WEEK #9:

ARTS & CRAFTS/MUSICAL TOYS

Children of all ages love to experiment with colors, textures and rhythms. If you ask children what their favorite subjects are, they will usually reply "Art, Music or Gym!" Art & Music are not only enjoyable, but they play an important role in your child's development. Creative expression, whether artistic or musical, develops your child's ability to explore and experiment with a variety of materials. Open-ended artistic and musical toys nurture your child's imagination, along with a sense of pride and accomplishment in a unique product. Children, especially younger children, enjoy having the freedom to design their own artistic or musical masterpieces.  More structured art or musical toys, designed for older children, encourage them to follow directions or musical notes in order to complete a specific arts & crafts project or perform an actual musical piece.  Art & Musical toys have the added benefit of promoting hand-eye coordination. 

Your children will have hours of fun using these "totally cool" art sets and "awesome" musical instruments. So get the video camera ready for delightful musical concerts, and your refrigerator ready to display oodles of precious artwork!

Also see Little Ones Recommended Toys & Gifts.

Arts & Crafts:

Crayola Color Wonder Disney Princess Coloring Book & Markers Color Wonder technology allows markers to color only on the special paper, not on walls or furniture! Create 24 beautiful Disney Princess pictures with 6 Color Magic markers provided. Ages 3-7.

Crayola Color Wonder Disney Cars Coloring Book and Markers No mess activity which is perfect for toddlers and up. Color Wonder markers' magic ink appears only on the special paper. Teaches young artists to color within the lines. Create 24 cool CARS pictures with 6 Color Magic markers provided. Ages 3-7.

Young Artist Creativity Box  High quality 60 piece art set made in the USA, comes in sturdy red wooden box. Plentiful supplies include 24 colored pencils, 24 large oil pastels, 6 watercolor tubes, 2 brushes, mixing palette and more! Makes a wonderful gift set for young artists ages 10+.

Crayola Super Art Craft Case Deluxe art set has over 50+ pieces including crayons, markers, paint brushes, model magic, sidewalk chalk, glitter glue tubes, washable paint pots, cookie cutters, blunt scissors and a pack of construction paper. Extra large clear plastic storage case holds all supplies neatly. Wow! A real value and a great gift choice!

Melissa & Doug Flower Power Wooden Bead Set Colorful jewelry making set with over 150 beads and 5 laces. Beads come in a variety of shapes, colors and patterns and store neatly in handy wooden box. Creative fine motor activity sure to become an instant favorite! Ages 4-7.

Melissa & Doug Deluxe Wooden Stringing Beads with over 200 beads  Over 200+ brightly colored wooden letters & beads along with 8 colored cords for lots of jewelry making fun! Beads store in wooden tray. Excellent gift choice for jewelry designers ages 4-6.

Perler Bonding Bead Blast Gift Box This awesome gift box contains 8000 colorful Perler beads and can make 40+ cool bead designs. Design your own magnets, ornaments, desk accessories and much more by placing beads on pegboard shapes. With an adult's help, iron the beads to make them fuse together. Gift box also includes 4 fun pegboard shapes, ideas booklet, ironing paper and instructions. Ages 5-10.

IlluStory: Make Your Own Storybook Multiple Awards Winner! Imagine the sense of pride & accomplishment when your child creates and professionally publishes his/her very own storybook! This amazing set allows children to write and illustrate their own story on the special pages provided (or completely online using the Storymaker instructions.) Drafts are mailed in prepaid envelope (included) and in a few short weeks, your child will receive a color-copied, professionally hard bound storybook! Books can include About the Author, special dedication and title pages.This set includes 18 book pages, 2 cover pages, 10 washable markers, story web planner, instructions and order form. Encourages reading, writing and illustrating skills! Extra copies can be ordered for family members. A truly unique gift that lasts for years to come! Ages 5-9.

Make A Plate Another Award Winner! This fantastic craft kit allows children to draw their very own plate design, mail their artwork away, and in a short period of time, receive a usable, dishwasher safe, break-resistant 10 inch melamine plate featuring their artwork! An absolutelly wonderful way to preserve children's drwaings. Makes an extra special keepsake to use each day or to give away to family members. This set includes 5 drawing sheets, markers, instructions, order form and one pre-paid certificate for processing one plate. Ages 4-10.

Creations by You My Masterpiece – Turn Your Drawing Into A Work of Art   Multiple Awards Winner!  Professionally preserve your child's artwork for a lifetime with this awesome wall art kit.  Your child's original artwork is enlarged onto your choice of background, and can be either placed into a wooden frame (your choice of colors) or changed into a museum style poster including the artist's name, artwork name and date. Many custom options are available including purchase of additional copies. Artwork can can done by hand or done completely online using Internet Production drawing & photo tools. Your child's masterpiece will be returned in a few short weeks. Makes an incredible and personal gift for any occasion! Also makes charming artwork to hang in your home, office or child's room. Ages 3+.

Alex Toys My First Sewing Kit Award Winning Beginners Sewing Kit! Start making quick & easy projects with this wonderful first  sewing kit. Includes 8 cool pre-cut patterns, 8 colors of embroidery floss, shapes to make felt animals, notebook cover, stuffing, fabric, needles, measuring tape, pins, thimble, pin cushion and more! Everything your child needs to get sewing! Excellent craft & life-learning experience. Ages 7-12.

Crayola Model Magic Deluxe Variety Pack  Unique, lightweight and pliable modeling clay allows children to make and display their own clay sculptures. Won't crumble or stick! Final products can be painted, colored with marker or decorated with glitter glue. Decorative accessories such as eyes, buttons etc. can be added during air drying process. Kit includes 14 colored packs of clay along with 60 project ideas, tips and techniques. Ages 3+

Sculpey III Multipack – Classic Collection Preserve your child's clay masterpieces with Sculpey Clay! Sculpey clay can actually be baked in the oven (similar to kilns) so that children's clay artwork can be made permanent. Kit includes 10- 2 ounce Sculpey bars in classic colors, along with instructions and a project ideas booklet. Unlock your child's creative potential with Sculpey! Ages 8+

Music:

 Munchkin Mozart Magic Cube Award winning interactive musical cube lets little ones create 8 Mozart masterpieces. Cube sides include the harp, French horn, piano, flute, and violin which light up and play instrument sounds. Sounds can be played solo or added together to create a symphony. Features soft rounded edges and durable design. Fascinating musical toy for the wee ones!

Little Tikes Drum Strike up the band! Little ones will have a lot of fun learning rhythm & timing while playing on this colorful, sturdy 8" wide drum. Mallots cannot get lost since they are safely attached to the sides of the drum. Provides great sensory & motor skills play. Ages 18 months-3 years!

Glockentoddler Toy Instrument This perfectly tuned, musically correct Glockenspiel will be music to your ears. This brightly colored 8-note diatonic instrument features safe metal keys, a specially designed toddler safe mallet which stores conveniently underneath, and an activity guide. Ages 12 months-4 years.

LeapFrog® Learn & Groove Musical Table Music, learning & fun rolled into one! Choose from this amazing toy's words or music options. Learn about ABCs, colors, opposites, counting to 10 and primary shapes or play on piano keys, tap the drum, groove to over 40 songs and melodies, and listen to nursery rhymes & instrument sounds. Flip a switch to change from English to Spanish. Best of all, this toy grows with your child. It sits flat on the floor for babies and adjusts to toddler play by adding included table legs. Provides hours upon hours of visual, auditory and fine motor stimulation and skills practice. An educational wonderland sure to delight little ones from 6 months- 3 years.

Fisher Price Rock & Play Piano Little ones can create music with this electronic piano by rocking on its seat, or playing the piano keys. Children select from 3 different play modes and from 5 different instrument sounds: piano, violin, harp, tuba, or flute. Your child will absolutely love flipping the music book to listen to a choice of 4 classical songs or 4 children's tunes. Auto shut off feature saves batteries. A real favorite!

LP RhythMix 6-pc. Rhythm Kit  Kids love a parade! This award winning 6 piece set of great sounding rhythm instruments will get children moving and shaking! Includes a handled drum, jingle stick, triangle, tone block, two Chick-Itas, two mallets, and a small backpack for storage.

Schoenhut My First Piano II Well built, bright red or white 25-key tabletop piano is the perfect choice for a toddler's first piano. Delightful sounding notes. Great for encouraging musical creativity and hand/eye coordination.  Play-by-color teaching method, makes playing simple and fun. A removable color strip fits behind the keys to guide small fingers. Includes songbook of familiar tunes. Ages 3-6 years.

Loopz Game Crazy new musical game of skill & action. Players must correctly repeat the sequence of lights and music by waving their hands through the semi-circular motion sensors. Features 7 different games including solo or group play. Way cool! Ages 5+.

Wow Wee Paper Jamz Guitar – Style 4  Play like a rock star right away! This amazing circuit embedded "paper guitar" lets kids play instant guitar with the touch of their hands. Simply choose from the 4 modes of play to jam along with 3 included licensed hit songs. Each guitar style comes with a different pop music selection. In addition, have some fun playing free style, play real chords or make up your own songs. Built in speaker with volume control and guitar jack to plug in headphones (not included.) Open-ended possibilities and endless fun for an affordable price. Ages 8+.

For more holiday information, please see:

The Little Ones Holiday Gift Giving Guide and

Little Ones "Twelve Weeks Before Christmas"  Holiday Toy Series: This holiday series is designed to help parents and grandparents make smart choices by featuring outstanding/award winning "toys that teach," accompanied by reviews which highlight and explain the educational benefits and specific skills children receive from these types of toys.

Little Ones "Top 25" Award Winning/Outstanding Toy Picks

Visit www.littleones.com for our selection of  Great/Award Winning Children's Books, Little Ones Recommended Toys & Gifts, and Children's Educational DVDs along with teacher tips, parenting articles, family fun and much more!

WEEK #8

BUILDING SETS & CREATIVE DESIGN TOYS

Construction toys are always a big hit with children! These imagination boosting toys can be played with over and over again without creating the same structure twice. Not only do building and design toys develop dexterity and other fine motor skills, but they also encourage a sense of pride and accomplishment in a finished product. (Don't forget to take a photo of your child next to his or her latest skyscraper masterpiece!) Whether children are building, balancing, or just experimenting, they are allowed to explore their creative potential, while practicing basic manipulative skills. The endless possibilities of these types of building and design sets make for long term play value and big time fun! Also see Little Ones Recommended Toys & Gifts.

Construction and design toys have come a long way, and include both gender neutral, as well as gender specific, designs. There are numerous variations of each of the construction sets shown below. Construction sets can vary according to the age level (infant to adult), building themes (anything from Star Wars to Princesses), block size (toddler sized and smaller) and colors (from primary to pastels.) As with any children's products, check age level guidelines to make appropriate selections and avoid choking hazards.

You're sure to find the perfect building and design set for your child from this wide selection of quality products!

.LEGO Duplo Ultimate Building Set – 71 Pieces  Colorful tub of building blocks for little fingers 18 months-5 years. Award winning toy provides hours of creative fun! LEGO also has a tremendous selection of building sets to delight children of all ages and interests. See Little Ones Special Feature: The Wonderful World of LEGOs.

Iplay Build It Bigger Large and thick nuts, bolts and tools make this 81 piece building set absolutely perfect for ages 3-7. Set builds trucks, robots or monsters and includes a 6 model suggestion booklet. Hours upon hours of creative fun!

Bristle Blocks (300 piece set) Interlocking and colorful bristle blocks provide hours of tactile play. This 300 piece set includes different size blocks, characters and clear storage container. Ages 3+.

 Melissa & Doug 60-Piece Standard Unit Blocks  Award winner! Sturdy large classic 60 piece wooden block set with storage box for ages 36 months-6 years. Lots of open-ended play and an excellent value! Award winner! 

Melissa&Doug Castle Blocks Build your own Medieval Castle with this wonderful 46 piece wooden castle blocks set. Sturdy, detailed castle blocks come in a storage tray along with small medieval characters. Encourages lots of imaginative play! A very good value! Ages 3-6.

LEGO Ultimate Building Set  Great 405 piece starter kit includes sturdy storage tub, building plate, mini figure, windows, doors and wheels. Kit also contains instructions for 5 models plus ideas for 25 + models. See Little Ones Special Feature: The Wonderful World of LEGOs.

LEGO Pink Brick Box Large (5560) 402 piece Lego set especially for girls contains 12 different colors, (including shade of pink), building plate, mini figure, flowers, fences, cups, pots, wheels and more. Ages 4-10. See Little Ones Special Feature: The Wonderful World of LEGOs.

Ello Creation System Fairy Set Amazing 176 piece Fairy theme set lets girls create their own Fantasyland complete with butterflies, flowers and more. Ages 5-7.

Ello Jungala People, Places and Things Set Colorful 173 piece Ello Jungle theme set includes monkey, giraffe, characters, jungle plants and more. Create wild animals, jewelry and other unique items. Ages 5-7.

ZOOBMobile Car Designer 76 Make movable creations with this awesome ZOOB building set. Design your own vehicles or follow easy instructions to build 12 different models. Includes 12 wheels which are notched to work like gears. All pieces are compatible with other ZOOB building sets. Endless possibilities and fun! Ages 6-18.

K'Nex Dinosaurs 20 Model Building Set Super 334 piece dinosaur creator set with special building block that makes realistic stomping and roaring sounds. Easy to follow instructions for making over 20 dinosaurs. A real value and a great set for dinosaur fans ages 5-10.

 Knex Value Tub 400 pieces Build over 20+ models with this 400 piece Knex set. Create vehicles like race cars, trucks, airplanes and more. Includes sturdy storage tub. Ages 7+.
 

K'NEX Collector's Edition Lincoln Logs Wooden Case Heirloom Gift Edition! Classic 151 piece, all wooden Lincoln Logs gift set includes logs, supports, roof slats, chimneys and building instructions. This product features a beautiful wooden storage case with brass engraving. A quality gift. Ages 4+.

Tinker Toy 200-piece Plastic Construction Set Create endless structures with this 200 piece durable plastic Tinker Toy set. Fits together easier than original wooden pieces. Includes design guide and storage container. Ages 10+.

Transparent Marble Run Awesome 61 piece transparent marble run set including 16 marbles. Develops fine motor, and problem solving skills. Loads of excitement and creative play. Ages 4+.

 Quadrilla Marble Railway, Twist and Rail  Award winning 97 piece marble run plus 50 marbles and play tips DVD. Develops spatial relation skills and critical thinking. Endless designs and entertainment for boys and girls ages 4-10! 

For more building sets, please see:

The Little Ones Special Feature: The Wonderful World of LEGOs

For holiday gift ideas, please see:

The Little Ones Holiday Gift Giving Guide and

Little Ones "Twelve Weeks Before Christmas"  Holiday Toy Series: This holiday series is designed to help parents and grandparents make smart choices by featuring outstanding/award winning "toys that teach," accompanied by reviews which highlight and explain the educational benefits and specific skills children receive from these types of toys.

Little Ones "Top 25" Award Winning/Outstanding Toy Picks

Visit www.littleones.com for our selection of  Great/Award Winning Children's Books, Little Ones Recommended Toys & Gifts, and Children's Educational DVDs along with teacher tips, parenting articles, family fun and much more!

Looking for hot musical toys that are sure to be a hit with older kids? It's always a challenge to find entertaining gifts for pre-teens and teens. Luckily, these awesome new musical products are just what kids enjoy. Innovative technology make these gifts user friendly and ready to play right out of the box. Guaranteed fun for hanging out, at parties or for playing solo. Click on the products below for more information including amazing videos/product demos and to search for guitar styles & included song lists.

See additional Little Ones Toy Reviews at www.littleones.com.

Loopz Game Crazy new musical game of skill & action. Players must correctly repeat the sequence of lights and music by waving their hands through the semi-circular motion sensors. Features 7 different games including solo or group play. Way cool! Ages 5-teens.

Wow Wee Paper Jamz Guitar – Style 4  Play like a rock star right away! This amazing circuit embedded "paper guitar" lets kids play instant guitar with the touch of their hands. Simply choose from the 4 modes of play to jam along with 3 included licensed hit songs. Each guitar style comes with a different pop music selection. In addition, have some fun playing free style, play real chords or make up your own songs. Built in speaker with volume control and guitar jack to plug in headphones (not included.) Open-ended possibilities and endless fun for an affordable price. Ages 8+.

Also available:

WowWee Paper Jamz Drum Set – Style 2

Wow Wee Paper Jamz Amp/Speaker – style 4

Little Ones "Top 25" Award Winning/Outstanding Toy Picks

For great gift ideas for children of all ages, please see:

Little Ones Recommended Toys & Gifts

The Little Ones Holiday Gift Giving Guide

Best Presents for Children's Birthday Parties 

Little Ones "Twelve Weeks Before Christmas"  Holiday Toy Series: This holiday series is designed to help parents and grandparents make smart choices by featuring outstanding/award winning "toys that teach," accompanied by reviews which highlight and explain the educational benefits and specific skills children receive from these types of toys.

Visit www.littleones.com for our selection of  Great/Award Winning Children's Books, Little Ones Recommended Toys & Gifts,  Birthday Theme Parties  and Baby Basics, along with teacher tips, parenting articles, family fun and much more!

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