from smaller kits. New for this
holiday season are the "Wedding"
kits, featuring a bride and groom
in a carriage pulled by two white
horses and a reception scene with
a wedding cake and guests.
Designed in Sweden, Brio is a
system of trains and tracks that
can be as simple as a small oval
and three cars or as elaborate as
hundreds of interconnecting pieces
forming a track that curves and
bends and is dotted with bridges,
tunnels, houses, boats, cranes, and
turntables. Starter sets are about
$25 and they can be added to as a
child's skill increases.
With art skills increasing, chil-
dren are into crayon kits and
paints. Nickelodeon Floam, a
gummy substance made from tiny
styrofoam bubbles that comes in
six colors, is a best seller. It can be
molded, stretched, and even

very much influenced by
their peers.
Games, especially
ones geared to both chil-
dren and adults, are
popular. Ravensburger
makes the Amazing
Labyrinth and Master
Labyrinth, which in-
volve mastering mazes
in search of treasure.
Other games include
Othello; Jenga, the
stacking game; Stratego;
Battleship; Scatter-
gories; Make 7, an ad-
vanced version of the
vertical checker game
Connect 4; Monopoly
and Clue.
Milton Bradley has
two new mystery games
—13 Dead End Drive
and Crack the Case. On
the best seller list from
Playthings magazine is
Magic The Gathering, a
new role-playing card
game from the West
Coast.
One of the best selling
items at Adventures in
Toys in Birmingham is
GeoSafari Electronic
Quiz Game says owner
Michelle Littman. The
basic game unit ($100)
includes 20 lesson cards
on maps, states, natur-
al resources and world
landmarks. New lessons
kits ($15) on exploring
science and U.S. history
are available.
Also intriguing to this
age
group are micro-
around
for
years
are
Mattel's
Hot
from
companies
like
Curiosity
Kits
bounced.
Wheels, 1164th scale cars and scopes, collection kits and chem-
Can't leave this group without and Creativity for Kids.
Intellectually, boys and girls in trucks. This year's offering is the istry sets. Other possible gifts
mentioning Barbie, a doll that con-
tinues to be the top selling toy ac- this age group are practicing lan- Top Speed Ultra Pipe Fight Set include sports equipment, art sup-
cording to the TMA. Three are guage, reasoning and strategy ($28), which includes a tubular plies, bikes, tape recorders and
making news for the holidays: skills. They have developed a track. Top Speed Pipejammers, tapes, model kits, and video
1994 Happy Holidays Barbie sense of values and have an un- the newest version of Hot Wheels, games—two best sellers are Super
($30); 35th Anniversary Nostal- derstanding of sharing, honesty race and spin out in the tube. The Street Fighter II and Sonic II.
Other gift ideas include special
gic Barbie ($27); and Dr. Barbie and playing by the rules. Games hottest collectible toys on the mass
like Ravensburger's Crossed market, though, are the Mighty treats like a week at a sports
($17).
Wires is a popular choice. Morphin Power Rangers ($6-$14), camp or ballet lessons - experi-
"Ravensburger has always been action figures based on the TV ences that feed the interests of the
Six to Nine Years:
child. Tickets to special events are
able to target age very well," says show.
Improving Skills
extra nice because the giftgiver
Margie Mellen, owner of Marmel
gets to go along. At this age, in-
Children are getting more and in Farmington Hills. "And the Nine to Twelve Years:
clude an extra ticket and let the
more into interactive play that is company makes great games for Peer Pressure
child invite a friend suggests Dr.
usually gender based. Likes and children."
Children in this group are Webster.
dislikes in toys are often influ-
Beside games, 6 to 9-year-olds
For more information on buying
enced by peer groups. Physical are also interested in collecting "fairly sophisticated," says Dr.
coordination is maturing. Bikes everything from Barbie dolls Webster. "Many have serious safe and developmentally appro-
and athletic equipment are re- to baseball cards. "Organization interests in sports, music, hobbies priate toys, call the TMA at 1-800-
quested as gifts. Children are in- is part of the fun," adds Dr. and crafts." But, while individual 851-9955 for a free booklet titled
interests and abilities are being `The Toy Manufacturers of Amer-
terested in making or creating Webster.
things using materials and ideas
Collectible toys that have been developed, these pre-teens are ica Guide to Toys and Play. ❑

