The Write & Learn Letter Pad makes learning letters fun and easy. Children learn how to form letters step by step on an interactive, erasable letter pad while they get positive coaching from the encouraging Write & Learn "Spokespencil." With the Write & Learn Letter Pad, you don't have to wait for the ink to dry for your child to be writing letters! Includes three different activities. Requires 3 "AA" batteries, included. Measures 9.5" x 10" x 2.3".
Customer Review: No Screw on Battery Cover
Most children's toys have a screw on the battery compartment, but this one did not. My 3-year old daughter quickly broke off the cover and pulled the batteries out. It seemed like a fun, educational toy for the few days she got to enjoy it.
Customer Review: Just ok - battery compartment easily opened by toddler
This toy is decent for the price. My biggest gripe is that the battery compartment does not screw on. My almost 3 year old is quite capable of removing the cover and batteries. I've had to put it away for the time being because of this.

Christmas is a season of giving. But sometimes picking the perfect gift can be such a difficult decision, especially when it comes to shopping for the children on your list. It can be hard to figure out what toys kids will enjoy. So take the guesswork out of your Christmas shopping this year and consider these Top Ten Christmas Gifts for Kids this holiday season.

1. Fur Real Friends Biscuit My Lovin Pup. This interactive toy is the perfect gift for any pet loving child. This life-sized dog can obey commands and even wag its tail, which gives kids all the benefits of owning a dog without any of the hassle.

2. Kidizoom Digital Camera Pink from Vtech. For the tech oriented little girl in your life, consider the Kidizoom Digital Camera. Not only will she look stylish sporting this pink camera, but she can take real photos and video as well. Vtech has designed all version of their Kidizoom Camera to fit in small hands and be resilient enough to survive in a child's care. This camera is a great idea for kids who want to take pictures but still are a little too young to handle more expensive cameras.

3. Bakugan Battle Arena. This Japanese style game features both collectible cards and figures which opponents can use to battle one another. This game of skill has players rolling marbles on a magnetic board to determine which figure will go into battle for them. Once two players have done this, the battles can ensue, leading to hours of fun.

4. Transformers Movie Leader Optimus Prime. Based on the blockbuster movie, the Transformers Movie Leader Optimus Prime is a great gift for a young sci-fi fan. This toy, which features both light and sound, transforms from a robot to a well-concealed vehicle with a partially automated transformation process that must be seen to be believed.

4. LEGO Mindstorms NXT. This LEGO toy is a fantastic gift for a child who loves to build. The LEGO Minstorms NXT comes with easy to follow instructions that help create a robot complete with sensors that can open the door to the imagination. This is a gift that keeps on giving with hours of discovery, entertainment, and learning to be had.

6. Hannah Montana Malibu Beach House. There is no show popular than Hannah Montana, which makes this Malibu Beach House a great gift to give this holiday season. Designed after the sets of the hit show, the Malibu Beach House is the perfect accessory for the Hannah Montana doll collection and will light up any fan's face on Christmas morning.

7. Blokus Classic. This award winning game is fun for the whole family this holiday season. Designed for two to four players, each time Blokus Classic is distinctive, keeping players guessing and interested. This colorful game encourages logic and strategy and should be a must-have on every Christmas list this year.

8. EyeClops Night Vision Infrared Stealth Goggles. These goggles offer hours of adventure for kids of all ages. With real infrared technology, the EyeClops Night Vision Stealth Goggles allow users to see up to fifty feet in the dark, which can open up the night to hours of nighttime entertainment.

9. LeapFrong Learn and Groove Musical Table. For the younger children on your shopping list this year, be sure to check out this Learn and Groove Musical Table. Designed for children ages six months to three years, this table can help develop the skills young children need. With a wide selection of music and a range of actions to be performed on the table top, babies will love the Learn and Groove Musical Table.

10. Speed Racer Sky Jump Track Set. This Track Set features all the thrills of the Speed Racer movie in your own home. On this set, the cars can complete spectacular leaps and crashes, sure to thrill children of all ages.

Please visit us to learn more about the Top 10 Christmas Toys For Kids 2008

Educational Toys

This video works together with the Left Brain video to present both creative and logical types of images and activities. Right Brain features classical music and gentle voices, and explores Creative Thinking, Art & Drawing, Rhymes, Imagination, and more! DVD includes special features such as: Baby Bloopers, Behind The Scenes, and Storybook. 45 minutes
Customer Review: My son just wasn't interested
My son (18 months) wasn't interested at all in this video. I think it looks well made and interesting but my son still prefers the My Baby Can Talk video and Baby Einstein.
Customer Review: My triplets love it!
We have Right Brain and Left Brain. My triplets, who have very different personalities, liked Baby Einstein better when they were still in bouncers and crawling around. Now that they are toddlers at 22 mos, they've been enjoying Brainy Baby better. They still like Baby Einstein but since that only has music they just get the enjoyment of the pictures and music and such and the visual fun. With Brainy Baby, they are now learning because the narrator will say what's on the screen instead of just seeing it, so they are learning more now and understanding. For us, Baby Einstein is better for the infants, where Brainy Baby is better for the toddlers ages 1+ to start. But we love it! I didn't know they made more but now that I know I'm going to start buying the others! They love them!

Turning ten years old is a special time because it is when children finally reach another milestone in their life, no longer in the single digits. Why not make their special birthday even more special and rememberable with a gift they would love. Around this age children may develop specific interests in certain things. Encouraging learning through toys and games will jump start a kids interest in other subjects possibly.

There are so many toys and options available it might be difficult choosing something a 10 year old would enjoy. While common knowledge plays a role in evaluating the proper toys for a 10 year old, a good mixture of entertainment and educational toys would be wise choice. Obviously, without spoiling them a good variety of each can enhance their learning abilities without forcing them to learn.

Especially among boys, action figures are great toys that come in many different sizes, prize ranges, and characters. Whatever a child is into, the chances are they make an action figure for them. Many toys now have become digital such as video games, but not all to be played on a screen. For those children who like to be active and travel out doors, most are, an electric go cart or scooter would be ideal. While the scooter won't reach racing speeds they can reach up to 12 mph. This would be an excellent gift any ten year old boy or girl would surely enjoy and appreciate.

Building blocks and sets will encourage the future architect in any youngster. Building ships, planes, and houses, will stimulate creativity promote using technical skills as well. Those children who would like something more artistic drawing and coloring kits would be a very good way to bring out the Leonardo Da Vinci's in the little ones. Though, drawing and coloring kits can suit any aged individual but there are difference in quality and prices ranges when it comes to art supplies. One wouldn't recommend high quality art supplies for younger children.

Word games are also another way to learn and memorize vocabulary. Different types of games are a good way to introduce aspects of basic education such as multiple tables, grammar, and memorization (State capitals for example). Games can make learning more interesting and appealing to young kids. When purchasing toys for girls, one can never go wrong with dolls and doll houses.

Troy James Macraft
Great Kid Gifts
Great Kid Gifts

Educational Toys

Children love using the Design & Drill Activity Center to create their own designs, or following the set's activity cards to make pictures and patterns, from trains and boats to flowers and fish. Just snap any one of the drill bits into the power drill or the screwdriver handle, grab a handful of big bolts, and turn on the learning fun. Twenty activity cards (10 make-a-picture cards, 9 follow-the-pattern cards, and one make-your-own card) provide young learners with tasks from simple to challenging. Requires 3 "AA" batteries (not included).
Customer Review: Design n Drill
Seems to be a durable fun toy which teaches colors and the idea of what drills do. Valuable eye hand coordination - I had fun with it also.
Customer Review: More than just a toy
My daughter really can't sit still for much but she seems to be able to for this one. It's an all around great learning toy. It's creative and great for fine motor skills, hand eye coordination etc. It's like an art project without the mess and a game you can play too. The pieces are big enough for little hands yet still a challenge within reach. There are many different ways to play and use this toy, your child can lead you! And all that practice with tools! Girls don't let that deter you this toy is great for little girls too.

There are five secrets to keeping your child safer today immediately. The first two secrets, confidence and empowerment, set the foundation for kids that can keep themselves safe when Mom and Dad are not around.

The third secret to keeping your child safe for an entire lifetime of safety is, "Catch Them Being Good."

When your child makes a bad choice, it's important for you to stay calm about it. Yes, this is easier said then done. However, it is critical in your child's ability to keep themselves safe, that you learn to take their mistakes in stride.

We want you to spend more time and energy catching your child being good.

A subtle prodding towards better choices is more effective than highlighting, in a big emotional way, any bad choice they make for themselves. If you have to highlight negative behavior, be very careful in saying, "That was a bad choice," rather than "You are bad." Take care to say, "You can make better choices," instead of saying, "How stupid!" Things like, "You're a great kid but that choice could have been better," keeps your child's image of themselves solid and highlights the choice only, not them, as being bad. Your child is good, the choice is bad.

Building confidence, building a solid self image in your child, builds safety. Capitalize on this and highlight the good things they do more often than the bad things. As a matter of fact, focus on highlighting as many good things as you can rather than making a big deal about the bad things they may do.

When you highlight the negative aspects of your child's behavior, studies have shown that you actually undermine their self esteem and ability to try new things. You kick in the fear factor of failure and start down a path you may not be able to reverse.

We call it, "Catch Them Being Good."

We think positive reinforcement is a much stronger teaching tool and technique for child safety than negative reinforcement. Praise your child when you see them doing good behaviors. Lavish the praise and adulation onto them when they do really great things.

This is also positive mentoring. This is channeling your child into learning how to make good, solid and positive choices for themselves. It builds and fosters that ever-so-critical confidence in themselves.

It is easier to notice the bad behavior. We are tuned by society to notice the negative and bad things people do. It is very easy to notice the bad things your child does. It is a focus of many parents, naturally. Reverse the trend and make your focal point the things your child does well. Positive reinforcement will teach your child to repeat those behaviors you want and make it easier for you to guide them into those good choices.

Joyce Jackson is a child safety expert, #1 bestselling author, consultant, speaker and trainer. For her extensive website and information see Keeping Kids Safe.

Educational Toys