Toys Made in USA: The Best of the Best

Photo: carmen zuniga on Flickr

As parents, we all know the power of marketing. About 2 seconds of a cool commercial is all it takes for my son to be convinced that he "needs" whatever shiny, flashy toy is on the TV. But the best toys aren't made to be the hot ticket items of the season; the best toys are made to last.

Richard Gottlieb wrote an insightful post on Global Toy News entitled What Makes a Great Toy? He narrows down the criteria to four areas: the toy has to inspire memories that last a lifetime, it should create a sensory experience (touch, sound, etc), it should be scalable and grow with the child, and it has to be built to last.

As a parent, I wholeheartedly agree. Too many toys have been opened up on birthdays and Christmases only to break soon after. (Or in the case of one unfortunate RC airplane -- mere hours later.) But (and this should come as no surprise), I also believe the best toys come from right here in the USA. Buying American-made toys may have started as a matter of safety, but it's also a matter of principle. Buying American means supporting our neighbors -- making sure there are jobs for the talented workers and craftspeople that live in our own backyards.

Here are four of our favorite American-made toys.

Wooden Mail Truck. Sturdy enough to pass from generation to generation, this friendly little mail truck is sure to be a hit with any toddler. The littlest ones can take the red lid off and just place the mail and shapes inside. As they grow, they can fit the mail into the slot and the shapes into the cutouts on the truck.

Brain Quest. There aren't too many games that your sixth grader can enjoy as well as your first grader. Brain Quest is a game that's truly for the whole family. The questions are scaled so the playing field is fair.
Dado Cubes. Dado Cubes have won too many awards to list -- and it's no wonder. These simple cubes in various colors and sizes have limitless building possibilities. Your kids will just have fun creating new and interesting structures while (without realizing it) they're learning all about proportion, balance, color and structure.

Green Toys Trucks. Made from recycled milk jugs. Seriously. Not only are they eco-friendly, these trucks are sturdy, colorful, functional and fun. They inspire hours of imaginative play.