A Beginner's Guide to Radio Controlled Toys

Radio controlled, or RC toys, have developed into a growing industry for children’s toys and for the serious hobbyists. With such a huge range of toys available, knowing what to buy is the hardest part. To make things simpler, this article aims to explain the options and different levels of RC toys out there for your budget and levels of experience.

The first radio controlled device was designed by Nikola Tesla in 1893, when he designed and demonstrated the radio controlled boat. Back then Radio controlled technology was developed to be used in war. Thankfully these days the emphasis is on fun and Radio Controlled toys come in a range of sizes and costs to suit the potential buyer. The range goes from the small budget models to bespoke models with intricate design to match the original specification.

There is a huge collection of radio controlled products available today. These include radio controlled cars, planes, helicopters, boats and even tractors for the workers out there! While some products are relatively inexpensive, some cost up thousands of pounds. The best advice is to buy according to your experience, and as you build up knowledge and ability, you can move up the grades of models too.

If you have limited or no experience of piloting models, then the Silverlit Picoo Z Apache helicopter should be perfect. Being only 17 cm long and an unbelievable 10 grams, it provides a solid platform to begin their training in the world of flight and can be used both indoors and outdoors. If you prefer to stay on the ground, then the Tamiya Lunch Box can be great fun. A minivan, raised up over Monster Truck wheels, is sure to grab the attention and provides an easier way of learning how to operate radio controlled toys.

For the more advanced user, there are fast, powerful toys to enjoy. The Thunder Tiger Racing Truck can reach speeds of 45mph and runs on Nitro fuel. Built with realistic body interior and exterior, it really looks the part and can be great fun in a race. The Super Cub LP RTF Electric plane represents a great piece of business too. The lithium battery means longer flight time and the foam body means the plane is very repairable. The plane can climb to a few hundred feet and has a built in safety feature in case you lose control.

If you are a serious model collector, a great buy would be the widely recognised Tamiya Leopard tank, which is detailed to look exactly the same as the real German Leopard tank. Although it’s a little expensive, it does provide endless fun and a real life experience. The model comes with real action movement and has sounds that are digitally recorded from the real tank. It has a rotating turret with a firing gun with sound, which automatically reloads and returns to original position once fired.

Revell models have just released a great new range of radio control helicopters. The Revell Huey Attack RC Helicopter offers great performance at a superb low price and is ideal for beginners. For the more advanced pilot, Revell have launched the Chinook RC helicopter which is brand new for this year. For some fun on the water, Thunder Tiger have just launched the Outlaw Pro 46 Offshore Power Boat. With speeds up to 40mph, fun is guaranteed with this toy.

So if there’s a child’s birthday coming up in your family or just maybe even an idea for a Christmas gift, consider buying a radio controlled car as a present. Its fun the whole family can enjoy.

How To Make Sure The Toys You Buy Are Safe

Despite very strict toy safety regulations in the United States and the United Kingdom, some unsafe toys still do slip through the net. It is essential that all consumers are familiar with regulations and remain vigilant when buying toys for kids.

For the most part, toy safety regulations have been very successful. Very few household accidents involve toys, and when accidents do involve toys it is very rare that the accident is caused by a defect in the toy itself. Accidents involving toys usually involve people tripping over them or using them inappropriately.

In addition, where defective or dangerous toys have made it onto the market they have been recalled quickly and publicly. However, this is no reason for parents to leave their guard down when buying toys.

Safety labels

First of all you need to check that the toy you are buying bears the appropriate safety labels. In the United States the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) mark and in Europe the CE marking signifies that the toy meets the minimum required safety standards.

After these markings, probably the next most important labels for toy shoppers to watch out for are age labels. These are an essential part of toy safety and you should always follow their guidance.

The vast majority of toys bear age labels whether they are legally required or not. All toys that are not suitable for children under 36 months must bear a prominent label stating so.

However, in general toys give guidance as to what age group they are intended for. These serve as a guide as to what age group will benefit from the toy the most, in terms of fun and development. Here is a brief guide of what kinds of toys suit different age groups:

Under three years - The biggest threat that toys pose to children of this age is choking hazard. Babies and toddlers tend to put almost everything they lay their hands on in their mouths. Because of this, very small toys or toys with small parts are particularly unsuitable. In addition, keep marbles and small balls out of their reach; be careful with inflatable toys and balloons; and avoid toys with sharp or pointy edges.

Three to five years - Children really come into their own at this age and are able for much more sophisticated toys. However, you should remain vigilant as certain toys could pose a risk to them. Avoid toys with thin plastic that might break and cause injury.

Ages six to twelve - By this age children will be able to safely play with almost any toy you give them. However, always read the instruction leaflets for maintenance guides and hazard warnings. For example, if you buy a skateboard or a bike for your child, you should also buy protective equipment. If you buy a trampoline, you will need to carry out maintenance on it regularly.

If you have children of different ages things can become a little complicated. When you have lots of different toys that are suitable for different ages you have to be super-vigilant. For a start, you should teach older children to keep their toys out of the reach of younger children.

Also, do not simply put all of the toys into one box. Have a separate toy box for each child and make sure they do not swap toys. Age labels on toys will help you to keep organized in this way.

In general, it is a good idea to be neat and tidy with toys. Having toys laying around the house is a common cause of accidents. Also, remember that children are intended to play with toys. All maintenance such as the changing of batteries should be carried out by an adult.

While toy safety labels offer a very important safeguard against dangerous toys reaching our children, it is also very important to use your own common sense. Before you buy a toy examine it yourself to make sure that it is sturdy and well constructed. Also check to see if it has any sharp edges or pointy corners. Be extra careful when buying toys for very young children. For example, if you are buying a cuddly toy make sure that all the stitching is secure and that small items such as eyes or the nose are not loose.

If your child has an accident with a toy or you suspect that a toy is dangerous, you should take immediate action. The first step is to take the toy out of the reach of all children. You should then report the toy to the relevant authorities. You will need to keep the toy for examination and you should also try to provide details of when and where you bought the toy.

The regulations go along way towards ensuring the toys in or shops are safe. However, consumer vigilance is also a vital part of the battle against dangerous toys.

How to Select RC Toys

If you’re new to the world of RC toys, you may feel a bit overwhelmed. There are thousands of different selections you can make, and it is truly annoying to purchase an RC toy and to have it not be what you are looking for. Here is a guide to help you choose the type of RC toys that will make you, or anyone that you are buying for, extremely happy with your choices!

Choosing RC Airplanes/Helicopters

The first question most people as is, "Do RC airplanes and helicopters really fly?" If they’re good RC airplanes or RC helicopters, they absolutely do! There are remote control planes and helicopters available to purchase at all different prices, so figure out who you’re buying for. If you’re buying for a young child, make sure you purchase a helicopter or airplane that has an easy-to-use controller. You may want to stick to the helicopters for young children, as they are generally easier to control than airplanes are. If you’re buying for someone who knows what they’re doing, you may have to spend a bit more, or find something that is different than they have. Look for really small specimens, really large ones, or, if they have a large collection, ones that remind you of the collection they currently have.

RC Tanks

All little boys love to play with tanks, and big boys do as well! RC tanks are a huge hit with just about anyone. RC tanks can range in price, so try shopping around your budget. Some tanks have turrets that move and are actually able to fire small shells. Others, usually on the more expensive end, actually smoke very realistically. RC tanks are usually a slam dunk for any RC toy lover!

RC Cars And now for the meat and potatoes of the RC toy world! RC cars are great toys for anyone, man, woman, or child, that loves to play around with toys. RC cars range from racing style cars, to realistic style cars, to completely fantastical cars! When it comes to choosing an RC car, think about who you’re buying the car for. If you are buying for someone young, you may not want to spend a fortune, as they will probably be fairly hard on the car. Also, you might want to look for cars that run as well outside as they do inside. For the older crowd, look for RC cars that suit their style. If they love racing and Nascar, grab a racing car. If they like high-end vehicles, look for a realistic style RC car.

Activities That Encourage Fine Motor Development

Fine motor skills involve the movement and dexterity of hands and fingers. These skills are the ones that allow your infant to grasp her toys and are used by your toddler when he manipulates and turns his toys between his hands. The primary use of fine motor skills in everyday life is for writing. Children must have already developed some strength in their fingers to properly hold a pencil and learn to write so it is important to offer a variety of activities that promote fine motor development.

The best fine motor activities are those that encourage your child to manipulate a toy with his hands and fingers and, like with all educational activities, should be something your child finds enjoyable. Modeling clay and play dough promote creativity and offer all kinds of opportunities to develop fine motor skills. Encourage your child to roll various sized balls out of the clay and let him use toothpicks or short, blunt dowels to etch designs and details into his play dough creations.

Building with blocks, like a 100 piece wooden block set, encourages young children to build their fine motor skills as well. Activities like puzzles, lacing cards, or bead stringing also allow children to use their small muscles to manipulate an object.

Art activities are great ways to develop fine motor skills. Have your child tear small pieces of tissue paper, then crumple the paper into a small ball and glue it onto a picture. Paper-mache art builds fine motor skills too. Allow your child to tear newspaper into small strips, then dip into a flour based glue solution and smooth onto a balloon. Medicine dropper paintings are another terrific art activity to enhance small muscle development.

Play board games with your child that include dice and encourage her to roll the dice to strengthen her hand dexterity. Games that involve turning over cards, like Memory, or games with small pieces to move, like Checkers, are other fun ways to enhance fine motor development. You should also provide your child with finger puppets and help her to use them during your song time or story time.

Cutting with scissors is one of the best activities for a child to prepare her finger muscles for writing. Supply your child with a sturdy pair of safety scissors and give her a variety of different materials to cut. Plastic straws or cardstock are great for building strength, while already shredded paper scraps can build dexterity as well as hand and eye coordination. Have your child cut in a number of different ways, including short, quick cuts to create a fringed line on construction paper and steady, long cuts to follow along a drawn line.

After some fine motor skills have been mastered, usually around preschool age, you should provide your child with a number of prewriting activities. Drawing with chalk and painting are excellent fine motor development activities. Draw large letters on a piece of paper and let your child trace the lines with a marker. Dot to Dot games are also great for developing finger dexterity and hand and eye coordination.

Play with your toys and Shushhh! Gadgets, Gifts and Games

At Shushhh.co.uk we stock a wide selection of boys toys, unusual gift ideas, games, gadgets and more. All of our products are held in stock and are available to buy securely online with super fast delivery to the United Kingdom. We began trading as How Very Impressive and have now decided to step it up a gear with our new funkier website Shushhh!, We have established ourselves as one of the leading sites for out and out cool stuff in the UK, with a reputation for supplying you little monkeys with some of the most outrageous, fun and down right stupid products on the market. Our product range spans from the newest up-beat gadgets, games, boys toys, edible stuff to fun office accessories and the best unusual gift ideas, which we can guarantee you won't see in many high street shops. Our aim.
Our aim is to stock the widest range of the 'next best thing' (and some of the old stuff). Our buyers sit in front of laptops with burning fingertips, 24 hours a day tracking stuff down from all corners of the world, to make sure you miserable lot allways have a big smile on your mush. White teeth! At the moment we import goods from America, Canada, Australia, China and of course the U.K to ensure that you won't get bored with our selection of quirky, kookie and outright bizarre selection of goods!
Are we missing something?
If you're still not happy with all of our hard work and feel that we are missing a new or old product that you've come across on your travels, please let us know. If we decide to stock the product we will send you the first one we get in stock for free! How's that for customer service? Well, if you thought that was good check this out! If that product reaches our top sellers list we will send you £100 worth of Shushhh! vouchers to spend in our store!!

Animal Dolls: Own A Virtual One That Comes To Life!!

There are so many example of children who really love animal dolls. I would say that animal dolls is the best and most favourite type for children. As being a mom of a daughter who loves dolls so I would like to tell you a bit more about a girl’s story, which is very good example for parents who may consider to buy toys for kids but still not sure what to do, which may be due to budget limitation or any other reasons.

An only child, my six-year daughter was pestering me to get her a pet, preferably a golden retriever or lab, as her cousins have one. It was quite painful trying to explain to her that owning a pet, though wonderful, was a bit difficult, since we lived on the fourth floor of an apartment building in a congested city. My work schedule also did not permit me the luxury of taking care of a pet, as I often had to stay late at work. Imagine not being able to walk the dog, or feed it in time, which wouldn’t be fair to the poor animal.

I got my little girl a number of toys and animal dolls to play with, including a few teddy bears, a jumping dog, a stuffed tiger and even a cute little kitten doll. I then heard from a friend of owning a pet in the virtual world, which I found at first quite amusing. To know more, I decided to visit and took a tour of the site. I found it really amazing that one could just buy an animal doll, and obtain a secret code printed on the tag of the doll. This secret code then allowed one to own an animal doll as a virtual pet on the website.

There are a number of games, which a child can play with the virtual pet, and they had games for kids as per their age groups, starting from 5 years and above to almost any age!! to 13 years of age. It is also educational for the child, and gives the child enormous emotional support and company. It also helps the child gain responsibility, and gives cash, which is used to buy things, or feed the pet, using virtual money, teaching the child how to use money wisely without any actual risk. My daughter is now thrilled to be a proud owner of a pet, and she is having great fun. I even play with her pet on weekends, and enjoy every moment of it.

Even though there are many type of toys that have been invented to impress children. But it is fairly to say that dolls or animal dolls have its own legend and still be the most favorite type for children. In some case you may find other type of animal doll like pet dolls or virtual pets to let them try the new technological innovation of children toys. There is no harm for them to have it and sometimes you may find that your child will have rapid learning form playing this type of toy.

7 Fun Ways To Teach Kids About Money

Financial Fluency – 7 tips teaching children the value of money

It is a widely held belief that the earlier children learn a foreign language, the quicker they will be able to pick it up and achieve fluency. The same is also true when it comes to teaching children about money and developing financial fluency. Teaching children from an early age how to save and budget in a fun and educational way can lay the foundations for sound money management later in life.

A University of Minnesota study indicates that with as little as 10 hours of financial education, teachers and parents can positively affect children’s future saving and spending habits.

A good place to start teaching children about money is by demonstrating that money is used in exchange for goods and services, showing them that in making their own purchases they are in fact trading with the shop owner and receiving the product in exchange. As an example, next time you are shopping, try to have the exact change for the product and give it to your child. Let your child hand over the money to the cashier and after you have left the shop, have a chat about how the money paid for the item.

It is important to always approach teaching children about money with openness and honesty, giving a constant and clear message. Explain to them why they can or cannot have certain items they wish to buy. You can’t always say yes to a request for money and if it has to be a no, it does few favours being over indulgent, but equally the ‘because I said so’ clause has little educational merit.

Before long your child will have a basic understanding of money. When this happens you may wish to start explaining the bigger picture. You might consider showing children how the whole family benefits from money via a visit to the supermarket. Once there pick out two similar products, perhaps a well known brand and an own label and allow the child to make the choice. If they choose the supermarket’s own brand, allow them to make a further purchase with the saved money. This might be a useful starting point for a discussion about value vs. price.

Consider also the type of signals about money that your child picks up on. You may feel it's important to let your child know family money matters are private, and not for discussion outside the home. If however, as parents you talk in hushed tones over bills and bank statements, your child may deduce that finances are something to be secretive and furtive about. Similarly, if they pick up some stress and anxiety over money, this too is a value that can be carried forward into adult life.

A great fun resource for teaching money values are The Financial Fairy Tales books - see http://www.thefinancialfairytales.com for details.

7 tips to help teach children about money

1) Fun, fun, Fun - make a game of both saving and spending. If only spending money is fun then they will not associate any pleasure with saving.

2) Routines - When they receive money as presents or from the tooth fairy establish a routine, like putting some or all of it in their piggy bank or savings account. They will most likely take these traditions forward into their own families.

3) Consistency - If you pay pocket money in return for helping around the house make sure they actually do the work. Even very young children can be responsible for tidying away their own toys or clothes. It’s a good idea to pay a set amount on a regular day but encourage their entrepreneurial side by giving them the opportunity to earn more if they seek it.

4) Look after the pennies - Turning off the lights, saving their pennies and giving small donations to charity collections are small things that they can do to create positive habits which may last a lifetime. Ensure that you explain why you are doing it and what the benefits are. Charitable giving can illustrate to your child that there are others less fortunate and introduce the idea to be grateful that they have more than enough.

5) Consequences - When your children ask for something, rather than say no. Ask them if they would like to buy it from their own money and explain what the consequences are. You may find that they are more reluctant to spend their own money than they are yours!

6) Praise, praise, praise - We may learn by our mistakes but by praising we reinforce positive behaviour and will encourage children to do the right thing out of choice ‘because it feels good’. This can be applied to saving, spending wisely and giving to charity.

7) Spend and save - when your children are receiving pocket money, teach them to save either some or all of it. It is always a good idea to let them spend a little however, as this encouragement will stand them in good stead later in life.