Collecting Horse Toys

Why are you collecting? This must be the first question answered because the answer to this question will determine the answer to every other question that follows. In my opinion, there is only one right answer to this question. Collect horses because it is fun! Just because an item is worth a lot of money doesn't mean it has to stop being fun. Money has a way of getting things bent out of shape. When it comes to collecting anything, there will always be people who have their eyes so focused on the money that they have lost sight of the fun. Now that we have answered this key question, we can move on to other questions.
Which horses should I collect? If you answered the first question correctly then this one is easy. Collect the horses you like the most! You can collect your favorite breed or your favorite colors or anything else that you like. There are a variety of sizes from large horses in the 1:9 scale, such as the Breyer Traditional line which are about 9 inches tall, to small horses in the 1:24 scale, such as Schleich horses which are about 3.5 inches tall. If you enjoy having a rare model horse, you might have to pay more to get one but there are discontinued and limited editions available. Breyer publishes an annual collector's guide book which lists the market values of many model horses. However, just because these dollar values are printed in a book does not mean you can sell your horses for those prices. The so-called value is only real if you can find someone who is willing to pay that amount. With the Internet, collectible hobbies have become buyer's markets because even rare items are now much easier to find. As a result, the actual prices on the street are often lower than what might be listed in a book. If you are looking at collectible toys as an investment, I recommend finding somewhere else to invest your money. Collectible items are not a good investment. Even if your horses hold their value, trying to liquidate them into cash is not very easy and often more trouble than it is worth. Plus the process of trying to sell your horses is full of pitfalls because it has a way of zapping all the fun right out of the hobby.
Where do I get more information? There are different ways to learn more about model horses and the hobby of collecting them. First, you can subscribe to hobby magazines like 'Just About Horses' from Breyer. Another magazine is 'Model Horse Showers Journal'. Second, you can join clubs to meet other collectors. Clubs offer newsletters and shows you can attend. Club fees are usually very low considering what you get. Some clubs are specific to a horse breed while others are focused on a particular region. Third, you can get loads more information just by surfing the Internet. Just do a Google search for model horses or horse toys.
Where do I buy model horses? There are two markets, one for new horses and one for previously-owned horses. You can find new horses available in most toy stores, but the biggest selection and easiest place to shop is online. Many retailers provide large images so you can clearly see what you are getting. For previously-owned horses, the best places to shop would be online, at hobby shows or by subscribing to hobby newsletters where other hobbyists are allowed to list their horses for sale.

SCRABBLE Is The Best Game For Kids

There are few games that teach as many relevant life skills to children as Scrabble. First of all is the obvious development of vocabulary skills, spelling, and word usage. Regular Scrabble play with an adult builds a vocabulary beyond what a child experiences in the classroom, on television, or in the books they read. If an adult can push the child's usage of words using scrabble in this way, and encourage the child to use a dictionary to find the definitions of words they haven't encountered before the child's vocabulary will develop much faster.

This sort of gamification of the learning process builds a healthy understanding of words, and enables a child to find the definitions to words themselves. Encouraging this will allow a child to explore new word concepts on their own, and develop a muscle memory for recognizing common patterns in words, as well as recognizing unfamiliar patterns as misspellings. Secondly, Scrabble encourages basic number skills in terms of counting word scores, calculating triple word, double word, triple letter, and double letter scores.

Scrabble also develops a healthy competitive streak while encouraging patience and turn-taking. Scrabble requires concentration to create word combinations out of the available tiles in the player's rack, and sometimes it can take time and a lot of patience to come up with a scrabble word. Encouraging a child to take their time to create the best possible word develops skills in problem solving for other areas of their life. Playing with several children requires that they patiently wait for others to finish, a very useful trait.

Finally, the 'challenge' aspect of Scrabble whereby a player can challenge a word as misspelled, or not belonging to the scrabble dictionary allows a child to test the boundaries of authority, building their confidence. This is a safe environment for a child to challenge an adult, and develops skill in recognizing when it is appropriate to stand up for themselves. Scrabble remains a family favorite for these reasons and for the simple fact that it's fun.

Steps For Clean Stuffed Toys

Fortunately, there are some simple steps that can be taken to keep toys hygienically clean and smelling sweet, and these tips range from managing the lightly soiled to the positively filthy! You don't have to do this alone! Why not involve your child in the process of giving their favourite toys 'a bath'? This is a great way to engage your child in understanding concepts of hygiene and even grooming! Is just a wipe over necessary?

If the stuffed toy is just a little dusty, this can be overcome by wiping them over with a damp cloth. It is also possible to use the hose attachment on a vacuum cleaner or a lint roller and finish the process by brushing the toy with a brush that is not used on human hair. You could also try using cornmeal, as a dry shampoo. After this has been left to sit for an hour, the toy can be dusted off.

When you are ready and have determined that the stuffed toy is able to be machine washed, it can be placed in a pillowcase (ideally one with a zip) and included with the rest of the laundry. Given the precious cargo of the washing machine, it is advisable to use a delicate cycle. Fabric softener could also be included to maximise the softness and cuddliness of the toy.

The washing machine is also useful for giving sprucing up some stuffed toys. Always check the care label to check for any laundering recommendations and inspect the toy for any rips or tears to the seams. Any stains on the toy can be pre-treated with a mild laundry detergent, provided that the detergent is tested on an inconspicuous part of the toy to avoid discolouration or bleaching.

Following laundering in the machine, allow the toy to air dry; do not use the clothes dryer. The wet toy can be hung out on the clothesline but be careful to keep it out of direct sunlight to avoid fading. When dry, a good brushing will help the toy to stay plush and cuddly.

Best advice: To keep them hygienic, wash any stuffed toys that children may sleep with on a fortnightly basis and dust and brush them regularly. Try to clean up spills as they occur but make sure they are not rubbed - this will only embed them further into the fur. A damp sponge followed by a dry towel should be used to blot a stain. So, as you can see, there are some simple steps that can be taken to keep stuffed toys looking and smelling fresh and hygienically prepared for years of cuddles with children.
Take care! A word of warning about very old or very delicate stuffed toys...do not use the washing machine! This also applies to large toys, too big to fit in the machine and those filled with beans. Instead, place the toy and some baking soda in a paper bag and give it a good shake until the toy is coated in the baking soda. After 30 minutes, brush the baking soda off with a towel.

Replica Bus, Are They Toys ?

Made of die-cast metal and durable plastic this collectible measures 6x6.5x1.5 inches and weighs 3.2 ounces. It is perfect in every detail to the original bus right down to the chrome window trim, turn signals, side mirrors, color scheme, lettering and signage. The interior shows the original seating for 41 passengers.

Put into service by Greyhound through the 1940's this bus was powered by a powerful Detroit 6-71 diesel engine and included a 4 speed transmission with the shifter on the column. It did not come with power steering. It was updated in 1951 with a retooling of the rear section of the bus.

Although these replicas are actually classified as toys many collectors cherish them for their true to life attention to detail and the superior workmanship truly makes them suitable as collectibles by serious memorabilia collectors. You don't have to be a collector, however, to appreciate the beauty of this piece of history and many who lived through that era get much joy from the memories that they inspire.


 The size of this replica also makes it equally perfect for inclusion in a HO rail road display as well as in a prominent place on a book shelf,mantel or any other display area. In 1913 by a young man by the name of Carl Erick Wickman, a miner who didn't care for his job, opened up a Hupmobile dealership. He couldn't sell the things so he started driving workers to the mines in them for 15 cents apiece.


Having been a small boy myself during that time period I personally recall seeing many of these buses and eventually getting my first ride on one. So I find these items dear to my own heart and have several in my own collection. I just wish I knew what happened to my Lionel train set which I received one Christmas in the late 1940's. I can still remember the touch of the smooth cool metal, and smell the oil that lubricated the moving parts of that train. The head lite lit up, the horn blew,


it even had smoke coming out of the stack. I hope that I didn't swap it for a bag of snake eye marbles or a wooden rifle that shot rubber bands which we made from inner tubes, both of these were really in great demand around our neighborhood in the early fifties.

Outdoor Toys

Outdoor toys can include sand pits which come in many shapes and sizes today. The available sizes can fit all garden spaces to bring the beach atmosphere to the home. Children enjoy hours of fun in the sun and sand without the danger of tides and waves. It gives a great pleasure to the children.

Climbing frames prove to be great toys for active children. These are excellent motor skill pieces to strengthen the muscles of growing children. There is a wide selection of climbing frames that are easily installed as outdoor toys. These pose a safe and fun challenge to children who are curious and adventurous.

Outdoor toys can come in the form of outdoor playhouses. These are excellent components for a world of make believe to develop the children's creativity and social interaction skills as they play individually or in groups.

Swings are most children's favorite toys. There is a wide selection of swings for babies to youngsters. Some swings come with slides to add on more fun and excitement as toys.

A consumer can purchase toys with complete confidence as they purchase from reputable outdoor toys manufacturers and retailers who also include free delivery; that gives further savings when purchasing outdoor toy.

Some outdoor toys stores also carry some sort of guarantees; a refund of the difference is offered if the purchaser can find the similar outdoor toys at a lower price elsewhere while some retailers would offer a year's guarantee on their toys products.

Reputable toys retailers would allow a return of their products if they were found to be defective; some retailers practice a 7-day return policy while others practice a one-time exchange on goods sold within a certain time frame.

Learning With Dinosaurus Toys

Dinosaurs are fascinating to children. They have complicated names like Parasaurolophus and Scelidosaurus which kids love to master. They can be classified into meat-eating carnivores and plant-eating herbivores - kids love to classify things.

Fierce carnivores are terrifying monsters, but not too terrifying because they aren't around today. Tyrannosaurus Rex is the most famous carnivore and a favorite with kids. Spinosaurus was bigger though and he is becoming more popular. Herbivores like Triceratops and Stegosaurus have interesting horns and armor - they look funny!

Dinosaurs encourage kids to think about nature and particularly about species becoming extinct. It makes the risk of modern endangered animals very real. T-Rex and Pterodactyl have long since become extinct. It really could happen to other amazing creatures.

How do paleontologists find and excavate fossils and bones and reconstruct skeletons? How do paleoartists or dinosaur illustrators work out what a Giganotosaurus or a Velociraptor would have looked like?

Kids love to learn facts (and correct adults who get things wrong!). Pterodactyl wasn't actually a dinosaur, but they were around at the same time. Dinosaurs have legs that do straight down at the hips whereas reptile legs go out to the side. Oviraptor, the egg thief, didn't really steal eggs, the eggs it was found with were from its own nest!

And of course Brachiosaurus and Diplodocus were really big. Kids love to image a huge Sauropod towering over their house and longer than a bus. Yes, they were much., much bigger than Dad or their school teachers.

Dinosaur toys are brilliant for imaginative play and learning about nature and science and getting a sense of the history of our planet. In our experience kids start getting interested in dinosaurs as toddlers. Preschoolers and younger school aged kids become deeply interested and for many children the fascination develops as they become older and is taken through to teenage years and often into adulthood. 

7 Keys Christmas Gifts For Girlfriend

1. Photo frame is a good idea.

Although you may think photo frame is an out-of-date gift, I have to tell you that 83% housewives or girlfriends love it and regard it as one of the most romantic gifts especially photo frames with fancy and chic crystal or gems.

2. A beauty salon card has double effects.

If you are too busy to select a proper gift for her, just go and buy her a beauty salon membership card. Women always care a lot for her skin and complexion. Just imagine how happy she will be when receiving this gift. Meanwhile, you can also enjoy quiet, free and happy hours at home alone, see?

3. Memorable jewelry or accessories

Women are much more perceptual than men, that's why they will be moved by tiny but memorable items such as photos when you were newly-married or rings which are carved with your names. You have to buy gifts that are not too expensive in price while precious in value.

4. Skin care products

To be honest, I've never found any women who are not interested in skin care and cosmetics. I'm a crazy fan myself on all kinds of skin care tips, products and cosmetics. In my experience, it's impossible to imagine any woman will be immune to the fancy, gorgeous and colorful beauty products. Before buying these products, figure out her skin type or ask the beauty assistant; this is essential.

5. Sex toy is your common secret.

Watching your woman enjoying her orgasm is a great pleasure. Buying a good sex toys will definitely bring more harmony to your relationship. In the last several years many creative sex toys are released with more functions and better quality. For example, Xmybox, as one of the biggest online sex toys store, has attracted hundreds of customers since their marvelous show at Venus adult products fair in Berlin.

6. Lingerie

Don't belittle lingerie's magic! A piece of good lingerie can perfectly set off her attractive figure and meanwhile cover her belly (if she has). In fact, what lingerie can bring to your relationship is the same with sex toys; however, you have to know her size well before going shopping.

7. The best is always the last.

The best gift is so cheap that it doesn't cost you even a cent. Yes, the best gift is you. You know what to do, right?

Life is beautiful and I want to cherish it with people I love. I like to write about love, relationship, job, fitness, skin care, fashion and everything about how to make life more interesting.

Games Are Good For Kids ?

Learn by doing

A video game depicts real life situations and the child develops the ability to tackle the situation when it actually occurs in his real life. The accurate coordination of his eyes and hands teaches him to view every situation in minute detail. Video games can also help in pain management. Chronic or minor temporary pain from injury or surgery cannot be felt when a kid is playing a video game, thus distracting the child away from the level of pain he is undergoing, hence reducing the use of pain killers. Kids learn money and time management skills at a very young age through these video games and carry these skills with them, as they grow older in age.

Recovery from diseases

Video games have actually helped faster recovery in a cancer patient, especially children.

A game called 'Re-mission" actually gave the child a better understanding of the disease, how the correct medicines taken at a proper time could help in faster recovery. This helped in developing the ability of the child to fight the actual disease physically and mentally.

Improve visual defects

Video games help to improve the visual defects of kids. They help improve the spatial resolution enhancing the ability to see small and closely packed objects. The kid actually focuses on moving objects while playing, thus increasing his concentration levels. Munching in between meals is a major health risk which can be reduced when the child is actually involved in the game. Video games also depict classical stories, helping the kid to enhance his knowledge and interest in literature. A laparoscopic surgeon is said to perform surgery with great precision, if as a kid, he has ever played video games like Super Monkey Ball. This is because of his superb concentration levels.

Understand values and morals

The concept of 'Unity in Diversity" is established in a child's mind as they are exposed to players of other races and nationalities during the game. Young children, whose parents cannot afford to take their kids on a holiday, are entertained by video games, which the kids love to play. Playing complex games, which are advanced in technology, helps the kid to learn to deal complex situation in life and in different ways

In conclusion if you want your kids to grow smarter and mature in life, let them be exposed to a lot of video games. They will grow to be as responsible as you are, so don't you worry too much about their future.

Toys For Education Especially Kids

f you are a parent of young children, you are well aware that early education should be part of every child's healthy growth. Educational toys are some of the most handy and best educational material you can find for kids. From their infancy, kids must be given toys to play with to pave the way for the development of the brain, visual awareness, motor skills and sensory stimulation. Building blocks are perhaps the most basic but most important toys for a toddler. Children recognize and identify figures by touching and handling them rather than by absorbing information from books.

Puzzles are great for pre-school kids to identify colours, shapes and sizes and how to coordinate them. You can choose word puzzles and picture puzzles for them to connect words and pictures. Get your kids to pick a hobby from an early age by introducing them to sets of beads for stringing, magic tricks, stamp and sticker collections and paintings. Creatively crafted kids educational toys by Melissa and Doug have been favourites among children and parents alike. Encouraging girls to play and be creative at the same time with fashion designing, portfolio sketching and dress making is an interesting way to promote aspirations. The award winning children's toy manufacturers, Fashion Angels has a range of educational fashion designing toys. Giving your kids knitting and sewing kits also help them to learn life skills, while engaging in a hobby.

Educational play can be made just as fun as normal play, without kids even realizing it. Painting, arts and crafts and building, help them broaden their horizons and discover natural talents. Activities like such as cooking and baking can be introduced through toys. This allows them to learn about the world they live in.

Toddlers love to put things in their mouth all the time, so what you buy for them should be too big to swallow and the pieces should not come off easily. Child-friendly recommended brands like Melissa and Doug and Fashion Angels are trustworthy and renowned labels.

The Safe Steps Of Baby Toys In Your Baby;s First Year

Baby toys are the ideal items to help a baby develop these new skills and stimulate development in dexterity and brain function. Because babies initially spend most of their waking time lying on their back lovely bright mobiles suspended above them will encourage eye co-ordination and promote hand and leg movements as they are stimulated by the movement of the toy.

Your baby is naturally born with a grasp reflex. You only have to put a finger into the palm of the tiniest baby to see this at work as they will surprisingly grip it firmly.

As your baby grows older and becomes more mobile, other toys can be introduced to strengthen this new found skill. Toys that move on their own accord or change shape when handled are preferred at this stage. A string of large coloured wooden beads can be manipulated between their hands or a ball which makes a sound when moved is likewise appealing to your baby. Baby toys which can be easily pushed and retrieved are a good idea, such as toys on wheels that can be pushed away and pulled back by way of a string or handle.

Babies will quickly start sitting unaided and begin to examine their toys in more detail, shifting them from hand to hand and offering them for others to see. They will babble happily at their toys as they play thus helping advance their speech development. Bricks and blocks can provide hours of fun with its bright colours and attempts to build encourage the growing dexterity of the baby. Simple picture books can be introduced for educational purposes and also be an interactive device between the parent and baby.

Thus, toys like blocks or beads that clip together or a box with slots for things to go through are much valued. Your baby will also enjoy hiding and re-appearing or something as simple as a play tunnel can provide hours of crawling through and sitting in out of sight. Such toy will help enhance awareness of space and self-confidence within your baby.

When babies reach the end of their first year they must have acquired significant milestones aided and encouraged by their suitable baby toys. Simultaneously their mental and physical development has been much improved by the play and experimentation with sound, touch, colour and movement which these toys provided. Baby toys help build a solid foundation during your baby's first year and will develop their physical coordination, social interaction and mental aptitude.

Baby Toy, How To Choose The best One ?

How do you know what toys are the best for your baby? A new parent can spend a fortune on baby toys and chances are your baby will not play with half of them! Here are some considerations to keep in mind when buying baby toys.

First, the most important consideration is safety. Do not buy any toy that will be dangerous for your baby. Make sure the toy is not too heavy-if it falls on your baby, will she be injured? Also, check for any choking hazards. A good test to see if a toy is big enough or not is the toilet paper roll test. If a toy can fit inside a toilet paper roll, it is too small for a baby. Even big toys can pose a choking hazard if they have parts that can fall off easily.

If you are purchasing a large ride-on or sit-in toy, make sure it is stable enough to hold your baby's weight. Sturdy plastic is the best material for these types of toys. Also, make sure there are no sharp or rough edges on the toy that the baby can get hurt on. Babies like contrasts, so look for toys that have bright, contrasting colors.

The next thing you are going to want to consider is your baby's age. Some parents are tempted to buy toys that are too advanced for their baby, because they think they can push their baby's development. This is not true. Babies will not develop skills any faster if they are given too complex toys to play with. They will simply ignore these toys.

Newborn to three-month-old babies are not able to interact with their toys. The best toys for babies at this age are toys that they can look at or watch. Between four and six months is when babies start to interact with their surroundings more. Toys that they can bat at are good for this age. Also, if a baby holds a toy, chances are they might hit themselves with it, so make sure most toys are soft. After six months, interactive toys are great because this is when babies start to learn about cause and effect. Also, babies older than six months are able to control their movements more.

You will still be able to teach her to be a little lady, even if she does like playing with cars. Buy your baby toys that interest him-don't be too tied down to gender restrictions at this young age.

Toy Soldiers

Hollow casting is a technique of making figurines with a hollow center. This uses much less material to make each figurine and decreases the cost to manufacturers. This decreased cost in production translates into an affordable toy for consumers. Less expensive soldiers could be sold to a bigger market and these figurines were a huge hit.

In the late 1940's, plastic soldiers, army men, started becoming popular. By the 1950s, the familiar bags of plastic green army men had become a favorite toy. Kids of this generation grew up playing with both metal soldiers and plastic army men because both were readily available.

In response to new safety laws, many companies developed new products like high end plastic figurines to fill the gap in production. These combined the generic, unpainted plastic army men that were popular and inexpensive with the high end, highly detailed metal soldiers. These new plastic figurines were high end, highly detailed plastic figures modeled after different wars and time periods.

During the late 1960's and the 1970's, there was a huge decrease in toy soldier demand. Established toy soldier companies began producing new metal soldiers made from a safer material called alloy. These were introduced as early as the mid-1970's but they didn't gain popularity until the mid-1980's. These figures were most popular with adult males who had collected toy soldiers as children. The market at this point was still low compared to what it had been at its prime but it was improving.

Metal figures also saw a change in design in the 1980's. Metal soldiers were modernized by being given new, action poses that placed the figurines in the heat of battle. These dynamic poses were more appealing to new collectors than the stiff look of their predecessors. These developed into the toy soldiers of today which are extremely realistic and highly detailed.

Since the 2000's, collectors have been connected to a much larger market of sellers. And though there are many manufacturers of toy soldiers some stand out as the best in the business. Seasoned collectors will no doubt recognize King and Country, John Jenkins and William Britain. However if you are a new follower of modern toy soldiers, these are a good place to start to begin or enhance any collection

Classic Game, LEGO !

Lego's long-running classic themes include such greats as the Company's Space, Castle, City and Pirates sets, all of which boast several sub-themes. Whilst licensed themes include extremely popular kits such as the Star Wars, Sponge Bob, Toy Story, Harry Potter, and Spider Man sets, not to mention numerous others.

However, these famous little plastic building bricks are renowned for their durability so, what happens if the instructions for the kits get lost along the way? Well, that's no problem really, for you'll discover plenty of sites on the Internet where you can download instructions for free, not to mention the Company's own website.

But, as well as being durable, versatile and good value-for-money, it shouldn't be forgotten that the main beauty of these colorful building bricks is that they're a tremendously fun way of developing children's creative skills.

Because the plastic blocks are so durable and easy-to-clean, you could even buy them resale by placing adverts under the "Wanted" section of local press, or by checking out what's on offer online at eBay. Just make sure the bricks are the right size and in the proper Lego colors of red, blue, yellow, green, tan, black, white or grey. Invest a bit of time, and you're sure to unearth some fabulous bargains which will lead to hours of affordable family fun.

Once you and your family have the hang of inventing and building your own constructions, why not write instructions for these? That way, friends and other family members can try them out.

Remember that your plastic bricks will last a long time, and could well end up being passed on to consequent generations. Wouldn't it be great for these future generations to have photos and instructions of their family's own, unique Lego inventions?

Not only that... you'll also discover heaps of sites online where you can upload photos and instructions of your own inventive constructions, so that you can share them with other Lego fans.

Electric Toy Train

When most people think of Electric Toy Trains, they think of Hornby, Lionel or some other equally famous model train replicas and with good reason as they are simply fantastic trains. But are you aware that Lego also produce electric toy trains and that they not only have trains, but also locomotives, track, rolling stock, train stations, signal houses and a whole load of other track side buildings and they all have the logo construction theme running through them.

This is a great way to introduce kids into the railroad passion without damaging your very expensive collection and also there is a big adult collectors area who are also passionate about this brand. Lego electric toy trains even have their own scale; known as L-scale. The first Lego trains were sold in 1966 (Lego set number 080) and were push-along trains and had a nice bright blue rail.

One of the really cool things about Lego electric toy trains was that they could all be upgrade from one to the other. So if you had bought a push-along train it could be upgraded to battery operated one, which in turn could be upgraded to an electric one.

There were no major changes until 1980. Lego changed the tracks from blue to grey and the transformers now supported points, signals, crossing and other accessories and the trains now looked much more realistic.

1991 saw the introduction of the 9 volt system and metal rails being used. The 9 volt system was compatible with other products of theirs. However by 2007 the 9 volt system was completely discontinued. This was due largely to the introduction of the new line of remote control products they brought out in 2006. All rail was now made from plastic and the trains ran on remote control using battery power.

The major advantage of this was that more than one train could be run at the same time and there were no longer any problems with track layouts, point systems and polarity of rails, although there were now problems with range for the remote and also the batteries had to be changed.

Lego electric toy trains were very popular and there is even an international Lego Train Club Organization and they exhibit at such festivals as Brickfest. L gauge trains are becoming increasingly popular among middle-age hobbyists who grew up with the building toy as a child, and are frustrated with traditional model trains such as are found in the HO scale electric toy train.

5 Tips For Using Toy Safely

First, look for small pieces that might break off and pose a choking hazard. Anything that will fit in the middle of a tube the size of a toilet paper roll could choke a child, (or anyone). These same pieces can be stuck up a child's nose, also. Make sure the wheels on cars and trucks are bigger than this. If they are smaller, they are for older children. Small children should not play with marbles, small bouncy balls or balloons.

Second, avoid toys with chemicals. There was a law passed in 2009 called The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act that regulates lead in paints, BPA in plastics and phthalates in rubber. Make sure that you are buying American made toys of good quality. Paints and crayons will have a label that says non-toxic.

Third, buy toys that are age appropriate. On the outside of the box, look for an age recommendation and follow it. Don't buy toys for children to grow into. Your child may not understand how to play it and it may not be safe. A toy for an older child may be too heavy for a smaller child. He/she may drop that toy and cause damage to himself. Many toys for older children have small parts that are not appropriate for smaller children.

Fourth, check stuffed animals to be sure that the fabric is washable and flame resistant. It is important that the germs and bacteria can be killed and washed away, so check to see if it is washable. It is vital that the tag says the toy is flame retardant or flame resistant. This means that it has passed regulations and inspections.

Fifth, keep long pull strings, ropes and electrical cords away from children. They could get them wrapped around their neck and choke or accidentally hang themselves. Toys should be battery operated. The batteries should have a screw on cover. This makes them "child-proof" and children will not be able to accidentally put the batteries in their mouths

The Hamster Benefits And Their Toys

The easiest things to start with are your household recyclables. Paper towel, toilet paper, and wrapping paper rolls all make great tunnels. Small boxes in which you have cut out some windows can also be suitable hamster toys.

Un-finished wood products that you can find at your local craft store are also good choices. The entrance hole of an un-finished birdhouse is just the right size for your dwarf hamster. Remember that your hamster would build himself underground burrows in the wild, so anything you provide him in which he can curl up into a small space is a plus.

Another way to use household refuse is to take advantage of plastic beverage bottles. Cut off the top and the bottom and, voila, you have an instant hamster tunnel.

You can give your hamster branches from fruit trees or willow trees on which to chew. You can also take the branches and weave them into different shapes. You could take larger branches and lean them against the walls of the cage, making a shallow ramp. This will provide footing for your hamster to climb. It is important that you verify that the tree is not poisonous before you cut branches from it for your hamster.

It can also be fun to hide a few sunflower seeds at different places inside the toys for your hamster to discover. You could even roll up some paper towels and put some sunflower seeds between the different layers.

Of course, you can always go to the pet store and buy some premade hamster toys. One of the best toys is a log or wooden block that has been hollowed out, and then has openings drilled at different places along its length. The interior of this block provides a cozy place for your hamster to rest. You can also buy spheres or homes built from Willow. You can purchase bridges made out of tiny branches. And, of course, there are a plethora of plastic toys that you can purchase.

Wooden Toys For Your Children

Play Sets - This includes wooden work benches or kitchen sets. These kind of toys will allow your children to "make believe" and allows socialization, improve coordination and stimulate their imagination. These play sets will be a good beginning for your child's creativeness.

Train Sets - The all-time favorite wooden toy because of its hardiness. The train set can grow with your child as it can be expanded with train sections and tracks added. Stimulates creativeness especially when your child likes to build things.

Car Tracks - This is pretty much like the train sets. New cars or tracks can be added as the years move on. Your child can create more complex games with such car track sets.

Puzzles - Choose a puzzle for your child's age range and they will have hours of fun. As they get older, a more complex puzzle will challenge them and keep them entertained for a longer period of time as the pieces become more intricate and complex. This is one of the most popular wooden toys for children.

Children develop skills and cultivate the learning process through play. Social skills are also enhanced when they play in school or at home with other children. Boost this development by providing toys that are mind-stimulating.

s there a child's birthday or a holiday coming? Want to give a gift that is long-lasting and is useful for the child's development. Consider buying toys made from wood. There are unique designs and colors available in retail outlets and online toy stores.

Wooden Toys for Children make wonderful gifts. You will be assured of its durability and these toys are made with the highest safety measures. They are perfect for toddlers and older children especially when they are at the stage where they are learning new skills. Help them stimulate creativeness with hours of fun building tracks or solving puzzles.

Toy Box From Wood, Is Good For Gifts ?

Wooden Toy Chests Are Versatile And Stylish

Handcrafted or laser engraved wooden toy boxes will be appreciated by both boys and girls. Look for top quality construction and thoughtful details like safety hinges. Furniture quality toy boxes will use hardwoods such as oak or cherry to last for years and can withstand the wear and tear of toys being dragged in and out. Personalized touches might include the child's name engraved in a decorative font, the alphabet using whimsical letters, or a special message from you.

Wooden toy boxes or toy chests are versatile gifts because they can be used as storage or blanket chests when a child is older. They can take it with them to their first home and use it as a traditional "Hope Chest" to store linens, cherished mementos or comforters. A handcrafted toy chest may eventually be used by the next generation, who will love using their parents' or grandparents' chest as their own.

Fine Jewelry Will Be Handed Down To The Next Generation

Engraved jewelry is another lovely heirloom gift tradition. Little girls may receive a small, gold cross for their first communion, as fine jewelry is always in style for children. An engraved locket with a picture of the gift giver will be cherished by the little girl in your life. Birthstone earrings or a birthstone ring are also wonderful gifts that will be handed down after years of being proudly worn for special occasions. For a young boy, you might want to buy an ID bracelet with his name on one side and a short message on the reverse.

Furniture quality toys often become heirlooms. A hand-carved rocking horse that's beautifully painted will be a hit with any toddler. Years later, that same rocking horse will be used by children and grandchildren. Look for rocking horses with manes and tails of premium wool or cotton yarn and a smoothly sanded finished wood for comfort and beauty.

Build A Toy Box

First Things First on How to Create a Toy Box

Well, you can't just go right down to business and hammer away. The first thing you need to know on how to build a toy box is to identify the kind of toys that the kids have. You need to separate them accordingly because some toys tend to be more sensitive than the others. Some are smaller while some may take up too much space. Putting a category on the toys beforehand also allows you to make a simple inventory of the toys the kids already have.

Soon as you have your mini inventory in place, this is where the design process comes in. If you really want to build your toy box from scratch then it would help to have a design plan that you can sketch up to serve as your guide. This would also give you an idea of the materials that you will need to make building possible. You can also have someone who's more adept at building stuff look over your sketch so they can give you useful inputs on how to build a toy box.

Keep in mind that as much as you want the kids toy box to be creative and sturdy, you should also remember that most of the time the kids themselves would be the ones to handle it. Safety precautions should be among the top of your priorities when building one. Make sure that if you decide to use wood, the materials is properly smoothed out to avoid stubs that can injure the kids hands and fingers. If you will use metal, it would be best to use those that are a bit on the thin side so kids can easily carry them around.

Make sure that you also create safe joints for the box lids and sides. You can actually use ropes instead of nails. But should you use bolts and screws and other steel joints, just make sure you choose the ones that are guaranteed to be stainless. At least even if times wears out these materials they would not rust and cause a hazardous toy box for the kids to use.

How Make Children Love Their Toys ?

Kids are wired in a completely different way in comparison to adults. They are a restless lot that is always looking out for action. It is the reason why they instantaneously get attracted to things that grasp their attention.

It is for this reason that toddlers are gifted with toys which make noises. The popular ones among these are the clapping toys where one claps and the toy generates music or it may be a small piano which generates different tuning sounds. Kids love such toys because with these they themselves become capable of generating sounds and this makes them very happy.

Children also love move around things at their own will and the act itself gives them a sheer sense of pleasure. This is exactly the reason why a simple toy such as ball is such a favorite among children. They can kick it around at will and see it rolling about and the act itself excites them.

Or take the case of car, bus or any small vehicle that is part of every kid's toy collection. Kids like to roam around with these and when they are racing these along the nooks and crannies, their enthusiasm makes you feel that they literally are in the driving seat gliding the vehicle along.

Yet another variety of toys that kids adore are educational toys. These come in the form of building blocks, puzzles, etc and these essentially challenge the intellectual capabilities of the kid and arouse his or her curiosity.

Stuffed baby toys also rate highly on the likes of children. Kids are of the cuddly type, always seeking the protection and warmth of someone and it is exactly what stuffed toys provide.

Barbie dolls win hands down when it comes to choices among girls while for boys, most of their collections are inspired by their favorite cartoon characters.

Thus as can be seen, kids toys manage to evoke the playfulness in them and is a way to give them vent to their emotions and it is for this reason that kids fall so much in love with their baby toys.

Remot Control Toys, Is Good For Children ?

Girls love dolls and boys love such toys that can be operated with the help of remote. The toy market is full of such toys. The remote control toys are the best option when you want to give a surprise gift to your child. There are boats, cars, helicopters, motorcycles, planes, tanks, trucks, fight stimulators available in the market. These are the coolest gadgets and loved by all people falling in all age groups.

They run on battery. In fact if you want you can place an order online on the Internet. When you use the Internet you actually get a chance to compare different features of different toys. You can compare the battery life as well as cost of the toy online. The best part is that these toys are available at huge discounts on the Internet. Wherein, in the retail stores you will end up paying a high amount for them.There are various sites available on the Internet which is fully dedicated to these. Make sure that you read all the terms and conditions before you actually place an order for one. At the same time check out whether you have to pay for the shipping or not.

When you place an order online you tend to save your precious time as well as gas in your vehicle which you will spend visiting shops. You can buy wireless as well as wired ones for your kids. The wireless ones are also called as radio controlled ones. They are a sub type of remote control ones. The wired remote control is not that popular. It is good to gift wireless ones to your kid.

It is very important that you consider the age of your kid before buying one. You must also consider the size of the toy as it is very important with respect to the safety of your child. It is good to gift a remote control boat when your kid if he or she is of age.

People with radio controlled toys might want to check the radio control events data feed from RCUniverse below for an event in their area. Radio control events, remote control boat, radio controlled helicopters.