The sad truth is that, given a choice, most kids want electronics like cell phones and MP3 players or – Gasp! – cold hard cash for the holidays, according to a survey by KidzEyes, a marketing research firm.
If you resist the urge to accommodate them, however, there are lots of cool toys out there. Most of the choices below are not the top toys promoted by the industry, and there’s nary a must-have Barbie or Elmo on the list this year. But these toys appeal to different interests and ages, and they share several traits – they stimulate, teach and provide lots of fun for kids from babies to preteens.
Dora the Explorer Puppet Playhouse Adventure, Nick Jr. $22, age 3 and up. Preschoolers will love making up plays featuring their favorite character. The playhouse features six sets, more than 20 puppets and 20 theater sounds activated by the push of a button. There are also four scripts to get started.
Shake ‘N Go! Speedway, Fisher Price, $39.99, age 3 and up. Given the high cost of fuel these days, it’s lucky that all you have to do to make these cars go is to give them a good shake. Comes with two cars and a two-track speedway.
Live Butterfly Garden, InsectLore, $23.95, age 4 and up. If you’ve got a nature lover, this kit might be a hit. It comes with a pop-up butterfly habitat in which tiny caterpillars transform into painted lady butterflies. The kits come with five caterpillars or coupons to redeem for them at a later date, a good idea in a cold climate, since the caterpillars metamorphose in only three weeks. The company also makes ant and ladybug habitats.
I-Dog, Tiger Electronics, $24.99, age 8 and up. This is just one version of the robotic pets that have been around for the last few years. This dog moves, lights up and makes noises in response to music.
VCamNow, Tiger Electronics, $79.99, age 8 and up. If you know a budding photographer or filmmaker, this pocket-sized digital camera is an affordable alternative for a tween. It takes still pictures or records live action.
Quilting Kit, Klutz $21.95, 10 and up, Room Lanterns, Klutz, $19.95, 12 and up. Got a tween or young teen girl who loves crafts on your list? Klutz has a variety of do-it-yourself kits, including these two. Girls – or boys – can make a pillow, shoulder bag or wall hanging from the quilting kit, or they can dress up their room with mini-lights ensconced in paper flowers, stars and hearts.
Magnetix Magnacity Building Set, Rose Art, $59.99, ages 8 to 12. Kids who love to put things together can build their own city skyscrapers with this 100-plus piece set from Rose Art.
Scene It?, Screenlife, $49.99, ages 12 and up. This new game bills itself as the “world’s first DVD board game.” It features a DVD with thousands of visuals, stars and trivia questions about movies, TV shows or music to be viewed on your TV screen. There is a junior version, too. It might just bridge the gap between parents and teens for a great family game.
Marshmallow Launcher, Gibbs Smith, $19.95, age 6 and up. Remember the hero of the movie “A Christmas Story,” whose requests for a BB gun always were met with the same answer: “You’ll shoot your eye out, kid!” Well, this toy just might be the safer alternative. Take a few pieces of plastic and you’ve got a launcher that fires miniature marshmallows. The manufacturers warn kids NOT to shoot at people, don’t shoot marshmallows in the house where they will stick to the carpet, and always clean up. Yeah, right.
The Global Puzzle, A Broader View, $14.95, age 8 and up – and clueless parents. Don’t know much about geography? This puzzle features 192 pieces shaped like all the countries in the world, includes their capitals and information on population and size. A Broader View, www.abroaderview.com, specializes in puzzles and games that make learning about geography fun. There are versions for young children.
Tiny Love Pull-Along Pal, Tiny Love, $19.95, age 1 year and up. Remember those pull-along dogs whose heads bobbed up and down? In this 21st-century version, a colorful snail features a pop-up dancing bear, a rabbit peek-a-boo, a reflecting mirror and a shape sorter. These elements are designed to help infants and young toddlers master developmental tasks, including walking and balance. But the pull-along pal is not one of those electric “educational” toys that many child development experts believe are not appropriate for babies.
Comments are no longer available on this story