Items tagged “Education & Development”

As the world of nature disappears faster than we appear to be doing enough to stop it, stories of this part of life teach important lessons. Squirt the Otter is a true story of an orphaned baby critter who was found, in all places, in a farmer’s field. Tracy, a zookeeper, together with her dog Muffin, befriended the baby otter and took her into their home, caring for her to enable her to grow into a healthy adult. This warm tale by Tracy L. Mikowsky, the actual Tracy of the story, shows how compassion and friendship transcend the species, giving concrete examples of the bond between humans and animals and the benefits to both of forming close, caring connections.

L’il Kitch is a line from Joie Shop which carries some of the most unique kitchen and household items. From wine stoppers to Christmas tree toppers, Joie Shop offers modern, charming designs. L’il Kitch creates kitchen tools aimed at kids to get them interested in cooking in a playful way. They designed their items revolving around that philosophy and trying to bring as much joy as possible to the process of making meals as a family.

Capitalizing on the importance of a child’s imagination, Box Play for Kids offers eco-friendly kids stickers to repurpose recyclables into fun, new toys. The company was inspired by owner Janette Harwell’s 2-year-old daughter and her love for stickers and a “penchant for playing with empty boxes.” Harwell continues, “I had an ‘aha’ moment that lead to the invention of Box Play for Kids.” Fortunately for Harwell’s daughter, both her parents are designers who have specialized in package design, branding and advertising for over 20 years.

With so many of today’s youth gravitating to electronics, the power of games that can be enjoyed face to face has never been more appreciated. Studies show that interconnectedness between people — an approach that cannot be reproduced in the online world — improves social skills and just plain makes people of all ages happy. Family game nights are seeing a resurgence in popularity and shoppers are on the lookout for clever, well-designed, high quality games. Get your customers on a roll with the latest and greatest games from Clued In Kids, Endless Games, Blue Orange Games, and Family Games America.

The year was 1980, and robots were emerging as the new trend. The first of a flood of robot-related movies and TV shows had begun to appear, and the possibility of building, programming and even living side by side with robots was seen as a fantastic dream that might just come true. At the time, California-based company OWI was only 2 years young but already seeking out ways to expand their line of inventory and widen their customer base. OWI was ahead of its time in introducing kids to alternative energy through various solar-powered building projects. Products of this kind are still among their best sellers today.

Irwin Snackcracker is a fun kid with a wacky sense of humor, but he’s pretty normal for the cartoon world in which he lives. Like most kids, he loves ice cream, and tries to get his hands on the frozen treat whenever he can. Little does he know that his pursuit of the frozen delicacy will change his life forever and set him on the road to an epic adventure. Author Todd Clark’s illustrations for The Ice Cream Kid: Brain Freeze! help the book to come alive for kids and make them want to keep turning pages to watch the story unfold.

Who do you ask about high-quality wooden toys? Wise Owl Toys, of course. Wise Owl has been developing entertaining, educational toys for over twenty years and is a symbol of enduring fun. For the very young set, show Learning House with options for bead sorting, shape and number recognition, all in bright colors with shapes that are just the right size for little hands. The Butterfly Sequencing Puzzle offers shapes to sharpen fine motor skills, in a fun butterfly shape.

The ABC Spring Conference is an event that brings together a cross section of children’s specialty product retailers. The conference is unique because it’s not just a trade show; it’s an educational opportunity. This year, the ABC Conference took place at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort in Orlando, Florida. Retailers who participated enjoyed beautiful surroundings as they expanded their entrepreneurial experience. There were some standout participants at this year’s conference. I Can Tie Shoelaces, Rhoost, Happy Kidz and Snuggy Baby presented products to enhance the health and well-being of babies and young children.

It’s already started: The summer movie buzz. From “Spider-Man” and “Godzilla” to “X-Men” and “Maleficent,” there are lots of big names and big budgets boosting the season’s big screen entrants. Whether you flood into theaters or choose to watch at home, Hollywood has the formula down for boosting its bottom line. So maybe it’s time to take a page from Tinsletown’s script when it comes to wholesale sales, and more specifically, using your company’s distribution to increase business.

The ABC Spring Educational Conference will be held “Where Dreams Come True” at Disney World Resorts on May 20-22. The ABC annual spring event allows juvenile stores, manufacturers, reps and media to get to know more about each other and their industry. The juvenile industry has been built on dreams, and continues to serve and be inspired by families with new dreams. That’s why I asked several exhibitors these questions: “What are your dreams that have come true, or that you still have?” and “What dream product are you showing at the ABC spring trade show?” I received replies from Duux, MD Moms, Reflo, pello, and oogaa.

With the unblinking glow of screens just about everywhere, many families are turning towards simpler times… and simpler means of entertainment. Simple toys like marbles and wooden cutouts encourage creativity. Simple craft projects inspire kids to explore their artistic senses and then utilize their personalized artwork in imaginative play. The attraction of simple toys and games lies in the ability to gently challenge, bring people together, and entertain. Companies like Maple Landmark Woodcraft, House of Marbles, eeBoo, and Seedling New Zealand are bringing some of the best in children’s products to generations of families.

It’s finally time to get outdoors after one of the longest winters on record. Help children enjoy nature with Glopo Inc, a toy designer, importer and distributor dedicated to bringing children endless and innovative toys. These educational and entertaining toys include four brands: DIY KIDS for arts and crafts, JOYBAY for outdoor and sports, Little Genius for infant and toddlers, and Fettipop for party goods. Start the summer right with Camping Combination sets in Frog or Owl motifs. Camping out can be a fun adventure with a high-quality tent and sleeping bag.

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