Toys for African-American tots - Brief Article

Ebony, Dec, 2001

DESPITE the uncertainty of the times, Christmas and Kwanzaa 2001 should be loads of fun for good girls and boys. Why? Because this year there is a wide variety of books, toys, games, action figures, high-tech toys and videos aimed at African-American children, and because experts say every effort should be made to provide a normal and traditional atmosphere for young people.

Technology is having a strong impact on children. Industry experts note that more than 60 percent of American households with children have computers with Internet access. High-tech and educational toys for infants and preschoolers and computer and video games are especially strong sellers.

Innovation and electronics are leading predictors of stronger sales this holiday season. In fact, one of the top-selling toys this year is the Super Soaker Triple XP, which was created by Black inventor Lonnie G. Johnson, a former NASA rocket scientist.

Robotic pets, scooters, electronic dolls and talking books are predicted to propel sales upward this year, and the good news is that many of these innovative products are available and are marketed to African-American children. The only question left is what to buy the child in your life. Top toy retailers offer some friendly tips to eliminate the returns:

1. Make sure the toy is age-appropriate. Toys that are too advanced can frustrate children. Select a gift that children can play with now, not one they will have to grow into.

2. Buy what a child likes. Select a toy with the children's interests in mind. Does the child like to read books? Pretend to be an NBA or NFL athlete? Or like to draw?

3. Check for quality. Always choose safe and sturdy toys that will last. Remember to check age range as labeled on the box.

4. Get it early. If parents come across something that would be perfect for one of the children on their list, they should buy it when they see it, eliminating the frantic store-to-store excursions on the night before Christmas.

5. Remember the batteries. The right batteries mean the difference between playing with the toy or playing with the box.

This Christmas, a new group of CD-ROMS, games, books, puzzles and videos with an African-American emphasis are available for holiday giving. Many of the games, books and videos are available from Colorful World, the Burke, Va.-based African-American mail-order catalog business for parents and educators. Included among this year's offerings is the Who Am I Black History Trivia Game that digitally tests the child's knowledge of 20th-century Black history, and works on both PC and Mac computers. Diversity is a cultural appreciation card game that promotes multicultural tolerance. WB Adams, the country's largest Black-owned puzzle manufacturer, is offering its first educational CD-ROM, The African-American Inventions Series.

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Satin dolls (from baby dolls to storytelling grandma dolls) are available this year. Zapf Creation offers two realistic baby dolls, the Chou Chou doll, with the size, weight and feel of a real baby, and the Rock-A-Bye Chou Chou doll that interacts with the child by babbling, crying and sucking on a pacifier and bottle. The Niya doll by Integrity Toys Inc. and HCN Enterprises is back, dressed in traditional African dress made in Ghana. The doll speaks Swahili, Spanish and English. The Gospel Grandma doll is a talking doll by College Park, Ga.-based Anointed Concepts International, and it teaches lessons in love, trust and friendship through short stories and songs.

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A variety of dolls will thrill little girls. San Francisco-based Get Real Girl's Nakia doll is part of a line of reality-based action/adventure dolls for girls aged 6-12, and designed to inspire self-esteem and personal initiative through real-world adventures. Nakia plans to use her hoop skills to take her to college and around the world. Mattel offers the Christie Jam'n Glam doll, dressed to rock the concert stage, and the special 2001 holiday edition of Celebration Barbie in her shimmering crystalline gown and tiara. The 2-in-1 Bach to Rock Guitar plays three classical songs from Mozart, Beethoven and Bach, and three rock `n' roll hits. From Fisher-Price, the guitar is recommended for ages 2 and up.

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With Kids Around the World, children don't need to leave their rooms to explore the world. Designed for children ages 3 and up, the Fisher-Price toy teaches country identification, foreign language phrases, counting in foreign languages and also features 3D graphics and light effects to make learning about the world lots of fun. The Minnie Doll is based on the lead character in the charming storybook Minnie Saves the Day, by Melodye Benson Rosales. The book is the first in The Adventures of Minnie series, set in Chicago's celebrated African-American community of Bronzeville in the 1930s. Playstation 2 is a gift that does more than offer games. It's also a CD player and a DVD player. Enhanced and improved graphics (such as solids, shadows and realistic weather effects) and easily learned game controls add up to a system the whole family can enjoy. Games for the PS2 format run the gamut, from ones that parents and children will enjoy playing together (Disney's Atlantis game for example) to sports games like the Madden Football 2002, the visually stunning Gran Turismo 3 and the ever-evolving NBA Live series.