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The
Top 20
20 Toys That Transform Children's
War Chests Into Toy Chests
For the 1998-1999
holiday season
Ages 1 and up
Wiggly
Giggly
HandsOn Toys; $15
Description: A
neon-green-and-purple polka-dotted ball with an attitude.
Why we chose it: When this
ball moves, it produces unexpected sounds -- something between a kitten's
delighted yelp and a baby's gurgle -- that puts smiles on the faces of children
and adults alike.
Ages 3 and up
I Spy
Big! Floor Puzzle
Briar Patch; $15
Description: A 35-piece
over-sized jigsaw puzzle based on the I Spy books.
Why we chose it: In addition
to putting the large puzzle pieces together to create a floor puzzle, young
children enjoy searching for particular objects scattered around the
photographic images.
Busy Train Memory
Game
Living & Learning; $14
Description: A
beautifully illustrated memory game and puzzle.
Why we chose it: Children
will have fun putting the train and window pieces together, and then searching
for cards that match the whimsical scenes in each window.
Ages 5 and up
Zoob Dude
Primordial; $10
Description: A
construction toy with hinged joints that twist and turn, so children can
construct real and imaginary creatures rather than static structures.
Why we chose it: Zoob may
not literally be "the first plastic life form," but it is based on the
structure of DNA and can be put together in dozens of different ways.
Children and adults are fascinated by the way these hard plastic pieces rotate,
spin and move around each other.
Round the Bend
International Playthings; $20
Description: A board game
for two to four players that requires children to be the first to construct a
three-dimensional pipeline across the board.
Why we chose it: This game
is easy to learn, requires some strategy, and can double as a construction
toy. Players take turns adding colored pipes to their ever-growing maze of
pipeline, working to be the first to span the board to the other side.
Clay Faces
ALEX; $17
Description: A kit
including 10 colors of brightly colored modeling clay and 25 cutters that can be
used to create intricate faces and features.
Why we chose it: Clay is a
wonderful material for young hands to work and play with. Children can
spend hours creating kooky characters with multi-colored beards, braids and
bows.
Mini Chimalong
Woodstock Percussion; $20
Description: An
eight-note instrument made with the same tubes used for Woodstock wind
chimes. Set comes with a spiral-bound songbook that includes music for 12
songs.
Why we chose it: By matching
the color or number of each chime with the songbook, children can learn to play
music. The book is designed like an easel, with song lyrics printed
on both sides so that one child can play and others sitting opposite can sing
along.
Ages 6 and up
Caves &
Claws
Family Pastimes; $15
Description: A
cooperative board game with a focus on fantasy, adventure and suspense.
Why we chose it: This is one
of those rare games that requires players to work with each other to overcome
obstacles, rather than compete against each other. Caves & Claws
spoofs other fantasy games with a rich humor that both children and adults will
relish.
Super Dooper
Bouncing Zooom Balls
Curiosity Kids; $10
Description: Four molds,
crystals and directions for creating bouncing zoom balls that can bounce up to
15 feet high.
Why we chose it: This kit
allows children to create their own miniature balls in a variety of funky shapes
and colors. Because of the odd shapes, the balls bounce in
unexpected ways. Kit includes glow-in-the-dark crystals, which make the
balls especially exciting to watch in the dark.
Spy Walkie Talkies
Wild Planet Toys; $25
Description: Two small
walkie talkie sets with microphones built into the earphones so children can
talk and listen at the same time.
Why we chose it: An
adventure toy that can be used indoors or out. This high-tech variation of
an old game requires children to make up their own stories and scenarios as they
play.
Glow Kit
Magnetic Poetry; $20
Description: Magnetized
words and images that glow in the dark, to be arranged into poems or sentences
on any metal surface.
Why we chose it: This set
has a space theme, which will appeal to many children. This is an
open-ended word game that can be endlessly arranged and rearranged to form
random thoughts, short poems, or long epics.
You Can Make A
Collage
Eric Carlé, Klutz; $20
Description: A beautiful
how-to book with step-by-step directions for making collages and 72 different
sheets of tissue paper for creating collages.
Why we chose it: This set
will bring out the artist in everyone -- parents and grandparents as well as
children.
Ages 8 and up
Impact Zone
DaMert; $25
Description: A board game
with sound effects that requires players to recover and reconstruct a UFO.
Why we chose it: The
graphics and sound effects, as well as subject matter, make this an exciting
game for this age group.
Stormy Seas
Binary Arts; $15
Description: A strategy
puzzle with four levels of difficulty and 40 ways to play.
Why we chose it: This is a
strategy game that children will pick up again and again as they progress
through increasingly difficult levels of play. The puzzle comes packaged
in an acrylic game tray (great for travelling), with 40 cards that set up
increasingly difficult obstacles.
Haredini
Wild Goose; $20
Description: A magic and
science kit that includes directions and materials for 15 tricks.
Why we chose it: This set
includes some unusual tricks not included in most beginner's magic sets, and
explains some of the scientific principles and ideas behind illusions.
Adult supervision is required, especially for tricks based on simple chemical
reactions.
Panther Yo-Yo
Yomega; $15
Description: A classic
wooden yo-yo that comes in a gift box, with instructions.
Why we chose it: Yo-yos are
old-fashioned toys that are regaining popularity. They are portable and
can provide entertainment almost anywhere. Children can play with yo-yos
by themselves, or they can discover new tricks with friends.
Thumb Ball
Saturnian I; $17
Description: A bright
yellow ball that is tossed and caught using handles equipped with suction cups.
Why we chose it: While the
suction cups work beautifully -- players use their thumb to cover an air hole
that releases or grabs the ball -- it's challenging to learn how to throw and
catch a ball using this technique. A fun, active game that children can
practice alone or play together.
Ages 9 and up
My City
McGraw-Hill Ryerson; $35
Description: A computer
game that requires children to build consensus to solve problems. This
game was developed as a result of meetings with youth, teachers and parents
around the world.
Why we chose it: This
program won an award from Population Communication International for combining
high entertainment values with social responsibility. Children can also go
online and talk to others around the world.
Logical Journey of
the Zoombinis Deluxe
Broderbund; $30
Description: A fun,
whimsical computer puzzle game with four levels of difficulty, as children must
navigate the Zoombinis safely across obstacles to their home.
Why we chose it: This is a
beautiful game with a great soundtrack that provides hours of entertainment as
children figure out ways for outwitting the various gatekeepers and saving as
many Zoombinis as possible.
Ages 10 and up
Malarky
Patch; $30
Description: A bluffing
game based on the Imponderables book series, where players gain points
by making up plausible answers to imponderable questions such as "why don't
we ever see baby pigeons"? (Game requires three to six players;
actual answers are provided).
Why we chose it: This
hilarious game is fun for the whole family. Children love to make up
stories, and this game brings out the ham in everyone.
Back to Top
List Compiled in
Collaboration with
TRUCE (Teachers Resisting Unhealthy
Children's Entertainment)
P.O. Box 441261
West Somerville, MA 02144
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