|
|
 |
The Few, The Proud...The Award-Winning Toys!
Who Made the Cut This Year?
By Alison Marek and Julie L. Jones
Thousands
of products are introduced to the toy industry every year, but only a
limited number are good enough, playable enough and innovative enough
to garner an award.
In addition to issuing
TDmonthly
Awards, TDmonthly
Magazine regularly asks manufacturers
to present their award winners to our readers so that retailers can quickly
identify products with great potential and manufacturers can learn and
be inspired by others' successes. Here are the most recent responses:
Coursing Around by COURSING AROUND
 Coursing Around's first edition offers 15 activity courses using sidewalk chalk. Designed to motivate kids to get off the couch and be active outside, it also offers an educational dynamic by helping kids learn their shapes, colors, numbers, and lefts and rights. Coursing Around received a 2009 iParenting Media Award in the Outstanding Product Toys and Games Category. Launch date: 2009.
8/28/2009 (Price: $19.95; Age: 3 to 12) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]
Related Video:
MistleToes Gift Set by PIGGY PAINT LLC
 A festive red pouch unveils a set of Piggy Paint nail polishes in red, green and clear sparkle topcoat. "Piggy Paint is a natural, eco-friendly nail polish designed for fancy girls. Not only is it made in the USA, but all of our raw materials come from here as well," Melanie Hurley, CEO of Piggy Paint, told TDmonthly. This ideal stocking stuffer was Safbaby's Mom Approved and received a Child Tested Excellence Award. Launch date: August 2008.
8/28/2009 (Price: $24.99; Age: All Ages) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]
Related Video:
Wings of Slumber by THE BANANA SLUG STRING BAND
 This collection of bedtime lullabies uses vivid nature images and soothing melodies to take children to a place of warmth and security. This album was recorded with special guests George Winston, Laurie Lewis, George Kahumoku and many others. It received the following awards: 2005 iParenting Media Award, 200 Parents' Choice Silver Award, 2005 NAPPA (National Association of Parenting Publications Award) Gold Award, 2005 Early Childhood NEWS Director's Choice Award, and 2005 Creative Child Magazine Seal of Excellence Award. Launch date: 2004.
8/28/2009 (Price: $15.00; Age: 0 to 11) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]
Related Video:
Lovely Pregnancy by LOVELY BABY MUSIC
 Designed to provide moments of serene rest and relaxation during pregnancy while positively influencing the development and well-being of the baby, this set includes three CDs. "From three months before birth, your baby will be able to listen to music," Gary Brody, president of Lovely Baby Music, told TDmonthly. "Our new grown-up titles are also suitable for the same infants and babies that listen to the regular Lovely Baby CD series." "Lovely Pregnancy" was named 2009 CD of the Year by Creative Child Magazine. Launch date: August 17, 2009.
8/28/2009 (Price: $31.98; Age: All Ages) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]
Related Video:
Lovely Sleepy Baby & The Sea by LOVELY BABY MUSIC
 This collection of songs includes Raimond Lap's music and comforting sounds of the sea that aim to relax babies and toddlers, helping them fall asleep. The music can also be used to calm a child. "Lovely Baby is the first and only original music series in the world specifically created for the emotional, intellectual and social development of babies, prenatal - 3+ years," Gary Brody, president of Lovely Baby Music, told TDmonthly. Launch date: August 17, 2009. It was named 2008 CD of the Year by Creative Child Magazine.
8/28/2009 (Price: $15.98; Age: 0 to 4) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]
Related Video:
Kangaroo Zak by ZAKEEZ INC.
 The Kangaroo Zak facilitates skin-to-skin contact and is designed to assure safety and comfort of parents and baby (baby will not fall and lines will stay put), maximize the area of contact between the baby and the adult, assures proper positioning, provide containment and sense of security, allow mom or dad to kangaroo "hands free" to read a book or and even fall asleep while kangarooing. It is created to support and complement all the benefits of Kangaroo Mother Care (constant natural temperature, breathing, stable blood pressure, increase of the mother's milk supply) and is made so that moms and dads can hold their babies safely and for longer periods of time. Kangaroo Zak is adjustable and each fits three sizes. It also gives moms coverage so they are not "exposed" when holding their babies. "Kangaroo Zak helps parents show how much they love their babies and it provides a nice and safe transition between womb and world," Yamile Jackson, president and founder of Zakeez, Inc., told TDmonthly. Zakeez received a 2009 Outstanding Women-Owned Business of the Year Award (Small Business Administration - SCORE Foundation). Launch date: September 13, 2009.
8/27/2009 (Price: $49.95; Age: 0 to 0) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]
Related Video:
Sparkle Petals Dress by A WISH COME TRUE
 Pretty in shades of pink, this dazzling dress features a skirt of petals. "Our award-winning products have been proudly manufactured in the USA for over 15 years and use the finest fabrics and trims to create truly sophisticated dress-up apparel," Renee Stojek, art director for A Wish Come True, told TDmonthly. It received a 2009 Toy of the Year Award from Creative Child Magazine. Launch date: August 2009.
8/19/2009 (Price: $56.00; Age: 3 to 7) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]
Related Video:
MathMosis Mania Game and Charts (Home Edition) by BRAIN PARTY INC.
 MathMosis® Mania provides children with a visual and kinesthetic approach to learning while having fun. The game gives children practice in counting, multiplication and division, and is designed to grow with children as they learn. Children will learn to play four different MathMosis Mania games, "which [help] children learn through many learning modalities including visual, analytical and movement," Jennifer Tuttle, CEO of Brain Party, told TDmonthly.
Awards: Dr. Toy's 100 Best Children's Products 2009
8/19/2009 (Price: $29.95; Age: 7 to 10) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]
Related Video:
Mosaic Jewelry Box by CREATIVITY FOR KIDS
 Girls can make a special place to store their jewelry with the Mosaic Jewelry Box, using more than 300 colorful acrylic tiles and glitter grout to decorate a plain white jewelry box and transform it into a sparkling masterpiece. This product received a 2009 iParenting Media Outstanding Product Award. Launch date: December 3, 2008.
8/19/2009 (Price: $19.99; Age: 7 to 12) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]
Related Video:
Sky Diver Paper Airplanes by CREATIVITY FOR KIDS
 Kids can create 10 paper airplanes with the Sky Diver Paper Airplanes set, following simple folding techniques to turn sheets of paper with awesome patterns into slick airplanes. Kids can add sticker accents, then try to land their planes on punch-out runways. A bonus sky diver with parachute is included. "The thoughtfulness that goes into our product development process — selecting appropriate and engaging materials and providing detailed instructions for a quality creative experience" sets these kits apart," Lisa Brody, PR manager for Creativity for Kids, told TDmonthly. This product received a 2009 iParenting Media Outstanding Product Award and a 2009 Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Seal Award. Launch date: January 13, 2009.
8/19/2009 (Price: $14.99; Age: 6 to 11) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]
Related Video:
Following are some of the programs represented in TDmonthly.com's section of award winners: Dr.
Toy, iParenting
Media Awards, TIA
T.O.T.Y., Oppenheim
Toy Portfolio, The
National Parenting Center, and Parents'
Choice Awards.
You may also access TDmonthly's review
section to see which products earned 5 TD stars.
|
|
Advertise on TDmonthly
|
