Waiting Room Toys for Kids Make Waiting Fun

Pediatricians, dentists, and any other individuals who deal with small children in their business practice on a regular basis know that it is important to have a way to keep kids occupied while they are waiting for an appointment. A waiting room that is equipped with plenty of engaging toys and books keeps kids busy and prevent them from running wild, annoying other clients and creating a stressful environment. In addition, waiting room toys help little ones to feel less nervous while waiting for their turn and can even give them a reason to look forward to visiting your office.

Here are some suggestions for sturdy, durable, and fun waiting room toys and furniture to make your space bright and pleasant.

1. Kid-friendly furniture: Start with child-size tables and chairs to create a welcoming environment for your smallest clients. Add toy bins and bookshelves to keep the area neat and clutter-free, and add colorful artwork to brighten the space and make it seem cheerful – this will help to keep your waiting room warm and friendly.

2. Wooden puzzles: Kids of all ages love to put puzzles together; make sure you have a variety of puzzles for different ability levels. Wooden puzzles work better than the cardboard kind, as the pieces are less likely to get lost or damaged during play.

3. Train tables: Wooden train tables, such as those made for Thomas the Tank Engine and similar train sets, are ideal for the waiting room. Tracks, scenery, “people,” and train cars provide plenty of scope for imaginative play, and the tables can accommodate several children at once. Be sure to have several engines and other train cars available to prevent squabbles!

4. Books, coloring books, and crayons: Books and magazines suitable for the age range of the children who visit your office are a must; coloring books and crayons are also a great way to keep kids busy while they wait.

5. Activity play cubes and activity tables: Manufacturers like Anatex are known for their award-winning wire-bead mazes that are found in waiting rooms and preschool classrooms all over the country. Kids love to explore and imagine with the manipulative toys and puzzles that are part of an activity play cube or table.

If you are looking for waiting room toys to equip your patient or client waiting area, A Kid Place has plenty of educational toys and kid-friendly furniture at the best possible prices. Visit us today and find out how we can help you make your waiting area a place where kids will look forward to playing.

Child Development: A Guide For Parents - The Fourth Year

DEVELOPMENTAL MILESTONES: A GUIDE FOR PARENTS

THE FOURTH YEAR

Have you ever wondered how your child is growing and developing compared to other children of the same age? How do you know if your child is "on the right track"?

Your child is going through many physical and mental changes. Although no two children grow at the same rate, experts agree there are "normal" signs of development. This brochure will provide you with a checklist of important milestones in your child's development during the first year of life.

It is a simple tool you can use to become aware of and appreciate the dramatic changes that are occurring in your child.

Watch for these signs in your child over a one month period. (Even children have "bad days.") Remember, each child is different and may learn and grow at a different rate. However, if your child cannot do many of the skills listed for his or her age group, you should consult your pediatrician. If your child was born sooner than expected, be sure to deduct the number of months early from his or her age. A 5-month-old born 2 months early would be expected to show the same skills as a 3-month-old who was born on his or her due date. Several additional sources of information are listed on the back of this brochure.

You are the most important observer of your child's development. If your child has special needs, early help can make a difference.

By 4 years of age does your child:

Motor Skills

• Feed herself (with little spilling)
• Try to use a fork
• Hold a pencil
• Try to write name
• Draw with the arm and not small hand movements
• Draw a circle
• Draw a face
• Try to cut paper with blunt scissors
• Sometimes unbutton buttons
• Try to buckle, button, and lace, even though she probably needs help
• Completely undress herself if wearing clothes with simple fasteners
• Brush teeth with help
• Build a tower of 7-9 blocks
• Put together a simple puzzle of 4-12 pieces
• Pour from a small pitcher
• Use the toilet alone
• Try to skip
• Catch a bouncing ball
• Walk downstairs using a handrail and alternating feet
• Swing, starting by himself and keeping himself going

Sensory and Thinking Skills

• Recognize red, yellow, and blue
• Understand taking turns and can do so without always being reminded
• Understand "big," "little," "tall," "short"
• Want to know what will happen next
• Sort by shape or color
• Count up to 5 objects
• Follow three instructions given at one time
• ("Put the toys away, wash your hands, and come eat.")
• Distinguish between the real world and the imaginary or pretend world
• Identify situations that would lead to happiness, sadness, or anger

Language and Social Skills

• Have a large vocabulary and use good grammar often
• Often talk about action in conversation ("go," "do," "make")
• Enjoy rhyming and nonsense words
• Use regular past tenses of verbs ("pulled," "walked")
• Use "a," "an," and "the" when speaking
• Ask direct questions ("May I?" "Would you?")
• Want explanations of "why" and "how"
• Relate a simple experience she has had recently
• Understand "next to"
• Separate from his parent for a short time without crying
• Help clean up toys at home or school when asked to
• Like to play "dress up"
• Pretend to play with imaginary objects
• Act out elaborate events which tell a story (as in serving an imaginary dinner or going on a "dragon hunt")
• Sometimes cooperate with other children
• Often prefer playing with other children to playing alone, unless deeply involved in a solitary task
• Change the rules of a game as he goes along
• Try to bargain ("I'll give you this toy if you'll give me that one")
• Share when asked
• Enjoy tag, hide-and-seek and other games with simple rules
• Like moderate "rough and tumble" play
• Like to do things for himself
• Know her age and the town where she lives
• Act as though a doll or stuffed animal thinks and feels on its own

If you have questions about your child's development or want to have your child tested,

• Call your pediatrician
• The local health department
• The Make-A-Difference Information Network (They can help you find a testing location near your community.) 1-800-332-6262
• The Parent Helpline (They can help you with questions about child rearing.) 1-800-332-6378

Reprinted with permission from the National Network for Child Care - NNCC. Powell, J. and Smith, C.A. The 4th year. In *Developmental milestones: A guide for parents*. Manhattan, KS: Kansas State University Cooperative Extension Service.

Child Development: A Guide For Parents - The Third Year

DEVELOPMENTAL MILESTONES: A GUIDE FOR PARENTS

THE THIRD YEAR

Have you ever wondered how your child is growing and developing compared to other children of the same age? How do you know if your child is "on the right track"?

Your child is going through many physical and mental changes. Although no two children grow at the same rate, experts agree there are "normal" signs of development. This brochure will provide you with a checklist of important milestones in your child's development during the first year of life.

It is a simple tool you can use to become aware of and appreciate the dramatic changes that are occurring in your child.

Watch for these signs in your child over a one month period. (Even children have "bad days.") Remember, each child is different and may learn and grow at a different rate. However, if your child cannot do many of the skills listed for his or her age group, you should consult your pediatrician. If your child was born sooner than expected, be sure to deduct the number of months early from his or her age. A 5-month-old born 2 months early would be expected to show the same skills as a 3-month-old who was born on his or her due date. Several additional sources of information are listed on the back of this brochure.

You are the most important observer of your child's development. If your child has special needs, early help can make a difference.

By 3 years of age does your child:

Motor Skills

• Feed himself (with some spilling)
• Open doors
• Hold a glass in one hand
• Hold a crayon well
• Wash and dry hands by himself
• Fold paper, if shown how
• Build a tower of 54 blocks
• Throw a ball overhead
• Try to catch a large ball
• Put on shoes (but not tie laces)
• Dress herself with help
• Use the toilet with some help
• Walk up steps, alternating feet
• Walk on tiptoes if shown how
• Walk in a straight line
• Kick a ball forward
• Jump with both feet
• Pedal a tricycle

Sensory and Thinking Skills

• Recognize sounds in the environment
• Pay attention for about 3 minutes
• Remember what happened yesterday
• Know what is food and what is not food
• Know some numbers (but not always in the right order)
• Know where things usually belong
• Understand what "1" is
• Understand "now," "soon," and "later"
• Substitute one object for another in pretend play (as in pretending a block is a "car")
• Laugh at silly ideas (like "milking" a dog)
• Look through a book alone
• Match circles and squares
• Match an object to a picture of that object
• Match objects that have same function (as in putting a cup and plate together)
• Count 2 to 3 objects
• Avoid some dangers, like a hot stove or a moving car
• Follow simple one-step commands

Language and Social Skills

• Use 3-5 word sentences
• Ask short questions
• Use plurals ("dogs," "cars," "hats")
• Name at least 10 familiar objects
• Repeat simple rhymes
• Name at least one color correctly
• Imitate housework or help with simple tasks
• Ask to use the toilet almost every time
• Enjoy being read to
• Talk about feelings and mental states (e.g., remembering)
• Demonstrate some shame when caught in a wrongdoing
• Try to make others laugh
• Play spontaneously with two or three children in a group
• Assign roles in pretend social play ("You be mommy;" "I be daddy")
• Know her first and last name
• Understand "I," "you," "he," and "she"
• Believe everything centers around him ("if I hide my eyes, no one will see me")
• Answer whether she is a boy or girl

If you have questions about your child's development or want to have your child tested,

• Call your pediatrician
• The local health department
• The Make-A-Difference Information Network (They can help you find a testing location near your community.) 1-800-332-6262
• The Parent Helpline (They can help you with questions about child rearing.) 1-800-332-6378

Reprinted with permission from the National Network for Child Care - NNCC. Powell, J. and Smith, C.A. (1994). The 1st year. In *Developmental milestones: A guide for parents*. Manhattan, KS: Kansas State University Cooperative Extension Service.

Child Development: A Guide For Parents - The First Year

DEVELOPMENTAL MILESTONES: A GUIDE FOR PARENTS

THE FIRST YEAR

Have you ever wondered how your child is growing and developing compared to other children of the same age? How do you know if your child is "on the right track"?

Your child is going through many physical and mental changes. Although no two children grow at the same rate, experts agree there are "normal" signs of development. This brochure will provide you with a checklist of important milestones in your child's development during the first year of life.

It is a simple tool you can use to become aware of and appreciate the dramatic changes that are occurring in your child.

Watch for these signs in your child over a one month period. (Even children have "bad days.") Remember, each child is different and may learn and grow at a different rate. However, if your child cannot do many of the skills listed for his or her age group, you should consult your pediatrician. If your child was born sooner than expected, be sure to deduct the number of months early from his or her age. A 5-month-old born 2 months early would be expected to show the same skills as a 3-month-old who was born on his or her due date. Several additional sources of information are listed on the back of this brochure.

You are the most important observer of your child's development. If your child has special needs, early help can make a difference.

By 3 months of age does your child:

Motor Skills

• Lift head when held at your shoulder
• Lift head and chest when lying on his stomach
• Turn head from side to side when lying on his stomach
• Follow a moving object or person with his eyes
• Often hold hands open or loosely fisted
• Grasp rattle when given to her
• Wiggle and kick with arms and legs

Sensory and Thinking Skills

• Turn head toward bright colors and lights
• Turn toward the sound of a human voice
• Recognize bottle or breast
• Respond to your shaking a rattle or bell

Language and Social Skills

• Make cooing, gurgling sounds
• Smile when smiled at
• Communicate hunger, fear, discomfort (through crying or facial expression)
• Usually quiet down at the sound of a soothing voice or when held
• Anticipate being lifted
• React to "peek-a-boo" games

By 6 months of age does your child:

Motor Skills

• Hold head steady when sitting with your help
• Reach for and grasp objects
• Play with his toes
• Help hold the bottle during feeding
• Explore by mouthing and banging objects
• Move toys from one hand to another
• Shake a rattle
• Pull up to a sitting position on her own if you grasp her hands
• Sit with only a little support
• Sit in a high chair
• Roll over
• Bounce when held in a standing position

Sensory and Thinking Skills

• Open his mouth for the spoon
• Imitate familiar actions you perform

Language and Social Skills

• Babble, making almost sing-song sounds
• Know familiar faces
• Laugh and squeal with delight
• Scream if annoyed
• Smile at herself in a mirror

By 12 months of age does your child:

Motor Skills

• Drink from a cup with help
• Feed herself finger food like raisins or bread crumbs
• Grasp small objects by using her thumb and index or forefinger
• Use his first finger to poke or point
• Put small blocks in and take them out of a container
• Knock two blocks together
• Sit well without support
• Crawl on hands and knees
• Pull himself to stand or take steps holding onto furniture
• Stand alone momentarily
• Walk with one hand held
• Cooperate with dressing by offering a foot or an arm

Sensory and Thinking Skills

• Copy sounds and actions you make
• Respond to music with body motion
• Try to accomplish simple goals (seeing and then crawling to a toy)
• Look for an object she watched fall out of sight (such as a spoon that falls under the table)

Language and Social Skills

• Babble, but it sometimes "sounds like" talking
• Say his first word
• Recognize family members' names
• Try to "talk" with you
• Respond to another's distress by showing distress or crying
• Show affection to familiar adults
• Show mild to severe anxiety at separation from parent
• Show apprehension about strangers
• Raise her arms when she wants to be picked up
• Understand simple commands

If you have questions about your child's development or want to have your child tested,

• Call your pediatrician
• The local health department
• The Make-A-Difference Information Network (They can help you find a testing location near your community.) 1-800-332-6262
• The Parent Helpline (They can help you with questions about child rearing.) 1-800-332-6378

Reprinted with permission from the National Network for Child Care - NNCC. Powell, J. and Smith, C.A. (1994). The 1st year. In *Developmental milestones: A guide for parents*. Manhattan, KS: Kansas State University Cooperative Extension Service.

Airflow Pedal Planes: Flying In Style Is Not Just A Thing Of The Past

Flying In Style Is Not Just A Thing Of The Past

Well, ok, maybe flying in style on an actual airplane is a thing of the past. However, kids can still take off in style, comfort and fun in Airflow’s unique line of pedal planes designed to spark the imagination of even the most sophisticated flier. Airflow pedal planes are perfect for preschoolers who like to pretend they are taking flight, and they are great for parents who want to encourage their children to get outdoors and use their imagination.

A Piece of Americana

Pedal planes have been a part of children’s toys almost since the moment the Wright brothers first took off from Kitty Hawk, NC. Patterned after traditional metal pedal cars, pedal planes are powered by a child’s energy and imagination. Pedal cars were one of the very first ‘must have’ toys for children; these great cars and planes have long been loved by American children. Most parents and grandparents can remember the hours of fun they had playing with friends in the neighborhood in their pedal cars. Now, with the advent of longer lasting paints, non-toxic materials and more comfortable features, a new generation of kids can enjoy years of fun pretending to be flying Aces.

On the Move

Exercise should be a part of every child’s normal day. Studies show that toddlers and preschoolers spend a great majority of their day watching television. They spend only a small part of their active day engaged in play outdoors where they can burn off energy and use their imaginations. Airflow’s great pedal plane designs are an ideal way to incorporate exercise into a child’s day. What small child would pass up the opportunity to go outside and engage in pretend play when they have something as fantastic as a pedal plane to play with?

Family Fun

Family time is always more enjoyable when parents aren’t the only ones doing the heavy lifting or pulling. Why take your young children out in a wagon in the evening to walk around the block when they can fly down the sidewalk, under their own power, in a pedal plane. Kids who are still too young to ride a bike during the family walk will be able to enjoy an evening stroll and get exercise at the same time. Airflow pedal planes are easy to power, easy to steer and comfortable to ride.

Airflow’s retro pedal planes are made for kids age three to six years old. However, entire families will enjoy the fun and play that these ride-on toys bring to the outdoors.

Where to Find Airflow Pedal Planes

You can find the entire line of Airflow pedal planes, along with their pedal cars, pedal trains and trikes at www.akidplace.com. All Airflow vehicles at A Kid Place are shipped free to all areas of the Continental U.S. and are priced at the lowest possible price authorized by Airflow.