Toys | Reviews | Wood Toys | Toy Dolls

According to the Webkinz Insider , Ganz has a new Webkinz in its clutches: the spotted Leopard.

Ganz has not confirmed a release date for this cute addition to the Webkinz family.  We are hoping sooner than later.

Webkinz Insider also reports that this rare and cuddily cat has been referred to as a “leopardess.”

If you’re new to the Webkinz phenomenon, be sure to check out our quick and easy Webkinz guide to get the lowdown.

Just for fun: check out this article that lists some perfect excuses next time you lose at playing a boardgame. The folks over at Boardgamenews.com are industry leaders, so be sure to check them out for news and information about the latest boardgames and role-playing games.

The UK is upping the anty, as we say in the US, with plans to build the world’s biggest toy store in South London.

Details have not been released to the public yet, but we do know that the large open-floor store will be called Grandpa Grey Goose. Kids and parents will be able to roam around the store freely, with access to hundreds of toys, games and activities.

The investment group behind this amazing toy multiplex is Vision Investment Ventures, who promise a new kind of toy shopping experience that combines safety and freedom to play.

Thanks to Toy News Online for the story.

What is the secret of Ugly Dolls’ success? It’s not just the handmade styles, or the gruesome, teethy cuteness. The real secret is that Ugly Dolls have captured an elusive toy market: dolls that boys like.

Think about it: when was the last time an eight-year old boy could be seen walking down the street with a doll clutched in the hands? Not an action figure, mind you, a doll.

The closest trend coming to mind here is Garbage Pail Kids, which were not even dolls, but trading cards popular in the 1980s.

Boys love Ugly Dolls for the same reason they loved Garbage Pail Kids: self-identification. The toys reflects back to them that being gross is part of being a boy. But Ugly Dolls go further, really capturing the essence of childhood. Practically every Ugly Doll is a happy-go-lucky young male who pretty much just wants to eat snacks and hang out.

Ugly Dolls are also clumsy, good-natured, and well-aware they are in an awkward stage. Also, for both Uglys and boys, girls are few and far between, and they all are brainy and somewhat sophisticated (comparatively speaking!). Sound familiar? It does to the thousands of boys who are proudly bringing their Ugly Dolls to show-and-tell.

It’s no secret that boys are called, almost on a daily level, “little monsters.” Ugly Dolls is a way for boys to own that label and find social acceptance. Just like Garbage Pail Kids, Ugly Dolls show boys that it’s okay that they are a little rough around the edges. And that they like snacks.

Something a toy company must always balance is the value of the product versus the cost of production.  Even with quality wood toys, safety and inspection have to be an integral part of the process. Because of rising demand for wood and labor, many makers of wood toys like HABA have found that some toys are too expensive to make at their headquarters.

We respect HABA for their transparency about which products are made overseas, as well as the care that goes into their inspection procedures no matter where they are made.  This level of transparency is necessary these days when so many cheap toys are on the world market, only to be recalled later for atrocious omissions such as baby toys made with lead paint and other heavy metals.

Our advice to parents and educators is to do some independent research into toy companies before bringing them into your home.  We also hope that we make that task a little easier for you here at Toy-TMA!

Watching the news can leave anyone feeling like the world is in jeopardy.  So one of our missions here at Toy-tma.com is to remember that we have the choice to build the world we want our children to grow up in.  Doom and gloom is a choice, not a reality! And our children learn by watching.

In this spirit, here’s a heartwarming story about how the Swiss toy company HaPe is making a difference in China.  Teaming up with the Chinese government, HaPe has funded two new schools in one of the most remote territories of the country, the Guizhou province.

In a region where children often have to trek three hours through the jungle to attend school, this project will make life easier for about 500 children between the ages of 5 and 10 years old.  Showing strong dedication to the children of the world, HaPe’s president Peter Handstein visited the schools to ensure the project met to his satisfaction.

For kids, everyday is Halloween.  Maybe not so much going door-to-door for the free candy, but the excitement about playing dress-up is always on children’s minds.  As parents and educators, it’s good to keep in mind that bringing out some costumes for kids is a great way to brighten a rainy spring day.

Playing dress-up is more than a fun way to pass the time, too.  Psychologists suggest that games with costumes are an avenue for children to test their boundaries and explore the different roles in society.  Dress-up is also a natural way to explore gender identification.  Don’t worry, Dads, it’s just a phase!  By trying on new roles, children learn how to take on the perspective of others as well as increase their ability for empathy and consideration.

We recommend costume play anytime of the year, not just as Halloween approaches.  Having a wooden chest full of Schylling costumes or another quality costume set is a simple way to be ready to entertain the children without having to turn on the TV.

We just learned that Lego is teaming up with public schools next fall to encourage building and engineering interest.

According to Toy News , Lego and the National Schools Partnership (NSP) will work together to develop an after school program called the Lego Technic Club.  The purpose of the club is to help kids have the materials to engage their creativity and interest in technology design.

Sometimes corporate interests in public schools is questionable (for example, soft drink manufacturers and school lunch programs) but we applaud Lego for reaching out to public schools and helping generate brighter futures for kids.

Wood toys are more popular than ever. Why? We think it is because of the recent backlash against plastic toys due to the dozens of toys recalls last year. Many of these recalls are about lead paints, which continue to be pumped into the American marketplace from China and Indonesia.

It’s too bad that it takes a tragedy such as a child lead poisoning case for consumers to notice the trend of cheap, disposable, and unsafe toys in our homes and schools.

Wood toys , on the other hand, are always safe for children. Wood is naturally bacteria-resistant (in other words - practically germ free). Wood toys are perfect for infants who are teething so parents can relax about their baby’s safety. And guess what - no hidden lead, guaranteed.

We hope we don’t disappoint, but we missed the release of the Ugly Dolls Ugly Guide to the Uglyverse just two days ago!  Well, there’s still plenty more left, according to our sources.

This is volume one of the Ugly Dolls’s foray into print, transforming our favorite misshapen plush pets into comic book heroes.  Volume two was simultaneously released: Ugly Doll Ugly Guide to Things that Go and Things that Should Go but Don’t.

For more information and where to pick up your own copy, be sure to check out uglydolls.com.