March 2011 Notable Toys — Creative Activities

With a little help from some crayons or colored pencils, and the included red and blue (cyan) 3-D glasses, the children (and adults) will discover a whole new world right before their eyes. While any child can appreciate the cool 3-D effect, the art books are very beneficial for children diagnosed with Autism, ADD, ADHD and Down Syndrome. Once the child sees the depth of these images, it almost ensures they will complete the task. Wholesale is sold in packages of 15. Launch date: March 2010.
Awards: TDmonthly Top Toy Award, June 2011
— Why it won: 3-D is no longer passive! This set of coloring books allows kids to feel their pictures have really come to life. Once they wear the special, included set of glasses, their work seems to pop off the page. It's a great toy for traveling or Dr.'s offices, and will be sure to keep kids and their spectators engaged for some time.

These puppets are hand-made in Bolivia. Kids slip their hands and feet into the puppet, so that their motions make the puppet move too. There are 5 different characters to choose from, including four animals and one clown.

Each card lists 6 items. Players roll the die and the number rolled tells them what to sketch. Each person simultaneously sketches a different item. The challenge is to draw quickly enough to grab the highest-valued token, but carefully enough that opponents can identify the drawn image. Points are gained in two ways: when one player correctly identifies another's drawing the artist gets points, and the player who correctly identifies the image gets points as well. After 10 rounds, the one with the most points wins. Launch date: June 2011.

Arrange colorful cubes in different designs with Pixy Cubes. Each cube is colored green, red, yellow and blue- either as solids, halves or in two variations of crescent shapes. Players can race for speed, challenge their memory, or simply create pictures and designs as a pastime. "With so many options and travel-friendly packaging, Pixy Cubes is perfect for an afternoon of fun and mental stimulation," Nicole Britton from Blue Orange Games told TDmonthly. Launch date: June 2011.

This comprehensive set includes a pretty flower-themed workstation with swiveling stem and easy open and close access to the storage case for beads.  The flower features an easy spray system-just arrange the colorful beads on the provided templates; press the flower stem to mist, and watch as the beads magically stick together. Complete with more than 800 beads and five template sheets.

Everything kids need for all over clean, the Glamology Pearly Shampoos and Face and Body Cleanser uses pH balanced ingredients to cleanse away dirt from the face, body and hair safely and effectively. Extremely gentle, kids can customize their creations to their skin and hair type using the colorful ingredients to create pearly shampoos and face and body cleanser.

Whirl ‘n Wear Charms basic kit is the Spectacular Spinner which includes an innovative threader that allows children to make necklaces, bracelets, anklets and key chains more safely, easily and quickly.  Children become designers as they place the charms in their desired pattern, spin the wheel, insert the string threader and spin the wheel again to create a unique and colorful accessory to wear or gift.  There is no tying or knotting necessary.  The Spectacular Spinner Set includes the automatic stringing machine, 37 large charms, 48 small charms, 12 end fasteners, 3 keychain attachments, 4 large spacers, 4 small spacers and over 9-½ feet of clear elastic string.

Kids can Whipple up 12 treats including cupcakes and pies. The set includes a two-tiered "cake," which doubles as a keepsake box that can be decorated with crème and dazzle with rhinestones and beads. Great for parties and take home "treats."

Trace, bake, shrink and build your favorite sea life in 3D! Classic Shrinky Dinks® with a new 3D twist! Make your favorite sea creatures: octopuses, dolphins, sharks and more. The new 3D Shrinky Dinks® Sea Life kit comes with 10 Shrinky Dinks Sheets (5” x 8”) and Sea Life tracing sheets. Just follow the easy to use illustrated instructions and you’ll be making your own 3D ocean in no time! "These are the only Shrinky Dinks on the market that show kids how to make real 3D figures," a rep from BSW Toys told TDmonthly.

Trace, bake, shrink and build your favorite zoo animals in 3-D. Make your favorite safari animals: Pandas, tigers, elephants and more. The new 3-D Shrinky Dinks Zoo Safari kit comes with 10 Shrinky Dinks Sheets (5” x 8”) and Zoo Safari tracing sheets. Just follow the easy to use illustrated instructions. "These are the only Shrinky Dinks on the market that show kids how to make real 3D figures," Andrew Tober, director of creative development for BSW Toy, told TDmonthly.

Trace, bake, shrink and build your Fairy Princesses in 3-D. Make your own fairy princesses, wings, flowers, jewles and more. The new 3-D Shrinky Dinks Fairy Princess kit comes with 10 Shrinky Dinks Sheets (5” x 8”) and Fairy Princess tracing sheets. Just follow the easy to use illustrated instructions. "These are the only Shrinky Dinks on the market that show kids how to make real 3D figures," Andrew Tober, director of creative development for BSW Toy, told TDmonthly.

Trace, bake, shrink and build your favorite Military Aircraft in 3-D. Classic Shrinky Dinks with a new 3-D twist! Make your favorite Fighter and bombers: the F-117 stealth, B-2 bomber, F-22 raptor and more. The new 3-D Shrinky Dinks® Military Aircraft kit comes with 10 Shrinky Dinks Sheets (5” x 8”) and Military Aircraft tracing sheets. Just follow the easy to use illustrated instructions. "These are the only Shrinky Dinks on the market that show kids how to make real 3D figures," Andrew Tober, director of creative development for BSW Toy, told TDmonthly.

Trace, bake, shrink and build your favorite Space Shuttles in 3-D! Classic Shrinky Dinks with a new 3-D twist. Make your own space program with the Astronauts, Space Shuttles, planets and more. The new 3-D Shrinky Dinks Space kit comes with 10 Shrinky Dinks Sheets (5” x 8”) and Space tracing sheets. Just follow the easy to use illustrated instructions. "These are the only Shrinky Dinks on the market that show kids how to make real 3-D figures," Andrew Tober, director of creative development for BSW Toy, told TDmonthly.

Each set of Air Hedz comes with a piece of huge inflatable headgear and an inflatable accessory. Boys can choose from a cowboy hat and gun, alien head and hands, robot head and blaster, fireman hat and extinguisher and a pirate hat and cutlass. Our range for girls features a princess wig and wand, nurse hat and nurse kit and a pop star wig with a mic. Launch date: February 2011.

Create beautiful mosaic designs over and over again - kids follow the templates for perfect results every time, or create their own designs. These no-mess, no-fuss kits are great for travel. Chroma is an immersive experience of color and shape. Using colorful magnetic hexagons, kids can create limitless polygonal optical illusions and structures. This kit includes 37 colorful tile pieces, educational booklet, Hexagonal Travel tin and suggested patterns. "This kit flexes the mind and spurs creativity.  Perfect for travel, this kit comes in its own carrying case and is perfect for children of any age,"  Stephanie Carver, from The Orb Factory, told TDmonthly.

Trace, bake, shrink and build dinosaurs in 3-D. Make standing figurines of dinosaurs: the T.rex, Triceratops, and Brachiosaurs. The new 3-D Shrinky Dinks Dinosaur kit comes with 10 Shrinky Dinks Sheets (5” x 8”) and Dinosaur tracing sheets. Kids just follow the easy to use illustrated instructions. This is "The first kids craft kit to make 3-D Shrinky Dinks," Andrew Tober, Director of Creative Development at BSW Toy, told TDmonthly. Launch date: February 2011.

Sandtastik PlasterMix is easy-to-use and loads of fun. Just add water. Choose from 8 quick-setting colors to capture your favorite keepsake creations. WHITE, YELLOW, BLUE, PURPLE, RED, BROWN, ORANGE, & GREEN. Recommended for use with Sandtastik Molds. Conforms to ASTM D 4236 ACMI cert. AP non-toxic.

The HEXBUG Nano Bridge Battle Habitat Set allows kids to create the ultimate battleground for the HEXBUG Nano. HEXBUG Nano owners place their bugs on either side of the elevated arena where they must scurry over an orange bridge, through one-way gates and meet in the center battle platform. HEXBUG Nanos nudge and knock their competitor out of the battle arena until only one bug is left standing and reigned champion. Bridge Battle comes with 29 easy connect pieces and two rare HEXBUG Nanos.
— In a Summer 2011 survey, 25% of 12 retailers told TDmonthly that HEXBUGs were their best-selling electronic or battery-operated product.

Ready, Set, Nano! Kids can race their HEXBUG Nano bugs by constructing their very own customizable Raceway Habitat Set. HEXBUG Nanos test their speed and take off out of the starting gates at a lightning pace in attempt to out-scurry their competition to the finish line, zooming through dangerous divides and tricky turns.

HEXBUG Nano collectors can unleash their creativity as they build and construct the expansive Elevation Habitat Set. Elevation features a multi-level spiral and bridges that can accommodate an entire HEXBUG Nano collection, and enable each Nano bug to stretch its rubber legs as it traverses through the sizable mini-community. The customized track includes one spiral ramp that rises two levels up, offering explorative HEXBUG Nano bugs the best view in town.

The Glow in the Dark HEXBUG Nano Starter Set is perfect for any first time HEXBUG Nano owner. Each Glow in the Dark HEXBUG Nano Starter Set is expandable. Kids can build onto their habitat sets using additional track pieces until they’ve constructed their own little micro robotic community.

New Yamodo! Monsters & Aliens, Yamodo! Magic & Mayhem and Yamodo! Gizmos & Gadgets are the new theme versions of Yamodo that can be played anytime anywhere. The twist this time is that the drawings and definitions should be related to the category of the game theme. Creations can be uploaded on Yamodo’s website, allowing for "creative collaboration anywhere anytime," Gred Walsh, pr for Idea Storm Products, told TDmonthly. Awards: 2010 - Dr. Toy Best Vacation, 2010 - Dr. Toy Top 10 Educational Products

LockerLookz Wallpaper for lockers comes in eight fun patterns. The wallpaper is held up by 20 super-strong magnets, making sure no damage is done to the locker itself. The LockerLookz line of Wallpaper and accessories allows kids to personalize their space at school.
— Betsy Ordemann, owner of Magic Box LTD in New Orleans, La., told TDmonthly that she sells dozens of each piece of the LockerLookz line each month, and up to 3 dozen of the most popular pieces. “It's unbelievably popular. It's totally different than anything else in the market,” she said.
— Christine Osborne, co-owner of Wonder Works in Charleston, S.C., told TDmonthly in an October 2011 survey that LockerLookz was their best selling tween item. "We don't know how many" are sold, she said, "because it sells out too quickly!"
— William Meredith, owner of Learning Express in Cary, N.C., told TDmonthly in a Fall 2012 survey that they sell 100 LockerLookz products each month, making them a best seller in the tween category.

These sticky pellets are made of cornstarch and are completely non-toxic and edible. Just add a little bit of water to get them to stick together, then construct models from the pellets. Comes with 1000 multicolor pieces.