August 2009 Notable Toys — Preschool

With a pretty pink flower accented with purple, this hand-knit hat fits well with little girls while keeping the head warm and safe from cold weather. Matching mittens available.

The pottyPOD is designed to help create a hassle-free potty experience that makes potty training easier for parents and their child. The soft, cushiony seat provides comfort while the rigid base provides strength and stability. "The pottyPOD is the anti-microbial potty on the market!" Nicole Strand, in sales administration at Prince Lionheart, told TDmonthly. Launch date: May 2009.

This maple wood toy recycling truck is finish-free and measures about 4" long. It includes the word "recycling" and portrays sorting bins for glass, plastic and paper.

Little kids can practice whipping up nutritional meals with this wooden cook station. Launch date: Early 2009.

This behavorial modification device is designed to teach children acceptable sleep patterns by displaying a sun face for day and a moon face for night. It can be preset to any times, depending upon the schedule that parents set for their children. The sun caricature brightens the room in the morning, letting kids know it is time to get out of bed; the moon signifies that it is "time to rest." The programmable light measures 6" in diameter.

When placed in water for 30 seconds, this compact package expands into a 12" x 12" cotton towel.
— “Toysmith offers lots of small, inexpensive toys that go out the door consistently,” Steve Melody, owner of Melody’s Choices in Fayetteville, Ark., told TDmonthly in spring 2009.

P’kolino’s Puzzle Stacker increases the play value of the classic stacker by adding the benefits of puzzles. This 6 ring stacking toy helps develop a baby’s hand-eye coordination and recognition of sizes and colors. The puzzle fine-tunes motor skills and teaches spatial logic through joining the interconnecting pieces, resulting in doubling its developmental value within a single toy. Also available in a 10 ring version. Launch date: June 2009.

This durable, adjustable cotton apron for children features an eco-coating that is Oeko-Tex® Standard 100 certified to not contain harmful chemicals. It is machine washable and may also be spot cleaned. It is designed for use when kids are working on art projects, cooking, eating or conducting science experiments.