The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Top toys for play time
Picks include Baby Yoda, unicorns, activity sets and puzzles.
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 i s 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.
According to Oppenheim, puzzles have been making a comeback in the past couple of years – and the coronavirus pandemic solidified their popularity this year. “Everyone is very hungry for something that is very lowtech 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 sc i ence- related t oys have a more obvious connection to learning.
“Parents are very hungry for t hem, and ki ds enjoy t hem,” Oppenheim says about sciencerelated 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 genderbalanced 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 t hink 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 t hat t he pandemic has sl owed i nnovation i n t he t oy 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.)
Deep Space Rocket Launch
L e go, $ 9 9. 9 9. A ge s 7 a n d older.
Standing 16 inches tall, this NASA- i nspired rocket- l aunch model will put you in the center of space travel excitement. With 800- plus pieces, building the set will make you feel like a NASA engineer.
Snip! Snap!
Blue Orange, $ 13.99. Ages 7 and older.
Snip! Snap! Be fast! In this game, two to six players roll their dice and hope for images that match. Call out your matches the fastest, and you win.
American Girl Courtney
American Girl, $ 110. Ages 8 to 12.
Courtney is the new American Girl historical doll, and in case the scrunchie doesn't make it obvious, she is from the 1980s. She loves music videos and the arcade game Pac- Man. She comes with a denim skirt, a bright- blue crop top and, of course, her own story.
Kid Activist doll
Lottie, $ 24.99. Ages 6 to 10. L o t t i e 's Ki d Ac t i v i s t i s inspired by real- life kid activi s t Mari Copeny of Fli nt , Michigan. The seven- inchtall posable doll comes with a sign declaring “Kids' Voices Matter” and a pin on her jacket that reads, “Stand Up.”
Qwixx Card Game
Gamewright, $ 11.99. Ages 8 and older.
This is a card- based version of the popular Qwixx dice game. It's for two to four players and involves playing numbered color cards in a sequence and crossing offff the related numbers on the score pads. Crossed- offff numbers earn points, and t he player with t he most points wins.
Magical Mixing
Creativity for Kids, $ 19.99. Ages 6 to 12.
Create substances that fifizz or ooze with this science kit. Ingredients and tools for 11 experiments allow for hours of science fun.
Positivity Round Puzzle
eeboo, $ 21.99. Ages 1 0 and older.
With everybody at home more often than they used to be, puzzles are all the rage. This 500- piece puzzle won't disappoint. Its round shape makes it distinctive, and its bright colors make the fifififififinished product beautiful to look at.
Star Wars ‘ The Child’ plush
Mattel, $ 12.99. Ages 3 and older.
Fans of the Disney Plus series “The Mandalorian” will love this straight- fromt he - s c r e e n “Chi l d” dol l . Also known as Baby Yoda, this soft and cute eight- inch doll also comes in an 11- inch plush version for $ 24.99 and a sounds- and- motion version for $ 59.99.
Kidizoom Creator Cam Kit
Vtech, $ 59.99. Ages 5 to 10.
This cam kit comes with a camera, a tripod ( which can also be used as a selfifie stick) and a green screen. More than 20 backgrounds are included, along with the abilit y to edit on the camera. This cam kit is perfect for creating movie magic.
# Hatnothate Quick
Knit Loom
Creativity for Kids, $ 24.99. Ages 7 and older.
Creativit y for Kids partnered with the anti- bullying campaign # HATNOTHATE to produce this blue- hat- making kit – the color blue representing solidarity and support of bullying prevention. Yarn for two hats is included, and the loom can be used repeatedly.