Riding a tricycle is blessedly straightforward. Sit, pedal, go. But riding a tricycle also has a number of benefits for children, both expected and unexpected.
Expected: tricycles help kids develop their gross motor skills.Frequent riding makes them stronger and more coordinated. The more time kids spend riding a trike, the better their foundation for learning to [...]
Archive for the ‘Active Toys’ Category
Holiday Giveaways # 15 - Kettler Happy Navigator
Friday, November 27th, 2009
Holiday Giveaways # 7 - Follow Me Fred
Friday, November 13th, 2009It’s my job to look at a product and know whether or not it will sell. But the truth is, I’m not an oracle. Most of the time, I have a strong inclination one way or another, but it’s rare that I see something and know unquestionably that it will be a success. Follow Me [...]
Holiday Giveaways Day 1 - Rody Ride On Horse
Monday, November 2nd, 2009We get a lot of kids coming through our stores every day, and the toys in our playscapes take a beating. Literally. A toy that might last a lifetime at home will be lucky to survive six months. Rody is one of those toys that can withstand the rigors and rarely (if ever) needs replacing.
This [...]
Day 5 - Okiedog Fropper
Sunday, July 5th, 2009When the Fropper made its debut last year, it was an instant hit - and why wouldn’t it be? It combines two activities toddlers love most - bouncing and rolling. The sturdy, wide handlebars provide plenty of leverage for bobbing up and down on the springy, bi-level seat, while the smooth-riding wheels glide along the [...]
Love ice cream? Then have a ball!
Wednesday, August 20th, 2008When we had our first look at the Ice Cream Ball by Industrial Revoluion, I was really curious. It looked like a lot of fun—for kids and adults alike. It also looked like a great way to get kids to enjoy not only the tasty treat at the end, but also the process [...]
Effortless PhD?
Tuesday, July 1st, 2008It was impossible to walk by the booth for the PhD Pocket Disc at ASTRA without stopping. First of all, the colorful display was arresting. And there were discs flying all over the place. So we stopped and we played a quick game of catch. We were sold immediately. The PhD is a crocheted disc [...]
Mini Micro G-Bike
Wednesday, June 25th, 2008This little, bitty training bike is perfect for helping kids get the hang of balancing on two wheels. It seems like stability bikes are all the rage right now, especially with so many experts advocating that the key to teaching kids to ride a bike is to lose the pedals - not to add training [...]
Swinxs Set
Tuesday, February 26th, 2008If you’re wondering what the founder of Bugaboo is up to these days, the answer may surprise you. I bumped into Eduard Zanen at Toy Fair this year, where he was promoting a new toy concept that he is developing in the Netherlands. Swinxs aims to be an unvideo game - an interactive gaming console [...]
Have wheels, will travel
Monday, April 23rd, 2007Get this: the Trunki is a hard suitcase on wheels that doubles as a ride-on toy. And if that weren’t cool enough, there’s a strap you can use to tow weary tots through the airport. It’s brilliant, plain and simple. And when they come in to our store, I will be the very first on [...]
Speaking of fairies (and rockets, too)
Tuesday, March 13th, 2007One of my favorite new make believe toys is the Fancy Flutterpack from Cranium and its space-themed sibling, the Turbo Rocketpack. Both of these are designed to be worn on a child’s back, and both have a push button that sits on the shoulder strap. Push it and wings pop out of the pack. Pull [...]
