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SensoryEdge Kids Furniture and Educational Toys Blog
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Ready, Set, Action!
 With the cold days of winter here you kids may be spending more time inside than they usually do and when they do the walls of the house can seem more closed in and smaller than ever when you have a couple of bored kids in the house. Even if you live in the parts of the country that stay warmer during the winter months - there will still be cold, rainy days your kids are indoors. Pretend play is a great way to pass the days and encourage group play, turn taking and stimulate imaginations - all they need is the right tools to do so. Something as simple as a play tent can do the trick. The Train Station Play Tent is a marvelous way to give your kids a place to play and create imaginary scenarios. This pop up tent is perfect for providing hour upon hour of fun play. There's lots of space with mesh roof windows for plenty of fresh air, as well as roll-up windows. The tent is made of long wearing 70 Denier 190T polyester and combined with the Pacific Play Tents exclusive "G-3" patented pole system, the indoor/outdoor tent is a breeze to assemble with the color-coded tent pole system and attached connectors; the train station will be ready to begin hosting endless imaginary play with your kids within minutes. An accessory that is very fun but must be purchased separately is the 19" tunnel portal that your kids can run through to get to the train station. The Train Station itself has flaps and velcro stays and is easy to keep clean with mild soap and water. Labels: bedroom, boys, children, childrens exercise, childrens furniture, dramatic play, dramatic play for children, girls, kids, learning-toys, make believe, pretend play, toddlers
posted by SensoryEdge
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Saturday, December 08, 2007
Give Your Child an Heirloom
 Even in the modern day of video games, Wii, XBox, junior text messengers and other high tech inventions, kids still love to play and relax the old fashioned way. Most kids will drop the video games to fast moving game of War with an old deck of cards or boards games still bring many children joy. The difference? Most people believe it's the actual "hands on" experience that you just don't get with video and computer games. A keyboard or a joystick needs to be held - but the experience can't be considered truly hands on. Another once commonplace item that is making a comeback for kids is their own rocking chair. It's a great way to harness young energy and the majority of children are naturally soothed by a gentle back and forth rocking motion. When choosing a rocking chair for your child, make sure it is truly designed for a child as there are certain safety requirements for furniture for children such as the length of the rockers and the size of the space between the slats that won't allow a little head to get caught between them. Another plus to purchasing a quality made rocker is that it will most likely last well past your child's young years and when your child is a parent of their own - their rocking chair will be ready to provide a ready seat to their own child. Labels: bedroom, boys, childrens exercise, childrens furniture, girls, kids furniture
posted by SensoryEdge
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Thursday, November 22, 2007
Ultimate Dollhouse for a Very Good Girl
 Has your little girl been showing signs that she wants to engage in more pretend play? As you know, pretend play is a wonderful way for kids to work out socialization skills, engage in group play and also expand little minds through creative thinking. Children love playing out the things they see every day and no way brings that type of play out better than a doll house. The KidKraft Glamour Dollhouse is a great gift for your child that will give her hours of fun play alone or with others and this isnt' just a dollhouse. This dollhouse has lights, sounds and four full levels of pretend play waiting for your child. Also this dollhouse comes with a 21-piece furniture collection and certain built in pieces light up with just a push of a button. The bedroom vanity mirror, two gorgeous chandeliers, and the stove all will light up and appear to be "on" enhancing the pretend play time. Other features include a piano, toilet and stove that make realistic sounds when their buttons are pushed. Each room in the dollhouse is brilliantly decorated and there are six large windows on the outside of the doll house so a larger number of kids can see in and watch the action while they play. If your little one already has some favorite fashion dolls, this dollhouse will easily accommodate dolls up to 11.5-inches in height. The dollhouse is made from sturdy materials and will deliver hours of fun play for years to come and no sad faces on Christmas morning with this present - batteries *are* included! Labels: bedroom, boys, children, dramatic play, dress up, girls, girls toy, home furnishings, learning toys, learning-toys, make believe, pretend-play, toys
posted by SensoryEdge
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Friday, October 12, 2007
From the Ground Up
 Perhaps you've heard the expression "from the ground up" and the many different things it can mean or situations that it may refer to. Let's add another meaning, actually a very literal meaning, when it comes to children. Children spend a lot of time on the floor so it kind of makes sense to start there when beginning education or instruction. When something is on their level both literally and figuratively they tend to comprehend it quicker. So, while they are down there make the most of it by giving them something educational and fun to play on. Or, more specifically, Educational Carpets that are fun and help kids learn. Some of these classroom style carpets have playing fields to challenge your friends to games like chess, checkers, Chinese checkers, tic-tac-toe, Parcheesi, Backgammon and even hopscotch. Other carpets have the alphabet, the numbers 1 – 10 and math symbols. These carpets are stain resistant and meet class one fire ratings. They come in several sizes and one is sure to be perfect for your needs. This type of play is great for kids as they do not see it as learning, to them it is just fun. As an adult you know that it is a trusted product and fun for your child. You will probably enjoy playing “from the ground up” as much as they will. Labels: bedroom, kids reading, learning toys, school carpets, toddler rugs, waiting room toys
posted by SensoryEdge
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Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Imaginations at Work
 If you happen to hear something similar to "yo ho ho and a bottle of rum" coming from inside your child's room, don't panic, he is just pretending to be a pirate. Pretend play is probably one of their favorite activities and more than likely it is the same for the parents or caregivers because it gives you an inside peek at the fascinating mind of a child. Imagination rules a child's playtime which is great and should be encouraged while they are young because the real world comes far too quickly in their life. It's not uncommon to hear someone tell a child to grow up and while, yes it is a necessary step in their development it should not come too soon. Nor should it happen all at once. It should be a gradual process, helping them to adjust to this new world of reality and responsibility. This can be accomplished in any number of ways, perhaps beginning with small age (and size) appropriate chores or jobs. Do not get frustrated when he seems like he comprehends everything you are trying to teach one day and the next its back to what? This is very normal and expected since their attention span is often very short for a number of years. Just be patient, he will eventually understand what is expected of him and will also begin to learn why these lessons are important. Labels: bedroom, boys, children, dramatic play, girls, kids, pretend-play, toys
posted by SensoryEdge
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Saturday, October 06, 2007
Holiday Cooking With Your Kids
 You know just how much you always wanted to cook with your mother or your grandmother as a child each and every time they were hard at work in the kitchen. The smells of something delicious baking in the oven were enough to draw you in. However, once you caught a glimpse of what they were putting together, you couldn't help but want to join in. As your children begin to grow and explore around the kitchen, there are going to be times when they will want to get right in there and help with the cooking just like you did. For these times, you might want to set aside little projects that they can help you with. Simple cookie recipes are always nice when the holiday season rolls around, or they can even help you put together some delicious decorate chocolates. Either way, this will be the starting point for the kinds of cooking skills that your children will carry on with them as they grow into teenagers and then to adults. The Little Farm House Table & Chair Set is a delightful selection of furniture that you can have in your kitchen for your children to use when they are helping you cook and create. Either use while they are mixing and kneading or even let them sit down and reap the rewards of all of their efforts after they are finished helping you. Holiday goodies and the perfect place to enjoy them are the best ways to create special moments of bonding that you can cherish for a lifetime. Labels: bedroom, boys, children, childrens furniture, girls, home furnishings, kids, kids furniture, pretend-play, toddlers
posted by SensoryEdge
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Thursday, September 20, 2007
A Little Vanity Can't Hurt
 Raising a child, especially in this day and age, is never an easy task. First time parents are naturally a little less sure of themselves then some of the "seasoned pros". Many times quite a bit of trial and error is involved and even then you may not be sure that you did the right thing. Obviously parents and caregivers make mistakes, although I tend to think some our parents would never admit to that, it is still a fact. And at the risk of sounding very sexist, girls can be harder to raise than boys. Ok, that said, perhaps a little elaboration is in order. First it is believed that girls mature quicker than boys, so it stands to reason that they will test the waters concerning independence, etc. at a quicker pace than boys. And we know that peer pressure for both sexes starts at a very young age, but in girls at times that tends to lean more towards being self-centered or self-involved. That can be very hard for a parent, not to mention anyone else in the family, to handle. At times, all kids considered themselves more grown-up than they actually are, but with girls in particular in can happen much sooner and a lot more frequently. As a caregiver you do want to encourage independence, but you also don't want it to completely consume your child. You might consider a small compromise or two as a way to satisfy you both, For example, your daughter thinks her room is far too childish for her now, but some of her ideas of change may seem more appropriate for a young (or maybe not so young) adult woman living on her own. If you state this outright you are liable to create another world war, or a case of hysterics at the very least. Take a simple furnishing such as a vanity, while most often they are seen in an older girls room there are some that are completely fine to have for a younger girl. One example of this is the Pretty n' Pink Vanity Table for Kids, its simple style is perfect for a girl that wants to be "grown up". Be sure to tell your daughter that a vanity is something very special, dating back to even the medieval times where a lady would await the return of her prince. Well, ok, maybe not quite like that but you get the idea. Labels: bedroom, childrens furniture, girls, home furnishings, kids furniture, seating
posted by SensoryEdge
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Friday, August 17, 2007
Ready to Learn
 Summer is almost over and another school year is right around the corner. Are you ready? Or at least as ready as you can be? Children's educators are just about the most important people around and are most certainly high on the list of exceptional role models. If you are a teacher, and that includes the people that home school their children, you already know how important you are to those growing young minds. Long considered a most noble profession, teaching children is a very rewarding career. You get the chance to see the look of excitement and pride when something new is learned, or a skill is mastered. As you are probably already aware, the environment for learning can be just as important as the lessons themselves. This holds particularly true for younger children. Once you have their attention, keeping it can be a difficult task. There are different tools and methods that may be used to encourage learning in a fun and enjoyable manner. As a teacher, it is important to make the teaching area as inviting and comfortable as possible, which in turn lends itself to a learning environment. Bright colors and bold shapes tend to be very popular with young children. It catches their eye and makes them want to investigate it further. Colorful posters on the walls and bright carpeting are great for getting their attention. You may also want to consider a reading corner, complete with several beanbag chairs in bright colors and shapes. They will love sitting in these great chairs, which just may result in a new appreciation for books and learning. Labels: autistic-children, bedroom, boys, children, girls, kids, kids furniture, seating, toddlers
posted by SensoryEdge
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Wednesday, August 15, 2007
I Can't Wait to Grow Up
 An often heard phrase from a child is "I can't wait until I grow up, so that I can ______" here you can fill in the blank with a few of the more common ones such as: stay up late, go to school, not eat vegetables or feel free to choose one of your own. And no matter how many times you tell them not to be in a hurry, that being an adult is not as easy as it sounds, they still look at you with a disbelieving expression. Probably very similar to the ones you used to give to your parents when they tried to impart the same wisdom on you. While you do want them to slow down and enjoy their youth, you also need to start a little preliminary "facing adulthood" groundwork. Many experts feel that having chores to do is one step towards the ultimate goal of raising a responsible adult. Of course, they need to be age appropriate and in-line with their own personal abilities, otherwise, frustration sets in and the child’s self-esteem drops. Keep in mind that most children only focus on their immediate emotion, so telling them they will be sorry later if they do not do this now or one day soon they will be glad they did it, is not something that is going to make an impression. Instead, work on setting short term goals for completing their chores and once they accomplish this be sure to praise them for a job well done. If you would like to include some type of a reward for doing so well consider something that ties in with them growing up. One idea is to get them a Kids Duffel Bag, allowing them to replace that small "baby suitcase" with Going to Grandma's written on it. Not that there is anything wrong with going to Grandma's mind you, but imagine their smile when Grandma tells them how grown up they are getting to be the next time they visit. Besides, a teddy bear probably fits better in a duffel bag. Labels: bedroom, boys, girls, kids, vacation
posted by SensoryEdge
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Saturday, June 02, 2007
Look at My Room
 A major milestone in a child's life is getting to help decide on the decor or theme for their bedroom. It makes them feel so grown up even if their choices are still decidedly child-like. They can start with a bed that fits their personality. It may be a stunning Contour Canopy set up in a matte white or a Coronado bed in a tarnished copper finish. Or a slightly older child may prefer a Surrey Daybed in a luxurious cherry finish. They will probably need additional furnishings and accessories to complete the look, so be sure to check out the matching nightstands. There are also great bookcases to choose from, like a dollhouse bookshelf or even a circus theme bookshelf. If you are decorating for a little girl then you will definitely want to look over the vanity table and chair sets. With everything from Pretty n' Pink to a Star is Born and the Always a Princess vanity theme you will be sure to find something to please your little one. Another great addition to a child's room is a table and chair set. There are many styles available such as Noah's Ark Table and Chair set, the Nantucket Table Set in Pastels and Guidecrafts Sunflower Table and chairs. The Construction Zone table and chair set are very popular. No matter what they choose it will be a huge deal because "they got to help" and you will know it was a great decision and well worth the effort. Labels: bedroom, children
posted by SensoryEdge
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Thursday, May 24, 2007
Lighting Up The Bedroom Or Nursery
 When you are designing any room, the lighting is always an important factor in the overall look and feel once the room is finished. This same idea should be kept in mind while you are taking the time to redecorate or set up a child's room or even a nursery. When it comes to each one, the proper lighting can create a feeling that is both warm and inviting. With bedroom's for younger children or a nursery for a baby, you are going to want to look into lighting that is a bit more subtle. Not until the child grows older and will have the need for doing homework and other projects in their room will you have to look into lighting that is brighter. For the time being, you can look into great lamps and lighting fixtures that will work well with softer watt bulbs. If you are looking for the perfect lamp to go in your young child's bedroom or nursery, look to the theme that you have chosen first. If it is clowns, then choose a fun lamp with a circus theme that has plenty of bright primary colors. For the little princess in your life, you can always go with something a bit frilly with the hand painted desk lamp for girls. Not only does this lamp have beautiful flower accents, there is even a fun and furry white trim on the top and bottom of the shade. Any child will love having a terrific themed lamp in their bedroom! Labels: bedroom, children
posted by SensoryEdge
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Thursday, May 03, 2007
Love Those Smiles
Is there anything that makes you feel as good as you do when your child looks at you with wide open eyes, a grin from ear to ear and says "I love it, you're the best"? Probably not, and that is what makes this elusive occurrence such a treat for parents. SensoryEdge can help you repeat that occurrence again and again with their children's furniture collection. Some kids get a little scared or nervous when they grow out of their cribs and have to deal with saying goodbye to the familiar. With so many styles to choose from you will be sure to find something that will make them adapt a little easier. Be sure to let them know that it is a very special time when they move from their crib to a "big kids bed" (We wont tell them it's a Toddler Bed if you don't), Your little princess would look adorable in her own Tiffany Toddler Cot, with its elegant, classic design in white with beautiful bow detail. For an even more elegant setting, be sure to include the Tiffany Toddler Side Table with the same detail as the bed. What future fireman could resist the Fire Truck Toddler Bed with its realistic detail? Be sure to include the KidKraft Fire Truck Night Stand and step stool to compliment the ensemble. And, what fire station would be complete without the fire pole? Add the Fire Truck Clothes Pole, perfect to reduce clutter and keep little jackets and hats off the floor. Whatever style your child prefers you can be sure to find it at Sensory Edge. Labels: bedroom, girls, kids
posted by SensoryEdge
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Monday, March 05, 2007
The Perfect Room For A Princess
When you really want to give your little girl the world, you can always begin to transform her room into a beautiful oasis that is fit for a princess. If she is like most little girls, then she is already into anything and everything that has to do with pink, princesses and fairy tale endings. There are lots of wonderful things that you can do in order to make her room into a room that any princess would adore. To start off with, you cannot go wrong with adding all sorts of wonderful lovely pastel colors that she is fond of. Perhaps she is a big fan of pinks and purples. You can always paint the walls in her favorite colors or even add a nice border with tiaras and a princess theme. You may even want to think about checking out some wonderful options for throw rugs that will fit the princess theme and really bring together the look of the room. As you get ready to change up the furnishings in the room, you can think about getting her a beautiful vanity table and stool set. This is the perfect accessory for the room of any little princess where she can sit right down and brush her hair in the mirror, play dress up and pretend that her prince is on his way to pick her up for the ball! Adding the right touch of imagination and whimsy to the room will definitely make for a princess fantasy! Labels: bedroom, girls
posted by SensoryEdge
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