What would the holidays be without the classics? Everyone has a different take on the classics, and that’s as it should be. For me and my family, it wouldn’t be Christmas without Charlie Brown Christmas, It’s a Wonderful Life, How the Grinch Stole Christmas (the original), an orange in our stocking, a Christmas cracker at the dinner table, and a bottle of O’Sherwood’s Irish cream.
However, I think it’s important to embrace change and welcome new classics (or twists to the old classics) into our holidays. For the past several years, Nicholas Cage’s The Family Man has been playing on tv in the background on Christmas eve as my husband and I wrap gifts…now that film has wormed its way into our hearts and become part of our traditional Christmas eve.
When it comes to choosing toys, you often can’t go wrong with the classics. Who among us did not grown up receiving Barbie or Hot Wheels for holiday gifts? (well, truth be told, I never received a Barbie. My parents felt that the Barbie franchise promoted unrealistic and sexist notions of women. My baby sister did play with Barbies, though. This is a fodder for many a family debate). Classics are toys that kids have loved for years, and toy manufacturers try to hold on to the thing that kids love, while introducing innovative twists.
For Barbie this year, it’s all about Barbie and the Diamond Castle. The movie came out (straight to video, as they say) in the Fall, and Mattel’s marketing for the holiday season 2008 went into overdrive. As a result, any girl interested in Barbie will have Princess Liana and Princess Alexa on her Christmas list. Princess Liana sings two songs from the movie and comes with a light-up necklace and a glittery gown. When you pair her with BFF Alexa doll you’ll hear them sing a duet!
Another classic from our youth, that has stood the test of time, is the Hot Wheels franchise. Kids love using their imagination to set up elaborate tracks. Now available in Trick Tracks, it’s sure to be a hit with kids this year. One toy reviewer, 8-year old Will, rated the toy an 8 out of 10 and said, “This toy is good …I do like the way the planes fly when they work. It is a good storage box for other cars.”
Finally, what is more classic than Fisher-Price’s Little People? Many of us have had the garage, farm or zoo in our toy rooms for years, and they do get played with year after year. New for this holiday season is the Little People Learn About Town, which is fun and educational. It’s four unique playsets in one, plays the ABCs song, teaches about shapes and colours, and (most importantly) it folds up easily to be put away.
So whether you’re looking to share some of the classic toys of your own youth this holiday, or see how toy makers have tried to make them even better, look at classic toys. For your chance to win a huge selection of these toys and others, enter The Amazing Holiday Toy, Game and Book Giveaway Scavenger Hunt!