Children's Toys
Children's Toys > History of Toys • Toy Collecting • Toy Manufacturers • The Toy Business
Whether we're adult toy collectors or kids who enjoy playing with toys,
we all relate to toys in some manner. Some
toy manufacturers
focus on old standbys like construction sets, board games and train sets
while others cater more to current trends with themed dolls and action
toys from movies and sports figures. In any event, a vast selection
of children's toys is designed and manufactured each year. Many
toy makers also produce limited edition reproductions of nostalgic toys.
Evidence of simple toys and games has been found in archaeological digs, and throughout the course of recorded history, people have made and enjoyed a wide variety of toys. During the Roman Empire, children had rag dolls and played with stone and glass marbles. In Victorian times, toy manufacturing began in earnest, and during the 1930s, a toy collectibles market developed. In recent years, Internet auction sites have spawned a large secondary collectibles market for toys.
Whether your child is the active type, or whether your child prefers to play quietly, there's definitely a toy designed to suit. Quite popular today are interactive toys. Fitted with computer chips, these toys look like robots, dinosaurs, dogs, or other animals, and are programmed to interact with the child by talking or moving. The child gives a command, and the toy reacts. Other interactive toys play games with children, like chess, checkers, or Battleship.
Computerized games are also very popular. These games can be
handheld, or can attach to your video monitor via a console.
These games are extremely realistic, and simulate adventures such as
flying an airplane, playing a baseball game, racing a car, or even
skateboarding down extreme ramps! The child controls the game
via a joystick or handset. Many of these games accommodate more
than one player, and can be enjoyed by more than one child at a time.
Other toys that have sprung up and quickly gained popularity are educational toys. These toys are not just designed for the child's entertainment, but are rather designed to be fun while they are teaching the child a skill, like math or reading. So popular is this category that there are even educational toys for infants that claim to develop a baby's brain activity or teach hand-eye coordination.
Finally, much of the toy industry concentrates on keeping kids
active. After all, tired kids are good kids! It's not hard to
find toys to keep your child moving, whether it is an appropriately sized
skateboard or bike, or the good, old-fashioned game of Twister.
ChildrensToys.us features brief introductions to toy collecting and the history of toys, as well as a directory of selected children's toy stores and toy manufacturers. We hope you enjoy browsing our site.
Representative Children's Toy Stores
- Toys R Us
This popular toy retailer offers an extensive selection of children's toys and games. Shop by age, brand, or category.
www.ToysRUs.com - All Aboard Toys
Find great prices and selection on educational and fun toys for children.
www.AllAboardToys.com - Crayola
Visit the most "colorful" store on the web. Crayons, colored pencils, markers, chalk, and paint.
www.CrayolaStore.com
Childrens Toy Resources
- Choosing Safe Toys
Age-specific toy safety shopping tips for children under 3 years old, 3 to 5 years old, and 6 to 12 years old.
www.CPSC.gov - Toy Hazard Recalls
List of recalls from the US Consumer Product Safety Commission.
www.CPSC.gov - Toy Safety Issues
Toy safety consumer tips and list of potentially hazardous toys.
www.USPIRG.org/issues/toy-safety - Regional Toy Information
This toy directory brings together a wide range of toy designers, toy manufacturers, and toy stores.
www.RegionalDirectory.us/toys/
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