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 Impact of Toys in Child Development

Parents often seek assistance in selecting the right toys at the most ideal stage of their child’s development. Many toys are designed for particular ages based on safety concerns; however, many others are designed to specifically encourage the development of certain abilities in a child.

In this article we will explore the fundamental skills developed by infants at varying ages, and the types of toys that can encourage children to reach their potential.

The Baby’s 1st Year

In the first year of a baby’s life, they begin exploring and experimenting with their most important senses:

Sound & Smell – In the first instance babies begin to match voices with certain faces and facial expressions, mainly from being held, fed and nurtured. Likewise, certain smells can be recognised and associations are gradually made. As they begin to establish these social attachments they become more receptive to different sounds and smells. Toys with sound and music that react to a child’s action are especially good at this stage, and simply letting your baby smell something and then see it can encourage development in this area.

Touch & Sight – As babies begin to take a little control of their hands; touching and feeling things become an important part of an infant's development. Similarly, as sight becomes clearer, babies become more receptive to visual aids. Toys for this age are designed to enhance and encourage these traits. Toys should be for seeing, hearing and touching - this encourages the child to respond to the sights and sounds they see and hear. Picture books with sound, teddy bears with different textures and pulley toys that respond to a child’s movement are especially beneficial after 6 months old. Toys in bright, monochromic colours can also help to stimulate eyesight in the first year of a child’s life.

Ages 1 to 2

This stage is an important time for developing independence and important social skills that will never be lost. Between the ages of 1 and 2 it is surprising how rapidly a child develops from a tentative toddler saying only 1 or 2 words, to a confident child able to easily run and speak around 50 individual words.

From the age of 1, infants begin taking an interest in the effects of their manipulation, and it is very fun to sit back and watch children at this age. They particularly enjoy throwing toys and building things, so building blocks Duplo, and stickle bricks are fantastic toys at this age for encouraging hand and eye coordination, as well as a sense of balance.

From around 18 months, infants are able to walk very well and can run to an extent. When objects are in the way - running can prove difficult. However, with their newfound freedom, children love to explore and try everything out, without a sense of danger, so toys that encourage active play at this age are well received. Balls, Sit n’ Rides , Activity Stations, toys that speak or make noises and toys of characters they see on TV are advantageous additions to a toy box at this age - they will encourage children to play actively, and it will also help them sleep well at bed time (an added bonus!).

Language progression is also crucial at this age. Children will begin responding when spoken to and chattering away when playing. This makes it important for adults to talk to children in conversations, read stories and sing nursery rhymes whenever possible.

Ages 2 Years +

As a child turns two years old their abilities in counting and speaking becomes clearer, and bodily strength in running and climbing becomes more refined.

At the turn of two years old, toys that have movement and sound and allow the child to throw and drop are ideal, as they will help to refine their physical strengths. Toys that allow the children to push themselves along, such as sit 'n' ride toys that allow children to steer are very desirable.

As they approach 3 years old, outdoor toys such as climbing frames and garden swings are great. Children at this age have good spatial awareness, and refined bodily strength. They can move large toys easily, kick balls forcefully and they also have the ability to use pedals on a bike.

An infant’s imagination will develop greatly at this age as well, which is why dressing up and a fascination with make believe is noticeable. Doll sets, action figures, train sets and such toys are favourable at this age and help children express themselves and explore their independence. Children will also start to play with others and learn social skills through play. Cooperation and taking turns are examples of skills that will become extremely important both at a young age and throughout life.

Showing off new skills to family is also a very common trait for children around 3 years and upwards. Toys that mimic adult tasks, such as vacuum cleaners, cookers, shop tills and lawn mowers are especially good for engaging with a child.

While we have focussed on the initial, most advancing years of a child’s life in this article, toys have been proven to encourage creativity, self-confidence and academic skills throughout every stage of childhood.

About the Author:

Having once owned the second largest toyshop in the UK, the owners of Toys Direct to Your Door (http://www.toysdirecttoyourdoor.co.uk/) have been in the toy business for over 40 years. Today, they continue to proudly provide quality children's toys across the globe.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/babies-articles/the-impact-of-toys-in-child-development-381107.html

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