The team at building block toy company Click-A-Brick are pleased to see the Toy Industry Association (TIA) setting the record straight about toy safety in the lead up to Christmas to counteract the erroneous claims from a few non-governmental organizations that are often touted at this time of year. Among the groups the TIA has taken aim at, are: U.S. Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) for its 2014 report "Trouble in Toyland,"World Against Toys Causing Harm, Inc. (WATCH) for its 2014 "10 Worst Toys" list, andClean and Healthy New York...

Roominate is a company that offers fully customizable building sets. The company’s mission is to foster young girls’ interests in STEM. They accomplish this objective via their technological toy sets. The sets distinguish themselves from similar lines with circuits, modular pieces and universal joints. The focus of the sets are on improving spatial and fine motor skills, learning basic circuitry, building self confidence and creativity, and teaching hands on problem solving. The young girls who interact with Roominate products can create their own unique and original structures. The concept behind...

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) published a new paper that states that digital media can be used to enhance skills and abilities. This is in contrast to a previous stance that expressed negativity towards the amount of time children spent on digital media. The AAP has found that digital media can facilitate reasoning and problem solving skills, enhance a child’s ability to follow directions and improve self control. This statement represents a significant reversal on the AAP previous stance. The attitude of the AAP towards digital gadgets had been...

The Click-A-Brick crew is pleased to see Northwestern University will be hosting an event Nov. 18 to assist parents in picking the best gifts for helping children learn and develop their language and communication skills. The university’s Center for Audiology, Speech, Language, and Learning is hosting the free event for caregivers and parents who are looking for gifts that their kids will not only love, but that will help in the development of the children they’re buying them for. Featuring expert pediatric speech-language pathologists and audiologists, the event will cover...

Unstructured play is considered to be any activity that is freely chosen and directed by the participants. In the case of children, it should be initiated by them rather than by adults. It should undertaken for its own sake and not consciously pursued to achieve any other ends. Research has proven that unstructured play is an essential aspect of children’s lives. It is integral to their emotional, physical and rational development and wellbeing. It offers an abundance of developmental opportunities for children to grow emotionally, socially, and physically. Outdoor play,...

Educational building toy retailer Click-A-Brick says the toy industry needs small, independent toy companies like Little Proud Kid whose focus is on making the world a better place rather than solely on profit-making. The aim of Little Proud Kid, which just recently launched, is to offer an array of multicultural toys, books and parental resources to help parents teach their children about the uniqueness of every child and to reflect the reality of the multicultural society they see everyday. The toys featured by Little Proud Kid will teach children to...

Although Lego has forecasted that it will not be able to fulfill all their orders in some European markets this upcoming Christmas season, parents need not worry with all the available alternatives on the market, the team at building block toy company Click-A-Brick says. The Danish toymaker announced a couple of weeks ago that it would not be able to fulfill some orders for Christmas and later clarified that the affected markets are in Europe, while the North American market would be fully supplied. “We will not be able to...

The team at building toy company Click-A-Brick are pleased to see reports that more retailers are deciding to stay closed this Thanksgiving on November 26 rather than trying to get a jump on holiday shopping by staying open and having employees work on that day. As reported by ThinkProgress, Bedding retailer Mattress Firm, which has 2,300 stores spread throughout 38 states, will be closed on Thanksgiving, as it has since 1986. This bucks a recent trend of retailers opening on the holiday to try and lure holiday shoppers on that...

The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) is a non-profit organization that evaluates video games and apps. It is a self regulatory body for parents that assigns ratings so they can make informed choices about what their children use. The ESRB has created a system that allows for rating the content and interactive elements of games and apps. It judges them for their age-appropriateness. The board enforces the advertising guidelines adopted by the entertainment industry. They also help to maintain responsible web and mobile privacy practices. Their mission is to empower...

The National Lekotek Center is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of special needs children through the implementation of play. The center believes that children can reach their full potential through the toys and play. This can also strengthen social and familial ties. The Lekotek Centers provide family sessions built around play for families of children with disabilities. These activities are structured to help children learn and develop. The center utilizes toys and play to provide children with an understanding of the world around them. It aims to increment...