Toys

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?

By Karen Kirkpatrick

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.

By Karen Kirkpatrick

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?

By Karen Kirkpatrick

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.

By Karen Kirkpatrick

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.

By Karen Kirkpatrick

You don't need to be a professional to start customizing dolls; rooting their hair is an easy way to change their look.

By Karen Kirkpatrick

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?

By Kristen Hall-Geisler

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.

By Kristen Hall-Geisler

Approach the machine, drop in some coins and watch as hot plastic is molded into a train, gorilla or Frankenstein's monster. Mold-A-Rama machines remain popular with nostalgia fans, but what makes them so appealing?

By Bernadette Johnson

What could be more exciting than drawing or coloring on a piece of plastic, then watching that drawing shrink in the oven?

By Nathan Chandler

Making real baked treats in a toy oven is one of the great joys of childhood. Who knew that the heat of a light bulb would create a childhood culinary icon?

By Nathan Chandler

Although kids have always improvised things to play with, toys, as we know them, have actually been around only for a few centuries. Some of the hoops and pedal cars of yesteryear would still be fun to play with, we think.

By Beth Brindle

Whether you grew up in the carefree '50s or the safety-conscious '90s, you probably know of a toy that was lots of fun and, in hindsight, flat-out dangerous. Most are off the shelves now, but this list might bring back memories.

By Laurie L. Dove

The Etch-a-Sketch drawing toy has been popular with several generations of children -- and it's a pretty amazing device. We cracked one open to see what was inside.

The slot car craze hit the U.S. in the 1960s and it continues to remain the hobby of choice for many enthusiasts. But did you know that the idea for slot cars originated nearly 100 years ago?

By Christopher Neiger

She's held down more than 80 jobs, including paleontologist, astronaut and McDonald's cashier. She comes dressed to thrill in ball gowns and ski slope chic. So why would anyone compare her to an adults-only German doll?

By Cristen Conger

The Slinky and Play-Doh have been popular with children generation after generation. This collection of pictures shows these and other popular children's toys throughout the years.

By HowStuffWorks.com Contributors

If you've mastered all the other yo-yo tricks, try these. These feats of yo-yo dexterity and skill are fun to both watch and perform. Wow your friends by learning advanced yo-yo tricks for kids like the Texas Star, the Skyrocket, the Bank Deposit and more.

By the Editors of Publications International, Ltd.

Although the design of the yo-yo is simple, a skilled user can perform eye-popping feats of coordination and skill. Ready for the next level? Learn intermediate yo-yo tricks like the Loop the Loop, the Dog Bite and the Eiffel Tower.

By the Editors of Publications International, Ltd.

Want to be a Yo-Yo Master? Start with easy yo-yo tricks. Even if you've never held a yo-yo in your hand these are some fun basic tricks you can learn in no time! Learn easy impressive tricks like the Gravity Pull the Sleeper and Walking the Dog.

By the Editors of Publications International, Ltd.

Yo-yo popularity like the toy itself goes up and down. Read how the yo-yo came about find out which yo-yo type is right for you and learn how to make yo-yo knots adjust tension or attach a new string. Get the hang of your yo-yo in this article.

By the Editors of Publications International, Ltd.

Remember your favorite toy? It probably created a big stir in stores. Read this selection of must-have toys to find out if yours made the list.

By the Editors of Publications International, Ltd.

The world's most recognizable doll, Barbie was introduced in 1959 by Mattel, and she continues to entrance young girls half a century later. Learn about Barbie's history and what she has to do with a German doll named Lilli.

By John Fuller

Once confined to vaudeville and music halls, today's jugglers do anything from plate spinning to playing with devil sticks. In fact, you could define juggling as using feats of dexterity to manipulate one or more objects.

By Jonathan Strickland

Add your own personal touch to a child's toy collection by making toys yourself. This article provides instructions for making everything from play dough to jigsaw puzzles, rocking horses and sandboxes.

By Editors of Consumer Guide