A fixture on the East End, Stevenson’s Toys & Games (69 Jobs Lane, Southampton, 631-283-2111) has been the premier toy store for locals and visitors alike for over 20 years. Helmed by owner Roy Stevenson, the toy store is an homage to the celebration of childhood, offering goods from familiar brands like Little People, Mattel (Barbie) and Kirkbi (LEGO) to more high-end timeless classics like Steiff and Hape, ultimately promoting and nurturing the idea of play for folks young and old.
In a time of online ordering, a visit to Stevenson’s — which also has an East Hampton outpost at 66 Newtown Lane — is a refreshing and invigorating experience, as both locations are chockablock with toys, games and fun-making items from all over the world. Some are brand-spanking new to the toy world, while others have been around for generations. Here are a handful of items that caught our eye this holiday season.
Thames & Kosmos Massive Erupting Volcano $34.99; ages 8 and up
Reminiscent of the classic school science fair mainstay, this do-it-at-home kit sees builders wrapping a sturdy frame in hardening plaster-coated strips. Next, paint it however you envision your volcano to look and decorate with included cutouts of dinosaurs. The eruption comes from mixing two non-hazardous chemicals (potassium dihydrogen phosphate and sodium hydrogen carbonate) with water and the included dye packet. Don’t worry: the kit comes with multiple packets, so the magic can happen more than once!
Lite-Brite $32.99; ages 5 and up
Steeped in nostalgia, this new and improved version from the beloved nearly 60-year-old game includes a bigger, brighter screen and over 200 glowing pegs. Designed to help develop and improve hand-eye coordination while creating art at the same time, this version includes six design templates and four different light modes: white light, alternating flash, all-flash and rotating flash.
Super NeeDoh $12.99; ages 3 and up
Essentially, it’s a super, neon-colored neato stress ball. Made from nontoxic, hypoallergenic materials, the ball itself is stuffed with a PVA glue compound, making it an extra-squishy, extra-satisfyingly soothing sensory experience. Although NeeDoh products are available in a variety of shapes and sizes at Stevenson’s, Super NeeDoh is the biggest, clocking in about the size of a grapefruit and sure to get your youngster (or yourself, in all honesty) through those extra-stressful moments.
Green Science Magic Water Tap $27.99; ages 5 and up
Dubbed a STEAM toy (that’s STEM plus art), this product creates a “magic” water tap that dispenses a nonstop stream of water from a faucet that appears to be floating in mid-air, with the help of two AAA batteries. A 2023 winner of Toyfair’s Hero Toys, it will surely foster any inkling of interest in science while showcasing new, inventive ways to use and preserve water.
Desktop Cornhole and Skee-Ball $9.95 each; ages 11 and up
These miniature-sized kits of iconic arcade and lawn games are total space savers, perfect for instigating a little (literally) friendly competition among friends of all ages. Clocking in at just over two pounds and measuring a mere four inches long, they’re the perfect anytime, anywhere activity to bust out when rainy-day boredom abounds.
Steiff stuffed animals prices start at $23.99; all ages
Around for nearly 150 years, this German-based plush toy company says it was the first to produce factory-made teddy bears. Made from mohair, the company motto of founder Margarete Steiff remains: “Only the best is good enough for children.” They do indeed get pricey, with some costing hundreds of dollars, but the now- iconic “button in ear” tag creations make the perfect special occasion, will-have-it-forever gift for a small child or serious toy collector.
Uncle Goose Spanish blocks $47.99; ages 2 and up
These ornate, American-made alphabet blocks seek to help children expand language and literacy, as well as spatial recognition and fine-motor skills. Made from sustainable Michigan basswood, each block contains carvings of four letters, one number and one animal, along with its Spanish translation.
Kinetic Sand prices start at $3.99; ages 3 and up
Who knew a plain old pile of sand could have so many possibilities? Made from about 98% actual, ultrafine sand and 2% dimethicone (a silicone compound), the company describes the product as somewhere between a liquid and a solid that never hardens. It can be molded into endless shapes without losing efficacy, is available in different formats for nearly all ages and is oh-so-fun to play around with. Our favorite is the Dino Dig playset ($24.99) –– 10 hidden dinosaur bones situated in an extra-special, extra-realistic excavation experience –– which makes for hours of fun.
