Community Corner

Top 5 San Diego-Made Toys for the Holidays

Why not shop local this holiday season? Patch met up with local toy store owner Brian Miller to get his picks for top San Diego County made and/or designed toys. Miller owns Geppetto's and has been selling toys locally for 30 years.

Miller selected a handful of toys for infants to the grown children in your family. You can find all of these toys at Geppetto's and some at other local retailers for the 2013 holiday season.

Toy: Green Kid Crafts' Dinosaur
Price: $29.95
Age Range: 3+
Description: Green Kid Crafts makes educational, hands-on and eco-friendly arts, crafts and science activities. Each Discovery Box contains three to four creativity and science kits, fun extras, extension activities and a 20+ page themed Green Kid! Activity Guide. All activities are designed by parents and tested by kids. Fun themed boxes include Dinosaurs, Ocean, and Backyard Science.  
 
Toy: 
Spooner boards
Price: $37.99-$54.99
Age Range: Lil' Grom Board: 3-9, Freestyle Board: 4-9, Pro Board: 9+
Description: National City-based Spooner Boards makes versatile boards that are perfect for mastering surfing, skateboarding and snowboarding skills in any environment. The boards, first made by Imperial Beach resident Randy Rutland in 2007, help users develop balance and coordination. You can play with them in the snow, on the sand, in the driveway, on the lawn and even on carpet in your living room.
 
Toy: Doink-It Darts
Price: $29
Age Range: 6+
Description: Escondido-based Marky Sparky Toys' Doink-It Darts are powerful magnetic darts that stick onto a 16-inch dartboard and not on the wall. This game is great for hand-eye coordination and doesn't require a lot of space to play. Plus, its fun for the whole family. Doink-It Darts were created by Mark Rappaport, who has invented toys for Oddz On, Just Toys, Sport Fun and Hasbro.

Toy:
Blast Pad and Blast Pad Jr.
Price: $20-$29
Age Range: 8+ for Blast Pad, 5+ for Blast Pad Jr.
Description: This is another Marky Sparky Toy. Users jump onto a launch tube to send foam missiles into the air. Both the regular and junior versions are collaspible and should be played outside. These kid-powered toys require no batteries. 

Toy:
Pop and Play
Price: $10-$30
Age Range: Infant and toddler
Description: San Diego-based Infantino's Pop and Play toys are perfect for floor time, crib time, carseat travel and cruising in the stroller. They each have bright colors and fun textures to keep babies entertained and all help develop motor skills. We liked the 3-piece activity plush jungle, with a cute elephant, giraffe and monkey.

Geppetto's has stores in the Patch communities of Carlsbad, Carmel Valley, Del Mar, 4S Ranch and La Jolla. It has four other locations in Fashion Valley, Old Town, Seaport Village downtown San Diego and UTC.


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