Thursday, October 24, 2019

Google vs. Yahoo

Many people around the world use search engines everyday to find information quickly. However, not many people realize that each search engine is different from each other. Every search engine is unique because they will all produce different links when a word or phrase is searched for. This means that some search engines will be better than others. Two main search engines are Yahoo and Google. Although Yahoo and Google both perform the same task, Google is a better search engine because it has a simple layout and provides links that are more relevant to the item that is being searched for.Google has a simple homepage that is about 90% white with a search bar in the center below its logo. Yahoo's homepage has a variety of items on it such as moving images and attention-grabbing headlines. This argument may seem like it is in favor of Yahoo, but in reality Yahoo's flashy homepage can distract people for a long time. People that go to Yahoo can waste their time reading about topics tha t have nothing to do with what they originally wanted to search for while people who go to Google aren't distracted by their almost blank layout.Google and Yahoo both provide links with information about the topic that is searched for but Google's links have information that are more related to the topic. Surveys have been done where the most popular search engines (including Google and Yahoo) were tested to see which one gave them the best information about the topic that was searched for. The end result was that 94 out of the 100 people that did the testing agreed that Google was the best search engine because its results were the most relevant.Most of Yahoo's results displayed pages with irrelevant information after the first three or four results. When Google was used, the information that the testers wanted was found in the first or second link. They all said that they didn't have to even go on to the second page because the first page of links was more than enough for them. Go ogle's search engine has been tested and proven to be superior to Yahoo. Although the Internet may seem like a very common thing, many people are still getting introduced to it and its many functions.These types of people will not be used to something such as a search engine so it is important to keep the search engine simple and easy to use. While it is true that Yahoo's homepage can give people an idea about all the things that the Internet can do for them, it may be hard to navigate to something such as the search bar amidst the cluttered bundles of information. I think that we should keep search engines simple so that it will be easy for people new to the Internet to utilize it.

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Age Appropriate Toys

Play is vital for learning in children. It is equally important that the toys and the materials that are used to make them are age appropriate for the children using them. Your child’s current developmental stage plays a major role in toy selection (Frost, Livestrong.com) As a general rule, you should always make sure that toys for young children are safe. Toys should be well made; not easily shattered, or broken.Small children, even up to preschool age, still tend to put objects in their mouths if the pieces are small enough. Poor construction increases this risk of small parts coming off while your child plays with the toy (Frost, Livestrong.com). If painted, the toy should always be painted with non- toxic lead free paint. It is also important that a toy can be easily cleaned and disinfected to prevent the spread of germs (Good Toys for Young Children, NAEYC).Very young babies enjoy looking at people and objects, therefore, toys with faces or bright colors would be excellen t for that age (Good Toys for Young Children, NAEYC). As children grow and begin practicing their fine motor skills, toys that require small movements would be a great fit. Stacking blocks or cups would be very helpful (Frost, Livestrong.com).The characteristics of toys, their safety, and how they may be used or abused is very important when selecting toys for your child. Understanding your child and their abilities and needs will help in choosing appropriate toys. Visualizing how each individual child would play with a toy will help you to determine the educational value it offers (Frost, Livestrong.com).Part 2Developmentally Appropriate Toy for Ages 6-12 MonthsFisher-Price Rainbow Snail StackerThis cheery snail’s base wobbles and make sounds when batted at. The colorful arches of his back are removable and stackable for exciting play! This toy allows a child to practice and progress their fine motor skills. As the baby learns to distinguish different colors he/she will begi n to develop thinking skills. The snail’s bright and exciting colors as well as the entertaining sounds it creates will attract the child. Parents will enjoy this toy as well as children because it is made of safe materials, does not take up a lot of room, is easily cleaned, helps the child to learn, and most importantly brings happiness to their children. This is a very positive, age appropriate toy for this stage of development.Laugh and Learn to Play PuppyThe Laugh & Learn Learning Puppy will definitely entertain your child. The toy merges learning with two different musical modes – learning mode and game mode. In learning mode, the puppy teaches the alphabet, different body parts, and colors through song. When you switch to the game mode, the puppy encourages interactive play, giving fun word play for the baby. This is an awesome toy for this age group. The soft material, light up heart, and sing along songs stimulate the child’s senses.When in game mode, th e child will work on hand and eye coordination, as the puppy responds to the baby’s touch. The bright colors and fun songs of this precious pup attract and keep the babies attention. A parent would be very satisfied with toy because it teaches the baby letters, numbers, feelings, and parts of the body. It is also soft and plush, so even when turned off can be a comfort to the child. I would definitely choose this toy. It touches many of the different learning needs of children in this age group.Growing Baby Elephant Shape SorterThe Growing Baby Elephant Shape Sorter is tons of fun! The friendly elephant head moves from side to side. This toy features 8 shape blocks: 2 circles, 2 triangles, 2 squares and 2 stars for a fun filled game of fill and spill. This would be an excellent choice for this developmental stage. The brightly colored blocks will help the baby start to identify different shapes and  colors.Putting blocks in and taking them out of the base will refine the ch ild’s eye and hand coordination. The repetitiveness would be very appealing to a young child as well as the colorful blocks and happy looking elephant. Any parent would select this toy as it is educational, safe, and made from an easily cleaned material. I would definitely select this toy for my child. It helps to refine their fine motor skills as well as helping the child with problem solving skills as they work to fit the correct shapes in the holes. This is a great fit for any child six to twelve months old.