This kit allows children not only to make their own jewelry but also to design and paint their own beads.
--The Paint Ceramic Beads kit is an Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award Winner for 2005.
--This is a top selling Bead and Jewelry Kit on Growing Tree Toys, which recommends this toy for its physical, spatial and interpersonal learning benefits.
--Duplicate pieces make this an ideal project for sharing and friendship bracelets.

Kids can go Michelangelo with these soap-and-water finger-paints that color their waterworlds. Five different colors can be smeared on their bodies and the bathroom tiles. A fish-shaped sponge is included for clean up. Lending a hand is a hand-shaped palette that holds the paints while the kids create.

—More than half of the retailers had Alex finger-paint kits on their top-10 list.
—“It’s one of our top-selling items,” said Elin Kabo, director of communications for Alex. “They’re great to get kids to go into the bathtub.”
—It’s also a top-10 bestseller on Amazon.com, even though it was Alex´s first bath product, originally launched in 1999.

Why should kids settle for clear water when they can have royal blue or blood red waves lapping around them? They can choose one of six different crystalline colors or mix and match to find their own. The tints dissolve in warm water to make bathing a more colorful experience.

— “Tub tints are very popular,” noted Marian Anderson, store manager of Next Generation of Stoughton in Stoughton, Wisc.
—Parents don’t have to worry about these tints staining the tubs, assured Elin Kabo, director of communications for Alex.
—Crystal Tints were launched in 2004 and were on the top-ten list of 6 out of 11 stores.

Colorful works of art can be created on someone’s tummy, or on the bathtub wall, using this set of six bathtub crayons. A duck-shaped sponge is provided to erase the “canvas” and start anew. “This is one of our top bath items,” said Elin Kabo, director of communications for Alex.
— Cons: May stain some tubs (especially tile grout). Crayons disintegrate quickly in the water. One user said the crayons were much smaller than indicated on the package, due to being encased in a misleadingly long plastic holder. (Reviews from Amazon.com)
— Ten of 64 retailers named the Bathtub Crayons from Alex as a top-selling bath item, citing monthly unit sales of anywhere from six to 80 per month, in March 2009. Nearly 70 percent of the respondents named the Alex line in general, or a particular product from the range, when discussing best-selling bath toys.
— Eight of 39 retailers named this product a best-selling bath item in March 2010. Nearly 67 percent of retailers cited Alex as their No. 1 manufacturer for bath toys.
— Want this? As of 05/06/2011, this product was available for purchase at Doodlehopper 4 Kids. 

Kids who bathe together can have a prehistoric water war with these chubby and colorful little PVC squirters that are easy for little hands to grasp. Each set contains five dinosaurs. Also available are On the Go, Space, Garden and Ocean squirters. All of these toys are phthalate free.

—“These are really cute and popular,” said store director Susie Waterstreet, of Treetop Kids in Washington, D.C.
—Squirters are newly packaged for 2005 in a zippered vinyl bag with a mesh bottom.
—The three new styles for 2005 are Farm, Sports and Transportation.

Kids can get clean with these super soft terrycloth pets that make noise, too. When you squeeze his tummy, the frog “ribbits.” Other noisy bath mitt pets include a Cat, Cow, Dog and Pig.

—Launched in 2004, “They’re selling very well,” said Elin Kabo, director of communications for Alex.
—“They’re great for washing young children in the tub,” said Kabo. “They’re a tub toy as well as a tool for Mom to wash with.”
—They’re a favorite at Toys 2 U in Bloomfield, N.J. and Giggles in Stoughton, Wis.

This simple system of brightly colored cars and ramps teaches a higher level of visual-motor integration than most toys used with two-year-olds. It also promotes fine-motor skills and cognitive development as well as sensory stimulation and social/coping skills — all the while introducing the rudimentary concepts of physics.

Kids can mix, mash, shape, mold and form lots of beautiful crafts out of paper mache. The material dries overnight. The next day it is ready to be decorated with accessories. This large kit comes with one pound of ready-to-mix paper mache material and everything necessary to make flowers, beads, a pencil holder, pencil toppers, finger puppets and more. The creations can then be painted with the included acrylic paints and brush. It won a Creative Child Magazine Toy of the Year Award in the Creative Craft Kits Category.

These super cool rearview spy glasses have specially treated lenses that allow kids to stay undercover and see who´s behind them without turning around!
— “This is the one the little kids really like. They think it’s so great and ‘tricky,’” explained Sonny Palmer of Kids ‘N’ Kids Toys.
— “It’s low-priced, perfect for birthday parties and stocking stuffers,” said Julie Reilly, of Lincoln Toys, Lincoln, Neb.
— Cody Woods, manager of Spy Exchange and Security Center in Austin, Texas said the Rearview Spy glasses “are a big seller.”

The Under Cover Spy Scope has specially designed lenses that allow kids to see around almost anything. The top of the scope extends to a full 14” so kids can hide behind a chair, door or other object and see what’s happening on the other side. This is an essential piece of spy equipment for any secret agent who wants to go undercover.
— Joseph Young, salesperson at Worldwide Toys, said, “A lot of little brothers need something for them, and this is the spy toy they like. It’s easy to use and very sturdy. And it’s fun.”
— Petaluma, Calif. ToyLand manager Terry Wiseman sells a lot of these because, “They’re so simple and fun. No kid can resist them. I have one at the front counter, and nobody can refuse to peek.”
— Janet R. Lee, owner of Wudgets toy shop in Noble, Okla., thinks the Under Cover Spy Scope is “too much fun to put down. I like it as much as the children do.”

The classic schoolyard game is reborn as an indoor/outdoor foam pad that also serves as an educational tool for toddlers. The board fits together like a puzzle and is designed with a numbered, colored pattern that helps kids learn as they play. It also includes beanbags for throwing.
— "It's a great seller and has been for a couple of years," noted Holly Reay, owner of Kid's Corner in Carmel, Ind.
— "Hopscotch by Alex is one of the foam products we do that is popular," said Samuel Cox, owner of My Favorite Toys in Carbondale, Ill.
— You really can't go wrong with this toy. Indoor or outdoors, it's a safe, fun and educational toy that allows kids to enjoy a traditional game without the mess of chalk.

Kids can learn to crochet these colorful squares just like Grandma. They then put them together to make a scarf, a hat and other cool accessories. The easy-to-follow instructions make it fun and fast. And the suitcase allows kids to take their work with them wherever they go. It also comes with 300 yards of yarn in six bright colors, a crochet hook, plastic needle and easy instructions.

This beginner’s kit for knitting comes with simple instructions to knit a scarf and hat. The chunky needles and fat yarn make it easy for little hands. Each kit comes with a set of wooden needles and lots of yarn.
— “Knit your own scarf has been very popular,” said Kevin Hart, owner of Toy Shop in Atlanta. “Alex’s Chunky Funky scarf sold very well,” agreed Michelle Deutschmann of Kaleidoscope Toys in Falmouth, Mass.
— “A lot of the knitting and crocheting is big, from Alex,” Trish Garlock, owner of Treasured Child in La Grange, Ky., told TDmonthly.
—  Genevieve Collonge of the Wooden Horse told TDmonthly, “Alex Chunky Funky Scarf is a really good kit.”

Kids can knit with their fingers by spinning the yarn round and round the ring. In just a short time, they’ll have a scarf, a hat or even a backpack. The ring adjusts, based on which project is being made. The kit comes with thick colored yarn, the ring, easy instructions and a carry-me case.
— “We love this knitting machine,” said Katie Henry, long-time sales associate at Toy Magic in Bethlehem, Pa. “Girls are making knitting clubs.”
— “Any of the Alex craft projects” are great for girls, said Linda Doucette, manager of the Learning Express in Hampton, N.H.
— Alex has a whole category devoted just to this hot new/old craft, with more than 10 items. Seven have won awards.

New Tub Tunes Water Trumpet is tuned with water and comes with easy-to-follow, color-coded song sheets for creative expression through musical improvisation.

Kids can wear a different band every day of the week with these adjustable and durable ribbon bands. The quartz watch is water resistant. Kids can coordinate their watch bands with their outfits each and every day.
— “The ribbon watch from Alex did very well,” Susan Sellers, buyer for Tree Top Kids in Washington, D.C., told TDmonthly. “You change out the ribbon” to get a whole new fashion statement.
— Rich Gordon, owner of Learning Express of Exton, Pa., said that he always looks forward to new craft kits from Alex.
— Make-your-own clothing items from Alex, including crochet and knitting, were top sellers for a majority of specialty toy retailers surveyed.

Girls can make five glamorous bangles to wear anywhere. Alex has created a cool new way to make beaded jewelry: just roll the adhesive bangles in the beads and voila!
— Sticky Beads Bangles is a popular kit at Kaboom! in Leesburg, Va., said owner Bettie Lee Moore.
— Alex craft and jewelry kits are great sellers for Terry Myers, owner of Kaleidoscope Toys in Round Rock, Texas.
— “Girls like to do crafts,” agreed Tricia Cooper, buyer for Le Jouet in Metairie, La., who sells lots of Alex to her tween girl customers.

The ALEX Car Wash is a unique interactive play set for the bathtub that provides enormous play value for ages 2 and up. The set includes the car wash floating platform, three colorful cars, a squeegee and play squirter. Place a car on the rubber conveyor belt, turn the hand crank and watch it move along. Turn the next hand crank to spin the foam brushes. Fill the squeegee with liquid soap to lather up the car, then use the spray squirter to rinse it off. ALEX’s Car Wash is highly engaging and brings pretend play into the tub!
— Two of 64 specialty retailers named this item as a best-selling bath toy in spring 2009.

Now kids can write on tub walls during bath time. Squeeze each bottle to make drawings and play games right in the tub. When you’re done, just wipe off. Comes with a set of four writers (red, blue, yellow and gold). Push-pull cap never gets lost. It’s safe, clean and fun.

Dress your pets in style in the bath. Get two foam friends, a poodle and a kitty, and 32 outfits and accessories. It stores easily in a hanging drip-dry PVC bag.

Kids will enjoy this action-packed adventure in the kingdom of ALEX. This interactive toy will have them chasing dragons, protecting the castle and casting spells with the wizards. Stick pieces to tub wall or build a 3-D ship that floats. The 33-piece medieval magical world floats, too.

Kids will have loads of fun with this 3-D tropical island that floats in the tub. Build a mermaid’s paradise. Stick pieces to the tub wall, too. Featuring 34 colorful pieces. It includes a reusable drip-dry bag for easy storage.

Kids can scribble in all the right places with Scribble to Go from Alex. This carry-all pad and marker set is great for quick doodles and scribbles to keep little ones busy while mom and dad are preoccupied. This Scribble to Go set sits perfectly in a lap so kids can bring it along in the car, the train, the plane ... anywhere! Scribble to Go from Alex comes with 15 markers in a rainbow of brilliant colors and a scribble pad with 30 sheets of white paper that measure 6" by 9". It’s great for little artists on the go.

This dollhouse/playmat can be taken anywhere. It comes with a family of five. Open it up and play house. The mat measures a giant 36” by 36” and zips up neatly. It makes a great take-me-along gift.