November 2010 Notable Toys — Developmental Toys

This Brain Quest write and erase format is geared to give the earliest learners a leg up on writing, reading, and using number. Featuring an attached pack of 40 large, write-on, wipe-off cards plus a dry-erase pen, each deck teaches a critical skill to help children learn to read before kindergarten. These are practical lessons that are also fun, entertaining, and informative. Phonics teaches early reading with fill-ins for long and short vowels and basic consonant sounds, letter scrambles, complete-the-words, and more.
— ''We just got [the Phonics write & erase sets] in, and we sold 18 last month,'' said Gwen Bowden, manager of Doodlehopper for Kids in Springfield, Va.
— ''Brainquest work books and cards go the fastest,'' seconded Susan Blanton, owner of Pufferbellies in Staunton, Va.
— In a November 2011 survey 2 out of 12 retailers said that Brainquest was their best selling educational item. “Brain Quest (Workman Publishing) has always done well for us," Chris Lowe, owner of Beanhead Toys in Sandy Springs, Ga., told TDmonthly. Mike DiAndrea, manager of Hardware Toys in Paoli, Pa., told TDmonthly that sell about 30 units of Brain Quest each month.

Word Wheels are fun, educational, toys. They are intuitive, hand held, and promote learning through reading, manipulation, and understanding. To a child they are toys, but to a parent or teacher, they are learning tools. They engage the mind, are quiet, and enhance learning through stimulating comprehension. "Word Wheels play like a toy and teach like a book," Tim Irwin, president of Paradigm Devices, told TDmonthly. Launch date: September 2011.
Awards: 2010 Dr. Toy 100 Best Children's Products

These building blocks move into action with wheels and ball tracks. The 26-piece Basic Vehicle Pack includes blocks, clutches and clamps, and is designed to teach motor skills and basic physics principles. An instruction booklet is included.

The Guidecraft Feel & Find mixes visual and tactile stimuli via 20 printed tiles and wooden shapes. The set challenges kids to match the shapes, building their sensory skills.
— Nicole of Tired, Need Sleep reported that her son “was very, very excited about playing the game and eager to get everything perfect. However, with 20 fairly unfamiliar shapes in the bag, it was a pretty challenging game for him (which is a good thing, since it means we will get a lot of use out of this as his skills develop!).” She adored the bright, well-constructed pieces and the limitless possibilities for play and learning they offer.
— Renee of What Mommies Need called Feel and Find “a great learning tool for children.” After a few rounds, her son “learned to take his time and find what he was looking for” and “how to feel for a specific shape.” Renee noted that the $25 MSRP “is a great price for an all-wood product.”

This 48-piece set includes solid colored pieces, along with pieces with holes, curved pieces, a magnetic door and a wheeled piece. Magna-Tiles DX contains 12 small squares, four large squares, six isosceles triangles, 10 right triangles, 11 equilateral triangles, a wheeled piece, and arch and three special shapes. An idea guide is included.
— In late summer 2010, five percent of 43 specialty retailers told TDmonthly Magna-Tiles are an overall best-selling product.
— In late Spring 2011, 25% of retailers mentioned Magna-Tiles as a best-selling construction toy.
— As of 05/12/2011, this product had 5 out of 5 stars from 23 reviews on Amazon.com.
— In a Summer 2012 survey, Diana Nelson, owner of Kazoo & Company in Denver, Col., told TDmonthly that Magnatiles were their overall best-selling toy.

Giant, solid maple sorting cube with solid maple shapes to sort. 4 different sorting combinations from simple to complex. Large openings on each side for easy retrieval of shapes. Solid maple construction makes this sorting cube virtually indestructible.

Classic wooden stack and nest toy with safe, rounded corners and brightly colored bases to arrange in sequence six ways. Recessed edges help the child make and correct and stable fits.

This 24-page book includes a collection of self-checking, standards-based skill cards. These cards are designed for hands-on review or independent work at a learning center. The varying skill levels represented in the series provide valuable differentiation for students. "The Turn & Learn series is designed to provide a fun, interactive way for students to practice early literacy and math skills," Creative Teaching Press Marketing Specialist Lauren Tuculescu told TDmonthly.

These teethers can be worn as a bracelet so it is always close by. Soft and lightweight for little fingers to hold, it features various ribs and nubs act as developmental features for baby to explore and develop oral motor skills. Dishwasher safe. Made in the USA of medical grade silicone.

Hugga-Bébé is a support for children 4 months through toddler years to use in activity centers, jumpers, walkers, high chairs, park bucket swings and more. Hugga Bebe is designed to solve the problem of having to stuff pillows, blankets or towels around a child during playtime to keep them supported. Hugga-Bébé gives children the proper tools to sit without having to slump over or flop around. Awards: 2009 iParenting Media Award; 2009 PTPA (Parent Tested Parent Approved); 2009 Family Review Award; 2009 WTS 5 Star Product Award; 2009 The Best and Hottest Products Award through Metro Moms; 2009 Creative Child Magazine Top Choice of the Year; 2009 Mom’s Choice; 2010 Creative Child Magazine Top Choice of the Year

Scopey the Dog is a unique character whose adventures are designed to bring environmental awareness to readers. The product line includes a plush toy, microscope toy and multiple activity books. Scopey the Dog has "Scopey Sense" built-in to magnify micro-images in the books, or magnify any object to 50x the original size on a TV or computer screen.

Part of the My Friendship Bracelet Maker line, this clip board is designed to be a smaller, portable, gender- and age- neutral version of the My Friendship Bracelet Maker. The clip board allows users to easily create even the most complicated friendship bracelet patters with the patented designed "peace" sign clip and string holder. The kit comes with 10 pre-cut threads so users can get started right away. The "MY Friendship Bracelet Maker Clip Board allows users to create an unlimited variety of friendship bracelets with ease," David Crorey, Owner and CEO of Crorey Creations told TDmonthly.

Sabu & Me is the true story of Maura and her dog Sabu and the wonderful times they spent together during Maura’s early life. The book is a re-telling of her earliest memories with her best friend. Through a rainbow of colors, the illustrations of Hazel Mitchell bring the story of Sabu & Me to life. Since Sabu was a rescue dog, profits benefit the charity PAWS Chicago. "The book was written by a 7-year-old girl who had the idea not only to write the book but to donate the proceeds to an excellent cause due to her love for animals," Alton Road Publishing CEO Jeffrey Markowitz told TDmonthly.
Awards: 2010 Creative Child Magazine Children's Picture Book of the Year; 2010 The Toy Man Editor's Choice; 2010 The Toy Man Top 10 Products of the Quarter; The Toy Man 2010 Award for Excellence; 2010 Dr. Toy Best Summer Products.

DINGaRINGs' natural wooden teething ring, luxuriously soft body and gentle rattle are designed to make them ideal gifts for newborns and teething babies. This product is "the ultimate non-plastic baby toy," Kate Nicolson, director of O.B. Designs, told TDmonthly.
Awards: 2009 Life InStyle Trade Fair Top 10 Kids Products

This toy is designed to be a playful, interactive adventure with shapes, colors and sizes to stack, fit, share, compare and “wear.” The set includes one 12" Eebee doll and four soft “wearable” shapes that easily slip on and off of Eebee’s arms and legs. "This truly interactive doll is a modern, playful twist on classic stacking toys. Rather than just a spindle and four shapes, If The SHAPE FITS Eebee provides babies and parents with countless explorations beyond simple stacking," Every Baby Company President Stephen Gass told TDmonthly.
Awards: 2009 NAPPA Gold Award

In this DVD, beloved children’s books are brought to life with voice, sign language, and beautiful music scores. Designed for preschoolers.

These nine Puzzle Blocks feature fresh contemporary graphics incorporated into a classic play pattern. The blocks are designed to be the perfect size for travel and small hands.

This toy includes 11 dressing activities. Kids learn to snap on straps, button, hook and loop, zip and more while developing fine motor skills. The monkey features bright colors, engaging textures and a soft plush body.