| tart --> | | | | on the side of wooden blocks also make them a |
| Toys today seem to come with a host of electronic | | | | great start to reading! |
| features. They can dance, sing, jump, giggle even | | | | Balls |
| wet their nappies (why would anyone want a toy like | | | | Does your child spend hours in front of the TV? Get |
| that?). | | | | him to play outside; where he can get the exercise |
| However, some child psychologists actually advise | | | | he needs from running, jumping, and playing catch |
| against giving very young children any electronic toy. | | | | with friends. Child nutritionists are actually concerned |
| They believe that babies and toddlers need to | | | | that the sedentary lifestyle of kids today are leading |
| develop their hand and eye coordination, their | | | | to skyrocketing statistics of childhood obesity. So |
| imagination, and their motor skills--so giving something | | | | these classic toys can actually be exactly what the |
| that moves and grooves at the touch of a button is | | | | doctor recommends. |
| counterproductive. The best educational toys are the | | | | Rocking Horses |
| Classic Toys. | | | | Look at any illustration of a children's room, and |
| Dolls | | | | you're bound to find rocking horses included in the |
| Dolls are certainly Classic Toys. Archaeological | | | | tableau. Rocking horses are some of the world's |
| excavations have unearthed dolls that date back to | | | | most cherished classic toys, and are made of such |
| thousands of years (talk about being sturdy!). These | | | | fine craftsmanship and have such universal appeal |
| dolls may not have been able to sing or walk on their | | | | that they are often passed down from one |
| own, but they helped comfort a sick or frightened | | | | generation to the next. While they traditionally come |
| child, and were part of several imaginary adventures. | | | | in dappled gray, you can find them in many, many |
| These classic toys are also important in practicing | | | | colors and sizes. |
| social skills. As your child "interacts" with the toy, she | | | | Kites |
| plays out gestures or roles that she's observed from | | | | "Let's go fly a kite, up where the air is light..." so goes |
| adults around her. One of the best accessories for | | | | the song about these classic toys from the classic |
| dolls are dollhouses, which make the imaginary games | | | | musical Mary Poppins. While kites have no batteries |
| so much more real. | | | | or gizmos attached, they are a feat of skill--you need |
| Wooden blocks | | | | good aerodynamics. In fact, many see them as the |
| Wooden blocks are Classic Toys that your child will | | | | precursor to planes, since the Wright Brothers |
| use for years. Younger toddlers would prefer to just | | | | studied kite movements while working on their |
| bang them against each other--which builds their hand | | | | historical invention. |
| eye coordination and gross motor skills. As they gain | | | | The great thing about kites is that they can bring |
| greater control of their hand movements, these | | | | many happy hours of parent-child bonding. Make one |
| classic toys can be used to build towers, bridges and | | | | together, and then take outside when the weather's |
| houses. The letters and numbers carved or painted | | | | right. |