How do you feel about robotic toys? Are you comfortable with robots being an imitation of human beings? Robots are commonplace, but they are not yet inside of our homes. You will mostly find robots hard at work inside of factories, but not around town. I really hope for a designed robotic toy where it can bring get me a cold drink out the fridge every once in a while but unfortunately I am still waiting.

If you are looking for a robotic toy as a gift, then I can help with a little information on how to obtain one for yourself or your own junior roboticist. The process could be time consuming and challenging, but there is a better way than randomly going to websites. There is lots information is scattered everywhere on the internet some of it useless, some of it too technical for children. Given this, you should consider the following questions when looking for information:

What is available?

Modern technological advances have made home robots more advanced than ever. They afford you a wide variety of platforms, from four-legged walkers, wheeled platforms and even biped humanoid types that are popular. Your options are many.

How does it work?

Is it user friendly? Will you or the person you're giving it to be able to use it without a degree in engineering? Usually the kids are the ones teaching the adults how to use the latest technologies. These kits are often designed as learning tools to teach children basic programming skills, motor concepts and introduce them to sensors. Fortunately for the rest of us, the manuals for these products keep getting better and provide a more user-friendly way to get started.

Is this product a good value?

You obviously want to get something that won't sit on the shelf unopened. Doing a little homework and reading some reviews on the product might help ensure a good fit. Most beginner kits can be purchased for a reasonable cost and will provide a good start without an overly large investment. If you find there is enough interest, you can always upgrade your purchase next time to account for the advance in skills.

How easy is it to purchase?

Is this available on Amazon or another major vendor online or do you need to find a tiny store somewhere? These days it is trivial to purchase online, but you might want to visit your local hobby store to see if they have any good kits. It may depend on how urgently you require it.

Robotic toys are fun for children and some adults really enjoy them as well. You couldn't go too far wrong purchasing a home robot your next toy or gift. I really didn't have too much trouble at all finding the right Christmas toy for my son and I can see why some people love robotic toys.

I have a great interest in one but I need one to bring me a snack. If you are considering one I would really recommend you give it as a gift and I'm sure they would be satisfied and maybe even surprised. It might make a unique gift for a female child as well, there are different robotic toys for everyone's particular standards.

So, you want to buy a robotic toy for yourself or a loved one. Where do you start? How can you select the best robot and make a smart robot purchase in a practical way?

As a robot enthusiast, I have been through this a few times myself. It is usually pretty challenging and time-consuming because the information I need is hard to find and it is generally scattered all over the Internet. There has to be a better way. This is what I am looking for...

1. WHAT IS AVAILABLE? - Quickly figure out what robotic toys are available to decide what looks promising

2. HOW DOES IT WORK? - See what the robot toys can do and how to use them

3. HOW GOOD IS IT? - Learn what other buyers think about the toy robots

4. HOW DO I BUY IT? - Find out where to buy the best robotic toy and easily make the purchase

My experience is that these simple things take a lot of browsing and often waste a lot of time. I have decided to try to make this easier for myself and for you by consolidating the information on my website. Here is my plan...

ROBOT CATEGORIES - Make it easy to browse robotic products by robot category like human robots, robotic animals, robotic cars, robot kits, robot games, robot movies and robot books. Some of you may also be interested in robot news, robot manufacturers, used robots, out-of-production robots and robot history.

ROBOTIC TOYS - A picture is worth a thousand words. Within each robot category, show a picture and a brief description of the best robot toys that are available.

ROBOT VIDEOS - A video is worth a thousand pictures. Show robot videos so you see the robotic toys in action.

ROBOT REVIEWS - Whenever helpful user reviews are available, summarize their conclusions and offer the full review text for those who want to read the thousand words.

WHERE TO BUY ROBOTS - Provide links to vendors who are selling the robots. Try to make it as easy as possible to compare prices and make a purchase.

My website will grow and improve over time. Check it out and feel free to offer suggestions to make it better. I hope the website will allow you to buy robots more easily so you can spend less time robot shopping and more time having fun with robots.

Many people consider plush toys great for children. They say that plush is a soft material that children love very much and that plush toys are so adorable, that you can't resist them.

I agree, but what do doctors have to say about it? Are plush toys the best for children?

Plush toys are very popular nowadays. A lot of people believe that plush toys are one of the best child toys.

Children themselves love to play with plush toys. They love these toys because they are soft and lovely at touching. Nobody can deny this.

Plush toys may pose a threat to a child's health.

But the thing that most people don't know is that plush toys aren't the safest toys on the market. In fact, they are potentially dangerous for your child's health.

The reason for this is that plush toys absorb huge quantities of dust. This amount of dust is the ideal environment for the developing of some microscopic insects. These insects can produce, among others, bronchitis asthma, a severe form of allergy.

If you don't believe me, take a plush toy that you have and smack it a few times with a ruler or with something similar. And don't worry, it won't hurt the toy!

If you don't see a cloud of dust coming from the toy, look at the ruler. Can you see a thin layer of dust? Of course you can. And it's not only dust, it's also a large number of microscopic organisms.

That's why plush toys aren't recommended for children under the age of three. If your child is mouthing objects, the risk is higher.

How to make sure a plush toy will be a great toy.

Don't get me wrong. Playing with plush toys is great, but adult supervision is needed, so that the child doesn't put the toy in his mouth.

One way to avoid any accident is to periodically clean the toy and store it in a place without dust.

If you buy plush toys for babies, the hygiene must be stricter. Choose smaller plush toys (yet big enough to be impossible to swallow), so that cleaning to be easy.

Plush toys are also great for decorating your child's room. I bet you've seen rooms decorated with plush toys. Especially girl rooms.

The atmosphere they create is wonderful. Plush toys used to decorate a room are usually huge. Big Panda plush toy bears are very common.

Wooden toys are one of the best alternatives for the huge number of toys made of plastic and other synthetic materials that you can find in all toy stores.

In addition, most children's wooden toys are handcrafted. This makes them look wonderful. Not only that they are great toys for children, but they are also incredible works of art.

Wooden toys in the past

People started being preoccupied with manufacturing toys for their children many thousands of years ago in order to keep children busy while parents were working.

Because modern materials like plastic andrubber were not yet discovered, the only material available to be used at creating child toys was wood.

Although rudimentary at first, children's wooden toys became very popular with children from rich families in Egypt and The Roman Empire.

One such case was that of a ten years old girl from a wealthy roman family. She was mummified and put to rest in her tomb alongside with her most loved things.

One of her personal objects found was a wonderful wooden toy doll. It was really carefully carved and varnished, proving that parents in the Roman Empire were preoccupied with the quality of the wooden toys they choose for their children.

It is not known whether other materials besides wood were used to manufacture toys in that period.

Wooden toys in the present

Nowadays, toy manufacturing is a huge industry. Although wood is no longer the main material used to make child toys, wooden child toys are still very popular.

The reason is simple: wooden toys are great toys.

They have many advantages over other types of child toys. Here are just some of them:

Wooden toys are ecological. Wood is a natural product and it's biodegradable. Manufacturing wooden toys does not involve as much pollution as other toys. Also, because wood is a natural product, wooden toys aren't dangerous to a child's health.

Wooden toys are more resistant to shocks than other toys. Some children destroy toys regularly. Because wooden toys can't be damaged that easily, their life expectancy is bigger.

Wooden toys look wonderful. Children's wooden toys are usually handcrafted, meaning that parents that like handmade objects can consider these toys works of art, as well as toys.

A Complete Guide For Parents To Choose The Best Toys For Their Children

Do you remember how it was when you where a child? What was your main activity? Was it working? Of course not. Your main activity was playing. You had no concerns. You needed toys and your parents where supposed to provide you with them. They had to find toys you wouldn't throw away and believe me, it wasn't easy for them.

Now you are a parent and you are in the same situation as your parents years ago. You're looking for toys that your child will like. That's why you must know how to choose the right toys. My parents made one common mistake: they would buy me toys that they considered wonderful. But usually, when they would give me the toy, I would either consider it too girlish or too boring. It wasn't fun for them to see how a toy they bought for me to play with would stay forgotten in my closet.

How to find out what's the right toy for your child?

Just watch your child closely to determine his preferred activities, skills level, preferred band(s) and movie(s), and so on. Based on these observations you can get a clue on what types of toys your child would prefer. For instance, if your child loves the movie Lord of the Rings, I bet that he'll also like Lord of the Rings toys...

Now don't just go into the first toy shop and buy the first Lord of the Rings toy you find. Observations aren't enough. There are some other very important factors you must consider. Adding them into the equation helps ensure you that your child will have lots of fun with the toy you'll choose to buy for him.

Here are the factors you must consider when choosing toys for your child:

o Child's age - This is very important. If you buy toys too advanced for your child's age, chances are that he might get injured. Toy manufacturers struggle to make their products as safe as possible, but if you don't follow their recommendations, your child may suffer. On the other hand, if you buy toys made for children with age under that of your child, he will consider them too boring. The best thing is to choose toys designed precisely for your child's age. Here are two articles that will help you choose toys for babies and toys for toddlers.

o Child's gender - This is exactly what I said above that my parents bought me toys that I considered to be girlish. I'm a boy, but the same is with girls too. Any detail that may make the toy look as for the other gender than that of your child will make the toy undesired.

o Toys your child's friends play with - When your child is playing with his friends, watch to find out if he manifests interest in any of his playmate's toys. If he does, then it's very likely that he would like to have a toy similar the one his friend has.

o Sometimes, a child tells his parents what toy he likes or wants, thus saving them from a lot of hard work. But don't count on this. Some children aren't very keen to talk with parents unless they really want a certain toy.

o Safety - This is the most important factor you must consider whenever you need to decide what toy you should buy for your child. Unfortunately, this is also the most overlooked one. Usually, parents forget to check if the toy they choose for their children are safe.

o Is the toy educational? - It's a good thing if the toys you choose for your child can help him develop new skills.

And please remember that the age difference between you and your child is of at least 20 years. The fact that you liked a toy when you were a child does not mean that your child will love it too. Children from different generations like different types of toys

Make sure you offer the toy to your child in the appropriate manner!

When you offer the toy to your child, don't do it in a "Here's your toy. Now go and play with it" manner. If you do it this way, that toy won't mean a thing to your child. Rather, try to make a game. Hide the toy somewhere where the child can easily find it, and encourage him to look for it. Laugh with your child, search for it together... And when the he finds the toy, don't just let him play by himself. Get involved in your child's play. Make that the fun of a lifetime. A parent is a child's first and best friend.

Toy safety is a top priority for parents, caregivers and our company. In this article we will discuss toy safety, identifying potential hazards in toys and provide tips for selecting the right toys for your child. Toys are an important part of play time and development. Knowing which toys are safe for your child will keep them healthy and happy. Below is information to help parents and caregivers choose appropriate and safe toys.

Age Appropriate

Check each label for the age recommendation of the toy. Much of the risk associated with children's toys is age-dependent. Toys with accurate and appropriate age recommendations should always be selected. Small children have a tendency to put things in their mouth. Toys that contain small parts are a serious chocking hazard and should not be selected. Do not select toys meant for older children thinking that it will help your child to be more advanced. Not only can this lead to hazards such as choking, but it also can frustrate your child and foster negativity.

Always supervise playtime. This is especially critical for small children and children who have older siblings. Make sure that younger children are playing with the toys intended for them and not the toys of an older sibling which could be hazardous for them.

Safe, non-toxic

Selecting the right toy can seem overwhelming, but it doesn't have to be. Here are some tips for getting the right toy. Look at labels. You can learn a lot about the contents of a toy by reading the label. Choose non-toxic. All of our wooden toys are non-toxic, lead free and made with natural finishes. Look for toys that have the same qualities.

Recently toy recalls have been made by the CPSC due to high lead content. Luckily none of our wood toys were part of this recall due to frequent and diligent testing. Although toy manufacturers have reacted responsibly to eliminating this threat, here are some ways to determine potential lead content. Lead can be found in plastics, vinyl, metals, and certain paints finishes. Read the labels on these items to check for any unhealthy chemicals and lead. If the label contains phthalates it should be avoided. Phthalates are harmful chemicals emitted from some plastics. Be sure to exclude these toys from your purchasing. Become familiar with who you purchase from and choose companies that share your beliefs on safe toys.

Look for reputable toy manufacturers that you can trust. Our manufactures comply with government safety regulations and undergo rigorous testing to ensure toy safety. Our wooden toys have been the recipients of the most prestigious toy awards and our manufacturers share our vigilance for safety. Manufacturers such as: Melissa and Doug, Plan Toys, Hape, and Imagiplay.

Avoid cheap toys that are not constructed well and easily breakable. It goes without saying that these kinds of products can lead to hazards such as chocking and injury, but cheap metals are also very likely to contain lead.

Use as Intended

Teach children to use their toys in the way they were intended. Being overly aggressive and misusing a toy can lead to hazards and breakage.

Use toys that are electric, or become hot only with adult supervision to avoid burns and electric shock. Age appropriate recommendations should especially be adhered to for these kinds of products.

Toy Maintenance

Inspecting your children's toys regularly is a great way to keep them safe. When examining each toy look for loose, or broken parts. Discard toys with sharp edges, chipping paint or other possible dangers. Consider replacing toys that cannot be fixed with new, safer products.

Toys that are well loved should be cleaned often. Here are some ways to ensure germ-free toys:

1.Wash toys in hot, soapy water, rinse and dry

2.Colorfast toys can be soaked in a bleach solution of cup of household bleach in 1 gallon of water.

3.Lysol, or other disinfectant sprays can be used for daily maintenance.

Keeping an uncluttered play area is another great way to eliminate hazards and injury. Put some toys away and then rotate them in a few months. Not only will your play room be clean, but your child will think its Christmas all over again.

Selecting safe toys and identifying potential hazards is a great way to keep our kids safe. It is also important to not be afraid to let kids play. Don't stop your child from playing with toys. Keep the above recommendations in the forefront of your mind and you will select toys that are safe and fun.

Toys are not only for kids. Adults need the relaxation and the memories beloved toys can bring back to their memories. I still have in my room the Rubik's Cube which I managed only once to solve and numerous times I thought of taking off its colored rectangular stickers and placing each color on every side. I never actually did it because I was afraid of the consequences if I destroyed my fathers favorite toy. When I understood that solving the cube requires some planning and problem-solving skills, I was determined to succeed and I still remember the joyful screaming when I managed to "solve" its mystery; probably by accident. Since then, I have been catching myself thinking of my favorite old toys, like Lego and Playmobil, not very girly I know, and recapturing the times I was playing in our then common room with my brother.

Toys are used in play by children, adults and pets. The difference a toy has from a game is that toy play does not have clearly defined goals; that is if you do not play with my brother. Today, huge toy chains, like "Toy-R-Us," carry a vast assortment of different toys for any age and background, covering the needs of children and parents. But while parents spend a small fortune on acquiring the latest model of their son's favorite car toy, the young boy will continue to play with the old one and although he will at the beginning be extremely happy with his new possession, the old car that misses a wheel and a door will never leave its bed.

The explanation for this type of behavior is rather simple. In fact, if you try to recall your favorite toy while you were a kid, you will probably remember that its prime time had long passed, but you continued holding it in your arms as you fell asleep. Some people state that their favorite 'toy' was not even a regular purchased toy. Any item in the house that a kid for some reason will pick up, toss in the air or play around with can become a toy. As long as children's imagination is at work, even a rubber band or a pillow can become a toy with which a child will feel a close connection.

Finally, today's commercialization has introduced another type of toys that are not intended as play toys, but rather as collector items for adults. People around the globe collect these type of toys and constitute a niche (specific target) market audience for manufacturers. But whether you are currently a collector or not, remembering your old toys and the enthusiasm with which you played with them can only bring a smile to your face which will last as long as your happy memory.

Toys are not only for kids. Adults need the relaxation and the memories beloved toys can bring back to their memories. I still have in my room the Rubik's Cube which I managed only once to solve and numerous times I thought of taking off its colored rectangular stickers and placing each color on every side. I never actually did it because I was afraid of the consequences if I destroyed my fathers favorite toy. When I understood that solving the cube requires some planning and problem-solving skills, I was determined to succeed and I still remember the joyful screaming when I managed to "solve" its mystery; probably by accident. Since then, I have been catching myself thinking of my favorite old toys, like Lego and Playmobil, not very girly I know, and recapturing the times I was playing in our then common room with my brother.

Toys are used in play by children, adults and pets. The difference a toy has from a game is that toy play does not have clearly defined goals; that is if you do not play with my brother. Today, huge toy chains, like "Toy-R-Us," carry a vast assortment of different toys for any age and background, covering the needs of children and parents. But while parents spend a small fortune on acquiring the latest model of their son's favorite car toy, the young boy will continue to play with the old one and although he will at the beginning be extremely happy with his new possession, the old car that misses a wheel and a door will never leave its bed.

The explanation for this type of behavior is rather simple. In fact, if you try to recall your favorite toy while you were a kid, you will probably remember that its prime time had long passed, but you continued holding it in your arms as you fell asleep. Some people state that their favorite 'toy' was not even a regular purchased toy. Any item in the house that a kid for some reason will pick up, toss in the air or play around with can become a toy. As long as children's imagination is at work, even a rubber band or a pillow can become a toy with which a child will feel a close connection.

Finally, today's commercialization has introduced another type of toys that are not intended as play toys, but rather as collector items for adults. People around the globe collect these type of toys and constitute a niche (specific target) market audience for manufacturers. But whether you are currently a collector or not, remembering your old toys and the enthusiasm with which you played with them can only bring a smile to your face which will last as long as your happy memory.

Toys are not only for kids. Adults need the relaxation and the memories beloved toys can bring back to their memories. I still have in my room the Rubik's Cube which I managed only once to solve and numerous times I thought of taking off its colored rectangular stickers and placing each color on every side. I never actually did it because I was afraid of the consequences if I destroyed my fathers favorite toy. When I understood that solving the cube requires some planning and problem-solving skills, I was determined to succeed and I still remember the joyful screaming when I managed to "solve" its mystery; probably by accident. Since then, I have been catching myself thinking of my favorite old toys, like Lego and Playmobil, not very girly I know, and recapturing the times I was playing in our then common room with my brother.

Toys are used in play by children, adults and pets. The difference a toy has from a game is that toy play does not have clearly defined goals; that is if you do not play with my brother. Today, huge toy chains, like "Toy-R-Us," carry a vast assortment of different toys for any age and background, covering the needs of children and parents. But while parents spend a small fortune on acquiring the latest model of their son's favorite car toy, the young boy will continue to play with the old one and although he will at the beginning be extremely happy with his new possession, the old car that misses a wheel and a door will never leave its bed.

The explanation for this type of behavior is rather simple. In fact, if you try to recall your favorite toy while you were a kid, you will probably remember that its prime time had long passed, but you continued holding it in your arms as you fell asleep. Some people state that their favorite 'toy' was not even a regular purchased toy. Any item in the house that a kid for some reason will pick up, toss in the air or play around with can become a toy. As long as children's imagination is at work, even a rubber band or a pillow can become a toy with which a child will feel a close connection.

Finally, today's commercialization has introduced another type of toys that are not intended as play toys, but rather as collector items for adults. People around the globe collect these type of toys and constitute a niche (specific target) market audience for manufacturers. But whether you are currently a collector or not, remembering your old toys and the enthusiasm with which you played with them can only bring a smile to your face which will last as long as your happy memory.

Toys are not only for kids. Adults need the relaxation and the memories beloved toys can bring back to their memories. I still have in my room the Rubik's Cube which I managed only once to solve and numerous times I thought of taking off its colored rectangular stickers and placing each color on every side. I never actually did it because I was afraid of the consequences if I destroyed my fathers favorite toy. When I understood that solving the cube requires some planning and problem-solving skills, I was determined to succeed and I still remember the joyful screaming when I managed to "solve" its mystery; probably by accident. Since then, I have been catching myself thinking of my favorite old toys, like Lego and Playmobil, not very girly I know, and recapturing the times I was playing in our then common room with my brother.

Toys are used in play by children, adults and pets. The difference a toy has from a game is that toy play does not have clearly defined goals; that is if you do not play with my brother. Today, huge toy chains, like "Toy-R-Us," carry a vast assortment of different toys for any age and background, covering the needs of children and parents. But while parents spend a small fortune on acquiring the latest model of their son's favorite car toy, the young boy will continue to play with the old one and although he will at the beginning be extremely happy with his new possession, the old car that misses a wheel and a door will never leave its bed.

The explanation for this type of behavior is rather simple. In fact, if you try to recall your favorite toy while you were a kid, you will probably remember that its prime time had long passed, but you continued holding it in your arms as you fell asleep. Some people state that their favorite 'toy' was not even a regular purchased toy. Any item in the house that a kid for some reason will pick up, toss in the air or play around with can become a toy. As long as children's imagination is at work, even a rubber band or a pillow can become a toy with which a child will feel a close connection.

Finally, today's commercialization has introduced another type of toys that are not intended as play toys, but rather as collector items for adults. People around the globe collect these type of toys and constitute a niche (specific target) market audience for manufacturers. But whether you are currently a collector or not, remembering your old toys and the enthusiasm with which you played with them can only bring a smile to your face which will last as long as your happy memory.

Okay, girls love Dora the Explorer, and boys love action figures. But, there's something to be said for toys that brothers can share with their sisters and vice versa. The way kids spend most of their free time is playing, and if you can give your children some toys based on a common interest, you can encourage sharing, and playing together, which can strengthen the sibling bond and make for a more harmonious household.

One of the real hurdles for brothers and sisters playing together is that most girls really don't care about Batman, and most boys wouldn't be caught dead playing with Barbie dolls. So, more often than not, you'll need to provide your kids with some "gender neutral" toys if you're hoping to see them getting along and learning to share.

In the 1980's, we had He-Man and the Masters of the Universe. He-Man had initially been marketed to boys, but because of the generous number of strong female heroes and fantasy elements, as well as a female animation director taking on a lot of episodes, the show actually wound up having a lot of crossover appeal, hence the spin-off series and toy line, She-Ra Princess of Power, starring He-Man's sister. The whole He-Man/She-Ra family of toys was nothing if not an excellent way to get brothers and sisters playing together and enjoying the same shows. Unfortunately, children's entertainment today has very little in the way of popular franchises with equal appeal for boys and girls.

But then we do have Dora and Diego... while Dora the Explorer may have limited appeal for boys, the spin-off series, Go Diego Go, is definitely a boy's show. Each show shares a number of characters with the other, and the overlap can help bring brothers and sisters together, meaning less fighting over the remote when one show or the other comes on TV, and playing together to create adventures for both Dora and Diego to conquer.

Then there are completely gender neutral toys, like Legos. Legos usually tries to cater more towards boys, licensing properties like Batman and Indiana Jones, but the basic premise of this toy has a lot of appeal for boys and girls: Build whatever you want to build. Challenging your daughter and son to build a castle together may yield interesting results, like a palace with a ballroom and an armada of cannons and archers along the outer wall.

While space adventure is primarily a boy-focused genre, Star Wars actually tends to appeal to both boys and girls as well. By providing the audience with a strong male lead in Luke Skywalker, and a strong female lead in Princess Leia, every kid watching the movie has someone to root for.

Most recently, we've seen electronic toys for both boys and girls drop considerably in price thanks to the very nature of technology getting cheaper every day. You can actually buy a kid a digital camera, toy laptop, or even a camcorder for the price of dinner for one at the Olive Garden. By their nature, these are non-gender specific toys, but bear in mind that most boys wouldn't dare touch a pink and purple camera, whereas girls rarely have a problem with blue.

That's something to remember, by the way. A lot of gender-neutral toys are coloured blue for boys and pink for girls. Boys oftentimes hate pink, but girls don't have to worry about being called a sissy at school if they show up with a blue backpack.

Educational Toys And Children's Books - A Must For Optimal Childhood Development

The brightly colored plastic mobile dangles lazily overhead in the infant's crib. The baby coos as its tiny arms swing a rattle back and forth. In another room a pre-school youngster is busy assembling the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle and upstairs a teen is conquering worlds on a computerized video game. What do all of these activities have in common? They are examples of children playing with educational toys.

It seems that a home with children is a home full of toys. Parents want children to have happy, healthy childhoods. Toys are a big part of growing up. But, with stores filled with toys and games many parents begin to question which of these toys are appropriate and which toys will help their children develop normally? These are good questions.

There is no doubt that toys are a normal part of childhood. Kids have played with toys of some kind for as long as there have been children. It is also quite true that toys play a significant role in the development of the child. The types of toys with which a child plays often have a strong influence on the child's adult interests and behavior.

Play consumes a large portion of a child's time each day. It is during this play that children learn some fundamental lessons not only about themselves, but also about other people and the world around them. It is through play they develop physically, mentally and emotionally. Play is essential to the child's development.

Educational toys are tools of play designed to develop motor skills, cognitive powers and emotions. Other toys may simply be fun. Too often, the label 'educational' is attached to toys regardless whether or not the toy was actually designed to 'teach' the child a skill or ability. Sometimes the term is used as a marketing gimmick to command a higher price.

So, how does a parent know if a toy is actually an educational toy? The answer to that question is to understand what the toy is designed to teach or accomplish.

Children learn best when learning is fun. Children learn at a very early stage to do those things that they enjoy and to avoid activities that are not enjoyable. Nearly every parent wants to believe that his or her child is special, that they are developing mentally or physically at a faster pace than other children. There is often a temptation to overburden the child with toys that are beyond the child's stage of development, or to concentrate on toys that stretch the child's skills. The truth is that there must be a balance between cognitive development toys, skills-based toys and toys that are simply 'fun' or relatively effortless to use. Pushing a child too strenuously can be just as damaging to development as not providing sufficient stimulation.

The plastic mobile dangling above the crib is an important aid in helping the infant learn to first focus its vision and then to distinguish between shapes and colors. The rattle helps the baby learn to identify and determine the source of sounds. Shaking the rattle develops coordinated movement. Both the mobile and the rattle are educational toys. The mobile is a cognitive development toy and the rattle is a skill-based toy.

Examples of other cognitive development toys include jigsaw puzzles, word puzzles, flash cards, drawing sets, painting sets, modeling clay, chemistry and science lab sets, telescopes, microscopes, educational software, some computer games, some video games and children's books. These toys are labeled with the age range of the child for which they are designed. These are the toys that teach children to identify, make choices and reason. Smart parents will make sure their child or children are given toys appropriate for their age range.

Skill-based toys include building blocks, tricycles, bicycles, bats, balls, sports equipment, Legos, erector sets, Lincoln logs, stuffed animals, dolls, crayons and finger paints. These toys teach children the relationships between different sizes and shapes and how to assemble, color and paint. All of these activities are important for developing fine motor skills and increasing physical abilities.

Child safety is an important consideration in the selection of skill-based toys. Toys inappropriate for the child's age or development may create a safety hazard. For example, babies and toddlers should not have access to toys such as bow and arrow sets, BB guns, toys with sharp edges or corners, small parts or substances that may be swallowed or electrical toys.

With the array of toys available in department stores and stores such as Toys R Us, Babies R Us, parents can become overwhelmed with the choices that confront them. Here are some simple guidelines to help parents make appropriate choices for their children.

Does the toy have sensory attraction? Toys with high levels of sensory attraction stimulate all children. This includes color, sound, texture and movement

How is the toy activated? Toys should be fun and challenging, yet should not be frustrating to use

Does the toy stimulate self-expression? Toys should allow the child to be creative and express her or himself

Will the child feel successful with the toy? Children must feel a significant level of success when using the toy

Is it a popular toy? Media such as TV and other children influence a child's desire for a particular toy or type of toy. Children seek to identify with peers and will be more inclined to play with toys they perceive are popular with children their age

Does the toy provide opportunities for you to interact with the child? It is important that you spend time playing with your child

Does the toy reflect the child's interests? Children are continually developing and their interests changing. Children will be more satisfied in playing with toys that reflect their current interests

Is the toy safe and durable? Safety and durability are important considerations in choosing toys

Choosing appropriate educational toys is important. These guidelines and recognition of the skill, cognitive ability or emotion the toy is designed to develop are important to the success of the toy in helping your youngster develop normally through each succeeding stage of his or her childhood.

Finally, one of the most important aspects in selecting and using educational toys is you. You are an integral part of your child's development. The toys you select should provide opportunities for you to interact with your child as he or she plays. This time you spend playing with your child is invaluable, not only in developing strong bonds between the two of you, but also in your ability to gauge your child's level of development and current interests. With these things in mind your child will be a long way down the road of a happy, healthy and normal childhood.

Well, let me start with a disclaimer. These toys for boys are my all time favorites and I have had numerous boys agree. So if you don't, I can see that as a sign of diversity in the universe. But if we agree on these toys for boys we may agree on lots more!

DC Comics Boys Trio Action Set Dress Up Trunk

Strictly speaking this is not even a toy but I can scarcely imagine any boy not wanting to get into one of these. Each costume includes a Tabard with attached cape and accessories. Batman has a headpiece; Superman has a cape and boot tops and Robin's costume includes a cape, eyemask and gauntlets! Designed for 3 to 10 year olds!

These costumes are just tunics (open/no seam on the sides) that go over the boy's head and tie around the boy's waist. The cape does hide the tie. The material does not seem very durable but it is - though cheap. The masks look high quality.

Monster Trucks Custom Shop

Imagine boys being able to customize their own fleet of awesome monster trucks. 4 different trucks come ready to decorate with stickers and paint. Pull them back and watch them race roll and flip! For ages 5 to 95.

The Game for Boys

Promising as the name says, this is a Boy's game and activity kit all in one. It features essential learning skills for adventurous boys. The game can be played by 2 to 4 or more players

Players are asked to complete an activity or challenge in sixty seconds using contents from the game, such as knot tying, magic tricks and star gazing. Boys thus master the activities as they play again and again. The game features categories such as magic tricks, star gazing, kite making, knot tying, insect collecting, flag folding, lighting a fire, dart playing, history and much, much more.

Racer Bikes Design Shop - paint & style your own models

Another sure-fire winner is some 2-wheeled fun with cool street bikes with an assortment of cool decals and awesome metallic paint! Boys just love to paint them then race them! Two cool street bikes are included. They can be customized with an assortment of paint and stickers.

This toy is great for a father and son to enjoy together. They talk and discuss various types of motorcycles and who made them and what colors to paint them. Also safety features such as always wearing a helmet. So it's not just about toys for boys but also about bonding time for them!