We don’t have pictures yet, but this list of prototypes for upcoming Burger King kids meal toys should excite any die-hard toy geek:

1) Mighty Thor Figure - The God of Thunder articulated in full costume with helm; Pose-able

2) Mjolnir “Lightning” Shooter - Thor’s mystical hammer with the ability to shoot multiple “lightning” discs

3) Lady Sif Headdress - A miniature replica of the ceremonial helm worn by Sif in the film

4) “Rainbow” Ring - Unlock the secrets of the Bifrost Bridge, the gateway of the Gods of Asgard

5) Loki Figure - The God of Mischief casts a spell to “multiply” himself before your eyes

6) The Destroyer - Asgard’s most powerful weapon, which only Thor may be able to stop; Pose-able

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?

Children start to have a deep interest in baby dolls around 18 month mark, give or take, of course. The simple toy has been around for generations and many adults experience a fond nonstalgia for their beloved childhood companions. Believe it or not, some parents are opposed to dolls, but they offer a variety of benefits to children of both genders. Here are a few benefits of dolls, as well as a few suggestions to find the right doll for your child.

Imaginative Play

Imaginative play helps children to learn and grow in countless ways, and dolls are one of the simplest toys to facilitate this type of play. By assuming roles and interacting with dolls, children practice language and social skills, including sharing, cooperation, helping, and problem solving. They learn the different roles people play and begin to see their own place in the world. Children love to copy the actions of adults, who attentively care for babies all the time. Having a baby doll around the house is also a great way to prepare an older child for the arrival of a new baby.

Boys and Dolls

The idea of little boys playing with baby dolls is still a controversial one in many families. Chances are, if a child attends day care, they are exposed to the toys traditionally associated with both genders. Boys play with baby and child-like dolls until about age 4 or 5 when they may switch to “boy dolls” like G.I. Joe. Dolls do not have to be pink or girly, explore male and gender-neutral dolls currently on the market. And boys don’t have to dote over a doll like a parent does a baby; they can make patients for a doctor, passengers in a taxi, students or a variety of other participants in imaginary play scenarios. For parents and teachers concerned about the stigma of a boy playing with a doll, books like William’s Doll and Oliver Button Is a Sissy can help children and adults understand the situation.

Other Benefits

Additionally, many dolls that have removable clothes help teach children fine motor skills. Sure, there are stuffed animals and activity boards that can teach buttons, snaps, zippers and putting on shoes, but it’s easier for children to identify with a human doll that looks like they do. It can also be a great way to teach about body parts. Doll play allows children to work through strong emotions and feel empathy.

Picking the Right Doll

Younger children (18 to 36 months) are probably best suited for a very basic doll that simply looks like a baby and has clothes and a bottle, but don’t really need dolls with eating, crying or bodily function capabilities. Corolle makes some great simple baby dolls that are perfect for younger children. Most Corolle dolls can be taken into the bath tub and include simple accessories.

Older children will probably appreciate a more detailed doll with fancy battery-powered actions. A plain old doll is still just fine, and children can really get creative with their doll’s behaviors and needs without the doll making a sound. Other children may see a doll simply as a companion, so you may want to seek out the most durable doll you can find so it can keep (and clean) up with your child.

Items featured in this post (top to bottom): Tidoo Strawberry Baby Doll by Corolle ($29.49); Babipouce Pink Striped Baby Doll by Corolle ($23.49); Emma Drink and Wet Bath Baby by Corolle ($43.99)

I can’t believe it’s already the last day of June! Thanks to Google News and Twitter (remember to follow me!), I’ve found a lot of great toy-related articles in this month that I thought I would share.

One of my favorite - and certainly one of the most popular - blogs Boing Boing started a discussion about water drums last week. We all know how I feel about bath toys, and this is one of the cooler tub toys I have seen. You can find a better price on them here, and also check out other Tub Tunes water instruments.

I liked this little article from the Examiner about summer toys. A water gun that doesn’t look anything like a gun? Machine part arms? Neat!

The antique toy collection of Donald Kaufman (which I talked about here) was recently profiled in the New York Times.

Here is a nice and simple article about cleaning toddler’s toys. And here’s another little story from Fun Times Guide about toxin-free toys.

Parents beware. The popular toy, the “CSI” fingerprinting kits, marketed alongside CBS’ popular television series, was pulled from shelves last year after accusations of asbestos contamination. Planet Toys, Inc, the company that manufactured the toy, has stated that multiple tests have shown no signs of the carcinogen, but pulled the toys following a lawsuit by the nonprofit Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization.

If you have purchased this toy, you have until March 30th to file as part of the class action lawsuit. In response to the lawsuit and other financial difficulties associated with the recall, the company is filing forChapter 7 bankruptcy.

A link to the Reuters article, which includes case numbers for the lawsuit, can be found here.

The beloved fashion doll companion of little girls, Barbie, turned 50 last week. Over the decades, she has been both celebrated as a role model that encourages little girls to pursue any career or hobby they desire, and lampooned for unrealistic figure and encouraging girls to rely on their appearance rather than intelligence or personality. 50 years is a long time in the spotlight. Public opinions have prompted changes in her figure over the years to be more realistic, and sales have been decreasing by about 12% each year for the past five years.

Love her or hate her, Barbie has a lot to celebrate on her 50th birthday. Over one billion Barbie dolls have been sold in 150 countries. Barbie has tried her hand (or at least an outfit and accessories) at 108 careers, ranging from McDonald’s cashier to American President. After a two-year split, she reunited with her boyfriend of 43 years, Ken, and has over 70 doll-worthy friends from across the worlds.

And celebrate, she did. Mattel created a star-studded birthday bash at a completely pink, real-life version of her dream house in a 3,500 square foot Malibu mansion. This May, parts of the house will be incorporated into a Barbie Suite at The Palms in Las Vegas, available for bachelorette parties and other extremely pink celebrations. And, just like any milestone birthday, there were plenty of gifts; Volkswagen presented a full-sized Barbie pink Beetle to the birthday girl.

Of course, someone had to rain on her fabulous parade. West Virginia Democratic Delegate Jeff Eldridge recently introduced a bill to ban Barbies because they influence girls to place too much importance on physical beauty, at the expense of their intellectual and emotional development. Of course, Barbie has already been banned in the country of Saudi Arabia for her scant clothing and promoting Western appearances.

But don’t let them fool you Barbie, they’re just jealous because you have everything a girl could ever want. Here’s to another 50 fantastic years, Miss Barbra Millicent Roberts.

Here are some tips for what will be big with kids in the year ahead:

1. Puppies are the new penguins this year, taking the spot of Happy Feet on television, at the movies, online, and in toy boxes. Pictured: Do You Look Like Your Dog? game, Stuffed Dog Plush by Gund
2. Making music is the new family pastime, thanks to the success of Rock Band and Guitar Hero video games. Watch for many new products that let families jam together - both on screen and off. Pictured: Baby Grand Piano
3. Eco-friendly electronic toys will show up on toy shelves - no batteries required! Cars, trucks, animals and more that work off your kid’s natural energy. Crank ‘em up and watch ‘em go! A few of the brands that offer these toys include Sprig Toys and See Toys. Pictured: Sprig Discover Rig, See Toys DynaFly
4. ’80s fashion and activities rule - grab a pair of rollerblades for some healthy fun! Pictured: Kids Rollerblades
5. Preschool destressing will become commonplace. Even the little ones are feeling the stress nowadays, so three-year-olds will be doing yoga, breathing exercises and scaling back from activity overload.

tips from LJWorld.com

Widespread toy recalls last year have made many parents particularly vigilant about ensuring their kids are not exposed to items that contain toxic substances, including mercury and heavy metals. Although Congress passed a law to ban most dangerous substances, many of its measures don’t take effect until next year.

Nearly one-third of the popular toys tested contain medium to high levels of lead, cadmium, mercury or other potentially dangerous chemicals, according to the Michigan-based Ecology Center.  Toy jewelry figures prominently on the “Worst Toys List.”

To read the full story, visit StarTribune.com.

Today, Toys”R”Us announced its 2008 list of toy trends that will influence kids’ wish lists this holiday season. Toys”R”Us has identified the following five toy trends for Holiday 2008: Adorable Animatronics, Curious Kids, Earth-Friendly Fun, Music: My Way, and $avvy Savers. With children’s interests constantly changing, Toys”R”Us each year compiles a list of the season’s most popular toy trends to help shoppers find the perfect gift.

continue reading "Five Toy Trends That Will Influence Kids’ Wish Lists This Holiday Season"

We all know that the economy spinning downward and as I write this, the Dow just fell 9,000 as stocks extend declines.  Christmas is coming, but parents are dealing with high prices for everyday items such as gas and food, and some have lost their jobs.  If parents buy their children even just one less toy each this holiday season, retailers will feel the impact, experts say.  So, let’s talk about it: How will the economy’s turmoil affect your toy buying this holiday season?  Do you still plan on buying your kids or kids in the family toys, or are you going to resort to cheaper present ideas, like home-baked cookies and hand-me-downs?

According to an article written by the Baltimore Sun, analysts say shoppers will still buy toys this holiday but restrain spending in weak economy.