What to Expect Developmentally. Learning Through Play. During the tween and teen years, play continues to be an important path to learning. Although the attraction is to more electronic gaming, and many children leave childhood toys behind, there are still many activities that older kids enjoy. They are ready for more complex games that require strategic thinking. They enjoy playing brainteasers that challenge themselves solo time as well as social games they can play with family and friends. More complex craft kits, that may lead to long term hobbies, offer satisfying ways to try new skills without a giant investment. They like kits with end products they can use, wear, display or give as g

What to Expect Developmentally. Learning Through Play. During the early school years as children begin their formal education, play continues to be an important path to learning. Now more complex games, puzzles and crafts offer children satisfying ways to practice and reinforce the new skills they are acquiring in the classroom. Dexterity and Problem-Solving Ability. School age kids have the dexterity to handle more elaborate building toys and art materials. They are curious about how things work and take pride in making settings that can be used in play, crafts that can be worn or displayed with pride. Active Group Play. These early school years are very social time when kids long for accep

What to Expect Developmentally—Your Preschooler Learning Through Pretend. Preschoolers are amazing learning machines! Watch and listen to them at play and you can hear the wheels of their busy minds working full tilt. From sunup to sundown, preschoolers love playing pretend games. Playing all sorts of roles gives kids a chance to become big and powerful people. Providing props for such play gives them the learning tools to develop language, imagination, and a better understanding of themselves and others. Social Play. Your once-happy-to-be-only-with-you toddler has blossomed into a much more social being. He enjoys playing with other kids, Sharing is still an issue, but there’s a budding und

Here's what you need to know about your toddler and the importance of play to their development. You'll find a checklist of what to types of toys to bring home and perhaps more importantly, what to avoid for this age group. Toys and Development with toddlers. There’s a tremendous difference between your one-yearold, whose focus is primarily mastering and enjoying new-found mobility, and your two-year old, who is now running, jumping, and making giant leaps with language and imagination. Yet both years are known as the toddler years. Many toys for ones will continue to be used by twos in new and more complex ways. You’ll want to find a good mix of toys for Active Physical Play, Strictly Outdo

What you need to know about your baby's development, what toys they need and perhaps more importantly, what toys to avoid. Toys and Development. As babies develop, so does their need for playthings that fit their growing abilities. Like clothes, good toys need to fit. Some toys for infants will have short-term use and then get packed away or passed along to a new cousin or friend. Others will be used in new ways as your child grows. During the first year, babies need toys to gaze at, listen to, grasp, chomp on, shake, pass from hand to hand, bang together, toss, chase and hug. Basic Gear Checklist for the Horizontal Infant *Mobile *Musical Toy *Safety Mirror *Activity Mat *Soft small fabric

(Hoshin $11.99) A bit of active silly fun for the family. Each player ties on an inflatable antler hats and takes turns trying to toss their rings on the other player’s antlers. The set of two antler hats, and 12 rings comes packaged with a hand-held pump, two Red Rudolf noses and a gold medal. You might want to have a patch kit handy in case you need any emergency repairs. The hat is adjustable to fit adults and children, so this is ideal for family fun with mixed ages. A good way to work off some holiday feasting. Yes, it’s a novelty game that probably won’t hold up for long but it’s sure to provide good photo ops and lots of laughs. Something we all need more of during this year of the pa