Seriously Cute Pretend Play Toys

If you never pretend played when you were a kid, I would dare say that you had no childhood. Role play is one of the best (and most common) ways for children to explore their feelings and highly recommended by children psychologists. You don't really need to spend money in real toys for children to role play, but let me show you some really cute accessories to encourage role play that we have at Kobold Toys:

For the little cook, first "Carlos Pinafore"...



And then veggies and food to cook...



Good'all american breakfast served...




And, of course, the shopping cart to go grocery shopping...




Role playing is an awesome outlet for kids. It keeps them imaginative, creative and it helps them to emotionally express themselves.

I wish they had these toys when I was a kid!

Undervaluing The Value of Toys and Play in Children’s Education

Toys are much more important than many adults are willing to admit, and play a crucial part in a child’s healthy development.

These days, many consider playing a waste of time when compared to children’s need to have more theoretically cognitive activities in their daily lives. Much of this is due to the fact that our children’s generation is growing up in a world that is much more competitive and which provides more opportunity to those who are better prepared.

It is true that the world is increasingly more competitive but this does not mean that we should deprive children of one of the principal tools they need for their learning and development process: creativity, imagination, self-esteem. According to the French psychiatrist Edouard Seguin, “textbooks cannot teach children what toys develop in them. Nations that have more toys are also those that have more individuality, idealism, and heroism.” Then he goes on to affirm that “playing is the most spontaneous act of infancy and, moreover, for the child it is the free and voluntary realization of a physiological and psychological function; [playing] is sacred.”

The creators of one of the most modern pedagogies (Claparede and Decroly), and the only one that truly integrates play in teaching, describe playing as “the bridge that connects the child to the world outside the school walls.” Decroly invented a form of integrating playing with learning called “the educational toy”. Unfortunately, this term has been frequently downplayed by teachers who do not accept them as complements to education, and who believe that these toys will detract from the value of both the play and the education.

The educational toy is one that awakens the curiosity, the thirst for knowledge, the motivation to improve oneself, the yearning to share, or just a smile. It’s a different way for the child to be able to look at learning as a fun and satisfying activity, while at the same time working on his self-esteem, which is so important in the first years of life.

Beyond the demands of our time and our society, toys, which are present throughout the centuries, respond to essential inner human needs that will never change in time; they unravel constant psychological functions and will always be children’s favorite companions. Some times toys can be simple cardboard boxes or mom's pots and pans. Other times, they can be miniature representations of the real world (trains, cars, people, stores, kitchens, etc.) dollhouses, marionettes and puppets, dolls, action figures, animals, blocks, interactive games.

How To Explain Emergencies To Young Children

I read a story, last week, in the local paper about a 7-year-old who saved his grandpa from death because he knew how to use a defibrillator that his family had at home. His grandfather fainted and was unresponsive, so the kids took the defibrillator, applied it on his grandfather's chest, pushed 1 button and gave grandpa back a heart beat. Then he called 911, and the rest is a true happy ending.

I can't imagine teaching my 3-year-old to use a defibrillator yet, but that doesn't mean that I can't introduce him yet to the issue of emergencies, how to recognize one and what to do in such case. After all, I spend a lot of time alone with my little ones and who knows if some day they may be my only chance to get to a hospital (hopefully not, though).

That's why I liked so much a little book that I found in one of our vendor's catalogue (Penton Overseas): "It's Time To Call 911".






This awesome children's book teach children about emergency situations, how to dial 911 (with its key pad) and what to say to get help in an emergency. By correctly dialing "911", the child hears "911", sirens, and then a rewarding "Good Job!" from a sound chip. My son loves this book (possibly more because of the sirens than anything else) and now and then he brings up the issue of an emergency, when to call and why.


This book was featured in ABC News, Good Morning America and The Ellen DeGeneres Show. It was also chosen as a preferred title by the State Library of Kansas for the Kansas Reads to Preschoolers Program. And, of course, is one of our store's favorites.

What can my kids do now that they are not at school?

School is over and, with that, comes the much dreaded question: how can my kids have fun and entertain themselves outside the Wii and the TV? Even if you have all your summer planned out, with camp and activities, you will have days in which you will need something for them to do, a project, something that keeps them, yes busy, but also engaged.

We have discovered a beautiful line of crafts, 4M, with all sorts engaging projects for both boys and girls, who are anywhere between 3 and 10 years old (and in some cases, maybe for even older kids).

For the youngest ones, engage them in a simple tile painting to decorate mommy's refrigerator and feel proud of their art.



or dazzled them with their own origami dinosaurs!




For the older ones, engage them in green science projects that will both keep the occupied and teach them a valuable lesson on the environment and science. For example, they could make a Wind Mill...



or create clean energy...




or recycle a soda can into their own robot...




I can guarantee you that they'll feel proud of their project and bring up some interesting conversation topics.

For girls, what better than having a doll that they made on their own? Whether it is a fairy...



or a mermaid...



Or engage kids into digging out dinosaurs and crystal in the archaeologist way.




We have a great line of crafts and science projects at Kobold Toys for children 3 to 10, at very affordable prices ($10 to $14) that are perfect for those summer days when it is too hot or rainy and you want your kids to do something different.

Have fun learning!