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The TDmonthly Toy SleuthProducts That Are so New, Who Knew?
| Sometimes there are fundamental products that are both a delight to have and fill a definite need. |
Early warning detection is the key to staying ahead of the curve, and TDmonthly Magazine is always on the lookout for the fresh, the innovative and the brand-spankin’-new. This month, we scoured the North American continent, talking to inventors, toy agents and convention reps to try and find those unheard of items that could set your store apart from the crowd.
What has four wheels, turns with the g-force and stability of a slalom skier, and might just be the “next-big-thing” in riding vehicles? The Go-Kid Quadcoaster by Go-Kid Quadcoaster. Invented by Allen Humphrey of Houston, it’s billed as an L.E.T. (life enhancement transport), and is great for kids and adults. Could this be the next Xtreme Sport? Keep an eye on it; it could really “pick up speed”.
Sometimes there are fundamental products that are both a delight to have and fill a definite need. Terri Cook’s SnuggleTite Slumber Bag by Jaden’s World is just such an item. A soft and snuggly baby bag/wearable blanket, babies love their comfort and coziness. But best of all, a child can’t kick them off, which leads to warm, relaxed and safe sleep … which means parents can get some shuteye themselves, too. Wearable blankets are being recommended over traditional loose blankets in the crib to reduce the danger of suffocation by no less than the SIDS Foundation, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Consumer Products Safety Commission and the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. And they’re so darn cute. A good niche filled by a good product.
Hockey has some of the most rabid fans in the universe (and we’re including Irish World Cup punters in that statement), but what do they do when there’s no game to watch and no ice to skate on? Ian Hanomansing, president of BLM Games Inc. has the answer to that question with Big League Manager Hockey. It has all of the excitement of guiding your own team to the Stanley Cup … without the high-sticking. This is the type of board game that could have as intense a following as the game it’s based on.
Creativity and art are basics for children, both for fun and for building better brains. Rick Christen, a former fireman from Bend, Ore., has created a wildly inventive way for kids to draw that brings pens and gadgets into one product: the Spyro Gyro Motorized Stylus by Hog Wild (ToyDirectory). Even the non-artistic can draw fantastical creations. With an attractive price point and a new bent on an age-old pastime, this could be a “da Vinci” of a product.
Take a good look at the products below: you might be seeing a lot more of them in the future.
The SnuggleTite Slumber Bag functions as a blanket that babies cannot kick off or get tangled up in, as can be the case with loose bedding. With proper tightening, the bag will keep little ones warm, snug and safe all night, allowing the baby and everyone else to sleep more peacefully. The bag is even great for camping and boating. Although no product will prevent SIDS, Jaden's World believes that baby sleeping bags can help minimize the risk. Awards: iParenting Media HOT Award 2009. ToyDirectory Product ID#: 7750 (added 4/28/2006) . TD
The first L.E.T. (life enhancement transport), the Go-Kid Quadcoaster is a Four Wheel Fitness Flyer. Invented by Allen Humphrey, it is a safe, stable, exhilarating Push Coasting Vehicle. It's readily accepted in school PE, including special needs and vision impaired. With a Go-Kid, the rider stands on the rear-riding platform and pushes to the rear with either foot. The resulting exercise builds large muscle strength, trunk strength, static strength, cardiovascular strength and pulmonary strength, as well as hand-eye coordination. With caliper brakes, optional lights and other optional bells and whistles, this is a riding toy like no other. ToyDirectory Product ID#: 7740 (added 4/27/2006) . TD
MSRP: $54.95Age Range: 8 and upGender: Boys
Do you have what it takes to be a Big League General Manager? Gambling on draft picks, pulling the trigger on blockbuster deals, bidding on free agents? If you love hockey, then this is the game for you. Player's teams are pitted against one another as they move around the board. GM's must juggle the difficult task of managing a hockey team by drafting players, signing free agents, and paying player salaries while ensuring that the team has enough money to stay afloat. Up to 6 people can play. ToyDirectory Product ID#: 7738 (added 4/27/2006) . TD
Spyro Gyro is an artistic motorized stylus that creates three different shapes (square, circles and triangles) in a seamless transition from small to big and back again. The harder you push down on the stylus, the smaller the shapes. Release the pressure and the shapes get bigger. Five different and interchangeable ink colors. One AA battery required (not included). ToyDirectory Product ID#: 7739 (added 4/27/2006) . TD
“Faucet Light is just different,” said Joe Rooper of Hogwild. “ You screw it on your faucet and when you turn on your water, the light comes on. Turn off the water and the light goes off. Again, it is completely different, no one else has anything like it and it fits with toy stores, gift stores and more.” “I sold out of it!” Bettie Lee Moore, owner of Kaboom! in Leesburg, Va., told TDmonthly in December 2005. “And people were coming back for it!” ToyDirectory Product ID#: 7266 (added 3/20/2006) . TD
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