Ahhh...toy nostalgia, it is one of the best parts about my job. Toys, like so many other things in life, are cyclical. What was hot 20 years ago, is now hot again, and that is true for our next toy. The Ponyville Sweet Sundae Amusement Park is a play set with cute, tiny My Little Pony figures that is sure to capture your little girl's heart. Check out our Tiny Toy Tester below:
Ponyville Sweet Sundae Amusement Park...
And here is what our Amazon.com parent had to say about the toy... Rating System: On a five star scale, one being horrible, five being wonderful.
Assembly: 5 stars, "Assembly took less than one minute"
Fun Factor: 4 stars, "Since the day she began to play with the toy, she’s disappeared into her room asking for private “pony time” and this toy has already gotten ton of use. I can’t figure out why she likes this toy so much. This is her first MLP toy and she’s never been to an amusement park, but this has been endless fun. My daughter has dreamed up many scenarios, brought in other toy figures to play with the ones provided, and seems to really enjoy making up new dialogue and interaction between the play figures and the toy itself."
Educational Factor: 1 stars, "Not an educational toy, but it will inspire imagination."
Novelty Factor: 3 stars, "The toy generates the same kind of play as a doll house or other situational toy with small figures in a separate fixed setting. We have a doll house but it had gotten old. Sounds and lights worked great (once we turn the demo switch off) and are still going strong. The slide can be propped on a table for a good run and crash to the floor which has been great fun. However there is only one pony that comes with this large toy set so once the pony is gone/lost I wonder whether the rest of the toy will become unappealing."
--Laura McMullan
So this year, many people have been telling me that they are downsizing the amount of presents they are buying and going for one large present, and maybe a stocking stuffer or two. So what are this year's hottest big toys?
1. Kota- You have seen the video, you have heard the news, and yes, Kota is all that and a bag of leaves. If you have a dinosaur lover, you can't go wrong by giving them their own pet dino this holiday. (and a bonus, he is now $100 off!)
2. The Melissa and Doug Classic Deluxe Kitchen - Every toddler and preschool kid loves to play kitchen, and what better way to play than with a classic wooden kitchen. A microwave, and oven, and a sink can all lead your little one on daily cooking adventures.
3. Elmo Live - it dosen't get much better than a toy that will tell you stories and jokes. This year Elmo is back and better than ever. Squeeze his nose to hear him "honk" and then say "excuse Elmo!". It's sure to bring on the giggles (even with adults!).
4. Giddyup and Go Pony - Do you have a toddler who is bouncing off the walls? Well, put him to work russlin' up the cattle with the Giddyup and Go Pony. He or she can bounce to make the pony go, and burn off some of that endless energy.
5. Melissa & Doug Multi-Level Solid Wood Dollhouse - This is every little girls' dream home- pink on the outside and lots of rooms to decorate on the inside. No cheap plastic here, this model is built to be a family heirloom.
6. LEGO Mindstorms NXT - Have a 'tween or teen that is into computers? You might start them on a career in engineering with the LEGO Mindstorm. This programmable robot has touch and light sensors that let you build a vast array of machines. Your child's imagination is their only limitation with this amazing toy.
7. LEGO Star Wars Ultimate Collector's Millennium Falcon - Looking for the ultimate Star Wars gift? Do you know a fan who has everything? Put them to work with this mind-blowing LEGO kit which has over 5,000 pieces! (You can also receive 10% off instantly at checkout for a limited time!)
8. Fisher-Price Power Wheels AT Rex - Ready for adventure, and ready to rule the neighborhood, this ATV is not only a fully functioning Power Wheels vehicle, it's also a fearsome dinosaur. (Check out our video) This is a present that will be talked about as "the best present ever" for years to come.
9. Fur Real Friends Biscuit My Lovin Pup - Who out there didn't ask for a puppy for a present at least once? Give them what they want this holiday without having to worry about the carpet, who will feed him, and shoes being destroyed. Biscuit responds to your commands, and will even "shake" paws with you.
10. LeapFrog Didj Custom Learning Gaming System - Got a little gamer who is asking for the newest handheld game? But you would rather them spend their down time exercising their mind? Then the present you need is the LeapFrog Didj, a fully customizable gaming system that will let your gamer play  with Hannah Montana, Sponge Bob, Star Wars and more, and still grow their little brains at the same time. (For a limited time, you can also make a gift bundle with the Didj, and save $20!)
Looking for even more holiday gift ideas? Check out our December Deals, Most Wanted Holiday Toys, Toys Under $9.99 and Newest Outlet Deals.
-Laura McMullan
Today we have some new super cute toy testers who are going to show you the EyeClops Night Vision Infrared Stealth Goggles. Take it away girls... (and dad!)...
EyeClops Night Vision Infrared Stealth Goggles...
And here is what the Amazon Parent had to say about the toy...
Rating System: On a five star scale, one being horrible, five being wonderful.
Assembly: 5 stars, "No really assembly required other than installing the batteries."
Fun Factor: 5 stars, "They thought that seeing in the dark was really cool. Once I helped them with fitting it to their heads and showing them where the power switch was, they did just fine. I would give it a 5, because I really want one myself!"
Educational Factor: 2 stars, "Not terribly educational unless the kids ask me how the camera works and amplifies existing light. It would probably grow with them as they needed it. I don’t see them using night vision goggles all the time. They would take them with us camping and to outdoor activities where we would be staying overnight."
Novelty Factor: 5 stars, "I would say 5, because there is nothing out there in a similar price range and is nothing like anything else my children own."
To get in the holiday mood, many of us adults go to religious gatherings, decorate our homes, attend parties, watch holiday movies, and cross everyone off our holiday shopping lists. But for children, much of how they experience the world is through play. I know I have said it quite a bit, but pretend play is learning play; it is how a child can comprehend the complicated world that surrounds them. One of my four year old's favorite things to play is "picnic". She brings out her tea set, play food, and stuffed animals (and occasionally her younger brother is allowed to join in) and they sit on the floor on a blanket and enjoy a pretend meal. I am pretty sure that will now change to playing "Thanksgiving" and "Christmas morning" now that the holidays are in full swing.
There are several toys out there that can help your 
kids and your family get in the holiday spirit. One fun thing about these toys is that they can become a family tradition, and come out each year at this time, making them cherished memories for years to come.
Religious traditions can be thrilling to children, but also can be confusing. Many times, when they are able to "play" and act out these traditions
they become less shrouded in mystery and more understood and enjoyed. There are many Hanukkah toys that let children do just that. The
KidCraft Hanukkah Set includes a menorah, candles, a dreidel, and
pan with potato latkes.
There are also some great play nativity sets, including the Playmobil Nativity Set. While 
grandmother's china or crystal nativity is beautiful, you might not want your child playing with it. A play nativity set is a great way to let your child act out the nativity story they have heard so often, but not break any family heirlooms.
Special holiday games can help families spend some time together. Often we get bogged down in holiday shopping, parties, and special events that we forget to slow down and just play a board game or put together a puzzle as a family. These can be the most special times of the holiday, when we slow down for a few minutes and come together as a family. And what fun to play a
rousing game of A Christmas Story Monopoly and then watch the movie together with a huge bowl of popcorn? (I can't wait until my kids are old enough to understand this movie- it is a holiday favorite around our house!)
One of the best parts of the holiday is simply the anticipation. Something that we have started this year 
for the first time is an advent calendar. Playmobil has several versions, including pirates,
princesses, and Santa in the forest. LEGO also has a fun avent
calendar that has a city theme. Another tradition that I just became aware of this year is the Elf on the Shelf.
This is an adorable little story of an Elf that watches to make sure
kids are behaving and then reports back to Santa every night. Every
night, he then returns to "hide" in a new place (i.e. you have to wait
until the kids go to bed and remember to hide him!). The kids are
encouraged to find the Elf the next morning. Sounds like a fun way to
keep the anticipation going until Christmas morning.
Did I miss any holiday toys? I am sure there are more out there,
please let us know your suggestions in the comments. Happy Holidays!
--Laura McMullan
Today, we have a delightful podcast with Justin Discoe, co-founder of Sprig Toys. A green toy company that is located in
Colorado and founded in 2007, Sprig makes an "exciting line of battery-free, eco-friendly, paint-free, kid-powered toys sure to dazzle the most discriminating preschooler." Take a listen as we talk to Justin about his favorite toys as a child, how he got into the toy business, what makes Sprig a green company, where they are headed, and what toys you can expect to see from this exciting company in the near future.
Interested in learning more about Sprig? You can see their website here, our Amazon.com/greentoys page here, and Sprig toys on Amazon.com here.
--Laura McMullan
Ed. Note: Marianne Szymanski is America's most recognized independent expert on toy reviews, juvenile lifestyle products and developmental play. She is the founder of the Toy Tips Research Institute, an author, publisher, university lecturer, media personality, entrepreneur and a mom to two young children. For the past 18 years, Marianne has provided parents with unbiased information on how to select products that enhance a child's development. The Toy Tips Research Institute is a year-round program of toy evaluation and testing that does not accept submission fees from toy manufacturers. She and a team of psychologists at multiple universities wrote an independent academic profile which is the basis of her research. Marianne has led her organization's unbiased play tests of over 45,000 toys and publishes Toy Tips report cards and profiles on each toy based on skill-based learning on toytips.com. You may have seen her on The Rachael Ray Show, Oprah, CNN, The Today Show, Good Morning America, The Discovery Channel, FOX, Lifetime or The Early Show and close to 300 local news stations across the country.
We are delighted to have Marianne blogging on Toy Whimsy about the intersection between parenting and toys. Check out her awesome website at www.toytips.com and her Amazon page at www.amazon.com/toytips! Also, if you are into twitter, Toy Tips is now tweeting at twitter.com/toytips. Now, on to Marianne's helpful post...
Last Minute Toy Assembly Hints
You shop for that special gift and hide it carefully. All goes well until the big day, when flap A will not fit into slot B, or the assembly kit is missing three screws but contains six extra bolts. The key to preventing this headache is preparing weeks in advance. Here are some helpful tips to ensure a less stressful time assembling gifts.
Special Tools:
Proper tools ensure less damage to the toy during assembly and a more secure fit afterward. If you can't figure out what you need, call the company's toll-free information number and ask them.
Extra Batteries:
For every battery-operated toy, it is best to buy TWO full sets of batteries. If they are not immediately used, you'll always find another need for them later.
Put It Together:
Assemble the toy BEFORE the big day. WELL before. WEEKS before. You'll have time to find the proper tools, and to replace any missing or broken parts. Waiting until the last minute is nothing but a great way to get a headache.
Play With It!
Run your own test. Play with the toy yourself so that you can see how
- and if - it works before placing it under the tree. If the test is successful, hide the toy with the neighbors, in the attic, or somewhere inconspicuous. Never hide a toy in a closet -- it's the first place a child looks.
Video Games:
Video games and video game systems require special attention. Practice hooking the system up to your television while the child is at school or out of the house. This simple step will ensure that the system is compatible with your television and will help speed things up. If you are purchasing a video cartridge, play the game yourself to make sure that it isn't too difficult or too easy for your child. And, most importantly play the full game to be sure it has appropriate content that you approve.
Research:
The most important advantage you have now is time. Before you make any
purchases, research which toys need assembly and which toys do not.
This way, you'll know ahead of time how much assembly work you face.
Have fun building, tearing packages, looking for small pieces and familiarizing yourself with flaps, slots and panels. It's all worth it when you see that big smile!
-- Marianne
With everyone on a tight budget this holiday season, you might be thinking of buying your children the basic toys that are going to be used and played with for years to come. The toy editors here at Toy Whimsy have come up with a few suggestions that we think every toy box should hold. Below we have listed a few types of classic toys and an example of each.
Babies and Toddlers:
Preschool and Beyond:
Of course we haven't covered all the choices out there. So tell us, what are your ideas of the toy basics every child needs? Let us know in the comments!
Happy Holidays and happy shopping- Don't forget to visit our three day cyber sale in toys that is going on right now for more deals and holiday gift ideas for every kid on your list.
--Laura McMullan
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