Let’s face it. Toys are cooler now than they ever were when we were kids. Some of it is the fact that trendy designers have gotten into the toymaking game in recent years; some of it is just the advancement of technology—even toddlers have their own computer programs now. However it happened, now you have the opportunity to woo the kids in your life with not only the classics of your own childhood (yes, the EZ-Bake oven is back!) but with a whole new generation of gorgeous, enviable toys. Sure, the ecstatic squeals and hugs you get in return are technically just cupboard love, but if you make them very, very happy…maybe they’ll let you play with their new toys.
One of my favorites: The Rody, an inflatable bouncy toy in the shape of a donkey. Designed to help kids (3 and up) with coordination and balance, it comes in seven great colors, all with the same loopy grin. $39.50
For an animal toy that doubles as furniture, there’s the sturdy foam Elna the Elephant from the Scandinavian Design Center. She’s a chair, something to climb on, and—flipped upside down—a cool rocking horse elephant. $120
Riding toys don’t travel well, but Trunki does. This genius contraption is a child’s suitcase on wheels. With anti-tip bumpers and “horns” to hold for balance, it allows you to tow your child through the airport (helping immensely with “carry me” requests from the post-stroller set), or (if you can persuade her) let your kid pull her own suitcase. £24 for Brits, or check here for a list of international sources.
You probably remember some of the dollhouses of your childhood. They’re all cool, but back in the day, they were mostly pretty uninspired gingerbread Victorians. Not so with the Holiday Home, a sexy modernist dollhouse that will make you jealous of the tiny little people (included) who live in it. Also included in the deal are the adorable Dwell Magazine-esque furnishings. $79.95
Of course, toys don’t have to be this complicated, or expensive (as anyone who’s suffered through putting together some hellishly complicated toy, only to find the kid more interested in the $&*@#$ing box, well knows). May we suggest, though, that it never hurts for the toy to be noisy? Like this maraca with a frog on it. Brightly colored, satisfyingly loud, and only $11.
Another budget-friendly choice: the Pin Art toy, one of those all-ages-friendly toys that absolutely everyone wants to touch. $21.50
The natural-wood, organic-emphasis toy is very big right now, but also very hard to find inexpensively. So a third budget-friendly option is this fruit-and-vegetables set. The wooden “knife” cuts the Velcro-joined veggies and fruits with an authoritative crunch for some nice realism when the kiddo “helps” with dinner. $16
Not exactly inexpensive, but a nice compromise between modernist cool and a realist’s pocketbook, the A9 Compact Automoblox disassembles all the way down to the rims in child-friendly block chunks. Its look is based on the adorable gas-sipping compact cars of Europe. Different accessories and other car models are swappable for customizing, and yes, you can get the cars in pink. $35
If you think the sleek modernist stuff is a little cold, you should know that handmade-looking plush toys are just as hot right now. They’re eccentric and charming and a far cry from the generic Gund animals of my childhood. Take Mr. McTweed here, hand-pieced from recycled wool. He is one of the many charming and unique animals available from Chet and Dot. $38
Let’s turn, last but not least, to someplace to put all these gorgeous toys, because a few of them look like they’d be distinctively uncomfortable to step on in the middle of the night. The Fuji Toybox is both a beautiful piece of furniture, and, with its cubbyholes and wheels, guaranteed to be attractive to children. $420
Want a similar look for less? The KidKraft toybox is solid beechwood, has similar lines, and looks to have a little more capacity. Best of all, it’s only $84.95. |
Eva Foster |
| About the author: |
| Eva Foster is a Ph.D. student by day, but retires at night to her underwater laboratory to produce photography, freelance writing, crafts, and death rays. She publishes The Windowshoppist . |
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