California Travel Tips
Christmas Toy Buying Tips
Published on: December 09, 2013
The 2013 Best Toys for Kids include RingStix (left photo) and Calico Critters Supermarket (right photo.) California’s very own Mattel Malibu Barbie didn’t make this list! But we love them, anyway, and so do millions of kids!
2013 Best Toys for Kids (from American Toy Specialty Retail Assoc.)
- Active Play: RingStix Lite By RingStix – System Enterprises LLC; Y’all Ball By Joint Merchant
- Classic Play: Skwish Classic By Manhattan Toy (ages 0-7 yrs); Original Spirograph® Deluxe Kit By Kahootz Toys (8 yrs+)
- Constructive Play: Q-BA-MAZE 2.0 Mega Stunt Set By MindWare; Squigz By Fat Brain Toy Co.
- Creative Arts Play: Potholder PRO By Harrisville Designs X-treme Sticker Maker Set By Faber-Castell USA Inc
- Early Play: Green Toys Seaplane By Green Toys Inc.; Tatoo Xylo Roller By Juratoys US Corp (JANOD)
- Game Play: Bunny Peek A Boo By Smart Toys and Games, Inc. (ages 3-7 yrs); Zingo! Sight Words By ThinkFun, Inc. (ages 3-7 yrs); Laser Maze By ThinkFun, Inc. (age 8 yrs+); Timeline Diversity By Asmodee Editions
- Just for Fun Play: Curiosity Kits Pulsar Powerballs By The Orb Factory; Super Magnetic Tidal Wave Thinking Putty By Crazy Aaron’s Puttyworld
- Pretend Play: Calico Critters Supermarket By International Playthings (pretend); Rainbow Fairy Wings with Glitter By Douglas Cuddle Toy (pretend); Cargo and Passenger Aircraft By PLAYMOBIL (role play); Scientific Play Air-Stream Machines By Thames & Kosmos (scientific); Snap Circuits SOUND By Elenco Electronics (scientific)
Christmas Toy Buying Tips:
- Check online if toy stores are sold out in stores–this is especially beneficial for shipping to recipient!
- Focus on the features of the play a toy encourages, rather than on the features of the toy. Think about what the child can do, rather than what the toy can do.
- Let the child’s developmental level and interests guide your toy choices, not advertising or the popularity of the toy. Look for toys that let the child tell the story–toys that leave room for the child to use his imagination in how he plays with the toy.
- Choose toys that encourage kids to use and explore all developmental domains: physical; cognitive; sensory; speech and language; social and emotional.
- Look for quality, design, visually interesting and easy to use toys and appropriateness for age, gender and abilities.
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