February 2010 New Specialty Toys — Preschool

Bilingual fun for young children. Includes songs for Spanish/English Alphabet, Colors, Numbers, Opposites, Dancing, and more.

A twist to new and old holiday favorites. Holiday fun that children will want to play over and over.

Celebrate the outdoors with music, movement and imagination as children explore and experience nature’s musical symphony featuring songs with movement and delightful character interactions like Let’s Go Green, Quackadoodlemoo, the Ugly Buglies and Waddle Waddle.

Encouraging young children to explore, experience and create through music and imagination for ages 2 to 8. Includes songs to use with rhythm sticks, drums, and lots of fun creative movement activities.

This rugged playset is constructed of Sprigwood, which is a bio-composite material that blends reclaimed wood and recycled plastic, and is dyed with safe pigments. The set includes explorer and rescue boats, Captain Owen the adventure guide, an interchangeable adventure hat, a life preserver, mother and baby dolphins, and a backpack accessory.

This set of two construction vehicles is outfitted for Nuchi train tracks. There's a rubber tread on the front of the steamroller and a functional red tipper decking out the front of the bulldozer.

This product is designed so that young toddlers will delight in placing the dowel/balls in the holes, turning the base, and watching the whirling forms turn around. Older toddlers can start to build with the hardwood squares, put “red hats on the red heads," and stack colored shapes into sturdy towers. Preschoolers can build more complex and imaginative structures while exploring how motion changes the appearance and stability of forms. "Torno Torno combines a wood building toy with a wood turn-table base that is activated by the child — no batteries, just the child's gentle push and imagination," Karen Hewitt, president of Learning Materials Workshop, told TDmonthly. This product was named one of Dr. Toy's 10 Best Toys 2009. Launch date: November 2009.

The Dream Baby Hallway Security Gate is designed to fit any opening 38' to 53.5'. The gate comes with a 7' extension and a 3.5' extension. It is pressure mounted, swings closed automatically, has a door that opens in both directions and closes automatically, and functions with one-handed operation. It is created for easy installation and comes with a one-year manufacturer's warranty. This gate is available in white or black. Launch date: November 10, 2009.
— As of August 2010, this product had 5 out of 5 stars from 16 reviews on Amazon.com. PROS: Sturdy, effective and fits even wide doorways. CONS: Some parents felt the gate was too difficult to open and close.

Made from organic cotton and sustainable rubber wood, Momma and Baby Elephant are connected via Velcro at the mama's tail and can be separated. "As with every piece in this line, the classic-meets-modern design makes it suitable for nursery decor as well as play!" Michael Daner, president of I Love My Planet Toys, told TDmonthly. Launch date: October 15, 2009.

These swim goggles for kids feature polycarbonate lenses that offer 100-percent UV protection, an anti-fog system, and silicone cups for comfort. They are available in pink and blue and feature an adjustable silicone strap. Launch date: 2009.

The Nylon Pizza Cutter from Curious Chef is designed as a safe and fun kitchen utensil for cutting pizza. "The Pizza Cutter is made of nylon, which is hard enaough to cut pizza, but not skin! Also, the design is very compelling, since it features a unique guard that will keep fingers from [the] blade and soft touch button grips," Cristina Villa, account executive at JB Cumberland PR, told TDmonthly. Launch date: 2009.

The Rolling Pin by Curious Chef is designed specifically for kids' small hands, has ergonomic handles and non stick surface. "Its diameter is the same as a regular one, so that it's highly functional, while being cute and safe. The only difference is that it's shorter and with ergonomic handles," Cristina Villa, account executive at JB Cumberland PR, told TDmonthly. Launch date: 2009.

With a leak-proof top, this water/sports drink bottle has been tested to be safe from leaching and is non-toxic and dishwasher safe. Various styles are available.

Designed for baby's comfort, these leg warmers provide protection and warmth indoors or out. They are lightweight and easy to carry, so are ideal to slip on when the weather cools or in air conditioning. The leg warmers feature Vibrant fashion colors to make baby look and feel good. The one-size-fits-all product is made of 85-percent cotton, 12-percent spandex and 3-percent nylon. Launch date: October 2009.