About Sweetmama Editor
Nadine Silverthorne’s love of journaling began in Grade One with the entry, “I am the greatest dancer!” Two babies (and countless diaper changes) later, she has found her home away from home as editor of SweetMama. Don’t miss her humorous bi-weekly accounts of the joys and pains of working while raising them fabulous.
Last year at this time, the world was dealing with the collapse of the American economy. Holiday retail sales hit a 30-year low in the U.S. While this year is happier in some aspects, I think many of us are still being frugal prudent and looking for great deals, but we don't want to skimp on our holiday shopping.
With prime gift buying season in session (Halloween is over. On your marks, get set, SHOP!) many of you want to know where to put your hard-earned dollars. Lucky for you, our Gift Guide is out today, giving you inspiration to get your lists started. But while I'm at it, here are my Top 5 Toy Trends for Holiday 2009.
1. Eco!
I think naysayers to the Green Revolution 2.0 thought that the economy would slow down growth in this sector. But moms are demanding safer, more durable toys and if they make us feel good about our children's future on this planet -- even better.
Less is more, as we learned last year. Better to spend $15 on a fabulous wooden car (with safe paints) that will last a lifetime, than the same on five cars that will end up in the landfill next year.
Vilac Mini Yellow Rally Car, $15. Available at www.babythoughts.ca
2. Open-Ended Toys
At a recent symposium hosted by Indigo!Kids, the main tip I walked away with was that open-ended toys are best for firing up the creativity in kids age 0-6 (prime brain-building time).
The Bilibo was the poster child for this (is it a seat? A sled? A helmet?), proving that bright, tactile things that let kids determine how they are used are boss (in the 80s meaning).
Bilibo Orange, $35. Available at www.chapters.indigo.ca
3. Girls Rule
While many moms I know have to just suck it up when it comes to their daughters' love of all things princess, the rest of us happily embrace that girly-girl side.
I have seen an influx of tutus, fashion designer-meets-business-savvy video games, and darling dolls even a mom would have a hard time saying no to. (Even Bratz have been reborn as the self-esteem-conscious Moxie Girlz, which I can't help but adore.)
Moxie Girlz, $15. Available at www.walmart.ca
4. Video Games
They are not going anywhere and contrary to what you might believe, moderate and supervised video game play is actually good for your kids. Used responsibly, they do get brain activity going and teach various skills from hand-eye-coordination to problem-solving and logic.
Plus with the wave of activity based games that the whole family can get in on (I'm looking at you Lego Rock Band!), the only thing you have to worry about is your game of choice being sold out.
Wii Lego Rock Band, $55. Available at www.toysrus.ca
5. Active Games
It's no secret that exercise is a key to good health, and getting kids started young is they key to good habits. Like I hinted at above, games that get you moving (the Wii being one of the biggest drivers of this trend) are big this year.
For those looking for something more directly kid-focussed, Leap Frog and VTech have a number of exercise-disguised-as-gaming products out there, notably Leap Frog's Zippity (which made our Gift Guide) and VTech's V.Smile Motion (which won an award from our friends at PTPA Media!).
V. Smile Motion, $70. Available at www.shop.vtechcanada.com
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CONTEST! For each week between now and Christmas, Walmart Canada stores nationwide will drop the price of 10 popular brand-name toys to $10. And to help you get the most bang for your buck, Walmart is offering one of our lucky readers a $100 gift card (you could get all 10 on-sale toys!). All you have to do to enter to win is leave a comment below telling me your tips for saving money this holiday season. (See complete rules here. The contest closes at midnight on Sunday, November 8, 2009.)