Outdoor Toys - Wooden Climbing Frame

Technological advancement these days has not only captured the minds of adults but also children to a great extent. Earlier the kids were involved in a lot of physical activities and outdoor games like tennis, basketball, playing in the park etc. However, with the invention of gadgets like play station the importance of outdoor games has been decreasing on a continuous basis. Children refuse to socialize and are always glued to the computer or television. Lack of physical activity has affected their health extremely. There are many kids who face the problem of obesity at a very young age. This leads to even more serious problems like cardiac problems, diabetes, blood pressure etc. Watching the computer or television screen for a long time also affects their eyes. Parents are under a lot of stress and tension due to this and want to change the lives of their children giving it a new and fresh direction.

The wooden climbing frame is the perfect solution to this problem. Parents can gift their children this unique gift and change their lives forever. There are many types of wooden climbing frames available in the market. All you need to do is check out the various sites who provide information about the different and latest designs. You can choose your frame according to your needs. A house which has 4-5 children can opt for a medium sized frame. However, you also get a basic frame which consists of a stair, a small passage and a slide for your child to play. Some basic ones also have a swing. The costs of the frames differ according to the size or design. Size is however, the prime factor for the price differentiation. The starting range might be from 800 Euros and then it increases with the size of the frame.

The larger frames are usually found in places like schools or parks as they are meant for more number of children. A single family cannot afford to buy the large one for their kids. They can prove to be a lot of fun for the kids due to their complicating designs and playing patterns. The children will definitely love playing with it and make new friends. There are a lot of themes available in the wooden frames like castle, monster club, King Kong club etc. This will make the game even more interesting for them and make them feel like they have entered a totally different world. There are many benefits of buying this outdoor game tool for your kids. They will socialize and make new friends. The kids who like to stay alone will also be tempted to play. Normally, other types of games lead to many fights and arguments but, this will only increase their happiness and enthusiasm level.

Physical activity will keep them fit and healthy and parents will not have to be worried about pushing them outside to play. It will increase the imagination level of the child making him more bright and full of life. So, buy this magical toy now and see the life of your child transform instantly!

Children's climbing frames and outdoor climbing toys. Activity toys to encourage outdoor play.

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Floor Puzzle - Entertaining While Developing Skills

While a kid's floor puzzle may sound like just another toy, they actually offer more than just fun. These puzzles will not only entertain but also educate your kids. Puzzles have long been a favorite learning toy of kids, moms, and educators. Giving children a variety of puzzles enhances their early childhood educational experience both at home and in school.

Children's cognitive skills, fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and social skills get to develop and be enhanced with puzzles. There are different types of puzzles for kids which include chunky, peg, jumbo knob, jigsaw, layer, and puzzles, to name a few. When you choose a puzzle for your kids, you would need to consider their age, the material like wood, heavy-duty cardboard or foam, and the type of puzzles.

Just like their smaller counterparts, there are kids' floor puzzles that are interlocking pieces that form a big picture. Floor puzzles are much larger, though, and may even cover the entire floor. While regular puzzles are often entertaining in nature, these are more often educational. You can find in a variety of themes including alphabets, counting, space, geography, transportation, community helpers, shapes, colors, and popular characters such as Dora, and Thomas.

Floor puzzles made of foam are relatively inexpensive and easy to clean. With their range of educational opportunities, these are a wonderful decorating option for schools, day cares, homeschools, and playrooms.

The larger pieces make them ideal for young children.

Kids' puzzles are available at most toy stores, book stores, and department stores. They are also at some children's furniture stores. Alternatively, you can also find a floor puzzle online at Amazon, Sensory Edge, Jigsaw Jungle, and Little Folks Puzzle Company, or from toy makers' websites.


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Ten Early Childhood Activities For Improving Motor Skills

Looking for creative ideas on how to improve your little one’s motor skills? Searching for fun, easy-to-do activities that you and your child will really enjoy practicing? As a parent or teacher, you’ve probably experienced that heart-tugging when you watch your young one struggle with holding a scissors, tying a shoe, or just stacking blocks together. You resist the urge to do it for them and patiently explain, showing him how to do it. But learning should be fun—not a chore! Here are ten fun ideas on how you can improve your child’s motor skills.

(Remember that every child learns differently, so activities should be taught according to learning level. Activities mentioned are suggested for ages two through five and should always have parental supervision.)

1. Catch a balloon.

Children love balloons, so play catch with your little one. Try throwing a balloon straight in the air and catching it, throwing it to each other, bouncing off a wall or the ground and catching it, or throwing it high and seeing how many times you can clap before you catch it. Tip: (A young child might be fearful of catching at first, but will progress to catching with his whole body, his arms and hands, to eventually hands only. Choose an item that matches your child’s size; inappropriate sizes will frustrate your child if he can’t develop the skill.)

2. Act out nursery rhymes.

Nothing is more natural than singing nursery rhymes. All you have to do is add actions! For “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star”, add hand movements, reaching to the sky. For “Jack Be Nimble”, you can add a hop or jump; and for “Jack and Jill”, add a climbing action and a rolling motion across the floor. For “Yankee Doodle Dandy”, practice galloping around on wooden horses.

3. Build blocks (and imaginations).

Start with buying blocks or stick toys that are easy to connect! From there show your child how to put the items together to build something fun. Pretend you are building a palace or a house. Let your imagination flourish, and encourage your child to create. Puzzles with very large pieces can also be used. Be sure to show your child how to put each item together and help him complete it until he can do it independently.

4. Play animals.
Add fun to learning body movements and become animals! Teach your child how to creep like a snake, waddle like a duck, hop like a rabbit, roar like a lion, stomp like an elephant, chomp like an alligator, fly like a bird, and so on. Be sure to add all the fun animal noises too.

5. Follow the leader.

Your child watches every action you do, so make copying fun and purposely have your child shadow you movements and. Walk about and perform simple actions like standing on one foot, hopping and kicking, kneeling, jumping, sitting, marching, lifting arms or hands, and moving your head. Tip: (Make sure your actions are distinctly different and clear to your child. If your child copies incorrectly, show him the correct position then move on to the next action. Repeat missed positions throughout the sequence so your child doesn’t get frustrated.)

6. Walk the line.

Improve your child’s balance by practicing walking on a line. Make a line on your floor out of tape and have your child practice walking on it. Demonstrate how to walk in a line to your child by having the watch you walk on a curb or log. Go to a gym or park and practice walking on a beam or board.

7. Climb up and down.

Practice walking up and down the stairs. Show your child how to place their feet and hold on top walls or railing for support. Most children will learn to go down the stairs backwards at first. Always have your hands and arms to support children while they are learning. If stairs are too scary or out of the question, start small on padded furniture or small chairs. Practice climbing on and off them until your child is more comfortable with the movement. Tip: Add incentives like a favorite toy to each step to encourage them to reach where you are. Note: Food should not be used as a reward.

8. Touch fingers.

Teach your child finger names, always pointing to the correct finger as you name it. Compare your fingers with your child’s fingers. Do finger plays. Show your child how to make shapes out of fingers like circles triangles, rectangles, squares and teardrops. Make paper finger puppets with band-aids and draw faces on them.

9. Color his world.

Your little one will learn how to draw by copying. Start with a simple shape and let your child watch you draw it. Be sure to explain what you are drawing as you do it. Draw straight and curved lines and have him try to copy your actions. At first you can just draw an item and have your child guess what it is. Eventually your child will want to draw with you. If your child has a hard time holding a crayon or marker, try finger painting or drawing in sand first. Tip: Ensure you have many types of drawing utensils to try. Begin introducing color names as your child learns to draw. You can designate a specific spot in your home for coloring, but make sure supplies are in reach of little hands.

10. Cut and paste.

Cutting is one of the most difficult fine motor skills to master for young children. Start slow and be patient. Make sure you use a small safety scissors. Show your child how to cut by placing your hand over his in the scissors and doing the motion with him. Then give him the scissors at let him cut by himself. Tip: Junk mail works well for this! Allow your child to just learn how to cut before introducing shapes or lines to follow.

Pasting takes practice, so start with easy, simple projects. Since it is messy, plan ahead and wear appropriate clothing. Use a drop cloth to minimize mess and use non-toxic glue. Remember the point is to have fun teaching this skill! Show your child how to glue simple items together like paper, cardboard, boxes, etc. Move to cotton balls, rice or beans, wood, noodles, glitter, feathers, and buttons after your child has mastered the simple items first.

Improving your child’s motor skills takes time. Use these fun early childhood activities as a place to start, and add variety with your own ideas! Remember your child is young and has a short attention span. Do activities according to how you feel you child is developing and gauge his receptiveness to learn before trying new things. Always be patient, and don’t expect your child to master a concept in a single day. Encouragement is very important. With your enthusiasm, you can make early childhood activities fun and exciting!



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Educational Toy

The educational toy that a toddler and young child play with is also their very first teacher. Many things and tasks we adults take for granted must be learned. The first toys do this whether it is their intention or not.

Educational toys builds up the knowledge and experiences of the mind so more complicated tasks can be accomplished.
This is all an educational toy is suppose to do, teach the young minds new concepts, ideas and processes.

The shaped cube is a good example. Because all of the blocks are different shapes, the young mind must grasp the block then match up the shape to the correct opening that is corresponding to the same shape. This is a challenge for the young mind to understand. But in time they learn to master this simple concept.

Puzzles are usually the next step in the learning curve for young minds. With these they use the grasping technique they have learned and the matching up of shapes. The puzzles are made with complex shapes and will be a challenge at first. The picture the puzzle creates is helpful and gives the young mind additional information that they can use.

How to Get Children Playing Outdoors

Many parents would like to get their children playing outside to get some fresh air and exercise. They are concerned about the rise of video games, the internet, and television that have kept their kids trapped inside their homes so much. In fact, studies show that childhood obesity has grown at an alarming rate during the past 10 years due to lack of activity and diet.

So what can a parent do to promote a healthier lifestyle and get their children playing outdoors? One way is to encourage children to help their parents in the yard with toy garden tools. Many younger kids want to be like their parents and feel that they are helping out in the yard. In this article, we'll discuss some of the best garden toys for kids including the wheelbarrow, hand tools with a garden tote, a watering can, and a splash slide.

First, let's talk about the wheelbarrow. A toy wheelbarrow is a great toy to get children playing outdoors. They can use it to move toys, dirt, and other objects around the garden to help out while their parents are working in the yard. These wheelbarrows come in different colours and styles and can provide many hours of fun while playing outside.

One of the best-rated miniature wheelbarrows is made by Radio Flyer. It has real wooden handles that are strong and sturdy and a moulded steel body for durability. Children love having a wheelbarrow that is just their size to feel big like their parents. It is the perfect toy for children age 2 to 5 and is priced at many places for under $30.

Another great toy to get kids active outdoors are garden hand tools that come with a tote. Most of these sets come with a trowel, rake and shovel. Younger children enjoy helping their parents out with these tools that are the perfect size for their hands. When they are finished with their job, they can put them away in the tote for storage or carry to different parts of the yard. However, there are other garden toys to consider.

Most children know that plants need water to survive. A watering can help them care for the plants in your garden. Children enjoy playing with this fun toy that comes in many colours and shapes.

One of the best-rated is called the Melissa and Doug Sunny Patch Blossom Bright watering can. It can with a colourful striped base with a flower-inspired spout and top. This is a can that children will enjoy using over and over for gardening activities.

In addition to these great toys, there are many other toys that will get children playing outdoors around the garden such as a splash slide. Kids will have a blast going down this miniature water slide in the back yard. It is the perfect size for toddlers to have many hours of water fun. Just simply connect the slide to a hose and children will enjoy sliding through the gentle water spray. When finished, adults can simply let the air out for compact storage.

Remember these garden toys when looking for a way to get children playing outdoors. Children will have many hours of fun with a wheelbarrow, hand tools, a watering can, and a splash slide. Be sure to use this information to take action and start engaging your child with activities using toys that will provide many hours of outdoor fun.


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How to choose the best toys for our children

Children were extraordinary individuals. Great curiosity make it as a true adventurer. To fulfill his desire takes the best toys. Among the myriad kinds of toys for children, it would be very difficult to determine which one is best. Hopefully the following tips can help a little to find the best toys for our children.

We can start by thinking about a toy that will let kids use their imaginations when playing, like playing in the backyard or in a sand pit pretending to work at a mine. Other toys that stimulate children we can think of as block building, painting, or art-related toys and crafts.

This is very important to nurture creativity and imagination of children at an early age, so buy the right toys can be very useful in the future. This can help children learn new skills when they play, but remember the toys should be fun to play with as children learn much faster when having fun.

Safety should also be a major consideration when choosing toys for children, parents should check the toy has no sharp edges or small pieces that can be swallowed and easily damaged.

The other consideration confirm that you are buying toys that relate to your child's age and skill required is for that age group, some children learn faster than others because of the age range advertised on the toy may not be suitable for your child. Here's where you'll have to make decisions most appropriate toys for children of your own, one thing to remember always toys that educate and not just for the fun of it.

Hopefully by doing this will help to find good quality toys and safe for children Our involvement in the process of playing with them will help them develop creativity and imagination that can benefit them in the future.