When I was little, GeoSafari was the “it” toy for educational fun. And from what I remember, Educational Insights (the company that created the GeoSafari brand) was the first company to actually make a computer-esque learning game. Or at least the first ones to do it successfully. Now, there are all kinds of educational toys and brands out there to make sure your child is learning and having fun at the same time. However, that certainly wasn’t always the case.

Growing up, I owned a GeoSafari that had all of the different cards with maps on them. Of course, mine was straight out of the eighties with its bulky design that stood up so the card would continually fall off while I played it. Now, the GeoSafari devices have an easy-to-carry, laptop design with 63 two-sided cards and over 2,000 questions. I think mine had about 5 to 10 two-sided cards, in comparison. What amazes me more is that GeoSafari has created hundreds of other educational games, like a talking globe, a talking microscope and a fossil collection. You can find all of them at Arsa Toys, but I’m still partial to the original map or atlas GeoSafari game. It was educational, but my brother and I would still fight over it like kids do for the Nintendo controller now. Ahh … to be a kid of the eighties!

The holiday season is so exciting, isn’t it? So much food, family and merriment to be had, but as we all know, kids are all about the gifts (and not socks). If the children in your life aren’t already bouncing out of their footy pajamas in anticipation of presents, I’m sure they will be.

As much fun as Christmas can be, coping with the reality of December 26th can be a real challenge. How do you prevent stimulation overload on Christmas? Christmas is always exciting, but the carnage of multiple presents being opened can leave some kids on a present-high. Here are a few tips to avoiding toy overload after the piles of wrapping paper and boxes have settled.

If you find yourself in toy overload (or if it’s hard to find your baby under all of those toys) you need to proactively take steps to reduce clutter as soon as possible before it becomes an out-of-control situation. A good room cleaning and removal of old toys is a good way to get rid of some of the clutter, but some kids are overwhelmed by the new toys. Some parents opt to store away a few presents and save them for a few weeks, or even months, after Christmas. This is a great practice for seasonal toys and board games, or toys that might make better companions on road trips, rainy days or sick days.

Of course, the trick is to remember the toys you stored so they can be enjoyed before the child outgrows them. If you’re worried you might forget about stored toys, ask if you can send them to a often-visited relative’s home for play during visits.

If your child does not show enthusiasm for a new toy, it’s probably best to return or donate it to a good charity rather than let it sit neglected at the bottom of a toy box. Store credits usually have a pretty long expiration period, so they’ll be perfect for a fun spring surprise in April. It’s hard not to be offended when the gift you thought was perfect ends up filed under “meh” - but it’s the thought that counts, and the toy (or its store credit) will bring plenty of joy for another child or as a new toy later. Make sure that kids understand when a gift is returned that they will get a new toy in the future, and maybe include it as a part of an allowance or reward system.

And of course, there is always the old “don’t buy it” method. When you make your shopping list for Christmas, go ahead and remove a quarter of the items. Your kids will never know! Encourage relatives to purchase physical experiences, such as special event tickets, day trips, favorite meals and movie tickets, rather than toys. Everyone will enjoy the shared time together, and memories last longer than toys.

I hope these simple tips help get you through the holiday weekend sanely and safely. And if not this year, there’s always next year. Happy holidays to all, and best wishes.

Sometimes, the best toys do not make noise or move, but they simply activate the imagination, like the increasingly popular line of Schleich figurines.

Made in Germany and popular across continental Europe for many decades, these toys have only recently become popular in the UK, United States and Canada. Its first figurine series featured Snoopy and The Smurfs starting in the 1950’s (back when the Smurfs were just a comic). Now the world of Schleich focuses on a wide variety of animals, dinosaurs, knights, fantasy elves and the American frontier. In addition to its intricate figurines, a variety of play sets and accessories are also available.

Truly, just about anything you can imagine is represented by a Schleich figurine. The current line of figurines now includes farm animals, pets, wild life, knights, dinosaurs, Smurfs, and the American frontier along with many accessories for each. The newest line, called Elfen, was introduced in 2007 and included a story book that  was originally released on the Schleich website.

While the parts do not move, all of  Schleich products are highly detailed and hand-painted to give them the most lifelike appearance possible. They are all on a 1/12 scale, make them perfectly compatible across multiple sets. They are a great way to learn about animals and explore new subjects in imaginative play. If you know a child (or adult) with an interest in animals, the Renaissance, fantasy novels or the frontier, an assortment of Schleich figurines make the perfect gift for any occasion. You can also make it a family tradition to give figurines each year!

[All of the items featured in this post are available at Arsa Toys: Actress Smurfette - $2.79; Pinto Stallion Figurine - $4.99; Elf Floral Umbrella - $26.99.]

For over 35 years, Playmobil has been one of the most popular toy series around. While the simple figurines and the many accessories might seem similar to LEGO sets, the lack of a construction factor makes it more of an interactive, imaginative toy. The world of Playmobil explores many facets of o day-to-day modern life and even historical eras — such as Ancient Rome and Egypte. The high-level of detail and ability to mix sets makes it an ideal toy for imaginative play for a variety of age groups.

Playmobil was kind of born out of the 1973 Oil Crisis. Faced with rising petroleum costs, the parent company that creator Hans Beck worked for was looking to get more out of the plastics the company was purchasing. The system of customizable toys, with its interchangeable parts, offered unlimited possibilities for re-combination and expansion, and became a highly marketable toy.

Here are some fun facts about this iconic and always popular toy:

• Playmobil figures are built on 1:24 scale
• The first Playmobil sets were of Native Americans, construction workers and knights
• There are 33 available Playmobil themes and 19 retired themes
• Discontinued themes include Antartica, Grocery, Space and Old House
• Proposed themes have included Chinese Railroad Workers, Grave Digger and Medieval Torture Room. Prototypes were made. However, these sets were considered insensitive and inappropriate for young children, and were never released
• Founder Hans Bec, nicknamed “The Father of Playmobil”, died earlier in 2009 at the age of 79
• Playmobil figures are great for stop-motion animation films.

Featured in this post: Firing Catapault ($11.99); you can get this set, and many other new Playmobil sets at Arsa Toys now.

Looking to provide safe toys this holiday season? Shopping for an environmentally conscious friend or relative? Before you buy a toy, check out Good Guide, a consumer rating web site still in its beta phase. While you can investigate the safety of your food, how green a product is, and even where a garment was made, I am most impressed with the toy contaminate section that outlines the levels of dangerous chemicals that are frequently found in unsafe toys. As an added feature, you can select only toys that are 100% contaminate or lead free.

Take the Press ‘N Go Inchworm by iPlay. Good Guide indicates that it is completely free from contaminates and lead, identifies that the toy was made in China by a factory with good environmental policies. This toy gets lower, but decent, marks for the social policies of the manufacturer, which I’m far less concerned with than the safety of the toy itself. It can be very difficult to research the contaminants in a toy, and this handy guide really makes life easier. Each rating is explained in detail, including individual contaminates.

So if you’re a safety enthusiast, environmentalist, social advocate or all of the above (or shopping for one), check out Good Guide and help make it a better way to shop for consumers and manufacturers alike. There are a lot of products yet to be rated and added to the site, but with time I think it can become a great resource for all of us.

[Featured in this post: Press N' Go Inchworm; $10.99 at Arsa Toys]

Tickle Me Elmo. Furbies. Tamagotchi. While these toy fads have come and gone, there’s always a new one to replace it the following year. Christmas is still seven weeks away, but parents are already having a tough time finding the season’s most popular toys. Value seems to be on the minds of most Christmas shoppers, and the popularity of inexpensive toys is driving consumers out early to stores like Walmart this year.

This year’s hot commodity are the Zhu Zhu Pets, an interactive mechanical hamster that is being compared to the Furby craze a few years ago. With a mere $9.99 retail price, it’s easy to see why parents are ready and willing to buy them. When paired with economy-minded stores ordering less stock this year, Zhu Zhu Pets are very difficult to find early in the season. Even when the coveted hamsters are located, their accessories - including a car, pet carrier and bed - are just as hard to track down.

The website Hot Toys 2009 has a handy list of the hottest toys and their availability at popular chain stores like Walmart and Target. Of course, you’ll probably have luck at smaller local and web-based retailers and Google Shopping can be your best resource to track down an item.

Character fashion dolls are also a popular commodity. Princess Tiana, the star of the upcoming animated Disney feature The Princess and the Frog is already selling well before the release of the movie, and Barbie’s version of Bella from the Twilight series remains popular. For boys, zero gravity RC cars and Transformers are the big must have items. Also on the list is the super cool MindFlex game.

Personally, I’m not really one for fad toys. Children might be disappointed when they realize a fad toy isn’t waiting for them underneath the wrapping paper, but in the long run, classic and simple toys tend to be held on to for years to come. Simple dolls, non-remote controlled trucks and play sets are easy choices that are proven favorites over the long haul. Whatever you purchase this holiday season, always remember it’s the thought and effort that counts.

Now that Halloween has come and gone, it’s already time to start thinking about holiday and late fall birthday shopping (don’t worry, I won’t post pictures of Santa and Frosty the Snowman just yet).  And, if nothing else, now is a great time to start thinking about gifts and finding the best prices before you order.

Arsa Toys is offering 10 Great Toys Under $10. It features many classic items, including a Sock Monkey, rubber piggy bank and butterfly garden - perfect gifts for children of any age. The items will be changed and updated throughout the season, so be sure to check back soon. Other lists may be added later in the season depending on the popularity of this one. Happy shopping!

Halloween is finally here! I’m sure most kids (and parents) have already worn their costumes to school, work, play groups and other activities. Even if you get several occasions to wear a costume in one season, there are still plenty of other uses for a Halloween costume come November 1st!

Halloween costumes make a fantastic addition to any dress-up collection, especially when you have several children of different ages. You might want to wait a few weeks to add costumes to the collection to prevent confusion for the child. Be sure to explain to younger children that it is only to be worn at home and that you aren’t going Trick-or-Treating again until next year when they will wear a new costume.

Once Halloween costumes go on sale, they are definitely worth buying to put away for next year or to add to the dress-up collection. Costume accessories also tend to go on sale and make great toys for imaginary play sessions.

If you’re looking to save money on costumes for next year, Tiffany2U at Mom2Mom recommends organizing or participating in a Costume Swap party. Or, you can ask friends and family members to donate their used costumes for your dress-up collection (but be sure to invite them to come over and play, too!).

And, if nothing else, Halloween costumes are great for hilarious internet videos to be enjoyed by millions on the internet, like this one of Godzilla Baby.

Happy and safe Halloween to all!

Kids love to collect things that most adults think are pretty common and uninteresting, like pine cones, rocks, fall leaves. I know some parents let their kids have a “Nature Bucket” to store their found treasures, but some kids have curiosities that go beyond these safe items. Here are a few fun toys that blend science and a love for nature with good old fashioned fun. They also make great activities for the whole family.

Microscopes are a great tool for children in the classroom, but can be too expensive, immobile and fragile to make a practical toy for home use. I like Scope it Out because it’s an easy to use magnifier and a perfect companion for a nature walk. Kids can use it to observe just about anything, even underwater. The set of handy tools make collecting specimens easy and scientific, and the handy light really helps at night or in rooms with indirect lighting. There’s also a smaller version that magnifies items to 30 times their original size if you’re looking for something more fun than scientific.
[XTreme Scope it Out; $15.99 at Arsa Toys]

Big Bad Booming Bugs Giant Bug Projector is a fun way to explore, store and release insect specimens. It includes a flashlight to look for bugs at night, a bug scooper to catch specimens, an adjustable magnifying glass, a slide lever for releasing the bugs when you’re done, and a lighted projector for seeing them at up to fifty times their real size! You can project your specimens on a large wall, side of a building, or side walk for all kinds of fun projects.
[Big Bad Booming Bugs Giant Bug Projector $10.88 at Arsa Toys]

And for those parents that think that nature should be heard and not seen, this Secret Sounds set allows kids to hear the normally-hidden sounds of nature. It picks up on the ultrasonic frequencies emitted by frogs, bats and crickets and amplifies them to be heard. It’s a really educational hands-off activity.
[Secret Sounds by Uncle Milton; $21.40 at Arsa Toys]

I saw this “Girls Only” Cleaning Trolley floating around the internet last week and it was understandably the topic of many discussions. I think a lot of the backlash for this picture was associated with the societal belief that women are traditionally responsible for cleaning chores and that this toy “starts ‘em young”. That’s just ridiculous to me. Children love to mimic the activities of adults in their play, and pretend cleaning products are just as popular as pretend kitchens, doctor sets, and tools.

My only problem with this toy is the label “Girls Only”. I don’t think that there is such thing as a gender-exclusive toy. Girls pick up and play with action figures on occasion, and I’m sure more than one Barbie has been played with by a boy (if even for malicious purposes). In my opinion, children should be allowed to play with whatever toys they want (as long as they are safe, of course) without a gender-related stigma.

Now, here is the same toy (with a vacuum cleaner) in a traditional children’s color motif. The image also shows a little boy playing with the toy. The package for this one does not say “Boys Only!” nor does the color scheme seem to target either gender. While I understand some children have a color preference, the label on the pink version still seems unjustified to me. What are your thoughts?