Tuesday 25 November 2014

Best Websites to Buy Kids' Toys Online

Best Websites to Buy Kids' Toys Online


Best Websites to Buy Kids' Toys Online
Buying toys online is a great way to avoid the hassle associated with shopping at brick and mortar stores that generally have huge crowds, no parking space, and unavailability of toys. In this Buzzle article, we provide a list of websites that are sure to make your toy shopping experience thoroughly pleasurable.

The convenience of shopping online for baby stuff, such as clothes, shoes, and toys, is a dream come true for many parents who just hate standing in those long lines at the cash counter with a wailing child. Of late, online stores have seen a huge surge in their sales as more and more parents prefer the online route rather than opting for a brick and mortar store.

While all of us love our Walmart and Target online stores, there are various other online toy stores that have a huge selection of creative and kid-friendly toys. Most of these sites are very easy to use, even for a novice, and their wide variety of features like extensive search, safety and recall information, make these websites the perfect place to shop for your kids. In this Buzzle article, we provide a list of some amazing websites which makes shopping online for toys so much fun.

5 Websites to Buy Kids' Toys Online

Toys"R"Us

Toys"R"Us online store is an easy-to-use website with a number of amazing features. One of the best parts of the site is the amazing variety of toys available.

Availability of Toys
With a tagline of the "world's largest toy store'', Toys''R''Us has more than 30,000 toys and video games. You can find toys from virtually all categories like action figures, arts and crafts, dolls and stuffed animals, building sets and blocks, pretend play and dress-up, and many more.

Site Features
The site is functional and really well-organized. Parents can get toy recommendations by entering the child's details, such as the age, gender, along with the price and brand. Additional features include wish lists, a gift registry, and safety and recall information. The site also contains extensive user reviews and peer reviews that help you make the right choice.

Payment and Shipping Options
The site accepts all major credit cards including MasterCard, Visa, American Express, and Discover. It also accepts Toys"R"Us and Babies"R"Us credit cards. Other forms of accepted payment options include PayPal, Google Checkout, and Bill Me Later.

Some items on the website are eligible for free shipping and will have a red free shipping tag on the product page. You can also choose from a number of shipping options such as standard, expedited, or express. Since expedited or express shipping involves faster delivery, you will be charged a premium to ship the item. The shipping rates also vary, based on the size and weight of the product. You can save on the shipping fees by collecting the toys from actual brick and mortar stores that can be found in several locations.


Fat Brain Toys

They may not sell 'all' the toys, but this online store takes pride in offering customers only the best, safest, and highest quality toys in the market. This means that you do not need to dump a cheap toy that your child has played with only once or twice.

Availability of Toys
This site has quality, open-ended toys, games, and gifts. The toys are classified under active play, arts and crafts, building and construction, History and Geography, kits, planes and rockets, magnets and magnetism, science and nature, wooden toys, and lots more.

Site Features
You can search for toys based on the category, child's age, price, brand, gender, new toys, award winners, and bestsellers. You can also checkout popular toys and related toys. The site is well-organized and all the pictures and navigation tools are large and well-placed.

The site also has a unique 'Fat Brain Index' rating that checks 14 different traits of a toy to label it as "Fat Brain Worthy". In addition to this, there is a 'Toy Value Index', that quantifies the overall play value of a toy, based on the quality, time played, and age transcendence. This is done by taking customers' feedback. The site also has toy safety and product recall information and wish lists. Help features include live chat, toll-free number and email for getting in touch with customer service representatives.

Payment and Shipping Options
The site accepts all major credit cards such as MasterCard, Visa, Discover, and American Express. The site also accepts payment via Paypal and gift cards. The shipping options include free shipping on certain products, ground shipping, and express shipping options. It also offers international shipping. The return policy for Fat Brain Toys is ninety days, which is considerably longer than the thirty days refund period provided by other online stores.


Educational Toys Planet

If you are looking for some unique and fun-to-play toys, then Educational Toys Planet is the perfect website for your needs. Every item on this site is carefully looked at and assessed with the exclusive skills assessment.

Availability of Toys
The site contains a wide variety of toys classified under arts and crafts, puzzles, games, pretend play, building toys, science toys, animal toys, activity tables, music toys, sports toys, and outdoor toys. You can also choose toys made in the U.S., or opt for some beautiful European toys.

Site Features
There are a number of ways in which you can select the perfect toy. You can search by age, gender, price, brand, award winners, bestsellers, and toys on a clearance sale. A unique feature is the search function based on the skills, which includes creativity, cognitive development, fine motor skills, imagination, and language development. Moreover the 'Top 10 Toys Listsmart' provides lists of the best ten toys in each category.

Payment and Shipping Options
The website accepts Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express and PayPal for payment. You can submit your email address to receive coupons and special promotions. Educational Toys Planet also offers free shipping on certain purchases, ground shipping, and express shipping, along with international shipping. The site has a 30-day return policy.


FAO Schwarz

The oldest toy store in the United States, FAO Schwarz has been there for nearly 150 years, enchanting children and adults with some delightful and unique toys. Now with an online store, you do not have to take a trip to the store, and instead get to choose all the lovely goodies sitting in the comfort of your own home.

Availability of Toys
If you are looking for unique, one-of-a-kind toys, then this is the perfect store for you. The prices are on the higher side, but the toys you get for the price are truly unique and amazing. They have an impressive list of toy selection including categories such as action figures, arts and crafts, electronics, stuffed animals, collectibles and dolls. The site also offers eco-friendly toys made from organic material.

Site Features
You can modify and search by category, brand, age, character/theme, exclusives, or bestsellers. The search features are quite basic and definitely need an improvement. Although it does have toy safety warnings, an 'email a friend' option, and wish lists, there are very few additional features.

Payment and Shipping
Apart from the popular credit cards, such as American Express, Discover, MasterCard and Visa, FAO Schwarz is one of the few online stores that accepts Bill Me Later payment option. It offers free shipping on certain purchases, ground shipping, and express shipping. There is no option for online shipping.


Kazoo Toys

A truly unique toy store with a large selection of quality toys and games, Kazoo toys is a well-designed online toy store that allows you to search and find the perfect toy you want for the child. The brick and mortar store is located in Denver, Colorado.

Availability of Toys
Kazoo has toys slotted under activity toys, arts and crafts, dolls, bath toys, blocks and stacks, educational toys, puzzles, outdoor toys, and pretend play toys among others. There is a marked absence of action figures and video games in the toy category.

Site Features
Although you can search the items by age, category, bestsellers, or brand, you do not have the option of narrowing the search by gender, character, or theme of the toy, or new releases. It would also be nice to know about award-winning toys. The product pictures are clearly displayed along with their item description. There are also recommendations of similar products to help parents make a better choice. Kazoo Toys also has a 'personal shopper' feature that allows you to hire trained personal shoppers who can help you find the right toy for the age of your child.

Payment and Shipping Options
The website accepts credit card options such as MasterCard, Visa, and American Express. There is no alternative payment option such as PayPal or Bill Me Later. They offer free shipping on selected products, ground shipping, and express shipping. The return policy is for 15 days, money-back guarantee on all purchases that are in a new, unused condition.
By Parul Solanki
Published: December 4, 2013
Read more at Buzzle: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/best-websites-to-buy-kids-toys-online.html

A Guide for Buying Your First Remote-controlled Helicopter

A Guide for Buying Your First Remote-controlled Helicopter
 
 


Remote-controlled helicopters are loads of fun to play around with. If you too are looking to get your hands on one of these, this Buzzle article should come in handy to pick the right one.
Almost all of us at some point in our lives have had the desire to touch the skies, quite literally so. Now, unless you have a flying suit hidden away in your closet, or are a pilot, chances are, you haven't really taken to the skies just yet.

Flying a remote-controlled helicopter might not be the same as flying through the clouds, but it sure is the next best thing. RC helicopters are tons of fun to fly and tickle the fancy of young and old alike.

Also, these are now available rather cheaply online. There, however, is a problem of plenty as the Internet is flooded with RC choppers in different sizes and functionality. Never fear though, help is at hand. Here are a few pointers to keep in mind as you go heli-shopping.

Build Quality
RC helicopters are available in different sizes, right from micro ones (blade length 6-12 inches) to large ones (blade length 60 inches+). For a beginner, a small ready-to-fly chopper should do just fine. Do not, however, go in for mini choppers that are just about the size of your palm. These wear out quickly and their batteries too don't last long. Instead, go in for one that is about twice the size of your palm. These are just about the perfect size for beginners as they are great to use indoors, although, we strongly recommend you to fly it in an open area. Most RC choppers are made of metal, with a few plastic parts on top. Ensure that there are no loose parts and all the screws are in place. Also, make sure that the blades of the helicopter are smooth and aren't broken. Even a minor flaw in the blades can affect the flight of the chopper. Speaking of blades, opt for a helicopter with coaxial blades. These are usually a lot more stable than their single-rotor counterparts. A basic RC helicopter would cost you around 30 USD.

Controls
Most RC helicopters have a simple 3-channel controller. Some controllers also have the option to switch between two choppers. The standard controller has two joysticks (Throttle, Navigation). In addition to these, it may also have a charging chord which can help charge the chopper. Some may have switches to control other options like LED and camera on the chopper. For better control of your machine, make sure that the joysticks are not too hard or too loose either.

Features
The standard RC choppers come with a very minimalistic feature set, that is mainly restricted to an LED light. Other more advanced machines come with a camera, Bluetooth connectivity, Wi-Fi connectivity, etc. You might, however, want to remember that more the features, more is the load on the battery, and of course, higher the cost. Some even have the option to charge the helicopter via USB. Make sure that your flying machine comes with an in-built gyroscope as it will ensure better stability of the chopper.

Range
Advanced helicopters can have a range of about 100 feet. For beginners, however, a basic chopper with a range of about 15 - 20 feet should be sufficient, especially if you intend to fly it in an enclosed space.

Battery
Most RC helicopters use an on board Li-Po battery to power them. The small helicopters usually have a charging time of 1 - 2 hours, and a flight time of 5 - 15 minutes. Their controllers are usually powered by standard removable batteries. Some controllers also let you charge your chopper using a cable attached to it. A machine with a flying time of about 5 - 10 minutes should be just enough for beginners. Some manufacturers ship their helicopters with spare batteries as these tend to have a short lifespan. Apart from the usual battery-powered ones, choppers also come with nitro, gas, and turbine engines. These, however, are also significantly more expensive than the regular RC helicopters.

Remember, there is no point over-spending on features that you are never going to use; instead, buy yourself a basic chopper to get a hands-on feel of flying. Some of the best of the best choppers for beginners in the market today are:

● Syma S107G 3-Channel RC Helicopter
● Hero RC H911 iRocket
● Walkera Genius CP V2

It would be a wise to read the user manual before trying out your helicopter. The machine itself should be able to withstand a little crash or two, but a hard hit might damage the delicate parts inside which control the movement of the rotors. The controls are very easy to use once you get a hang of it. The whole point of RC helicopters is to give you instant gratification right out of the box, provided you know how to handle your chopper. As a simple rule of thumb, remember to give the chopper just enough throttle before you try to navigate it. Try to steer the helicopter a little too soon, and you'll have your own version of 'Black Hawk Down'!
 
By Alex Mathew
Published: December 26, 2013
Read more at Buzzle: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/features-to-look-for-before-buying-your-first-remote-controlled-helicopter.html

Monday 24 November 2014

How to Choose Toys for Kids with Special Needs

How to Choose Toys for Kids with Special Needs



How to Choose Toys for Kids with Special Needs
Choosing the right toy for a kid with special needs is not easy as you need to consider the child's abilities and stage of development before making your choice. Here is a guide to help you understand the factors that are important while choosing special needs toys and equipment.

 
Playtime and toys play a vital role in the growth and development of a child. Hence, using toys that will help develop cognitive, motor, and social skills of the child in a fun and engaging way becomes all the more necessary. Today, there are a huge variety of special needs toys available in the market with most online retailers having a special section devoted to such toys. These sections are organized in such a way that caregivers or parents of children with special needs can easily find information about toys that are engaging, therapeutic, and stimulating.

Every child is unique, and it is important to find a toy that would help boost developmental skills in the child, irrespective of his/her abilities. In this Buzzle article, we provide a comprehensive guide on the things you need to keep in mind while buying toys for children with special needs.

Things to Consider

★ Ease of Use
Is the toy easy to use, or does it frustrate the child due to its complexity? Although the toy should be challenging for the child, the challenge should be beneficial rather than frustrating for him/her. Check the complexity levels for activation and use of the toy.

★ Difficulty Level
Does the toy have a difficulty level that can be increased or decreased? Toys that allow you to change the volume, speed, height, and level of difficulty are preferable. Open-ended toys, such as blocks, are excellent as they can be optimized to match a kid's individual style, ability, and pace.

★ Safety and Durability
Is it safe and durable? Choose toys that are safe and durable enough for everyday use. Toddlers throw their toys around quite a bit, so avoid cheap plastic toys that break easily. Look for toys that can be washed and cleaned easily.

★ Interaction with Others
How much interaction does the toy provide? A toy that allows active participation and encourages social engagement with others is preferable as it would allow for family interaction, and enable children to spend more time with siblings and playmates.

★ Individual Ability
Is the toy made for a child's individual ability? Look for special toys which address a kid's special needs and allow the progression of a child's specific developmental goals. It should provide activities that reflect both developmental and chronological ages of the child.

★ Multiple Ways to Play
Will it provide a number of ways to play? Toys that provide unique ways to play are interesting for the child, and this keeps him/her engaged for a long time.

★ Motivate and Stimulate
In what ways does the toy stimulate the child's senses? Choose toys that provide auditory, tactile, visual, and kinesthetic stimulation.

Choosing Appropriate Toys and Equipment

Before buying, it is best to assess the child's interests and skill level. Special needs is an umbrella term used to define a huge range of developmental and physical disabilities. The level can vary from one child to another. It also encompasses a broad spectrum of functionality―from mild disability to severe impairment.

Toys with multi-sensory appeal

Toys which have a multi-sensory appeal are extremely popular. Lights, sounds, and movement are used to attract the child's attention. Some toys offer different textures and smell for sensory awareness. The sensory information in the form of auditory, visual, tactile, and movement is not only great fun for the kid, but also allows him/her to understand and cope with stimuli in everyday life as well. It is important to note that while some toys may be appealing to one child, they can be overstimulating for another. Do not overload a child with sensory toys. Instead, provide toys which develop their sensory perception gradually.

Best For: These toys are excellent for children with autism or sensory processing disorder, also called sensory seekers. Also, good for visual- and hearing-impaired children.

Some excellent multi-sensory toys are:

★ Edushape Sensory Ball Mega Pack
★ Melissa & Doug Zoo Animals Touch and Feel Puzzle
★ Melissa & Doug Corduroy Cutie Dog Stuffed Animal
★ Alex Toys Tots Finger Paints

Toys that improve fine motor skills

A key developmental skill is learning to use the muscles of the hands and fingers to manipulate small objects. These skills help in simple activities like writing, fastening, and zipping. Toys that encourage fine motor skills also help in the development of hand-eye coordination.

Best For: Children with autism spectrum disorders.

Some excellent toys that encourage this key skill are:

★ HABA Rainbow Whirls Pegging Game
★ Uncle Goose Classic ABC Blocks
★ Melissa & Doug Lacing Beads in a Box
★ Melissa & Doug First Bead Maze

Toys that hone gross motor skills

Toys and activities that help in developing gross motor skills and overall physical development are extremely important. These games and toys build the body's large muscle groups while allowing the child to develop coordination, balance, and strength of the arms and legs.

Best For: Children with physical disabilities such as cerebral palsy and juvenile arthritis.

Some excellent toys that develop gross motor skills are:

★ Pacific Play Tents Me Too Play Tent
★ Little Tikes Cozy Truck
★ American Educational Products Tactile Discs
★ Melissa & Doug Rattle Rumble Toddler Push Toy

Toys for improving speech and language skills

Pretend play and other make-believe activities foster communication skills and allow children to express themselves clearly. Storytelling toys, such as puppets, allow children to master coherent sentences and inspire inquiry. Even simple toys like a toy phone allow the child to practice language skills. Puzzle, barn sets, play food, dollhouses are some of the best toys for speech and language development.

Best For: Children with speech and language delays, autism, stuttering, and pervasive developmental disorder.

Some excellent toys that develop language skills are:

★ Melissa & Doug Wooden Vehicles and Traffic Signs
★ Sesame Street Steps to School Get Ready Elmo
★ Fisher-Price Little People Disney Princess Songs Palace
★ Disney Doc McStuffins Doctor Bag Play Set

Toys that improve social and play skills

Children learn social and emotional skills by expressing their feelings and imitating family life. Children should be provided open-ended toys to explore everyday themes in creative ways. Role play and imaginative activities encourage confidence and allow the child to respond socially and emotionally.

Best For: Children with autism spectrum disorders.

Some excellent toys that improve social and play skills are:

★ Melissa & Doug Town Blocks Wooden Play Set
★ Fun and Function Social(e)Motion Game
★ Melissa & Doug Create-a-Person Pad
★ Lego Ultimate Building Set
By Parul Solanki
Published: January 2, 2014
Read more at Buzzle: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/how-to-choose-toys-for-kids-with-special-needs.html

Expert Tips for Buying RC Toys for Your Child

Expert Tips for Buying RC Toys for Your Child






Buying an RC toy is not as easy as it may seem, especially with numerous choices in the market. This Buzzle article provides tips that will help you look for the best features while choosing an RC toy.
Your son's friend has just got a snazzy looking RC car for Christmas, and has he been grilling you to get one for him as well? Don't worry, you are not alone, but choosing the right remote-controlled toy is no child's play. This is because of the wide variety of RC toys out there, not just different types of toy vehicles, but also radio-controlled animals and dolls.

Before choosing the toy, it is important to first differentiate toy-grade RC models with the hobby-grade ones. Unlike toy-grade models, hobby-grade vehicles, such as cars and helicopters, are faster and bigger. They are also considerably expensive and require more skill and maintenance. Some of them have nitro engines for extra speed. In contrast, toy-grade models are simpler to use and inexpensive. While choosing, you need to find a toy-grade model that is sturdy and durable. Here are a few tips on how to choose an RC toy for your child.
Decide the Type of Toy

There are many types of RC toys in the market including cars, trucks, airplanes, helicopters, sailboats, motor boats, robots, and animals. The choice of the toy will also impact the intended use. For example, if your child plans to use his/her toy on flat paved surfaces, then he can opt for a car. Likewise, a buggy or truck is more suited to off road or rough terrain. Though most RC toys have a transmitter, receiver, and motors. There are toys that are powered by batteries or other power sources like a gas machine for RC cars. The type of toy you choose will depend to a great extent on what your child wants and where he wants to use it.
Choose an Appropriate Size

Most children would try and grab a large-sized toy, but if it is just too heavy and bulky for the child, then it will probably lie there unused. Instead, look for a smaller toy like a mini-car or helicopter that the child can carry around and store easily. Generally, most RC toys are suitable for older children and adults, so do check the child's age before buying the toy.

Should Have Easy-to-operate Controls

For a start, it is best to choose an RC toy with simple, easy-to-use controls. The controllers vary from one RC toy to another. While some have pistol-style controllers, others have buttons and sticks. For toddlers, it is best to pick two-button controllers which allows kids to easily maneuver the toy around. For slightly older kids, look for controllers with extra features. It is also a good idea to avoid helicopters or planes for toddlers as they require skill and dexterity to control.

Check Durability

You should also ensure that the RC toy you buy is durable. This is because, with children, you know that the toy is sure to suffer from plenty of crashes and hits. Look for durable toys that are made of hard plastic polymers, which are not very heavy, but still offer protection. Look for a heavy-duty body and large tires.
Check Out Extra Features

Does the vehicle have any extra features like auto door/boot opener, or lights and sounds. Although these features may seem trivial, but for a toddler, it is an invaluable aid in helping him learn how to operate the toy. Look for toys with flashing lights, colorful decals, horns, or engine sounds. An RC police car with a flashing lights and sounds is definitely going to interest a toddler.

Ensure Safety

Ensure that the toys are sturdy and durable, and do not contain sharp edges or small parts that can accidentally harm the child. The battery compartment should be secure, especially if you are handing over the car to a toddler. Avoid planes and helicopters for toddlers as they may end up crashing them and hurting themselves
 
By Parul Solanki
Published: February 11, 2014
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/expert-tips-for-buying-rc-toys-for-your-child.html

Sunday 23 November 2014

Educational Toys for Infants and Children

Educational Toys for Infants and Children
Childhood and toys are almost inseparable. The physical and mental development of a child depends on the right choice of toys, to a certain extent. This article provides some guidelines for parents to choose the right toys for their kids.




Childhood is that stage of life, where you get fascinated with almost everything under the Sun. Right from their birth, children are curious about everything, and have an inborn tendency to explore and learn. Toys play a key role in this process of learning and development.

In simple terms, a toy can be defined as something to be played with. It can be anything - a household item, like a kitchen container or a set of building blocks. Toys that help a child to learn about a particular subject or to develop a particular skill, are known as educational toys. Such toys should be selected carefully, according to the age of the child. As children are curious about learning new things, any toy or game is a learning experience for them. You can tap this natural curiosity, and contribute to their knowledge in a better way, through educational toys.

Zero to Six Months

For a newborn, after spending nine months in the mother's womb, everything is new. It may sound absurd, if you talk about educational toys for a newborn, but toys constitute a great medium through which you can make the newborns familiar with their surroundings. At this stage, the primary role of toys is to help the babies develop their senses and reflexes.

It takes at least two months for newborns to get adjusted to their surroundings. They learn through their senses of hearing, sight, taste, and touch. You can stimulate these senses using the right educational toys. A newborn baby has blurry vision and can recognize things within a distance of 10 to 12 inches. So while selecting toys for this age group, you should go for colorful ones. Crib mobiles with soothing music, crib music boxes, soft toys, and safety mirrors are some good options. Crib mobiles help the movement of eyes, which in turn strengthens eye muscles; music enhances listening skills, and soft toys or dolls help the newborns to recognize faces.

As a baby enters his second month, he starts kicking his legs and waving his arms. So floor gyms with hanging parts, light, and music, prove more appealing for them. It helps to develop motor skills, as the babies reach for the hanging toys. During the third and fourth months, babies attempt to grasp objects. So they need rattles and toys that make sounds. During the fifth month, you can select toys, which a baby can hold with his hands. Bat-at toys, squeeze toys, musical toys, and teething rings, help to enhance hand-eye coordination. During the sixth month, babies need toys that encourage them to crawl. Colored balls and action-reaction toys will be perfect for this age.

Six to Twelve Months

A baby starts crawling and takes efforts to sit straight during the seventh and eighth month. The thinking ability of a baby starts developing around the eighth month. Toys, like building blocks, sorting toys, bath toys, and interlocking rings, are good at this stage. During the eighth month, go for toys which enhance confidence and strength of the baby, as he may try to stand up, holding the furniture. Ninth and tenth months witness more physical activity, with the baby trying to walk. Walkers, link-together toys, play-telephones, and language development toys, are excellent. You may also introduce outdoor toys, like swings, during this period. Try some push-pull toys, ride-on toys, simple musical instruments, pop-up toys, and balls; and see the happiness on your child's face, as he plays and learns.

One to Five Years

Almost all babies start walking between their twelfth and fifteenth month. During this period, they utter their first words, generally associated with food, parents, or pets. Educational toys in this period, should aim at helping them develop these skills. As they enter their second year, you can introduce more toys of that kind, to enhance their vocabulary and creative skills. Get them books with pictures, crayons and play dough, during this period. You can also choose soft alphabet blocks, stacking rings, solid letters, and large balls.

A two-year-old can walk, jump and hop; has a good hand-to-eye coordination, and tries to speak full sentences. At this age, kids tend to observe and imitate the speech and mannerisms of elders around them. So it is advisable to get them sporty toys, role-play toys, water toys, wagons, dolls, stuffed animals, and child-sized tables and chairs. You can also introduce educational toys, which help in counting. As a child enters his third year, he will want more sporty toys, simple board games, play sets, dolls with accessories, story books, picture books, realistic toys like animal sets, model cars and trains, and puzzles. Such learning toys help in preparing them for kindergarten.

During the fourth year, kids become proficient in almost everything expected from them at that age. They can walk well, carry their things, draw, write words, sing, dance, swim, and skate. Try to indulge them in more creative projects; and get them toys that can help them enhance their reading and writing skills. You can get them drawing toys, electronic games, board games, and simple musical instruments. These toys help them build self-confidence.

Above Five Years

Kids in this age group make friends and spend more time playing with their peer group. They are active in hiking, swimming, biking, and may have their own hobbies. They enjoy board games, art kits, science kits, art materials, marbles, larger bicycles, construction sets, backyard gym equipment, and kites. Between the ages of six and nine, you can go for science experiment kits, junior versions of adult sporting equipment, pogo sticks, jump ropes, magic sets, tabletop sports, and video games.

Kids in the age group of nine to twelve tend to develop skills and hobbies that usually last for their lifetime. Science kits, jigsaw puzzles, advanced construction sets, chess, playing cards, remote control vehicles, checkers, dominoes, and books are beneficial for them.

Things to Remember

Choose appropriate educational toys for different age groups, considering your child's abilities and interests.
Always read the instructions before using the toy or game; and keep the product literature safely, for future reference.
Toys for infants and toddlers should not have any sharp edges and small parts.
Let the kids play under your supervision. Don't allow the younger kids to use toys meant for the older ones.
Keep these toys in a safe place, away from very young children. Check these toys at regular intervals for damage.

Playing helps children to develop their senses and motor skills. It also helps the kids in enhancing their creativity, thinking, problem solving skills, and language. So playing with educational toys means learning and mastering various skills. Every parent should try to choose suitable toys for their children. Apart from buying these toys, it is important to spend quality time with your kids. At times, you may have to sit with your children and explain to them, the working of a particular toy, help them solve a puzzle, or simply play with them. All these contribute to the overall development of your child, as your child is everything that matters to you.
By Sonia Nair
Published: April 18, 2009
Read more at Buzzle: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/educational-toys-for-infants-and-children.html