"The Toy Guy" Chris Byrne responds to your toy questions...
QUESTION:
Any suggestions for inexpensive toys that make great party favors?
THE TOY GUY SAYS:
We
really love the entire line of toys from Basic Fun. From keychains to
games that really work, to all kinds of silly stuff, these games have
some of the hottest movie characters and some of the most classic
games. They are generally relatively inexpensive and deliver a lot of
play for the money.
QUESTION:
I want to buy my grandson a water slide like the one that you had on the show today. I have heard that some people have trouble with the seams letting go and the material dry rotting on cheaper brands. Is there a better guarantee with some companies than others?
THE TOY GUY SAYS:
Wow. I haven't heard that. We've been playing with the Banzai branded water slides for a couple of years and we've never had a problem with them. Most companies will warrant their product for a certain amount of time. Be sure to read all the instructions that come with a product so you can be sure you're taking appropriate care of the piece.
QUESTION:
My young daughter is approaching the 8 year-old stage right now (*yikes!) and I am worried about the psychological effects a non-anatomically correct Barbie may have on her. I grew up with Barbie as a young girl in the 60's, before there was so much controversy and regard toward political correctness! I want to know if you think this popular toy should still be a popular choice!
THE TOY GUYS SAYS:
Whenever I get this question, which is pretty often actually, I always think of Hamlet. He says, "Nothing is good or bad but thinking makes it so." What I mean by that is that at the end of the day, Barbie is nothing more than a piece of inert polyvinyl chloride...plastic. Your daughter is more likely to develop her body image from you and her peer group than any doll. A doll is incapable of teaching anything. Rather, it is an object (what Freud would call a "totem') onto which the child's consciousness is projected. The attitudes that she observes and internalizes in the home get projected onto the doll, rather than the doll having any power to create that image. Sadly, I believe that many adults have projected their own insecurities and self-image issues onto Barbie as a convenient scapegoat. Without those images, Barbie has no power.
Yes, I think Barbie should still be a top choice for kids, and deserves its place as one of the best-selling brands in the toy industry for almost 50 years. Barbie is anything a girl wants her to be-- a princess, a best friend, a glamorous teenager. Barbie is a mechanism through which children make up the story of their lives. It's up to us as adults to ensure that the elements of those stores support girls' self image.
I think it's harder than ever for parents in this hyper-sexualized time. Given the mass media and the Internet, your kids are potentially exposed to things that would have been unimaginable when we were kids, but none of that is about Barbie. If you really delve into the Barbie ethos through dolls or their marvelous web site Barbiegirls.com, you'll see that Barbie is all about empowerment, fun, friends and the things that girls naturally respond to. Hard as it may be, it's up to us as adults to set the cultural context in which Barbie will be experienced, to support those things that support our vision for empowering our daughters and the girls in our lives, and rejecting those things that are inconsistent with our values and our vision for what we would like these girls to internalize.
Believe me, you are the most influential person in your daughter's life right now. Speak with her honestly, at the level of her understanding, and make your life a model of what you would like to see in her. I'm not saying it's easy, and it takes a lot of attention, but it will have more positive power in shaping who your daughter becomes than any piece of plastic ever could.
QUESTION:
I'm a single busy mom of two. I'm extremely worried about safety when I can't be in the room/outdoors at the time with my children. What are the safest toys this season?
THE TOY GUY SAYS:
Well, there is no substitute for supervised play. So my first recommendation would be to try to arrange for that as much as possible. Then, a lot depends on the age of your children. Certainly any toy made for the U.S. will conform to safety standards. But the most common toy-related accident is people tripping over them, so...
Much of this depends on the age of your children. We're particularly concerned when older children have their toys around sibs who are under 3. That's where issues such as small parts are really a cause of concern. One can certainly instruct older children on how to play with a younger brother or sister. A child under 3 should never be left alone to play, however.
You'll also want to ensure that children know the proper use of a toy. Even a toy that has passed every conceivable test can cause a problem if one child drops it on another's head, as I can personally attest, no thanks to my older brother Richard. (I got even by throwing his favorite stuffed toy out the car window on the New Jersey Turnpike, which was not even remotely safe for our dad who stopped the car and walked back in traffic to retrieve it. I just got out of the time out for that one last year.)
All joking aside, if you can't be with your kids and they are old enough to take instruction, you need to set some ground rules about everything from how to interact with a brother or sister to where they can and cannot go. No racing into the street after a ball, for instance.
QUESTION:
It seems whenever I step foot into the toy isle, my animal instinct kicks in to seek out all "Made In China" marked boxes. I have read that many Chinese toy products still use lead paint, and the last thing I need is my kid chewing on that! Should I just stick to American made toys? Do they even exist?
THE TOY GUY SAYS:
The simple fact of the matter is that you're not going to find any of the major promotional toys for this year--or any year of the past several decades--that have not been made overseas. The reality is that like many industries, the toy industry is truly global. The good news is that while the recalls last year concerned only a fraction of all the toys manufactured for the U.S. market, they still were enough to scare people and to prompt much more conscientious testing. The result is that toys are less likely to have infringing levels of lead in their paint today than at any time in recent memory. The U.S. government, toy companies and the Chinese government and factories have devoted themselves to solving this problem and to ensuring customers around the world that they toys they make conform to all safety standards.
As of September, 2007, the Chinese government announced that it would allow no lead paint to be used in toys intended for export and the testing both at the factory level and at all stages of the production process has been significantly increased. We believe that while no system is ever 100 percent perfect, the situation is more closely monitored than ever, and that should help consumers to relax.
Now, as to your kid chewing on toys... Probably not a good idea. That's why we always advocate supervised play. Remember, if the child is under 3, anything is going in the mouth, so be careful about what he or she picks up.
American made toys are still around, but they tend to be from smaller companies. There are great toys, and you may even find some that you love. Just remember, geography is no guarantee that a toy will conform to safety standards.
QUESTION:
I have 5 kids and its hard to keep them all entertained! What are your suggestions for group games that will be fun for both boys and girls?
THE TOY GUY SAYS:
Hey, I was one of 5 kids, too! And some of my favorite memories are of when we all played together. We were always pretty inventive at coming up with games, like the time we put my baby brother Larry in the dryer when he was really small. I'm not sure why mom got so upset. We didn't turn it on. Well, not for very long.
Of course, when I think about this, I wonder what the ages are, but there are great things you can get to keep everyone playing. A soccer ball is great to get everyone playing. We loved water battles with Super Soakers. Board games like Clue can be very good, depending on the ages of kids. We really like some of the new games Hasbro has marketed under the Twister brand. They are great for kids of different abilities and keep kids active. And don't forget classics like Wiffle Ball.
One of the things that was true for us and that we've observed in other families is that kids who play together, even with the inevitable fighting, tend over the longer-term to stay closer. I'm very close to my brothers today, though Larry doesn't like to be in the same room with me and any large appliance. You might all take up something together, like a bike hike through your local parks.
The key is to find activities that everyone can participate in at their different ability levels and still feel as though they're part of the experience. Older kids often love helping their younger sibs, and the good news is that with 5, you've always got someone to play with.
QUESTION:
My son is rather young, and I would like to start teaching him some of the fundamentals of sports right now. Any ideas?
THE TOY GUY SAYS:
This is a great question. You don't say how young your son is, but there are lots of great things for sports out there. First and foremost, though, understanding where he is developmentally and what he can and cannot do physically is extremely important. Kids develop at different speeds, so being realistic and not pushing too hard are very important. Playskool, Cadaco, Fisher-Price, Nerf and other companies have a variety of sports toys that are designed to give kids a feeling of accomplishment whether it's hitting a ball or throwing a football. What you want to do is maximize the fun, allow them to feel successful and minimize the frustration.
Kids are also differently talented as well. When they get a little older, you'll want to make sure that they understand some of the basic mechanics of playing sports -- picking up their feet when they run, throwing, following through on a swing. These are things that are often overlooked but they an make a huge difference in whether or not a child is engaged in an activity and feels successful at it. Remember, to praise the effort, particularly when they're very young, and be gentle as you're correcting them.
QUESTION:
I saw you on the show this morning and I reviewed your website. I noticed you mentioned a Toy Fair in London. Are there are Toy Fairs here in the U.S., or retail shows that one could show their product at. I recently developed a product and would love to be able to display it at a Trade Show or Trade Fair. I have been in retail, so I know the importance of being able to show your items to people who might have interst. I just have never retailed toys before, so it is a new field to me. I appreciate any advice you could give. Thank you for your time.
THE TOY GUY SAYS:
The major toy fairs are in Nuremberg, Germany, Hong Kong and New York. These are places where people take booths and try to attract the interest of buyers from around the world. Each of the shows has different costs, and a recommendation on which show to go to, your manufacturing capability, how close you are to going to market and other issues would determine the best show for you to participate in. You might check out the Toy Industry Association web site at www.toy-tia.org and explore their resources for people new to the business. Since you already know retail, you have a leg up. The question I would pose is how you're going to manufacture and what your strategies are for roll out. These, I think, come well before making a commitment to a show.
QUESTION:
My child is having problems with Math and Science...Any ideas on some educational games that would allow him to have fun and learn at the same time?
THE TOY GUY SAYS:
Well, I believe passionately that no toy is going to teach math or science. If your child is really having problems, you might want to explore tutoring or additional time with a teacher. Many kids have different learning styles, so sometimes one-on-one extra time can really be effective.
That said, there are wonderful toys that can really help kids with the drilling, memorization and application of these skills, all while delivering fun. LeapFrog and VTECH have been leaders in this area for years. You could chose the Leapster or the V.Smile system, both of which have software that is age and grade level appropriate, while having fun characters that kids recognize. You might also check out products from Educational Insights or Learning Resources, both of which are very good companies with products and methodologies that have been classroom tested.
There are also good basics like flash cards that you can create your own games around as well. So you don't really need all the electronics, unless you choose them.
QUESTION:
All my kids do is play games. How do I get him to pick up a book?
THE TOY GUY SAYS:
Well, don't wait for them to pick it up. Give it to them!
One of the best things you can do to encourage your kids to read is to read yourself. Create family reading night. Think of it as a book club for your family. Set aside time to read as a family and then create activities around them such as discussing issues raised in the books.
Obviously, you don't need to be convinced of the value of reading, but you may need to build a structure around it. Also, go shopping for books together. Find ones that interest all of you. Make your local library a destination. Many of them have programs for kids to encourage reading, which can make it a social experience as well.
Some of my fondest memories of summers are sitting under a tree or down by the river near our house and losing myself in a book. My parents were always reading, and they encouraged that in me and my brothers and introduced us to the classics -- Dickens, Twain, Shakespeare -- as well as letting us discover The Hardy Boys and all kinds of different books and, yes, even the occasional comic book.
Oh, and speaking of The Hardy Boys, there are great book series out there for kids of different ages. What we like about series is that they logically lead from one to the next and keep kids reading. We like Lemoney Snickett's A Series of Unfortunate Events, Ron Roy's A to Z Mysteries, The Traveling Pants series, and many others.
I know it kind of falls on deaf ears for kids to be told that they'll never be bored and seldom be lonely if they have a good book to read, but that's certainly my experience--and the experience of many people I know. If you make the time, and help your kids make the time, I think you'll be pleased with the results.
QUESTION:
My two daughters are constantly putting on talent shows for my husband and me. They are constantly singing, dancing, and just simply being active. Is there anything that you could recommend to keep up with their energy?
THE TOY GUY SAYS:
Get them an agent? Just kidding. I was an actor as a child, and it's hard work! Seriously, though, I think anything you can do to support their creativity is wonderful. We know parents who have built stages for their kids, given them old clothes to use as costumes and helped them put together shows to entertain the neighbors. Think of those old Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland movies. There's nothing like the energy of kids putting on these shows. Moreover, it's such a great creative outlet for them because it exercises so many different facets of the brain, and it builds confidence.
I'm not sure that there's any toy that can take the place of that kind of spirit and energy. My advice would be to encourage all that creativity and feed it with reading and going to live theater yourself, and sit back and be a happy audience.
COMMENT:
I am a grandmother who loves to shower her grandchildren with educational toys. This year I didn't buy any toys because I couldn't find any that were not made in china. I don't care what they say about how they are safe, I don't believe a word of it because they are thinking about their profits and not our children's health.
THE TOY GUY SAYS:
Hmm. This is the kind of statement that always upsets me because it implies that you've made up your mind, and there's really nothing that I can say that will persuade you otherwise. I know how scary the lead paint issue has been, but there is a lot of misinformation out there on this topic, so it's easy to see why people wouldn't trust toys made in China.
Still, there have been no reported cases of lead poisoning from toys, and, in fact, the total number of toys affected was very small in comparison to the billions of toys manufactured every year in China and other places around the globe. China is part of the global manufacturing infrastructure, and its role in the toy industry is not going away, nor is it diminishing. The incidents from last year have been contained and new levels of testing have been implemented.
I work many of the senior executives of toy companies, and I know them personally. They are all deeply concerned about protecting kids and providing wholesome and safe toys for them. I sincerely believe that the new testing standards, heightened testing and China's decision last September to ban lead in paint in all toys, no matter whether or not small concentrations were allowed by the U.S. or other countries have all contributed to safe toys across the board. Since last year, there have been no major U.S. recalls for lead, and I hope that you'll ultimately realize that the value of the toys you share with your grandchildren outweighs your belief about toy companies and safety.
One of the best things you can do is educate yourself. Visit the Consumer Products Safety Commission web site (www.cpsc.gov) and read all that's up there. If you learn the hard science behind this, you may understand the issue better. Quite frankly, we're more concerned about small parts and things like marbles and balloons that can be ingested than we are about lead in paint. We have no reason not to believe that the standards are not being implemented and the increased testing on the parts of the manufacturers and demanded by the retailers mean that there are extra levels of testing and protection built in to the process, long before the toys get to you.
That said, common sense should always rule when you're dealing with toys and safety. For any child under 3, toys will always go in the mouth. Children have to be taught not to do that. Make sure that toys intended for older children do not find their way into the hands (and mouths) of toddlers. Supervise play and watch how kids are playing with their toys. And if you ever see a toy that's worn or chipped, take it away. Your good sense and constant attention are the best protection a child can have.
QUESTION:
This morning on the show there was a tennis ball on the end of a cord that you hit with 2 paddles. When I was growing up it was called "Zim Zam" I missed the name of it this morning. Is the game Zimzam still available? If so where can I find it? If not what was the name of the one featured "Live w Regis and Kelly" and what are the playing ages recommended?
THE TOY GUY SAYS:
Well, you get A+ for memory. You're right, Zim Zam was a huge hit in the 1980s. It was made of metal and went into the ground to be secured. The Mookie Swingball that we were playing with is from Spin Master, and what's cool about it is that it all fits into a portable case. Plus, it only costs $30. You'll want to be sure to weight the case with sand or water before you play. (Regis and Kelly's amazing stagehands used a 15-pound stage weight to keep it in place.) But the game is the same. It's a timeless classic. Spin Master says it's for ages 8-12, but as you could see, Sam and Kelly were having a blast, too.
QUESTION:
Being a middle-aged father still very enthusiastic about exercise and physical, non-couch potato activities for the kids, I find it more difficult every year to find activities that interest them moreso than videogames. With the release of the new Nintendo Wii's "Fit", would you recommend this as a value purchase to motivate quality physical activity?
THE TOY GUY SAYS:
This is such a huge issue right now. One of the best ways to get kids to be active is to model active behavior yourself. Make physical activity something that the family does together and put it high on your list. That said, Wii Fit is totally awesome. I've had the privilege of playing it at different times in its development, and it truly is great. BUT, just having a piece of hardware is not going to get kids in the habit of being active. That's something you need to do. Bike riding, skateboarding, etc. are all great activities for kids for both social and active play. (Always supervise little kids and ensure that all protective gear is worn.)
The most important thing you can do, with or without Wii Fit, is to make sure that kids spend sufficient time being active. And, when all else fails, limit the time that video games are used in the home. We work with several families that have successfully weaned kids off the video games by limiting the time and by creating opportunities for them to be active. (You'll also want to pay attention to diet, limiting sugar, soda, junk food, etc. But that's for another expert to give you the full lowdown.)
One of the things we've observed over the years is that when kids are allowed to be in control of the play situation, they are more likely to stay engaged and become active. For instance, many kids don't do well in Little League, great as it is, because there are adults telling them what to do. These kids should be encourage to find things that really interest them, and then they'll want to spend the time on the activities.
So, back to your question. Wii is a great value if you're going to use it and invest the time, but like any fitness activity, it requires a commitment. Awesome as it is, you may want to explore other options first for your family.
QUESTION:
I am on the lookout for toys that will build cognitive skills for my kids. Any suggestions?
THE TOY GUY SAYS:
Well, there are lots, and it depends on the cognitive skills you're trying to build. But let's, for example, take some of the basic ones: Concentration, Perception, Memory, Logical Thinking. Really anything that we don't do instinctively--breathing, etc.--is a skill that must be learned. Learning comes from practice and there are a variety of play experiences that will help children with developing these skills. In fact, one could argue that virtually any play from infancy through preschool has some element of cognitive skills development inherent in it.
Now, as to helping to build and reinforce specific skills, that depends largely on the age of the child and his or her experience. Fro instance, playing peek-a-boo with an infant helps instill the concept of "object permanence," the notion that something may still exist even if the child can't see it.
For concentration, any toy that offers an activity that has a beginning, middle and an end is very good. Jigsaw puzzles are a simple example. The child has to learn to follow through the process, with the end in sight, and imagine the conclusion. This is not always very easy. That's why preschool puzzles have only a handful of pieces. As the child learns to concentrate on the objective, he or she can expand the size of the puzzle. If you were to give a child a 500-piece puzzle, he or she would simply be overwhelmed and couldn't imagine finishing it; he or she wouldn't have the ability to imagine that picture ultimately coming together. But starting with 5 or 6 pieces, as the concentration skills--and the ability to perceive the whole picture--develops, the child can actively engage in putting together a puzzle.
Many of the preschool games from VTECH or LeapFrog have cognitive skills development built into them. But you don't necessarily need electronics. A deck of cards will do for playing simple memory games. Lay them out on the table and turn them over. Pick up the cards that match (color, suit, number, for instance) and turn the cards back over that don't. The child has to remember which cards were where.
Logical thinking is the basis of much math, but it can also show up in stories. Think of the story of Goldilocks, for instance. A child will hear that story differently depending on his or her age. As their logical thinking develops, he or she will know that Goldilocks may have some problems when she falls asleep after eating the bears' porridge. They can think through the sequence of actions and project future actions and consequences based on the facts that they have--Goldilocks has entered the house, eaten food that belonged to someone else and fallen asleep.
Basic board games are good for these skills as well. Companies like Briarpatch make excellent games for preschoolers that help with these skills--and use favorite characters. We also like construction toys such as LEGO or K'NEX because they combine physical/fine motor skills with cognitive skills to give a more rounded play experience.
QUESTION:
I have read in multiple published articles that the developing years of 1-5 are the most important for the child's mental foundation. What types of toys are available that allow for increased brain function and mature frontal lobe progression?
THE TOY GUY SAYS:
Well, those good ol' frontal lobes have a lot of work to do, particularly in a developing mind. The frontal lobes are involved in motor function, problem solving, spontaneity, memory, language, initiation, judgment, impulse control, and social behavior, which pretty much covers the gamut. Certainly, you'll want to give kids a wide variety of experiences, building what we call a "balanced toy box" that incorporates all kinds of different activities. We addressed some of the cognitive skills above.
Interestingly, we're seeing an increased emphasis on things like social skills, and those are skills that must be developed through human contact. Games are great for this because kids learn to take turns (and wait their turn). They learn to be good winners and losers. Physical play is also important, so get out there and play with your kids. For this kind of development, you don't want to get them into competition too soon, but allow open ended play. Hasbro has a new item called the Dance Cam, which is coming out later this fall, which is all about kids just dancing in front of the TV and having a good, unstructured, time.
Again, it largely depends on the age of the child you're talking about, but we also like activities like Mad Libs and Scrabble (or Scrabble Jr.) for language development and games like Jenga for judgment (Determining which block is going to make the tower fall.) For kids in the 1-5 age range that you mention, there are all kinds of things from VTECH, LeapFrog, Playskool, Child Guidance and many other brands that really reinforce skill development. Better yet, many of these companies put real guidance on their packaging and their web sites, so you can become pretty informed just by visiting your local store.
The good news is that any of these activities is going to help reinforce brain function and you don't have to put too much emphasis on the "learning" or "developmental" aspects of the play. This just happens. The best thing you can do is provide a variety of play experiences for your kids, and take an active role in finding activities that challenge and engage kids. The good news, is that kids naturally gravitate to all of this. It's come as a surprise to many parents how popular Chess has become again with older kids, but it really shouldn't. It draws on all these growing abilities for which kids yearn to find expression, for example. Still you may want to take the lead from your kids, responding to their interests and gently encouraging but not forcing anything on them.
QUESTION:
Growing up in the hayday of Twister and Jenga, I'm blind to any new group based games that emphasize teamwork and group fun. Is there anything new that rivals these classic games?
THE TOY GUY SAYS:
Great question! You know, games are such great group activities because it's never about the game so much as it is about the experience of playing together. There are all kinds of great classic games--I have a personal soft spot for Pictionary, since I worked on that when it was being launched. And, or course, you can't go wrong with Cranium, which is also good because it really allows people of different skills and knowledge to play together easily. I like this game when people of different ages play together because everyone feels like they can really participate.
The newest trend in this category are the DVD games like Scene It!, which focus on movie and TV Trivia. There are special interest versions as well. And, believe me, it can be quite competitive!
Oh, and Trivial Pursuit has a new version with easy, medium and hard questions. We like this because everyone has a chance and nobody has to feel embarrassed because they don't know specific things.
Twister and Jenga are still around. There aren't so many new kinds of those games these days, largely because the classics are still so successful.
QUESTION:
I live in New York City and I have 3 boys who spend most of the day inside the apartment either playing video games or watching TV. Do you have any suggestions for how to get them out of the apartment and to playing outside?
THE TOY GUY SAYS:
It can be tough here in New York because you really have to plan when you're going outside. Still, it can be done. There are great things like Frisbees, Nerf Footballs and other kinds of quasi sports items that are great for active play. Probably the best thing you can do to encourage your kids to play actively is to model that behavior yourself. Make a plan, corral everyone and head out to play. They'll appreciate the time with you, and you'll probably have a blast as well. You may want to do what many people do successfully is limit time on TV and the video game console. Most important, though, is for you to set the standard for what you want to happen and take an active role in making sure kids get outside.
Since you live in New York and we need a little more organization and structure, you might want to consider taking up a sport like tennis. Even skateboarding or bike riding is good. You want to think about things that take a little skill and practice and encourage kids to do that.
Oh, and if they don't want to, think about this: My oldest nephew put himself through college on archery scholarships. That's something he learned to do in the summer. Talk about an incentive to learn a new sport!
QUESTION:
I live in a small housing development with no backyard. Is there an alternative water slide for smaller areas. Can you also suggest some good indoor toys that don't need a lot of space?
THE TOY GUY SAYS:
Unfortunately, water slides take up a lot of room, and there's no real way around that. One thing we've seen is that people who live in smaller areas sometimes get together with other families and go in on something like a water slide that they can share over the summer. That minimizes the cost and maximizes the fun. (Always be sure that kids are supervised on water slides by the way, and be sure to read all the instructions.)
As for toys that don't need a lot of space, you don't say what ages your kids are, but there are all kinds of clever toys such as the Hot Wheels Flip and Go Playsets that are complete Hot Wheels environments that fold up after playtime and don't need a lot of space to create a lot of play. Similarly, there are playsets for Polly Pocket, My Little Pony and Littlest Pet Shop that have many different activities in one self-contained unit. If your kids are very small, you might get them something called the Toy Taco (http://www.thetoytaco.com/). This is a playmat that has a built-in zipper, so kids have a defined space to play, but when they're done, they can just zip it all up and clean up is done.
A SPECIAL THANKS TO CHRIS FOR ANSWERING ALL YOUR QUESTIONS! FOR MORE INFORMATION BE SURE TO VISIT WWW.THETOYGUY.COM
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