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Show The Daily Utah Chronicle, Thursday. December 7. Page Three 1978 Erating new toys educate with fun by ELSA GREGERSON Chronicle staff . . Toys. .toys. .toys. . .never have there been so many diversified and amazing new toys on the market before. And with Christmas just around the corner, shoppers are piling their carts high with dolls, games, blocks, balls and puzzles. How does one choose which toys to buy? Is selection based upon those on sale at Grand Central or those most advertised on the television? Like other forms of be can either harmful or beneficial. Toys entertainment, toys d can either build or destroy. Toys can be and d rather than with fierce competition. There are many educational toys in today's stores both for children and adults, if you take the time to find them. These games are just as fun and exciting end possibly even more so, because thev stimulate growth and creativity. Not only will your child experience greater suress in school, but his will improve, new doors ot discovery will be opened and his store of knowledge and cognitive abilities will time-consumi- ng peace-oriente- battle-oriente- self-estee- m increase. Listed below is a brief sampling of 10 excellent educational toys for young children available in the Salt Lake area, as well as five educational games for older children and adults. Educational Toys for Young Children 1) Fisher-Pric- e Definitely one of the top brand names on the toy market, a division of Quaker Oats, has earned a for safe and reputation products. for their "Peg People," which include They are such creative occupations as sea explorer, skvdiver, race tar rescue, chooper pilot and kayak driver, scuba divers, air-se- a h tasks like construction rider as well as more crew, tow trucker and garageman. Because there "Peg People" and their accompanying paraphernalia are so Fisher-Pric- e, well-mad- self-directe- e, d well-know- n down-to-eart- . Lace-A-Pupp- "Lace-A-Puppe- -- iiiii tm ' I II UJy, ri r i... ifJk ln m I I I LaHSfisKSTT! . -- ,1, k 3S ---- "Lace-A-Puppe- Eu-u-car- I I 1 . I Ml 0 t" tactile-reinforcin- 1M ztzsK w f H t" d i i et Ed-u-cra- ft, - mm mmm l drawing techniques. DAS Pronto A rev olutionary new modeling clay which hardens without kiln firing is "DAS Pronto" ($8.89 and $9.45). Four separate kits are available and include special sculpturing tools, brushes, plastic shapes, patterns, accessory parts for the race car and directions on how to mold various animals and objects another fine motor activity that can be most beneficial to children. 6) Jellibees tc A handy item to have on hand for a rainy day afternoon is a "Jellibee" (5 to 12 years. $1.95 to $3.50) or kit (5 to 9 years, about $3.). "Jellibees" by are stuffed felt animals which include precut and preholed felt parts, tipped sewing yarn, stuffing, glue, decorative yarns and easy insturctions. A child can assemble his own Piggly Pete, Bingle Bunny, Mommy and Baby contains Kangaroo or Tusky Elephant. multi-colorebody parts for six puppets (as well as precut shapes, lacing needles and yarn and remnants for cutting) so that a child can create his own unique puppet characters. These kits are a delightful way to develop fine motor coordination, ability to follow instructions and creativity. 7) Lauri' Rubber Picture Puzzles A brand name often sold to teachers of deaf and blind children is "Lauri," (3 to 6 years, $3.25 to $10.) rubberized puzzle pieces which come in all sizes and colors. Small pieces fit into larger ones, and shapes, can be traced or punhced in and out. At least nine different kits are available, including a map of the United States, interlocking wheels, various shaes and sizes, dominoes, numbers and letters of the alphabet. 8) Fun Boxes has developed four different Fun Boxes (3 to 8 about $2) the ABC Letter, Plus & Minus, Number years, Recognition and Find 8c Read games. These boxes are a unpressured noncompetitive way for children to increase their knowledge of the alphabet, numbers, math and reading. 9) Trend Definitely one of the most educational brand names on the market today is Trend (5 years and up, $3.75 for disc and $4.95 for bingo) eight colorfully and adorably designed discs in the form of lions, elephants, giraffes, piggy banks, owls, creatures, volkwagons and turtles teach such concepts as division, subtraction, addition, money, telling time, initial and final consonants, and long vowels. As the child turns the wheel, different problems are shown in a small window, with the answers on the back. At least 12 different bingo games continued on page 12 ar - ft. three colored pencils. A child can trace, design and color a variety of monsters and characters by Walt Disney and Lakeside's Holly Hobby. Although the plug-i- n lamp is these drawing desks possibly dangerous for small children, can help a child to develop fine motor skills and basic realistically portrayed they can teach children much about people in the community as well as broaden their horizons ahout their own future. One of Fisher-Price- 's latst outstanding games is "Talk to Me" (4 to 10 yeais, $19.99 colorfully illustrated, printed stories with a sound disc on each page. By placing a special plug into the disc, a child may listen or read along w ith the narrator. Special educators have long realized the importance of early contact with books in the dev elopment of speech and language. Another delightful Fisher-Pric- e toy is the "Tool Kit" (3 to 7 23 years, $11.99). Featuring piecesinall.itincludesawindup drill, three attachments, socket wrench, drill bit. screwdriver, work bench (which the child assembles himself), vise clamps, straps and ruler. 2) Play n Playback Organ In terms of educational v alue, "Play n Plav back Organ" (3 to 0 years, $26.99) deserves a rating. Kenner's battery-operate- d mini-orga- n features lettered note bars, a space bar and sheet music with color coded notes. A child can not only play his fav orite songs as on a noi mal organ, but can listen to preprogrammed songs which he records himself. The toy is a fun and easy way for a child to learn basic musical skills. 3) Legos The best building blocks since Lincoln Logs are "Legos" (6 years and up) small, brightly-colore- d plastic rectangles and squares that snap together in numerous positions. At varying prices, one can buy specific "I.ego" kits to build everything from planes, dump trucks and police cars to space stations and fire trucks. Idea books are available for 99 cents. "Legos" can be an excellent way to develop a child's creativity and ability to follow a preconstructed model. 4) Light-u- p drawing desks At least three toy companies are manufacturing "Light-up- " drawing desks (5 years and up, $8.99) which include a desk, lamp, 12 design sheets, 20 sheets of drawing paper and VfT r On the cover. Our : cover illustration, The Virgin in Glory, is a Albrecht Durer in Nuremberg, Germany in woodcutting by : 151 L purer is recognized as one of the masters of woodcut - particularly on sacred themes. '. I ; : rrvS -- ? n IIS V N- - Vi" You cantell aman 4- we ? by the company he keqps. ski equipment jvst opened near the University Alpine & Nordic Rentals X-coun- try Marines are a special breed mature, combat fit. alert, confident, proud. To lead them is a special responsibility, requiring a unique kind of man a Marine officer. To lead them, he must know them. Command their respect, confidence, loyalty. 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