February 2009 New Specialty Toys — Developmental Toys

Created to be fun, supportive and safe for baby's first steps and toddler play, this entertainment and developmental system provides an area where baby can crawl and later aids the child in learning to stand and walk. It was named 2009 Toy of the Year in the Toddler Educational System category by Creative Child Magazine.
Awards:  2010 NAPPA Honors Award Winner, "Best Bang For The Buck."

Past Videos: Toy Fair 2009

The anti-Barney, the Wiggles' worst nightmare ... the last great hope for real rock n' roll for kids. This debut album by the Boogers was conceived by a punk rocker with a Ph.D in developmental psychology. The Boogers bring chord-driven rock and catchy melodies to kids with age-appropriate lyrics and subject matter. The cover art is by legendary underground comix artist and children's book author Jay Lynch. "Critics have hailed the Boogers as the first true Ramones-inspired band for kids," Paul Crowe, president of Spire Records, told TDmonthly. Launch date: 2009.

This book and CD collection features rich and diverse musical entertainment for young children and grown-ups. Led through "A World of Happiness" by engaging characters such as “Knowa’ the Cat” and “Lady Leo-Lani,” the ladybug, children will discover inspiring stories and toe-tapping, thoughtful songs. lyrics and sheet music are included, and each age-appropriate chapter focuses on a positive, universal character trait and contains a  “Happiness Activity." For teachers, there are accompanying music lesson plans designed and developed by Music Educators National Conference (MENC). "Each of the wonderful performers on the recording truly believes that the world can be a better place and that it all begins with the children," Marina Terteryan, marketing coordinator for Alfred Publishing, told TDmonthly. Launch date: September 2008.

This fun and engaging coloring book will help children recognize, identify, and talk about their feelings. "The whimsical verse is combined with a creative representation of feelings," Lisa-Marie Arneson, owner and creator of Bright Spots, told TDmonthly. The book was a 2008 Dr. Toy Best Vacation Children's Products Winner. Launch date: 2005.

Suitable for ages 3 months and up, this activity toy features bright colors and pictures of expressive baby faces by renowned photographer Penny Gentieu. It features various textures along with a bell, a rattle and teething accents.

The MagnaPlay Magnetic Activity Travel Set includes one MagnaKase and one magnetic wooden activity, such as the Alphabet Picture Puzzle or the Number Match Up. Children can use the top of the MagnaKase as a dry-erase magnetic activity board while they're on the go. The MagnaKase also comes with two magnetic strips that secure coloring pages to the activity surface. Launch date: November 2008.

Produced in the same contemporary style as our best selling Boikido blocks, these 10 Rainbow Cubes are adorned with colorful numbers and letters as well as whimsical animals. Exposing your child to counting and the alphabet, these cubes can be stacked up high, used to build, or inserted one into another while developing spatial and motor skills, too. Tested to meet European and U.S. safety standards.

The “Writing Made Simple” Kids are part of a larger curriculum that will include a child’s and teacher’s workbooks. This tin product is the fun, manipulative part of the program. The object is to teach the correct letter and numeral formations through play (utilizing a strong emphasis on a multisensory approach) using magnetic caricature puzzle pieces. Through initially forming the letters and numbers with manipulatives, the child will have ingrained the steps that will properly translate when using crayons/pencil and paper. Our four caricatures are performing an action (strong visual) as to how to form the shapes. Launch date: 2009.

BuckleyBoo plush dolls come in two sizes: the original 17” with five buckles ($29.99)  and the 12” ($19.99) with three buckles — perfect for the toddler on the go. With an internal, motion-activated chime and a variety of pattered ribbons, each BuckleyBoo will provide hours of challenging and engaging playtime. Created by a child psychologist and grandma, Buckleyboo teaches essential developmental skills. Launch date: February 2009.

BuckleyBoo plush dolls come in two sizes: the original 17” with five buckles ($29.99) and the 12” with three buckles — perfect for the toddler on the go. With an internal, motion-activated chime and a variety of pattered ribbons, each BuckleyBoo provides hours of challenging and engaging playtime. Created by a child psychologist and grandma, Buckleyboo teaches essential developmental skills. Launch date: February 2009.

Picture Pockets are inexpensive hanging photo/artwork display galleries that have proved incredibly popular with children and adults alike, for many years, all over the world. Kids love seeing themselves in photos on the wall and seeing their artwork, placed by their teachers. Picture Pockets can be hung in nurseries, kitchens, bedrooms, offices and schools, and used to record happy events, such as births, weddings, holidays, anniversaries or retirements. "Picture Pocket photos are kept clean and undamaged, continually on display, and are easily interchangeable. As soon as you fancy a change, just turn the Picture Pocket over to reveal up to 80 more photos," Director Jon Goldsmith of Clever Little Ideas Ltd., told TDmonthly. Launch date: 2008.

The Snake can function as a table, and may be used together with other tumbling animals in an obstacle course. It can also be turned upside down and used as a boat. "bObles is a playful interior environment for children, with a design their parents would love to place within their homes. The tumbling animals can be used as furniture, but [are] meant for play. The whole idea is to enhance children's motor skills while playing!" Director Mette Dyhrberg of bObles told TDmonthly. Launch date: September 2008.

The Chicken can be placed on its wide surface or turned upside down. When the chicken is placed on its back there is a rocking function. For the very small child who has just learned to get around, balance will be challenged by lying on the chicken and feeling the rocking, and just lying next to the chicken and touching it will provide good stimuli for the child. A child can later sit, then stand and walk on the Chicken. When used as a stepping stone, the product does not slide. The material is soft, too, making it nice for use with bare feet. The Chicken also has a very usable see-saw function, since it lies stable and secure, is easy to control, and has a good angle in relation to the stretch/movement of the ankle joint. Launch date: September 2008.

The Pig is available in two sizes that can be stacked. The low one is for the child who has just learned to sit. The big one is for the older child, and once you stack them, they fit teenagers and grown-ups. It is nice to have an example of each animal, because the child grows along with them, and as a result they can be used over a long period of time. The six-layer Pig has a size that enables the child to sit on it while in movement, which enhances not only a child's balance but also the joint senses. Children can lie across them and have the backside of their bodies strengthenend, and children can exercise their arms through the pressure from their own body weight. Fine motor control can be stimulated by putting things into the pig's snout and picking them up again. Launch date: September 2008.

The Tumbling Fish are available in two stackable sizes. The low one is for children who have just learned to sit; the big  one is for older children; stack the two and they fit teenagers and adults. The Fish grows along with children, allowing them to use the Fish over a long period of time. Kids can roll the animals to one another, or roll and chase them. The size of the six-layer Fish allows a child to sit on it even while it is moving , which enhances the child’s balancing skills. Children can lie across these Fish and have the backside of their bodies strengthened, and children can exercise their arms through the pressure from their own body weight. Launch date: September 2008.
— "The tumbling animals can be used as furniture, but [are] meant for play. The whole idea is to enhance children's motor skills while playing!" Director Mette Dyhrberg of bObles told TDmonthly.

The Crocodile's most obvious function is as a staircase, which enhances a child's strength and balance. When turned upside down, there's an angled surface. The see-saw function appears when the crocodile is placed on its back and the child can walk/lie on its entire straight surface. The furniture will grow with the child given that the small child can muscle in on the low step and the higher steps are for the toddler. The crocodile has three seating levels for the small child and is splendid for the social dimension that two to three children can sit together on the same piece of furniture. There is also the option to stack them as a bench, which allows two heights. "bObles is a playful interior environment for children, with a design their parents would love to place within their homes," Director Mette Dyhrberg of bObles told TDmonthly. Launch date: September 2008.

Parents can place a small child in the curve between the legs of the elephant and it works as a back rest. The elephant also has a rocking function where the child is challenged and stimulated while sitting. Later on, the child can stand on top of the elephant’s feet, which challenges the child’s balance while standing. The elephant is also good to lie across — flat on the stomach as well as on the back. Last but not least, it is a great chair for sitting, for both children and parents. "All the tumbling animals can stand alone and will, each in their own way, influence motor skill development in a positive direction, but to have more tumbling animals — four, eight or 15 different tumbling animals together — will give enormous opportunities for bodily development," Director Mette Dyhrberg of bObles told TDmonthly. The Elephant has won the following awards: Formidable 2006 - Formex Stockholm and 2008 - Salone Del Mobile, Milano. Launch date: September 2007.

Teach My Toddler is the first all-in-one learning kit for toddlers. The kit contains 17 coordinated teaching tools to help toddlers master the basics: alphabet, numbers, colors and shapes. It has been awarded Best Bet for Toy Report 2009 by the Canadian Toy Testing Council and voted "latest and greatest" product for 2009 by Canada's Neighbourhood Toy Association. USA Launch date: February 2009.

The “So Skip Counting” musical CD and companion workbook set features hip, musically relevant and mobile products that combine teaching with music. The math CD features original songs in 10 popular music genres: punk, folk, blues, funk, country, reggae, new wave, early '60s surf rock, classical ballad and electro pop. The introductory skip counting set, created after consultation with the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) and the State of Michigan Grade Level Content Expectations (GLCE) also includes a workbook to practice and test acquired skills, a laminated 100 chart, a pencil and a portfolio. Launch date: September 2008.

Made in Italy, the Gymnic Line's Gyffy the Giraffe is a favorite with children for learning balance and coordination while hopping. Made of heavy-duty, yet soft, latex-free vinyl, it inflates according to the size and weight of the child. Launch date: February 2009.
— As of 7/21/2011 this product had 4.8 out of 5 stars from 5 reviews on Amazon.com.

Made in Italy, the Gymnic Line’s Hop on Air ball is the very best quality in hopping balls!  Made of super strong, yet soft latex-free vinyl, for long lasting use and durability.  Great exercise product for indoors and smooth safe outdoor surfaces.  Promotes children’s body coordination, balance, lymph circulation and provides a fun workout while hopping on the ball.  Special patented handgrip safety handle.  Maximum sustainable weight up to 200 lbs based on the size of the ball.  Available in two sizes.  Inflates with a hand or foot pump (inflation by adult).  Surface washable with soap and water.

FingerPrints is a complete art kit for children. It contains everything needed for a child to create a finger painting that is framed and treasured for a lifetime: a quality 11" x 14" frame, acid-free artist paper, a child's apron, six bright, washable, non-toxic finger paints and a Certificate of Authenticity. "Anyone with a child will appreciate the convenience of an all-inclusive, one-stop-shop package that turns family time into a keepsake that will last a lifetime," Jennifer Ridley, account rep for ColorGoRound, told TDmonthly. Launch date: March 18, 2008.

Kids put their aiming skills to the test with this Shuffleboard-style tabletop game that's as fast as it is fun. The game includes dual-action bumpers for lightning-fast play. Launch date: November 2008.

This game balances fun with gravity. Players rotate the pivoting platforms to guide six steel balls and collect points, experiencing nerve-racking action as the balls begin to fall. "It's fully enclosed which makes for safe fun!" Janice Hudy, sales and marketing assistant for POOF-Slinky, told TDmonthly. "It comes with simple, easy-to-read game-playing instructions." Launch date: November 2008.