Tattoos for Tots is giving 3-year-olds the chance to sport bright, educational "tattoos" of vegetables, farm animals and more — and learn words while they're at it. They can then ride off on their motorcycle-sleek “Moto Kid," featuring rubber tires and a curved wooden frame, from PLIM Cooperation. Manufacturers told TDmonthly Magazineabout these and other innovative toys that have been around a little longer than those on our lists for 2007, and we just couldn’t leave them out.
Classic Collection Tattoos – Farm Animals by TATTOOS FOR TOTS LLC
This collection of “Wear to Learn” tattoos features a horse, a cow, a rooster, a pig and two letter dots. Created by two moms, an elementary school teacher and a graphic designer, the tattoos make great party favors, are cool to collect and trade, and come in different varieties. Each package contains two 3” x 4” sheets, and the tattoos contain only safe and non-toxic FDA-approved colors. — “Our temporary tattoos are unique because they contain printed words with colorful graphics that encourage children to learn letters, sounds and words,” Jennifer Yamagishi, co-founder of Tattoos for Tots told TDmonthly. Launch date: Spring 2006.
"Moto Kid" Wooden Running Bike by PLIM COOPERATION AG
The “Moto Kid” is made of 100 percent birch plywood and features quality construction with rubber tires and an aluminum cylinder. It assembles in minutes and includes an adjustable padded seat. The maximum capacity is 60 lbs. — The bike “is very solid and can therefore easily be passed down to a younger brother or sister. The seat can be adjusted in four different heights, which ensures that the bike will grow with the child,” Oriana Chiandusso, head of graphic services at PLIM Cooperation AG, told TDmonthly. The two bends on the bike’s wooden frame, she added, make it “look even more like a motor bike!” Launch date: May 1, 2006.
In this hip new game about living life to the fullest, the player/gift recipient is guided through 30 "feel-good" real-life adventures, such as watching the sun rise, contacting old friends, going on a special date and test-driving a dream car. Great as a lifelong to-do list, the game can be a meaningful gift for yourself or a special someone. Living Life makes the world a better place by creating happiness for all that play it. — “This is the only game on the market that has a “feel-good” nature based on completing 30 real-world life activities,” CEO Jay Moore of Romherst told TDmonthly. Relaunch date: January 2006.
“Jungle Animals” is an award-winning software CD from the Story Logic series. The CD uses fun characters, toe-tapping music and pleasing animation to help children create stories and then listen to them. It encourages critical thinking, imagination and decision-making skills in a child while laying the foundation for language skills and reading comprehension. Children develop the ability to express themselves through this fun and educational CD. Creative Child Magazine named it 2006 CD of the Year. — “The CD was designed to allow even 3-year-olds with limited computer experience to fully enjoy the CD while older children with more experience can click their way to building stories quickly,” Sapna Ganeshan of Smart Neurons told TDmonthly about what sets the product apart. Launch date: March 2006.
Masquerading as a savings bank for nickels, this 3" x 6" x 5" wooden, turn-of-the-last-century outhouse literally comes apart at the seams when a nickel is deposited in the slit in the roof. Constructed of West Virginia hardwood, each one is made by hand by West Virginia craftsmen. A copy of the story that inspired it is included, as well as reassembly instructions. It will provide hours of hilarious fun. — Mountain Craft Shop specializes in bringing old toys to life, and this product “has been around for awhile, but is just now ‘exploding,’” Ellie Conlon of Mountain Craft Shop told TDmonthly.
Each plastic tub is filled with non-toxic play dough with toys/treasures buried inside. Treasure Dough is unique in the play dough category, and Zany Zoo, Dino Diggers, Princess Loot and Under the Sea varieties are available. Launch date: May 2006.
The beginner set of 106 Coin Trading Cards is an educational product designed to present the collector with a history of the many types of United States coins. In a very well organized set, coins produced over the last 200+ years of our country's history are photographically shown. Some cards relate historical facts that affected the production, content and design of certain coins. — “This is quite a patriotic, educational product that can be used by parents, grandparents, coin clubs and schools to show how certain events in our history have interacted with our monetary system,” President Wayne J. Decroo of Numismaticards told TDmonthly.
Soft, sweet materials and innovative design make Tris & Ton's Honey Mimos Bear irresistible. This 30-cm lovely bear's shape has been specially designed so that the bear is easy to hug. Babies will love to hug and play with this bear. Launch date: Summer 2006.
Get Fit With Sqedunk by SQEDUNK CHILDREN'S PRODUCTIONS
Children can join Sqedunk, Athletic Anna, Miss Lori and their exercise buddies in learning 14 basic exercises. Rhymes, silliness, music and a bit of energy make for a fun time. Children of all ages will love this video that comes with a DVD Bonus Book, “Sqedunk Takes a Tub Tub.” Launch date: July 2006.
LauraLi Corporation presents Design-a-Purse, a versatile patent pending pouch accented with a treasure of beautiful accessories. Design-a-Purse allows a girl to design her own purse and then assemble it herself. Interchangeable straps, trims and jewels make Design-a-Purse a fun activity and fashion for girls. Packaged as individual components suitable for craft stores, party stores, home parties and as play sets, Design-a-Purse will offer seasonally updated designs, making the product a collectible item every girl will seek out. Pick-a-Pouch, Pick-a-Strap, Pick-a-Trim, Pick-a-Jewel, its your creation, take it home. LauraLi Corporation offers a Point of Sale Display on request as part of any Design-a-Purse wholesale purchase. Suggested retail prices for components range from $1.50 to $10.50. Launch date: April 2007.
Kooky Klickers are collectible character push-pens with rubber hair and a keychain. — “Kooky Klicker pens are unique from other pens in the past because every other month we come out with new ‘Krews’ of characters for people to collect. … It is the only pen that is used for its purpose of writing and, at the same time, is a collectible toy!” Anthony Davis, sales manager at Courage Trading Company, told TDmonthly. Launch date: 2004. — Kooky Klickers are a best seller at Aunt Jean’s Toys & Treats in Montclair, N.J., according to Owner Jeanette Lauture. “The price point is reasonable for a collectible item, and the pen can use a refill … so kids can continue to use it. I’ve been selling these since last year,” she told TDmonthly in summer 2008.
Finger Plays With Miss Lori by SQEDUNK CHILDREN'S PRODUCTIONS
This 41-minute video includes Finger Plays “Bunny Phoo Phoo,” “Wheels on the Bus,” “Itsy Bitsy Spider” and more. Finger Plays are valuable activities that help children acquire skills essential to their development and learning. Finger Plays help improve and advance memory and language skills, while also aiding in the development of eye-hand coordination and enhancing gross and fine motor skills. The DVD includes Classic Cartoons as a bonus. This product is Family Approved by The Dove Foundation. Launch date: July 2006.
"Come Ride With Me" Book/Toy Combo by Q P PRINTING LTD.
“Come Ride With Me” is a 16-page book containing different terrains and removable Velcro vehicle pictures. It comes with five toy vehicles including a truck, car, boat, airplane, and tractor for pretend play, and is packaged in a convenient vinyl carrying case. — “Similar types of children’s books contain flaps that are easily torn and do not allow children to create their own story,” Kelly McCauley, owner of Come Learn With Me Enterprise, told TDmonthly. Launch date: November 2005.
Astrojax® Blue Diamond™ by Astrojax USA – Active People
This Astrojax swinging ball toy features three balls on a string with the center ball free to slide. Each ball has super-bright LEDs that are impressive even in broad daylight. — “The Astrojax line doesn't really have any competition. Some skills for the yo-yo are transferable to Astrojax, but yo-yo tricks are done within a plane, whereas Astrojax is a completely new toy, a ‘free-dimensional orbiter™.’ Upon introduction of the Blue Diamond, this model instantly became our best-seller because the light displays it creates are so beautiful,” Larry Shaw of Astrojax told TDmonthly. Launch date: January 2005. ― “Astrojax, and they sell like hotcakes!” Shana Hack, owner of Moon Rabbit Toys in Santa Fe, N.M., said when TDmonthlyasked about her best-selling electronics and battery operated items in June 2010.
Pitch-a-Story! is the fun storytelling game for kids 10 to 110 that brings families together for hours of imaginative entertainment based on how stories are pitched for movies and Broadway plays. It's also an engaging classroom language arts game and after-school activity to enhance students' reading and writing scores and team-working skills. For homeschooling parents, Pitch-a-Story! provides a wide array of learning activities that engage children in the power of storytelling, and improves their presentation and language skills. Launch date: November 2005. — “There are nearly an infinite number of story card combinations that make for a new and exciting experience each round,” Richard Stone of Imagine This Company told TDmonthly about the game’s playability.
Care Bears Lip Gloss – Good Luck Bear by BOSTON AMERICA CORP.
This flavored lip gloss comes in a mirrored compact. Good Luck Bear features a watermelon flavor, Cheer Bear features a strawberry flavor, and Share Bear features a raspberry flavor. Launch date: 2006.
The Horse Race Game is a great gift for all seasons, and has proven to be an infectious seller post-play. The rules are easy to understand and suited to all ages. Players can use real money or the fun money provided. The game accommodates 4 to 15 players. Pick a winner with The Horse Race Game, the wildest way to entertain. — The product is “a great game for the ‘hard-to-buy ages for kids (8 to 18 years),’” President Tim Lutz of Boardwalk Design told TDmonthly. It “keeps them interactive with family and friends.” Launch date: February 2004.
Juanita Ulloa – Paz y Alegria by ULLOA PRODUCTIONS
Juanita is one of the USA's rising star singer/composers of Mexican and Latin American music. A Yale music graduate from Mexico, she has six prize-winning CDs and three songbooks to her credit. She’s been called the "High Priestess of Operachi" by HispanicPress.org. "Paz y Alegria" (Peace and Joy) sends a holiday message of joy featuring 42 minutes of highly rhythmic and festive Latin American villancicos (Christmas songs) and originals penned by Juanita in contemporary style, for all ages. She sings bilingually with cumbias, lando, reggeton, cha-cha-cha, vals and more. Launch date: December 2005.
Disney Princess Magical Light Up Flower Bracelet by MONOGRAM INTERNATIONAL INC.
These brightly colored flower bracelets with blinking lights come in three styles: Ariel, Cinderella and Tinker Bell. Each bracelet features flowers and a portrait of a Princess. Launch date: April 2006.
Disney Princess Magical Light Up Pendant With Gem Border Necklaces by MONOGRAM INTERNATIONAL INC.
This brightly colored pendant portrait necklace with a blinking lights border comes in three styles: Ariel, Tinker Bell and Cinderella. It is perfect as a gift or party favor at princess or tea parties. Launch date: November 2005.
This kit creatively introduces the patented narrative icons of the original Story Grammar Marker. It fosters the connection between language and literacy to preschool through second grade students. Emerging readers and writers will be introduced to the first four stages of narrative development by this multi-sensory tool. It was named a Top 100 Best Children’s Product of 2006 by Dr. Toy. — “Braidy was chosen as the comprehension and expression component of a study conducted by Haskins Laboratories, a research facility affiliated with Yale University, thus making the methodology and related tools research-based,” EVP Brian Scott Welch of MindWing Concepts told TDmonthly. “Braidy’s systematic, explicit approach assists children in developing deep comprehension and critical thinking skills.” Launch date: March 2003.
Let's Go Lobstering by BARKING LOBSTER ENTERTAINMENT
This is an entertaining and exciting educational video about lobster fishing along the Maine Coast. With Lobsterman Chris Robinson as your host, you get to explore the sights, sounds and (with a little imagination) even the smells aboard the “Miss Lizzie,” a real Maine lobster boat. How traps work, what lobsters eat and how big they can grow are all part of the excitement, along with the playful antics of the animated co-host Lobster Bob, in this unique 30-minute lobster-catching adventure. A minimum order of 10 units is required. Launch date: Fall 2004. — “There are no other DVDs in existence that provide such a wholesome, educational and entertaining treatment of how lobster are caught,” Tim Tonner of Barking Lobster Entertainment told TDmonthly. “I frequently get emails from families around the country…who thank me for producing ‘Let's Go Lobstering!’ — mostly because they learned so much about a new subject!”
This X-shaped ball flies farther than a football but it’s soft so it won't hurt the kid catching it. The Yackle Ball comes with many fun and stimulating games to encourage outdoor play. It is available in 10 colors. CEO Patricia Littwin of Ttalf Corporation chose to manufacturer the original Yackle in the United States, and automation within a 10,000 sq. ft. North Carolinian facility allows production at only 10 cents more per ball than was quoted in China, she said. “We like the Yackle Balls by Ttalf,” Owner Linda Angel of Kidoodles Toys in Norman, Okla., told TDmonthly upon her return from Toy Fair 2007. Awards: TDmonthly Innovations 2007. Launch date: June 1, 2006.
Using attractive graphics and fun, whimsical legal scenarios, this game teaches the legal process and lets players experience issues facing a small business. As players move around the board, they set up and run their own law offices. After graduating college and law school, they pass the bar, and then bring and defend cases, and decide whether or not to appeal and enter into settlements. Strategic decisions include whether to "buy into" law partnerships, settle or appeal. The game ends by reaching the final square, where "Attorney of the Year" is determined.
Writer's Bio: Julie L. Jones has written articles for both newspapers and magazines. Before joining the staff of TDmonthly Magazine, she worked as a communications writer and provided editorial support for a market research company. Read more articles by this author
Writer's Bio: Julie L. Jones has written articles for both newspapers and magazines. Before joining the staff of TDmonthly Magazine, she worked as a communications writer and provided editorial support for a market research company. Read more articles by this author
