The Best Toys Your Kids Will Actually Play With

Science Explains Why Kids That Play Well Thrive ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ Nov. 24, 2023 Here at Fatherly, we’ve spent countless hours discussing, arguing, and thinking about what makes a toy great. We’ve tried to come up with universal rules — they shouldn’t be loud and annoying; they shouldn’t make a huge mess! — only to happen upon one counterexample after another. The only real thing we can agree on, and maybe the only thing that actually matters, is that a great toy is one a kid plays with over and over. So, this year, instead of offering up a catalog of shiny new toys fresh off the production line, we decided to write about the toys that are most present in our kids’ lives. When we thought of toys this way, well, the joy rose up and the annoying things about all that stuff in our lives went away. We hope you’ll bask in some of this joy and maybe even get as many smiles as we did out of some [slime]( a few games, and [one really cool inflatable unicorn](. TOY AWARDS [The Toys We’ve Played With All Year Long]( Fatherly’s toys of the year aren’t shiny, new, untested playthings — [they’re what our kids came back to over and over again all year long.]( [READ THIS STORY]( The only real thing we can agree on, and maybe the only thing that actually matters, is that a great toy is one a kid plays with over and over. FURTHER READING [Wyclef Jean On His Favorite Toys And Why Inclusive Toys Matter]( [Science Explains Why Kids That Play Well Thrive]( [Since When Did Stuffed Animals Get So Freaking Weird?]( SHOPPING [The Best Black Friday Deals On Amazon]( Don’t wait to get started on your holiday gift list; Amazon is dropping tons of prices now on name-brand tech, home products, self-care products, and more. The catch? These deals are selling out fast: Scroll on before they’re gone. [READ THIS STORY]( FATHERLY MUST-HAVES AMAZON Outlet Extender with Night Light $26.99 $12.77 [SHOP NOW]( Amazon RAK 2-in-1 Multi-Tool Pen Set (2 Pack) $24.99 $14.86 [shop now]( Amazon Lefant Robot Vacuum Cleaner $199.99 $88.88 [shop now]( Amazon OlarHike 8 Set Packing Cubes $24.99 $9.99 [shop now]( REAL TALK [How To Talk To Kids About War]( Psychologist and parenting expert Dr. Becky Kennedy explains [how parents can navigate the tough questions and feelings kids have when talk of war is everywhere.]( [READ THIS STORY]( BLUEY C’MON [The Bluey Video Game Is A Surprisingly Good Video Game]( The Heeler family [has arrived as a playable family.]( [READ THIS STORY]( PICTURE BOOKS [The 100 Great Children’s Picture Books Of All Time Are An Absolute Inspiration]( [Bedtime reading just got better.]( [READ THIS STORY]( FOOD TRADITIONS [6 Holiday Recipes Chefs Always Serve Their Families]( From a beloved cheese ball and whole-roasted cauliflower to beef bourguignon and the best almond brittle you’ll ever bite into, [here’s what the pros serve at their holiday table.]( [READ THIS STORY]( Follow us on: [Want to Advertise With Us? Get in Touch.]( You're receiving this email because you signed up to receive communications from BDG Media. If you believe this has been sent to you in error, please safely [unsubscribe](. Or to manage preferences click [here]( BDG Media, Inc. · 315 Park Ave. South · New York, NY 10010 · USA Copyright 2023 BDG Media, Inc. All rights reserved.