Posts Tagged ‘toys’

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U.S. Marine Corps Reserve’s ‘Toys for Tots’ Program

Monday, June 6th, 2011

The U. S. Marine Corps Reserve has a sixty odd year old scheme to collect toys for tots from needy families both in the United States and in other countries. The aim is to save new unwrapped toys during October, November and December every year and then hand those toys out as Christmas presents to deprived children in the community in which the campaign is being conducted.

Their objective is to bring a message of hope to disadvantaged children in order to encourage them to become ‘responsible, productive, patriotic citizens’ in the words of their web site.

One of the main aims of Toys for Tots is to unite the communities where U.S Marine Reserve units are stationed for the three months of October, November and December each year in the gathering and distribution of new toys to children from less well-off families in order to help them experience the joys of Christmas.

One of the aspirations is that the recollection of receiving these gifts every year will encourage the kids to appreciate the communities where they live and take an active part in those communities when they become older.

Communities where there is no unit of U.S. marine Corps Reserves can also take part in the scheme but they must first register for authorization. These non-Marine groups will mostly, but not always, be ex-Marines.

These groups organize fund-raising events throughout the year in order to finance the purchase of new toys as donations of new toys do not always meet the groups’ needs. These fund-raising events could include sports days, golfing tournaments, bicycle races, swimming tournaments et cetera.

Toys for Tots started in 1947 when Major Bill Hendricks, USCR and a group of Marine Reservists in Los Angeles collected and handed out 5,000 toys for deprived children in the local region.

The original idea sprang from Major Hendrick’s wife, Diane, who had made a doll for a disadvantaged child. She gave it to her husband to give to a fitting charity. When he could not find one, she recommended that he start one himself, so he did just that.

The following year Marine Corps Reserve units across the country adopted the plan and it has been actively providing toys to disadvantaged tots ever since. Walt Disney got involved from the very beginning by designing the logo that the Marine Reserve charity still makes use of today.

Other celebrities to become involved in the early days were Nat ‘King’ Cole, Peggy Lee and Vic Damone, who recorded the Toys for Tots theme, which was written specially for the charity by Sammy Fain and Paul Webster.

Numerous celebrities have been played a part during the years. Celebrities like Bob Hope, John Wayne, Doris Day, Lorrie Morgan, Tim Allen, Kenny Rogers and Billy Ray Cyrus. First Lady Nancy Reagan served as the national Spokesperson in 1983 and First Lady Barbara Bush acted as the national Spokesperson in 1992. She wrote in her autobiography tenderly of her involvement with Toys for Tots and called it one of her favourite charities.

Owen Jones, the writer of this piece, writes on a variety subjects, but is now involved with Silver Cross Rocking Horses. If you want to know more, please visit our web site at Rocking Horses for sale.

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Lego Keyrings Are Really Kids Toys

Thursday, May 26th, 2011

Lego keyrings are a bright concept from the Lego Group and Lego UK. Lego keyrings are meant to be amusing, yet handy items for the Lego enthusiast both young and old. Some of the Lego keyrings can be difficult to acquire and are encouraging collectors to start a collection.

You can buy Lego keyrings on web sites or at almost any Lego shop. There are dozens of different kinds ranging from easy coloured building blocks to Lego Star Wars figures and they are not costly either.

Lego has been very smart with their keyrings because they are handy little presents for all ages. They are fun items, they do not cost over a few of pounds or dollars and the numbers manufactured of some of them are really quite small ensuring a healthy secondary market for collectors on Internet auction sites such as eBay.

At the moment there are about four dozen different Lego keyrings varying from a straightforward, traditional, red Lego building block with eight stubs to Darth Vader from the Lego Star Wars figures assortment.

If you would like to begin a collection of Lego keyrings, go to one of the Lego retailers on the Internet to see what is obtainable and then go to eBay to find out what has already come and gone. You might be surprised at how a keyring that was purchased last year for a few pounds has trebled in value by now.

The most popular of the Lego keyrings are the small figurines. There are policemen, firemen, teachers, postmen, nurses, GP’s, spacemen, Batman, Lego Star Wars figures, Lego Harry Potter figures. All kinds, in fact.

Some of the Lego keyrings are only sold in sets and some are sold at a cheaper cost if purchased in a set. There is a colossal second market on eBay for the new Lego characters and the older ones as well, so if you are interested in beginning a new hobby buying and selling Lego figures, have a look in a Lego shop on the Internet for special offers and discounted deals.

If on the other hand, you are not too interested in the Lego keyrings but would still like to get in on the action, you could check out the secondary market in Lego figures. Lego figures can be purchased separately, but they normally come in a package as with the Lego Star Wars figures or the Harry Potter sets.

One suggestion is that these figures are usually relatively expensive, whereas the keyrings are not, so you could purchase the Lego keyring of the figure you want and cut the keyring part off. This is a fantastic way of building up your population of Lego characters at a fraction of the standard cost and the only difference is that you cannot remove the arms and legs from the keyring figures like you can from the dearer other type.

Why would you like to take the arms and legs off anyway? They can only be lost or broken by removing them. No, go for the Lego keyrings instead.

Owen Jones, the author of this article, writes on several subjects, but is now involved with Silver Cross Rocking Horses. If you want to know more, please visit our website at Rocking Horses for sale.

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How To Purchase Safe Children’s Toys

Monday, May 23rd, 2011

We are lucky in the West, or most of it anyway, because the European Community, north America and Canada have strict regulations on how safe children’s toys must be. Despite this, there are lots of unscrupulous people about who will import cheap junk toys that could be dangerous to children, which means that anyone purchasing kids’ toys has to have their wits about them.

Having said that, the bigger shops do do their best to weed out the rogue suppliers and in fact most of the unsafe children’s toys are found out about before they go on sale. Be cautious in discount stores and outdoor markets though.

Once you get your safe children’s toys home, the time to be wary starts. This is because most accidents in the home involving toys do not happen to the person that the toys were purchased for. This is because adults trip over them. The stairs are the worst

The first thing that anyone purchasing toys should look for is the label. In the United States this is called the CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Pay for) and in Europe it is known as the Certificat European (CE). However, be wary, because these labels can be forged very easily.

If you are not used to purchasing toys for children, the next indicator to look for is the age bracket for which the toy is intended. Typically the marker will give 5+ or 7-12, so you still have to exercise some judgment.

Educational toys are vital to children and one of the best of these that you can build on as the child gets older is Lego. Duplo is the form of Lego that is most suited to very young children. This is because Duplo building blocks are larger that the standard Lego building blocks so that small hands can manage them easily.

One of the worst dangers for very young children is choking. Young children put everything into their mouths but Lego has manufactured these Duplo building blocks too large to swallow.

As your child gets older, you can add to the Lego set right up to adulthood. There are Lego electric motors for teenagers and there are numerous adults that have continued using Lego well past their Twenties.

If however your child does have an accident with a toy, you should endeavor to find out how it happened instantly after seeing to your child. If the accident was naturally the child’s fault or someone else’s, you can report it if you like, but if the problem came about because of a problem or failure inherent in the toy, you should report it.

The first place to report the toy is to the local council and then you must inform the manager of the shop where you bought it from. Keep the toy until the wheels of bureaucracy turn enough to get around to you

They will get back to you and you might save other children and their parents from going through the same problems that you did.

Owen Jones, the author of this article, writes on a lot of topics, but is presently involved with train sets for kids. If you would like to know more about train sets for kids, please go over to our website for some great offers.

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Lego An Ageless Toy For Children Of All Ages

Friday, May 20th, 2011

Lego sets have come a long way since my brothers and I had Lego sets in the UK. Lego UK is an off-shoot of the original Danish firm called Lego, however, Lego UK may just as well be thought of as a separate firm in its own right. These days Lego sets are a lot more than just boxes of interlocking building blocks, Lego sets are themed now to make them more applicable to a child’s particular interests. Lego is seeing a renaissance.

The name ‘Lego’ is not a genuine word, not even in Danish. Rather it is an acronym of two Danish words “leg godt”, which mean “play well”. It is Lego Group’s name and part of the logo of the Lego Group.

The Lego Group was the brain child of Ole Kirk Kristiansen in 1932 and the Lego firm has remained in the Kristiansen family’s hands until today. The current owner of the Lego Group is Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen, a grandchild of the company’s founder.

Lego’s mission statement is the same the whole Lego Group worldwide and that is to:

?Inspire and develop the builders of tomorrow?

Lego UK explains this by saying that their ultimate objective is ‘to inspire and develop children to think creatively, reason systematically and release their potential to shape their own future - experiencing the endless human possibility’.

The Lego Group now has over 130 subsidiaries and branches all over the world, one of which is Lego UK. From its unassuming beginnings in a small Danish carpentry workshop in Bilund, the Lego Group has evolved into the fifth largest toy manufacturer in the world, although it is still based in Bilund.

The basic building block of the Lego Group is the famous eight-stud Lego block, which has remained unchanged since 1958. In fact, it is unlikely to ever be modified since it has been calculated that there are over 900 million different ways of combining merely six of these blocks together.

More than 900 million different ways of combining merely six Lego building blocks of one size and one colour! Think about the potential if you give a child a box of Lego building blocks of different sizes and colours.

Lego takes education very seriously and since the Seventies, the Lego Group has spread its product assortment to include younger and older individuals, The Duplo block is for pre-school children and are large enough for small hands to manipulate and too substantial to swallow.

For older children, teenagers and adults, there are electric motors that can be built into models which can be controlled by computer. One well-known British TV presenter contacted Lego for help in constructing a house from Lego to live in.

In fact, this full-size, twenty foot tall, house was built by 1,000 volunteers using 3,300,000 bricks and everything is made from Lego building blocks. Yes, everything, including a flushing toilet, a sink with taps, the cat and the bread bin.

Owen Jones, the author of this article, writes on a variety of topics, but is now involved with Silver Cross Dolls Prams. If you would like to know more, please go over to our website at Doll Prams.

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Children’s Rocking Chairs

Tuesday, May 10th, 2011

Comfort is very important to people, particularly to children. I do not mean comfort as derived from a soft cushion or a warm, dry bed, I mean comfort as in security. It is the feeling that cats and children get from sitting in a box rather than playing with the present that came in the box.

Or the comfort that some children derive from having their own special blanket, which is actually called a comforter by the majority of Americans. It is the sort of comfort that all babies and all children get from rocking

Babies almost certainly like being rocked because that was the sensation that they felt whilst mum was going about when they were still unborn. It is what mothers intuitively do when a child indicates its discomfort by crying and it is to be seen in many disturbed adults as well.

They rock back and forth in an unconscious mimicry of the feeling of comfort and security that they experienced before they were born. Children derive comfort from any number of items. Some are commonplace others are peculiar, but two of the most popular toys for children are rocking horses and rocking chairs.

In fact, the desire to sit in a rocking chair or swinging chair never leaves most individuals until their dying day. We seem to get a lot of pleasure from rocking our whole lives long.

Rocking horses and rocking chairs have different functions of course. Rocking horses are for playing on and rocking chairs are for thinking and napping in. A rocking chair is a good idea for a child because it can learn to gain solace for itself by sitting in its rocking chair and feeling contentment without the help of an adult. It helps the child gain an independence, a certain form of maturity.

The only problem with children’s rocking chairs is that children grow up and grow out of them so quickly. If you plan to have a big family this is not a problem, but otherwise you could be left with quite a collection of children’s rocking chairs in the attic.

I say this because although you can sell one before you buy a new one, people find this very difficult to do in practice. They simply can not bear to part with the old one.

You can buy an over-sized child’s rocking chair so that you can get a couple more years use out of it, but in that case it is worth obtaining one with a fixed cushion or sticking some Velcro to the seat and a cushion so that your child does not slide off it.

Rest assured, you will never buy an unwanted or unused present for any child if you buy them a rocking horse, a rocking chair or a cardboard box.

Owen Jones, the author of this piece, writes on a variety subjects, but is now concerned with Silver Cross Rocking Horses. If you want to know more, please visit our website at Rocking Horses for sale.

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100 Year Old Marklin Toy Trains - One Of The First

Monday, May 9th, 2011

There are individuals who collect toy trains or model trains as some might call them. As you can imagine most of them are men and many would say that they are in still in touch with their childhood.

This is not to mean that they are childish, it is not a criticism. Some collectors display their collection at fayres, whilst others are content with displaying them off to friends at home.

However one attribute that they all share is enthusiasm. Collectors of train sets tend to get very enthusiastic about their hobby, often dedicating a whole room or more to their trains. One of the classic trains that no collector would not like in his collection is a Marklin, which were first made in 1891. I00-year-old Marklin trains are high up there on a collectors wish list.

Marklin was the first maker of toy trains that produced standard gauges, but a number of different models of trains and corresponding accessories. This actually started the hobby of collecting toy trains, because you could buy a train and some track and later buy more track and a carriage of a different train and run it on the same track. This strategy also had the effect of permitting less well healed families to purchase a train set for little Arthur.

Marklin train sets are truly a part of history, but they are beautiful as well. And rare. It is standard to pay thousands of dollars for a single item. A complete Marklin station including a rare Marklin 2609 was sold at auction in America for $110,000. The station was exquisite and the train and its carriages had been hand painted, but it is still a great amount of money for a train set.

The original estimate for this train set and station was around $30,000, which was considered right because it was virtually unique. A European and an American collector battled at the auction to the finish with the American winning in the end. The station and the carriages had tables with individuals sitting at them reading the paper and drinking tea or coffee.

However, that was by no means the only Marklin that went for more than was expected. There was a gauge III Marklin 2609 in the auction as well and that went for $82,500. It was a beautiful, hand-painted steam engine in exquisite detail. The original price set for this piece was $25,000. Several other Marklin pieces were sold at the auction and none of them sold for less than $25,000.

So a Marklin train set is certainly something to look out for next time you go to a garage sale or a church bazaar. However at a 120 years old, you are probably not going to find a Marklin train set or even a solitary locomotive, but jolly good luck luck in your hunt.

Owen Jones, the writer of this piece, writes on a number of subjects, but is currently concerned with American Flyer train sets. If you would like to know more about train sets for kids, please go over to our website for some great offers.

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The Sport Of RC Car Racing

Wednesday, May 4th, 2011

RC car racing stands for the radio controlled racing of model cars. The models come in several types: they can be fantasy models or scale models of real cars and trucks. After that, you can get RC cars and trucks in various sizes or scales, the most well-liked being 1:9 to 1:12, but there are also huge models of 1:5. The third variable is the engine; electric, nitro or petrol.

Whatever type of RC car you own, the thrill of racing it is the same. Most individuals find the sport of RC car racing exhilarating. Racing RC cars provides most of the thrills and spills of conventional car racing but without the risk to human life.

There are also different kinds of races ranging from racing around a circuit to cross-country, all-terrain racing.

Radio controlled racing cars are controlled by a games-style hand-set with a joystick on it. Your commands are transmitted to a receiver on board the vehicle by means of a radio. Some consoles can transmit quite complicated commands whilst others just steer the model.

Likewise, the models can be simple ‘go or not’, steerable racing vehicles or they can be nearly exact replicas of the real thing with replica suspension systems, lights and everything else deal. These super models are normally hand-made by enthusiasts. Most individuals buy either a finished model or a kit.

Children love the sport of RC car racing, but otherwise the sport appeals to men and women of all ages. The sport is still dominated by males, but more and more females of all ages are being drawn to the sport of RC car racing every year too.

One of the good things about the sport of RC car racing is that it is easy to get going but there is also lots of scope to expand your interest if (or when) the bug bites. You might start with a fundamental battery-powered 1:12 scale fantasy model, but soon move onto a 1:9 nitro-powered replica racing car or even a monster 1:5 scale model with a real petrol engine. You may even begin building your own models

If you would like to become involved with the thrilling sport of RC car racing, it is easy enough. The best manner to begin is to acquire some information before you purchase your first RC car. You can do this by buying an RC car magazine, joining a model car club and/or by going to a few model car races.

RC enthusiasts love talking about their hobby and the majority of of them would be willing to reply to your questions. Whilst deciding on your preferred type of model, bear its maintenance in mind. You can hugely prolong the life of your RC model with appropriate maintenance, so you ought to purchase a car that you are able to look after.

If the first car or truck that you buy is not actually what you wanted, but it matches your level of skill, do not worry, there is always a learning curve with a new sport or hobby and as your competence increases you will be able to purchase one of the larger, more powerful, more complex models.

Owen Jones, the author of this article, writes on many subjects, but is currently involved with gas remote control cars. If you have an interest in model or toy rc vehicles, please go over to our website now at 1/5 Scale RC Cars

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Collecting Antique Dolls

Tuesday, May 3rd, 2011

Collecting antique dolls is a hobby that a great deal of women grow into or would like to if they had the time or and the money. A collection of antique dolls in a beautiful display case is a very attractive asset, but collecting antique dolls is not as easy as it might seem.

Well, to define that properly, it depends what you would like the antique dolls for. As with any hobby that has the capability to make the collector money, it is not easy to get it right, but if you only would like to enjoy your collection you will have an easier time of it.

Millions of women collect old dolls, but it is unlikely that any large number of them actually make any money out of their hobby, because you need to study and the professional competition is fierce. It is the same as collecting coins or stamps: you can have a beautiful collection of pretty commemorative stamps or coins that is worthless in monetary terms, because there were too many of that type or that year made, whereas you could have a collection of a dozen dreary stamps worth a million.

Therefore, if you want to begin a collection of antique dolls, the first thing to do is visit the library and get out some books on the subject. If there are no illustrations, you can almost certainly find some photos on the Internet in order to afford identification easier.

One of the first things you require to acquaint yourself with is the names of the most famous manufacturers of dolls in the 150 years of the Nineteenth and early Twentieth Centuries. Learn the names of the firms, the names of the dolls and an average cost.

If you come across what you think is a good deal at a car boot or yard sale, do not be put off by a shabby appearance. lots of dolls lead a tough life, but they can be repaired fairly easily and there are many dolls’ hospitals if you require expert help, advice or specialist parts like eyes or buttons. The original clothing can be repaired or replaced and the doll would still be valuable if it is rare, popular or sought after.

You know, some things are not particularly rare but are still costly because they capture the imagination of a great deal of people. Baby Boomer toys from the Fifties and Early Sixties will almost certainly acquire this status when the Boomers retire and maybe begin a collection.

Look out for antiques fairs to help you acquire more first hand knowledge. There are often specialized antiques fairs in largish towns and one sort of fair is antique toys, in which the section on antique dolls is certain to feature quite prominently. It is very functional to be able to see the dolls ‘in the flesh’ so to speak in order to know what you should be looking out for while browsing.

Books, photos and the Internet are useful resources, but there is no replacement for hands-on experience and talking with collectors and dealers who are fanatical about collecting antique dolls.

Owen Jones, the writer of this article, writes on a variety of topics, but is now concerned with Silver Cross Dolls Prams. If you would like to know more, please visit our web site at Doll Prams.

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Purchasing an Asian Doll at a Bargain PRice

Saturday, April 30th, 2011

Dolls have long been a favorite plaything for children - since time immemorial, children in all cultures receive them as gifts and even make their own. They’re not just for girls anymore, either; boys play with them and later on, realize the financial value of having a collection of rare dolls as an investment. Read on for more information on finding Asian dolls that you can purchase for not a lot of money.

First, realize that while the doll market may be saturated, it takes a bit of work in order to find just the right doll for your child; not all dolls are toys and not all dolls that are would be appropriate for all children at any age. It’s a good idea to consult with an expert in this area; namely, a seasoned collector who has experience in buying and collecting dolls of all kinds. Most of these people have a real passion for this hobby, and if such a person is part of your extended family, you are fortunate indeed.

The next decision is whether to purchase from a brick-and-mortar shop or on the World Wide Web. This is especially an issue if you are more interested in exotic ethnic dolls, such as Asian dolls. You aren’t likely to find these in the Western World, so you might want to check out merchants in Asian countries, such as Korea, Japan, China or Thailand.

One of the problems here of course is that shipping from Asia can be costly. However, these costs can be lower if you choose to have your purchase brought to North America by ship rather than air. This can reduce shipping costs substantially, though some patience is necessary; your doll will spend at least two to four weeks in the cargo hold and have to go through customs.

When dealing with a foreign company on the World Wide Web, the advice “caveat emptor” definitely applies. Make certain you understand the company’s return policies, and check out the company thoroughly. More reputable manufacturers in Asia, particularly Japan, operate on a strict code of honor; however, others that are outsourced sweatshops for American-based companies may not be so reliable.

You may instead choose to visit a local specialty shop and find what you’re looking for. This can take some time; most typical big-box stores and “supercenters” carry a lot of products made in China, but not too many Asian dolls. Your best bet is to visit the Asian community in your city, such as Chinatown or Little Vietnam. These shopkeepers will be happy to give you advice.

Your last step is to make sure that your doll comes with a warranty against defects in materials and manufacture. With all the second-rate imitations on the market today, a warranty will make certain that if the item falls apart, you can get your money back.

If you have read these paragraphs carefully, you should find it little problem to find the proper Asian doll at the right price.

Anne Harvester regularly writes about collectibles, such as the Asian doll. Count on Anne’s experience before you go out and invest in valuable collector dolls..

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The Pleasure Of Giving Toys At Christmas

Tuesday, April 26th, 2011

Everybody likes to be given presents, but adults also obtain pleasure from giving and seeing the pleasure on the faces of their children when they open them. Gifts are given by people all around the world, naturally. Nearly everybody in each country gives a birthday gift and numerous countries give a New Year’s present, but the biggest present-giving culture is Christian and Christmas is their biggest gift-giving occasion of the year.

It is such a robust instinct for Christians to give gifts at Christmas, that numerous adults will forego presents for themselves only to buy their children what they would like within the bounds of their finances. Actually, lots go even further than that and put themselves under financial stress for several months just so that their children will get pleasure from Christmas.

In fact, Christmas has got wildly out of hand The notion of giving a present at Christmas was to imitate the giving of presents by the Three Wise Men to Jesus shortly after his birth. It is the case that the presents of gold, frankincense and myrrh were very costly, but the givers of the presents were very wealthy men, even so they merely gave one gift every.

These days parents spend hundreds on dozens of gifts per child. There were five children in our family and we used to get a sack of toys per person and communal toys for all of us to play together like Monopoly. My parents were not well-off and my mother did not have time to work outside the home, so my father must have worked like a dog to buy it all.

I did not realize that then, but I have since seen my brothers struggling to pay to do the same for their children. Still, the joy of seeing your children’s joyful smiling faces as they open their presents at Christmas appears to be worth it for most parents.

Some of the most popular toys with children might be dolls prams or train sets or bikes all of which fall into the bracket of ‘costly’, whereas popular ideas for good toys for children are more like to be educational, such as Scrabble, Lego and books which are a great deal less expensive.

Kids’ thoughts about toys for themselves tend to feed the imagination, whereas parents’ thoughts about toys for children tend to feed the brain. Kids prefer to feed the right hand side of their brain while their parents instinctively want to feed the left hand side.

As children grow up into teenagers, music and computers play major roles in most of their lives, again reflecting the left and right sides of the brain. now the roles are more evenly balanced. This is a topsy-turvy time for young adults. All kinds of things are happening within and without them. Will the balance remain even or will it tip one way or the other? Only time will tell.

Owen Jones, the writer of this article, writes on a variety of topics, but is now involved with Silver Cross Dolls Prams. If you would like to know more, please visit our web site at Doll Prams.

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