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Games & toys

School&rsquos out. It&rsquos time for fun. The latest games attract both young and old while toys have moved with the times and become environment-friendly. Quality and style are major concerns. To meet the demand, a large number of small shops specialising in wooden toys are opening up. The Scandinavian countries set the example with designs that are attractive, fun and environment-friendly, and widely distributed throughout the rest of Europe.  The environment is not the only concern. Since toys always end up in a child&rsquos mouth, parents are looking for natural materials that are safe for their toddlers. Alongside wood, cardboard is the most popular material, particularly for children&rsquos playhouses and doll houses.

Who has never seen a small child get more out of the wrapping than the gift itself? Based on this principle, toys are made of recycled materials to which items from the family recycling bin can be added. A socially-aware way of renovating toys so that children don't get tired of them.
 
For budding greenies, there are also many educational toys that make them more aware of environmental issues while they are enjoying themselves. One example is Negocio where each player is a coffee merchant ... to learn the basics of fair trade and increase environmental awareness.

Nostalgia is another important value with toys and games that are inspired by the past. For boys, toy cars are collector&rsquos items dear to a father&rsquos heart. And they really love the &ldquoMy little vintage car&rdquo jigsaw puzzle with its Beetles and Mini Mokes.  Little girls climb into a time machine with their 1900s dolls and matching tea sets, dolls' furniture and doll toys of yesteryear. Time-worn games of skills are been revived. To improve dexterity, cup and ball games, diabolos and ninepins are a good alternative to a joystick and computer mouse!

And they might even entice children away from their consoles. Open air and Physical games have seen an upturn in 2009. Outdoor play sets, play houses and motor toys have contributed to growth in this sector. To have peace and quiet indoors and encourage little ones let off steam, nothing beats trampolines, outdoor play sets and roundabouts.

And if you really want your kids to enjoy themselves, forget about the noise and give them a musical instrument. The budding rock star will adore the sound of drums, guitars and toy pianos.

Once the children are in bed, you&rsquoll enjoy sitting down to a quiet board game. This sector is one of the most dynamic on the toys and games market with a growth rate of more than 6.4% in the first 8 months of 2008. Increasingly creative, Board games are a colossal success today, particularly with &ldquoadulescents&rdquo and are even competing with video games. Often intergenerational they provide the opportunity for the whole family to enjoy a moment together.

When it comes to card games, all-time French favourite, 1000 Bornes,  also called &ldquoThousand Miles&rdquo is celebrating its 55th anniversary this year as is still as popular ever with the 7 to 77 age bracket!