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Saturday, July 31, 2010
Parents - it's a digital world and our toys are mirroring that with many of the toy stand-outs being hi-tech Robots, guitars -- and even an Artificial Intelligence dinosaur! Even the old stand-by, board games, have been given a digital edge with Monopoly getting updated with electronic banking instead of paper money.
Here's our list of Top Ten Christmas Toys for Boys for 2007:
Transformer Toys
As a child of the 80's, I can attest to my brother's fascination with The Transformers, that 1980's cartoon depicting a war between giant robots who could transform into vehicles, animals, and other objects.
Those 80's kids are dads now and my own husband couldn't wait to take our then six-year old to this summer's hottest live-action film, The Transformers: The Movie. The movie broke the box office record for the highest-grossing opening week for a non-sequel.
And believe me, those dads can't wait to buy their boys all the great toys and goodies tied-in to the movie.
Type in the words "Transformers movie" under the toy search function at Amazon.com and it returns no less than 225 results for toys ranging from action figures for all the main characters, to an Optimus Prime helmet that has a robotic voice changer, to a Mr. Potato Head transformer called Optimash Prime for the littlest Transformer toy fan.
Fisher-Price GeoTrax
Little boys love trains -- they are always a big hit.
GeoTrax allows your preschooler to create his very own rail and road system. The pieces snap together easily and the toy controllers fit into little hands just right.
With lots of expansion packs, this toy will keep your preschooler interested and entertained for hours. Sets start at around $25.
TMX Cookie Monster/TMX Ernie
For those who remember the Tickle Me Elmo toy craze of the 1990's, TMX Cookie Monster and his pal Ernie expand on that craze. Marketed as "extreme" Tickle Me toys, both are already sold out and there are numerous sites on the Internet dedicated to tracking down this elusive toy.
The toys giggle, laugh and roll from side to side before standing on their own. They also say humorous phrases to get your toddler giggling along with the toy. Retailing at around $30 this is set to be the toy of the season... if you can find it! For ages 18 months and up.
EyeClops Bionic Eye
The EyeClops Bionic Eye is the toy to get for your little scientist. It's a handheld microscope that allows your child to view whatever they are magnifying on your TV screen.
Your child can spend hours exploring ordinary household items (salt, the family pet, their own skin) and can see those things transformed into strange images on TV.
A toy with great educational value that retails for $40 is hard to beat. Age range is 6-12 years.
Magnetix I-Coaster
This is the one toy that we know Santa is bringing to our house this year. The I-Coaster is a magnetic roller coaster that your child can build, complete with drops, loops, jumps, and an elevator, this will keep him occupied for hours.
You can also plug in your iPod or MP3 player so your roller coaster creation can have it's own soundtrack. Appropriate for ages 6 and up, it retails for around $60.
Electronic Guitars
Kids these days apparently are suffering from Rock Star fever and toy manufacturers have the cure.
There are three different versions available ranging in complexity and price. For your beginner there is the Fisher-Price I Can Play Guitar System (6-10 years; $89.99).
Next is the Hasbro Power Tour Electric Guitar (10-15 years; starting at $44.99).
Finally, your teen will love Guitar Hero III for the Nintendo Wii (ESRB Rating: Teen; $89.99).
Each will have your child learning and expanding those axe shredding skills in no time.
Fisher-Price Smart Cycle
It's good to see toy manufacturers recognizing that with all the hi-tech toys out there today, our kids are not getting the exercise they should. Fisher-Price has met that challenge by creating an educational and exercise toy - the Smart Cycle.
It's a bicycle connected to your TV that gets your kids moving and learning by pedaling their way through games while learning preschool concepts like their ABC's and 123's.
With additional software packages available, this toy will keep your 3-6 year old learning and moving for several years. Retails at around $90.
LEGO® Mindstorm
LEGO Mindstorm is a robotics invention system that lets your child build, design and program real robots to do what he wants. He can create a "humanoid," vehicle or animal robot to obey his every command.
Originally designed as an educational tool for schools, LEGO has branched the Mindstorm into the toy world. The age range for this toy starts at 10+ and it retails for around $250.
Nintendo Wii
Designed to attract players of all ages, the Nintendo Wii is a toy that will get a lot of use in your house. Pronounced "we", Nintendo emphasizes that this game console is for everyone.
With games including tennis, hockey, fishing and hunting, the adults will be playing with this toy as much as the kids! (Our favorite, to our total surprise, is the bowling!) Available at around $250, it sells for a lot less than the PS3.
Pleo Dinosaur
As the Pleo Dinosaur retails for $350 - this toy is not for the faint of heart (or pocketbook.) Pleo is an Artificial Intelligence dinosaur that can feel and convey emotion and can learn and develop over time.
In a word, COOL.
However, parents should consider the warning by Ugobe (Pleo's creators) that "Pleo is a highly sophisticated product which evolves into an inquisitive animal that requires attention and care and it is not considered suitable or intended for children under eight years of age."
Shop online and start now to get any of these Top Ten Christmas Toys for 2007 under your tree this year for the boys on your Christmas shopping list.
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