Great dog!

We receieved this as a birthday present. It's a cool dog and he signs and makes different expressions. It's cool you lean on it and it turns on and starts making different sounds. It's a plus for your child.

Katharine's mommy
from Westchester, NY



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<!-- $Date: 1-Feb-2004.07:04:16 $ $Revision: /main/14 $ $Author: evs $ -->Makes a great gift

Our daughter of 7 months received the Learning Puppy for Christmas. It's an entertaining and engaging stuff toy. She especially enjoys the song "Itsy, Bitsy Spider". EEverytime it plays, she is surprised that the puppy knows "her" song. The only drawback was that I had to return the item because the ear was malfunctioning. It was worth returning to get another because it's not an annoying toy. It's quite fun at playtime.

Lyne, a new mom
from Montreal, Canada

Offer your baby the most unrestricted motion possible. There are differing opinions about how best to support an infant's physical skills. Magda Gerber, an expert on infant development and coauthor of Your Self-Confident Baby: How to Encourage Your Child's Natural Abilities from the Very Start, advocates putting babies in the least restrictive position possible. If you practice (as an adult) lying on your back and on your front, you will probably discover, like most babies do, that lying on your back offers you the most opportunity for movement.

Give your baby plenty of floor time. While putting babies on the floor is contrary to many of our previous customs, it is one of the best ways to support both physical skills and the development of a baby's sense of competence.

• Soft, panda-shaped playmat with inviting textures


• Musical mobile with lights, mirror, and three rotating toys


• Three detachable toys: teether bird with mirror; bee with clackers; rattling butterfly with crinkling wings


• Plays eight minutes of music: four classical melodies and one sung lullaby


• Toys can be repositioned for tummy-time play


• Extra spaces for hanging additional toys


• Requires three D batteries (not included)


• 31"L x 20"W x 36"H

Preparing an emergency kit should be a family activity. A fun way to get everyone involved is by turning it into a game such as a treasure hunt. Here are a few ideas for getting started:

1. Let your children pretend to be pirates. Mom and Dad can be ship captains.
   
   


2. Crumple a brown paper bag and write on it all the supplies an emergency kit should have. This is the "treasure map" the kids will use.
   
   


3. Mom and Dad should collect the various safety supplies and hide them around the house. This may require extending the game over a period of a few days. Items to be "discovered" can include:





• First-aid kit


• Battery-operated radio or TV


• Flashlight


• Bottled water


• Cash or credit cards


• Batteries


• Clothes


• Matches


• Canned food


• Waterproof bags/containers


• Sleeping bags


• Blankets


• Personal hygiene items (soap, toothpaste, toothbrush, etc.)


• Games and books


• Tools
  
  





4. Assign each item a point value. The pirate or pirate team that earns the most points or finds the most supplies listed on the treasure map wins a prize. Prizes could involve having the losing team make ice cream sundaes for the winnerrs.