The G Scale Model Train - Big Toys For the Big Boys

Trains are not just toys for kids, especially now in a time where the hobby of collecting model railroads (or more popularly known as locomotives) are on the rise to become one of the world's oldest and most popular hobbies. The G scale locomotive, a large kind of locomotive, is gaining popularity as it is literally a big toy for a big boy.

Why are G scale trains so popular to hobbyists? G scale trains are popular for its large size (it is the largest of the most popular scales). The G scale is a part of the group of large scale trains which all run on a Number 1 gauge track (45 mm between rails). These model locomotives are calculated by the ratio of the toy train to a real train. The G scale locomotive boasts a ratio of 1:22 which means it is one twenty-second of the size of an actual train prototype. This means that it only takes 22 G scale locomotives lined up to match the prototype in length.

There are other popular types of large miniature trains. The O scale (still a part of the large train group) has a ratio of 1:48, lower than that of the G scale (actually half the size of the G scale). However, almost nothing can match the G scale locomotives in size. These locomotives are extremely large compared to regular toy trains.

G in the term G scale is believed to come from the term Garden Railroading. It can also be because of the German word groß. Groß literally means large which is appropriate in view of the fact that these models started out in Germany. These models are about 26.7 inches in length and 6.0 inches in height.

The first G scale locomotive was pioneered by Ernst Paul Lehmann. Patentwerk, a German company, referred to as Lehmann Gross Bahn (Lehmann Big Train in English) was founded on this type of train. Patentwerk started out in 1881. The company then branched out to the USA where LGB of America was founded. Aristocraft and Bachmann are only some of the well-known manufacturers of G scales in America.

G scale locomotives are also perfect for children since small trains are not suitable for kids. These trains are easily broken due to their small size. With their small parts and potential choking hazards, these trains aren't kid's toys. The N scale is only about 4.8 inches in length and about 1.1 inches in height, thus making it a small train unfit for kid use.

G scale locomotives are recommended for outdoor types of hobbyists. Since G scale trains are very durable and are suitable for gardens. The G scale tracks are usually brass-made so these types of trains do not need to be maintained a lot. Sometimes, a solitary swab of clean cloth on the tracks is all you need to keep it clean. These big locomotives are popular in the market nowadays due to the fact that they are very durable, thus making them last for a long, long period of time and can be handed down to different generations.

The hobby of collecting miniature locomotives is a good way to release the inner child in you. Especially with the G scale model train, it is truly a big toy for the big boys.

James Stonebright is a model train enthusiast and loves collecting the different types of toy model train. For more great information on G Scale Model Trains [http://www.modeltrainsgalore.com/g-scale-model-trains/], visit [http://www.modeltrainsgalore.com/].

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How to Choose Kid Friendly Toys

If you are looking to buy a toy for your child or someone else's, it is important to make sure that the toy is safe and child friendly. There are a lot of toys being made these days in countries that do not have very good manufacturing standards and so it is especially important to be vigilant concerning the toys that your child comes in contact with. In this short piece, I will give you certain tips and suggestions about picking great child friendly toys that your kids will love and cherish.

When it comes to very young children, the biggest risk is that of choking on small parts. Kids tend to put small objects in their mouth and it is very easy for them to choke on a small piece of plastic so you should be especially careful when buying toys for smaller kids. Look for labels that imply choking hazards and stay away from those toys for smaller children. Remember, the most important thing that you can do as a parent is to supervise your kids. There is no substitute for that.

Because safety standards are constantly improving and we are learning more about our world and the way chemicals affect us every day, it is important to keep older toys and hand-me-downs away from small children. Hand-me-downs have a lot of emotional value but may actually be very dirty. A lot of older stuffed animals, for example, may have germs and bacteria that would not be very healthy for young kids. Also, they may be made from materials that are now considered unsafe for young children.

One other thing to keep in mind is to make sure that the toys are not made from flammable material. Children are intrigued by fire and it is a good idea to surround them with flame resistant materials. Also, if you are considering buying a stuffed animal or a plush toy, then think about getting one that is washable. Kids tend to get very messy at times and washing their stuffed toys in a timely manner can prevent a lot of infections and diseases. If you have pets around, their hair can also get stuck in stuffed toys so it is vital to always wash your kid's teddy bears regularly.

A few years ago lead paint was the norm. These days we have realized the dangers of certain forms of lead and actively keep it away from our children. Make sure that your children's toys are made from lead-free paint. This is another reason not to give them older toys because they also may contain lead paint and that is a significant health risk for children.

Finally, a blanket tip is to make sure that all your kid's toys are made from non-toxic materials. Kids tend to put random objects in their mouths and many emergency room visits are the result of children swallowing toys. These include any small toys and especially crayons and erasers. So it makes sense to choose toys that are made from non-toxic materials so as to avoid expensive emergency room bills and sleepless nights. Let's keep our kids safe and make sure that their childhood remains happy and fulfilled.

Take a look at Melissa and Doug Puzzles for some wonderful gift ideas as well as my blog on gifts

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The Miracle of Kid's Toys

Kid's toys aren't just for fun. Toys make amazing rewards that can encourage kids to behave. Toys can be used to encourage general good behavior or you can use them to teach manners, stop phone interruptions and more. The power of kid's toys is utterly amazing when you start using them as leverage for positive behavior.

How Kid's Toys can Encourage Overall Good Behavior

Get three of anything. It can be three pennies, three rocks, three small toys etc... Put the three items in a drawer. Get a plastic cup and put your child's name on it. If you catch your child doing something really nice during the day like using good manners, doing chores, being nice to a sibling or more then pull out one of the three items and place it in your child's cup.

Tell your child that he earned 1 point for his good behavior and compliment him on a job well done! Explain that if he earns 3 point in a day you'll play with him and his favorite toy at day's end. Now if 3 points are too easy, you might want to push it up to 5 or more, depending on your child. When play time arrives, count up the points and if he's earned the right number let him go and get his favorite toy of the day and play with him for at least 30 minutes. You'll find that doing this will improve your child's behavior very quickly and once he learns that you'll play "his way" for 30 minutes he'll be very determined to earn those points every day!

Using Kid's Toys to Teach Manners

If your child has a favorite doll or stuffed animal then you're in luck. You can use his furry friends to help teach him good manners. You'll first need to write down a list of manners that you want your child to learn. Do you want to teach him table manners and help him learn to say please and thank you often? Do you want him to know how to address adults like Mrs. Smith instead of using first names? Do you want to teach him how to say hello and goodbye on the phone and in person? What you teach your child is up to you, but it's a good idea to write a list and practice often till it sinks in.

To teach table manners, have your child bring is favorite stuffed animal or doll to dinner. Ask him how his doll should be sitting and have him place his doll in the appropriate seated position. Then ask your child to do as doll does. Then ask him to tell you what his doll should do if he wants to talk, but has a mouth full of food. Use his doll as an example for every table manner you want to teach your child. You can even have him place a napkin on dolly's lap. You could have your child roll play his "inside" voice talking through his doll and even talk about how dolly could use his manners at a restaurant.

After dinner, head to the family room and sit your child and doll on the couch. Ask your child to have his dolly use the words please and thank you correctly. Roll play with the doll. Encourage your child to have fun with the roll plays to really "show off" his knowledge of good manners. Let him add lib and make things up and ask him to have dolly show you all the good manners that he has. This can be very fun, as well as, quite educational and effective at teaching manners.

Using Kid's Toys to Stop Phone Interruptions

All parents have been on an important phone call and had their child yell, "Mommy!" over and over again. This is annoying for mom and annoying to the caller, but it can be prevented by simply creating a phone call kid's toy box. First step is to get a box. You can choose a pretty handbasket or plastic bin depending on where you want to keep the container. Get a box that's big enough to fit 2 or 3 kid's toys. Then you'll want to choose some toys to put in it. I'd advocate choosing toys that encourage long-time play such as: blocks, pretend play toys, puzzles or anything else that will keep your child's attention.

Discuss, with your child, the importance of letting you have a quiet phone call. Let him know that he now has a special "phone toy box" that can only be opened when you're on a phone call. Show him the box and the special toys inside. Tell him that every time you're on the phone he can play with those toys. Let him know that if he's really good you'll let him choose some new toys every 2, 4 or 6 months (depending on what you decide and your budget) that he can put in his phone toy box.

If he's quiet while you're on the phone then he can keep playing with his special toys until the call is over. If he interrupts, then the toys go back up on the shelf straightaway. If he needs to tell you something "important" you can practice teaching him how to interrupt the nice way. Have him walk over to you and place his hand on your arm or knee and wait till you excuse yourself from the call. Teach him not make noise as he approaches.

As you start using toys as rewards you'll encounter how much fun it can be to teach your child good behavior without having to use negative consequences. These techniques are a win/win for you and your child because each of you will get what you want in the end!

Kids learn best through play so it's important to spend fun time with your child every day. Kim Proulx, a Certified Parent Coach, gives fun ways to use kid's toys to encourage positive behavior.

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Soft Activity Centers - Perfect Toys For Growing Kids

In a perfect world, it's good to let kids be kids and have fun outside so they can have their adventures. But since we're living in a not so perfect world, it would be best that younger toddlers play inside most of the time. This will provide the safety and comfort that they usually need. But with soft activity centers, they can have their adventures as well.

This is the best thing about activity centers. They don't have to go to the park so they can have fun. They can have their own parks inside their play rooms or classrooms. The most obvious benefit is you get to watch over them better. They're confined in a safety zone where there are no things that can harm them. They're still young and they might not be able to handle the outdoors just yet. But inside a play room or classroom with soft activity centers, they're safe and comfortable.

But being toddlers, they're not contented with safe and comfortable. They're starting to explore things especially since they can crawl and walk with ease. They'll be bored if you're going to confine them inside a room with no way to release their enthusiasm. It's also bad for their development. You can buy soft activity centers and they can provide the entertainment and adventure needed. As mentioned, they can have their own park where they can play on slides, balance beams or basically just have their own play zones.

Toddlers would love slides. Of course, they can't handle the "big kid slide" just yet. For now, they're very happy with just about any slide. It can be their own little adventure since it's very different from the days when they are very happy with rattles and other baby toys. It's also good for the development of their muscles since they would have to get up a few steps so they can slide down. There are soft activity centers that feature slides and that's your best option if you want something fun and safe for your kid.

Kids also love tunnels. They are usually inquisitive and they are starting to like exploring. A tunnel is a good way to satisfy this curiosity. They would be curious on what's going to happen if they enter the tunnel and what's on the other end. You can buy an activity center that has a slide and tunnel in it and that should provide your kid with years of fun and adventure. It's also perfect if there are a lot of kids and this is why you should buy one if you have a day care center. Soft activity centers are great for a lot of kids to have fun with.

It's a given that being kids, they'll sometimes fall. This is the reason why it's always a good idea to guide them while they're playing. But wouldn't it be a good idea to make sure that they won't be harmed in the event that they do fall? You can let them be kids and have fun but it's also your responsibility to ensure their safety. You can do that with soft activity centers.

Let your kids be kids and let them experience years of adventures safely with the help of soft activity centers. There are a lot of toys available like indoor soft climbing toys and you should check them out to see how toddlers can have fun with them the safe and comfortable way.

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