HOLIDAY GUIDE
Developmental toys and educational games for kids make for popular gifts.
When shopping for holiday gifts for
children, shoppers can easily be
overwhelmed by the many toys,
electronics, apparel, and other items
available for kids. Those who may not
be up-to-date on the latest trends may
even fi nd shopping for kids a bit like
solving a diffi cult puzzle.
Some shoppers may want to get
kids the fl ashiest toy, but others may
prefer gifts that are both fun and mentally
stimulating. Developmental toys
and educational games for kids make
for popular gifts. Toy and game manufacturers
continue to develop products
that integrate logic, reasoning, language
stimulation, and motor skill development.
Shoppers looking for fun,
educational toys and games for the
kids on their shopping lists have a host
of items to choose from:
Building blocks: Blocks that enable
children to design and construct
are popular among youngsters of various
ages. Blocks come in many different
forms, from early education
wooden blocks that fi ll nursery fl oors
COURIER L 36 IFE, DEC. 7–13, 2018
to the more intricate, interlocking
building sets that are coveted by older
children.
Stem toys: Some of the latest trends
in children’s toys veer away from regular
video games and apps and cater
to the rising interest in science, technology,
engineering, and math. Early
introduction to these fi elds can result
in skills that can pay dividends
later in life, considering students who
have an emphasis on Stem knowledge
are highly coveted among employers.
Toys may include robot-building kits,
toys that help young learners test the
boundaries of physics, apps that help
kids learn computer programing, and
even scientifi c experiment kits that illustrate
cause and effect.
Sensory toys: Young children can
benefi t from toys that stimulate the
senses. Items to consider include water
toys, sands (including the newer kinetic
varieties), playdoughs, musical
instruments, and bubbles. Even foodrelated
toys, such as those that encourage
baking or cooking, will appeal to
various senses and can help kids learn
valuable skills.
Imaginative play toys: Imaginative
play is an effective way to stimulate
creative thinking and may help
children become better learners. The
Creativity Institute, specializing in
toys for creative play, says playing is
important to children and the way
they practice growing up. According
to an article by Dr. Scott Kaufman that
appeared in Psychology Today, “Systematic
research has increasingly
demonstrated a series of clear benefi ts
of children’s engagement in pretend
games from the ages of about 2 and
a half through ages 6 or 7.” Dress-up
toys, puppets, dolls, action fi gures, and
toys that mimic real-life activities are
all examples of products that promote
imaginative play.
Educational toys can be included
on holiday gifting lists. Not only will
they encourage children to play and
have fun, but they’ll serve as building
blocks to a lifetime of learning as
well.
Special occasions like birthdays, holidays,
and of course, New Year’s Eve,
are often enhanced by the inclusion
of sparkling
beverages. Sipping
a chilled
glass of bubbly
can make everything
feel
more festive
and indulgent.
However, those
bottles of champagne,
cava, or
Prosecco can
pack quite a
punch — and not just because of their alcohol
content.
The American Academy of Ophthalmology
says each year hundreds of
people suffer serious, potentially blinding
eye injuries from sparkling wine
corks. Town and Country magazine reports
that the pressure behind a cork is
around 90 psi, which is three times the
pressure of most car tires. The Academy
says champagne corks can fl y out of the
bottle at speeds upwards of 50 miles per
hour. Sometimes that rocket-powered
launch can elicit laughs, while other
times it can be downright dangerous.
It is important to emphasize safety
when uncorking favorite vintages. Expert
sommeliers advise following some
key techniques so that guests are not
ducking for cover the next time a bottle
of bubbly is uncorked:
Ensure the bottle is chilled. Sparkling
wine should be properly chilled to
around 45 F. Should the beverage not be
cold enough, the pressure inside the bottle
will cause the cork to be released fast
and can cause an overly foamy, geyserlike
situation.
Remove the wrapping. Champagne
and other sparkling products are sealed
with foil and a wire cage to keep the cork
seated. Remove these fi rst, being careful
to hold the cork down in case it spontaneously
pops.
Have a towel handy. Drape a dish
towel or cloth napkin over the top of the
bottle. This muffl es the pop and can absorb
any spillage.
Twist the bottle. Hold the bottle at a
45-degree angle facing away from yourself
and anyone in the vicinity. Keep
pressure around the cork while twisting
the bottle. If you twist the cork, it
could break inside the bottle. Continue
to twist until the bottle starts to loosen
from the cork and spins freely. Then you
can slowly pull the cork away from the
bottle.
Keep downward pressure. If you
can feel the pressure starting to force
the cork out, push against the cork to
control its release. By managing the release,
you can avoid a sharp “pop” and
instead have only a mild hiss of pressure
as the carbonation escapes.
Double-pour the bubbly. Only halffi
ll the glasses to allow the foam to subside.
Then fi ll to desired level.
Select educational
presents for tykes
How to uncork
bubbly safely
By properly chilling sparkling
wine, the cork release
can be controlled
and less dangerous.