What are some of the best educational toys for kids?

For many today, the idea of traditional toys seems obsolete – a thing from the good old years though this is not just true. There are still plenty of traditional toys out there – old wooden blocks, wooden pull toys, rag dolls, and the like. You just must know where to find them – or how to make them if you are feeling adventurous! Making homemade toys can be a lot of fun, if you’re up for it! A handmade wooden toy will last a really long period of time and can be passed on by your own children to theirs. Such items will be cherished far more than throw away plastic alternatives.

Traditional toy making refers to hand-made wooden toys, sewn and soft toys, and even a few recycled items. Remember, babies and toddlers, in particular, don’t need fancy or expensive toys with flashing lights and lots of sounds to have fun. (As you would have known if you have ever seen your two-year-old most of the morning playing with the laundry basket or a cardboard box!

When going down the route of making toys yourself, it will open you up to the world of crafts, which you can eventually share with your children as they get older. Soon, you won’t be making toys for them, but with them! Exciting right? Sewing projects and woodworking are the two front-liners when it comes to traditional toy making. No matter what your skill or talent, there’s something you can make. Look online. There are a lot of free tutorials, patterns, and instructions. So, go on have a go at it, you’ll be surprised how satisfying it is!

While you make old-fashioned toys with a traditional feel for your kids, you’re not just walking down fantasy lane. Some of these items can benefit your children. Traditional toys, much more so than modern variants, actually help your kids expand their minds and imagination. Plain old sturdy toys are the best educational toys for children in the long run. They inspire creativity and exploration. With modern toys, there’s often nothing to really think about and most of the time kids are just emulating what they’ve seen on TV.

A toy box filled with traditional toys – ones that you’ve made or purchased – invoke your child’s ability to create, invent, and innovate. Traditional toys are calmly educational – your child’s creativity will grow and expand without them even realizing it! Old-fashioned wooden toys like building blocks, puzzles, and pull-toys encourage lateral thinking, problem-solving skills, and even fine motor skills. Ironically traditional toys are often a lot safer than modern ones. There are less choking hazards, less worry about lead-based paints, no leaking batteries or electrical components, and are less likely to collapse when chewed on.

Ultimately, these types of toys endure the test of time. Though many parents went through a stage of removing them from the lives of their children, traditional toys are back for 2012! Sales are increasing, and the interest in parents making their toys has soared too.

Traditional wooden toys can last generations and stay when modern toy trends come and go. So, if you already haven’t set aside some time to try and make something, or find a quality shop that specializes in wooden and educational toys like we do at Little Sardines.

For More information and Buying Educational Kids Toys

Science experiment ideas for kids: Help your child explore the world of science!

Looking for some science experiments for kids that can be performed at home? Well, here’re some super cool science experiment ideas to help your child to be scientifically robust?

Rock Candy:

Introduce the concept of crystallization by helping your kid grow the rock candy in a glass. Make them understand that water can dissolve the sugar crystal when it’s hot. However, the sugar can regain its solid form after the water is again at room temperature and evaporates.

Let them learn this interesting science fact by following the instructions in this video:

Pulley Experiment:

 Let your child understand how a pulley can help him in lifting heavy objects. Follow these steps to make it easier for your kid:

  • Take your kid to a hardware store and ask him to pick up rocks of different sizes. 
  • Ask him to make notes on how difficult it was to lift different rocks. 
  • Now, get him a pulley and ask him to use it to pick up objects
  • Ask him if he notices any difference. Is it easier or harder?

You can also ask them to make their own pulley by following the instructions in this video:

Water bending with Electricity:

Your kid and his friend can perform this experiment to learn an exciting fact.

  • Ask your kid to comb ten times in her friend’s hair.
  • Then, ask him to take the comb immediately to the running faucet.

It will lead the water to bend toward the comb. Now it’s time to tell the science behind this: this is due to electrons and charges.

Find out more about this experiment in this video:

Concept of acid and bases:

You can take different kitchen essentials such as soda, lemon juice, and water to teach your kids acid-base concepts.

Head over to 3M to find the whole tutorial about this concept.

These exciting and straight forward science experiment ideas are perfect for teaching the complex concept of science to your kid.

10 Toys Great For Keeping Your Child’s Attention

Are you a mother who needs enough time for rest, and your child does not give room for it? Does your child have a box full of toys, but only play with a select few?  If so, in this article lies the solution to your resting problems. Firstly, toys that only do a limited number of things often get thrown aside.  They appear to be fun for a period, but pretty soon they become too predictable for the child.  That results in boredom and children don’t like to be bored.  So they find any other thing to play with and the monotonous toys end up in the bottom of the toy box.   The best toys are those that need imagination and can be used in different ways.  Here are ten toys that are good for keeping your child’s concentration.

1.  Blocks – For kids, blocks are staples, and they never outgrow them.  They are one of the most uncomplicated types of toys around, yet their possibilities are limited only by the child’s imagination.  Younger kids can also use them for such learning activities as counting games and experimenting with basic addition and deduction.  Blocks provide various learning opportunities and keep kids busy.

2. Art Supplies – Budding Picassos can consume hours making new masterpieces.  Art is a big way to keep kids occupied because it fosters creativity and self-confidence.  And you get the bonus of new refrigerator decorations.

3. Play-Doh – You must have played with Play-Doh when you were a kid.  The possibilities are that if you did, you have loving memories of it.  As blocks, Play-Doh helps children to make everything they can believe.  The factories and tool sets you can buy to go with it are nice, but they are not a necessity.

4. Wagons – Wagons can be used in various ways.  Kids can use it to convey their toys from one place to another, though that’s only the first part of it.  It can serve as a carrier for their stuffed animals or dolls, a pull-along “tray” when they’re acting restaurant or even as transportation for the child himself with you removing it.

5. Dolls and Stuffed Animals – Many children love to pretend that their stuffed animals, action figures, and dolls are real animals or people.  This can provide them with hours of enjoyment.  They 3. Play-Doh – You must have played with Play-Doh when you were a kid.  The possibilities are that if you did, you have loving memories of it.  As blocks, Play-Doh helps children to make everything they can believe.  The factories and tool sets you can buy to go with it are nice, but they are not a necessity.may even play with two or more at a time, making different voices for each one.  That’s not only fun for them, but it’s also fun for you to watch too.

6. Musical Instruments – Many children love music. One thing better than listening to it is making it on their own.  If real musical instruments are not an alternative, there are toy kazoos, xylophones, drum sets and more that kids can play with.  They could even bring other kids together and form a musical group.

7. Gardening or Housekeeping Tools – children enjoy imitating older people.  A toy kitchen set, toy vacuum cleaner or a set of gardening tools can help them do so more carefully.  You could engage them to help you when you’re doing yard work or housework.  They will stay occupied and feel a sense of achievement.

8. Sandboxes – Sandboxes full of toys provides a wide range of possibilities.  Kids can learn a lot by playing in the sand.  They can use sticks to make pictures, objects, and design, or make sandcastles/trails with their toy cars by adding water.

9. Dress-up Clothes – Playing dress-up gives kids the ability to put together outfits and pretend to be anything or anyone.  You don’t have to purchase a dress-up set.  Just take out all of the old clothes you can find and let their imaginations run free!

10. Balls – A ball does not only keep a child busy, but they also encourage physical exercise.  There are various ways that children can play with them, so they never get boring and at the same time gives you enough room to rest.

How to Buy Few Useful Science Toys Australia?

There is no denying that kids love to play. That is why, you will want to consider buying them science toys Australia. Earlier, when you were a kid, the competition was not tough and child development was not considered important. Today, that has changed for a good reason and critical thinking, analysis skills, and other development factors are considered in a child. 

This means that you need to ensure your child has proper development through educational toys, which can immensely benefit them. Every child has a liking for a toy. Think based on that toy and get them a toy. If your child likes building games, then get them building blocks. You’re your child like to play thinking games then get them toys which make them think and learn.

When buying gift ideas for students you need to ensure that they are safe to play. Now, it is not going to be possible for you to always play with your child. This is why you will want to consider the safety first. You certainly do not want your child to hurt him-self when playing, not to mention it can also endanger other kids playing with him.

Purchasing toys that are age appropriate is also important. Make sure that you confirm the age of the toy before buying for your child. Certain toys are meant for children of particular age and are not ideal for children of all ages. Though you might be inclined to buy them, know this, it is not going to benefit your child in anyway.

It is beneficial buying toys from online stores

You can always walk down to the nearest store and buy your kids something. However, not only stores will have educational toys which are worth and can actually help in the development of your children. This is why, you will want to consider purchasing from online stores, where the options are many and prices are good. 

You just need to make sure that the website is reliable and sells original products. You don’t want your child to be playing with toys which can be harmful to them. 

Always remembers to include yourself when playing with your children as much as possible, though it not going to be always possible for you to play, try to spare some time. That will motivate them to spend time with the newly acquired STEM toys (STEM stands for Science, technology, Engineering and Mathematics)

Not to mention it also helps in the bonding between your child and you. 

10 Toys Great For Keeping Your Child’s Attention !!

Are you a mother who needs enough time for rest, and your child does not give room for it? Does your child have a box full of toys, but only play with a select few?  If so, in this article lies the solution to your resting problems. Firstly, toys that only do a limited number of things often get thrown aside.  They appear to be fun for a period, but pretty soon they become too predictable for the child.  That results in boredom and children don’t like to be bored.  So they find any other thing to play with and the monotonous toys end up in the bottom of the toy box.   The best toys are those that need imagination and can be used in different ways.  Here are ten toys that are good for keeping your child’s concentration.

1.  Blocks – For kids, blocks are staples, and they never outgrow them.  They are one of the most uncomplicated types of toys around, yet their possibilities are limited only by the child’s imagination.  Younger kids can also use them for such learning activities as counting games and experimenting with basic addition and deduction.  Blocks provide various learning opportunities and keep kids busy.

2. Art Supplies – Budding Picassos can consume hours making new masterpieces.  Art is a big way to keep kids occupied because it fosters creativity and self-confidence.  And you get the bonus of new refrigerator decorations.

4. Wagons – Wagons can be used in various ways.  Kids can use it to convey their toys from one place to another, though that’s only the first part of it.  It can serve as a carrier for their stuffed animals or dolls, a pull-along “tray” when they’re acting restaurant or even as transportation for the child himself with you removing it.

5. Dolls and Stuffed Animals – Many children love to pretend that their stuffed animals, action figures, and dolls are real animals or people.  This can provide them with hours of enjoyment.  They may even play with two or more at a time, making different voices for each one.  That’s not only fun for them, but it’s also fun for you to watch too.

3. Play-Doh – You must have played with Play-Doh when you were a kid.  The possibilities are that if you did, you have loving memories of it.  As blocks, Play-Doh helps children to make everything they can believe.  The factories and tool sets you can buy to go with it are nice, but they are not a necessity.

6. Musical Instruments – Many children love music. One thing better than listening to it is making it on their own.  If real musical instruments are not an alternative, there are toy kazoos, xylophones, drum sets and more that kids can play with.  They could even bring other kids together and form a musical group.

7. Gardening or Housekeeping Tools – children enjoy imitating older people.  A toy kitchen set, toy vacuum cleaner or a set of gardening tools can help them do so more carefully.  You could engage them to help you when you’re doing yard work or housework.  They will stay occupied and feel a sense of achievement.

8. Sandboxes – Sandboxes full of toys provides a wide range of possibilities.  Kids can learn a lot by playing in the sand.  They can use sticks to make pictures, objects, and design, or make sandcastles/trails with their toy cars by adding water.

9. Dress-up Clothes – Playing dress-up gives kids the ability to put together outfits and pretend to be anything or anyone.  You don’t have to purchase a dress-up set.  Just take out all of the old clothes you can find and let their imaginations run free!

10. Balls- A ball does not only keep a child busy, but they also encourage physical exercise.  There are various ways that children can play with them, so they never get boring and at the same time gives you enough room to rest.

How to use W335 Models Electronic Circuit ?

The W335 was an amazing experience to play with as it had many fun activities and I could experiment with each of the pieces. The W335 is a circuit-making set in which there are plastic/metal pieces that can be clipped together to create different types of circuits. There are many circuits illustrated and explained in the booklet, but it was more fun to experiment with the pieces to try and make more circuits. Below are three different circuits that I made from the booklet. They are labelled 1-5 in difficulty, with 1 being easy and 5 being hard.

To start off, I made a simple circuit with the battery pack, two straight connectors 3 pins long and an LED light. This one was rated a 1 in difficulty, and even younger kids will be able to attempt this without instructions as the colourful diagram made it really easy to find the parts. The two 3 pin connectors were parallel to each other and each was connected to a terminal on the battery pack. They were then connected to an LED light to create a closed circuit. To experiment and test my own knowledge, I replaced one of the 3 pin connectors with a press switch. On the press switch, there was a metal plate which was connected to one end but not the other. When the plate was pressed, it connected both ends to create a closed circuit.

Now, the next circuit was slightly harder, with a difficulty rating of 4. This circuit allowed me to make a working FM radio using the radio module provided. For this circuit, connectors of various lengths, the speaker, radio module and battery pack were used. It was really fun to listen to, even though it was challenging to connect all the parts in the right order!

Finally, the last model I made was an ambulance siren, rated at difficulty 5. It used many of the pieces in the kit and was a real test of my understanding of circuits. I was so proud of it when I finished that I took a photo of it, which you can see below. It was interesting to observe the change in sound and volume when I swapped out pieces and changed their order. While it took me a while to finish, it was perfect for annoying my parents.

So, the W335 electronics kit was a fun experience for me and would be for anyone who enjoys circuits, using their hands or simply experimenting. Even if you haven’t looked at circuits before, the colourful diagrams and worded instructions make it easy to understand. Overall, you’re sure to have hours of fun with the 335 different models in the kit, just like I did!

Let’s enjoy our holidays with STEM Toys !

STEM pack max has enough STEM toys to learn few science concepts and build hands on. The STEM pack Max has 10 science toys in it.

6 In 1 Educational Solar Toy / Robot Kit : Mini Solar building kits teaches children the benefits of solar energy while they create a 6 toys that are both fun to play with and requires no batteries.

Magnifying lens – 50mm diameter : The Magnifying lens has magnifying Power of up to 10X.

Balloon race car : Watch your racer speed along using the power of air. Blow up the balloon using the cars exhaust pipe, let go and watch your balloon racer zoom across the floor!

DIY Racing car F1 Air power : DIY racing car F1 Air power should be the first STEM toy for your child. The toy is based on Newton’s third law of motion

Helicopter Spiral pop top : Helicopter Spiral pop top is perfect outdoor toy for kids which uses the same lift-principle as helicopters.

Rubber band plane : Experience hands-on science, learn Aeronautics, enjoy the 60-Sec glide. Rubber band powered plane, excellent flying performance. Download English step by step guide here.

Speed Rubiks Cube : Speed Rubiks Cube is a good quality speed 3A—3 pattern cube.

Hi Bounce Ball : A rubber super balls styled to the pool table balls. Can bounce up to 10 meters.

Balance Bird : The balancing bird is a toy that has its center of gravity located at the tip of the beak. The center of gravity (also called the center of mass) is a special point on an object.

Colored Slime : Slime is the kids best friend with creativity.

What to gift your friend on birthday ? Have some gift ideas!

Switched On Kids offers range of educational aka serious toys for all age groups. Sometimes it’s a good idea to let the user choose the toy / product and give a birthday gift ideas, birthday card and ideas to make it simple and easy.

  • All gift cards are sent electronically and are secure
  • You can add your personal message for the recipient
  • The gift card can be of any value in Australian dollar
  • The recipient can check balance online anytime
  • All prices include gst

Gift cards can be given for birthday, celebration, thank you, appreciation and recognition.

5 AMAZING FACTS ABOUT DINOSAURS, THE PREHISTORIC ANIMALS!

Dinosaurs were probably the most exciting species to have lived on earth, centuries ago. Gigantic, fearsome and wanderers by nature, some even had feathers which meant they could fly too. Unfortunately, they went extinct 65 million years ago due to unknown reasons. Today, we are going to talk about the 5 most amazing facts about dinosaurs.

1.Derived from the Greek language

The word ‘dinosaur’ as we know it, has been derived from the Greek language, where it roughly translates into ‘terrible lizards’, first sighted during the Triassic era around 234 million years ago.

Interestingly, they lived on the Earth for 150 million years before an extinction event led to disappearance of most dinosaur species.

2.Birds are said to have evolved from dinosaurs

According to some paleontologists and theorists, birds have been said to have evolved from dinosaurs. Most birds have structures that are somewhat similar to small, feathered, theropod dinosaurs and hence, it probably might have happened over centuries and multiple evolutionary stages.

So technically, dinosaurs still live among us!

3.Some dinosaurs were extremely intelligent

While dinosaurs weren’t exactly geniuses, some of them were really active, both physically and mentally. The two carnivorous species of dinosaurs, namely Deinonychus as well as Velociraptor were quite agile, smart and had the speed similar to that of a kickboxer.

4.Dinosaurs were global citizens!

From whatever mortal evidence was found, dinosaurs are believed to have existed on almost all the 7 continents of the world. Many bones and fossils unearthed across different countries proves that dinosaurs were global citizens.

5.Mammals might be as old as dinosaurs

In the year 2000, a research expedition from University of Texas, Austin unearthed fossils of what are believed to be the first signs of mammals’ existence during the Jurrasic era. Species such as Kayentatherium are believed to have exploded in the aftermath of dinosaurs’ extinction. SwitchedOnKids encourages the concept of  ‘learning is fun’, inspiring young kids to explore the beautiful animal kingdom through our exploration and fossil range of science toys, which are delivered within 1 business day across Australia.

DON’T LET COVID STOP YOUR KID FROM INTERACTIVE LEARNING!

The COVID 19 pandemic has forced schools to shut down globally, but it hasn’t been able to stop the process of learning and education amongst children. Homeschooling is the norm today as parents are saving on travelling time and spend more quality time with their kids. Every change comes with its own set of challenges like do parents have enough resources to keep their kids engaged, are kids finding learning interesting ?

The real challenge that the new normal brings concerns children more than the parents. It accentuates in preteens for whom schooling is a combination of continuous learning & human interaction. Online learning at some point, fails in creating the fun & intrigue that physical classrooms generate, and in such a scenario, the onus is on parents to keep the learning fun and interactive. Thus, using educational toys  gives children a chance to have fun while learning. STEM toys are known to provide kids with learning that’s creative, engaging & inventive. These toys could range from anything like building blocks or science kits to even programmable robots. Science Toys help fulfill the void of interactive physical learning along with developing analytical, logical, and emotional skills. You can gift your kid with such toys to make the best of their playtime.

Tobbie II  is a basic level programmable robot that uses block programming techniques. Science in the Laboratory has enough material to keep your kid busy for weeks doing chemistry and physics experiments at home. The kit comes with an instructions manual and over 30 experiments. We have over 700+ STEM toys to choose from.

Let us make learning fun and interactive for our kids and challenge them to try some quizzes online