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Last Friday I read a small piece in the Gloucester County Times about a local business that is going to be accepting toys for the Toys for Tots program this holiday season. In the piece the writer mentioned that the toys and books Toys for Tots receives the least of are for children ages 9-15. Toys for Tots is one of my favorite charities. I wrote a piece about the program a few years ago. The men and women involved amazed and inspired me. People often think about coats and clothes and food when they think about charity (me too) but the benefit of something shiny, new and all yours cannot be discounted. If you have a few extra bucks this holiday season maybe use it to buy a new toy or book for a kid who otherwise wouldn't get a present this year. I had at my disposal the ability to help out so I sent a few e-mails to a few people and put this list together. In my former life I wrote for a local parenting magazine. My biggest project of the year was the annual Toy Test feature. Over the years I collected a pretty big group of toy industry contacts. The toys pictured in this post are what my toy peeps sent back. Should I receive any more suggestions I'll add them in new posts as they arrive. Thanks to Greg Walsh at Walsh PR and Dan Sazalar at Mattel for providing this batch of suggestions.
You can contact your local Toys for Tots program or make monetary donations through the national website http://www.toysfortots.org.
Ucreate Music
Kids can make their own holiday music jams with Ucreate Music, which is an easy-to-use digital music-making system that allows kids to become the ultimate DJ. Kids and tweens can express themselves though creating their own songs and re-mixes with a fun and innovative interface. They can record samples, mix and match loops and create their own music tracks using an assortment of rifts, instruments, runs and backbeats. Plus, kids can share their creations with friends and update and explore new content on the Ucreate Music website. For added entertainment, kids can add in their own voice and sound effects or distortions to their track.
ARP: $39.99 Age: 6+ Available: Now 
Mindflex™ Game
Families and friends will love competing against one another this holiday season with Mindflex™ – the new mental acuity game from Mattel! A lightweight headset containing sensors for the forehead and earlobes measures your brainwave activity. When you focus your concentration, a small foam ball will rise on a gentle stream of air. Relax your thoughts and the ball will descend. By using a combination of physical and mental coordination, you must then guide the ball through a customizable obstacle course – the various obstacles can be repositioned into many different configurations. Once you have the mental skills necessary to complete the course, it’s time to take it up a notch and challenge your friends and family to see who can achieve the highest scores by being the fastest and most accurate mental warrior around. Mindflex™ combines advanced technology with the power of thought to create an interactive experience unlike any other – a game where players compete in the ultimate mental marathon!
ARP: $79.99 Age: 8+ Available: Now 
Tyco® R/C Stunt Psycho™ Vehicle
Get ready for some serious action this winter with the Tyco® R/C Stunt Psycho™ – the ultimate all-terrain R/C vehicle! Fully equipped and designed to perform a series of different stunts on its own, the Stunt Psycho™ features durable, shock-absorbent wheels that enable the vehicle to easily maneuver over dirt, rocks and other outdoor environments kids can find. When not in the dirt, a push of the turbo button brings even more excitement, as it reaches speeds of up to 9 mph.
ARP: $49.99 Ages: 8+ Available: Now 
Blokus®
Keep kids’ (and parents’) minds sharp during winter break with Blokus® – the award-winning, classic board game that combines skill and strategy, providing entertaining fun for the whole family! Comprised of a square board containing 400 squares and 84 pieces, Blokus® challenges players to think strategically to outsmart their opponent. Players can match wits with one competitor or bring the excitement and energy to the game with up to four players.
ARP: $29.99 Age: 5+ Available: Now 
Scene It?® Simpsons
D-oh! America’s most recognizable family is making its way to living rooms this holiday season with the new Scene It® Simpsons DVD game. This version features more than 400 episode clips, trivia questions and content from the long-running, animated sitcom about the hilarious family from Springfield. Fans can relive their favorite moments with Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie, while testing their knowledge on all things Simpsons!
ARP: $29.99 Age: Adult Available: Fall 2009 
GRIDDLY GAMES - sports themed games are ultimate for parents to play with kids. Easy to learn (you don’t have to know everything about the sport, teams or players) to be able to play. Fun for the sports fanatic who understands all of the lingo, but easy enough for unknowledgeable about the sport to be able to participate. The sports themed games are called GRIDDLY HEADZ Baseball, Hockey or NASCAR Racing (all for ages 8 and up). Also new game called WISE ALEC (ages 8 and up) that incorporates tongue twisters and healthy habits and manners, etc. while multi-ages can play together. www.griddlygames.com (games range from $24.95 - $29.95) 
PLAYROOM Entertainment: KILLER BUNNIES game, a hit in the hobby world, that is now getting mainstream attention. The new Killer Bunnies REMIX version ($25 for ages 10+) is a best of collection of all of the Killer Bunnies expansion decks. Very funny parodies and satirical cards in the game. Players are actually trying to protect their bunnies, not hurt them. Barnes & Noble and Target are selling the REMIX now. www.playrooment.com Also, Playroom’s Bright Ideas Games are educational card games that are only $10 each. Sherlock is the most popular of the 12 different Bright Ideas Games. Sherlock is also sold at Barnes & Noble. 
BASIC CONCEPTS: For all of the Scrabble and crossword puzzle fans out there. Basic Concepts has a new word game that is doing very well called FAST4WORDS (only $15 and only takes a few minutes to play each round. For ages 8 and up)). It is kind of like a Boggle/Connect Four combo game with letters in an upright stand instead of checkers. www.basicconcepttoys.com Also really good visual of Basic Concepts new three-dimensional board games. Works like a pop-up books. No assembly required. Titles featured are: Treasure of the Lost Pyramid (ages 8+), Haunted Ruins and Mystic Tower (ages 6and up) ($24.99) Available at Toys R Us. http://www.walshpr.com/PressReleases/prBasic01.htm (how it works) see http://www.relic-raiders.com/home.html (The 3-D games all feature comic book characters that have an adventure storyline for each game) 
TARA: Abstract, strategy game named after the Hill of Tara in Ireland. Very high end look, without the high end price. Can leave it out as a “coffee table game/book” because of the cool knot designs it makes as you play. TARA (MSRP $29.95, for ages 10 and up) comes from Ireland based Tailten Games is now making its presence felt in the United States, winning game industry and consumer awards, and now selling nationwide at Barnes & Noble. A very elegant looking game can be displayed when not in play. The game actually builds Celtic knotwork pattern as it is played. www.tailtengames.com 
FAMILY MATTERS – a new board game from Better Indeed LLC. Gets parents and kids talking about life situations. Do some silly things along the way, but then solve a “fake family crisis” No one can be themselves in the fake crisis. You have to act/think like another member of the family. First game to ever allow a child to challenge a parent in a discussion without consequence. Winner gets their Weekend Wish ($20, ages 8 and up) www.familymattersgame.com 
YAMODO PARTY TIME: great game for teens and adults. Fast moving fun. Very social. Everyone plays at once. Dinner parties, Family time, Teens. It is creative fun that can be as silly as the players want it to be. Read, write, draw a made-up word. Judge decides the winner of each round. Can have sample sent to you or demo for you anytime. Inexpensive hours of entertainment at $30, ages 10+. Available at Barnes & Noble. www.yamodo.com 
LEGO® CREATOR Highway Transporter – Imagination rules the highway with this new highway transporter. Builders can construct two race cars, load them onto the truck and hit the open road. Trailer ramp lowers, allowing for easy loading and unloading, and doors and roof open. Truck measures 20in / 50cm long. Once the delivery has been made, 3-in-1 model instructions illustrate how to re-build into a mobile crane or large tow truck including car. 1,294 pieces. Age 9+, $89.99. Available at http://www.LEGO.com 
LEGO® Lamborghini Gallardo LP 560-4 – Racecar fans can get up-close and personal with the ultimate dream car: the incredible Lamborghini Gallardo LP 560-4. This amazingly detailed 1:17 scale model comes with enough bricks to build an authentic coupe or Spider Gallardo, featuring retractable roof that folds into the back. 741 pieces, Age 9+, $59.99. Available at http://www.LEGO.com |
