5 Unique Doll Houses That Aren't Actually Houses
When we think of what a dollhouse looks like, we are often filled with the image of a traditional home, a Victorian style home, or even a country cottage. These dollhouses bring about images of mom and dad in the kitchen while the kids play in their bedroom. It is all about using the imagination for family role-playing. But, there is a whole wide world of dollhouses outside the traditional house. These unique dollhouses will open up a new world of role-playing for children and new collectible...
A Miniature History Of Dollhouses
Tracing the history of the modern dollhouse starts with items that bore little resemblence to the toys and collector pieces of today.
The earliest known miniature replicas date back to ancient Egypt, found within the tomb of Meketre. These wooden replicas of buildings, boats, animals, and people capture a glimpse of life in Egypt four thousand years ago. Some of these highly valued miniatures are located in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, and the miniatures have spawned many...
A Short History Of Dollhouses
The history of dollhouses is one that begins over 400 years ago. There is speculation as to the origin of the dollhouse since it was not documented until the 1800s. Dollhouses have provided endless entertainment to children and adults alike. This toy should be celebrated for how much it has given to generation after generation.
1) In the earliest years of the history of the dollhouse, it was only the children of the wealthy aristocrats who were given the chance to play with these toys. The...
Building A Dollhouse
At one time, the creation of a dollhouse was a mystery known to only a select few highly trained artisans. Dollhouses were commissioned works, available only to the extremely wealthy. Mass-production techniques combined with newer materials and tools, however, made the construction of dollhouses a project that can be performed by anyone with a reasonable level of carpentry talent and experience.
Your first step is to design the dollhouse. Once you have accomplished this step and have a clear...
Collectibles For Kids: The Hidden Value
One of the joys of childhood is collecting things. Maybe you remember having a collection or two when you were young. A rock collection may have started with one or two pretty pieces of stone, or a shell collection may have begun with the annual family trip to the beach. You may have liked dogs or cats and collected pictures and books.
As a parent, you may not understand why children collect the things they do, but one thing is certain: Children learn about the world around them through these...
Decorate Your Dollhouse Exterior To Make An Enormous Impact
With so much attention given to the interior decoration of your dollhouse, it can be easy to overlook what a difference some exterior design and decorating can make. By spending some time and a few dollars on the exterior aesthetics of your dollhouse, you can give the scene a feeling of completion, instead of a house that is just well decorated on the inside.
The opportunities for enhancing your dollhouse's exterior design are nearly limitless. Think of how you'd want to spruce up your own...
Doll Houses Arent Just For Girls?
The dollhouse market is inundated with toys and miniatures geared towards young girls. In every toy store across the world, you can find dollhouses of various styles and sizes all built towards the girl who wants to imagine and "play house". There is nothing wrong with any of these houses, and they foster healthy play and enjoyment.
However, fifty percent of the population seems may seem somewhat forgotten by the majority of the dollhouse market: boys.
When you think of boys' toys, the...
Dollhouse Building Supplies
Building a dollhouse is fun, but it can also be hard work, especially if you don't have all of the required supplies for putting the dollhouse together. With careful planning and a detailed list, however, you can put those concerns aside and get on with building the dollhouse of your dreams. There are a few critical supplies when it comes to building a dollhouse that can make the process of construction a lot smoother and a lot less complex.
Doors
Any good dollhouse has stylish and elegant...
Dollhouse Donation: Making A Difference
Few things can brighten a child's spirit more than a toy during a time of distress or illness. Whether you donate a dollhouse, a toy truck or even a stuffed animal, the smiles on their faces are priceless. Unfortunately, many people who want to give to children or children's charities might not know the best way to go about it. All you need are a few simple guidelines to get you started.
Holiday Toy Drives
Every year during the holiday season, local newspapers and news stations begin to...
Dollhouses On A Budget
At one time, dollhouses were the exclusive province of the extremely wealthy. Dollhouse craftsmanship was a skill known only to a few highly trained artisans and every piece, from the shell to the furniture, had to be specially commissioned. These dollhouses were beautiful showpieces for those who could afford them, but were out of reach for the vast majority of the population.
Now, however, mass production and lower material costs, combined with the do-it-yourself craze, have made beautiful...
Elementary School Fundraising
If you have children, there is the inevitable chance that you will encounter an elementary school fundraiser. It comes with the territory of putting kids through either public or private school. Fundraising can be a great way for parents to help support local schools, expand their child's educational well-being, and increase their child's social skills.
There never seems to be adequate funding available for educational purposes. Holding a fundraiser can help bring in extra revenue so schools...
Family Time: Doing Hobbies Together
In today's fast-paced world, quality time with the family is getting harder to find. It's difficult enough to find the time to eat dinner together, let alone find the time to do hobbies together. But somehow we manage to find that time, even if it's just an hour or so each night. Since quality time is so precious, finding the right hobby for the whole family to participate in might be a bit of a trick, but it's not impossible.
Jigsaw Puzzles
Puzzles are a popular hobby many families enjoy...
Finding The Perfect Occupants For Your Dollhouse
Much thought and effort is placed into the design, building, interior decorating and furnishing of a dollhouse. Often, however, the actual dollhouse residents are given little or no thought. While some dollhouses sit as empty and vacant showpieces, many dollhouse owners prefer to add a bit of realism to the dollhouse by adding a doll family.
The dolls that you select will depend on the age and interests of the dollhouse owner, as well as the function for which the dollhouse is used. If the...
Fundraising With Hobbies
Using your hobby as a way to raise funds for charities adds another level of appreciation to your passion. If you enjoy building something, why not share your creations and help others in the process? Raising money for a cause not only helps fund research for a specific illness or people in need, but it helps raise awareness for a cause that might not be well known to the general public. Many times, as you will see in the examples below, a specific hobbyist gains a reputation and the public...
Giving Dollhouses As Gifts
Dollhouses are wonderful gifts for both children and adults. Children love the interactivity of this fabulous toy. A toddler's imagination will run rampant, inspired by the familiar backdrop of home and family. Older kids see a dollhouse as a fashion statement, a chance to play with the emerging roles of adulthood. A dollhouse provides a safe place to role play adult responsibilities, as well as a wonderful backdrop for expression of self and decorating tastes. Young adults often view...
Giving To Childrens Charities?
Giving to children's charities can be among the most rewarding things you can do with your money. Selecting the right charity, however, can seem complicated with the wide variety of charities out there. While most charities are reputable and trustworthy, there are some instances of fraud or other issues that can make giving to charities something worth taking a closer look at. Overall, thankfully, the act of giving to children's charities can be tremendously rewarding and compassionate....
Great Birthday Party Ideas For Kids
Everyone loves a great party, especially kids. Birthdays mark milestones in a child's life and each one should be a memorable event. When it comes time to host your child's birthday party, there are some fun and creative ways to make it a memorable event for everyone, especially the birthday boy or girl.
One of the first aspects to consider when it comes to hosting a birthday party is the age of those attending the party. For younger children, ranging from toddlers to five-year-olds, you will...
How to Begin Homeschooling Your Child
Homeschooled children reap many benefits. They usually score higher on standardized testing, have one-on-one learning time, and a curriculum tailored to their specific needs and abilities. So it is no wonder why many parents choose to homeschool their children. But once the decision is made to homeschool, what do you do next? Here are some tips to get you headed in the right direction to homeschooling success!
Check on Your State Requirements
First you should check the legal requirements of...
How to Choose a Summer Camp For Your Child
Summer camps can provide children with memories that will last a lifetime. But to make sure those are pleasant memories it is important to choose the right camp for your child.
The first thing you should consider is if your child is ready to go away to a summer camp. You should take into account the level of separation anxiety your child usually displays.
Do they stay overnight with friends, relatives and grandparents with no problem?
Have they ever been away from home for an extended...
How To Get The Most From Quality Time
Attention all parents!
By letting your child spend hours in front of the tube, you could be contributing to their deficiency in school and their ability to interact with their peers later in life.
The problem with today's society is its focus on media-related entertainment. "Learning videos," television programs and computer games have caused our children to "lock" themselves up in a solitary environment. The result from this type of sedentary life has been an increase in child obesity and...
How to Handle All of That Childhood Memorabilia
Dont you just hate those moms that have all those neatly arranged scrapbooks, photo albums or memory boxes of all their childs milestones and activities? Whereas you might have a drawing stuffed in this drawer, a lock of hair shoved in that box, and pictures, well you have pictures just about everywhere except in an album. Before you attempt to become super mom, listen up:
You dont have to keep every piece of artwork your child creates! It might be very difficult to throw away a picture...
How to Use Time-Out Effectively With Children
When it comes to disciplining your child, many parents have no idea what to do. You might yell and threaten or take away a toy, and nothing seems to work. Being consistent with punishments for children is very important. When used consistently, time-outs for children can be a very effective form of punishment. Here are some tips to get it right:
Time-Out Guidelines to Follow
Choose a time-out area in your home that is easily accessible and where the child can be monitored by you at all...
Interior Decorating For Your Dollhouse
A dollhouse is much more than a simple wooden or plastic building. In order to capture the feel and the essence of an actual home, your dollhouse needs to balance on many different levels. Your dollhouse can be used to evoke a certain mood, from happy excitement to darkness and foreboding. Although many factors go into creating these moods, interior design is a large piece of the puzzle. Interior design will also be used to determine how much of what type of furniture you will want, as well as...
Introducing Kids To Woodworking
Woodworking is an interesting hobby with a lot of potential. Once you learn and master the basics of this craft, the possibilities are endless. Combine this experience with teaching your kids, and you have something truly special. Not only could you instill in your children a deep appreciation for the craft of woodworking, you can also incorporate many lessons and learning skills without your child knowing it! Woodworking can help kids with their eye-hand coordination, dexterity, problem...
Its Never Too Early to Talk to Your Child About Drugs
Some parents think that they dont have to bother talking to their children about drugs and alcohol until they are teenagers. Wrong. National studies show that the average age when a child first tries alcohol is 11; for marijuana, it's 12. What a scary thought. Therefore the earlier you open up a dialogue with your child about drugs and alcohol, the better.
Talking to Toddlers About Drugs
As soon as your child is able to understand you, you should talk to them about drugs. Of course, you need...
Keeping Baby Safe in the Kitchen
With scalding hot oil, boiling water, and the oven set at 450 degrees, the kitchen can be one of the most hazardous rooms in your house for your baby. One of the best ways to prevent an accident is to keep the baby out of the kitchen all together by using a baby gate. However for some this idea might not be practical. Therefore, there are other ways to make your kitchen a safe place for your baby.
Preventing Burns
To help safeguard your child from opening the oven when in use, purchase an...
Keeping Those Energetic Toddlers Entertained
Those toddlers are just full of energy! Some days it might seem impossible to keep up with them or keep them entertained. There are many fun activities to stimulate those little minds and maybe wear them out for a nap! Here are some ideas for activities for toddlers ages 18 months to three years:
Out and About Activities
To keep those busy toddlers entertained in the car, as you are driving name things that you see and ask your toddler to point to them. For example, ask them Where is the...
Make Your Big Love Of Dollhouses Fit Into Small Spaces
Most miniature collectors dream of having an entire room in their home in which to display their collection. Collectors that are more avid may even need an entire wing. Regardless, most hobbyists do not have this kind of space and must suffice for a corner of their regular living space in which to highlight their love for miniatures. There are several good options available for small dollhouse needs that will allow you to squeeze your passion for dollhouses into some tight spaces.
Sometimes,...
Play Date Ideas & Tips
As any parent will know, kids need to spend quality time with other kids. Its a necessary part of growing and becoming a social being. Kids do get plenty of time with others at daycare or in school but during summer breaks or on weekends, they still need that interaction. Parents need to make a point of getting children involved with others, especially if they do not have any siblings at home. The benefits of this will be readily apparent.
Its a good idea to get to know the parents of some...
Playground Safety Tips
A day out at the playground can be just the thing to get your kids active and enjoying some fresh air. It doesnt take much to please children. Give them a slide and a few swings and they will be happy for hours. But dont make the mistake overlooking potential dangers at the playground. Some rules should be put in place in order to protect your kids from unnecessary harm.
Start out by ensuring that the playground your children play at is appropriate for both their age group and their size....
Pros and Cons of Home Schooling
Home schooling is a viable option now for both parents and kids. There are many varying opinions on this form of learning. Some feel that it is not a good choice while others are encouraging it. Whether or not home schooling is right for your children is up to you. Taking a look at the pros and cons of home schooling might help you make the decision. Its important to get your kids involved in this type of decision making as well.
One con of home schooling is that it does not allow kids an...
Protect Your Valuable Miniature Collectibles With Special Insurance
Miniature collectibles make for a beautiful collection and display. There are limitless possibilities to add to a miniature collection. It can be a very lucrative and rewarding hobby. It is important to consider that a collection with so much potential value should be insured. There are many factors to consider when choosing whether or not to purchase insurance for a collection of miniatures.
1) An extensive collection of dollhouse miniatures should be insured. A smaller collection may not...
Sharing Your Passion With Hobby Clubs
An ideal way to enjoy your passion with miniatures, dollhouses and other hobbies is to join a club. A hobby club has several benefits. Sometimes our interest in our hobbies starts to drag, we're not sure why but the hobby loses it's spark. Joining a club injects new life and interest in your hobby. You'll meet other people with new ideas. In turn, these new ideas rekindle your own passion. Dozens of clubs on and off line are dedicated to a wide array of hobbies and there's probably a few just...
Six Steps To Creating The Perfect Dollhouse
Each dollhouse is its own unique creation. No dollhouse will be exactly like another, nor should it be. Nevertheless, there are certain steps to the process that, if followed, will help each dollhouse to become a harmonious and balanced whole. Of course, rules are made to be broken, so any of these tips may not apply to your particular design. Just be aware of the purpose behind these guidelines. That will ensure that your unique ideas work in harmony with the principles of balance and design....
Teaching Children the Value of a Dollar
Weve all heard the phrases Money doesnt grow on trees and A penny saved is a penny earned. You may have even uttered these phrases to your own children. Its hard to get children to understand the concept of money. They probably think that if you need money you just go to a machine, insert a card and out pops money. Children have to learn that money is earned, saved, and not an endless commodity.
Be a Good Role Model
Another good phrase to live by is Practice what you preach. In...
The Joy Of Hobbies
There is nothing like a hobby to fill up that spare time and take away the stress and strain from the working hours. Whether collecting, playing games, outdoor recreation, or creative hobbies, there is nothing like unplugging from it all for a few hours to have some good old-fashioned fun with family and friends. People of all ages find joy in different hobbies, as schoolchildren play with toys and dollhouses and adults collect stamps or try a little creative cooking.
Collecting
One popular...
The World Of Collectibles
The world of collectibles is vast and varied, as people accumulate just about anything to build a collection. From bottle caps, hats, posters, films, records, dolls, figurines, plates, and crystal, there is a market for just about anything in the realm of collectibles. The world of collectors is a very intricate and organized one, for the most part, and really belies a responsibility to the art of collecting that few "outsiders" could possibly identify with.
Some of the more popular...
Tips For Child Safety at Home
Maintaining your home for child safety is a big task but is one that is essential. There are so many things that can cause harm to children. All it takes is one mishap or forgotten element. There are many things that can be done to promote safety in the home and prevent accidents from occurring. New parents may find that they feel overwhelmed with all of the little things but in time it will become much easier to deal with.
Electrocution is one of the biggest risks that face a small child. All...
Tips For Healthy Play
Playtime is one of the most important things in a childs day. It helps them to do so many things including learn and develop through exercise. Kids need to have regular playtime in order to grow into fully functioning adults. Of course, as fun as it is to play and run and jump, it can also be dangerous. There are a few things that parents can do to establish healthy and safe playtime for their children. By incorporating some rules and guidelines, playtime can be safer and more beneficial for...
Tips For Keeping Your Cool
Taking care of children is a stressful job that never really ends. Parents learn very quickly in those first crucial years that it truly is the hardest job in the world. Nothing can ever compare to being a parent. Dealing with children can become problematic and stressful. Whether you have one child or several, your stress level will reach outstanding levels. Knowing how to deal with this while keeping your temper in check is an acquired skill.
When you find yourself having that same argument...
Tourists Marvel At Miniature Museum Masterpieces
There are museums that feature miniatures located all over the country. While many are larger museums that choose to display miniature amongst their other exhibits, there are a few that exclusively have miniature houses, miniature dolls and miniature furniture.
The Miniature Museum of Greater St. Louis is one such place. Created in 1989, the museum provides a hosting site for educational events of cultural relevance. In addition to its displays, The Miniature Museum of Greater St. Louis...
What Makes Victorian Doll Houses The Most Popular Among Collectors?
Doll houses, whether toys for children or collectible items for adults, come in any architectural style imaginable. From the logical geometric designs of classical and neoclassical architecture to the sometimes confusing subtlety of modern design, miniature houses run the gamut. But what is it about Victorian architecture that is so attractive to doll house collectors? Of all the different architectural styles, the Victorian style is by far the most popular.
One of the elements of...
Why Pretend Play Is So Important For Kids
Anyone who has children or can remember his or her own childhood days is familiar with the concept of pretend play, which is a type of activity where a young child begins to role play. Typically emerging in the second year of life, such imaginative play may be much more than just an amusing activity for toddlers. Some research has suggested that role playing may be an important developmental milestone in small children and may assist in the development of cognitive, verbal, and social skills....
Woodworking Safety Tips
Woodworking is a great hobby that can really bring out the creative side in the person working with the wood. Without proper care and attention, however, woodworking can turn disastrous. When working with wood, saws, and other potentially dangerous products, it is important to take heed of some safety tips to keep safe when using the equipment.
Use Your Head
One of the most important pieces of equipment for anyone working with wood is the brain. Use your head when working with wood and try...
|
|