I test new toys almost every day so opening toy packages, putting in batteries and assembling toys are all part of my job. I wanted to share the essential components of my Toy Toolbox and some tips and tricks that make it easy for kids to play right away.

It used to be that parents (and Santa, of course) spent all their time assembling toys. Now most toys come to us (at least mostly) assembled. The struggle is getting them out of the package!

With the right tools and supplies, this daunting task is easy!

Difficulty: Easy

Time Required: 10 Minutes or Less (or the Toy Goes Back to the Store!)

Here's How:

1. Have two garbage bags at the ready for gift wrap and toy packages and recycle what you can. It's always a good idea to sort through the bag twice before a precious Barbie shoe gets taken to the curb.
2. Stock up on batteries whenever they are on sale. You will need to have lots of AA batteries and several D, AAA and 9-volt batteries at the ready.
   
3. Make sure you have a screw driver handy, or better yet, several! Those tiny battery compartments usually have small, Phillips screws. I use a multi-bit screw driver with several sizes of screw bits. Compare Prices
   
4. Get yourself a good box cutter like the Zibra ZPCOPEN-OR. (Compare Prices) It'll zip right through those awful clamshell packages and the million twist ties that hold toys in their packages. It has a screwdriver and a razor blade in it and it locks closed for safety.
   
5. Dedicate a small tool box (or even a shoe box) to keep batteries, screw drivers and box cutters organized. Don't let the rest of the family "borrow" your tools! Throw in a couple of coins for those "insert-coin-and-turn" battery compartments.

1. Have fun! Preparing toys for easy opening and fast play makes opening toy gifts more fun for everyone!

Tips:

1. Gather up the tools and batteries ahead of time so there's no mad dash to find what you need.
2. Open baby toys and toddler toys and put them in a gift bag. It's fun for the little ones to open their own presents!
3. Charge up any toys like iPods or walkie-talkies in advance. Waiting for toys to charge is no fun for kids! You can always discard the packaging and wrap them in a gift bag at the last minute.
4. Take notes of who received what gifts from whom. It makes thank-you-note writing so much easier! If you're super organized, buy the thank-you notes in advance and write them before you forget!

What You Need:

• A box cutter, wire cutters or tin snips for clamshell packages and twist ties
• Lots of AA batteries and a handful of AAA, 9-volt and D batteries
• Two garbage bags: One for trash and one for recycling
• A note pad and pen
• A screw driver (or several of varying sizes) to open battery compartments
• A coin for "insert coin and twist" compartments
• A small tool box, shoe box or plastic organizing bin