Why do kids seem to love cartoon characters and the toys associated with them? There are all kinds of character toys in many different forms and for all age groups.

According to Toy Tips research, licensed character products—toys with a recognizable animated or humanlike TV or movie character such as Pooh—are popular because children identify quickly with a character they like. They want the toy with a "personality."

If you buy licensed character toys, keep in mind the personality of the character. Is it a personality that you approve of? Remember that your child is learning from this personality and may even mimic what it does.

When your child begs for a popular character, be selective. Limit their toy collection to only acceptable personalities. Balance the request with a book about the character or a different toy that encourages skill development.

[ Marianne Szymanski, founder of Toy Tips | Q&A | Toy Reviews |
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