by Sam Eccleston
During tricky economic times, new toys are one of places families look to get more more value from their purchases. Toy manufacturers are responding to the current downturn with the concept of "pennies per play," creating long-lasting toys, so kids can play with them them for a long time to come. Here's what toys let you spend less and play more.
Tech Toys
Consumers should look for toy prices to decline over the next year, even on tech toys. Prices on microchips that tech toys rely on have declined over the last year; an industry spokesperson anticipated that some toys that retailed for as much as $200 a few years ago might be closer to $120 during the holidays.
Board Games
About Time, a board game that's been successful across Europe for the last few years, is arriving in a US edition this year. The game's Trivial Pursuit-style play lets players or teams try to guess the year that a significant historical event happened. The game's 1,700 questions mean that the it will be a family-night fixture for a long time. Expansion packs even let you guess the year that a given newspaper front page was published. And the game is designed to encourage group play, which makes it perfect for parties.
Sports Games
Savings don't have to stay on the game board either. Stage 2, makers of deluxe plastic-molded yard toys, have introduced a line of sports games that serve double duty. For example, their basketball hoop folds into field-goal uprights for football. Their tee-ball set up lets kids tee off by turning into a golf club and putting green. Even big-ticket items like Stage 2's kid-sized playhouse are made of durable plastic that's designed to survive tough winter weather.
The economy may be down, but with declining tech prices and tons of traditional fun, there are lots of reasons to feel cheerful. Grab some deals and play more for less.
Copyright 2010, Sears Brands, LLC. All Rights Reserved.