TOP TOYS

December 21, 2010 at 12:00a.m.

Photo by: Evans Caglage

MCT

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Ready for the holiday gift season is the Lego Minotaurus Board Game.

Gift guide to bring a sense of play to learning

By Nancy Churnin

Dallas Morning News

Looking for affordable toys for the holidays? We found five that cost less than $50 that may surprise and delight. Plus, they are all recommended by Dr. Stevanne Auerbach, an author and psychologist better known as Dr. Toy for her studies and annual awards for educationally oriented, skill-building toys. (For more on Dr. Toy, visit www.drtoy.com.)

Zoobles by Spin Master

Ages: 4 to 9

Cool factor: Spin Master, which entranced boys with Bakugan, is now charming girls with Zoobles. Auerbach says it enhances imagination, geography, math and communication skills. The toy comes in more than 100 little round plastic spheres that transform into characters when placed on a magnetized Happitat. Some Zoobles blink their eyes, wag their tails or wiggle their ears when petted.

Kids’ take: Raves from three girls age 8 and 4. They liked the way the balls popped up into little creatures. They liked that they are small enough to fit into pockets and backpacks.

Parents’ take: The moms preferred the compact Zoobles to the Razoo’s Treehouse playset, which they said was too bulky for storage. The younger girls also preferred the Zoobles to the playset.

Price: Zoobles Single Packs (one Zooble and one Happitat), $5.99; Zoobles Twoobles (two Zoobles and one deluxe Happitat), $9.99; Gift Pack (five Zoobles, three Happitats and carrying case), playsets range from Rest Nest ($17.99) to Razoo’s Treehouse Playset, $34.99.

Availability: All major retailers and toy stores

Minotaurus by Lego

Ages: 7 to 12

Cool factor: Players try to lead their heroes to the temple and place walls to block their opponents while avoiding the Minotaur. Not only do you build this toy, you can play a game with it, take it apart and start again. The Minotaurus is one of a new series of 10 constructible games introduced by Lego in March.

Kids’ take: One 8-year-old liked it so much he played it three times the first night and used his quiet time the next day to take it apart and put it together again. After mastering the standard rules, he looked forward to altering the rules and playing it a different way.

Parents’ take: The parents give it a thumbs-up and say they are looking forward to playing it with again, too.

Price: $24.99

Availability: All major retailers and toy stores

Volcanic Disaster: The Eruption Prediction Game by Volcano Video Productions

Ages: 9 and older

Cool factor: This card game tests your knowledge of volcanoes while teaching. Players get clues about volcanic hazards and are challenged to predict when volcanoes will erupt. It comes with 40 glossy volcano cards with photos from around the world and 80 observatory cards, which you use to do your monitoring and take action.

Kids’ take: One 9-year-old was more enthusiastic than her 14-year-old sister. Both girls liked the pictures on the cards, but the older one found the game more work than fun.

Parents’ take: The parents praised the game for being educational and teaching about volcanoes in different parts of the world. They are looking forward to playing and learning along with the girls and plan to share with their daughters’ science teachers.

Price: $16.99

Availability: www.volcanicdisastergame.com/

Velociraptor and Pterosaur Set by Bloco Toys

Ages: 5 to 10

What’s cool about it: Kids who are excited about dinosaurs can make their own with this kit of 166 pieces from Bloco Toys.

Kids’ take: This hit the spot for one 5-year-old boy. He needed his mother’s help to punch some of the pieces out of the sheet but was able to follow the directions and do most of the construction on his own. After he made his dinosaurs, he happily ran around playing with them.

Parents’ take: The mother recommends this. “I like it because the foam pieces are pretty rugged. And I like that it’s not just about creating something, but that he can also play with what he made. It’s an excellent value.”

Price: $19.99

Availability: www.timberdoodle.com

My Chocolate Boutique: Chocolate Workshop by Fashion Angels Enterprises

Ages: 8 to 12

Cool factor: Kids make molded chocolates, display them on foil wrappers or wrap them up in glittery boxes with ribbons. You supply the chocolate and any fruits, candies or other items you want to coat with chocolate.

Kids’ take: This was a hit with Lena Payne and Braydon Giangiulio, both 9, Andrea Cossum, 8, and Kati Gibson, 7. They were rapt for more than an hour, pouring chocolate over marshmallows and small pieces of fruit and then into molds. Afterward, while the girls set the chocolates on foil wrappers and doilies, Braydon ate spoonfuls of the melted chocolate.

Parents’ take: Three moms were enthusiastic; a fourth didn’t like the mess. The moms who liked it said it had potential as a party activity and an opportunity for their kids to make presents.

Price: $27.99

Availability: Learning Express stores