Selecting Toys for Christmas Presents

While adding new toys to the EHO toy store, I looked over the lists of top toys for 2007 and award winning toys. I ruminated about which fit with my toy philosophy that they be something that doesn't suck the creativity out of children but rather develops it. Thus, our page of new toys has a little something for everyone from the busy, busy little boy to the chatty little girl. There are toys for the musically or artistically inclined and games for those with an inner wordsmith.

To be specific, for the busy, busy little boy who’s trapped indoors on a rainy day, there’s the Smart Cycle, a combination of stationery exercise bike for the preschool set and video game system. At first, I thought it wasn’t a good choice, until I began to think about little boys and the havoc they can wreck when bored and full of energy. Thoughts of said boy eagerly cycling a way all that pent up energy and then falling quickly asleep at nap time clinched it as a must add to my list.

Girls will delight in the Corolle Tidoo dolls that can really get wet or be laundered and the musical tea set. The youngest set will enjoy the Wheely Bugs and the Really Big Oball. Older children will love the Hasbro Power Tour Electric Guitar. Designed to look like a real Gibson electric guitar and teach children to play the guitar, it uses special strum and touch sensors to take the place of strings. And yes, I did include a Barbie Shopping Time Cash Register. My youngest daughter received a cash register similar to this one, and she played with it and played with it. Perhaps that’s why she’s such a good shopper today. I did get a little tired of hearing it say, “Come shop with me!” The other toy she bought herself with birthday money and finally gave away to a younger friend with much regret was her hopper. We’ve put an 18-inch hopper into the store. It’s a big rubber ball with a handle on top that you sit on and bounce. She used it indoors and outdoors. Hers had two handles that stuck straight out from the ball, which is why we nicknamed it her udder.

Visit our New Toys page to see the latest additions to our Educational Toys. We have plenty more suggestions in a multitude of categories from games to outdoor play or magic sets to dollhouses. If you don’t find what you’re looking for, chances are it’s somewhere at Amazon. Use our Amazon search box to find it. Shop early for discounts and get free shipping on most orders.