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.

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.

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.

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.

We have been exploring Webkinz World and want to share our findings. Overall, this kid-focused web portal seems to be everything it advertises: a safe and educational site for kids.

Here’s how it works: every cute and cuddily Webkinz pet comes with a secret code.

Your child pops this code into the online companion site for Webkinz, and then she can navigate around a virtual world built for these imaginative creatures.

From our research, we have found that Webkinz World is great for kids for three reasons:

1. It encourages responsibility. The main activity on-line is taking care of your pet. Feeding it, exercising it, and playing with others all contribute to the health of your child’s Webkinz. The values of responsibility are built right in.
2. It encourages learning. This is really innovative: in order to get the “KinzCash” to pay for your pet’s food, your child has to play educational games. Brilliant.
3. Webkinz has a chat feature that really is safe. I’ve tested this myself. You can’t type in bad words, most proper nouns, street addresses, etc. There are two levels of chat and both are stalker-proof. Now if only MySpace could figure this one out!

So Webkinz World passed our test for its commitment to innovation, education, and safety. As we have suggested before, truly great toys do more than entertain. Great toys educate, deepen social connections, and help children uncover their own imaginative powers.

The latest toy headlines - toys with lead, toys with reproductive toxins - may have contributed to the US Senate proposal of a “toy safety act,” according to the New York Times.

Led by Democratic senators from New York and Connecticut, the proposed measure is called the Children’s Product Safety Act. Look for its effect on toy shelves near you. The legislature is hoping to undermine a tendency we blogged about here recently, in which store owners are still selling recalled toys at a bargain price.

In fact, a recent study by the Consumer Product Safety Council found that 69% of thrift stores sell items that have been previously recalled or banned! I love thrift stores, but this is scary news for unsuspecting parents.

But it’s not really the thrift store owners who are to blame. Rather, it is our permissive market culture. Many parents may be surprised to know that those thrift store owners (most of which are probably unaware of their products’ status) are not compelled by law to remove their banned and recalled toys except in a couple states. Not yet anyways.

As reported by the Chicago Tribune earlier this week, the journal Pediatrics just announced new evidence that a common additive in baby toys may be linked to future reproductive damage in infants. The additive is a class of polymers known as phthalates. These chemicals are generally used to soften plastic, or to make products feel more smooth and creamy.

Common baby products with phthalates are baby shampoos, lotions, powders, and of course, soft plastic toys that babies love to chew. Yikes. While the possible dangers of this additive have been known for quite some time (check out the Wikipedia article on the health risks of phthalates), the US Food and Drug Administration has not made a move yet.

Well, until the results come in, there are ways to lessen your baby’s exposure to these toxins just in case. High on that list is to look into the plastic chewable toys in your home. PVC plastics are most likely the ones with these additives.

Also, steering clear of scented baby lotions and shampoos is probably a good idea. Phthalates are used to retain scent and color, as well as aid in skin absorption. Switching to organic lotions and shampoos, and using home remedies such as olive oil and coco butter, are safe and natural ways to take control of your baby’s toxicity levels.

Don’t forget that the International Toy Fair is coming up in a few weeks in New York. I can’t make it in person, but we will definitely be tuning in to which toys are rewarded by the industry.

Here’s the finalized list of contenders for my favorite category (followed by manufacturer):

Infant/Preschool Toy of the Year:

• Brightlings™ Exploration Station – LeapFrog Enterprises

• Cook n’ Learn Interactive Kitchen Set – Little Tikes

• iPlay Lift Off Rocket – International Playthings, Inc.

• Moon Sand Adventure Island – Spin Master Ltd.

• “T.M.X.”™ Friends – Fisher-Price

We are rooting for the Moon Sand kit. The sand mixture stays moist so it is easy to build sandcastles at your child’s leisure. Yes, “moon sand” is little on the messy side, but sand is isn’t dirty, it’s sandy. It vacuums up if need be (but watch out with bagless vacuum cleaners - the moistness factor can make the sand mixture get clogged).

Still, this toy is our pick for Toddler/Preschool Toy of the Year because it really lets kids’ imaginations run wild. That is always worth a mess!

Teddy Ruxpin, that heavy weight of plush toys, is back. This talking plush teddy bear was a favorite over twenty years ago, but now he’s remodeled with new technology and new stories too.

The return of the T. Rux will no doubt send shivers amongst today’s hottest stuffed animals: Webkinz plush pets. These diminuitive toys are favorites for their collectability and their cuteness. Both of the these toys are what we call hybrid products; they are part plush toy and part educational toy. While animated Teddy tells stories - his mouth matching the sounds - Webkinz plush pets have a second life on-line at Webkinz World.

Seems like these days being cute isn’t good enough for stuffed animals!

The class-action lawsuit against the maker of Thomas & Friends wooden railway toys is the first step towards a safer world for our babies and children. However parents should beware: according to this article at About.com, many recalled toys are still being sold in some locations. Many of these toys are being sold at a fraction of their original cost, therefore targeting the poorer families who may not have access to the lastest news about toys.

The bottom line: research unfamiliar or new toys before you buy them. This is the only way to safeguard against poisonous toys. “Poisonous toys” - it’s a shame we even have to use such a phrase.