Playing in Sand Boxes and on Swing Sets and See Saws is Fun For All

There are so many outdoor activity toys on the market. Whether you are looking for a way to entertain your children this summer or encouraging them to increase their level of physical fitness and activity this summer, these fun toys will have them running around and building muscle without even realizing it! Nothing is better than them getting in shape and having a good time without realizing it. They need fun activities that will keep them busy, entertained and away from the Xbox, Play Station 3, or Guitar Hero game. You can start getting prepared for the upcoming long summer days of fun and freedom by investing in some great pieces of equipment for outdoor play. If you make the yard fun and inviting, it will be the hit of the neighborhood and all the little ones will come running.

The following is a buyer's guide for the many great sand boxes, swing sets and see saws on the market so you can become aware of all of the different features and models and make an informed decision on this great investment for your family.

Sand Boxes

Who doesn't love the feel of sand between their hands or toes? Bring the beautiful beaches of the world to your house this summer. With all of the toys made for this type of activity, your little ones will love scooping, shoveling, sifting and raking. They can get buckets with interesting bottoms and use them to make beautiful, intricate castles in their sand boxes. Adding water to the box makes playing in the sand boxes even more life like. In the comfort of your yard, you don't have to worry about the pails and digging tools being swept away by the waves and the currents. Everyone is sure to love playing in one of these.

Swing Sets

Residential swing sets currently on the market come with all the bells and whistles these days. There is no shortage of amenities like wave slides and tube slides, poles to slide down and scurry up, rock walls to climb and moving ladders strung together with rope. Some units even allow you to pretend you are in the circus and hang from trapeze bars, perfecting your acrobatic moves for when the big top rolls into town. Lots of visual devices are now options as well including telescopes and periscopes. For those with a large imagination, steering wheels let you pretend to be a captain of a ship or plane and Tic-Tac-Toe panels challenge your mind. Forts and picnic benches complete just a small list of unique and new features available on wooden swing sets. While these great pieces can be pricey, they are a great investment, as they will last for many years to come and provide a lot of great memories.

See Saws

See Saws are a great way to teach your kids about science and balance while having fun. This toy is perfect for multi-child families or those that have a lot of young neighbors of friends who like to play outside. Whether the one you buy just goes up and down, or rotates around in a full circle, everyone will enjoy taking a ride on these awesome see saws. While the see saws used to be made purely of wood, many advancements have been made and steel tubing and metal ones now are on the market. These newer models were created with safety in mind as well as comfort for the riders.

Jennifer Boris is a freelance copywriter. For more information on Swing Sets, visit Best Price Toys.

Kids Outdoor Toys

New and Old Favorite Kids Outdoor Toys

Learning is play and play is learning. This also includes exercise. That's why on many Christmas lists this year kids outdoor toys will no doubt be included. Playtime for kids is a real treat for parents and children alike, because the winter break is much too long for energetic children, so to be able to play outdoors or in a large inside play area will keep them happy, healthy and their mothers sane.

One outside toy that never goes out of style is the trampoline. Jumping up and down and performing flips is great exercise, burns calories and gives the child something to do to keep from succumbing to boredom. Just be sure to place a protective barrier around the trampoline to prevent injury to children if they should slip and fall. Another great fun toy is a dirt bike especially for children 10 and over. Sleds, tree houses and playhouses rule with most children.

Children need to use their muscles and their minds and what better way than with some of the newer outside toys for kids this year? There are the Guide play sensory stepping stones for ages 6-7 years that teach balance and eye control as the child views the different textile designs of each stepping stone when they jump forward. Another is the Guidecraft balance base. This toy works on balancing and muscle tone by rocking back and forth while standing on it and can be reversed for other types of play.

For younger children ages 3-5 years, placing Guidecraft drive-time signs outside for them to maneuver their tricycles around is a challenging and fun way to exercise their minds and their legs, and also teaches problem solving. Pedal cars such as the Pink champion, are fun to drive for children ages 3-6.

Older children will prefer toys that used more skill such as the Nerf N- force sword. The kids can go at it and nobody will get hurt. How about a green toy that is safe for the environment? The Green Toy Ecosaucer fits that description. Made in the U.S. out of milk cartons, it is sure to be fun for any ages. If you don't mind a little mess outside, why not get your kids the marshmallow archery set? it uses real marshmallows and can hold up to 25 large ones.

For parents with more than one child, you will be delighted when you see them playing on the Step 2 Skyward Summit Climber. This big 80 inch mountain has holes to grip as you climb and is quite challenging. For more information on outside toys that stimulate the mind and exercise the body, the Internet is a great resource.

Visit my blog for more about kids outdoor toys where I provide information on where to find toys online. Kids outdoor toys are among the many great holiday gifts and there are many awesome deals that you get online.

So, stay inside, keep warm and do your shopping online for Christmas gift ideas Christmas 2009 where you can get the deal you are looking for at a price that is competitive with the in-store prices. However, you don't have to travel in the winter weather or battle the crowds when you buy online.

Fisher Price Kid Tough Digital Camera

One thing I know for sure about today's kids, is that they all want to be grown up right now. No matter what the age, they don't understand that some things like digital cameras are not meant for them. Well, that was until Fisher Price introduced their new Kid Tough Digital Camera.

The Fisher Price  Kid Tough Digital Camera was actually designed with your not too careful kids in mind. The camera is shock mounted so if dropped, it's not a lost cause.  The camera is also waterproof so if your budding photographer spills his favorite drink on the camera you are safe. The camera is also waterproof for 30 minutes in as much as 3 feet of water in case it happens to get dropped into the backyard kiddy pool. 

One of the major differences between this camera and those intended for older users, is the two eye viewing feature. It is often very hard for youngsters to learn to just use one eye while using a camera. Control buttons are large and easy to use, so the frustration factor is very small. The camera also has a built in Auto flash so indoor photos won't be lost because of the lack of flash.

The resolution of the camera is very low compared to the higher priced digital cameras currently on the market, but it's important to remember that as the camera is designed for the 3 to 6 year old set, the children probably won't notice the difference. 

The camera comes with an internal 64 MB of memory. That enables the camera to store up to 500 Photos. Pictures can be down loaded to a PC or Mac for editing, printing or emailing,  via a 1.1 or higher USB connection. The USB cable is included with the camera.

Power for the camera comes from 4 AAA batteries. As with most things that are battery operated, having good supply of batteries on hand can forestall many bad moments, when the camera is left on.

The Fisher Price Kid Tough Digital Camera comes in two colors, Pink or Blue. Carrying cases are also available, some in colors and wild designs your kids will love!

So how good of a camera is this? Well, its not going to produce the sharpest pictures in the world. But it will provide hours of enjoyment for your young photo buff. The camera is designed for use by kids, so let them have fun. Who knows, you might just start a new hobby that can last a life time. 

Take a look at the Fisher Price Kid Tough Digital Camera. You'll like what you see. Robin Jeffries reviews popular toys for the holiday season. Check back. More reviews of this year's top toys coming soon!

Top Five Baby Shower Game Ideas

If you have been asked to host a baby shower, part of the occasion would involve playing games. Along with cake, drinks, and beautiful baby decorations, you want the guests to be entertained. Therefore, you will need to choose the right games, based on the type of shower being given, the age and lifestyle of the guests, and even preference of the mom and dad-to-be. To help get you started, we have provided the top five baby shower game ideas to consider.

Game One

"Don't say baby" is a fun game to play and somewhat challenging. Obviously, the focus of the baby shower if the birth of the baby so not saying the word "baby" is hard. For this game, every person would be provided with a clothespin upon arrival. Then, have the guests, clip on the clothespin somewhere visible. The goal of the game is to avoid saying the word "baby". If a guest hears someone say it, they take that person's clothespin, adding it onto their own clothing item. At the end of the game, the guest with the most clothespins would win.

Now, if you want something smaller, you can always use safety pins that have miniature candy pacifiers, or pink or blue ribbon attached. For this, simply provide each guest with a ribbon to hang around the neck onto which the safety pins would be added. Once the game is over at the end of the baby shower, offer a small prize.

Game Two

The Price is Right is another fun baby shower game. For this, simply purchase about 10 small baby items such as booties, Vaseline, hair bow, pacifier, and so on. Keep the receipt for each item so you will know the price. Then pass the items around the room on a platter, allowing the guests to write down the name of each item on a piece of paper. Next to the name, guests would put down the price they believe you paid. The one guest coming closest to the right price and for the most amount of items without going over wins.

Game Three

The Photo Game is a tremendous amount of fun. Each guest would bring a photo of themselves as a baby. These photos would be hung up on poster board for other guests to look at. Then, each guest would try to match the photo to the guest. Again, the guest making the most right guesses would win a small prize.

Game Four

The Baby Food game is something you do not want to miss. Purchase about eight jars of baby food, removing the lids and labels. Guests would need to sample each jar, trying to guess the exact food. The guest with the highest number of right answer wins.

Game Five

For guests with a competitive nature, the Baby Bottle Drink Off is hilarious! For this, fill the smallest size baby bottles you can find with grape or apple juice. Make sure the hole in each bottle is enlarged but the same. Then, line competitors up and on the signal, have them guzzle the contents of the bottle. The guest that finishes the juice first would win some type of prize.

For more articles offering info, advice, ideas about inexpensive baby shower gifts, visit our website at http://www.babyshowersinfo.com

Bakugan - A New Age in Battle!

Now that our children are getting older, their preference in toys is changing. They may still like things similar, but now they are probably looking for a game with more action. Bakugan Battle Arena can give it to them. This game is a combination of several games all wrapped into this one. Remember when Bey Blades was a hot craze. Well, take the concept of that game with the high action spinning toys and combine it with the action of the many card games and then throw in the development of individual character balls.

Bakugan was first released in Japan shortly after its creation with a high purchase rate by young and old alike, next the game was taken to Canada, now it is here in the United States. Many retail businesses are having a difficult time keeping this new game on the shelves.

This game is developing so quickly that in many recent discussions throughout the internet, there are actual leagues being set up for tournaments and much more. Trading sessions of the various figures that have such names as; Wavern, Ravenoid and Gargonoid. This is a game that many young adults are also getting into.

If you have a young adult in your family who likes to play some of the many card games with his or her friends this might be the best gift to get them this Holiday season. You may be prone to stick one in your own stocking.

This game is the type that you could get the whole family involved in to play. Bakugan could be the new twist to your family game nights. Set up your arena and begin to have fun.

Bakugan and many of its brother and sister games are a great way to help your children learn strategy, improve on math skills, reading skills and also to help with communication.

I know that there are a lot of parents out there that are unsure about gifts for their children, but, ask your children if they have heard of Bakugan, see what kind of an interest they may hold in this hot NEW game. You might be surprised.

With the recent changes in our economy, I know how difficult it is thinking about Christmas and trying to figure a way to keep costs down during this upcoming Holiday season, but, this game can help you do so.

Starter packs for this game start at around $20.00. This starter pack provides Bakugan cards and information about the game. Booster packs, which include one additional Bakugan card and information, start at under $5.00. I have seen them for as low as $2.50 in some stores. You will want to check your area and online at some of your favorite stores. Accessories can get a little more expensive. You will find arenas and full starter kits ranging from the price of $25.00 up to around $50.00.

This game is not meant to be played by children under the age of 5 or 6, the spheres are small enough that a child prone to put things in their mouths should not have them. The spheres are a little bigger than a large (shooter) marble.

If you would like to check out additional information on this hot NEW game, simply go to Bakugan Battle Arena [http://www.bakugan-battle-arena.com].

Decorating the Basement

When you have a basement that has enough room to turn it into a room, you may be wondering what you can do with this room. There are several options to choose from; a family room, den, game room, bedroom, laundry room, home office, your business, toy room, and more. You can use the room for almost anything you want. Whether you want to entertain your friends or want a room that everyone can sit in and enjoy watching a good movie together, then get the basement ready.

When you think of a basement, you probably think of a damp and dreary room that stays empty because life cannot survive in the room. You probably think that it is too dark and wet feeling all the time. This is not always the case. A basement room can look extremely beautiful and very extravagant.

Decide what you want the room to be when you are done. You may need to hire someone to help you in redecorating your basement. If the room doesn't need a lot of work to it then consider placing new paint on the walls. Because the basement is usually dark to begin with, you may want to consider adding a light color to your walls. If you choose a dark color, your basement may look dull and dingy. Bright colors like white or even cream color is okay to place on the walls. These colors will give it a bright look.

There are several ways that you can create the right look on the floor. If you place area rugs on the floor try yellow rugs or blue rugs because these colors are bright. The brighter the color on your floor, the brighter your room in the basement will be.

Keep the decor simple. A crowded wall will make the room look and feel smaller and dark. One large picture on the wall or three small pictures should be enough to balance the room.

Carpet the stairs with a light coordinating color so you can make the walk down to the basement comfortable and bright. If you have dark wood stain on the stair rails and steps, you may want to lighten the color stain. This may take some time but a light color wood is very important when you are trying to lighten the room up.

Leave the corners as open as possible. Corners in a basement always seem too dark and moist. The more you put in the corner the more it will feel this way. You can place stand up lights in the corners or a bookshelf in the corner but place it cross ways and not up against the wall to allow the wall to breathe so it doesn't hold in the moisture.

If you place a bar or a desk in the basement then you want to install track lighting over top of it. This will give the room more lighting and make it possible for you to see what you are doing even when it is dark outside.

Fran is a senior design writer on the topic of decorating basements. She loves all home accessorizes especially these braided area rugs and bamboo shag rugs.

Buy Cheap Wii Games - Wii Dance Games

The most popular wii dance games for the Nintendo has thus far been the Dance Dance Revolution or aka. DDR Hottest Party.

DDR was created by the Tokyo based company Konami Corporation which dates back to 1973, they were famous for titles like frogger, scramble and Super Cobra. When Dance dance Revolution Hottest party first came to the US in 2007 it won huge applause, partially due to the fact that it was the only wii dance games that contained the one of a kind dance pad controller.

What makes DDR so different is that using a traditional dance pad with a Wii remote requires participants to match controller movements with the remote and the Nunchuck attachment as well as do the dance steps at the same time. This new innovation causes the whole body workout, giving the top part or your arms something to do as well, which upto now has always been solely focused on feet movements. The game supports up to four players at a time.

If you never heard of or played DDR then some explanations are in order. It's a rhythm game that has you stepping all over a dance mat to hit arrows that match the corresponding arrows on the screen. All this takes place to a the beat of a popular dance track. If your new to this lookout cause it isn't easy, you will have a hard time to keep from tripping over your own feet. Whereas veterans will be hopping back and forth, seemingly hitting all the arrows with ease. The diamonds correspond to hand movements and the arrows to feet movements. The game offer 3 different Play options namely: Free Play , Groove Curcuit, and workout mode.

Lets have a closer look at this game and see what some of the pros and cons are. Whatever method you choose to play Hottest Party appears pretty good. The colors of the game are bright and vivacious, the surroundings are neat and the game characters feel right and are well animated. DDR features extra backup dancers that are an unneeded visible touch, the main character should have been rendered larger, but nonetheless the game looks decent. The audio sounds for the most part ok with a list of approximately fifty tracks. They tried to put something in the music list for everyones taste. The announcer tends to be somewhat of a nuisance, who either compliments you or insults you all at the same time. Kind of like saying "you are really good at sucking!" Might get to you after a while, those kind of comments. DDR comes with one dance pad included, for multiple players each will have to obtain it's own dance pad.

Unfortunately there are not alot of other choices in the Wii dance games niche. There is Dancing with the stars which has received less than good reviews. Which also has dance pad incompatibility problems with the dancepad offered by DDR Hottest Party.

These type of get off the couch Wii dance games are gaining in popularity. I don't think the game will convert the player into the next Fred Astaire but will definitely give you a good work out.

To Buy cheap Wii games and Find Wii Dance games at a discounted price
Have a look at http://buycheapwiigames.stodan.com

Stodan

Infectonator - Flash Game Review

Infectonator takes a retro-perspective on the usual zombie domination games. However, it requires much more intelligence than many would first realize. You are assigned a number of people to kill, and utilizing the upgrades available to you through the collection of coins you have racked up, you must infect the petrified humans in only one click of the mouse...

The game poses no difficulties with its controls, simply an understanding of how to succeed is all that is needed. This is introduced to you at the beginning (tutorial) level, even if you are starting again due to the dreaded 'gameover'. On each level a swarm of people will mindlessly walk around the screen, you must click the mouse to designate a certain area of people to become zombies. Therefore you must make sure that you choose the right time, only creating one zombie is going to be bordering on impossible, however if you change a large cluster of people as they happen to pass each other then a larger amount of zombies will be made.

On the completion of each level you are given the opportunity to purchase upgrades and bonuses.

The upgrades consist of:

• Lifespan


• Speed



• Damage Resistance (your zombies will be attacked as well)



• Attack



• Infection Chance

And the bonuses:

• Increase virus speed



• Money collecting radius (how far away your zombies have to be to collect the gold coins)



• Bomb (used by the same method as infecting)



• Ability for virus to penetrate through walls

Each skill can be upgraded 10 times, when you scroll through each upgrade it will display at the bottom what the upgrade will do. For example if I have just started, my speed will be 30, if I upgrade all 10 times I will reach the maximum speed for that skill which would be 120. Four times more agile than your initial speed.

Bonuses on the other hand have a large price to begin with, with the one exception of the 'Ability for virus to penetrate through walls', the others can also be upgraded, however not as much as 10 times. The price however is very steep, yet their abilities can prove to be priceless.

Using this, you must decide the order of importance. A few strategies that I picked up after several attempts were that the damage resistance isn't necessary for the first few levels. Speed on the other hand is vital, but I'm sure common sense will take control here after you may watch your zombies painfully 'walk' after your victims, resulting in you failing your objective.

Be cautious though, as after you have completed several levels agents will begin to shoot at you, if you still have not upgraded your damage resistance then your zombies will die almost instantaneously. However, another strategy I picked up was that if you can convert a large proportion of these agents into zombies, alongside the civilians in collaboration with high speed and infection chance, then there is a good possibility the level should pose no threat to you.

The frustrating aspects of the game are mainly encountered at the beginning, you could 'zombify' 4 out of the 5 people required for the objective, yet they move so slow that they cannot get anyone. Once you have overcome this the game will be great fun, you can watch and laugh as your zombies terrorize the panicking pixels.

Until you fail too many objectives and come face to face with a game over screen... Don't worry; this happened many times to me. The second attempt at the game is much quicker now you are familiar with the game. Another slightly irritating feature is when you begin, you must click on the screen, and you will notice that it brightens - THEN the game begins. Many times I have found the perfect opportunity and I have forgotten to do this.

Another fun series of flash games are the monkey balloon games that involve popping a set percentage of balloons using darts and a monkey.

Cheap Used Wii Games

It doesn't matter, if your buying a PS3, a Xbox 360, a PS3, a iPhone, Wii, or a DSI. If your one of the first in line to buy one, you get to pay a little extra. It makes me wonder why people stand in those lines for just that privilege. I however tend to be a little late to the party, and get to play with the same toys, for less money. When it comes to getting cheap games for the Wii, I know just where to look.

You've probably noticed the games shelves in your favorite video store full of the latest Wii, Xbox, and PS3 games. They usually rent for a little more than that DVD your holding in your hands, and a whole lot less then the price of a new Wii console game.

If you rent more than 3 games a month, it's probably a good idea to check out the stores that rent games on a monthly membership payment plan. Usually for less then $25, you can play as many games as you can stand. When you've had enough slaying orcs, and would rather race a formula 1, then no problem. Just return the dead orcs, and jump into your favorite race car.

Renting games this way has a few pitfalls, but they are mostly outweighed by the advantages. Having plenty of titles to choose from, is just one of them. All the money you save, could go towards the next must-have console, or handheld gaming toy that's just around the corner. If you do find a game you really like, most companies give you the option of buying it at a reduced price.

Most Wii console owners are families. Family gamers, don't usually spend a lot of time staying on top of the latest game reviews, so renting makes a lot of sense. Better than paying full price for a lemon of a game.

We had our Wii for at least a year I think, before I was even aware there were down-loadable games available. But there are, and they are known as WiiWare. There were about 250 games available, last time I looked. Not a lot I know, but there are some good ones. One I've played that's lots of fun, is World of Goo. I think the average price is around $5 to $10.

If you haven't thought of my final suggestion yet, I'm a little surprised. Everyone should buy at least one used Wii game, just for the experience of it. Everyone gets bored of their games at some point, and could use a little extra cash for a new one. This is where you need to jump in. You can usually get a very good game for about half price. And, it's better than stealing them from your friends when their not looking ;)

Finally, before I go, one last little piece of advice. Don't rush! Sit back, relax and breathe. Or as my good friend Jimmy Buffett would say "Breathe in... breathe out... move on.". What I'm suggesting here is, wait a while after a game is released before you buy a copy. They'll be cheaper, but just as much fun as they were on day one.

Visit this Cheap Wii Games Website for some inexpensive Wii fun.

Some Used Wii Games aren't a bad idea either.

The Value of Tin Toys

Tin toys are the thing of the past but like all things of the past, they carry certain values into the future. For tin toys, they carry more than just nostalgic memories of innocent childhood spent winding up the favorite tin robot or chasing around with friends wielding tin pistols. Tin toys of the past that still exists in the present also carry monetary value. Tin toys nowadays are considered collector's items and are sought after by many toy collectors.

To get a good price on an old tin toy, it must be in pristine condition. If the tin toy comes with the original box, then the value goes up even further. Just to give you an idea of how much a tin toy in good shape can sell for, we will take the Doing the Howdy Doody tin toy as an example. The Howdy Doody tin toy comes with a lithographed tin wind-up piano and a band consisting of Howdy Doody and Buffalo Bob. Howdy Doody dances and stands at 8" tall while Buffalo Bob sits at the piano measuring 7" tall. This whole set if available in mint condition with the box can fetch a cool $2000 or more.

Don't get carried away with thinking that every tin toy will fetch a price like the Howdy Doody toy though as most of the tin toys owned by people would have some wear and tear because it was played with. Nobody expected that an innocent looking toy would end up being collectibles in the future.

It is not all about money though. Some people are not interested in selling their old tin toys because of the nostalgic value that the toys hold. If you own a tin toy that was your favorite while you were a kid, chances are the toy would be pretty worn out by now. The good news is that you can take that favorite tin toy to a professional and have it restored to its glory days. Experts in tin toy restoration can knock out the dents, smooth the scratches and even replace missing parts. The color will also be restored so that the toy is as good as new.

Want to learn more about Faux Tin Ceiling?, feel free to visit us at: www.about-tin.info/Articles/Find_Out_How_To_Install_A_Tin_Ceiling.php

Buzz Lightyear Games

Buzz Lightyear Games provide children everywhere with entertainment and the opportunity to enjoy playing with their favourite characters.

There are various products available which incorporate the popular character with leisure and useful household products. They include dvds, videos, books, posters, bedding, costumes, wallpaper, stationary, accessories, toys and of course, Buzz Lightyear games. These products are sure to entertain your child and help them imagine they are embarking on an exciting adventure with their favourite character and his toy friends.

The character appears in many computer animated films, in particular Toy Story and the Star Command. He is an incredibly popular toy with his owner Andy, who actually thinks he is like any other toy, only a lot more exciting and entertaining. On the otherhand, Buzz really believes that his purpose is to defend the universe, which he intends to do along with the assistance of his toy friends such as 'Woody' the toy cowboy.

Buzz Lightyear games are popular as they provide children with opportunity to imagine owing a toy like Andy. There are several inspirational games available in a range of different prices according to the quality and the complexity of the games.

As you can see, it is very possible to provide children with products that capture the atmosphere and environment of their favourite characters. This is can be easily achieved with products such as Buzz Lightyear Games that can be purchased in the High Street as well as online stores. In that case, it is a good idea to do some research in order to get an idea of the type of products that are on offer.

You can get more information about Buzz Lightyear Games at Buzz Lightyear Products on Andrea Scott's website at characters-and-products.com.

Toys to Teach and Encourage Reading

The best ways to help your children learn to read should be obvious. Of course, you want to keep several books of all levels in your home, you want to read to your children whenever you have time, and you want to take time out of your day to help them learn the basics of forming letters into words.

When you add educational games, preschool toys, and activity toys to this process, such as board games like Scrabble, you can get even better results, as your children will learn that reading is something we do for fun and to grow as individuals, not something we do merely because we have to. The right educational toys can encourage learning as something fun and rewarding, rather than as something boring.

With technology getting cheaper and cheaper, there are dozens of electronic learning toys for kids to select from if you're looking to encourage reading. One of the most popular child's learning toys is the child's laptop, such as those offered by Intellective. These learning toys help by challenging children with simple quizzes, such as filling in missing letters in common words. Some degree of challenge, by the way, is one of the most important elements of a strong learning program. It's easy to become bored quickly if no new challenges are presented.

Luckily, many of these kids toys for reading have several progressive levels of difficulty to ensure plenty of new challenges to come. Others offer interchangeable cards or cartridges to provide the machine with new challenges for your kids. These are, of course, undoubtedly preferable to having to spend twenty bucks once your kid has worn out his old laptop.

Of course, these toy laptops are relatively complex, and are probably best suited for children who have at least learned to speak fairly well. Each child learns to speak and read at their own pace, but generally, 4 or 5 is probably the right age to begin with toy laptops. Until a child can handle a more complex toy like a laptop, there are plenty of simpler options such as the classic alphabet blocks, and the Fisher Price Toys Laugh and Learn Phone.

Some people wonder when is the right time to start providing children with toys to encourage reading. The answer is: As early as possible. Nobody learns to read right away, but by providing children with these toys as soon as they show the slightest interest in reading, kids are free to start learning whenever they're ready. This ensures a major head start by the time your child starts school, and provides them with the gift of literacy, which can further aid their development and enable them to indulge their curiosities about the world around them.

As always, the most important tool in teaching children to read is a good collection of books. This means children's books as well as novels written for children and even a variety of higher level books (you may be surprised how quickly a child can learn to read at higher levels with the right nurturing). Toys are an excellent teaching aid and can keep children interested in the learning process, but it's imperative that you read to your children regularly and help them learn how to piece words and sentences together if you'd like to empower them with one of life's greatest pleasures.

Yogee.com.au is a leading Australian online toy store. Visit http://www.yogee.com.au for a wide selection of Kids Toys at discounted prices. To save money on your next purchase, please visit Toys Online.