Quality Choices for Your Child:

Toys, CDs and DVDs you'll want to add to your collection

by Daniel Sean Kaye

The world is filled with toys. Unfortunately, most of them don’t seem worth the price you pay for them. Kids lose interest right away (if they show any interest at all) and you end up with boxes overfilled with dozens, if not hundreds, of almost pristine, unplayed with pieces of plastic.

Part of the issue probably goes to the fact that most of these items are all flash and no substance. They may be tied to some super-hero, TV show, or film, and that marketing aspect was the last time anybody put any real thought into them. A boring toy with Spider-man or Dora’s face on it is still a boring toy.

Then there’s the issue of safety. Any item can be dangerous if used incorrectly. But sometimes I have to wonder what is going through the minds of developers that create a toy that is wildly complicated, has a billion small pieces, or breaks as soon as the child plays with it. Do these people have children? What kind of person creates a toy for a 2-year-old that doesn’t take into consideration how physical a 2-year-old can be?

As the editor of a parenting publication and the father of a 4-year-old, my world is full of toys—both beloved and discarded. Picking a toy that a child will love is a difficult task. Maybe your child likes music or art, science or sports. Well, within those subjects and many others lie countless choices. Every child is different and every child changes dramatically in terms of interests, intelligence, and attention span.

Even so, there are plenty of items I’ve come across that I think have real potential. Here are a few toys, CDs and other items that seem to stand the test of time in many households I know.

Scholastic DVDs — This DVD series is based on a book series, and is brought to life in a way that is unlike anything else you’ll find on the market. The stories are rendered in animation, live action, and direct reproductions of original artwork, read by the famous and the unfamous, against a background of a varying music. Most of the pieces pulled from the books verbatim, unlike many series out there that have taken more than a few liberties with the source material. There is a wide span of time from which the stories are taken, with much of the animation being done over the last few decades. That means your child will be exposed to a variety of techniques that have vanished in today’s computer-generated animation. Many of the DVDs have been warmly embraced in our house, watched countless times, and asked for by name. Others, however, have been met with uncomfortable silence. (Some of the older stories come off as a bit creepy or slapped together.) While “hit-and-miss,” overall they encompass a fairly strong series that shows your child the actual work and intent of the author, without any input from Hollywood producers or marketing execs.

Putamayo Kids — This series of CDs for children seems endless and extremely diverse. Taking the idea of “world music” to heart, these CDs offer samplings of every type of music you can imagine, but your child probably has never heard. From Celtic to folk, reggae to Hawaiian, blues to jazz, African to Latin, these upbeat and—dare I say it—joyous recording will really open your child’s ears. There are also holiday discs, lullabies, and foreign-language pieces to complete the set. While I believe children’s music has grown and become smart and intricate, these CDs set the bar. I haven’t heard one disc I didn’t think was worth purchasing.

EyeClops Bionic Eye by Jakks Pacific — There’s a reason why this item topped almost everyone’s holiday wish list (and why they are still hard to find in many stores). When the item is plugged into your TV, it magnifies whatever it is pointed at hundreds of times. This microscope/TV amalgam makes everything look cool and will immediately make your child (ages 6 and older) interested science without realizing it. Imagine being able to literally see the world in a whole new way. The most mundane item becomes incredibly interesting. In fact, when I saw it demonstrated at a toy store, not one kid, or parent, walked away until he or she had a chance to try it, or buy one.

Duplos by LEGO — What can I say… I’m a traditionalist when it comes to certain toys. We have Lincoln Logs, LEGOs, and Play-Doh in our house, but I can’t help but love Duplos. They’re big (meaning they’re not a choking hazard like the little plastic pieces of LEGOs), fit together well (unlike the sometimes inconsistent Lincoln Logs), and aren’t going to be permanent parts of the carpet (like Play-Doh). They also come apart easily when you want them to, which lets the child play by himself without needing Mom or Dad. Let your child create pirates, castles, fire departments, and more with these safe and fun building toys.

Spotz Creator Machine by Zizzle — Here’s an item that not only allows your child to be creative but requires a certain amount of creativity. Just pick an image you like and this product makes a button out of it. It’s like being able to manufacture your own accessories. They can go on clothing, around the room, on backpacks, or wherever else you would like. The item is low-tech and simple (which is nice) and can begin a whole new thing for children to collect – made by them, not some “idea guy.” There’s even an online community of traders now where kids can trade Spotz, get images and ideas for items to make, and meet the Spotz Girls. OK, so there is a little bit of modern marketing here, but you can’t stop every commercial aspect, can you?

As the weeks progress, www.SafeToys.com will be offering more terrific items for you and your kids. While no toy is perfect for every child, our hope is that we remind you of the great options out there. You don’t have to spend a lot of money on poorly make items that are merely crude plastic replicas of some character on TV. There are great companies out there creating entertaining, educational, and safe toys that will actually benefit your child.

Of course, we always welcome your suggestions, too! E-mail us at .