January 2010 Notable Toys — Gifts

This add-on kit includes nine colored, durable magnets that can be used with the Every Day Kits or other sets. It could make an educational gift for homeschooling, help get kids organized and into routine, aid kids learning English, and help children with special needs. "This teacher-created product arose because of parent requests for a daily schedule like the one in my classroom," Elaine Comeau, founder of Easy Daysies, told TDmonthly. Launch date: November 2009.

This kit includes nine colored, durable magnets (perfect for little hands) that can be used on a fridge or on Easy Daysies Fold-&-Go. Some of the magnets in this set include Feed Pet, Clean Bedroom, Help Set Table, Walk the Dog, and two blank magnets to fill in for tasks like "Sitting Still and Eating Dinner," "Do Homework", etc.) Individuals can use a dry erase marker to check the white boxes below the task their child completes and reward him or her when all six boxes are checked. It can be used alone or mixed and matched with other Easy Daysies kits. It can be used from ages 2 1/2 and up since the pictures themselves are explanatory. Launch date: November 2009.

This magnetic daily schedule for kids consists of 18 durable, kid-friendly magnets and a fold-&-go magnetic board that kids can take anywhere. Grandparents and babysitters can easily know a child's daily routine. It can be personalized with a dry erase marker. Users can place magnets down the middle or use the "To Do" and "Done" columns for a reward system. The back stores unused magnets. This mom/teacher-created product is made in Canada of 70-percent recycled materials. Individuals can mix and match from nine different kits to create a family's or classroom's perfect routine. "A daily visual schedule helps children become more successful and independent all because they feel safe and confident knowing what is happening next! Wonderful for helping preschoolers or kids of any age, and children with special needs, with event transition," Elaine Comeau, founder of Easy Daysies, told TDmonthly. Launch date: December 2009.
Awards: 2010 Creative Child Magazine Top Choice of the Year Award (Parenting Aids-Teaching Responsibility & Educational Products-Preschool Category); 2010 Parent-Tested Parent-Approved Award

Gigapals is an award winning online interactive learning experience for kids ages 3-6. Each plush toy comes with an "adoption code" on certificate that can be used to register the Gigapal on the Gigapals website and enjoy an educational experience for kids ages 3 to 6.

Gigapals is an award winning online interactive learning experience for kids ages 3-6. Each plush toy comes with an "adoption code" on certificate that can be used to register the Gigapal on the Gigapals website and enjoy an educational experience for kids ages 3 to 6.

Show your basketball team spirit with the Basketball Car Kit for vehicles. One basketball for your car window and a basketball for the front grille make the look complete! Weather resistant.

Show your football team spirit with the Football Car Kit for vehicles. One football for your car window and a football for the front grille make the look complete! Weather resistant.

Make your car into a Shamrock for St. Patrick's Day! Two shamrocks, one for each front window and a lucky Leprechuan hat for the front grille make the look complete! Weather resistant.

Make your car into a Valentine for Valentine's Day! Two hearts, one for each front window and a heart with Cupid's arrow through it for the front grille make the look complete! Weather resistant.

Make your car into a candy cane this Christmas with the Candy Cane Car Kit for vehicles. Two candy canes, one for each front window and a peppermint candy for the front grille make the look complete! Weather resistant.

Make your car into a bunny this Easter with the bunny ears car kit for vehicles. Two bunny ears, one for each front window and a pink nose for the front grille make the look complete! Weather resistant.

Make your car into a bat this Halloween with the batwing car kit for vehicles. Two batwings, one for each front window and a black nose for the front grille make the look complete! Weather resistant.

Make your car into a reindeer this Christmas with the reindeer car kit for vehicles. Two antlers, one for each front window and a red nose for the front grille make the look complete! Weather resistant. "You and your family will have so much fun when you drive your Reindeer Car around town and see the smiles on faces of all ages," Sue Valeri, inventor, told TDmonthly.

This classic cable knit baby blanket in pastel blue by Elegant Baby is an elegant gift for a baby boy. Adorned with a wide ribbed border this incredibly cuddly 100% cotton blanket can serve as a gift by itself, as well as being an ideal accent to the Elegant Baby cable knit jumpsuit or cable knit sweater.  The blanket is sized at 36” x 45”. Also available in chocolate, white and pink.

This signature Elegant Baby piggy bank features a beautiful orange color and adorable white polka dots. Hand-painted, no two piggy banks are alike. It’s packaged in a clear PVC box, so this coin bank makes for a nice gift for any baby shower or birthday.  Measures 6.5"x 5.75"x 7.75". Available in a variety of other colors.

The classic stuffed teddy bear with a soft cable knit exterior that makes this pink teddy bear pleasing to the touch but also durable enough to withstand the rigors of being baby’s favorite stuffed animal.  Also available in blue, chocolate and white.

The Nylon Pizza Cutter from Curious Chef is designed as a safe and fun kitchen utensil for cutting pizza. "The Pizza Cutter is made of nylon, which is hard enaough to cut pizza, but not skin! Also, the design is very compelling, since it features a unique guard that will keep fingers from [the] blade and soft touch button grips," Cristina Villa, account executive at JB Cumberland PR, told TDmonthly. Launch date: 2009.

The Rolling Pin by Curious Chef is designed specifically for kids' small hands, has ergonomic handles and non stick surface. "Its diameter is the same as a regular one, so that it's highly functional, while being cute and safe. The only difference is that it's shorter and with ergonomic handles," Cristina Villa, account executive at JB Cumberland PR, told TDmonthly. Launch date: 2009.

This redesigned version of Sleep Sheep has brighter hooves to create a warmer effect and to match Cloud B's Sleep Sheep Aroma Pillow. Sleep Sheep is equipped with four soothing sounds to help baby rest: mother's heartbeat, spring showers, ocean surf and whale songs. The 12" Sleep Sheep has a removable sound box and an automatic time-out function that can be set to 23 or 45 minutes. Launch date: November 2009.

Available in cat, dog, and cow, these colorful pull toys will provide hours of fun for infants and toddlers.

This colorful 6" bracelet is made of lead free crystal and cats eyes beads with a silver heart toggle. Ages 5 and up. These bracelets are handmade in the USA with help from the local Girlscouts. 100% of net profits will go to lil' ol' me making a BIG difference "foundation for the lil' nation." This foundation gives scholarships and therapy to children with autism. Launch date: June 2009.

To complement Teamees sports blankets, these organic cotton burp cloths have screen-printed designs, such as the basketball court shown. The cloths measure 22" x 11".

The redesigned Twilight Ladybug features a vibrantly colored shell and soft, matching fur on its body.  The constellations are on a 45 minute timer. Each Twilight Turtle and Friends character from the collection projects constellation nightlights that create a magical sleep-time environment. Each “shell” illuminates the night with three soothing color options to help ease fear of the dark. The Twilight Collection includes Twilight Turtle and Twilight Ladybug, each available in three colors and a Twilight Sea Turtle that also has five illuminated windows projecting images of sea life.
―As of 1.06.2011 this product had 4 out of 5 stars from 833 reviews on Amazon.com and was No. 25 on the top 100 bestselling toys and games. Pros: Soft plush; shuts of automatically to reserve battery power. Cons: Light burnt out and was not replaceable.
― In a June 2010 survey, nine of 40 retailers told TDmonthly that Cloud B Twilight critters are top-selling baby toys, with five citing Twilight Ladybug and six citing Twilight Turtle. Twilight Ladybug is the “go-to (product) for infant gifts” at School Crossing Inc. in Williamsburg, Va., according to Owner Sherry Phipps.