Parents are finding it harder than ever to entertain their kids as another snow storm sweeps the nation this winter season. Yes, there’s of course the endless amounts of video games, movies and virtual online worlds; however, whatever happened to some good ‘ole fun? Maybe board games are too “old-fashioned” for your kids, but what about getting a little creative with puppet theater? Puppets allow your children to be interactive and take on various theatrical roles, such as actor, director or even playwright. Alex Toys manufacturers several character puppets for your kids to bring to life. You can also buy fairly inexpensive puppet theaters for just $25 (like the one above) at Arsa Toys. As the bad weather continues, think about getting your kids off the couch, and help them get creative with puppets.

Arsa Toys, one of the toy stores that sponsors the Toy Geek blog, recently joined Facebook. Follow them, and get the latest Arsa Toys updates on sales, new items and more. Not only that, you can get exclusive discount offers and promotional codes.

Kidorable manufactures rain coats, rain boots and umbrellas to fit any kid’s wildest imagination. Whether your little tike likes mermaids, ladybugs, dinosaurs or frogs, they can step into their fantasy-world on even the dreariest day. For instance, check out this Kidorable mermaid rain coat with fins (for just $34.99), and it comes with a matching painted hanger. Or look at these dinosaur rain boots with a tail on the back (for only $26.49). Both are a great way to make your child’s rainy days that much sunnier.

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!

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.

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.]

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.

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]

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!