Items tagged “Toys & Recreation”

The time for spring cleaning is here! For many families, each year brings a new heap of toys, gadgets, books, and puzzles. When it comes to organizing children’s items, storage containers need to be easy to use, yet strong enough to stand up to piles of heavy, oddly shaped items. Whether parents are looking to round up an ever-growing collection of stuffed animals, or need a central place for all those Legos and crayons, The Giggle Guide^® likes these neat solutions from 3 Sprouts, Resource International, Jonti-Craft and Little Zookeepers that are durable, kid-friendly, and fit beautifully into any home décor.

Who hasn’t longed for an adorable pet at some time in their life? Maybe a cuddly puppy or soft kitten to snuggle with — or even a scream-inducing lizard to frighten an older sister! The draw of pet ownership goes beyond youthful yearnings for something cute or cuddly. It speaks to the innermost nature of man, for whom sometimes the best companion is one of a different species. Peter Brown’s latest book, Children Make Terrible Pets, offers amusing and enlightening insight into pet ownership for children 3 to 8 years old, told through the eyes of an endearing and charming bear named Lucy.

Parents of children with allergies, or sensitivities to certain foods or substances, must stay vigilant. They have to read labels, eliminate triggering products, inform teachers and caregivers, and find acceptable alternatives whenever possible. Unfortunately, allergy triggers can sometimes show up in unexpected places. For example, some parents are dismayed to find that the formula for the leading children’s modeling dough is wheat-based. A new find is Soy-Yer Dough, a wheat-free modeling dough that more kids can enjoy!

Kids have a mind-boggling array of choices when it comes to electronic entertainment. Between high-end gaming systems, online interaction, handheld games, and TV on demand, most youngsters have more than enough to keep them glued to an audio-video set of some kind. Still, there’s something about traditional, creative, real-time forms of fun that can capture a child’s attention and interactive imagination in a way that pixels simply cannot.