Archive for the ‘9 and up’ Category
« Older Entries |This post was written by Ericka Johnson
Nuremberg ToyAward Winners Announced
Thursday, February 9th, 2012
This year, ToyAwards, presented to new products at the Spielwarenmessee International Toy Fair in Nuremberg, were awarded to products that displayed a unique play idea, concept, or creative design, as well as products with material properties and safety aspects. The four categories include Baby & Infant, Preschool, School Kids, and Teenager & Family. The awards aim to provide consumers and the trade guidance on the best new products. Visitors also had the opportunity to choose their personal favorite, the Traders’ Favorite, from the four ToyAward winners. The awards were announced at the closing press conference, and the winners received a prize of 20,000 euros.
The winners were:
Baby & Infant: Mini Micro with Seat/ Micro Mobility Systems Ltd. The Mini Micro grows with the child. One-year-olds can take their first ride on a Mini Micro and convert the roller later on.
Tags: Spielwarenmesse International Toy Fair Nurnberg, ToyAward
Posted in 0-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9 and up, News | No Comments »
This post was written by Ericka Johnson
BabyZoo Introduces Line of Sleep Aid Products
Friday, December 16th, 2011
Bedtime and morning rituals for young children have just become easier. BabyZoo, a manufacturer of sleep aids for kids, recently launched the BabyZoo Sleep Trainer, a timer-based night-light, and more.
The BabyZoo Sleep Trainer features a monkey named Momo who signals the child when it’s time to get up and when it’s time to sleep by opening and closing its eyes. The Sleep Trainer also displays a digital and analog clock to teach children how to read time. Parents can also choose between different alarm sounds with volume control. The alarm is available in two color combos: green-and-yellow and pink-and-blue.
Tags: BabyZoo, BabyZoo Sleep Trainer, Coco, Gus, Night Light, Woolly
Posted in 0-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9 and up, New Products | No Comments »
This post was written by Ericka Johnson
One World Futbol Donates for a World of Play
Thursday, December 15th, 2011
One World Futbol
“Buy One, Get One” is the model for the One World Futbol Project; for every One World Futbol sold, the company donates a second ball to organizations working on the ground in war zones, refugee camps, inner cites, and harsh environments, aiming to improve the lives of youth and adults in disadvantaged communities worldwide.
The One World Futbol is a universal, durable soccer/sports ball—one that the Project says never deflates, even in the harshest environments. With the ball anyone can play soccer or other ball sports with any endurance level.
Since July 2010, the One World Futbol Project has delivered the balls to 123 organizations in 118 countries, spreading the spirit of play to an estimated 425,000 people. The patent-pending, durable, all-terrain ball is sold online for $39.95.
Tags: One World Futbol Project
Posted in 3-5, 6-8, 9 and up, News | No Comments »
This post was written by Ericka Johnson
VeggieTales Celebrates Twenty Years with New Release
Wednesday, December 14th, 2011
VeggieTales is celebrating 20 years of songs by releasing a “best of the best” DVD early next year, If I Sang a Silly Song. The DVD, by Big Idea Entertainment, will be available through digital download on January 24 and in Christian and general market stores on February 7.
VeggieTales: If I Sang a Silly Song will include fan-voted favorite songs from the past couple of decades, including “The Hairbrush Song,” “Pants,” and “Monkey,” among others. The DVD also features a new silly song, voted on by fans and chosen by Larry the Cucumber. The release contains more than 60 minutes of music and family-friendly content. Viewers can sing along karaoke-style and be the star with video background and tracks.
Tags: Big Idea Entertainment, If I Sang a Silly Song, VeggieTales
Posted in 3-5, 6-8, 9 and up, News | No Comments »
This post was written by Ericka Johnson
Learning Resources is Giving Students Tools to Succeed
Monday, December 12th, 2011
The Kids In Need Foundation and Learning Resources have teamed up to provide free school supplies to students whose parents cannot afford to buy them, and also for teachers at low-income schools. Established in 1995, Kids In Need has distributed $350 million in supplies, serving more than 1.6 million children and 100,000 teachers annually. Learning Resources will donate products to the Kids In Need National Network of Resource Centers.
The first set of supplies will be distributed to the Teacher Resource Center in Chicago, and will include more than $7,000 worth of supplies, such as thermometers, magnifiers, pocket charts, rulers, and puzzle cards. Since 1997, the Teacher Resource Center in Chicago has donated supplies to more than 2,200 teachers from low-income schools.
Click here to learn more about the Kids In Need initiative.
Tags: Kids In Need Foundation, Learning Resources
Posted in 3-5, 6-8, 9 and up, News | No Comments »
This post was written by Ericka Johnson
The Juno Company Releases New Book
Monday, December 12th, 2011
The Juno Company recently released its latest book, The Day the Music Stopped. The 40-page, illustrated hardcover book builds on the company’s mission to inspire an appreciation for music in children. The Day the Music Stopped is based on the popular Emmy Award-winning Juno Jr. DVD of the same name.
In the book, readers go on a journey through the magical world of Harmonia Springs where everything is made out of music. Readers will learn lessons of friendships through musical concepts, and find out how to bring music back to the world.
For a limited time, The Juno Company is offering a special promotion for fans that “like” the company on Facebook. For every book purchased, the company will donate a music education DVD to a child in need. The Juno Company has also partnered with the National Head Start Association with a goal to bring the gift of music to one million children in need.
Tags: juno baby, national head start association, The Day the Music Stopped, The Juno Company
Posted in 3-5, 6-8, 9 and up, New Products | No Comments »
This post was written by Ericka Johnson
Winning Moves Donates Games for ‘Likes’ and Followers
Monday, December 12th, 2011
Earlier this fall, Winning Moves Games committed to donate two new games to Kids Wish Network for every 10 Facebook “likes” and Twitter followers through Thanksgiving. The initiative was so successful that the program has been extended until Christmas. So far, 587 games have been shipped out to Kids Wish Network, and Winning Moves has more than 4,000 likes on Facebook and an estimated 1,500 Twitter followers.
If you would like to help with this initiative, visit Winning Moves’ Facebook page and Twitter account.
Tags: Facebook, Kids Wish Network, Twitter, Winning Moves
Posted in 3-5, 6-8, 9 and up, News | No Comments »
This post was written by Melissa Tinklepaugh
Cody Simpson Debuts New Dolls at Toys “R” Us
Friday, December 9th, 2011
Teen pop singer Cody Simpson and The Wish Factory, Inc. unveiled two Cody Simpson dolls at Toys “R” Us Times Square today. I attended to learn more about the dolls and meet Cody Simpson.
The collection consists of two dolls, both 11.5 inches, featuring the Australian singer’s side-swept surfer-styled hair and clothes Simpson wears. One doll is dressed in a Gold Coast T-shirt and khakis, and the other doll wears a denim jacket and black pants. Both dolls include a pair of shoes, sunglasses, a microphone, a guitar pick, and lanyard. The guitar pick included varies from box to box, some with angel wings and the word “Angel,” and others with an emoticon smiley face and the numbers “143” to mean “I love you.”
Tags: Cody Simpson, The Wish Factory, Toys R Us
Posted in 6-8, 9 and up, New Products, People | No Comments »
This post was written by Ericka Johnson
The 2011 TAGIE Awards Winners
Thursday, December 8th, 2011
The 2011 TAGIE Awards were held on November 18, at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago. The ceremony, held in conjunction with the Toy & Game Inventors Conference and The Chicago Toy & Game Fair, recognizes toy and game inventors from across the county. Their ideas and creativity result in some of the most notable play products on the market today.
Nominees for the awards are voted on by their peers, for excellence in the categories of Toy Design, Game Design, Young Inventor, and Rising Star.
The 4th Annual TAGIE Winners are as follows:
Toy Design – Marty Abrams & Joel Rosenzweig, FyrFlyz
Game Design – Susan McKinley Ross, Qwirkle
Young Inventor – Greyson MacLean, BrickStix
Rising Star – Blake English, The Air Swimmers
Excellence in Character Creation – Theodor Seuss Geisel
Excellence in Electronic Adaptation of an Existing Toy or Game – Tom Liddell, Top Trumps
Tags: Museum of Science and Industry, TAGIE Awards, The Chicago Toy & Game Fair, Toy & Game Inventors Conference
Posted in 9 and up, News, People | 1 Comment »
This post was written by Ericka Johnson
Second Annual STEM Competition
Thursday, December 8th, 2011
The National STEM Video Game Challenge is now accepting entries for its annual competition, hosted by the Joan Ganz Cooney Center at Sesame Workshop and E-Line Media. Submissions of original video game concepts and designs from students and educators are currently being accepted through March 12.
The challenge aims to motivate students who have an interest in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) by tapping into their natural passion for playing and making video games. The STEM competition is divided into four categories for individuals and teams: middle school, high school, collegiate, and educator.
Entries can be created by using any game-making platform, including, but not limited to, written concepts, Gamestar Mechanic, Microsoft’s Kodu Game Lab, GameMaker, and Scratch.
Tags: AMD Foundation, E-Line Media, Entertainment Software Association, Joan Ganz Cooney Center, National STEM Video Game Challenge, PBS Kids, Xbox 360
Posted in 9 and up, News | No Comments »
