TDmonthly's ToyFair 2006 Preview--Educational Product Category

Language Mechanic by THE CRITICAL THINKING CO.

The Language Mechanic is an effective, comprehensive program that uses fun examples and logical reasons to eliminate the confusion students often feel while learning the rules of language mechanics. Each activity demonstrates and reinforces why following the logical rule is important. Lessons begin with a "grabber”—a humorous miscommunication that results when a rule is broken. Examples are followed by an explanation of the specific rule, the logic behind it, then guided and independent practice exercises. Includes presentation and reinforcement suggestions, answers, a glossary, and a compare/contrast organizer.
Awards— Dr. Toy’s Best Classic Toys for 2011 3/7/2011 (Price: $21.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Steps4Kids to Multiply DVD by Steps4Kids, LLC

The Steps4Kids multiplication DVD provides engaging graphics and animation to help children memorize their math facts. Practice tests, memorization strategies, and parent/teacher section included. "The Steps4Kids multiplication DVD teaches math concepts, properties, single digit by double digit math and self help strategies to help children memorize their math facts of numbers 0 through 12," Nancy Holt from Steps4Kids told TDmonthly. Launch date: February 2011. 3/4/2011 (Price: $24.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

P'kolino Shape Sorting Robot by P'KOLINO

Funky Shape Sorter with Five Chunky Blocks. Kids learn about shapes and colors with the funky shape sorter. Rotate the gears, line up the shapes then slide the blocks through. Blocks drop inside the jet pack back with a funny clunky sound then slide out the side to keep the play going. Helps to improve fine motor skills and develop shape and color recognition. Launch date: April 2011. 3/4/2011 (Price: $29.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Techno Gears Marble Mania Twin Turbo Trax by THE LEARNING JOURNEY INTERNATIONAL

Children will have a blast building and racing on this fast and fun Techno Gears Marble Mania Twin Turbo Trax. After completing the build kids can compete against each other as they race their marbles through this exciting turbo marble speedway. Fun sound effects add to the excitement and the winning time shown on an LED display. Colors may vary. Requires two "AA" batteries and two button cell batteries. "We manufacture the longest running marble run on the market, " Sherri Borrelli, Sales Administrator for The Learning Journey International, told TDmonthly. Launch date: May 2011. 3/4/2011 (Price: $79.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Match It! Make It-Farm by THE LEARNING JOURNEY INTERNATIONAL

The Make It! series are fun construction games that will challenge problem solving and memorization, and will develop fine motor skills of young children as they build their favorite creatures. Featuring Dinosaurs, Zoo Animals, Farm Animals and Animal Babies. Make It! is a multi-player game that teaches cooperation skills and animal recognition. Simply take turns selecting game cards and try to collect the pieces necessary to complete your animal. 3/4/2011 (Price: $11.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Tegu Original Set in Jungle Finish by TEGU INC.

Tegu's patent-pending blocks cleverly incorporate magnets inside sustainably harvested wood, offering gravity-defying blocks that show no visible point of connectivity and enable multi-dimensional building experiences. Available in the following honduran hardwood finishes: natural, mahogany, tints and jungle. "We utilize eco-friendly hardwoods, making them both durable and friendly to the forest," a rep for Tegu Inc told TDmonthly.
Awards: 2010 Parent’s Choice Award, 2010 Dr. Toy Best Green Toys and Children’s Products, 2010 Oppenheim Gold
— David Stelzer, owner of Shananigans in Baltimore, Md., told TDmonthly in a March 2015 survey that Tegu blocks were one of his store's best-selling eco-friendly toys. 3/4/2011 (Price: $110.00)

Oversight by GRIDDLY GAMES INC.

Exercise your mind and outwit your opponents with Mosaic 4, the new fast paced 4 in a row abstract strategy game! Mosaic 4 is set up on a board of movable squares. Two to four players compete to be the first to get 4 tokens in a row. On their turn, each player can either place a token on the board, or shift an entire row or column of movable squares over by one space. The rules are simple but the game gets increasingly challenging. Mosaic 4 comes with instructions in English, Spanish, German and French. "The movable board squares add an extra challenge," Mary Lin from Gridly Games told TDmonthly. Launch date: April 2011. 3/4/2011 (Price: $19.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Magnatab by KID O PRODUCTS

Kids writing their first letters will get helpful up, down and sideways instructions via easy-to-follow arrows. A magnetic stylus pulls beads up to create solid lines. Erases with the tip of a finger. Comes in lower case, upper case, and numbers.
— Mike McCollum, owner of Learning Express in Hoover, Ala., told TDmonthly in a November 2011 survey that their best selling educational product is the Magnatab. "Parents like the way children have fun pulling the magnet around," he said.
Watch Video from Toy Fair 2011 ( Watch Video) 3/2/2011 (Price: $28.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Around the World Toob® by SAFARI LTD.®

This Toob® contains highly detailed, hand-painted landmarks from cities around the world. An educational insert gives fun facts about the landmarks. Includes Statue of Liberty, Eiffel Tower, Leaning Tower of Pisa, the Pyramids of Giza, and more. ( Watch Video) 3/2/2011 (Price: $9.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Glow In-the-Dark Insect Toob by SAFARI LTD.®

Contains 18 hand painted glow-in-the-dark pieces. Includes insert with educational facts abut the bugs. ( Watch Video) 3/2/2011 (Price: $9.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Discover Amber Science Kit by DISCOVER WITH DR. COOL

Polish real amber to reveal the hidden treasures that may be trapped within. Just like the paleontologists in the movie Jurassic Park, kids will create a window back in time. Follow the simple instructions and peer into the real amber pieces in search of ancient bugs and plants that were alive during the time of the dinosaurs. This fun activity kit contains 5 real pieces of amber, 6 special grades of gemstone quality sandpaper, magnifying glass, adventure booklet, and an amber-colored key chain with a genuine scorpion inside. Launch date: 2012.
Awards: 2012 National Parenting Center Seal of Approval; 2012 Product of the Year - Informal Education Products ( Watch Video) 3/1/2011 (Price: $29.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

WILD! Science Fantasy Island by TREE TOYS CORP.

This habitat for ants and fighter fish allows children to examine the natural world. Including “swimming pools” and “food bars,” this habitat might be a little fancier than what its inhabitants are used to. 2/22/2011

Salt Water Fuel Cell Car by OWI INC.

This small salt water fuel cell car lets children lean about new forms of clean energy and engineering. After activating the fuel cell module with a saltwater mixture, the magnesium metal sheet (3 sheets included) can operate the car for about 5-7 hours continuously. If you want to park the vehicle, simply take out the fuel cell module and rinse with tap water and dry. 2/22/2011 (Price: $15.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Global Water Quality Kit by THAMES & KOSMOS

This environmentally focused toy teaches kids how to test water for impurities, with the option of uploading their results online and comparing with other kids’ finds. Includes information on global water quality and encourages kids to think of ways to use science and chemistry to assist countries with unsuitable drinking water. 2/22/2011 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

InnoPad by VTECH

This multi-function tablet is like a starter laptop for kids. It offers interactive reading, gaming, and creative activities. It features a 5inch color touchscreen, a tilt sensor for game control, microphone, interfaces for USB, SD card and a headphone jack, and plays MP3's. VTech will offer more than 100 software titles for InnoPad including Dora the Explorer and Toy Story programs. 2/18/2011 (Price: $74.99)

Tilt by THINKFUN

Tilt is a dynamic multi-challenge maze game that requires a player to tilt the game board back and forth, and left and right to navigate the green sliders through the center hole. The challenges progress in difficulty, and each challenge card comes with a hint, just in case players need a little help. Launch date: March 2011. 2/9/2011 (Price: $19.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Snack Attack! by THINKFUN

Snack Attack! is a fast-paced picture matching, token stacking challenge. Players spin the Snack Attack! Spinner Platter and the Snack Tokens appear. The player with the most Snack Tokens wins. The matching and stacking of Snack Tokens varies the game every time it’s played and two levels of play keeps the game interesting for both younger and older children. Launch date: March 2011. 2/9/2011 (Price: $19.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

PathWords by THINKFUN

PathWords is a new game that combines the Tetris® and Word Search. Players must find all the words in each challenge and place the puzzle pieces so that the letters under each piece spell a word. PathWords will delight puzzle game buffs and word search fanatics. Launch date: March 2011.
— In a Summer 2011 survey, Mary Porter of The Curiosity Zone in Ashburn, Va., told TDmonthly that ThinkFun was her best-selling brand of puzzles.
— As of 7/12/2011 this product had 4.9 out of 5 stars from 19 reviews on Amazon.com. Pros: Clear instructions; fun alone or as a group; challenging. 2/9/2011 (Price: $19.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

The Baffler by GAMEWRIGHT

Each puzzle image is randomly designed and cut in the oddest ways to make it as tricky as possible. The Baffler has no straight edges, no overlapping images and many unique shapes. Each of the three puzzles in the series has a unique piece count: 67 pieces, 69 pieces and 78 pieces. "The puzzles feature unique shapes and no straight edges," Emily Giurleo, marketing coordinator at Ceaco, told TDmonthly.
— David Campbell, owner of Amazing Toys in Great Falls, Mont., told TDmonthly in a Summer 2012 survey that puzzles from Gamewright/Ceaco were among his best sellers. 2/9/2011 (Price: $9.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Plush Animated Animal Banks by MARK FELDSTEIN AND ASSOCIATES INC

These soft, plush animal banks carefully guard jingly treasures in their tummies. Available in Dogs, Pigs, and Frogs, these banks move and play their respective animal sounds when coins are added. Animated Animal Banks also aid in teaching and encouraging children to save their money.
Awards: The 2011 National Parenting Center "Seal of Approval" 2/9/2011 (Price: $19.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Fur-Ever Home, the Animal Rescue Game by PETSAPALOOZA LLC

Fur-Ever Home, the Animal Rescue Game is a family friendly board game of chance and skill where players take in dogs and cats, care for them, and adopt them out to loving “Fur-Ever Homes”. The game ends when all players have worked together and there are no more pets in Straytown. The player with the most points from placing dogs and cats in Fur-Ever Homes wins. But, players have to make decisions about money to stay in the game. "It is the first board game on the market where players get to test their skill at running their very own animal rescue, and adopting out animals to Fur-Ever Homes," Carianne Burnley, CEO of Petsapalooza LLC, told TDmonthly. 2/9/2011 (Price: $29.99)

Fun With Food! ABC Blocks by MANHATTAN TOY

This toy features the ABCs, artful illustrations of corresponding foods from apples to zucchini, and bold graphics. The grocery bag features an easy to carry handle and contains 26, “1 ½”, blocks. Launch date: January 2011. 1/26/2011 (Price: $30.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Here, Now, Know-How by CHILDREN INC.

Developed by award-winning artist David Kisor, the songs on this CD help children develop focused attention on experiences in the present moment and focused intention on positive self-talk and self-image. Developing mindfulness helps a child control their reactions to stress, develop self-awareness, and be ready to respond optimally to learning opportunities. "The Here Now Know-How songs promote mindfulness in several ways. First they guide children’s self-talk to positive affirmations about themselves, others and the world. Secondly, they give children the experience of control over their sensations, thoughts and feelings. And thirdly, they help children deal with negative feelings and experiences," Emily Sandul, director of sales & marketing for Growing Sound, told TDmonthly. Launch date: January 2011. 1/25/2011 (Price: $15.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Imagination Generation by CHILDREN INC.

Imagination Generation sings fun songs that build imagination and creativity in children. Developed by award-winning composer and performer David Kisor, the songs from this album are designed to help young children realize that the mind is both a toy and a tool. "The music from this album is based on the latest research from the field of Positive Psychology. In these songs, we strive to achieve three creative thinking skills. First, we want to increase the fluency of children’s associations. That is, we want to increase the sheer number of associations they can generate to any given situation or stimulus. Secondly, we want to increase the originality of these associations. We want children to generate associations that typically children would not think of. And finally, we want to increase the adaptability of these associations. We want these associations to lead directly to creative solutions to both every day problems, what we call ingenuity; as well as visions of true artistic masterpieces. Music is a natural vehicle for promoting imagination and creativity in young children. The combination of lyrics and music in self-talk, experiential and story songs provide unique strategies for building the creative mind," Emily Sandul, director of sales & marketing for Growing Sound, told TDmonthly. Launch date: September 2010. 1/25/2011 (Price: $15.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Fractions in the Real World Work Cards by WORLD CLASS LEARNING MATERIALS INC.

12 full-color double sided activity work cards provide individual and group practice at 4 levels of difficulty. The Work Cards help students transition their understanding of halves, thirds, fourths, fifths, sixths, eighths, and ninths into Real World Applications. Comes in a folder that opens to a series of Fraction Number Lines. Self-checking for use at a center. "The focus is on Real World Application and helps students transition from concept to daily life," Bruce Brown, president of World Class Learning Materials, told TDmonthly. Launch date: January 2011. 1/25/2011 (Price: $14.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]