August 2009 New Specialty Toys — General Toys

These jumping balls come in either 18" or 22" sizes. Colors include pink, blue, red and yellow and the balls can come with single or double grips. Launch date: 2009.

For little linebackers who can’t wait to hit the fields, the nine-piece Touchdown Football Set includes a kid-sized football with “laces” for proper holding technique, an adjustable goal post and a kicking tee. "This play set encourages outdoor, active play for children. It also develops hand-eye (foot-eye) coordination," Vickie Cullen, PR account executive for International Playthings, told TDmonthly. Launch date: February 2009.

The iPlay Six Pin Bowling Set includes flat-bottomed pins and a weighted foam ball for indoor or outdoor play. The set comes stored in a study zippered bag for both portability and storage. "Weighted pins allow for easier set up. Children love this age-old game for indoor and outdoor play, featuring parts in fun and stimulating colors," Vickie Cullen, PR account executive for International Playthings, told TDmonthly. Launch date: February 2009.

Each Splat Attack display comes with 12 splat balls in six styles: Egg, Tomato, Gold Pig, Green Pig, Purple Pig and Orange Pig. Kids can throw them on the ground to see them splat and morph back into their original shape. In addition to the six styles, the company can create customized Splat Attack to feature licensed products or specifications. Launch date: August 2009.

This kit contains everything needle to make two cute stuffed owls, right down to the stuffing, scissors and needle. The owl pattern is printed onto unbleached cotton fabric, making it easy to cut out and simple to sew together the owls. The box is printed on the inside to cut it out and recycle it into glasses for your owl. Launch date: January 2, 2009.

These natural colored piggy banks are handmade fair trade in a small artisan community called Quinea, in the province of Huamanga in Peru's central highland department of Ayacucho. Some designs are available in large, medium and small, and each bank has a cork stopper. Launch date: April 15, 2008.

The cotton outer body of this fair-trade, artisan-made animal is filled with acrylic and rice, so the pet may be used as a heating pad after placed in the microwave for a very short period of time. Velcro on the bottom of the animal enables washing of the cotton body and acrylic inside. The uncooked rice is separate, in a bag. Caution: When heating, please carefully check the temperature prior to giving it to a child. Launch date: May 20, 2007.

This interchangeable charm features a full-color image and a round clasp. Full length including clasp is 1.5". Launch date: March 2004.

The collection includes a complete set of gingerbread characters: Cookie Formal Boy, Cookie Cinamon Girl, Cookie Softy Snowmank, Cookie Boy and Cookie Reindeer. They are 8" with colorful holiday buttons and edging, ideal for gifts, decor or play. "Douglas toys are distinctive in design and quality. There is visual appeal as well as true quality workmanship and safety consciousness," Erika Radich, marketing manager for Douglas Company, told TDmonthly. Launch date: September 20, 2009.

This distinctive bank has a patented, four-chambered design created to help kids (ages 4-11) and their parents or grandparents begin a conversation about money. It helps teach basic money skills (Fiscal Fitness Training for Money - Smart Kids™) by introducing four choices: SAVE, SPEND, DONATE and INVEST. It is available in brown with white stripes and laces. The Money Savvy Football Bank received a 2008 NAPPA Gold Award and a 2008 Preferred Choice Award from Creative Child Magazine. Launch date: December 2006.

A cousin to the award-winning Money Savvy Pig® piggy bank, this four-chambered bank is designed to help kids (ages 4-11) and their parents or grandparents begin a conversation about money. It helps teach basic money skills by introducing four choices: SAVE, SPEND, DONATE and INVEST. It is available in clear with black cow spots. "Its unique four-chambered design allows children to deposit their money through four separate slots on the top of the bank — one slot for each money choice — and empty each money chamber individually through the feet on the bank," Melinda Voelcker, director of operations and marketing for Money Savvy Generation, told TDmonthly. It has received the following awards: 2004 Parents' Choice Gold Award and 2008 NAPPA Gold Award (National Parenting Publications Awards). Launch date: November 2004.

Tic-Attack-Toe adds a battling twist to the classic game of tic-tac-toe. Kids can challenge friends and family to claim three-in-a-row using numbered X and O cards. Players knock-out their opponent's spot with a higher value card or use their "Wild" card to take any spot. The goal is to be the first to get three-in-a-row five times. As an added bonus, the playing board doubles as a carrying case. "Tic-Attack-Toe takes the simple premise of a game everyone knows and gives it a twist to provide a game that is easy to learn and provides multi-generational fun," Nathan Jones, president of PB&J Toy Company, told TDmonthly. Launch date: September 2009.

Fairies and elves can take a ride in this delicate-looking petal boat edged with floral decoration and a robust sail. Launch date: September 2009.

The Money Savvy Pig® is a four-chambered bank designed to help kids and their parents or grandparents begin a conversation about money. It is designed to help teach basic money skills by introducing four choices: SAVE, SPEND, DONATE and INVEST. "Its unique four-chambered design allows children to deposit their money through four separate slots on the top of the bank — one slot for each money choice — and empty each money chamber individually through the feet on the bank," Melinda Voelcker, director of operations and marketing for Money Savvy Generation, told TDmonthly. It is available in six colors.
Awards: 2015 TDmonthly Magazine Top Toy Award; 2002 Parents' Choice Gold Award; 2008 National Parenting Publications Gold Award; 2008 Preferred Choice Creative Toy Award; and 2008 National Parenting Center Seal of Approval. Launch date: 2002.
— As of 05/12/2011 this product had 4.3 out of 5 stars from 34 customer reviews on Amazon.com. Cons: Three customers reported that the bank broke when they dropped it.
— The Money Savvy Pig is a traditional piggy bank on steroids. Instead of holding a child’s money in a single chamber, it utilizes four,  labeled save, spend, donate and invest. Reviewers found that it works well with an allowance system. Trent Hamm of The Simple Dollar explains that even if children cannot completely understand the concepts behind the Money Savvy Pig, it can make it “so that saving seems like a completely natural thing.” See also 3 Garnets & 2 Sapphires.

Inspired by the legendary genius Da Vinci, the product is a Code Machine that stretches players' imaginative and logical mind. It is a beautiful fusion of a Word game and a Logic game. Its interactive game-play makes it a great piece for friends and family pastimes. The difficulty levels are controlled by players so it is also a nice adult-child educational toy.

This rocker is also a table designed for indoor or outdoor fun. Upon turning it over, the stable twin-seat rocker (see-saw) becomes an activity table. It is made of durable, easy to clean plastic. The table is 15" H and the seat height is 8". The unit measures 18" H x 16" W x 34" D. Launch date: May 29, 2009.

This kit includes the Little Yogis DVD, the Little Yogis Eco Mat, which is colorful, durable and free from phthalates, phenols, dioxins, and furans; a cartoon yoga poster with 21 poses; a handy tote bag made from recycled materials; and silly cartoon stickers. The DVD has received the following awards: Film Advisory Board Award of Excellence, Parent's Choice, Dr Toy, and Dove. Launch date: April 2009.

This TV-based gaming system for preschoolers combines full-body movement, music, education and fun. Combining LeapFrog’s learning products expertise with Disney’s storytelling heritage and preschool TV programs, the system lets kids bring the fun of Playhouse Disney to life at their house. As they groove and play, kids can gain a greater understanding of core preschool skills such as math, language and music. The Zippity system leads kids through eight lively learning games that use an interactive mat for lower-body movement, such as running, dancing, jumping and marching, and a tummy-high joystick, or “bopper,” for upper-body action, such as moving left, right, forward and back. The easy-to-use system with eight learning activities pre-loaded—comes with a foldable mat and bopper, which interacts wirelessly with the Zippity console. Launch date: August 2009.

Packaged in a hexagonal shaped box, these award-winning illustrations by Melissa Sweet are designed to help kids learn about phylum in the world that surrounds us. With the names indicated on the inside of the lid, Life On Earth Bingo offers a way for children to identify plants and animals. This game is made using 90-percent recycled grey board and non-toxic inks. Launch date: June 20, 2009.

Ecotronic toys were developed to function just like regular electronic toys but with a different kind of energy. Dynamo technology inside of each toy converts a shake, squeeze or crank into energy that powers lights and sounds and other electronic functions. The crank-powered Eco Mic helps kids become eco-pop stars. Using four different buttons to activate voice amplification, music to sing along to, and two different drum sounds, the Eco Mic is an all-in-one music band with a color-changing light show. "Since kid-powered energy is a highly renewable energy source, Ecotronic toys will never run out of juice. Also, all Ecotronic toys are packaged in their specially developed Gekopak™ packaging, which is made of recycled paper and is completely bio-degradable," Vickie Cullen, PR account executive for International Playthings, told TDmonthly. Launch date: May 2009.

Ecotronic toys were developed to function like regular electronic toys, but they use a different kind of energy. Dynamo technology inside of each toy converts a shake, squeeze or crank into energy that powers lights, sounds and other electronic functions. The Ecotronic Farm Flashlights, featuring four assorted animals, are squeeze-powered, kid-sized flashlights. Using the side lever that stores inside the body, kids can release and squeeze to charge up the light. Also, when switched on, each animal’s nose lights up. "Also, all Ecotronic toys are packaged in their specially developed Gekopak™ packaging, which is made of recycled paper and is completely bio-degradable. It’s easy to open and free from ties, wires or other packing materials," Vickie Cullen, PR account executive for International Playthings, told TDmonthly. Launch date: May 2009.

The Smart Bank sorts, counts, dispenses, deducts and always knows the balance. A patented "Balance Guard"™ feature locks and remembers the balance even when batteries wear out or when changing batteries. Launch date: 2000.

This Take-along-Friend is crafted out of renewable rubberwood. It's designed to inspire creativity and fun for kids to run around trying to have the shark catch the fish. Launch date: July 2009.