Star Wars the Old Republic

The video game Star Wars: The Old Republic was known as one of the most anticipated role playing games ever delivered onto the market. It is a massively multiplayer game that generated literally millions of dollars in sales within just a few weeks of being released.

Star Wars was one of the most popular movies of all times and is considered a classic series which is loved by fans from all around the globe. Over the years there were a total of six Wars movies that was released with each being based on the galaxy battle between good and evil. The good guys are always trying to defeat the evil Darth Vader and bring a balance back between the two.

When playing Star Wars the Old Republic you can create your own character in this popular multiplayer online game which was created by LucasArts and BioWare. You have the ability to explore hundreds of years before the arrival of Darth Vader when the war between the Sith Empire and the Old Republic divides the galaxy in two. You can choose to be a Sith, Jedi, or from many of the other classic Star Wars characters, and make choices in which defines your own personal story and choose the path down the dark or light side of the force. For those who grew up and watched the Star series feel a sense of their childhood being brought back as they get to be the characters they once loved as a child. During your adventures you will befriend new companions that will either help you along your journey or betray you depending on your own actions. You will be given the chance to team up with many others players from around the world to battle and overcome any challenges that happen to get in your way.

Who will you choose to be and will you realize your mistakes before it's too late? If you choose to side with the dark side will you lose all of your faithful friends along the way or will they help to pull you back to the good side? Which path was right for you? Which Star Wars character suits you the best?

This particular game has much to offer gamers who are looking for a thrill of adventure but also wants to play a game they are familiar with and enjoyed watching as they grew up. For those who grew up and watched the Star Wars series feel a sense of their childhood being brought back as they get to be the characters they once loved as a child. Star Wars the Old Republic is a game that will offer you hours of enjoyable play and exciting adventures that can be shared with friends or new acquaintances from around the world who share the same Star Wars interest that you hold.

Overtime the Star Wars theme has been used for many things including video games, board games, movies, TV shows, cartoons, action figures, toys, comic books, and other items that have made the creators millions of dollars.

A Place For Everything: It's Child's Play

What parent hasn't gone into a son's or daughter's room and wondered, "Where did I go wrong? How could I have created someone who creates such a mess?"

At this point it is essential to recognize that not everyone is born organized, just as not everyone is born with a talent for art or mechanics. But anyone can learn the basic principles of organization given sufficient motivation and instruction. These principles will serve as a sound basis for personal growth and development throughout life and will contribute greatly to a more peaceful living environment for the entire family.

You can help your child begin to use organizing skills at a very young age by creating an orderly living and playing space. As soon as a child can identify colors, you have a major building block for good organization.

Picking up toys can be a game for your toddler when you have colored boxes or shelves where similar toys can be stored. For example, all the Lego blocks can go in the green box and the rest of the blocks in the yellow one, while all books can go on the red shelf and the audiotapes in the blue one. Pictures can be used to help identify what belongs where. Although the child may be unaware of it, you are teaching one of the basic principles of organization: Put all like things together.

Spend time with your child sorting through belongings to decide what is to be kept. Be sure you have a good idea of what it is you need to organize. Then browse through closet shops, office supply stores and mail-order catalogs to discover creative ways to store the essentials. All children (as well as adults) are more inclined to put things away when it is readily evident where they should go and convenient to do so. Pegboard, hooks, plastic cubes and bulletin boards make items easily accessible and can be clearly labeled to make putting away an easier task. Let your child help decide on a specific place for each item or group of items. Make that place as accessible as possible. Set up a table or area where unfinished puzzles and building projects can be left out until completion. An older child will need space for doing homework.

Conventional closet shelves are often too deep to be conveniently organized. Add more shelving, or use portable shelves and dividers available at hardware stores or closet shops. Games can be returned to shelves easily if they are stacked five or six deep.

If your child is a collector, provide boxes for storing various treasures- one for stamps, another for rocks- and when that container is full, help with the weeding out. This is excellent training for the choices children must be able to make as adults. No storage system will work effectively for very long if the containers are not properly labeled, so provide large colorful markers to make labels. Show your child how to arrange the boxes on the shelves or in the closets so that the labels are always visible without moving the boxes.

Clothing can be organized to make dressing and putting away clothes less difficult. Again, group all like items together-all shirts in one drawer, pants in another; dresses at one end of the closet, blouses at the other. Use shoeboxes or plastic containers to separate socks and other small items. Be sure the clothes rods are an appropriate height for your child to reach. Treat the child to bright colorful hangers that are easier to use and will improve the appearance of the closet significantly. Large hooks make hanging pajamas, robes and coats much easier too. Simply keeping the lid off the clothes hamper will encourage children to put their dirty clothes inside it, instead of on the floor.

A word of warning: There are no ironclad rights or wrongs about organization. We all need to have an environment that suits our individual personalities. Be sensitive to your child's likes and dislikes, and be patient while new habits are being formed.

In the meantime, take a second look at you own room. A good model is worth a dozen lectures.

Purchase Cheap Toys Online

If you are keen to buy the sylvanian families, in this article we will provide you some suggestion by means of which you can easily purchase these cheap toys. You may think that since these are cheap toys, they may not be good for your child. However, the fact is that the sylvanian families are the best quality cheap toys for your child. You can follow these tips and purchase the toys.

Today there are varieties of stores that deal with the collection of the sylvanian families. Apart from the physical stores, in the recent days, the online stores have also become quite popular. The internet has made the world a smaller place.

You can search online which will save both your money as well as time. You will not have to look here and there and find the best sylvanian families for your kids. You will get plenty of stores to look at and varieties of cheap toys to have a notice.

Besides this, the online stores also provide you options which you would not get otherwise in the physical stores. With the plenty of online stores, you will surely find one where you can get the toys as per your choice as well as budget. When you find different stores online, you can make a comparison on the product, its quality as well as its price. The greatest advantage of online shopping is that you will be able to see the toys of different stores of different locations. This will help you to shop more easily.

If you do not like the toys of one store, there are always options for you to log on to the site of some other stores and make a choice. However, you have to be careful about the choice of products. Make sure that only the toy that you choose is being delivered to you. However, this is a very rare case but it is always to be safe.

You may not get the ideal sylvanian families that you are looking for. In that case, you will have to wait. You should continue in search in the different sites and you will surely find the one that you need the most for your child.

After you make the purchase, the company will make its own efforts to deliver you the toys from the sylvanian families to your home. Thus you can now well understand the utilities of shopping cheap toys online. It will cost you cheaper.

Sculpture SCU-7506 2'x3'

Product Details

Sculpture SCU-7506 2'x3'

100% Wool
Colors:

Wooden Toys For Little Girls

Little girls are treasures. I enjoy watching them play in their own little pretend world and think back to the days when I did that and also when my daughter was in that "little world". There are many toys in the market today for little girls to play with. I have a few favorites that I think are essential for little girls.

Little girls love to cook. What better way to introduce them to cooking then to give them their own little kitchen. I like wooden kitchen play sets best as the durability is so much better. Many wooden play sets include a wooden kitchen cupboard, wooden stove and wooden refrigerator. These are what I call the basic wooden kitchen sets. There are also a few "extras" which include a wooden dishwasher and wooden microwave. Another needed item for a kitchen is a wooden table and chairs. A wooden table and chairs is a very versatile toy that is well worth the money. Children can practice table manners while playing and also perhaps use it when coloring, playing with puzzles or many other activities.

All little girls love their babies and love to "mother" them. A little girl will feel much better if she knows her little baby is well cared for. A wooden doll crib, cradle or bunk bed will be a wooden toy that she will cherish. There are many styles of cribs and cradles. There are some that are stained while some are left unfinished. There are even some swinging doll cradles that look so very realistic. Some doll cribs come with a pillow and a delightful cozy comforter set. I especially like the wooden bunk beds set as many little girls have more than one doll that will need a good night's sleep.

Another wooden toy that little girls will love is a wooden doll swing. This wooden doll swing is hard to find but is designed like an outside yard swing. Little girls will love to swing their dolls on this old fashioned wooden doll swing. The wooden doll swings that I like best are made of a hard wood and have chains that are adjustable to lengthen or shorten the wooden seat.

Little girls are not just all about dolls. There are many little girls that love their dolls but also love to run and pretend in another world as well. Wooden stick horses are an excellent choice for little girls as well. Perhaps she has a dream of becoming a barrel racer! There are many types of stick horses. Some are made of wood, others are fabrics. Some wooden stick horses even come in a kit form so that she can custom design her own wooden stick horse. Other stick horses are constructed of soft poly fleece fabrics that are soft to the touch. They come in a variety of colors. Black, brown, gray, white are some of the colors and then there are the carousal type of stick horses that are full of colors.....even a bright colored blue with a brightly colored mane from yarn.

By giving your little girl a wooden toy, you are giving her a toy that will have durability and perhaps even your grandchild will enjoy playing with. No, you will not have to buy batteries but you will enjoy watching your little girl's creativity and imagination as she grows and matures into a young lady.

Copyright 2007

Great Children's Educational Toys to Give Away This Christmas

Christmas is still weeks away, but it is never too early to make that list and start buying gifts for your own children, godchildren, nephews, nieces, younger siblings, or even the children of your friends. Thinking of gifts for children can be tricky. Some prefer to give gifts that are fun while others prefer those that encourage children to learn. The budget is also something to consider, especially if you are buying for several kids. Some of the toys available in stores do cost an arm and a leg. With these factors in mind, choosing what to buy can indeed be stressful. Here are gift ideas that might help you decide what to buy this Christmas.

Educational Toys for Young Girls

Little girls can be really picky at times, but even the pickiest little girl cannot thumb her nose at cute stuff in pastel colors. Pretend play toys make great gifts to girls between five and ten years old. These gifts can improve their creativity and imagination.

o Dollhouses and doll furniture
o Fairy wings, magic wands, hair accessories to complement their princess costumes
o Playhouses, huts, or tents designed like castles
o Dramatic play toys like a doctor's medicine bag or a play money set
o Toy kitchen accessories
o Wooden toy kitchens
o Wooden play food
o Girl's vanities

Pretend play toys also give mothers opportunities to teach a little about housekeeping or good grooming to young girls while they play.

Educational Toys for Young Boys

Young boys, at any given day, seem like they have all the energy in the world and then some! Give them gifts that will not only capture their imagination but also exercise their critical thinking or resourcefulness as well as provide another way for them to spend those extra energy.

o Train and activity tables
o Paint kits
o Science kits featuring dinosaurs and other animals, robots, and fossils
o Magic tricks set
o Construction toys like blocks
o Magnetic toys like mazes
o Rubik's cube
o Rocking toys shaped like horses, boats, motorcycles, an even an airplane

Educational Toys for Girls and Boys

Buying gender-neutral toys is the best way to go if you know so little about the kids other than their age. Boys and girls will enjoy playing these toys with their friends.

o Jigsaw and floor puzzles
o Board games
o Puppets and puppet theaters
o Outdoor toys like a trampoline or a balance base
o Memory card games and the like
o Activity tables like those looking like science projects with colored wires and balls

Gifts Even Parents Will Appreciate

These gifts might make the parent happier than the kid, but kids will still appreciate them.

o Wooden toy boxes with sporty designs for boys and cute floral ones for girls or toy chests shaped like farm houses, treasure chest, or even a carriage
o Sleeping bags and tents
o Playroom furniture like mini lockers, step stools, desks, and rocking chairs

Christmas is a special season for families but more so for kids. It is the time of the year when Santa and his elves bring good tidings in the form of beautifully wrapped gifts under the Christmas tree.

Choosing the best gift for a child needs a bit more effort than just buying the first thing you can grab from aisles upon aisles of toys and whatnots. You have to decide if you want something fun, something educational, or something practical. Just remember, every child deserves a merry Christmas!

Cool Gadgets - Elegant With High End Performance

In the modern era, gadgets come in various sizes and shapes. Some of the devices are used only for the entertaining purposes while others are considered as tools and requirements. The devices like televisions, laptops, computers or many others have been used by the people in their day to day lives. Such cool gadgets have made our life simple and easy. Many of the outstanding and breathtaking devices are only meant for the special occasions.

All those events include birthday presents, Christmas gadgets, presents for beloved ones, Valentine gifts, etc. You can also find number of other trendy and classic gizmos such as travel gadgets, office going devices, eco tools and lots more. These can be used for the specific reason. They are even made available for the people of all age groups. Many of the widgets are specifically designed for the small kids or children that include puzzles, quizzes, games, playing toys, racing cars and many others.

A large number of users are getting attracted towards all such amazing and beautiful devices all over the world. In order to fulfill the personal as well as professional purposes, so many marvelous items are made available for the individuals. It includes netbooks; iPod touch, USB modems and many more. You can easily use all these powerful gadgets in your daily needs and desires.

The customers can now get them through the internet via online method. It is the easiest as well as simplest technique from where we can easily take the full information about all these cool gadgets. Simply by sitting at your own home, you can select the favorite one as per the needs and requirements. Thus, do not sit behind and grab any of the stunning and stylish widget that can enhance the level of your personality and entertainment.

Batman - Arkham Asylum - The End to a Reign of Comic Folly

Format

Xbox 360, PS3, PC

Style

Third person Action Adventure/Detective

Modes

Single player Campaign, Challenge Mode

Pros

Great graphics, original gameplay, voice acting fans can appreciate, unique blend of combat, detective work/puzzles, and stealth.

Cons

Not much replayability, get stuck every once in a while, Batman died back in January 2009.

Introduction

After years and years of unsatisfying Batman games, Eidos puts out Arkham Asylum, a stunningly brilliant superhero game of which the likes has never been seen before. Batman has always been near and dear to my heart as an avid reader of the comics, and the games have always been sub-par. But come late August, a revolutionary new Batman game set in a unique environment has risen from the depths of nothing: Batman: Arkham Asylum.

The Start Up

The opening scene is grim and dark, as rain pours on the Batmobile, spanning across the city to Arkham Asylum, Gotham's own psychiatric hospital for the criminally insane. When you get inside with the Joker in hand, you follow him and a few guards down to the depths of Arkham, where things get interesting. It seems as though the Joker had been planning this from the start, as he escapes his captors and gains control of the Asylum. Starting off with a quick intro to combat with the new FreeFlow(TM) Combat System, you battle several thugs and progress through the grounds, searching for various people and things. You quickly learn about your Detective Mode, where you can see inmates through walls, follow trails of various substances, and find otherwise hidden things, such as vent grates and weak walls. It's an easy game to get into, and can be played respectably by both hardcore and casual gamers.

Gameplay

Of all the superhero games I've played, I must admit that this is the best of them. Never has there been such attention to detail, back stories, and personalities in a comic-based game. I've always been an avid Batman reader up until the day he died (rest in peace, Dark Knight) and know Batman and the Gotham crew like my own friends and family. The game plays like you're classic third person action/adventure game with a small bit of RPG elements. You play as Batman as you go through the Asylum fighting inmates, solving puzzles, and advancing through the story to take back Arkham Asylum from the Joker and his accomplices. Immediately you are thrown into combat with the basic inmates, which is a sort of free flowing punch-and-kick type of combat with counters and take-downs. Starting off you have your Battarang and grapple, the Battarang can be thrown to daze enemies and hit the Riddler's chattering false teeth toys. Pretty soon you learn about your Detective Mode; this is a modification to your sight that shows various things previously mentioned. It's very handy when you are stuck somewhere, before you walk into a room to check for enemies, or want to find hidden things. At some points it's used to follow substance trails such as alcohol in the air, blood and hand prints while tracking people down on the grounds, which you seem to be doing a lot of.

Unlike previous Batman games, Arkham Asylum blends combat, stealth and detective work on a superb level. The stealth is great, although sometimes it feels like you're completely invisible during times in which you shouldn't be. All over the Asylum there are convenient gargoyles in which you can grapple up to to observe a room and stealthily kill inmates who are perusing around waiting for you. To render enemies unconscious (Batman doesn't kill people) in stealth you can do a flying kick form a gargoyle or raised structure and a take down or sneak up and do a sort of silent choke out. If you are caught by armed inmates, you are reduced to hiding up in the shadows and avoiding gunshots which can get pretty annoying.

Since 1948 the Riddler (Edward Nigma) has been using riddles and clues to lead Batman to his meticulously planned crimes. In Arkham Asylum he has left riddles and trophies everywhere and are a nice bonus if you feel like taking a break form the story and do some searches and puzzles. As you collect trophies and solve riddles you gain experience, which you also get from incapacitating inmates and bosses. After an amount of experience is reached, you level up and get to pick an upgrade; upgrades include new weapons like the Sonic Battarang, new combat moves, and armor increases. None of the upgrades are essential to the game, like "you need this upgrade to get to this part in the game", but they do help a lot.

Progressing through the game, you meet a lot of classic characters including the Joker, the Riddler, Commissioner Gordon and Scarecrow. Scarecrow plays an interesting role in the game in the aspects of his psychoactive gas. If you don't know, Scarecrow (real name: Jonathan Crane, a psychiatrist who specializes in fear) uses a variety of toxins that make people hallucinate that their worst fears are real and present. In the game, you encounter his gas multiple times; the room begins to shift, things begin to distort and move, and an eerie music plays as you walk onward to unknowing terror. As you pass through your hallucinations, you eventually come to an event where you have to avoid Scarecrow's gaze. He grows exponentially, and you have to hide and run as he looks for you in a torn apart, circular version of the Asylum. This adds quite an enjoyable twist to the game, and briefly takes you away from the normal game.

Besides the regular story, you can do the Challenge Mode. The Challenge Mode is a series of unlockable, short challenges that involve combating inmates for points and stealthily taking down inmates which is timed. While combating inmates, you earn points through combos, counters, and special take downs, and in the stealth challenges you take down armed inmates as quickly as possible using your various acquired techniques. When you finish, your points are added up and are submitted to the online leaderboards. Challenge Mode is a nice addition if you feel like honing your skills and taking a break from the story.

Overall, the gameplay is phenomenal and Eidos has finally achieved making a good Batman game. There are only a few faults in the game and they don't pop up too often. At some points, there's no clear indication of what to do next, and you're reduced to looking around everywhere, trying to figure out or remember what you have to do. Having said that, there isn't much else to complain about in Arkham Asylum.

Audio/Graphics

The audio of Batman: Arkham Asylum is fantastic, with great voice actors and environment noises such as the music during Scarecrow events. It's good to see that they didn't take any of the recent movie actors for voice acting (apparently Heath Ledger wasn't answering his phone) and instead went with the fantastic voice actors from the Emmy award-winning 90's cartoon show Batman: The Animated Series. There seems to be a general lack of interest from movie actors that are asked to voice games. Besides the voice acting, the music and environment sounds are done wonderfully; every drip of water and intense fighting score just adds to the enjoyment of the game.

As far as graphics go, Arkham Asylum is one of the best looking games that has come out in the past year. The look of the Asylum is grim and rigid, and the whole darkness of the game adds so much depth. Characters are rendered greatly, and the emotions seem life-like at some points. Motion is fluid and overall the game looks great.

Ratings
Graphics - 9/10

Audio - 10/10

Story - 8.5/10

Gameplay - 9/10

Replayability - 8/10

Final Score - 9/10

Required Specs

CPU: Intel Pentium 4 3GHz or AMD Athalon 64 3500+

Memory: 1 GB (XP) 2 GB (Vista/7)

GPU: NVidia 6600 or ATI 1300

We Sell Mats 192 Sq. Ft. (set of 48 tiles + borders) Anti-Fatige Interlocking EVA Foam Flooring-Multi-Color Tiles 2'x2'x .375" Thick

Product Details

This item by, We Sell Mats, comes with forty-eight multi-color tiles (Red, Yellow, Blue, Green, Purple and Orange). Each measuring 24" x 24" for a total of 192 Sq Ft. Measuring 3/8" thick (please refer to a ruler to make sure this is the thickness you need) and extremely durable. Borders Included. Perfect for ages 3+. Provides a cushion to hard floor surfaces in playrooms, classrooms, daycares and more.

• This item by, We Sell Mats, comes with forty-eight multi-color tiles.
• Measuring 3/8" thick. Colors-Red, Yellow, Blue, Green, Purple and Orange.
• Borders Included.
• Perfect for ages 3+.
• Provides a cushion to hard floor surfaces in playrooms, classrooms, daycares and more.

The Holocene - An Epoch of Mass Extinctions

In order for scientists to study the history of life on our planet, they require a relative scale so that they can place important events such as the first land vertebrates, or the first evidence of flowering plants in the perspective of geological time. Such a scale is provided by the science of geology. Geologists have subdivided the history of our planet into time intervals of varying duration. The largest periods of time are divided into Eons, an example is the Phanerozoic Eon (visible life), representing the period of geological time from approximately 550 million years ago to the present day. The Phanerozoic covers that period of time when fossils first become abundant, reflecting the obvious presence of life. Eons are divided into Eras, such as the Cenozoic Era that covers the last 65 million years (sometimes called the Age of Mammals). Eras are broken down into Sub-eras and further divided into Periods, hence well known sections of geological time such as the Jurassic and the Cretaceous. Periods are further sub-divided into Epochs. The last 10,000 years of geological time, roughly reflecting the adoption of sedentary farming and domestication of livestock by people, is known as the Holocene (recent time).

For much of the Holocene, the Earth's climate has been relatively stable. In fact, using information sources such as ice cores and micro-fossil studies, it seems that the Earth's climate has been more stable than during any other 10,000 year interval in at least the last 200,000 years or so. For much of this time, the human population has grown steadily. It is only in the last 200 years or so that the human population has grown dramatically. The growing demand for resources from the increasing human population, in conjunction with rapid climate change has been identified in a United Nations (UN) report due to be published this week, as causal factors in the dramatic decline of animal and plant species.

2010 - The Year of International Biodiversity

This year, 2010 is the year of international biodiversity as declared by the United Nations. Biodiversity is the variety of life on Earth, biodiversity is essential to support dynamic and robust ecosystems that ultimately provide our species with a sustainable environment, food, fuel, health and prosperity.

However, one of the conclusions in a United Nations (UN) report due to be released this week, is that animal and plant species are becoming extinct faster than ever before. A rapidly growing human population in combination with an increasing demand for natural resources represents a grave threat to nearly a third of all animal and plant species on the planet, the report states. The increasing economic activity and industrialisation of countries such as India, China and Brazil is adding to the environmental threats already generated by the developed western world, countries such as the United States and economic trading blocks such as the Euro zone.

Commentators are expecting this new report to be one of the frankest and most stark ever published by the UN. It will include conclusions that draw an explicit correlation between economic growth and extinction rates. For example, the faster and more dramatic the growth of economies, the quicker animal and plant species will be driven to extinction. The paper will point out that the extinction threat extends across all the main ecosystems of the planet, affecting organisms in environments as diverse as rain forests, grasslands, inshore environments and coral reefs.

With a relatively small portion of the known invertebrates formerly studied, it is alarming to read the predictions regarding extinction from the United Nations. It has been estimated that approximately 35% of all invertebrate species will be under extinction pressure by the end of the 21st Century. For animals, known as the mega fauna, some of the larger creatures in ecosystems, such as mammals and reptiles the situation is equally as bleak. In the UN funded report, an estimated 21% of all mammal species are threatened with extinction.

By the middle of this Century, the human population is estimated to have grown from today's level of approximately 6.8 billion to over 9 billion. That is an increase of 2.2 billion (32% increase in just forty years). Two thirds of the population will live in cities it has been predicted, in China alone over 400 new cities with populations greater than 1 million will have to built to accommodate this increasing population.

The increased demand for natural resources plus the adverse affect on global climate will have a dramatic impact on the diversity of life on Earth. Scientists are aware of a natural extinction rate, a sort of background rate of extinction. This background rate represents low levels of extinction as a result of evolution and adaptation plus some local or restricted climate/environmental change. The fossil record, although far from complete shows evidence of larger extinction events. There have been a number of extinction events recorded in the fossil record. For instance, many people may be aware of the Cretaceous mass extinction event that ended the reign of the dinosaurs, but a number of lesser extinction events are associated with the Cretaceous. Palaeontologists have identified five major mass extinctions in the Phanerozoic. The history of life on our planet has been punctuated by a series of mass extinctions, mass extinctions being defined in a number of ways, but normally they relate to the number of marine and terrestrial genera that die out in a relatively short period of geological time. Most scientists agree about the "big five" mass extinction events, but some scientists are arguing that the Holocene epoch should also be defined as a mass extinction event - the sixth mass extinction.

The Scale and Speed of Extinction

Although it is difficult to accurately assess the decline of fauna and flora, if mammals and birds are examined in isolation, an alarming picture is revealed. There are approximately 14,000 species of mammals and birds today. These types of animals are dying off at a rate approximately 10,000 times faster than the standard background extinction rate. The United Nations report uses data gathered from 120 countries, it concludes that the magnitude of damage to ecosystems is much bigger than previously reported. This UN report will show that no country has succeeded in halting the decline in biodiversity. Eighty-nine percent of those countries that submitted data had identified climate change as a major cause. For our species, the consequences could be dire. We humans are at the top of the food chain and very reliant on robust and dynamic ecosystems. The loss of a single species, the honey bee for instance, would have a significant and detrimental impact on our ability to produce food. Approximately, one third of all the vegetable and fruit crops grown on a commercial scale by humans, are pollinated by bees.

Given the current economic difficulties being experienced by many countries, it is likely that this report and its conclusions will not be not be given the prominence that it and the conclusions deserve. The fossil record in two million years time could show one of the most dramatic and rapid extinction events in the history of life on Earth.

Looking For An Online Autism Bookstore?

When faced with autism, many families are overwhelmed, and perhaps even stunned. Once the shock of this diagnosis wears off, there is usually an instant need to find out all there is to know about the condition, and what can be done to help the child in question. This is when parents and teachers need to find a good autism bookstore online. Here are five great places to look for books on many angles of autism, and well as other tools that many find to be helpful.

Perhaps one of the biggest sources for books online is http://www.amazon.com. Upon entering the site, putting the term ‘autism’ in the search will bring up some amazing resources. There are books for parents, siblings, teachers, and other caregivers. There are books on specific tasks like how to potty train a child with autism, and books on socialization and play time ideas. They also have DVDs and toys for children with this condition.

Another great source is http://www.specialneeds.com/. This site has information and books available about all types of disabilities. The list of books about autism is very diverse and very large. It would be hard not to find what you need there. They also have DVDs, CDs, and some software. When browsing this site, it is important to remember that some are marked as available and some are not. This might be a little frustrating, but the list of books is very valuable, and if they don’t have it there, you have a title to search somewhere else.

There are many very imaginative products available on the web site http://www.difflearn.com/. There are great tools like flashcards with facial expressions and other games that help with communication, socialization, and other behaviors. They also have a selection of puzzles and computer programs that can be used, as well as a wide assortment of books on autism.

The site [http://www.futurehorizons-autism.com/] has another great selection of books from which to choose, covering a wide array of things that parents may have not even considered before they browse the site. There are books about socialization, early intervention, diet, behavior modification, books geared towards the autistic child, and the family and friends as well. They have DVDs and toys too.

One site that should be on anyone’s list is the Autism Asperger’s Publishing Company. They can be found at http://www.asperger.net/. Here you will again find a huge variety of books from which to choose. They also have information about conferences that they hold on the subject matter.

When shopping for books, it is important to remember that there is new information all the time and some of the material might be out-dated. That does not mean it will not be helpful, but it might not be the up to date information that is needed.

Keep reading to find out how you can stay keep up to date on all the latest autism theories and treatment options by signing up for our free autism newsletter below.

Each autism bookstore has its own collection of books so it’s worth browsing around. Each child has different needs and a different level of function, so what works for one family may not be of any interest to another.

Barbie Beach Party Planning, Ideas, Fun History Facts

Since the time she was released by Mattel in the late 1950s, Barbie has been a favorite among little girls. That's why a Barbie Beach Party is a perfect idea for any young girl. Guests are invited to bring their favorite Barbie and come to a Barbie Beach (or pool) Party. Beach party decorations can be a lot of fun. Using lots of pinks, purples, and other pastel colored balloons, a good sized wading pool where both guests and their Barbie dolls can splash around, and of course beach towels to lounge around on is the perfect solution to decorating. Beach balls that can be kicked around add to the fun. Of course, besides a sunny day, the most important component of a Barbie Beach Party will be having plenty of sun screen on hand to keep young guests from getting sunburned.

After a dip in the pool, guests may enjoy doing something super easy yet crafty like making their own body glitter, stringing together a beaded necklace, or creating a jeweled picture frame or hair barrette. Another fun game would include having a Barbie Dress Up Relay. Each guest will then take the bag of adult -sized clothes (in the form of costumes Barbie has been famous for wearing), and as it becomes their turn, the guest will grab the bag, put the clothes on over their own, run around the relay course, come back, take the clothes off and stuff them back into the bag (a shopping bag would be perfect because we know Barbie must LOVE to shop!) and hand it to the next team mate in line. The first team to have each guest complete the relay wins.

Finish the party with a nice luncheon of finger sandwiches and sherbet floats and this will be a Barbie party that everyone will enjoy.

Sheep Farm Animal Floor Puzzle

Product Details

Sheep Farm Animal Floor Puzzle

Melissa and Doug - More Than Toy Wooden Blocks

When Melissa and Doug started out, they never thought their idea of providing quality wooden educational blocks would grow to the size of business it has. But like all good things, good things happen to them.

This couple started this business in a small garage in Doug's childhood home. Their commitment to quality has never changed since the first wooden block set was sold. The company motto is to make every customer happy and to make them part of their family.

They make brightly colored blocks that conform to all the regulations of being toxic and lead paint free and required by US law, but the real reason they are safe to use, is because Melisa and Doug insist upon it.

From that humble beginning in 1988 this wooden toy company has grown. Today there are over 800 different and exciting sets of blocks and toys sold by them. They believe that every time a child plays with a toy is a chance for them to learn.

With specials of up to 35% off on selective items, parent will also enjoy purchasing them for their children. The savings can be found in boy theme stationary paper for only $3.24. There is also decorating your own wooden puppy door hanger for $5.19. The see and spell is a set of wooden blocks that lets a child have fun while learning to spell with pictures and letters on the blocks. This is part of the sight-reading toys they have available for only $19.99.

Melissa and Doug have made a commitment to everyone who purchases their learning toys to help make learning fun and safe.

Target - An Upscale Discounter For High Quality Merchandise

Target is a house hold name these days. It is the largest retailing business in United States, and has given a new name to discount retailing with its high-quality, on-trend merchandise at attractive prices. First opened in Roseville, Minnesota in 1962, Target store is the sixth-largest retailer (by sales revenue), largest gift cards seller and third largest seller of music, that all in United States.

In addition, to its clean, spacious and guest-friendly stores, Target also operates an online store business. At Target.com, one can find great discounts on a range of product line like toys, furniture, baby items, home essentials, digital cameras, games, jewelry; outdoor items/sporting goods, kitchen and electronics products by using online coupon codes and promotional codes. One can get Free Shipping on a purchase of $50 and more selected items order. Target regularly features trendy fashion designs from go designers like Anna Sui inspired by Gossip Girls, Anna Sheffield for Jewelry, clothes by Zac Posen, Thakoon and many more.

The Target weekly ad is also a fantastic resource for shoppers looking for discounts at one of the largest retail chains around. There are many target coupons on the internet which you can use online and instore (with the help of Target Printable Coupons). Target online store has attracted a number of customers from young to old, not only by their fair discounted prices but also for retaining the quality products which differentiates the store from other competitors. With the concept of Super target and Urban stores, Target has definitely become a major stop for every shopping lover.

Today Target has successfully made its own huge empire as Target Brands, Inc., which along with Target.com also includes number of other subsidiaries like Target Financial Services (TFS), Target Brands, Target Commercial Interiors, and Target Sourcing Services. Each subsidiary is functionally unique and provides the best possible service to its customers. With all this experience over how to save money while doing online shopping, it is advisable to take advantage of Target Coupons to enjoy shopping and make it more cost effective.

Encourage Your Kid's Imagination

There is hardly anything that you can't find on the market today that is kid-sized and made just like the adult version. There are toys that are used to teach kids how to cook, clean, and drive a car just like Mommy or Daddy's! There is also a wide variety of child-sized furniture that looks just like the real thing. Not only do these toys help teach kids about the responsibilities of normal adult life, they also give them the opportunity to use their imaginations and create make believe play.

There is nothing kids enjoy more than imitating their parents. By providing your child with a place of his or her own where he can eat and enjoy refreshments with friends when they visit, it will give them the opportunity to entertain on their own level. Many children also enjoy meals with imaginary friends or their stuffed animals and dolls with whom they can talk about anything!

If your child has a play kitchen where "pretend" meals are fixed, then having a dining area nearby to serve their culinary creations is a great way for them to complete the adventure. Whether they enjoy their real food or imagine dining on play food, they will likely spend hours pretending they are working hard in a real kitchen.

A dining area will also give them the versatility to put their furniture to use for many other activities. A flat surface isn't always easy to find when it's time for art work and trying to color in the floor just doesn't have the same appeal as using your very own furniture that is the right size for you.

One of the best ways to keep games and puzzles out of the floor is by providing a more convenient and out-of-the-way place for them instead. Just remember that the simpler it is, the better it will work. Puzzle tables that have sections that lift out of them or those with the ABC carved into them may seem like a good idea, but they aren't going to be very easy to use for playing or eating on and they won't be entertaining for very long. Think of providing them with a flat, simple place that is just for them to create on.

You can also get your kids their own outdoor dining area where they can entertain their friends the next time you have guests over for a barbecue. The little ones will enjoy their privacy and you will have more room at the grown-up table. There are also some available that have an umbrella so that they can stay cool in the shade.

Get your kids' imaginations running while you keep them off the floor. The best way to make sure they take advantage of their own space is to provide them with all the accessories to make it work for them. For dining, provide them with child sized dishes and paper, scissors, and markers or crayons for art time.

Top Toys for Children Under 10

As a parent you know how summer can be tough for keeping the kids safe and amused. When the kids get older they tend to amuse themselves but children under ten are often bored because there are not that many things they can partake in. Playing outside in the summer is important to their emotional and physical growth. Here are the top toys for children under ten.

It's great if you have a nice sandy beach where the children can play but that's not always possible. Instead how about investing in sand and water activity tables, where children can play in the water and with the sand at the same time. There are many different products on the market ranging in price from $40 to $80, and one of the favorite outdoor top toys to invest in.

When you are thinking about top toys for this age group I'll bet you never even considered the sprinkler sitting out on your lawn. Don't you remember as a child running through the sprinkler? Nowadays there are so many neat sprinklers on the market for cheap, why not invest in a fun one that the kids can have a blast with? They range in price from $10 to $40.

What's the one toy you remember having hours of fun with? If I told you that water guns were in the top toys for outside play I bet you wouldn't be surprised. They are a great way to have fun and stay cool all at the same time, and now a days there are all kinds of fun water guns including the infamous super-soaker. They cost from $10 to $30.

On the list of top toys for children under ten for outside play is the slip and slide water toys. Of course you need a big enough yard if you plan to install one of these. Don't be surprised when half the neighborhood shows up for some serious fun. They can cost from $10 to $100 depending on size and style.

One of the favorite top toys for the summer is a trampoline, and what a great way to burn off all that extra energy. The key here is safety. You must be sure to put the protective netting around the exterior of the trampoline, and to always supervise when it is being used.

Not everyone considers a bike a toy but it's definitely a must have for those summer months. Safety is very important so make sure your children understand just how important their helmet is. They should also know the rules of the road before they are allowed to ride by themselves.

If you are looking for cheap fun why not invest in some bubbles? You can buy them or you can make your own. There are even bubble making machines, which can produce hundreds of bubbles in just a few minutes. They are great fun for kids of all ages. In fact, don't be surprised if you find yourself joining in.

Outside play should be a big part of passing the warm summer months, but children under ten need different toys than the older children. With these few top toys in mind you'll have a few more ideas to consider.

Jigsaw Puzzles - Tools For Raising Children

Jigsaw puzzles played a big part in the way my parents raised me as a kid. We would spend hours putting together puzzles, and I learned as a child some of the great lessons that jigsaw puzzles have to offer.

I still remember going to the store every couple weeks with mom to buy jigsaw puzzles. We would choose a few fun puzzles with cartoon characters, but mostly we would select puzzles of distant lands or puzzles with images of cultures and ideas that were different from our own.

We would return home and spend quality time together with the entire family, putting together our new jigsaw puzzles. As we put the puzzles together at the end of the day, Dad would always ask me about my day (this was the time of my day I most looked forward to each day) and what I thought about different things going on in the family and around town. Mom would always teach us about what we saw in the puzzle we were putting together.

I can remember putting together a jigsaw puzzle that had an image of a little wooden shack with an elderly man holding a bundle of sticks on his back next to his little wooden shack, a beautiful scene of mountains in the far distance. Mom and Dad told me all about Tibet, and the beautiful mountains in the area. They taught me how some people live differently in other lands. I remember asking why the man that looked like grandpa had to work so hard with the heavy sticks on his back. We spent hours in great conversation, learning about the world around us - all through the help of a simple jigsaw puzzle.

Now as look at my own son as he sites in front of the television for the greater part of the day, I wonder to myself if I can still find good places to buy jigsaw puzzles that my son will enjoy as much as I enjoyed the puzzles of my childhood. I wonder perhaps if I can teach him like my parents taught me - using jigsaw puzzles as a tool to raise my son.

Buying a New Baby Play Mat - What to Look For to Find the Best

A playmat can be considered essential gear as it combines important features of educational and developmental toys with the protection from injuries for your baby. There is of course a plethora of different products from many manufacturers and if you have been searching the net, you know that playmats come in many shapes and designs. Some have arches you can use to attach toys to, others have puzzle pieces incorporated and some playmats are actually interactive activity centers that play sounds and shine lights.

But there are some characteristics that are more important when it comes to providing safety to your baby. First of all, the play mat should be big enough to easily accommodate your kid and cover the whole area where your baby is likely to play. A size that will work, would be twice the baby's body size - about 40" x 40". That way the likeliness of injuries is greatly reduced as your baby falls while he/she plays, tries to stand up or walk. Some foam mats can be expanded by buying a second set. This will save you money as you will be able to reuse you first play mat instead of buying a bigger one. A sign for expandability is the presence of separate edging pieces.

The material of the mat should be at least half an inch thick to provide good padding and it should consist of rubber or foam rather than wool or fabric as they will grip better to the floor, give better traction and be more durable. In order to protect your child from germs and dirt the surface of the playmat should be washable and easy to wipe clean. It is also important that it is easy to assemble and provide a travel bag to easily store it or take with you when needed.

The quality and variety of educational features are the essential characteristics that define a good baby playmat. Most products have vivid colors that will enhance your baby's experience and train color recognition skills. Some come with arches to attach various toys on that your baby will have fun playing with or batting them around while developing fine motor skills. There are also playmats that feature interactive parts that will play music or light some leds when your kid presses the right button, stimulating his senses in a fun and entertaining way.

Considering Educational Toys

Perhaps like never before, parents are intensely focused on helping their child develop from a very early age the skills necessary to succeed in a today's competitive world: intellectual prowess, strong motor skills, problem-solving, etc. Still, kids just want to have fun, leaving parents frantic to find something toys that will entertain but also educate their kids as well. Over the last few years, the children's toy market has shifted to emphasize not only how fun their toys are but how beneficial they are to the child that plays with them as well.

When thinking about buying educational toys for your own baby or toddler, it's important to keep in mind what child development components are emphasized in a specific toy. There are a few general areas that might help narrow your focus: physical development, intellectual development, and language development.

Physical developmental toys are often associated around hand-eye coordination, motor skills, and balance. Building blocks are a standard classic for this area of development, helping kids to carefully move and stack objects. Intellectual development might involve problem-solving, matching, counting, etc. Puzzles are especially useful for augmenting this area of learning. Language developmental toys generally come later, and often involve a combination of reading and listening to letters and words to associate a word with an object, combine words into sentences, etc. However, while toys can be beneficial in language development, almost nothing beats something as simple as reading a book to your child.

Still, when thinking about developmental toys, its important to remember that over-emphasizing toys might take away from a child's social development. Learning to interact with other kids, to share and cooperate, to enjoy other people's company, and more can only come with play groups and friends toys themselves won't do much good here.

As you might expect, all toys are developmental in a way, as they help children interact with the world, but toys more and more are being crafted to help increase a child's growth and engagement. Keeping these ideas in mind can help you find both a fun and functional toy for your child.

How to Find Deals on Toys For Christmas

If you celebrate Christmas, you may think this is the happiest time of the year. If you have kids, you may also think it can be a major headache. Most kids want toys for Christmas, and it is of course, up to you to provide them. Unlike myself, many people are smart enough to buy toys for Christmas at an early date. They take advantage of layaway or mid summer sales to stock up. With my child, what she 'must have' changes so often I don't dare shop in July. That's a recipe for disaster.

If you don't mind shopping for toys for Christmas at an early date, you have the advantage of finding great deals, as well as not facing the huge financial blow of having to buy everything at once. If you are a smart shopper, you can save tons of money on toys for Christmas just by biding your time and shopping around. Another great way to find deals on toys for Christmas is to buy online. If you have a website in mind, wait for them to have a special. Some will offer huge discounts in the middle of summer, and others will give you free shipping on orders with a certain minimum purchase. Not only will this help you find the perfect toys for Christmas gifts, it will save you time and money. You can sift through the choices on your computer, and the toys are delivered straight to your door. Easy!

When shopping for toys for Christmas gifts, another great place to look is eBay. You can find deals all year round on eBay, and the selection of toys is unlimited. You will have a better time finding hard to get toys for Christmas by searching eBay early and often. Don't forget about friends and family when looking for toys for Christmas. Ask them to join you for a trip to outlet malls where you can find some great deals. If they are going and you cannot, ask nicely if they would pick some stuff up for you.

If you are worried about getting popular toys for Christmas, you will want to buy early. The most popular toys sell out quickly and if you are looking for popular toys for Christmas on the 24th of December, you may just be out of luck. No matter when you shop, or how much money you save, remember to teach your child that the holiday is more about just getting toys for Christmas morning. Remind them that others are in need, and the holiday is meant to celebrate more than the jolly man in red. Toys are great, but family and spirituality is more important.

Christmas Hampers For Babies and Mums

Since Christmas time is approaching, you will find a number of gift ideas and hampers which are available in the market. Gifting the same old item would not only bore you but also your receiver. So don't let the receiver tag you with the name of that gift you send him/her every year. Try out some interesting and different gift ideas that are popular this year. And to check out the latest trends, check information below about the gifts that are aptly available for gifting.

Christmas gifts for children

When you visit someone's place to give Christmas wishes, even if you have bought the gift for their baby only, it will solve the purpose. Since the children hold special place in our world, gifts for them should be special too. For infants, baby hamper can be an ideal gift. You will get these hampers full of useful babies' stuffs which are equally important and attractive. The best Christmas gift for baby can be a diaper cake or her/his washing toiletries. Apart from the clothes and snuggling apparels, such gifts are promptly acceptable gifts which are useful and also convey your Christmas wishes for her/his long healthy life.

Among all Christmas gifts, Minimink has become one of the most popular gift items for your baby. The winter chill of Christmas can take away the softness of your baby's skin. It can also bring the fierce attack of chill breeze that can bring various illnesses. Minimink provides their softest, cosiest and comfortable fur clothing and apparels. The softest furs of minimink gives extra comfort to your baby and make the gift more worth while.

Exciting Christmas gifts for mum

After gifting a baby, your mind will definitely turn towards the new mommy. Since she had been striving hard during her pregnancy by struggling with her restless nights, she deserves the best this Christmas. So do not save your penny in gifting her and give her best of the best Christmas gifts this year. Among the material gifts, an outstanding relaxing session of a spa is one of the matchless gifts for mum. As her body becomes exhausted and drained during her pregnancy, such invigorating sessions of spa help to recover her strength and relieve her mind. It also helps her to regain her skin glow and charm within the body.

Another great option for mums is the gourmet hamper that can be her favourite Christmas gift too. The best part of the gourmet hampers is that you can also personalize them. You can add your mom's favourite chocolates, drinks and her favourite items that she loves to have every now and then. The classic version of gourmet gift hamper can be a classy gift for her too. It consists of the oldest and refined bottles of wine with delectable classic chocolates.

So let the moments of Christmas comes with a great joy by sharing such interesting and useful gifts. Celebrate the festivity of happiness by offering wonderful gifts and exchange warm welcoming wishes.

Patch 3D Sneaky Floor Puzzle Lightning Bugs All Around

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• Finished floor puzzles are 2 X 3'--that's humongous
• 46 Large colorful puzzle pieces
• 3D Scene that pops out when wearing the included plastic 3D glasses
• Hidden letters and numbers in the scene
• For ages 3 and up

Patch My First Sneaky Floor Puzzle Farm

Product Details

• A child's first floor puzzle
• Large, easy-to-hold pieces
• Fun and colorful images
• Hiden shapes in finished puzzle for added fun and learning
• Contents: 24 Large Puzzle pieces for Ages 1-1/2 to 3

144 Square Feet ( 36 tiles + borders) 'We Sell Mats' Blue 2' x 2' x 3/8" Anti-Fatigue Interlocking EVA Foam Exercise Gym Flooring

Product Details

This item by "We Sell Mats" is designed by our product engineers with quality, durability and value in mind. Because all "We Sell Mats" branded items are sold specifically be "We Sell Mats", you can always be confident that you will receive a quality product at a great price. Comes with thirty-six new blue tiles. Each measuring 2' x 2' for a total of 144 square feet. Each tile measures 3/8" thick. Borders are included. Perfect for ages 3+. Provides a cushion to hard floor surfaces in gyms, exercise rooms, trade shows, playrooms, etc.

• Comes with thirty-six new blue tiles. Each measuring 2' x 2' for a total of 144 sq.ft.
• Each tile measures 3/8" thick. Borders are included. Perfect for ages 3+.
• Provides a cushion to hard floor surfaces in gyms, exercise rooms, trade shows, playrooms, etc.
• "We Sell Mats" branded items are sold specifically by "We Sell Mats"
• This item will interlock with all 24"x24"x3/8" EVA foam "We Sell Mats" tiles.

Reading Isn't Cool? Three Ways to Encourage Reluctant Readers

Do your kids avoid reading because it isn't cool? Maybe you're more in tune than I am, but I was startled when my grandson informed me that reading isn't cool.

Discovering Reading Isn't Cool

It first started when he got home from school one day without the book he was supposed to read. I figured it was yet another way to get out of the requisite 15-minute evening reading requirement. I cut him off at the pass right away: "Well, Caleb, guess you'll have to read one of my books like Harry Potter." But he's not reading Harry Potter, even the 1st volume is a whopping 309 pages. And why on earth would you read something that's also on a DVD that you've already seen?

Not to be deterred, I mention I have a few other books from my childhood. But no way is he reading girl books or books that are THAT old. I find a book for kids that will help with ADHD with lots of pictures and bullet points. He finally agrees to read this for 15 minutes but hates it.

The next day he dutifully brings his book home from school--hidden under his hoodie--so at least he can read a book he's chosen. "Caleb, why is your book under your hoodie instead of in your back pack." He looks at me like I've just lost my mind and patiently explains that reading isn't cool. That he would NEVER want another kid to see him taking a book home.

I check this out with his teachers. Sure enough, part of the struggle they have getting kids to read is the "cool factor."

Try the Library

Still thinking that eventually I'll just give up, he comes home again without a book. I say "Fine. You don't want to read what I have. We'll go to the library and you can choose a book." He argues that going to library is out of the question because someone might see him at the library. Now there's a certain amount of logic here: If reading isn't cool, libraries obviously represent the height of un-cool-ness.

But "someone might see me" isn't as logical. I remind him that if someone sees him at the library, they might be getting a book too. He and his friend can now be uncool together.

Go to a Bookstore

In addition to the library, you can take your reluctant reader to a large bookstore. It's your second option. Choose one that has a kids' area, things to do, even a coffee shop. And don't forget bribes. Something like "After you choose a book--not a game, a puzzle, sticker book or toy--we'll get hot chocolate and a goodie in the cafe."

Have Books at Home

A third option is having lots of books your child has chosen at home. If you're at home, your friends can't see you reading. When friends come over, just put the books away--or choose friends who think reading IS cool. You can't change peer pressure but you certainly can side-step it. And you'll find more ways to sabotage peer pressure and help reluctant readers who think reading isn't cool at http://www.smartkidssmartparents.com/read/.

Jewish Holidays - Giant Floor Puzzle

Product Details

Colorful 24 piece floor puzzle depicting the various Jewish holidays. Holidays include Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Simchat Torah, Chanukah, Tu Bishvat, Purim, Passover and Shavuot. Large durable puzzle pieces are perfect for little hands.Great for classroom use as well as home.Ages 3 and up

• Finished size: 18" x 24"

60 Years Later and Lego Toys Still Rock!

Lego toys were originally made of wood, but ever since the Danish company began producing multi-colored, interlocking plastic bricks back in 1949, Lego has been beguiling and delighting generation after generation of kids (and adults) in many countries in the world.

Which of us doesn't look back with nostalgia on the endless fascination of putting together plastic houses, tearing them apart, rebuilding them, adding new stories, new walls, new roofs and so forth.

There is a reason Lego has withstood the test of time.

Other toys are much more restrictive in their play possibilities and kids quickly bore of them.

Lego's strength is its simplicity. Lego bricks hold children's interest and attention for years and years. There are elaborate Lego sets where you get instructions for putting together a complex pirate ship, or lunar lander, amongst other things, but the most fun, to my mind, is derived from the good old-fashioned set of basic multi-purpose bricks which can be used over and over again to build pretty much anything you fancy.

Yes, Lego isn't the cheapest toy available. But in the long term it's probably the best investment in toys you can make. The bricks are practically indestructible. They will last a long, long time and will hold your child's interest for years.

The name Lego was coined by the company's founder, Ole Kirk Christiansen, a carpenter from Billund in Denmark, in 1934 when he was still making wooden toys. In 1940 he started producing plastic toys, and in 1949 brought out the famous interlocking bricks the whole world knows and loves as Lego. The name derives from the Danish phrase leg godt, meaning 'play well'. An appropriate name!

Early Lego bricks were not very versatile, and their locking ability was limited. In 1958 the brick was extensively redesigned, and this is the form of Lego we have all come to know and love. Bricks from 1958 will still interlock and work with bricks from 2010. There is actually a very fine balance in the Lego system - bricks must hold together until pulled apart, but be easy to pull apart when required. They are manufactured to a very fine tolerance.

Some of the bricks are quite small, and you have to be sure your child won't swallow them - for this reason the smaller Lego bricks aren't suitable for children under the age of three.

Surely you will want to find out more about how Lego toys have evolved in the last 60 years.

Jigsaw Puzzle Teaches Your Child Valuable Lessons

Trying to complete the missing pieces of a jigsaw puzzle is both challenging and entertaining. The challenge of looking for the perfect piece to complete the picture can be frustrating but fulfilling at the same. But connecting the different pieces is not only a past time, it is a training as well. This is best for young children who are just starting to learn how to coordinate their eyes and hands. Aside from this, there are also a lot of educational enhancements that it offers. It helps make a good foundation for your child. It is an effective way of preparing him for formal education.

Completing a jigsaw puzzle helps in the development of many brain functions. Your child's ability to reason is one. As he starts to put several pieces together, he'd think of a figure that would best make sense. Even if the part fits but the image it creates is not logical, then your child will try another piece. This activity will also help develop your child's analytical capability. As he is in the process of completing the puzzle, he would be imagining of a possible images for its output. By figuring out a possible image, it will be easier for your child to solve the puzzle.

A jigsaw puzzle will also help your child develop his organizational skills. This will help your child create a flow that he can follow systematically. Although he may not able to develop it the first time he attempts to finish a puzzle, he will be able to develop one as he plays along. By being able to create a logical flow to follow, your child will learn about the importance of order in finishing the game easily. Although he may just be solving a puzzle, this will help develop his ability to solve problems by using different approaches to finish the game.

Playing the jigsaw puzzle will also teach your child important values. He will learn to be patient because figuring out how the several pieces fit takes time. A child will learn that before he can get all the pieces together, he has to go through the sorting of the parts, trying to fit them together and redo the whole thing if it doesn't make sense. He will also learn about determination and fulfillment. He will know that if he works hard, he will be proud of himself because he has accomplished something. At an early age, he will know how fun it is to have completed something that he has really worked hard for.

Jigsaw puzzles are great toys to give your child because of the many educational values he can get from it. He will not only enjoy but will learn at the same time. It will not only prepare him for formal education but will also help develop his well being. It is a good way of teaching him about the different values that are essential in facing the different challenges he might encounter in the future.

Christmas Jigsaw Puzzles

Any mention of Christmas can turn the mind immediately to scrumptiously delicious treats. After having had your fill of them you can relax your body and exercise your mind with a few food-related jigsaw puzzles. Christmas cookies, candy canes, fruitcakes, and gingerbread houses are examples of food themes related to Christmas. This type of Christmas jigsaw puzzles are a hit with children as they really look forward to Christmas treats. These puzzles are in keeping with the flavor of the season.

When Christmas beckons everyone gets busy bringing down decorations from their attics. Christmas jigsaw puzzles with decoration as the underlying theme appeals to everybody and goes with the mood of the day. Christmas candles, Christmas centerpiece, Christmas lights, Christmas ornaments, Christmas tree, etc., are themes used in jigsaw puzzles related to Christmas decorations.

Warm family feelings come to the fore during Christmas season. Happy fun filled family times are the order of the day. Jigsaw puzzles make for great family fun times. Themes like Christmas at home, Christmas greetings, Christmas kitten, holiday greetings, and home for Christmas are jigsaw themes that suit the occasion well.

The true spirit of Christmas is driven home by the use of several symbols. These symbols are available in jigsaw puzzle form, as well. Some examples are holly, the meaning of Christmas, mistletoe, pinecone, angel, church, carolers and wreath. These typical Christmas symbols make great pictures for jigsaw puzzles. Solving these puzzles familiarizes children with these symbols. Conversation about these symbols goes a long way in introducing the concept of the true spirit of Christmas.

Santa, his entourage and his sack of gifts are also very popularly used themes in jigsaw puzzles. All toy shops carry a wide range of Santa jigsaw puzzles.

Jigsaw puzzles are great for exercising the brain in a fun way. And by integrating the theme of Christmas with them they play a dual role of exercising the brain as well as familiarizing Christmas and the related symbols and values.

Blue's Clues 46 Piece My Size Puzzle

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