We get calls all the time from people who are interested in starting an ant farm for their child. Some of their questions have to do with the features of the ant farms themselves, such as, “Do you think the ants would prefer a more traditional home, or would they like to live in something a bit more colorful?” But far and away, the most common question we get asked is, “How do I get the ants that go in the ant farm?”

First and foremost, always remember that the ants will never come in the same package as the ant farm itself. Simply put, they wouldn’t survive the shipping process in that kind of environment. All of the ants will be sent to you separately and in a safe manner directly from the ant farm manufacturers themselves.

While this may seem like a bit of a process just to set up your child’s ant farm, it really is a pretty simple and painless experience. Here are five easy steps to help you out in getting your child set up to own and operate his or her own working ant farm!

1. Purchase one of our Ant Farms. In the package with the ant farm, you will receive a mail-in coupon to order the live ants.

2. Fill out the coupon form with your name and address to where you want your ants sent.

3. Mail the coupon to the address listed on the coupon where your ants are located. You will have to pay a small shipping and handling fee (no more than $5.00, depending on the style of ant farm you purchase). Your ants should arrive at your location within 4 weeks of you mailing in the coupon.

4. When your ants do arrive, they are going to be pretty angry. (Imagine if you spent a few days shoved in a box traveling across the country and how you would feel!). Don’t worry - you can calm them down by doing one simple task. Put them in a refrigerator or some kind of colder environment for approximately 15 minutes. The cooler temperature will calm them down and make it safe for you to put them into the ant farm. It is important that you follow that step though. If you try to put them in right away upon receiving them, there is a chance of getting bitten by an angry ant!

5. Spend some time with your child watching the ants interact with each other in their new home!

Ant farms are a great way to teach your child about the underground world that ants live in and how they live and work together to form a colony. Perfect for any child with an interest in science or animals, the ant farm is a toy children of almost all ages can enjoy and can be fun for the whole family too!

If you have any other questions on the Ant Farms or any of our other products, please feel free to contact us at 1-866-UBRAINS or e-mail us at info@wonderbrains.com.

Are kids these days getting bored? Is the real world moving too fast and causing them to lose focus? In our daily lives, we have lots of projects to get done and deadlines to meet. There’s a rush to get your children to practice and there’s birthday parties to plan or attend. Even getting your child to school can be a rush. A child’s life is affected by all the things going on in our lives and theirs as well. It’s no wonder that they can’t pay attention or get bored easily. They are also affected by the school, toys, video games and TV that they watch. With the loss of focus and detail because of everything going on around them, can we use educational toys to help gain that focus back?

Can toys bring focus and a sense of accomplishment to a child? Of course they can! Toys can teach a child to slow down and follow through with the goal. Puzzles are a great example because children have to slow down, match like pieces and connect the pieces together. How about construction toys? Building with blocks and other shapes takes time and patience to construct a tower, castle or even a rocket ship to go to the moon. Even art can help children to focus by using a slow and steady hand to make that next great work of art.

All children learn in different ways and at different paces. But there are general skill areas that are more ideal for one age than for another. On the following links, you can find information for each age along with key developmental categories and product recommendations for each. Keep in mind that good, quality products will carry over from skill to skill and age to age; our recommendations are for a general range.

• Baby Toys — Birth to 12 months
• Toddler Toys — 1-2 years
• Preschool Toys — 2-4 years
• Elementary Toys — 5-8 years
• Adolescent Toys — 9-12 years
• Teen Toys — 13-18 years
• Child at Heart — Adults

• Baby Toys
• Toddler Toys
• Preschool Educational Toys
• Elementary Toys
• Adolescent Educational Toys
• Toys for Teens
• Toys for the Child at Heart

Teaching your child with math, science or history toys isn’t the only way to ensure your child is learning while playing with toys. Toys can be educational as long as it aids in the positive development of the child. Learning how to grab an object is a great way for a baby to learn motor skills. Toys that encourage older children to use creativity and logical skills help them through solving problems. Choosing the right kind of toy can be a task in itself. Here are a few pointers to help you out:

Toys should be Fun

Toys are designed to be fun. If a toy stops being fun, then it stops being a toy. Encouraging fun with an educational toy will open up a whole new world and new skills to your kids. Picking out age-appropriate toys is important to give them challenges. Too much challenge and the child will get frustrated and will stop playing with the toy. Not enough challenge and the child won’t grow problem solving skills, coordination or even the ability to learn.

Parents Role

Parents, you need to choose the right toys that match the child’s age and abilities. As a parent, you will need to teach your child how to play with the toy. Yes, that means getting down on the floor and playing with your children. Let the child choose the toy they want to play with. When the child chooses the toy, they might play and learn for a longer period of time.

Elements of Educational Toys

It’s all up to you to decide if the toy is educational. Manufacturers may claim that the toy is educational, but is it right for you child? Here are a few things to look for on a toy to help your child’s education and development:

• Stimulation – This kind of toy is especially important for young babies, who are still developing new skills. Check to see which senses the toy stimulates, whether that means visual, aural or touch.

• Imagination – Does the toy stimulate the imagination? Sometimes the best educational toys for imagination are the simplest ones. For example, some studies have shown that simple wooden toys encourage creative thinking more than complex electronic gadgets.

• Social  - Iѕ the toy good for playing with other children? Playtime is an excellent opportunity for children to develop social skills with siblings or friends. Some toys are more conducive to socializing than others.

• Expression – Does the toy help children to express themselves? This could mean toys involving artwork, writing, taking photographs or telling stories.

These are not the only things to look for in an educational toy, but they are a good place to start. Educational toys are designed to make the child happy, grow and learn from the time spent with the toy. Our responsibility as parents is to make sure they are learning and, most of all, having fun with that toy.

I’ve been reading more and more about parents renting toys for kids this holiday season. I was just wondering if anyone else has heard of this new trend?  You can now rent toys for a small fee and let your children play with  them, and then one to three months later, send them back and rent new ones! I personally have my ups and downs about the whole thing. Why rent toys for your child? How clean are the toys really? What is the quality of the toy going to be like when you receive it? What happens if my kid loses or breaks a toy?

We as parents always have different concerns about are children. If I buy them that toy, will it make them happy, and how long will they play with it? What toys should we buy them? Is this the right toy to help my children develop and grow mentally and physically?

It’s hard to say because we feel that a child’s education, learning and development through toys can be done within a couple of months. Some toys can provide years of education and learning. The child might grow an attachment to a toy, then what do you do? You either have to tell the child that you have to return the toy and break their heart, or buy it for more money than you would have bought it for in the first place.

Kids are kids, and they sometimes break things. Not all children break their toys or treat them rough, but all kids are different and things do happen. So now you just spent around $5 per toy and then have to turn around and buy it for a discounted price. So what’s the discounted price?

Here’s an example:

Girl Dress Up Mix ‘n Match Peg
Our price – $6.57
Many of the renting toys places charge  $5 per toy, some charge $30 or more for 4 toys per month.

We here at Wonderbrains understand that education, learning and developmental toys are a great way for children to grow and learn. We also understand how important it is to get your children the best toys. Shop our online store and receive free shipping with a purchase of $50 or more.

We want to know what you think about renting toys for your children. Leave a comment or go to our Facebook page and leave a comment our wall.

We are happy to announce WonderBrains.com was awarded with the  STELLAService seal of Excellent Customer Service. We are proud to be joining an elite group of online retailers.  WonderBrains.com has always tried to provide the best quality educational toys and customer service throughout the years. We received the seal of excellence because of our extraordinary customer service, great over night shipping policy and our easy 100% satisfied with your purchase return policy. Below is part of the press release for the STELLAService Seal:

Press Release: STELLAService seal guides consumers to retailers offering best online shopping experience.

New York, NY (PRWEB) October 21, 2011

Reflecting how retailers of all sizes are increasingly making customer service a top business priority, STELLAService today awarded its STELLAService seal to a wide range of specialty online retailers, including WineEnthusiast.com, Ldproducts.com, Caselogic.com, and 2Modern.com. These e-tailers join the ranks of leading Internet retailers, including FootLocker.com, GiltGroupe.com, and BlueNile.com, that now display the STELLAService seal on their websites.

Dedicated to helping online shoppers make more informed buying decisions, STELLAService (http://www.stellaservice.com) rates thousands of retailers each year across more than 350 metrics, including usability and online tools, shipping and returns, and customer support. The company leverages a nationwide network of full-time mystery shoppers to evaluate each site undercover, ensuring findings that are unbiased and true to the shopping experience. Named for the Italian word “star”, STELLAService awards seals in two categories – Elite and Excellent. (Read More)