For children pretend play is a very big
part of their day. Role play helps to develop their language skills.
They love to use their imagination and copy adults. Here are some of
the best picks.
Our 4-year-old tester is completely in love
with princesses, so it was no surprise that she loved this Princess
Woodkins set. She loved the sparkly fabrics that come with
this set. Her mother loved the fact that it's a creative toy.
These great play sets are available in different versions and
ethnicities. The double sets are great for play dates.
They come in their own little backpack and have two for double the
fun. Our testers loved the "double" Cinderella, as
well as the Bride and Groom sets. To see more click here http://www.woodkins.com.
Our little testers had a blast playing with these marionettes
from Manhattan Toy®. They are simply designed, but very easy
to make walk, dance, etc. The are soft and colorful. Our
teachers like the fact that they help to develop eye-hand
coordination. A big imaginative pretend play gift at a small
price.
Ahoy mates! This pirate ship is very cool! Several groups of
children who tested it all loved it. The teachers were pleased that
it was made of wood. The children viewed it as a puzzle play toy.
They would take it apart, put it together, and then act out pirate
stories. The ship includes a cannon, anchor, ladder, dinghy,
captain, crew, and more! The pieces are small, so when it's not in
use, store everything in a bag or bin so you'll know where it is
later.
Smarty is a cool interactive robot who entertains with pretend
play and building. Our 4-year-old tester, who loves building,
thought this was the best. With 50 different projects to choose
from, he never got bored! And while the kids play with this, they're
learning, too.
Battle
Castle (by Fisher-Price, ages 4 to 7, $32.99)
If your grandchild likes castles, dungeons, catapults, and
drawbridges they will like this set. The mother of our tester
liked the fact that set could be assembled a few different ways -
and that it was all up to their imagination.
Her son, the 6-year-old tester was reported to have played with this
for hours - and still does. The only downside noted was
that it didn't always stay together. The
set includes two white knights, two black knights with
interchangeable helmets and weapons.
Our 3-year-old tester totes this set all over, according to her
mother. She reports that this adorable little hotel is just
the right size for her little hands. A child can pack up the
bell hop and guests and take it with them when they visit Grandmas!
There is an indoor pool, working elevator and more. This cute
little hotel is part of a the Sweet Streets set so you can build
upon it. You can add a Sweet
Streets Townhouse and eventually have a whole miniature town!
"This little set is wonderful" reports the mother of
our 3-year-old tester. She has taken this train set every time
they have traveled and it's worked out fabulously. The
set is really well designed. It holds up to 7 Take Along
Thomas Friends engines or vehicles. The tracks pack up in the
set. It comes with one Thomas train, but you can purchase the
others. It is not compatible with the wooden Thomas sets, but
it is perfect for overnight visits. A great little travel toy.
Do you have a budding musician? If so, they will love this
electronic keyboard. It has a microphone to sing along with,
animal sounds, instruments, pre-recorded melodies and more.
Our 4-year-old tester thought it was great. She loved singing
along more than anything else. It was named "Toy
of the Year" by Parents and Parenting Magazine - we could see
why!.
This beautiful wooden toy received rave reviews from the school
that received it for testing. The farm house has a removable slat
roof, furniture, a ladder, tools, and more. The kids get to play
with this every day, and it's one of their favorite toys. Parents
who've seen it agree that it would make a great gift for a child.
You'll probably want to purchase the Farmer and the Farmer's Wife at
the same time. They retail for $10 each.
Once our two testers ages got a hold of the
lab they went to town. At 13 and 14-years-old they reported that
they had a great time pretending they had
magical powers. They liked the fact that if the potions were not added correctly they turned
black or sour. This added to the fun, plus they tasted great.
Their mother reported that the downside she saw was that the potions
didn't come in Ziploc bags so you have to
transfer unused portions. The directions were a bit difficult to follow, so
for younger children adult supervision is necessary. The
wizard accessories are fun - you just need to expect the unexpected.
A Harry Potter fan would love this for sleepovers and parties!
We knew when we gave this to our 6-year-old tester it was going to be a
winner. Our tester already loves Fashion Polly and Polly
Pockets. She liked the fact that this set, which comes with a blond Polly figure,
had a pet cat, and accessories. She loved the fact she could add
sparkles to Polly's clothing with the glue and glitter that's included.
Mom's don't need to worry about the mess because it's self-contained in a
special closet. Remember to buy the batteries before you get this
gift or you'll have a disappointed little child!
Our three testers, ages 9, 10 1/2 and 11 all thought this was
fun. They enjoyed the process of building something and the
satisfaction of completing it. They said if you're looking for a fast
build - this isn't it. They said the directions are very detailed so
it takes some time. They liked the fact this could transform from a
plane to a motorcycle and had detailed accessories and functional
weapons.
Here's something from my childhood.
I always wanted an Easy Bake Oven, I never got one, but I did get to play
with one and I loved it. Our tester had fun too. She said it took a
while to bake stuff, but it was nice to feel independent and
"cook" on her own.
Scientists-in-training can use this 112-piece kit for more than 100 experiments
and models. The package includes detailed instructions, as well as balloons,
string, marbles, straws, mirrors, and much more; your kitchen and closet will
provide other materials for some of the activities. Parental supervision will help
kids on the young end of the age range get the most out of the projects while
keeping the mess in hand, while older kids will be able to manage on their own.
Be sure to read ahead and choose carefully, as some of the experiments are
one-time-only and use up the materials. But there's no shortage of choices!
Princess
Woodkin
Plan
Toys Pirate Ship
Battle
Castle
Sweet
Streets: Go Anywhere Hotel
Thomas
the Tank Engine Work 'n Play...
Sing
'N Dance Orchestra
Plan
Toys Farm House
Fashion Polly! Sparkle Style House
Easy Bake Bundle: Oven and Mixes
DK Science Kit