LilSugar

The Gifted Baby: 18-Month-Old

LilSugar — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 10:00:06 PST

Ready. Set. Go! Just try to stop a curious 18-month-old. Finding toys that capture their attention is quite a task so look for items that help develop their fine motor skills.

The Fropper is sure to bring out the giggles as tots hop and bounce their way around the room.
One of the hottest toys of the holiday season, Elmo Live is as close to the real thing as you can get. This version tells jokes, sings songs and perfectly imitates one of our favorite Muppets.
Get your lil one cooking with a tabletop kitchen. This Countertop Stove is part of Pottery Barn Kids' line of Eco-friendly wooden products.
Introduce toddlers to the world of arts and crafts with Crayola's TaDoodles Crayon Buddies, which are designed to fit right into the palms of their hands.
Encourage building and fine motor skill development with the Clipo Creativity Table that offers countless ways to create new things.
Take a page from your childhood and introduce your tot to the current version of the sit-n-spin with the Spin Around.

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The Gifted Baby: Six Month Old

LilSugar — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 05:00:26 PST

Babies may like the wrapping paper better than the present, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't put thought into their gifts. Six-month-olds are really beginning to explore their surroundings so it is a great time to introduce them to toys that stimulate their senses.

Whether the tot needs a distraction in his high chair or if he just likes moving things around, the Double Bubble Suction Cup Maze will keep him entertained while developing his hand and eye coordination.
Leapfrog's Baby Tad helps introduce the alphabet to lil ones and is easy for them to use. It attaches directly to strollers and car seats, preventing baby from throwing it on the ground.
Babies love music, so the lights and sounds that come out of the Fisher Price Little Superstar Sing-Along Stage should keep a babe's attention for a while. The toy is designed to grow with the tot, from just listening to singing along and performing in front of the mirror.
The Playskool: Busy Basics - Busy Ball Popper is a bit noisy, but loads of fun. The sound of the balls popping out of the machine and the chaos they create will keep your little one mesmerized for hours.
The six-month-old in your life is teething, the Winkel Toy is the ideal gift to keep him happy. With tons of soft tubes and a rattle to make noise, your tot will have plenty to gnaw on.
Like stacking toys of yore, the Safari Animal Stacker teaches size and sequencing with the added fun of six plush jungle animals.

The Gifted Child: Toys for 6-Month Olds

babysugar — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 03:00:52 PDT

Going to your local toy store and asking the sales help for advice on a gift for a six-month-old can provide you with more opinions and deep explanations than you bargained for, never mind the fact that half the items are never in stock. Rather than risk disappointing the child’s parents, and wasting your time, stick with one of these items that is sure to make everyone happy (plus, you can just order them online and be done with your shopping!).

The colors and variety of activities on the LeapFrog Learn and Groove Musical Table ($40) encourage kids to pull themselves into the standing position. Once they are standing they can groove to the different musical instruments, turn the pages of the book and hum along to the songs.

The adorable Fisher Price Laugh & Learn Learning Puppy ($22) lights up as he sings familiar songs and encourages your child to hug him and play along. You'll hear "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes" and "Patty Cake," as well as a funny little sneeze that to this day keeps my son laughing.

To see more gifts for six-month-olds just

read more. From the lights to the fun Caribbean-style music, the iPlay Flash Beat Drum ($22) gets your child to start banging the drum, or rolling it across the floor, with music that you won’t tire of either.

The entire Fisher Price Peek-a-Blocks ($32) collection is fun for little ones who like the colorful animals that are hidden in the blocks. The Sing and Sounds Farm model ($30) plays the familiar "Old McDonald’s Farm," which every child seems to love.

The lights and music from the Little Tikes Discover Sounds Boombox ($13) will mesmerize your little one and help you teach him or her how to push and spin. As your child becomes more mobile, it is an easy toy for them to tote around with them like a real "boombox."

I have always been a believer in buying gifts up to one age group up from a child's age. Either the parents can put them away for a later date, or they can help the child start to learn how to use the toy. The Playskool: Busy Basics - Busy Ball Popper ($20) is one of those toys that a six-month-old will definitely grow into. While a bit noisy, the sound of the balls popping out of the machine and the chaos they create will keep your little one mesmerized for hours.

Lil Gift Guide: Great Gifts For 3-Year-Olds!

Rebecca M Gruber — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 08:32:37 PST

An expressive 3-year-old? That sounds about right. Once tots reach their preschool years, they're full of opinions. So this holiday season give them some toys and games that will have them jumping for joy!

If your lil one loves Disney's princesses, but they look a bit old for her, she'll love the new Disney Animators’ Collection ($25). The 16-inch dolls have softer, younger faces created by the mouse house's famed animators (and they're selling out fast!). Learning to write your letters and numbers is a lot more fun with Leapfrog's Count and Draw ($20). Bendable, wooden animals? The Animalz line of toys ($13) are not only made from sustainable wood, but they come with codes that can be used in an online community (with mom's help of course!). Grown-up Star Wars fans will love Playskool's line of preschool products designed so lil ones can get in on the fun, but not be scared by some of the more violent aspects of the line. The Playskool Heroes Star Wars Jedi Force Millennium Falcon Playset ($40) is the perfect point of entry to the galaxy far, far away! Miller Goodman's Playshapes ($158) comes with 74 pieces that can be mixed, matched, and paired up in endless combinations to create goofy-looking characters and sights.