February 2009 New Specialty Toys — Creative Activities

Celebrate the couple’s recent marriage under the Party Tent.  Includes three figures, two-layer wedding cake, white tent, table for presents, and many other accessories. Recommended for ages four and up. Choking Hazard. Small parts. Not for children under 3 years.
— Playmobil means “cute, exciting and detailed figure play,” said Patricia Fiedler, owner of Green Frog Toys in Portland, Ore., where the toys were named best sellers in spring 2009.

Help the Police monitor the Police Headquarters. Prison cell comes with working door lock and breakout window and wall. The Police Headquarters is equipped with surveillance cameras and has a reception area, interrogation room, and a wall for equipment. Also includes three figures and many other accessories. Recommended for ages four and up. Choking Hazard. Small parts. Not for children under 3 years.
— David Campbell, owner of Amazing Toys in Great Falls, Mont., likes Playmobil because its products are "not made in China, customers come back for more [and it offers] good play value," he told TDmonthly in fall 2008. Thirteen percent of 52 retailers named the company as a favorite.

Listen to the pianist as he performs a song for all to hear.  Includes a figure, white grand piano, sheet music, and stool.  Press the keys of the piano to play two wedding melodies. 2 AAA batteries required.  Recommended for ages four and up. Choking Hazard. Small parts. Not for children under 3 years.

Help the pirates row their treasures to shore.  Includes two figures, parrot, rowboat that floats, hammock, rocks with hiding place for treasure filled chest, and many other accessories. Recommended for ages four and up.  Choking Hazard. Small parts. Not for children under 3 years.

Assist the Vet with surgeries in the Operating Room.  Includes two figures, two puppies, kitten, turtle, X-Ray equipment with changeable slides, CT scanner, and many other accessories.  Also comes with removable casts that can be placed on animals.  Recommended for ages four and up.  Choking Hazard. Small parts. Not for children under 3 years.

Play and do a puzzle at the same time with the Wild Animal Puzzle. Includes a figure, monkey, giraffe, zebra, lion, cloud, and a colorfully decorated puzzle board.  Recommended for ages 18 months and up. 

Watch the newlyweds drive off in their yellow convertible.  Includes groom, bride with veil and bouquet, convertible with trunk space for luggage, and detachable flower decorations.  Recommended for ages four and up. Choking Hazard. Small parts. Not for children under 3 years.

Check out the new Playmobil Family Home!  The two-story house comes with attic windows that tilt, extendable marquee, garden, and grill.  Also includes four figures.  The house has a functioning door bell.  Two AAA batteries required. Dimensions: 26 x 16.9 x 18.8 inches (L x W x H). Recommended for ages four and up. Choking Hazard. Small parts. Not for children under 3 years.

Spend the day outside playing at the Playground.  Includes three figures, bench, red slide, and a yellow dinosaur that rocks back and forth.  A figure can also sit on top of the dinosaur.  Recommended for ages 18 months and up.

Help the veterinarian treat the animals at the Animal Clinic.  Includes three figures, pony, peacock, birds, puppies, and rabbits. Also comes with ultrasound device, removable cast, bandages, bird cage, and many other accessories. Compatible with Animal Nursery (#4344) and Vet Operating Room (#4346). Dimensions: 21 x 14 x 9.8 inches (L x W x H). Recommended for ages four and up. Choking Hazard. Small parts. Not for children under 3 years.

Keep the roads safe with the Road Maintenance Truck.  The truck comes with blinking lights, removable snow plow, and 190º rotating arm. The loading bin tilts and the cabin roof is removable.  The dispenser also functions to release contents onto the ground.  Comes with a figure and many other accessories. 2 coin batteries included. Recommended for ages four and up. Choking Hazard. Small parts. Not for children under 3 years.

Sail along the Nile River in the Royal Ship of Egypt.  Includes three figures, functioning crossbow catapult, and many other accessories.  The battering ram hinges.  The ship rolls on wheels or floats on water, and it can be upgraded with the Playmobil Underwater Motor (#7350).  Dimensions: 22 x 13 x 13 inches (L x W x H). Recommended for ages four and up. Choking Hazard. Small parts. Not for children under 3 years.

Keep the Pyramid from being invaded by releasing various traps with your very own amulet.  Intruders will have to overcome the collapsible staircase, chute, and scorpion trap.  There is also a secret treasure chamber, trapdoor with slide, and rotary secret chamber. The pyramid walls are removable. Set includes 4 figures, tomb, and many other accessories. Dimensions: 21 x 21 x 14 inches (L x W x H). Recommended for ages 5 and up. Choking Hazard. Small parts. Not for children under 3 years.

— "We sold out and are taking orders for it," Mike DiAndrea, manager of Hardware Center Inc. in Paoli, Pa., told TDmonthly of this high-ticket item in late November 2009. He cited unit sales of about 25 per week.

— Eight of 44 retailers surveyed in late fall 2009 named the Playmobil Pyramid as one of their top sellers. Seven others cited the Playmobil line in general as a popular purchase.

Board the Expedition Ship to explore the waters.  Expedition Ship floats on water, comes with a functional anchor winch, and can be upgraded with the Playmobil Underwater Motor (#7350).   With the cable winch, the Playmobil Shark Diver (#4500) or Deep Sea Diving Bell (#4478) can be hoisted into the water. Set includes three figures, binoculars, treasure filled chest, and many other accessories.  Dimensions: 18 x 6 x 10 inches (L x W x H). Recommended for ages four and up. Choking Hazard. Small parts. Not for children under 3 years.

Cheer on the newlyweds as they make their way out the Church.  Press the windows of the church tower and hear the bells and organ music.  Also comes with three figures, many accessories, and a pink jewel case with rings for the child. 2 AAA batteries required. Dimensions: 12.5 x 16.5 x 22 inches (L x W x H). Recommended for ages four and up. Choking Hazard. Small parts. Not for children under 3 years.

Included in The SnowDino Kit are instructions how to form a SnowDino, his eyes, nostrils, mouth, 12 claws and 11 spikes. Bonus-carving tool included. SnowDino can be built from 4' up to 7' high.

Included in The SnowDino Kit are instructions how to form a SnowDino, his eyes, nostrils, mouth, 12 claws and 11 spikes. Bonus-carving tool included. SnowDino can be built from 4' up to 7' high.

Included in The SnowMan Kit are instructions on how to form a SnowMan anywhere from 3’ high to 7’ high, eyes and eyebrows, a nose, mouth, three buttons, a scarf, pair of mittens and a top hat. Bonus-carving tool included. The Snowman Kit is part of a family of Snow Kits: SnowMan, SnowBear and the Snow Dino. All these kits can be used when building a small character to a large character. All parts are made for the outdoors and can be used over and over in the winter.

Included in The SnowMan Kit are instructions on how to form a SnowMan anywhere from 3’ high to 7’ high, eyes and eyebrows, a nose, mouth, three buttons, a scarf, pair of mittens and a top hat. Bonus-carving tool included. The Snowman Kit is part of a family of Snow Kits: SnowMan, SnowBear and the Snow Dino. All these kits can be used when building a small character to a large character. All parts are made for the outdoors and can be used over and over in the winter.

This mega gift basket includes the following: a Kids Rule! ruler, Bumblebee Scissors, a Turtle Flashlight, an Easy Writer, a Dragonfly Whistle, Glow in the Dark Spiders, Waikiki Sunglasses, a wind-up caterpillar, wind-up bugs and a magnifying glass. Launch date: 2008.

A colorful, comfortable, high-performance yoga mat that is also eco and health friendly. Perfect for children!
 

Crazy Forts is a construction toy that uses 25 solid plastic balls and 44 reinforced sticks and allows children to create whatever their imagination allows. Then, they simply add their own bed sheets to complete their creation. A house, an igloo, an princess castle or pirate ship are all possible with Crazy Forts. "Crazy Forts has proven to sell itself. Our first test involved a small chain of nine stores. They sold out of 350 units in three and a half weeks," President Geoff Thomas of Crazy Forts told TDmonthly.

Tandy Leather Factory has developed a line of kits especially made to be used with iron-on products. The Pixie Pouch is just one of over 20 age appropriate kits that include items like a video game guitar strap, IPOD holders, and a even a complete belt buckle kit which are all iron on products and will be featured in three different colors. The kits have a modern appeal as well as the appeal of being an actual craft item that children can assemble easily. Launch date: February 2009.

This versatile building set combines both art and science with pieces that build 3-D structures that serve not only as décor or architectural models, but also as marble runs in which the activity of the balls is unpredictable.