Children's Toys

Toy Collecting • Toy Makers • The Toy Business

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

1. Toys R Us
   
   This toy retailer offered an extensive selection of children's toys and games.
   www.ToysRUs.com
2. Crayola
   
   Visit this online store to find colorful items such as crayons, colored pencils, markers, chalk, and paint.
   Shop.Crayola.com

Childrens Toy Resources

• Toy Safety Publications
  
  Menu of CPSC publications dealing with toy safety issues, including age-specific toy shopping tips.
  www.CPSC.gov

Toy Supplier Directory

• Toy Store Directory
  
  This children's toy store directory lists toy retailers and suppliers throughout the United States of America.
  Toy-Stores.RegionalDirectory.us/

Childrens Toys - Children's Toys - Toy Guide and Directory