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August 2012 New Specialty Toys — Eco-Friendly

By TDmonthly Staff

makedo™ Find & Make Shop
From: TOYSMITH

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Age Range: 5 to 12
Specialty: Yes (as of 2012)
Gender: Boys And Girls

Category:

Kits
Arts & Crafts
Eco-Friendly

Find & Make has added a new project kit that directs children to make their own original creations using Makedo connectors and packaging commonly found in the home. This product invites child to be resourceful by sourcing boxes and packaging from around the house and using them as the ‘building blocks’ . Once built, the Shop becomes the source of endless role-play fun. Through this experience, the child changes their perception of a box as something they would throw away. Instead it becomes an object of value. The child has learned about reuse and upcycling in a fun and playful way. Each Makedo Find & Make kit includes a safe-saw for cutting and punching through materials safely; re-clips and lock-hinges for connecting, themed decorative stickers, beautifully illustrated step-by-step instructions and a gorgeous inspiration poster. The material contents and packaging has been kept to a minimum. The reusable nature of Makedo’s connectors means that the child is able to pull apart and reconstruct their shop over and over for new building and role-play experiences. Construction with Makedo also minimizes the use of virgin materials by directing the child to make their own toy rather than going out to buy something completely new.
Awards: 2013 TDmonthly Seal of Approval, 2012 Dr. Toy Best Green Toys

This 65-piece set features five game ideas that introduce and teach shapes and objects with unique tactile game play. Little pirates will be ready for games like "The Sneaky Seeker", "The Blindfold Grab", matching games, and more. For a traditional favorite, flip the game board over and play a classic game of Checkers. Clean up is easy as the 18"x18" game board has a Velcro pocket for storage and play. The gameboard is also a great map for role play adventures. BeginAgain uses plant-based and recycled materials whenever possible. The treasure map game board is made from natural (unbleached, unprocessed) cotton and the 20 game cards and 20 matching game pieces are made from recycled paperboard and colored with water-based inks. The 24 treasure coins are made from natural rubber (from rubber tree).
Awards: 2012 Dr. Toy Best Green Toys

2 Birdie Banks™ is a new activity kit in the ALEX Eco Crafts series. Kids can save their money and at the same time help to save the planet! This all-in-one environmentally-friendly craft kit lets kids create 2 bird-shaped banks out of recycled paper molds. It comes with 2 makeshift banks (fashioned from recycled paper) that kids can outfit with coin slots and lids before decorating them with colorful squares. Using the included sponge brush, kids can easily affix the paper tape with glaze and wait a while for their creation to dry. Launch date: 2012.
Awards: 2012 Dr. Toy Best Green Toys, 2012 Dr.Toy Best 20 for $20

Made from PlanToys new collection of PlanWood materials, the Pull-Along Snail is made using this new sustainable wood to delight children ages 1 and up. Encourage those beginning stages of walking with this adorable pull-toy. Pull the snail along and the snail body inches forward in a rolling motion. Created to maximize the usage of reclaimed rubber trees, PlanWood uniquely provides an even safer, higher quality and more affordable product, while maintaining the eco-minded excellence and unforgettable design consumers have come to expect from the PlanToys brand. "The product is beyond green, made from the sawdust of the reclaimed rubberwood trees we use for all PlanToys products," Ashley Cao, Marketing & Sales rep for PlanToys, told TDmonthly. Launch date: May 2012.

The Yoga Motion Bundle contains a Yoga Motion DVD, a Shining Star stainless steel water bottle, and an apple green child-sized yoga mat. Yoga Motion engages children in active play, while they exercise their bodies and expand their imaginations. The DVD contains 10 chapters, each is a complete 3-4 minute yoga routine. Children can play Yoga Motion from beginning to end as a long yoga workout, or mix-and-match chapters for a unique yoga experience. Product designs are clean and modern. Launch date: October 2011.
Awards: 2012 Parents Choice Award