Teacup Pig Toys

Last years toy pet substitute was the Zhu zhu Pets hamsters without the mess. This year sees the release of new Teacup Piggy Toys as substitutes for the controversial Teacup Pig pets. Teacup Pigs off course being mini pot belly pigs bred for the purpose of serving as household pets. Despite their cute factor and obvious popularity real pet pigs do require more care than the average pet. This is however good news for parents who are looking for toys substitutes this holiday season. The new toy teacup pigs may just be the mess free alternative you have been looking for.

Made by Toyeck, the teacup pig toys are articulated with movable feet and head. Teacup Piggies also come with a vocabulary of 25 words making them nearly more interactive than real piggies. There are a total of fifteen Pig Toys to collect. Each pig, with its unique personality and matching accessories. The toys come in three litters the first batch being born on Christmas Day, 25 December 2009. These include Snowflake, High Tips Locket, Goldie, and Copper and Princess.

The second Litter of Teacup Piggies was born on New Year's Day, 1 January 2010. This litter is made up of Carat, Jade, Glitter, Ivory, Denim, and Bling. The last Litter is born 1 February 2010 and is made up of three little piggies Emmie, Oscar and Jade. Each Piggy has a cup and matching accessories. Kids can create also play dress up with their piggies from the range of outfits available. Play sets including a Teacup Piggies Electronic Lights & Sounds Showtime Limo, Lights & Sounds Beauty Spa Play Set And a Fashion Runway Play Set- all sure to have kids entertained for hours.

Toys For Tots

Christmas, birthdays or other special events are a real treasure especially when you have tots in the house. For them every toy is a treasure to hold, they get thrills from quiet toys or noisy toys. Most of all a lot of toys meant for the very little ones are colorful and grab their attention unlike anything else out there. Here are some of the top toys for tots for this season. You will find something for every child.

Here are 5 top toys for children aged birth to 24 months that are sure to delight.

LeapFrog Spin and Sing Alphabet Zoo - Ideal for children 6 to 36 months of age. Children will discover the alphabet from Alligator to Zebra. LeapFrog does an excellent job of introducing letters A-Z and animal names and sounds. The playful musical responses that are rewarded at each touch will keep young children entertained.
IQ Baby Knock-Knock Blocks - Blocks are always a sure win with most kids, especially when they are soft and can be squished, bitten or thrown. These colorful blocks, covered in satin are great for children 1-2 years old and come 16 to a set. Ranked #7 and #10 in Amazon categories Toddler Toys and Baby & Toddler Toys these blocks teach young children cause and effect.
Melissa & Doug Deluxe Wooden Barnyard Animals Jumbo Knob Puzzle - Today when electronic toys reign supreme, most parents opt for whatever toy will give their kids the edge when it comes to education and learning, but what about plain fun and the thrill of simplicity? That where this great toy comes in, rated #12 in Pegged Puzzles this back-to-basic barnyard puzzle features smiling animals, and is made of wood and lets those one and older just have a little fun.
Melissa & Doug Stop Sign (Vehicles) Jumbo Puzzle - Like their companion puzzle, Barnyard Animals, this wooden toy aimed at children over 1 presents three extra-large vehicles on a stop sign. Extra-large knobs allow smaller hands to handle the puzzle pieces easily. Great puzzle to help develop matching skills.
Power Wheels Little People Tot Rod - How many kids don't like cars? This 6-volt, 4 amp battery powered car will let kids cruise up to 2 mph forward and like their adult counterparts comes with a 1 year limited bumper-to-bumper warranty. It also has safety features like parent assist to ensure that the little ones don't get themselves into any trouble.

There are many types of toys available for toddlers, from the basic "let's have fun" to others that mix fun and education that teach children cause and effect, and matching. Many toys are bright and colorful, so they will keep kids attracted and entertained for hours.

The History and Purpose of Toys

Since the beginning of time Mothers have been trying to find ways to occupy their children. Therefore it is no surprise that toys have been around since the beginning of time. The natural playfulness and curiosity of children make toys a natural progression. For instance a child's imagination can figure out, how to make a game out of, and play with anything.

A child can occupy themselves making roads in the dirt, making castles out of sand, or just digging a little hole, which can create tunnels and other mysterious places. Sea shells, rocks, pine cones or what ever else is available can become a handy toy. In spite of a child's unique creativeness parents throughout time have tried to reward and entertain their children with toys.

Ancient Egyptians created balls from leather and dried papyrus reeds. They also created marbles out of black and white stones. There were many Egyptian dolls as well. Some were made from leather and papyrus; many were carved out of wood, bone, or ivory. Some even had jointed limbs and moveable jaws. The less affluent would fashion dolls and figurines out of clay.

They even created spinning tops, and had many different physical games, with balls and sticks and wrestling. They also enjoyed board games such as Mehen and Senet. Ancient Roman toys were similar. They had balls and games played with hoops and sticks. Wooden swords and shields were also popular for simulated battle games.

Like the Egyptians the Romans enjoyed board games and marbles. They also created dolls and figurines out of wood, wax, and terra cotta. Similarly the inhabitants of early Greece enjoyed wooden horses on wheels pulled by strings, terra cotta dolls, clay animals, baby rattles, and primitive yo-yos.

I found a New York Times article from 1902 that was about the big Christmas toys of that year. They were new automobile toys, some were metal wind up editions, and some were more elaborate expensive toy automobiles that adults were purchasing. The other big toy hits of that year were toy submarine boats and flying machines.

Baby dolls have been popular throughout the centuries. But in 1960 the first Barbie fashion doll was introduced. Other great toys from the 1960's were slinkies, colour forms, the view master, etch-a-sketch, lite brite, spirograph, the Fort Apache play set, Marvel the Mustang, and too many more to mention.

Many of these toys are still popular today. Plus we have some new toys. Besides the great strides made in electronics and video games, we have Bakugan Battle Brawlers. Barbie is still around but she is joined by the Bratz, Moxie Girlz, and Liv Dolls. There are tons of new board games and action figures. Plus the classic games and toys of the past are still around and being improved upon.

In spite of changes in time and technology the basic premise of play has remained unchanged. Toys have always been used to stimulate the imagination and keep children occupied and entertained. No matter how much time passes parents will never grow tired of seeing a child's face light up when presented with a new toy.