Top 5 Construction Toys 2010

What would one expect when they see the phrase, "Top 5 Construction Toys"?  Well, that could mean building toys, construction vehicles for outdoor play - or perhaps toys that kids could build and then use for construction, giving the "best of all worlds"!

This year, there are some great choices to pick from.

Based on consumer popularity (sales rankings plus high average reviews) - from the list of the Top 10 Construction Toys this year, here are the top 5 picks for 2010:

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1. LEGO Road Construction Toys

Ages: For kids 4-12 years of age
Retail Price: Around $20
Merchant Discount: Yes
Merchant: Buy.com
eBay: Find it on eBay.com

Here is the first toy on the list of the 5 best construction toys, the LEGO Road Construction set. Kids can build their own construction vehicles, then use them for construction playtime! Fun stuff. =)

Merchant Info: Build a tip truck a front loader a road paver or anything you can imagine with your ultimate LEGO road construction set. Let the building fun begin. Set Includes: 300 assorted bricks in different colors and shapes and one mini figure.

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2. Bruder Caterpillar Construction Toys

Ages: For kids age 3 to 7 years
Retail Price: $20-$60 (depending on toy)
Merchant Discount: Yes
Merchant: Top 10 Store
eBay: Find it on eBay.com

From the Bruder company, there are a number of Caterpillar construction vehicles to choose from. Each of them is lifelike and a good choice for either playing inside or out.

Merchant Info: Constructed out of fade-resistant, high-quality ABS plastic, with no glue or screws, Realistic details and functions encourage imaginative play, Great for use indoors and outdoors.

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3. Matchbox Rocky the Robot Toy

Ages: For kids age 3 and older
Retail Price: $15-$60 (based on version)
Merchant Discount: Yes
Merchant: Sears.com
eBay: Find it on eBay.com

Rocky the robot is much more than a construction toy. It has a number of different mechanical motions, has quite a few different sayings - and he even snores when he goes to sleep! =) Note: There are different versions of "Rocky" - the more elaborate ones have a bit of a higher price and the simpler ones are lower.

Merchant Info: Matchbox Rocky the Robot Truck is a hard-working, interactive dump truck is ready to roll with sensors, motorized movements and 100 phrases. Quickly becoming any child’s best friend, Rocky tells jokes, dances and flashes his headlights as he speaks. With a rugged design and a full-tilting bed, kids can even use Rocky for construction projects like loading up, moving out, hauling and dumping. When the work is done, Rocky even sleeps and snores. 4 C batteries required (included).

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4. Magnext Construction Toys

Ages: For kids age 6 and older
Retail Price: Varies by set
Merchant Discount: Yes
Merchant: Top 10 Store
eBay: Find it on eBay.com

Ooooh - I love these, and so do kids! Using magnets to build and create, which allows quite a bit of flexibility and creativity to unfold. There are quite a few different sets available for kids these days, none of them appear to be a disappointment. =)

Merchant Info: The new revolutionary magnetic system allows for better , more stimulating and innovative building experiences as the new Magnext parts produce bigger, stronger and more realistic builds. Transform a build from a cube to house faster than ever before...

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5. Mack Construction Trucks from Bruder

Ages: For kids about 3 to 8 years
Retail Price: About $70-$100, depending on the truck
Merchant Discount: Yes
Merchant: Buy.com
eBay: Find it on eBay.com

The construction trucks from Bruder are actually pretty amazing in terms of the amount of detail, the durability is also great. These could likely be considered the "ultimate" construction vehicle toys for kids.

Merchant Info: For cement mixer truck) – Now this Bruder classic cement truck comes with the new MACK Granite cab! Operate the crank to make the cement mixer actually spin, open and close the doors or tilt the cab forward to view the engine in full detail. Features tread tires and a movable chute that is actually fed by the drum. All of the MACK truck cabs are compatible with the implements designed for the front of the trucks, like the mower and snow plow. Dim: 25.8?L x 7.3?W x 10.8?H

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With all of the technological innovations these days in toys, it is sometimes rather refreshing to find toys that even though they are quite creative, they are still basically simple, allowing kids to indulge in some playtime that is worth its weight in gold. =)

If you are looking for something perhaps a bit different than what is listed above on the top 5 construction toys, there is a resource to check out for a complete "top 10 list" - and you can compare prices on each of the toys listed.  Here is where to go:

• Top 10 Construction Toys 2010 - The Top 10 Store