A toy story

2020 choices include ‘Baby Yoda,’ unicorns, activity sets and puzzles

Kidizoom Creator Cam Kit

Name any toy that you have, and Stephanie Oppenheim probably will know it and have an opinion about it. Oppenheim has a kid’s dream job: She is a toy expert who tests and reviews toys. Each year, she comes out with a list of the must- have toys, games, dolls and activity kits. So there is no one better to let youngsters know what’s hot this year in toy land.

According to Oppenheim, puzzles have been making a comeback in the past couple of years — and the pandemic solidified their popularity this year.

“Everyone is very hungry for something that is very low-tech and doesn’t involve a screen. I think, more than ever, it’s just a nice way to spend time together,” Oppenheim says about puzzles, which usually have the highest ratings of the toys she tests and reviews.

Puzzles can be educational, but science- related toys have a more obvious connection to learning.

“Parents are very hungry for them and kids enjoy them,” Oppenheim says about science- related toys, such as experiment kits, which have also been a hit in recent years.

She is quick to add, however: “It has to be fun.

“I think that’s the best way to spark a child’s imagination and interest in science or math.”

Dolls make Oppenheim’s list every year.

While she has always made an effort to include gender- balanced options, Oppenheim has noticed that companies have been making more gender-neutral options.

“What we are always looking for are dolls and doll props that work for both boys and girls,” Oppenheim says. “I think we always had diverse choices, we always tried to reflect all of us.”

Every year, one animal turns up in toy stores everywhere. “The unicorn was the animal last year, but it’s continuing ... that definitely continues to be the animal of toy land for 2020,” Oppenheim says. So be on the lookout for toys decorated with the mythical creature.

Although Oppenheim acknowledges that the pandemic has slowed innovation in the toy industry, she is excited by what she sees and the toys she picked.

“There were still some really outstanding winners,” she says. “The list is very well-rounded, a lot of diversity.”

Check out some of Oppenheim’s best toy picks. (Prices are manufacturers’ suggestions in Canadian dollars.)

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