Best Toddler Stuff

One of the problems with bringing up a two year old is that it's hard to find people who can recommend things. My wife has started a blog, Best Toddler Stuff, where she highlights the best toddler thing in a particular area.

So far she has recommended:

Best Toddler Trike
Best Toddler Scooter
Best Cooler Bag
Best Placemat
Best Hooded Bath Towel
Best Toothbrush

She hasn't, and won't, recommend anything she hasn't bought or had given to us.

Check out Best Toddler Stuff the next time you're looking for something for your little treasure.

Great Fun For Kids - The History And Science Behind The Silliest Of All Putties

Since the 1960s, children have been playing with an amazing substance which was discovered by accident during the second world war. It was created by Scotland's James Wright, who was desperately trying to find an alternative to rubber after the Japanese had invaded most of the countries which exported rubber to the UK.

What Wright ended up with was a stretchy goo which bounced and stretched with a high melting temperature. This was all well and good, but it was never going to be strong enough to be used for tires or boot treads.

At the end of the war a marketing consultant called Peter Hodgson from a successful toy company of the time met with Wright to discuss turning his failed rubber into a toy. A contract was signed, and Hodgson borrowed the princely sum of $140 to begin production. Soon 'silly putty' was born!

Putty was sold in plastic eggs for $1, each egg containing a 1oz lump. Food coloring was added to make putty of all different colors and slowly sales began to increase. in the late 1960s the product took off, quite literally! Apollo 8 crew members took an egg of silly putty into space to see if the substance would bounce even higher which it did. Since these humble beginnings, millions of silly putty eggs have been sold all over the world.

In the 1990s crayon makers Crayola purchased the silly putty brand name and started production on 20,000 eggs a day. The substance has had a number of different names over the years including potty putty and fun putty. These days the putty comes in every color imaginable and for some reason is sold in slightly smaller amounts 0.47oz lumps.

Silly putty is made from mainly dimethyl siloxane, sillica, and thixatrol along with a few other chemicals. The modern ingredients are similar to the ones used by Wright back in the 1950s. Today the mixture is more refined, and is slightly easier to get out of your hair!

Children who want to make their own need not be put off by the exotic list of ingredients. It is apparently possible to make your own silly putty, although you have to very accurate when measuring out the various components. A little bit too much of this, or too little of that and the whole thing turns into slime. This is of course a real bonus to some children scientists!

If you want it to bounce properly, mix 7floz of water with 2tbsp of PVA glue along with a small amount of your chosen food coloring. Then mix 20ml of water with 5ml of borax powder. (this can be bought at chemists). Mix the whole lot together until it begins to feel more solid. You should then be able to fish out a lump which, if you've done it right, will be cold and slightly squashy.

Whether you make it or buy it, anyone between the ages of 5 and 12 is likely to get a great deal of pleasure out of playing with silly putty. It can be rolled and molded, cut into shapes and letters, used for modern artwork pieces and most importantly bounced.

Silly putty recipe Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bob_Cartwright

The 10 Most Dangerous Recalled Toys

This is an excellent summary, and something that we need to be concerned about. Recalls, particularly for children's toys, can be something that hits close to home!

More and more frequently, dangerous, defective toys-and their subsequent recall-continue to make headlines. Although dangerous toys have been produced for decades, some to have hit the market within the last 20 years have been clearly more dangerous, and deadly, than their predecessors-leading to recalls and class actions lawsuits against top toy manufacturers and sellers of these unsafe toys.

The following is LawInfo's list of the top ten most dangerous recalled toys of the last two decades.

Aqua Dots
Produced by the Spin Master Corporation, Aqua Dots were small, colorful beads that were part of a multidimensional design craft kit. However, the chemical compound of these beads included the then unknown "date rape" drug gamma hydroxybutyrate (GHB). Children who licked and ingested Aqua Dots were subject to respiratory depression, seizures and often became comatose. One child was reportedly hospitalized for five days after swallowing an Aqua Dot. Spin Master Corporation recalled 4.2 million units and suspended the toy from the market in November 2007.

Mini hammocks from EZ Sales
After 12 confirmed fatalities by asphyxiation (of children aged 5-17) and numerous reports of near-death entrapments, these nylon mini hammocks came to be known as "death cocoons." The culprit behind the flawed design was the lack of spreader bars at either end, which would keep the hammock open when children were swinging and/or resting in them. EZ Sales recalled nearly 3 million of these products and suspended sales indefinitely in August 1996.

Fisher-Price Power Wheels Motorcycle
These very real motorbikes looked like a shiny motorized toy, but in fact were quite dangerous machines. On certain models, the accelerator jammed and became stuck, leading to crashes and accident-inflicted injuries such as lacerations, sprains and broken bones. Fisher-Price recalled 218,000 Power Wheels motorcycles and took the "toy" off the market in August 2000.

Sky Dancers Flying Dolls
These Barbie-inspired 9-inch hard plastic dolls were designed to fly but lacked reliable controls, thus launching with incredible speed in unpredictable directions. After 150 reported injuries, including temporary blindness, broken ribs and teeth, mild concussions and lacerations, almost 9 million units were recalled by manufacturer Galoob Toys and all sales suspended in June 2000.

Easy-Bake Oven by Hasbro
Easy-Bake toy ovens have been around since the 1950's, but this Hasbro model had a clear defect: the front-loading oven would trap tiny hands that were reaching inside of it-inflicting some 77 second- and third-degree burns to children's hands and fingers, including one 5-year-old girl who required a partial finger amputation. Hasbro recalled the oven and stopped distribution in July 2007.

Jarts Lawn Darts
Jarts (a variable of lawn darts) were heavy, metal projectiles that sharply pierced whatever they struck -including many children. Lawn darts were responsible for 6,700 injuries and four deaths in the 1980's and were permanently banned (in all varieties) in 1988.

Snacktime Cabbage Patch Dolls by Mattel
These models from the widely sought-after Cabbage Patch line of the 1980's and 90's had automated jaws that would "chew" whatever was placed in its mouth. The problem: the doll didn't stop chewing. After 35 tiny fingers were reportedly injured by the chomping doll, Mattel removed the dolls from retail shelves in 1997 (although never formally "recalling" the product), and offered 500,000 customers a full refund.

Battlestar Galactica Missile Launcher
In 1978, Mattel launched a series of Battlestar Galactica toy missile launchers known individually as the Viper, the Cylon Raider, the Scarab and the Stellar Probe. In 1979, a child reportedly died after choking on one of the missile launchers-prompting Mattel to recall all BSG models and suspend production.

The Chicken Limbo Party Game
Manufactured by Milton Bradley, The Chicken Limbo Party game lacked sturdy support poles, therefore with the slightest touch, the entire apparatus could shake and collapse on participating children (and any bystanders). After 46 reports of the game collapsing and causing subsequent injuries such as bumps, bruises, welts, chipped teeth, and one fractured foot, Milton Bradley recalled 461,000 CLP units and suspended all sales in 2006.

Clackers
Clackers, which were marketed under a multitude of other names, consisted of two glass-like acrylic balls, each about the size of plum, which swung on either end of a string. The idea was to tug on the middle of the string until the balls swung faster and faster, smacking each other above and below your hand until the motion formed a stunning arc. However, being made of glass, the balls were heavy-leading to numerous reports of injury when they hit children's faces, and when the balls themselves occasionally shattered, causing lacerations. Clackers were pulled from the shelves in 1981 and, later that year, a mandate was issued that any future product(s) be made with foam balls and nylon cords.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lindsey_O'neil

The Best First Teddy Bear For Your Child

My first teddy bear was Gund teddy bear. Gund teddy bears come in blue, pink and cream and I can still remember how super soft my teddy was. Embroidered right above the teddy's heart was, "My First Teddy", with a satin ribbon that goes around the neck in the shade of the bear's color. If you are looking for a teddy bear by Gund for your child, the most popular size is 12 inch, which is just the right size for your baby to hold and cuddle with.

Other First Teddy Bears To Consider For Your Child

Very colorful teddy bear that babies love to look at is Baby's My First Thermal Pastel Bear. It is very light in weight and is made of thermal. When he your child gets a hold of this teddy bear it'll rattle every time he moves it and that will add hours and hours of giggling from your baby.

For your newborn, excellent teddy bear gift is Breathe Easy Teddy Bear by Asthma Friendly, especially since this teddy bear is asthma friendly. Besides their asthma friendly quality these little teddy bears are soft and friendly and your baby is sure to snuggle up to this little guy every night.

Geared up more for an infant is Nursery Rhyme Pal Pat-a-Cake Bear and trust me when I tell you they'll love it just the same, no matter the age your child is. Just push the buttons on your little teddy bear to make him sing to your little one and watch his face as he listens to it. You can expect your baby to start singing right along with the bear in no time at all.

The Cashmerino Baby Bear has its own cashmere sweater that comes off easily. The bear is made out of cashmere yarn, which is extremely gentle on baby's skin. The bear has sewn in eyeballs, but don't worry they will not hurt your baby. This gorgeous bear comes in 23 different shades, which means that there won't be a single teddy bear like him at the baby shower.

If your are struggling to put your baby to sleep, then Womb Sounds Mommy Bear can do the trick. When your baby was inside your tummy all the baby heard was your heartbeat. Now all of a sudden the baby hears everything around him. For some babies this is not an issue, however it can be very frightening for other babies. The Womb sounds bear helps in a way that it actually mimics the sound of a heart beating. Once you place the Womb bear inside the crib near your child it will help your child to calm down and fall asleep.

Another excellent first teddy choice for your baby is Blanket teddy bear. Blanket teddy bears are small fleece blankets that have a teddy bear attached from the arms up. The blanket bottom is made out of satin, which makes it soft enough for your baby to chew on.

These seven teddy bears described above will all make great pals with your newborn. Be sure you get a ton of shots of your child with his favourite toy. When the time comes, you can store his teddy bear for safekeeping.

If you would like to search for more teddy bear choices for your child, a great number of teddy bear types can be found on the "Ultimate Site For Teddy Bear Lovers". Besides teddy bear types you can also learn almost anything you want to know about teddy bears.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Iva_Malese

Fun Cowboy Birthday Party for Children

Are you planning a birthday party for your child or grandchild? Do you want it to be special and fun? Are you at a loss for ideas? Do you have a large group of people attending but are limited on what you can spend?

Below are some great ideas for a cowboy or cowgirl birthday party.

1. Invitations-Cut out the form of a barn in white paper. Make sure you have a barn door on the front, center bottom of the barn. Take a picture of your child dressed in a cowboy or cowgirl costume to later glue inside the barn doors. Cut an opening in the center of the barn doors. Next, cut a piece of deep red card stock in half, fold them in half, then glue the barn onto the face of each red card stock. Glue the picture of your child on the inside of the barn door.

You can write on the front of the card in black marker, "Howdy Partner" "You're invited to". Then on the inside write, "You are invited to our little cowboy's birthday party". Add where, when and time. Lastly put, "Come and enjoy some good old fashioned chili and corn bread. Dress-up your cowboy or cowgirl for a Western picture and tell him (or her) they'll have a rootin, tootin time. Hope to see y' all there".

2. Costumes-Most party stores have plastic cowboy hats and handkerchiefs that children can wear. They both cost around $1.00-$2.00. If you want a full costume for your child, you can purchase it through costume companies.

3. Food-A large pot of Chili can feed a big crowd with minimal cost. Add delicious corn bread, birthday cake and ice cream. For the children, serve pork and beans and hot dogs.

4. Decorations-Decorate the table with a red and white checkered table cloth. The cake can be decorated in white frosting. Purchase plastic horses, and fences. Use green frosting for grass, frost two corners of the cake with the green frosting and place the horses and fences in each corner. Decorate the center of the table with blue, red and orange balloons to keep with the cowboy scheme.

5. Entertainment-Have the movie "Toy Story" playing out of the way of the large group to keep children entertained. Also, for small children, parents may bring rocking horses they can play on.

6. Games-Cowboy bean bag toss and a large cowboy poster with the head of a cowboy cut out. Have each child take turns getting their picture taken with their head in the cut out circle. Later place the picture on a wanted poster (small, long envelope size) and mail to each child.

7. Party Favors-Purchase miniature brown paper bags and raffia from Target or a party store for little goodie bags. Also, purchase miniature bubble bottles. Place a copy of the picture you took for the invitation into the slit on the bubble bottles. Lastly, add candy or other fun items in the bags with the bubbles. Hole punch two holes at the top and tie with beige raffia. As each child leaves, give them a goodie bag and a sheriff's badge. (Badges can be purchased at either Target or a party store)

Not only will the children at the party have a great time, but the children will be so entertained that it affords parents an opportunity to mix and mingle. This will be a memorable experience for everyone.

Some other fun party themes could be the following: pirate, fireman, super hero, warrior, soldiers, magician, Barbie, princess, fairy, Snow White, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, or Disney Themes. Be creative and have a lot of fun planning birthday parties for your children.

--La Donna Jensen, co-owner Aaron's Online Boutique, owner of Network Marketing Income, Internet entrepreneur, 20 years marketing and sales, author.

To see pictures of various items for your cowboy party and to see costume ideas visit http://www.aaronsonlineboutique.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=La_Donna_Jensen

Are Webkinz Really the Best? Or Just Hype?

Webkinz are the latest toys in the market and kids simply love them. They are not just stuffed toys as with their code comes a new world to escape into - the Webkinz World. Here you can adopt and then take care of your adorable furry pet as it comes alive. Interactive sessions through games make them even more likeable; gaining them huge popularity world wide. Like always, some pets have come out as favorites and the top three pets chosen by consumers are Webkinz Black and White Panda Plush which is at number one, followed by Webkinz Googles and in third place is the Webkinz Beagle.

1. Webkinz Black and White Panda Plush

This plush stuffed animal is priced at $11.99. It is a highly adorable animal with its various fabrics and surprisingly available in both beanie and cotton stuffed variants. Its size is around seven and a half inches. Unlike other Webkinz pets this one's secret code is not attached to the ankle but is found around the arm with which you can access Webkinz World. The age suggested by the toy makers is between 3-7 year olds.

2. Webkinz Googles

Another hit among the Webkinz animals is the Webkinz Googles which are about 8 inches long and priced at only $9.99. You are sure to fall in love with this extraordinarily shy pet with its funny beak and cute little webbed feet. Living deep in the forest and near ponds these creatures are extremely mysterious and perfect for kids. However it is not recommended for those under 3 years.

3. Webkinz Beagle

This newest addition to the Webkinz dog collection is a must have making it top the charts. This cute 10" long white and brown stuffed dog is priced at $13.00. It is the perfect interactive pet and a must have for all dog lovers. 3 -7 year olds will thoroughly enjoy the Webkinz Beagle.

For More information, please visit: Cheats for Webkinz and Cheat Codes for Webkinz

Dixita is an article writer for various organizations across the globe. This is the first time I am trying out article writing for myself. For more information about me, do visit: Webkinz Cheats

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dixita_Dutt

Planning A Children's Treasure Hunt Adventure Birthday Party

Putting on a great party for your child can be much more simple than you may think!

Here are some basic party planning suggestions.

Play some background music on the CD player as guests arrive.

Have a craft table set up with a simple craft for the kids to do as you wait for everyone to arrive. These make great take home favors and can easily be adapted to a variety of themes. Some possibilities include painting sun catchers, decorating door hangers, painting a wooden craft, stringing beads on a necklace, glue sequins on a picture frame cut out of foam paper sheets, or color in theme coloring sheets.

If your party is for children ages 5 and up, it is a good idea to have a main event. This could be a treasure hunt, scavenger hunt, a rented bounce house for the kids to jump in, or centers set up for the kids to go through.

A lot of times favor bags are saved for the end of the party, but right before present time is also a good time to hand them out. This is especially nice for younger kids who get jealous watching the birthday child rip into all those presents!!

At present time when everyone is very excited and things can very quickly get chaotic, here is an idea to make each present giver feel special. Set up 2 chairs and have the birthday child sit in a chair and have a chair sitting next to her. Have each child take turns bringing up their present and sitting in the chair next to the birthday child as they unwrap and admire the gift. This makes the gift giver feel special and also gives the birthday child a chance to say thanks to them.

Saving cake time for the end is nice because the time can be adjusted as needed. If the party is running longer than expected, guests can quickly eat and go. Or if there is extra time, guests can eat and have a little free play time.

Keep your menu simple by serving these sure kid pleasers:

Fruit skewers (bamboo skewers with grapes, pinapple chunks, watermelon, strawberries) served with strawberry dip (for dip mix 1 small tub of cool whip, french vanilla instant pudding mix and a small amount of cream or milk. Cool in fridge until ready to serve.)

Chips

Pizza BitesSpread 2 T pizza sauce over English muffin top with shredded cheese and microwave

Mini pig in the blankets (all you need is 2 crescent packages and a can of cocktail franks. Cut each crescent triangle into 3 and wrap one around each individual frank. Bake 375 degrees for 12 minutes)

Chicken Nuggets with ketchup & honey mustard sauce

Sub sandwiches (get a few French bread loafs in the bakery section of the store and make up subs with cheese, ham, lettuce, tomato. Cut each sub into 4-6 pieces. Leave mayo & mustard in cups on the side)

Jello jigglers

Mac and cheese in a crock pot

Dish of candy

Now for the details of the party: The basic idea of the party is a treasure hunt adventure. It can easily be adapted to a variety of popular children's themes such as pirate parties, tinkerbell parties, or pirate/princess parties. As the guests arrive you can divide them into teams and each child will be given a special treasure hunt shirt in the color of their team to wear for the party (and take home as their special favor.) Then each team is off on an exciting treasure hunt that incorporates fun adventures along the way such as a pirate coin toss, pin the patch on the pirate, tattoo stop, a balloon toss, burying your team under the pillows and blankets in the birthday child's bed and much more guaranteed to get the kid's giggling!!

The clues should lead you around the house to common areas like the mailbox, birthday child's bed etc. and include indoor and outdoor clues. This is so much fun for the kids!! For younger kids each team should have a leader (parents that stay for the party) that follows the team around and offers hints when needed. Your clues can include challenges to do along the way that they have to take pictures of themselves doing to prove they completed it and this gives you lots of cute and priceless pictures of the party!

Visit http://www.homebusinessmakeover.com for the step by step treasure hunt adventure birthday planning guide. You will get all the templates you will need to create a magical party from start to finish. Without all of these templates, you would spend hours searching around for ideas, creating invites, coming up with and designing the team t-shirt, and MANY MANY MANY more hours trying to create the treasure hunt!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sarah_Makowsky