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Holidays What are the best toys to buy? Guest editor Claire Green of Parents'Choice offers expert advice. FUELED BY PLAY, learning often happens when and where it may not be expected. It occurs in the playroom, where roles are defined and rules negotiated; in the sandbox, when the creator of an elaborate road system asks, “How does a bridge stay up?”; at bath time, when the , tub becomes a testing ground. When kids /1 play, they’re experimenting probing, 11 prodding and testing new theories. \ t At this time of the year, surrounded by ads for “hot” toys, parents can feel over whelmed. Parents’ Choice evaluates toys, books, music and other products for chil dren, recommending only a select few that ’ appeal to kids, have staying power and have been praised by parents. Here’s a sampling of some of the best for this year’s gift-giving. If you’ve noticed your toddler in the grocery cart piling cartons into towns, encourage that kind of inter ‘ - \v \hu n . /*<■ sffiStS' 11% "N ttusfc of • iff l ' ‘AjSrf est with blocks and open-ended construction play sets. Contemporary colors make Brio’s building blocks smart and sophisticated (ages 1 and up, $27). Lego play sets like the Mars Command base ($89.99) can launch ©Learn more at parents-choice.org Give the Gif t of Fun! — : . Join The Anchor Bay Kxcfs Club: y/y/y/.anchorbayent.com/kxdsclub storvtelling abilities and an interest in sci v ence. The Fortamajig (The Happy Kid Com- A pany, ages 3-12, $69.95-$89.95) is one of the I j best play tents we’ve seen in years. It’s fun, I / versatile, colorful and portable. Dolls and stuffed animals give children op portunities to care for others. Broaden this nurturing play style with picture books and videos about families, play sets with family figures and playhouses big or small. To ex pand role-playing, try hospital play sets. Par- cel out the accessories from Piaymobil’s elaborate hos pital set (ages 4-12, $159.99) and it will grow with the child. The Pretend & Play Animal Hospital from Learning Resources (ages 3-6, $34.95) is a good choice for ani- gAll New ... ; • tEgSKKSB • • | tajggaSßg' Encourage role playing with well-designed play sets like the Pretend & Play Animal Hospital. mal lovers. Merge the tech and pretend worlds with software and video games such as Animal Genius (Scho lastic Inc. for Leapster, ages 4-8, $24.99) and Pet Vet 3D: Wild Animal Hospital (Viva Media, ages 7 and up, $29.99). Bring a tween’s fashion obsession out of the closet and onto a work table. Kits such as Fashion Design Studio Set (Fashion Angels, 8 and up, $24) and Art Lab Fashion Studio (Smart Lab, ages 8 and up, $19.99) teach ward robe design and construction. Creative Cosmetic (Thames & Kosmos, ages 12 and up, $64.95) turns a teen’s make up table into a science lab. ca Based on the / 1 E 3