Christmas, they say, is for children. And what better way to bring joy to children than through toys? As the kids' most-awaited day approaches, a mad rush to toy shops ensues. But there are hundreds upon hundreds of toys to choose from. From dolls, stuffed animals and cartoon characters, to race cars, to building blocks, to electronic game consoles, the choices are endless. So which are the most popular toys this year?
Fisher-Price Elmo Live. Play with Sesame Street's Elmo! He really opens his mouth to talk and moves his arms and legs, and even dance, just like the real Sesame Street puppet. He'll also share funny stories, tell jokes and sing different songs. It's certainly an exciting experience for a child to see his/her toy come to life.
Nintendo DS Lite. With vast archive of game titles to choose from, kids would definitely find one that they will enjoy playing. Playing video games like this can also be a learning experience for kids, through games like Nintendogs, which would teach children take better care for their pets, and Brain Age, which exercises their mental capacities.
Fur Real Friends Biscuit My Lovin Pup. The wonders of having a puppy, with no mess at all! Using voice prompts, this pup obeys orders such as "Lie down" and "Sit", shakes a paw and wags his tail just like a real puppy. Standing with a height of 21", with soft plush-like fur, Biscuit is a perfect playmate for any child.
Fisher-Price Kid Tough Portable DVD Player Blue
This tough portable DVD player is perfect for keeping your kids occupied. Let them watch their much-loved DVDs without the fear of them breaking anything. The large, bright buttons are perfect for little hands. Put in the DVD in the player, and let your child do the rest by himself.
Pleo Dinosaur - A UGOBE Life Form. This 8-inch dinosaur is one of the most intelligent electronic toy robot today, and what is taught to it may affect its attitude. The advanced artificial intelligence installed in Pleo enables him to develop his own personality according to how his users interact with him.
Fisher-Price Kid-Tough Waterproof Digital Camera Let your child's creativity flow through pictures. This tough working camera is made to survive any child's rough handling, and is even now waterproof. Now your child can take fun pictures while splashing about in the water.
Webkinz Ganz Large Fantail Goldfish .Take home this plush pet goldfish and enter the secret code in the Webkinz website, and enter the online world of Webkinz! Take care of your pet, earn points, play games and interact with other pet owners online while hugging your plush pet.
Playskool Kota My Triceratops Dinosaur. Let Kota the Triceratops join your child in an imaginative adventure. With believable sound effects and body movements like tail-swishing and horn movements, Kota is one playmate your child will definitely enjoy having fun with.
Sure these toys may cost some dollars, but seeing kids' smiles and hearing their laughter as they enjoy their gifts is definitely worth every penny.
Christmas Gift Ideas For Children
Puzzles from Santa - Getting the perfect gift for your toddler shouldn't be a riddle and can be the best investment you ever made for many reasons.
Toddlers are a busy, imaginative group of individuals. Their minds and needs have progressed past the impulsive desire to chew every thing their fingers grasp into slimy shreds. They love colors and will not forget about an object simply because mommy has hidden it out of sight.
Toddlers are also natural problem solvers. Don't believe me? Then why the need for a million dollar baby proofing industry, constant parental supervision and a great deal of improvising when the fancy toddler proof containers fail to keep your toddler out?
Work with it
This Christmas as you select holiday gifts for your toddler use these natural impulses to select gifts that stimulate these natural tendencies and capture the imagination. To that end puzzles are the perfect gift.
What kind?
The latest trend in holiday gifts or newborn baby gifts is the childrens personalized step stool. Choosing a childrens personalized step stool can be one of the more unique ways to add the enjoyment of having a puzzle along with their own name engraved in the stool. The stepstool not only promotes independence, it encourages learning to read with dexterity.
Of course your toddler will not enjoy a 1000 piece puzzle of Vincent Van Gogh's masterpieces, but you are not too far off the mark. The best kind of puzzles for a toddler will take into account their fine motor skills and love of colors, learning and imagination. If you do choose a landscape type puzzle, choose one with a large pattern or picture. Too many intricate details will mean that this puzzle is dumped and abandoned for mom or dad to piece together again.
When selecting a puzzle for toddlers keep the following things in mind:
-Toddlers might not chew on everything, but will be tempted to take a nip or two every once in a while. Choose puzzles that can handle that kind of wear and tear without falling apart and creating a choking hazard. To this end wooden or foam puzzles work best.
-Nimble toddler fingers adept at defying the childproof cap still have trouble with fine motor skills. Puzzles with tiny pieces which lock together might confuse and frustrate them. Choose puzzles that have larger pieces and whose pieces fit into their own slot on the puzzle board.
-Some puzzles come with little knobs or handles attached to each piece. These are especially easy for even the youngest puzzle enthusiast to master.
-Bright colors and themes to match and stimulate your child's interest are best.
Making it fun
One of the elements that make puzzles fun for your little one are the wide variety of character, themes and age appropriate educational pictures that appeal to children of that age. Puzzles featuring the alphabet or numbers help your child to learn as they play. Fun characters or puzzles with cars, princesses or bugs stimulate imagination and foster your child's interests in and awareness of the world around them.
Perhaps the best part of a puzzle for Christmas is that this gift often creates moments of one on one play with you and your child. What parent or toddler doesn't love more quality time spent in simple play?
Both Bert Mackay & Edie Mindell are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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