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The Toy InsiderHot 200-2 YEARS3-5 YEARS6-8 YEARS9+ YEARSShopping Guide
6-8 YEARS


6-8 Years, Grade SchoolIndependence and an evolving sense of self are the hallmarks of grade-schoolers. Their home life has expanded into a broader community of school, friends and teammates. Most kids are willing to try new experiences as they explore their choices and expand their abilities. As a significant influence in your kids' lives, you can encourage them to seek out and pursue their passions. Toys and games can develop an appreciation for science, the arts, strategic and mind-stimulating activities and for caring and giving back to their community. Certain toys can also satisfy kids' ever-present quest for anything to do with pop-culture and being 'in the know.' Kid-safe websites are a new approach to playing and learning that also teach basic computer skills and computer etiquette.

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BARBIEGIRLS.COM MP3 PLAYER, 6+
The Barbie Girl device is more than just an MP3 tech-cessory. It opens the door to the first global, virtual online world designed exclusively for girls and unlocks secret codes, pets and more online. MATTEL, www.barbiegirls.com

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BELLA SARA TRADING CARDS, 6+
Join this joyful world of horses, with positive messages to empower girls! Beautiful horse cards to collect, to trade with friends and to play card games. Enter your horses online and nurture them in their very own stables. Kid-safe site. HIDDEN CITY GAMES, www.hiddencitygames.com or www.bellasara.com

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BE-BRATZ.COM DOLLS, 6+
With Be-Bratz.com, YOU get to create and become a new Bratz character online! Necklace becomes a USB key to unlock your Bratz character. Create and customize your online personality and chat with other Bratz online. MGA ENTERTAINMENT, www.be-bratz.com

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COLOR ME MESSENGER BAG, 7+
Girls can customize their bag for personal style. The bag measures 14" by 11" by 4", big enough for schoolbooks and binders. Includes six permanent markers in a cool pouch.
ALEX TOYS, www.alextoys.com

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COLOR SCHEME GAME, 6+
Create colorful art with this visually appealing new strategy game. The winning player successfully overlaps primary color tiles to create a row of three secondary colors. Two-player game with swivel base. EDUCATIONAL INSIGHTS, www.educationalinsights.com

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DIGITAL ARTS & CRAFTS STUDIO, 6+
Now it's easy and secure for kids to create, save and print their very own arts and crafts projects on their home computer. Kids can use the stylus to draw masterpieces with numerous drawing tools, colors and stampers, or they can create and customize multiple craft projects.
FISHER PRICE, www.fisherprice.com

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FLIPPIN' FROGS GAME, 6+
Unique launchers spring your frogs toward the rotating tree to see who stays and who falls. After the big POP, see how many frogs drop! Capturing the most frogs in the tree wins that round. Includes electronic frog sounds.
MATTEL, www.mattel.com

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HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL II DVD BOARD GAME, 6+ Based on High School Musical 2. Now the kids are working at a country club! Game lets you play along, sing along, and dance along. CD can also be downloaded to your MP3 player for fun on-the-go.
CARDINAL GAMES, www.cardinalgames.com

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HYPER DASH, 6+
A fast-paced electronic game that challenges the body and the mind. Promotes listening, memory, math and coordination skills. Can be played indoors or outdoors, solo, in pairs or in teams. Uses unique RFID technology to enhance game play. WILD PLANET, www.wildplanet.com

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MARS MISSION BASE COMMAND, 6+
Mars Mission sends kids' imaginations to outer space. Build this sprawling command base for the space specialists as they gather crystal energy into the space shuttle. Fend off the aliens using the airpowered rockets in the Alien Transport System. LEGO, www.lego.com

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NERF N-STRIKE DISK SHOT, 6+
Disk launching system—just like traditional skeet shooting, but with a NERF foam twist! With three built-in difficulty levels, NERF enthusiasts will enjoy getting ready to launch, aim and test their blasting skills.
HASBRO, www.hasbro.com/nerf

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NET JET GAMING SYSTEM, 6+
Closed system includes two main components: a kid-tested controller that plugs into a personal computer's USB port and a game key that slides into the controller and activates content. Kid-safe online portal with no advertising or pop-ups.
HASBRO, www.hasbro.com/tiger/netjet

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ONLY HEARTS HORSE AND PONY CLUB, 6+ Positive messaging for girls to follow their hearts. Wholesome dolls and horses are soft and posable, with hair that can be combed. Collection includes six horses, six riding dolls, outfits, a stable and a corral. Each sold separately. ONLY HEARTS CLUB, www.onlyheartsclub.com

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SCENE-IT HARRY POTTER 2ND EDITION DVD GAME, 8+
This DVD game is loaded with new movie clips from the first five Harry PotterTM movies, including previously unavailable footage from the Goblet of FireTM, plus images, questions and puzzlers from the 2007 release of Harry Potter and the Order of the PhoenixTM.
MATTEL GAMES, www.mattel.com

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SERPENT'S SPIRAL COASTER, 6+
Giant coaster features K'NEX micro parts for intricate building. Measuring over five feet tall, the building set includes 38 feet of winding, writhing track. Uses a motorized chain lift to carry cars to the top of the ride.
K'NEX, www.knex.com

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SHREK III SWAMP PARTY DVD GAME, 6+
Draw, dance and prance on your quest to become the life of the party. Features 200 wacky, off-the-couch physical and brainy challenges,with multiple levels of play. Includes Shrek ears, toss rings, Donkey bean bag plus an activity mat and 4 collectible Shrek figurines.
FUNBRANDZ, www.funbrandz.com

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SPIDER-MAN III ACTION COMMAND SPIDER-MAN, 6+ Spider-Man comes to life with animated movements, voice and web-slinging sound effects. Maneuver him forward, backward or spin 360° with the infrared controller. Program up to 15 commands to create more than 1,000 action sequences.
THINKWAY TOYS, www.thinkwaytoys.com

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SPOTZMAKER, 6+
Girls can show off their creativity! In just 3 steps, girls can set their individual style: Choose it! Punch it! Twist it! Each Spotz is personalized since girls choose the image inside, the colors, and the themes. Some SPOTZ have Light-up features.
ZIZZLE, www.zizzle.com

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TAMAGOTCHI PC PACK, 6+
Unique accessory pack has voice-activation software. Kids can tell their desktop Tamagotchi buddy to fetch email, dance on-screen and more. Includes mousepad and a CD-ROM disk filled with wallpapers, printable graphics, games and more. BANDAI, www.bandai.com or www.TamagotchiTown.com

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TRANSFORMERS ULTIMATE BUMBLEBEE, 6+ This impressively styled Chevrolet Camaro Concept car is more than meets the eye, as it changes into the beloved Autobots character,which stands 14 inches tall. Bumblebee will come to life with robot animatronics action in both car and robot modes.
HASBRO, www.hasbro.com/transformers

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TRIPLE TRIUMPH, 6+
New 3-D strategy game where players match, stack and race around the board to win! Match up the sides of the colorful pyramids—the more sides players match, the more they score. Block opponents and plot strategy, with endless combinations.
CRANIUM, www.cranium.com

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VIDEO JOURNAL, 8+
Affordable digital camera equipped with an electronic scrapbooking feature. Encourages girls to customize their online diaries and record and store photo images alongside their journaling. Pages can be formatted to fit Password Journal. RADICA, www.radicagames.com/girltech

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WEBKINZ, 6+
Cuddly plush pets have an activation code that unlocks new virtual play online at the Webkinz website. Nurture your pets online at this popular kid-safe site after activating them with the special code on their tags.
GANZ, www.webkinz.com


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