What to Do With All the Toys Accumulated Over Winter?

It’s inevitable, if you have small children, you have toys. These toys can clutter up your home before you know it. Throughout the long winter months, it’s easy to set these toys aside or put them in a corner, which quickly becomes a corner full of clutter. Now that spring is here and the inclination to clean and organize are at their greatest, take advantage of some wonderful storage solutions which will provide a clean and organized room for you and continued access to the toys for your little ones.

If your little one sees you dragging his/her favorite toy to hiding, be prepared for that to be the next thing that he/she can’t live without. Kids can become very attached to their toys, some even become objects of comfort for them. When those toys become too cumbersome for your home, it’s time to reach out for a solution that will satisfy everyone. As children wake up to a new day, they are refreshed and ready for another fun-filled routine spent exploring and playing. Throughout the day, kids test their capacity to learn as they carefully sound out unfamiliar vowels, or attempt to identify the lively shapes that decorate the pages of their pop-up books. The floor becomes a whirlwind of games and toys made from plastic, felt, softness, color, and stuffing. When they are done and ready to take a nap, where do all of these treasured items go?

While the floor may seem like a suitable place to leave their play-world behind until they are ready to return, it does nothing for parents trying to instill good habits in cleaning. There has to be something for both parents and children to accept as they try to come up with a suitable toy storage solution. Decorated with bright shades of red, blue, green, yellow and beyond, or fashioned into shapes that are pleasing to the eye, an assortment of toy boxes, toy chests, and toy storage bins are available on the market.

Not only do toy boxes offer a place for kids to store their prized possessions, but the colorful objects also allow them to cultivate their imagination. Some wooden toy box selections are transformed into theme-related objects that provide further entertainment for the curious child.

On a more functional level, a toy chest may serve as a right of passage for young girls looking to emulate their mothers. Just as their mommy places pearls, pendants, bracelets, and rings into a jewelry box, daughters may store their treasured gems in a box of their own. As for young growing boys, plastic hammers and toy screwdrivers now have a special place for storage as they follow in their father's footsteps "fixing" things around the house.

Toy boxes, toy chests, and other toy organizers have been created with parents in mind so that they will not be eyesores to a room, but will hold all toys in an organized fashion in one particular place in your home. When it’s playtime your children should feel comfortable bringing out their toys and playing with them. Yet when playtime is over, with all toys having a particular home, toys will no longer be a cumbersome mess. Many children are more than willing to accommodate the wishes of their parents (who long for an uncluttered child's room) when they have a toy chest of their own. This is because until they are tall enough to reach bookcases and shelves, a toy storage box serves as a daily reminder to take care of their possessions.

Outside of the home, toy storage boxes, chests and benches provide a wealth of possibilities for establishments, such as daycares and preschools. Not only does the top of a toy box serve as a bench that provides extra seating, but also allows little ones to keep their play areas neat and tidy. Additionally, toy chests are equipped and secure enough to handle the delicate fingers of children with features, such as safety hinges. Overall, the construction, variety of shapes and colors of toy chests fit right into the setting of a learning environment geared towards kids. Obtaining just the right toy chest for a child is quite easy. There are a variety of themes available to match the personality and interests of any youngster, including animals, princesses, flowers, rainbows, dollhouses, school buses, and sports.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/parenting-articles/what-to-do-with-all-the-toys-accumulated-over-winter-141069.html

About the Author:

Author about:

Marina Neiman, author and mother of two, writes for 1888Toys.com – Children Educational Toys Store, featuring classic toys with truly developmental value, along with great selection of kids furniture, toy boxes, toy chests and more. Visit: http://www.1888Toys.com

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Are your Children’s Toys Safe?

It's a sad fact that many of the most dangerous toys are favourites. Thousands of cheap, unsafe toys are finding their way onto the market place with little being done to stop them. How many unsafe toys are there on the shelves that we just don't know about? Potentially dangerous toys are a serious issue, but the scale of the problem is not yet big enough to spark an exodus of U. Despite industry standards and ongoing improvements, dangerous toys are still widely available and sold. Dangerous toys can be classed as toys with parts that young children can choke on, stick up their nose, or otherwise hurt themselves with: sharp corners, fast-moving, massive projectiles, etc. Children's toys can become dangerous if they are misused or if they fall into the hands of children who are not old enough to play with them. Just looking around car boot and garage sales will show you where most of the older and dangerous toys are bought and sold. People think they are getting a bargain but what is the real cost?

Millions of dangerous toys which are for sale on shelves are being recalled every day because of various reasons. There are several different factors that can make a toy dangerous. Toys with magnets are high on the list due to the lead content, and the fact that young children can swallow, or push the small detachable parts in the toys where they shouldn't go. Many toys that are recalled have high levels of lead in the surface paint; lead being dangerous because it is poisonous. Any kinds of magnets in your toys should put the toy high on the dangerous toys list. The majority of dangerous toys have little parts which can be removed and swallowed by a young child. Toy parts that can easily become lodged in a child's throat have led to many incidents of death and brain damage yet can still be found in newly designed toys. You should check all toys for loose or small parts which you feel may be dangerous to your kids. It is also dangerous for your kids to play with toys which are meant for older children. From time to time, inspect your kids' toys for any wear and tear which can make them dangerous. .

Toys and games represent a thirty (30) billion-dollar-a-year industry. Toys caused an estimated 150,000 visits to the emergency room last year. Toys should be solid, strong and well made. Toys should have lasting interest and not just be the latest on the market. You can visit the Consumer Product Safety Commission CPSC website. They publish a list of toy recalls. Parents and children alike have a right to expect that the toys they select and play with are designed with the child's safety in mind. The first line of defence for toy safety must be safe design and manufacture. The current state is that many parents will never know when a product has been recalled.

Protecting our children from unsafe toys will always remain the majority of parent's number one concern, but when will it become the number one priority within toy industry and the government regulatory bodies. The toy companies, retailers and the Government must listen and act when dangerous toys are brought to their attention so that we don t see the same hazards and the same injuries reappearing year after year. Dangerous toys are not as common as they used to be, but they are still out there. Parents, guardians and carers still must continue to check that the toys they are buying are correctly labelled with the CE mark confirming the toy is safe. Where, for example, dangerous toys are being sold that could cause serious injury to unsuspecting children, the Office of Fair Trading must be able to remove those toys from outlets.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/home-and-family-articles/are-your-childrens-toys-safe-223380.html

About the Author:

Rachel Harding is a registered nurse and mum of 3. She has a great deal of expertise with children and offers valuable support for you as parents and care givers and free resources including children's stories, forums, recipes, article's, gifts and books at => http://www.yourkidsshop.com

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The Enduring Popularity of Lionel Trains

When Joshua Lionel Cowen started his business of building Lionel trains as model toys for children and adults all over the world, his aim was twofold. As these toy trains and each Lionel trains set were targeted primarily at young boys, his first aim was to provide a medium for both father and son everywhere to form a relationship and communicate through the time spent together building and playing with model train sets. It has always been well documented throughout history that males bond well together through common activity, and as toy trains hold a global appeal for males of all ages, it was a great way to achieve this objective. The second objective was to show people everywhere the kind of careful detail and ingenious invention that went into these post war American trains, which were a testament to the leap in innovation and invention from the country during its formative years.

During that time, trains were also one of the premier methods of travel, especially over long distances. With that came huge coverage and media interest in everything about trains. Cowen decided to leverage on that, as well as his own passion in the subject, to produce toy trains of such detail and quality that they quickly became popular with children and men of all ages, and were often a favorite choice as gifts. Lionel trains sets also became the choice for collectors and it was often that you would see individuals from that time who had amassed huge personal collections of toy trains which primarily consisted of Lionel prewar trains, which were a popular choice.

Till now, you can often find someone making a Lionel trains purchase as the continued passion in collecting of toy trains and railroad model paraphernalia remains strong, especially in the United States. This is entirely expected with the long and fabled history of the mode of transport which reached its height of strength in post war America. Despite the advancement of technology which has resulted in high tech trains that can now travel at supersonic speeds or speeds which easily overshadows their aged counterparts, there remains an affinity amongst collectors for the antique designs of both prewar and postwar Lionel trains. Part of this is due to the mystique which lends itself to the highly detailed craftsmanship that was invested in building those model toy trains, which was the result of Cowen constantly hiring skilled model locomotive builders who spent long hours making sure that the replicas were true to the original designs.

Along with the consistent number of model railroad collectors worldwide, the tradition of toy train collecting also continues to be spread down from generation to generation. The fact that these toys still hold a fascination with men of all ages and diverse backgrounds, lend them to being timeless mediums for bonding between family members. It is quite a sight to behold when a railroad set is completed and a toy train is seen chugging along the tracks with both father and son, or sometimes the entire family, smiling and cheering on their efforts. With other accessories including scenic landscapes that come with these railroad sets, it is not difficult to understand why Lionel trains remain close to the hearts of train collectors everywhere in the world.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/hobbies-articles/the-enduring-popularity-of-lionel-trains-386916.html

About the Author:

Greg Howard is a collector of Lionel trains set and often provides insights on making your Lionel trains purchase. For more info on Lionel model train sets, please visit Greg's site.

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A Look at the Hulk Vs Marvel Universe Gods: Hulk Vs Hercules

We've seen the headlines: Hulk vs Superman, Hulk vs Wolverine, Hulk vs the Thing, and, basically, Hulk vs other superheroes. Classics that piqued our imagination. Who's the strongest? Who's the best fighter? Who'll win?

Time and time again the Hulk has proven that he's more than a match to most, if not all, super heroes. But how does he fair against gods? Lucky for us, there are two gods in the Marvel comic book universe, one from Olympus and one from Asgard, who walk among mortals and they've scuffled with the Hulk on a few occassions.

Let's take a look at some of these matchups between Marvel powerhouses:

HULK vs HERCULES

Only a handful of characters symbolize strength. Throughout history, no one is more famous for strength than the Greek demigod, Hercules. His feats of strength, the 12 Labors of Hercules, are passed down from generations to generations. In the Marvel universe, however, Hercules, an immortal from Mt. Olympus, has had to contend with other powerful beings to earn the title of "The Strongest". And he doesn't always win.

Indeed, the Hulk and Hercules have met in various issues with mixed outcomes:

- AVENGERS #267. Comic book fans first saw the Hulk and Hercules battle it out in Avengers No 267. In this issue, Hercules and the Avengers were trapped in limbo by their nemesis, Kang. Upon their first arrival, the Incredible Hulk came out of nowhere to attack the Avengers. Hercules stepped up and delivered a single knockout blow to the Hulk. Puzzled over the quick outcome, after examining the unconscious giant, the Avengers concluded that the Hulk was under a trance which rendered him less of his usual threat. And then the Hulk faded away into thin air. source: The Big DataBase of Comic Books (comics-db.com)

Perhaps Avengers 267 should not count as an encounter, but it nevertheless gave comic book fans a sneak peek of future fights featuring Hulk vs Hercules.

- HULK #316. Many Hulk and Avengers fan still remember the big clash in Hulk No 316 when the Banner-less, rampaging Hulk took on four Avengers, namely Iron Man, Wonder Man, Namor and Hercules. The fight was interrupted by Doc Samson who felt responsible for removing Bruce Banner from the Hulk in the first place. source: LeadersLair.com

- HULK-HERCULES UNLEASHED. If you're a Hulk fan, you'll thoroughly enjoy this one. After the superheroes went missing because of Onslaught, Hercules tried to convince the Hulk, the lone survivor, in helping to find the other heroes. Hulk was not in the mood and a brawl ensued. Hercules was beaten so bad that he would have died had Zeus not intervened to save him.

Hulk and Hercules have scuffled in a handful of other issues. The latest being HULK VS. HERCULES: WHEN TITANS CLASH published on April 2008.

The complete article can be viewed at Planet Comic Book Radio. It includes part two listing Hulk vs Thor with pictures of cover pages and comic strip panels.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/literature--articles/a-look-at-the-hulk-vs-marvel-universe-gods-hulk-vs-hercules-474600.html

About the Author:

Planet Comic Book Radio is a weekly talkshow and blog on everything comic books.

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Block Rocking Feats: the Legacy of Lego

Lego maybe the best known brick on the block, but it wasn't the first toy of its kind and shared many similarities with its predecessors, Meccano and Bayko.

Meccano, a system of metal plates, nuts and bolts, was very much a boy's toy and its technical basis encouraged the building of structures such as model bridges, cranes and cars, which often required and fostered knowledge of mechanics and engineering.

Bayko, invented during the 1930s, was also similar to Lego, in that the Bayko system was primarily intended for the construction of model buildings. Meccano eventually acquired the rights to manufacture Bayko in 1960; but while Meccano is still manufactured today, Bayko production ceased in 1967 following increasing pressure from competing toys. This was despite Bayko models being more realistic architectural reproductions.

Most of us had at least one type of Lego set as a child, and the genius of Lego was their ability to appeal to so many different markets. For the toddlers there was Duplo; the great, big oversized bricks, while for the girls there was the home-maker set; for boys there was knights and dragons, and for technically minded teenagers, Technic Lego, which like Meccano offered the chance to build complex engines, complete with pneumatics, gears and electric motors.

Then came the collaborations; in an extremely shrewd move, Lego struck deals with major film merchandising companies and began to manufacture Lego versions of popular movies and cartoons; Star Wars, Harry Potter, Batman, Indiana Jones, Sponge Bob Squarepants and even Tomas the Tank Engine all have Lego incarnations.

There are also four Lego Land theme parks; in Denmark, England, Germany and California. Though each park receives in the region of 1.3 million visitors annually, they have reportedly struggled to make money and have not fully maximised their potential ticket sales, though hotels near Lego Land remain busy throughout the year and booking ahead is advised.

Lego retains an important place in the adult world too; the Guinness book of records is full of block rocking feats, such as the tallest ever Lego tower (currently in Toronto at 29.03 metres), the world's longest Lego chain (565 meters long, built in Switzerland), and the world's longest DNA helix molecule.

Lego also seems to have somewhat of a cult following with film lovers; known as BrickFilms or Legomations, many enthusiasts make short movies, or recreate famous scenes from feature films using Lego for the set and cast.

On a more serious note, Lego Serious Play, is a form of business consultancy, designed to foster creative thinking; participants work though imaginary scenarios, building metaphors of their identities and experiences using Lego bricks.

Lego's ability to keep up with the times, and adapt its product to popular themes has been the key to its continuing success, and as long as the company continue to innovate, it's likely that our grandchildren will still be playing with Lego in the years to come.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/corporate-articles/block-rocking-feats-the-legacy-of-lego-284286.html

About the Author:

Andrew Regan is an online, freelance author from Scotland. He is a keen rugby player and enjoys travelling.

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A Barbie History

A long-time favorite of girls young and old, Barbie has a life full of ups and down. Social revolutions and political changes can all be seen in Barbie games through the years and in many cases, the social history of major nations can be charted through changes in a simple plastic doll.

Barbie Meets the World

Barbara Millicent Roberts was introduced to the world on March 9, 1959. In a series of books released soon after her initial debut, Barbie’s parents were named as George and Margaret Roberts from Willows, Wisconsin, but in reality, Barbie was the brain child of one devoted mother who just happened to have sway with a major toy company, Mattel.

In the mid 1950s, Ruth Handler watched her daughter play with paper dolls and was entertained to see her give dolls adult roles and personalities. As almost all dolls at the time were infants, Ruth was troubled that she wasn’t able to give her daughter adult styled dolls to play with. Ruth approached her husband, who happened to be a cofounder of Mattel, about her concern and ideas for creating an adult doll, but the idea was dismissed. It wasn’t until after finding a similar doll manufactured for adults in Germany based on a popular German comic book that she found the answer.

Ruth used the doll as a basis for her own creation and soon, Barbie dolls were ready to meet the world. And the young woman was welcomed with open arms, despite some concerns over her proportions and distinctive anatomy.

Barbie Games through the Years

Barbie was introduced to the world with unrealistic proportions, a striped swimsuit and a sweetly demur expression on her face. In 2008, she is a more naturally shaped woman with multiple high-powered careers, an extensive wardrobe and her own fleet of homes and vehicles. Barbie has been through a lot in the last 49 years, and that extensive history has helped her remain a cultural legend popular with adult collectors and little girls alike.

According to Mattel, who still manufactures Barbie games and products, three Barbie dolls are sold every second across the globe. Barbie is famous the world over and has looks and styles suitable for hundreds of cultures. Although some cultures and companies, particularly those in the Middle East, still feel Barbie doesn’t meet their religious guidelines, many others recognize Barbie as a rite of passage for many young girls.

Online Barbie

Today, Barbie isn’t just on the pink aisle at the toy store. She’s on wrapping paper, lunch boxes, and now she’s also online. Barbie games are popular with the same demographic who collect her latest outfits and dream of Barbie dream houses. In fact, many of the girls who enjoy playing online Barbie games have left traditional Barbies behind, but still greatly enjoy dressing online doll versions of Barbie in her unlimited outfits and accessories.

While online versions of the popular doll will never replace the traditional Barbie doll, the games and activities found online are helping to drive new traffic and interest back to the world of tiny high heels and perpetual smiles.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/computer-games-articles/a-barbie-history-425776.html

About the Author:

My name is Aleksey Syrovatchenko. I specialize in interests of girls and online dress up teen communities. I am a dreamer who can visualize what kids want and try to find best content that will be safe and entertaining. Girls love Barbie games and I consider them best online barbie dress up games for kids.

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Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots

Leaping To Learning

Leapfrog Enterprises of Emoryville CA created its LeapFrog learning program as an educational venture for young children - a learn while you play concept that is both technologically advanced and unique in comparison with the standard toy or education fare available for young children in the United States and elsewhere. LeapFrog Learning education products can be purchased in several different languages, advancing the schooling of children in various countries as well as children in the U.S. for whom English is a second language.

The focus of Leapfrog learning is solely that of designing and dispensing engaging learning products for children of all ages in the classroom as well as in their playroom at home. Learning comes first at Leapfrog Enterprises.

The design team at Leapfrog starts its production of education products for children with a proven and rigorous methodology.

The next step is design and creation of compelling, multi-faceted content. Lastly, the Leapfrog design team delivers the contents with the help of transparent technology that can make it engaging and intuitive.

Experts in the area of children's play, children's education and children's education toys have praised LeapFrog learning many times over the years. More than 100 awards grace the walls of the Leapfrog Enterprises offices. Included in these global recognitions are the prestigious awards of Oppenheim Toy Portfolio, the Great American Toy Test as well as the Duracell Toy Test award. Associations and media have lauded Leapfrog as well. These include the Today Show and CSB News, and the internationally recognized Toy Industry Association. The Toy Industry Association named the LeapFrog Learning System.

Best Educational Toy of the Year two years in a row. LeapFrog was also named People's Choice Toy of the Year. LeapFrog Schoolhouse is one of the most learning focused of the LeapFrog divisions. Responsible for development of revolutionary classroom education products, its mission is based on the conviction that children retain what they learn in direct proportion to the amount they are engaged by the learning toy or product. LeapFrog Schoolhouse maintains a multi-sensory approach to its learning products, focusing on the children's use of touch, sight and hearing.

Pre-kindergartners through eight graders can find LeapFrog SchoolHouse education products for their particular needs, learning capabilities and age group. LeapFrog Schoolhouse makes educational products for children that are both portable and affordable. Children's instruction can be personalized by the teachers and easily integrated into the standard curriculum of each particular classroom. LeapFrog SchoolHouse products focus on reading, math, assessment, language, literacy, and English language development training.

Now, in the United States alone, over 100,000 classrooms include LeapFrog SchoolHouse multi-sensory teaching tools and aids in their education regime. Among the most popular items are the hundreds of interactive books and skill cards by LeapFrog Schoolhouse, part of LeapFrog Enterprises Education and Training Group.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/education-articles/leaping-to-learning-85165.html

About the Author:

Dustin is owner of JustArticlesVIP.com and writes on a variety of subjects. To learn more about this topic Dustin recommends you visit: http://www.worldwideshoppingmall.co.uk> World Wide Shopping Mall

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Will Elmo Live be the Hot Christmas Toy for 2008

The Question: Will Elmo Live be the hot Christmas toy for 2008

The Answer: We'll see

A perinneal favorite, Fischer Price's Elmo doll has always held it's own on top ten toy lists. The newest generation of Elmo dolls called Elmo Live is already the talk of this year's toy conventions and is receiving positive buzz well before the little ones have even gotten their hands on it.

According to an article on Associated Content

...Elmo Live will be the first Elmo doll that actually acts like the beloved Sesame Street Muppet character. According to Fisher Price's press release on Business Wire,"In this truly life-like creation, for the first time ever, Elmo seems to actually be speaking as his mouth opens and closes just like the real Muppet, Elmo, from Sesame Street.

His mannerisms are right on target as his head bobbles back and forth as he speaks. He waves his arms, sits and stands, even crosses his legs, all the while telling stories and jokes, singing songs and playing games. Children can activate the magic with a tickle or a squeeze of Elmo's foot, tummy, back or nose."

Keep your eyes peeled for this 21st centure Elmo who is sure to be as popular, if not more so, than his predecessors like Tickle Me Elmo.

Read the full article at Associated Content.

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