TDmonthly's ToyFair 2006 Preview--Educational Product Category

Tie Buddies by WIDGET WORKS INC

Tie Buddies were created by a mom to help fellow parents teach their children how to tie their shoes. The bright plastic Tie Buddies feature princesses or race cars and attach to shoelaces to make tying a snap. The characters on Tie Buddies help build the motor skills and confidence kids need to tie their own shoes.
— Christin of the ABCD Diaries gave Tie Buddies an “A+” and her “Cool For School Seal of Approval.” Her daughter “loves the way they match her shoes and the pink fairy theme matches her personality perfectly.”
— After trying the product with her daughters, Deb from Just a Mom’s Take on Things declared that “the best gift any parent can give their child’s teacher is to put a pair of Tie Buddies on their child’s shoes.” According to Deb, “Tie Buddies are so quick and easy – and effective, they should be on every kid’s laces.”
— Angela, The Freebie Junkie, was amazed when her husband taught their five-year-old son to tie his shoes in minutes thanks to Tie Buddies. 10/7/2010 (Price: $8.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Young Learners! The Clever Detective by CREATIVE TOYSHOP

In this game for 2-4 players, children try to complete a "Wanted" poster by solving simple math problems. Each player chooses a poster board, then draws from the pile of "sum" cards. The player looks for the matching "answer" card, using the "magic spy glass" to determine if the correct card was chosen. If the cards match, the player can place a sticker on his or her "Wanted" poster, and the first player to collect one of each of four types of stickers wins. This game is designed to teach elementary math skills and encourage problem solving. ( Watch Video) 9/29/2010 (Price: $21.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Feel & Find by GUIDECRAFT INC.

The Guidecraft Feel & Find mixes visual and tactile stimuli via 20 printed tiles and wooden shapes. The set challenges kids to match the shapes, building their sensory skills.
— Nicole of Tired, Need Sleep reported that her son “was very, very excited about playing the game and eager to get everything perfect. However, with 20 fairly unfamiliar shapes in the bag, it was a pretty challenging game for him (which is a good thing, since it means we will get a lot of use out of this as his skills develop!).” She adored the bright, well-constructed pieces and the limitless possibilities for play and learning they offer.
— Renee of What Mommies Need called Feel and Find “a great learning tool for children.” After a few rounds, her son “learned to take his time and find what he was looking for” and “how to feel for a specific shape.” Renee noted that the $25 MSRP “is a great price for an all-wood product.” 9/24/2010 (Price: $25.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Young Learners! Yummy Scrummy by CREATIVE TOYSHOP

Young Learners! games bring a contemporary twist to traditional entertaining and educational board games. Designed to help children recognize sounds, colors and shapes, letters and numbers, as well as develop hand-eye-coordination, practice time telling and improve their social skills, many of the games also encourage children to think about their environment and make healthy choices. In Yummy Scrummy, kids guess what the hungry monsters have eaten as they race to find the healthy food. 9/24/2010 (Price: $15.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Young Learners! Eat Your Words by CREATIVE TOYSHOP

Young Learners! games bring a contemporary twist to traditional entertaining and educational board games. Designed to help children recognize sounds, colors and shapes, letters and numbers, as well as develop hand-eye-coordination, practice time telling and improve their social skills, many of the games also encourage children to think about their environment and make healthy choices. Eat Your Words is a snappy word-building game that encourages first spelling and aims to improve letter recognition. Kids make their frog hop from leaf to leaf to the finish line and watch out for the hungry crocodile while building simple words.
Awards: Parent's Choice Award 2011 9/24/2010 (Price: $21.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

MathMosis Classroom Kit by BRAIN PARTY INC.

The MathMosis Classroom Kit is an instructional tool which coincides with a school’s already existing math program. MathMosis was designed for kindergarten through third grade classrooms. Supported by research, this math supplemental teaches children to count by multiples through a variety of learning modalities and utilizes a strategy which assists in understanding and memorizing multiplication and division problems beginning at an early age. Kit includes MathMosis Book, MathMosis Mania Games, MathMosis Posters, and MathMosis Music CD. 9/23/2010 (Price: $159.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Magnetic Cannon by ABONG.COM

A magnetic cannon is a chain reaction device. It is built in a series of stages, each containing a magnet, a spacer, and a projectile. To start the chain reaction, a steel ball is released, which accelerates towards the first stage magnet. When it strikes the magnet, its energy is transfered through the magnet and spacer into the projectile which speeds off toward the next stage. The process repeats until the last projectile leaves the end of the device. The more stages an accelerator has, and the more powerful the magnets are at each stage, the faster the ball bearing will leave the final stage. This four-stage device features powerful rare-earth magnets, steel ball bearings, and 22cm firing trough. 9/23/2010 (Price: $34.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Magnetic Accelerator by ABONG.COM

A magnetic accelerator is a chain reaction device. It is built in a series of stages, each containing a magnet, a spacer, and a projectile. To start the chain reaction, a steel ball is released, which accelerates towards the first stage magnet. When it strikes the magnet, its energy is transfered through the magnet and spacer into the projectile which speeds off toward the next stage. The process repeats until the last projectile leaves the end of the device. The more stages an accelerator has, and the more powerful the magnets are at each stage, the faster the ball bearing will leave the final stage. This four-stage device features powerful rare-earth magnets, steel ball bearings, and 25cm firing trough. 9/23/2010 (Price: $34.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Tabletop Trebuchet Kit by ABONG.COM

The trebuchet was most highly evolved catapult type weapon of its time. Built on location, it was able to hurl carved stone balls weighing up to 300lb (136 kg) at enemy fortifications and at a safe distance from enemy fire. This tabletop trebuchet kit is designed to withstand rigorous use, safely and reliably when using the included projectiles. Each piece has been accurately machined from carefully chosen lumber, and precisely drilled to allow easy assembly. The completed model measures 20.3cm(8") x 10.1cm(4") x 15.2cm(6"). A how-to section demonstrates loading and firing the completed catapult, including tips on tuning the finished kit. 9/23/2010 (Price: $29.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Tabletop Catapult Kit by ABONG.COM

Catapults have been used throughout history. Its simplest form was the onager or mangonel, where a projectile was placed in a cup or spoon on the end of a throwing arm. The arm would be powered by twisted ropes of hair or fibre. When fired, the arm would swing up and slam into a stopping block, causing the entire catapult to buck, and sending the payload on its way. This tabletop catapult draws inspiration from this design and is powered by a powerful twisted rope skien, and features a simple spoon and arm type arrangement. Each piece has been accurately machined from carefully chosen lumber, and precisely drilled to allow easy assembly. The completed model measures 20.3cm(8") x 10.1cm(4") x 15.2cm(6"). A how-to section demonstrates loading and firing the completed catapult, including tips on tuning the finished kit. 9/23/2010 (Price: $19.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Catapult Science Project Kit by ABONG.COM

The science project catapult kit allows you to tinker with the design of a medieval siege weapon, and provides you with the information needed to analyse your results. The catapult can be changed from a wheeled, sling type trebuchet, to a bucking spoon-arm onager in minutes. Power the siege engine with a free-swinging counterweight or fixed rubber bands. Vary the counterweight mass, projectile mass, or sling length. Install the optional crash bar or let the arm swing free. Compare the results of all the different configurations, and draw your own conclusions about which design is the ultimate medieval artillery weapon. 9/23/2010 (Price: $39.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Truss Bridge Kit by ABONG.COM

Truss bridges have been a mainstay of civil engineering for many years. From early railroad structures to modern spans like the Bluewater Bridge in Port Huron, MI, truss bridges continue to be indispensible to our transportation network. This kit features all-wood construction. The materials have been carefully selected, accurately cut, and precisely drilled to allow easy assembly without tools or glue. The included instructions demonstrate how to build any one of six different structures using the color coded parts. The finished truss bridge measures 13" x 4" x 3.5" (33cm x 10cm x 89cm), with a structural span of 12" (30 cm). 9/23/2010 (Price: $19.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Favourite Poems for Children by NAXOS OF AMERICA

This collection includes magical, macabre, dramatic, funny, bizarre, absurd, delightful, moving and charming poems by Lewis Carroll, A.A. Milne, Edward Lear, Hilaire Belloc, Kenneth Grahame and many others. Readers such as Anton Lesser, Simon Russell-Beale and Timothy West bring the lines beautifully to life and aim to make this an ideal introduction to some of the best-loved children's poetry. 9/23/2010 (Price: $14.98) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Scooter and Me 3-DVD HEART series by MOVE WITH ME ACTION ADVENTURES

In this series, The Boy and Scooter persevere with Tortoise in the race against Hare, courageously pluck a thorn from a dragon’s foot out of kindness, and accept the unknown in order to enjoy and explore the beauty of a coral reef with a crab. Celebrating their amazing adventures together, they remember all the friends and Adventure Skills and realize how much stronger and smarter they are in body, mind and heart. DVD is 25-30 minutes and includes Warm-up, Story with movement, Relaxation, Adventure Skill review, and Parent/Teacher guide. ( Watch Video) 9/17/2010 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Scooter and Me 3-DVD MIND series by MOVE WITH ME ACTION ADVENTURES

Scooter and The Boy continue their explorations into uncharted territory on the African savannah with Cheetah, Lion, Monkey and Rhinoceros, on the Moon with a Robot, and even across the sea past where the dolphins swim to undiscovered islands. In their adventures, they find out that they have strength of character, that being curious inspires creativity, and that choices have consequences. DVD is 25-30 minutes and includes Warm-up, Story with movement, Relaxation, Adventure Skill review, and Parent/Teacher guide. 9/17/2010 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Scooter and Me 3-DVD BODY series by MOVE WITH ME ACTION ADVENTURES

Scooter and Me is a nine story and movement DVD series (sold in three box sets of three DVDs each) for ages 3-7 about the adventures of a boy and his shiny red scooter as they explore the world and even outer space. In the three-DVD BODY series, The Boy and Scooter take off for a summer growing strong, flexible and balance in body, mind and heart as they play and ride through the park along the lake, become animals at the zoo, and explore a swamp with a little possum who has no tail. DVD is 25-30 minutes and includes Warm-up, Story with movement, Relaxation, Adventure Skill review, and Parent/Teacher guide. 9/17/2010 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Pizza Party: Yoga Class for Kids by MOVE WITH ME ACTION ADVENTURES

This complete yoga-based, creative movement class on DVD leaves kids feeling happy, relaxed and alert. Stretch, Breathe, Move, Balance and Play Pretend at home or at school. No extra equipment or expertise required. Five, seven, and 20-minute activity segments included. 9/17/2010 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Partners for Safety Infant and Child CPR Training by PULSE CPR DIRECT LLC

This step-by-step CPR training program for parents contains a 20-minute DVD and a care kit. The DVD includes training modules, chapter summary reviews and an on-screen quiz. The kit includes a practice guide, diagrams, flash review cards and a babysitter information sheet.
Awards: Mom's Best Award 2010 9/16/2010 (Price: $23.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Hexbug Nano Starter Set by INNOVATION FIRST LABS, INC.

This starter set includes one rare mutation Hexbug Nano Creature, two connectable curved pieces, and one easy connect hexagon piece. 9/16/2010 (Price: $17.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Willbees Bee a Fireman by WILLBEECOM INC

Willbees are cute, educational toys designed to teach about careers and foster imagination. Each Bee represents a different professional, including doctor, fireman, football player, swimmer and singer, and comes with an anecdotal poem describing its profession. Willbees are designed to teach children about positive professions in society and how to become successful, prosperous and independent adults. 9/14/2010 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Willbees Bee a Teacher by WILLBEECOM INC

Willbees are cute, educational toys designed to teach about careers and foster imagination. Each Bee represents a different professional, including doctor, fireman, football player, swimmer and singer, and comes with an anecdotal poem describing its profession. Willbees are designed to teach children about positive professions in society and how to become successful, prosperous and independent adults. 9/14/2010 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Maple Shape Sorter by TAG TOYS INC.

Giant, solid maple sorting cube with solid maple shapes to sort. 4 different sorting combinations from simple to complex. Large openings on each side for easy retrieval of shapes. Solid maple construction makes this sorting cube virtually indestructible. ( Watch Video) 9/14/2010 (Price: $39.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Wooden Circle Tower by TAG TOYS INC.

Classic wooden stack and nest toy with safe, rounded corners and brightly colored bases to arrange in sequence six ways. Recessed edges help the child make and correct and stable fits. 9/14/2010 (Price: $39.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Handstand Kids Mexico All Purpose Mat by HANDSTAND KIDS

This mat is a place mat, cutting board, and work station in one, giving children their own workspace in the kitchen that teaches them to speak Spanish and the geography of Mexico. The mat is dishwasher-safe and phthalate-free. Awards: 2009 Creative Child Magazine Award Winner 9/13/2010 (Price: $8.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Feelings in the Wild Bingo by BRIGHT SPOTS GAMES

Feelings in the Wild Bingo is a colorful Bright Spots game for the animal lover. The animated characters express a wide variety of emotions that can add new dimensions to playing the game.
Awards: Dr. Toy 100 Best Children's Products - 2010 9/13/2010 (Price: $28.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]