About.com Toys

Black Friday Toy Deals Start Early

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:53:56 +0000

I know moms who line up at 4 am for great toy deals at the Black Friday sales, but this year many retailers are offering Black Friday prices on 2009's hot holiday toys well before the traditional day-after-Thanksgiving shop-a-palooza. Here are just a few examples.

Starting Saturday, November 21 Walmart is advertising deep discounts on toys like the Easy-Bake Oven (40% off) and the Barbie Generation of Dreams Collector Doll (49% off).
Starting Sunday, November 22 Target is offering a free $20 Target gift card with the purchase of a Nintendo Wii console.
Kohl's is offering everything in their stores and online on sale Friday, November 20 and Saturday, November 21 including hot holiday toys Elmo's Tickle Hands and Rocky the Robot Truck.

Photo � Fisher-Price

Black Friday Toy Deals Start Early originally appeared on About.com Toys on Friday, November 20th, 2009 at 16:53:56.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

Toys for Tots Collecting New Toys

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 01:39:14 +0000

Every year Toys for Tots provides millions of new toys to children who otherwise might not receive Christmas presents.

My husband and I usually take our children to the toy store to buy a favorite toy they already have, then allow them to put the new toys in the collection bins. We explain that, if they love their dump truck, another child might love one, too. This is a nice way to instill the importance (and fun) of giving in children as young as 2 or 3.

A million years ago when I was single, my friends and I would gather to drop off toys at the local fire station. We did it for the children, you know! More than 700 local Toys for Tots organizations will be collecting new, unwrapped toys this year.�Visit the Toys for Tots website to find out where to drop off toys in your area.

Image � Toys for Tots

Toys for Tots Collecting New Toys originally appeared on About.com Toys on Thursday, November 19th, 2009 at 01:39:14.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

Toy Manufacturer Yells, "DUCK!"

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 08:19:05 +0000

I was fortunate to have been invited to a special toy preview event in New York, where I got to see dozens of new toys for the holiday shopping season. It was held in a large event space that accommodated hundreds of guests.

While standing around chatting with several other journalists, I heard someone shout, "DUCK!" Why is it that, as soon as we hear "DUCK!" we do just the opposite? We look UP! What's with that? I digress.

Anyway, it turned out that an orange-vested representative of Interactive Toy was demonstrating its new Duck Hunter toy. Duck Hunter features a large, flapping duck that flies around in circles for 30 seconds, or until the hunter gets three direct hits with the included handgun.

The bird flapped and flew, ducked and dived, scattering toy-industry professionals like bowling pins. I found myself posed like Tippi Hedron in The Birds!

At first, my "mother-of-a-4-year-old" voice rang in my head and I felt like shouting, "Outdoor toys are for OUTDOORS!" Then I found a place to stand (a safe distance from the mayhem) and I have to confess that it made my day. It was hilarious!

Unsuspecting grownups, deep in conversation, furiously texting, or simply crossing the room were finding themselves ducking for cover like they were in the middle of a 1951 air-raid drill.

While my kids (and yes, my husband) would love the Duck Hunter toy, I'm going to pass. The simple enjoyment I got from watching that demo is enough wing-flapping hilarity for me.

Photo � Interactive Toy

Would you buy a toy like this for your kids?

Toy Manufacturer Yells, "DUCK!" originally appeared on About.com Toys on Tuesday, November 17th, 2009 at 08:19:05.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

Licensed to Play

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 20:44:17 +0000

When my son was 2, he shouted,�"ELMO!" when he spotted a balloon in the drug store. He recognized the Sesame Street brand immediately, but he was so little! Companies spend billions to attach Elmo or Dora or SpongeBob to everything from diapers to snacks, and they're counting on kids to want them and parents to buy them.

Some licensed items sell well because the quality is great and the character smiling back at the child is a bonus. Others sell because we know what our kids like, and sometimes we'll buy just about anything with that character on it.

My 4-year-old son was completely obsessed with Thomas the Tank Engine. Aside from the lead-paint problems that caused some Thomas cars to be recalled, the tracks and trains are generally well made and will last far beyond my son's obsession with them.

Now that he's seen Disney's Cars movie, he only wants to play with his die-cast cars. Let me tell you...he can spot a Cars character a mile away. If it was on a box of light bulbs he'd want me to buy those light bulbs.

The bottom line is that there's nothing wrong with licensed products. I mean, I put the Dora Links doll in my Top 10 list of new Christmas toys this year! But all of us should think hard, stick to our guns and insist on high quality when buying any toy.

Some questions to consider include:

� How long will the toy keep your child's attention?

� Could it be passed on to his little brother, or even your grandchildren someday?

� Would you still buy it if it didn't have Cookie Monster all over it?

Companies will listen if parents insist on quality and only buy the best toys, whether they feature favorite characters or not.

Photo � Sesame Street

Licensed to Play originally appeared on About.com Toys on Friday, November 13th, 2009 at 20:44:17.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

Safety Proofing For Dummies

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 07:40:26 +0000

Like every mom I have a box of gizmos from outlet-finger-stoppers to doorknob-no-turners in my house. Mine is labeled (in big letters with my label maker) "Safety Proofing." This is because I think "Safety Proofing" is a hilarious term and I like to amuse myself at any opportunity. I mean, you've gotta keep that safety away from the babies, right?

I've used the phrase in public and I've gotten a few chuckles, but today I feel truly validated. One Step Ahead, which is a great site with clever kid-related gadgets and toys, sent out a marketing email with the subject, "Holiday Safety-Proofing Solutions."

I laughed. I can't help myself! I mean, what's in the catalog? Recalled toys from Christmas past?

The holidays do pose many safety hazards for babies and toy safety should be taken very seriously, but it's baby proofing or child proofing, not safety proofing!

Safety Proofing For Dummies originally appeared on About.com Toys on Friday, November 13th, 2009 at 07:40:26.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

Shopping Locally Requires Dedication

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:38:51 +0000

I think I'm probably slightly ahead of the "green" curve, and in an effort to reduce my impact on the environment, I try to shop locally whenever I can, but even I have my limits.

Yesterday I (stupidly) bribed my 4-year-old with a specific car from the Cars movie. He performed like a champion and now I'm on the hunt. By the time the preschool bell rings, I must locate and purchase Doc Hudson with blinking eyes.

Easy! Sure! Three local toy stores later, (One clerk said with a wink, "Good luck with that!") I'm headed for the big box stores. I wish I lived on Sesame Street and I could walk down the street to Mr. Hooper's store and get everything I needed, from TP to toys, but it just doesn't work that way.

Our local toy stores are wonderful but they're small. If you're looking for something specific (like Doc Hudson with the blinking eyes) you're often out of luck. And their hours are funky. They are open one evening a week, closed on Mondays, and it's hit or miss when Guy Fawkes Day rolls around or one of the employees is getting married.

So exactly how dedicated am I to supporting local, family-run businesses? Is it worth the hassle of hauling two kids in and out of car seats three times and zigzagging across town before I find what I'm looking for? I guess I get karmic credit for starting there first, and I'll have to live with myself for driving 12 miles (one way) to the giant toy store to make a little boy happy. Next time we need something, we'll try to plan ahead so we can patronize the local toy shop.

The child did, after all, put ALL his toys away so I could vacuum.

How dedicated are you to shopping locally?

Shopping Locally Requires Dedication originally appeared on About.com Toys on Wednesday, November 11th, 2009 at 12:38:51.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

Baby Dolls Aren't Just for Girls

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 19:13:36 +0000

When I was pregnant with my second child we bought a baby doll for my first son, who was 2 1/2. The plan was to introduce a baby into his daily routine before the real thing arrived. We didn't know the baby's gender so we sought out a gender-neutral doll that would appeal to a toddler boy.

He promptly named the doll "Donarina." We will never know why.

Donarina went with us to the store, where she rode in the shopping cart in her toy infant seat. She went on walks with us and my son pushed her in a toy stroller I had scored at the consignment store for five bucks.

Donarina didn't make baby noises or baby smells, and she didn't take away my attention from my precious firstborn, but she was a good tool for us. It got him excited about having a little brother or sister. (In the end, he got a brother!)

The classic French doll company Corolle has some of the loveliest baby dolls around, so I've reviewed a pink doll, a blue doll and a plain white baby doll that would all be perfect for preparing a toddler for a new sibling.

Photo � Corolle

Baby Dolls Aren't Just for Girls originally appeared on About.com Toys on Monday, November 9th, 2009 at 19:13:36.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

Toys "R" Us Hiring 35,000 Seasonal Employees

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 12:22:03 +0000

Toys "R" Us will hire 35,000 seasonal workers to staff stores throughout the busy holiday season. Toys "R" Us employs roughly 70,000 workers in 34 countries, so this marks a 50 per cent increase in manpower for the Christmas shopping period.

Given the current economy, this is relatively encouraging. The company is hiring the same number of seasonal employees as last year.

Interested in working at Toys "R" Us this holiday? Visit their employment website to apply.

Photo � Toys "R" Us

Have you ever worked in a toy store at Christmas time? What was that like?

Toys "R" Us Hiring 35,000 Seasonal Employees originally appeared on About.com Toys on Saturday, November 7th, 2009 at 12:22:03.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

Enter to Win a Toy Kitchen and an Amazing Real One!

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:25:06 +0000

Cooking with kids is a hot trend right now, and Step2 and Frigidaire are running an amazing contest to encourage families to spend quality time together in the kitchen. Simply visit Step2's website and write an essay about how your family gets creative in the kitchen and you'll be entered to win any of Step2's great play kitchens, plus a real, adult-sized dishwasher, microwave, fridge and oven from Frigidaire.

I think parents could whip up some pretty amazing grilled cheese sandwiches with brand-new appliances like those!

How does your family get creative in the kitchen?

Photo � Step2

Enter to Win a Toy Kitchen and an Amazing Real One! originally appeared on About.com Toys on Friday, November 6th, 2009 at 12:25:06.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

Toy Hall of Fame Has a Ball

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 12:55:01 +0000

Today the National Toy Hall of Fame in Rochester, NY has just announced three new inductees, the Big Wheel, the Game Boy and...(drumroll please) the ball.

The ball? Sounds wacky, but sure! The ball is an all-time favorite. It's been around almost as long as there have been children to toss it, kick it or whack it with a stick, which was inducted last year. (Honest!)

At a special event today, the ball, the Big Wheel and the Game Boy were unveiled, and they take their places among other classics like Barbie, Slinky and Silly Putty.

Can you picture the ball watching the unveiling year after year, wondering when its time would come? The Susan Lucci of toys is sitting there thinking, "The stick? Seriously? The stick got in before the BALL?"

Now all is right with the world.

Photo � National Toy Hall of Fame

Toy Hall of Fame Has a Ball originally appeared on About.com Toys on Thursday, November 5th, 2009 at 12:55:01.

Permalink | Comment | Email this