by Monty Hamilton

Created on: November 21, 2007

As multiculturalism becomes more commonplace in our society, so too do multicultural toys and games become more prevalent in the marketplace, and as their numbers go up so does the need for consumers to be able to separate the contenders from the pretenders quality wise.

Who are the best multicultural toy and game providers and producers? Kemco, Jambo Kids, Think Button, Toys R Us, K-Mart, Target, Barnes and Noble, Halu Multicultural, Dolls Like Me, Real Kidz, Many Shades of You, I Celebrate Diversity, China Sprout, Mandy's Moon, Simple As That, Mattel, MGA Entertainment, Arco, and Scholastic, amongst many others.

What are some of the more popular multicultural toys and games? In general, jewelry, apparel, magazines, stationary, dolls, puzzles, books, videos, puppets, and home decorations, just to name a few. More specifically, Bur Bur and Friends, Carpatina, Corolle, Karito Kids, Real Kidz, Bratz, and Barbie, again, just to name a few.

When is the earliest one can introduce multicultural toys and games to children? As soon as children are old enough to play with toys and games, they're old enough to play with multicultural toys and games. I mean, what better way to integrate multicultural toys and games into children's lives as the norm than to make them the norm right off the bat?

Where do multicultural toys and games rank in overall popularity in relation to all toys and games? Multiculturalism in general has become the norm in our society, so it's no wonder that it has also become the norm in our toys and games as well. Multicultural toys and games sell on average as well as any other toys or games, because they're looked upon the same way, pretty much, as any other toys or games.

Why are multicultural toys and games not as prevalent as they should be? As popular as multicultural toys and games have become, there's always room for improvement. When multicultural toys and games are just considered toys and games with their multiculturalism not raising eyebrows, and their quality as toys and games being of greater concern than anything else about them, then they'll truly have arrived.

How can one discern high quality from low quality then it comes to choosing a multicultural toy or game? The same way one would when buying any other toy or game, for the most part. A consumer, of course, wants to use commonsense and do their research through bodies like the Better Business Bureau and by checking out where certain toys and games rank in consumer ratings. One thing I'd definitely look at is how the multiculturalism in the toy or game is portrayed. Are the cultures involved being presented in an intelligent, respectful, and authentic manner, or the opposite, i.e., with ignorant caricatures? All I'm saying is, just keep in mind that looks can be deceiving, and to look before you leap when buying these toys and games, and allowing your children to play with, be influenced by, and/or learn from them, cause just because a toy or game portrays multiple cultures does not mean it portrays them accurately, wisely, or with care.

All that being said, overall, multicultural toys and games are a great way to teach children about diversity. They help expand kids' horizons, and enable them to have fun while doing it.

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