Some of the most popular toys out on the market these days are action figures and Barbie dolls. Some action figures are based on movies that have recently hit the theatres. For example, one award winning action figure is The Incredible Hulk, which is a movie that came on June 13th, 2008. Barbie dolls have been around for over 49 years and they have still been running strong! There is a Barbie for each little girl's fantasy. The joy of Barbie is that you can dress her up and match her clothes with accessories sold separately. Barbie's hair is also another attraction as it comes long and pliable so that little girls can arrange and decorate her hair as they please.

Toys don't necessarily have to be action figures or dolls. They can even be audio books. No, audio books are not just for adults. They help children appreciate stories that are heard as well as those written on paper. Since a lot of audio books include a cast of readers as well as sound effects, it is easy for even the younger children to get caught up in the excitement of the story as it is being told.

Educational toys include LeapFrog and Fisher-Price products. Fisher-Price has been providing fun education for children everywhere since 1930. Some brands under this name are Disney, Sesame Street, Barney, Dora the Explorer, and See 'n Say. If you can stir up a child's love of learning when they are young, that drive to learn new and interesting things will stay with him or her right into adulthood. Keep in mind, not all learning has to take place in a formal environment. Of course, school is important, but we should be open to learning new things in a variety of settings.

Whether it be a toy that was made for all fun and games or a toy that was made for teaching a child new things, you can't go wrong. Toys are a great gift for a kid of any age and for any occasion. Suppose it is little Mike's 6th birthday. What ever should you get him? A toy airplane is not a bad idea at all! But what about little Sara? What should you get her for Christmas? Every little girl with their very own dollhouse would hold it dear to their hearts.