TDmonthly's ToyFair 2006 Preview--Pretend Play Product Category

Princess Dream Dress by FAIRY FINERY

Every princess will love to dress-up in this Princess Dream Dress.  Lush velvet and swirly satin finished with a crystal glitter overskirt and sleeve.  This magical dress is washable and coordinates with the entire Fairy Finery line of hats, capes and wands.  It'll make a little girl's dress-up area the best in the kingdom. 3/30/2007 (Price: $74.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Jr. Explorer by AEROMAX INC.

Whether off to an imaginary safari in the wild or pretending to uncover an extinct dinosaur skeleton, this Jr. Explorer costume is perfect for any expedition. The one-piece jumpsuit has short sleeves and short pants with cargo pockets, custom patches and embroidery. A smart-looking, Indiana Jones-style floppy hat tops off the costume to completely outfit a child for any backyard adventure. The shovel is not included. “Quality fabric and construction” are the characteristics that set this costume apart, Chief Operating Officer Sean Schipper of Aeromax told TDmonthly. Launch date: June 1, 2007.
― Owner Linda Angel of Kidoodles Toys in Norman, Okla., told TDmonthly in spring 2007 that Aeromax is one of her favorite vendors. ( Watch Video) 3/22/2007 (Price: $43.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Pretend & Play Animal Hospital by LEARNING RESOURCES INC.

Tender loving pet care goes anywhere with this portable animal hospital, and role-play encourages participation in caring for family pets. The hospital comes complete with a puppy and 34 pieces to ensure a thorough check-up. Write-and-wipe components let children play repeatedly, and a tri-fold board with pockets stores components neatly. Launch date: January 2007.
— "Learning Resources: school and doctor sets," said Danny Givens, owner of Little Dickens in Lynchburg, Va., when asked about popular playsets in his store. One other retailer that TDmonthly spoke with agreed that Learning Resources playsets sell well.
— Twenty units per month was a figure one retailer provided to TDmonthly when asked about sales.
— “Dramatic play toys are always a staple item in specialty toy stores, but what makes the Pretend & Play Animal Hospital special is its topic. Since 60 percent of families have at least one household pet, the idea of children taking care of pets — even through imaginative role play — will resonate with parents,” Kim McLynn of Learning Resources told TDmonthly. 3/19/2007 (Price: $34.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Masquerade Cards by PINX A CARD CO. INC.

Each tri-fold Masquerade card holds a themed mask inside. “Taking faces to fantasy places,” the patent-pending cards feature masks that can be torn from a perforation and worn with an included elastic string. The series of 36 Happy Birthday designs includes princess, firefighter dog, pirate and unicorn masks. “Masquerade is truly unique in the marketplace as a birthday card and toy mask all in one, making fantasy play only a moment away!” Art Director Catie Pearson of Pinx told TDmonthly. Launch date: February 2007. ( Watch Video) 3/19/2007 (Price: $3.98)

Mushroom House by BAZOONGI KIDS

This fun play structure is quick and easy to assemble, and has bright colors to fuel a kids' imagination for hours of indoor/outdoor play. Launch date: Mid March 2007. 3/7/2007 (Price: $124.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Farm Puzzle Board by PLAYMOBIL INC.

Where do all the farm animals belong? Put the animals in the right places to solve the puzzle. Puzzle board includes figure, cow, horse, pig, cat, sheep and accessory. Also available: Circus Puzzle Board.
— Playmobil’s puzzles are so popular in Toy Zone in San Antonio, Texas, that the store sells “around 100 a month,” manager Mark Lopez told TDmonthly in early 2008.
— According to Jamie Burdette, owner of LB Toys in Media, Pa., “the Playmobil line” is the store’s hottest selling line.
— Two of 45 retailers who spoke with TDmonthly in early 2008 singled out Playmobil puzzles as the best-selling puzzles in their stores. 3/5/2007 (Price: $14.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Fire Rescue Boat by PLAYMOBIL INC.

Alert! Alert! A boat is on fire and the crew needs your help! Now with your fire rescue boat you can save them! Includes floatable boat with ability to be equipped with the underwater motor, fillable and working water pump and removable roof.
— At Let’s Play in Hillsboro, Ore., adults buy Playmobil and probably play with it too, said Owner Shirley Reilly told TDmonthly. 3/5/2007 (Price: $29.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

1 2 3 - Zoo by PLAYMOBIL INC.

Learn about exotic animals at the zoo with this new set. Includes two figures, zebra, elephant, giraffe, monkey, animal pen and tree.
— "I think Playmobil would be our best [playset]. For example, a zoo with animals. They do all kinds of stuff," said Jordan Walden, store manager for Finnegan's Toys & Gifts in Portland, Ore.
— In spring 2007, Walden reported a monthly sales figure of up to 200 units of the Playmobil; for another retailer, two dozen per month was more the norm.
— Playmobil was cited by 10 of 39 retailers TDmonthly spoke with about popular play sets in their stores. 3/5/2007 (Price: $10.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

"Let's Play Restaurant!" Set by THE CHILDREN'S FACTORY

This set consists of a waiter or waitress apron, a guest check book and best of all, a colorfully illustrated menu for young children's dramatic play. Children love to play restaurant. They can take turns playing server and customer. With all the available play food, they can have hours of fun. Launch date: January 2007. 2/27/2007 (Price: $17.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Deluxe Police Officer Set by DRESS UP AMERICA TOY INC.

This beautiful police outfit will make children feel like real cops. It comes complete with a jacket, pants, police hat, belt, whistle, hand cuffs and gun holster. The 100-percent polyester outfit is machine washable and comes in a durable snap-sealed poly bag. "Dress Up America owns two toy stores," Director of Sales Lou Landau told TDmonthly. "We listen to the mothers and the children who shop here every day and then incorporate changes into our products." With quality fabric, embroidered patches and Velcro closers, he added, the outfit "is the most realistic looking police costume on the market, and it is made to last." It received the 2006 Preferred Choice Award from Creative Child Magazine and the 2006 National Parenting Center Seal of Approval. 2/27/2007 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

The Playhouse Kit by LITTLE PARTNERS INC.

This kit transforms The Learning Tower — a high-quality birch tower of adjustable height — into a fun playhouse. The set features an easily-attachable roof, red curtains and four theme signs to create a puppet theatre, doll house, drive-thru and lemonade stand. A combination set that includes the tower and the playhouse kit is available for a suggested retail price of $189.95. It is suitable for children aged 18 months and up. According to Lisa Orman of Kidstuff PR, the open-ended structure of The Learning Tower allows children to use their imagination and create special play spaces. Launch date: July 2006.   2/21/2007 (Price: $32.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Optimus Prime Voice-Changer Helmet by HASBRO INC.

Little prattlers can sound as tough as a Transformer robot with this new voice-changing helmet. They'll look pretty intimidating, too. It's based on a Transformer character from the Dreamworks Pictures/Paramount Pictures movie debuting in July. Launch date: June 2007. 2/9/2007 (Price: $29.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

4-in-1 Kitchen Activity Center by JONTI-CRAFT INC.

A stove, sink, cupboard, and microwave combined into an attractive kitchen center. Stationary. Compatible with Kitchen-Link® System. 36½" wide x 15" deep x 35" high. Features full-length piano KYDZHinges®, KYDZSafe® edges, KYDZTuff® finish and KYDZStrong® construction. Backed by a lifetime warranty. Made in the USA. 1/26/2007 (Price: $449.70) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

The Original Fortamajig™ by THE HAPPY KID COMPANY

The Fortamjig provides a fun, easy way to build cool play spaces anywhere. The Fortamajig measures an open 8' square and is created out of durable nylon ripstop with no hard pieces to break or lose. It has open-able, stretchy loops around the interior and exterior edges for attachment to chair backs, tree branches, doorknobs and more, and features a closable mesh window, a flap door and four corner pockets. A reversible double-layer design is available for $89.95. This product is a Fall 2007 Parent's Choice Gold Award and Summer 2007 Dr. Toy Best Product Award winner. Launch date: February 2007.
— “The Fortamajig's open-ended design allows kids to create any play structure they can imagine, both indoors and out. Parents will appreciate the versatility the Fortamajig offers in one lightweight, portable and washable unit,” founders Katherine Huck and Kristen Stocking of The Happy Kid Company told TDmonthly. ( Watch Video) 1/8/2007 (Price: $49.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Kid's Scallywag by ELOPE INC.

This blocked, tri-cornered hat in brown suede-like material is fully lined and gives the authentic pirate look. For shipping, orders must be in multiples of three.
— National Sales Manager Kelli Borel of Elope Inc. told TDmonthly that “with pirates being all the rage, Elope now offers the best pirate hat available. ... The unique design and substantial quality of this hat is strides above any other children’s pirate hat.” 1/5/2007 (Price: $19.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Medical 'Copter by PLAYMOBIL INC.

Emergency! You've been dispatched to help someone in rouble! With this new medical 'copter, you can get there faster through the air - includes pilot, rescuer and adjustable copter with movable blades, sound and retractable grappling hook. helipad also included!

Available at speciality stores nationwide for a suggested price of $34.99 1/4/2007 (Price: $34.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Western Superset by PLAYMOBIL INC.

Jump on your horse and head out west for this western adventure superset! Pitting native Americans against prospecting cowboy, this set has it all: two native American figures, cowboy figure, horse, vulture and all sorts of accessories in an old west setting to ensure hours of imaginative play!

Available at speciality stores nationwide for a suggested price of $16.99 1/4/2007 (Price: $16.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Jet Plane by PLAYMOBIL INC.

The jet contains room for cargo and passengers, movable seating for more cargo space, mobile doors and four figurines with luggage. "Reality playsets are a feature of Playmobil," Playmobil Inc. Advertising and Marketing Manager Michelle Winfrey told TDmonthly. This product is a Fall 2007 Parent's Choice Award winner. Launch date: August 2007. 1/4/2007 (Price: $49.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Forest Lodge by PLAYMOBIL INC.

Kick up your heels after a long day of exploring with this fun-filled forest lodge set. comes with the lodge, a family of four, farm animals, birds, a tree fort, deer care center and accessories for hours of enjoyment. This product received a 2007 Excellent Product iParenting Media Award. ( Watch Video) 1/4/2007 (Price: $44.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Deep Sea Submarine by PLAYMOBIL INC.

Navigate the mysteries of the seas with this new deep sea submarine. Comes with figure, submarine with grasping arm, underwater motor, depth regulator and waterproof cabin.

Available at speciality stores nationwide for a suggested price of $17.99 1/4/2007 (Price: $17.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Arena by PLAYMOBIL INC.

Engage your gladiators with competition in the arena. Features include audience seating with trap doors to the lions cages, wide gate and large battle area. Also comes with eight figures, two lions, a double-harness chariot and lots of accessories for hours of fun. "Playmobil toys allow the child's imagination to soar, while playing and learning!" Michelle Winfrey, advertising and marketing manager of Playmobil Inc., told TDmonthly. This product is a winner of the 2007 Oppenheim Gold Award. Launch date: August 2007.
— The Roman arena includes a lot of little pieces to assemble, but it’s also a lot of fun to play with, offering opportunities for creative play with characters and animals that come to life in a sizeable play space. It earned a TDmonthly Top Toy 2007 award for its detailed figurines and accessories, its playful recreation of an historic landmark, as well as Playmobil’s widespread, positive reputation with specialty stores.
— This Roman arena and accompanying accessories are best sellers for Brain Station and Tree Town Toys in Ann Arbor, Mich., Owners Hans and Tricia Masing told TDmonthly in fall 2007.
— “I’m a big fan of Playmobil,” Scott Loveless, owner of Toys That Teach in Bothell, Wash., told TDmonthly, “especially in today’s environment of toy recalls.”

Where to Buy: Really Great Toys

( Watch Video) 1/4/2007 (Price: $89.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Hospital by PLAYMOBIL INC.

Selected for Parents Magazine's "Toys of the Year 2007" guide, this playset allows kids to care for the sick residents of their own little town. This new hospital includes several figures, functional elevator, adjustable operating table with light, movable patient's bed, reception area, children and babies' sections and tons of accessories. This product is a Fall 2007 Parent's Choice Award, 2007 iParenting Media Award and 2007 Oppenheim Gold Award winner. Launch date: September 2007. ( Watch Video) 1/4/2007 (Price: $159.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

ZipBin® Train Depot Play Set by NEAT-OH! INTERNATIONAL LLC

The ZipBin Softie Train Depot is a soft-sided, train depot-shaped and decorated carrying case that converts to a village and train yard playscape. The tracks on the playscape match the popular wooden trains. A Country Stable bin is also available in the Softie line. This product was previously catalogued under the name ZipBin® Softie™ Train Depot Playscape (changed January 2009).
— “The manageably sized shape of the bin now conforms to the concept... and second, the products are soft-sided, adding a tactile sense of delight,” Gerry Linda, director of marketing for Neat-Oh! International, told TDmonthly about the product’s distinctiveness. “All ZipBin products are characterized by the unique convertibility from bin/storage form to playscape and back.” Launch date: February 2007. (Watch Spanish Video) ( Watch Video) 1/4/2007 (Price: $16.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]