HOT TIPS : HOLIDAY GIFTS THAT ARE HOT FOR TOTS, 'TWEENS AND MORE.Byline: Barbara De Witt De Witt, uninc. town (1990 pop. 8,244), Onondaga co., central N.Y., a residential suburb of Syracuse. Boomers grew up listening to their parents' tales of Christmases past, when kids were lucky to get an orange, some walnuts and maybe a homemade doll. Sure, they didn't have electronic toys, but they had snow. (Ever notice that no matter where they lived, they always walked to school in the snow?) Miz Hot Tips' dad, who grew up on a farm in snowy South Dakota South Dakota (dəkō`tə), state in the N central United States. It is bordered by North Dakota (N), Minnesota and Iowa (E), Nebraska (S), and Wyoming and Montana (W). , even told of a Christmas when Santa was too poor to put real toys under the tree, so he put bicycles, trains and tool sets made of gingerbread gingerbread In architecture and design, elaborately detailed embellishment, either lavish or superfluous. Though the term is occasionally applied to such highly detailed and decorative styles as the Rococo, it usually refers to the hand-carved and -sawn wood ornamentation of in their place. Actually, it was Grandma Brezina - who would have given Mrs. Fields Mrs. Fields Cookies is a chain of bakeries, located mostly in the United States, founded by Debbi Fields (b. 1956, Park City, Utah). Mrs. Fields and her husband started their business in the late 1970s, opening the first of many retail bakeries in Palo Alto, California, selling some real competition - who created the giant cookies; while they weren't functional, they were very edible. Times have changed. Nobody strings cranberries and popcorn for the tree anymore, and instead of relying on letters to Santa for gift ideas, parents turn to nationally recognized authorities on what's hot and not. Miz Hot Tips is talking about the new book, ``The Best Toys, Books, Videos & Software for Kids 1998'' (Prima; $13) by Joanne and Stephanie Oppenheim, editors of the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio. The paperback book lists 1,000 products for children 10 and under and tells us that it's a kinder, gentler toyland than last year. The authors report that Beanie Babies have replaced action figures; that hand-held zap-splat-smush-'em game machines are out and virtual pets are in ... and that even Barbie's pal Ken is now more interested in child care than surfing. You'll also learn that babies like teething teething /teeth·ing/ (teth´ing) the entire process resulting in eruption of the teeth. teeth·ing n. The eruption or cutting of the teeth. toys and manipulative toys that help them with shapes, sounds and textures, while preschoolers like dress-up clothes, housekeeping toys, picture books and educational toys What is an educational toy? ''' Toys, and educational toys, are typically built for and used by children. One could make the argument that an educational toy is actually any toy. Most children are constantly interacting with and learning about the world. . But, hey, listen to other experts. According to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. the mall Santa at the Sherman Oaks Galleria Sherman Oaks Galleria is a shopping mall and business center located in the Sherman Oaks neighborhood of Los Angeles, California at the corner of Ventura and Sepulveda Boulevards in the San Fernando Valley. Locals colloquially refer to the mall simply as "the Galleria. , the most asked for toy this year is Sing & Snore Ernie, a ``Sesame Street'' character in pajamas pajamas Noun, pl US pyjamas pajamas npl (US) → pijama msg; piyama msg (LAM with bunny slippers, priced at $28. Other requested toys are Nano Baby, $15, and Holiday Barbie, $32. The Toy Manufacturers of America organization has its own report based on market studies, but it's in total agreement with Santa. However, the toy-industry group also suggest Dentist Barbie (she's about half the price of Holiday Barbie); Talking Whiz Kid Power Mouse, $65; Hug 'n Wiggle Pooh Plush, $25; Microsoft's Barney Actimates, $99; and Star Wars Beasts, $14. For older children, those between 8 and 12, the gifts are more pricey, but family oriented, says Irma Zandl, a New York-based marketing and trend analyst. Her latest national survey says 'tweens want a swimming pool, big-screen TV, a hot tub and a trip to Disney World. Whatever you buy this holiday season, don't go overboard with gifts you really can't afford, but do think big. All toy parts should be larger than the child's mouth to prevent injuries. In spite of the trend toward electronic toys, preschoolers still like books and building blocks, while children 5 to 9 enjoy card games, bicycles, trains and table games. And never buy hobby kits, such as chemistry sets, for any child under 12. For a more complete guide on toy safety, you can send a stamped, self-addressed, stamped business-sized envelope to American Academy of Pediatrics The American Academy of Pediatrics ("AAP") is an organization of pediatricians, physicians trained to deal with the medical care of infants, children, and adolescents. Its motto is: "Dedicated to the Health of All Children. , Dept. C, Toy Safety Brochure, P.O. Box 927, Elk Grove Village Elk Grove Village, village (1990 pop. 33,429), Cook and Du Page counties, NE Ill., a suburb of Chicago; inc. 1956. With a population of c.100 at the time of its establishment on open farmland, the village has grown dramatically and steadily, largely because of its , Ill. 60009-0927. New take on old toy: Mattel's See 'n Say toys have been around for a few years, but now they've got a cool update for preschoolers. It's the See 'n Say Rhyme Maker, an electronic talking book that uses the bizarre-looking creatures from Dr. Seuss and their equally absurd names to compose poems. Unlike its basic point-and-play predecessors, this See 'n Say lets the child rotate any or all of the eight three-sided picture panels before hitting the playback button, allowing for thousands of possible combinations. Holiday stress-buster: After all that cooking, cleaning and shopping, Miz Hot Tips is exhausted, so she figures you are, too. Allen Edwards Salon, 20855 Ventura Blvd., Woodland Hills, has added a new nutrition center and serenity spa. Zeroing in on the spa, Miz Hot Tips learned they now offer Swedish and deep-tissue massages, reflexology Reflexology Definition Reflexology is a therapeutic method of relieving pain by stimulating predefined pressure points on the feet and hands. This controlled pressure alleviates the source of the discomfort. (a nifty foot massage that clears sinuses, too) and aromatherapy, starting at $35 for a half-hour of service. Call (818) 593-7094. Videos for kids: Going to have the grandchildren over for the holidays? If there's no farm with piglets to pet or chickens to chase, they'll want to know what's on cable or what videos you've got. Don't even think about offering your treasured copies of ``Pillow Talk'' or ``White Christmas'', advises Miz Hot Tips. Instead, stock up on some kid classics, including ``The Wizard of Oz Wizard of Oz reaches and departs from Oz in circus balloon. [Children’s Lit.: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz] See : Ballooning Wizard of Oz false wizard takes up residence in Emerald City. [Am. Lit. ,'' ``To Kill a Mockingbird'' (honest, it's a winner with kids 10 and up), ``Sarah, Plain and Tall,'' ``The Sound of Music,'' ``The Little Mermaid,'' ``Harriet the Spy,'' and ``The Indian in the Cupboard.'' Other contemporary films to consider are ``The Little Princess (not the Shirley Temple version),'' ``The Goonies'' and ``Beetlejuice'' (you'll recognize the theme song). CAPTION(S): Photo Photo: The $15 Nano Baby is one of this season's hot toys, according to a certain bearded expert. |
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