Go Shopping For Toys To Get The Perfect Future Kid's Name!
Just because Toys"R"Us is gone doesn't mean toy shopping has to end. There's other speciality stores as well as a whole world of online shopping that can still support our toy shopping habits. There's new stuff coming out all the time, after all. Toys aren't just for kids but they're definitely the type of person we think about first when toys come to mind.
Toys have actually come pretty far from when we were kids - the baby dolls look a more realistic now and a little less unsettling. Nerf darts are still thriving, apparently. We bet parents everywhere are still having fun digging them out from under the couch and off the rooftops. Digital pets are still a thing believe it or not - probably since parents don't want to get a real fur baby. Speaking of that, maybe being a parent isn't so far off in the future. And being a parent means having to deal with Legos and dolls and other toys - maybe more than any person should.
Got kids on the mind because of all this toy talk? Plan ahead for the future - shop around for some toys in this quiz and we'll reveal what to name them.
Tamagotchi
Surprise surprise, our little egg friends are still around. While they weren't quite like a real dog or cat, they were the next best thing back in the day and even now, in some places. Having to clean up after a digital creature and discipline it doesn't sound so fun objectively, but there's something oddly addicting about them. The mini games that come with it probably help!
Toy cellphone
A little more budget friendly than an actual phone and about 10 times less easy to smash into bits than a real phone. It's too big to accidentally eat and also has the bonus of not running you hundreds in texting and calling fees a month! What's not to like about toy cellphones?
20Q
This little handheld device tries to guess what you're thinking of within 20 questions. Of course, what you think of has to actually be a solid concept. Something like a book or a chair or a giraffe. Really, this can be something fun for both you and your kid to play together that's not too expensive.
Tsum tsums
These are little stuffed Disney and Pixar characters! Soft and cylinder shaped, it's easier than you think to start collecting and stacking these adorable plushies. No sharp edges and being soft means they're great for young kids. They're so cute that you might even want to start collecting them yourself.
Teddy bear
Here's a classic toy that's lasted for generations - teddy bears. Whether you like them especially fuzzy, soft, squishy or firm, there's a way to get a bear that's just right for you or your kid. You can even record messages that will play when someone squeezes the bear. Isn't that absolutely lovely?
Beanie babies
An adorable variety of stuffed animals? Check. Good resale value? Not so much. Beanie babies have been around since we were kids and probably for good reason - they're cute and charming in design. Best of all they don't take up much space, so they're a good toy choice for your kids.
IKEA soft toys
IKEA doesn't just handle furniture - it also has a bunch of soft toys that would make for a great collection for your kid to play with or a good collection to display around the house. If you're not so much mammal-inclined, don't worry - they have stuffed sharks for the sea lovers.
Bop it
A guaranteed couple of minutes of keeping your child relatively quiet and entertained. Also a good party game for your kid's birthday party. Portable enough to bring with you in the car too, so it's a great multi-use toy to get for your kids.
Nintendo switch
A little pricy but it'll be years of entertainment for the whole family. You don't even have to be at home to use it - you can play it on the go. It sounds like a great system to bring on those long road trips where your kids ask every 5 minutes if you're there yet. New games come out each year and there's a wide range of games suitable for any age - sounds like a good investment.
Stuffed alpacas
What's almost as cute as real life alpacas? Stuffed alpacas! There's specific brands like Alpacasso, but most of these stuffed alpacas are as soft as they are adorable. They come in just about any colour you could ever want and there's even little clothes you can buy to dress them up in! Isn't that just adorable?
Jump rope
Also known as skip rope. Almost everyone has skipped rope in their childhood at least once, whether you tied one end to a tree and jumped with your friends or went solo. You can buy jump ropes in a variety of designs and for pretty cheap. There's also the bonus of keeping you and your kids physically active!
Sidewalk chalk
This is the perfect way to get your kids out of the house during the summer. No more cleaning up paint and marker messes indoors! Best of all, it's not permanent - the rain will wash all those driveway drawings once you're bored of them. Or the garden hose, either works.
Play-Doh
Pretty much everyone's used play-doh at some point, maybe received it as the quintessential party favor. We all remember the one kid that told us that it was edible and we all remember how gross it tastes. Even if it tastes gross, it makes food that's pretty to look at (but definitely not good to eat.)
Dump trucks
The quintessential item for a sandbox. Great for whether your kids want to make sand piles or sand castles! Don't let anyone tell you that dump trucks are just for boys - there's plenty of designs for girls as well! Not that kids are that picky about colors anyway.
Baby dolls
These things have been around since we've been kids. They have all the capabilities of a real baby today - they can scream/cry, laugh, eat and use diapers. Sounds a lot more appealing as a child than an adult, probably. It's a good way to teach responsibility.
Paints
Non-toxic paints are a good way for your child to express their creativity. You don't even need brushes - you can use finger paints. No one's going to judge you if you join in on the fun - just make sure you lay enough newspaper around or you're going to have a huge mess.
Yo-yo
These are small and portable, great for bringing just about anywhere. Even if yo-yo's are old, you'll never fail to amaze people with the tricks you can do with them. They're fairly cheap too, so no need to worry if you break one or two.
Slime
Goopy and oddly addicting, slime is a popular toy right now. You don't even need to go out to buy it - you can make your own glittery slime right at home. A lot of the DIY formulations use glue, so be careful not to stick your hands together or you're not going to have a good time.
Ball
Can't get any more simple than a ball. You can get in your physical activity with it in a number of ways - dodge ball, volleyball or even just a simple game of catch. One things for sure - your kids aren't going to get bored of it too quickly.
Water gun
These are still a must have for any kid's summer. You can get them at the dollar store even and all they take is a little water for a lot of fun. It'll keep you and your kids cool in the summer while getting some physical activity in at the same time!
Bucket and shovel
If you plan on going to the beach with your kids, don't forget to bring a bucket and shovel along with you. The good news is, that in the summertime, most dollar shops are going to be over stocked with these, so they're very budget friendly. Even if you're not going to the beach, they're good for a trip to the sandbox.
Star projector
Can't see the real stars outside? This is the next best thing, with the bonus of not having mosquitos buzzing around your ears and nipping your arms. You can use it as a learning tool for your kids or something to help your kids wind down after a long day of running around and eating sugar.
Legos
Do you know anyone who can resist fiddling around with Legos? Didn't think so. They come in such a wide variety of packs that there's something for everyone - if building animals is your thing, they've got you covered. Want to make a castle? Check. Want to make an aircraft? Also check. Isn't that great?
Squishies
These are good for stress relief and are cute enough to catch the interest of most kids. If you think your kid might fidget a lot, having something to hold in their hands and fiddle with might help a lot with that. There's pretty much squishes of everything you could possibly think of.
Magic eight ball
These things aren't quite extinct yet - they're still sure to keep your kids entertained for a while. Probably something useful when your kids start asking a few too many questions that you either don't have the answer to or you shouldn't answer quite yet.
Hatchimals
Want to teach your kid patience and or need them to be calm and quiet for about an hour? Look no further than hatchimals. They come packaged as eggs that you have to care for about an hour before they'll 'hatch' into a cute fuzzy critter. They have their own range of emotions and things that they'll be dependent on the emotions.
L.O.L Big Surprise
This is also one of those toys that's good for keeping your kids busy and entertained for a long while. It comes with 50 different things for your kids to unwrap, some of them being dolls while other things are accessories and clothes for said dolls.
Tinker toys
Want your kid to think outside of the box? Tinker toys are good for that. You can build pretty much whatever you want with them - abstract stuff included. Disassembly is also pretty easy so your kid will be able to build new things pretty much everyday.
Nintendo 3DS
Another pricier option, but new games appropriate for a large range of ages are always coming out, in addition to the already published games. Your kid can grow up with this toy - even as they grow older, it's likely they'll still cherish and use it just as often. So in the long run, the investment isn't so bad.
Alphabet blocks
Kill two birds with one stone - teach your kids the alphabet while they get to show their creative side and build stuff. These are usually made of wood and have sharp-ish points so be careful not to let your kids stack them too high less the tower falls over onto them.
