Children playing with toys

Toys Buying Guide

Toys can entertain and stimulate young minds and foster an interest in a particular area, such as music, photography, math, arts and crafts, or language. Playing helps to develop a child's social, emotional, language, intellectual, and problem-solving skills. When choosing toys, consider safety and age-appropriateness.

Brands

The two largest toy companies in the U.S. are Mattel and Hasbro. Both have many familiar name brands in their stables. There are also many smaller toy companies, too many to list here. Use these profiles to compare toys by brand.

Mattel  |  Hasbro  |  Other brands

Mattel

The largest toy company in the U.S., Mattel manufactures toys under the Fisher-Price label and has such licensees as Sesame Street, Dora the Explorer, and Winnie the Pooh, among many others. Barbie and American Girl, Hot Wheels and Matchbox are some of Mattel's better-known playthings (www.mattel.com).
 

Hasbro

The second-largest toy company in the U.S., Hasbro, makes such brands as Playskool, Tonka, and My Little Pony. It has also bended many a mind with its popular games Monopoly, Jenga, Trivial Pursuits, and many others. (www.hasbro.com).
 

Other brands

Other major brands of toys for newborns, infants, and toddlers are, in alphabetical order:
 
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