Toys

I don’t know how it is around your house, but at the Farmer’s house nothing ever leaves. Stuff that is.

Barbie has some monster-sized competition.

Andre Cassagnes, the man responsible for inventing the venerable Etch A Sketch, a toy that inspired countless children ever since it was introduced in 1960, has died at age 86 in France.

Ever since it was introduced in 1963, the Easy-Bake Oven has been marketed exclusively to girls, leaving aspiring boy chefs out in the cold. But that's about to change thanks to a campaign led by a teen girl on behalf of her four-year-old brother, who loves to cook.

In a pleasantly surprising move, a Swedish toy company called Top Toy has made a giant leap for gender equality amongst children. Top Toy's Christmas catalog features an interesting twist: the boys are the ones who are playing with dollhouses and the girls are happily playing with the Nerf guns.

Tis the season to be annoyed by your kids toys...fa la la la la, la la la la!  You can submit those "Toys That Annoy" for a chance to win stocking stuffers!

Ahhh...memories of childhood.  I recall the days of playing in the basement with my "Six Million Dollar Man" action figure, all the while being envious of my little sis baking things up in her "Easy Bake Oven".  Well, times are a changin'.

While we're still three months away, it looks like Elmo and a Harry Potter DVD game could be the top selling toys during the 2011 holiday season. Let's Rock Elmo and Scene it? Harry Potter: The Complete Cinematic Journey are two of the favorites that have made the list of the 20 hottest toys compiled by the Toy Insider to help shoppers find the perfect gifts for children.