Toys 'R' Us identifies summer toy trends

WAYNE, N.J. Backyard Bands, Nature First, Get Your Move On and Techno-cation are the top play trends for summer 2008, according to Toys "R" Us.

"One of the advantages of being a dedicated specialty toy retailer is our unique insight into how toy choices affect kids' play time," said Bob Giampietro, senior vp of trend and innovation for Toys "R" Us, U.S. "These summer play trends reflect a growing fascination with home-grown artistic and musical talent, things good for the earth, the importance of physical activity opportunities, and making learning an exciting, fun-filled experience."

As part of its summer trend list, Toys "R" Us is promoting items such as the Hannah Montana Electric Guitar from U.S. Music Corp. that is made for smaller hands, the updated Crayola 64 box, the Wii Fit ant the Leapster 2 from LeapFrog.