Rules to Play By
What Makes Them Good?
Picking a good toy depends on its purpose. For toys meant for children, aim for items that offer deep entertainment, or as Maria LaFichi, executive vice president of Zenith Promotions, Lawrence, N.Y. said, "genuine play value." She explained that part of this depth comes from a toy's durability (obviously if it breaks quickly it won't be entertaining for too long), but more than that a toy has to be not just fun, but engaging over the long-term. "Look for items that will keep kids occupied," she said. "Something they're not going to look at and toss aside. Pick something they really want to play and get involved with." What items qualify as genuinely engaging depends on many variables, such as the end-users' age group and setting of the promotion, but in general items that have strong creative, athletic/group play or puzzle-solving elements are going to offer a strong depth of play.