Toys for Children: Active Toys for Toddlers and Preschoolers

Rock Star Mickey may be newer, but Dance Star Mickey does a better job at encouraging your child to move and groove. He can walk, talk, and dance to seven different tunes. Kids ages two and up can play.

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Challenge your Toy Story 3 fan to an active game of seek-and-find. Scatter the familiar characters (Woody, Jessie, Buzz, Rex, and Ham), then follow the commands of the electronic tagger to tag the right character—fast! Kids can play alone or with up to 5 other friends, and multiple play modes keep the game interesting.

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Young children get their chance to play Wii games with several Sesame Street titles: Ready Set Grover (new for 2011; compare prices), Elmo's A to Zoo Adventure (compare prices) and Cookie's Counting Carnival (compare prices; these games are sold separately). These games teach preschool basics like letters and numbers, and the Grover game emphasizes healthy habits—including being active and eating well. For Wii, the games come with a special fuzzy cover for the Wiimote. This makes them easier (and more fun) for little kids to use, and covers buttons they don't need. The games are also available for PC and for the Nintendo DS platform, but Wii versions require more physical activity of players. If your child prefers Nickelodeon characters, check out Nickelodeon Fit for Wii (compare prices), starring Dora, Kai-Lan, and pals.

This cute game, featuring everyone's favorite curious monkey, encourages players to play a quick round of hide-and-seek during the course of play. It's an unexpectedly active twist to a normally sedentary activity. Plus, kids can use the included walkie-talkie and animal masks for active pretend play even without the board game.

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Spread out the colorful, 3' by 3' mat indoors or out for a simple game of beanbag toss. Four beanbags are included in the attached, zippered bag. Flip the mat over for a second game called "Feed the Fish."

Build soccer skills inside with this innovative toy (recommended for ages 4 and up). The "ball" has a flat side designed to slide across the ground into the special low-profile goal (included). Since the ball is easier to control, kids can practice dribbling and shooting skills with more success.

Here's a fun take on the classic how-low-can-you-go? party game. This battery-operated game requires only two players (but more can join in!). Spin the dial to try one of the six limbo styles: classic, crabwalk, crawl, giraffe walk, forward, or backward. Sneak under without knocking down the giraffe—but if you can't, no worries. He'll just laugh, and your child will too.

Looking for a cuter (and maybe quieter) version of home-made coffee can stilts? These fab feet are made out of sturdy foam with rope handles, so kids can stomp inside and out.