Kids are able to learn best when they don’t think they’re learning anything. That is, the perfect way to teach them something is when they are at play. It is this concept that has propelled educational toys’s popularity to the highest levels. Despite the fact that they can be quite expensive, parents take no heed of the price, recognizing only that the benefits their children can gain from playing with an educational toy far outweigh the price tag.

There are many kinds of educational toys, but the electronic ones are probably the most sought after. Since we live in an advancing and technologically-inclined world, getting kids interested in electronics is inevitable.

And because most of us are glued to our computer screens, children are more likely to respond to educational toys that are electronic because it gives them a sense of adulthood – that they just like mommy and daddy, typing something into a keyboard or studying a computer monitor.

The first toy manufacturing company that introduced electronic educational toys is LeapFrog. With the Leapster Learning System, children are encouraged to learn about all sorts of subjects, form music to language to art, either in a mobile manner (the device is portable), or through a huge screen (it can be plugged to the TV). Each game uploaded into the Leapster Learning System is age appropriate. Thus, parents will never go wrong, be too backward or be too advanced, with the game they’re getting their kids.

Sometimes parents can make the mistake of getting just any educational toy at the store under the impression that all educational toys are the same. They aren’t. Each educational toy is tailored to cater to a particular age group and each is designed according to that age group’s motor capacities and learning skills.

The Leapster product itself retails for around US$60.00 at major toy stores, while its cartridges cost about US$30.00 each. One other good thing about the Leapster is that its cartridges may be used with other LeapFrog electronic toys and games, too, like the L-Max.

When it comes to electronic educational toys, LeapFrog leads the pack. While there are other electronic toys by other manufacturers out there, it is this company that first introduced the concept and has excelled in this particular industry ever since. But, hey, nothing’s stopping you from getting electronic educational toys made by other manufacturers. What is important is you got your child something that will be of use to him or her.

By: Low Jeremy

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The idea of throwing book parties is a relatively new development that has grown out of the incredible popularity of the Harry Potter books. A book party is basically a party thrown by a group of parents or by a bookstore to encourage the kids to get excited about buying and reading a new book that’s coming out, such as one of the Harry Potter books. Usually the kids really like this because it’s new, fun and they get to stay up past midnight waiting for the earliest possible moment when they can pick up their new release.

You can also throw a book party at home and nothing says you guys have to stay up really late to do it. Lots of retailers let their customer’s pre-order books so they can come in on the day of the books’ release and just pick it up instead of waiting in line. When planning your book party ask all the parents who will be attending if they want to pitch in on a pre-order of the book you are waiting on and then on the day of your book party you can just elect one of parents to go to the bookstore to pick up the books for all the kids. In the meantime keep the kids entertained with games, food, and videos.

The key to decorating for a book party is to make use of the related themes. If this party is for a Harry Potter book, just by example, you can easily find lots of Harry Potter themed party supplies. There are paper plates, tablecloths, napkins, and wall murals, wall hangings, and balloons. You can even get props like wands and wizard and witch hats to place around the party area or have the kids dress up in, heck turn it into a costume party by having the kids come as their favorite characters.

By: Gail Leino

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