Toys and games especially for African-American children - includes mail-order sources - Buyers Guide

American Visions, Dec-Jan, 1994 by Yolanda Robinson Coles

Shopping for children isn't as easy as it used to be, but it's better, now that toy companies are recognizing the African-American market. For the coming holiday season, choose toys or games that reinforce the principles of Kwanzaa, foster the goodwill of Christmas throughout the year, and promote cultural awareness.

For young minds and hands (birth to 1 year), there are several toys worth considering. Playskool's Kids of Color line has Soft Blocks, each with a different sound (they rattle, crackle, crinkle and squeak); Activity Quilt, with five curiosities - including a clown with a bow tie and a shatter-resistant minor - sewn into a kente cloth border; and Soft Book, a textured book describing daily events. Identity has two inlaid puzzles for ages 1 to 5: Black ABC's associates black culture with the alphabet, and 1-2-3 Africa relates each number to an African image or object.

As children grow older, learning must be fun in order to compete with video games and television. For those children, ages 7 and up, who require stimulation of their minds as well as their hands, there are several jigsaw puzzles. Map of Africa (Identity) identifies people, customs and product of Africa. Legacy (Identity) is a historical collage of people, places and events, and Kids of Color (Playskool) features children participating in such activities as rollerskating and bicycle riding.

Along the line of fairly simple board games that require players, ages 8 and up, to uncover clues to discover people, places and events are African American Bingo (Visions Research); Identity, Enchanting Village and Word Up (all by identity); and African American Discovery (Empak). The Black Explorers (Identity) requires players to use math skills to complete a famous explorers course. The X Game (Identity) deals with moral issues and value systems that underline the importance of unity.

The Identity Card Game, which is a deck of playing cards, and Chocolate Kids Flash Cards (Identity) are great travel games for young children. You Should Know, a trivia game for ages 10 to adult, is available in six editions. The children's edition features large print and pictures of famous African Americans.

"Buy electronic" is the message in this age of technology, and toys are no exception. Tiger Toys has handheld video games featuring popular characters - Demolition Man, Michael Jordan in Flight and Shaq Attaq-Monster Jam - for ages 8 and older. Their Quiz Wiz line offers an electronic question-and-answer trivia game. 2-XL, the Talking Robot, is an interactive educational toy whose African Safari cassette provides information on Africa's people and customs. Hartley offers a computer game on disk, for grades 7 and 8, called Black Americans, available for Apple and MS-DOS.

Dinkytown Daycare Kids (soft dolls representing five cultures and accompanied by books, board games and videocassettes), Double Scoop books, and Cultural Exchange Preschool (activity toys for children under 5) are just some of the toys produced by Cultural Exchange Corporation to promote cultural diversity and self-esteem.

Many of the games geared toward African-American history are available at black-owned bookstores. Dolls are usually available through the larger chain stores. Prices vary from region to region. But who can place a price on toys and games that should bring children hours of pleasure while reinforcing familial and cultural values?