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by littleones.com, on October 5th, 2010 Spend some time by the cauldron with your little goblins cooking up these simple, kid-friendly Halloween recipes. Whether you are having a Halloween party at home or in the classroom, planning a spooky family dinner or are just looking for a special Halloween treat, there's something for everyone. Check out the following delicious links…
Family Fun Halloween Recipes Easy and creative desserts, healthy snacks, drinks and more… all with a spooky twist.
Hershey's Halloween Recipes Truly haunting recipes using your favorite Hershey's chocolates.
Rice Krispies Green Monster Cut-Out Treats: A simple variation of the popular Rice Krispie Treats recipe perfect for Halloween.
Suite101: Halloween Recipes Loads of great links featuring recipes designed for boys and ghouls.
About.com: Cooking For Kids (Halloween) Halloween recipes to make for or with your children.
For additional recipes, see Halloween Recipes at www.littleones.com
 The Little Ones Halloween Special
There's a chill in the air, and that can only mean one thing to little children. Halloween is coming soon! The Little Ones Halloween Special is here to assist with your Halloween preparations. Check out our selection of Halloween theme parties & games, spooky books, haunting Halloween recipes, Halloween jokes and more! Whether you are trick or treating with your little ones, hosting a Halloween party or just getting into the "spirit" of the holiday, our Halloween feature can help your family have a happy and safe Halloween!
 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!
If you haven’t done so already, Subscribe Now to receive our weekly Little Ones articles via E-mail.
by littleones.com, on October 4th, 2010      
WEEK #1:
BEST/AWARD WINNING BABY TOYS
Babies are master learners! Promote & support your baby's learning with these stimulating, award winning educational toys. You simply can't go wrong with these top-notch baby toys from birth-2 years guaranteed to thrill little ones.
Start with eye catching and musical toys for the youngest ones who can listen, observe and are developing the ability to "bat" at toys to make movement. Toys which hang from car seats or lightweight rattles are a perfect choice. One babies are able to sit up on their own or be propped up, a whole new world of toy choices are available. Babies learn through introduction to new textures, manipulation of objects, trial and error, sights and sounds, and simple content such as songs which teach letters, numbers, colors etc. Gross motor, as well as fine motor skills, can be practiced when mobile children can carry small toys, stand by an activity table and dance around to musical toys. Interactive toys are a great choice for older children who want to do more!
Little Ones has highlighted and briefly reviewed some the best baby toys on the market. The majority of the toys featured here have won prestigious toy and parenting awards based on quality, creativity, educational value and/or entertainment value. All toys have received outstanding consumer ratings and are highly recommended.
Lamaze Jacques the Peacock Our top pick! Award winner! These brightly colored plush toys are both cuddly and entertaining. Stimulating colors, textures and crunching sounds make this a truly interactive toy even for the youngest babies. Different animals feature built-in teethers, peek-a-boo mirrors and more! An attached clip makes them easy to hang on a car seat, stroller or to take along. Many adorable varieties available. Babies absolutely love them!
 Lamaze Mortimer the Moose
 Lamaze Freddie the Firefly
 Lamaze Stretch the Giraffe
 Baby Einstein Takealong Tunes Baby's favorite! Award winner! Colorful toy plays 7 soothing classical melodies while gentle lights dance to the music. Designed for little hands with a large easy to press music button and adorable caterpillar handle for carrying. Adjustable volume switch. A great value at a reasonable price!
LeapFrog My Pal Violet or  LLeapFrog My Pal Scout (Green). Award winner! Adorable plush puppy which can be customized to learn your child's name and favorite things via a simple computer download. Plays lullabies, learning songs and teaches numbers, animals, food and more. Select from an additional 30 songs online. Awesome cuddly and educational toy for ages 6 months- 2+ years.
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!
 LeapFrog Chat and Count Phone Award winner! Babies are fascinated with phones! This baby-proof phone combines both learning and fun. Press the number buttons to count on the screen along with baby's animated pal Scout, or press the music button to hear songs about counting. Trade calls and voicemail with Scout, or enjoy 15 other fun phone activities. Includes online learning ideas for parents. Pretending to be a grownup has never been so much fun! Ages 18 months+
Playskool Explore and Grow Busy Ball Popper Award winner! Loads of sensory fun and gross motor skills practice with this lively interactive toy. Colorful balls spiral down the track and pop up the air powered tube at the press of the big mushroom button. 8 upbeat songs along with sound effects invite your child to dance, giggle, put & take balls and have fun discovering the concept of cause and effect. Surely a favorite for ages 9 months- 3 years.
LeapFrog® Learn & Groove Musical Table Award winner! 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- 2+ years. Also see other LeapFrog Learn & Groove Instruments.
 Sassy "Who Loves Baby?" Photo Book Babies LOVE pictures! Introduce your baby to family & friends with this soft, cushiony and colorful photo album. Plastic album features a carrying handle, wipes clean, protects & displays 4 x 6 photos. It's an educational and entertaining gift babies will enjoy over and over again. Award winner! Ages 6 months +
 Little Super Star Classical Stacker Award winner! Entertaining 5 piece stacker plays 5 classical and children's favorite tunes while lights dance through the colorful stars. Promotes basic eye-hand coordination and problem solving. Ages 6 months+
 Fisher-Price Rock-A-Stack Award winner! (non-musical classic)
Parents Busy School Activity Cube Award winner! Wow! Stimulating 6 sided activity cube for hours of play & discovery. Shapes, movement and colors develop memory, critical thinking, dexterity and more! Ages 12 months+
 LeapFrog Fridge Farm Magnetic Animal Set Award winner! Extremely amusing and educational toy for ages 1+. Magnetic animal set plays learning songs, teaches animal facts and sounds. Mix and match animal bodies to create actual or wacky animal combinations, and enjoy the silliness. Plays 5 barnyard tunes. Lots of fun!
 Madame Alexander My First Baby – Powder Blue, 12 Inch Award winner! Adorable, super soft baby doll perfect for tiny hands ages 1+ Made of washable, baby-safe materials. Award winning first choice for little mommies! Also available in pink.
 Ocean Wonders Soothe & Glow Seahorse The perfect crib friend to lull your baby to sleep. Cuddly Seahorse plays over 5 minutes of gentle lullabies and soothing sounds of the sea while seahorse's belly gently glows. After 5 minutes, sounds & lights gently fade out. Adjustable volume setting. A real favorite! Also available in pink (below)
 Ocean Wonders Soothe & Glow Seahorse – Pink
 Toysmith Battat Ready Set Go Cars Award winner! Colorful and durable set of 4 chunky cars great for little hands ages 1+. Pull back action sends cars zooming, with delightful sounds!
. LEGO Duplo Ultimate Building Set – 71 Pieces Award winner! Colorful tub of building blocks for little fingers 18 months- 2+ 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.
 Parents Puzzle Rack with Puzzles Excellent value! Sturdy puzzle rack comes with 5 vibrant educational puzzles including ABCs, 123s, shapes, animals & bugs. Ages 18 months+
For additional selections, click Toys For LIttle Fingers (Toddler) and Electronic Learning Toys. Also see Children's Educational DVDs & Music CDs and Books for Babies.
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.
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!
If you haven't done so already, Subscribe Now to receive our weekly Little Ones articles via E-mail.
by littleones.com, on October 4th, 2010     
Looking for quality educational toys to delight children this holiday season? Help is on the way…The 2010 Little Ones "Twelve Weeks Before Christmas" Holiday Toy Series is here. This weekly holiday series is designed to help parents and grandparents make smart choices by featuring outstanding and 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. Well-chosen toys can promote important skills such as pre-reading & early reading strategies; dexterity development; problem solving; basic math concepts and more! Since the interactive toys featured in this series combine both fun and learning, they are products that you can truly feel good about giving!
Each week starting October 4th, Little Ones will post a review of the following toy categories, along with listings of recommended toys for toddlers to teens. Simply visit www.littleones.com each week to read our latest toy reviews. If you wish to receive this series via e-mail, please subscribe to our e-mail, and you can have this information mailed directly to you. Dates are subject to change. You will also receive our additional holiday posts including: Toy Reviews; Gifts Under $10; The Organized Holiday Shopper; Children's Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanzaa Books: our LEGO Special Feature: Grandparents' Gift Guide; Stocking Stuffer Ideas and much more!
Let the Little Ones "Twelve Weeks Before Christmas Holiday Toy Series" be your guide to an outstanding selection of top-rated and entertaining educational toys for all of the special children in your life!
Week #1: (Oct. 4, 2010) Best/Award Winning Baby Toys
Week #2: (Oct. 11, 2010) Toys For Little Fingers (Toddler-Preschool)
Week#3: (Oct. 18, 2010) Let's Pretend Toys For Girls & Boys (Toddler-Preschool/Kindergarten)
Week #4: (Oct. 25, 2010) Board Games & Card Games For Young Children (Toddler-Kindergarten)
Week #5: (Nov. 1, 2010) Cars, Trains & Vehicles That Move!
Week #6: (Nov. 8, 2010) Board Games & Card Games For Older Children (Ages 7-Adult)
Week #7: (Nov. 15, 2010) Dolls, Dollhouses, Dress Up & More!
Week #8: (Nov. 22, 2010) Building Sets & Creative Design Toys
Week #9: (Nov. 29, 2010) Arts & Crafts/Musical Toys
Week #10: (Dec. 6, 2010) Electronic Learning Toys, Discovery Toys & Science Kits
Week #11: (Dec. 13, 2010) Indoor/Outdoor Sports & Games
Week #12: (Dec. 20, 2010) Puzzles, Memory Games & Brain Teasers
For more holiday information, please see:
The Little Ones Holiday Gift Giving Guide
If you simply can't wait, visit www.littleones.com for our year-round 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!
If you haven’t done so already, Subscribe Now to receive our weekly Little Ones articles via E-mail.
by littleones.com, on September 28th, 2010
 Planning a children's Halloween party? Relax! Here's an awesome and easy theme party planner guaranteed to make your special event a huge success! Check out this wildly popular & entertaining Egyptian/Mummy Theme Party guide filled with great ideas for decorations, party games, favors, food and more. A truly unique and memorable way to celebrate the upcoming holiday!
The Little Ones Halloween Special
There's a chill in the air, and that can only mean one thing to little children. Halloween is coming soon! The Little Ones Halloween Special is here to assist with your Halloween preparations. Check out our selection of Halloween theme parties & games, spooky books, haunting Halloween recipes, Halloween jokes and more! Whether you are trick or treating with your little ones, hosting a Halloween party or just getting into the "spirit" of the holiday, our Halloween feature can help your family have a happy and safe Halloween!
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!
If you haven’t done so already, Subscribe Now to receive our weekly Little Ones articles via E-mail.
by littleones.com, on September 26th, 2010 It is very frustrating when children return home from school, begin working on their homework and realize that they are missing important assignment information such as directions, page numbers, due dates etc. Now what do you do? It looks like it's time to call a "lifeline" or in this case, a homework buddy. Homework buddies are responsible classmates you can call upon to clarify assignments or answer questions. It is a good idea to have the phone numbers of at least one or two students in your child's class. Homework buddies can be chosen by your child or your child's teacher, and their phone numbers can be listed right inside your child's homework planner. Homework buddies are especially useful in the upper grades when students begin to switch classes and have multiple teachers with more complex assignments and numerous assignment due dates. Encourage your child to exchange phone numbers with a friend the first few days of class, if possible. Don't wait for a problem to arise before you get the information you'll need to contact a classmate.
Homework buddies have other important roles as well. Buddies can double check the accuracy of the information that your child records in his or her planner before leaving school. Likewise, buddies can work together at the end of the day when packing up in the classroom or at hall lockers by double checking that the proper books are being brought home. This technique works well with younger students who are in the same homeroom class and have identical homework assignments. Older children can enlist the help of a nearby locker buddy. When packing up books from their lockers, kids can cross check with their nearest locker neighbors to eliminate forgotten books or supplies.
Having a homework buddy in your child's homeroom class (or for older children in each subject area ) can be a real life saver! After all, two heads are better than one!
For additional homework strategies, see Homework Help! at www.littleones.com.
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!
If you haven’t done so already, Subscribe Now to receive our weekly Little Ones articles via E-mail.
by littleones.com, on September 20th, 2010
You've sent out the Halloween party invitations, decorated your home, planned the menu…now what? These ghostly guests will need to be entertained and you'll want to find something that's fun, fast and easy. You can create your own activities or rely on traditional or pre-packaged games. Either way, you'll want to tailor your entertainment to fit your theme, children's age levels, the amount of time you have and your space limitations. See Planning Awesome & Affordable Theme Parties at Home for kids party planning dos and don'ts. The real trick is to overplan activities to eliminate too much unstructured time which can lead to boredom or even worse, "wild" play. A brisk pace will keep children interested and having fun. Here are ideas for fun Halloween activities that will leave your kids screaming for more…
For more great Halloween ideas, please visit…
The Little Ones Halloween Special
There's a chill in the air, and that can only mean one thing to little children. Halloween is coming soon! The Little Ones Halloween Special is here to assist with your Halloween preparations. Check out our selection of Halloween theme parties & games, spooky books, haunting Halloween recipes, Halloween jokes and more! Whether you are trick or treating with your little ones, hosting a Halloween party or just getting into the "spirit" of the holiday, our Halloween feature can help your family have a happy and safe Halloween!
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!
If you haven’t done so already, Subscribe Now to receive our weekly Little Ones articles via E-mail.
by littleones.com, on September 19th, 2010 Your first purchase of the school year should be a well-designed homework planner. Getting into the habit of consistently using a homework assignment planner is one of the most essential skills your child can learn. Homework planners that have dated, pre-printed pages which are lined and separated into subjects areas are a plus. Sometimes schools pre-order homework planners for students, so check with your individual school before heading out to the stores. Planners should include sufficient room to record assignment directions and page numbers as well as a place to record due dates. Having special areas set aside for general reminders is also a great feature. Some planners are even three hole punched so they hook right into your child's binder and are less likely to get lost! Educational supply stores and office supply stores usually sell these types of student-friendly planners. If you cannot locate a homework planner, simply make your own. Label a sheet of loose leaf paper with your child's subjects (ie: Math, Social Studies, English, Science etc.) leaving plenty of room between each entry. Leave a blank line at the top of the page where your child can fill in "today's date." Divide the paper by folding it or drawing horizontal lines between subjects. Photocopy several of these sheets and place them in a thin "homework binder." Place a 3 hole punched folder in your child's "homework binder" to carry home any homework sheets, important notices, permission slips etc.
Once your child has a planner, encourage him or her to use it daily. Emphasize neatness and accuracy when copying down assignment directions. In addition, have children physically check off assignments upon their completion. If necessary, you can review your child's homework planner each night, and initial that assignments have been completed and packed away for school. If your child is reluctant to adapt the homework planner habit, point out how even adults rely on this essential tool to help keep them organized. After all, homework planners eventually evolve into the more sophisticated electronic planners we see people using each and every day!
For additional homework strategies, see Homework Help! at www.littleones.com.
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!
If you haven’t done so already, Subscribe Now to receive our weekly Little Ones articles via E-mail.
by littleones.com, on September 18th, 2010
Halloween is coming soon! The Little Ones Halloween Special is here to assist with your Halloween preparations. Check out our selection of Halloween theme parties & games, spooky books, haunting Halloween recipes, Halloween jokes and more! Whether you are trick or treating with your little ones, hosting a Halloween party or just getting into the "spirit" of the holiday, our Halloween feature can help your family have a happy and safe Halloween!
 Fun Halloween Parties: Games & Themes – Entertain kids with these awesome and easy Halloween Party activities.
Halloween Books – Treat your little ghosts to some spooky fun with Halloween books and DVDs that will leave them screaming for more!
Halloween Humor – Share these Halloween jokes with the little ones you love.
Halloween Recipes – Get your child into the spirit by whipping up these popular treats.
Halloween Egyptian/Mummy Theme Party – Delight your boys and ghouls with this awesome Halloween theme party!
Halloween Safety – Insure that your little goblin is happy and safe while out trick-or-treating.
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!
If you haven’t done so already, Subscribe Now to receive our weekly Little Ones articles via E-mail.
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