TDmonthly Magazine!
NEW: Holiday Toy Guide 2026 »
November 2006 | Vol. V - No. 11

Tools: Print RSS X (Twitter) Facebook Reddit


Grandpa Pushes Trains on Kids

Old Folks Give Young a Nudge Toward Hobbies

By: Zan Dubin Scott
Oct 26, 2006

Parents and grandparents who are trying to wean their youngsters from videogames tend to promote the toys they liked best when growing up. But manufacturers have stayed ahead of the game by giving new twists to chemistry sets and new powers to trains and RC toys.

Be Amazing!’s new science kits, for instance, have done “very well” for Amy Barrett, owner of Lasso the Moon Wonderful Toys in Helena, Mont. Other hobby sellers that retailers cited included Kid Galaxy (ToyShow), Lionel, Scalextric and RC2 Brands. Read more about what’s going on in hobbies in the December 2006 issue of TDmonthly Magazine.

Free toy industry news by email

New toys, trends and industry news from The ToyDirectory Intelligence Report.

Subscribe free

Free to join on Substack; a paid plan is optional. Unsubscribe anytime.
Writer's Bio: Zan Dubin Scott is president of ZDS Communications, a public relations, marketing and writing agency specializing in sustainable business, healthcare, arts and entertainment. Zan was a staff writer at The Los Angeles Times for 10 years and continues to report and write for the newspaper and other publications. Read more articles by this author


THIS BANNER IS AN AD:



•How to Get Boys Buying
•What a Tween Girl Wants....
•Retailing Tips: Branding a Cash Cow
•Sugar and Spice No More!
•When a Key-Chain Just Won’t Cut It
•i-gami Makes Old Tricks New Again
•Spotlight: Playing Works at The Fun Zone
•Cool Company: Sol-Effect
•Homeschoolers: Tween Girls Will Be Girls
•Homeschoolers Rate Toys
•TDmonthly's Top-10 Most-Wanted Classics
•The Ups and Downs of Giving
•Fly High With Kites
•All in the Family Toy Store
•November Videos
•Notable and New Toys by Category
•Why We Go to Toy Fair ... or Don't
•Six Things You Need to Know About ToyDirectory
•Hollywood ToyBoy: Nearer, My Toy, To Thee
•TDmonthly's Toy Sleuth: Toys Get Cool
•TDmonthly's November Staff Picks
•Boys Get Moody With Booty
•Personalized Piggy Banks Cash In
•Girls Pamper Pets With Jewels
•Teddy Bear Stuffers Knows Its Stuff
•b. dazzle, inc.'s Dazzling Rise
•Secrets of Successful Toy CEOs
•Awesome Kids Believes in Awesome Kids
•Wooden Sales Grow Stronger
•Rainbow Games Reaches for Its Pot of Gold ... Again
•TDmonthly's Top-10 Surprise Hits
•TDmonthly's Top-10 Most-Wanted Games
•This Issue's Highlights
•Grandpa Pushes Trains on Kids
•Babies Speak Out
•Hot Toys for Holiday Gift-Giving
•TDmonthly's Book Expert
•Top-10 Hot New Holiday Toys in Specialty Stores
•TDmonthly's Expert Mom
•TDmonthly's Psychology Expert
•TDmonthly's DVD Expert

Back to TDmonthly's front page

Advertise on TDmonthly


Related Products

Nerf Rebel Ops Deadeye Blaster, 24 Nerf Elite Foam Darts, Shieldstock & ...
By Hasbro, Inc.
» More Information

Zuru Mini Brands Kawaii Kitchen Series 1 1 Capsule
By ZURU
» More Information

Hyojo Pepsi Series, Blind Box Mixed Material Squishy Collectible | Limit...
By MGA ENTERTAINMENT
» More Information


Related Articles
·Best Toys for 6-Year-Olds 2026: 8 Screen-Free Picks for Builders, Game Night and Active Play
(11/1/2026)
·Once Upon a Farm Tractor Wheels Toddler Bars Recalled: FDA Warns of Potentially Fatal Choking Hazard
(11/1/2026)
·Building Sets Are Up 22%: Pocket Robots, Coding Blocks, a Battery-Free Ride-On and the New Tariffs
(11/1/2026)
·How to Maximize Your Online Presence
(5/1/2011)
·How to Close Up Shop ... For Good
(6/1/2011)
·What You Miss By Missing Toy Fair
(12/1/2010)

Advertisement: