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What's behind the resurgence of wooden toys in the screen age? First, they are sturdy enough to be passed on for generations. Second, they never go out of style. Most wooden playthings also enhance the creativity and imagination of kids and help them with numeracy, literacy, motor skills and problem solving. They are also biodegradable and some are made from sustainable timber. Last but not the least, there are lots of quality wooden toys on the market that won't leave a hole in your wallet—like this unique piece of artwork from Greek design studio Matolaki . This beautifully-crafted push-pull toy is guaranteed plastic free, doesn't need batteries and run on pure imagination. In the box you'll find a nice hand-printed cotton pouch, tied to a plan-card of a few animal toy models. Recommended for children ages 3 and up. You can get them for about $63 on Etsy .

It's about freaking time — Bad Robot's iconic logo is finally getting an action figure treatment. That's right folks, J. J. Abrams' production outfit has partnered with Mattel Creations to make a really cool toy. Standing 7.25-inches-tall, the die-cast and plastic figure has twenty-four points of articulation and even includes a removable panel on the back of its head to reveal the robot's true inner workings. The Bad Robot Premium Action Figure is now available for pre-order ($100), but won't ship out until February 2022. Some more info while I start manufacturing bootlegs to sell to desperate nerds: The head, torso, legs and feet are made of heavy die-cast metal. The packaging design is inspired by retro comic mail-in ads. Comes with a plastic display base and a certificate of authenticity. Packaging Dimensions: 6.75" wide x 4" deep x 10" tall.  

As parents, we want our children to have the toys that will foster their creativity and boost their imagination. LEGO sets are fine. But there are plenty of other options aside from those Danish plastic bricks. One of my daughter's favorite things to do is making toy figures out of discarded cardboard boxes. She also has a strong penchant for technology, so I guess this recent project by Studio Fantasio would really appeal to her. [h/t: designboom ]

LEGO and Transformers action figures are some of the toys I really wanted as a kid, but never got. Boy or girl, every child wanted a LEGO. My older cousin had a couple of LEGO sets, but didn't really let me play with them. So, I desperately asked my rich Japayuki ninang for one. Instead, she gave me a knockoff—like the ones sold at sari-sari stores near public elementary schools. Every year, I looked forward to birthdays and holidays with great anticipation, but I never got the real thing. During the height of their popularity in the 80s, many people were convinced that their Autobots and Decepticons were actually smart investments, and that the shape-shifting alien robots would one day be worth thousands. More than 30 years after the original Transformers TV series first aired, its toy franchise remains one of the most popular in history. My mother gave me one when I was 7. Unfortunately, what I got was a funny counterfeit Starscream from Divisoria that looked like a malnouris...

This is the $300 LEGO version of Old Trafford football stadium. The set contains 3,898 pieces including an enormous instruction manual, and measures 18 inches long, 15 inches wide, and 6.5 inches high. The Danish toymaker has recreated all aspects of the model to be as accurate to the real thing—from details like the Munich Clock and statues of Sir Alex Ferguson, Matt Busby, and the United Trinity, to the Stretford End. Definitely not for the faint of heart. WATCH:

Despite the current unemployment numbers, Barbie has managed to hold down an endless assortment of jobs, from astronaut to race car driver and UNICEF Ambassador. One version of the iconic doll even comes with a dog and a magnetic poop scoop. Now Mattel has created a Jean-Michel Basquiat X Barbie Doll , which features many well-known elements from works spanning the artist's career. The $50 plaything comes in specially designed packaging, with a doll stand and Certificate of Authenticity. This isn't the first time Barbie has merged with the fine arts. Past art-focused collaborations from the brand have featured the works of Keith Haring, Gustav Klimt and Andy Warhol. Ah, yes. Barbie's foray into neo-expressionism. I suppose I should just be glad that there's no Pablo Picasso version with beard and a pink beret on. WATCH: YouTuber Unboxes Basquiat Barbie

Toys from Japan are so hip that they're called art. In this 15-minute video, Carl Kent-Smith shares his massive collection of sofubi, neokaiju, vintage Japanese playthings and other plastic creatures.

Here's a tip: If you lose your child at The Museum of Modern Art, try the MoMa Design Store , where he's likely roaming around and looking for some cool toys. Among the things worth buying is this Science Experiment Toolbox, which contains everything kids as young as four need to conduct over 6 exciting experiments. Made of durable plastic and eco-friendly wood parts, budding engineers, inventors, and problem-solvers will be fascinated by this set. There's a bell ringer, a zoetrope, a waving hand, a climbing frog and a crane to help them learn logical concepts such energy transfer, momentum and gravity.  I would have loved this as a kid.

Nobody's ever too old for toys. And this LEGO version of the Batmobile from Tim Burton's 1989 Batman flick is a thing of beauty. The 3,300-piece set measures over 4 inches high, 23 inches long and 8 inches wide when fully assembled. It's highly detailed and comes complete with minifig versions of Michael Keaton, Jack Nicholson and Kim Basinger as Batman, The Joker and Vicki Vale. Other features include a slide-open cockpit, pop-up machine guns, and a rotating display stand. The $250 model is the perfect Christmas gift for LEGO and Batman fans. Unless you've been naughty this year like I've been, then you can expect nothing more than a fruitcake. Check out BrickVault's review of the LEGO 1989 Batmobile building set below:

Kano is well-known for creating tools that teach young people how to code in simple steps. The company's latest product is an $80 Star Wars-themed kit , which helps users learn the way of The Force with a build-it-yourself Bluetooth connected coding system. Through this kit, users will be able to code, create, play, and control lightsabers and other Star Wars-related stuff. Inside the box you'll find a step-by-step storybook, an array of exclusive Kano Star Wars stickers, a printed circuit board with sensors and LED lights, a case, and interchangeable icons, including the Rebel Alliance and Galactic Empire. To be able to use the Star Wars The Force Coding Kit you'll need a Windows 10 PC, Mac, iPad, or Kindle Fire 10HD with Bluetooth LE connectivity. The free to download companion app is available via iTunes, Windows Store, and Kindle Store. If your child isn't into Star Wars, you can try the Disney Frozen 2 Coding Kit or the Harry Potter Coding Kit . The...

Minecraft is one of today's most popular video games for young kids and tweens. It is also one of the most addictive. You can go anywhere in the game and do anything you want—and that makes it difficult for children to stop playing. Thanks to Ravensburger for this Minecraft-based board game . It's the perfect excuse to down screens, spend quality time together as a family, and allow kids to touch and interact with something tangible. It's a great way to stimulate their brains too. Designed in collaboration with Mojang, the $39.99 game is geared for two to four players and takes 30-60 minutes to play. Well, that beats the average daily time my 6-year-old daughter spends in the Overworld. Product Description: "Minecraft: Builders & Biomes comes with high-quality game pieces including 64 resource cubes, 64 building and Monster cards, 36 weapon tokens, 4 player boards, 4 experience counters, 4 character skins, 4 game piece Bases, 12 overview cards, 1 resource...

Kids play with them, while adults prefer to show them off in adjustable shelves — inside their boxes. It's no secret Funko POP! figures have become one of the hottest pop culture collectibles worldwide. The company has secured product licenses for just about every game, comic book, music, TV and film distributor. To say that there's something for everyone is an understatement. It's easy to own a Funko because a lot of them are relatively inexpensive. If you look at their website you will notice that you can get some cool stuff for under $12. But new collectors be warned: collecting Pops is very addictive, and it's important to decide what kind of collector you want to be. Do you intend to keep all of your figurines? Or you think you might be interested in trading and selling? Whatever you choose, you have to start somewhere. To get you started I bring you some of the creepiest Funko Pops that horror fans can't get enough of (because Halloween is fast approachin...

You may never own a real Defender, but you can proudly display this impressive LEGO Technic model, a collaboration between Land Rover and the Danish toy brand. The 2,573-piece kit is packed with authentic details and features, including a six-cylinder engine with a working winch, removable roof rack with storage box, a working steering wheel and forward-folding rear seats that reveal the 4-speed sequential gearbox. The replica measures over 8 inches high, 16 inches long and 7 inches wide. The LEGO Technic Land Rover Defender will be available starting October 1st and could set you back by about Php10,300. Time to start saving.

If I'm being completely honest, I don't have any real need for a marble machine , and you probably don't need one, either. But there's something mesmerizing about watching these marbles in repetitive motion, and I've been staring at them all morning. WATCH:

Taiwan is more than betel nuts, themed restaurants, and night market. It's also the home of some of the best spinning top enthusiasts in the world. In this two-minute video by Kuma Films , a group of spinning top masters from Taoyuan show us some awe-inspiring trick shots using the wooden children's toys.

I'm so dad of a little girl. Look at me posting about toys and kids apps more frequently now. Anyway, I really love this Star Trek Enterprise plaything. It's made of 100% wood and features characters from The Next Generation . It's smooth, built to last, and perfect for little hands. I'm not just sure if it's still available for purchase on Etsy. [h/t: Tor ]

We can thank aBetterMonkey for this. After getting the required number of votes , LEGO has now secured the licensing rights and has confirmed that it will make an official Adventure Time set. There is no word yet on pricing, availability, or what the final version will look like. But what matters is that Finn, Jake, and the rest of the gang have finally been given the greenlight. I would play with those cheerfully and if any kids asked to join I would let them, but I'd have to be Finn.

Mini Materials in Winter Springs, Florida produces beautiful miniaturized construction materials at 1:12 scale. The cinder blocks are made from actual cement, the bricks are made from real terra cotta, and the pallets (which double as coasters) are built from real wood. For added durability you'll probably want to use their mortar that's thankfully easier to mix than the real thing. Whether you want to build your own miniature version of Winterfell Castle, the White House, or the X-Mansion, Mini Materials will let you make them as sturdy as their real-life counterparts. [h/t: Uncrate ]

There's just something mesmerizing about watching a yo-yo spin and flip like crazy. In this 3-minute video by Kuma Films , professional yo-yo player Ryo Yamashita shows us some of his sickest looping tricks.

Using dismembered parts from old toys and found objects, artists from Y_Nakajima create creepy dystopian figures. The Japanese modder is really good at subjugating childhood icons. For example, they took the beloved Thomas the Tank Engine and turned him into this unbearable monstrosity. Take a look at some of their creations below, and visit their blog for more creepy goodness.  [h/t: Kotaku ]