HowStuffWorks Newsletter
The Toys Channel has articles explaining how some of the coolest and most well-loved toys actually work. Learn the secrets of yo-yos, the wonder of LEGO bricks and magic of Baby Einstein.
Not only does LEGO think "Everything Is Awesome," but it also thinks "Everyone Is Awesome", too. And its newest set is designed to celebrate the diversity of all LEGO fans, including those in the LGBTQIA+ community.
By Jeremy Glass
There was a lot of beautiful stuff going on in the '80s. Then, there were the Garbage Pail Kids. Take a walk down memory lane with this icky quiz.
By Alia Hoyt
She's dominated pop culture for decades, but how much do you really know about the cutest anime character around? Take our purrfect quiz to find out!
By Alia Hoyt
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There are a ton manufactured every year across the world. So what company makes the most? You'll probably be shocked to find out.
To celebrate her big 6-0, Mattel has released six special edition Barbies: astronaut, firefighter, news anchor, pilot, politician and soccer player and, this fall, astrophysicist.
Lego has switched to a sugarcane-based plastic as part of its commitment to using only sustainably-sourced materials.
Today's Lego bricks probably aren't what you grew up with.
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Mattel released its latest shero version of the iconic Barbie — and she's the first ever to wear an hijab.
Because a $100 Droid Inventor Kit may allow you to do just that.
By Bryan Young
Once considered a paragon of creative, free-form play, Lego sets today incorporate more weapons and suggest more violent behavior than ever before.
Toys have evolved throughout history, but many of the simplest have remained the most popular since the dawn of time. Which of these 10 historic toys did you grow up playing with?
By Bambi Turner
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Get a blast from the past with our totally awesome top 10 toys list from the '80s! Did your favorites make the list? Find out which of the nostalgia-inducing toys are still around today.
By Bambi Turner
Kids who love science and math will want to get their hands on these super-fun games that make the learning part of play time.
By Bambi Turner
The first doll made specifically for boys -- deemed an "action figure" -- lived up to its name and became a global phenomenon.
It's expected these days to have cartoons based on kids' toys -- and vice versa -- but that wasn't always the case. Which toy started the trend?
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If you buy toys solely because you're hoping to make a bunch of money, you might want to come up with a different investment plan. It's hard to predict which ones will become valuable in the future.
Although we trust toy companies to make toys that are safe, mistakes can be made. Keeping up with recalls can help keep kids safe. But who decides when a toy is recalled?
Before kids had cell phones, walkie-talkies were really the only method of long distance communication while playing. Are they a thing of the past?
Although there were toys based on movies before the first "Star Wars" film, none of them exploded in popularity quite like those little action figures.
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There are a lot of toys on the market that claim to help your child learn how to walk, but what do the experts say? Is a push toy better than a walker?
It might be tempting to buy a knock-off toy because they're cheaper and often just as pleasing to your kid. However, they may be harmful to your child.
You like to play board games but often they take too long and an argument breaks out among the kids as to who's cheating. Maybe you should try a German-style board game instead.
You don't need to be a professional to start customizing dolls; rooting their hair is an easy way to change their look.
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Any kid with long enough and strong enough legs (along with the cognitive development to not run into trees or other kids) can work a pedal car. But are they safe?
What would you get if you hit a regular car with a shrink-ray and made it 64 times smaller? A Hot Wheels car, of course! These tiny, scale-model cars are still around, and still popular with kids — and lots of adults, too.