There are some great games out there that you could put together for a children’s party, and this article has two great ideas for you! One of these would be a trivia game on children’s toys. In fact, there is some great information out there. For example, there is the story of President Theodor Roosevelt’s compassion and how it led to a popular toy.
Roosevelt, the 26th president of the United States, was known to the public affectionately as "Teddy." An outdoor enthusiast, “Teddy” was once on a hunting trip to Mississippi when he was told to shoot a black bear that had been captured alive by his hunting crew. He refused, on the grounds that killing an already helpless animal was unsportsmanlike, and not proper hunting. This act quickly captured the imagination of the public, and was portrayed again and again in many newspaper drawings and caricatures. And according to Wikipedia, this story inspired a toy maker to design a little cute plush bear, which he named "Teddy's Bear." So this is how teddy bears got their name. In fact, they are called the same thing in many other languages.
This would make a great piece of trivia at a child’s party, as its both interesting and educational. When you are telling the story, get a toy soldier and a realistic appearing teddy bear so you can make the scene come alive! Then have crayons, pencils, sticker letters and paper so the kids can draw the scene, and then create their own newspaper page on the historic event! Have them assemble their drawings on the big piece of paper and then let them create a fun headline that they can put as the front page news. You could even cut out some paragraphs of newsprint from a real newspaper to make theirs look more authentic. Then, give each of them a little black teddy bear as a door prize that they can play with.
If you want to add a second idea, here’s another fun activity you could make using stuffed animals: create a boardwalk!
Create a few stations throughout your home. One of them could be a basketball station. Get those wall hopes that will stick on any surface, assign a certain number of tries and a line from which they must throw the ball, and you have a fun game! Just remember not to make it too difficult, but not too easy either. As a prize, have plush toys, like a big stuffed tiger, stuffed lion or even a teddy bear. This will definitely be a hit for your party guests!
The fishbowl game would make another great station. Get different sized containers (these could be something as big as a cereal bowl or something as small as a water bottle, use whatever you have on hand) and arrange them relatively close to one another. Then let each kid have three chances to throw a small soft ball through the containers openings. The smaller the opening of the container the bigger the prize they can win. The smaller prizes could be things like crayons or stickers and the grand prize could be a teddy bear or other large stuffed animal.
Another great station would be a bowling arena. Split the kids into two teams. The team who knocks down the most pins is the winner after a certain number of tries. Have a consolation prize for the runner up so that no one feels bad. Because after all, hurt feelings ruin parties. For example, the winning team could get a stuffed tiger while the other team would get a box of crayons.
So there you go, trivia, boardwalk games and stuffed animal prizes and you have the perfect kid’s party. You’ll probably find yourself having just as much fun planning it as the kids will have playing with it!
Babysitting is a job that requires endless energy. Either you keep the kids occupied or they keep you on your toes. Keeping them occupied is not so simple, however. Kids lose interest in a toy or an activity sooner than you think. Moreover, boredom makes kids whiny and irritable. Babysitter games come in handy here. There are plenty of such babysitter games and activities, which are interactive, educative, and fun.
If you are taking care of more than one child, the following group activities can be organized.
• Red Light, Green Light: Traffic rules can be taught early through this babysitter game. One child stands with arms outstretched and gives red and green light signals which have to be followed by the rest standing at the other end. Children are required to run on a green signal and freeze on a red signal.
• Duck Duck Goose: The kids are made to sit in a circle. One child walks around tapping each one's head saying duck or goose. On "goose," the child tapped (goose) must run after the tapper around the circle and reach his seat before the tapper; else, the kid will have to sit in the middle of the circle.
• Hide and Seek: One child searches the rest who hide within a defined area. The kid found first searches the rest and the game continues until all the children are found.
• Treasure Hunt: A popular babysitter game for kids above the age of three, it involves hunting for a treasure (any object) in a defined area. The child who finds it first wins. You can make it even more interesting by giving clues.
There are some babysitter games which can be played in groups or even with a single child.
• Simon Says: In this game, "Simon" gives instructions and everyone follows. Whoever fails to follows the commands is ousted and the most accurate player wins.
• Paper Bag Guess: Familiar objects in the house are collected in a bag and the children take turns feeling the object and guessing what is it.
• Silly Faces: Funny faces make kids laugh no end. Ask the kids to stand in front of the mirror and let them make scary, happy, sad, and crazy faces.
• Food Creations: Lunch time can be playtime also. Use fruits and other healthy foods to create interesting shapes and lifelike characters. You can make the kids eat by amusing them at the same time. Involving older kids can be even more enjoyable.
Hiring a babysitter often becomes essential at times, especially if you have to attend to an important task outside the house. However, many parents are not entirely comfortable with the idea of leaving their child in the hands of a complete stranger. It is important that the babysitter you hire should be capable enough of handling different possible situations in your absence
The day of the baby shower is just around the corner, and you're still wracking your brain, hoping to figure out the right kind of gift to buy for the expecting mother. With so many options out there, where should you start? Gift registries, gift idea magazines, even articles such as this have so many ideas to throw at you, that it's quite easy to get overwhelmed. Well, you should try and start simply.
First, consider the big ticket items that are very popular as baby shower gifts. Cribs, bassinets, Moses baskets, and other furniture items are popular choices for gifts for a baby shower. Of course, these items are somewhat expensive, so in many cases it is the close family member or friends of the mother to be that purchase them. Or, party guests may get together and purchase a playpen, car seat, recliner or other high-priced baby shower gift as a group present.
More economical choices for baby shower gifts are popular for obvious reasons. It's always nice to be able to give the mommy-to-be your very own present, one that is just from you, will be enjoyed, but won't necessarily send you over budget. These types of gifts for a baby shower include such essentials as diaper bags, travel packs for the car, baby wipe warmers, diaper pails, crib bedding sets, baby monitors, bottle warmers, slings and baby carriers.
Finally, there is quite a list of low-end baby shower gifts that don't cost a lot, but definitely provide the recipient with function and appeal. Packages of diapers, diaper organizers and changing table organizers, books on parenting and babies, baby toiletries like nail clippers and brushes and combs, bibs, bottles and pacifiers, other eating utensils like plates and bowls, and toys and soft, plush animals.
Of course, you don't necessarily have to purchase pre-manufactured and pre-packaged baby shower gifts. If you really know the interests and preferences of the expecting mother, consider putting together a care package for her, her baby or even both of them. If she is planning on breastfeeding, skip the purchase of bottles, and instead assemble a care package that contains supplies and essentials for breastfeeding. The same approach could be used for a woman who is planning on using cloth diapers for her baby. Your choice of baby shower gifts for her might be a package of cloth diapers and covers.
Remember, no matter what you choose to purchase for your choice of a baby shower gift, be sure to remove price tags and include a gift receipt before the day of the shower.
Coming up with a great idea for a baby shower isn’t always easy. You want to do right by your good friend or family member, but you have no idea where you should start. There’s no need to worry, because included below are some amazing ideas with which to give yourself a starting point and inspire your inner party planner.
Color
Conventional wisdom says that you should use blue for baby boys and pink for baby girls. It can make it easy to organize a party around a certain color scheme. Of course, this assumes that the gender of the baby is known already. If the parents are trying to keep this is a surprise, you can plan your party around a neutral, but still cute, color such as yellow or light green. But don’t feel that you have to be bound by convention. You could be more creative and use the mother’s favorite color. As long as the colors are fun and lively, you’re bound to have a great party.
Theme
Having a theme is a wonderful way to make party organization easy for you, still have everything be very fun, and give your party that “put together” look. One easy way to do this is simply to have a “baby” theme. Gather together decorations with storks, diapers, bottles, and rattles. Or maybe you don’t want the traditional feeling that this would convey. Instead, you could choose a seasonal theme. For example, maybe Valentine’s Day is close by. Use hearts and flowers for decorations and you’ll have a Valentine’s Baby Shower. You could do the same thing with Halloween, the Fourth of July, or Christmas if they’re having a Christmas baby. And this theme doesn’t have to just be holidays; instead use one of the four seasons (obviously whichever one the baby is going to be born in). A summer or beach theme would be a lot of fun and give you a starting point with which to organize the party.
Decorations
Don’t get overwhelmed with all your choices for decorations. Remember your theme. For a party with a Valentine’s Day theme, as mentioned above you could use hearts and flowers, but you could also add some things more specific to baby. For example, include balloons that have “I love you baby!” written on them, and to be really creative, get little baby food jars to tie the balloons to and hold them in place. Remember, the possibilities are endless. Symbols of motherhood are also a great way to decorate. One great way you could do this is with stuffed animals. For example, for the gift table centerpiece, have a stuffed lioness and her cub. In fact, putting stuffed animals in pairs of bigger and smaller can be an adorable way to portray mother and child. Get a big teddy bear and a small teddy bear and put them side by side. The teddy bear idea would be an especially good idea for the Valentine’s Day theme, but remember, you can do this with any plush animal!
Favors
Party favors are not absolutely necessary for a baby shower, but they are certainly appreciated, and they can make a great prize if you play shower games. Also, they can do double duty as both decorations and favors. For example, a friend of mine had some very cute napkins as favors that had little babies and toys painted on them. They were pretty when they were laid out, and then everyone got very excited when they realized they could take them home! You could do this with those mother and child stuffed toys you were using for decorations also. You could give your guests the pair, or just the smaller one, which would certainly make things more affordable. Remember, whether you could a small teddy bear, some stuffed lions, plush cats, or something else, you’ll have a fun decoration and a gift that is easy to find and affordable. And of course, if you are looking for a more traditional favor, you could get little photo frames or carriage shaped candles. The possibilities are practically endless!
Remember, there’s a lot to do to put together a great baby shower, but this should give you a nice starting point and really get your creative juices flowing. Start by having a color or theme in mind and that get decorations to match! Then consider what party favors your guests would enjoy. Before you know it, you’ll find that your entire party has fallen together very naturally! A baby shower doesn’t have to be a huge hassle! Instead it can be lots of fun and the talk of your friends or family for years to come!
Buying toys and plush animals for children isn’t always easy. No longer being children ourselves, it’s hard to get into the head of the modern child and understand what they would enjoy. This is especially true if we don’t have a lot of experience with kids, and so we often bemoan the lack of guidelines for what to look for in the toy section. Toy stores and toy sections rarely have knowledgeable staff, and all the toy label itself will have is the general information that tells us what ages the toy is safe for. We often end up buying the so-called “must have” toy of the season, either because it has been heavily advertised, or because that’s what the sales person tells us is the “hot” toy. But how do we know this “must have” toy is right for child we’re getting it for?
That is why we have developed these five guidelines that will help you decide which stuffed animal is the right one to give for a gift. Read on, and make your gift giving experience much easier.
1. Age
Age can be a good indicator in as that it can tell you how specific you have to be. If you’re getting a gift for a toddler, practically any stuffed animal is good, as they haven’t developed specific tastes yet. But if the child is older, it’s probably a good idea to ask their parents if they are really into a particular animal. For example, they could love whimsical creatures such as unicorns, or they might love jungle animals, such as a stuffed lion. Remember, most older children have very developed likes, so it doesn’t hurt to do a little research by talking to someone close to them.
2. Safety
This is a critical consideration. Always make sure that the toy you buy is safe, especially if the child is very young. If the child is under three years of age, any toy with small parts or sharp edges is a big no-no. For example, make sure that the nose and eyes of a stuffed animal won’t easily fall off and give the child something to choke on.
3. Gender
There are very different toys marketed for little boys and little girls, so always consider gender when getting a gift. Girls often prefer plush animals that are colorful, cute, and sweet. These could include cute teddy bears, little chipmunks, a plush cat, or a plush dog. Boys often enjoy stuffed animals that are a bit mightier, with an edge of danger. These include stuffed lions, stuffed tigers, or a big grizzly bear.
4. Quality
This ties in with the issue of safety. If a toy is not high-quality, you run the danger of having a safety issue. A poorly built or stitched toy could allow parts to come off, and cause the possibility of choking on little pieces. Also, just imagine how sad a child would be if they got attached to the stuffed animal you bought them, and then it falls apart! Don’t sacrifice quality for price. Remember, there are plenty of high quality stuffed animals out there that you can get a good deal on.
5. Purpose
The last guideline has to do with the purpose you have when giving the gift. Maybe you want to give them a bed time toy, or you want to get them something with some educational value. Educational toys feed a child’s curiosity. Just imagine getting them a stuffed lion or stuffed tiger with the purpose of feeding their curiosity on the natural world. Or maybe you know that they are having a hard time lately. Get them something comforting, such as a cute teddy bear or a sweet stuffed toy pet. You can combine the function of the present with the child’s personality and needs, getting them a great gift.
So as you can see, there are five easy guidelines to follow when getting a gift for a child. Don’t just buy the newest “hot” toy with no forethought. Consider age, gender, safety, quality and the function of your gift. Getting a fantastic present doesn’t have to be difficult when you have these great guidelines to follow!
Who doesn't like a personal gift? Who doesn't like his name being written everywhere? Gifts are a way of expressing your love to the other person. Kid's personalized gifts also are a souvenir of beautiful by gone eras like child hood and baby hood. Personalized gifts are long lasting since they have that personal touch which makes the person develop a bond with them.
So what kind of kids personalized gifts can you choose? Well, there are umpteen options to choose from. If you want to be conventional, then you can choose silver frames, candles and candle stands and other bone china items. These gifts are ideal for a new born kid as well since they would last long.
If the kid loves music then you can also gift a personalized music CD. Children love music and also dance and sing along with it. Dancing is an expression of art. This dancing and singing will help the kid to develop confidence and self esteem.
If you are one of those practical people who like to see their gifts being used by the kid, then a good idea for some kid's personalized gifts is a gift basket. You can include all sorts of good things for both mother and the baby. These baskets can be gifted on numerous occasions like the kid's first or the second birthday. However, you need to make sure that the basket is filled with meaningful gifts and not just filler trinkets.
If you want to be different, then other kids personalized gifts can include things like hand made furniture or some personalized artwork as well. Books can also be personalized gifts with the cover embossed with the kid's name. These days there are many books which let you insert the name of the kid in place of the hero so that the kid feels it's his adventure. There are many song shops where the name of the kids can be inserted in some places in a song so that the kid becomes a part of it.
Many kids like writing their diary. You can also gift the kid a personalized diary where they can write their thoughts. Photo frames and mugs with kid's photos are also some of the modern kids personalized gifts.
You can even personalize soft toys like teddy bears and elephants by printing or getting the kids name embroidered on the stuffed toy. If you want to even be more innovative then you can also gift a bean bag which is engraved with the child's name. A monogrammed bean bag is a unique gift.
Kid's personalized gift can also include a personalized study table which has the kids name or a name plate. This personalized study table can be chosen or made as per your preferences. Buying a personalized table will make the kid want to study more.
These are some of the ideas for kids personalized gifts which can bring that ray of happiness. Personalized gift ideas are unique and time tested. Surely a Rembrandt for an entire life!
Have you ever wondered what gift to buy your Grandparents for Christmas? Out of many of the people that you may struggle with when it comes to buying them a gift this Christmas time Grandparents can be the toughest. The question is do you buy them something separately or something they can share?
Too many times I have seen my grandparents open up the same old present year after a year. For my Grandad it's the usual Shirt and Tie combination, a pair of slippers and aftershaves and for my Grandma its blouses, slippers and bath foams. So what gifts are best when buying for Grandparents? Well there are a few different types of gifts that you can look into, and believe me research and time go a long, long way when it comes to choosing the right gift.
So if you are buying a gift for them to share try looking at wines and champagne gift sets, and by gift set I mean a champagne bottle nicely presented in a box or gift bag along with either 2 champagne glasses or some chocolates. You could also buy photo frames, digital photo frames, gardening gifts such as solar lights, garden benches or you could even buy them a hamper and get it delivered to their doorstep.
However the option of buying separately is also available, and for this you can buy your Grandad a leather wash bag, a leather wallet, or a cufflink and watch box. For your Grandma you could get her jewellery box, a bracelet (personalised if possible), a set of earrings or a watch.
Amanda regularly enjoys to review products and gadgets for the john lewis sale and writes articles in her spare time.
When we were kids, it seems that our grandparents were always getting us some of the best gifts. But now that we are older, and making our own money, it’s time to return the favor. Of course, choosing a gift for someone from a different generation isn’t always easy as their likes and dislikes are often very dissimilar than our own. That’s why this article will give you some of our top ideas for gifts for grandparents.
Traveling Gear
The greatest perk of retirement is more free time, and many retired folks spend that free time traveling. Longer vacations are possible, and whether they are jetting off to exotic locals or staying closer our grandparents often have the time to do the things they’ve always dreamed of. But just because their traveling a lot more, it doesn’t mean they’re buying new gear for their vacations. Many grandparents have luggage 20 years old, which is why it can be a great idea to get them some new traveling gear as a gift. This is also a gift that can fit any budget. You could get them a matching luggage set or keep things a little more budget friendly by just getting them a new carry-on bag. In fact, even if your grandparents aren’t doing any traveling, you can get them this gift. After all, it might inspire them to take that trip to Paris or African Safari that they’ve always dreamed of.
Home Decor
Buying decor for your grandparent’s home can be great, but beware, as it can also be tricky. Purchasing a gift based on your own taste isn’t always a good idea, as often your sense of style is a great deal more modern than theirs. Remember, that novelty fruit bowl you love may not fit the Renaissance style of your grandparent’s home. Luckily, there is a piece of home decor that you can rarely go wrong with: stuffed animals. Of course, these have to be elegant and realistic-appearing plush toys, instead of crazy colors or obviously shoddy sewing. Stuffed animals have become very popular pieces with which to decorate, as they liven up a home. Plus, they’re kid friendly, which isn’t certainly useful in the home of a grandparent. Maybe grandma will want to put a cute little cat figurine on the kitchen counter, or a big stuffed dog at the front door. Or if grandma’s a well-known adventurer, get her a stuffed lion or stuffed tiger to decorate her living room, which would make a great place for her to tell her grand kids stories!
Gear to Promote Relaxation
One of the main problems with getting older is the aches and pains that accompany the advancing years. It seems that all grandparents have some kind of pain, whether it be back, knee, feet, shoulders or hips. This is why gear for relaxation is such a great idea; it gives them a chance to forget about their discomfort for a while. Just imagine their delight at a water foot massager for their aching feet! It’s also a great gift idea for those with differing budgets. You can get something as small as a pillow massager for their neck, or something as big as an actual massage chair. This kind of gift shows that you understand grandma and grandpa’s need for some “me” time.
So there you go. The top three gift ideas for grandparents are travel gear, stuffed animals to use in home décor, and relaxation gear. May you never have trouble picking out a gift for a grandma or grandpa again!
For those of us who have kids or know children, it certainly seems like toys and the idea of play has changed. Children’s entertainment has taken on a much more passive role, when in our day play was all about imagination and creativity. For example, we’d play dress up or various role playing games, and we’d use the toys we did have in completely creative, loosely structured fun. Nowadays it seems that traditional play where you create a story has been left behind, what with video games and other passive entertainments.
Of course, I don’t mean to sound like an old fogey by belittling a new generation of toys, but it’s hard to disagree with the importance of active play for a child’s development. In fact, classic toys and games are still very much the basis for learning and growing. They can have the occasional video game, but make sure to also include, especially when they are very young, these classic toys for development. Remember, playing is as important as outright learning, such as learning a new language and engaging in sports, and can really help our children excel.
Below I will explain why “play” is so important for development.
1. Play can be a precursor to important socialization skills that children learn through sports. Here they learn how to be part of a team, be disciplined, and learn about competitiveness. Leading an active life before they are old enough to play organized sports can begin this process. These basic activities include things such as running outside, playing hide and seek, or playing hopscotch. Healthy bodies help create healthy minds, so we should never underestimate the power of physical activity, even if it does just look like “play.”
2. Play is also very important when it comes to the development of creativity. The ability to create their own universe is important for children. For example, children can be the teacher instead of the student. They can research a tropical jungle while surrounded by stuffed lions and stuffed tigers. Or they can be Snow White with all her enchanted forest animals (plush toys of course) waiting for Prince Charming. With the creativity to impersonate and create their own scenario’s, children can explore future interests or even future careers. Creating their own characters and stories is a great way to grow their imaginations in way that is better than just watching television or playing a video game where the stories, pictures, and characters are already there. Also, many of these imaginative games are much less violent then television or video games, so the child can grow and develop in a way that’s much more harmonious.
3. Play also develops social skills and teaches a child how to relate to others. For example, maybe the child is pretending they’re in a jungle with a stuffed tiger. Not only does this help them learn about nature, it also teaches them how to interact with others. Children who play together, whether they are jumping rope or having fun with that stuffed tiger have to set ground rules and boundaries as they pretend in order to share a world. In this way, children learn how to depend on and interact with each other.
Remember, playing is very vital to the development of a child. Play teaches them how to cope with the world, learn how to interact with others and be more creative. The occasional video game is fine, but we should make sure children learn the basics of play. And we can help do this by joining in the fun. Whether we decide to play the damsel in distress or the monster that’s chasing them around, we can be a part of the play and development. Remember, these memories will be cherished far more than any television show or video game.
The wild creativity of a young child can turn even the simplest objects into challenging and fascinating toys. An item as ordinary as a rock can be made into a stock car or a jet plane, and a big box made from cardboard can made into a jet rocket for that voyage to the moon. Imaginative play makes up a large portion of a child's playing time.
To assist your child develop indispensable skills in development inspire him or her to participate in make believe and informative games. Creative and make-believe games allows kids to use the practices that they have learned about to real life.If you watch a small child, while they pretend, their response to unique instances will usually tell you what they are thinking. Kids who are taught about prehistoric creatures enjoy using wooden and plastic toys and clay to make their own prehistoric world. By imagining with wooden things like doll house furniture, children can actually build language skills.
Empathy begins to emerge as children imagine to be a different person and spend time in their shoes.
With cooperative imaginary play, kids learn to take turns and share as they build important problem solving traits. Children will learn to solve problems as a team during group play. Children who participate in imaginary play work together with others and teaches them leadership. Kids can build their own self-esteem and gain their own self-confidence by testing out different scenarios.
Imaginative play also helps kids to develop a hint of the difference between pretend and the real world.
Using toys like wooden doll furniture assists kids in developing their speaking skills. Preschoolers will soon put together the link between spoken and written words, a basic pre-reading skill, by creating their own stories while playing. If you desire children to learn rapidly and to keep their interest while teaching them it is best to teach in a manner which they can interact with you.
In addition to an assortment of wooden toys that promote creative play, you can help give a number of pre-reading and pre-writing skills by providing her with lots of books, as well as writing utensils and something to write on. Helping your child develop their adding skills is as easy as providing them a shopping cart and cash register, while they are playing like they are shopping they will be using addition to calculate their items. Imaginary play helps children build their thinking skills. They will use important cognitive skills, as well as logic, to decide who plays what part or how to construct a pretend fort. Imaginary play with others can teach a child self restraint as well as appropriate behavior Like using a block to represent food, advanced abstract thinking skills will start to develop as they learn to use one object to represent something else.
The best items for imaginary play are those objects your child views every day in their ordinary interaction. There is many wooden toys available for creative play, you can find miniature play sets like farms and forests, dollhouses, and kitchen appliances. Wooden toys offer widely varied options, from rocking horses to wheeled toys, that will give hours of fun. Wooden toys are harmless and much more durable than plastic, meaning your child will enjoy hours of developmentally appropriate play as well as the children of the future.
Writing for various sites about children's toys, Gary has a wealth of knowledge and maintains online toy retailer Monkeyshine.
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