This page is catering to the new entrants of Gundam model kits fans, a brief and summary of the available of different scale, grade, version of Bandai's Gundam model kits. There are various grade, scale and version with specify design and design purposes. Hoping the summary and information will provide everyone a knowledge and decision to kick start. We are also hoping more and more people can join in and make our Gundam collection community more activitities and lively. We believe Bandai (Gundam manufacturer) in return will introduces and engages more technology and quality Gundam collections to its loyalty fans, as the reward. LET'S COLLECTION !!
History:
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Bandai released the first model 1/144 scale RX-78 Gundam in 1980 to Japan, this was the very first Gundam plastic model in the market (also has been known as GUNPLA). 15 years of improvement of quality and technology, Bandai released a revolution series named "Master Grade" in 1995. Perfert Grade in 1998, which represent the pinnacle of Gunpla series. High Grade, 1/60 scale, 1/100 scale, Super Deformation (SD), Ex Model, HY2M series are introduced thereafter. Jumbo Grade, HCM Pro, First Grade, Speed Grade, Mini Mode are those new series been recently released to market.
PERFECT GRADE [PG]
-------------------
Initial Released Year: 1998
Model Scale: 1/60
Model Height: > 30cm
Piece Parts: >600pcs
Gunpla in Market: 17 units
Original: Across Gundam series
Design Purpose: Designed for high-end user with the maximum of proportions and posability of Gunpla. This grade become the pinnacle products of Gunpla. Very details of piece parts provided and some model requires mechnical tools for assembly. More suitable to experience and skillful collectors. Product price at high side, not many people is affordable
MASTER GRADE [MG]
-----------------
Initial Released Year: 1995
Model Scale: 1/100
Model Height: ~ 20cm
Piece Parts: 200-500pcs
Gunpla in Market: >130 units
Original: Across Gundam series
Design Purpose: First intention of celebrating the 15th anniversary of model kits series, with slogan " build the ultimate Gunpla". MG Limited Edition were released in 2005 for the celebration of 10th anniversary of MG series. Special Coating Ver (includes crystal, metallic , coating, hyper mode, roll out color), HD color version, Event Limited (clear color), Ver. Ka, Special kit (Extra Finish) are introduced to market thereafter. (pls see below details for different version). This Grade is suitable to those "detailness" collectors, as collector can assembly from the inside "skeleton" till outside armour!
HIGH GRADE [HG]
-----------------
Initial Released Year: 1990
Model Scale: 1/144
Model Height: ~13cm
Piece Parts: >60pcs
Gunpla in Market : >100 units
Original: Across Gundam series
Design Purpose: More features from 1/144 SCALE version, improved joints, optional parts and multi-color injection molding been used. There are Special Coating version available in Gundam 00 series (metallic, clear color, Trans-Am) . Gunpla new entrant can kick start from this grade.
1/60 SCALE
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Initial Released Year: 2002
Model Scale: 1/60
Model Height: ~ 30cm
Piece Parts: 200~400pcs
Gunpla in Market : 10 units
Original : SEED Destiny, 00, G
Design Purpose: Largest scale in Gunpla series, features enhanced articulation and multi-color injection molding, but lesser features than PG. This grade is considered as normal version Gunpla. Special coating version (clear color and Trans-Am) is released in Gundam 00 series. Collectors who like to have biggest scale at reasonable price then they should look at this scale series. Price range is about around MG series.
1/100 SCALE
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Initial Released Year: 1998
Model Scale: 1/100
Model Height: 16 ~ 19cm
Piece Parts: >100pcs
Gunpla in Market : >60 units
Original: SEED series, Wing, 00, MSG
Design Purpose: Features with improved articulation and in-color injection molding, includes 1/20 scale figures and his data. This grade also fall under normal version Gunpla. Compare to MG, there is no "skeleton" to be assembly during construction. There are also having Special Coating version (roll out, clear color, *designer color (2009)) and Limited version in the list. This grade is suit to collector who like to have 3 reasonable factors, reasonable scale size, reasonable price and reasonable ease of assembly.
1/44 SCALE
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Initial Released Year: 1980
Model Scale: 1/144
Model Height: ~13cm
Piece Parts: 50~60pcs
Gunpla in Market : >50 units
Original : Across Gundam series
Design Purpose: First released of Gunpla in 1980. This is cater for easy of assembly and at lower price. Targeting for new entrants to Gunpla world. It seems Bandai is going to less focusing in this grade specially in later Gundam series.
FIRST GRADE [FG]
-----------------
Initial Released Year: 2007
Model Scale: 1/144
Model Height: 10-12cm
Piece Parts: 65 units
Original: BB Warriors, SEED, 00, MSG, Super Defender Force, Sengokuden (new series)
Design Purpose: A cute and bighead series targeting to even younger generations and new entrants. Now, an increased number of collectors in this series as well as lady collectors in Gunpla community. Simplified models with fewer parts for easier assembly. Sengokuden is the latest series for this grade (Special version also avail).
EX MODEL
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Initial Released Year: 2001
Model Scale: 1/100, 1/144, 1/400, 1/550, 1/1200, 1/1700, 1/2400, 1/3500
Model Height: NA
Piece Parts: >100pcs
Gunpla in Market: >30 units
Original : Across Gundam series
Design Purpose: Mobile Suit Ship level (Battleship), Sites, truck level assembly. This is suitable to Gunpla hardcore collectors! The higher the scale rating, the biggest the model size is.
HYPER HYBRID MODEL [HY2M]
--------------------------
Initial Released Year: 2002
Model Scale: 1/60, 1/100
Model Height: ~30cm (1/60)
Piece Parts: >300pcs (1/60)
Gunpla in Market: ~20 units
Original : Across Gundam series
Design Purpose: Gunpla Limited Edition series. Further enhanced features, add in electronics parts, LED, battery to realize flash system. This model requires piece parts assembly. This model suitable for fancy collectors, who like features enhancement. The price of HY2M is at high side and may not many collector are affordable.
HIGH COMPLETED MODEL PROGRESSIVE ACTION FIGURE [HCM PRO]
--------------------------------------------------------
Initial Released Year: 2004
Model Scale: 1/200, 1/144 (Super Pro)
Model Height: ~10cm
Piece Parts: 1pc (main model) + accessories
Gunpla in Market: ~88 units
Original : Across Gundam series
Design Purpose: Pre-assembled model, similar to fix figure, just having some accessories and posable. There is HCM Super Pro (1/144 scale) version and Special Paint version. There is no detail assembly of piece parts, this is more suitable to collectors who prefer fix Gundam figure. They have no worry of detail assembly of pieces by pieces!
MINI MODE
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1. STANDart (2009)
2. SEED THE HYPER - HYBRID MODE 3rd) (2008)
3. Gundam Collection DX (2007)
Model Scale: NA
Model Height: ~5cm
Piece Parts: 4~8pcs
Gunpla in Market: >12 units
Original: Across Gundam series
Design Purpose: Also known as Shokugan series. It is almost like HCM Pro fix figure series, just leave about 4 to 7 pieces for assembly. It seems like table top miniature collections.
About The Author
I am Gundam model kit collector, anime fan and video gamer like everyone else. I just started selling online and solely focusing in Gundam collections especially in 1/100 scale and Master Grade scale.
During the selling, found out some members are not really familiar on the scale or the new entrants find difficulty or confuse of the scale offering by the Bandai maker. Hope with some articles that able to help up a little for better understand and get them kick start at once.
Saturday, October 2, 2010
Monday, September 6, 2010
BYOR, Build Your Own Robot by: Ryan Oelkers
The Time Is Right
The field of hobby robotics is more exciting today than ever before. The day when you will have a humanoid, walking, talking robot in your home that will do your cooking and cleaning looms ever closer. Short of having a real robotic maid or butler, there are many other options that can be built today on just about any budget. If you really want to enjoy a fun, reasonably priced hobby, you should try to build your own robots. There are many reasons why it makes sense create a robot from scratch rather than buying pre-made ones.
Affordable
The technology that exists today staggers the mind in not only how advanced it has become, but also in how cheap it is to purchase. There are microcontrollers today that literally replace a room-sized computer of the previous century. The cost for such controllers can be well under $100 for a more-than-capable unit. Some can be purchased as kits to assemble and learn about computer architecture and electronics, others are pre-built units and some even come as single boards that are ready to "plug and play."
Sensors for hobby robots have increased in functionality while they have also reduced in price. It has gotten to the point where advanced sensors like ultrasonic range detectors and infrared distance sensors even come with robotic toys like the Lego Mindstorms kits. The accuracy of these sensors is astonishing and affords the robotic hobbyist with very high-precision instruments capable of providing ample functionality on even an entry-level robot.
Programability
It was formerly the case that many of these microcontrollers required a high-level understanding of computers, binary math and assembler language programming to operate. This restricted the field to schooled adults or older children with a great deal of mathematics background.
Today, many of these robotic products come with a computer interface that allows "building block" style components to be visually ordered on-screen in a graphical editor which allows even younger children the ability to understand logic programming and control-flow logic structures in an easy to understand format. These same programs usually also allow code-level programming to be performed as the student gains an understanding of the high-level logic. This allows them to get "closer to the metal" of the processor's native language and architecture while providing skill-building opportunities.
Even more interesting for some, is that many of the common hobby robots have their loyal fan following, usually very technical people, who like to push the limits of the platforms. Often you can find compilers or interpreters written to support programming in other languages. This allows the clever and curious inventors to use their robotic for other purposes while learning ever more technical skills. You can often find more than one website devoted to groups like these.
Attack of the Toys
If you are not as interested in learning programming software, you can also take existing toys and use them as a springboard to more advanced uses. Toys like the Furby of yesteryear gained a following by inspired experimenters who took them apart, rewired them, and put them back together in their own vision, to perform functions not intended by the original manufacturers.
Radio controlled toys are also an excellent springboard for robot development as they take care of a common problem with robots, locomotion. One of the persistent problems creating a robot from scratch is how to propel your robot accurately around the room. Motors require careful selection, knowledge of velocity, gearing and other complex formulas in order to operate accurately. Robots like the iRobot Roomba have solved these problems and thus it makes sense to reuse the work they have done rather than re-inventing the wheel.
Also, battery power can be tricky to learn and many of these platforms take the guesswork out of creating rechargable platforms that won't run out of juice after a five minute stroll around your home.
Reusing these technologies allows the experiment to concentrate on higher-level functions like navigation, vision and other robotic applications that may be more appealing to the robotics enthusiast.
If you have been sitting on the sidelines waiting for the opportunity to dive into hobby robotics; I hope you don't wait any longer, but decide to build your own robot this year.
Read more quality articles and pick up your own robot kit or robot toy at CoolRobotToys.com!
About The Author
Mister Robot is a writer, contributor and moderator for CoolRobotToys.com. A site dedicated to the newest and coolest robot toys, robot kits and all advancements in the world of robotics.
Blog: http://CoolRobotToys.com/blog
Website: http://CoolRobotToys.com
The field of hobby robotics is more exciting today than ever before. The day when you will have a humanoid, walking, talking robot in your home that will do your cooking and cleaning looms ever closer. Short of having a real robotic maid or butler, there are many other options that can be built today on just about any budget. If you really want to enjoy a fun, reasonably priced hobby, you should try to build your own robots. There are many reasons why it makes sense create a robot from scratch rather than buying pre-made ones.
Affordable
The technology that exists today staggers the mind in not only how advanced it has become, but also in how cheap it is to purchase. There are microcontrollers today that literally replace a room-sized computer of the previous century. The cost for such controllers can be well under $100 for a more-than-capable unit. Some can be purchased as kits to assemble and learn about computer architecture and electronics, others are pre-built units and some even come as single boards that are ready to "plug and play."
Sensors for hobby robots have increased in functionality while they have also reduced in price. It has gotten to the point where advanced sensors like ultrasonic range detectors and infrared distance sensors even come with robotic toys like the Lego Mindstorms kits. The accuracy of these sensors is astonishing and affords the robotic hobbyist with very high-precision instruments capable of providing ample functionality on even an entry-level robot.
Programability
It was formerly the case that many of these microcontrollers required a high-level understanding of computers, binary math and assembler language programming to operate. This restricted the field to schooled adults or older children with a great deal of mathematics background.
Today, many of these robotic products come with a computer interface that allows "building block" style components to be visually ordered on-screen in a graphical editor which allows even younger children the ability to understand logic programming and control-flow logic structures in an easy to understand format. These same programs usually also allow code-level programming to be performed as the student gains an understanding of the high-level logic. This allows them to get "closer to the metal" of the processor's native language and architecture while providing skill-building opportunities.
Even more interesting for some, is that many of the common hobby robots have their loyal fan following, usually very technical people, who like to push the limits of the platforms. Often you can find compilers or interpreters written to support programming in other languages. This allows the clever and curious inventors to use their robotic for other purposes while learning ever more technical skills. You can often find more than one website devoted to groups like these.
Attack of the Toys
If you are not as interested in learning programming software, you can also take existing toys and use them as a springboard to more advanced uses. Toys like the Furby of yesteryear gained a following by inspired experimenters who took them apart, rewired them, and put them back together in their own vision, to perform functions not intended by the original manufacturers.
Radio controlled toys are also an excellent springboard for robot development as they take care of a common problem with robots, locomotion. One of the persistent problems creating a robot from scratch is how to propel your robot accurately around the room. Motors require careful selection, knowledge of velocity, gearing and other complex formulas in order to operate accurately. Robots like the iRobot Roomba have solved these problems and thus it makes sense to reuse the work they have done rather than re-inventing the wheel.
Also, battery power can be tricky to learn and many of these platforms take the guesswork out of creating rechargable platforms that won't run out of juice after a five minute stroll around your home.
Reusing these technologies allows the experiment to concentrate on higher-level functions like navigation, vision and other robotic applications that may be more appealing to the robotics enthusiast.
If you have been sitting on the sidelines waiting for the opportunity to dive into hobby robotics; I hope you don't wait any longer, but decide to build your own robot this year.
Read more quality articles and pick up your own robot kit or robot toy at CoolRobotToys.com!
About The Author
Mister Robot is a writer, contributor and moderator for CoolRobotToys.com. A site dedicated to the newest and coolest robot toys, robot kits and all advancements in the world of robotics.
Blog: http://CoolRobotToys.com/blog
Website: http://CoolRobotToys.com
Monday, July 5, 2010
Radio Control Toys by: RC Toy House
What are radio control toys?
While the mechanics of how they operate can differ greatly between different toys, the basic principle is the same. All radio controlled toys have three main parts:
• Transmitter - You hold the transmitter in your hands to control the toy. It sends radio waves to the receiver.
• Receiver - An antenna and circuit board inside the toy receives signals from the transmitter and activates motors inside the toy as commanded by the transmitter.
• Motor(s) – Motors can turn wheels, steer the vehicle, operate propellers, etc.
Working of radio control toys : -
The transmitter sends a control signal to the receiver using radio waves , which then drives a motor causing a specific action to occur. The motor in a car may cause the wheels to turn, while the motor in a plane may adjust the flaps. The power source is typically a rechargeable battery pack, but sometimes it's just normal batteries.
In many of the RC toys, the radio controlled motor provides guidance while another source of power provides the locomotion. Here are some examples:
• A model airplane often has a small gas powered engine to turn the propeller; the RC motor controls the flaps.
• A sailboat uses the wind for propulsion; the RC motor controls the rudder.
• A blimp uses helium or hot air for lift; the RC motors control small propellers.
Types of RC Toys:-
RC toys come in a large variety of models, including:
• RC Cars
• RC Trucks
• RC nitro
• RC Helicopters
• Toy stores
• Nitro cars
• RC buggy
About The Author
RC Toy House is a direct importer of Radio Controlled Toys from all over the world. We seek to provide you the best and much more for the kid inside each one of us. Whether you are a beginner looking to break into this hobby, or an advanced pilot, we have products that match your needs.
While the mechanics of how they operate can differ greatly between different toys, the basic principle is the same. All radio controlled toys have three main parts:
• Transmitter - You hold the transmitter in your hands to control the toy. It sends radio waves to the receiver.
• Receiver - An antenna and circuit board inside the toy receives signals from the transmitter and activates motors inside the toy as commanded by the transmitter.
• Motor(s) – Motors can turn wheels, steer the vehicle, operate propellers, etc.
Working of radio control toys : -
The transmitter sends a control signal to the receiver using radio waves , which then drives a motor causing a specific action to occur. The motor in a car may cause the wheels to turn, while the motor in a plane may adjust the flaps. The power source is typically a rechargeable battery pack, but sometimes it's just normal batteries.
In many of the RC toys, the radio controlled motor provides guidance while another source of power provides the locomotion. Here are some examples:
• A model airplane often has a small gas powered engine to turn the propeller; the RC motor controls the flaps.
• A sailboat uses the wind for propulsion; the RC motor controls the rudder.
• A blimp uses helium or hot air for lift; the RC motors control small propellers.
Types of RC Toys:-
RC toys come in a large variety of models, including:
• RC Cars
• RC Trucks
• RC nitro
• RC Helicopters
• Toy stores
• Nitro cars
• RC buggy
About The Author
RC Toy House is a direct importer of Radio Controlled Toys from all over the world. We seek to provide you the best and much more for the kid inside each one of us. Whether you are a beginner looking to break into this hobby, or an advanced pilot, we have products that match your needs.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Dress Up Games For Girls: Let Creativity Roar by: Shirley Lee
In many ways, world is becoming one. Then, we saw something of a design called computer and a tool called Internet. Both joined hands and fulfilled all those promises that were earlier promised by everybody and nobody. Both are living a peaceful life now. They provided us with an ideal platform. They did what they were asked to. And now everything that would follow will be taken as an advantage and more than what was expected of.
Girl’s world has changed, evolved and taken an en route to boy’s world. There is one world that is everywhere. Chances are not quite bright if one is looking for traditional methods or games for his or her kids.
Now, every kid is creative and childhood is an opportunity to let that imagination born and free. Online games for girls are re-creating the passion of once-famous-and now-lost fairy destinations and vast kingdoms with magical portions and life without death. Princess, fairies, Barbie, celebrities and other such dress up games are available online.
Girls can pick their favorite idol and dress her up in unique and vivid manner only to show it first to friends and family members, then follows the next step, where they can start showing it to outside community and hone their skills.
Dress up games for girls are exceptionally powerful and gives a shout-chance to represent their voice. Girls are second to none and boys are facing this difficulty now. These games for girls are like bringing the best out of every girl who is courageous enough to follow their role models.
The most important part of any exercise is to highlight the participant’s inner self that forth.
There is a question mark over the general concept and meaning of dress up games for girls. People have raised doubts and rightly so. What is the ideal way? Yes, you have given as answer as well. There is no ideal way.
Need is high to find the encouraging parts of dress up games, focus on it and more than anything else try to check your kid’s level of participation in it. Sit together and find a way that can let your kids grow on the diet of fun and creativity. And rest everything would be assured.
A bit of faith and an honest approach can make its way out of darkest moments.
About The Author
Dress up games for girls are like bringing the best out of every girl who is courageous enough to follow their role models. You can also visit wal-land.com to find more fashion dress up games.
Girl’s world has changed, evolved and taken an en route to boy’s world. There is one world that is everywhere. Chances are not quite bright if one is looking for traditional methods or games for his or her kids.
Now, every kid is creative and childhood is an opportunity to let that imagination born and free. Online games for girls are re-creating the passion of once-famous-and now-lost fairy destinations and vast kingdoms with magical portions and life without death. Princess, fairies, Barbie, celebrities and other such dress up games are available online.
Girls can pick their favorite idol and dress her up in unique and vivid manner only to show it first to friends and family members, then follows the next step, where they can start showing it to outside community and hone their skills.
Dress up games for girls are exceptionally powerful and gives a shout-chance to represent their voice. Girls are second to none and boys are facing this difficulty now. These games for girls are like bringing the best out of every girl who is courageous enough to follow their role models.
The most important part of any exercise is to highlight the participant’s inner self that forth.
There is a question mark over the general concept and meaning of dress up games for girls. People have raised doubts and rightly so. What is the ideal way? Yes, you have given as answer as well. There is no ideal way.
Need is high to find the encouraging parts of dress up games, focus on it and more than anything else try to check your kid’s level of participation in it. Sit together and find a way that can let your kids grow on the diet of fun and creativity. And rest everything would be assured.
A bit of faith and an honest approach can make its way out of darkest moments.
About The Author
Dress up games for girls are like bringing the best out of every girl who is courageous enough to follow their role models. You can also visit wal-land.com to find more fashion dress up games.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Kids Educational Games by: John Harvey
When your kids want to play games online, you might be annoyed that they are not doing something more constructive with their time. But fear not there are free fun kids educational games that your child will not only find fun but more importantly will learn whilst playing.
Research has shown that learning through play, fun and games has proven to build children's creativity and imagination, hand eye coordination and problem solving skills. In addition online games can also improve there IT and computer abilities too which is essential with the academic world being so technology reliant in this day and age.
Children’s educational games cover a large cross-section of skills and skill levels. Some of the games are even adaptable to the skill set, and age of your child. Some like “Number” and “Word” games can be adapted to target specific areas like addition, or multiplication, or choose different groups of words for spellings, and build word familiarity.
Some game titles you may recognize like Adders, similar to the classic snake game where not only must the snake not crash but you have the added challenge of hitting the right numbers.
It’s not just numbers and letters though, the “World Capital” game as well as being fun tests Geography knowledge. A top game to help your child out with their History knowledge is the “Famous People” game. As it tells you a little bit about each of the people and what they did in History.
A game that will help your child pick up the skills to be a DJ, although it looks like its just fun the game can potentially help your child realize how music comes together by mixing the different musical elements together and building something that sounds good.
Co-ordination games are essential too, these include “Simon Says”, where you have to repeat the musical and color pattern in this fun game. “Building Blocks” as well as helping your child match numbers also helps them build their strategy, by trying to predict which numbers will come next.
As well as being great games for kids, these games can be fun for adults as well, so when your child next wants to play games online why not point them in the direction of http://www.freefungamesonline.co.uk so you know they are making the most of the their time on the internet.
About The Author
John Harvey is an avid book collector and part time web designer, one of his latest projects is http://www.freefungamesonline.co.uk/ where he promotes educational games for kids.
Research has shown that learning through play, fun and games has proven to build children's creativity and imagination, hand eye coordination and problem solving skills. In addition online games can also improve there IT and computer abilities too which is essential with the academic world being so technology reliant in this day and age.
Children’s educational games cover a large cross-section of skills and skill levels. Some of the games are even adaptable to the skill set, and age of your child. Some like “Number” and “Word” games can be adapted to target specific areas like addition, or multiplication, or choose different groups of words for spellings, and build word familiarity.
Some game titles you may recognize like Adders, similar to the classic snake game where not only must the snake not crash but you have the added challenge of hitting the right numbers.
It’s not just numbers and letters though, the “World Capital” game as well as being fun tests Geography knowledge. A top game to help your child out with their History knowledge is the “Famous People” game. As it tells you a little bit about each of the people and what they did in History.
A game that will help your child pick up the skills to be a DJ, although it looks like its just fun the game can potentially help your child realize how music comes together by mixing the different musical elements together and building something that sounds good.
Co-ordination games are essential too, these include “Simon Says”, where you have to repeat the musical and color pattern in this fun game. “Building Blocks” as well as helping your child match numbers also helps them build their strategy, by trying to predict which numbers will come next.
As well as being great games for kids, these games can be fun for adults as well, so when your child next wants to play games online why not point them in the direction of http://www.freefungamesonline.co.uk so you know they are making the most of the their time on the internet.
About The Author
John Harvey is an avid book collector and part time web designer, one of his latest projects is http://www.freefungamesonline.co.uk/ where he promotes educational games for kids.
Friday, May 14, 2010
Get Hundreds of Free Nintendo DS R4 Cards Game - Nintendo DS Homebrew Makes it Possible
When I first attempted trying to learn everything about Nintendo DS Homebrew, I was fascinated by the concept that there were hundreds of games and applications available for my Nintendo R4 DS - Absolutely FREE! I have to admit that I had no idea as to what Homebrew software was. I read about it in online Nintendo DS forums, and kept hearing about interesting and sometimes amazing homebrew applications and homebrew games that I could simply download for free and play them on my Nintendo DS or DS Lite.
The reality of cost free video games and applications would be exciting to any gamer, and I am definitely no exception to the rule. So, just what is homebrew? A NDS Lite homebrew game is software written by clever game designers for the Nintendo DS handheld. A very large number of the games being of the highest quality. Homebrew greatly increases the functionality of the DS. And boy did I dig up video games. A number of the homebrew Nintendo DS Games are lower quality, but a vast majority of them would make even the best commercial games jealous.
After spending my time searching for more information and I spent most of a full week doing nothing but research, and lots of homebrew game downloading, I realized that what I needed to buy was a device that allowed me to store and then play all of the homebrew software that I now had sitting on my PC hard drive. From my research I discovered that there are some 15 or 20 homebrew / development and flash kits available for the Nintendo DS and the Gameboy Advance. One of the most popular units was the Supercard SD and a very new one, called the M3 DS Simply. These little devices are touted by homebrew gamers as the easiest to use, and most affordable Gameboy Advance and Nintendo DS Media managers / development systems.
If you have a Gameboy Advance and Nintendo DS Lite hand held systems, I would recommend the Supercard SD because the Supercard SD can also be used on your Gameboy Advance. And there are literally thousands of homebrew games and applications available for the Gameboy Advance system. Nintendo DS Homebrew will catch up to those numbers too, and perhaps will have even more free games and applications.
Where do you find all of these free applications and games? Just fire up your internet browser and go to your favorite search engine and type in either NINTENDO DS HOMEBREW or GAMEBOY ADVANCE HOMEBREW and you'll get a list pages and pages long of websites that talk about, cater to, or just plain carry all of the latest FREE homebrew software. It's almost an adventure really. And I would not be surprised if some of these hombrew programmers end up being commercial game programmers in the very near future. The quality of the games is just that good!
Both the Supercard SD and the M3 DS Simply / R4 DS do much more than just play homebrew Nintendo DS Roms. They play movies, mp3 music, allow you to check out your latest digital photos in the JPEG picture format that most digital cameras use. Both of these units also allow you to read ebooks right on your Nintendo DS screen in the form of TXT documents. Now, when I say movies, I really mean movies. With the included software you can convert your DVD movies to play on the Supercard SD or the M3 DS Simply, and watch your movies on the go.
The Supercard SD (SD stands for Secure Digital) and the M3 DS Simply both have an advantage over many development kits. The Supercard SD uses low cost Secure Digital memory r4 cards, for unlimited storage capacity, whie the M3 DS Simply uses microSD cards. You can easily find SD and microSD cards at any electronics store such as Radio Shack, BestBuy and even on eBay if you want a bargain and can wait a few days to get the item in the mail. I make reference to an advantage because almost all other flash kits have built in memory. While this can be a good thing, it does hold you back when you're looking for extra storage for movies, games, or applications.
Angela - About the Author:
Dsicarte.com is The TOP 1 R4 store,we sell R4 Cards,you can buy Safe R4 Cards,Cheap nds R4 and R4 Card from us.
The reality of cost free video games and applications would be exciting to any gamer, and I am definitely no exception to the rule. So, just what is homebrew? A NDS Lite homebrew game is software written by clever game designers for the Nintendo DS handheld. A very large number of the games being of the highest quality. Homebrew greatly increases the functionality of the DS. And boy did I dig up video games. A number of the homebrew Nintendo DS Games are lower quality, but a vast majority of them would make even the best commercial games jealous.
After spending my time searching for more information and I spent most of a full week doing nothing but research, and lots of homebrew game downloading, I realized that what I needed to buy was a device that allowed me to store and then play all of the homebrew software that I now had sitting on my PC hard drive. From my research I discovered that there are some 15 or 20 homebrew / development and flash kits available for the Nintendo DS and the Gameboy Advance. One of the most popular units was the Supercard SD and a very new one, called the M3 DS Simply. These little devices are touted by homebrew gamers as the easiest to use, and most affordable Gameboy Advance and Nintendo DS Media managers / development systems.
If you have a Gameboy Advance and Nintendo DS Lite hand held systems, I would recommend the Supercard SD because the Supercard SD can also be used on your Gameboy Advance. And there are literally thousands of homebrew games and applications available for the Gameboy Advance system. Nintendo DS Homebrew will catch up to those numbers too, and perhaps will have even more free games and applications.
Where do you find all of these free applications and games? Just fire up your internet browser and go to your favorite search engine and type in either NINTENDO DS HOMEBREW or GAMEBOY ADVANCE HOMEBREW and you'll get a list pages and pages long of websites that talk about, cater to, or just plain carry all of the latest FREE homebrew software. It's almost an adventure really. And I would not be surprised if some of these hombrew programmers end up being commercial game programmers in the very near future. The quality of the games is just that good!
Both the Supercard SD and the M3 DS Simply / R4 DS do much more than just play homebrew Nintendo DS Roms. They play movies, mp3 music, allow you to check out your latest digital photos in the JPEG picture format that most digital cameras use. Both of these units also allow you to read ebooks right on your Nintendo DS screen in the form of TXT documents. Now, when I say movies, I really mean movies. With the included software you can convert your DVD movies to play on the Supercard SD or the M3 DS Simply, and watch your movies on the go.
The Supercard SD (SD stands for Secure Digital) and the M3 DS Simply both have an advantage over many development kits. The Supercard SD uses low cost Secure Digital memory r4 cards, for unlimited storage capacity, whie the M3 DS Simply uses microSD cards. You can easily find SD and microSD cards at any electronics store such as Radio Shack, BestBuy and even on eBay if you want a bargain and can wait a few days to get the item in the mail. I make reference to an advantage because almost all other flash kits have built in memory. While this can be a good thing, it does hold you back when you're looking for extra storage for movies, games, or applications.
Angela - About the Author:
Dsicarte.com is The TOP 1 R4 store,we sell R4 Cards,you can buy Safe R4 Cards,Cheap nds R4 and R4 Card from us.
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Toys For Kids - Electric Scooters by: Brian Gagnon
For kids nothing delivers like fun-powered scooters epitomize fun. Gas scooters have traditionally provided this fun factor for kids as well as the standard kick scooter. With the emergence of the green movement electric scooters have quickly earned their place as a viable option. What is all the hype about kids electric scooters and are they really what they are cracked up to be? The simple answer is yes and here are the reasons:
Ease of Use – The electric motor allows kids to keep up with adults and their older siblings. They have the choice to either use their foot or the motor for propulsion. These scooters also collapse which makes storing them a breeze.
Speed - Kids like feeling in control and free from parental restraint. While the electric scooter will provide that freedom, adults will have no problem keeping up with their kids. Electric scooters maximum speed ranges between 10-15 mph without a load and terrain. Usually you can expect speeds around 5-10 miles per hour.
Durability – Electric scooters are reinforced by durable aluminum frame in order to protect the batteries and motor. The manufacturers are also aware that even cheap electric scooters need to take serious abuse and have constructed them to do so.
Modifications – Kids love modifying toys it gives them a sense of ownership, it is theirs and no one else’s. Scooters can be customized in many different ways including changing the wheels, upgrading the batteries, and sometimes the motor. Kids also spray paint their scooter, place stickers on them, and increase foothold with grip tape.
Range – Electric scooters (www.cheapelectricscootersonline.com) offer miles of battery life and can be increased with a battery swap. Conserving battery life is simply preserved through foot power and less throttle. Range depends on three primary factors: battery size, weight of rider and terrain.
Safety – Electric scooters do not require gas which means that your child will not have to deal with unsafe petroleum. These scooters are also steady on their two wheels they offer stability around turns. As mentioned, electric powered scooters have varied speeds depending on the scooter, allowing parents to decide what scooter best suites their child's need.
Reliability – As mentioned, the aluminum frame is very rigid and all electric scooters are backed by a manufacturer warranty. If they are not, I would suggest avoiding that particular scooter. Not all cheap electric scooters are necessarily poor quality, their price break is more than likely an increase in the industry.
Kids electric scooters are vulnerable to abuse, so obviously accidents can occur. It is nice to know that if one happens with a scooter, the manufacturer can help. Excellent electric motor scooters for kids come from X-Treme, most notably the X-140(www.cheapelectricscootersonline.com), it offers the mentioned attributes as well as a warranty.
About The Author
Brian's passion is comparing and reviewing scooters designed for kids and adults alike. He advocates for a clean and green environment by offering electric scooters at an affordable price. Owning and managing an electric scooter website www.cheapelectricscootersonline.com, is one of his favorite hobbies and prides himself on the quality of scooters he sells.
Ease of Use – The electric motor allows kids to keep up with adults and their older siblings. They have the choice to either use their foot or the motor for propulsion. These scooters also collapse which makes storing them a breeze.
Speed - Kids like feeling in control and free from parental restraint. While the electric scooter will provide that freedom, adults will have no problem keeping up with their kids. Electric scooters maximum speed ranges between 10-15 mph without a load and terrain. Usually you can expect speeds around 5-10 miles per hour.
Durability – Electric scooters are reinforced by durable aluminum frame in order to protect the batteries and motor. The manufacturers are also aware that even cheap electric scooters need to take serious abuse and have constructed them to do so.
Modifications – Kids love modifying toys it gives them a sense of ownership, it is theirs and no one else’s. Scooters can be customized in many different ways including changing the wheels, upgrading the batteries, and sometimes the motor. Kids also spray paint their scooter, place stickers on them, and increase foothold with grip tape.
Range – Electric scooters (www.cheapelectricscootersonline.com) offer miles of battery life and can be increased with a battery swap. Conserving battery life is simply preserved through foot power and less throttle. Range depends on three primary factors: battery size, weight of rider and terrain.
Safety – Electric scooters do not require gas which means that your child will not have to deal with unsafe petroleum. These scooters are also steady on their two wheels they offer stability around turns. As mentioned, electric powered scooters have varied speeds depending on the scooter, allowing parents to decide what scooter best suites their child's need.
Reliability – As mentioned, the aluminum frame is very rigid and all electric scooters are backed by a manufacturer warranty. If they are not, I would suggest avoiding that particular scooter. Not all cheap electric scooters are necessarily poor quality, their price break is more than likely an increase in the industry.
Kids electric scooters are vulnerable to abuse, so obviously accidents can occur. It is nice to know that if one happens with a scooter, the manufacturer can help. Excellent electric motor scooters for kids come from X-Treme, most notably the X-140(www.cheapelectricscootersonline.com), it offers the mentioned attributes as well as a warranty.
About The Author
Brian's passion is comparing and reviewing scooters designed for kids and adults alike. He advocates for a clean and green environment by offering electric scooters at an affordable price. Owning and managing an electric scooter website www.cheapelectricscootersonline.com, is one of his favorite hobbies and prides himself on the quality of scooters he sells.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Nintendo Ds Patronized The Compact Memory Storage Device Technology
The Nintendo DS is a technology introduced by Nintendo Corporation which patronized the compact memory R4 Cards storage device technology
The early versions of the DS had the disadvantage of temporary memory and non reusability, which were though covered by the later versions of the DS. There are 2 generations of the DS, the first which fits devices like the Game Boy and the second which fits into the slot of the DS game card slot.
With the outburst of gaming among youngsters, Nintendo's gaming consoles were a big success resulting in more competitors coming into the market and competition building up to bring out the best products at affordable prices. The Nintendo DS works like a flash drive which helps you to store data and transfer it to the necessary location.
This feature helps gamers to plug in the R4 card into a computer, log into one of the websites which provide the needed game and download it into the card. This card is later placed back in the Nintendo console and one can get on with gaming again.
The Nintendo DS has further led to the creation of more advanced and efficient data storage systems and also with each year, the compactness and price of these memory devices has been on the downward curve. But the latest versions of Nintendo's gaming consoles do not detect the R4 card and hence one needs to be informed well on what suits your application best apart from the R4.
An advanced version of the R4 is called R4i and this card is compatible with the later versions of Nintendo consoles which do not support the R4. In simple terms, the Nintendo DS is the father of data storage technology in the gaming console world. The Nintendo DS works like a flash drive which helps you to store data and transfer it to the necessary location.
One of the biggest benefits about these cards is that they are rather inexpensive. After you make the initial purchase of the DS and all of the games that you want to play on it, it will only be slightly more money to find the expanded memory cards. When you stop to consider the fact that you can store backup copies of all of your games on these cards, they become a great insurance investment. Should anything happen to your card, you will only lose all of the information stored on that card. You will still have the hard copies of those games available.
This feature helps gamers to plug in the R4 card into a computer, log into one of the websites which provide the needed game and download it into the card. This card is later placed back in the Nintendo console and one can get on with gaming again.
Retrieved from "http://www.articlesbase.com/card-games-articles/nintendo-ds-patronized-the-compact-memory-storage-device-technology-2168429.html"
The early versions of the DS had the disadvantage of temporary memory and non reusability, which were though covered by the later versions of the DS. There are 2 generations of the DS, the first which fits devices like the Game Boy and the second which fits into the slot of the DS game card slot.
With the outburst of gaming among youngsters, Nintendo's gaming consoles were a big success resulting in more competitors coming into the market and competition building up to bring out the best products at affordable prices. The Nintendo DS works like a flash drive which helps you to store data and transfer it to the necessary location.
This feature helps gamers to plug in the R4 card into a computer, log into one of the websites which provide the needed game and download it into the card. This card is later placed back in the Nintendo console and one can get on with gaming again.
The Nintendo DS has further led to the creation of more advanced and efficient data storage systems and also with each year, the compactness and price of these memory devices has been on the downward curve. But the latest versions of Nintendo's gaming consoles do not detect the R4 card and hence one needs to be informed well on what suits your application best apart from the R4.
An advanced version of the R4 is called R4i and this card is compatible with the later versions of Nintendo consoles which do not support the R4. In simple terms, the Nintendo DS is the father of data storage technology in the gaming console world. The Nintendo DS works like a flash drive which helps you to store data and transfer it to the necessary location.
One of the biggest benefits about these cards is that they are rather inexpensive. After you make the initial purchase of the DS and all of the games that you want to play on it, it will only be slightly more money to find the expanded memory cards. When you stop to consider the fact that you can store backup copies of all of your games on these cards, they become a great insurance investment. Should anything happen to your card, you will only lose all of the information stored on that card. You will still have the hard copies of those games available.
This feature helps gamers to plug in the R4 card into a computer, log into one of the websites which provide the needed game and download it into the card. This card is later placed back in the Nintendo console and one can get on with gaming again.
Retrieved from "http://www.articlesbase.com/card-games-articles/nintendo-ds-patronized-the-compact-memory-storage-device-technology-2168429.html"
Friday, April 16, 2010
The Impact of Toys in Child Development
Parents often seek assistance in selecting the right toys at the most ideal stage of their child’s development. Many toys are designed for particular ages based on safety concerns; however, many others are designed to specifically encourage the development of certain abilities in a child.
In this article we will explore the fundamental skills developed by infants at varying ages, and the types of toys that can encourage children to reach their potential.
The Baby’s 1st Year
In the first year of a baby’s life, they begin exploring and experimenting with their most important senses:
Sound & Smell – In the first instance babies begin to match voices with certain faces and facial expressions, mainly from being held, fed and nurtured. Likewise, certain smells can be recognised and associations are gradually made. As they begin to establish these social attachments they become more receptive to different sounds and smells. Toys with sound and music that react to a child’s action are especially good at this stage, and simply letting your baby smell something and then see it can encourage development in this area.
Touch & Sight – As babies begin to take a little control of their hands; touching and feeling things become an important part of an infant's development. Similarly, as sight becomes clearer, babies become more receptive to visual aids. Toys for this age are designed to enhance and encourage these traits. Toys should be for seeing, hearing and touching - this encourages the child to respond to the sights and sounds they see and hear. Picture books with sound, teddy bears with different textures and pulley toys that respond to a child’s movement are especially beneficial after 6 months old. Toys in bright, monochromic colours can also help to stimulate eyesight in the first year of a child’s life.
Ages 1 to 2
This stage is an important time for developing independence and important social skills that will never be lost. Between the ages of 1 and 2 it is surprising how rapidly a child develops from a tentative toddler saying only 1 or 2 words, to a confident child able to easily run and speak around 50 individual words.
From the age of 1, infants begin taking an interest in the effects of their manipulation, and it is very fun to sit back and watch children at this age. They particularly enjoy throwing toys and building things, so building blocks Duplo, and stickle bricks are fantastic toys at this age for encouraging hand and eye coordination, as well as a sense of balance.
From around 18 months, infants are able to walk very well and can run to an extent. When objects are in the way - running can prove difficult. However, with their newfound freedom, children love to explore and try everything out, without a sense of danger, so toys that encourage active play at this age are well received. Balls, Sit n’ Rides , Activity Stations, toys that speak or make noises and toys of characters they see on TV are advantageous additions to a toy box at this age - they will encourage children to play actively, and it will also help them sleep well at bed time (an added bonus!).
Language progression is also crucial at this age. Children will begin responding when spoken to and chattering away when playing. This makes it important for adults to talk to children in conversations, read stories and sing nursery rhymes whenever possible.
Ages 2 Years +
As a child turns two years old their abilities in counting and speaking becomes clearer, and bodily strength in running and climbing becomes more refined.
At the turn of two years old, toys that have movement and sound and allow the child to throw and drop are ideal, as they will help to refine their physical strengths. Toys that allow the children to push themselves along, such as sit 'n' ride toys that allow children to steer are very desirable.
As they approach 3 years old, outdoor toys such as climbing frames and garden swings are great. Children at this age have good spatial awareness, and refined bodily strength. They can move large toys easily, kick balls forcefully and they also have the ability to use pedals on a bike.
An infant’s imagination will develop greatly at this age as well, which is why dressing up and a fascination with make believe is noticeable. Doll sets, action figures, train sets and such toys are favourable at this age and help children express themselves and explore their independence. Children will also start to play with others and learn social skills through play. Cooperation and taking turns are examples of skills that will become extremely important both at a young age and throughout life.
Showing off new skills to family is also a very common trait for children around 3 years and upwards. Toys that mimic adult tasks, such as vacuum cleaners, cookers, shop tills and lawn mowers are especially good for engaging with a child. While we have focussed on the initial, most advancing years of a child’s life in this article, toys have been proven to encourage creativity, self-confidence and academic skills throughout every stage of childhood.
About the Author
Having once owned the second largest toyshop in the UK, the owners of Toys Direct to Your Door (http://www.toysdirecttoyourdoor.co.uk/) have been in the toy business for over 40 years. Today, they continue to proudly provide quality children's toys across the globe.
Retrieved from "http://www.articlesbase.com/babies-articles/the-impact-of-toys-in-child-development-381107.html"
In this article we will explore the fundamental skills developed by infants at varying ages, and the types of toys that can encourage children to reach their potential.
The Baby’s 1st Year
In the first year of a baby’s life, they begin exploring and experimenting with their most important senses:
Sound & Smell – In the first instance babies begin to match voices with certain faces and facial expressions, mainly from being held, fed and nurtured. Likewise, certain smells can be recognised and associations are gradually made. As they begin to establish these social attachments they become more receptive to different sounds and smells. Toys with sound and music that react to a child’s action are especially good at this stage, and simply letting your baby smell something and then see it can encourage development in this area.
Touch & Sight – As babies begin to take a little control of their hands; touching and feeling things become an important part of an infant's development. Similarly, as sight becomes clearer, babies become more receptive to visual aids. Toys for this age are designed to enhance and encourage these traits. Toys should be for seeing, hearing and touching - this encourages the child to respond to the sights and sounds they see and hear. Picture books with sound, teddy bears with different textures and pulley toys that respond to a child’s movement are especially beneficial after 6 months old. Toys in bright, monochromic colours can also help to stimulate eyesight in the first year of a child’s life.
Ages 1 to 2
This stage is an important time for developing independence and important social skills that will never be lost. Between the ages of 1 and 2 it is surprising how rapidly a child develops from a tentative toddler saying only 1 or 2 words, to a confident child able to easily run and speak around 50 individual words.
From the age of 1, infants begin taking an interest in the effects of their manipulation, and it is very fun to sit back and watch children at this age. They particularly enjoy throwing toys and building things, so building blocks Duplo, and stickle bricks are fantastic toys at this age for encouraging hand and eye coordination, as well as a sense of balance.
From around 18 months, infants are able to walk very well and can run to an extent. When objects are in the way - running can prove difficult. However, with their newfound freedom, children love to explore and try everything out, without a sense of danger, so toys that encourage active play at this age are well received. Balls, Sit n’ Rides , Activity Stations, toys that speak or make noises and toys of characters they see on TV are advantageous additions to a toy box at this age - they will encourage children to play actively, and it will also help them sleep well at bed time (an added bonus!).
Language progression is also crucial at this age. Children will begin responding when spoken to and chattering away when playing. This makes it important for adults to talk to children in conversations, read stories and sing nursery rhymes whenever possible.
Ages 2 Years +
As a child turns two years old their abilities in counting and speaking becomes clearer, and bodily strength in running and climbing becomes more refined.
At the turn of two years old, toys that have movement and sound and allow the child to throw and drop are ideal, as they will help to refine their physical strengths. Toys that allow the children to push themselves along, such as sit 'n' ride toys that allow children to steer are very desirable.
As they approach 3 years old, outdoor toys such as climbing frames and garden swings are great. Children at this age have good spatial awareness, and refined bodily strength. They can move large toys easily, kick balls forcefully and they also have the ability to use pedals on a bike.
An infant’s imagination will develop greatly at this age as well, which is why dressing up and a fascination with make believe is noticeable. Doll sets, action figures, train sets and such toys are favourable at this age and help children express themselves and explore their independence. Children will also start to play with others and learn social skills through play. Cooperation and taking turns are examples of skills that will become extremely important both at a young age and throughout life.
Showing off new skills to family is also a very common trait for children around 3 years and upwards. Toys that mimic adult tasks, such as vacuum cleaners, cookers, shop tills and lawn mowers are especially good for engaging with a child. While we have focussed on the initial, most advancing years of a child’s life in this article, toys have been proven to encourage creativity, self-confidence and academic skills throughout every stage of childhood.
About the Author
Having once owned the second largest toyshop in the UK, the owners of Toys Direct to Your Door (http://www.toysdirecttoyourdoor.co.uk/) have been in the toy business for over 40 years. Today, they continue to proudly provide quality children's toys across the globe.
Retrieved from "http://www.articlesbase.com/babies-articles/the-impact-of-toys-in-child-development-381107.html"
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Choosing The Right Infant Toy For Your Child by: Rachel Nunez
Toys have been a perennial thing in each person’s life. Every individual passes the phase of having toys and enjoy playing with it. Toys need not to be expensive and complex, as long as the enjoyment is there then its fine having a simple one. There are also toys that are not bought; they can just be made from household things. Imagination and creativity is the key in making and creating a homemade toy.
But there are times when parents find the right toy for their infant. The toy should be soft so that the infant would not be harmed. Several toy makers are always coming up with new designs to cater to the infinite needs an infant has. But of course there are several factors that need to be considered before purchasing an infant toy.
First thing to consider is its size. The toy should not be small because the infant may swallow it thus making him choke. It should also be not that large so that the infant would not have a hard time in handling it.
Second thing that should be kept in mind is toy material. Is the toy made of plastic or cotton; or other substances that is used in making it? Individuals should see to it that the material used in making the toy would not be harmful to the health of the infant.
Thirdly, the toy’s color should also be thought of. Though children may not know what color they are seeing, it is best that they are exposed already to different colors. This exposure helps their mind develop that sense of color distinction at an early age.
Fourthly, the purpose of the infant toy should also be considered. Buying toys because of its functionality enables the infant to learn and discover new things with these. There are toys made to strengthen the grip of an infant and the like.
Fifth, look at the age group the toy is intended for. You wouldn’t buy a toy that says for ages three and up would you? Of course you want the toy to be right for the age of your child.
Sixth, asking and talking to other parents about the toys for their infants can also be helpful. Since their child is older than yours, perhaps they can share some ideas on what to toy to buy or give to your infant.
Making sure of the health and welfare of a child is always the priority of a parent. So in keeping the things stated, your infant will be ensured of having a safe yet enjoyable toy. The aforementioned tips are only a few of the many things that parents should consider in buying an infant toy. They can always do some more research and keep their options open until they find the most suitable toy for their child.
Toys are educational and at the same time enjoyable, it is up to you on which toys you think have both. Expensive toys does not necessarily mean a high quality toy, there are less expensive ones that have the same purpose. Infant toys should also be kept clean at all times since it is the nature of the infant to suck on things he grasps.
About The Author
Rachel Nunez is ready to answer your educational toys questions. For more tips and information about infant toys, please check out http://www.thekidstoystore.com.
But there are times when parents find the right toy for their infant. The toy should be soft so that the infant would not be harmed. Several toy makers are always coming up with new designs to cater to the infinite needs an infant has. But of course there are several factors that need to be considered before purchasing an infant toy.
First thing to consider is its size. The toy should not be small because the infant may swallow it thus making him choke. It should also be not that large so that the infant would not have a hard time in handling it.
Second thing that should be kept in mind is toy material. Is the toy made of plastic or cotton; or other substances that is used in making it? Individuals should see to it that the material used in making the toy would not be harmful to the health of the infant.
Thirdly, the toy’s color should also be thought of. Though children may not know what color they are seeing, it is best that they are exposed already to different colors. This exposure helps their mind develop that sense of color distinction at an early age.
Fourthly, the purpose of the infant toy should also be considered. Buying toys because of its functionality enables the infant to learn and discover new things with these. There are toys made to strengthen the grip of an infant and the like.
Fifth, look at the age group the toy is intended for. You wouldn’t buy a toy that says for ages three and up would you? Of course you want the toy to be right for the age of your child.
Sixth, asking and talking to other parents about the toys for their infants can also be helpful. Since their child is older than yours, perhaps they can share some ideas on what to toy to buy or give to your infant.
Making sure of the health and welfare of a child is always the priority of a parent. So in keeping the things stated, your infant will be ensured of having a safe yet enjoyable toy. The aforementioned tips are only a few of the many things that parents should consider in buying an infant toy. They can always do some more research and keep their options open until they find the most suitable toy for their child.
Toys are educational and at the same time enjoyable, it is up to you on which toys you think have both. Expensive toys does not necessarily mean a high quality toy, there are less expensive ones that have the same purpose. Infant toys should also be kept clean at all times since it is the nature of the infant to suck on things he grasps.
About The Author
Rachel Nunez is ready to answer your educational toys questions. For more tips and information about infant toys, please check out http://www.thekidstoystore.com.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Jigsaw Puzzles, A Great Gift With A Lot To Offer! by: PuzzleLover
Here comes the holiday season again, gasp! That means chasing all over town searching for that perfect gift for everyone on your list, fighting with the crowds for the latest "it" toy or newest electronic thing-a-ma-jig, right?
Why not try a different approach this year, and give some- thing special to your family and friends? Jigsaw puzzles could be the answer!
My love of jigsaw puzzles comes from my Grandmother.
My grandmother lived in a very small town in northern Minnesota where the moquitos out number the people. It certainly was a boring place to spend a summer vacation as a kid. What was worse I realized, Grandma didn't have cable TV! Out of sheer boredom, I sat down with her while she worked a puzzle.
Grandma was smart, she had an extra chair and some cookies waiting for me to join her.
There is one puzzle I remember clearly, it was a picture of a red and white quilt and it was huge! It must have been 2000 pieces and it took up the entire dinning room table. I was sure there was no way anyone could ever get that whole puzzle put together, it was simply too hard. It took some time but after I found a few pieces and had completed one square of the quilt I was hooked. Every day I looked forward to working on the puzzle, and every piece found was a triumph! It took a few weeks, but we finally finished that puzzle, and all of Grandma's famous sugar cookies too!
I felt proud of what we accomplished and that I was able to help. We left it on the table for a couple of days to admire our work. Soon I discovered the rest of Grandma's puzzle collection and I couldn't wait to dig into a new puzzle!
Looking back on this now as an adult and a mom myself, I realize that this simple pastime gave me many things. At first I didn't think it was possible to complete the jigsaw puzzle, but once it was done I felt a great sense of pride and accomplish- ment. More importantly, the real gift was quality time, great conversation and fantastic memories of my Grandmother. ( And I still have her cookie recipe!)
Looking back on this now as an adult and a mom myself, I realize that this simple pastime gave me many things. At first I didn't think it was possible to complete the jigsaw puzzle, but once it was done I felt a great sense of pride and accomplish- ment. More importantly, the real gift was quality time, great conversation and fantastic memories of my Grandmother. ( And I still have her cookie recipe!)
So before you rush out to buy the latest "batteries not included" flashing light gadget, take a second look at this old fashioned gift. You may get more back then you expected.
Tips to make a jigsaw puzzle a hit this holiday season
Jigsaw puzzles are more fun when they are part of a bigger plan.
Give tickets to your local zoo with an animal puzzle, or tickets to an aquarium with an underwater puzzle.
Find a puzzle of your next vacation destination, or someplace you would like to visit someday.
Start a new family tradition and work a puzzle together.
Look for a puzzle with a fantastic winter scene, or holiday celebration to get you into that Christmas spirit. Turn off the television and turn on some Christmas music and enjoy some time with your family.
Jigsaw puzzles can add to a collection.
Perhaps someone you know collects dragons, dolphins, or roosters for instance, look for a puzzle with those things and you've got a great gift.
Jigsaw puzzles can be used to decorate your home.
Jigsaw puzzles can be easily glued together and hung up as artwork. Keep the theme of your children's rooms, and your dining room in mind as you look for a puzzle, you can fill your home with art work you made yourself!
Things to look for when purchasing a jigsaw puzzle:
1) Picture :
I think the most important thing to look for when purchasing a jigsaw puzzle is the picture itself. Puzzles are meant to be fun, so find a picture that makes you smile! Have fun!
2) Size and Piece count:
You should pay attention to the piece count, make sure it is appropriate to the age and skill of the puzzler. 500 pieces may be to hard for your 6 year old to do solo, but may be perfect for the family to do together.
The size of the completed puzzle is important. Make sure the area you will assemble the puzzle will hold the puzzle and have extra room for the un assembled puzzle pieces.
3) Quality:
A quality puzzle is well worth the price! Vibrant colors, tightly fitting pieces etc. will make assembling the puzzle more enjoyable.
It is frustrating to have the paper fall off the cardboard of a puzzle piece or to have thin pieces that break easily.
4) Challenge level:
While choosing a puzzle, keep in mind that a puzzle of a solid color or repeating pattern may make it more difficult then a puzzle with a variety of colors. Example, a puzzle of black cat on a black blanket even though it is only 500 pieces may be extra challenging.
Keep this in mind, but remember a puzzle is supposed to be a challenge!
5) Specialty Puzzles:
The first thing that comes to mind when you think of a puzzle may be a rectangle shape with a picture of a field of flowers. If this sounds boring to you keep looking! There are many unique puzzles out there.
Shaped puzzles are puzzles that have a unique border shape.
Such as in the shape of a dog or of an eagle in flight. These puzzles offer a a challenge to those who always work the border of a puzzle first. Round puzzles are some of my favorites to work because of the unusual way the pieces are cut!
Glow In The Dark puzzles look like a standard puzzle but parts of the design will glow in the dark making them a great choice to glue and save! Tips for getting started:
Now that you have a puzzle, and a place to work it, you are a little overwhelmed by looking at that huge pile of pieces. Now what?
1) Lighting A bright place to work will reduce eye strain and make for a more enjoyable experience.
2) Sort your pieces I like to turn all the pieces right side up first as well as sorting the edge pieces right away. I have also found that using boxes or small containers to sort the different colors into is very helpful! ( The boxes of previously worked puzzles that you have glued together to display are perfect for this.)
3) Enlist help I have found that it is nearly impossible to walk past someone who is working a puzzle without stopping to find a few pieces myself.
Puzzles are a great way to pass time and you may have a wonderful conversation too!
4) Puzzle roll ups If you need to use the dining room table again, and you are not finished with your puzzle yet, don't despair! A puzzle roll up will help you move and store your unfinished puzzle for another day! Puzzle roll ups are available in a variety of sizes.
5) Puzzle Glue Once you have completed your puzzle it can be heart breaking to take it apart again. If you really like the design, or just want to show off your hard work, it is a simple task to glue the puzzle together and hang it on your wall! A good puzzle glue will dry clear so it doesn't distort the beauty of the colors. Puzzle glue is brushed on, and when it is dry you can frame the puzzle, or hang it up as is. Keep the decor of your home in mind when you are buying puzzles, and you can fill your home with art you made yourself!
6) Afterwards...
If you have completed a puzzle and don't wish to work it again here are several ideas for you. Pass it on! Know a friend that enjoys puzzles? Exchange your completed puzzles with them! Donate puzzles to local schools, churches, nursing homes etc.
HTTP://www.thepuzzlezone.net
About The Author
PuzzleLover liver in Bismarck, North Dakota with her husband and their daughter.
Why not try a different approach this year, and give some- thing special to your family and friends? Jigsaw puzzles could be the answer!
My love of jigsaw puzzles comes from my Grandmother.
My grandmother lived in a very small town in northern Minnesota where the moquitos out number the people. It certainly was a boring place to spend a summer vacation as a kid. What was worse I realized, Grandma didn't have cable TV! Out of sheer boredom, I sat down with her while she worked a puzzle.
Grandma was smart, she had an extra chair and some cookies waiting for me to join her.
There is one puzzle I remember clearly, it was a picture of a red and white quilt and it was huge! It must have been 2000 pieces and it took up the entire dinning room table. I was sure there was no way anyone could ever get that whole puzzle put together, it was simply too hard. It took some time but after I found a few pieces and had completed one square of the quilt I was hooked. Every day I looked forward to working on the puzzle, and every piece found was a triumph! It took a few weeks, but we finally finished that puzzle, and all of Grandma's famous sugar cookies too!
I felt proud of what we accomplished and that I was able to help. We left it on the table for a couple of days to admire our work. Soon I discovered the rest of Grandma's puzzle collection and I couldn't wait to dig into a new puzzle!
Looking back on this now as an adult and a mom myself, I realize that this simple pastime gave me many things. At first I didn't think it was possible to complete the jigsaw puzzle, but once it was done I felt a great sense of pride and accomplish- ment. More importantly, the real gift was quality time, great conversation and fantastic memories of my Grandmother. ( And I still have her cookie recipe!)
Looking back on this now as an adult and a mom myself, I realize that this simple pastime gave me many things. At first I didn't think it was possible to complete the jigsaw puzzle, but once it was done I felt a great sense of pride and accomplish- ment. More importantly, the real gift was quality time, great conversation and fantastic memories of my Grandmother. ( And I still have her cookie recipe!)
So before you rush out to buy the latest "batteries not included" flashing light gadget, take a second look at this old fashioned gift. You may get more back then you expected.
Tips to make a jigsaw puzzle a hit this holiday season
Jigsaw puzzles are more fun when they are part of a bigger plan.
Give tickets to your local zoo with an animal puzzle, or tickets to an aquarium with an underwater puzzle.
Find a puzzle of your next vacation destination, or someplace you would like to visit someday.
Start a new family tradition and work a puzzle together.
Look for a puzzle with a fantastic winter scene, or holiday celebration to get you into that Christmas spirit. Turn off the television and turn on some Christmas music and enjoy some time with your family.
Jigsaw puzzles can add to a collection.
Perhaps someone you know collects dragons, dolphins, or roosters for instance, look for a puzzle with those things and you've got a great gift.
Jigsaw puzzles can be used to decorate your home.
Jigsaw puzzles can be easily glued together and hung up as artwork. Keep the theme of your children's rooms, and your dining room in mind as you look for a puzzle, you can fill your home with art work you made yourself!
Things to look for when purchasing a jigsaw puzzle:
1) Picture :
I think the most important thing to look for when purchasing a jigsaw puzzle is the picture itself. Puzzles are meant to be fun, so find a picture that makes you smile! Have fun!
2) Size and Piece count:
You should pay attention to the piece count, make sure it is appropriate to the age and skill of the puzzler. 500 pieces may be to hard for your 6 year old to do solo, but may be perfect for the family to do together.
The size of the completed puzzle is important. Make sure the area you will assemble the puzzle will hold the puzzle and have extra room for the un assembled puzzle pieces.
3) Quality:
A quality puzzle is well worth the price! Vibrant colors, tightly fitting pieces etc. will make assembling the puzzle more enjoyable.
It is frustrating to have the paper fall off the cardboard of a puzzle piece or to have thin pieces that break easily.
4) Challenge level:
While choosing a puzzle, keep in mind that a puzzle of a solid color or repeating pattern may make it more difficult then a puzzle with a variety of colors. Example, a puzzle of black cat on a black blanket even though it is only 500 pieces may be extra challenging.
Keep this in mind, but remember a puzzle is supposed to be a challenge!
5) Specialty Puzzles:
The first thing that comes to mind when you think of a puzzle may be a rectangle shape with a picture of a field of flowers. If this sounds boring to you keep looking! There are many unique puzzles out there.
Shaped puzzles are puzzles that have a unique border shape.
Such as in the shape of a dog or of an eagle in flight. These puzzles offer a a challenge to those who always work the border of a puzzle first. Round puzzles are some of my favorites to work because of the unusual way the pieces are cut!
Glow In The Dark puzzles look like a standard puzzle but parts of the design will glow in the dark making them a great choice to glue and save! Tips for getting started:
Now that you have a puzzle, and a place to work it, you are a little overwhelmed by looking at that huge pile of pieces. Now what?
1) Lighting A bright place to work will reduce eye strain and make for a more enjoyable experience.
2) Sort your pieces I like to turn all the pieces right side up first as well as sorting the edge pieces right away. I have also found that using boxes or small containers to sort the different colors into is very helpful! ( The boxes of previously worked puzzles that you have glued together to display are perfect for this.)
3) Enlist help I have found that it is nearly impossible to walk past someone who is working a puzzle without stopping to find a few pieces myself.
Puzzles are a great way to pass time and you may have a wonderful conversation too!
4) Puzzle roll ups If you need to use the dining room table again, and you are not finished with your puzzle yet, don't despair! A puzzle roll up will help you move and store your unfinished puzzle for another day! Puzzle roll ups are available in a variety of sizes.
5) Puzzle Glue Once you have completed your puzzle it can be heart breaking to take it apart again. If you really like the design, or just want to show off your hard work, it is a simple task to glue the puzzle together and hang it on your wall! A good puzzle glue will dry clear so it doesn't distort the beauty of the colors. Puzzle glue is brushed on, and when it is dry you can frame the puzzle, or hang it up as is. Keep the decor of your home in mind when you are buying puzzles, and you can fill your home with art you made yourself!
6) Afterwards...
If you have completed a puzzle and don't wish to work it again here are several ideas for you. Pass it on! Know a friend that enjoys puzzles? Exchange your completed puzzles with them! Donate puzzles to local schools, churches, nursing homes etc.
HTTP://www.thepuzzlezone.net
About The Author
PuzzleLover liver in Bismarck, North Dakota with her husband and their daughter.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Do You Make Your Child Feel Guilty?
Criticism, nagging and scolding by parents -in harsh or soft words, on major or minor issues-destroys the self esteem of the child. But it may also rouse a very dangerous feeling in the child -that of guilt. This feeling of guilt can distort the way the child thinks about himself.
How do you react to his ‘mischief’? Children are children. We often lose our patience when they act their age. But little do we realize that our repeated remarks like ‘every time you go out, you create a fuss for having something or the other’ or ‘you are such a stubborn child’ can make the child feel guilty of being a ‘trouble maker’. As a result he may become conscious of his actions and gradually stop expressing himself.
How do you deal with his unreasonable ‘wants’? Children don’t understand why he cannot have everything he wants nor that one should pay to get something. But when children insist on taking some toy from the shop or somebody’s place or bring home something without the knowledge of parents, mostly parents criticize the child for being greedy or accuse him of stealing. This makes the child doubt his intentions and feel guilty for being mean.
How do you take their naivety? Innocent remarks by children may cause a rift between the parents or the family members. Blaming the child for causing misunderstandings makes him feel guilty for the unhappiness caused to you. Don’t burden your little child by holding him responsible for issues arising in the family.
How do respond to his failures? When parents express their disappointment or how ashamed they feel when the child loses in a competition or doesn’t score good marks, it is the ultimate blow to his self-confidence. The child begins to feel he is not good enough. And he’ll operate all his life from the understanding ‘others are good, I am bad’.
How do you make him realize his mistakes? While disciplining the child, parents indulge in soft emotional blackmail like ‘we love you so much, we have given you everything, still you misbehave or don’t listen to us’. This can make the child guilty of being ‘unworthy’. He may feel he is someone who doesn’t deserve good parents. Well, the fact is that every child deserves good parents and good parenting which is entirely in your hands.
The child who is weighed down by guilt can never rise in life. Hence, point out to your child his mistakes in a way that gives him the power to improve and not feel guilty of them.
For your parenting related queries, write to the renowned parenting expert Sudha Gupta at sudha_gupta@mothersprideonline.com Selected questions will win 'Celebrate Childhood' by Sudha Gupta. HAPPY PARENTING Click below for more articles http://www.presidiumonline.com http://www.mothersprideonline.com
How do you react to his ‘mischief’? Children are children. We often lose our patience when they act their age. But little do we realize that our repeated remarks like ‘every time you go out, you create a fuss for having something or the other’ or ‘you are such a stubborn child’ can make the child feel guilty of being a ‘trouble maker’. As a result he may become conscious of his actions and gradually stop expressing himself.
How do you deal with his unreasonable ‘wants’? Children don’t understand why he cannot have everything he wants nor that one should pay to get something. But when children insist on taking some toy from the shop or somebody’s place or bring home something without the knowledge of parents, mostly parents criticize the child for being greedy or accuse him of stealing. This makes the child doubt his intentions and feel guilty for being mean.
How do you take their naivety? Innocent remarks by children may cause a rift between the parents or the family members. Blaming the child for causing misunderstandings makes him feel guilty for the unhappiness caused to you. Don’t burden your little child by holding him responsible for issues arising in the family.
How do respond to his failures? When parents express their disappointment or how ashamed they feel when the child loses in a competition or doesn’t score good marks, it is the ultimate blow to his self-confidence. The child begins to feel he is not good enough. And he’ll operate all his life from the understanding ‘others are good, I am bad’.
How do you make him realize his mistakes? While disciplining the child, parents indulge in soft emotional blackmail like ‘we love you so much, we have given you everything, still you misbehave or don’t listen to us’. This can make the child guilty of being ‘unworthy’. He may feel he is someone who doesn’t deserve good parents. Well, the fact is that every child deserves good parents and good parenting which is entirely in your hands.
The child who is weighed down by guilt can never rise in life. Hence, point out to your child his mistakes in a way that gives him the power to improve and not feel guilty of them.
For your parenting related queries, write to the renowned parenting expert Sudha Gupta at sudha_gupta@mothersprideonline.com Selected questions will win 'Celebrate Childhood' by Sudha Gupta. HAPPY PARENTING Click below for more articles http://www.presidiumonline.com http://www.mothersprideonline.com
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Children and Valuable Life Skills Revealed by Doing Jigsaw Puzzles by: Elke Smith
Jigsaw puzzles have been a long-time favorite learning toy. Parents often appreciate the value of puzzles and their importance in enhancing a child's basic educational skills. By putting together a puzzle, a child's hand-to-eye coordination skills are sharpened as each piece is worked to "magically" fit into its proper space with its distinctive shape or form. Puzzles encourage cognitive development like memory, problem solving and decision-making skills. When shared with others, puzzles promote social interaction thereby helping develop a child's social skills. The educational value of a puzzle doesn't stop with basic educational skills, puzzles also teach life skills such as patience, persistence and self-worth, for example. The attitude with which a child completes a puzzle will be a small indication and reflection as to how they can and will relate to life as they mature.
PATIENCE: Puzzles teach patience. As defined in the Encarta Dictionary, "patience is the capacity for waiting without becoming annoyed or upset and to persevere calmly when faced with difficulties". The concept of waiting is difficult for a child. Using a puzzle as an example, we can show our children the importance of patience as each piece is maneuvered into place, sometimes with ease and sometimes by trial and error. As his patience is exercised, he will begin to realize that with patience each piece will eventually fit and he will achieve the desired result thereby realizing his reward in the end. Life (and puzzles) does not provide the instant satisfaction of "I want it now, I have to have it now" as understood in a child's world. The reward is the end result of delayed gratification. As adults we become aware of the benefits of working toward a goal. We learn that ethic and achieve that goal with time, hard work and persistence. As a result we achieve the satisfaction of accomplishment which becomes a reward within itself. Teach your child to compare the puzzle to life - how many times do things not make sense when we don't have all the facts (pieces)? We learn through patience that each piece contributes to the entire picture offering its own contribution or variable aspect to the whole. Puzzles help provide children with a better understanding that unless you have all the facts (puzzle pieces) organized, sorted out and put together you will not be able to see the puzzle to its completion to see the entire picture.
PERSISTENCE: Another life skill children learn from puzzles is persistence. This means to continue steadily or stubbornly despite problems, difficulties or obstacles. It is difficult for children to make progress when faced with obstacles. Sometimes these obstacles can hinder a child's self-esteem and the value they have to give to life itself. By the example of a puzzle and adult encouragement, children learn that obstacles do not have to have a negative influence on a task or life itself. With persistence children learn to accomplish goals and bring projects to fruition to reap their reward and eventually see the complete picture. With a puzzle, you can teach your child to take the time to think about color, shape and how the shape relates to a space and how each piece can be placed in its proper position through trial and error. Using logical thinking and problem solving skills, ask your child in what ways the puzzle pieces relate to the entire picture. Ask questions like, "Where do you think this piece should go?" Or encourage your child's persistence by saying; "I like how you keep trying." Let your child know that with persistence most anything in life is within reach. With the proper perspective children will be able to ultimately solve their problems (or complete their puzzle).
VALUE/WORTH: Puzzles help make children realize that the meaning of the picture is unclear with one piece of the puzzle, just as one person in life gains more value as he/she interacts with other people. One person alone (one isolated puzzle piece) has significance relative to his/herself (e.g. self-concept), but a connection or relationship with one or more other pieces an entire picture is created; and in life a sense of self worth is enhanced. We are unique in our own individual way. By ourselves we can have significant impact but through collaborated efforts life can take on a fuller meaning. What do you do with one piece of the puzzle? What value or worth does it have? Help your child understand some things don't make sense on their own but in combination with other pieces a new concept can be realized.
Puzzles help teach children to stretch their imagination. With persistence and perseverance their joy and reward will be inevitable, not only in the completion of their puzzle, but in life. Puzzles are an extremely valuable educational toy when worked independently, but can take on a whole new meaning when guided by a "teacher" who teaches how each piece relates to another puzzle piece, by its size, shape and color. Just as a single puzzle piece, children can learn how their individual contribution to life brings its own reward, just as each piece in the puzzle creates the entire picture.
Copyright (c) 2009 Elke Smith
About The Author
If you enjoyed this article, you'll love our selection of quality educational puzzles and toys. Perfect for birthdays, special occasions or just because you love children. When looking for the best educational toys to share with your children to help them develop their logic and creative thinking skills make sure you visit ==> http://www.EducationalToyMedley.com.
PATIENCE: Puzzles teach patience. As defined in the Encarta Dictionary, "patience is the capacity for waiting without becoming annoyed or upset and to persevere calmly when faced with difficulties". The concept of waiting is difficult for a child. Using a puzzle as an example, we can show our children the importance of patience as each piece is maneuvered into place, sometimes with ease and sometimes by trial and error. As his patience is exercised, he will begin to realize that with patience each piece will eventually fit and he will achieve the desired result thereby realizing his reward in the end. Life (and puzzles) does not provide the instant satisfaction of "I want it now, I have to have it now" as understood in a child's world. The reward is the end result of delayed gratification. As adults we become aware of the benefits of working toward a goal. We learn that ethic and achieve that goal with time, hard work and persistence. As a result we achieve the satisfaction of accomplishment which becomes a reward within itself. Teach your child to compare the puzzle to life - how many times do things not make sense when we don't have all the facts (pieces)? We learn through patience that each piece contributes to the entire picture offering its own contribution or variable aspect to the whole. Puzzles help provide children with a better understanding that unless you have all the facts (puzzle pieces) organized, sorted out and put together you will not be able to see the puzzle to its completion to see the entire picture.
PERSISTENCE: Another life skill children learn from puzzles is persistence. This means to continue steadily or stubbornly despite problems, difficulties or obstacles. It is difficult for children to make progress when faced with obstacles. Sometimes these obstacles can hinder a child's self-esteem and the value they have to give to life itself. By the example of a puzzle and adult encouragement, children learn that obstacles do not have to have a negative influence on a task or life itself. With persistence children learn to accomplish goals and bring projects to fruition to reap their reward and eventually see the complete picture. With a puzzle, you can teach your child to take the time to think about color, shape and how the shape relates to a space and how each piece can be placed in its proper position through trial and error. Using logical thinking and problem solving skills, ask your child in what ways the puzzle pieces relate to the entire picture. Ask questions like, "Where do you think this piece should go?" Or encourage your child's persistence by saying; "I like how you keep trying." Let your child know that with persistence most anything in life is within reach. With the proper perspective children will be able to ultimately solve their problems (or complete their puzzle).
VALUE/WORTH: Puzzles help make children realize that the meaning of the picture is unclear with one piece of the puzzle, just as one person in life gains more value as he/she interacts with other people. One person alone (one isolated puzzle piece) has significance relative to his/herself (e.g. self-concept), but a connection or relationship with one or more other pieces an entire picture is created; and in life a sense of self worth is enhanced. We are unique in our own individual way. By ourselves we can have significant impact but through collaborated efforts life can take on a fuller meaning. What do you do with one piece of the puzzle? What value or worth does it have? Help your child understand some things don't make sense on their own but in combination with other pieces a new concept can be realized.
Puzzles help teach children to stretch their imagination. With persistence and perseverance their joy and reward will be inevitable, not only in the completion of their puzzle, but in life. Puzzles are an extremely valuable educational toy when worked independently, but can take on a whole new meaning when guided by a "teacher" who teaches how each piece relates to another puzzle piece, by its size, shape and color. Just as a single puzzle piece, children can learn how their individual contribution to life brings its own reward, just as each piece in the puzzle creates the entire picture.
Copyright (c) 2009 Elke Smith
About The Author
If you enjoyed this article, you'll love our selection of quality educational puzzles and toys. Perfect for birthdays, special occasions or just because you love children. When looking for the best educational toys to share with your children to help them develop their logic and creative thinking skills make sure you visit ==> http://www.EducationalToyMedley.com.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Transformers Voyager The Fallen – Solid Present Idea For Boys by: John Marshall
With a hot new movie out, youngsters everywhere are buzzing about Transformers. The new movie has showcased some solid new Transformers that children will definitely want. One Transformer that will wow many kids is the Voyager The Fallen. For those who don't know, he is the new bad guy who is on a mission to destroy Planet Earth to get what he wants. The autobots and Sam, the human main robot, stand in his way.
Long story short, boys will love to get their hands on this toy. One reason for their interest in this robot toy is that they probably already have a number of the good character robots already. Picking this Transformer will let kids have more equal good and scary robots allowing for better toy playing. This toy has a lot more going for it than just this reason. Discover some of the other advantages of this one.
1. solid looking Transformer robot that matches the big screen version.
past Transformers toys often looked very different from the movies and cartoons. This drawback hurt youngsters role play and took away from their enjoyment of the toy. Luckily, the new Voyager The Fallen and the other ones look better than ever with a design that will be sure to affect them. You can only imagine how excited children are about seeing these changes.
2. This hot robot toy has an excellent price tag too.
Mom and Dad will like the fact that this robot toy is a value buy. Obviously, many the folks will happily hand over the money without regret when considering the value given here. Lots of people will appreciate the lower cost compared to other Transformers toys from years past.
With benefits like these, it is easy to see why so many children are wanting this robot toy. We expect this gift will be on a number of best sellers lists.
About The Author
Check one gift idea off your Xmas shopping list by clicking on one of the following weblinks: Voyager The Fallen and Transformers Voyager The Fallen
The author invites you to visit:http://www.popularchristmasgiftsideas.com
Long story short, boys will love to get their hands on this toy. One reason for their interest in this robot toy is that they probably already have a number of the good character robots already. Picking this Transformer will let kids have more equal good and scary robots allowing for better toy playing. This toy has a lot more going for it than just this reason. Discover some of the other advantages of this one.
1. solid looking Transformer robot that matches the big screen version.
past Transformers toys often looked very different from the movies and cartoons. This drawback hurt youngsters role play and took away from their enjoyment of the toy. Luckily, the new Voyager The Fallen and the other ones look better than ever with a design that will be sure to affect them. You can only imagine how excited children are about seeing these changes.
2. This hot robot toy has an excellent price tag too.
Mom and Dad will like the fact that this robot toy is a value buy. Obviously, many the folks will happily hand over the money without regret when considering the value given here. Lots of people will appreciate the lower cost compared to other Transformers toys from years past.
With benefits like these, it is easy to see why so many children are wanting this robot toy. We expect this gift will be on a number of best sellers lists.
About The Author
Check one gift idea off your Xmas shopping list by clicking on one of the following weblinks: Voyager The Fallen and Transformers Voyager The Fallen
The author invites you to visit:http://www.popularchristmasgiftsideas.com
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
People Love Games by: Jeff Anderson
People love games. Whether it's a board or card game or a game for computer play, they are fun and popular.
1. People have played games since the beginning of time. Games were first played with everyday items such as rocks and now we have games of every kind and about every subject for almost every age.
2. Think of the card games that have been around for years: Solitaire, Pitch, Old Maid, Bridge, Go Fish and War. People have been entertained by card games for a very long time and they are still played today.
3. Board games like Monopoly, Clue, and Sorry were games we played as children that are still being played. Add some of the newer ones like Trivial Pursuit, Apples to Apples and Pictionary. New games are being designed all the time.
4. Some family card games include Uno and Phase 10 and a few of the newer family board games are Mall Madness and Hello Kitty. Scrabble still remains a favorite as does Catch Phrase, Chess and Backgammon.
5. There are also lots of computer games including the old Intellivision. Our family had one years ago and last Christmas our son purchased one for us on E-bay. We have enjoyed playing all the old games like Lock N Chase and Burger Time. That system is just the right speed for us older folks.
6. You can play internet games on your computer. There are thousands of games available. Most internet games can be downloaded for a free trial. You can play against other players too which makes the internet games challenging as well as fun.
7. You can rent computer games from your video stores. This allows you to try the game before you buy it. With all the games to choose from this is a good idea, Most of these games are one or two player games and cover many subjects. They are rated according to how appropriate they are concerning violence, language and subject matter. There are Playstation 2 games as well as games for other computer systems like X-Box.
Games are still a wonderful way to spend leisure time. Choose a card or board game for your family or settle in for an evening of Pc gaming. It's all lots of fun!
About The Author
Jeff Anderson knows his games. He knows what to look for and what pitfalls to avoid. Let him guide you to finding out more about games. Contact him at Jeff@gamesannex.com or visit the blog at his site www.gamesannex.com.
1. People have played games since the beginning of time. Games were first played with everyday items such as rocks and now we have games of every kind and about every subject for almost every age.
2. Think of the card games that have been around for years: Solitaire, Pitch, Old Maid, Bridge, Go Fish and War. People have been entertained by card games for a very long time and they are still played today.
3. Board games like Monopoly, Clue, and Sorry were games we played as children that are still being played. Add some of the newer ones like Trivial Pursuit, Apples to Apples and Pictionary. New games are being designed all the time.
4. Some family card games include Uno and Phase 10 and a few of the newer family board games are Mall Madness and Hello Kitty. Scrabble still remains a favorite as does Catch Phrase, Chess and Backgammon.
5. There are also lots of computer games including the old Intellivision. Our family had one years ago and last Christmas our son purchased one for us on E-bay. We have enjoyed playing all the old games like Lock N Chase and Burger Time. That system is just the right speed for us older folks.
6. You can play internet games on your computer. There are thousands of games available. Most internet games can be downloaded for a free trial. You can play against other players too which makes the internet games challenging as well as fun.
7. You can rent computer games from your video stores. This allows you to try the game before you buy it. With all the games to choose from this is a good idea, Most of these games are one or two player games and cover many subjects. They are rated according to how appropriate they are concerning violence, language and subject matter. There are Playstation 2 games as well as games for other computer systems like X-Box.
Games are still a wonderful way to spend leisure time. Choose a card or board game for your family or settle in for an evening of Pc gaming. It's all lots of fun!
About The Author
Jeff Anderson knows his games. He knows what to look for and what pitfalls to avoid. Let him guide you to finding out more about games. Contact him at Jeff@gamesannex.com or visit the blog at his site www.gamesannex.com.
Monday, March 22, 2010
I Love my Teddy Bear! By Paul Lakeman of Funkybears by: Paul Lakeman
Everyone loves a Teddy Bear. Most of us grew up with the adorable stuffed animal. Have you ever wondered about the history of the cuddly Teddy Bear? A little more than a century ago, the story goes that President Theodore Roosevelt was in Mississippi to settle a border dispute. Roosevelt loved to bear hunt and was attempting to do so while settling the dispute. When no bears could be found, the President's host found a baby bear but Roosevelt refused to shoot the animal. Of course, President Roosevelt could not hurt such a loveable, helpless captive target. Newspapers got a hold of the story and printed a cartoon depicting the President with a baby bear. The caption read, Teddy's Bear. The cartoon was reprinted across the nation and the Teddy Bear was born.
When we were little, most of us have gotten some form of a teddy bear that we would hold when we went to sleep. Teddy Bears are so cute and cuddly and provide comfort. Best of all they are given as a gift of love. As we have grown up, the Teddy Bear remains a strong sentimental part of our childhood.
We give the stuffed animal to our girlfriends/boyfriends, husbands/wives, friends, and children. Teddy Bears last longer than flowers and they are so warm and cozy. One reason we love them is that they remind us of the person that gave them to us. The Teddy Bear reminds us that the giver of the bear wants to hold us and hug us all the time.
Another reason we love them is that they remind us of a pleasant time in our childhood. They bring out the little boy or little girl in all of us. They seem to be one of the few things that have managed to keep their innocence. Teddy Bears are cheery and so sweet and no matter how old we get we just don’t seem to grow old enough to want to get rid of them.
We love that furry feeling against us and they are nice to talk to when we go to sleep. They also make us feel secure and when we need to hold someone, they provide us with that comfort. There are many reasons we love our Teddy Bears and they are a gift that everyone can love.
Not only is the Teddy Bear a gift for all of us regardless of age, it is also a great gift for any occasion. Some deliver a message of love, some friendship, and some wish us to get well soon. Teddy Bears can be customised to fit any need. You can outfit them in almost any type of clothes and lavish them with all types of accessories.
You can have a standard size Teddy Bear, a monkey bear, in fact there’s a Bear for everyone! Teddy Bears are popular gifts for Valentine's Day, Christmas, birthdays, anniversaries, and so much more. They really are suitable for any age, gender, or occasion. I love my Teddy Bear! Don't be afraid to admit it; I know you do too!
About The Author
The author Paul Lakeman is a director of http://www.funkybears.com and http://www.topteddy.co.uk and he has been Personalising Teddy Bears for over 20years. His daily Blog can be found at http://personalisedteddybears.wordpress.com/personalised-teddy-bears-im-making-today/
When we were little, most of us have gotten some form of a teddy bear that we would hold when we went to sleep. Teddy Bears are so cute and cuddly and provide comfort. Best of all they are given as a gift of love. As we have grown up, the Teddy Bear remains a strong sentimental part of our childhood.
We give the stuffed animal to our girlfriends/boyfriends, husbands/wives, friends, and children. Teddy Bears last longer than flowers and they are so warm and cozy. One reason we love them is that they remind us of the person that gave them to us. The Teddy Bear reminds us that the giver of the bear wants to hold us and hug us all the time.
Another reason we love them is that they remind us of a pleasant time in our childhood. They bring out the little boy or little girl in all of us. They seem to be one of the few things that have managed to keep their innocence. Teddy Bears are cheery and so sweet and no matter how old we get we just don’t seem to grow old enough to want to get rid of them.
We love that furry feeling against us and they are nice to talk to when we go to sleep. They also make us feel secure and when we need to hold someone, they provide us with that comfort. There are many reasons we love our Teddy Bears and they are a gift that everyone can love.
Not only is the Teddy Bear a gift for all of us regardless of age, it is also a great gift for any occasion. Some deliver a message of love, some friendship, and some wish us to get well soon. Teddy Bears can be customised to fit any need. You can outfit them in almost any type of clothes and lavish them with all types of accessories.
You can have a standard size Teddy Bear, a monkey bear, in fact there’s a Bear for everyone! Teddy Bears are popular gifts for Valentine's Day, Christmas, birthdays, anniversaries, and so much more. They really are suitable for any age, gender, or occasion. I love my Teddy Bear! Don't be afraid to admit it; I know you do too!
About The Author
The author Paul Lakeman is a director of http://www.funkybears.com and http://www.topteddy.co.uk and he has been Personalising Teddy Bears for over 20years. His daily Blog can be found at http://personalisedteddybears.wordpress.com/personalised-teddy-bears-im-making-today/
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Unwanted Toys - 16 Ideas For What To Do With Them by: Chloe Alice Wilson
Knowing what to do with unwanted toys can be the biggest stumbling block when it comes to taking action to get rid of these house cluttering items. Children grow out of them or they did not like them in the first place, for whatever reason, every household has a pile of toys that no longer see the light of day. If every time you look at the ever growing mountain of abandoned toys you quickly walk by or close the door, take heart, finding a better home for them is easier than you think. So where do you start?
Firstly you need to consider which toys should really go in the rubbish and which can safely be given away. You should not give away:
* toys which are at the end of their useful life
* soft toys, unless they are new or in as-new condition
* toys which have suffered significant damage.
In other words only give away toys in a condition that you yourself would buy. If you have the original packing or manufacturer’s instructions give them away with the toy.
Secondly you need to decide whether you want to GIVE your unwanted toys away or make a bit of spare change from selling them.
The following 11 ideas cover donating your unwanted toys to worthy causes:
1. Donate to Charity Shops
Pop into your local charity shops and ask if they accept second hand toys. Don’t be offended if they don’t because due to health & safety regulations it often costs the charity more money (in terms of staff time having to check for loose threads/parts/batteries etc) than actually buying them brand new. If they will accept your donations do not forget to sign the Gift Aid declaration form, to boost the value of your donation by 28%.
Charity shops obviously benefit the charity they are supporting, be that children’s charities, medical charities etc. If you would prefer your toys to go directly to less fortunate children ideas 3-11 may be more appealing.
2. Donate to Charities Online
By using the Ebay For Charity initiative, you can sell your unwanted toys and the proceeds will be sent directly to the charity. Items being sold for charity are identified with a distinctive ribbon symbol along with a description of the charity that will be receiving the proceeds of the sale. Buyers place bids for these goods in the usual way, knowing their money will go to a worthwhile cause.
JumbleAID is another online answer to your mountainous toy problem - they let you post adverts for your unwanted toys (and other things) online and anyone can pledge a donation for them. It is free and easy to use and all of the funds raised go to your chosen charity.
3. Donate to Hospitals
This is only really appropriate for new toys due to safety/infection concerns but sometimes we all find toys that our children received two of or perhaps some that they were not so keen on that never left the box.
4. Donate to Childrens’ Homes
Children in homes are typically older so when considering which toys would be suitable go with an average age of about 14. Find your nearest home using a service using an online search to see if these children could benefit from part of your unwanted toy stash.
5. Donate to Women’s Refuges
Women’s refuges help hundreds of thousands of women and children escape domestic violence each year. Often they flee their homes leaving all of their possession behind. Find the number of your local Domestic Violence service online through an organisation such as Women’s Aid, to offer your help through your used toys.
6. Send Your Toys To Orphanages Abroad
There are many orphanages, child health homes and day care centers abroad who are in need of toys. Some encourage you to send your toys, old and new, to improve the lives of these children as well as monetary donations. To find addresses of orphanages that do accept toy donations, search on Google for “send toys to african orphanages” or “chinese orphanages” or something similar and find their donations page. Some only accept monetary donations but you can find addresses if you are persistent.
7. Donate to Family Centres
Contact your local Social Services Department to see if they know of any family centres near you that will take and get good use from your second hand toys.
8. Ask Your Local Church
Ask your local church if they know of families who could benefit from your unwanted toys.
9. Donate to Special Needs Schools, Playgroups or Nurseries
Find your nearest special needs school, playgroup or nursery and ask if they will accept second hand toys.
10. Donate to Toy Libraries
Toy libraries offer services to local children, families and carers based on regular toy loan for a nominal fee (and sometimes for free). Contact the National Association of Toy & Leisure Libraries online to find a library nearest to you.
11. Use The Freecycle Network
Freecycle is an online network of groups that match people who have things they want to get rid of with people who can use them. Their goal is to keep usable items out of landfills. Find your local group from their website and send the details of the toy you are offering in an e-mail. All items must be offered for free.
The remaining 5 ideas cover making a few pounds from your second hand toys to help in the current gloomy economic climate:
When selling your second hand toys you must be aware that all second-hand toys sold or supplied in the course of a trade or business fall under The Toys (Safety) Regulations 1995 which requires that they must be safe and bear the CE marking.
1. Sell Them On Ebay
Sign up with Ebay, an online auction and shopping website, where you can advertise your unwanted toys for sale and interested buyers will make bids if they are interested in your item.
2. Sell Them On Craigslist
Sign up online with Craigslist, a centralised network of online communities, and submit a free online classified advert for your item.
3. Sell Them At A Car Boot Sale
Look in your local newspaper to find the location of your nearest car boot sale, usually held over the weekend. Make sure you turn up early to ensure you get a pitch. You will have to pay a fixed fee for setting up your car boot in the sales area so make you sure you take enough unwanted items to make it worth your while. Portable tables or blankets are a good idea to take with you to display your goods on.
4. Organise a Toy Swap Party
Arrange with other parents a time and a place for everyone to bring their unwanted toys and the chances are all items will change hands very quickly. The downside to this is that you will not end up decluttering your house of toys but you will get some new toys for free.
5. Rent Them Out
Find an online toy rental service, such as Zilok, and make some money by loaning out your unwanted toys by the day.
Start DeCluttering Now
As parents it is a daily task to try and keep on top of the toy chaos that surrounds us. Decluttering the house of unwanted toys is a logical way to restore a bit of order and get part of your home back. Hopefully at least one of the above ideas will work for you and you will feel better knowing another child is benefitting from your efforts.
What ideas do you have for dealing with unwanted toys? Have you tried them and if so, were they successful? I’d love to hear your comments and examples.
If you found this article useful in any way, please consider linking to it or sharing it with others. Don’t miss any future tips on topics related to toys - subscribe to our RSS feed today.
About The Author
© 2009 Chloe Alice Wilson.
Chloe Alice Wilson is the founder of http://www.BestBen10Toys.co.uk - an independent review website of Ben Ten Alien Force toys and merchandise. She writes articles on many topics related to toys. For the latest in role play toys for boys read her review of the Ben 10 Ultimate Omnitrix.
Firstly you need to consider which toys should really go in the rubbish and which can safely be given away. You should not give away:
* toys which are at the end of their useful life
* soft toys, unless they are new or in as-new condition
* toys which have suffered significant damage.
In other words only give away toys in a condition that you yourself would buy. If you have the original packing or manufacturer’s instructions give them away with the toy.
Secondly you need to decide whether you want to GIVE your unwanted toys away or make a bit of spare change from selling them.
The following 11 ideas cover donating your unwanted toys to worthy causes:
1. Donate to Charity Shops
Pop into your local charity shops and ask if they accept second hand toys. Don’t be offended if they don’t because due to health & safety regulations it often costs the charity more money (in terms of staff time having to check for loose threads/parts/batteries etc) than actually buying them brand new. If they will accept your donations do not forget to sign the Gift Aid declaration form, to boost the value of your donation by 28%.
Charity shops obviously benefit the charity they are supporting, be that children’s charities, medical charities etc. If you would prefer your toys to go directly to less fortunate children ideas 3-11 may be more appealing.
2. Donate to Charities Online
By using the Ebay For Charity initiative, you can sell your unwanted toys and the proceeds will be sent directly to the charity. Items being sold for charity are identified with a distinctive ribbon symbol along with a description of the charity that will be receiving the proceeds of the sale. Buyers place bids for these goods in the usual way, knowing their money will go to a worthwhile cause.
JumbleAID is another online answer to your mountainous toy problem - they let you post adverts for your unwanted toys (and other things) online and anyone can pledge a donation for them. It is free and easy to use and all of the funds raised go to your chosen charity.
3. Donate to Hospitals
This is only really appropriate for new toys due to safety/infection concerns but sometimes we all find toys that our children received two of or perhaps some that they were not so keen on that never left the box.
4. Donate to Childrens’ Homes
Children in homes are typically older so when considering which toys would be suitable go with an average age of about 14. Find your nearest home using a service using an online search to see if these children could benefit from part of your unwanted toy stash.
5. Donate to Women’s Refuges
Women’s refuges help hundreds of thousands of women and children escape domestic violence each year. Often they flee their homes leaving all of their possession behind. Find the number of your local Domestic Violence service online through an organisation such as Women’s Aid, to offer your help through your used toys.
6. Send Your Toys To Orphanages Abroad
There are many orphanages, child health homes and day care centers abroad who are in need of toys. Some encourage you to send your toys, old and new, to improve the lives of these children as well as monetary donations. To find addresses of orphanages that do accept toy donations, search on Google for “send toys to african orphanages” or “chinese orphanages” or something similar and find their donations page. Some only accept monetary donations but you can find addresses if you are persistent.
7. Donate to Family Centres
Contact your local Social Services Department to see if they know of any family centres near you that will take and get good use from your second hand toys.
8. Ask Your Local Church
Ask your local church if they know of families who could benefit from your unwanted toys.
9. Donate to Special Needs Schools, Playgroups or Nurseries
Find your nearest special needs school, playgroup or nursery and ask if they will accept second hand toys.
10. Donate to Toy Libraries
Toy libraries offer services to local children, families and carers based on regular toy loan for a nominal fee (and sometimes for free). Contact the National Association of Toy & Leisure Libraries online to find a library nearest to you.
11. Use The Freecycle Network
Freecycle is an online network of groups that match people who have things they want to get rid of with people who can use them. Their goal is to keep usable items out of landfills. Find your local group from their website and send the details of the toy you are offering in an e-mail. All items must be offered for free.
The remaining 5 ideas cover making a few pounds from your second hand toys to help in the current gloomy economic climate:
When selling your second hand toys you must be aware that all second-hand toys sold or supplied in the course of a trade or business fall under The Toys (Safety) Regulations 1995 which requires that they must be safe and bear the CE marking.
1. Sell Them On Ebay
Sign up with Ebay, an online auction and shopping website, where you can advertise your unwanted toys for sale and interested buyers will make bids if they are interested in your item.
2. Sell Them On Craigslist
Sign up online with Craigslist, a centralised network of online communities, and submit a free online classified advert for your item.
3. Sell Them At A Car Boot Sale
Look in your local newspaper to find the location of your nearest car boot sale, usually held over the weekend. Make sure you turn up early to ensure you get a pitch. You will have to pay a fixed fee for setting up your car boot in the sales area so make you sure you take enough unwanted items to make it worth your while. Portable tables or blankets are a good idea to take with you to display your goods on.
4. Organise a Toy Swap Party
Arrange with other parents a time and a place for everyone to bring their unwanted toys and the chances are all items will change hands very quickly. The downside to this is that you will not end up decluttering your house of toys but you will get some new toys for free.
5. Rent Them Out
Find an online toy rental service, such as Zilok, and make some money by loaning out your unwanted toys by the day.
Start DeCluttering Now
As parents it is a daily task to try and keep on top of the toy chaos that surrounds us. Decluttering the house of unwanted toys is a logical way to restore a bit of order and get part of your home back. Hopefully at least one of the above ideas will work for you and you will feel better knowing another child is benefitting from your efforts.
What ideas do you have for dealing with unwanted toys? Have you tried them and if so, were they successful? I’d love to hear your comments and examples.
If you found this article useful in any way, please consider linking to it or sharing it with others. Don’t miss any future tips on topics related to toys - subscribe to our RSS feed today.
About The Author
© 2009 Chloe Alice Wilson.
Chloe Alice Wilson is the founder of http://www.BestBen10Toys.co.uk - an independent review website of Ben Ten Alien Force toys and merchandise. She writes articles on many topics related to toys. For the latest in role play toys for boys read her review of the Ben 10 Ultimate Omnitrix.
Friday, March 19, 2010
Gift Giving Ideas For Grandma by: Keri Blaustein
Is that Holiday stress setting in already? It used to be easy. It used to be fun. Today shopping for a child can be one big headache. Kids today have a thousand toys and each new one just seems to make more noise! The right gift should be special. It should be something that will last, something that uniquely shows your love. Give a holiday gift that is well made, and will be treasured for years to come.
The best Christmas and Hannukah gifts are ones that will be remembered, perhaps kept and passed onto the next generation. For this holiday season, go back to the basics. Here are some ideas:
Something Handmade
Something to Preserve Their Memories
Something For the Future
Something Handmade
There is something so special about handmade gifts. You know that someone’s hard work went into every piece. Each is unique and made with care. You may not have the time to make something yourself, but many great gifts are available online. For that special baby on your list – how about a handmade baby blanket? A beautiful blanket will keep them warm and secure when you can’t be there to give them a hug. A wooden rocking horse makes a great gift for a younger child. What fun they can have rocking the day away. Another great gift is a toy box. This is one that Mom and Dad will love to, because all the toys can be easily piled in at the end of the day.
Something to Preserve Their Memories
Children are only young for a very short time. While it’s often difficult for a sleep-deprived parent to remember this, it’s certainly clear when you’re looking in on a young family. Use this holiday gift giving time to help them capture these special moments. A personalized photo album is a wonderful gift choice. Preserve those memories because kids love to look back at themselves as they grow.
For a slightly older child, a disposable camera and a scrapbook can get them off to a great start. They’ll learn to capture those special moments on vacation, playing outside and simply having fun.
Something For the Future
Of course, you want a great future for your grandchildren. You want a future that includes education and strong relationships. Well you can put the wheels in motion. Use this gift giving occasion to support those hopes and dreams. First you could invest in their future education. A 529 Plan may sound technical, but it’s actually a very easy way to start saving money for school. A plan can be started with as little as $250.
Don’t forget that the very best present may be giving of yourself. Today’s lifestyle is very hectic. People are often far separated from extended family and friends and staying in close touch makes for a very strong relationship. Make more phone calls, even a 2-year old benefits from hearing your voice on the phone. Start an email account. Record some stories on tape – these can played again and again, bringing your voice close. Come and baby sit, enjoy the double benefit of spending more time with the little one and letting Mom and Dad get a needed break.
Let’s keep our holiday focus in the right place. Let’s make it about love and family. May these gift ideas help make your holiday a joyous one.
Keri Blaustein www.LovelynBlankets.com Baby Blankets from the Heart
About The Author
Keri Blaustein is the mother of 3 and founder of www.LovelynBlankets.com. Lovelyn Blankets offers beautiful, handmade baby blankets, the perfect gift for any new baby. Keri can be reached at kblaustein@lovelynblankets.com.
The best Christmas and Hannukah gifts are ones that will be remembered, perhaps kept and passed onto the next generation. For this holiday season, go back to the basics. Here are some ideas:
Something Handmade
Something to Preserve Their Memories
Something For the Future
Something Handmade
There is something so special about handmade gifts. You know that someone’s hard work went into every piece. Each is unique and made with care. You may not have the time to make something yourself, but many great gifts are available online. For that special baby on your list – how about a handmade baby blanket? A beautiful blanket will keep them warm and secure when you can’t be there to give them a hug. A wooden rocking horse makes a great gift for a younger child. What fun they can have rocking the day away. Another great gift is a toy box. This is one that Mom and Dad will love to, because all the toys can be easily piled in at the end of the day.
Something to Preserve Their Memories
Children are only young for a very short time. While it’s often difficult for a sleep-deprived parent to remember this, it’s certainly clear when you’re looking in on a young family. Use this holiday gift giving time to help them capture these special moments. A personalized photo album is a wonderful gift choice. Preserve those memories because kids love to look back at themselves as they grow.
For a slightly older child, a disposable camera and a scrapbook can get them off to a great start. They’ll learn to capture those special moments on vacation, playing outside and simply having fun.
Something For the Future
Of course, you want a great future for your grandchildren. You want a future that includes education and strong relationships. Well you can put the wheels in motion. Use this gift giving occasion to support those hopes and dreams. First you could invest in their future education. A 529 Plan may sound technical, but it’s actually a very easy way to start saving money for school. A plan can be started with as little as $250.
Don’t forget that the very best present may be giving of yourself. Today’s lifestyle is very hectic. People are often far separated from extended family and friends and staying in close touch makes for a very strong relationship. Make more phone calls, even a 2-year old benefits from hearing your voice on the phone. Start an email account. Record some stories on tape – these can played again and again, bringing your voice close. Come and baby sit, enjoy the double benefit of spending more time with the little one and letting Mom and Dad get a needed break.
Let’s keep our holiday focus in the right place. Let’s make it about love and family. May these gift ideas help make your holiday a joyous one.
Keri Blaustein www.LovelynBlankets.com Baby Blankets from the Heart
About The Author
Keri Blaustein is the mother of 3 and founder of www.LovelynBlankets.com. Lovelyn Blankets offers beautiful, handmade baby blankets, the perfect gift for any new baby. Keri can be reached at kblaustein@lovelynblankets.com.
Entertaining Youngsters With Classic Toys-Play Doh by: Robert Benson
With video games dominating and transforming the landscape of our pre-teen children with a new virtual world for them to play in, it is refreshing to know that there are still classic toys available for our younger children to enjoy. Let’s look at one of these special toys:
There is a classic toy, invented by two brothers in 1955, that still captures the imaginations of our pre-school children and youngsters alike. That toy, or product is: Play Doh.
Originally a wallpaper cleaner invented by brothers Noah W. McVicker and Joseph S. McVicker, Play Doh was introduced to schools in the Cincinnati area in 1955 because McVicker’s sister-in-law asked if it was a safe alternative to modeling clay. Play Doh was an instant hit and soon the McVicker brothers formed Rainbow Crafts Company to produce and sell their product. Additionally, the brothers showcased their “modeling clay” at a National Education Convention and the word spread to the big department stores, Macy’s and Marshall Field’s. Soon after, Plah Doh was a national hit.
Advertising played a crucial role in the success of Play Doh. Captain Kangaroo, a very popular educator of young children at the time, endorsed Play Doh. So did Miss Frances from the Ding Dong School, another popular children’s television show. In 1960, a character named Play-Doh-Pete, a young boy with a beret was introduced to the advertising campaign. Additionally, the Fun Factory Accessory Playset was added to the product line, which allowed children to squeeze the material into interesting shapes and molds, furthering sales and development of the product.
In 1980 Play Doh expanded its palette to include eight colors, some that glowed in the dark and even some that were scented. It is estimated that more than two billion cans of Play Doh have been sold since 1956 and the total amount of Play Doh manufactured since then would weigh more than 700 million pounds.
The ingredients for Play Doh, to this day, remain a closely guarded secret. But it is primarily made up of a mixture of water, wheat flour, deodorized kerosene (or some other petroleum distillate-to provide the smooth texture), salt, a drying agent such as borax (which deters mold), an alum-based hardening agent, colorings and perfume.
Kids all over the world still enjoy Play Doh (it is sold in more than 6000 stores and over 75 countries worldwide) and children can even celebrate National Play Doh Day on September 18th. Some products never go out of style and Play Doh will always have young minds to enlighten and entertain.
About The Author
Robert Benson operates http://www.ezshoppinghere.com a website devoted to helping shoppers find unique gift ideas in unique places with over 400 stores to choose from. Find all your classic toys and more articles about toys at the website.
There is a classic toy, invented by two brothers in 1955, that still captures the imaginations of our pre-school children and youngsters alike. That toy, or product is: Play Doh.
Originally a wallpaper cleaner invented by brothers Noah W. McVicker and Joseph S. McVicker, Play Doh was introduced to schools in the Cincinnati area in 1955 because McVicker’s sister-in-law asked if it was a safe alternative to modeling clay. Play Doh was an instant hit and soon the McVicker brothers formed Rainbow Crafts Company to produce and sell their product. Additionally, the brothers showcased their “modeling clay” at a National Education Convention and the word spread to the big department stores, Macy’s and Marshall Field’s. Soon after, Plah Doh was a national hit.
Advertising played a crucial role in the success of Play Doh. Captain Kangaroo, a very popular educator of young children at the time, endorsed Play Doh. So did Miss Frances from the Ding Dong School, another popular children’s television show. In 1960, a character named Play-Doh-Pete, a young boy with a beret was introduced to the advertising campaign. Additionally, the Fun Factory Accessory Playset was added to the product line, which allowed children to squeeze the material into interesting shapes and molds, furthering sales and development of the product.
In 1980 Play Doh expanded its palette to include eight colors, some that glowed in the dark and even some that were scented. It is estimated that more than two billion cans of Play Doh have been sold since 1956 and the total amount of Play Doh manufactured since then would weigh more than 700 million pounds.
The ingredients for Play Doh, to this day, remain a closely guarded secret. But it is primarily made up of a mixture of water, wheat flour, deodorized kerosene (or some other petroleum distillate-to provide the smooth texture), salt, a drying agent such as borax (which deters mold), an alum-based hardening agent, colorings and perfume.
Kids all over the world still enjoy Play Doh (it is sold in more than 6000 stores and over 75 countries worldwide) and children can even celebrate National Play Doh Day on September 18th. Some products never go out of style and Play Doh will always have young minds to enlighten and entertain.
About The Author
Robert Benson operates http://www.ezshoppinghere.com a website devoted to helping shoppers find unique gift ideas in unique places with over 400 stores to choose from. Find all your classic toys and more articles about toys at the website.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
The Importance Of Toy Safety by: Chang Lim
The thing about recommended age ranges for toys is that… for many toys, it’s merely a suggestion. Your twelve year old child might still love the toys he had when he was six years old. Your six year old might be ready for something as complex as a Haynes internal combustion engine toy, and for the most part, this is fine. You know your child better than anyone; buy them something they’ll enjoy.
However, when toys are recommended for a certain age range because of a safety issue, you’ll want to exercise your own common sense, and you’ll want to consider the question of why that toy is recommended for that age group.
Where a lot of these age groups are kind of subjective, as in “kids around twelve should enjoy this toy the most (but who knows? Your eight year old might love it!)”, safety issues are focused on more practical measures than like or dislike.
For example, an obvious one is choking hazard. A young child simply has a habit of chewing on things while developing their teeth, and they simply have smaller windpipes than larger children. If a teddy bear has little button eyes and is deemed a choking hazard for your three year old, they’re not just whistling Dixie. Those little button eyes really are a choking hazard for your three year old, even If that three year old is reading at a college level, that doesn’t change the fact that buttons and three year olds do not mix.
Pointy, heavy, or otherwise potentially harmful toys are another issue. A toy like say, a Meccano kit, which is made of real sheet metal, may be an excellent choice for a pre teen kid who’s old enough to know how to handle it responsibly, but we all know that a smaller child is going to chew on it, they’re going to find it hard to carry and they may drop it on a toe, or they may trip on it and poke themselves.
This isn’t because your three year old is a real dummy or anything silly like that, it’s simply that a child’s motor skills have not developed yet to the point where they can be trusted carrying potentially harmful items like certain electronic learning toys.
Again, this has nothing to do with things like mental development and the personal taste your child has in toys. Heck, some four year olds absolutely love all those scary dragons and dinosaurs and other such creatures of the night more specifically designed for a preteen audience. It’s not an issue of a child not being clever enough to figure something out, but merely an issue of physical development.
So while we recommend that you look at age recommendations as just that, recommendations, we do request that you regard the age requirements as the gospel itself. However brilliant, imaginative and mature your toddler may be, your child may enjoy listening to Mozart and quoting famed surrealist philosopher Albert Camus, but a toddler is simply not quite ready for the potential hazards of certain toys yet, or at least, not from the standpoint of physical development and safety.
About The Author
Yogee.com.au is a leading Australian online toy store. Visit yogee.com.au for a wide selection of Kids Toys at discounted prices. To save money on your next purchase, please visit http://www.yogee.com.au
However, when toys are recommended for a certain age range because of a safety issue, you’ll want to exercise your own common sense, and you’ll want to consider the question of why that toy is recommended for that age group.
Where a lot of these age groups are kind of subjective, as in “kids around twelve should enjoy this toy the most (but who knows? Your eight year old might love it!)”, safety issues are focused on more practical measures than like or dislike.
For example, an obvious one is choking hazard. A young child simply has a habit of chewing on things while developing their teeth, and they simply have smaller windpipes than larger children. If a teddy bear has little button eyes and is deemed a choking hazard for your three year old, they’re not just whistling Dixie. Those little button eyes really are a choking hazard for your three year old, even If that three year old is reading at a college level, that doesn’t change the fact that buttons and three year olds do not mix.
Pointy, heavy, or otherwise potentially harmful toys are another issue. A toy like say, a Meccano kit, which is made of real sheet metal, may be an excellent choice for a pre teen kid who’s old enough to know how to handle it responsibly, but we all know that a smaller child is going to chew on it, they’re going to find it hard to carry and they may drop it on a toe, or they may trip on it and poke themselves.
This isn’t because your three year old is a real dummy or anything silly like that, it’s simply that a child’s motor skills have not developed yet to the point where they can be trusted carrying potentially harmful items like certain electronic learning toys.
Again, this has nothing to do with things like mental development and the personal taste your child has in toys. Heck, some four year olds absolutely love all those scary dragons and dinosaurs and other such creatures of the night more specifically designed for a preteen audience. It’s not an issue of a child not being clever enough to figure something out, but merely an issue of physical development.
So while we recommend that you look at age recommendations as just that, recommendations, we do request that you regard the age requirements as the gospel itself. However brilliant, imaginative and mature your toddler may be, your child may enjoy listening to Mozart and quoting famed surrealist philosopher Albert Camus, but a toddler is simply not quite ready for the potential hazards of certain toys yet, or at least, not from the standpoint of physical development and safety.
About The Author
Yogee.com.au is a leading Australian online toy store. Visit yogee.com.au for a wide selection of Kids Toys at discounted prices. To save money on your next purchase, please visit http://www.yogee.com.au
Monday, March 15, 2010
The Best Carp and Catfish Fishing Presents Secrets by: Tim Richardson
I first became a passionate angler as a child. It has enriched my life and taught me many things never taught in any book in school. I had little support from disinterested parents and my fishing progress was very limited when I was young. This lack of encouragement teamed with scarce funds to buy fishing tackle and pay for fishing permits did not help either. Two of the greatest presents you can actually provide any kid with a growing interest, is to give them attention and encouragement no matter how little you care about the new hobby or sport etc yourself.
Owing to a lack of information and materials to expand and forward my own learning and enable me to further think for myself my catches and development of my passion were hampered. Today if you are a beginner, or even an experienced one, the internet is such an amazing resource for budding anglers. I used to visit libraries and read everything I could to expand my knowledge. As they say, a little knowledge is a dangerous thing, certainly for the fish it can be. Just one tip about a bait enhancing principle can revolutionise catches for instance.
Often an angler can remain stuck for years in a ‘void’ where their thinking and understanding and technical approach is very conventional and generally on a par with his or her peers. For instance I remember using soluble polyvinyl alcohol tubes to apply free bait accurately at range, when most anglers around me were ignorant of its existence altogether. Applying extra pressure on the line where a bobbin, indicator or ‘swinger’ would be placed today, I used different weight tent pegs and elastic to vary line tension and ‘bounce-back’ on a fish playing with a baited rig which produced many good results and valuable lessons. This was around the time that hollow cylinders were being used on a stick with the line passing under it as bite indicators in the 70’s and early eighties.
Where everyone is reading the same information (and opinions) this generally creates a situation where a majority will inevitably think the same. This can even make people who do things differently to the majority get ridiculed, which is just crazy. For example a guy using live bait to catch a big carp. Sound crazy? Nope: Richie McDonald tuned into his surroundings to the degree that when he realised that the big carp he was fishing for were predating upon abundant fish fry he simply went with the flow and gave them what they wanted. The result was the biggest leather carp in the UK at the time; ‘Heather the leather.’ Now many young anglers have missed school in order to go fishing without their parents or teachers knowledge. I’m sure Richie did and yours truly also. But this was because no-one close to me neither encouraged nor supported me so I took things into my own hands. My parents simply never went fishing with me (period.) What can we learn from this I wonder...?
For me, it only made me even more determined and rebellious, which is not the best thing for any family and cause disruptions, arguments, fall-outs, groundings and cycles of family battles etc. What a waste of effort. If the family helps and supports a child’s passion then this is far more productive and less harmful avoiding all those negative and emotionally-draining life experiences and relationships strife that can so easily be avoided.
I was not a good reader at the age of 6. But by allowing me to do a very detailed school project on fishing at the age of 10, not only did my reading skills (and illustrative skill) improve overnight drastically, but so did my behaviour, my performance in various school subjects and my confidence and improved attitude too. Being free to express yourself through something you are passionate about, (at any age) really can change you and your life (and your family’s) in so many positive ways.
Through my childhood and teen years I gradually gathered more and more information about a very wide and deep range of fishing areas and subjects. Memories of small stepping stone experiences where many major breakthroughs occurred, looking back now really fill those years with colour and fond memories. Like many kids I also had other interests and played guitar and sang (my mother was a music teacher) played many sports and won many cups and medals, loved wildlife and actually rather preferred to be there doing something ‘hands-on’ than reading about it. But then in between doing something I liked doing, I’d track down information and read about it. I liked to try a technique for real; them read more about the subject and try again and keep trying new things and testing results. I never new what might happen which was a really exciting thing.
I remember sitting beside my carp rods on a particular night on the first water I fished with 20 pound carp lurking there. The sudden realisation that I might hook a 20 pound carp scared me – I’d only landed my previous best, a 13 pound carp, on a roach rod and although I was now using heavier rods used for ledgering using a sinker, how would I myself deal with the fight from a bigger fish? At the time a 20 pound carp was considered a very good fish and the record of Kevin Maddocks, that of twenty 20 pound carp caught in a season, had not been achieved yet.
As a kid I’d had pictures all over my walls of big fish caught by leading anglers of the day mostly members of the dedicated fishing fraternity the ‘British Carp Study Group.’ The fish in the pictures are not thought of as huge today. I fact I hooked three 40’s in 18 hours in a water in the UK in 2005 and multiple catches of 30 pound fish are common-place in the UK. Fish have benefited from global warming, improved bait nutrition and volume of application and improved availability of natural food too, by growing much bigger on average than in previous decades. A role model is very important and my heroes were the likes of Rod Hutchinson, Richard Walker, The Taylors, Jack Hilton and so on.
These guys really shared their passion and love for fishing, for nature and wildlife and how to appreciate it more, so that their fishing became an integral part of a natural vibrant waterside environment. For example at the famous carp water called Bernithan pool or ‘Redmire’ swims were just gaps in the reeds created upon arriving to fish and ‘bivvy’ sized swims were definitely not cool even though ridge tents were often used. In fact, the first time I ever night-fished, I used a 2 man ridge tent. This might seem unimaginable to the extremely commercially minded anglers of today.
What help and enthusiasm and encouragement I could not get from family came from those writers of articles in the fishing papers of the time and very ground-breaking they were too, although many times the baits and methods talked about had already been used in practice by a range of different creative anglers in the past. The ‘hair rig’ for instance was used by anglers in different countries including parts of China and even in the UK well prior to the official publication of the hair rig. It is sometimes easier to ‘invent’ something by accident that puts you ahead. Using a tangled hook link so that the bait (which had ridden up the line away from the hook) was fished away from the hook was my first use of a hair rig and it solved the twitch bites I had been having most of the time from single figure fish at the time.
Fishing information is all over the place now and it’s a great thing which can quicken the results achieved and raise standards and awareness of fishing by so many years. But one thing that is missing very frequently in new anglers is that ability to think creatively for themselves and also to respect their fishing environment.
Fishing publications often trigger fashions in thinking and behaviour which really have little to do with practical fishing and far more to do with ego and artificially created fashions, such as with ‘instant’ anglers who buy all the newest tackle available – those ‘camo’ style hoodies or the smoothest line lay big pit reels. It’s knowing how to use the equipment that really counts and that takes appreciation and understanding of information. It’s like knowing about wind lanes, shaded areas preferences of fish, the way underwater layers and currents move and effects of fly hatches on fish, etc. No camouflaged rucksack ever caught anyone a fish, just like no gun actually killed anyone by itself! Sure the tackle trade is there to make money and I’m sure to keep their livelihoods alive and kicking for the future, but this is not the ‘be all and end all.’
Tackle trade information is often skewed as ‘infomercials’ and tend to give a one-sided picture of things. How do you really know if a reported fish was caught on a particular companies bait, for instance, or if it was, was that bait which is commercially available actually identical to the one used in the adverts or even used by high profile ‘field-testers?’ Fortunately most companies realise that integrity counts long-term.
If you are thinking of maybe buying something for yourself or a budding angler for Christmas this is an exciting thing but also sometimes an apparently confusing thing. After all, with so many new and fashionable items on sale, how do you choose? Do you go with ‘X’ company’s recommendation, or ‘Y’ company’s recommendation? The best thing to do is actually discover for yourself exactly what the fishing needs and exact requirements really are. So many times a kid gets a rod that is too short and uncontrollable as a gift. The first time he goes to cast out or strike at a fish his float and fine line will easily tangle causing great frustration and tackle wastage and boredom!
I got really started out with a ‘toy rod’ of split cane with a fibreglass tip which was a 10 foot long 2 piece rod with a metal copper coloured furrel and rod end insert which proved its weakest point in the end! I was lucky as this length was much easier to use than the often seem ‘toy’ fishing rods from China at 5 or 6 feet long. In fact I found it much easier still using a 13 foot rod. The balance of a rod and its reel are so important to anglers learning skills of holding a rod to cast out, or reel in and land a fish.
Personally I loved getting anything to do with fishing for Christmas. As the years went by my parents found this time that this was no ‘5 minute wonder’ soon to be given up, but a completely absorbing all consuming passion, but I still only used the most basic of tackle. I still remember the smell of the lubricating oil in my first ‘fixed spool reel’ and marvelled at the varnish, whipping, rings, reel rings and cork handle of my first ‘real’ fishing rod. It was actually solid glass fibre rod of 10 feet in length with small sea-fishing style rings which were highly robust. In fact this rod successfully lasted me for years and again just shows it’s how you use equipment even when totally out-dated.
You need the correct tools for the job of actually fishing, but they must suit you personally and ideally you need the opportunity to test expensive equipment before buying and in this respect I really like the idea of this approach at the Carp Society water ‘Horseshoe Lake’ which is a stunning lake in Gloucestershire, UK. When testing a rod, its action and fighting test curve you must use line in the rings and preferably test casting it with the weights of sinkers you will use in practice. Over the years I’ve used rods that simply do not feel balanced, do not have the power in the tip, or butt section when really needed, have too much memory in the tip, or are too soft in the middle section, or simply feel awkward when fighting a big fish using a big heavy reel.
Some rods have had too few rings; some have too many, some have the rings at distances which for my purposes were not ideal. In fact many of my big fish (including a 45 pound leather carp) were landed using rod blanks which had been turned into sea bass fishing rods with a test curve of about 3.5 pounds. These rods were a mixture of glass fibre and carbon fibre and I used a total of 6 over a particular period of 10 years for catfish and carp. They gradually lost their memory after the effects of playing big fish took their toll, but they suited me perfectly, despite my having tried leading brand rods previously.
Sometimes it is better to get second-hand gear that was ‘top of the range’ first before buying brand new so you can use and ‘abuse’ it and really test it out. I used some brand new Rod Hutchinson rods successfully for a couple of years before I appreciated their ideal use and also their limitations. These rod were 13 foot long 3.5 pound test curve (original) ‘Dream Makers.’ I found them ideal for playing carp of around 30 to about 50 pounds, (the same for catfish) but above this they were not ‘pokey’ enough. I hooked the big girl (at 82 pounds) at Rainbow Lake in France on one of these rods and these rods were as much use as a roach rod.
In order to track down the exact equipment that suits you, you need to list what it is exactly that will give you the solution to your problem. For example, if you need to accurately hit the marginal shelf under a tree on the edge of an island 120 metres away (in a cross-wind) few rods will exactly suit your height, weight, style of casting etc and it takes genuine research and testing and not taking the first ‘distance rod’ you see in a magazine at face value.
In my opinion, (apart from fish location and behaviour) a genuine understanding of and appreciation of all the natural systems and environment and natural life involved in your fishing bestows great power. Yes consistent fishing success takes experience, but knowledge gives you the greatest personal edges and breakthroughs in fishing, (as with many things in life) because you will be mentally tooled-up to be able to think far more creatively and constructively to solve your fishing problems and challenges which constantly come everyone’s way. Learning about why and how baits work and how best exploit them is vitally important, but the average fisherman does not have this deeper information. This is just one of the things that classify him as ‘average.’
Reading about the latest baits and fishing techniques in magazines can show you current fashions, like bait flavours, boilies, pellets etc and current manufacturers or sponsors thinking but don’t forget the bigger picture – things go in cycles and don’t just progress in a linear direction; so why not think for yourself, get more and bigger ‘edge’ and break those cycles. Think about it; a fishing rod is for Christmas, but knowledge is for life...
The author has many more fishing and bait ‘edges.' Just one could impact on your catches.
About The Author
Tim Richardson is a homemade carp and catfish bait-maker, and proven big fish angler. His bait making and bait enhancing books / ebooks are even used by members of the “British Carp Study Group” for reference. View this dedicated bait secrets website now... For the unique and acclaimed new massive expert bait making / enhancing ‘bibles’ ebooks / books: “BIG CATFISH AND CARP BAIT SECRETS!” And: “BIG CARP BAIT SECRETS!” (AND "FLAVOUR, FEEDING TRIGGERS AND CHEMORECEPTION SECRETS") SEE: http://www.baitbigfish.com
Owing to a lack of information and materials to expand and forward my own learning and enable me to further think for myself my catches and development of my passion were hampered. Today if you are a beginner, or even an experienced one, the internet is such an amazing resource for budding anglers. I used to visit libraries and read everything I could to expand my knowledge. As they say, a little knowledge is a dangerous thing, certainly for the fish it can be. Just one tip about a bait enhancing principle can revolutionise catches for instance.
Often an angler can remain stuck for years in a ‘void’ where their thinking and understanding and technical approach is very conventional and generally on a par with his or her peers. For instance I remember using soluble polyvinyl alcohol tubes to apply free bait accurately at range, when most anglers around me were ignorant of its existence altogether. Applying extra pressure on the line where a bobbin, indicator or ‘swinger’ would be placed today, I used different weight tent pegs and elastic to vary line tension and ‘bounce-back’ on a fish playing with a baited rig which produced many good results and valuable lessons. This was around the time that hollow cylinders were being used on a stick with the line passing under it as bite indicators in the 70’s and early eighties.
Where everyone is reading the same information (and opinions) this generally creates a situation where a majority will inevitably think the same. This can even make people who do things differently to the majority get ridiculed, which is just crazy. For example a guy using live bait to catch a big carp. Sound crazy? Nope: Richie McDonald tuned into his surroundings to the degree that when he realised that the big carp he was fishing for were predating upon abundant fish fry he simply went with the flow and gave them what they wanted. The result was the biggest leather carp in the UK at the time; ‘Heather the leather.’ Now many young anglers have missed school in order to go fishing without their parents or teachers knowledge. I’m sure Richie did and yours truly also. But this was because no-one close to me neither encouraged nor supported me so I took things into my own hands. My parents simply never went fishing with me (period.) What can we learn from this I wonder...?
For me, it only made me even more determined and rebellious, which is not the best thing for any family and cause disruptions, arguments, fall-outs, groundings and cycles of family battles etc. What a waste of effort. If the family helps and supports a child’s passion then this is far more productive and less harmful avoiding all those negative and emotionally-draining life experiences and relationships strife that can so easily be avoided.
I was not a good reader at the age of 6. But by allowing me to do a very detailed school project on fishing at the age of 10, not only did my reading skills (and illustrative skill) improve overnight drastically, but so did my behaviour, my performance in various school subjects and my confidence and improved attitude too. Being free to express yourself through something you are passionate about, (at any age) really can change you and your life (and your family’s) in so many positive ways.
Through my childhood and teen years I gradually gathered more and more information about a very wide and deep range of fishing areas and subjects. Memories of small stepping stone experiences where many major breakthroughs occurred, looking back now really fill those years with colour and fond memories. Like many kids I also had other interests and played guitar and sang (my mother was a music teacher) played many sports and won many cups and medals, loved wildlife and actually rather preferred to be there doing something ‘hands-on’ than reading about it. But then in between doing something I liked doing, I’d track down information and read about it. I liked to try a technique for real; them read more about the subject and try again and keep trying new things and testing results. I never new what might happen which was a really exciting thing.
I remember sitting beside my carp rods on a particular night on the first water I fished with 20 pound carp lurking there. The sudden realisation that I might hook a 20 pound carp scared me – I’d only landed my previous best, a 13 pound carp, on a roach rod and although I was now using heavier rods used for ledgering using a sinker, how would I myself deal with the fight from a bigger fish? At the time a 20 pound carp was considered a very good fish and the record of Kevin Maddocks, that of twenty 20 pound carp caught in a season, had not been achieved yet.
As a kid I’d had pictures all over my walls of big fish caught by leading anglers of the day mostly members of the dedicated fishing fraternity the ‘British Carp Study Group.’ The fish in the pictures are not thought of as huge today. I fact I hooked three 40’s in 18 hours in a water in the UK in 2005 and multiple catches of 30 pound fish are common-place in the UK. Fish have benefited from global warming, improved bait nutrition and volume of application and improved availability of natural food too, by growing much bigger on average than in previous decades. A role model is very important and my heroes were the likes of Rod Hutchinson, Richard Walker, The Taylors, Jack Hilton and so on.
These guys really shared their passion and love for fishing, for nature and wildlife and how to appreciate it more, so that their fishing became an integral part of a natural vibrant waterside environment. For example at the famous carp water called Bernithan pool or ‘Redmire’ swims were just gaps in the reeds created upon arriving to fish and ‘bivvy’ sized swims were definitely not cool even though ridge tents were often used. In fact, the first time I ever night-fished, I used a 2 man ridge tent. This might seem unimaginable to the extremely commercially minded anglers of today.
What help and enthusiasm and encouragement I could not get from family came from those writers of articles in the fishing papers of the time and very ground-breaking they were too, although many times the baits and methods talked about had already been used in practice by a range of different creative anglers in the past. The ‘hair rig’ for instance was used by anglers in different countries including parts of China and even in the UK well prior to the official publication of the hair rig. It is sometimes easier to ‘invent’ something by accident that puts you ahead. Using a tangled hook link so that the bait (which had ridden up the line away from the hook) was fished away from the hook was my first use of a hair rig and it solved the twitch bites I had been having most of the time from single figure fish at the time.
Fishing information is all over the place now and it’s a great thing which can quicken the results achieved and raise standards and awareness of fishing by so many years. But one thing that is missing very frequently in new anglers is that ability to think creatively for themselves and also to respect their fishing environment.
Fishing publications often trigger fashions in thinking and behaviour which really have little to do with practical fishing and far more to do with ego and artificially created fashions, such as with ‘instant’ anglers who buy all the newest tackle available – those ‘camo’ style hoodies or the smoothest line lay big pit reels. It’s knowing how to use the equipment that really counts and that takes appreciation and understanding of information. It’s like knowing about wind lanes, shaded areas preferences of fish, the way underwater layers and currents move and effects of fly hatches on fish, etc. No camouflaged rucksack ever caught anyone a fish, just like no gun actually killed anyone by itself! Sure the tackle trade is there to make money and I’m sure to keep their livelihoods alive and kicking for the future, but this is not the ‘be all and end all.’
Tackle trade information is often skewed as ‘infomercials’ and tend to give a one-sided picture of things. How do you really know if a reported fish was caught on a particular companies bait, for instance, or if it was, was that bait which is commercially available actually identical to the one used in the adverts or even used by high profile ‘field-testers?’ Fortunately most companies realise that integrity counts long-term.
If you are thinking of maybe buying something for yourself or a budding angler for Christmas this is an exciting thing but also sometimes an apparently confusing thing. After all, with so many new and fashionable items on sale, how do you choose? Do you go with ‘X’ company’s recommendation, or ‘Y’ company’s recommendation? The best thing to do is actually discover for yourself exactly what the fishing needs and exact requirements really are. So many times a kid gets a rod that is too short and uncontrollable as a gift. The first time he goes to cast out or strike at a fish his float and fine line will easily tangle causing great frustration and tackle wastage and boredom!
I got really started out with a ‘toy rod’ of split cane with a fibreglass tip which was a 10 foot long 2 piece rod with a metal copper coloured furrel and rod end insert which proved its weakest point in the end! I was lucky as this length was much easier to use than the often seem ‘toy’ fishing rods from China at 5 or 6 feet long. In fact I found it much easier still using a 13 foot rod. The balance of a rod and its reel are so important to anglers learning skills of holding a rod to cast out, or reel in and land a fish.
Personally I loved getting anything to do with fishing for Christmas. As the years went by my parents found this time that this was no ‘5 minute wonder’ soon to be given up, but a completely absorbing all consuming passion, but I still only used the most basic of tackle. I still remember the smell of the lubricating oil in my first ‘fixed spool reel’ and marvelled at the varnish, whipping, rings, reel rings and cork handle of my first ‘real’ fishing rod. It was actually solid glass fibre rod of 10 feet in length with small sea-fishing style rings which were highly robust. In fact this rod successfully lasted me for years and again just shows it’s how you use equipment even when totally out-dated.
You need the correct tools for the job of actually fishing, but they must suit you personally and ideally you need the opportunity to test expensive equipment before buying and in this respect I really like the idea of this approach at the Carp Society water ‘Horseshoe Lake’ which is a stunning lake in Gloucestershire, UK. When testing a rod, its action and fighting test curve you must use line in the rings and preferably test casting it with the weights of sinkers you will use in practice. Over the years I’ve used rods that simply do not feel balanced, do not have the power in the tip, or butt section when really needed, have too much memory in the tip, or are too soft in the middle section, or simply feel awkward when fighting a big fish using a big heavy reel.
Some rods have had too few rings; some have too many, some have the rings at distances which for my purposes were not ideal. In fact many of my big fish (including a 45 pound leather carp) were landed using rod blanks which had been turned into sea bass fishing rods with a test curve of about 3.5 pounds. These rods were a mixture of glass fibre and carbon fibre and I used a total of 6 over a particular period of 10 years for catfish and carp. They gradually lost their memory after the effects of playing big fish took their toll, but they suited me perfectly, despite my having tried leading brand rods previously.
Sometimes it is better to get second-hand gear that was ‘top of the range’ first before buying brand new so you can use and ‘abuse’ it and really test it out. I used some brand new Rod Hutchinson rods successfully for a couple of years before I appreciated their ideal use and also their limitations. These rod were 13 foot long 3.5 pound test curve (original) ‘Dream Makers.’ I found them ideal for playing carp of around 30 to about 50 pounds, (the same for catfish) but above this they were not ‘pokey’ enough. I hooked the big girl (at 82 pounds) at Rainbow Lake in France on one of these rods and these rods were as much use as a roach rod.
In order to track down the exact equipment that suits you, you need to list what it is exactly that will give you the solution to your problem. For example, if you need to accurately hit the marginal shelf under a tree on the edge of an island 120 metres away (in a cross-wind) few rods will exactly suit your height, weight, style of casting etc and it takes genuine research and testing and not taking the first ‘distance rod’ you see in a magazine at face value.
In my opinion, (apart from fish location and behaviour) a genuine understanding of and appreciation of all the natural systems and environment and natural life involved in your fishing bestows great power. Yes consistent fishing success takes experience, but knowledge gives you the greatest personal edges and breakthroughs in fishing, (as with many things in life) because you will be mentally tooled-up to be able to think far more creatively and constructively to solve your fishing problems and challenges which constantly come everyone’s way. Learning about why and how baits work and how best exploit them is vitally important, but the average fisherman does not have this deeper information. This is just one of the things that classify him as ‘average.’
Reading about the latest baits and fishing techniques in magazines can show you current fashions, like bait flavours, boilies, pellets etc and current manufacturers or sponsors thinking but don’t forget the bigger picture – things go in cycles and don’t just progress in a linear direction; so why not think for yourself, get more and bigger ‘edge’ and break those cycles. Think about it; a fishing rod is for Christmas, but knowledge is for life...
The author has many more fishing and bait ‘edges.' Just one could impact on your catches.
About The Author
Tim Richardson is a homemade carp and catfish bait-maker, and proven big fish angler. His bait making and bait enhancing books / ebooks are even used by members of the “British Carp Study Group” for reference. View this dedicated bait secrets website now... For the unique and acclaimed new massive expert bait making / enhancing ‘bibles’ ebooks / books: “BIG CATFISH AND CARP BAIT SECRETS!” And: “BIG CARP BAIT SECRETS!” (AND "FLAVOUR, FEEDING TRIGGERS AND CHEMORECEPTION SECRETS") SEE: http://www.baitbigfish.com
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