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...
The next issue of Toy Tips & Parenting Hints will be emailed
to you on August 15, 2003 and include parenting book
reviews from our new Toy Tips parenting book club (If
you would like to join, email me at marianne@toytips.com
for details), our NEW back-to-school nutritious and
delicious health guide and a sneak preview on 2003 holiday
toy reviews.
NOTE: Our annual juvenile gear guide has been moved
to the August issue in order to cover testing of new
products introduced at the Juvenile Manufacturer Products
Association Trade Show we attended in May, 2003.
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.
