FavoriteToys
Of Experts

impact
forever!

• What's in Ned's Head: an

oversized fabric head that

has lots of different orifices –

ears, nostrils, mouth – to hide

Get your children in the SWIM of things today
and begin learning the fife-long skill of swimming.

objects and have a child find

them and name them.

• Story Blocks that have pic-

(4 months - 12 years of age /
4:1 group swim lesson ratio /
30 minute weekly lessons)

tures on all sides. Roll them

like dice and make up a story

with the pictures shown.

(Offered weekly; Check individual
locations for availability)

Echo microphone. A plastic

microphone that amplifies

a child's voice. No batteries

(Offered Saturdays and Sundays;
Check individual locations for availability)

required.

• Wind-up toys

• Toy telephones

(Offered weekly; Check individual
locations for availability)

' " •

0 Shape sorters

e-registir for lessons online 1
at goldfishswimschool.com

Pop-up toys

• Puppets with mouths that

move

• Puzzles

golden.

Birmingham (248) 644-1914
Farmington Hills (248) 596-1914
' ow Franchising a GOLDEN! experience
Ann Arbor (734) 864-5555 Call now to register!
t goldfishfranchise.com
Coming to Rochester, Clarkston & Grand Rapids in 2.
Min

Where the experience to

• Race car toys with tracks

• Alphabet boards

"I have a passion for helping moms
when their kids need help',' Klar said.
She has stocked the store with teaching
toys that are sturdy but won't break the
bank.
Popular toys this season at Toyology
are the Estimation Station, where kids
learn to calculate just how many jelly
beans are in the container, and Math
Slam, which encourages kids to do math
problems and slap the surface of the
correct answer.
Parent Julie Sidder of West Bloomfield
is always on the lookout for toys that are
educational, but not boring. Her chil-
dren, Ella, 8, and Ava, 5, are thriving and
learning and having fun.
"I look for things that are multipur-
pose — things that are fun for them,
but a challenge to the mind',' she said. "I
want there to be a little bit of education
involved, nothing too blatant though. I
want them to feel like its fun, not like
its work:'
Her kids love books; her daughter Ella
has been reading since age 4.
"She would be happy as a clam if I
just gave her books, but they also like
board games like Guess Who. That's one
where they really have to think and ask
each other questions like 'Is it a girl?'
And they're looking at different charac-
teristics to eliminate, so they're thinking

as well as having fun when they are
playing."
Schneider really likes books for kids.
He started reading to his son before he
was born, so it's not surprising to hear
him say you can't start a kid too early
on books.
"It's important to get books for chil-
dren of all ages': he said. "You get a lot
of information through reading even if
there aren't words on a page. Younger
kids who are unable to read can look for
a picture in a book."
Rankin agreed. "Books can be utilized
for language development and compre-
hension," she said.
Puzzles and board games get a nod
from parents and experts alike.
"I'm a big fan or board games," Sidder
said. "I think it promotes playing togeth-
er, which is better than a child sitting by
herself. Anytime a child gets to interact
with another person it promotes social
interaction, whether its with a friend,
siblings or parents."
She's right on the money, Schneider
said.
"The important thing is that when a
child is using a toy, a parent is there to
help them. You need to make sure there
is a parent component there, someone
who can show them how to use the toy
as a tool for teaching them."

Why settle for cake and ice cream
when you can make your own fun?

with Eskimo Jacks", you choose the flavors, and your guests
get to create their own sandwich combos

• Bar/Bat Mitzvah • Birthday/flohday • (orporate Party

facebookom/Fiftlacks
tivitteram/Eikimalacks

"Lk" us and get free stuff!

If you are no learing L. sell it!.
or BORROW on it!

You can't enjoy jewelry if it's sitting in your safe
deposit box. Sell or borrow on it for immediate cash.
We deal in jewelry, watches, diamonds and coins.

Contact Larry Allan

33700 Woodward Ave. • Between 14 Mile

November 17 • 2011

45

