Posts Tagged ‘Kids Toys’
Taking a child on a plane ride can sometimes be a bit of an ordeal. The trick, I have found, is to make sure a child’s mind is occupied during the flight. This is where the “trip toy” comes in.
When I was a child my family went on a lot of trips. While packing up the car for a trip to National Parks or coastal cities were planned yearly there were also trips via flight to such places as Canada and Europe. As a kid, flying in a plane was both a fun and boring experience. On the one hand you knew you were going someplace; on the other hand there was a long flight full of bad food and sitting strapped into uncomfortable chairs.
To fight this boredom, my parents devised a little strategy for me and my brothers: the day before our trip they would take us to a local toy store and make us pick out one toy for our upcoming trip. This would be our “trip toy” and would keep us pacified for the flight. My brothers would usually pick one of the Playmobil toys while I would go for either a workbook or a Barbie.
To their amazement, this would usually work. We would be perfect little angels for our flights. Remembering this, I instituted this idea for my family trips. In fact, I let all my friends in on this practice (they all thanked me for this). If you think about it, while air travel can be stressful for adults, it can be stressful in a totally different way for kids. Keeping a kid sitting in a chair for nine hours straight takes something more than luck, it takes distraction. Movies usually don’t work, nor do books or music. Your kid’s favorite toys, on the other hand, that’s usually the way to go. Throw in the fact that it’s a new toy, the fun should last until at least the flight lands.
Of course there are some rules to remember when letting your kids pick a “trip toy”. First, try to keep the number of removable parts on the toys to a minimum. I once had a parent buy their kid a Lego set to put together on a flight. Umm, guess how that went.
For boys, Playmobil Toys tend to be a good option. Not a lot of removable parts, yet enough variety with each set to keep a child’s attention. There are also a wide variety of Playmobil sets on the market so there will be something for almost every child’s preferences. For the girls in the family, the classic toys apply here. Barbies, My Little Ponies, dolls and other sets also work. If they like Playmobil, they can go for those too.
Of course, this all varies for different children. Personal gaming systems might work for some, coloring books for others, and activity books also work well. Just make sure they have something to keep their attention during flight and you’ll both be happy by the time the wheels touchdown.
Author Kimberly Green always has special kids toys set aside for those long trips!
When you’re a child you love your toys. Then you lose interest. Then, when you grow up, you yearn for your old toys once more. That’s where big business comes in.
Here’s how it goes: first it becomes popular, then it becomes unpopular, then it becomes kitsch, then, sometime after that, it becomes popular again. Hence goes the pop culture cycle. Chances are by the time you grow up, all those toys that you abandoned when you became “too grown up” to play with, become important to you again. They become reminders of your youth and you begin to yearn for them. Of course, you’re not the only ones. Big business knows this. Because of this you should ready to pay a premium for your beloved Playmobil toys or My Little Pony’s because you’re not the only one looking for them.
I recently went to the Downtown Disney District in Anaheim, CA to meet some friends for dinner. As I was walking I noticed that there was a rather large Lego Chain store which sold nothing but Lego sets and products. I didn’t have to think twice, I made a bee-line for the store. Now, I know Lego’s are thought of as a little boy thing, but I’ll make no qualms about the fact that when I was a kid I loved Lego’s. Sure, I enjoyed Barbie’s, My Little Pony’s, etc., but for me there was nothing more fun then putting together a Lego airport, police building or pirate ship. As I walked into the store and began to look around, two things immediately popped into my head. First: if you can dream it, there is a Lego set for it now. Forget airports, you can literally build the Taj Mahal now out of Lego’s. Second, and most relevant, Lego’s have gotten expensive. I’m sure you can still get a small set at Wal- Mart for something resembling a reasonable price, but wow, if you want to build an airplane or an building or a pirate ship prepare to open your wallet. A set can cost up to $70 now. Even the cheaper sets cost $30. Needless to say I passed on purchasing a set, even if I felt a child like need to.
It didn’t hit me until I got home why these Lego sets cost so much. These sets were not for children, but instead, for adults who grew up on Lego’s and again want to experience the thrill of constructing a building out of these tiny blocks. I recently help put together a small set a cousin brought over, and trust me; it’s still as fun to do as I remember it.
If anything, this experience at the Lego shop reminded me of the “kitsch” cycle. Toy sellers now understand that parents are as willing to purchase something that reminds them of their youth as they are to purchase these new products for their children, same goes for Playmobil Toys too. Look at the Transformer franchise. Most of the people who saw the film hadn’t played with a transformer for 15 years, but went in droves to the movie because of cherished childhood memories (the movies were terrible by the way, which makes the success of the second one even more “memories” based).
Next time you’re at Target look around and look at how much of the DVD’s or home supplies marketed to adults are simply repackaged and “hip looking” products from your childhood. I think you might be surprised at what you find. Chances are while you’ve “grown up” your tastes have pretty much stayed the same.
Author Kimberly Green has children ages 3, 4 and 6 and has lots of experience purchasing kids toys
The holidays are just around the corner so make the most of your shopping experience and start now. Shopping for the holidays can be extremely overwhelming, very tiring and it can be quite costly if you do not know where to look and how to get those great deals.
1. Only spend what you have. If you are shopping at stores then pay cash and if you are shopping online set a credit limit and pay it off in full when you get your bill.
2. Price check. The internet makes it so easy to compare sites and stores out there before you buy what you are looking for.
3. Start now and put things away. I always start at the end of summer and put things away. This way you do not feel it so hard financially.
4. Make a list of who you are getting gifts for and what you plan to get them. Do not just go out to a store or go on a site and get items randomly. Talk to your relatives about gift giving for the holiday season. For example, my family has all agreed that it will all be about the kids this year. No adults will be getting each other gifts – it is about the grandkids, nieces and nephews. Of course my husband and I will exchange gifts but extended family will be all about the kids.
5. Why not be creative and make your own gifts. I made beautiful Swarovski crystal jewelry last year for my relatives and they loved it. If I would have bought the jewelry I made in the specialty stores I would have spent $100’s of dollars on them. If you have special talents then when not use it!
6. Know where to shop online – if you are looking for that trendy Elmo doll or those adorable Playmobil Toys then go to toy sites that are going to cater to kids. Do not just go to that generic website that sells everything from food to clothing to toys. And always find those discounts and coupon codes…they are out there but you have to search for them. If you are shopping online there are also ways to make money as well with cash back rewards using certain credit cards. Always check for shipping charges and be sure to look at the return policies.
7. Think about next year….create a fund or a special savings account. Or even put all your daily spare change in a jar. That really does add up quite a bit.
Author Kimberly Green can always find something kids love from Playmobil Toys
There’s a fine line between imagination and chaos and often that fine line is drawn at a very young age when children are learning to use their imagination to fulfill wild visions of grandeur. When structure is given to these play times it can be a rewarding experience for both the child and the parent. From building forts and playing pirate ship to quiet times on the floor with Magformers any occasion to play is an occasion to learn.
It’s easy to sit back as a parent and watch your children run around like mad men in an unstructured chaos. We call it “children at play” but in reality it’s just pure chaos and you’re children get very little from it in terms of stimulation, education and character building.
We’ve all seen the child who has trouble differentiating from playtime and the times where we need them to behave like proper young children. If you happen to have a child like this you know just what I’m talking about. At any time you are certain your child will morph into Super-Man and run off to save the world. They’ll most likely hurt their siblings and make them cry in the process. This is not only embarrassing for parents it’s destructive behavior that can affect your child for their entire lives and it’s also a learned behavior that can also affect younger siblings in a very negative manner as well.
The good thing is, most of these behaviors can be modified easily by implementing several small tactics that can keep children interested and stimulated as well as developing motor skills, knowledge and social skills. Don’t get me wrong, any time you try to add a little structure to chaos you’ll find pit falls and brick walls but the end result will be a child who can play and function in a manner that benefits everyone.
Trying to build character through play time is one of the most rewarding experiences a parent will have with their children because it’s time you get to spend simply having fun. The first step is to set clear ground rules for the game. For example, setting time limit, or sharing requirements will help you with the structure aspect. Just like adults, children benefit from structure because it gives them parameters to work within.
When playing imagination games (being a pirate trying to recover lost treasure) be prepared to teach. The definition of a parent should be “teacher” because it’s up to you to make sure your children are being mentally stimulated and not just running through their day mindlessly. Before getting involved with kids toys, a new game or adventure with your child, do a little research on your own so you can bring interesting facts or stimulating questions to fun time. This keeps your child mentally involved in playtime and also helps to build on their knowledge. In the world of video games and televised stimulation playtime is rare and when your child does engage in it you can get 10 times more from it by using education to enhance the fun.
Building motor skills is another area that is often overlooked but very crucial in your child’s development. The term “idol hands” is very true in the fact that when your child gets bored, they get into trouble. We’ve all seen it a hundred times. So when you’re down on the floor playing with those Magformers, challenge your child to build something specific and build one right along side of them. This gives then sensory stimulation and it keeps them involved in the process. Once you build that pirate boat you can float on over to your Playmobil Toys village and search for that elusive gold. Your child will appreciate having a swash-buckling partner to help them and they will be more constructive in the process.
Author Kimberly Green has 3 children whom she loves to buy fun and interactive kids toys for. They are a useful tool for imaginative play and learning.
If you have kids, then birthdays can be an exciting time. But it can also be expensive, stressful and somewhat frustrating. This brief article will cover the basics of celebrating birthdays with kids and kids toys, including how to shop for the best deals on toys, how to organize toys, and what to do with the toys that you already have.
If there are children in your household, then a birthday is sure to mean lots of toys. If you’re like most families, you have spent the weeks prior to the big day dashing about town, running from one store to the next, looking for the perfect toys. Do you know what kids toys to buy? How much should you spend on them? And what about the toys that your children already have?
Shopping for kids toys should be done with care. Take the time to look through sale ads, clip coupons, check out stores each week, and even shop online to find the best deals on the must-haves for each year.
We have a rule in our household, and the rule is that we do a miniature “spring cleaning” in the weeks leading up to one child’s birthday. The common areas and bathrooms are easy enough; it’s the kids’ bedrooms that give us trouble. With so many kids toys strewn about, it’s hard to know where to start. But the easiest thing to do is grab two trash bags. One bag will hold broken and old toys that are ready to be discarded, and the other bag will collect those kids toys that can be donated to charities and shelters.
Removing ready-for-trash toys is easy enough, but how do you know what to donate? Well, what comes to mind is an easy rule for household organization: if it hasn’t been used in six months, then chances are it won’t be used, and so it is ready to hit the road. In the case of children and kids toys, that time should be reduced to three months. So there you have it: if a toy hasn’t been played with for three months, give or take a few days, then it’s ready to go.
Once you have cleared out all of the old and are ready for the new, you may be looking at ways to improve storage and organization. I can’t recommend enough a good set of storage bins. They are perfect for organizing kids toys of a variety of shapes, sizes and purposes. These bins are often designed so that they may be stacked on top of one another, and some even come with a plastic or wooden “display shelf” that angles the bins upwards and outwards, which makes accessing the bins to reach for the toys within a simple task.
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