Saturday, December 10, 2011

Educational Gifts That are Also Fun



One way in which many parents will vary their normal shopping routine this year will be an increased focused on educational toys and gifts. Let’s face it, there are lots of cool toys on the market that provide almost endless entertainment, but wouldn’t it be awesome if your child were also learning at the same time that they’re playing? With that as the goal, what follows is a list of really cool educational toys and gifts:

The Scribble and Write is deliberately crafted to teach the alphabet, and it does so in several ways: drawing shapes; tracing upper-case and lower-case letters; and guessing letters. Basically, letters and shapes, formed from patterns of red dots, appear in a traceable writing area. Verbal instructions from the Scribble and Write prompt children to trace the object which appears using an attached stylus. (In the "guessing" mode, a letter is drawn on the tracing surface and children are asked to identify it by pressing the proper alphabet button on the face of the Scribble and Write.)
 

A cool learning gift, this toy piano has a "keyboard" that consists of five large colorful keys numbered 1-5 and has three teaching modes: keyboard, composer and counting. Depending on which mode you are in, pressing a key can play a single musical note (keyboard mode) or portions of classical music (composer mode). In counting mode, the toy announces the number of the key before playing music. In addition, there is a language selector which allows for hearing the numbers pronounced in either English, Spanish or French. Finally, another dial lets the child choose whether the notes are played on a flute, xylophone or piano.
  
The Phonics Pond is another great gift that combines fun and learning, as it teaches phonics trough various methods, including: (a) Discovering Letters – Children press the letter of their choice and are rewarded with the name of the letter; (b) Finding Identified Letters – Phonics Pond asks the child to find a specific letter of the alphabet, e.g., "Find the letter O"; (c) Spelling – Various 3-letter words are spelled out, and children are asked to press the corresponding letters that make up that word; and (d) Music – Children are prompted to press a letter, which will cause music to be played – mostly perennial favorites like "This Old Man," "Yankee Doodle," and the like.
 
Laugh and Learn Smart Screen Laptop (Ages 6 mos. – 36 mos.) 
This toy provides a very nice introduction to some of the fundamentals of learning, such as counting and ABCs. It also has lots of other cool features, including words and songs. Moreover, it provides kids with a laptop of their very own, so that they are no longer obsessed with the real thing (parents with toddlers or small children will understand).
 
This is a neat little handheld learning/gaming system for kids. It helps develop rudimentary skills in counting, spelling and problem-solving. The touchscreen gives gameplay a contemporary feel, while the slide-out QWERTY provides an introduction to the standard keyboard layout. A truly engaging, interactive gift.
 
Impressive learning tablet for kids. This interactive device has a large, in-color touchscreen and comes with 4 apps, but has a over a hundred other games, apps, ebooks, and other digital media available. Its educational materials cover a broad range of subject matter, including reading, math, science and music, among others. It also includes a built-in camera. Long-term teaching and entertainment value.
 
Needless to say, the list above is by no means exclusive. There are lots of cool toys and gifts out there to help your child learn and grow, while being fun at the same time.

To find other great educational toys and gifts, as well as gifts in general, please visit Cool Toys and Gifts.

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Upscale, High-End Gift Ideas

There really are a lot of great gifts out there this holiday season. Technology has just made so much available to us at almost all levels that figuring out what to get is almost mind-numbing for the average Joe. Great products are not only plentiful, they’re also more affordable than ever.

 Moreover, if you’re one of the select few who find themselves with a little extra scratch to spend this holiday season, there are a couple of upscale, high-end luxury items that might tickle your fancy:


An elegant and distinctive chess set that’s a conversation piece even when you’re not playing! Beautifully crafted, this set can be used for play, or just as a centerpiece. It’s unique construction will amaze and delight!  This one will set you back $250.

It holds a whooping 400 BluRay disks, CDs and DVDs – you can fit your entire library in here! It also contains cutting-edge technology, including an ethernet port and built-in USB port.  A used device will run you $650.

It’s a revolutionary physical training device, with an all-new way to exercise! This high-end device harnesses the power of vibration with Acceleration Training technology to give you a complete and thorough workout. Approximately $4600.

It really is counterintuitive (and counter-productive) to buy a high-end, precision timepiece, and then purchase a cheap watch winder to stick it in! You need a watch winder that is just as sophisticated as the watch you bought it for, and this is it. Hand-crafted and featuring world-class parts and fine Italian leather (and a $1475 sticker), this winder will take care of and extend the life of your watch.

This beautifully crafted leather-and-maple chair reclines to relieve pressure on the spine and elevate your legs. Ideal for those with back problems, or someone who just wants a chair that totally relaxes you.  Not a bad trade-off for $1900.

There’s nothing quite like having your own personal sauna at home. A true luxury item, this 3-person sauna features ergonomic back rests, CD player (with mp3 connection and built-in speakers), color therapy light and much, much more! Thi one is yours for roughly $1800.

Traveling is a breeze with the world’s first power-assisted suitcase. Stylish and cutting-edge, it features intelligent control systems, flat motor technology and sensors (not to mention a $1200 price tag). A truly unique gift this holiday season!


In retrospect, if you’re interested, there are some truly novel, high-end items on the market that are not only singularly unique, but also ultra-cool and stylish.

For more upscale, high-end gift ideas (as well as cool gifts in general) please visit Cool Toys and Gifts