Destiny Baby

You can get award winning toys and save at Imagine the Challenge Toys. Imagine the Challenge offers unique, award-winningtoys and accessories that are different from what you might find at a mass-market toy store. The best developmental toys are those that elicit creativity, problem solving and higher order brain functions, rather than rote memorization or toys with prescribed ways of using them (many toys billed as “educational” don’t stimulate the cognitive functions so critical to your toddler’s long term development and learning path. Not too long ago we posted an article on the value of unstructured play and multi-purpose toys. Did you know that in the U.S., children aged 3 to 12 only spend 30 minutes a week (less than 2% of their free time) on unstructured outdoor play? Get a headstart on promoting your toddler’s learning by getting toys that stimulate their creativity and imagination. Toys featured on the Imagine the Challenge site have won prestigious awards, such as Dr. toy, Parent’s Choice and The National Parenting Center, recognized for their quality, ingenuity and educational value.

Both my toddler and I love Dora the Explorer and Go Diego Go! Both are children’s TV shows featured on Nickelodeon, an American cable television channel geared for children. An incident in my local pharmacy the other day got me thinking about the gender divide in our country. I was looking for a new set of flash cards for my two year old (who will be three very soon) and when I looked for the Dora the Explorer products, I wasn’t disappointed. I bought a tin of Dora the Explorer Kidz Cards, featuring four games: Memory, Old Maid, Go Fish and Crazy Eights. A little advanced for a two year old but he loves Dora and can name all the characters, which are featured on the cards in full color.

I grabbed the canister and made my way to the checkout when a woman stopped me and asked if I thought the cards were a good purchase. I immediately started to sing the praises of Dora the Explorer and related products I’ve found and just casually mentioned that my son loves them.

Her face changed suddenly.

“Your son?” she asked, incredulously. “He likes Dora?” I was bewildered by her change in tone. Of course, I said. He loves the music, and all the animal characters, and learns from the show. To my amazement she proceeded to lecture me that I shouldn’t get Dora products for my son and how different men she knows as adults now identify as gay because they loved to play with dolls as children, and how it was encouraged by their mothers. I was speechless, but managed to shrug and say, Well he’s two.

I quickly walked away, but it got me thinking about how early the gender roles are forced on kids. Even baby clothes are divided by color, although I’ve noticed more and more of my friends who are having kids are requesting “gender neutral” colors for their babies (the neutral colors are supposedly yellow, green, purple, orange–anything but pink and blue!)

For my part, as long as my son loves Dora the Explorer I will get the shows toys, videos and games for him. The show, website and associated products are great. Dora features vivid colors, a cast of animal friends and her family, and is interactive, teaching vocabulary and language skills as well as music, and other lessons (math, science, observation and physical coordination). For example, the characters will pause to ask your child a question, figure out something or to name objects. Does it matter that it’s a little girl who’s the lead showing my son these things?

The Nick Jr. online shop offers bestselling and exclusive products from all of your children’s favorite shows and characters like Dora the Explorer, Go Diego Go, Wonder Pets, Blue’s Clues, The Backyardigans, Ni Hao, Kai-Lan, and Yo Gabba Gabba! In fact, we’ve gathered some special deals for you:
Get 20% off Select Dora the Explorer Merchandise at the Nick Shop!

Get 15% off All DVDs at the Nick Shop!

Save 15% Off Already Low Prices at the Shop.NickJr.com Outlet

What do you think? Do we have to worry about gender appropriate toys for toddlers?

Shop for Diego Exclusive Items at Shop.NickJr.com!

Shop the Best Sellers Section at Shop.nickjr.com

Shop for new Yo Gabba Gabba DVDs and Toys at Shop.nickjr.com

Shop for The Backyardigans Exclusive Items at Shop.NickJr.com!

Shop for Blue’s Clues Exclusive Items at Shop.NickJr.com!

Soon to be 3 year old destiny baby is already a computer geek. He watches his parents on the desktop and laptop and has loved tapping the keys since he was a wee baby who couldn’t yet walk. The computer for him is not only for adults. We love to play online games for toddlers on the computer. Although our toddler already has a pretend computer, we are thinking with the advent of the netbook, he could get the real deal. The special we found and are able to offer from TheNerds.net is just the push we need. You can get a Pink Acer Aspire One 8.9″ Laptop for $239.99!!
That is almost $150 less than Amazon and is only available this week. It’s a steal and is available right now. Just follow the link to get this incredible deal and let your little one get a head start on being a computer whiz!

Pink Acer 8.9-inche netbook

E-toys:

Save $5 when you spend $25 or more at Etoys.com. Limited time only!

BabyUniverse:

Keep baby entertained, Save 20% PLUS FREE Shipping on select Graco & Fisher Price activity items at BabyUniverse.com. Offer good 6.7 to 7.4

20% off Select Infant Toys plus Free shipping when you spend $50 or more at BabyUniverse.com.

Limited Time Offer! Get $5 Off Purchases of $25 or more (Restrictions Apply) at BabyUniverse.com. for a limited time only!

$5 off on EVERY Pampers or Huggies Value Box of Diapers & get free shipping when you spend $75 or more at BabyUniverse.com. for a limited time only!

10% Off All Baby Monitors at BabyUniverse.com. for a limited time only!

Give Dad what he wants…with a father’s day gift card from Amazon.com. At Amazon he can easily find bestselling items in electronics, sports and outdoor supplies, tools and hardware, and more!

There are 2 easy you can give Amazon.com gift card in time for Father’s Day (June 21):

1) E-mail a personalized gift card for immediate delivery.

2) Print a personalized gift card on your own printer. (Remember to have your credit card handy when you’re ready to print).

And don’t forget that dads love baby gear, too!

Celebrate with Dad! FREE Shipping on select items at BabyUniverse.com. Offer good 6.7 to 6.20

Here at DestinyBaby.com we have talked about the fact that teaching science to your pre-schooler doesn’t require an advanced degree. Rather, a willingness to learn with your child and nurture their natural curiosity through guided activities will help your child to develop an interest in the sciences and discover the world that surrounds them.

Modern science is a way of knowing the world, based on observing, classifying and organizing, predicting, testing, and making conclusions. Conclusions can be modified when new observations are made. The cycle repeats again and again, and is rooted in what we can observe with our senses.

Since science is based on observation, children also form scientific “theories” to explain why it rains, why things drop when you let them go, why a ball rolls, and much more. You can help your child to understand basic scientific concepts by looking at things in new ways. Ask them questions about their playthings. For example, you could ask your child, “Do you think a ball could roll by itself?” or “What do you think makes a ball roll faster?” The thing is to stimulate thinking about what she or he knows and how she or he knows it.

So, what other simple science activities can you initiate to get your child to go down the scientific learning path? Don’t overwhelm them with a lot of bells and whistles; simple works best. Introduce a few ideas and focus your attention on those. Find hobbies or activities based on your child’s personality and interests, as well as ones appropriate for where you live. Get her or him to help pick out an activity. Hands-on science activities, such as puzzles and objects they can shape or control are great. Remember that science is cumulative. To learn new concepts requires building upon what has been learned before.

The building blocks of learning science are in every day experience, from watching animals like birds or squirrels, natural patterns like morning dew, ocean tides, or the cycle of the sun and moon or in daily activities like cooking and baking or using a washing machine and dryer. Your child can become a budding scientist through simple activities at home or around the neighborhood.

If you are looking for more sophisticated (computerized) tools and resources for encouraging your child to learn basic reading skills, math and science concepts, and more, check out our review of educational tools for toddlers.