The Top 20 20 Toys That Transform Children's
War Chests Into Toy Chests For 2003 - 2004
Family Games
Columns, Masterpiece Games, $25
Recommended Age: 8+
Description: This is a beautiful, wooden strategy game in three dimensions.
Why we chose it: Columns plays like a three-dimensional form of tic-tac-toe. The wooden pieces are a pleasure to hold, and the game is enjoyed by both children and adults. This is a game that families can gather around and enjoy for years. http://www.mindwareonline.com
Addictionary, International Playthings, $17
Recommended Age: 8+
Description: This is a game for children and families who like playing with words. One player uses letter cards to form a word, and the next player changes it by replacing or adding a letter. The game continues until one player has used all seven letters in his or her hand.
Why we chose it: This is a fun and challenging game for both children and adults. Even children who are not good spellers enjoy it.
http://www.chinaberry.com
Zitternix, Haba, $13
Recommended Age: 6+
Description: A colorful wooden game that can be played by up to four players, an ingenious vertical version of pick-up sticks.
Why we chose it: This game is challenging and fun for all age groups. Children can practice on their own, and will return to it again and again. http://www.chinaberry.com
Heroes and Heroines
Mightier Than the Sword: World Folktales for Strong Boys,
by Jane Yolen, Harcourt, $19
Recommended Age: 9-12
Description: A brand-new book of folk tales from around the world featuring stories of heroic boys who use a variety of skills and talents to overcome obstacles and solve problems.
Why we chose it: This is a much-needed book for todays families, who are desperately looking for stories of heroic journeys that dont involve violence. Award winning-author Jane Yolen writes: "Hero is about being clever, learning from your mistakes, being kind and compassionate, and finding good friends. Picking up a sword doesnt make you a hero sticking to your word does." Yolens companion book came out in 2000 and is called Not One Damsel in Distress: World Folktales for Strong Girls.
http://www.chinaberry.com
Whale Rider, New Market Films, $27
Recommended Age: 11+ (rated PG-13, but really a PG)
Description: A DVD of the recently-released New Zealand film, featuring a young girl who undertakes a heroic spiritual journey to overcome odds and become a leader in her Maori village.
Why we chose it: This film presents a story that families can enjoy together, involving a heroic journey and coming- of-age story. Highly recommended by families and critics alike. http://www.whaleriderthemovie.com/
Science and Electronic Fun
KG Racer, Kid Galaxy, $18
Recommended Age: 5+
Description: Small, sleek, uniquely-designed remote control cars that are moderately priced. Why we chose it: The cars respond nicely to the controls, which are very simple to use. The racers come in unique and colorful shapes, from insects (think ladybug) to old-fashioned sedans. http://www.kidgalaxy.com
Battery Science, Klutz, $20
Recommended Age: 8+
Description: A wacky, colorful book with basic components for making small battery-powered contraptions.
Why we chose it: This is a fun book with easy directions for creating numerous motorized playthings such as a toy submarine, "rollamathing," robot bugs and more http://www.chinaberry.com
Active Play
Dance Dance Revolution (DDR), Konami, versions available for PlayStation 2 and Xbox, about $50 with basic plastic dance pad. A deluxe Cobaltflux Pad is $300.
Recommended Age: 6+
Description: This very active video game requires children to use their feet rather than their fingers. There are various songs and degrees of difficulty, as children learn to place their feet on the dance pad according to arrows shown on the screen.
Why we chose it: What started as an arcade game has become a home-based and very social game that is amazingly popular with children and teens. Many children describe the game as "addictive" as they keep playing to achieve greater levels of mastery. The popularity of the game leads to greater levels of aerobic exercise, and children work up a good sweat as they dance for 20-30 minutes at a stretch. DDR can be purchased with a basic plastic dance pad, but the Cobaltflux pad while not inexpensive is the most highly-rated and will last through months and years of pounding feet. http://www.cobaltflux.com http://www.konami.com
Pogo Stick, Sport Fun, $30
Recommended Age: 8+ (75-160 lbs)
Description: A traditional pogo stick that will get children balancing and bouncing indoors or out
Why we chose it: This classic toy is still irresistible to children: it will draw them off the couch and away from the television, toward more active play. http://www.chinaberry.com
Flyer Golf, Saturnian, $40
Recommended Age: 3+
Description: A brightly-colored frisbee golf game.
Why we chose it: This game requires children to throw small, soft frisbees into the pockets of a tent-like structure. The game can be played inside or out, alone or in groups, and is appropriate for a wide range of ages. The neon-colored set collapses easily into a carrying case http://www.sat1sport.com
Puzzles and Things to Make
Brainteaser Classics, ThinkFun, $20
Recommended Age: 8+
Description: A set of eight different brainteasers, with 24 hint cards and a history/solutions booklet.
Why we chose it: This series of brainteasers engages both hands and mind, as children try to solve three-dimensional brainteasing puzzles. Each brainteaser comes with its own how-to-play card and three hint cards, so children can choose to look at a series of hints if the frustration level gets too high. The puzzles promote the "aha" moment, when a flash of creativity results in out-of-the-box thinking http://www.chinaberry.com
Flip-Space Puzzle, DaMert, $9
Recommended Age: 6+
Description: A 100-piece, two-sided puzzle with a night and day view of our solar system
Why we chose it: Children can put this puzzle together in two different ways: one side depicts a rare view of space when it is flooded with light, and the other is a more familiar night view. Friendly space aliens are hidden among the pieces on one side; the space shuttle is featured on the other side.
http://www.chinaberry.com
Eraser Clay, Deluxe Set, Sculpey, $25
Recommended Age: 8+
Description: A very bright and beautiful clay-like product that children can mold into any shape. After baking in an oven for 10 minutes, the childs creation becomes a personalized eraser.
Why we chose it: This is a very open-ended art project that allows children to create objects they can actually use. The erasers work well, and no two are alike. http://www.chinaberry.com
Magnetic Towing Game, Melissa & Doug, $10
Recommended Age: 3+
Description: This beautiful wooden puzzle and "fishing" game fascinates very young children. It uses a tow truck and magnet dangling from a stick to pick up truck pieces from the puzzle board.
Why we chose it: This toy will entertain young children for long periods of time. Children use hand-eye coordination to pick up the pieces, and once they have "towed" all the trucks from the board they enjoy re-assembling the pieces. Other puzzles in this series feature fish and bugs. http://www.chinaberry.com
Computer Games
Magic Flute, Music Games International, $20 (boxed) or $12 to download
Recommended Age: 6+
Description: A PC game featuring "musical jigsaw puzzles" and "truly twisted music riddles," based on Mozarts Magic Flute. Children learn to identify musical instruments and match melodies and sounds.
Why we chose it: This game has a calming quality, unlike the frenetic energy of many video and computer games. The graphics are as lush and beautiful as the music, performed by the Moscow Ensemble of Contemporary Music. A unique computer game for music lovers of all ages. http://www.kidsmusicstage.com/
Puppets
Baby Gorilla, Folkmanis, $25
Recommended Age: 3+
Description: A soft, cuddly and wonderfully expressive baby hand puppet.
Why we chose it: Children as well as adults instantly fall in love with this furry creature. Puppets encourage hours of open-ended play, and are an invitation to storytelling for children of all ages. http://www.chinaberry.com
If you have any suggestions for toys for our next list, please
contact us here at The Lion & Lamb Project via any of the methods listed at the
top of the screen - or use our easy online Toy Recommendation Form!
If you send us a toy recommendation, please include all the relevant details of
the toy, including those seen above.
If we pick your recommendation to be included in one of our lists,
you'll receive a free Parent Action Kit!
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