Despite Summer Movies, Classic Toys Still Trendy
July 30, 2008 by dungan
Filed under Vintage & Classic Toys
The toy experts over at about.com report that classic toys are still drawing solid interest this summer, despite all the hot action movies such as Batman, Indiana Jones, and the Incredible Hulk.
Moreover, several classic toys are celebrating their anniversaries this year, including:
Hasbro’s My Little Pony – 25th anniversary
Wood Toys by Spiel & Holz
July 26, 2008 by toy-tma
Filed under Wooden Toys
Spiel & Holz, established in Germany in 1978, is one of the finest makers of wood toys in the world. Their toys have won awards for their designs and aesthetic appeal, and kids love the open-ended creative play that they offer.
Toys by Spiel & Holz are inspired by Waldorf education, a philosophy that children learn best through active and imaginative play. These toys are made from natural materials, and have a minimum of details, letting the natural beauty and feel of the wood shine through. These toys are much more versatile and durable than the most toys nowadays, and they sustain a child’s interest much longer. Each toy set can be played with in a variety of ways—some of their toys are puzzles, building blocks, and play buildings all in one.
Hasbro Suing Facebook for Popularizing its Classic Game
July 25, 2008 by dungan
Filed under Toy Industry News
Scrabulous may be on its last legs, as Hasbro is going ahead with its attempt to collect “damages” from the Facebook application that is based on the classic board game Scrabble.
As Techdirt suggests, Hasbro seems to be suing Facebook for making its game popular again. A pretty bizarre move by the company that owns 80% of the gaming market. The hard numbers are not available, but many voices in the toys community have noticed how the controversy with the Facebook application has renewed interest in the boardgame proper.
BRIO: Maker of Fine Wooden Toys
July 25, 2008 by toy-tma
Filed under Wooden Toys
The BRIO Virus
If you’ve decided that wood toys are the way to go, then you should definitely check out BRIO. With roots that reach back to the 19th century, BRIO is now a global corporation and one of the largest makers of wood toys in the world. BRIO’s focus is on quality and durability—they want their toys to be passed on from generation to generation.
Toy Safety: Doing Your Own Checks
July 24, 2008 by toy-tma
Filed under Toy Recalls and Safety
Nowadays toy safety is a greater concern than ever. After last years extensive recalls of toys manufactured in China, parents are doing everything they can to make sure that the toys the buy for their children are safe. But many consumers have little trust for the toy industry’s checks on itself, and are taking responsibility for checking the safety of their kids’ toys. Here are some of the most important things to look out for when investigating the safety of a toy.
- The toy should be both sanitary and washable—it’s amazing how quickly children’s toys can get dirty.
- Toys should be well constructed. Cheap toys can come apart, exposing dangerous parts like wires, springs, or sharp edges.
- Toys should not have no small parts that could come off and be swallowed or otherwise misused, and make sure the toy itself is large enough that it cannot be swallowed or put into the nose or ears.
- Every part of the toy, including all paint and decorations should be non-toxic.
- Look out for points that your child could fall on, or strings or cards that are long enough to choke.
- Stuffed toys should not be filled with potentially dangerous materials like small pellets.
- Toys made with cloth should carry the labels “flame resistant,” “flame retardant,” or “nonflammable.”
“The Dark Knight” Toys
With the recent release of Batman: The Dark Knight breaking the record for opening weekend box office sales, it’s no surprise that the movie’s toys and collectibles are flying off of shelves across the country. The official toys are coming from Mattel, who has released a line of action figures, role-playing toys, vehicles, and playsets.
Some of the most popular toys are the Wayne Tech Mega Cape Accessory, a cape with a five foot wingspan that retracts into a back harness. The Shift Attack Sports Coupe comes with both Batman and Bruce Wayne figures, and the coupe turns into a missile-firing attack vehicle. And the Rapid Fire Utility Belt has a motorized blaster of foam missiles and also comes with a cape.
Board Game Designer Rudi Hoffman Passes
July 23, 2008 by dungan
Filed under Toy Industry News
Rudi Hoffman died yesterday at the age of 83. Many English-speakers gamers don’t know Hoffman’s name, but they probably know his work: he designed top European games such as Café International, Maestro, Tally Ho!, Crocodile Pool Party, and Up the Creek.
Why Wood Toys Are Still The Best
July 21, 2008 by toy-tma
Filed under Wooden Toys
It’s often tough to resist giving in to your children’s demands for the latest, flashiest toy advertised on TV, there are plenty of alternatives out there. Wood toys are a great way to provide your children with entertainment and education without shelling out a fortune on the newest talking, light-up plastic toys.
Wooden toys have been around for millennia, and some of the first toys in history were probably made from wood. But there are plenty of reasons why they’re just as popular today as they were back then. Kids still love to play with toys made of wood. Because they rely on imagination and creativity, their appeal lasts much longer than plastic toys. Parents often tell me that their kids lose interest in those big fancy toys within a few days, but that they’ll play with toys like blocks and construction sets for years. I think this is because when kids play with wooden toys, they’re really playing, as opposed to just being entertained or distracted. Wood toys also play well with others—with a little imagination, they’re easily combined with other toys.
The Toy Industry’s Safety Certification Program
July 17, 2008 by toy-tma
Filed under Toy Recalls and Safety
The Toy Industry Association, together with consumers, government, manufacturers, and retailers, have now unveiled plans for a new toy safety certification program in an attempt to enhance toy safety and restore consumer confidence. After last year’s record number of toy recalls, this new program would implement a comprehensive system or accreditation to ensure that toys sold in the United States adhere to federal and international safety standards.
The certification program would combine three main elements. First, all new toy designs would have to undergo a risk analysis to identify potential safety concerns as early as possible. Secondly, all toy manufacturers would have to undergo reviews of their factories to ensure good manufacturing practices. Lastly, samples of all toys would be taken to make sure that the toys meet industry and government standards for safety.
Who Is Hello Kitty?
Hello Kitty, born in 1974, was created by the Sanrio company in Tokyo. Since then, this adorable character has been featured on thousands of different products, from t-shirts to lunchboxes and much, much more.
Celebrities have been spotted everywhere with Hello Kitty gear, whether young up-and-comers like Miley Cyrus and Raven Symoné to an older generation of celebrities like Cameron Diaz and Mariah Carey.
