Top Toy Trends (NAPSA)—This holiday season, toys offering enhanced play and price value will top kids’ and parents’ wishlists: Exercise toys challenge kids to stay physically active by getting them to run, dance or even go on a scavenger hunt. Electronic high-tech toys such as TV plug-and-play systems and handheld games are hot choices for young digital natives again this year. The expertsat the Toy Industry Association offer five shopping tips: 1. Look for and follow the age grading on toy packages designed to keep small parts away from children under 3. 2. Look for toys and gamesthat offer skill-leveling and grow-with-me features. 3. Shop early and pre-shop online for special deals and to get the toys you want. 4. Shop from retailer you know and trust. 5. Look for special anniversary editions from tried and true brands (Barbie turns 50, G.. Joe 45,etc.). @Q E-connected (Web-related) toys such as “Dora’s Explorer Girls,” “Club Penguin,” “Neopets” and “Tamagotchi” extend playtime and interests by combining physi- cal toys with an online or virtual world component. Entertainment toys and games such as “Star Wars,” “Toy Story,” “Disney Princesses,” “Twilight,” “Bakugan” and “Ben 10” are exciting kids of all ages by blending playtime with favorite characters from television, movies and books. Free downloadable gift guides, toy industry picks for this year’s top toys, advice on how to pick the right gifts for children of various ages, helpful play tips for kids and families, discussion boards and more can be found at www.toyinfo.org.
