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I keep seeing award stickers on toy packages. If I buy a toy that has an award sticker on the box does that mean other similar toys are not as good? What guidelines can I follow for choosing a good toy?

Lauren, Miami, FL
Mom of Rachel (7), Sofi (6) and Naomi (2)

Use them as a guide and follow 3 easy steps before making a decision on what to buy?

1.Analyze: What does the child have already? (Stacks of board games, tubs of building blocks, shelves of books) Take a quick INVENTORY of your child’s collection and see if there is a type of toy missing from the playroom. A new kind of toy will trigger interest and intrigue once opened!
2.Simplify- Parents “think” kids need a lot of toys, then regret having so many around the house! It is best to have a variety of TOY TYPES, so a child uses a range of developmental skills.
3.Magnify: It is imperative that toys are chosen which are age-appropriate and are of interest to a child. Choose toys that "MAGNIFY’ a child’s current skills and challenges those they need to work on.

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Expecting/New Mom Guide

Amazing Pop Up Gardens

$5.99
(800) 851-6030

A thoughtful gift for a faraway new mom,. Instead of sending a congratulations card, send a self-mailer postcard that doubles as a small box garden. It includes a variety of flowers or herbs that is guaranteed to grow once watered. As the baby grows, so will the garden and mom will think of her friend! Each kit comes completely assembled and includes a pot, compressed peat moss and seeds. Complete instructions are included. New moms can also send this along with baby announcements to special people who may not be able to watch her new baby grow up! As the flower grows, it leaves a nice reminder that the baby is growing too!

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Toy Tips to Parents: Time to Unplug

Don't over stuff the toy box with tech toys. When is technology too much technology?

While tech toys are popular and some can be educational, the latest round of newcomers at Toy Fair makes it clear we're going too far into technology assisted play. It seems technology now permeates almost every kind of toy category on the toy shelves. Parents run the risk of stocking the playroom with items that undermine the important developmental aspects of childhood play.

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