A box is just a box . . . unless it's not a box. From mountain to rocket ship, a small rabbit shows that a box will go as far as the imagination allows. Inspired by a memory of sitting in a box on her driveway with her sister, Antoinette Portis captures the thrill when pretend feels so real that it actually becomes real when the imagination takes over and inside a cardboard box, a child is transported to a world where anything is possible.
Customer Review: Simple and Original
Not a Box by Antoinette Portis, is a tribute to the age-old tradition of a child turning a box into something else, something deep within their imagination. Not a Box stars a rabbit and a box. Written in a question and answer format, an off the pages voice asks the rabbit: "What are you doing with that box?" Turn the page and the rabbit answers: "It's not a box." There on the page you see red lines drawn over the black box and the box is transformed into a pirate ship, a hot air balloon, a space ship (you get the idea). The illustrations are spare and simple. And humorous. Somehow, Portis manages to make a stick figure bunny have lots of personality. In addition, the outside cover of the book is made to look and feel like a cardboard box, complete with a "This Side Up" on the back. One of the beauties of this book is that it will appeal to very young children, as well as beginning readers (4, 5, and 6 year olds). Published in 2006, it's a classic in the works.
Customer Review: A wonderful book
I love Not a Box as do my students. This is a perfect picture book. Simple and engaging, with simple line drawings that quickly draw the reader in. The children laugh and giggle as they can certainly relate to the wonderful imagination of the main character. This book is definitely a must-have for any collection. Highly recommended.

You can either make your 3 year old sit down for a 45 minute drill daily and teach some basics they are required to learn or quite simply have so much fun while playing free educational games like the ones below with them that they wont even notice they are learning.

And you are bound to have the end result you desired. Here are some fun kids games to play with you little one which you are bound to enjoy as much as they will.

1. Letter Learning - Alphabet learning need not be a task for your young one with a simple activity like this one.

Have an ongoing game of alphabet of the day. Have a letter for the day or even week. Hang a cutout of your letter, point objects beginning with your letter or even go all out and have stickers around the house of objects beginning with your letter for the day. End of this fun educational game your little one is sure to have learnt his letters.

2. Sing the Letter Order - Teach your young one their letter order with the all time favourite preschool ABC song.Sing along or listen to the fun online versions on some good online games sites available on the internet and watch them pick up the letter order.

3. Learning Numbers - Have you tried numbering the chairs in your Diner? Well, it can work brilliantly. Don't restrict to chairs, go all out and number the whole household up and see the result.

4. Learning colours is just what you need for a lazy afternoon - Got a free afternoon? Get some washable watercolours, paint brush, water and towel to clean up afterwards. Give your little one an opportunity to choose the colour from the colour tray laid out by you, paint the little palms and feet's one at a time and take prints of the little palms and feet's on a plain sheet of paper.

Giggling together while learning some colours is great.

5. Hunting down Shapes - Have a scavenger hunt while learning some shapes in this fun kids game. Have a set of 2 for each type of shape, hide one and have the other one with you to show your preschooler what they are supposed to be looking for.Let your preschooler go on a hunt with some clues from your end.

Have an applause round every time there is new find and have fun with the jumping and clapping sessions.

6. What's in Daddy's' Pocket? Counting the change in Daddy's' pocket every night can just be the activity Daddy needs when back in the evening! Introduce different coins to your 3 year old with this fun game. Such free educational games are all your little one needs to learn some basics about money.

7. Science lessons for your preschooler - Go on a nature trail with your little one, pointing out the little insects and plants while enjoying the fresh air. Return home with a collection of different shapes of stones, dried leaves other little items you collected on your way back home.

So weather its letters, numbers or colours that you would like your preschooler to learn just think how can you make it enjoyable for your little one and they are sure to respond in the way you want them to!

Yogi Shinde is a busy Mum and a web master of a kids games website featuring free educational games for Little Kids.

Find Fun Kids Games at best-preschool-games.com

This article is free for republishing by visitors provided the resource link is retained.

Educational Children Toys

Flip it over! 2 Books in 1 - Learn Rocket Style on one side and Bunny Ears on the other - 2 foil-stamped shoe-tying boards with clear step-by-step photographic instructions - 2 board games reinforce early learning concepts, including left/right - Color-coded laces and holes - Bound at top providing easy access for lefties and righties
Customer Review: Adorable Board Book!
My five year old son likes this book & tied a shoe w/in the first 5-10 minutes of reading it. I was never taught the "bunny ear" technique, but now that I got this it turns out that that's the one that works for him. It isn't nearly as disorienting as some have made it out to be, & is worth the $$$. I'm glad that I bought this!
Customer Review: It is a helpful tool
Our experience with this book was not as glowing as other review I have read, but it has been insturmental in helping my daughter have a "safe" place to practice bow tying.

Intelligence is a very important thing. A certain degree of it is always necessary in order to get ahead in the world. The more intelligent a child is, the more chances he has of having a better future. And so, it is very important for parents to ensure that their child is gifted with a certain degree of intelligence. Or, at the very least, the opportunity to maximize the potential he or she has. More often than not, the task of developing the child's intelligence is mainly heaped upon a parent's shoulders. Schools are there to supplement what a parent has given the child. But ultimately, whether or not the child will be intelligent will depend on the child himself.

Genes and Intelligence

Most children are under the impression that studying is something boring and tedious. But there are some children who have a natural love for learning, and it is these children that are usually categorized as 'achievers'. Intelligent children are usually those who have a positive attitude towards learning, especially learning grammar for kids. And while each child's potential for intelligence is already predetermined by his genes, how much of that potential the child can use up is influenced by external factors, such as the influence of parents or teachers.

External Factors that Affect Intelligence

First impressions are very important for children. In much the same way that they first learn that they should stay away from fire by getting scalded by something hot, children, too, create impressions about studying depending on their first experiences. If the parent presents the idea that to learn English for kids is a responsibility, then the child may view it as such and may shun it in favor of more enjoyable things like playing, for example. However, if the parent or the teacher presents fun English for kids learning as something fun and enjoyable from the very start, then the child is more likely to have a positive attitude towards it. And if the child has a positive attitude towards learning English for kids, he will be more receptive towards new information and more willing to learn new things, thus, contributing to his own development and helping him reach his true potential.

Also, if you try to notice, things that interest you usually stay in your head longer than things that you find boring. If a child has a negative attitude towards learning, then anything that's presented to him for studying would automatically be classified as 'boring' or 'tedious'. However, if learning is presented to him as something 'fun', then he is more likely to find something he's really interested in because he won't be close-minded about the subjects being taught. Hence, there are games for learning English that parents and teachers can use. There are also English songs for kids as well as English dictionary for kids that can help as well. How to learn English for kids should be fun so as to help them grasp the language better.

Vladimir Chen is a Senior Analyst and an expert in e-learning at Mingoville - a universally accepted English program to make language learning fun and enjoyable. Register for free at http://www.mingoville.com and learn English now.

Educational Toys

The Comfy Let's Imagine offers toddlers hours of delight while developing creative skills. The child will explore a variety of fun learning experiences through colorful graphics and animated pictures that stimulate visual development and encourage auditory skills. Didi and Boo, and their amusing friends, will introduce toddlers to the world of animals, shapes, objects and body parts, while developing their language skills and helping them to solve problems.

Toys are everywhere! They come in all shapes, sizes, and brands. Most toys are created to provide pure enjoyment for children while others are made to help stimulate a child's mind in a fun way. In any case, toys are a great way to keep a youngster occupied.

Some of the most popular toys out on the market these days are action figures and Barbie dolls. Some action figures are based on movies that have recently hit the theatres. For example, one award winning action figure is The Incredible Hulk, which is a movie that came on June 13th, 2008. Barbie dolls have been around for over 49 years and they have still been running strong! There is a Barbie for each little girl's fantasy. The joy of Barbie is that you can dress her up and match her clothes with accessories sold separately. Barbie's hair is also another attraction as it comes long and pliable so that little girls can arrange and decorate her hair as they please.

Toys don't necessarily have to be action figures or dolls. They can even be audio books. No, audio books are not just for adults. They help children appreciate stories that are heard as well as those written on paper. Since a lot of audio books include a cast of readers as well as sound effects, it is easy for even the younger children to get caught up in the excitement of the story as it is being told.

Educational toys include LeapFrog and Fisher-Price products. Fisher-Price has been providing fun education for children everywhere since 1930. Some brands under this name are Disney, Sesame Street, Barney, Dora the Explorer, and See 'n Say. If you can stir up a child's love of learning when they are young, that drive to learn new and interesting things will stay with him or her right into adulthood. Keep in mind, not all learning has to take place in a formal environment. Of course, school is important, but we should be open to learning new things in a variety of settings.

Whether it be a toy that was made for all fun and games or a toy that was made for teaching a child new things, you can't go wrong. Toys are a great gift for a kid of any age and for any occasion. Suppose it is little Mike's 6th birthday. What ever should you get him? A toy airplane is not a bad idea at all! But what about little Sara? What should you get her for Christmas? Every little girl with their very own dollhouse would hold it dear to their hearts.

Victor Epand is an expert consultant about kids toys, stuffed animals, and dolls. You will find the best marketplace for kids toys, stuffed animals, and dolls at these sites for popular kids toys and stuffed animals.

Educational Toys