About Barney Dolls

Barney is not your ordinary T-rex. He is supposedly 200-million years old, but still young enough to hug. Just ask any little Barney fan. He can be one of your child's best friends, as he encourages sharing and caring, imagining and thinking, dancing and playing. Barney shows up on toy shelves, in books, on TV, on DVD, and in the movies, inviting children to explore, discover and learn.

History

Dolls had talked for years, but it took Microsoft to create a talking peripheral for a computer in 1997. Friendly, huggable Barney was a little wriggly, talky toy who could react to a child's squeeze or touch.The original Barney could sing 17 songs if you squeezed his left foot. Or just one song if you squeezed the right. Cover his eyes and he played peek a boo. He even sang a "clean-up" song. Barney has only grown smarter and more versatile over the years.

Types

If you are shopping for a little friend who wants a Barney toy, you have a lot of choices. From Barney hand puppets to plush, stuffed Barney dolls, to Play-Doh Barney, you can find just the right Barney for any child. Barney dolls start as low as $5 and go up to about $25 for some of the plush toys. The book and toy sets start at only $6. But the big 36-inch tall, plush Barney ranges from $72.99 to $80 or more. So be sure to do your homework when you buy Barney toys, and you will find you can save money.

Identification

Barney is wildly popular with his little fans, and also with his friends Baby Bop, a baby Triceratops, and her brother B.J. Have the child who is on your gift list identify her favorite characters, and you will probably find out which ones she wants the most. Within the toys available for each character, there are many choices, too. For instance, there is an electronic Draw and Giggle Barney, a singing "I love you" Barney and more. Also, be sure to identify the correct age for each toy. There are Barney toys just for babies, mid-size for toddlers to hug, and big ones for older children.

Significance

Barney is not just a toy, you know. He is the star of DVDs, CDs, books, movies and puppet shows. He can be molded out of clay, baked as a Colorform, joined in the tub and taken to bed. As you can imagine he can be pretty significant in a child's life. So find out as much about him as you can. Before you buy, you'll want to read a review of any Barney toy you're considering. See the Resources section below for links.

Warning

Beware of counterfeits. Yes, there are other purple dinosaurs, but they are not Barney. Your child, grandchild or little friend can no doubt spot a fake Barney right away, and will not be happy with a Barney-wanna-be. Also, she probably has Barney dolls, toys or books already. That does not mean the child is not interested in more Barney gifts, however. It just means you don't want to duplicate what she already has.

Resources

• All about Barney
• Barney price comparisons
• Bathtime Barney toy review