January 2010 Notable Toys — Creative Activities

Lift the massive boulder with the Heavy Duty Mobile Crane. The jib of the crane rotates 360° and extends up to 25 inches. Set also includes two figures, removable shores, portable warning lights, and other accessories. Recommended for ages four and up. (Warning. Choking Hazard. Small parts. Not for children under 3 years.)

Load up the Heavy Duty Front Loader with boulders. Includes a figure, front loader with scooper, boulders, and other accessories. Recommended for ages four and up. (Warning. Choking Hazard. Small parts. Not for children under 3 years.)

Enjoy hours of fun even when you are on the go with My Take Along Princess Fantasy Chest. For twice the fun, open both sides of the chest to reveal the Princess' dressing room and palace garden. Includes four figures, white pony, and many accessories for the Princess' birthday party that all fit in the chest. My Take Along Princess Fantasy Chest has an easy to carry handle so you can take it with you anywhere. Dimensions: 13.4 x 7.1/21.3 x 9.8 inches (LxWxH; closed/open). Recommended for ages four and up. (Warning. Choking Hazard. Small parts. Not for children under 3 years.)

Enjoy hours of fun even when you are on the go with My Take Along Princess Fantasy Chest. For twice the fun, open both sides of the chest to reveal the Princess' dressing room and palace garden. Includes four figures, white pony, and many accessories for the Princess' birthday party that all fit in the chest. My Take Along Princess Fantasy Chest has an easy to carry handle so you can take it with you anywhere. Dimensions: 13.4 x 7.1/21.3 x 9.8 inches (LxWxH; closed/open). Recommended for ages four and up. (Warning. Choking Hazard. Small parts. Not for children under 3 years.)

Learn about different animals with the Large Zoo. Includes five figures, elephant, giraffe, ponies, zebra, monkey, lamb, tractor with detachable trailer, baby stroller, and many other accessories. The set's large, colorful, rounded pieces help children learn through play. Recommended for ages 18 months and up. Awards: Parent's Choice Award 2010

Enjoy hours of fun even when you are on the go with My Take Along Princess Fantasy Chest. For twice the fun, open both sides of the chest to reveal the Princess' dressing room and palace garden. Includes four figures, white pony, and many accessories for the Princess' birthday party that all fit in the chest. My Take Along Princess Fantasy Chest has an easy to carry handle so you can take it with you anywhere. Dimensions: 13.4 x 7.1/21.3 x 9.8 inches (LxWxH; closed/open). Recommended for ages four and up. (Warning. Choking Hazard. Small parts. Not for children under 3 years.)

Enjoy hours of fun even when you are on the go with My Take Along Princess Fantasy Chest. For twice the fun, open both sides of the chest to reveal the Princess' dressing room and palace garden. Includes four figures, white pony, and many accessories for the Princess' birthday party that all fit in the chest. My Take Along Princess Fantasy Chest has an easy to carry handle so you can take it with you anywhere. Dimensions: 13.4 x 7.1/21.3 x 9.8 inches (LxWxH; closed/open). Recommended for ages four and up. (Warning. Choking Hazard. Small parts. Not for children under 3 years.)

Care for the animals and help finish chores around the Large Farm. Includes three figures, cow, pig, lamb, dog with dog house, horse and buggy, and many other accessories. The farm has a working cable winch to transport supplies up to the loft. The windows and gate of the farm can be opened. The set's large, colorful, rounded pieces help children learn through play. Recommended for ages 18 months and up.

Have fun on the go with the Pirates Take Along Dungeon. Includes two figures, monkey, working cannon, and many other accessories that can be placed in the dungeon's storage compartment. Recommended for ages four and up. (Warning. Choking Hazard. Small parts. Not for children under 3 years.)

Have fun on the go with the Unicorn Take Along Castle. Includes a figure, two unicorns, and many other accessories that can be placed in the castle's storage compartment. Recommended for ages four and up. (Warning. Choking Hazard. Small parts. Not for children under 3 years.)

Sail the Ghost Pirate Ship in the dark quiet seas. Open the hidden flap to expose the three figures. Treasures and two working cannons can be stored in hidden compartments. Set also comes with an anchor and many other accessories. Ghost Pirate Ship rolls on wheels or floats on water. The set can be upgraded with the Playmobil Underwater Motor (#7350). Once exposed to the light, the figures will glow when you turn off the light. You can continue to play with them even in the dark. Dimensions: 22.4 inches (Length). Recommended for ages four and up. (Warning. Choking Hazard. Small parts. Not for children under 3 years.)

Have fun on the go with the Barbarian Take Along Fort. Includes two figures, working ballista, and many accessories that can be placed in the fort's storage compartment. Recommended for ages four and up. (Warning. Choking Hazard. Small parts. Not for children under 3 years.)

Have fun on the go with the Knights Take Along Tower. Includes two figures, working cannon, and many accessories that can be placed in the tower's storage compartment. Recommended for ages four and up. (Warning. Choking Hazard. Small parts. Not for children under 3 years.)

Keep the ghost pirates protected in the Ghost Whale Skeleton. Includes two figures and a Ghost Whale Skeleton. Skeleton comes with lateral folding door and jaw that can open and close. Set comes with working cannon and many other accessories. Once exposed to the light, the playset will glow when you turn off the light. You can continue to play with them even in the dark. Recommended for ages four and up. (Warning. Choking Hazard. Small parts. Not for children under 3 years.)

Fair Share Chore Cards eliminates dreaded arguments among who does what chores and takes the phrase "that’s not fair" out of the housework equation by leaving chore assignments to the luck of the draw. The chore cards have helpful directions printed on each card on how to accomplish each chore safely and efficiently. The only Ace in the deck serves as a "get out of a chore free" card, giving one a lucky break from a chore.

This 32-piece set of transparent tiles in various shapes makes for a colorful building project. It comes with 14 small squares, two large squares, four isosceles triangles, four right triangles and eight equilateral triangles.
— Four of 44 retailers told TDmonthly in late fall 2009 that Magna-Tiles is one of their best-selling products. Isaac Judd, CEO of Magic Beans in Brookline, Mass., estimated his store sold about 100 Magna-Tiles sets in November 2009.
― “[An] item I do very well with is from Valtech, their Magna-Tiles,” said Deran Muckjian, owner of Catch a Falling Star  in Lexington, Mass., of best-selling construction toys in April 2010.
― Three of 43 retailers surveyed in spring 2010 told TDmonthly Magna-Tiles are a best-selling construction item in their stores.

Aspiring fashion designers can test their skills with this no-sew kit that includes two dress forms, stamped art, fabrics, fashion accessories and a stylus tool to lock the designs in place.

Puzzle Doubles Create A Scene Ocean combines a puzzle with additional activities to create a fun and interactive learning experience for your child. After assembling the puzzle, children can create their own scenes and stories by placing the reuseable static stickers on the surface of completed puzzle. Then turn the puzzle over for a big coloring activity! The bright illustrations encourage parent-child conversation. Each 50-piece puzzle measures a giant 3' x 2'. Launch date: November 16, 2009.

Puzzle Doubles Create A Scene Farm combines a puzzle with additional activities to create a fun and interactive learning experience for your child. After assembling the puzzle, children can create their own scenes and stories by placing the reuseable static stickers on the surface of completed puzzle. Then turn the puzzle over for a big coloring activity! The bright illustrations encourage parent-child conversation. Each 50-piece puzzle measures a giant 3' x 2'. Launch date: November 16, 2009.

Each of the 52 cards in this set includes a funny drawing, a catchword and a phrase. They are designed to be drawn randomly to spark conversation between parent and child, to provide comfort or reward, or to function as an ice breaker at a kids' party.

Kids can test their alien design skills with the Alien Creation Challenge “build it or blast it” play set. Kids race against a timer as they piece together alien torsos and limbs to recreate figures based on alien combo cards. If time runs out, the tray pops up along with all the alien pieces. Players can keep the challenge going by adding additional figures to the play set and creating additional alien combo cards online. The play set includes four alien figures, eight alien combo cards and a special key to unlock body parts. Launch date: August 2009.

Kids create a 9” sparkly Christmas tree, then color Shrinky Dinks ornaments with the included color pencils, bake them, and then hang them on the tree. The kit includes 30 ornaments, eight colored pencils, a hole punch, metallic stars, ornament rings, a star-shaped tree topper, silver metallic tree branches, metallic foil paper for wrapping the base of the tree, and a pre-assembled tree base.
— Two of 40 specialty retailers mentioned Shrinky Dinks when asked about best-selling hobby products in fall 2009.
— Two other retailers named Creativity for Kids as a best-selling hobby brand in their stores.

Each single-color mini pack is designed to introduce kids to the texture and possibilities of PlayFoam. The collection includes six colors, which may be used as party gifts or stocking stuffers.
— PlayFoam small bricks have been consistent best sellers for the last two years at The Parent-Teacher Store & Toys Too in Louisville, Ky., Owner Kimberly Kopatz told TDmonthly in fall 2009.

The Jane Goodall Save the Animals Kit features 50 icons of species that have been brought back from extinction. With each purchase, 10 percent is donated to the Jane Goodall Institute to continue to raise awareness and support the animals of the world. "[It's] the only kit to feature these 50 species and the kit bracelets and elements are made from recycled materials," Ewa Zielinski, owner of Shainsware, told TDmonthly. Launch date: September 2009.