Random Kids Articles

Having Fun And Learning The Traditional Way

Thu, 16 Apr 2009 00:58:50 -0500

When we think of buying toys for our children, we often think to buy them the toys that are going to be fun and exciting. These are toys with lots of moveable parts, high-tech graphics and other high-tech innovations, but there is something to be said about the old type of educational toy; the traditional toys.

Traditional educational toys are the toys that are sometimes made of wood, have very few moveable parts, but serve a purpose in teaching children about the world around them. From science toys to board games to flash cards and more, you will be able to find every kind of educational toy that you are looking for when you visit Junior 2 Senior, one of the top suppliers of traditional educational toys in the United Kingdom.

Educational toys are important in the development of a child. When children are young, their minds are like sponges and they absorb vast amounts of information quickly and easily. With Junior 2 Senior, you are getting a traditional toy supplier that knows that old types of toys are often the best, especially in terms of educational toys. Currently, most educational toys feature graphics and high-tech innovations that make learning, apparently, more fun. However, there is something to be said about education toys, the traditional kind, that teach children about numbers, letters and the world around them through simple to understand games and puzzles that make learning fun.

Junior 2 Senior is a family run business that is based out of Cambridge, England, who specialize in selling traditional toys that help bring their customers back to a time before video games and computers. From planes and trains to board games and doll houses, they provide only traditional toys that cannot be found in many other places in the United Kingdom.

Even if you are not in the United Kingdom, you can still benefit from the immense supply of traditional toys that Junior 2 Senior has to offer. With world-wide service that allows every order to be handled quickly, you can have your education toys for your children in no time at all.
If you are looking for traditional educational toys to help your child learn about the way things were before the digital revolution, then there is no place better to get those educational toys than through Junior 2 Senior, a leading traditional toy supplier in the United Kingdom, and around the world.

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The company began life as an online shop that has been going from strength to strength and perfectly complements their new store in the heart of the city. t is a family run business and the owners are Nigel and Deborah Senior. You can contact us at: Junior to Senior, 29 Green Street, Cambridge, CB2 3JX. Our Shop telephone is 01223 305533 and evening telephone is 01354 610616. You can also contact us via email info@junior2senior.co.uk

Source: http://www.articletrader.com

'Tis the Season

Thu, 24 Sep 2009 09:56:28 -0500

With the busy world we live in it can be extremely difficult to find the time to go holiday shopping and with the way that the our extended families keep extending, the time it takes to make sure you remembered everyone can be daunting not to mention extremely expensive! However, with a little thought and a whole lot of planning you can easily buy for everyone you need quickly, efficiently and cost effectively.

The first step you take is to make a complete list and group it into several sub lists. For example, you can list it in age group, which can make group gift buying easier. You can list in relationship groups. Family member's in one group, friends in another and business associates in a final group. After that, you could even sub group into age. If you have a well-defined list of people you wish to buy for it will help you when decide on what to buy.

Once you have your list together utilize the Internet for gift ideas if you haven't put "feelers" out already. Using the Internet is one of the easiest ways to put a list together and honestly, it's also the easiest way to complete your shopping. However, for this guide, I'm assuming you love the hustle and bustle of retail in December! Se the Internet and decide on the item or items you would like to purchase. Write down each item and the store you would like to purchase the gift at. This will help you group your list by store once you have reached shopping mode.

On a cost saving thought, if you are buying for children often a group gift is a great idea. However, this is where keeping a list of age groups will help. You don't want to buy a group gift for age group one to seven. You might want to forgo buying a group gift for that one year old and possible opt for baby keepsake gifts instead. It's not likely that one year old would appreciate a video game anyway and we all know that your six year old would not appreciate a rattle at all!

Once you have your list together and you've picked out all of your gifts you must refrain from straying from your list. If you do that you'll likely end up more frustrated and with less money in your pocket at the end of the season. The biggest pit fall to holiday spending is impulse buying. This is also where most people end up returning gifts because it was purchased hastily and without thought.

A thoughtful gift idea will go a lot further then any impulse buy and you'll have a more enjoyable and festive time during the buying process. Also, don't forgot to have fun during the giving process. Many people focus so hard on buying that they never enjoy watching those special people open their gifts. This is often as hectic as the buying process. Take it slow and enjoy the season!

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Author Kimberly Green feels baby keepsake gifts are perfect for baby showers and first birthdays

Source: http://www.articletrader.com

Should I Immunize?

Thu, 16 Apr 2009 01:03:04 -0500

I don't know about you, but this question has been on my mind for quite some time now. Although my youngest is over a year, he is definitely not up to date with his immunizations! With all the rumors flying around about autism and the danger of immunizations, it's hard to know what to choose. Do I wait or should I go ahead? Hopefully what I have learned on my journey will help you make your own decision.

When I first started to question immunizations, I approached my pediatrician as well as my general doctor. I also turned to a family member who is a Physician's Assistant. Their answers were all the same; "If your child was ever to contract this disease, you would hate yourself for not doing your part to prevent it. These diseases are serious. They can and do kill." While I appreciated their honesty, I had to ask myself "Well, what if my child gets autism? Will I hate myself just as much for not trying to prevent that?"

I've discovered there are no definite answers and believe me, I've searched both sides thoroughly. The thing I've decided to do with my little one is take it slow. I believe that most vaccinations are a good thing. I don't believe that they should be given to our children so young and at such a quick pace. Why not start with the vaccination process when our kids hit 18 months or so? Then they have had time for their little bodies to develop and become strong enough to handle them. Between 18 months and the age of 4-5, I will be getting my child fully vaccinated….slowly. Do I know if this is the best option? No, but it is what I feel the best about.

For each of us, it is our responsibility to do the homework and be educated when it comes to vaccinations. Then with a little bit of help from friends, family and ultimately our own inspiration…make the choice YOU feel best about.

If and when you do decide to vaccinate, you may not be able to afford it. There are organizations out there that are willing to provide free or low-cost vaccinations. Look into your local "Vaccines for Children Program." However, health insurance is the best way to go when it comes to our kids. To find a good coverage program for your child, go to healthplanone. Most health insurance plans will cover the full cost of immunizations.

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Here the author writes about Immunizations. She says on preventing your child from diseases and says to observe precautions and vaccinations without worrying so much. You may also find a good coverage program for your child at www.healthplanone.com. Most Health Insurance Plans will cover the full cost of immunizations, as she says.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com

The Truth about Phonological Awareness

Wed, 20 Jun 2007 00:00:00 -0500

Phonological awareness is the ability to discern sound units smaller than a single syllable. It is imperative that children learn these small sound units at an early age and it is not an easy task. First, the letters of the alphabet must be learned, but the sounds of the letters must be taught next. Teach children as early as age 3 and 4 each individual sound that each individual letter makes. This process is the base children must have to be able to learn the next sequence of sounds. Resources such as picture books that show the letter and an accompanying picture work well.

Vowels (short first, then long) must be taught next. By making a game out of this learning process, the child's interest is not lost. Parents and teachers alike can be very creative. Now is the time to use that creativity to make learning and child development fun for the child. Most of the short vowels are fairly easy for children to learn with the exception of the short /e/ sound. I have found in my years of teaching that many children have problems discerning between the short /e/ and the short /i/ sound. They do sound a lot alike. One way I make the difference clear is to use the edge of a desk or table. I run my palm along the edge of the table and say /eh/ for edge, which is the short /e/ sound. Then, each time a child comes across a word that has the short /e/ sound, I remind them with my hand on the desk, but do not say anything. They quickly learn to discern the difference. Use models as often as possible to aid in learning and teaching.

Teaching blends as in two-letter and three-letter blends must be taught after the vowels (short and long) are mastered, but that's another paper.A child's level of phonemic awareness on entering school is widely held to be the strongest single determinant of the success that he or she will experience in learning to read, or conversely, the likelihood that he or she will fail )Adams 1990). Parents who home school their children and teachers in the business of educating our students should be aware of this research and seek counsel from Reading Specialists to assure our children do not fail to learn to read.

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Child Font Phonics curriculum is written by Brenda Geier, a K-12

Reading Specialist high quality Educator and Scholar.While teaching

in a L4 locked-down facility for troubled youth, Ms. Geier was deeply

moved and strongly concerned about the poor reading performance

(affecting all academic areas) by the majority of enrolled students.

Child Font - the art of reading and writing.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com

Firefly Phones Vs. Kajeet Phones

Fri, 09 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0600

You may have heard all about the new crop of cell phones geared especially to kids. They are full of features that your kids will love, as well as features you’ll love as a parent. Two of the popular cell phones for children are Firefly phones and Kajeet Phones.

In order to make your decision you’ll want to do a little research. There are features prevalent in one phone that may not be in another phone. Think about your needs as a parent, and your child’s needs to pick the cell phone that will work best for your family.

Firefly Phones

The Firefly phone is a fairly simple cell phone for kids. It does not have a keypad, but just five buttons. There is also no camera or some other things you may be used to having on your own phone. That is ok with younger children who will just be happy they have their own phone!

One feature your children will love is that the covers of the phone are interchangeable. If they want a blue phone one day and a red phone the next, it is a simple matter of changing a “skin.” This sort of customization is exactly what children need, and a Firefly phone provides this.

You will like the Firefly Kids cell phone because there are two designated buttons for your child to call you. That is a huge plus if your child has a hard time remembering numbers or needs to call quickly in case of an emergency.

Another huge plus is that there is an emergency button for one-touch phone calls to 911. That definitely adds some peace of mind for the safe use of children’s cell phones!

The Firefly cell phone is a great choice for you if you like simplicity. There is a phone book and other helpful features, but nothing that gets in the way of this being a very useful cell phone for children.

If your children are keen on the idea of being able to send text messages to their friends, they will not be able to do so with the Firefly mobile phone. Again, they may be so excited with having their very own phone that they may not even notice.

The Firefly offers a prepaid plan and one with a contract. Parents who want to maintain control of how long their children are talking on the phone will want to buy the Firefly prepaid phone rather than the version with a contract.

Pros of the Firefly Cell Phone

Simple, 5 button navigation

Emergency Mom and Dad buttons

One touch 911 Button

Prepaid or Contract Plans

Changeable Skins

Cons of the Firefly Cell Phone

No ability to Text Message

May be Too Simple for Some

Has a Small Learning Curve

Kajeet Phones

Another option in the world of cell phones for kids comes from Kajeet Phones. A Kajeet phone allows parents to provide all of the limitations on the child’s phone, rather than the company making a more limited cell phone.

A Kajeet cell phone has the Kajeet Navigator. This is a web software application. Another unique part of the Kajeet phone is the Configurator. This is a Web-based application that you can get to from your home computer.

In the Configurator, parents can set approved and blocked numbers. This is especially important if you want to maintain safe use of cell phones for children.

For parents who are especially concerned, you can also view sent and received calls. This can be important if you’re worried that your child is contacting something they should not be.

Kajeet phones seem to be geared toward helping children learn how to live in the real world. One way they do this is by having wallets in the Configurator. In these wallets, your kids can earn how to manage their money and the amount that is going into the cell phone plan.

Kajeet is a pre-paid service, so it is a great learning tool for your children to see how many minutes they have left and come up with better ways they could be using them.

Your kids will want a Kajeet phone because they’ve recently partnered with Nickelodeon! They can get ring tones, games, and images all with a Nickelodeon theme. So many children love Spongebob and Rugrats that they’ll flip for this service.

Kajeet phones allow for text messaging which is all the rage among kids and teenagers these days. The main goal of the Kajeet service seems to be teaching kids responsibility, while still giving them a great full-featured cell phone for children.

Pros of the Kajeet Phone

Full Featured

Parents decide how much or how little freedom their children have.

Nickelodeon themes

Text messaging capability

Teaches Responsibility

Cons of the Kajeet Phone

May offer too much freedom

Not as easy to use for younger children

Has a learning curve

Which Phone is Right for My Child?

Firefly phones and Kajeet Phones are both wonderful in their own way. Weigh the pros and cons of each to make your decision. Regardless of which cell phone you choose, your child will thank you and you will feel great for taking part in safe use of cell phones for children.

For more info on technology for children (including where to find great discounts), visit http://BestKidTechnology.wordpress.com and http://BestComputerBuy.wordpress.com.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com

The best baby shower ideas – a few tips

Tue, 03 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0500

There are so many excellent baby shower ideas to choose from, but it’s also important to find the one that is right for you. Be sure to tailor it around the specific tastes of your guest. That’s why it’s important to ask around. You’ll be surprised what you’ll be able to find out. It can be a lot of fun to host a baby shower and most people will find it a privilege to be asked and they will surly want to give you there ideas and opinions.

So where should you start? First you should start by asking friends and family members. Don’t forget your co workers either. Many times you’ll be surprised at what you can learn from some unexpected sources. Do any of them have a baby? Have they recently attended a baby shower? Sometimes other people’s experiences can be the best source of knowledge!

Another great place to find ideas is your local party or specialty store.
These stores are all over the country. You should be able to find large chain stores, however sometimes the best ideas can come from the small independently owned mom & pop stores. Don’t forget to ask the staff of
these stores either. There’s a good chance they know someone with a baby
or they have been to a baby shower themselves. Why knows, maybe they assisted in picking out the party supplies!

Don’t forget about the power of the internet. You’ll be able to find all sorts of ideas either on commercial sites, where supplies can be purchased, or personal sites where people can swap stories and advice. There are also informational sites that are devoted to helping others plan the best baby shower ever!

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For more information concerning baby showers please visit The Baby Shower Zone - a website that specializes in How to Plan a "Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep" Baby Shower

Source: http://www.articletrader.com

Distinctive kids halloween costume ideas

Fri, 27 Mar 2009 07:23:37 -0500

Make your kid's initial Halloween experiences memorable. Toddler Halloween costumes are obtainable in a broad range of styles. Your toddler may dress up as his or her preferred cartoon character or much loved movie star. Toddler costumes are obtainable in traditional styles as well. Few of the toddler Halloween costumes that trapped my eye this year are comprised here.

Bob-the-Builder is famous with toddler boys. The Bob-the-Builder costume comprises a checkered shirt, overalls, tough hat, and some tools to take in his tool belt. This Halloween costume is lovable and doesn't cover your child's face so he will be able to enjoy all of his party games with buddies without having to be anxious about losing his mask or getting his make-up spoiled.

Harry Potter and Hermione costumes are another lovable idea for toddlers. The Hogwarts uniform comprises a robe and neck tie. You may enhance the costume with other accessories. Wands are a huge addition to this essential kid Halloween costume.

Ghosts are attractive and quite easy to create if you desire to work on a home made costume with your kid. A bed spread or pillow case makes a great starting place but this costume may be made simply with a white sweat outfit and little face paint too. The sheet version may be made to cover the complete head and body making it hard to tell your toddler separately from other kids or you may cut an entire for your toddler's head and then have the sheet cover the body space only. This way you may tell your child from other children and still have a grand costume.

Your toddler may be pretty as a bug in a Lady Bug or Butterfly costume this year. These costumes may be home made or bought all ready made. Other bugs are obtainable as well. Brightly colored bug costumes normally go over actually well with toddlers as they are amusing to play with as well as cute enough to keep your child's attention and get your child thrilled about the holiday.

There are a lot of other toddler Halloween costumes accessible this year. The possibilities are almost boundless. Opt one your child is going to be capable to wear while playing the games and having fun in a Halloween party plus going trick-or-treating or whatever your family takes pleasure in doing for Halloween.

There are some things to remember with kids costumes. First you should make sure your toddler may go to the bathroom or at least be taken out of the costume rapidly at potty time to shun accidents. One more thing you want to bear in mind is your child requires being able to eat treats, walk, and play without any restriction. Being able to see your child's face and tell your child from the other entire specter on Halloween is significant. You don't want to put down your child in the crowd either. If you may see your child's face it is simple to keep track of your little monster.

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Jack Jackson is an expert author, who is presently working on the site Halloween Costumes, Adult Halloween Costumes. He has written many articles in various topics. For more information about Sexy Halloween Costumes, Adult Costumes.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com

Choosing the right table for your Baby.

Wed, 22 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0500

A baby changing station is one of many essentials that a new baby would require. There are tables in the market that would serve the purpose of a changing table but such tables won’t be stable and sturdy enough to stand the requirements of a changing table. So the question arises- What kind of baby changing stations should be bought for maximum convenience?

There are some points that should be taken into consideration while buying a changing table for your baby. Let’s see what these points are:-

1.A good baby changing station should be strong enough to hold the weight of the baby. Check for the sturdiness of the table before buying it.

2.Make sure that the height of a baby changing station is either adjustable or high enough for mothers to change diapers comfortably.

3.Check for protective railing around the edges of the changing table designed to prevent your squirming baby from falling while changing diapers.

4.Look for the safety straps that are required to hold the baby firmly at one place while the diapers are being changed. Almost all quality changing tables come with safety straps.

5.If a baby changing station has drawers and cabinets to keep baby accessories then it’s the perfect one for your baby.

Parents should take extra care while buying baby furniture. There are many brands in the market that specialize in making baby furniture and baby products. Changing tables are not a luxury at all. It is one thing needed by parents and baby every time a diaper changing session occurs. Find a perfect piece for your baby’s nursery and feel the difference.

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To ease off your baby growing activities we have launched products like baby changing station in a range of shapes, sizes and colors to facilitate your baby changing efforts. Visit our site to find cheap baby changing stations to fit your budget and space as well.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com

Education and entertainment – the wonders of Electronic Toys

Mon, 29 Dec 2008 08:00:08 -0600

Science makes a foray into the entertainment market with electronic toys. Numerous toys and games available on the market have entertained kids and adults alike across the world. Nowadays, using state-of-the-art technology, these toys are designed to perform some truly unimaginable feats.

The most popular electronic toys available on the market would appear to be radio-controlled cars and airplanes. Offering precise maneuvering, these toys work almost like the ‘real thing’. Besides being able to be steered or flown in any direction, these toys have lights that blink and ingenious sound effects that add to the playing experience.

Besides entertaining kids, electronic toys also have the potential to educate. Kids learn the basics of science and technology from understanding how toys and video games work. You never know, those tiny tots may even be influenced to take up engineering as a career. Psychologists are of the view that all electronic toys, especially PreSchool toys, have the capacity to mold kids’ minds and contribute to a degree to building well developed mental faculties. Some electronic toys such as musical games and learning-to-read games are designed to provide valuable lessons that come in handy later in life. These learning-&-education toys are a must have in the ‘arsenal’ of toys in any kid’s room.

Great for the growing pre-teenager, these toys are also enjoyed by adults who are young at heart. A brilliant electronic toy for older children and teenagers is the GeoTrax. This innovative gaming system consists of a network of roads and rail lines that can be laid out across the floor of a room. There are varied layouts that can be chosen and the game ‘infrastructure’ includes rail cars, wagons, other vehicles and accessories. Besides being a treat for kids, the GeoTrax systems are also favored by adults and are also known to be a hit with collectors.

The splendid range of electronic toys, from the smallest video game to high-end Playstations, is a world of entertainment in itself, for people of all ages with such interests.

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Simon Cruz is an avid gamer and contributor to various gaming magazines. An electrical engineer by profession, his hobby is writing technical papers for different publications. He has only recently submitted papers on Learning-&-Education Toys and Video-Games.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com

The First Year of a Baby - What New Parents Should Expect

Thu, 03 May 2007 00:00:00 -0500

A baby is a wonderful miracle of nature and God. No matter how many babies you will have, you will never cease to wonder at this miracle. The joys of parenthood are immense as are the anxiety and the stress that this involves. However, every time you look at the precious bundle of joy, you will feel the pain is worth it. Each milestone the baby crosses seems like a milestone crossed by the parents themselves.

The first year, as many new parents would agree, is the most challenging year as every step will bring along something new. Let us see what makes the first year of a baby so special. Some of the most important milestones are given below:

1. Age 0-1 month - The first month of a baby is the time of adjustment to the outside world. Sometimes the baby will develop neonatal jaundice, which can make him/her yellow from head to toes. This is a normal thing with babies, which passes away by itself within 3-4 days time. Though this is a common occurrence you would still need to seek a doctor?s advice, lest it would be something more serious. Most babies will sleep 12-18 hours a day; however, they get up at intervals of 2-3 hours to feed.

2. Age 1-3 months - You will find your baby smiling for the first time during this period. Physicians often say that what you think is a smile is actually a grimace due to gas formation. However, many parents would challenge science on this aspect, secure in their knowledge that the baby is indeed smiling at them. You will find that your baby is able to focus on things held close, will follow you around with his/her eyes and try to lift their heads.

3. Age 4-6 months - Come the fourth month and your baby will be able to reach out to touch things, control his/her head and will try to roll over. The baby will now be ready for semi-solid foods like mashed fruits, egg yolk, porridge-like cereals, etc. At about six months, the baby might start crawling around the house; hence, you should have the house child-proofed. Feeding will be at intervals of 4-6 hours. This is also the time when the baby?s first teeth, usually the incisors, will break through the gums. This means the baby will often put his/her hand in the mouth to scratch the irritated gums.

4. Age 7-10 months - The baby is now able to crawl and investigate his/her surroundings. Several teeth would have come out by now and the baby would begin to show his/her likes and dislikes about food. The baby is friendly with people he/she knows and is able to indicate what they want. The baby will also learn to sit unaided at this age and loves to play with things that make a lot of noise.

5. Age 11-12 months - The baby can make many sounds. They can sometimes say a work like "mama" or "dada". They also know how to demand things from you and often cry out loud when denied what they want. Most babies will stand by now and take their first steps. They also learn to stack up their toys and other games.

Generally speaking babies develop at different rates. The milestone noted in this article are only averages and your baby may develop differently. If you have any concerns regarding your babies development consult your pediatrician.

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Victoria Hemingway is a staff writer at babyandstroller.com. For the best in Baby Gear and Supplies visit us today. Two of our favorite websites: Bargain prices on Britax car seats and Baby Einstein DVD sets below retail. Visit today!!

Source: http://www.articletrader.com