Toy Tips

I've been busy crafting with my kids making all sorts of home-made projects to double as New Year decorations. All was going fine with woodburning, popsicle stick houses, a glued house of cards, drawings, ribbons, glitter and recycled paper towel rolls until one craft really stood out.

Meatball Popsicles for Dogs?

It's an idea that came from one of our readers at Toy Tips and it's super easy to make for Angus, the dog.

As you are making spaghetti and meatballs for dinner, save a meatball and add to the end of a rawhide chew, then freeze.

Just in case you don't have a good meatball recipe, here's mine, a 3rd generation Sicilian meatball that goes perfect with the right family secret spaghetti sauce!

Marianne's favorite meatball
1 lb ground chuck (more flavorful than ground round)
1 egg
1 large bunch of parsley, chopped
a shake of oregano
a shake of basil
1/2 cup fresh shredded Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup fresh shredded Romano cheese
sea salt
cracked black pepper

Cook for humans but for dogs, omit the egg and cheese and serve it raw! Enjoy!

Marianne

Play fosters intellectual, social and physical development. Adults are encouraged to view toys as learning tools with different types of toys as builders of various life skills including creativity, self-esteem and cooperation. Another bonus: a toy that is fun as well as educational will engage children for more than one holiday season. The following are general guidelines to keep in mind when choosing toys for the child, or children, on your holiday list: 1. Allow children to identify their own strengths with self-discovery toys. Toys kids play with by themselves, such as dolls, science activity kits and magic sets, help teach them important lessons about responsibility, values and respect for others. 2. Increase confidence and build pride while children are young with self-esteem toys like art projects, model-building and construction toys. 3. Support open-ended play that allows free expression and lets kids use their imaginations. Bring out the creativity in kids with theater/puppet shows, cooking sets and pretend play projects such as tea parties. 4. Help children learn how to think independently with toys that promote concentration, competition and deductive reasoning. Thinking and logic toys include detective puzzles, ant farms, construction sets and memory games. 5. Build social skills and family togetherness with family interaction toys. Recommended games include dress up, board games, sports activities and battery-controlled car and boat races. 6. Encourage cooperation with friends and peers with relationship toys. Team communication skills are improved with sports, contests of skills, and toys such as medical and chemistry kits. 7. Let kids run, crawl, climb, throw and kick with toys like climbing structures and ride-on toys that use large muscle groups. Gross motor activities help kids develop balance and exercise gross motor skills. 8. Improve hand-eye coordination with fine motor activities that require hand movements such as grasping and pinching. Smart choices include stacking games, puzzles, writing and coloring books/activities. 9. Strengthen language skills and stimulate listening, speaking and imitation sounds with speech and hearing toys. Musical toys, play telephones, phonics-based sets and voice-command games are suggested. 10. Teach kids, especially infants and toddlers, about their environment through textures, tastes, smells and sight with sensory activities. Clay, activity quilts, blocks and shape games are all good choices.

Science toys are individual toys or elaborate kits that allow a child to encourage exploring, discovery, geography, environments, experiments, how and why things work, magnetic fields, the study of space, insects, gravity, chemistry, the laws of physics, the study of weather, human anatomy, the science of the five senses, electricity, planets and weight. Tips for buying science toys: * For parents: Prepare to offer adult supervision if necessary * For teachers: Buy science toys for use in the classroom with a particular lesson * Buy toys or kits that include all pieces. If they don’t , make sure to buy all the additional tools necessary for the child to get started right away or help the child shop for them. What do science toys teach a child? * Allow children to use thinking skills, deductive reasoning, logic and imagination. * To use fine motor skills for experiments and discovery * Social interaction with other children when experiments are conducted as a group. At what age is it appropriate to introduce science toys to a child? * When the child shows an interest. Be sure the child understands how to use the toy. * To enhance learning or expand on science lessons taught in school When shopping, what are the best types of science toys to look for: * Science kits with multiple experiments allow children to explore imagination and independent learning with more than one experience in a specific study. * Individual toys that teach one specific technique of science so a child may concentrate on learning and studying one specific science-related idea. --Marianne Szymanski

Guess what? I'm looking for some super unique family Holiday Traditions for an upcoming segment on Fox Channel 6. So, if you have information to share and a tradition that another family would love to start, please send me an email. It can be as simple as a favorite egg nog recipe, your secret place to find the best kids Holiday pajamas or as elaborate as your family traditions are. I'll post when the show airs. Let's share all that holiday spirit and cheer to bring joy to kids all over Milwaukee! Marianne

If a visit to NYC is in your travel plans, add Mary Poppins on Broadway to your to do list. I just saw this with my children and it's jaw-dropping entertainment. It's a little mixture of magic, cirque du soleil, ballet, tap and fabulous songs you will recognize. Theater productions combine creativity, imagination, concentration, storytelling, artistic design and entertainment. But, kids can also create their own versions at home. Put together a box of props. add old Halloween costumes, dress up clothes and see what your kids come up with. Have them make a PlayBill with construction paper and use old sheets for a stage curtain. Any room in the house will do as a stage and whether they write their own script or perform their favorite story, charge the batteries to the camcorder and enjoy every moment. Nothing is better than to see smiles on your children's little creative faces. And if you are having a bad day, these little performers sure makes the medicine go down.

Watch Good Morning America (ABC) on Black Friday in the 8:00 hour to catch the Holiday Toy Tips toy segment! I will be showcasing top picks for toys under $30 for school age kids and tweens. It's just the start and I will be posting reviews and vlogs throughout the Holiday Season on the best toys for kids of all ages. The toys on the show will be posted after it airs. Email me if you have questions on what to buy and what to skip. --Marianne

When you are out and about, pick up a copy of the Dec/Jan Issue of Pregnancy Magazine. The cover story is all about the best toys for infants (newborn-12 months).

For all children, toys are props and the process of play is valuable in the development of physical, cognitive, social and emotional skills. The toys an infant plays with today may shape the child she becomes tomorrow.

In the infant years, the first toy a child needs is YOU. It is important to monitor a child's progress milestone by milestone and introduce new sensory textures once you recognize a child has learned a new skill. Once baby crawls, climbs and stands, small climbing structures and ride-on toys foster use of large muscle groups. Gross motor activities helps develop balance and exercise with the whole body.

Look for toys that will encourage a baby to build on naturally occurring developmental skills. Buying more advanced toys to speed the process is not advisable. A toy that is too complicated or too difficult to use will often frustrate your little one.

The concept of sticking to a task and learning a difficult new skill is one that is many years off. Babies are much more grounded in the present. As a child learns something new, enhance that skill and choose toys that will allow her to practice the skill. This raises self-esteem and creativity and provides your child with a sense of accomplishment.

Keep in mind toys for an older sibling are not recommended for the hands or within reach of a younger child. Small pieces, sharp edges on a toy, magnet toys and a storybook with non-rounded edges are inappropriate. Any toy that is fun most likely will engage repeat continued interest.

For a list of the best infant toys, visit toytips,com.

Remember, toys are toys but playing with your infant creates a bonding, parent-child interaction that is priceless.

What mom doesn't appreciate a great buy? In this economy, retail sales are down and prices may be getting slashed but if you like to shop, did you ever consider going to a SAMPLE sale? These are popular in NY, with designers and here in Milwaukee.

This weekend, Goldi's from Shorewood is having one at their warehouse (4300 West Richards Ave-north of Capitol Drive.) I got a sneak peek and oh boy---get your car keys because there is some really cute stuff!

You'll look like a thousand bucks... for $40!

Keep in mind these tips when shopping sample sales:

1. NO Kids. Spaces are filled with racks and racks of clothes and who likes to hide in those?

2. Nothing is returnable. Check each piece in detail and don't buy that "size I'm going to squeeze into."

3. Expect to get a bargain and who doesn't want to add that to their daily to-do list.

Here is my Toy Tip of the day for you. Goldi (yes, the famous Goldi's shoes) is also an owner of Fashion Angles Toy Company. Her toys are hip with the the 'tween market and she has some of these at this sale too. If you are shopping for a 8+ girl and yourself, this is a place to be! The sale lasts through Saturday. Marianne

It's raining or snowing, the snow blower's blowing, it's cold outside, you'd rather be inside but the kids have nothing to do. Sound familiar? Try these Toy Tips tried and tested recipes for home-made toys. You may make a mess in the kitchen but it's fun and the supplies are less expensive that those hefty craft kits.

Zip Loc Bag Books: Staple together 5-7 Zip Loc Bags on the closed seam. Cover staples with electrical tape to avoid sharp points. Then pages can be filled with family photos, pictures cut from magazines, or small items from a collection. Books can be changed and can be graded for any aged child-adding words, sentences, etc. Theme it, add the ABC's, the family trip, Holidays, favorite foods, etc.

Homemade Musical Instruments: Glue and staple together Chinet (or other heavy paper plate) filled with dried peas or beans. Decorate outside of plates any way you want. Take 20-ounce soda bottles, fill with beans, pasta, rice etc. and shake! You can make drums from oatmeal or other round cereal containers. Cover outsides with paper and decorate. You can use a large spoon to beat the drums but little hands work better.

Spongy Soft Balls: Cut one colored big sponge into strips (do not cut through). Leave the middle uncut. Tie the center with a strong rubber band and toss in the air or in the water.

Sidewalk Paint: You'll need 1 1/4 cup cornstarch, 1 1/4 cup water, and 10 drops of food color. Mix ingredients together and place paint in a spray bottle.

Sidewalk Chalk: Mix 2/3 cup of plaster-of-paris, 2 tbs powdered tempura paint, and 6 tbs of water. Mix together and form into balls or into shapes with molds or plastic cookie cutters. (must work quickly)

Yukky Mukky Gukky: A science experiment for older kids
Mixture #1: 2 cups Elmer's glue, 2 cups of water, 21 drops of food coloring.Mix in bowl #1.
Mixture #2: 8 teaspoons laundry detergent (powder), 2 2/3 cups water. Mix in bowl #2.
Slowly pour mixture in bowl #1 into mixture of bowl #2 (DO not mix or stir).
Watch solid turn to liquid and liquid turn to solid right in your hands. Offers sensory and tactile development and texture identification. Store in a plastic bag or Tupperware but never give to children who might want to taste this.

Putty: You'll need 4 tbs. of Elmer's glue and 5 drops of food color. Slowly add 2 tbs. of liquid starch. Let stand and mix in hands. Store in a zip loc bag.

Lip Gloss: Mix 4 tbsp. of shortening and 2 tbs. dry Kool-Aid mix. Mix together and decorate in small containers (Danimals yogurt containers work great)

Fossils: You'll need 1 cup flour, 1 cup used coffee grounds, 1/2 cup salt, 1/4 cup sand, and 3/4 cup water. Mix and slowly add water. Knead until it has the consistency of bread dough. Break off a piece and roll into the size of a baseball. Make a hole and hide wrapped candy. Seal with extra dough. Let air dry for 3 days or until hard. You can also bake in an oven for 20 minutes to dry. Break open when fully dry. Surprise!

Smelly Modeling Dough: Gather 1cup flour, 1/2 cup salt, 1 pkg unsweetened Kool-Aid, 3 Tbl. vegetable oil, and 1/2 cup hot water. Combine dry ingredients. Add oil and hot water. Mix with hands. Add extra flour or water to reach consistency of bread dough. Have fun and enjoy the smell! Dough is nontoxic, but very salty if eaten. Will keep in plastic bag for several weeks.

Melted Crayons: Recycle old crayons. Peel off the paper and have children mix colors in an non-stick muffin pan. Cook at 350 degrees for 4-5 minutes until melted. Let fully cool before using.

You shop for that special gift and hide it carefully. All goes well until the big day, when flap A will not fit into slot B, or the assembly kit is missing three screws but contains six extra bolts. The key to preventing this headache is preparing weeks in advance.

Here are some helpful tips to ensure a less stressful time assembling gifts.

Special Tools: Proper tools ensure less damage to the toy during assembly and a more secure fit afterward. If you can't figure out what you need, call the company's toll-free information number and ask them.

Extra Batteries: For every battery-operated toy, it is best to buy TWO full sets of batteries. If they are not immediately used, you'll always find another need for them later.

Put It Together: Assemble the toy BEFORE the big day. WELL before. WEEKS before. You'll have time to find the proper tools, and to replace any missing or broken parts. Waiting until the last minute is nothing but a great way to get a headache.

Play With It: Run your own test. Play with the toy yourself so that you can see how - and if - it works before placing it under the tree. If the test is successful, hide the toy with the neighbors, in the attic, or somewhere inconspicious. Never hide a toy in a closet -- it's the first place a child looks.

Video Games: Video games and video game systems require special attention. Practice hooking the system up to your television while the child is at school or out of the house. This simple step will ensure that the system is compatible with your television and will help speed things up. If you are purchasing a video cartridge, play the game yourself to make sure that it isn't too difficult or too easy for your child. And, most importantly play the full game to be sure it has appropriate content that you approve.

Research: The most important advantage you have now is time. Before you make any purchases, research which toys need assembly and which toys do not. This way, you'll know ahead of time how much assembly work you face. Have fun building, tearing packages, looking for small pieces and familiarizing yourself with flaps, slots and panels.

It's all worth it when you see that big smile! -- Marianne

Okay, I thought I've heard it all but as a reviewer of children's products, this one caught me off guard. I never tested used cloth diapers before (or should I say retested). A wrong turn on my way home led me to The Funky Frog in Greenfield. An adorable little shop that carries a mix of resale, eclectic local designs and earth friendly products. The owner pointed me to a corner of used diapers for sale. Who knew that there was even a demand. A little google on the internet and WHOA! what a demand there is. Now, of course they come as clean as possible, bleached and ready to wear. I suppose our parents handed down cloth diapers from one child to the next (pre-disposables), but those stayed in the family. And, those diaper services don't bring you brand new diapers each time so really this all seems normal, right? I guess just thinking that you are actually are buying a used diaper is what caught me off guard. So what do you think--used bummies or not? -Marianne

There are plenty of not-so-scary Halloween toys for kids to celebrate the season. Toy companies make themed toys as alternatives to candy for trick or treat, to be used as goody bag stuffers and fun party favors. A few of our favorites here at Toy Tips are those that have multiple uses beyond Halloween that can be played over and over again. You can find little tubs of Play Doh, bags of puzzles, themed stickers and small packs of bubbles in the toy stores. Keep in mind though, that buying in bulk can save money but most of these are samplers and are not designed for long-term use. Halloween costumes can stay in a toybox all year long for role-play and dress up. Those orange pumpkins make great art buckets to hold non-toxic paints, brushes, glue sticks and washable markers. Witch hats and Spiderman masks can be reused for "theater play," Halloween pencils are great for homework and ghost puppets make a great addition to storytime. Be creative and find double duty uses for all the new Halloween themed toys and trinkets your kids collect this week!

More recent toy recalls have been posted on the CPSC website (recalls.gov) about toys with lead, toys with batteries that can overheat and toys with magnets (Which should NEVER be given to any child who stills put things in the mouth). I just got back form NYC reporting on toy safety, these recent toy recalls and tips on how to make sure the toys in your playroom are appropriate and safe for your children. You can view the segment on The Mike and Juliet Show right here, just copy this address into your browser http://www.mandjshow.com/videos/dangerous-toys-for-tots/ If you are shopping for little ones, please be aware of these issues as you start your holiday toy shopping. Look for toys that are age appropriate, develop skills and are of real true interest to a child. Some of these "best toy" lists and 'hot toy' lists are great guides to start with but they are NOT reviewed for safety. The key is to make smart toy choices based on your budget that will balance the toybox and offer tons of play value and offer new learning skills. It's important to watch your children as they play and also be informed on key issues of toy safety daily. For new ideas, sign up for our free daily toy tip (toytips.com) to get ideas sent to your inbox throughout the Holiday season. Enjoy each playful moment with your child and play often! -Marianne

Halloween is coming! Whether your child is Tinkerbell or Batman for the day, almost all Halloween costumes can be recycled as fun role play all year long! Having a costume box in the playroom or a dedicated space in a closet encourages imaginative play. Help your kids put on a puppet show with stuffed animals in costume, host theatrical productions in the family room or welcome kids wearing bunny suits at the dinner table. This stimulates a creative mind and fosters social skills. Invite grandma over and make animal masks out of construction paper . Then wear them as you all watch The Animal Planet. Some families choose to hold un-scary Halloween celebration parties filled with games, crafts and alternatives to candy for trick or treats. Regardless of how you celebrate or don't celebrate Halloween, join in the fun, interact with your kids and continue to be a playful parent! These memories last a lifetime.

Kids are back to school and there are plenty of toys that may be hiding in their toybox to enhance the new skills they are learning during the day. Homework helpers to enhance math, spelling and science are a great way to interact with your child and monitor their learning. Most parents rarely hear "this is what I learned today" so pull out those toys you already bought, sit down and play and you'll be surprised how your child progresses throughout the school year. 1. Get out the puzzles. Exercise thinking skills though strategy, concentration and the completion of a project. 2. Building toys foster spatial relationships, hand eye coordination, imaginative and creative play. 3. Drawing toys assist with focus and attention to detail. Pull out the markers and paper or look for anything that allows a child to follow lines, create pictures out of a variety of materials and make a craft together. 4. Storytelling helps a child learn new vocabulary words, understand sentence structure and practice listening and concentration skills. Play games, use puppets and read to your child everyday and once they learn, have them read to you, even if it is a recipe as you are making dinner! 5. Science and math toys. Use these everyday and encourage your child to understand how both concepts are used everyday in the environment around us. Take a look at more ideas on my new toy tips page on amazon.com- no I don't sell toys, they do! http://www.amazon.com/gp/blog/post/PLNK3TIALGOOSHC7J?pf_rd_p=444419601&pf_rd_s=center-3&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_i=700065011&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=11STH99DRDHCB852DR8V

This year, I am finding that more manufacturers have been creating what they call "green" toys. Whether they are made from sustainable materials, organic cotton, bamboo or recycled milk jugs, you will see a slew of these on toy shelves and online this holiday season. We are busy testing these toys, fact checking their claims and making sure they offer cognitive, emotional, social and physical developmental skills. As we gear up to release our Annual Holiday Issue, sign up for our free daily toy tips so you can receive a toy review and report card each day and I look for my list of green toys coming soon!

It's become a Holiday Ritual... no, it's not eggnog, decorating your home with colored lights or grandma's recipe for glazed ham. It's putting on your running shoes, getting your mind ready for battle and off to the toy store to get "that" toy. The recipe for a "hot" toy is born from crafty publicity and ongoing support from the media. That's it.

Publicists vie to get in front of the media to pitch their goods. The best publicist with a fun toy wins.. If consumers pick up on it and really want the toy, it spreads and manufacturers work with retailers on the supply chain. It becomes an off-the shelf seller because parents find it fun to "keep up with the Jones' and buy whatever everyone else wants too.

The danger is that kids end up with non-age appropriate toys they rarely play with. It's funny to watch the next Spring, how many of these "hot toys" end up on ebay. The media wants news and this behavior has been an icon story for decades I mean who doesn't want a great story of 2 parents tugging on the last toy left. My own father has a story of a woman grabbing a Tonka truck out of his shopping cart at Bargain Town (now Toys R Us) when I was a kid and yes, he got it back.

With all the zillions of other things at the toy store, I wonder why "that" truck made her behave so rudely. Let's see--hmmmm. maybe because the guilt or disappointment her child amy have had without it.. Or, worse the thought that her child would not be happy without it. Not true. Things are things.

But, in the end, does the child really want this gotta-have toy? That's the question we all wonder when we consider buying any toy. Let's face it, it certainly does not make for a bad parent if you don't get sucked into the "gotta buy that hot holiday toy hype".

Is the child the right age for the "talked about" toy? Be sure whatever you choose that your child has the skills needed to play correctly and safely with it. Look at what happened with the magnet recalls from last year. Parents bought them because they were told they were "hot." They got in the hands of children who put them in their mouth and injury and even one case of death occurred.

Tell me your story about the toy you never got.. I'd love to hear it! And stay tuned, of course I will be posting news on REALLY good toys throughout the holiday season but don't try to take them out of my cart if you see me at Target! Marianne

Did you ever buy a toy that falls apart easily? The well-engineered toy is a gem amongst the toybox. Finding durable toys that can last for generations takes a little bit of knowledge, a little bit of research and a little bit of luck.  Before your holiday toy shopping begins, plan ahead.

You'll find some of the most basic toys are  going from the plain design, ex: dolls, heavy solid trucks, slinky's  (which contain no electronics) to interactive designs which contain electronic components such as infrared technology, micro-processors, sensors, optics, LED's  etc. These devices are delicate and prone to shock. They must be encased in a firm, well-designed outer shell which will protect the toy.

It's better to splurge on quality, a toy is only useful when it is used

Here are a few "toy tips" to take to the toy store:

-For audible toys, speakers should be large enough to provide intelligible output.

-Tilt switches indicate if a toy is laying down or standing up (think a robot toy that walks).  Many are made with mercury. Be aware that in the event of breakage, mercury could be exposed and possibly ingested by the child and this could be fatal.

-Video screens should be color not black and white for better resolution.

-Many battery compartments require a manual use of a small jewelers screwdriver  (#0 or #1) to open the battery compartment for battery insertion and replacement.  Be sure to have one of those on hand- you will need it often. If you don't replace batteries, they can corrode. If a battery-operated toy is not in constant use, it's best to keep the batteries out and put them in as needed. Batteries also contain mercury so if one leaks and is ingested by the child, this can be very dangerous.

Avoid toys made with magnets if there is any possibility a child may put them in their mouth, regardless of age. Two or more magnets ingested inside the digestive track is fatal.

And...remember to play with your kids with all your new finds!



 

There's no place like home-MADE! In the July issue of Metroparent Magazine, I wrote an article about the do's and dont's of children's birthday parties. We just celebrated the big 4 for my daughter and 12 little girls for an "old-fashioned" backyard birthday party turned out just perfect. Instead of a theme with all the matching party supplies and commercial slant, we opted to focus on her current three favorite things... princesses, toys and her beloved Dorothy Ruby Slippers (from Target). I had toys splattered around the backyard-everything from gigantic bubble makers, hula hoops, hopsotch, princess dress up clothes and of course the sandbox. I filled that with playsand (always make sure to get playsand rather than any other for safety reasons). I added new "green" (made of recycled milk jugs) sandbox toys. I like these because they are much more sturdy than the other less expensive plastic versions. We played classic games like sack racing and the egg/spoon game that her friend Becky gave her and of course a pinata filled with candy. Although, our pinata was nothing more than a brown Pick "N Save bag decorated and tied with yarn to a tree. I find other pinatas never seem to break with kids in the under 4 crowd! My son ran the lemonade stand during lunch and kids munched on corn dogs, carrots, pickles and watermelon. The finale was my Ruby Slippers cake. So many people asked me how to make it so I thought I'd share the love. It was super easy. You need: 2 pound cakes, yellow frosting, red cake glitter and 2 red hairbows. That's it.. Slice off about 2 inches that you will use for a heel and cut the rest in the shape of a shoe. Stack the shaped shoe on the heel and frost the whole thing with yellow frosting. Then pipe red glitter from a Ziploc all around. (Secret-- use a little wax paper to cover while glittering if you do not want the whole shoe red). Make the second one. Add the bows and voila..a home-made cake. The smile on my Mia's face was enough to make me feel like I was a good mom for the day. Who cares what the cake tastes like, with kids, they want it to look good and you want them to smile, ooh and aah. It's the time and love you put into making any birthday special so have fun planning your next one.

 

Playdates are nothing more than a click away for children who may be bored at home or bored with their friends.

The cyber-playground is becoming an alternative form of traditional play for children as young as age three. While stuffed animals, action figures and dolls all hold a place in a child's imagination, the new sweep and trend of the "virtual world"  is stretching a child's play hours into virtual playmates.

Gone are the days of the "couch potato" only to introduce the age of the "keyboard kids."

According to The New York Times, (December 31, 2007), it is estimated that 8.2 million children are members of virtual worlds, and that number is expected to reach 20 million by 2011.

This is a lot of kids playing online instead of with their friends.

Online play can increase hand-eye coordination which is great if you use your skill for baseball practice but what does that do for personality skills and character development?

While manufacturers are busy creating the next big thing or the next big bust, parents are the ones that hold control of their child's time and how they spend it. Playing online is fun and can be educational and mind-stimulating with various activities, games and even math problems but....... where have the all the heroes gone? Are toys becoming so tech-heavy that children who used to emulate the guts and glory of Evil Knievel, Batman and Superman now shop, collect and visit a virtual world instead of creating their own role play worlds. Will heroes come from cyberspace without any personality or only what the software engineer puts into them? Will children no longer need to actually play with the tangible toy?

Toys that allow children to engage in social communities with avatars or other children may include experiences with age-appropriate content and language, so we think. Web controls are offered so parents can be sure of it. But, like all things, at a cost. From an economic standpoint, parents can spend in an upwards of $30 for a toy and a chance for a child to play with it online or spend a few bucks for a toy and a chance for a child to play with it with his brother.

While cyber-based toys see a rise in popularity in 2008, parents are concerned on how they are affecting their child's mental growth. A  child playing online can learn typing skills and understand computer technology at an earlier age but this  will not exactly translate into higher intellectual development for the child.

Educators and parents want to preserve childhood and the developmental milestones that nurture the integral steps to a growing mind. Balancing traditional toys that make you "think" is the best way to incorporate virtual play into a child's precious playtime hours. If this means buying a box of blocks and cans of clay along with virtual pets to keep a busy preschooler engaged, then so be it.  Toys are catalysts for learning new skills and tech toys do have their place but are not meant to "re-place" traditional play.

As this new generation of technology and play unfolds, new applications are being built for children to use but  the basic patterns of human developmental learning have remained static over time. Technology is only an application to use brain-based skills. It's not the means to increase them.

In this new age of technology, avatars, web controls and online toys, realize that play is changing and as each generation has its classics, Gen Z may not be able to "pass down" that favorite stuffed toy..... without a website attached to it.

Just  a thought.