School is (or will soon be) out for most of our families. As such, we moms are going to need some help getting through the summer. Below are five of my top toy picks for summer ’09. Since I know that we’re all watching our budgets (to various degrees), everything that I have reviewed is $25 and under. Enjoy!
1. BABY ALIVE: This is my doll pick for the summer. Even though I personally like dolls with hair that you can comb, the little girls just loved this doll! Now, there is a “Better Now Baby” doll that allows little ones to take care of her. The doll comes with a thermometer, medicine spoon, an aspirator, a sippy cup, and 2 doll diapers. (She “wets” her diapers.) Perhaps the doll appeals to little ones’ nurturing sides.
Price: $19.99
Ages: 3+
2. Crayola® Rainbow Rake: This is the outdoor toy that Michael can’t wait to use. I’m still trying to figure out where he can use it. (I’m leaning towards his grandparents’ backyard since I’m not sure if you can use chalk on city property.) Anyway, kids can use this chalk-holding rake to make all types of words and designs. (It comes with 5 pieces of sidewalk chalk.)
Price: $11.99
Ages: 4+
3. Hot Wheels Color Shifters: These are still my favorite cars of the moment. There are a large variety of cars/trucks from which to choose; they’re inexpensive and little boys have a lot of fun playing with them. Just watch out for the dripping water (they change color with warm or ice cold water).
Price: $2.99+
Ages: 2+
4. Super WHY!’s new line: I love that the toys (and the show from which the line is based) focus on creative role playing and making reading fun. I think that parents will also appreciate the multicultural cast of characters (including a Black princess – Princess Pesto). My sons loved the interactive “Zap & Learn Why Writer” (“the wand”) the most. It really does help kids learn to read in a way that is exciting to them. (Oh my goodness…I made the mistake of leaving this toy over a friend’s house. There was little peace in my home until I retrieved it!) In any event, this line of toys is a great way to fit education into summer enjoyment.
Price: $4.99 – $19.99
Ages: 3+
And
5. Lastly, I couldn’t talk about summer toys without including some bubble wand type of product. (Most kids love bubbles and I have so many fond memories of playing with bubble wands during warm weather while growing up.) I can’t say that I especially like one bubble wand over the other. (I usually just buy what’s on sale!) However, I found this interesting post “The Skills of Summer” at Parenting.com. In it, they suggest empty plastic strawberry baskets or cherry-tomato baskets as bubble makers for little kids. (You simply dip the baskets into bowls of bubble solution and wave them through the air.)
Price: ?
Ages: 1+
