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Ideas for First Birthday, Presents for Christmas and Other Occasions
But, it also brings a new question - What to buy for child's birthday? Since I'm not a kind of person that buys what ever I like and don't care if kid is going to like it, I spend lots of time looking for just the right toy or book or something else for little one! And that's the reason I made this page.
Here are listed toys, books and other stuff that are, from my experience, suitable for 1-2 year old kids (both boys and girls) and which they will love and be happy receiving. Usually I buy a book, a toy and some candy. But you can decide for yourself what to give.
Top Learning Toys for 2-Year Olds Guide:
- Milestones...
- Babies have a lot to say... even before they can speak.
- Importance of Books in Early Childhood
- Books, books, books.... never too much books!!!
- Nursery Rhymes and Music for Toddlers - Books, CD, DVD
- Toys as Learning Tools
- About Learning With Toys
- How to Play With Kid?
- Toys: Wagons, Trucks, etc.
- Toys: Sort, shape, put inside!
- Toys: Flash cards - animals
- Toys: Simple puzzle
- Toys: Construction Blocks
- Toys: Wire mazes
- Toys: Puppets and Theater
- Toys: Learning Tables
- Toys: Crawling Playhuts
- Toys safety tips!
- You should also take a look at...
- Share your thoughts!
- Relevant Blog Posts
Milestones...
What to expect from child in her/his second year
There are several things that kid will be able to do in her/his second year of life (although there is no strict rules that this kid must do - every kid is an individual who develops on her/his rhythm):* Learns to use a spoon and fork,
* Runs,
* Throws ball underhand,
* Will pretend a doll to be a baby and feed it,
* Can take off own clothes with help,
* Can walk up stairs,
* Loves to help with household chores,
* Can follow simple goals such as keeping a toy in its place,
* Follows two-step requests (get your doll and bring it here),
* Imitates others' behavior,
* Stack up to 4 blocks to make a tower,
* Names simple pictures in a book,
* Uses two or three word sentences,
* Can do simple puzzles,
* Sings simple tunes,
* Can arrange and categorize things, etc.
- Growth Milestones - TWO YEARS - KidsGrowth
- By age 2, your child is no longer a baby. He or she can run, has given up drinking from a bottle, and can feed himself or herself pretty well. Every day your 2-year-old says new words and does more things. In spite of these achievements, the two-year-old is still a baby in many ways. The 2-year-old is difficult, if not impossible, to reason with, but still extremely lovable. He or she will assert independence at mealtime, bedtime and during attempts at toilet training.
- What to expect this year: Social, cognitive, and physical milestones - ParentCenter
- What to expect this year: Social, cognitive, and physical milestones
- Milestone chart
- his milestone chart is for kids who are nineteen months to twenty-four months old. It enumerates skills that children normally do, are still learning and the ones that they might do though they are still advanced for their age, month by month, from nineteen months of age to the age of twenty four months or two years
- Milestones for 2-year-olds - Yahoo! Health
- Children usually progress in a natural, predictable sequence from one developmental milestone to the next. However, each child grows and gains skills at his or her own pace. Some children may be advanced in one area, such as language, but behind in another, such as sensory and motor development.
- How A Child Develops - Develop Skills
- Learning to walk and talk is your child's biggest job in this year. Enjoy your child's development, and remember to make sure that your child is always supervised.
Babies have a lot to say... even before they can speak.
Listen to what they have to say with the Original Baby Signs Program!
Wouldn't you just love to know what your baby is trying to tell you? And she's trying. Only in different language than one we are using!
What Baby Signs® Program offers:
Over two decades of research by Drs. Acredolo and Goodwyn, much of it funded by the National Institutes of Health, has shown that using the Baby Signs® Program provides many benefits for children and their parents. Using the Baby Signs® Program . . .
* Reduces tears, tantrums and frustration
* Makes learning to talk easier
* Boosts self-esteem and self-confidence
* Stimulates intellectual development
* Strengthens the parent-child bond
I would recommend everybody to try it specially since there is 30 day return policy (of course, products must contain all of their original components and must be undamaged).
Check out Free Baby Signs Quick Reference Guide with order. Code: FREEBIE
Importance of Books in Early Childhood
In every article that I wrote, You'll find a tons of recommendations for books appropriate for specific age. Why? Because I consider that books are invaluable learning tools that should be introduces in kids life as early as possible - never is to early to put a book into kids' hand!!!A child's brain develops faster during the early years and like a sponge soaks up information willingly and with great enthusiasm. That is why it is remarkably important to begin reading aloud to your child from a very early age.
A familiar routine established from an early age can help to encourage a child to look forward to story time, as a way to end a day or as a form of bonding with a parent. This 'special time' can be filled with discovery as new words are learnt and their meanings revealed, a fantastic excuse to introduce a dictionary. It also helps to read the same story repeatedly as children learn from repetition and will enjoy the different characters' voices and will often look forward to the next page.
Your Baby Can Read: Early Language Development System
Amazon Price: $59.99 (as of 07/13/2009)
This revolutionary early-reading program encourages infants and toddlers to NATURALLY learn the written word AT THE SAME TIME as they learn the spoken word. studies indicate that early readers are more confident, have higher self-esteem and generally do better in school and in life! Teaches babies, toddlers and preschoolers written language during the window of opportunity for learning language. Promotes the learning of "natural phonics". Also includes a complete overview of the program, including an orientation and a parents' "HOW TO" by Dr. Titzer himself, testimonials and remarkable footage of babies reading. This language development system introduces children to the wonderful world of words using Dr. Titzer's fun, multi-sensory reading approach. Babies and toddlers do not just watch this DVD, they interact with it!
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- The Partnership for Reading -- Early Childhood Resources
- The Partnership for Reading has information about the effective teaching of reading for children, adolescents, and adults, based on the evidence from quality research. The Partnership site contains information on reading research, principles about reading instruction suggested by the research, ...
- The Little Big Book Club: Spreading the word! - Early Childhood Australia
- Early Childhood Australia advocates to ensure quality, social justice and equity in all issues relating to the education and care of children from birth to eight years., For most of us, reading is something we take for granted. We have the necessary literacy skills to read for whatever purpose ...
- Learning Disabilities in Infancy and Early Childhood
- Explore early signs of learning disabilities in infants and young children. Learn about pre-natal risk factors associated with learning disabilities and what can be done to prevent them. Read about the signs of early disabilities and how evaluations are done for this age group. Learn strategies, gam
- Get Caught Reading, sponsored by AAP
- Get Caught Reading, literacy program, sponsored by AAP, Association of American Publishers, Magazine Publishers of America
- Early Childhood Literacy: Fostering the Fundamentals
- We are all too aware of the challenges facing our local school systems. In partnership with local schools and other agencies, the Library seeks to assist children with their literacy skills.
- The Importance of Reading Aloud: Encouraging Literacy Development From An Early Age
- Why reading aloud to your child can develop a foundation for fantastic literacy skills and foster a love for literature.
Books, books, books.... never too much books!!!
The Going-To-Bed Book
Amazon Price: $5.99 (as of 07/13/2009)
For a little one who is reluctant to go to bed, sometimes a silly book is just the ticket. And when it comes to silly books, Sandra Boynton is the undisputed queen. In The Going to Bed Book, an ark full of animals watches the sun go down and then prepares for bed. They take a bath ("in one big tub"), find pajamas, brush their teeth, do exercises up on deck (imagine an elephant jumping rope, a moose lifting weights, and a pig doing handstands), and finally say good night.
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Big Board First 100 Words (Bright Baby)
Amazon Price: $8.95 (as of 07/13/2009)
This is a oversized board book for babies and toddlers. IT features photos and words of 100 every day objects. The objects are in sections on each pages. Some of the topics are food, outside, toys and things that go!
The book is full of bold and bright eye catching photos. The book is also made of sturdy cardboard pages making in a great choice for toddlers.
This book can be used with babies and toddlers and will really hold their attention and build their vocabulary.
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Dog
Amazon Price: $13.25 (as of 07/13/2009)
The book is very playful, creative, & thought provoking for a child aged 1 to 6. For a one year old they have things you can feel, for the 3 year old they have things you can think about and laugh at & for the 6 year old the book would be easy to read.
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My First Touch & Feel Picture Cards: First Words (MY 1ST T&F PICTURE CARDS)
Amazon Price: $9.99 (as of 07/13/2009)
Perfect for helping children develop early language skills, this exciting range of interactive flash cards reinforces learning through touch. Each card includes a big color photograph of the item plus some sort of tactile addition - such as hair on the cat, bumpy tires on the tractor, sticky areas on the jelly. Plus, on the back of each card there are "talking points" and suggestions for questions to ask and things to do. It also has five different translations for the object, so you can help your little one learn other languages.
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Touch and Feel Animals Box Set
Amazon Price: $13.59 (as of 07/13/2009)
Packed with striking animal photography and more than 15 exciting textures, the Touch and Feel Animals Box Set is the perfect gift for the curious toddler.
Contains: Touch and Feel: Farm, Touch and Feel: Baby Animals, and Touch and Feel Wild Animals
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Nursery Rhymes and Music for Toddlers - Books, CD, DVD
Classic Nursery Rhymes
Amazon Price: $12.99 (as of 07/13/2009)
There is 37 tracks on this album. Singable, upbeat, rhythmic, harmonious, sometimes silly, always beautiful, Susie Tallman and friends show us all that we love about nursery rhymes. Parents will enjoy hearing favorites such as Itsy Bitsy Spider and Baa Baa Black Sheep. Children will delight in four year-old Maudie Farnan's rendition of I'm a Little Teapot, a rap version of Hickory Dickory Dock, and Tallman's lyrical singing on Lavender's Blue.
Toys as Learning Tools
Unlike many toy-focused books, Toy Tips does a great job in reminding readers that toys can be both educational and fun. It seems obvious, but sometimes we get caught up in the educational aspects of a toy and forget that a child can learn through play even if letters and numbers aren't prominent on a product. Toy Tips does a marvelous job of dissecting the advantages of particular types of toys and pointing out the less-obvious skill sets that are achieved through their use. A toy that engages a child's imagination encourages creativity, and exercising creativity is important. So a role play or plush toy can in fact be educational. Toy Tips charts out which kinds of products are safest and best suited for kids of different ages and developmental stages.
Toy Tips: A Parent's Essential Guide to Smart Toy Choices
Amazon Price: $9.95 (as of 07/13/2009)
Invaluable and specific guidance about how the right toys can help your kids learn, develop, build skills, and have some fun.
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- Learning, Play, and Your 1- to 2-Year-Old
- Your child transitions from baby to toddler during the second year of life, from first steps to walking well. Your child also makes major strides in language and communication.
- Educational Toys - Learning Toys - 12 to 24 month old
- Educational toys and learning toys for the 12 month old to 24 month old. How your baby plays and educational toys that develop skills
About Learning With Toys
Great books for parents of young kids
How to Play With Kid?
Toys: Wagons, Trucks, etc.
... Preferably with storage areas...
Mega Bloks Lil' Wagon
Great for hauling, pushing, pulling and transporting loads and loads of big building blocks, this bright red wagon with giant blue wheels and long yellow handle is perfect for active preschoolers. Ideal for children 1 year and up.
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Amazon Price: $30.50 (as of 07/13/2009)
MEGA Bloks Fill & Dump Wagon
Give your preschool builder a building set to go. This pull-along wagon contains 40 brightly colored, heavy-duty plastic pieces. Little "workers" can carry their cargo to the next job site, and begin building structures either on or off the Mega Bloks wagon. Chunky pieces are ideal for small hands.
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Amazon Price: $32.95 (as of 07/13/2009)
Fisher Price Fire Truck Ride On
Look Out, Here comes the Big Red Shiny Fire Truck! Ride along with Firefighter Cheryl and Firefighter George and help save the day! Little People rescue songs, sounds, and phrases are at the touch of a button. Includes under seat storage for your toddler's favorite things, an easy grip handle bar and a ladder push bar designed for comfort.
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Amazon Price: (as of 07/13/2009)
Clubhouse Fun
Get three toys in one with a walker, ride-on and underseat playscape area! Spidey fans uncover a whole new world of adventure when they swing the seat open to find talking Spider-Man, Hulk, Wolverine and Captain America figurines. Sound is activated by pressing figures into their shape sorted compartments. Plus, when the seat is in the open position children find a Spidey-themed Clubhouse in the underseat playscape area. Blinking lights and a talking, driving Spider-Man on the front to the hours of entertainment your child will find in this wonderful toy.
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Amazon Price: (as of 07/13/2009)
Toys: Sort, shape, put inside!
Lamaze Multi Sensory Soft Sorter
Baby will love putting shapes in and taking them out of the Multi-Sensory Soft Sorter. Baby learns matching by searching for the shape that fits in the same size hole. The Sorter features a green apple scent to make playtime even more stimulating!
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Amazon Price: $21.99 (as of 07/13/2009)
Manhattan Toy Put and Peek Birdhouse
Four colorful rattling birds all have different textures, and the easy-open roof and door are perfect for tiny hands. Classic "fill-and-pour" play encourages development of motor skills and cause-effect understanding.
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Amazon Price: $21.99 (as of 07/13/2009)
Counting and Sorting Farm
Each of these soft pens has a number printed on it and the same number of stuffed farm critters inside: 1 chick (in a nest), 2 sheep, 3 pigs and four cows. Kids will develop fine motor skills as they remove and replace the animals. Plus, there are plenty of opportunities for make-believe barnyard play.
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Amazon Price: $24.99 (as of 07/13/2009)
Plan Toy Shape and Sort
Children can have fun while learning as they sort these blocks into their corresponding shape holes. Once the shapes are sorted, the child can press down on the tray to release the blocks. This toy helps develop a child's hand-eye coordination, manipulative skills and shape recognition. This hardwood toy is beautifully crafted, and will stand up to years and years of play. Rubberwood is used to make toys that are bright, colorful and are good for the environment. In the past, rubber trees that were no longer producing latex would be burned. Now, these abandoned trees are utilized to make sustainable playthings.
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Amazon Price: $22.31 (as of 07/13/2009)
Plan Toy Geometric Sorting Board
Children are endlessly taking things apart and putting them together, only to pull them apart again. This ageless game is capitalized upon by the award-winning Geometric Sorting Board. It focuses on attention-getting, easily grasped shapes that come in four colors. The challenge is to find which shape fits on which set of pegs. The circles have one hole, the rectangles two, the triangles three, and the squares four. They are perfectly sized to fit on a finger, too. Making different color patterns, counting, or stating the color before putting it on the 7-inch square wood base adds interest as your child develops a skill. Note: Winner of the Good Toy Award from Parent magazine.
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Amazon Price: $19.35 (as of 07/13/2009)
Melissa & Doug Deluxe Three Little Pigs Play Set Soft Baby Toy
Experience the classic story of "The Three Little Pigs" again and again. This storytelling set includes three soft fabric nesting houses with self-stick fabric closures, a "fall-through" chimney, three squeaking pigs, a wolf and a story sheet! Color coordinate the pigs and houses for added matching fun! Easy grasp play figures wipe clean.
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Amazon Price: $22.84 (as of 07/13/2009)
Melissa & Doug Deluxe Picnic Basket Fill & Spill Soft Baby Toy
Four colorful picnic treats in a flip-top basket, including five-piece, take-apart sandwich! These new multi-textured toys rattle, jingle, squeak and crinkle in little hands, and are made with ultra-soft materials! These clever activity toys help develop fine motor skills and hand/eye coordination, plus stimulate tactile senses in delightful ways! Multi-piece sets are self-storing and great for travel.
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Amazon Price: $15.74 (as of 07/13/2009)
Pint Size Productions Sound Cube
My Sound Cube has so much to explore! The fabric box has 6 colorful sorting shapes and each has its own fun sound. Comes in a sturdy, clear vinyl case. Hand wash in cold water and air dry. French design. This plush cube is soft and colorful Each side has its own shape that also stimulates the senses with sound One leaf rattles and the other crinkles The tulip has a birdsong, circle has a rattle, heart has a squeaker and the flower has a tweeter
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Amazon Price: $18.49 (as of 07/13/2009)
Plan Toy Shape and Sort It Out
PLAN TOYS Shape & Sort It Out A wooden sorting box with six colorful wooden pieces in three different colors and shapes. For the recognition of colors and shapes and the development of hand-eye coordination.
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Amazon Price: $23.99 (as of 07/13/2009)
Fisher-Price Brilliant Basics Baby's First Blocks
Ten bright blocks are ready for baby to drop into the open bucket or through the shape-sorting lid. Filling the bucket with blocks, dumping them out, and starting over is great for eye-hand coordination and other early skills. Then baby can move on to sorting and stacking, learning about identifying and matching shapes while having fun!
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Amazon Price: $9.99 (as of 07/13/2009)
Toys: Flash cards - animals
Baby Flash Cards: Jungle Collection - Wee Gallery
Wee Gallery prints come from hand-painted originals that take advantage of the visual strengths of your baby. Whimsical animals made up of black and white repeating shapes entertain and engage your little one transforming the crib into her own wee gallery! Studies show that new born babies up to 6 months love black/white or high contrast colors and graphic designs. These beautiful art cards will engage baby's learning development from the get go. Use them as crib side gallery or as flash cards for toddlers. Jungle Collection A boxed set includes a bear lion monkey parrot snake and zebra. Printed on sturdy board these cards will stand up to baby's explorations. Each 5x7"" card beautifully finished with matte lamination and rounded corners.
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Amazon Price: $15.00 (as of 07/13/2009)
Baby Flash Cards: Farm Collection - Wee Gallery
These whimsical flash cards are great for baby and toddler alike. From the very first day of life, studies show that a baby can see high contrast patterns from 9 to 12 inches away. While baby is young, this Farm Collection is perfect for placing along side the crib to engage and entertain your little one. As your little one grows into a toddler, these cards will help teach her new and interesting animals. The Farm Collection contains 6 cards: a bee, a cow, a hen, a horse, a pig, and a sheep. Printed on sturdy board book material and made to stand up to baby's explorations.
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Amazon Price: $16.11 (as of 07/13/2009)
Art Cards - Garden Collection
Wee Gallery prints come from hand-painted originals that take advantage of the visual strengths of your baby. Whimsical animals made up of black and white repeating shapes entertain and engage your little one, transforming the crib into their own wee gallery! This boxed set includes a squirrel, butterfly, dragonfly, ladybug, bird and worm. Printed on sturdy board, these cards will stand up to baby's explorations. Each 5x7" card beautifully finished with matte lamination and rounded corners. Great for a crib-side gallery, flash cards, and mobile (hanger is sold seperately).
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Amazon Price: $11.94 (as of 07/13/2009)
Art Cards - Sea Collection
These graphics are infinitely better for stimulation than anything else out there and these will be adored by adults, too (for those of you who have a discriminating eye for what baby products invade your home).
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Amazon Price: $11.94 (as of 07/13/2009)
Art Cards - Original Collection
Printed on sturdy board, these cards will stand up to baby's explorations. Each 5x7" card beautifully finished with matte lamination and rounded corners.
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Amazon Price: $11.94 (as of 07/13/2009)
Toys: Simple puzzle
LeapFrog Fridge Farm Magnetic Animal Set
Moo! Oink! Bow-wow! Toddlers from one to five years old will love making wacky animal combinations with this LeapFrog Magnetic Animal set. This toy teaches kids all about animals, as it plays learning songs, fun facts, and sounds. Toddlers can make up to 25 combinations with this magnetic puzzle, and it can be played with on the refrigerator or floor. When two matching pieces are inserted into the farm, a cheerful electronic voice says the animal name. If the pieces mismatch, the toy creates a silly name for that animal. Matches are positively reinforced and the toy makes mismatches seem funny rather than wrong. When set to music mode, Farmer Tad plays five banjo tunes for a real barnyard hoe-down.
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Amazon Price: $15.99 (as of 07/13/2009)
Melissa & Doug Pets Jumbo
Extra-large knobs make it easy for small hands to remove each brightly colored piece. Matching full-color pictures are underneath. This super-sized; solid-wood puzzle with extra-chunky ½ thick pieces is the perfect first puzzle.
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Amazon Price: $9.61 (as of 07/13/2009)
Melissa & Doug Deluxe Jungle Friends (Safari) Jumbo Knob
Our Jumbo Knob puzzles are time-tested favorites, featuring easy-grasp knobs for little hands and matching pictures underneath each extra thick piece! The perfect first puzzles! Ages 1+
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Amazon Price: $9.99 (as of 07/13/2009)
Melissa & Doug Deluxe Wooden Barnyard Animals Jumbo Knob Puzzle
Can you find a home for these barnyard animals' Toddlers will love this super-sized, solid-wood puzzle with chunky half-inch-thick pieces -- it's the perfect first puzzle. Extra-large knobs make it easy for small hands to play with each brightly colored puzzle piece. Matching full-color pictures are hiding underneath each piece.
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Amazon Price: $9.15 (as of 07/13/2009)
Farmyard Wooden Peg Puzzle
Recognize the shapes and place them properly! When the rooster crows then it's time to put everything back in place. Your children will learn to recognize shapes and place them properly while having fun. Contains 5 puzzles pieces with large knobs.
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Amazon Price: $19.99 (as of 07/13/2009)
Toys: Construction Blocks
Fantasy Land Jigsaw Blocks
Pile up these "Fantasy Land Jigsaw Blocks" and be amazed! The shapes and designs are sure to dazzle even the youngest stackers. One piece with a mirror, one with a cat, and more with stars, swirls, and polka dots! Made of beech wood, acrylic with some foil coating. 40 pieces.
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Amazon Price: $53.99 (as of 07/13/2009)
IQ Baby Chubby Soft Activity Blocks
A fun set of 19 soft, cloth-covered blocks. Our lightweight blocks can be stacked up to form a pillow-soft house, or used to create whatever a child's imagination can dream. Comes in a clear vinyl carrying bag, to bring along on visits to grandma's house, or wherever a child may roam.
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Amazon Price: $39.98 (as of 07/13/2009)
Mega Bloks Wonder Builders Bag
Young imaginations will bloom with creativity when they use this Mega Bloks set. The Wonder Builders Bag includes 80 pieces for limitless building potential and endless fun. Recommended for children ages one to three years old, the set helps kids gain skill in math, problem solving, and science, while also building confidence and fine motor skills.
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Amazon Price: $29.99 (as of 07/13/2009)
Haba Fantasy Blocks
Preferred Choice Creative Child Magazine, 2004. Dr. Toy 100 Best Toys, 2004. Pile these colorful blocks and be amazed! Thanks to their optical effects these beautiful blocks will fascinate children. These blocks transform a child's first buildings into authentic little artifacts of many shapes and colors. Sweet ringing little bell provides incidental music. A fun companion to HABA building blocks. For ages 1+.
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Amazon Price: $45.00 (as of 07/13/2009)
Toys: Wire mazes
Educo All Aboard Rolling Train Wire Maze
Let your child's imagination climb on board this new concept. The included Giraffe Wire Walker snaps on and off the rolling bead and wire train. The All Aboard Bead Maze stimulates imaginative play, devleops motor skills and imaginative role-playing. Children experience learning in motion! The bright colors, shapes and patterns are perfect and intrigue little ones!
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Amazon Price: $80.00 (as of 07/13/2009)
Educo Ring Around a Row-sy Wire Maze
Every playroom needs this classic toy. Infants to preschoolers are intrigued by beads of varying sizes that slip over and under, around and around the five play wires on a solid wood base. The differing bead sizes allowing beads to slip over one another builds understanding of size relationships, critical thinking, and greater understanding of cause and effect. A great way for children to play and learn the concepts of inside, outside, and around.
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Amazon Price: $49.99 (as of 07/13/2009)
Educo Double Bubble Wire Maze
The simple loops and colorful curves of Double Bubble will engage the eyes of any early learner and stimulate interactive play. Nesting beads demonstrate the concept of "inside/outside" or "up/down" and offer peek-a-boo fun. Four sturdy suction cups secure the solid wooden base to virtually any smooth surface.
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Amazon Price: $19.99 (as of 07/13/2009)
Mini Curves N' Waves Table by Anatex
Through fun play, the Mini Curves 'N' Waves Table challenges and develops visual tracking skills, eye-hand coordination, and shape and color recognition. Great compact size for the home, schools, waiting rooms, and play areas!
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Amazon Price: $84.36 (as of 07/13/2009)
Deluxe Mini Play Cube by Anatex
A wonderful activity center for home, doctors? offices, schools, and waiting rooms. Children learn counting, cooperative play, alphabet, and eye-hand coordination.
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Amazon Price: $100.89 (as of 07/13/2009)
Toys: Puppets and Theater
My girl is simply speechless when I take two puppets and pretend that they are talking, arguing, smiling, etc while making silly voices and goofy faces! She has her eyes, but also her mouth wide open! :-))
Farm Puppets
All the barnyard favorites, gathered together in one set. All have movable mouths to encourage the puppeteers' verbal expression. 8-animal set includes a goat, rooster, pig, cow, hen, horse, bull, and sheep. Set of 8.
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Amazon Price: $46.95 (as of 07/13/2009)
Caucasian Family Puppet Set
Attractive set of family puppets include Mother, Father, Sister and Brother. Features real working mouths to encourage self-expression and build language skills. They have permanently sewn on clothes, made of polyester and can be spot cleaned. Adult measures 10" high.
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Amazon Price: $59.99 (as of 07/13/2009)
Animal Friends Puppet Set of 8
Children will love these colorful and friendly animal pals. Each animal puppet comes dressed and ready to tell a story for hours of imaginative fun and learning. Completely washable. 10"H.
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Amazon Price: $44.95 (as of 07/13/2009)
Reeve and Jones Doorway Puppet Theater
Put on a performance in any room in your house! Simple installation with adjustable curtain-style rod (included) that fits almost any doorway. Doorway Puppet Theater is made of heavy-duty fabric for years of enjoyment. Between shows, the theater can be rolled up and stored in its own storage bag and carrying case.
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Amazon Price: $59.49 (as of 07/13/2009)
Melissa& Doug Deluxe Puppet Theater
Here's a puppet theatre that will match your creativity and expectations. Lush, thick red velvet curtains (with delightful gold fringe) and ties to open and close at the grand performance, an oversize child's clock with bright orange and blue hands to announce the next upcoming performance time, a dry erase board for writing the title or act number. Plenty of room behind the cheerful precisely hand-painted graphics & large-scale, gilded frame for a friend too. Yep, it's snazzy all right. Worth every inch of space it requires and the dramatic play it inspires! Think of the skills your kids will refine...creative planning, innovative problem solving, skills in speech, presentation & performance, teamwork, the ability to think on their feet and use their minds to think out of structured everyday life. If your child is quiet or somewhat shy...a puppet theatre is the perfect safe haven for encouraging self-expression - just the right amount of anonymity to bring personality to the surface. Your kids will clearly thrive with this long-lasting amusement.
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Amazon Price: $158.48 (as of 07/13/2009)
Toys: Learning Tables
LeapFrog® Learn & Groove Musical Table
Provide a world of learning and musical fun for your child with the LeapFrog Learn & Groove Musical Table. Designed for children ages six months to three years, this innovative toy is chock full of learning and musical activities designed to provide visual and auditory stimulation and motor skill development, as well as opportunities to learn about colors, the alphabet, and opposites for older children -- and much more.
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Amazon Price: $40.96 (as of 07/13/2009)
Fisher-Price Interactive Baby Grand Piano
There's nothing like watching small children fall in love with music. This baby grand will play Cupid to a toddler's relationship to music. Just the right size for little fingers, with bright colors, lights, and familiar songs and learning concepts; kids will need no introduction before getting in there and starting to tickle those ivories!
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Amazon Price: $52.99 (as of 07/13/2009)
Chicco Music 'N Play Table
The piano is by far the favorite. There is a piano book where the pages will turn. For each turn the piano will do different things: 1st page - the baby can play their own tune, 2nd page - a tune will automatically play when the keyboard is touched, 3rd page - the baby can follow along the lighted keys to play a tune. You can also change the sound to four different instruments. The other activity area contains different sounds (bees buzzing, frogs ribbeting, etc.) for different actions.
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Amazon Price: $66.75 (as of 07/13/2009)
LeapFrog LeapStart® Learning Table
This is a happy, noisy toy that should amuse most toddlers. Everything that can be touched reacts in some way, from a trombone-playing frog to a book that sings the alphabet. Our favorite is the colored keyboard that sings each color you press. The tabletop can be placed on the floor for those still in the crawling phase, or can sit on the included legs for a sturdy surface and leaning spot for little ones who are new to walking.
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Amazon Price: (as of 07/13/2009)
Fisher-Price Little Superstar Sing-Along Stage
Bring out the performer in your little one with the Fisher Price Little Superstar Sing-Along Stage. Your child will enjoy grooving to fun songs with the "magical" microphone and pretend musical instruments. Designed for children ages six months and older, this toy provides several developmental benefits, such as encouraging motor skill development and problem-solving skills, and provides visual and auditory stimulation.
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Amazon Price: $48.98 (as of 07/13/2009)
Toys: Crawling Playhuts
Playhut Crawl N Play
ALL of the kids love it (ages 2-9). It has gotten used every day and has been everything from a space ship to a school bus.
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Amazon Price: (as of 07/13/2009)
Playhut Mega land
We have children ranging in ages from 10 months to 10 years and they all play with this toy. The older kids enjoy shooting hoops with the balls and chasing the younger ones through the tunnels. The younger children seem to enjoy the ball pit and tunnels the best. Whenever anyone comes over to our house, this is the first toy they go to in the playroom!
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Amazon Price: $47.99 (as of 07/13/2009)
Playhut Luxury House
Get the whole gang together for playtime fun with the massive Luxury House. This massive play structure features a house play structure and an open, airy screen room for five feet of fun that can fit up to 16 children.
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Amazon Price: (as of 07/13/2009)
Playhut Ultimate Playland
Got this ball pit for 12 month old. She LOVES it!!! Pops open in .12 seconds, it is much bigger than the picture lets on!! She brought all her toys in the tent with all her balls, 1st thing when she wakes up she gets in the pit. I fit comfortably in there with my daughter!! Best toy ever bought for her.
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Amazon Price: (as of 07/13/2009)
Adventure Playzone
Young adventurers will exercise their imaginations and lots more with this roomy retreat! The Adventure Playzone is a tent, a tube and a clubhouse- all in one, and all for fun! Each cube includes tunnel ports in front and back to connect to other Playhut structures. This structure has been carefully designed and constructed to the safety standards for children.
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Amazon Price: $79.99 (as of 07/13/2009)
Toys safety tips!
* Read and follow the age label, warnings, safety messages and assembly instructions for the toy
* Look for sturdy, well-made toys
* Remember that toys for older children may not be safe for younger children
* Children under three years of age tend to put things in their mouths - small toys, small balls or small loose toy parts are choking hazards for these children
* find more at Toy Safety Tips (Pamphlet).
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Scared of becoming a parent for first time? Not sure how to handle all of it? Scared by people talking about sleepless nights, crying, colics, etc.? I know I was!!! I hated people telling me: 'You'll see.', 'Why you should have it better then me?' or...
Share your thoughts!
Can you recommend some book, CD, DVD or toy? Did I miss something? (Probably did! :-))
Share your toddlers' favorites!
personalised-gifts wrote...
Lovely lense--has given me plenty of gift ideas for my kids!
Posted July 01, 2009
Mortira wrote...
My son's first birthday is coming up soon - yikes! - and I now have some great gift ideas. I really enjoyed your book recommendations. We're already reading "But Not the Hippopotamus" at least once a day and loving it. Thanks for the great suggestions!
Posted February 15, 2009
lemonsqueezy wrote...
Love the Learning Table toys. Do you have a favorite? I have a 7 month old who will need one soon. As you know, I think that books are great buys too.
Posted August 27, 2008
The_Party_Animal wrote...
Great info and lots of good toy choices - 5 big ones
www.squidoo.com/The_Party_Animal
Posted August 15, 2008
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