Bubbles Help Children Develop

As long as I have worked with children, I have noticed one universal truth; they all love bubbles.  In fact, I don’t think I have met anyone that doesn’t love bubbles, either as an adult or a child and I have many memories of both enjoying the hundreds of bubbles that have shot out of various bubble makers such as the Gazillion Bubbles Disney Cars Motorized Bubble Machine.

So in short, we all know that kids love bubbles, but did you know that bubbles help their development?  It’s true and it is actually surprising how many areas that bubbles can stimulate development.

Language, hand eye coordination and vision are all areas that are aided by bubbles floating around their head.  If we look at each one, we can see a range of things happening and, as a parent; you will definitely run out and purchase the first of bubbles, whether it comes in a bottle to blow or whether you can add it to a bath, like the Caillou Ultra Gentle Bubble Bath.

First up, hand eye coordination. This may seem like a stretch when you first think about it but even young infants will sit and point to bubbles as they float around their heads and this actually helps hand eye coordination.  Just think about an activity that will encourage this.  A Gazillion Bubbles Disney Cars Motorized Bubble Machine or Disney Little Mermaid Ariel Motorized Bubble Blower set up outside where you encourage the children to run, point and pop the fine bubbles.  Not only does this exercise encourage the development of hand eye, lining up the finger to pop the bubble, but it also encourages exercise and gross motor development.

Also, this type of play, as well as some quiet bath time with a Gazillion Bubbles Tub Town Wacky Wharf Playset, can encourage language development in children.  Children will love talking, laughing and singing songs about bubbles and there is always an opportunity to do this.

In addition to the songs, children who blow bubbles are believed to talk earlier than children who don’t since they are learning to manipulate their mouths, which only aids in speaking and pronouncing words.

Lastly, blowing bubbles really does help vision and not just in a hand eye coordination way.  Infants who watch bubbles, either with their parents or caregivers blowing them or watching them come from a Gazillion Bubbles Disney Cars Motorized Bubble Machine are able to build on their tracking ability.  The bubbles float up and down and all around and the baby’s eyes follow the movements.  As they grow, they are able to build on depth perception to pop the bubbles and of course, on their hand eye coordination.

So with all of these benefits to development, it leads one to believe that not only are bubbles fun but they are also beneficial and worth every minute of fun.

Visit our toy bubbles section here…

Kite Flying Made Easy

The wind is blowing outside and the trees are bending and swaying to the gusts as they beckon you to come out and while it may be fun to watch Ruby flies a kite on the Max and Ruby – Ruby’s Snow Queen – DVD, it is more enjoyable to get outside and fly a Superman Diamond Kite.

Yes, it is that season again, when kite flying becomes a fun and exciting way to pass an hour or two or even a full day.  Unfortunately, not everyone feels that way and they spend the day battling the kite and trying to get it up in the sky without any success.  While kite flying seems easy, it can actually be very difficult to do and most people opt to leave their Finding Nemo Diamond Kite in the package instead of up in the sky.

Thankfully, there are a few tips to getting your Disney Pirates of the Caribbean Diamond Kite off the ground and you can find everything you need to know below.

Location, Location, Location:

As you know, everyone at Kimmy’s Shop is dedicated to safety and that is the first tip that we offer all of our readers is to be safe.  The best way to remain safe while you are flying a kite is all in the location.

Most people feel that all you need is a wide open field for kite flying but there is more to the location than just that.  While a park can be the ideal, it may have a few safety issues that should be considered.

First and foremost is overhead wires.  These are very dangerous and you should always make sure that there are none in the park that you are flying in and that any you see are a good football field away, or farther.  The last thing you will want is your kite going down onto a power line.

Next, look around at what is near your location.  Is there a road near by?  Are you flying your kite in amongst buildings or near a busy pathway?  If so, look for a different place to fly your Disney Princess Diamond Kite since you don’t want to chase a kite out into a street and you don’t want it to hit anyone walking by.

Once you have a safe location, start looking at the terrain.  If there are a lot of trees, it is not the ideal location since you will run the risk of losing the kite in a tree.  In addition, a park that is really hilly is not the best since the hills can work as a natural wind break, something that is horrible for kite flying.

Which Way does the Wind Blow:

The first time I flew a kite it was a very simple kite, much like the Winnie the Pooh Diamond Kite, and I didn’t think that there would be anything to flying it.  All I really needed to do was set up the kite, wait for a windy day and head off to the park.

Boy, was I wrong.  Kite flying takes a bit more planning than that and while wind is needed, it is important to really watch the wind before deciding to go out.

First, always make sure that the wind is blowing away from any potentially serious hazards.  If the wind is blowing towards a wide open field instead of a road, then it is the perfect day for kite flying.  If it isn’t, then it might be a good time to leave off kite flying for a day or two.

Next, check how hard the wind is blowing.  Some kites can do very well in a strong wind but others will only be tossed to the ground.  Save some of the frustration and read your kite’s directions first to find out the wind recommendation.  If it doesn’t have a recommendation, take it out and give it a test run.

Watch the Disney Mickey Mouse Diamond Kite closely.  If it begins looping and diving and you are unable to control it, then the wind is too strong for that particular kite and it is time to pull it in and try flying on another day.

Take Off and Touch Down:

When it comes to take off, very few people are good at it and they tend to have a running approach to it.  While this does seem to work, it is not the safest way to get a kite to take off and it is much better to launch a kite in a stationary position.

First, always try to fly a kite with a partner. This will save you a lot of problems and will make take off much easier.  Give them the Winnie the Pooh Diamond Kite to hold, while you hold the line.  Have them walk, not run, downwind until they are about 80 feet from you.  From there, you gently pull the kite towards you, but make sure your partner releases it before you begin pulling.

To do this on your own.  Simply hold the kite out in front of you and wait until the kite is caught by the wind.  Once it does, let the line out gently and watch it climb.

Once it is up there, you have seen it fly for a long period of time, which coincidentally, you should keep the line tight while it is in the air to prevent it from falling, and it is time to guide it back down.

Generally, the easiest way to bring the kite back down to earth is to walk backwards slowly and reel in the line.  Be sure to do this very carefully and don’t rush.  If you do, the Disney Cars Diamond Kite may crash into the ground and break.

And that is all it takes to fly a kite.  Before I end, however, I would like to make one last safety recommendation; never fly a kite when it is stormy outside.

Three Tips on Choosing a Backpack for your Child

Okay, school may still be many weeks away from ending and most people aren’t really thinking about buying more items for the start of school next year but it is never too early to start. In fact, I am always on the lookout for new items for school since purchasing early and over a length of time can really save a lot of money, especially when you have more than one child.

In addition, backpacks, which is the wonderful little item that I am going to talk about today, is something that can really be used throughout the summer. If your child is going camping, to their grandparents or on any vacation, a backpack, like the Bakugan Battle Brawlers Backpack can really supply them with all the storage they need for their travels.

That being said, there are always a few things that you should consider when you choose a backpack for your child. Surprisingly, choosing a backpack is not as simply as going to the store and picking up the first item that catches your eye. You should really look at quality, which you can find in the GI JOE Backpack – Duke and Snake-Eyes, and at the staying power of the backpack so you are sure that it will really last the school year.

Tip Number One: Think of the size

As much as I love having a large backpack that will fit just about anything and functions more like a Ni Hao, Kai Lan Rolling Luggage Case than a Strawberry Shortcake Backpack but when it comes to little ones, large backpacks are not the most ideal product, unless you are planning on coordinating the backpack with a Strawberry Shortcake Rolling Luggage for overnight trips.

Instead, you are going to want to look at the use of the backpack. Is it used for a large number of books or just a few notes from school and their lunch pail? Will it have a change of clothing or only a few beloved toys that will go with them to preschool? If you need a full sized backpack, then you would probably want a Star Wars Sith Backpack or something similar and if you only need a small amount of storage, then a cute and functional Strawberry Shortcake Jr. Backpack.

However, before you commit to the backpack, make sure to check with the school and find out how large their lockers are. The last think you want is to find out your child’s backpack can’t be used because it simply won’t fit into his cubby.

Tip Number Two: Don’t focus on the Theme

Some parents, and I have been one of them, really begin to focus on the theme and tend to forget that themes can either endure for years or simply fade away in a matter of months.

For this reason, I would recommend that you don’t focus on the latest and greatest but really focus on a backpack that your child will be proud to wear for an extended period. Remember, through a school year your child will get a bit older and may not be as happy with the The Wonder Pets Jr. Backpack ‘Flying Boat’ half way through the year when all of his friends have the much older, (and seemingly more mature theme) of the Transformers Bumblebee Backpack.

Remember that when you choose a theme, find one that is appropriate for your child’s age throughout the school year. Also, if you find that he will be using the same backpack two years in a row, pick one that he will want when he is a year or two older.

Tip Number Three: Find one that fits your child

The last tip that I would like to mention is to really find a backpack that fits your child. Studies over the last few years have really linked back pain to carrying backpacks that are either too heavy or improperly fitted to your child.

When you choose a backpack, make sure that you purchase one according to your child’s size. A toddler is better suited to a Caillou Toddler Backpack than the Disney Princess Backpack with Purse and Pencil Case and it can be adjusted much better to fit your child.

Also make sure that you purchase a backpack that has straps that can be adjusted and to check those straps on a regular basis to make sure they fit securely, placing the weight in the correct areas.

The last thing that I am going to mention is purchasing a backpack with an additional lunch box, such as the GI JOE Backpack, Lunch Bag & Pencil Case. While this is not a necessity, you will find that purchasing them together can really cut down on the cost of purchasing them separate. Not only that, but your child will be overjoyed with bringing a backpack to school that is accompanied with its own matching lunch bag.

Visit our kids backpack section here…

Rainy Day Tent

With summer almost upon us, most people are probably getting ready for months and months of sunshine. They probably aren’t thinking of days where they will need the Cars Lightning McQueen & Mater Umbrella or the High School Musical Rain Poncho to escape the torrential downpour outside.  Rain is for other seasons and aren’t we always assured that summer will be sunny.

Of course, most of the days of summer will be bright and warm but there will still be days that are filled with the beat of rain on the roof.  These are the days that many people, especially children find the hardest.  The days when the rain is coming down to strongly for them to race outside and play in puddles so they are left inside, bored, and waiting to get outside as soon as the rain stops.

Thankfully, I rarely have a problem with rainy days since I try to make them as fun and exciting as I possibly can.  The simple way to have fun is to set aside your everyday rules and go wild.  There are so many things to do and your children will be so enthralled with the activity that you won’t hear those dreaded words, “I’m bored,” all day.

Whenever it starts raining, the first thing that I pull out of the closet is the small pop tent that I have just for days like this.  Toopy & Binoo Indoor Igloo Tent is perfect for inside use since it is small but large enough for several children to play inside.  It is always a big production as we are putting up the Toopy & Binoo Indoor Igloo Tent and the kid’s shuffle from foot to foot as they wait impatiently to jump inside it.

Once the tent is up, then it is a mad dash around the house collecting anything that can be used in the tent.  First we always like to make it comfortable so we will put in a few pillows and a Wonder Pets – Fleece Throw.  Next comes the stuffed animals and toys.  They range depending on the mood but you can be sure to see the Wall-E 5″ Plush, the Neopets Collector Species Series 4 Plush and the  Finding Nemo – Nemo Beanie Plush.

Once we have the Toopy & Binoo Indoor Igloo Tent nice and cozy, we fill it with a variety of toys that can keep the kids entertained for hours to come.  Books, such as Ruby Writes a Story, are always a great selection for a Rainy Day Tent  as are activity books like Crayola Toy Story Coloring and Activity Book.  Other great ideas are games like The Backyardigans COUNTING Flash Cards or Caillou Hunt and Seek Game.

Basically, what you want to do is create a world within your living room where your children can relax, play and simply enjoy being inside on a miserable, rainy day.  It is their space so whatever they want to bring in, as long as it is safe to be in the tent, let them take it in.  You will find that by the end of the rainy day, your children will have had so much fun in the rainy day tent that they will be disappointed to go out in the sunshine too.