Oh Toy!

After the wonderful chaos of Thanksgiving subsides next weekend, busy parents have one thing on their mind — getting Christmas shopping done without going crazy, trekking all over the city, or spending a fortune! To help you find inspired gifts for your family this season, we’ve put together a list of some of our favorite toys from the past year. From classic to cutting edge, we think there’s something in there for everyone on your “Nice” list. Plus, we’ve also rounded up the gift guides of other great online resources, like GiftHero, CoolMomPicks, Dr. Toys and more. Check out their expert finds below! —

The Toy
Insider’s “20 Hottest Toys for 2010” includes the Hide n Seek JoJo interactive
bunny for 18 months and up, the V-reader animated e-book system for ages 3 and
up and the Glee CD board game for teens.

Dr. Toy’s
“Best Picks for 2010” offers up “Elmo’s Space Adventure” building from K’nex,
for children ages 2-5, a recycled cardboard doll house for ages 4-8 and a
Fashion Angels interior design light box studio set for ages 8-12.

The
Oppenheim Toy Portfolio suggests the Kid Tough Video Camera and the
Sing-a-Ma-Jig, both from Fisher Price, from its list of Best High-Tech Toys
for 2010.

Mom Trends
suggests toys that are both inexpensive and battery-free, with their Top Wooden Baby
Toys list, including the pull-along penguin waddle, and the pyramid of play.

Gift Hero
will help you save the earth, one toy at a time with its list of Best Eco-Friendly
Gifts for Kids, including a fire truck made from recycled materials, pull-along elephants and a
wooden board game, Chickyboom.

The 2010
Holiday Gift Guide from Cool Mom Picks includes toys that will have your kids
exploring the outdoors, such as a personalized baby sled, a fairy play tent and
a fire truck tricycle.

New York Society of Play Summer Camp and Classes

Summer Game Camp There are many who do not feel safe sending their children back out into the world with summer camp, this year. To serve those parents and keep the children connected and stimulated during this challenging time, we are offering NYSP Digital Summer Camp. The name of the game with NYSP Summer Camp is community. We have made a large effort to make our camp feel like a living space, with features including &ndash; - Role-Playing games familiar and new, led by our master storytellers! - Enriching electives such as Chess, World Building, Character Acting, Crafts, Drawing, and more! - Discussion and media screening rooms during lunch! - A digital campus! - Moderated chat hours! &nbsp; Join us for a summer of games, friends, and more! Mon - Fri 10am - 2:30pm &nbsp; Roleplay Expeditions: Dungeons &amp; Dragons No experience is required to join one of our Dungeons &amp; Dragons games. Our game masters have pre-made character sheets, so you'll be able to start playing the game right away! We adapt the rules of traditional Dungeons &amp; Dragons to make them more approachable to children of various ages. Battle in dungeons, search for relics, and make new friends in our one-of-a-kind Dungeons &amp; Dragons workshop!&nbsp; &nbsp; Public games meet once per week, with different groups every time. Private games meet 1 to 2 times per week with the same group of kids. Since the players and the storyteller in the group are consistent, this enables us to tell epic tales of adventure together! &nbsp; Dungeons &amp; Dragons Junior No experience is required to join one of our drop-in Dungeons &amp; Dragons games. Our Dungeons &amp; Dragons Jr. game provides a D&amp;D storytelling experience without character sheets. Battle in dungeons, search for relics, and make new friends in our one-of-a-kind Dungeons &amp; Dragons workshop! A great way to introduce young children to D&amp;D so they can eventually move onto the main game.

Asphalt Green

Asphalt Green&rsquo;s high-quality sports programs start at 4 months old. Two beautiful facilities in vibrant Manhattan neighborhoods provide the optimal space for children to learn the fundamentals, play for leisure, or compete at the highest level. As the leading sports and fitness facility in Manhattan, Asphalt Green&rsquo;s never-before- seen training methods focus on improving your mental and physical game. Whether participating in swim, soccer, flag football, martial arts, basketball, baseball, tennis, or volleyball, coaches instill values that set athletes up for success in life and bring out their full potential in sports.

The Tutorverse

Join The Tutorverse for the highest quality in academic enrichment and test preparation! Whether your student is gearing up for the&nbsp;state exams, ISEE, SSAT, SHSAT, or SAT/ACT, our team of&nbsp;experienced and local professional educators&nbsp;can help. Have your student join a&nbsp;small-group class&nbsp;at our downtown or Upper East Side locations. Or, they can meet with a&nbsp;private tutor when and where it&rsquo;s most convenient for your family. Does your student need help building study skills or improving grades? Whether your middle or high schooler needs help with&nbsp;STEM or humanities, our patient and affirming tutors will teach them how to build&nbsp;confidence and content mastery.&nbsp;<a style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; background-color: #ffffff;" href="mailto:[email protected]" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Send us an email</a> or give us a call&mdash;we'd love to hear more about how we can help!