With so many toys on the market, it can be hard to choose something unique that your kids will like, and not toss aside the next day. That’s why we’re leaving it to the experts. We’ve contacted some wonderful toy stores in the NY area to find out which toys are their favorites this season.
Toyriffic2
1581 Route 202, Pomona
Toyriffic2 in Rockland County is all about Zeebeez. These topsy-turvy rubber pop toys flip inside out and fly up to six feet high. Catch them on the way down. They come in a variety of designs and colors making them fun to collect. The best part? They’re just $5 each. Yaakov Miller, owner of Toyriffic2, told us, “Every parent, after trying out the Zeebeez, automatically says [it’s] cool… and then I watch them try to catch [it in] the air.”
Learning Express UES
1029 Third Ave.
PlushCraft is the gift of choice from Learning Express. PlushCraft is a fun, no-mess craft. Kids match colored fabric to numbers and can create pillows, purses, and more without sewing. Marketing Manager for Learning Express Toys, Becki Harrington-Davis added, “The 3D Koala and Reindeer Ornament PlushCraft are exclusive to Learning Express Toys!” Prices range from $7.99-$16.99.
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Kaleidoscope
8722 Third Ave., Fort Hamilton/Bay Ridge
Brooklyn’s Kaleidoscope recommends the Synth Kit by littleBits. It’s an easy-to-use synthesizer that let’s your budding musician rock out. It connects to speakers, computers, and headphones and with any instrument that has a jack for an amplifier. Price is $159.
Fantasma Toys
421 Seventh Ave., Herald Sq.
If your child is into magic, Manhattan’s Fantasma Toys recommends the Ultimate Legends of Magic Set. For about $85, you get over 250 tricks to learn, an instructional DVD, a table to perform tricks, and a bonus DVD of some of the greatest magicians in action. “Fantasma Magic has been proven to improve a child’s hand eye coordination, improve public speaking and build self-confidence,” Roger Dreyer, CEO of Fantasma Magic, said. Your child will love the expressions on family members’ faces!
Kidding Around
60 W. 15th St., Union Sq.
Kidding Around isn’t kidding around when it comes to great gifts. This shop loves Magna-Tiles this season. They are plastic, colorful shapes with magnets for building incredible structures. Magna-Tiles are a good way to encourage play, engineering and math. $120 for a set of 100.
Not Just Art
183 South St., Oyster Bay
Not Just Art picks Keva Planks. These planks are great for problem solving, design, and engineering challenges. Kids can create buildings, monuments, and geometric forms. They are also a tool for collaborative play. The Keva Maple 200 set goes for $89.95. Eva from the shop also notes, “We offer art, science and music classes for children and in our shop we sell art supplies/kits, instruments, science and building toys, puzzles, games and imaginative pre-school toys.”
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