December 2008 New Specialty Toys — Eco-Friendly

The Kidzsack is a high quality, multifunctional, and durable bag with a screenprint that kids can color in using the 8 provided color markers. The Castle Kidzsack has received the 2008 Preferred Choice Award in the Creative Activities category.

The Eco range is part of Wonderworld's collection of products designed to educate children on the importance of recycling, saving energy, and being friendly to the environment. The Eco House wooden doll house comes complete with room settings and a family. Themes include recycling, planting trees, using solar panels, bicycling and collecting rain water. All accessories are included. "Wonderworld uses only water-based paint for our wooden toys so [as] to minimize child exposure to chemicals," President Jason Cohen of Smart Gear told TDmonthly. "Wonderworld, as a strong advocate of protecting the environment, insists on using only rubber-wood that is of replenishable source and [is] widely accepted throughout the world as the environment-friendly material." Launch date: November 2008.

Every new parent wants to make sure baby’s environment is as healthy as possible. This 12-oz. bottle is made from 100-percent recyclable, high-quality, food-grade stainless steel so it doesn’t need a synthetic lining like aluminum bottles. It’s completely BPA-free and won’t leach chemicals, toxins or funky flavors into baby’s beverages. It’s designed for small hands, making it easy to hold, and the large-mouth makes it easy to clean. It can be scrubbed out with soap and water, or tossed in the dishwasher. It comes with a nipple adapter, stainless stopper and no-leak sport lid so the bottle can be used for many years. "G2 Grows with your child from newborn right into grade school. At Goo-Goo Baby we make products that last," CEO Rea Cymbol of Goo-Goo Baby told TDmonthly. Launch date: November 2008.

The CALAFANT Castle is part of the CALAFANT cardboard kit line and is extra sturdy and easy to build. Children can decorate it any way they like and get really creative. Not only is it fun to decorate the castle, it's also a wonderful toy and a cool home for knights, kings, princesses and dragons. The toy is fully recyclable and won't take up space in a landfill. Launch date: January 4, 2008.

With a treehouse kit made from high-quality, extra durable cardboard, all pieces come precut and easy to assemble. The child can decorate this treehouse with paint, crafting materials and get very creative. After decorating and building it, the kids can play with it and incorporate it in their every day play. Ideal size for play with 3" dolls or animal figurines. The material is 100% recyclable. Approximate size is 15" x 16" x 22". Launch date: June 1, 2008.

Made with high-quality blue board that gives the puzzle edges a finished look, this 399-piece family jigsaw puzzle completes to 17.25" X 26.5". It is made in the USA with 100-percent recycled fibers, soy-based inks, water-based coating and recyclable bagging material. With the family puzzles, children work from the side of the puzzle with the large pieces while adults work from the side with the small pieces. They meet in the middle when the puzzle is complete. Launch date: January 20, 2009.

The 2009 SummerMuff InfantMuff is a 100-percent organic, lightweight, sun-blocking muff for infant carriers and car seats. Its patented design fits most three- and five-point harness systems and comes in three colors. The larger SummerMuff StrollerMuff fits strollers and joggers. The InfantMuff protects baby's skin from UVA/UVB rays using certified UPF50 fabric, and from scratchy synthetic fabrics in strollers by lining them with jersey cotton. Launch date: August 2008.

Step into an adventure of a little girl who turns green from her head to her toes and learns that doing her part for the environment really shows. "I'm Turning Green" teaches young readers tips for conservation of energy, water and natural resources. It is made from 100-percent recycled papers and offer a 100-percent eco-friendly product at a reasonable price. Launch date: November 24, 2008.

This cool and hip food-themed bib has a 100-percent cotton fabric front and soft and absorbent towel backing. It is handcrafted in the USA of all new materials, and the backing is made from repurposed towel remnants from the company's hooded towel collection, resulting in less landfill waste. Fabrics inclue Sushi, Pizza, Ice-cream and Melon. "The TAKE-me-OUT bib, by Frog Kiss Designs strives to help the environment one small step at a time," Owner and Designer Ruta Leonard of Frog Kiss Designs told TDmonthly. Launch date: August 20, 2008.

This pre-colored, walk-in cardboard castle is designed for children to climb in, crawl in, play in, and decorate inside and out. It is beautiful, sturdy and offers lots of room for play and even storage, with secret compartments in the towers. The slot-and-groove system makes it easy to build, and it's made in Germany from extra-durable, lightweight white cardboard. The castle measures approximately 41" x 41" x 49". "[It's] better than any regular playhouse because children can color it and play with it," Martina McConnon, owner of Creative Toyshop, told TDmonthly. "You can build this castle in three different configurations depending on what space you have available." Launch date: 2008.

This new line is "the next best thing to bare feet" for children ages 1 to 5+ years. Available in EU sizes 20-29 (U.S. children's sizes 6-12), pediped Flex is perfect for children that have outgrown pediped Originals and are ready for the next stage. There are more than 30 adorable Flex styles, including larger versions of many pediped Originals. "They are the only toddler shoes with the Flex Fit system. An additional insole is included with every pair. Put the additional insole in the shoe when it is first bought, [and] when the shoe feels too snug on the child's foot, remove the additional insole and the shoe will have an added half-size of wear," Diane Edgeworth, marketing coordinator for pediped footwear, told TDmonthly. This product received an APMA Seal of Acceptance and a 2007 National Parenting Center Seal of Approval. Launch date: 2009.

Shains Bracelets are part of the Shains line of fashion accessories and an easy way to begin stylizing one's own fashion. Comes with the full alphabet and seven icons. Available in a variety of colors. Shains are cool, recycled fashion accessories that empower people of all ages to make their own statements — and change them anytime. "Shains are unique in using recycled materials and in their cool colors and new product selections, including unique ponytail holders and backpack keyclips," Owner Ewa Martinoff of Shainsware told TDmonthly. Launch date: 2008.

This eco-friendly animal stool is chemical-free, recycled and recyclable. The sculpture piece also has a very real purpose — to be sat upon ridden like a horse. "The product is done in a very humorous way. We have many more styles with an animal table," Cathy Henszey, executive creative director of cardboardesign, told TDmonthly. Launch date: February 2009.

Hi! My name is Clean Air Kate™ and I think clean air is great! I am from Chicago in the United States. I am a city girl who believes in living life to the fullest and giving back to the environment. I love riding my bike because it does not pollute and it is fun! By riding my bicycle and walking, I don’t add harmful chemicals to the environment. I also enjoying gardening and planting trees! There is much we can do to help the environment. Join me and Global Green Pals™ in greening the planet!

Greetings! My name is Carbon Offset Chet™. I’m from London, England and I love to fly! By flying in my special solar-powered plane, I've reduced the amount of air pollutants or “carbon emissions” I emit. This leaves the air and land cleaner for everyone to enjoy. And furthermore, I get to see the world with my Global Green Pals™ without polluting the environment! Roger that! Join me and my pals on our mission!

Global Green Pals,™ group of young eco-explorers from around the world know that everyone can do something good for the environment whether it's turning off a faucet, riding a bike, recycling a can or planting a tree. Made with organic and natural cotton, Global Green Pals ™ are loved by kids and adults alike. Each soft doll comes with its own environmental message and character tag. A portion of your purchase goes to saving the planet.

Kidzsack is an eco-friendly, creative backsack for kids. The fabric is 10-oz. canvas, made from 100-percent recycled cotton and soda bottles. The front of the sack is screenprinted and eight washable, non-toxic markers are included. Kids color, parents wash, and kids recolor — a great reusable activity kit. "It isn't a one-time craft that sits on a shelf collecting dust. As a parent of four, I'm very interested in long-lasting crafts that encourage creativity," Owner Tina Hill of Kidzsack told TDmonthly. This product received a 2008 Preferred Choice Award from Creative Child Magazine. Launch date: October 15, 2007.

This clean-energy set created for use at home or school uses fuel cells and allows kids to learn about wind energy as well as create hydrogen using wind and water; thus kids make their own scientific demonstrations. The set includes a water/gas storage module, a reversible fuel cell, a miniature wind turbine, an electric motor, a propeller blade and a manual. Launch date: Fall 2008.

Each yoyo from One-of-a-Kind Yo-Yo has its own character. The yoyos are made with various sustainably harvested woods from Wisconsin. The wood is carefully selected, hand cut, meticulously sanded, and dipped in a clear lacquer, then assembled with the utmost care. The professional yoyo strings are 100-percent cotton. Each yoyo measures approximately 2" across. Before leaving the shop for the toy store, each yo-yo must pass rigorous testing by the maker to insure that the consumer receives a quality product that works like a charm. Launch date: 2000.

The worm chair is meant for children who have a hard time sitting still all day in school. The worm chair is flat in one end and curved in the other end, which enables children to silently (due to the material) be in movement while sitting at their desk. The idea is that the child can use the worm in different ways — to play games, for example. The Worm encourages "better posture and [and] improved learning curve," Director Mette Dyhrberg of bObles told TDmonthly. This product was a winner of a prototype exhibition at an Interior Design Show in 2008. Launch date: 2009.

The Snake can function as a table, and may be used together with other tumbling animals in an obstacle course. It can also be turned upside down and used as a boat. "bObles is a playful interior environment for children, with a design their parents would love to place within their homes. The tumbling animals can be used as furniture, but [are] meant for play. The whole idea is to enhance children's motor skills while playing!" Director Mette Dyhrberg of bObles told TDmonthly. Launch date: September 2008.

The Chicken can be placed on its wide surface or turned upside down. When the chicken is placed on its back there is a rocking function. For the very small child who has just learned to get around, balance will be challenged by lying on the chicken and feeling the rocking, and just lying next to the chicken and touching it will provide good stimuli for the child. A child can later sit, then stand and walk on the Chicken. When used as a stepping stone, the product does not slide. The material is soft, too, making it nice for use with bare feet. The Chicken also has a very usable see-saw function, since it lies stable and secure, is easy to control, and has a good angle in relation to the stretch/movement of the ankle joint. Launch date: September 2008.

The Tumbling Fish are available in two stackable sizes. The low one is for children who have just learned to sit; the big  one is for older children; stack the two and they fit teenagers and adults. The Fish grows along with children, allowing them to use the Fish over a long period of time. Kids can roll the animals to one another, or roll and chase them. The size of the six-layer Fish allows a child to sit on it even while it is moving , which enhances the child’s balancing skills. Children can lie across these Fish and have the backside of their bodies strengthened, and children can exercise their arms through the pressure from their own body weight. Launch date: September 2008.
— "The tumbling animals can be used as furniture, but [are] meant for play. The whole idea is to enhance children's motor skills while playing!" Director Mette Dyhrberg of bObles told TDmonthly.

Parents can place a small child in the curve between the legs of the elephant and it works as a back rest. The elephant also has a rocking function where the child is challenged and stimulated while sitting. Later on, the child can stand on top of the elephant’s feet, which challenges the child’s balance while standing. The elephant is also good to lie across — flat on the stomach as well as on the back. Last but not least, it is a great chair for sitting, for both children and parents. "All the tumbling animals can stand alone and will, each in their own way, influence motor skill development in a positive direction, but to have more tumbling animals — four, eight or 15 different tumbling animals together — will give enormous opportunities for bodily development," Director Mette Dyhrberg of bObles told TDmonthly. The Elephant has won the following awards: Formidable 2006 - Formex Stockholm and 2008 - Salone Del Mobile, Milano. Launch date: September 2007.