What are some good toy ideas for a 10 month old?

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talk nerdy

I have a 10 month old daughter and I want to get rid of her baby toys and get her some more age appropriate ones. Im looking for things that are more interactive and will help her learn new skills.
Does anyone have any suggestions. What toys did your kids love at this age.

Answer
i thought this might be helpful:

http://www.babycenter.com/0_toys-for-9-to-12-month-olds_820.bc

How to babysit? how to babysitt little kids and what to do when babysitting?

Jessica

my parents want me to learn how to be responsible and how to make my own money,so they want me to babysit, when the told me i was like, "okay fine". but then i realized i have never babysat in my life! Usually when i go to the mall, my mom comes with me and she just pays for whatever i get.
i don't know how to babysit, like, what do you do? and when do you feed the kids that you babysit?

Answer
I was the same way when I first started babysitting, it's normal:)

To really earn the trust of the parents, the Red Cross Association offers babysitting and CPR classes. I would suggest taking one of those, they are only about a week long. You get CPR certified, and you can show your little card to the parents and they'll definitely know they chose the right person to leave their kids with.

On the subject of things to do when you're babysitting a kid(s), it depends on the age.
If they're young, (infant), you wont do much. Just make sure the baby is okay, fed, changed, and healthy by the time the parents are back. If you have any other age kid on your hands, it's quite simple. They'll have toys, things to do outside, they'll want to do interactive stuff too. Pick them up and do piggy back rides. Hold a picnic outside after making sandwiches. Pop in a tape or CD and throw a dance party. It's really easy. Just keep them entertained.

You'll know when you need to make food. They'll ask you or tell you when they're hungry, or just bring it up. If they tell you they're hungry, make them a snack. If they aren't just wait, they'll get there. If you're taking on one kid it's really simple. If you have siblings or friends over, it might be a little tougher, but you can do it. If a kid is grumpy or throws a fit, just set them in time out, and if they don't respond to that, threaten to call their parents. If it gets even worse, you can actually call the parents. They'll leave their numbers for you. Never, ever, resort to anything physical with a child. Never hit, shake, trip or hurt them if they're throwing a tantrum. You can get in SERIOUS trouble. The kids will warm up to you, and vice versa.

Make sure you play by the parent's rules though. If they tell you to make macaroni for lunch, you better know how to make macaroni. If they tell you to not go outside at 6:00, god forbid you go do not go outside at 6:00. If they tell you to bathe a child, or that they can't watch Nickelodeon and only watch Disney Channel, you play by the rules.

Also, don't "charge." That seems snotty. Let the parents pay you what they think you deserve. Most likely they'll pay you by the hour. You won't be making serious bank, but you'll be doing okay if you babysit for a whole day.

I hope I helped:)

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Why are little kids toys so much more fun than big kids toys?

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orik128

Me and a friend were just playing with a toy pirate ship having the time of our lives when the question popped into my head. Why are little kids toys fun? Why don't you tell me.

Answer
Because they are nostalgic, simple as that. It's the same reason why old school Nickelodeon is widely agreed as that channel's prime.

Where can i buy good kids toys online which will deliverable at India?

softparks

Hi Friends
I need a good online shop where i can buy Kids Toys like cars, Bikes etc. Can anybody suggest a good website for Online Toys buying.

Thanks in Advance
Javed

Answer
amazon!!

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how to make a differance in the world?

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Gabriel

so I'm 17, super ready for Senior year! but I'm a little concerned about college. Look I don't want a meaningless "desk job" I don't even care about making too much money. I just want to make a difference in this world (if that doesn't sound to corny) do you guys have any Ideas?

Answer
There's so many things that you can do to make a difference, but it just all depends on your interests. For example, you can volunteer in a children's hospital. Here, you would deliver meals and snacks to patients, greet people at the information desk, or play with the sick children.
For more general information about hospital volunteering, go to: http://www.ehow.com/about_4672638_hospital-volunteers.html
I stumbled across this website. It's the children's hospital site for Boston, and if you scroll down it has all of the same services that volunteers would do at hospitals any where else: http://www.childrenshospital.org/about/Site1394/mainpageS1394P5.html
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You can also put together care packages to send to soldiers. Care packages consist of things like chapstick, travel-sized shampoo and conditioner, razors, soap, first aid kits, small board games, etc. These sound like everyday things, but these are items that could greatly help out our soldiers who are out there in harsh conditions. In addition to that, you can write them a letter and include your contact information and hope that they write back. It can be cool to talk to a soldier, and you can include a copy of some of the letters under the community service portion of your college application! Sending care packages is so easy to do, so you can do that from home in addition to any other community service.

For general how-to information on sending care packages to soldiers, go to: http://www.ehow.com/how_4490375_send-care-package-soldier.html
For a more detailed list of general care packages, go to: http://www.hugsforsoldiers.org/node/11
For holiday packages, see: http://www.thesoldiersfamily.com/Holiday_Care_Packages.html#christmas

You can send care packages just to a general place, such as: http://www.operationshoebox.com/
You can also "adopt a soldier" which means that you would be sending care packages to one (or more if you would like) specific soldier: http://anysoldier.com/
Another "adopt a soldier" program: http://adoptaussoldier.org/
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Another thing you can do on the side is to donate box tops to the poorer schools around your town. My mom does this; she collects box tops, which are each worth ten cents a piece, and after every couple of months she donates them to the schools that could truly use the extra money. It's so quick and easy to do and it's something else that you can do from home. The website has it centered around donating to your own school, but if your school is well-off then it's always better to donate to the schools that really need it. Just show up, tell the main office that you would like to make a donation, and that's it!
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You can also donate toys/clothes/items that you don't often use anymore to your local goodwill or salvation army center. This is very quick and easy as well, and something that you can do on the side of anything big.
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Another option is to tutor kids at the nearby elementary schools/middle schools or shelve books at your local library. Just contact the school and/or library, tell them you're interested, and ask them if they could use your help.
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Sometimes the neighborhood gets a little dirty, so picking up trash could always help. Go around with a trashbag and pick up any litter that you see laying around. It may not feel like you're getting recognized, but people will be glad that their neighborhood is a little cleaner.
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Putting a portion of your weekly money (whether that's an allowance or job salary) towards different causes is another idea as well. Some options:
Donate money to japan: http://blogs.forbes.com/elizabethwoyke/2011/03/11/how-to-donate-money-by-cellphone-to-japan-quake-victims/
Donate money to kids with cleft lips: http://www.causes.com/causes/295743-cleft-lip-and-palate-foundation-of-smiles
Donate money to children in need: worldvision.org
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There's a lot of other things that you can do, such as serving food at your local homeless shelter, assisting the workers at your local animal shelter, sending packages (like care packages) to battered womens' shelters,and/or buddying up with an elder at your local nursing home. To find your local places, for example, to find your local homeless shelter, just google "local homeless shelter" and there will be directories for nation-wide.

It's Christmas Shopping Time! I Need Some Ideas?

Yesi

well it seems like every year our family grows... well either someone in his or my family get married or have a baby so more money spent on christmas gifts.
this year i don't want to buy the kids toys because all i ever hear from the parents is that the kids don't know how to pick up after themselves (if they complain so much why do they buy them so many toys).
well this year we're buying for two 6-year-olds, two 2-year-olds, our son 1-year-old, and two new baby's due in 2011... since we don't want toys i just need some ideas of what kind of things to buy them, i've only been a mom for 16 months so i don't know what kind of things the older kids like, besides toys. i want to do gift baskets but what do i put in them? well if anyone has ideas and can help me i would really appreciate it. i want to be done with christmas shopping two weeks before christmas that way i can relax and not stress about last minute shopping (which we do almost every year).

Answer
theres nothing a baby, or kid can have that wont end up on the floor or wherever. what would you buy them, a book? If they make a mess with it, it most likely means they like it and like playing with it. Get them toys.

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What is a good RC helicopter kit to buy?

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sobe50418

Im talking about the advanced kits, not the ones you can buy at Toys R us, or anything made for a kid, i want the kits that come with every single part and you have to build the entire thing. Ive seen people that build these and they can get them up to speeds of 75 MPH and even the good pilots can fly upside down, where do i get a good kit?

Answer
There are a lot of choices here, but your best bet would be a .30 sized or .50 sized Raptor. You can get them ARF (almost ready to fly) or in full kit form. Don't get the ARF, build it yourself because you're gonna need that experience when it crashes.. and it _will_ crash, they all do. I've been flying almost 5 years and have three working Raptors. I've toasted 2. You can get the model from a lot of places, but a good deal can be found at Heliproz. Also, get plenty of info from the links below.

What should I get my dad for his birthday?

Nycole

He is turning 47 and it is so hard to buy for him always has been. I'm not a kid, moved out married and having his first grandchild :) He is into flying airplanes, working on his cars and playing guitar. I thought about getting him something grandpa oriented lol but I don't know any ideas??
BTW his birhtday is tomorrow lol so trying to get something for him tonight!

Answer
Spend time with him, if your away, come visit him and rent a good movie, for example we saw "A Better Life", it was emotional, and really good, and showed how hard most average mexican families work to givee us a better life hey theirs,and how hard life is for illegals, my dad isn't anymore, but this was touching seeing through the life, also comfort him and say happy birthday, and thay you love him. my dad is sort of like yours, into planes, and his car, some guitar, also try a rc plane, my dad said when he was small, he always wanted a gas rc plane, but they were too much, and they were poor. Before, he's about 45-46, idk, but he will appreciate a gift he wanted from when he was a child, make sure it's not one that brings back bad memories, or find a toy he used for comfort during his childhood. Good luck

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Does your toddler have a favorite movie or tv show?

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Mama23Girl

My daughter will be 2 on the 22nd of this month. About a month ago I bought the movie "We're Back: A Dinosaur's Story" and we watched it together as a family. Every day since she has wanted to watch it, sometimes two or three times a day (though I don't let her watch it that often in a day).

So do your children have a favorite? What age did it start at?

Answer
my daughter will be 2 next month and she LOVES Toy Story 3!!! She started watching it when it came out on dvd (probably several months ago now) and loves watchhing it ever since. She can point out Buzz and the potato heads and other characters she sees in stores and will repeat things they say in the movie. I personally thinks its a nice movie too :)

What is your 4year old asking for this Christmas?

jandismomm

My 4year old son told me that all he wants Santa to bring him is two toys, underwear, and dinosaur Chicken nuggets. I thought it was so cute and was wondering what other people's toddlers were asking for? Thank You!

Answer
That's cute. My four year old niece says she'll wants whatever Santa brings her. She doesn't have much specific in mind, though she did say that she should have the book Purpleicious since she got Pinkilicious for her birthday.

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Do you bring toys for your child when you go somewhere?

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tgfann

I have a 3 year old daughter and my sister has a 3 year old son. We all went to a christening today and after the church everyone went to a restaurant to eat.

I brought a Dora doll and a travel Aquadoodle for my daughter and my sister brought a little box of plastic building toys for her son. And we didn't see even one other child/parent with a toy, stuffed animal, book, etc.

There were about 9 kids under 5 years old at the restaurant and EVERY one of them fought with our kids for these toys. One woman actually took the Dora doll off of our table and took it back to her table, telling my daughter that her son "really loves Dora and needs to play with it for a few minutes."

I just don't get it. If you're going somewhere with your child and you know you'll be gone for several hours, how can you not bring something for them to play with? Or a coloring book ... something?
Oh, I did go and get it. After she said that to my daughter I was kind of speechless. I just looked at my husband and said, what just happened here? After a few seconds, when that wore off, I went and got it.

Answer
I don't do it every time I go somewhere,but if it were an event like you attend today where the children need to sit still not to disturb others around them,or if I know it's gonna be a long day where they would get restless,then yes I do bring a few things.And that lady you are talking about taking your child's doll...I don't think I could have dealt w/ that!!

What non toxic paints are available in Australia?

Edward Bal

I have to build a toy train (mallard 4-6-2) for a high school Tech studies project and need to find a company that makes a non-toxic, kid-safe, blue paint that I can buy. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Answer
Try Spotlight. I was in there yesterday and they had a range of kid's paints in all colours of the rainbow. They had Disney characters on the tubes (sorry I can't remember the name of them) and I am sure they would be non-toxic if they have been made for kids. They hang by their caps on a rack.

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What are some "must have" interactive educational toys for toddlers ?

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Trinidad

i know leapfrog has some pretty good toys to choose from . does anyone know of any of their toys that are perfect for children between the ages of two - four ? or any other brands ?

Answer
Blocks, building forts, roll playing games, puzzles, etc. It is proven that at that age, its far more educational for kids to play with simple non electronic toys that encourage the imagination and active play, rather then staring at a screen and hitting buttons when it tells them to or watching some blinky flashy thing spin in circles. It encourages a higher level of brain stimulation and teaches independent thought, which can be used for more educational aspects when they are at school age, it also teaches them alternate methods of entertainment so they dont get addicted to tv and video games.

Is the daycare i work at ethical and how do you discipline a 2 year-old that have a hard time listening?

Kaycee

I am 17 years old and i work at a daycare. I have worked there since may 2012 to current day and i am ready to quit!!!! I work in pre-preschool room also known as the 2-3 year old room. My first problem is that the age range is actually a year and eight months to over 3 years old. Its hard to teach the kids something because when i ask the kids what color something is one of the kids will say "blue" and another kid will say "wall" they don't all understand the same material. My second problem is that I a hard time watching 8 kids by myself ( the teach-kid ratio is 1:8). I feel like a lot of the kids at my daycare need individual attention because they all act out or they mimic their friends when they are doing something naughty, sitting in time-out, or crying. The other teachers (the daytime staff) lets the kids go "potty" by themselves. One teacher even left a child in the bathroom for 10 to 20 mins to make him not scared of pooping in the toilet. I do not agree with letting kids go by themselves because they mess around playing in the sinks or toilets or they get scared and i mean when you think about it, you dont know if a kid slips and falls in the bathroom and needs help and they make it seem like taking 5-7 kids in the bathroom that is made for 2 people is okay. When i tried that i had kids playing in the sink and in the toilet and running around with their friends and screaming and spitting in the toilet and i dint feel like i was giving the kids the time and attention to make sure they went potty all the way. So i started taking 2-3 kids potty each time. It was less stressful for me but other workers started complaining that i wasn't doing my share of the work. because i was constantly out of the room and i had the other teacher if there was on in my room change the kids that dont go potty get while i would take them potty. My boss then complained to me about how i need to be more interactive with the kids and i try really hard to be but its hard to talk to a group of 2-4 kids while other kids are i guess in my "blind spots" Idk if they are throwing toys or getting into shelves they arent suppose to or hitting other kids. So to be safe i stand in a corner during play time so i can watch all the kids and make sure nothing is going wrong. My problem is it seems like the kids no matter what i try dont listen to me. I put them in timeout and they get right back up and i keep putting them in it and they dont understand they are in timeout no matter how many times i put his but on the ground then i have other kids that flex their legs and say no and scream and kick and hit and gets right back up out of time out. its hard to keep them in time out and watch the kids the other teachers even went as far as putting him in a high chair for a few mins. Idk how to get them to listen to me. Ive tried everything i talk to them nicely and tell them what they did was wrong, i tell them in a stern voice that wasnt okay and thas why are in timeout and they dont listen and they still do the thing i told them not to do. And once one kids is doing something naughty when i do get them all setttled down then they all start doing it like when im reading a book one of them gets up and runs around so i try to be more interactive and yet they all start running around so i change what im doing to try to grab their attention, It seems like the kids listen to the other teachers but in my opinion i think how they act is VERY wrong. they discipline the kids by yelling their name and telling them to knock it off and ive seen teachers do stuff like slam a kid down on the the bench and say you do not eat off the ground and smack his hands and ive seen a teacher take a kid by his hair on the back of his head and yank his head back and say you do not get into the shelf. Today one of the teachers body checked a kid and laughed and said that is why you dont walk where im walking and then for lunch they fed them fish and one of the kids is allergic to fish so he had his own food well he ended up taking someone elses fish and he has a allergic reaction to it and his lips got red and puffy and he threw up and they called his mom and his mom wanted them to use someone elses medicine because he didnt have any there. Also they discipline he children by saying stuff like if not good im going to take you to go see mr spiderman ( all of the kids r scared of this spiderman figure that my boss had in his office around Halloween time). Idk what to do anymore i couldn't tell you how many times i have come home from work crying and upset. Im constantly feeling overwhelmed and people at my work think im slacking and so if i tell my boss i feel overwhelmed then he will really think im slacking, PLEASE help me as soon as you can im so close to saying im quitting and finding another job because i don't think its ethical and its to stressful.

Answer
I do not know where you live but where I live a 1 to 8 ratio I'd not correct for 2 year olds (I think it is 1 to 4).
I would look up regulations in your area to see what the regulations are in your area.
Also to me it sounds like none of the staff have any formal child care training. I suspect there are other violations at your place of work (I cannot over-emphasise how dangerous it is to let a 2 year old go into the bathroom by themselves, a toilet has more than enough water to drown in).
Also the space does not seem to be very well thought out. When you have a room full of 2 year olds (especially with a ratio of 1 to 8) there should not be lots of places that the children can get themselves into trouble (ie there should not be shelves that they are not allowed to get into at child level).

Personally what I would do is at the moment work as hard as you can. Ask your employer for a reference (I usually write one for myself and email it to my employer, it is easier for them as they don't need to bother writing it themselves, but they can still change/ add things if they want). After you get a reference I would put in my notice and leave (not necessarily immediately, but it is good to get the reference ASAP so you can leave whenever you want).

If you feel that things are dangerous you may need to report your workplace (anonymously).

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Is there a free version of Turbo Tax? What are some things we can claim that aren't obvious?

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IloveMaryK

I did our taxes last year with the free version of H&R block. It was okay, but I heard of ALL these things you can claim that they didn't give me the option of claiming with the H&R block one. I want to use Turbo Tax. Has anyone used that, the free version? Is it any good? We have 3 kids- is it really possible to claim learning toys we buy for them?

Answer
We use Tax Act. It's taxact.com. They found us a TON of deductions we didn't know we could take. They just ask very detailed questions about your life and money. Make sure you have a receipt for everything you're going to deduct, though!!!

What is the difference in the reading toys for kids?

Kckckc

I am thinking about getting some reading/learning toys for my 2 yr old daughter and my 7 yr old son. The problem is that there are so many different products I don't know which one to choose. Since my daughter is familar with scout and violet, I was looking into the read with me violet, but she already has two Junior tag books without the tag toy that is suposed to read them to her. I am not sure what the difference is between the two because they both come in violet. Any information about them would be helpful... As for my step son who is not interested in learning games I still feel I should get him something as well, so what might be best for a 7 yr old boy who cannot read and has ADHD?

Answer
Hooked on Phonics is the best! I learned how to read before I even started school, and by first grade I could read chapter books. By second grade, I won an award for reading the most books in school, I even beat the fifth grades! I read 512 books that entire school year. It's fun too! It comes with a computer game that has many different levels and it has games with reading in them. The books are really cute too! They're only a couple pages long but they've got lots of cute pictures and there are like fifty of them.

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What does your two year old like to do with his toys?

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Jenny

We just bought our two year old a wooden toy train track set on a train table. He likes to make crashes and then yells, "Pandemonium! Run away!!!" He also likes to get his dinosaurs in the mix.

Answer
your toddler sounds very advanced for his age. hes kind of acting like a elementary school boy haha. my daughters 20 months and usually plays with her toys as real as she can ex. food goes in the pot and car drives on the floor type thing. but maybe he just has a lot of imagination he could be the next big movie director.

What are the best toys for baby that are not too expensive to buy?

Jill Tregr

Looking for the best toys for baby that are affordable. We are buying tons of toys and we are trying to cut down on expenses so what toys for baby would you recommend we get?

Answer
Babies at this age need basic toys, and not all the expensive electronic gadgets.

I would look for something that encourages the baby to crawl/cruise - often toys where you push a button down, and then the toy moves further ahead.

musical toys are always a hit. I would look for something that encourages cause and effect, and better hand/eye coordination - xylophones, drums (which you can make out of an empty plastic container and a small wooden spoon), tambourines, bells, maracas and rainmakers. There are lots of baby-proof toys out there, and the baby sets can be fairly inexpensive because they are plastic and small. Also nothing wrong with pots, pans, plastic containers and wooden spoons, and spatulas.

Books - this is so important for speech development, learning how to read, setting the precedent for enjoying reading, and getting some quality time with a parent or caregiver. There are all different types of books for babies and preschoolers, just be prepared for some chewing. I still buy board books for my toddler and preschooler, because they are cheaper than the paper ones. And, some of the board books have the entire story and illustrations for 1/2 the price. Get a family library membership - libraries also offer story time even for babies.

Stacking toys and shape sorters - Wal-mart and TRU each make their own cheaper version than Fisher Price, but the FP is a thicker plastic. Be prepared that your baby will not be able to sort shapes for quite awhile. Stacking toys just need to be varying degrees of sizes, shapes and colors (to help differentiate the shape, and keep their interest). Great for hand/eye coordination and motor skills.

Blocks - get something that is easier to grasp in their small hand - larger, or squeezable, or even small. Just not too small that they are a choking hazard. TRU and Wal-mart each have their own knockoffs, which will save you a bunch of money.

Balls - I would get a bunch of softer balls. I would buy them in different sizes. If you have trouble finding them, my toddlers seem to be into the dog’s balls (we won’t go there). I don’t mind because they are indestructible (no chewing off small pieces) and most are squeezable.

And a couple of plastic containers in which to put stuff in. The stuff can be the shapes from the shape sorter, blocks, balls or other small toys. Older babies like to put stuff into a container, dump this into another container or out on the floor.

Babies are fascinated with themselves (actually I think they just see "other" babies). One of our babies went to daycare. They have a mirror, mounted behind Plexiglas) that was about 3 feet tall and 6 feet long. All the babies and toddlers were fascinated with it. A small unbreakable mirror would do. We hooked up a baby car mirror (unbreakable), that was too small for the car, up to the side of the coffee table (in this house we attached it to the railing that runs along the living room).

And the very best toy is YOU! Babies want to interact with their parents/caregivers. They want to play interactive games like Peek-a-boo, or pat-a-cake or sing nursery rhymes or children’s songs. This is the best place to find the tunes and lyrics for nursery rhymes http://kids.niehs.nih.gov/musicchild.htm Because I was never great at remembering the tune or the lyrics, or both.

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Whats the big toy everyone will be looking for this Christmas?

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blair

What is the hot toy this year on everyones list?

Answer
All depends ......

If you have a teenager (or even fun for adults) it seems that these are some of 2010's hottest Christmas toys:

Loopz game: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0037BO8GQ?tag=toysaleschristmas-20&camp=213381&creative=390973&linkCode=as4&creativeASIN=B0037BO8GQ&adid=171T0G3Z0ERA5ZBEA97D&

Mindflex: http://www.amazon.com/Mattel-P2639-Mindflex-Game/dp/B001UEUHCG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1290611703&sr=8-1

Kinect: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=kinect&x=10&y=20


For the younger kids....

Anyone of these Leapfrog toys: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_c_1_8?url=search-alias%3Dtoys-and-games&field-keywords=leapfrog&sprefix=leapfrog

This site has a list of some of the hot Christmas toys: http://toysaleschristmas.com/category/christmas-2010

What do you want for Christmas this year?

Q. I want some material things but i also want my father to get a job aswell as my older brother who has been without a job for 8 months because of the bad economy. I also want to feed the homeless and give toys to kids who aren't as fortunate as I am to be getting presents for christmas!

So tell me what you want for Christmas!
Doesn't matter what it is!

Whoever's list is my favorite will get the ten points and a special surprise!

Answer
I want for everyone to be happy & enjoy their holidays. It's great that you want to give to others. I participated in the Angel Tree program myself & bought my child a book, couple of board games, outfit, & backpack. I also try to donate to the Salvation Army every time I approach a red bucket. It feels awesome knowing that it benefits to someone in need. :)

Of course, there's nothing wrong with wishing for materialistic things as well (unless it becomes an obsession). I already know nearly everything I'm receiving (three books, four DVDs, a DVD set, some Bath & Body Works stuff, 2010 calendar, etc.), but there is still $30 left in the budget my parents set for me. I think I'm going to ask for The Beatles Trivial Pursuit, which is $25 on Amazon. I'll just tell them to get me whatever with the leftover $5.

Happy holidays! =) Please forgive my long answer, haha.

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How much television do you let your toddler watch?

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kittykitty

My almost 3 yr old is addicted to TV. Well not TV, her Disney DVDs; Toy Story, Monsters Inc. Mickey Mouse Beach Party, 101 Dalmatians, etc.

I've set a limit of 1 hour a day or 1 movie a day and her father doesn't agree with me. He thinks she should be able to watch them all day long!

Just trying to get a few different perspectives on the idea. And maybe some ammo in my back pocket for the next time mom & dad have a discussion on this matter.

Thanks!

Answer
Well, from what I've read...

Television on all day interrupts with imaginative play. (hey that rhymes!) In other words, a child who is playing teatime with dollies will stop to watch something on TV... thus having her playtime actually interrupted by television.

Television, even educational television, has been shown in studies to not be beneficial. Most of the time, kids seem to copy the behaviors more than anything else (so if they see Dora the Explorer yelling all the time, they yell. If they see happy, cooperative play, or quiet resolution in conflicts, then they are more likely to copy that.)

While some studies have said that a child watching TV for more than 2 hours a day isn't going to have the educational problems they originally thought, it's still a precursor to being overweight.

Movies though are a little better than TV. They don't have the commercials, you know what's on them, and they actually help a child focus for longer periods of time. Even so, as soon as they start playing something else, turn it off. If your hubby likes background noise, then music is better.

The thing is, your hubby isn't all wrong either. It's not really healthy to put too much emphasis on "don't watch too much TV, you'll ____" because that indicates that TV is to blame for any bad habits your child picks up. It also makes the TV a forbidden fruit, and as she gets older, something that she will fight with you more about (and since dad's on her side...) My mom tried it, believe me... it didn't work.

What DID work was her saying "If you do this, then you get this much TV time." So if we had been playing all afternoon, came in and cleaned up, then we could watch a few hours of TV before bedtime. If we read a book, we got a bit more TV time. If we did our chores, etc. She made sure that for every so much TV time, we were physically active. And made sure we had other interests (mostly music) that weren't very conductive to the TV (ie, if I'm playing the piano, then the TV interferes and should be turned off. If you want to play Hungry Hungry Hippos, the TV has to be off. If you want to play Chutes and Ladders... get the picture?) She took us outside and gardened with us, removing the TV entirely. The TV was NEVER in the dining room, and NEVER in our own rooms. We had to share with the whole family, and after a certain time of night it was turned off so the family could prepare for bed. She still had problems with some of us, but it was a better approach in my opinion.

How to teach toddler to start putting 2 and 3 words together?

hmv_84

My son is almost 22 months old. He is still not putting 2 or 3 words together. He knows alot of words and he is starting to say them more clearly but I still can't get him to put 2 words together. What is the best way to teach him to do this? I already try. For example when he comes to me and say's up, I say to him Mommy pick Daniel up? So what else can I do? are there any educational toys or dvds that help with putting words together?

Answer
Just talk to him normally when he says things like "UP".

Don't cut up the phrases to cater to his age. Say the full sentence:
Do you want Mommy to pick Daniel up?
Do you want me to pick you up?
Just speak to him as much as you can and read and read and read to him. Even things you don't think he would understand.

Boys don't pick up language as fast as kids do, and I believe it has been scientifically proven that girl babies' mouths are even moving more in the womb.

Your son seems normal. Kids learn by example on the speaking thing.
Even though you don't notice, they are watching everything you say.

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What is the best way to clean or disinfect toddler toys in order to prevent the spread of illness?

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Eva Save-A

A lot of times we don't know a child is sick until days later when symptoms are more evident to the parent. With all the 'bugs' going around this winter, I am trying to figure out the best way to disinfect and clean my sons toys after finding out about such situations...

Part of the problem is that some toys are more easily cleaned than others. (due to the materials) I also try to use organic type cleaners when possible. Afterall, these toys end up in kids mouthes and I don't want to put anything on the toy that I wouldn't put in their mouths. Yes, I know... they eat dirt and pick things up off the floor to eat, but that is not a parents' intention; it just happens... I also know kids need to get sick to build immunity, but some illnesses are better off avoided!! Mom is tired and there are still a couple months left of winter. Yikes.

Answer
Check out this website. It has all types of different cleaning/disinfectants that are safe to use.

How do you keep your toddler safe and occupied while you take a shower?

gustoish

I am so curious what other parents do. We are blessed to have a bathroom large enough to house our playpen, so my son plays in that when I need to take a shower. I'm worried about what to do when he starts getting bigger... I guess I can always shower before he wakes up, but it's a big bummer to have to get up and shower that early!

Answer
At one point, I had a 3 year old, a 1 1/2 year old, and a newborn -- and I’ve always been a shower addict -- so I had to figure out ways to get my shower fix and prevent chaos from reigning on the home front. My husband had to leave for work just after 5 am, when I still wanted to be in bed, so having him watch the kids while I showered was never an appealing option.

I learned to shower relatively quickly (under 10 minutes) and to listen for any crying from the baby, if he was sleeping elsewhere in the house (although the sound of running water can play tricks on your ears, I find: it mimics the sound of a crying baby).

More often than not, I ended up with the whole brood in the bathroom with me: the baby in his portable car seat; the preschooler and toddler playing with toys on the floor. I’d "entertain" them by talking to them while I showered. (No wonder my showers were so short: they weren’t exactly spa-like and relaxing.)

Obviously, making the bathroom as safe as possible is important. Look for toilet-locks, bathroom cupboard locks, and make sure all medicines are stored in a lockable cabinet. There are companies that will babyproof your home from top to bottom on your behalf, if you are worried you’ll miss something.

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How to sing the high note?

best toddler learning toys 2011 image

florence4p

I have an idea how its sounds like,doesn't it sound like if u were to keep reapeating the vowels of a word or phrase making ur voice down or something? similar when singing opera.

Answer
And what exactly is your particular vocal range? A high note, or notes, may not be the same for you as it might be for another singer. Not everyone has the exact same range, and even voice lessons only develops a person's natural voice--it can't change a natural bass into a tenor.

I wonder how much training or experience you have with singing if you think there is only one note--since you refer to "the high note". WTF? And opera, believe it or not, has nothing to do with singing high. There are some music in opera that requires high vocal ranges, but not ALL, and the emphasis is on the overall beauty of tone and preciseness of execution than of just being able to hit notes above the staff. Small children can reach incredibly high pitches--have you ever heard a toddler screaming for a toy in a department store?

To learn how to sing whatever high notes are in your particular vocal range, you need to take voice lessons from a qualified voice instructor. Or you just risk messing up whatever voice you do have. Even naturally good singers can damage their voices if they push them too much, or use unhealthy techniques when they sing (and they still sound great until their voices give out). Read below to see what I mean.
http://www.celebritydiagnosis.com/2011/05/american-idol-finalist-sings-with-blown-vocal-cord/

Unless you are the rare person who is truly tone-deaf (in which all notes really do sound the same to you, and so do all songs)--then you should at least learn to sing on pitch with a nice tone. How high you can get is determined largely by nature.

Games, Activities, and Projects for my 1 year old?

foundupsid

I'm a stay at home mom and would love some creative new games play with my child. She is just learning to walk and is very curious!


Please no inappropriate responses.
she puts everything in her mouth!

Answer
Songs like open close them,open close them give a little clap, clap, clap open close them open, close them put them in your lap lap. YOu are teaching child fine movement.
Songs like bear hunt the child follows the actions of the song. They learn how to listen and follow commands like run, clapping etc.
Little Tea Pot
oatmeal child uses hands and fills the texture of oatmeal Website information
http://humsci.auburn.edu/~abellel/beeprogram/links/resourceupdates/oneyearolds/activities/activities.htm
Web ResultsSkill-building Activities: 1 year old - iVillage
Jul 12, 2011... but also like looking at the pictures. Stick with board books that can better withstand a 1-year-olds not-so-gentle touch. Emptying and filling.

www.ivillage.com/skill-building-activities-1-year-old/6-a-144835 - Similarto Skill-building Activities: 1 year old - iVillage
One-Year-Olds -- Activities
AGES & STAGES -- Publications in a series that provide information on how one- year-olds play and activities they enjoy and that help them learn. ...

humsci.auburn.edu/~abellel/beeprogram/links/resourceupdates/one... - Similarto One-Year-Olds -- Activities
Toddler Educational Activities
Your 1 year old child will enjoy these toddler educational activities that include ideas to stimulate, develop and help them through their young toddler years.

www.toddler-activities-at-home.com/toddler-educational-activiti... - Similarto Toddler Educational Activities
1 Year Old Baby, Babies – Articles, Activities, & Toys For 1 ...
Its been a year of discoveries, physical progress and so much fun for you and your 1 year old baby! Look to Fisher-Prices Parenting Guide as your resource for ...

www.fisher-price.com/fp.aspx?st=4080&e=other&agecat=myfp_12_13&... - Similarto 1 Year Old Baby, Babies – Articles, Activities, & Toys For 1 ...
9 Activities For 1 year olds ( and older kids too.) | No Time ...
Jul 13, 2011 ... Great list of activities for 1 year olds that will keep them busy and having fun.

www.notimeforflashcards.com/2011/07/9-activities-for-your-1-year-old-and-ol...
Clever Toddler Activities
What are the best free toddler activities? Parents often ask about what toddler activities they can do with their 1, 2 or 3 year old. Patricia is a mum and a teacher ...

www.clever-toddler-activities.com/ - Similarto Clever Toddler Activities
Alicia's Homemaking: Activities For A One-Year-Old {Try New ...
Feb 10, 2011 ... When I was googling one-year-old activities, I read the following recommendation: give your little one a paint brush and some water and let ...

www.aliciashomemaking.com/2011/02/activities-for-one-year-old-try-new.html
Developmentally Appropriate Art Activities For One-year-olds ...
Mar 15, 2011 ... Developmentally age-appropriate art activities can stimulate a 1-year-old baby and let him enjoy all the new things he is able to do, according ...

www.livestrong.com/article/128231-developmentally-appropriate-a... - Similarto Developmentally Appropriate Art Activities For One-year-olds ...
Your 1-year-old's development | BabyCenter
Your 1-year-old's development. Reviewed by the BabyCenter Medical Advisory Board. Congratulations on your baby's first year! Follow the links below to read ...

www.babycenter.com/0_your-1-year-olds-development_716.bc

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Travel with toddlers- when should one start?

best toddler toys for the airplane image

Happy Chic

Hi all, when is a good time to start travelling with kids when they are toddlers? Have you taken a 6-8 month baby on an air travel or a road trip within US? How was your experience?

Answer
My oldest went on her first plane ride at 5 months. We took her and her sister when they were 2 & 1 on a cross country airplane trip. Both flights went well. We had seats for kids (not in our laps) and took lots of small things to entertain them. Only bad part of the second trip - another mom and child sitting next me. Her child was just under 1 & 1/2 and sat on her mom's lap. She wiggled the whole time, didn't want to watch the videos her mom brought her, wanted my kids' toys, and PUKED ALL OVER WHEN WE LANDED.

The last two summers we have traveled all over the country by car - my girls were 2 &3 the 1st summer and 3 & 4 this summer. It's hard but manageable. We did have a DVD player to help keep them occupied. They actually liked stories on CD which surprised us. We traveled about 8 hours a day with three straight days on the road our max. I packed them lots of little toys that I didn't care if they were lost (McDonald's Happy Meal Toys) and lots of art supplies - stickers, etc. I packed the least messy snacks I could think of and we stopped often for breaks. It was the best choice for us because we were gone 6 to 8 wks and traveled from PA to MN to KS to CO and back.

I took my oldest one on an 8 hour car ride alone when she was 7 months old. It was hard - I only managed 4 hours a day in the car. It was hard to deal with her crying, etc because she had to be in the back. It wouldn't have been a big deal if I would have had someone else with me. Once they were both walking, I took them on the same trip by myself and in one day - not near as hard.

Any tips on travelling with a toddler on long flights?

Socrates

I have a long journey planned on my next vacation with my 1.5 year old. A fourteen hour flight followed by layover and then a 6-7 hour. We did not opt for an exclusive seat for him either. Any tips?

Answer
Here are a couple of tips from our own experience:

1. most importantly: call the airline and try to get a bassinette, and at least one seat next to it(that's the crib that attaches to the wall in front of the bulk head seats). the bassinette itself will probably be too small for your child to actually sleep in, but will hold all the extra stuff that comes along with a toddler. moreover, the extra leg room will give your toddler more space to play that is NOT your lap or the aisle...
note: bulk head seats are usually booked first because there's more leg room there, but parents with infants on-lap (younger than 2 years) have priority to these seats on most airlines. if you can't book the seat in advance, don't dispair - you can still get it upon check in: come in early and insist on it!
2. try to keep the child's routine as close to normal as possible. keep meal times and nap times as close as you can to your "home time". bring small packs of favorite foods and snacks with you, as plane food is not likely to top your kids list... you can heat up baby food by putting the container in a small cup filled with a half-inch to an inch of boiling water and stirring the contents. "Gerber" containers fit perfectly, or you could use the small, round, 4-oz disposable plastic containers (like "Glad" or such) which also fit in the coffee cups provided on airplanes.
3. of course, if your child has a favorite toy, stuffed animal, blankie etc., have it with you on board.
4. get a bunch of new, real-cheap little toys that you wouldn't mind losing / throwing away by the end of the trip. introduce a new one every hour or so -- it'll buy you precious time! i'd put under this category also some little arts & crafts items, like stickers and crayons.
5. have at least two full changes of baby clothes and lots of extra diapers with you, as well as a small "baby-bath travel kit", just in case your layover gets extended, your suitecases go astray, and so on... i'd also take an extra shirt for mom and dad, for any unfortunate accidents.
6. on the plane, don't be shy - let baby run up and down the isles. fighting it won't help anyway, and the excersize is good for you both ;-) plus, the more energy they spend, the more likely they are to fall asleep at some point...
7. talk to your pediatritian about baby-safe antihistamines - a small dosage may be all the help baby needs to get drowsy and sleep better when they're already over-tired, but the strange environment won't let them fall asleep...
8. take a deep breath, and remind yourself that, as hard as this one day may be, it's only one day of travel, and it, too, shall pass!

good luck! :)

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What is the best toys to get my baby for his first Christmas?

best toys to help kids walk image

Karen G

I want to get him a toy box for future toys and he won't mind getting that instead of a toy. I just don't know whats the best for toys. I get confused everytime we go to the toy department. The problem we have is that he'll be 1 year old only a month later so its hard to get him 12 month toys for his first christmas and then older toys only a month later. At this point he usually likes the packaging more than whats in it.

Answer
For my son's first Christmas, we gave him diapers. =)

Don't worry so much about the ages listed on boxes. My son plays with just about anything that we help him find interesting. Even if the toy says "18 months" there will be plenty that he will find interesting. Really you only need to watch out for small parts he can swallow or moving parts that can pinch. Other than that, find something that you think fits his personality- animals, trucks, etc- and let him figure it out in his own time.

Also, books are always good. Even if they seem old, they always grow into them. Kids love pictures, plus you can feel like you're helping them learn.

OH- and if they make noise, make sure they have an OFF button. Rule number 1!!!

Right now, my 13 month old son is walking around with a diaper and an empty bowl. Kids love anything they can learn to manipulate. But now I think I'll go help him play with some real toys- my break is over. =)

How can i control these bad kids?

BlackDiva

I have 4 kids and they are all bad. They run around in the stores, yell to the top of their lungs, dont listen, act like monkeys. Its so embrassing! I punish them by taking toys away, no tv etc. It doesnt work. I cant even work or go to school to succeed because noone wants to babysit them. Thats how bad they are any advice should i get a belt and start doing some spanking? Im so stressed out.Noone helps me with the kids. The father walked out.

Answer
Girl you need to get tough with these kids. Make sure that they know you're not playing. I would pull out the belt and continue taking thinks away at home and as for going out they should earn going to the store and stuff. Or at least make them think they are. You should also give them stuff to do around the house if they are old enough. You need help and they need to know that. You should also keep them busy all the time. It keeps their mind off of doing something bad. Get them games that they can play alone so that they don't fight. Look up small projects that can be fun and hey take them outside and run around with them. They'll get tired and give you a break.

Good luck!
I wish I lived near you. I would help them. I love taking care of bad kids. It's such a challenge but it's better then sitting bored with good kids lol. I worked at the YMCA with special needs kids. I'd always take the bad kids and I loved it.

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What are some fun games to play indoors with kids aged 3-5?

best toys kids 3 image

Alex

What are some fun games to play indoors with kids aged 3-5?
What are some fun games to play indoors with kids aged 3-5?

I'm babysitting for a close family friend next week and her two kids aged three and five are the type who get bored easily. I've already organised a folder of colouring pages, but I'm sure the novelty of them will wear off pretty quick! Any ideas? Thanks in advance!

Answer
Lots of things, hide and seak, hide the object, you can go to Dollar Tree and buy some card games, my niece and nephew who are also three and five enjoy games where you have to find the other half of a card, matching games, old maid, we hospital and one of them is sick or they need an operation (mostly to get cupcakes, candy, or toys out of them) or someone's a princess and there's a dragon and when they get close the princess uses magic to make the dragon go to sleep, we play shopping where someone's a cashier and they need to 'beep' the item and we use pennies, that also helps with counting, you could also ask them what they want to do, they can think of lots of things themselves.

Where to take toys for needy kids in Houston?

Texasgal

Hi, my son is 2 years old - almost 3 and I would like to take some toys to kids that need them. I want to take him with me so that he can learn something from this experience. I don't think he will really understand till he is older, but every little bit counts. And I plan to make this a tradition. I think it would help for him to actually visibilly see the children he gives these toys to. Does anyone know where in Houston that we could take these toys? Thank you very much.

Answer
Take them to a state funded daycare, where things are always needed and appreciated. He will be able to hand them over himself and watch the children play. Maybe a developmental preschool that provides services to disabled children (usually state/federally funded as well).
Keep in mind that young children tend to forget some of their toys once they are removed by parents and then when they see them they immediately want to play with them again. So there is a chance that your son (being 2) may get upset and not want to hand over his toys. Just be prepared is all I'm saying.

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If I melt a bar of soap and then re mold it would it work? Or do you have to have a certain type of soap?

best kids toys 2006 image

EatACarrot

I want to get a clear bar of soap, melt it. Then put it in a mold with a small toy or other item. So that my siblings will want to wash their hands. Does the type of soap matter?

Answer
They make soap exactly for this kind of thing and it is actually the easiest to work with. It is called melt and pour soap base. It is kind of an addictive hobby. The soap made for this is formulated to melt in the microwave or over a double boiler, and is also free of dye and scent so you can add your own. You can use other soap, esp clear soaps like Neutrogena or Pear's soap work best because they are softer.

If you use a bath bar like safeguard, dial, ivory, a hard soap that is not transparent, you have to grate it, moisten the shavings, and then melt it...and you have to be careful not to just screw it up, esp if you use the microwave.

I have dealt with these people before, and you can also find soap base and other supplies at Hobby Lobby, Michael's, etc. http://www.brambleberry.com/MP-bases-C217.aspx . When you are shopping, make sure you are getting SOAP safe dyes and scents. The practices of soap and candle making share some overlap in techniques and some supplies but if you get candle stuff it may not be safe for using on the skin. Of course you can use most essential oils, and common food coloring, for any type of soap crafting.

I would use soap base myself, and get some bright color soap dye, a kid friendly scent like bubble gum or watermelon or a nice essential oil like peppermint, maybe even some cosmetic grade glitter...and be careful the toy you embed is able to handle a few minutes exposure to melted soap. IT IS VERY VERY HOT.

You can also get your fav liquid soap in a value size and get a fun kid friendly dispenser. Probably a plastic one. I guess bar and liquid soap can each be sloppy or neat, depending on who uses. You will surely find a nice variety of pump dispensers in kid friendly designs...make sure they aren't super fragile or breakable. You also might be able to find a soap dispenser that lights up or plays a song for the length of time it should take to wash their hands, similar to the two minute toothbrushes.

Here is a couple of unique ones.

http://www.gizmodiva.com/other_stuff/bird_soap_dispenser_a_pet_that_motivates_clean_hands.php
http://www.popgadget.net/2006/08/fun_soap_dispen.php

when did fast food companies start putting toys with their meals?

quirkygirl

and who was the first?
best answer for the one who provides a website with proof:)

Answer
Anyone can be a big collector of fast food toys, but the simple truth is that most avid collectors are grown ups! With every new movie, video game or comic book a new toy shows up in one of the fast food chains. And, each one quickly becomes a much loved collectable for someone.

These cute little toys started out as a lure to get children to ask for the restaurants kid meals. But, adults are often seen buying these small portion meals just to get another toy to add to their collection! The small toys quickly became the biggest advertising gimmick in the world.


McDonald’s has got to be the king of fast food toys. Their first toys were introduced in 1979 and were merely items like stencils, puzzle books and erasers. Later that year, they introduced their first movie themed toys to promote the Star Trek movie.


Happy Meal Toy
With their addition of fast food toys McDonald’s has became largest toy distributor in the world! The company gives out or sells over 1.5 billion toys each year. Many of which have been grabbed up by collectors and never even opened!

They’ve also had some of the best and most popular fast food toys ever made through their alliance with Walt Disney. Although, Disney severed their ties with the food chain giant in 2006, the Walt Disney toys are one of the top collectable fast food toys.

There are literally millions of identical fast food toys given out each year. This makes them easily available and not really valuable on their own. However, since fast food toys are released in series, a collector that needs that one toy to finish their set might be willing to pay well for the toy.

The earliest fast food toys were actually added to the packaging rather than included in with the meal. During the 60’s Sonic began adding zoopicks to their cups, zoopicks were small animals made of plastic that just hung on the side of kid’s cups.

Fast food toys have came a long ways from just puzzle books and basic plastic figures. Now these tiny toys are almost identical to their larger versions sold in department stores. Manufacturers began to incorporate flashing lights, noises and even voices to many of the more modern toys.


Furby Happy Meal Toys
Although, most of the fast food toys can be bought unopened for less than $10, the value can differ greatly depending on demand. And, the highest monetary value of course is placed on completed sets of each hugely popular series.

There are around 14 fast food restaurants that use toys as a part of their advertising. And, while all aren’t actually valuable, the biggest majority of them have became collectable for many people.

With fast food toys, the value can’t be measured in dollars. The value is in the eye of the collector! Whether it’s because the toy promotes a favorite movie, a much loved comic book hero or a popular television show, fast food toys are well loved, treasured collectables!

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