There’s a brand new reading game for the kindergarten set. Word Chase is the first effort from Beyond Learning, a new company founded by two accomplished teachers and backed by an impressive advisory panel. The game is designed for ages...
Manhattan Toy, famous for such bestselling classics as the Whoozit and Groovy Girls, has just released a line of toys inspired by Cirque du Soleil. As you might expect, they are colorful, whimsical, bizarrely named and, in some cases, wired...
Here’s a quandary. Your company produces an iconic children’s toy beloved by generations. But lately, it seems like everyone is knocking off your product, and sales have slowed. How do you update your product for the 21st century, to keep...
In my children’s little universe, independence is treasured beyond almost anything else. I see the evolution in sharp focus now, with a toddler who wants to do everything “by mysewf”, and a pre-kindergartener who confidently tried to make herself an...
One of our favorite new products from Toy Fair has just come in. The Ogo is like a cross between a frisbee and a trampoline. The outer ring is inflatable, while the inside is a strong, elastic membrane. There are...
International Playthings, distributor of the popular Calico Critters, is having a songwriting contest. Kids are invited to try their hand at creating a Calico Critters anthem by composing new lyrics to the tune of “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.” Entry forms...
If you have ever listened to the radio, chances are you’ve heard the advertisements for Hooked On Phonics. For me, it was right up there with the See Clearly Method in the category of questionably miraculous products. But armed with...
OK, so check this out. This is a ball-shaped ice cream maker, the Ice Cream Ball. You fill one end with half & half, vanilla and sugar, then you fill the other end with ice and rock salt. Shake it,...
School Days, by Lako Games, is a new game we discovered at Toy Fair. Designed for ages 4 and up, School Days caught our eye because we thought it was fun, which is pretty unusual with games for the very...
