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Page 8, News, Wednesday, November 23 , 1988 Tot toy tips troubleshooter Confused about which toys are really right for your child as you roam store aisles packed with play- things? Keep in mind your young- ster's age, interests and abilities, and you'll be able to make a better selection, advises the National Education Association of New ork. Just like their parents, children love toys they can control, and become frustrated by those which they cannot master. (Remember how you felt trying to put together that bicycle or doll house that came with the incomplete, incomprehen- sible instructions?). On the other hand, if a toy is beneath a child's skills, he or she may lose interest, and this can lead to regressive or destructive play. Children benefit most from toys matched to their stage of develop- ment. The idea is that the toy should encourage action that can be completed in a relatively short time for younger children, or challenge the ingenuity and perseverance of older children. But how do you make a good match? One way to get a general idea, of course, is to look on the toy's package and find out for which age group the manufacturer recommends the item. But making your own informed decision is even better, so here are some broad guidelines to follow: Up to six months - Toys should contain movement, sound, color contrast and pattern. The key is change. For example, musical mobiles in high contrast colors, non-breakable metal mirrors, squeeze toys and toys that can be chewed on. Also, floating bath toys, soft dolls and large crib pic- tures of faces or bold simple pat- terns. Six months to one year - Choose objects, such as cradle gyms, which can be manipulated, toys that move when hit and toys that make noises as a signal of accomplishment. These include "busy boards," drums, drop-in toys and simple, sturdy books. Ten months to 18 months - This is the period to buy push-pull toys, pounding toys, stacking toys and other items that can be accu- rately manipulated. Bathtub toys, cuddly animals, simple puzzles, totes, balls, large blocks and boxes are also good. Eighteen months to three years - It's time for the "terrible twos," and for purchasing climbing equipment, sand boxes, writing toys, big crayons and blocks. Miniature, imitative toys such as small cars, trucks, dolls, toy tele- phones and small musical instru- ments will delight children of this a Three to six years - The themes are pretending and the desire for mastery. Toys such as playhouses, housekeeping equipment, puppets, costumes and doctors' kits all allow for the use of the imagination, and the slipping in and out of various roles. Unstructured building mate- rials can provide fascinating play. Six to 10 years - Appropriate at this age are bicycles, balls, jump ropes, sports equipment, roller skates, yo-yos, books, cooperative games, craft and hobby kits and collections. Parents should carefully consid- er whether a toy will generate true interest, healthy growth and imagi- nation. Among the worst toys are " spectator toys" (€.g. pushbutton, walking or talking dolls) that fasci- nate everyone briefly but are quick- ly abandoned because of the lack of interaction between child and toy. NEA/NY also urges parents to avoid toys that can cause physical injury, as well as those that would encourage violence. By Andrew Roblin These days, there are few careers that don't require some kind of post-secondary education. Canada's chefs, mechanics, secretaries, dental assistants and photographers all benefit from post-secondary training, atcommu- . nity and technical colleges. Traditionally, it was only the doctors, lawyers and other "profes- sionals" who needed extensive sav- ings and loans to cover their educa- tion. Today, the range of careers that now requires some type of post-secondary education has exploded, and so have the costs. In the health services industry for example, the costs can run from $2,500 for an ambulance attendant (including tuition, books and trav- el) to over $45,000 for a doctor (GP). To help parents, grandparents, mature students and others plan for and survive these costs, a new type of savings program is now avail- RESPs a way to save for future education Study preferred alternative. period will follow. Township Engineer P.O. Box 40 Schreiber, Ontario POT 2S0 The Ministry of the Environment and expand the Township's Sewage Treatment Plant in the Schreiber Limited, Consulting Engineers and Planners, has been retained to Report (ESR) and The public is invited to attend The Public Meeting will be condu The second session will start at 7 upgrade/expansion plan and its cos Mr. John Este, P. Eng. SCHREI - on Tuesday, 13 December 1988; _ at the Schreiber Recreational Complex 100 Langworthy Street SCHREIBER, Ontario. Township of Schreiber Telephone (807) 824-2712 UPGRADING AND E PUBLIC M the Township of Schreiber are final design for this project. upgrade/expansion, and the planning and design process cted in two sessions. The first sessi p.m., will consist of an informal drop-in open house. Representatives of the Township and Dillon will be available t ramification, to answer your grade/expansion Pp questions and to record your comments. o explain the up 00 p.m. It will consist of a fo t to the Township homeowners. Or 2 ee The ESR a Public Meeting which will take place: For further information on this project, please contact: BER SEWAGE WORKS XPANSION EETING planning to upgrade and Townsite. prepare an Environmental documents the need for the which lead to the M.M. Dillon selection of the on, from 1:00 p.m. to 5:30 lan and its environmental rmal presentation of the A question and answer Mr. Mayer Schwartz, P. Eng. Project Manager M.M. Dillon Limited P.O. Box 426 London, Ontario N6A 4W7 Telephone (519) 438-6192 able through financial advisors and brokers across Canada. Known as Registered Education Savings Plans, these newer plans are designed to be more flexible that the older, more established scholar- ship trusts. 'An RESP is a vehicle in which one's savings for a higher education are put to work until they're need- ed, earning interest, dividend income, or capital gains that remain sheltered from income tax. The planholder contributes on a monthly or lump-sum basis, up to a maximum of approximately $31,000 per plan during a 21-year period. These contributions are not tax-deductible and may be with- drawn, with no tax penalty, af any- time. However, the earnings on those contributions accumulate tax free and only become taxable in the hands of the beneficiary when withdrawn. The one requirement is that the beneficiary must attend a post-secondary institution in Canada or an approved one abroad before the earnings can be released. The beneficiary may be anyone and can be changed at anytime. There are no age restrictions. Although there is a maximum contribution level, it doesn't take this amount to make an RESP worthwhile. An individual could pay for higher education on only the interest eamed on the contribu- tions to an RESP. If 1$100 was deposited on a monthly basis, and for fifteen years it earned 8 % inter- est annually, at the end of year fif- teen, the RESP planholder, whose tax rate is 39.8 % would have earned almost $16,000 in interest alone and saved up to $8,000 in taxes. The beneficiary could then use the $16,000 interest, while the $18,000 originally contributed by the planholder may be reclaimed. Although RESPs are similar in many. ways, they differ greatly when it comes to features such as fees and sales charges. There is a range of plans available, so shop- ping for features is important. Selecting the right plan now will make surviving future tuition fees a great deal easier. Mr. Roblin is Executive Vice- President, Spectrum Mutual Funds, a subsidiary of Sun Life of Canada. Don't Worry, Be Happy! 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