Toys

Anyone can make toys that last a lifetime and inspire a child's imagination. All you need is wood. Making a toy gives a child a plaything you crafted with your own hands. Ever treasured...

A zhu zhu pet is a fake hamster toy. Zhu zhu pets are adored by little girls who like having a pet hamster that doesn't shed or need to have its cage cleaned. Unfortunately finding a zhu zhu pet...

The giga ball is a giant, inflatable sphere that kids can crawl inside of and roll around in. This toy can be used indoors and outdoors, but should not be used by a pool or body of water, because...

Toy storage in this day and age can be difficult, especially if your child's room is small. Large toy chests and containers placed on the floor takes up valuable play space. Also, toy chests with...

Fun in the sun often leads to a yard full of pool toys baking in the heat and creating an eyesore. Garage trunks or shed toy bins don't work well because wet toys drip water and cause rust or...

At any age, toy cars are a joy for boys and sometimes even girls. Whether it's a fond memory from childhood or a collector's hobby, toy cars can be unique and a great display of dedication....

Many children's toys are made of the same material used for car dashboards and shower curtains: polyvinyl chloride or PVC. PVC gives off a characteristic smell due to the toxic chemicals that are...

Though you may have your own store-bought toy boat, sometimes those just aren't as fun as making your own. Making a toy boat with your child is a great activity, and she will have a blast playing...

Plastic is a very popular material to use in toys of all types. It is easily formed and can be cast in a variety of colors, and most forms are non-toxic. As plastics age, they must be kept clean...

Matchbox Toy Cars are die-cast toys originally created by the British toy company Lesney Products. As of 2009, Matchbox was owned by Mattel. A 1948 version of the road roller was the first toy car...

Have you ever wanted a Happy Meal toy, without the Happy Meal? You might want to save yourself the embarrassment of ordering a Happy Meal for yourself, or maybe you just don't want the extra food....

During the 1970s, many fads popped in and out of the cultural mindset of Americans. From clothes to movies to toys, plenty of things were here today, gone tomorrow, only to pop up again decades...

Invented in 1914 by Charles Pajeau and Robert Petit, Tinkertoys are an iconic American toy that will keep you entertained for hours. The simplicity of Tinkertoy parts (mainly sticks that connect...

Remote control (RC) toy vehicles come in many variations. There are remote-control toy helicopters, boats, motorcycles, cars and trucks. Both children and adults enjoy playing with, racing,...

Creating plastic toys, whether for commercial purposes or your own craft projects, can be done effectively at home using a combination of basic art materials and professional model-making...

Plastic army men are a favorite toy of young children and adults alike. They can be used to recreate battles, play out miniature warfare scenarios and set the scene for dioramas of historical...

Whether you are feeling the recession or not, there are many ways to cut back and save money, even with a family. Start being a frugal parent today with these helpful tips:

Stuffed animals seem to have a way of multiplying and growing to unmanageable numbers over time. Many children own extensive collections of stuffed animals that they enjoy and refuse to part with....

The hula hoop is a large plastic ring with a rigid construction that is twirled around the waist or other parts of the body as a form of exercise or play. Hula hoops became a worldwide fad when...

Mattel's Doodle Pro Color is a dry-erase board toy for children who love to draw. The toy is designed for younger children who are in preschool or early elementary school and offers a wipe-off...

Commonly known as the second oldest toy in the world (dolls are first), the yo-yo has a long history that some say dates back to early China. This stress-relieving toy has provided inexpensive...

An RC toy uses radio waves being sent from a controller to motors in the RC toy. Problems can occur because there are so many moving parts as well as electronic parts all working together....

RC (radio-controlled) toys communicate from the controller to the toy by invisible radio waves. An airport also uses radio waves for communication, and this can disrupt the signal going from the...

Since its introduction in 1950, Silly Putty has taken a place beside the Hula Hoop and the Slinky as an iconic toy. The familiar egg container filled with stretchy, bouncy pink stuff has charmed...

The Honey Bee King 2 is a realistic toy helicopter that simulates the flight of an actual sized helicopter. The Honey Bee King 2 comes bundled with a controller with many dials and switches. For...

Chances are good that you either had a Spirograph in your childhood, or you enjoyed playing with a friend's toy. The Spirograph has been around since the 1960s and still is popular today. This...

Children love their little cars, but sometimes they eventually become bored with the same old toys. Here's a way to spruce up that tired old Hot Wheels or Matchbox car. You can quickly and easily...

Kids have a lot of fun driving their electric cars around the backyard. With the many models available there is sure to be one that your child falls in love with and practically drives the wheels...

The Blade CX2 is a remote-controlled toy helicopter designed and manufactured by the E-flite toy company in 2005. It is aimed at amateur remote control enthusiasts who want an alternative to the...

Tamagotchi are an electronic pet simulation toy released by Bandai, Inc. that allows you to raise a small creature from egg to adult. As the creature's owner you are responsible for its feeding,...

The Etch A Sketch, a popular children's toy since 1960, creates drawings in a sealed object by turning knobs on the toy. As the knobs turn, a powdery substance creates lines and curves inside the toy.

Silly Putty is a popular childhood toy that has been around for the last several decades. Silly Putty is essentially a gum-like substance sold in a small wad encased in a plastic egg. It is known...

Bunny rabbits make great pets. A rabbit's small size and soft fur can delight even the most timid child. Caring for a bunny means attending to all the rabbit's needs. This includes the rabbit's...

Webkinz is a dynamic toy concept that combines plush toys with an interactive world where children are able to care for their new pets, interact with other kids in a safe online community and play...

Kids and collectors alike prize the Optimus Prime figure from the Transformers toyline, making it a popular and sometimes expensive item. Just about every year a new version of the Autobot leader...

Leapster by LeapFrog and V-Smile by V-Tech are two learning products marketed to preschool-aged children. These learning tools help young children improve different skills, such as reading and...

The Ty Inc. Company released its first versions of the adorable Beanie Babies in 1993, and by 1997 there were 78 different Beanies available; they set off a craze that no one could have predicted....

Hula hooping is an inexpensive way to tone up, burn calories and relieve stress. No longer reserved for young children, hula hooping has become a popular method of exercise and recreation for adults.

Try making one of these toy sailboats with your child to spark their curiosity about mother nature and engineering. They’re free and easy to make and provide a wonderful opportunity for them to...

You'll learn how to make a bridle for a toy horse. Real sized or a model.

Hot Wheels cars are a favorite among kids and collectors. From time to time, Hot Wheels puts together unique carrying case packages that come filled with cars and accessories. You may also be...

I was reading Parenting magazine the other day and came across a featured toy that I thought looked pretty cool, The Monster Toss. This toy can help children with fine motor skills and can be...

Preserving and organizing your child's Hot Wheels collection is easier with Hot Wheels cases. Cases made by the Hot Wheels company contain perfectly sized slots for your Hot Wheels cars and seal...

Beanie Babies were launched in the early 1990s, and a number of different designs were available during the decade. During this period, various stuffed animals became very popular and rose in...

The Barbie doll is a favorite toy for young girls and a collector's item for adults. The doll was created by Ruth Handler and was unveiled at the 1959 Toy Fair.

A 1-year-old boy is full of curiosity. Bright colors and noises are fascinating at this young age. He is developing hand and eye coordination skills, so look for educational toys as well as toys...

Friction toys, a class of toys both antique and collectible and modern and disposable, are driven by springs. The power needed to drive the toy is gathered in the spring and released in a variety...

William Gruber and Harold Graves invented the View-Master in 1939. They designed it so people could enjoy pictures of exotic locations, but over the years it came to be regarded as a toy for...

Evenflo's ExerSaucer is a toy designed to create wonder and inspire imagination in the eyes of your baby. The ExerSaucer gets its name from the round, saucer shape form, and from the exercise the...

Need a cool place to keep your child's toys? You can make a really neat toy box with a chalkboard top, not only is it inexpensive, it is also a great project for you and your little one.