Toy guide
Kids willing to stay in from recess to play Flibbix, top choice in games
Every year we ask second- through sixth-graders to test about 80 toys before the holiday toy season. We ask them to tell us what they like best.
This year there was a bumper crop of great games. It’s hard to top the comments about Flibbix, a game from a new company. “Kids stayed in from recess to play this game,” one teacher wrote to us in disbelief. You build your own board each time you play Flibbix, so it’s always different – and clearly lots of fun.
Another winning game was one your parents will remember: Operation. It has been released again with more sounds and new objects to pull out of the patient’s body – such as a cell phone! Here is the list of our testers’ favorites.
Games
Flibbix (Merillian Games, ages 7 to 13, $40). In this game you make your own board – and rules! “One of the best board games we have ever played,” our fifth-grade testers said.
Operation (Hasbro, 6 and older, $15). Fourth-graders liked playing surgeon and plucking things out of the body. But it’s hard. Sound effects (including burping and ringing cell phones) in this updated version of the classic game are loud and giggle-inducing. Bzzzt!
Backseat Drawing (Out of the Box Games, 12 and older, $25). A fast-paced, laugh-a-lot drawing game that sixth-graders called “the coolest,” “so much fun” and “the best toy ever.”
Music/Dance
U-Dance motion-based TV dance game (Hasbro/Tiger Electronics, 8 and older, $75). One tester said she “likes everything about it,” and that pretty much sums up the fifth-graders’ reactions.
Crafts
Pixos Super Studio (Spin Master, 8 and older, $30). The second-graders who used this toy to make patterns with beads “loved” it, calling it challenging, cool, creative and easy to use.
Girl Gourmet Cupcake Maker (Jakks Pacific, 8 and older, $30). This toy got a solid 10 rating from fourth-grade testers, who said it was easy to use and made delicious cupcakes.
Tech Toys
Clone Troopers Learning Laptop (Oregon Scientific, 5 and older, $40). Second-graders said this laptop was “hard to unwrap” but “had great games” and was really fun.
U.B. Funkeys Starter Kit (Mattel/Radica, 8 and older, $20). This kit got a 10 from all fifth-grade testers for being easy to set up and for having great games.
Spy Gear
EyeClops Night Vision infrared stealth goggles (Jakks Pacific, 8 and older, $80). With real infrared night-vision technology, these goggles are pricey but “awesome,” sixth-graders pronounced.
Spy Gear Spy Video ATV-360 (Wild Planet, 8 and older, $100). This vehicle transmits real-time video (but no sound) from another room. “I could spy on my sister!” said one fourth-grade tester.
Building
Lego Agents Mobile Command Center (Lego, 8 and older, $90). A much-loved set with a whole lot of pieces (1,154!). Fifth-grade testers said it’s not easy, but they all called it “fun.”
Kapla building system (Kapla, 3 and older, $30 and up). Third-graders loved how creative you can be with these simple, small building planks.
What am I going to wear on the first day of school? It’s a question many kids ask themselves the night before the first day of school. Well, don’t wait until the last second, plan ahead.