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Building Toys: Zoob

May 14th, 2012 | Posted by ChristineM in educational toys - (0 Comments)

Zoob is one of those building toys sets that been around for years. It came around in the early 90s and let’s kids create anything they can think of, with a variety of pieces. Some are foam and flexible, while others are hard plastic that work as joints. What one child may see in a shape is different from the next and they can get a lot of great designs out of it. Dinosaurs to helicopters, princesses to cats, there’s  a lot that can done with Zoob.

The great thing about Zoob is that there are many different sets that all work with each other. There are even sets that turn creations into movable masterpieces, controlled through a remote control mechanism.  You can expand further upon sets with each box, so when your child runs out of ideas (which may be months and months from now) there are more pieces they can add to create even larger and more intricate things.

So when looking for building toys for your child, check out Zoob. It’s small pieces are easy to clean up and deal with, but will go a long way for the imagination. And Toy Shelf has several different sets to keep them entertained for hours!

Educational Toys for Rainy Days

May 7th, 2012 | Posted by ChristineM in educational toys - (0 Comments)

The summer is upon us, but warm weather often brings a lot of thunderstorms and rainy days as well. They can pop up randomly, without warning.  And that can kill your children’s plans for going outdoors and enjoying sunny days, but that doesn’t mean you can’t be prepared to keep them entertained while they are indoors.

Educational toys are great to have on that rainy day when the kids need something more than just video games to keep them busy. With the right board games, stuffed animals and pretend play toys, they can keep themselves busy easily all day, or at least until the weather clears up.

When it comes to shopping for educational toys, it really depends on what your kid loves. Are they big fans of visual puzzles or do they like trivia? Maybe they prefer math over vocabulary games. Their interests, especially as they get a little older, should start to become apparent. Or maybe they could just really use a boost in a certain topic and playing a game may be the way to do it.

Whatever it is, Toy Shelf has the perfect options for a rainy day. They may love it so much, they’ll play it even on a sunny day!

Kids Board Games Will Stick With Them Forever

April 30th, 2012 | Posted by ChristineM in board games - (0 Comments)

The other day, my roommate and I were discussing old kids board games we owned. I’m not particularly sure how we got on to the topic, but once we got into it, we started looking up old commercials for board games we owned as a kid. One that came to mind from the 90s was Grape Escape, where you had to guide your clay grape through a factory and hope you can escape without being smooshed, cut, or otherwise destroyed in the factory’s equipment. It was a ton of fun and it actually made me consider buying the game again, as an adult.

That’s the kind of affect that kids board games have.  Some of these games really become a huge part of our lives as we grow up, something we still talk about years later and even want to buy again just to have the experience. That’s what makes them such wonderful gifts for kids, even today. In 20 years, they may be talking about a different game that the ones I know, but it’ll mean just as much to them.

Toyshelf.com is the place to head for all kinds of great board games that your kids will be still talking about when they get older.

Classic Children’s Toys: The Dollhouse

April 24th, 2012 | Posted by ChristineM in Classic toys - (0 Comments)

Dollhouses have been around as long as many can remember. You probably had one growing up and your mom too. And possibly your mom’s mom enjoyed a beautiful dollhouse during her childhood as well.  In fact, the earliest dollhouses date back to the 16th century. So I think it is safe to say, you may have had generations of little girls in your family who enjoyed the beauty of these classic children’s toys.

The dollhouse has evolved over time, but whether you want to get your daughter or your friend’s daughter a dollhouse that has all the works or something that is more like the originals, you can’t go wrong with the choice. Dollhouses often come with their own set of dolls that work perfectly within the confines of the structure and usually you can buy more if your child wants to expand the family.

From classic wooden toys to the more souped up dollhouses that come out every year, they will definitely fall in love with its beautiful interior and all the space their dolls will have to live out their lives. There are many stories to be told with a great dollhouse, so providing them with such an outlet is a great way to go.

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Playmats Make Great Gifts for Children

April 17th, 2012 | Posted by ChristineM in educational toys - (0 Comments)

When I was growing up, my playmat was pretty much the coolest thing ever. It was a large town and I was able to use all different kinds of toys on it, not just the cars that came with it to push around the road. I used to use my construction toys like building blocks to create 3-D buildings around the streets and I would use my smaller dolls as residents. It all became its own world to me and to the happiness of my parents, it kept me from ruining the hardwood floors. It also gave me a soft area to play that was  comfortable for me when I was little.

Playmats make a great gift for children because of their versatility. They won’t just be used with what they come with, but with all the other toys that they have. Often playmats are connectable, linking together in whatever way the child wants. Whether it’s a road map or just fun colors, they can get creative with the setup before they even start playing.

When you are at a loss for what else to get, a playmat is a really unique choice. They already have so many toys, why not give them a fun place to play with them?

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Arts and Crafts Toys Make Great Gifts For Children

April 10th, 2012 | Posted by ChristineM in Artistic toys - (0 Comments)

No matter whom the child is in your life, chances are they have a little bit of creativity inside them. It all depends on what they can do with it. Some like to draw, some like to color, others like to create jewelry and still others like to make their own toys they can use, like puppets. Whatever the child’s passion may be in the creative world, arts and crafts are a great choice when it comes to deciding on gifts for children.

Some come in easy kits to create things, like “paint their own wooden toy car” or “create their own princess mirror.” Others allow a bit more freedom in what they’d like to create.  The Deluxe Pottery Wheel at Toy Shelf gives kids a variety of choice from carving and shaping tools to several color paints and sponges and brushes to really make unique pottery.

Maybe the child needs an even bigger canvas. Sidewalk chalk is a great gift in that it can be used on any cement sidewalk and can be washed off with a spray of the garden house. As far as gifts for children go, it’s affordable and easy, but will bring hours of entertainment and imagination!

Sesame Street Dolls Are Classic Children’s Toys

April 2nd, 2012 | Posted by ChristineM in plush - (0 Comments)

When it comes to childrens toys, there’s nothing better than classics. Some things have truly stuck around for years. One toy that appeals to most kids, even now, are Sesame Street dolls. Sesame Street has been a classic show, first airing in 1969. It’s amazing how it’s so old but still stays so relevant to kids, even today! And it’s definitely come along way, with a lot more characters than you or your parents may remember. But it still has a lasting appeal.

Take Abby Cadabby for instance, the character pictured left. She’s a fun, newer character that teaches kids a lot of things. This doll is a lot of fun because it teaches toddlers how to dress themselves with ease. They can practice putting on and off shoes, jackets and even brushing her hair.

For the boys in your life, Teach Me Elmo is a great choice and Elmo is a classic character, recognizable by so many! He can also teach your little one how to dress himself in a nice pair of overalls and he’ll double as a best friend who will go with him everywhere.

Toy Shelf has these and other Sesame Street themed childrens toys, so go with a classic and check them out today!

Creating Total Chaos With Board Games

March 26th, 2012 | Posted by ChristineM in board games - (0 Comments)

To little kids, the idea of being able to  create chaos may sound pretty intriguing. Often they just do on their own, just by being themselves. But there’s educational board games that encourage just that, a little chaos within a bit of structure.

Chaos is a strategic, educational board game for kids 8 and up that really makes them think. It’s made for two players, where each gets his own colored discs to stack upon each other. A stack of four or more though is forced to be scattered and distributed on the board, forcing the other player to take some of their discs back and causing the board to get more complicated. The only way to win is to get rid of all your discs by placing them all on the board.

It’s a simple idea and a small game, but it actually goes a long way. Older kids will really get a kick out of using their brains to plan their moves and what affects they will have in the future.  You’ve got to plot ahead and think about what is coming in order to come out on top. And it’s challenging enough that any adult will love to join in and play.

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Construction Toys are Fun Outdoors, Too

March 19th, 2012 | Posted by ChristineM in Artistic toys | board games - (0 Comments)

The warm weather is here and while you loved buying your kids all those new board games in the colder months, you don’t want them to stay indoors when it’s nice out. But some toys can still work out in your favor. Construction toys are usually so easily transported that you can put that building blocks set outside on the patio and have the kids build their cities in the sun, rather than being stuck indoors. They can create a maze for the dog to wander through, or use their imagination to come up with brand new stories, different from those they often create inside.

Or have them set up their connectable contraptions on the table in the backyard. As long as they have the surface space, they can do almost anything with them outside. Even beyond construction toys, they can set up puzzles to solve with the family as they enjoy a glass of lemonade and some backyard barbecue. Encourage them to spend their time enjoying the weather, even if they are attached to their toys.

It’s a fun transition from the cold weather to the warm, but they don’t have to give up all the great things they love playing with either!

 

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New Board Games: Madagascar Escape 2 Africa

March 12th, 2012 | Posted by ChristineM in board games - (0 Comments)

Who doesn’t love the Madagascar movies? Only people who have never seen it.  And those people should. But if your kid loves the movies (and they probably do) then you might want to check out the new board games that Toy Shelf has received.   Madagascar Escape 2 Africa is a board game for two to four players where each player gets to be a character from the movie and make their way across the board to Africa.  The game is built in matching games, so it teaches kids memorization, matching and comparison skills as well as encourages imagination.

The more matches children make as they play, the more color forms they get to stick on their story board and the better the final story ends up. So it really encourages them to work hard at making matches so that they can get a full, fun story.  And don’t let the two to four players seem limiting; you can always break players up into teams and have your kids learn social skills and how to work well with others to achieve a goal.

This and so much more can be found on ToyShelf.com. They have a great selection of new board games that will delight your kids.