Oppenheim Toy Portfolio, 2001: The Best Toys, Books, Videos, Music and Software for Kids

by Joanne F. Oppenheim, Joan Auclair (Illustrator), James Oppenheim (Editor), Stephanie Oppenheim, James Oppenheim

Overview

This book takes the guesswork out of finding the best products for kids from infancy to age ten. Here are over 1,000 expert and kid-tested products that are guaranteed to entertain as well as educate. You will also find safety tips and a Basic Gear checklist for the best new and classic products your kids will love.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780966482362
Publisher:	Oppenheim Toy Portfolio, Incorporated
Publication date:	09/01/2000
Pages:	378
Product dimensions:	22.00(w) x 22.00(h) x 22.00(d)

Read an Excerpt

An Excerpt from the Introduction to Oppenheim Toy Portfolio 2001 Edition

What are the trends in Toyland?

• Calling George Jetson! Going to Toy Fair this year was almost like being on the Jetsons. We saw voice- and light-activated electronic dogs, dolls with download capability, and even dolls that promise to grow both "physically" and "emotionally" (we’re not kidding).
• High Tech Rules. It seems like virtually every toy (including Blue Chip classics) has been "enhanced" with more sounds, lights, and motion this year. As with most things, all of this new technology presents a mixed bag.
• Woof, Woof. This is clearly the year of the dog. We saw no fewer than six electronic voice-, light-, and motion-activated pooches. You can pick from a litter of plastic canines that sit, bark, and sing. While these may have great novelty appeal, we suspect they will not hold interest for long. Our preferences this year were some non-electronic but very huggable plush pooches.

  On the Up Side:

• Fewer Gross Toys. Thankfully, grossness is no longer a major marketing theme in Toyland. That said, we still found a few notable examples: a Graveyard Digger remote control vehicle (more tasteless than gross); Muppets with metal chains that kids are supposed to yank to make the doll’s head pull back and sing (more cruel than gross); and Dr. Dreadful’s Mutant Munchie Lab where kids create "foaming alien brains" and "edible radioactive skin." Yuk.
• Gender-Free Choices. While there is an unfortunate renewed trend to color-coded toys, we found many positive choices for our Gender-Free list. Non-licensed action heroes (Bendos from Kid Galaxy) are a refreshing alternative, as are costumes that will appeal to both boys and girls. We applaud Barbie’s more active roles as a Champion Swimmer and in-line Skater. We also found plenty of games, puzzles, and craft kits that will appeal to both boys and girls.
• Creativity Explosion for the Computer. One of the best trends in technology this year is the equipment designed for kids that can be used for desktop publishing projects, movies, and web designs. What had been a grown-ups-only market is now priced to include more family-friendly scanners, digital cameras, sound players, and movie-making studios.
• The Magic Number Continues. Manufacturers keep finding new ways of getting down to the magic price of $19.99. On the whole, this means you’ll find more choices for less, but you may also find that you need to do more assembling of the simplest toys.

  On the Down Side:

• Toy-2-Toy Communication.Now we are usually big proponents of communication of any kind, but we question the need for toys to speak to each other. This year we found dogs, dolls, and even Tonka trucks that have this ability. Once you get past the technological wonder of it all, several problems come to mind. These toys talk to other toys, not your child. You’ll need to buy two. This is interactive play redefined!
• Louder & More Intrusive. When we are asked about what stands out this year, NOISE comes to mind. Too much noise, to be more precise. We’re sound-loving folk, but the parade of toys that have come in this year is just over the top.
• Pretend No More. While toy makers have been very creative with the use of technology this year, the end result often leaves fewer creative opportunities for your child. For example, Little Tikes’ new fire truck has simulated fire, and its racing car set tells your child in which order to put on the wheels (there is no choice). This year there are more kitchens that talk, and playhouses that tell you when to open the windows. Fisher-Price’s Let’s Pretend Elmo has our furry red friend pretending to be a plane, monster, baby, and even a train. The problem from our point of view is that these toys with adult-made agendas leave less pretending for your child. It changes a child’s expectations from "What can I do with this toy?" to "What can this toy do?" This is really a dummying down of toys, where toymakers don’t seem to trust that kids can make their own varooms, moos, or whaaa sounds!
• Dolls ready for Oprah. More toys than ever are said to have "emotions" and "feelings." Emotional content of play is valid -- but that’s supposed to be the child’s emotions, not the toy’s. Can inanimate objects have feelings? Ah, there lies the rub -- so many of the new toys are no longer inanimate. They move unpredictably -- coming to life when a light is turned on or when spoken to. For very young children, that magical quality confounds their still unsettled notion of what is real vs. what is make-believe.
• Computerized Motherhood. Don’t bother looking, now you go on line to find out the sex of your babydoll. There are also online parenting experts waiting to answer your child’s question. One doll even promises to grow three inches, going from crawling to walking within the first 15 hours of play! Should your three year old really need a computer to play with her babydoll?
• Putting the Spin on Mozart. Last year’s award-winning Music Blocks from Neurosmith brought Mozart to Toyland with great quality. This year there are toys playing classical music everywhere. Unfortunately, most of it is tinny.
• Age labels continue to be extremely misleading. Age ranges are marked as broadly as possible to reach the largest audience. Toys marked "not for children under 3" signal that there are small parts. We urge you to follow this guideline, but that is just one aspect of what makes a product age-appropriate. Toys marked for babies designed to teach them numbers, letters, and even spelling are obviously misguided. How about letting them learn to talk first?

©2000 Oppenheim Toy Portfolio, Inc. Oppenheim Toy Portfolio 2001 Edition reviews the best toys, books, videos, music and software for kids 0-10. Visit their website at www.toyportfolio.com

Table of Contents

	Introduction	vix
I	Toys
1	Infants: Birth to One Year	1
	The Horizontal Infant
	Crib Toys
	Equipment for Playtime
	First Lap & Floor Toys
	The Vertical Infant
	Rattles & Teethers
	Floor Toys
	First Toys for Crawlers
	Tub Time
	First Huggables
	Best Travel Toys for Infants
	Toddlers-in-Training Toys
	Best New Baby/Shower Gifts
	Best New Baby/Shower Gifts
	Looking Ahead: Best First Birthday Gifts for Every Budget
2	Toddlers: One to Two Years	31
	Active Physical Play
	Strictly Outdoors
	Sit-Down Play
	First Construction Toys
	First Stacking, Nesting, and Shape-Sorter Toys
	Pretend Play
	Art and Music
	Bath Toys
	Basic Furniture
	Best Travel Toys for Toddlers
	Best Second Birthday Gifts for Every Budget
3	Preschool: Three to Four Years	67
	Pretend Play
	First Trains and Track Toys
	Construction Toys
	Early Games
	Puzzles
	Science Toys and Activities
	Active Physical Play
	Art Supplies
	Music and Movement
	Preschool Furniture Basics
	Best Travel Toys
	Best Third and Fourth Birthday Gifts for Every Budget
4	Early School Years: Five to Ten Years	109
	Pretend Play
	Dolls
	Electric Train Sets
	Racing Car & Track Sets
	Remote Control Cars & Other Vehicles
	Construction Toys
	Games
	Puzzles
	Activity Kits & Art Supplies
	Musical Instruments
	Active Play
	Science Toys & Equipment
	Best Travel Toys & Games
	Best Birthday Gifts for Every Budget
II	Books	147
	Babies and Young Toddlers
	Older Toddlers
	Preschool Books for Threes and Fours
	Early School-Age Children
	Read-Aloud Chapter Books
	Resource/Activity Books
	Coping with Life's Ups and Downs: Books for Mixed Ages
	Holiday Books
	Reference Books for Mixed Ages
III	Videos	197
	Music and Activities
	Picturebook Videos
	Story Videos for Early School Years
	Feature-Length Films
	Information, Please
	Coping With Real Life
	Science & Ecology
	Holidays
	Noteworthy Catalogs
	Noteworthy Websites
IV	Audio: Great Music & Stories	219
	Music
	Stories: Audio/Book Sets
	Audio & Electronic Equipment
	Online Resources
V	Computer Software/CD-ROM	231
	Trends
	Software for Younger Users
	Thought-Provoking Programs
	Sports
	Robotics
	Creativity Software
	The Three Rs
	Reference Titles
	On-Line Reference Sources
	Software for the Whole Family
VI	Using Ordinary Toys for Kids with Special Needs	253
	Infants and Toddlers
	Preschool and Early School Years
	Construction Toys
	Pretend Play
	Art Supplies
	Big Muscles/Physical Play
	Books
	Audio
	Resources
	Top-Rated Mail-Order Catalogs/On-Line Sites	287
	Safety Guidelines	289
	Index	294

Editorial Reviews

Stuck between giant dump trucks, dolls that chatter to each other, and Dr. Seuss? Oppenheim Toy Portfolio, the popular annual guide to children's toys, books, and other products, separates the junk from the genuine, recommending hundreds of new and classic kids' stuff that will keep kids happy and parents stress-free throughout the year.

bn.com

Put away the aspirin, because…The Best Toys, Books, & Videos for kids…should make your toy-buying decisions smart and easy.

Houston Post

Sweat and fret no longer! The Best Toys, Books, & Videos for Kids…takes the guesswork out of shopping for children's gifts.

Big Apple Parent