For anyone who has ever known the joy of having a dollhouse or watching your children play with one, you’ll know that one of the best parts is the furnishing. Just like a ‘real’ house, furnishing your dollhouse is a labour of love, and can continue on indefinitely. There are several ways in which to go about the furnishing of your dollhouse, and the joy of seeing your individual style represented in miniature form is what makes the dollhouse one of the enduringly popular toys for both kids and adults alike.

Choosing a theme

As with decorating your own house, decorating a dollhouse can become a lot more cohesive when you decide on the theme you want in your house. This theme can be a colour scheme (perhaps you’d like an apple-green interior?) a country theme (oriental furniture anyone?) or a stylistic choice (perhaps you’d like the beach-house of your dreams?). Whatever the theme, this gives you a basis to start hunting around for dollhouse furniture which suits your style, and also helps people who may be thinking of getting you some dollhouse furniture as a present!

Room by Room

Because furnishing all in one go can be both costly and time-consuming, why not think about committing yourself to one room at a time? You can even apply different themes to different rooms-you could have a ‘united nations’ of rooms, a different country theme for each room!

Making furniture

One way to go about furnishing your dollhouse and giving it that extra personalised touch is to make the furniture yourself. While this takes more time, you’ll be able to build custom furniture to whatever weird and wonderful specifications you come up with! You can buy patterns for furniture online or use specific software to design your own furniture and then print out the patters yourself. There are even programs where you can upload a picture of a piece of your own furniture and turn it into a perfect miniature for your dollhouse!

Buying furniture

Buying dollhouse furniture is another way to fill up your rooms, and with more and more online toys distributors popping up, you’re bound to find a whole host of styles to choose from. There are also several stores that specialise in dollhouse furnishings, and these will give you endless ideas about what you want yours to look like.

However you decide to go about furnishing your dollhouse, the key to the process is to remember that it’s part of the joy-dollhouses allow us to be creative and explore our imaginations, so buying a bunch of ready-made, matching items to furnish it with doesn’t let us fully enjoy the experience. Involve your kids in the creative process and make your dollhouse into the mini-mansion you always dreamed of!

Have you ever wanted to be a rock god on the guitar without the years of pain and practice? Well now it’s totally possible with an innovative new toy called Paper Jamz. These sure fire hot Christmas toys are from a company called Wow Wee and come in the design of guitars, drums and amps. Let’s explore these awesome new Paper Jamz toys.

There are 5 basic models of Paper Jamz Guitar to choose from and they all have a very recognizable famous rock guitar look to each of them. They have even kept the names simple. Each different model is based around “Rock” and then a number. For example – Rock 2 up to Rock 6. Each one comes pre-programmed with 3 different rock songs for you to jam along with and there are also 3 modes of play you can switch between.

1 – Perfect Play mode. This is where you can play along to the song and even if you don’t know it, it will play perfectly.

2 – Rhythm mode. This mode just plays the backing track and can be just a little tricky to play along with at first.

3 – Freestyle mode. In this mode you can just go crazy and be any rock guitar hero you want to be!

The basic concept of Paper Jamz is that they have active circuitry built into the surface design of each instrument and this is triggered by the touch of your hands. When you move your left hand on the imaginary fretboard of the guitar it can create different chords that include major, minor and even sevenths. To make the sounds activate you simply move your other hand over the imaginary strings and as if by magic you become that instant rock guitar hero!

A built in speaker gives a reasonably good performance sound level for you to jam along to, but as every true guitar hero knows “you gotta have an amp!” Well these Paper Jamz guys haven’t let us down in this department either. You can also get a realistic looking Paper Jamz amp that you can plug your guitar into. There are also some extra cool accessories in the way of Paper Jamz guitar straps to match the guitar that you decide to buy.

For the budding rock drummers out there, Wow Wee has created the Paper Jamz Drums. As with the guitars, they are labelled Rock Drums 2 up to Rock Drums 6 and also have the same songs pre-programmed into them. This makes it great for you and your friends to build your own Paper Jamz rock band and jam together with the same cool songs.

So if you’ve always had a yearning to be that guitar rock legend in your bedroom. Or felt the urge to pound out some heavy beats on your own rock drum kit then these innovative new guitars and drums from Wow Wee may just be your fast track ticket to Rock Hero Heaven!

Tipped to be one of the 10 top Christmas toys for 2010 by many heavy hitter toy retailers they are also predicted to sell out very fast! Don’t be disappointed when you find they have all sold out. Get you Paper Jamz gear early and make this Christmas a Christmas your kids will remember.

Have you heard about the guitar that could well become the biggest Christmas toy seller in 2010? Well if you have answered this question in the negative then you may want to continue reading……..

It is the Paper Jamz Guitar and it has already won the Toy Of The Year Innovation award. So how do I know so much about these guitars? I have a nine year old son who has basically not stopped talking about them – or should I say nagging about them for the last few weeks. He “really needs” one for Christmas – his words.

The beauty for me as I parent is that they do not cost an arm and a leg – you should in fact be able to pick one up for around 25. This is fine by me and please do not ruin the surprise by telling him that Santa is in the process of making him his desired paper guitar (I hope he does not read this article).

Now for all of you parents out there who think that this will just provide an awful noise then I have good news for you. The technology is that advanced that your child needs to have no prior understanding of playing this instrument for it to make him/her sound like a true rock and roll star. There aren’t even any real strings – which is probably a good thing if your child is anything like mine (always breaking things). Instead of strings there is simply printed ones.

The guitars are also lightweight which makes them very much portable and again ideal for even the smallest of children.

I have to say that I am very much looking forward to having a play on the guitar myself as I have always wanted to be a rock star – I only hope that my son let’s me have a go. Maybe I should have a quick chat to him about sharing before Christmas arrives!

Dolls house furniture can instantly bring more happiness and joy to your little girl’s childhood years. Other than being able to play with her own doll, your little girl will also love creating a home for her precious dolls. By collecting furniture and moving them around her miniature house every now and then, she can make her first dream home come true.

Types of miniature furniture

Different types of miniature furniture are readily available on the market. Victorian, traditional, and contemporary pieces of furniture can enhance the appeal of your child’s play house. You can even buy her furniture for the exterior – conservatory, garden, tennis court, stable, or even a swimming pool. By filling every area of her doll house with unique furniture, you can stimulate her imagination and give her everything that she needs to create a luxurious miniature world.

Try looking for dolls house furniture that is close to real-life designs. The more realistic your child’s furniture collection seems, the more she will enjoy playing with them. Kitchen appliances, bathroom accessories, and bedroom furniture all help to make her dolls house resemble a real home.

Pieces of furniture for dollhouses are also available in different materials and designs. Some of them are made from plastic, while some of them are made from wood or porcelain. You can even purchase custom-made furniture for your kid in order to make her miniature home seem more special and unique.

Collecting miniature furniture

Encourage your child to collect different kinds of miniatures. After all, this small thing can also turn out as her future hobby. By collecting furniture for her play home, she can explore exciting worlds she has never been to before.

If you are a huge collector of doll house furniture, you also have the option to turn your collection into your family’s heirloom. By passing down exquisite pieces of furniture from one generation to another, you can weave your own family’s history and make it as unique as it can be.

The magic of imaginative play

The best way to nurture your little girls growth involves the need to stimulate her imagination. Instead of allowing her to spend the entire day watching television or playing video games, you can engage her in the therapeutic effects of play. By playing with her dolls and arranging their furniture, she can finally reach a world that is beyond the limits of her imagination.

Now that you know more about dolls house furniture, you realise that you can use these playthings to motivate your little girl as she puts her creative ideas to good use. Just watch her absorbed happy little face as she redesigns the layout of her furnishings yet again.

Are you looking to purchase the Mickey Dance Star by Fisher-Price? I am about to tell you where you can get this amazing toy at a low price, but first would like to share with you some more information on what makes this product a goodie for your child. Mickey Dance Star – otherwise known as Dance Star Mickey, is said to be the hottest item for the 2010 holiday season manufactured by Fisher-Price and Disney. While making its debut on ‘Dancing With The Stars’ courtesy of Donny Osmond, the toy was given rave reviews and a five star rating. This amazing toy can do a number of different things including:

• Talk
• Sing
• Clap
• Dance
• Tells jokes
• And plays games…

The movements are animated and very smooth in motion. The doll ranges about 2 feet tall and is so soft and huggable that your child can cuddle with it always. Mickey is age appropriate for children 2 and over, and runs on 6 AA batteries. It operates from a simple push on his foot, and is very easy to turn on and off. Your child can have hours of enjoyment at a time with this great new toy!

Where can you get this hot new item at a low price?

The internet is probably your best source to finding good deals on Mickey Dance Star. Retail stores across the country will probably run out of this item quickly, being that it was just released. I have done extensive research in trying to find the best place to purchase this item.

Before the introduction of the Barbie doll fifty years ago, children played with dolls that looked like infants. Its makers – Mattel, if you have been living under a rock the past few years – determined that little girls also wanted to play with dolls that resembled adults and, thus, can be played in various fashion roles. The Barbie Holiday Doll 2010 continues that tradition.

You have probably tucked away a couple, maybe even enough to fill a large closet, of Barbie dolls from your childhood. In fact, most serious collectors of Barbie dolls started their fascination for the curvy dolls during their childhood years, which continues to peak today when Mattel issues a new series every year.

Anyways, the Christmas Barbie 2010 is yet another item to add to your collection. You will observe that manufacturer descriptions of the product specifically state that it is for the adult collector. But don’t let that deter you from giving it to your own daughter for her own enjoyment. At just $40 to $45 per doll, you can definitely afford it as a special Christmas gift.

Now, if you are going to purchase the Barbie Holiday Doll 2010 as a gift for yourself and to add to your collection – just because you deserve it after all the hard work in the past months – you will notice that the box in which the doll is delivered does not have a seal. Only a tape is in place to keep the doll inside the box.

You may worry about lesser value in the future because of the absence of the seal. We suggest just letting the tape as is since serious collectors will not look for a seal when they know none exists. Often, tampering with the box in any way lessens the value of the collector’s item and the 2010 Barbie Holiday Doll package is no exemption.

Now, let’s go back to the qualities that make the Holiday Barbie Doll 2010 a collector’s item. Your eyes will immediately be drawn to the snowy white ballroom-style gown made from sheer fabrics arranged in layers. There’s something so princess-like about it that immediately conjures up images of Cinderella and her coterie of fairytale princesses.

But of course, the strapless bodice is too modern to be worn by these fairytales damsels-in-distress. You will love how the gold and red patterns on the bodice combine in a classic with a modern touch kind of way so much so that your grandchildren 50 years from now will still find the entire gown up to their times.

But that’s not all. Just in case Barbie becomes cold during the party, a floor-length wrap is added for good measure. Add in the magnificent headdress and the glorious chandelier earrings and Barbie is set to conquer the gala or the ballroom party or the wherever it is she decides to spend the holidays.

We only have two complaints with this doll. It cannot stand on its own two feet unlike the other Barbie dolls and its red ribbon seems at home more on the box than on the fashion doll. In short, it looks a tad tacky.

Still, if you can overlook such small oversights, then the Holiday Barbie Doll 2010 is one of the best purchases this Christmas.

A children’s bike, especially a balance bike, is quickly becoming one of the most favored play toys for children. Children absolutely love the fact that they can easily maneuver the bike around without having to use pedals or rely on training wheels. If you’ve bought a child’s bike then you will definitely be interested in the accessories that go with children’s bike.

1. Helmets

When purchasing your children’s bike from your retailer make sure that have a fantastic range of helmets to choose from. Kids want helmets that say something about them. There should be a definite difference between the girls’ and the boys’ helmets. Raleigh helmets are the most popular brand at the moment for children. They have a great assortment of helmets in different colours and designs. It’s also extremely important to purchase a helmet for your child. At no time should your child ride a bike without having a helmet on first. Helmets are inexpensive ranging between twenty four pounds and thirty pounds depending on the model you purchase.

2. A bell

While the bell might be an old classic it’s still a favourite amongst kids these days. Purchase a bell that will neatly go around the handlebars so that your child can enjoy it as much as you did when you were a kid. This children’s bike accessory is inexpensive but well worth the money.

3. Extra Long Seat Post with Saddle

Depending on who you buy your balance bike from, the bike can last from the age of one to five. However with an extra long seat post with saddle you can further elongate the bicycle saddle height even more. These accessories usually add another three inches to the actual saddle height. This is perfect if your child doesn’t want to give up their balance bike just yet.

4. Stickers

Stickers are one of the quickest and most affordable ways to personalise a bicycle. Take your child shopping so that they can pick out a couple of stickers to adorn their bicycle with. The bike will automatically stand out and make your child feel good about their possession.

5. Knee & Elbow Pads
To make sure your child has even more protection when cycling, purchase knee and elbow pads. When falling from a bicycle these are the most common areas that get hurt or scratched. You can prevent this buy making sure your child wears these at all times.

Boys and men of all ages have always been fascinated by radio controlled toys and vehicles. It is always fun to race your radio controlled trucks over rough terrains with your friends. These products are readily available online on a number of websites. You could choose from a number of models in different designs and styles. The make exact replica’s of road going vehicles as well as models of their own. Another item which is becoming increasingly popular are digital train sets.

These sets make for an ideal gift for your children and are being collected by many enthusiasts the world over. They also come in a number of styles and designs. There are a number of themes you could choose from as well. These trains are all radio and remote controlled. They can reach high speeds and are quite enjoyable to play with. You can buy a set which would come with tunnels, Buildings, mountains, ponds, lakes and waterfalls. These make an ideal addition to your garden or backyard. You could choose one which would blend into the theme of your home. Remember to choose one which would merge well with the surroundings of your home.

Radio Controlled trucks are also fun toys to own. They are great for off- road racing and are built to be strong and durable. You can take them over all sorts of terrain as they come with a pretty powerful motor. These radio controlled trucks are capable of reaching speeds of up to 50 miles an hour making them a great collectable for enthusiasts. There many people who have local racing communities. They meet quite often and race these toys over a custom made off – road race course. People often customize their own trucks and paint them in different ways. People often think that these products are only meant for kids but there are a lot of enthusiasts who buy these items as collectables.

It doesn’t stop there as you could buy a wide array of RC vehicles online. You could buy RC boats which are frighteningly fast. They also can be controlled from quite a huge distance away. Most RC boats can be controlled for up to 300 meters. You could also buy RC helicopters, RC airplanes, RC robots, RC submarines, RC Blimps, RC tanks. But my personal favorite is the Remote control trucks. So go ahead and visit these stores to find a product that you like.

One of the most wanted Christmas gifts for girls from 4 to 8 years old is likely to be the Calico Critters Luxury Townhouse, from International Playthings. Here’s a brief overview of what you’ll get and whether this is a good choice of gift for your little girl.

What Are Calico Critters?

They are the now famed miniature creatures who enjoy living in realistic homes with various items of furniture and accessories. The animals, as well as their habitats, are well known for attention to detail – which is why they are adored by little girls!

The world of Calico Critters has several characters to collect, who live on Cloverleaf Corners. Each character has a unique part to play in the community. They love to be around their family and friends – and the new Townhouse provides the perfect setting.

What Is the Calico Critters Luxury Townhouse?

It isn’t difficult to see why little girls will love this house, which is the perfect home for their Critters. The Townhouse includes four rooms, which can be expanded into five if needed. The whole house can open and close, keeping things tidy when it’s not being played with, and it even features working lights!

The Calico Critters Luxury Townhouse is also a wonderful present for children who like to be creative. The Townhouse is designed to be decorated however your little girl wants. The staircase and extra floor area can even be rearranged to transform the home layout.

What You’ll Get:

* The Townhouse (measures 12x12x12 inches),
* Lights that turn on and off,
* Four rooms plus a room divider to create a fifth room,
* Moveable staircase.

It’s important to point out that this house doesn’t come with any Critters. This has led to disappointment for some little girls, so if yours doesn’t have some Critters already, do buy a starter set along with this Townhouse and she’ll be playing in no time!

Should You Buy the Calico Critters Luxury Townhouse?

The Critters and their accessories may not be the cheapest gifts this Christmas, with a recommended retail price of $79.99, but they are sure to be some of the most treasured toys among girls in the 4-8 age group. They are extremely well made, and include a level of detail that other toy brands often miss out. If your little girl is mad for Calico Critters then the Townhouse is a sure winner!

Have your kids been consistently begging and pleading for a pet? Do they want a puppy or a kitty or perhaps even something more exotic like lizards or snakes? Live pets are a really big responsibility. They must have food, water, shelter, exercise, and not to mention, love and nurturing.

Parents may be reluctant to buy young children pets since they may not be responsible enough to be caretakers. Parents often become the primary caretakers of the live pets once the newness has worn off. Additionally, some children may live in a building or home where pets are not allowed.

Allergies may even prevent some children from becoming pet owners. Moms and Dads everywhere in search of an alternative have never been in such a fortunate position. Advances in technology and ingenuity have led to major strides in the development of electronic pets.

While they are not the real thing, these toy pets could aid in filling a gap and serving a need for a child to provide loving care and bond with a special friend. Electronic pets provide kids with an opportunity to own dogs, cats, hamsters, and even more exotic animals like a chimpanzee or a lion.

Of all the toymakers out there that produce electronic pets, Habro has quite an extensive line. FurReal Friends by Hasbro not only has several different types of puppies and kittens, they also have a parrot, a panda, a raccoon, and a chipmunk.

Your child can even have her very own pony that moves and reacts to her. Several of these interactive electronic pets come mature or in the newborn variety. The newborn pets come with bottles and are perfect for your child to cuddle and really care for. Many of these pets look and sound incredibly realistic. Your child will cherish a ForReal pet to call her own.

Other very popular toy pets are the little electronic hamsters known as Zhu Zhu Pets. Live hamsters are not only be pretty messy and smelly, they can also be quite fragile. With the highly adaptable Zhu Zhu Pets, there is no risk of unintended harm to your pet. These furry friends come in such a wide selection of pets and accessories for boys and girls alike.

Electronic pets can be of great assistance in training your child how to be a caretaker for a live pet someday. Toy kittens and puppies can give parents opportunities to coach kids on how to properly interact with and tend to real pets.

From earlier toys like Furby to newer lines like Kung Zhu Pets, every child can have a pet he loves. Owning a live pet may not be viable for your family. However, with the widespread availability and the colorful variety of electronic pets on the market, every family is sure to find one that they will love.

These pets don’t require food or special habitats and there is no risk of them making a mess all over your house. Kids will love them and parents will definitely approve of the electronic pets that you can buy today.