As the Strategist’s resident toy expert, I have spent years talking to dozens of experts, walking for miles at toy fairs, and testing everything from the latest board games to the squishiest ...

“We’re trained to use toys as tools—that’s what separates us from a typical playgroup,” she explained. “We break child development down into many steps, small pieces of big milestones.

New research has detected high levels of flame retardants in some toys, kitchen utensils and other household items made from recycled black plastic. But the potential health effects remain unclear.

Toys that capture both their wants and their learning brains’ needs are ideal for this age. After all, these playful preschoolers tend to be quite busy and active. According to Jodi Huffman ...

This article contains affiliate links. We may earn a small commission on items purchased through this article, but that does not affect our editorial judgement. Aldi’s pre-Christmas toy event ...