July 2009 New Specialty Toys — Educational

These cuddly and colorful critters stand 7" tall, with a comfort and global message of helping little kids to become great big kids. "Queetles are equipped with a Talk Back Module, allowing parents to leave a comforting message inside, for playback," Donna, in human resources for Queetles, told TDmonthly. Launch date: August 15, 2009.

The traditional dress from China is simple and elegant, made from silken brocade with butterflies, which are a symbol of joy and summer in China. It has silk loop buttons in soft purple to complement the butterflies. It fits 18" and 21" dolls. "Our products are unique in their ability to expose children to different cultures through pretend play," Leah Wheelan, director of Little Bridges, LLC, told TDmonthly. Launch date: June 2008.

The Money Savvy Pig® is a four-chambered bank designed to help kids and their parents or grandparents begin a conversation about money. It is designed to help teach basic money skills by introducing four choices: SAVE, SPEND, DONATE and INVEST. "Its unique four-chambered design allows children to deposit their money through four separate slots on the top of the bank — one slot for each money choice — and empty each money chamber individually through the feet on the bank," Melinda Voelcker, director of operations and marketing for Money Savvy Generation, told TDmonthly. It is available in six colors.
Awards: 2015 TDmonthly Magazine Top Toy Award; 2002 Parents' Choice Gold Award; 2008 National Parenting Publications Gold Award; 2008 Preferred Choice Creative Toy Award; and 2008 National Parenting Center Seal of Approval. Launch date: 2002.
— As of 05/12/2011 this product had 4.3 out of 5 stars from 34 customer reviews on Amazon.com. Cons: Three customers reported that the bank broke when they dropped it.
— The Money Savvy Pig is a traditional piggy bank on steroids. Instead of holding a child’s money in a single chamber, it utilizes four,  labeled save, spend, donate and invest. Reviewers found that it works well with an allowance system. Trent Hamm of The Simple Dollar explains that even if children cannot completely understand the concepts behind the Money Savvy Pig, it can make it “so that saving seems like a completely natural thing.” See also 3 Garnets & 2 Sapphires.

The Pocket Referee is a conflict resolution tool that comes in the form of a shiny gold coin. The Ref comes packaged with a protective pouch and handy carrying clip that allows kids to keep it close by. This powerful tool helps teaches kids how to work out conflicts on their own without the help of parents or guardians. When a conflict arises that can only have one resolution (which TV show to watch, where to go for dinner) the holder of the coin can choose to get her way, which means she'll pass the coin on to her counterpart for the next conflict, or she can choose to keep the coin and pass the current choice over to the other child. In all situations both kids win. Also available in antique brass for MSRP $9.95.
Awards: Summer 2012 Tillywig Award Winner

Created and illustrated by Simon Basher, and written by Dan Green, this 128-page, full-color paperbook dedicates individual pages to profiles of stars and other objects in outer space. It comes with a solar system poster. Launch date: May 2009.

This germ education product for toddlers and preschoolers is designed so that kids quickly go from not knowing they are spreading germs to being equipped with the knowledge of what they can do to stop the spread of germs and illness. "Many in the medical community advocate teaching children the three keys to illness prevention: keeping germs from your face, wash your hands, and cough and sneeze into your elbow. Germy Wormy Germ Smart for Kids does the teaching for you!" Margaret Back, president of Back Enterprises LLC, told TDmonthly. Launch date: September 2009.

An educational and environmental addition to a child's room, this nature themed poster with a gender-neutral design is printed on heavy, 100-percent PCW recycled paper using soy ink. The posters are available in size 11" x 14" (MSRP: $32) and 18" x 24" (MSRP: $42). "We consider the environment in everything we do, from design to product creation to packaging. Our art is educational, simple and stylish," Rebecca Peragine, CEO of Art and Philanthropy, told TDmonthly. Launch date: May 2009.

This poster may serve as both an educational and environmental addition to a child's room. The nature theme and gender-neutral design makes it appropriate for both boys and girls. It's printed on heavy, 100-percent PCW recycled paper using soy ink. These posters are available as 11" x 14" prints (MSRP: $32) and 18" x 24" prints (MSRP: $42). "Our products are made from 100-percent recycled, biodegradable and non-toxic materials," Rebecca Peragine, CEO of Art and Philanthropy, told TDmonthly. Launch date: May 2009.

Players will need to know more than their ABCs to play Electronic A to Z Jr. In fact, they'll need to be pretty quick with the entire alphabet, including those pesky XYZs. Players have 30 seconds to list as many different answers for a specific category as possible. Each answer must begin with a different letter of the alphabet. Players turn off letters on the electronic board for each correct answer. The first one to turn off all the letters on their board wins. It includes an electronic game board, A to Z Jr. category cards, and instructions. Launch date: June 2008.

The Gisela doll and book set is based on one of the daughters of Charlemagne, designed to teach young girls about the lives of young girls during the medieval period. The soft-bodied and vinyl doll is dressed for historical accuracy. Launch date: March 2008.

Eco-Snoopers Fun Activity Travel Book contains an array of puzzles, mazes, Q&A's, and activities specifically designed to entertain and educate children on the merits of being environmentally green. The book can be carried anywhere and contains quizzes and challenges created to keep kids occupied for hours. The Eco-Snoopers Fun Activity Travel Book is part of a larger selection of Eco Snoopers stationery and backpack products. Launch date: May 2009.

This two-sided Dry Erase Paddle Board has one lined side and one blank side. It comes with an EZ pen and storage for the pen right in the handle. The durable, lightweight paddles may be used by both young students and adults. They are sold in a four-pack reusable mesh tote with an activity booklet and four extra dry erase markers/erasers. The boards can be cleaned with soap and water. Launch date: July 2009.

Qubits is a simple plastic toy that can be built up using a distinct, patented modular geometry. It is designed to quickly capture the imagination of those who might have visions of becoming architects, engineers, scientists or even nanotech designers. The pieces are flexible to allow for curved creations. The Jumbo Kit comes with 330 pieces. 120 flexible Qubits, 150 connectors and 60 bridges. Molded with high quality plastic featuring bendable pieces that allow curved shapes. Launch date: June 2009.

About 9" in diameter, this colorful ball features outer sections that name the colors represented. It unzips and unties to reveal various activities inside, including the ABCs and 123s with a mirror, ties, a button and elements that crinkle and squeak.

Children can get into the holiday spirit with this festive Santa Scribble Mat. This durable, washable vinyl placemat is designed to provide hours of fun and creativity. It comes with four non-toxic crayons and may be used at meal time, school, home, restaurants, or for travel and kids on the go. "Our signature surface wipes clean with a dry cloth. Children can color over and over," Andi Thea, COTS of Scribble Mats!, told TDmonthly. Launch date: July 2003.

These nature-themed, gender-neutral wall cards are numbered one through 10. The images are made using recycled paper. The cards are designed to be educational, stylish and environmental from start to finish, using only 100-percent recycled materials and soy ink for the product and packaging. "Wall cards are known as an economical alternative to expensive wall art, which makes them the perfect product for families on a budget. And their versatility allows them to be individually framed, or simply tacked up to the wall!" Rebecca Peragine, CEO of Art and Philanthropy, told TDmonthly. Launch date: May 2009.

Museumline Pteranodon Sternbergi is made of a non-PVC material called synthetic rubber. It is handpainted, made to 1:30 scale, and produced to the company's high standards of design and safety in Germany. Each piece comes with a ring screwed into the creature's back, so it can be hung on a thread to "fly." The tag contains information about Pteranodon Sternbergi and his pre-historic environment. The fish in its mouth is detachable. "Museumline Pteranodon Sternbergi's design has been created in cooperation with and approved by the National Museum for Natural History "Museum am Lowentor" in Stuttgart, Germany," Rico Fabbroni, director of sales for Bullyland Toys, told TDmonthly. Launch date: 2002.

This “run bike” or “balance bike,” which is pedal free and without training wheels, is designed to help a child develop balance and motor skills necessary to later ride a two-wheel bicycle with pedals. Smart Balance Bikes work to develop a child’s balance and coordination by simply allowing the child to sit and walk or run with the bike by pushing with his or her feet. If the bike starts to fall, kids instinctively regain balance using their feet. Once they’ve gained some momentum and balance control, they can lift their feet up as they feel comfortable and start cruising. Smart Balance Bikes are made from birch wood from a replenishable source, with real inflatable rubber tires, handle bar grips, an adjustable, cushioned leatherette seat to grow with the child, and a distinctive carry handle incorporated into the bike's body. The construction uses formaldehyde-free lacquer and non-toxic paints, and the carton is made from recycled paper with water-based ink. Launch date: September 2008.
— In a March 2012 survey, Chris Lowe, owner of Beanhead Toys in Sandy Springs, Ga., told TDmonthly that Balance Bikes from Smart Gear were one of her best selling ride-on toys.

Babies can learn sorting, matching and association skills. Looking through the blocks, children will see the world in different colors. The Wonderworld Rainbow Sound Blocks are comprised of wood and transparent multi-colored plastic, and filled with rattling beads that produce different tones when shaken. "Wonderworld, as a strong advocate of protecting the environment, insists on using only rubber-wood that is of replenishable source[s]... Wonderworld strictly uses only non-toxic color and laquer constituent for all our products," Jason Cohen, president of Smart Gear, told TDmonthly. This product received a National Parenting Publications Award. Launch date: September 2007.

"Thumbuddy To Love" is an illustrated story book that comes with a thumb puppet to help children stop thumb sucking. Fireman Fred (for boys) matches the character in the book. A calendar at the end of the book allows kids to mark off the days they do not suck their thumb. "Thumbuddy To Love is a positive teaching tool for kids to help them break the thumb-sucking habit," Andrea, president of Thumbuddy To Love, told TDmonthly. Launch date: 2009. This product received a 2009 Mom's Choice Award.

This kit is designed to help parents teach kids about money — specifically saving, spending and sharing. It comes with a lesson plan, a book about how people approach money differently, a game to encourage money talk, and a Moonjar Moneybox to promote goal setting and budgeting. "This kit is designed to break open the money conversation at home and to help parents find staightforward, fun and meaningful ways to help the children sustain smart saving, spending and sharing for a lifetime," Mary Ryan Karges, vice president of Moonjar LLC, told TDmonthly. This product has received the following awards: 2009 Creative Child Seal of Excellence, Oppenheim Best Toy, Teachers Choice Award, IP award, and Global Learning Initiative award. Launch date: June 12, 2009.

This lively and colorful book features rhyming text that shares facts about lesser-known animals in a humorous way. It is written by Maxine Rose Schur and illustrated by Michael S. Maydak. It is also available in hard cover (MSRP: $16.95).

This 32-page hardcover explains why humans wear clothing and certain gear that animals don't have to, thanks to special adaptations that help them survive rain and more. Launch date: 2009.

This 32-page hardcover is an interactive book designed to help kids understand their own surroundings and get a glimpse of the world while learning basic mapping concepts. It is written and illustrated by Scot Ritchie. Launch date: 2009.