October 2012 Notable Toys — Creative Activities

This handcrafted wood set includes seven pieces: A bucket drum with a natural skin head, a pair of drum sticks, a single jingle stick, a handled castanet and a pair of mini maracas. Fun for the whole family or class! Includes a parent/teacher friendly activity guide for ideas on using the items to encourage child development.
— As of 10/30/2012 this product had 4.6 out of 5 stars from 26 reviews on Amazon.com. Pros: The drum makes a nice noise; fun for kids on their own or in groups.
Awards: 2015 TDmonthly Top Toy Award

The Sounds Like Fun ABC Clappers are 3 brightly painted, hand crafted wood castanets with handles in graduated sizes and sounds. One side is labeled 1, 2,3, and the other side is labeled A, B, C. For color, number, shape and letter recognition, beginning pattern making, and hearing high and low sound changes. Includes a parent/teacher friendly activity guide for ideas on using the clappers to encourage child development. Launch date: 2005.

Little ones love defining what it is that makes them so special, and so do we. This fun activity book encourages kids to explore their own imaginations and preferences—treehouse or fort? Pirate or ninja? Filled with whimsical illustrations, playful prompts, and awesome stickers, This...or That? gives kids the power of creative decision making. Launch date: June 2012.

Combat a universal childhood affliction—exercise resistance—with our Kids’ Passports. Featuring fancy sticker “stamps” as rewards, this official-looking booklet will trick even the idlest of youngsters into making an adventuresome, interactive game of moving and grooving. Launch date: January 2012.

Combat a universal childhood affliction—picky eating—with our Kids’ Passports. Featuring fancy sticker “stamps” as rewards, this official-looking booklet is sure to convince even the fussiest little eater to make an adventuresome, interactive game of trying new foods. Launch date: January 2012.

Kids will discover a world of intrigue and adventure right under their noses with our Scavenger Hunt Pad. More active than any techno-gadget, this pad keeps young’uns busy and ignites their imagination as they search for “treasure” around the house (or hotel room, backyard, etc.). Launch date: January 2012.

Encourage budding creative geniuses to showcase their skills with the I’m an Artist Pad. More fun than television and less expensive than art school, this inspiring pad fuels kids’ imagination in a celebratory format that’s just as enjoyable for parents as it is for tots. Launch date: January 2012.

Package includes: Rainbow Loom(TM), Mini Rainbow Loom(TM), hook, a bag of c-clips, instruction manual and 600+ mix rubber bands (colors may vary). Makes up to 24 rubber band bracelets.
— Chris Lowe, owner of Beanhead Toys in Sandy Springs, Ga., told TDmonthly in a May 2013 survey that Rainbow Loom is their best-selling activity kit. They sell about 50 each month, and if they could keep it in stock, would likely sell more. "I got 24 the other day and they were gone instantly," she told TDmonthly.
— In a July 2013 survey, four out of 12 retailers told TDmonthly that the Rainbow Loom was their overall best-selling product.
— In a Fall 2013 survey, two out of 12 retailers told TDmonthly that Rainbow Loom was their best-selling novelty toy.

Bible Origami kit is a new boxed set from well-known papercrafter Andrew Dewar. It contains everything kids need to fold the figures from famous Biblical stories. A full-color, 64-page booklet provides detailed, step-by-step folding instructions for each figure. Custom-designed papers are provided for each person, animal and object that comprise the 72 models. Each project is introduced by a simple retelling of the biblical story that inspires it, followed by an explanation of the significance of each accompanying origami figure.

This kit contains 8 types of origami toys and 16 karakuri models. The origami toys and games include models such as the determined Robot Wrestlers, which you can pit against one another in a battle to the death. The karakuri models are constructed using pop-out paper that are easily assembled and include performing toys that tumble, balance and jump, as well as pieces like the comical Waddling Penguin and 6 additional models that walk down a gentle incline.

The Color & Collage Origami Art Kit is a unique new product that allows children to fold, assemble, compose, color and display large collages. Author Andrew Dewar provides all the custom-designed folding paper and backgrounds needed to complete these origami collages. Kids will have fun folding the individual models for stand-alone play as well as arranging the pieces on the six included backgrounds—conveniently printed in color on one side, with the reverse featuring just the outlines for coloring fun. Double-sided origami paper with folding lines incorporated right into the playful designs will have everyone—regardless of skill level—folding like a pro right out of the gate.

Glow in the Dark Crazy Forts are a unique, award winning, building and creative toy. Glow in the Dark Crazy Forts come with 69 child-safe glow in the dark toggles and rods that join together to build any play space from your child's imagination. Create a "Cave" one day, an "Igloo", "Pirate Ship" or "Castle" the next . put the pieces together in different configurations, cover with bed sheets and "voila." kids have a unique new play space every time. Crazy Fort is powered by a child's imagination. Each Crazy Fort Kit contains 25 geometrically precise balls that glow in the dark and 44 sticks that connect to create a multitude of possible play structures. The Glow in the Dark kit contains balls that glow in the dark for hours when held to the light.

Players must try to make as many connections between tiles as they can before the timer runs out. Players can be as creative as they like, but their fellow players will decide if their play counts or not. Fast-paced and perfect for a crowd. Launch date: June 2012.

Add sparkling jewels to these rocking Robots. Slap these stickers on bike helmets, skateboards and more. These futuristic fighters shoot fire and electricity to squash the bad guys. Best of all, these stickers can be peeled right off with no residue and reused for years to come. Launch date: October 2012.

Big fix-it fun for the smallest fixer uppers. Encourage imaginative play with chunky tools made from durable, soft plastic. Includes saw, hammer, screwdriver, wrench, drill (with sound) and tool box measuring 9"L x 5½"H x 3¾"W. Launch date: January 2012.
Awards: 2012 Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Best Toy Gold Seal Award

Let the magnetic stylus be your pen and the bead board be your paper. Use your imagination to draw shapes, letters and pictures, popping individual beads to the surface. Erase with the tip of a finger.
— Dean Smith, owner of JaZams in Princeton, N.J. told TDmonthly in a July 2014 survey that the Free Play Magnatab was their store's best-selling toy.

In the land of Blue Clouds, anything can happen. The clear and beautiful voice of children’s music favorite Elizabeth Mitchell weaves musical landscapes that “seem like a patchwork of memories we’ve always shared,” writes Caldecott Award – winning author Brian Selznick in the liner notes. The dreamlike illustrations of legendary artist Remy Charlip illuminate the magical narratives of these timeless songs. Mitchell’s extended family band, You Are My Flower, including daughter Storey and husband Daniel Littleton, embrace us with sound in a celebration of family, imagination and love. 16 tracks, 39 minutes, 32 page booklet. Launch date: October 2012.
Awards: 2013 TDmonthly Seal of Approval

Each Wearables Stunt Plane comes complete with shoulder straps, propeller fasteners and printed, precut corrugated pieces children to decorate and then construct into a wearable-sized 3-D bi-plane.

The Curious Chef line provides kids with real, functional, kitchen utensils. The 16 PC Cupcake Kit is just one of many items that helps families create special memories centered on the joy of cooking and positive eating habits. "Curious Chef is the only complete line of real cooking utensils designed for kids that have safety features built-in with kids' size (and behaviors) in mind," Taylor Crenshaw, brand manager for Tailor Made Products, told TDmonthly. Launch date: January 2009.

The Tangle toy is a universal plaything. With no restrictions or rules on how kids play with it., the Tangle is a plaything that stimulates the imagination and creativity for its users. It's also very functional. Many play with the Tangle for stress relief, brain stimulation (use it to cure boredom or come up with that next big idea), the development of fine motor skills, and is FDA registered for hand therapy and rehabilitation. The Tangle is fun and function and for all types of people; young,old, and cross culturally.

Whether kids are into super heroes, zombies, princesses, robots, or anything else they can think up, our Wood Chuck is the perfect medium to bring their creation to life. Complete with paints and a brush all kids need is an idea and they're off and running.

Watch and listen to the beautiful stream of beads as they gently cascade down the clear plastic 8.5-Inch tube. Playtime with this easy to grip toy helps improve gross motor skills and is safe for ages 6 months and up. BPA free. Launch date: August 2012.

Matisse's Red Studio was a breakthrough in modern art with its flood of vibrant red color and white sketch lines. The different perspectives Matisse used have been studied and debated by artists since the painting first debuted in 1911. The Red Studio Master Kitz includes all the tools children need to create their own masterpiece along with learning materials to deepen  their understanding of the Red Studio and its impact on modern art. Each Red Studio Mater Kitz includes: A sturdy, re-usable art tool box with magnetic closures; 1 re-usable stencil; 2 pieces of high quality art paper; 2 sticker sheets; 1 acrylic paint; 1 oil pastel; 1 foam brush; Fun, easy-to-understand Matisse learning materials; Easy-to-follow step-by-step instructions.
— Rebecca Goblish, owner of Picayune Toys in Dunwoody, Ga., told TDmonthly in a May 2013 survey that Snap Circuits are one of their best-selling activity kits.

CHOCOLALALA is a collection of original, bilingual songs from award-winning musician Mister G. Inspired by his concert tours throughout Latin America, the album spans a wide range of musical styles from bossa nova to ska, funk to folk, rap to pop. With captivating Latin rhythms and melodies, the songs appeal to parents as much as their children. Catchy and educational, the songs teach about counting, colors and nature, and celebrate the joys of eating chocolate, dancing and riding on the school bus with friends. CHOCOLALALA was produced, engineered and mixed by Mister G (Ben Gundersheimer). The album features world-class musicians, the voices of bilingual families, and performances by Mister G's former elementary school students. In addition to writing and singing the songs, Mister G played acoustic and electric guitars, banjo, tres and percussion. Launch date: September 10, 2012.