Get your last-minute holiday orders from these great companies, sorted by category. Most of these toys and games were invented and produced by smaller, innovative companies, and some are even eco-friendly and/or American-made! There's something for every age and sensibility:
Blunders™ - Make Learning Manners Fun by SUCCESSFUL KIDS INC.
The adorable characters of Becky, Bobby, Brenda and Billy Blunder revolutionize the way manners are taught. The game includes a game board, a story book and 300 fun and interactive charade, multiple-choice, scenario and true/false questions covering social and dining etiquette. “Blunders™ is the only board game on the market today that makes learning manners interactive and fun!” Successful Kids Inc. President Aimee Symington told TDmonthly. This game has received the following awards: Dr. Toy, National Parenting Center Seal of Approval, iParenting Media, Creative Child Preferred Choice, Mr. Dad Seal of Approval, eChoice, and The Toy Man Award of Excellence and Seal of Approval. Launch date: February 17, 2008. — "I've loved the Blunders Game from the moment I was introduced to it. Now you can reinforce manners at one of the places where manners are key. Manner Mats takes the blunders concept and turns it into a set of 38 table mats. The mats include tones of games including word searches, challenges, multiple choice, what is wrong with the picture, complete the sentence and many more. Another innovative way to teach manners without having to point your finger," Jennifer Shuman, owner of 1SmartNoodle, told TDmonthly at Toy Fair 2010.
This fuzzy frog gives kids the chance to register a star with the International Star Registry ... and name it, too. In the Shining Stars virtual world, owners of Shining Stars pets can play games, send e-cards, and define their pet's personality with different character traits.
Featuring various color palettes, designs and different textures, these flat shape characters are extra easy for little ones to grasp. "Bright Beginnings products benefit a children’s development by enticing them to explore through visual and tactile stimulation," said Stephanie Araujo, marketing coordinator for Russ Berrie. Launch date: 2008
This 20-card set is designed to help children learn through sight and sound with full-color, professional photos and corresponding words. It introduces children to their own sense of style as they learn about clothes. These high-quality, laminated cards are made in the U.S., easy to wipe and big enough for little hands to hold. Launch date: May 12, 2007.
Beyond Chess comes with everything you need to play. The board is made of 64 high-quality, solid, plastic squares that measure 1.5"x1.5"x.25" and accommodate most chess pieces, plus two extra squares. This set includes standard Staunton-design chess pieces, a 12-page instruction booklet and a sturdy nylon backpack-style carrying bag.
In "what's the deal?" – a tween and teen prep kit - Fiona and Luke find themselves in lots of sticky situations. Follow these exploits with children and watch Fiona and Luke grow as they think through the best solutions, and begin to apply them in their own lives.
One of 26 character dolls in the Candy Box collection, Ruth collects shiny pennies to buy her favorite treats. The 21” vinyl-and-cloth rag dolls in the magical world of the Candy Box Kids reflect and relate to every child’s life, with their emphasis on the cute, sweet, mischievous, silly and the just plain yummy. Ruth comes with a storybook and cassette and has the signature of creator Barbara A. Hock on her soft cloth body and her box. Each doll also has a trademark heart stamp on his or her chest, too. The girl dolls come with removable fake candy treats and the boys with removable frogs.
Writer's Bio: ALISON MAREK is an award-winning writer, director and cartoonist whose work has been published by Fairchild Publications and DC Comics (Piranha Press), broadcast on Showtime and other cable networks, and viewed worldwide in film festivals. See her short films and print work on www.alisonmarek.com. Watch her nefarious villains in the web series www.MuggsMovers.com. Get inspired by her cartoons "Daily ARFFirmations to Unleash Your Inner Fido" at www.ARFFirmations.com. Phew! And then ... Read more articles by this author
Writer's Bio: ALISON MAREK is an award-winning writer, director and cartoonist whose work has been published by Fairchild Publications and DC Comics (Piranha Press), broadcast on Showtime and other cable networks, and viewed worldwide in film festivals. See her short films and print work on www.alisonmarek.com. Watch her nefarious villains in the web series www.MuggsMovers.com. Get inspired by her cartoons "Daily ARFFirmations to Unleash Your Inner Fido" at www.ARFFirmations.com. Phew! And then ... Read more articles by this author
