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| February 2006 | Vol. V - No. 2 | TOY PRODUCT SEARCH |
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Suppliers in the category of "Educational"
Products in the category of "Educational"
Preventing Kindergarten Dummies and Social MoronsHow the Toy Industry Can HelpAccording to Kathy Oxley, founder of Preschool Prep Company, research shows there is a direct correlation between kids falling behind in reading skills in the 2nd grade and dropping out of high school. So how can this be prevented with pre-K learning? "Children learn thousands of words through their developing speech pathways very easily at an early age. [Toddlers] know who Scooby-Doo is, why not
letters?" Oxley argued. "If we make them curious about letters, they will learn letters. They are just 'animals' of a different kind."
She completed a two-month study of over 50 babies and toddlers, who watched her video, "Meet the Letters." Over 90 percent developed complete upper and lowercase letter recognition. Many of the older kids (age 2 to 4) learned in less than two weeks. Of those under age 2, 70 percent mastered the alphabet. If it's so easy to learn at such a young age, why then, should parents worry about their child's pre-K education? Some would argue video games are to blame. And, they would argue, the games are affecting more than a child's capacity to prepare for a formal school education. Ahuvh Geffner, game creator of Geffner Ltd.-Play and Learn, sees a focus on toddlers' concentration and social communication as key "at a time when electronic devices (TV, computers) have taken over the world of the child from a very early age." He added that family time is very important and that parents need to "learn to play so their children can play to learn." In fact, David Manga, president of Outset Media, pointed out that an increased emphasis on early education products might be just what the toy industry needs. "Because of age compression, retailers are promoting more products to younger kids as the older kids put down their toys and turn to video games." "It's definitely a trend in traditional toy-making because with older kids, they're more interested in video games," agreed Jason Cheung, sales manager at Huntar Company Inc. "The alternative is to make more toys for younger kids." Others in the toy industry would argue that an increased emphasis on a child's early education is less about clever marketing than it is about changing social demographics. According to Lisa Bogart Carvajal, founder and president, TOTO Products, parents are finally beginning to understand how to negotiate the dual income parent dynamic that has become the national norm. "I think that in the United States, when it comes to discipline, parent involvement and being on track in school, those things have really disintegrated. Now we're getting more organized." "It used to be that most people's moms stayed at home and kids would play with each other as part of play groups," said Jakki Liberman, owner and president, Bumkins Finer Baby Products. These days, "with good childcare, hopefully [kids] keep stimulated. If not, then the kid has a harder time." This may lie at the core of what has been spurring increased concern over early education needs. When parents can't be there to keep watch, then who is? Good daycare, Erika Radich, marketing manager of Douglas Cuddle Toys, pointed out, can be a boon. "Daycare often comes in the form of preschool, so when children enter kindergarten, the bar for readiness has been raised." She stressed that learning social skills is as important as learning cognitive skills. And for those that haven't been lucky enough to receive good daycare or preschooling, many fear, those children could fall behind. The following products are here to help early learners get a leg up. Meet the Letters Video by PRESCHOOL PREP COMPANY Check Your Balance by GEFFNER - PLAY & LEARN Rhyme Thyme by OUTSET MEDIA Monkey Math by HUNTAR COMPANY INC. Take-out-Time-out by TOTO Products, LLC Toddler Waterproof Apron by BUMKINS FINER BABY PRODUCTS Giddy Up Lil' Guppies by DOUGLAS CUDDLE TOYS |
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"Meet the Letters" is a powerful tool designed to teach babies and
toddlers the alphabet during an opportune window of time when they are learning to talk. This video teaches them upper- and lowercase letters and
differentiates between "special case" letters. The letters are depicted as different characters named after the letters. 10/3/2005 (Price: $14.99)
Kids can take a short step to a big reward that lasts a lifetime by making a
choice of healthy foods and physical activities. By making daily schedules and by eating healthy and being active, players accumulate up to 100 award
points. The game includes 4 baseboards, 4 award lists, 4 erasable crayons, 1 clock dial and 60 food and activities cards. 12/29/2005 (Price: $27.95;
Age: 6 to 10)
Rhyme Thyme is a fast-action matching game for 2 to 5 players that
will have kids racing to get rid of their cards first. When players spot a rhyme in another player's hand, they race to be the first to call out the
match. Players need keen eyes and fast hands to "catch the match" in this game. Rhyme Thyme helps children develop their hand-eye coordination, word
recognition and reading vocabulary skills. It includes an instruction booklet and 108 illustrated cards. 1/5/2006 (Price: $12.99; Age: 5 and Up)
This toy lets the monkey do the math. Kids hang up a bunch of bananas
in one of the monkey's hands, then balance the monkey by adding the correct number of banana bunches to his other hand. The scale will not move until
the monkey has an equal number of bananas in both hands. Once the problem has been solved, the monkey straightens up and uncrosses his eyes. The
monkey is 7" tall; his 15 perfectly balanced banana bunches range from 2-1/2" to 3" tall. The bananas can also be played with separately to reinforce
counting. Huntar expects this to be one of its best sellers for 2006, said Jason Cheung, the company's sales manager. 11/14/2005 (Price: $14.95;
Age: 4 to 8)
Lisa Carvajal, mother/inventor developed TAKE-OUT-TIME-OUT (TOTO)
as a tool A Portable Disciplinary Mat, TOTO is a "time out" spot that can be used anywhere, anytime. SUPERNANNY, who helps parents stop unacceptable
behavior by implementing the "time-out" method, strongly stresses the importance of being consistent with the chosen time out location. Since TOTO is
a thin circular flexible mat, it can fit into almost any purse, bag or pocket. Kelly Ripa is a Hollywood mom who is constantly "on the go". She uses
TAKE-OUT-TIME-OUT and said, "It works, I swear!" Take-out-Time-out is flexible and washable. It was recently named one of fifteen products for the
BEST CHILDRENS PRODUCTS MEDIA CAMPAIGN 2005, as well as iParenting Media Award Greatest Products 2005 and iParenting Media HOT Award Winner. It was
also voted one of the top 20 products reviewed in 2005 by the Family Review Center. 10/4/2005 (Price: $12.99; Age: 2 to 8)
This adjustable apron comes with a toggled neck and waist tie to provide a
tight fit for tiny artists. It includes a three-sectioned pocket along the bottom and a cotton trim. Durable, stain-resistant, colorfast and machine
washable, this apron comes in all of Bumkin's fun and colorful patterns, everything from Leopard print to Yellow Bug. 1/4/2006 (Price: $12.95; Age: 2
to 5)