Funny Phone Early Listening Game, Learning Resources, $34.99; www.learningresources.com; ages 4 and up.

 

A silly interactive phone helps sharpen kids’ listening skills while dishing out tongue twisters, jokes and more. Pick up the retro-style phone receiver and dial a number from the pull out phone directory. As children dial, each number gives a different, goofy sound effect and then the caller listens to the challenge and responds. Some challenges are for geared for an individual player, while others invite everyone to play. When the challenge is answered correctly, players feed the Funny Phone a token. The object of the game is to be the first to feed all your tokens!

 

There are over 300 questions in all, so play is different each time the phone is answered. Children quickly realize they have to listen to the whole message before responding; a boon to helping kids hone their patience and listening skills. 

 

Battleship, Hasbro, $15.99; www.hasbro.com; ages 7 and up.

 

The new clear plastic, two-sided battle grid brings players head-to-head in a high-tech-looking version of this classic sea battle game. Players face each other on opposite sides of the grid and launch a hit-and-miss assault on each other’s fleets. Call the shots: Charlie 8! Foxtrot 11! The play hasn’t changed much, but the ships and the battle arena have been nicely updated. Hit or miss, the nostalgia is unavoidable and the fun is intact!
 

$89.99; www.LEGO.com; for ages 6 and up. Play tabletop cops and robbers! Every detail of the design and size is well thought through. Set includes many fun accessories (trick walls, handcuffs, cells, etc.); the seven figures and three vehicles increase playability long after the HQ is built.

For more LEGO building fun, check out:

LEGO Creator Beach House
A World of LEGO Mosaics
Port of LEGO City
Model Town House

 

Swinxs, Swinxs BV, $150; www.swinxs.com; ages 4 and up.

 

This game console has 10 preinstalled games, and more can be downloaded free of charge. The physical action-inducing games range from timed relay races and hide-and-seek to Swinxs’ version of musical chairs. Players wear colored rubber wristbands that are scanned and identified by the unit. The screen-less hub provides clear audio directions and emits whimsy and attitude. If you need a break, relax and play the jukebox: the music emanates from the Swinxs console.

 

The lightweight rechargeable unit holds a charge for up to four hours and entertains one to 10 players at a time. Many game variations give children plenty of options to keep their minds and bodies active, while playing with friends and having fun.
 

Crayola® Color Explosion Glow Dome, Crayola LLC, $24.99; www.crayolastore.com; ages 6 and up.

 

Travel through a new dimension in art! This motorized dome is a clear plastic “canvas” upon which to draw your own masterpieces. Six markers (included) can be used on both the inside and outside of the dome, as well as on the flat, stand up insert. This insert gives adds depth and dimension to the artwork. Once the drawing is complete, turn out the lights and bring your masterpiece to life. Different light modes in the base can highlight the outside drawing, the insert drawing or a combination of both. The artwork can be viewed stationary or it can be spun at different degrees of speed to  animate scenes of fish swimming around an ocean or dogs running in a park.

 

Once lit, the “wow” neon color stands out to express your child’s creativity. Youngsters can draw their own picture or choose one from their favorite book or coloring page to trace through the clear surface. Adults can put a bedtime message on the dome for a unique nightlight. The dome wipes clean for ongoing play.   

FunSlides Toys and Games, $39.99; www.funslides.com; for ages 6 and up. Hockey puck glides easily within a game frame on carpet or floor and bounces off the elastic band sides for air hockey-style play.

$24.99; www.educationalinsights.com; for ages 5 and up. Pictorial challenge puzzles show the starting positions of a knight and princess along with the building blocks needed to solve the puzzle and create the route to reunite the royal pair. Starter, junior, expert and master levels help children advance their logical thinking through skill-building fun.

For more advanced puzzle fun, try:

Lonpos 84T Braintelligent Pyramid Game

$199; www.q-int.com and www.flybar.com; for ages 6 and up. Lean into it! This three-wheeled thrill ride gives kids the power to turn using their own bodies – lean left and it turns left; lean right and it turns right. This low-rider has pedals extended in front for a recumbent position, inner-tube tires for a smooth ride and coaster brakes for simple stopping. The frame is coated steel and solidly built for action and fun. 

For more active fun, check out:

Ezyroller
Slider, the UNscooter

$26.95; www.unitechtoys.com; for ages 5 and up. This wand creates the illusion of magic as principles of static electricity cause delicate Mylar designs to fly, dance and move through the air. The FunFlyStick has won international acclaim as the first battery-run, electrostatic toy.

Gobblet Gobblers, Blue Orange Games, $19.99; www.blueorangegames.com; ages 5 and up.

 

In this mega-simple game for two players, Tic-Tac-Toe meets the dog-eat-dog world. Four intersecting wooden bars make up the game board grid on which the players move 12 big-mouthed characters of different sizes. Depending on the size of one’s play pieces, they can be gobbled up by your opponent’s pieces – or you can gobble his! Played in pairs, youngsters easily grasp the simple and fun strategy. The rules are explained in photographs which are very easy to follow and understand.