Toys in the News: 3-30-12

By TDmonthly Staff
March 2012

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_{Toys in the News is updated Mon-Fri at 9:15 am PST}

Apple labor plan to ripple through China factories. March 30, 2012 — Apparel makers, toy companies and other manufacturers wrestling with rising wages in China now face new pressures...

Mattel to Make ‘Bald Friend of Barbie’. March 30, 2012 — Mattel, the maker of Barbie, will produce a bald fashion doll for children who have lost their hair...

Employee engagement in a social media world. March 30, 2012 — Retailers are now well familiar with social media as a means of engaging consumers...

Evolution to Evolve Zydeco's Floppets. March 30, 2012 — Evolution Management Group has been named the global licensing, sales and brand management,,,

Discovery Adds Poof-Slinky. March 30, 2012 — Discovery Communication has signed a new deal with licensee Poof-Slinky...

Tinkerers abuzz over old toys. March 30, 2012 — Decades-old playtime relics occupying space in dusty toy boxes or the basement are finding...

Xia-Xia hermit crab toys arrive on Nintendo DS. March 30, 2012 — Popular scuttling toy hermit crabs known as Xia-Xia pets can now be played with in a virtual world...

Toy Truck Gifts with Purchase Recalled by Happy Shirts Due to Fire Hazard. Sold Exclusively at Kohl's. March 30, 2012 — The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product: About 9,000 toy truck gifts with boy's t-shirts from Happy Shirts, sold exclusively at Kohl's stores nationwide and www.Kohls.com between February 2012 and March 2012 for about $20. Connections in the toy trucks battery compartment can smolder or catch the trucks on fire, posing a fire and burn hazard to consumers. Consumers should immediately take the toy trucks from children and remove the battery. Consumers can contact Happy Shirts for instructions on returning the truck for a refund.

Toy Meets Masterpiece with LEGO® Art Exhibition at OMSI. March 30, 2012 — Playing with LEGO® blocks will take on a whole new meaning to visitors of the upcoming The Art of the Brick exhibition at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI)...

Bologna 2012 Wrap-up: A Look at the Trends of the Show. March 30, 2012 — By most accounts, this year’s Bologna Book Fair was a vibrant one...

Great Start for Children's E-book Sales in 2012. March 30, 2012 — The Association of American Publishers publishes monthly sales revenue estimates based on figures supplied by participating publishers...

Mattel CEO 2011 compensation even with 2010. March 29, 2012 — The former CEO of Mattel Inc., the largest U.S. toy maker, received compensation valued at $10.8 million...

JPMA and ABC Unify To Form Stronger Industry Organization. March 29, 2012 — The Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA) and All Baby and Child, Inc. (ABC), creators of the ABC Kids Expo, announce an industry unification. In negotiations finalized during the JPMA Annual Legislative Summit in Washington,D.C., JPMA and ABC executed a letter of intent agreeing to actively pursue a merged industry not-for-profit trade association dedicated to promoting the interests of the entire industry...

CDC estimates 1 in 88 children in United States has been identified as having an autism spectrum disorder. March 29, 2012 — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 1 in 88 children in the United States has been identified as having an autism spectrum disorder (ASD)...

Pottermore Shop Opens. March 29, 2012 — As of Tuesday, March 27, all seven Harry Potter novels are now available in electronic form...

Kid Brands, Inc. to Discuss Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2011 Results on March 30, 2012. March 29, 2012 — Kid Brands, Inc. KID -1.83% today announced that management will host a conference call and audio webcast on Friday, March 30, 2012, at 12:00 p.m. ET to discuss its fourth quarter and full year 2011 financial results...

Hasbro loses bid to stop Asus’s ‘Transformer Prime.' March 29, 2012 — Asus has the right to use the “Transformer Prime” name on its tablet, a federal judge ruled...

MEGA Brands and Mattel announce worldwide licensing partnership. March 29, 2012 — MEGA Brands Inc. announced today a multi-year global licensing partnership with Mattel, Inc., - the world's largest toy company- to develop construction toys based on Barbie® and Hot Wheels®. The new lines will be available at retail starting in spring 2013.

'Twist-O' toy inspires collapsible 'buckliball.' March 29, 2012 — The Twist-O, a quirky expandable spherical toy, has inspired a team of engineers...

Top 3 Skylanders Giants Compatibility Tips. March 29, 2012 — Since Skylanders Giants was announced at the New York Toy Fair there has been a steady stream...

PERSPECTIVES: A Conversation with Warren Buckleitner, Children’s Technology Expert. March 29, 2012 — Warren Buckleitner has been reviewing children's technology products since 1983...

The Chipmunks arrive at Walmart. March 29, 2012 — Parents of "Alvin and the Chipmunks" fans may soon be heading to Walmart...

TIA to Conduct Toy Industry Compensation and Benefits Survey. March 29, 2012 — Toy Industry Association (TIA) has announced that it has partnered with Industry Insights, Inc. to conduct a comparative benchmark survey...

CPSC Staff Endorses ASTM F963-11 Heavy Element Limits, Declaring them to be “Sufficiently Protective of Children’s Health." March 29, 2012 — In a recent briefing report that reviewed the effectiveness of heavy element limits contained in the ASTM F963 toy safety standard...

Workers’ rights issues emerge in Canada. March 29, 2012 — The United States isn’t the only country where workers’ rights are called into question...

Toys 'R' Us leaves IPO on shelf as debt looms. March 28, 2012 — Toys “R” Us Inc., the Wayne-based retailer that has been trying to sell shares to the public for almost two years, is changing tack....

Report confirms strong connection between customer experience, loyalty. March 28, 2012 — Customer experience is highly correlated to loyalty in both the United States and the United Kingdom....

JAKKS Pacific Awarded ‘Boys Toy of the Year’ for MONSUNO by the Australian Toy Association. March 27, 2012 — JAKKS Pacific, Inc. received the prestigious ‘Boys Toy of the Year’ Award, from the Australian Toy Association (ATA) for their Monsuno™ toy line...

Baby Dolls Recalled by Lakeshore Learning Materials Due to Choking Hazard. March 27, 2012 — The fingers and toes of the dolls can detach, posing a choking hazard to young children. Feels Real Baby Dolls are 14-inch high plastic dolls with movable arms, legs, and head.

Kids Become Pixar Cartoon Heroes. March 26, 2012 — Kids who love the Pixar movies Cars, Ratatouille, Up, Toy Story, and The Incredibles will find a lot to like in Kinect Rush: A Disney Pixar Adventure...

Shoppers see innovation in mobile device use. March 26, 2012 — Retailers that use tablets and other mobile devices in place of cash registers...

‘Bototoy’ exhibit focuses on toy-art hybrid. March 26, 2012 — The words “posable” and “points of articulation” are normally associated with action figure toys...

Parents Dumping Kids at Toy Stores. March 26, 2012 — We've all heard of kids being left in the car while their parents...

Switched On: Tablets are toys. No, really. March 26, 2012 — Ever since the tablet market exploded, we've seen a wide range of designs...

'The Hunger Games': A feast for investors? March 23, 2012 — "The Hunger Games," the most highly anticipated movie debut since the "Harry Potter" series...

Kids Brands Owes $6.9 Million China Furniture Dumping Penalties. March 23, 2012 — Furniture retailer Kids Brands Inc. said it must pay $6.9 million in duties to U.S. Customs and Border Protection...

'Hunger Games': Mattel to Release Katniss Barbie Doll. March 23, 2012 — Hunger Games is doing big box office business its first day in theaters

GameStop expects to raise the sales score in 2012. March 23, 2012 — GameStop is postive about 2012, despite ending 2011 with a quarter of declining sales...

3 Ways the Video Game Business Could Bounce Back. March 23, 2012 — Folks aren't buying video games the way they used to -- and that's a problem...

Hot potato! Mr. Potato Head turns 60. March 23, 2012 — Employees of the toy giant Hasbro gathered recently at their Pawtucket, R.I., headquarters...

National Retail Federation Names Katie Wilson Vice President Of Communications. March 23, 2012 — The National Retail Federation announced today that Katie Wilson has been named Vice President of Communications...

The Hunger Games Franchise: The Odds Seem Ever in Its Favor. March 23, 2012 — With an opening this weekend that’s expected to top $100 million...

Wal-Mart penalized $2.1 million for overcharging California customers. March 23, 2012 — A state attorney for California said Wednesday that Wal-Mart has agreed to pay...

Rising gas prices and the great traffic debate. March 23, 2012 — Surging gas prices this spring could jeopardize Walmart’s tenuous same-store sales recovery...

Toys R Us Sales Fall in Holiday Quarter; No Word on IPO. March 22, 2012 — Toys R Us Inc, which plans to go public, posted a drop in fourth-quarter sales...

What Barbie Could Learn from American Girl. March 22, 2012 — Barbie turned 53 this month. She’s now several years into an AARP membership...

Safety 1st Cabinet Locks Recalled Due to Lock Failure; Children Can Gain Unintended Access to Dangerous Items. March 22, 2012 — The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product: About 900,000 Push ‘N Snap Cabinet Locks from Dorel Juvenile Group, sold at Bed Bath & Beyond, and other retail stores nationwide and online at Amazon.com from January 2004 through February 2012 for between $2 and $4. Young children can disengage the cabinet locks, allowing access to cabinet contents and posing the risk of injury, due to dangerous or unsafe items. Consumers should immediately remove the recalled locks from cabinets and contact DJG for a free replacement Push ‘N Snap lock with model numbers HS158 or HS159. When removing the recalled locks, consumers are urged to immediately store dangerous items out of reach of children.

Helping One Big Client, but Wanting to Spread Out. March 22, 2012 — The Four Horsemen Toy Design Studios is a toy company based in New Jersey...

BSW Announces Titanic Shrinky Dinks. March 22, 2012 — In the wake of the 100th anniversary of the Titanic, BSW Toys has announced on its website the launch of Titanic Shrinky Dinks™.

Genius Brands International Reports Increased Revenues for Fiscal 2011. March 22, 2012 — Genius Brands International, Inc. (otcqb:GNUS), developer and marketer of entertainment products including the award-winning Baby Genius(R) line of music and education-based products and characters, today announced results for its fiscal year ended December 31, 2011...

Etch A Sketch 'Happy' To See Toy 'Shaking Up' Presidential Race. March 22, 2012 — Mitt Romney may be less than thrilled about Etch A Sketch's new found fame in the presidential debate...

Online lost ground in February. March 22, 2012 — No surprise that traffic to retail websites falls off appreciably in February...

Angry Birds fly into Walmart. March 22, 2012 — Of all the mobile games out there, perhaps none is as popular...

Reading Rainbow Gets an App. March 22, 2012 — RRKidz, who helped to relaunch the Reading Rainbow television series...

Wimpy Kid #7 Due in November. March 21, 2012 — On Wednesday afternoon at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair, Abrams’s Amulet Books...

NRF Names Ellen Davis Senior Vice President And Executive Director, NRF Foundation. March 21, 2012 — The National Retail Federation announced today that Ellen Davis has been named Senior Vice President and Executive Director of the NRF Foundation, the education and research arm of NRF...

HIT Signs Mike the Knight Book Deal. March 21, 2012 — HIT Entertainment has named Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing master publisher in the U.S. ...

27th Century Technology Launches Campaign to Warn Consumers of Faulty Power Wheels Batteries. March 21, 2012 — Neil J. Chernoff, the chairman/CEO of 27th Century Technology, has announced the launch of a campaign to warn consumers about faulty Power Wheels batteries, according to a press release.

TOC Bologna: Digital Kids' Publishers Try to Chart the Path Ahead. March 21, 2012 — On the eve of the 49th annual Bologna Children’s Book Fair, an international crowd of just under 400 turned out for the second Tools of Change Bologna...

Second Annual California Toy Day Agenda Highlights. March 21, 2012 — The Toy Industry Association’s (TIA) Second Annual California Toy Day will kick-off in Sacramento next month, bringing together toy companies to meet, engage and inform the state’s most influential decision-makers about the key issues and concerns faced by the toy industry in 2012...

CARU’s 2nd Annual West Coast Summit to be Held April 3. March 21, 2012 — The Children’s Advertising and Review Unit (CARU) will host its 2nd Annual Children’s Advertising and Online Privacy Summit at The Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles, CA, on April 3rd, 2012...

Spring Apparel, Candy To Send Easter Sales Past $16 Billion, According To NRF. March 20, 2012 — It seems even high prices at the pump can’t keep the Easter Bunny away this year...

Free Universal Construction Kit Lets You Connect 10 Different Kinds of Building Toys. March 20, 2012 — Want to connect your LEGOs to your Duplos? Your K’nex to your Tinker Toys...

Mattel To Webcast First Quarter 2012 Earnings Conference Call. March 20, 2012 — Mattel, Inc. today announced that it will webcast its quarterly conference call on Monday, April 16, 2012 at 8:30 a.m. Eastern time.

Hasbro Named 1 of Most Ethical Companies. March 20, 2012 — A think tank that promotes business ethics and corporate social responsibility has...

Big Business out of Fun Figurines. March 20, 2012 — In the Nintendo Store in midtown Manhattan a woman is asking if they have any Skylanders figurines...

North American Product Safety Agencies Team Up in the Name of Poison Prevention. March 20, 2012 — As the United States marks the 50th anniversary of National Poison Prevention Week from March 18-24, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is teaming up with product safety counterparts in Canada and Mexico to call attention to the dangers of unintentional poisoning...

Alliance Data in New Multi-Agreement With Canada’s Toys"R"Us. March 20, 2012 — Alliance Data Systems Corp. announced that its Canadian coalition loyalty business has signed a new multi-year agreement with Toys“R”Us...

Smartphone Shopping Dominated Holiday Season. March 20, 2012 — During the 2011 holiday season, the top retail applications and websites combined...

TRU Supports Special Olympics. March 19, 2012 — Toys ‘R’ Us has been named a founding partner of the 2014 Special Olympics USA Games...

Jakks Pacific shareholder seeks sale of company. March 19, 2012 — Jakks Pacific Inc's (JAKK.O) shareholder Clinton Group Inc has asked the toy maker's board to run an auction to sell the company...

LEGO robots help scientists build artificial bones. March 19, 2012 — Toy-kit robots are helping a team of British scientists build artificial bones...

So you've got a blockbuster iPhone game. Now what? March 19, 2012 — You've likely seen Angry Birds schwag -- t-shirts, hoodies, stuffed animals, key chains, backpacks...

JAKKS Pacific Awarded “Vendor of the Year” by Toys“R”Us, Canada. March 19, 2012 — U.S. toy and consumer products company, JAKKS Pacific, Inc., announced today that the Company’s Canadian Sales Division received the “Vendor of the Year” Award for the second consecutive year from Toys“R”Us, Canada...

ASTRA Accepting Nominations for Best Toys For Kids 2012 Award Program. March 19, 2012 — The American Specialty Toy Retailing Association (ASTRA) announced today that nominations for the 2012 Best Toys for Kids award program will be accepted until March 30, 2012. ASTRA member retailers are invited to nominate new specialty play products introduced during the past year

Consumers continue to seek value in 2012. March 19, 2012 — While consumers will continue to define value based on price, other key trends...

Spanking Lives On In Rural Florida Schools. March 19, 2012 — Spanking in school may seem like a relic of the past, but every day...

Toy Makers Explore Growth Breakthroughs. March 16, 2012 — China's toy makers are exploring new ways to break the bottlenecks of development...

Lego Game Boy: New Toy Combines Legos, Transformers, Tetris And Portable Gaming. March 16, 2012 — The prayers of Lego and game boy fanatics the world over have been answered...

Pilgrim’s Progress with Chinese Toys (India). March 16, 2012 — There I was in a south Indian temple town, Kanchivaram saree flapping...

Local Toymaker has Tinkered with 1,000 Inventions. March 16, 2012 — Not surprisingly, Tony Morley has fond memories of being a child. For the past 26 years...

Bologna Children's Book Fair Digital Award Pits Startups Against Disney. March 16, 2012 — Trading rights is the bedrock of publishing and nowhere has the face-to-face meeting...

Toy Could Help Brain-Injured People Communicate. March 15, 2012 — Michael Tripoli was 16 years-old when he had a massive heart attack...

Credibility in Environmental Messages Begins with Certification. March 15, 2012 — The number of eco-labels in the marketplace continues to grow...

Skylanders Toys the New Gold in Collector Market. March 15, 2012 — Skylanders Spyro’s Adventure wowed the toy market in 2011, becoming one of the hottest...

iCEO: Cuddle with a Steve Jobs plush. March 15, 2012 — You might remember the recent saga of the Steve Jobs action figure...

Mattel Elects Nike's Trevor. A. Edwards to its Board of Directors. March 15, 2012 — Mattel, Inc. (NASDAQ:MAT) announced today that Trevor A. Edwards, 49, vice president, global brand and category management for NIKE, Inc. was elected to the Mattel Board of Directors on March 14, 2012.

Toy Gun Easter Baskets? Chicago Priest In Violence-Plagued Community Outraged. March 15, 2012 — Rev. Michael Pfleger has participated in a fair share of funerals and anti-violence marches...

Einstein Boots up at SXSW. March 15, 2012 — In honor of the 133rd anniversary of Albert Einstein’s birth, Mimoco unveiled the Einstein MIMOBOT...

Mega Brands profit falls on lower US sales. March 14, 2012 — Canada's Mega Brands reported a 97 percent fall in adjusted fourth-quarter profit...

CPSC Announces Top 10 Consumer-Reported Safety Concerns: Toys Not on the List. March 14, 2012 — A year after the launch of SaferProducts.gov, the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s (CPSC) online consumer complaint database...

Congressional Briefing Raises Awareness about Do Not Track Kids Act. March 14, 2012 — A Congressional briefing was held on March 7th to generate awareness about the Do Not Track Kids Act of 2011...

New baby care partnership is born at Sam's Club. March 14, 201 2 — Mass merchandiser Sam's Club has made a deal with the pregnancy and parenting brand...

Sketchy Nickelodeon App Celebrates Drunk Girls, Cougars, and Tasing. March 14, 2012 — "Nickelodeon Addicting Games," a free iPhone/iPad/iPod application from the people who once brought you Hey Arnold!...

Six-year-old girl in National Spelling Bee. March 14, 2012 — A 6-year-old girl will become the youngest contestant ever in the Scripps National Spelling Bee...

February Retail Sales Increase 8.6 Percent Over Last Year, Marking 20 Consecutive Months Of Growth. March 13, 2012 — With a spring in their step, retailers marked 20 consecutive months of sustained year-over-year retail sales growth in February as unseasonably warm temperatures and comparisons with weak sales in 2011 resulted in stronger-than-expected increases...

Guidecraft Recalls Children's Play Theaters Due to Tip-over Hazard. March 13, 2012 — The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product: About 1,800 in the United States and 350 in Canada 4-in-1 Dramatic Play Theater Toys from Guidecraft Inc., sold by various catalogs, Guidecraft.com and other Internet retailers nationwide from July 2010 through April 2011 for about $180. The recalled children's toys can unexpectedly tip over during play, posing an entrapment hazard to young children. Consumers should immediately take the recalled product from children and contact Guidecraft to receive a refund or a replacement product.

Nickelodeon Broadens Agreement with Fisher-Price, Inc. March 13, 2012 — Nickelodeon, less than a month out from a popular New York exhibition at this year's American International Toy Fair, has announced a business move ...

Social Media Career Moms Say They Have it All. March 13, 2012 — Lani Voivod was working at Mattel’s online division and loving her job...

Funtastic Builds Toy Range With Lego. March 13, 2012 — Australian toy distributor Funtastic has turned to Lego in a new approach to building its business.

TDmonthly Announces Third Winner of 2012: A Year of Charity. March 12, 2012 — The third winner of TDmonthly's "2012: A Year of Charity" is Jake's Toy Box in Arvada, Colorado. Holly Anver, manager of the toy store, entered for the owners, Dan and Jill Driver. The Drivers bought the store, formerly called Ages and Stages, in 2010, shortly after the death of their son Jake, at age 4. Ages and Stages had been his favorite toy store. When Ages and Stages lost its anchor mall store and then was hit hard by the recession, the previous owners were ready to close the business when the couple decided to save the landmark by leaving their jobs and purchasing the store. In the year since they opened Jake's Toy Box, the Drivers have donated toys to a number of charities, including Toys for Tots, and the Ralston and Arvada Houses, which assist underprivileged children and their families. Many of their weekly storytimes and other events are covered by their local press and children's media, and they've won several business awards. They'll be giving away 100 high-quality toys from Schoenhut Piano Company, Safari Ltd.®, Hape Toys and Magicforest Ltd.

ASTRA Marketplace Exhibit Space Sold Out. March 12, 2012 — The American Specialty Toy Retailing Association (ASTRA) announced today in a press release that exhibit space for ASTRA’s 2012 Marketplace & Academy in Baltimore, Maryland has sold out months in advance of the event. The exhibit hall will be the biggest ever for ASTRA, and will feature approximately 100 first-time ASTRA exhibitors. Kathleen McHugh, President of ASTRA, said today that a waiting list for booths has been created. “This will be another knock-your-socks-off Marketplace & Academy,” promises McHugh.

Transforming the CPG and retail consulting industry. March 12, 2012 — To be successful, growth strategies must go beyond theoretical strategic platitudes, proprietary...

National Retail Federation To Showcase Specialty Pavilion At Retail Business Technology Expo. March 12, 2012 — The National Retail Federation, along with its technology standards division, the Association for Retail Technology Standards and digital division, Shop.org, will host a special pavilion at the upcoming Retail Business Technology Expo and Cards and Payments Solutions...

News from The NPD Group - "What would the kids you know say is the hottest new thing these days?" March 12, 2012 —
These are the results from the survey that was fielded for four weeks in February 2012 in response to the unaided, open-end question: , "What would the kids you know say is the hottest new thing these days? It might be a celebrity, movie, TV show, toy, game, hobby, sport, website, brand, or retail store?"

U.S. Extends Its Run of Strong Job Growth Another Month. March 12, 2012 — After a stretch of economic expansion so weak that Main Street struggled to detect any improvement, three consecutive months of solid employment growth have begun...

FEATURE: Toy Views (UK). March 12, 2012 — More than 384 million toys were sold during 2011, with the total market up three per cent...

Video games as multi-player art projects. March 12, 2012 — For self-styled “Bit Baby” Chris Melissinos — who has quite literally grown up with video games...

Uzbekistan Confronts Foreign-Toy Menace. March 12, 2012 — Lawmakers in Uzbekistan have declared war on toys that harbor foreign values...

RILA Report Highlights Importance of Multichannel Strategy. March 9, 2012 — E-commerce sales continue to grow and have a major impact on multichannel retailers...

Another Shipment of Toxic Toys Turns up in Detroit. March 9, 2012 — For the second time this year, a shipment of hazardous toys from China...

Tempest in a Goody Bag. March 9, 2012 — Anya Roles, 34, a Manhattan mother of three girls under the age of 5, has seen a range of gifts at children’s birthday parties...

Hape Announces August Delivery of Quadrilla. March 9, 2012 — Hape will begin the first shipment of Quadrilla in August, 2012. This revolutionary marble run design is not only owned but also manufactured by Hape, a German owned company. Earlier this month Hape announced that Quadrilla would be coming back to the Hape family. Hape acquired the Quadrilla brand and the patents for the design, according to a press release.

Delivering the Right Combination of Relevance and Consumer Reach. March 9, 2012 — Why has Google arguably become the most popular advertising platform on the planet...

Umbro Boys' Jackets with Drawstrings Recalled; Waist Drawstrings Pose Entrapment Hazard; Sold Exclusively at Ross Stores. March 9, 2012 — The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product: About 240 Umbro Boys' outerwear jackets from Umbro USA, sold at Ross Stores nationwide from April 2011 through January 2012 for about $8. The boys' jacket has a retractable elastic drawstring at the waist with a toggle that could become snagged or caught in small spaces or doorways, which poses an entrapment hazard to children. Consumers should immediately remove the drawstring and return the jacket to Umbro for a full refund.

Gifts at Easter? Since when is chocolate not enough? March 9, 2012 — You’ve spent a small fortune on your children’s birthdays. You bought them new toys...

Lousy Toys Mean Our Kids Will Never Have It as Good as We Did. March 9, 2012 — Ever notice most parents today whine that their kids have too much stuff?...

Can Skylanders Take Video Games to the Next Level? March 8, 2012 — Game and toy companies have been attempting to breathe life into inanimate objects for generations...

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: heroes in half shell, fully reloaded. March 8, 2012 — The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are coming back out of their shells...

Nick Renews Master Toy. March 8, 2012 — Nickelodeon and Fisher-Price have agreed on a multi-year renewal of their global licensing partnership...

Disney's new Toy Story 3 iPad app teaches Chinese language to kids. March 8, 2012 — Looking for a good excuse to purchase Apple’s newest edition iPad announced today...

Reunite With Your Childhood Memories at the Jakarta Toy Fair. March 8, 201 2 — There comes a time in most people’s lives when they put away the toys...

Hasbro cuts 170 jobs, mostly in U.S. March 7, 2012 — Hasbro Inc (HAS.O) is cutting about 170 jobs as the second-largest U.S. toy company tries to recover...

How a Rubber Giraffe Became a Jet-Setter. March 7, 2012 — Sophie la Girafe is a 7-inch-tall rubber teething toy. It is also an international star...

Toothbrush Training Toy Aims to Fill Cavities on Walmart Shelves. March 7, 2012 — BrushyBall - The Toothbrush Training Toy is one of 1,300 entries in Walmart's 'Get on the Shelf' entrepreneur contest...

Recalled Products Originally Sold By Meijer Found to Have Been Resold By Discounters After Recall Date. March 7, 2012 — The U.S. Consumer Safety Commission (CPSC) is warning consumers that certain recalled products, originally sold at Meijer, Inc., were resold after the recall date due to an error. These recalled products were improperly disposed of by offering them for sale at discount retailers, dollar stores, liquidation firms, flea markets and thrift stores nationwide at various prices. Consumers should stop using these recalled products immediately and contact the recalling firms listed below to participate in their individual recall programs. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product : Innovage Discovery Kids™ Animated Marine and Safari Lamps; Infantino "SlingRider" Baby Slings; Fisher-Price Ocean Wonders™ Kick & Crawl™ Aquarium (H8094); Fisher-Price Little People Wheelies Stand 'n Play Rampway; Fisher-Price Barbie Tough Trikes (Model: M5727); Fisher-Price Kawasaki Tough Trikes (Model: N6021); Munchkin Bathtub Subs; Sassy Refreshing Rings Infant Teethers/Rattles.

Swing Sets Recalled for Repair by BCI Burke Due to Fall Hazard. March 7, 2012 — The following product safety recall was voluntarily conducted by the firm in cooperation with the CPSC: About 250 2 3/8 inch Arch Swing Sets from BCI Burke Co. LLC, sold by BCI Burke Co. and its distributors from January 2004 through December 2011 for between $700 and $1,000. The welded connection of the sleeve joint to the arch support can crack or break. When this happens, the top swing beam can collapse causing children on the swings to fall and be injured. Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled swing sets, remove the chain and swings and contact the firm for a free retrofit kit. BCI Burke is contacting owners directly by mail.

'Mass Effect 3' Blasts onto Shelves. March 7, 2012 — BioWare, a label of Electronic Arts, launched the video game “Mass Effect 3” at retail yesterday...

ICPHSO Annual Meeting Brings Together Global Regulators, Retailers, Manufacturers and More. March 7, 2012 — The International Consumer Product Health and Safety Organization (ICPHSO) held its 19th Annual Meeting and Training Symposium in Orlando, Florida from February 28 to March 2, 2012...

Consumer sentiment slips in March. March 7, 2012 — After three consecutive months of improvement, the Consumer Reports Index for March slipped ...

Warm weather cools comps at Children's Place. March 7, 2012 — The Children's Place Retail Stores is the latest retailer to report fourth-quarter sales that were negatively impacted...

ABC Trade Show Committee to be Formed. March 6, 2012 — All Baby and Child, Inc. (ABC), creators of the ABC Kids Expo, and the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA), the leading industry trade association dedicated to the safe selection and use of juvenile products, are pleased to announce the formation of a Trade Show Committee for the nation's largest juvenile products trade show - the ABC Kids Expo. The purpose of the new committee is to allow regular participants the opportunity for greater involvement in decisions affecting the show, according to a press release.

For Stroller Maker, Bankruptcy Is Latest Setback. March 6, 2012 — For years, Maclaren strollers have carried babies — along with a certain prestige — on the sidewalks of well-heeled neighborhoods...

5 Game / Toy Stocks To Consider As Consumers Start Spending Again. March 6, 2012 — Toys and video games are hardly child's play, as these billion-dollar companies not only produce...

Scholastic Launches Storia, a New Digital Platform. March 6, 2012 — After more than 18 months of development, Scholastic has begun beta tests for Storia...

JAKKS Pacific Adopts Stockholder Rights Plan. March 6, 2012 — JAKKS Pacific, Inc. (the "Company") announced that its board of directors has unanimously adopted a stockholder rights plan and declared a dividend of one right for each outstanding share of the Company's common stock...

Toy industry springing back to life. March 6, 2012 — The Australian Toy Hobby and Nursery Fair has attracted more than 7,000 retailers in a $2.5 billion sector of the local economy...

The Evocative Power of Toys. March 6, 2012 — Here's how I would celebrate FAO Schwarz's 150th anniversary if it were up to me...

Preschoolers in Surgery for a Mouthful of Cavities. March 6, 2012 — In the surgical wing of the Center for Pediatric Dentistry at Seattle Children’s Hospital...

(Sock) Monkey Business: A Festival For Iconic Toy. March 6, 2012 — Adele Jedynak makes monkey sounds to a group of kids who are steps away from playing Sock Monkey bowling ...

Hasbro Adds New Partners. March 5, 2012 — Hasbro has added partners worldwide for its top properties. Chitech will produce Nerf bike...

Universal Seals Deals Worldwide. March 5, 2012 — Universal Partnerships & Licensing has signed multiple deals for worldwide distribution, as well as...

Points of Sale: Tips for Children’s Booksellers. March 5, 2012 — This column grew from first-hand experience that many of the best bookselling ideas come from other booksellers...

In Brevard, O.P. Taylor's toy store fits right in. March 5, 2012 — With a rainbow-colored beanie perched on his head, red propeller spinning, John Taylor boasts that he runs the coolest toy store on the planet...

'Toy Story 4' in the works? March 5, 2012 — Andrew Stanton admits 'Toy Story 4' is a ''possibility''. The 'John Carter' director...

LEGO Launches Spacecraft Model Chosen by Fans. March 5, 2012 — The world's first spacecraft to collect samples from the surface of an asteroid...

TIA Staff Member Selected by ANSI to Help Revise International Child Safety Guidelines. March 5, 2012 — The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) has selected Toy Industry Association (TIA) Senior Vice President of Technical Affairs Alan Kaufman to serve in an ad hoc group of experts who will revise the ISO/IEC Guide 50, Safety aspects – Guidelines for child safety...

Want a job? Retail's Got Them. March 5, 2012 — The Kronos Retail Labor Index released by the company on Thursday showed that retail hiring is on the rise...

Snoring in Babies Linked to Hyperactive Behavior Later. March 5, 2012 — The quality of sleep a child gets, including how much they snore as a baby...

The Doll House & Toy Store Is Another Winning Retailer! March 2, 2012 — Sari Powazek of The Doll House & Toy Store in Scottsdale, Arizona, is an excited winner of TDmonthly's "2012: A Year of Charity" giveaway contest, joining Diana Nelson of Kazoo and Company in Denver, Colorado. In business since 1977, the Doll House & Toy Store states that they are the oldest family-owned miniature and dollhouse store in the nation! Their first store was just 600 square feet but they now have two locations that feature a variety of toys, games and dolls, including a full Lee Middleton nursery. They hold three to four events per year in their store and contribute to a number of local charities, including the shelter “Casas De Coloinas” and the Crisis Center for children. In April, the month of the giveaway, they are planning a health and safety event, which Sari believes will tie in nicely with the amazing toys they will be donating to charity. Sari is thrilled to be receiving high-quality toys and instruments from Schoenhut Piano Company, Safari Ltd.®, Hape Toys and Magicforest Ltd. "These little ones need a bright light," Sari told TDmonthly. "What better way than through music and play?"

TDmonthly Announces First Winning Retailer of "2012: A Year of Charity" Contest. March 2, 2012 — Congratulations to Diana Nelson of Kazoo and Company in Denver, Colorado! She is the first retailer to be named a winner in TDmonthly's "2012: A Year of Charity" contest. Kazoo and Company has been making local kids happy for 31 years. Diana bought the store in 1998 and turned it into a multiple award-winning business. In 2008, she opened a licensing branch called Kazoo Global. She has approximately six events per year in her store, most of which are covered by the local press. Children's charities that she currently works with include the Children's Juvenile Diabetes Foundation and Children's Hospital Cancer Ward. Diana will now be able to donate 99 toys from Schoenhut Piano Company, Safari Ltd.®, Hape Toys and Magicforest Ltd., plus give one away to a Kazoo customer via raffle or contest. Who are the next winners? Check back later today! And watch for our profiles of the winning stores during March on tdmonthly.com!

Pleasant Weather Warms up Sales in February. March 2, 2012 — Retailers across the board saw increased sales in February, thanks to unseasonably warm weather...

Carlyle buys 85 pct of Brazil toy chain Ri Happy. March 2, 2012 — International private equity firm Carlyle Group said on Friday that it would buy an 85 percent stake in leading Brazil toy store chain...

NRF: Don’t Broaden Cybersecurity Legislation. March 2, 2012 — The National Retail Federation told senators today that cybersecurity legislation should remain focused on its key purpose and not be expanded to include data breach legislation or broad new privacy regimes...

Mattel Asks Appeals Court to Reverse $310 Million Bratz Doll Award to MGA. March 1, 2012 — Mattel Inc. (MAT) asked a federal appeals court to reverse the $310 million in damages and fees that toymaker MGA Entertainment Inc. won...

Lego Outgrows Hasbro, Mattel as ‘Star Wars’ Sets Boost Profit. March 1, 2012 — Lego A/S, Europe’s biggest toymaker, boosted profit and market share last year to outgrow its main competitors...

LED Night Lights Recalled by AmerTac Due to Fire and Burn Hazards. March 1, 2012 — The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product: About 227,000 LED Night Lights from American Tack & Hardware Co. Inc., sold at hardware stores, home centers and lighting showrooms from March 2009 through October 2010 for about $6. An electrical short circuit in the night light can cause it to overheat and smolder or melt, posing fire and burn hazards to consumers. Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled night lights, remove them from the wall sockets and contact the firm for instructions on receiving a full refund.

Go, Reader, Go!: Read Across America 2012. March 1, 2012 — March 2 is the debut for the film version of The Lorax, the date Dr. Seuss would have turned 108, and the 15th annual Read Across America Day...

Consumer Confidence up Dramatically in February. February 29, 2012 — Consumer confidence in February shot up from last month to the highest level since a year ago...

Papa Bear Loungeabouts Children's Pajamas Recalled by Retailers Due to Violation of Federal Flammability Standard. February 29, 2012 — The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product: Estimate of 10,000 plus children's pajamas and sleepwear from Papa Bear Loungeabouts, sold at children's clothing and specialty retailers nationwide and online from January 2004 to December 2011. The garments fail to meet federal flammability standards for children's sleepwear, posing a risk of burn injury to children. Consumers should stop using the recalled sleepwear immediately and return the product to the retailer where the product was purchased for a refund, exchange or store credit.

International Toy Fair Features Playthings That Are Perfect for Libraries. February 29, 2012 — Move over Mr. Potato Head. There's a new generation of toys in town...

Sandbox Summit @MIT Tackles Mobile Revolution & Play; Discounted Hotel Rates Available through March 12. February 29, 2012 — Educators, toy and game designers, developers, child psychologists, digital media producers, analysts and more will come together to present discussions and lead workshops at the 2012 Sandbox Summit, Going Mobile, Going Global: Tracking the Anywhere/Everywhere State of Play, held at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) from April 17-18, 2012.

Physical Video Games: No Health Benefits. February 29, 2012 — A new study has found that active video games like Dance Dance Revolution and Wii Fit Plus do not make children exercise...

Toy Giant Aims to Bring Personality Into Play. February 29, 2012 — Already one of the biggest players in the toy industry, Mattel further increased its size...