In the know
By Tina Benitez and Colleen Bohen -- Playthings, 11/1/2005
NEW YORK—When researching data for this year's state of the industry report, we covered a lot of ground—including the playground. Indeed, no report would be complete without input from the true industry insiders: the kids themselves.
Kids know toys. Ask any toddler or tween what playthings they like and they'll tell you outright. This year, Playthings—like most companies in our biz—decided to get some first-hand information by hosting focus groups in order to learn what kinds of products encourage kids to play—and keep playing.
On April 28, and August 2, 2005, we gathered two separate groups of kids and put a diverse array of toys to the test. The response: most kids like video games, crafting, role play and other interactive toys as well as classics like Legos, My Little Pony and Barbie.
These kids were completely (and sometimes, brutally) honest regarding what they thought about the products reviewed. The following pages showcase some of the favorites, reviewed and picked by the kids themselves.
| 1 | Makes me use my imagination |
| 2 | Has many different ways to play with it |
| 3 | Makes me want to invent a toy myself |
| 4 | Does not break easily |
| 5 | Needs batteries |
| 6 | Doesn't need batteries |
| 7 | Has no sharp edges |
| 8 | Works like it is supposed to |
| 9 | Makes me happy |
| 10 | Is one I never want to stop playing with |
