TDmonthly's ToyFair 2006 Preview--Preschool Product Category

Neat-Oh!® 2-Sided Large Playmat Assortment with Floor Standing Display Tray by NEAT-OH! INTERNATIONAL LLC

This easily transportable product is two playmats in one, with differently designed spaces on each side. It comes with toys, features a wipe-clean surface, and is available in various themes: DinoLand, Roadville, Farm and Work Zone. Measurements are 28.5" x 22.5". Launch date: January 2010. 1/6/2010 (Price: $9.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Neat-Oh! Playmats - Small by NEAT-OH! INTERNATIONAL LLC

Measuring 17" x 12.5", these portable playmats come with toys and are available in five themes: Dino Land, Fly Zone, Sea Life, Space Explorer and Wild Animal Park. They feature wipe-clean surfaces and are about the size of a standard placemat. Launch date: January 2010. 1/6/2010 (Price: $4.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Fish by HABA USA/HABERMAASS CORP.

This bright fabric fish with puckered lips has a pull-out skeleton underneath its skin. Launch date: 2010.
Awards: 2010 Tillywig Top Fun; Creative Child Magazine Toy Award 2010 1/5/2010 (Price: $20.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Little Capers – Lightning Hero Short Sleeve T-Shirt and Cape by LITTLE CAPERS LLC

This red T-shirt is 100-percent cotton and features a shiny silver lightning bolt plus a detachable cape in shimmery silver. Since Little Capers are not licensed or specific, children are free to imagine their own super hero identity and powers.
— Shannon Komsky, owner of Tough Cookies in Sherman Oaks, reported strong sales of Little Capers in her store in fall 2009, and recommended them as an ideal gift for kids who already have everything. “Technically its clothes,” she told TDmonthly, “but kids get to use their imagination and play with it.”
— Online Reviews: Leighann of Multi-Minding Mom appreciated the gender-neutral shades and the potential for imaginative play, and MomGadget Eliza liked that the superhero outfit is small enough to drop into a purse on the go, so her little girl could become a superhero at any time. On Thingamababy, a reviewer described the apparel as awesome and well made, but noted the capes could perhaps be a bit wider, and the shirt sizes seem to run a tad small. 12/31/2009 (Price: $26.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

All New 5x5 SandLock Sandbox by SANDLOCK SANDBOXES

The SandLock 5x5 Sandbox has a patented interlocking design, a CoverLock system and a variety of other one-of-a-kind features. "The SandLock brand is known for it's quality and now we bring all that and more at an affordable price," Chris Freres, Owner, SandLock Sandbox, told TDmonthly. Launch date: March 2010. 12/28/2009 (Price: $399.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Half Dozen Eggs by HABA USA/HABERMAASS CORP.

These child-sized wooden eggs come in an authentic-looking cardboard carton. ( Watch Video) 12/10/2009 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Birthday Bliss Necklace by FAIRY TALE JEWELS LLC

This necklace features a colorful bunch of cat's eye beads and Swarovski crystals, plus two charms: a birthday cake and a number to indicate how many years old. It's on a sterling silver chain and comes in the following sizes: 12" (2T-4T); 14" (5T-10 years); and 16" (tween-small adult). 12/2/2009 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Puzzle Doubles Fun Facts! Creatures of the Sea by THE LEARNING JOURNEY INTERNATIONAL

The Fun Facts! series of Puzzle Doubles combines a beautifully illustrated floor puzzle with twelve fun animal facts into a high-quality educational experience. Children will first enjoy assembling the large, colorful puzzle. Flip the puzzle over to learn fun facts about the pictured animals, which encourage parent-child discussion. Each 50-piece puzzle measures a giant 3' x 2'. Launch date: November 16, 2009. 11/30/2009 (Price: $14.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Puzzle Doubles Fun Facts! Animals of the World by THE LEARNING JOURNEY INTERNATIONAL

The Fun Facts! series of Puzzle Doubles combines a beautifully illustrated floor puzzle with twelve fun animal facts into a high-quality educational experience. Children will first enjoy assembling the large, colorful puzzle. Flip the puzzle over to learn fun facts about the pictured animals, which encourage parent-child discussion. Each 50-piece puzzle measures a giant 3' x 2'. Launch date: November 16, 2009. 11/30/2009 (Price: $14.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Match It! Who Am I? by THE LEARNING JOURNEY INTERNATIONAL

This set of three-piece puzzle pairs features familiar characters and professionals. Children will learn to recognize many different people, such as a police officer, ballerina, and wizard. The colorful puzzle sets are self-correcting — only cards that belong together will fit together. Launch date: October 2009. 11/30/2009 (Price: $11.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Baby Genius Pet Care Center by PACIFIC ENTERTAINMENT

Kids can feed Melody, listen to her heart, trim her nails, and give her lots of cuddles. The excitement begins when your child opens the pet carrier door and hears Melody's playful theme song. Plush puppy and all accessories store easily inside. "The Pet Care Center incorporates the Baby Genius principle of music as a core learning tool to engage and encourage children to communicate, connect, discover, and use their imaginations to express themselves," John Russel, of RUSSEL Public Relations, told TDmonthly. Awards: The National Parenting Center Seal of Approval 2009, The Toy Insider Best Toddler Toys for the 2009 Holiday Season 2009 and Dr. Toy 100 Best Children's Products 2009. Launch date: August 2009. 11/30/2009 (Price: $18.00)

Puzzle Doubles Fun Facts! Creatures of the Past by THE LEARNING JOURNEY INTERNATIONAL

The Fun Facts! series of Puzzle Doubles combines a beautifully illustrated floor puzzle with twelve fun animal facts into a high-quality educational experience. Children will first enjoy assembling the large, colorful puzzle. Flip the puzzle over to learn fun facts about the pictured animals, which encourage parent-child discussion. Each 50-piece puzzle measures a giant 3' x 2'. Launch date: November 16, 2009. 11/25/2009 (Price: $14.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Puzzle Doubles Fun Facts! Animal Friends by THE LEARNING JOURNEY INTERNATIONAL

The Fun Facts! series of Puzzle Doubles combines a beautifully illustrated floor puzzle with twelve fun animal facts into a high-quality educational experience. Children will first enjoy assembling the large, colorful puzzle. Flip the puzzle over to learn fun facts about the pictured animals, which encourage parent-child discussion. Each 50-piece puzzle measures a giant 3' x 2'. Launch date: November 16, 2009. 11/25/2009 (Price: $14.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Match It! Alphabet Memory by THE LEARNING JOURNEY INTERNATIONAL

This fun memory game will challenge problem solving and develop memory skills of young children as they try to find a pair of matching cards. Bright, colorful illustrations teach upper and lower case letters of the alphabet. It's a great family game for all ages. Launch date: October 2009. 11/25/2009 (Price: $11.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Via Toy Box - 2-Pack of Cubes by KD PRODUCTS LLC

This wooden set of two, 15” cubes is made in the USA of sustainably grown Baltic birch plywood and uses eco-friendly paints and finishes. The front panel can be customized from a variety of colors and shapes. The cubes can be connected in various ways.
— Through Via Toy Box and its sister line, Via Wine Cubes, KD PRODUCTS combines form and function into sensible storage solutions. The Via Toy Box line features modular cubes with a variety of openings that can be used to create fully customized storage. Shelves, casters, cabinets, and more can be added to the basic cubes for more possibilities. The units can also be rearranged to meet changing display needs. The cubes can keep floppy plush and difficult to stack items neat and orderly while the array of colors and intriguing shapes can draw attention to products held within. Since children tend to climb, it’s probably a a good idea to anchor the cubes to the wall for safety. The reviewer on Daddy Types ordered the product online and was thankful it “turn[ed] out to be good after all.” 11/25/2009 (Price: $118.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Scribble & Write by LEAPFROG

Preschoolers can practice drawing and writing by tracing the lights that make shapes and letters. This portable tool is designed to foster development of phonics and early writing skills, as well as gaining control of a pencil. It employs a retraceable surface, and parents can find more ideas for learning online at the LeapFrog Learning Path.
— As of 7.26.2010, this product had 4.5 out of 5 stars from - reviews on Amazon.com, and was listed No. 20 in the top 100 best-selling toys and games. PROS: Educational but entertaining; children seemed to enjoy learning to write with this product. CONS: Some customers felt the product did not provide enough constructive feedback. 11/23/2009 (Price: $21.99)

Achoo! Achoo! by HAPPY NOTES MUSIC/MAUREEN CONLIN

Contagious musical fun. Delightful characters help put those germs at bay! Original, easy to learn songs that really connect with young children. 11/23/2009 (Price: $11.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Spanish Notes by HAPPY NOTES MUSIC/MAUREEN CONLIN

Bilingual fun for young children. Includes songs for Spanish/English Alphabet, Colors, Numbers, Opposites, Dancing, and more. 11/23/2009 (Price: $11.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Christmas Notes for Little Folks by HAPPY NOTES MUSIC/MAUREEN CONLIN

A twist to new and old holiday favorites. Holiday fun that children will want to play over and over. 11/23/2009 (Price: $11.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Nature Notes for Little Folks by HAPPY NOTES MUSIC/MAUREEN CONLIN

Celebrate the outdoors with music, movement and imagination as children explore and experience nature’s musical symphony featuring songs with movement and delightful character interactions like Let’s Go Green, Quackadoodlemoo, the Ugly Buglies and Waddle Waddle. 11/23/2009 (Price: $11.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Creative Notes by HAPPY NOTES MUSIC/MAUREEN CONLIN

Encouraging young children to explore, experience and create through music and imagination for ages 2 to 8. Includes songs to use with rhythm sticks, drums, and lots of fun creative movement activities. 11/23/2009 (Price: $11.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Dolphin Explorer Boat by SPRIG TOYS, INC.

This rugged playset is constructed of Sprigwood, which is a bio-composite material that blends reclaimed wood and recycled plastic, and is dyed with safe pigments. The set includes explorer and rescue boats, Captain Owen the adventure guide, an interchangeable adventure hat, a life preserver, mother and baby dolphins, and a backpack accessory. ( Watch Video) 11/20/2009 (Price: $29.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Nuchi Construction Vehicle Set by THE LITTLE LITTLE LITTLE TOY COMPANY

This set of two construction vehicles is outfitted for Nuchi train tracks. There's a rubber tread on the front of the steamroller and a functional red tipper decking out the front of the bulldozer. 11/18/2009 (Price: $14.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Torno Torno by LEARNING MATERIALS WORKSHOP

This product is designed so that young toddlers will delight in placing the dowel/balls in the holes, turning the base, and watching the whirling forms turn around. Older toddlers can start to build with the hardwood squares, put “red hats on the red heads," and stack colored shapes into sturdy towers. Preschoolers can build more complex and imaginative structures while exploring how motion changes the appearance and stability of forms. "Torno Torno combines a wood building toy with a wood turn-table base that is activated by the child — no batteries, just the child's gentle push and imagination," Karen Hewitt, president of Learning Materials Workshop, told TDmonthly. This product was named one of Dr. Toy's 10 Best Toys 2009. Launch date: November 2009. 11/17/2009 (Price: $49.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Dream Baby Hallway Swing Closed Security Gate Combo by DREAM BABY

The Dream Baby Hallway Security Gate is designed to fit any opening 38' to 53.5'. The gate comes with a 7' extension and a 3.5' extension. It is pressure mounted, swings closed automatically, has a door that opens in both directions and closes automatically, and functions with one-handed operation. It is created for easy installation and comes with a one-year manufacturer's warranty. This gate is available in white or black. Launch date: November 10, 2009.
— As of August 2010, this product had 5 out of 5 stars from 16 reviews on Amazon.com. PROS: Sturdy, effective and fits even wide doorways. CONS: Some parents felt the gate was too difficult to open and close. 11/17/2009 (Price: $89.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]