Bilibo, a low-tech toy shaped like a turtle shell, is endless fun for youngsters with imagination.

 


Splish splash, the kids are having a blast. And this summer they're beating the heat with some of the coolest toys around. Goodies like underwater radios and foam-covered rockets take playtime to a new level.

"Family play needs are different in the summer," says Suzanne Heron, president of the Neighbourhood Toy Stores Association. "Parents are looking for that one thing to keep the kids busy while travelling," she adds. <

Long car journeys

Heron suggests a plastic container full of Duplo (Lego for toddlers) for long car journeys. "It works in the backseat and at the beach," she adds. She also recommends filling a lunchbox with Playmobile or any other open-ended toy that sparks imaginative play.

When days seem to stretch on forever try something from the Sweden's Active People, suggest Scott Irwin, director of marketing for Winscott.

"The European company produces multi-functional toys that are simplistic in their play pattern, yet still offer active play value," says Irwin. "These playthings allow people to discover the toy rather than just sitting and watching it perform," adds Irwin.

Two examples of this concept are Astro Jax, a bouncing, swinging hand-held gadget that will challenge the best yo-yo players around, and Bilibo, a low-tech toy for youngsters that is limited only by child's imagination. The best way to see these toys in action is by visiting their website at www.activepeople.com.

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