Toy Tips works for the consumer! On this site, you'll
find researched product reviews, articles and tips to
stimulate the intellectual, social, physical and individual
personality development of the child.
How can you tell if these holiday "hot toy" lists are credible or just advertising?
Shelley, New York, NY, Mom of Luke (4) and Max (18 months)
The best way to approach a "hot" toy list is to read it for information and not as a shopping list. Most of these lists have little or no research behind them. To determine if a list is credible or not, look for these red flags.
1. The list is based purely on opinion. Anyone can have an opinion. There are more scientific ways to evaluate toys.
2. Kids are billed as toy experts. Children are toy consumers, not toy experts.
3. The list contains nothing but descriptions of the toys. That's a hint there was never really any testing or evaluation. more...
Outdoor Toys
Huffy Sports
First and Goal Football Field Marking Kit
$19.95
This toy encourages a child's physical and intellectual
participation. A child will excercise by running, throwing
and catching. Gross motor skills are stimulated by actively
learning how to play the game of football. By practicing
simple math skills when laying out the field (yardage
markers) as well as keeping track of downs and scoring,
a child uses math and this stimulates intellectual development
, logic and deductive reasoning. Team games encourage
building self-esteem and learning sportsmanship.
I enjoy hearing from
our readers. If you
ever have a comment,
question or concern,
please email me at
marianne@toytips.com
Thanks for caring
about our children.
Marianne
Toy Tips to Parents: Time to Unplug
Don't over stuff the toy box with tech toys. When is technology too much technology?
While tech toys are popular and some can be educational, the latest round of newcomers at Toy Fair makes it clear we're going too far into technology assisted play. It seems technology now permeates almost every kind of toy category on the toy shelves. Parents run the risk of stocking the playroom with items that undermine the important developmental aspects of childhood play.
