improve your child 's attention span, keep in mind that your child needs to be able to focus on one activity or task for about 25 minutes in order to survive the first year of school. This number increases as the child advances through the educational system. If your child is a preschooler, take the time now to help her increase her attention span so that she can succeed in kindergarten. If she is an older student, talk to her teacher to learn what her attention span should be, and work slowly towards that goal.
Remember, your child needs to feel as though play time is play time. While you can, and should, reward good attention, you need to avoid making play time into school time. Keep it fun, even as you focus on improving the signs of attention deficit disorder.
Use Books to Help with ADD
One of the best educational toys to use with children with ADD is a book. Choose books that are interesting to your child. Even if you do not like a particular book, use it if it appeals to the child with ADD. Even if your child is old enough to read, read aloud to him. Read as long as his attention allows, and then let him move to another activity. Gradually try to increase the amount of time spent reading.
Play a Game with Your Child
Another way to improve ADD with educational toys is to play games with your child. Any game that your child can understand is a great way to improve attention span. Your child will love the play time, as she likely relishes special time with mom and dad. Be sure the games require some thinking or concentration, rather than just allowing the child to move a piece after spinning a wheel or rolling a pair of dice.
Pretend with Your Child
Because pretend play allows them to get up and move while focusing on one thing, it is perfect for children with ADD. Buy educational toys that will encourage your child to pretend. Fake food, doctor 's kits, and dress up clothes are great additions to the ADD child 's toy box. These do not have to be complicated. Simply choose toys that will get his imagination flowing.
Puppets are more great toys to use with these kids. Because they allow the child to use his imagination and create crazy scenarios, puppets are very appealing to an ADD child. Also, you can stretch your child 's attention span with puppets, as it takes time and effort to put on a puppet show. Be a good audience and reward and praise the effort!
Parenting a child with attention deficit disorder is frustrating at times. The energy level of these children is simply exhausting for most adults. By finding ways to play with your child that require him to focus for longer and longer periods of time, you can help curb the energy a little while still enjoying one on one time with your child. In this way, both of you win, and your child will also benefit from increased performance in school!
About the Author
Educational toys from A-brand provider Mastermind Toys amount to an investment in your child 's future.
Article Source: Content for Reprint
Friday, October 24, 2008
Educational Toys Help Child's Learning
Educational Toys Help Child's Learning
By Amy NuttWe live in a day and age where children are watching TV and playing video games all of the time. Sure, it may seem as if video games and television stimulate a child's brain, but many times kids are sitting there like zombies. Unless the television show is an educational show that doesn't bore the child or the video game is something that involves a certain degree of strategy, they're not getting too much out of these two things. Most of all, they are not exactly using their imaginations in a world that requires its occupants to be imaginative in order to survive personally and occupationally.
As convenient as television and video games are at keeping the kids busy and behaved, it is time for parents to rebel. The revolt begins as the child develops by using such things as educational toys. Adults use puzzles, brain teasers, and other things that require thought to keep their minds sharp. It has been shown that adults who stay on top of their game with activities that make them think are taking an active measure toward preventing Alzheimer's. By incorporating such things into a child's life and keeping those activities as part of their life, a parent is taking an active role in ensuring that their child's mind stays sharp. It is also important to emphasize to that child how important such activities are as an adult so that they can take a preventive measure toward diseases such as Alzheimer's and dementia.
Educational toys
Educational toys come in many different types and are available for children as soon as they learn how to grab things. They can be something as simple as a puppet or matching shapes. The child is forced to think and the colorful pieces that come with these toys make the activity interesting. What makes these activities even more interesting is when the parent is involved and praising the child when the child is successful.
Starting these activities early means that the child is going to get a developmental head start and will be using strategy easily by the time he or she begins kindergarten. Your child will have the mental maturity needed to make it through the world if you start stimulating their brains early and making it fun to learn. When kids don't have fun learning is when they have learning difficulties throughout their entire lives. This isn't always the case, but it has been known to happen. Many children loathe learning for one reason or another, so using educational toys can make it fun and rewarding.
Keeping it up
There are educational toys for children of all ages, so it is good to always make sure there are fun educational toys around the house that are age or intelligence appropriate. And yes, there are some wonderful brain teasers and other educational games on video game systems and computers. When the child reaches a certain age, using these as learning tools can be great. There are also great television programs that make a child think and make learning fun. It is just a matter of placing restrictions on how much time is spent using these electronic tools and making sure there is plenty of time that you and your child are doing fun learning activities together. By taking a time out and doing these activities with your child, you are not only stimulating their brain, but you are actually stimulating your own. The two of you are also spending quality time together in a world that makes quality time very difficult. So it is easy to see how educational toys can benefit you and your child in more ways than just learning.
About the Author: Mastermind Toys offers a wide range of children's toys and educational toys for kids of all ages.
Source: www.isnare.com
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=283419&ca=Parenting
Fulfill baby needs the organic way and promote good health by Janne Clarke
When a new member comes into the family, there is a happiness which is surrounding it and that makes other delighted too. The right growth of the baby is the priority of everyone around it. However, what is generally forgotten is that it is not the quantity of the food but the quality which affects his growth to a greater extent. For any of the baby needs that arise, they should be fulfilled with the healthiest of the options available.
Babies have no materialistic needs to ask for. What they need is the right food and care so that they can grow properly. However, it is up to the parents to keep a check whether the products are even healthy to use on their baby and fulfil baby needs. The food products that are fed to him in addition to the mother’s milk and also the baby care products that are used should be so fresh and without any manipulations that they do not hurt the baby.
Going the organic way seems to be the best idea for the well being of the baby and baby needs. The food products that he is fed with, like custard, cereals, millets, rice, jams, etc should all be certified for being completely organic. Organic foods carry this speciality of being completely in accordance with the ways of nature and no artificial products have been used in its growth or cultivation. Similarly for the products that are used in baby care, like creams, lotions, baby oil, cleansers, care should be taken that they are totally healthy and do not cause damage rather than benefit to the baby’s delicate skin. All such baby needs have to satisfied but with the right options chosen.
Whatever products the baby needs now can be easily obtained the organic way. Online availability of organic baby products has made it possible for the parents to ensure that their child grows well and healthy. Now fulfil the baby needs easily and stop any harsh product to harm his sensitivity.
Janne Clarke is an expert on parenting, organic food and related items, who writes articles for numerous websites on parenting & gluten free products. For more of her articles on parenting, baby need and baby care, please visit http://shop.oway.com.au/
Article Source: Free Articles ArticleSnatch Article Directory
When a new member comes into the family, there is a happiness which is surrounding it and that makes other delighted too. The right growth of the baby is the priority of everyone around it. However, what is generally forgotten is that it is not the quantity of the food but the quality which affects his growth to a greater extent. For any of the baby needs that arise, they should be fulfilled with the healthiest of the options available.
Babies have no materialistic needs to ask for. What they need is the right food and care so that they can grow properly. However, it is up to the parents to keep a check whether the products are even healthy to use on their baby and fulfil baby needs. The food products that are fed to him in addition to the mother’s milk and also the baby care products that are used should be so fresh and without any manipulations that they do not hurt the baby.
Going the organic way seems to be the best idea for the well being of the baby and baby needs. The food products that he is fed with, like custard, cereals, millets, rice, jams, etc should all be certified for being completely organic. Organic foods carry this speciality of being completely in accordance with the ways of nature and no artificial products have been used in its growth or cultivation. Similarly for the products that are used in baby care, like creams, lotions, baby oil, cleansers, care should be taken that they are totally healthy and do not cause damage rather than benefit to the baby’s delicate skin. All such baby needs have to satisfied but with the right options chosen.
Whatever products the baby needs now can be easily obtained the organic way. Online availability of organic baby products has made it possible for the parents to ensure that their child grows well and healthy. Now fulfil the baby needs easily and stop any harsh product to harm his sensitivity.
Janne Clarke is an expert on parenting, organic food and related items, who writes articles for numerous websites on parenting & gluten free products. For more of her articles on parenting, baby need and baby care, please visit http://shop.oway.com.au/
Article Source: Free Articles ArticleSnatch Article Directory
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
October 22, 2008
Welcome to The Tiny Toy Shop blog! We have just launched our new toy web site and will be offering infomation here about child development, learning strategies, and of course, information about new products added to our store. We hope you will find the infomation useful!
Enjoy!
Enjoy!
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