Classic Toys Create Lasting Childhood Memories (NAPSA)—Peter Pan may have said “I'll never grow up,” but in an age of cell phones, MP3 players and video games, it seems harder for kids to stay kids. In this hightech era, classic toys offer a “back to basics” approach to creative, imaginative play for children ofall ages and interests. “Tt’s still a thrill to receive your first train set, open the door to a new dollhouse or to build your first Lincoln Logs cabin,” says Sheliah Gilliland, spokesperson for leading national online toy retailer eToys.com. “Classic toys continually rank as popular gift choices for holidays, birthdays and other special occasions.” For example, the 95-piece Premium Beginner Art Kit from Faber-Castell makes a great gift for 3- to 5-year-olds. With colored pencils, crayons, pastels, paints and more, this kit keeps little hands busy creating lasting worksof art. The 200-piece Yukon Express Wood Train set, available exclusively at eToys.com, offers hours of imaginative play for kids who love things that go. Another favorite, the 52” Honey Brown Hugga Bear, provides unlimited hugs and gives kids a cozy lap for snuggling, napping or reading. Young animal lovers between the ages of 3 and 5 can saddle up on the Radio Flyer Liberty Spring Horse and pretend they’re riding the range. For older aspiring equestrians, the Large Wooden Horse Barn and Corral provides stables and training grounds for A popular Web site makesit easy to find classic toys that are great for today’s children. toy horses. For girls who delight in dolls, no gift says “you’re special” like the 23” personalized My Twinn doll, customized to look like your child using a photo you provide. Also popular for girls ages 6 to 12 is the Deluxe Victorian Dollhouse, which comes with 85 pieces of beautiful furniture and accessories. Kids with an interest in science can experience the natural world close-up with a lab-quality microscope from National Geographic. Designed for ages 9 to 12, it offers sharp viewing and comes with a completeset of slides, dishes, vials and more—all in a handy carrying case. “Children grow up, but classic toys stand the test of time, creating such fond memories that they will be passed down to future generations,” adds Gilliland. Finding terrific toys—classic and contemporary—for children of all ages is easy at eToys.com, where shoppers can search by gender, age and product popularity.
