Archive for September 2nd, 2010

Pedal Toys and Healthy Children

Pedal toys are a wonderful way for children to get the exercise they need to be healthy and productive throughout the day. It is these very simple and classic pedal toys that can give tots all the fun they need, while keeping them active.

Unfortunately, from a very early age, too many children are filling their downtime by playing computer and video games and remaining indoors, staying in a sedentary position. While some interactive computer and video games have educational benefits, they certainly do not make up for quality time outdoors, running around burning energy and letting of steam.  If we want to have healthy children, we need to encourage them to go outside in the backyard from an early age and what better enticement than a pedal car or pedal toy for them to play on.

Pedal toys are a broad term that refers to toys, usually outdoor models that can move around by being pedaled. The toys include a set of pedals, one for each foot of course, and they come in a wide array of vehicles. Some of the most popular pedal toys include pedal cars and tractors and even pedal planes. The cars are especially wide-ranging, with some looking like vintage cars, fire engines and even hot rods. Pedal toys are perfect for older toddlers and preschoolers, as the pedals take some coordination and balance and help fine tune their motor skills. As an added benefit, pedal cars can serve as a precursor for learning how to ride a bike. In this way preschoolers can go through the motions of pedaling without parents having to worry about them tipping over on a tricycle.

Besides pedal cars, there are also plenty of toddler ride-on toys that are perfect for the  little ones, even those who are still gaining their balance. Toddler ride-on toys also include an extensive collection of vehicles, some equipped with horns, streamers and lights. These toys are perfect for the younger crowd, as they don’t need to be pedaled and instead get around by tots pushing with their legs and feet. Some require more balance than others, but all encourage the use of leg and feet muscles and a certain amount of co-ordination.

Pedal cars and ride-on toys are so much fun that kids will forget that they are actually being active and exercising. Indeed, these toys are best when used outdoors, so your child will be getting fresh air and sunshine as well as their daily exercise.  Ride-on toys promote the use of large motor skills, helping toddlers to gain balance and coordination while strengthening the muscles and encouraging endurance. Best of all, these fun toys build creativity and role play, so our kids can enjoy “just being kids”.

Understanding Model Steam Trains

When a person thinks of a train, what automatically comes in his or her mind is a trail of metal with its head emitting smoke. He or she may also think of two men carrying shovels and taking turns in putting coal into the fire. He or she may also think of the sound “choo! Choo!” made by the train while emitting smoke from its exhaust pipe. That sound is also the sound that we tend to make whenever we play around with a spoon when we are trying to feed our eagerly babies. It’s a sound that we’ve heard when we were still babies and our parents wanted to feed us. That same sound was instilled in our minds and made us familiar with it as we grew up. Basically, thinking of trains will also make us think about the smoke that it emits.

And now that you’re all grown up, trains still fascinates you. You picked up a hobby which may be a geeky one for some –and guess what? It’s everything about trains. You’ll go for model trains of course. But these days, most of them are powered by electricity and they do make you a lot geekier than they already do. As long as you have money to spare and you want your miniature trains to be as real as possible, then you can invest in a model steam train. Of course, you won’t be using real coal in order to generate real steam. Of course, you won’t be using real coal in order to generate real steam. Even steam trains that are being sold today are powered by electricity. They simply have these small containers in them where the smoke is housed and emit as the train runs.

Take note that these steam trains are not cheap at all. But there are returns. Here’s a few of them:

Lifelike: In early days, most trains were powered by coal. This gives the trains their identities and it is also what sparks interests in people. A steam model train in a miniature railroad set up will give you a nostalgic feeling as well as sense of originality. If you already have a well designed track with sculpted landscapes, accessories, and designed house, then the absence of a steam train in there can destroy the realistic feel. In contrast, the presence of a steam model train can remedy a bland setup.

Unique: No more better word can be given aside from unique. Since other people have steam trains as well, you may not be unique, but you can have your model railroad set up be separated from those of other enthusiasts; especially your friends, if they have also chosen the hobby too. Your track will surely have its own identity simply because of the presence of your steam train which gives life to your whole setup.

Bragging rights: Being a model railroader, there’s nothing more satisfying than assembling your own landscape, your own tracks, and of course your own trains. Designing your own track routes is even a much better idea. Have a combination of vintages and steam trains and you’ll surely have a track that you’ll be very proud of.

What is the difference between a steam locomotive and a steam engine?

I am studying the Industrial Revolution in my World History class and was wondering what the difference between the steam locomotive and the steam engine was. This is not a homework question, just asked out of sheer curiosity.