Conference moira::parenting_v3

    At one year, most kids are just discovering the concept that some
    things fit inside other things.  So they'll have hours of fun with 
    a set of nested plastic bowls with snap-on lids that don't stay on
    too terribly well, so they're easy for little fingers to get on
    and off.  The cheap kind you get at Woolworth's work well.
    
    Something to put in the bowls would add to the fun.  Plastic
    blocks, perhaps, or small plastic cups, or unbreakable
    miscellaneous cooking utinsels that don't have small parts that
    might break off.  
    
    If you really want to splurge,  add a set of smooth-sanded wooden
    spoons -- make sure they don't have slivers.  If you have time and
    want to personalize them, you can seal them with a lead-free
    varnish or paint.  They can stir, bang, chew, wave, chase the cat,
    etc. etc. etc. 
    
    --bonnie 

    There were 4 birthday toys that my son got for his first birthday which
    are still his favorites. 
    
    Little Tyke Wagon - not real big, you can pull them in it and they can
    	pull their toys
    
    Fisher-Price Bubble Lawn Mower - noise maker but a requirement for
    	summers
    
    Fisher-Price Little Helper Cart - includes a broom, rake, shovels,
    	pail, weed-wacker, dust buster and the cart to neatly store it all
    
    A 2-step slide made of heavy plastic and rounded edges.
    
    He is now 2.5 and still plays with all of these. With the exception of
    the lawn mower, they can all be used indoors or out. The bubble mower
    is a little to loud for indoor use all the time (you don't have to add
    the bubble mixture). 
    
    Happy toy shopping!! 
    
    Andrea (the_aunt_who_usually_gives_clothes)

    Another thing my son loved while learning to walk (don't know what
    stage your nephew is at) was the Walk-N-Ride carts. These are little
    carts where they can sit on them and scoot around or the seat flips up
    and becomes the bar for holding on to while learning how to walk. They
    can also store things under the seat. My son loved his and it is a
    great modility "tool".
    
    Andrea 

    Tupperware makes a toy called "Shape-O" that cost ~$10.   It's a
    red/blue squared-ball (how's that for a description @$%) that has 
    about 12 different shaped cutouts that you drop the appropriately
    shaped block through.
    
    My son, 11 months, has been working on this one for a couple of months
    and really enjoys it (if he's not too tired).   I suspect that it'll
    be a favorite for some time.   For now, I show him the hole that 
    he needs to put the block through and that's challenge enough.  Before
    long, he should be able to decide for himself.
    
    Another suggestion would be the Playskool (or any variety on the same
    idea) Busy Beads.   Our pedi's office has a set of these and I've
    seen kids from 9mos-6 years play with it.
    
    Carol

    Bonnie's idea in .1 about the nesting bowls is a good one. Someone
    gave my son a set of nesting plastic beakers when he was 1, and he
    still uses them in the tub or at the beach. He has played with them
    nearly every day for a year and a half. They stack to make a tower, 
    which 1-year-olds love to knock over - he soon learned to build the
    tower himself. Then he began using them for pouring from one to
    another. He used the biggest one as a hat for a while. Three of the
    beakers have holes in the bottom, so he makes showers for himself and
    his toys, or pushes them down into water to watch them fill through
    the holes, or fills them with sand and lets it run out. I love toys
    like this!
    
    Lucy 
    

    I second the walker/rider toy that Andrea mentioned.  My neice
    didn't walk until well after her 1st birthday.  I gave her
    a Smurf ride on toy and it really helped her learn to walk.  
    I've since given it to other neices for their 1st birthdays
    with equal success.
    
    My son (9 mos) has the Pick Up and Go Truck (Fisher Price makes
    it I think) and he loves it!  He's already walking with it all
    over the house.  This truck comes with blocks that he can "run
    over" and it scoops them up.  It also has cut out shapes on top
    of the cab of the truck that you can match with the blocks and
    drop into the truck. (on the same idea of the Tupperware Shape-O
    toy).
    
    Another idea (mentioned in PARENTING V2) is starting him out
    with a collection of the Brio train set.  You could give him
    one for each birthday and gift giving holiday.  Steven has
    the starter set, and I'm planning on adding on at birthdays
    and Christmas.
    
    One neice LOVED Mickey Mouse, for her birthday we gave her
    a big stuffed Mickey Mouse.  You could find out if there are
    any Sesame St or Disney characters that your nephew may be
    fond of too.
    
    Good luck!  Linda
    

    I just came across my son's first books, 1st birthday gifts. He was
    fascinated with them. They were hard cardboard throughout--even the
    pages, so occassional chewing/throwing did little damage.  One was
    about baby animals and we spent hours (it seems!) making the animal
    sounds. He's sit on our laps and let us read to him for long periods
    of time --especially for his 1 yr. old attention span. Now he's just
    about 4 and still fascinated with books. 

    Another idea I just thought of....my son loved (and still does) all the
    Walt Disney Sing-along videos. They run about 25-30 minutes and are
    songs from all the different movies. The "Bare Necessities" was the
    first tape I got him and it is all animals singing the songs like the
    ones from the Jungle Book, Pinnoccio, Old Yeller, etc. It was great when
    he was about a year old because he was learning animals and suddenly
    all the animals he had been seeing in books came alive. 
    
    We know all the words by heart (I did before getting the tapes I admit)
    and my son adores them. I would suggest asking the parents about their
    feelings about videos - they might be totally against them. I
    personally found them a great learning tool (we sing, dance, just
    watch, etc) and often a god-send to have fun music playing and know my
    son was sitting in one place while I could cook dinner.
    
    We have all 4 in the series and will get the Christmas sing-along soon.
    We've now moved into the Winnie the Pooh series.
    
    Andrea

My son's favorite toys are ones he got for his first birthday (he is now
over 2 yrs. old) and he still gets alot of mileage out of them.  They are:

1. The Fisher-Price bubble mower, mentioned earlier.

2. The Fisher-Price corn popper.  That is a big plastic bubble on wheels 
	filled with colored balls, attached to a wooden stick.  He can push 
	or pull it.  The motion makes a popping sound and the balls jump
	around inside the bubble.  (He calls it his vacuum, and he likes to
	use it to vacuum the rug.)

RE: -.1  Where do you get those Disney sing-along videos?  I've looked for
	them in stores and haven't seen them.  Are they in the music section
	or the video section?

� �ori

�RE: -.1  Where do you get those Disney sing-along videos?  I've looked for
�	them in stores and haven't seen them.  Are they in the music section
�	or the video section?

You might try the specialty toy stores (I call them yuppy toy stores) like the 
Early Learning Centre and Learning Express.  I think they are chains, so they 
should exist nationally, but in case they aren't in your area, they are small 
toy stores, typically in shopping malls that carry lines of toys like Brio, 
Lego, and the like.  They tend to be expensive, but (IMO) not overpriced.  
Don't remember if they have Disney stuff, but I'm sure they have the Sesame 
Street videos and tapes.

Clay

    
    
    RE. .8
    You can get the Walt Disney videos in the Walt Disney Stores
    (Burlington Mall, Pheasant Lane I think as well) and through the Disney
    catalog but I have gotten all of ours and the ones given as gifts from
    Purity Supreme. If you aren't from the MA area, Purity is a grocery
    store that has a pretty large video rental and sales department. They 
    were no more the $9.99 each there and Purity often has "sales". 
    The ones in Walt Disney store were $12.99 I think. Personally, I have 
    never seen them in stores like Early Learning Center because they
    aren't really for learning but for fun and entertainmemt (same way they
    don't sell coloring books).
    
    Try Lechmere or maybe Service Merchandise or any video store that has a
    good selection of children videos and also does sales. Super Stop N
    Shop might also carry them (they do vidoe as well, I think?).
    
    Andrea
               

    For my son's first birthday, we got him:
    
    - Disney sing-along videos, we got them at BJ's Wholesale Club.
      Don't know do they still carry the Disney videos.
    
    - Lego blocks, which he loves.
    
    - and books, Eric just loves to read.  I read to him since the
      day we came back from hospital.  By 1 year old, he already
      had a huge selection of books.  Now at 2, he is the one
      telling stories at bed time.
    
    Wendy

    Disney also has a very nice set of books with a record that reads
    the story.  Tinkerbell rings her little chimes to tell when to
    turn the page.  Great for those days when your kid insists on
    being read to, but you don't have the time. 
    
    These are better for older children, maybe 3 or 4, but I thought
    I'd mention them here since it's something that children who have
    enjoyed the videos often enjoy "graduating" to a little later.
    
    --bonnie

re: .12 Lego blocks

I suggest the "Duplo" blocks.  They are made by the same company that makes 
Legos, but are much much bigger.  Since they are bigger, they are easier to 
manipulate (and just about impossible to swallow) for infants and toddlers.  
The most wonderful thing about them, IMO, is that long after a toddler stops 
playing with their infant toys, s/he will still be putting together Legos.

Clay

    Re: Clay,
    
    I do mean "Duplo" blocks.  You are right, "Duplo" blocks are much
    bigger and are designed for young toddlers.  Thanks for pointing
    it out.
    
    Wendy

    I would vote for Duplo's! Of all the toys my kids ever got,
    Duplo's/Lego's are the all time favorites. The 5 yr. old still plays
    with the Duplo's which fit together nicely with his smaller Lego's, the
    3 yr. old, seems to still prefer Duplo's but is getting more proficient
    at using the Lego's, and the 15 mon. old *loves* the Duplo's with a
    passion, although is, at this stage, much better at taking apart things
    his brother and sister make for him , than putting them together...but,
    whatever...he has a blast! And you can easily add on to these toys,
    buying more pieces, specialized sets (with animals, wheels, etc.), and
    on and on! A superb toy!
    --dave--

    Maybe my son is the only one but out of all the expensive, wonderful,
    imaginative gifts he received (there were MANY-only grandchild on
    both sides) his very favorite gift was a $.69 folding comb/brush
    that I got him basically just because I saw it at the grocery store.
    It's been a month and a half since his birthday and still the comb
    gets played with more than the other gifts.  Another fave toy was
    a large super ball in dayglo pink.  He does play with the fancy
    toys he received, too, but have to say the cheapest simple things
    were his favorites.  Boy, won't he be thrilled to look at his birthday
    video later and see that out of all the fantastic toys, packages,
    etc. he played with the 69 cent comb for the entire two hour video.
    
    I guess the commercialism can wait!
    
    Pam

    
    re. 17
    
    Your kid is not the only one. My daughter doesn't care too
    much about expensive or high tech toys. She loves all the
    try and true toys like yo-yos, bouncy balls, slinkies,
    jump ropes, etc. We don't buy her big presents anymore,
    she'd rather have a whole bunch of little silly things.
    
    
    Eva.

    re: .17 & .18
    
    Make that three.  My son's favorites are FREE!...empty milk
    cartons, laundry detergent bottles.   He also likes to chew
    on a toothbrush and the toothpaste tube.
    
    cj/

    re: .17 - .19
    
    Yes, I remember kids at this age, loves pots and pans.
    I used to give Eric some empty bottles, spoons, pots and pans
    and he could play for hours.  He just turned two last
    week.  We gave him Fisher-Price toddler kitchen for his
    birthday gift.  He loves it.   
    
    Wendy

Actually I remember at one, and I think two, the gifts, expensive or cheap 
were pretty much ignored, but the paper, bows, and boxes kept them occupied 
for hours.  Which leads me to suggest a great gift is a refrigerator.  Throw 
out the refrigerator (of course having taken off the door first) and give 'em 
the box.

Clay

    the duplo are great -- my kids [6.5 and 2.75] mix them with the smaller
    lego and have a blast.
    
    i too have a nephew turning 1 next month, only he's got an older
    sister, who already has scads of toys. short of buying him [insert
    sexist remarks here!] truck- and car-related things, (BTW my daughter
    plays with her brothers' trucks, just puts her dolls in them for rides!)
    or clothes, how do you not duplicate things?  I know my brother has all 
    his lego saved for his kids; maybe the duplo would be the trick.  easy to 
    pack too since they live in the chicago area and it all has to be mailed.
    
    sandy

    My daugther will be 1yr old next week. I need some help identifying
    some appropriate toys etc for her age group. Any suggestions are
    welcome.
    
    clotelle

    
    I've seen notes for gift ideas for kids of all ages, but I'm looking
    for a special idea for our daughter's very 1st birthday.  We'll be
    getting her a few things she really needs, but se'd like to get her
    something special too.  Any ideas?
    
    Thanks in advance,
    Bev

    My daughter will turn 1 in December. I've already bought an
    'Add a Pearl' necklace for her. (Other 'gift' notes give the 
    details on these.)

    What do you mean by something special?
    
    A keepsake, such as a necklace?
    
    Or something she will enjoy right now, such as a book or a toy?
    
    If you are talking keepsakes, consider investing money towards her
    education.
    
    Laura

    A coworker here gave me the idea of planting a tree on the child's
    birthday. Then, every year on the birthday, they take a picture of
    the child standing in front of the tree.
    
    Freddie

    I would suggest Add a Pearl Necklace.  My daughter received one as a
    Christening Gift.  She will be 4 in November, she already has 12 6mm
    pearls. It is really nice.  I started one for my niece.  I get her a
    pearl for her birthday and Christmas.  Each pearl cost $20.00. When
    you have at least 4 pearls you may bring it to the store to be strung.
    Erin's was purchased at Stewart and Duvarney in Clinton.  She also 
    has a heart shape birthstone ring.  It is really easy to buy something
    senimental for a girl.  What would you buy for a boy?
    
    Amy  P.S  Just think she will have a string of pearls by the time
              she gets married!
    

    You can also get a girl a gold charm bracelet and add charms as she grows.

    How about the Peter Rabbit Birthday Plate by Wedgwood.  You can order
    one through "The Emerald Collection" catalogue.  The cost is $18.00
    plus shipping.  They also carry the Peter Rabbit Christmas plates.
    
    Julie
    

    
    $100.00 in her bank account.  She was deluged by the toys,
    dolls, figurines and clothes from all the relatives and friends. 
    
    Rochelle

    I'm the "practical" one, and for his first birthday, which
    unfortunately fell a week after THE First Christmas, we bought a carved
    wooden rocking horse, with a yarn mane.
    
    It was a little big for him then, but he still uses it now 4+ years
    later, and we hope someday that he can have it to pass on to his
    children.
    
    For my neices we've given collectable porceline dolls, again in the
    hope they can pass them on to another generation.  We've also done the
    engraved silver things routine as well.

    
    
    	RE: .32
    
    	We've also started to collect some porcelain dolls for our
    	daughter.  I've also got a small collection of hardcover
    	Walt Disney Books.. I don't know whether they'll be worth
    	anything or not but they're a nice keepsake.
    
    	/Kim

    Speaking of collections and silver....My son's great grandmother gave
    them each a cup at birth.  The second son received a pewter cup (highly
    recommended) and the first received a silver cup!  UGH!  I c an't keep
    the silver one clean.  I know this is not the place to ask, but what is
    the best silver cleaner?
    
    May I suggest not giving silver - from my point of view, I love to
    polish it, but I find it very hard to keep up with and to keep in good
    shape especially after it's been stored.  Go with a low maintenance
    item...
    
    Thanks
    -sandy
    

    I can offer a suggestion for cleaning silver, having had to polish lots
    of silver just last week for a friend's special occation.
    
    I bought a bottle of TARNEX at K-mart.  It is very hard to find these
    days, I called at least 6 other stores before I found it, it costs just
    under $5.  
    
    Of course there is the cream polish, but that means smear it on, let it
    dry, wipe it off, and hope none of it get stuck in the little details. 
    Of course the polish says "not to use the dip method polishes, they
    will tend to dull the finish", but my opinion is that's a marketing
    line, since I dipped my parents' terribly blackened silver flatware and
    it was beautiful almost instantly.  I got so carried away I used it and
    a toothbrush to do my rings and some jewelry with lots of detail, it's
    beautiful.  I will warn you though, the stuff smells like the worst
    diaper you could imagine!
    
    I try to keep my silver in either plastic bags or inside my china
    cabinet/hutch to prevent the tarnish.  The flatware is in ziploc bags.
    That at least works for me.
    
    Lyn

    I don't know if this really works as I just read it recently. It said
    to store your silver with a piece of aluminum foil it will prevent
    tarnish. Worth a try I guess.
    
    Trudy

    
    I also meant to address the gift idea, sorry.  We give my daughter a
    piece of Precious Moments figurene's for special days. She has quite a
    collection. For my son we get baseball cards. He has a massive
    collection!!!
    
    Trudy

    
    Forgive me for joining in this rathole but the last few comments
    regarding the care of silver and silverplate caught my attention.
    
    Alas, please forgive me for plagarizing STUART's scientific prose  - but 
    this time I have the facts!
    
    It is NOT a good idea to store your silver or silver plate in
    aluminum foil.  Aluminum [aluminium to Stuart] and silver are
    dissimilar metals.  That is at opposite ends of the galvanic scale,
    with aluminum being anodic and silver being cathodic.  
    
    Dissimilar metals = CORROSION, granted the aluminum would corrode
    before the silver but it would certainly leave it mark on the silver.
    This is the reason you separate silver from stainless in the dishwasher
    basket.
    
    As for TARNEX, there is a reason its hard to find.  The stuff is very
    toxic and should not be used on anything you want to keep. Especially
    silver plate. After several uses, you may notice that you only have the
    material that was plated, not the silver.  TARNEX chemically etches the 
    oxidation off. Silver polish requires more effort but is much gentler.
    
    
    Rochelle {married to Kevin the Metallurgical Engineer}