May 19th, 2010
It can be quite hard to make a gift stand out from the crowd, especially when giving a newborn baby gift to the first born of a new generation. The little one is probably dwarfed by a huge pile of baby gifts from delighted grandparents alone. While that’s wonderful, at Born Gifted we like to sell baby and toddler toys that say something special.
One of the best ways to find a distinctive gift for a young child is to look at more traditionally styled toys. Often it is the old designs that last the longest. They’ve stood the test of time and you can be pretty sure you’re getting a good, useful item that kids will enjoy. Classic baby and toddler toys like wooden xylophones, blocks, and rag dolls are simple, but they are still as loved by small children as they were half a century ago, with good reason.
Wooden puzzles are some of the best educational toys for the very young. Fancy electronics and noisemakers have their place, but simple things can be very effective, and a cleverly made set of lettered blocks that fit together in the right order is still one of the best ways to introduce a toddler to the alphabet.
Parents can enjoy more traditional baby toys as well. We have a range of beautifully crafted crochet toy animals, for example, that kids will adore for the colours and textures of the wool and adults will appreciate for the traditional craft values they represent.
Tags: baby toys, educational toys, newborn baby gifts, toddler toys
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May 13th, 2010
At Born Gifted, we believe that the best educational baby toys are sometimes the simplest. There is no doubt that they last longer than expensive electronic baby and toddler toys, too.
Newborn baby gifts aren’t usually chosen with an educational eye, and nor should they be, but even something as basic as a rattle will encourage babies to pick things up, move them around, and acquire motor skills as they get a little older. Anything is brightly coloured and easy to grasp is an educational baby toy and will encourage development.
As the baby grows into a toddler, the range of educational toys gets much greater. Movement is still something to consider, but you can introduce sit on toys and pull-along animals to help them start to walk and get from place to place.
You can also start to give puzzles with big, infant-friendly pieces. They may not fit them together straight away, but gradually they’ll learn about shapes and will discover the fine motor skills needed to place things exactly where they should be and mesh the pieces together. We have a terrific range of simple wooden educational toys designed to introduce numbers and letters to older toddlers too.
As toddlers grow, there are other baby toys that teach valuable skills. A plush character backpack, for example, will help them learn to keep their things tidy. Once they grow into more active children, it’s well worth laying the groundwork and get them looking after their own toys and books using fun tools like that.
Tags: Baby Gifts, baby toys, educational toys, newborn baby gifts
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May 7th, 2010
By the time any baby becomes a toddler, they probably have quite a lot of toys. But now, just like when we were all kids, there will be one or two favourites that are adored above all others and must be taken everywhere from car trips to the dinner table. Obviously you’d love one of the toddler or baby gifts you’re about to buy to become one of those very special toys, but it’s hard to say in advance which ones those will be. Here are just a couple of tips to help you pick winning toddler toys:
Colour is important. Smaller children will like bright, multicoloured baby toys best, but two and three year old children are probably developing a favourite colour for the first time. Think about the toys and blankets they like best and you may find one colour dominates, even if the child hasn’t thought much about it. Pick a toy in the right colour and it stands a very good chance of being really loved.
Little hands find it hard to grasp large objects, even if they are light and soft. On of the reasons teddy bears make such classic baby and toddler toys is that the arms and legs and even the ears stick out and are just the right size for children to manipulate and use as carry handles. There should be a part of the toy that’s easy to grab but not so small or flimsy it will tear or break with time and use.
Tags: Baby Gifts, baby toys, educational toys, toddler toys
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April 28th, 2010
Buying toys for children can be a tricky business. Do you choose presents for a boy or girl that are simply a basic plush toy, or do you go for something which will both entertain the child while at the same time giving them some kind of mental stimulation? Whatever it is you are looking for, you’ll find it on the Born Gifted website, along with thousands of ideas for gifts of all kinds for all occasions.
For the moment let’s imagine that you are looking for educational baby toys. These are the perfect gift, as they not only the keep the child entertained, but they help to stimulate their imagination at the same time.
Studies dating back to 1940 have shown that a child’s IQ can be increased by more than 50 points through the proper stimulation in the first six years of life. Your child already has certain natural skills, but you can help develop them through the power of play with the right educational baby toys. There are a variety of educational toys that are available for children as soon as they are able to hold things. An educational toy can be something as simple as a puppet, or matching shapes made from different textures.
Take a look at the Born Gifted website, and you are sure to find the perfect educational baby toys. Giving a gift that can prove to be of long-term benefit as well as a provider of entertainment isn’t something worth missing out on.
Tags: Baby Gifts, baby toys, educational baby toys, educational toys
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March 25th, 2010
It is better to understand a little than to misunderstand a lot, and children rely on us to provide the groundwork for their social development.
This can be implemented through the clever use of educational toys which are used in role play. Children love to play act, so encouraging this behaviour allows them to sample many of the emotions they will encounter when they start nursery or school.
Toys to nurture social development include dolls, puppets and teddy bears (stuffed animals are also known as plush toys). Play is one of the best ways for your child to rehearse the realities of life. It also provides the additional benefit of stimulating the imagination, nurturing skills and boosting self-esteem.
Presents for a boy which develop these core areas are action men or dolls, which build a sense of confidence through interactive ‘battles’ with other boy dolls. Dolls and teddy bears make great presents for a girl as young ladies often build up friendships with their favourite toys, a valuable resource when making friends in nursery.
Educational toys fulfil the needs of children by allowing them to escape from the ‘real’ world for a while and practise the art of giving rather than receiving. They also allow parents to bring out the best of their children’s natural skills. Books help develop concentration and stimulate the imagination. Introduce lots of song and dance into your child’s world to coax an affinity with music. Play cookers, hoovers and gardening tools encourage cooperation, sharing and responsibility.
Make it your aim to make your child’s life as fulfilling and rewarding as you possibly can and hone in on their natural creative and social skills. Baby toys are extremely effective tools in promoting social and educational development.
Tags: Baby Gifts, baby toys, educational toys, plush toys
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March 4th, 2010
Every day we are making deposits into the memory bank of our baby’s lives, from our smile through to the baby gifts that we give to amuse, educate and stimulate. However, are there disadvantages to toys which are simply used for pleasure and advantages to those which have an educational slant?
No baby should be without a rattle or a teddy, but a baby’s brain is like a sponge which is constantly soaking up knowledge. Whilst teddy bears make wonderful presents for a girl, when the paws are chewed and the eye is hanging, there is very little left in the form of educational value to stimulate the senses.
Educational baby toys do not have to be serious and rigid. Learning should be fun. Make the most out of these early years and shape your baby’s future from the moment he/she arrives home.
Until a child reaches six months, their vision will be fuzzy, hearing weak and grip feeble. Brightly coloured building blocks make great educational toys as they help young eyes to differentiate between shades and encourage sharper vision and visual intelligence. They also help refine motor skills.
Help your little one to respond to sound by hanging crib mobiles above the cot. These make perfect newborn baby gifts. Play hammers go down well; especially if they make a squeaking sound every time that they hit something. Toys such as these will intrigue young minds.
However, there will always be one favourite toy which money cannot buy, and that is you. Bring out your best and worst facial expressions, play peek a boo or just do a silly walk or dance and your baby will be chuckling for hours!
Tags: Baby Gifts, educational baby toys, educational toys, newborn baby gifts
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