http://www.astratoy.org/presidents-report.asp Your Neighborhood Toy Store is a website for parents interested in learning more about the best children's toys on the market and where to find them. Discover the woohoo factor of shopping - and playing - right in your local neighborhood. en-us Copyright 2013 on Behalf of the the American Specialty Toy Retailing Association (ASTRA) - All Rights Reserved. Mon, 20 May 2013 00:00:00 EST 20 http://www.yourneighborhoodtoystore.org/play-creatively.asp?i=119 Play is so important for our mental and physical health, that I make it a priority to find ways to bring play into the day whenever possible – even when I bake! These fully playable, fully edible set of fun, fudge brownie dominoes are always a big hit!&n ... Fri, 17 May 2013 16:34:00 EST http://www.yourneighborhoodtoystore.org/play-creatively.asp?i=119 http://www.yourneighborhoodtoystore.org/play-creatively.asp?i=120 Birthday parties. End-of-the-School-Year parties. Weddings. Goodie Bags are celebration staples. Whether they are a parting gift or a way to entertain kids during an event, a thoughtful goodie bag delights party guests. Oftentimes, these bags ... Fri, 17 May 2013 16:37:00 EST http://www.yourneighborhoodtoystore.org/play-creatively.asp?i=120 http://www.yourneighborhoodtoystore.org/play-experts.asp?i=115 Kim Vandenbroucke is one of the game industry's most prolific and respected board game inventors, as well as author of The Game Aisle, a popular website where Kim reviews games and provides insider information. She has a loyal Twitter and Facebook follow ... Mon, 13 May 2013 10:51:00 EST http://www.yourneighborhoodtoystore.org/play-experts.asp?i=115 http://www.yourneighborhoodtoystore.org/play-safely.asp?i=116 Bike riding is a great way to get the kids outside and moving. But it's important to teach kids that bikes are more than just toys -- they are also vehicles. Whether your child is just learning to ride or is a pint-sized pro, these tips will help keep yo ... Mon, 13 May 2013 11:04:00 EST http://www.yourneighborhoodtoystore.org/play-safely.asp?i=116 http://www.yourneighborhoodtoystore.org/play-creatively.asp?i=114 Moms love nothing more than frame-worthy art projects from their little cuties - especially handprints. It starts with an infant foot print that comes home with a new baby from the hospital. By age ten, there's a rubbermaid container full of handprint ar ... Thu, 9 May 2013 16:58:00 EST http://www.yourneighborhoodtoystore.org/play-creatively.asp?i=114 http://www.yourneighborhoodtoystore.org/play-experts.asp?i=112 Educate a man, you educate an individual. Educate a woman, you educate a family. Or community. Or nation. Variations on this quote have been spoken by teachers, development workers and leaders around the world. It's not meant to diminish the importa ... Mon, 6 May 2013 10:43:00 EST http://www.yourneighborhoodtoystore.org/play-experts.asp?i=112 http://www.yourneighborhoodtoystore.org/play-experts.asp?i=113 When you think iconic American games, what comes to mind? Monopoly, of course! Born out of the Great Depression, the game where you buy, sell and develop properties has stood the test of time. According to Hasbro, more than six billion little green h ... Mon, 6 May 2013 10:31:00 EST http://www.yourneighborhoodtoystore.org/play-experts.asp?i=113 http://www.yourneighborhoodtoystore.org/play-grow.asp?i=106 Toy purchases are investments. You want to see the return, right? Both in terms of your child's play -- and the money you put out! So when you're looking to purchase a new toy, think ages and stages: how can this toy grow with my child? The ... Fri, 19 Apr 2013 19:04:00 EST http://www.yourneighborhoodtoystore.org/play-grow.asp?i=106 http://www.yourneighborhoodtoystore.org/play-learn.asp?i=109 Turn off the TV? Set aside the iPad? Give up video games? That's just what millions of people will be doing April 29-May 5 as they turn off screens and turn on life.  We all see our kids pick up information and dare we admit "learn" from a TV show o ... Mon, 29 Apr 2013 12:45:00 EST http://www.yourneighborhoodtoystore.org/play-learn.asp?i=109 http://www.yourneighborhoodtoystore.org/play-experts.asp?i=111 Latest research from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention reported autism prevalence in the U.S. is now 1 in 50.  Children on the autism spectrum are just like other children-- they have advanced talents in some areas and other skills they ... Thu, 25 Apr 2013 17:00:00 EST http://www.yourneighborhoodtoystore.org/play-experts.asp?i=111 http://www.yourneighborhoodtoystore.org/play-experts.asp?i=110 Following the enormous success of the first annual Earth Day Activity in 2008, PlanToys®, green manufacturer of eco-friendly rubber wood toys, has reached out to retailers across the country to participate in its 6th Earth Day Window Display Contest in h ... Mon, 22 Apr 2013 15:45:00 EST http://www.yourneighborhoodtoystore.org/play-experts.asp?i=110 http://www.yourneighborhoodtoystore.org/play-learn.asp?i=105 "I want that now, Mom…pleeeeeease."  We've all heard this before, so how do we start talking with our children about money?  Teaching good, life-long money skills is one of the most important, yet often the most difficult activities we can do w ... Fri, 19 Apr 2013 18:57:00 EST http://www.yourneighborhoodtoystore.org/play-learn.asp?i=105 http://www.yourneighborhoodtoystore.org/play-experts.asp?i=107 April is traditionally known as Autism Awareness month but many non-profit organizations this year such as Autism Empowerment are highlighting Autism Acceptance, advocacy and support. By accepting children on the autism spectrum, their learning differenc ... Fri, 19 Apr 2013 19:29:00 EST http://www.yourneighborhoodtoystore.org/play-experts.asp?i=107 http://www.yourneighborhoodtoystore.org/play-creatively.asp?i=103 It's pouring outside, the kids are restless, and if you hear ‘I'm bored' one more time, you're going to lose it!  Instead of throwing on yet another movie, why not spend the next rainy day getting crafty? Here are some ideas for k ... Tue, 16 Apr 2013 17:52:00 EST http://www.yourneighborhoodtoystore.org/play-creatively.asp?i=103 http://www.yourneighborhoodtoystore.org/play-experts.asp?i=102 Talking about money often times makes us all uncomfortable -- especially parents. We all want our children to develop strong financial values, but just how do we do that? Since April is financial literacy month, we took our questions straight to ... Mon, 15 Apr 2013 15:52:00 EST http://www.yourneighborhoodtoystore.org/play-experts.asp?i=102 http://www.yourneighborhoodtoystore.org/play-learn.asp?i=101 Believe it or not, your toddler's play is prepping him or her for high school geometry class. Building with blocks and stacking cups help young children learn spatial relationships -- a foundational skill needed to understand more complex mathematical sk ... Tue, 9 Apr 2013 13:36:00 EST http://www.yourneighborhoodtoystore.org/play-learn.asp?i=101 http://www.yourneighborhoodtoystore.org/play-learn.asp?i=100 Does the word "math" excite you? Get your blood pumping? No, probably not! Especially as a child! The good news is there are lots of products and math games out there that will help get your little ones excited about learning. These games and toys are ... Tue, 9 Apr 2013 13:50:00 EST http://www.yourneighborhoodtoystore.org/play-learn.asp?i=100 http://www.yourneighborhoodtoystore.org/play-experts.asp?i=99 It might seem like an unlikely combination, but book writing and game making have one key element in common: creativity. In celebration of International Children's Book Day , we caught up with game maker and children's book author, Patrick Matthews to ... Mon, 15 Apr 2013 15:50:00 EST http://www.yourneighborhoodtoystore.org/play-experts.asp?i=99 http://www.yourneighborhoodtoystore.org/play-experts.asp?i=98 The Golden Apple Learning Store began selling books for kids 34 years ago.  When we started, we sold mostly to teachers, and teachers bought books as tools.  Children's books bring lessons to life in the classroom, and are a great way for teach ... Wed, 3 Apr 2013 09:35:00 EST http://www.yourneighborhoodtoystore.org/play-experts.asp?i=98 http://www.yourneighborhoodtoystore.org/play-experts.asp?i=97 Ever wondered how someone ends up as specialty toy store owner? A mom and pop business owner? In honor of National Mom and Pop Business Day, Janet Pillsbury from My Toy Garden is sharing how she and her husband came to conceive their store. A true labor ... Thu, 28 Mar 2013 13:18:00 EST http://www.yourneighborhoodtoystore.org/play-experts.asp?i=97 http://www.yourneighborhoodtoystore.org/play-grow.asp?i=96 Childhood should be a ball! Literally and figuratively. Remarkable for its versatility, universal appeal to age groups and ability to inspire healthy activity throughout childhood, a ball should be found in every toy box. Whether it's a si ... Thu, 18 Apr 2013 14:36:00 EST http://www.yourneighborhoodtoystore.org/play-grow.asp?i=96 http://www.yourneighborhoodtoystore.org/play-creatively.asp?i=94 In today's fast paced, whole-world-at-your-fingertips society, it can be really great to take some time away from it all and enjoy a family trip. Maybe the idea of setting down your phone and piling the kids into the car for a roadtrip is terrifying, but ... Wed, 27 Mar 2013 15:29:00 EST http://www.yourneighborhoodtoystore.org/play-creatively.asp?i=94 http://www.yourneighborhoodtoystore.org/play-learn.asp?i=95 It's an unfortunate fact. We know that children today don't spend nearly the time outside as we used to during our childhood. There are many reasons for this decline: growing dependence on television and computers, worries about safety... ... Mon, 25 Mar 2013 17:02:00 EST http://www.yourneighborhoodtoystore.org/play-learn.asp?i=95 http://www.yourneighborhoodtoystore.org/play-experts.asp?i=90 Ever found yourself frustrated in the toy aisle because you couldn't find a safe, well-designed, made-in-the-USA toy that was also environmentally-friendly? Robert Van Goeben and Laurie Hyman experienced that frustration one too many times. Lucky for us, ... Fri, 12 Apr 2013 12:07:00 EST http://www.yourneighborhoodtoystore.org/play-experts.asp?i=90 http://www.yourneighborhoodtoystore.org/play-learn.asp?i=91 Toddlers are extraordinary people. They explore with abandon, imitate pirates and fairies, refuse with gusto, stack, dump and search, communicate with persistence, and give enthusiastic hugs with sloppy kisses. So how is that adults so often get in their ... Thu, 14 Mar 2013 13:22:00 EST http://www.yourneighborhoodtoystore.org/play-learn.asp?i=91 http://www.yourneighborhoodtoystore.org/play-together.asp?i=89 Children of all ages want and need to spend time with parents and friends, why not use this time in an activity that is loads of fun and works your brain, which is a muscle after all – playing board games!   Our Games for Educ ... Tue, 12 Mar 2013 13:25:00 EST http://www.yourneighborhoodtoystore.org/play-together.asp?i=89 http://www.yourneighborhoodtoystore.org/play-grow.asp?i=88 Toy Fair proved to be exceptional this year, celebrating the 110th year for this Toy Industry Association event.  Although there were many overall trends, what we strive to do is to view all the new product offerings with a lens on how they might re ... Fri, 15 Mar 2013 11:17:00 EST http://www.yourneighborhoodtoystore.org/play-grow.asp?i=88 http://www.yourneighborhoodtoystore.org/play-experts.asp?i=85 Time to get comfy… today is Tell a Fairy Tale Day.  New or old, fairy tales never seem to go out of style.  To celebrate we caught up with Mia Galison the creative force behind eeBoo. Learn how Mia is taking classics and making them new again ... Tue, 12 Mar 2013 12:17:00 EST http://www.yourneighborhoodtoystore.org/play-experts.asp?i=85 http://www.yourneighborhoodtoystore.org/play-learn.asp?i=86 Happy Polar Bear Day! February 27, we celebrate one of the world's most massive and beautiful creatures. While we honor this animal, it is important to remember that polar bears are in serious danger of becoming extinct. With global warming on ... Tue, 26 Feb 2013 15:42:00 EST http://www.yourneighborhoodtoystore.org/play-learn.asp?i=86 http://www.yourneighborhoodtoystore.org/play-experts.asp?i=87 For Cassandra Mathis being a neighborhood toy store means being connected to the community.  Since 2005 Alakazam Toys has been supporting play in Charlottesville, VA.  We caught up with Cassandra to learn about her experience as a neighborhoo ... Tue, 12 Mar 2013 13:33:00 EST http://www.yourneighborhoodtoystore.org/play-experts.asp?i=87