Classic Toys Continue
to Delight and Entertain
by Ann Douglas
Instead of standing in line to buy the latest fad in toys this Christmas, why not check out some of the classic toys children have loved for years?
You won't catch Stevanne Auerbach lining up to buy this season's latest and supposedly greatest new toys. She'd rather invest in "classic toys" that have earned a place in the hearts and toy boxes of children.
According to Auerbach, an author and syndicated columnist who is better known as "Dr Toy," classic toys are toys that have been proven over time to be safe, consistently popular, well-designed and practical and that offer good value for the money. "These toys are enduring, 'child-powered' and fun," she stresses. "They have entertained and enriched the lives of children and adults for years."
Auerbach's most recent book, published in conjunction with US department store giant FAO Schwarz, is entitled
Toys For A Lifetime: Enhancing Childhood Through Play. In her book, Auerbach highlights some of the best "classic toys" for children of various ages. Here are just a few of her picks:
For babies:
- Manhattan Toys Skwish (a collapsible baby toy that is decorated with bright colors, sliding beads and a jingling bell)
- Fisher Price Stacking Rings (five brightly-colored rings on a stack)
No kidding!
Fabulous facts from the world of toys
Wondering how your favorite toy got its start in life? Chances are you'll find the answer in Stevanne Auerbach's book Toys For A Lifetime: Enhancing Childhood Through Play. Here are just a few of the fabulous toy-related facts you can pick up by reading this comprehensive and beautifully illustrated book:
- The first toy to be advertised on American television was none other than Mr Potato Head. Everyone's favorite spud made his television debut in 1953.
- The Viewmaster was first introduced at the 1939 World's Fair in New York. It was subsequently used as a military training tool during World War II.
- Barbie dolls were first introduced in 1955. They are now available for sale in 140 countries and are sold at the rate of two per second.
- The jingle that is used to advertise the Slinky is the longest-running jingle in television history.
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For toddlers:
- Tinkertoys (a construction set that was originally made out of wood, but that is now made out of plastic)
- Silly Putty (a moldable substance that stretches, bounces and lifts images off the printed page)
- Slinky (a metal or plastic toy that can climb down a set of stairs and perform other seemingly wondrous feats!)
- Etch-A-Sketch (a drawing toy that has been dubbed "the world's first laptop!")
- Spirograph (a drawing toy that allows children to use a series of plastic circles and gears to create geometric shapes and patterns)
- Candyland (a 50-year-old board game that encourages co-operative rather than competitive play)
- Mr Potato Head (a plastic face-making set that was first introduced in 1952)
- Scrabble (a word-building game that is suitable for both children and adults)
- Pictionary (a classic board game that combines creativity and competition)
Links, information and more for you
Brain Games for Babies
Toys for a Lifetime (book)
Directory of family articles
Directory of all articles
About the author: Ann Douglas is the mother of four young children and the author of 18 books, including The Mother of All Pregnancy Books (Hungryminds, January 2002); Family Finance: The Essential Guide for Parents (Dearborn, 2001); The Unofficial Guide to Having A Baby (Hungry Minds, 1999); and Trying Again: A Guide to Pregnancy After Miscarriage, Stillbirth, and Infant Loss (Taylor Publishing, 2000). She can be contacted via her web site at www.having-a-baby.com.
