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Night TerrorsEssentials
by Deborah Bohn
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| ABC blocks | Little ones enjoy knocking over block towers and endlessly pulling blocks out of a basket only to methodically put them back. Blocks with letters are the perfect way to teach preschoolers the alphabet during playtime, and big kids will amaze you with their architectural skills. Block houses make terrific miniature play houses, too. |
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| Puzzles | Even babies can enjoy puzzles when they come with three to four pieces in varied touch-and-feel textures. The process of solving a puzzle teaches spacial relationships, patience, and trial and error. Once complete they provide children with the satisfaction of a job well done—a feeling noticeably absent from electronic light-up toys. |
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| Memory cards | The cool thing about playing Memory is that the game is different each time you shuffle the deck and put the cards face down. Kids will improve their short-term memory playing the game, but they'll also pick up basic strategy and information-gathering skills by watching other players' selections and deciding when to capitalize on their mistakes or oversights. This is a toy that packs easily and travels well, keeping kids busy on airplanes and in restaurants. |
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| Imaginative toys | Finger puppets, stuffed animals, and more—experts as well as parents agree that basic is best, and it doesn't get more basic than a teddy bear or stuffed dog. Kids that don't get into figure characters such as Barbie or Spider-Man will often use stuffed animals or puppets for imaginary play like school, house, or restaurant. Stuffed animals and puppets provide safe vehicles for kids to work through life issues and offer comfort at nighttime for years and years. |
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| Dolls | From Raggedy Ann to Betsy Wetsy and Cabbage Patch® kids, there's no denying that kids and dolls go together like peanut butter and jelly. Infants enjoy staring at the simple faces of soft cloth dolls, enjoying the new textures of their hair and clothing. Toddlers of both genders enjoy caring for baby dolls. |
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| Building blocks and building sets |
When square blocks no longer satisfy your child's design skills, he's ready to graduate to Lego®, Lincoln Logs®, and Erector Sets®. Kids can play alone or with an unlimited number of friends. The outcome is never the same, and boxes of new pieces or attachments make great gifts. |
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