The New Classics

You may have noticed that many of the toys that you see children playing with lately are ones that either remind you of the toys you had, or actually are the toys you had when you were little!  There has been an expolosion of the reinvented classic toys.  Toys that bring back nostalgic memories of our own childish play dates.   These classics have lasted over time. They continue to prove their value and will provide both you and your child many new memories spent playing together.

Just What  Is A Classic Toy?

A classic toy is many things, but there are some aspects to these toys that remain so perfect over time:

Durability. Simplicity in style and 'star qualities' make them all-time favorites, such as checkers, chess, hula hoops, kites, marbles and yo -yo's.

Consistency - The toy that is simple in shape and responds based on what the child does with it. These toys give children a feeling of accomplishment because the more they practice with them, the better they become. For example, the more a child practices with a yo-yo the better he or she can become in doing the tricks. This practice provides hand/eye coordination and dexterity and all along each step of the way the rewards are satisfying.

Creativity - By expanding their own imagination, kids are ncouraged to experiment using classic toys. Think about how children use a puppet. Such as the adorable puppets made by Gund! They use their own language, their own artistic expression and they explore without limit to achieve their own goals. The puppet forms the object that encourages their language development and spontaneously stimulates the play of the moment.

Markers, such as the ones by Crayola Washables are wonderful, too. They become the child's backdrop to the play, the reflection of their observation of objects around them or the fantasy they imagine in their dreams.

"New" classics

Here are some terrific toys that fit the criteria for classics:

The RainBoMaker by makes a great gift and will remind you of ancient rainsticks that make sounds when shaken. This one not only makes sounds, it combines colors in the tube so you hear the rain and see the colors of the rainbow.

Your child will love the variety of Imaginetics offered by IPI, such as Mr. & Mrs. Potato Head, My Little Pony and others. Young children can pull apart the magnets off the play boards and then put them back together again. It is a great toy for traveling!

For the young builder who wants to explore, while learning his ABC's , select one of the best classic toys ever...ABC building blocks. A good choice for the the beginner builder would be the standard ABC set by Melissa & Doug's.

Look around and watch for these other great classic toys that have been around since you were a kid.  Some of them you may already have!

Bubbles!  Like the Bubble Oodles from Gymboree, No Spill Bubbles by Little Kids, Inc. - are fun to use and help develop breath control. Everyone will get lots of pleasure in seeing the bubbles floating in the backyard.

Checkers offer simple strategy, learning to take turns and the enjoyment of playing again and again. Chess helps develop more advanced strategy. Gyroscopes allow the child to understand the challenge of gravity and basic principles of physics. Hula hoops encourage children to exercise and develop physical skills. Jacks provide easy-to-learn skills and stages of mastery, plus hand/eye coordination. Kites are a fun way to enjoy light breezes and learn about gravity and air currents. Tops - such as the Circus Spinning Top by Schylling - provide on going balance and learning.

How Collectors Begin

You'll often find that the adult train enthusiast began as a child setting up the layout for his or her first train. Or, the avid doll collector

started learning more about dolls when given a special one from a grandmother. Children are influenced by these early experiences and will grow to enjoy lifetime hobbies if given the opportunity.

We hope that you enjoy looking for that special classic toy for your child, grand child or family friend.  A toy that brings nostalgic memories back to you and one that will grow special new memories for that precious child!  A great place to start looking for them is with us!  http://cgi3.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewUserPage&userid=ten_35