August 2010 Notable Toys — Developmental Toys

Lilly Bean's play food line is made of super-soft fleece and velour, with stuffing made entirely from recycled soda bottles. The Market Sandwich Lunch is American made and features two slices of wheat bread, one slice of lunch meat, lettuce, cheese, tomato, a carrot and a cream-filled cookie. "Our play foods are more life-sized than play foods currently available in the market. We believe that it makes our product more fun, safe and easy for little hands to play with," Lilly Bean Owner Hilary Karnatz told TDmonthly.

This easy-to-use educational tool promotes accelerated learning, literacy and new language skills. The WhisperPhone Element is adjustable for fit and comfort, and comes with a lifetime guarantee.

Word Builder challenges children to build new words by twisting the rings in order to create different letter combinations. With the help of their caregivers, children learn how to use consonants and vowels to build words between two and six letters long. The rings are easily removed and rearranged, creating a multitude of possibilities.

The Story Starter is designed for shared use with young children and their caregivers. A child twists the rings in order to create one of several thousand combinations of story introductions. The caregiver can continue to tell a story from the introduction, or encourage the child to use his or her imagination and continue the story himself or herself.

Alphabet Matcher challenges children to choose a letter and find the five corresponding images that begin with that letter. For example, select the letter “F” and find Fish, Foot, Frog, Flower and Flag. An answer guide is included. Alphabet Matcher engages skills ranging from logic to spelling. It contains three extra sets of rings, covering 24 letters and 120 images.
Awards: Dr. Toy 100 Best Children's Products - 2010; 2011 PAL (Play Advances Language) Award.

The Learn-To-Dress Knight helps little ones learn how to snap, buckle, tie, button, and zip, all while encouraging hours of imaginative playtime. This Noble Knight can change to a Dark Knight with just a swoosh of his reversible cape. Outfits are completely removable and Floppy Bear is machine washable and guaranteed for life. Storm Tussey, Retail Marketing Coordinator at Vermont Teddy Bear Company, told TDmonthly, "The Learn-to-Dress Components are incorporated into the design, so the life and play of the product is longer." Launch date: July 2010.

The Learn-To-Dress Fairy Princess helps little ones learn how to snap, buckle, tie, button, and zip all while encouraing hours of imaginative playtime. The Fairy Princess changes into a Pretty Pink Princess by removing her top skirt and unbuttoning her wings. The outfit is completely removable, and the dress and bear are machine washable. The bear is guaranteed for life. Storm Tussey, Retail Marketing Coordinator at Vermont Teddy Bear Company, told TDmonthly, "The Learn-to-Dress Fairy Princess outfit is fully removable and educational portions are designed into the garment for a longer life and to inspire creative play." Launch date: July 2010.

BPA and PVC free, this cornstarch teething rattle is eco-friendly and biodegradable. The slender design provides easy gripping for exploring fingers. It is made with Natureworks® EcoGreen cornstarch PLA biopolymer with silicone teether parts.

BPA and PVC free, this cornstarch resin rattle is eco-friendly and biodegradable. Its classic dumbbell shape provides easy gripping for exploring fingers. It is made with Natureworks® EcolGreen cornstarch PLA biopolymer.

Organic, BPA and PVC free, this plush animal with teething rings entertains baby. The plush animal is made from organic cotton terry with organic cotton fill, and the EVA teething rings can be chilled in the refrigerator for a soothing effect.

This BPA-, PVC- and nitrosamine-free cooling teether can be chilled in the refrigerator for a soothing effect. The soother is filled with sterilized water for baby's health and comfort.