Toy Whimsy

Get Your Game On...Together

We here in the Magic Land of Toy Awesomeness decided that we needed to start playing more board games at the office.  (Okay, Michelle, our Games buyer, did, but still...)  The first one we tried was "Forbidden Island" by Gamewright.  (They also make the new outdoor game, Boochie.)  The object of the game is to work together as a team (not against each other or other teams) and figure out how to help one another get off of a sinking island.  The game requires strategy and some luck, but it can be played by just about the whole family.  (The game is for ages 10 and up.)  I personally had never played a cooperative game before but I enjoyed the experience.  I'm sure your family and friends will, too. -- E. Christian Moore 

Aquaplay Aqualand - Tiny Toy Testers Review

Summer play has always been my favorite, and I'm always looking for new ways for my kids to enjoy nature and the great outdoors.  When I saw the Aquaplay, I knew it would be something my kids would love to play with in the summer months.  Check out this really fun, different kind of water play in the video below and then keep reading for the Amazon.com parents' review:

Aquaplay Aqualand...

Parents' Review: 5 Stars for Wonderful, 1 Star for Terrible:

Assembly: 4 stars, I couldn't find the directions as they were rolled up in the stickers, but it didn't pose much of a problem.  Just by looking at the picture on the box, I was able to piece the toy together.  It was very sturdy, and watertight once together, and it snapped together well, and easily. I love that this set is expandable, as are all of the Aquaplay sets.  If I were to buy a couple more straight pieces and the red connectors, we could probably re-create Amsterdam on our back deck.  They also have sets that have locks, some that have more bridges, and even one that has a waterfall.  Folding the set back up, and keeping all the pieces inside was also very easy, and promotes easy storage. 

Fun Factor:  5 stars, As you can see in the video, both my kids, age 5 and age 3, had a great time playing with the set.  They used super hero toys, Playmobil people, and Polly Pockets to ride in the cars and the boats that came with the set.  The included cranes, bridges and gates really added to the set and made it a robust activity.  In the summer this can be used outside as a water toy, and in the winter it can easily be used as a set for cars- those that came with the set and also Hotwheels and the like.  

Educational Factor: 3 stars,  While not a true educational toy, experiential toys- like water tables, are great ways for kids to learn about the world around them.  The smooth sailing of the boats around the set fascinated my kids, and with the bigger sets, I could see us having a great discussion about how locks work and how ships move in and out of bodies of water. (especially here in Seattle where we have the great Hiram M. Chittam locks to see in action!).   

Novelty Factor:  5 stars,  You aren't going to find anything else out there like Aquaplay.  Made in Sweden, this very high quality toy is not like your ordinary water table.  It is much more robust in its play pattern and also the expandability of the sets. You can add on locks, waterfalls, ferry stations, and more to your set, or build your own with the various pieces. I also really like that the Aqualand set that we tested can be folded and stored easily with all the parts kept inside the small suitcase sized set. 

Overall Rating: 4 stars, This is a well-built toy that can grow and expand with your child.  It has many ways to play, and it easily stores in it's own container. Highly recommended toy.

Editor's Note: Amazon provides our toy testing families with free samples of toys that have been provided by our vendors. Amazon does not influence the opinions of our toy testers or their parents.

--Laura M.

Radio Flyer Scoot 2 Skate - Tiny Toy Tester Review

When my three year old asked me for a skateboard, I knew I was in trouble.  He is a bit of a dare devil, and the prospect of him whizzing by on a skateboard was little much for mom.  Thank goodness for Radio Flyer's new product, the Scoot 2 Skate.  This great product satisfied both apprehensive mom, and dare devil boy.   The Scoot 2 Skate is an ingenious combination of a skateboard and a scooter.  Check out the video of my little guy and then keep reading for the Amazon.com Parents' Review:

Radio Flyer Scoot 2 Skate...

Parents' Review: 5 Stars for Wonderful, 1 Star for Terrible:

Assembly: 5 Stars, Four screws were included to attach the handle to the skateboard.  It went together in under 5 minutes (which was great because dare devil boy could not wait much longer!).

Fun Factor: 4 Stars, Although he is just in our driveway in the video, our little guy has enjoyed taking the scooter to the local school yard and park to be able to ride more.  He has even been insisting that he be the one to carry it up the hills on the way back to our house from the school.  It is very light weight, while still very sturdy and well-built. I would give it 5 stars, but he does seem to tire of it after 15 minutes, but that also could very well be because he is only 3.  I am sure we will get a lot of use out of this over the next few years.  (Although I did tell dare devil boy that he has to be 5 to ride it as a skateboard after he asked me about 10 times a day for the first 5 days we had the toy.)

Educational Factor: 4 Stars, While I wouldn't call this educational in the traditional sense, it is great for teaching my little guy balance, body awareness, and large muscle movement.  We try very hard as a family to teach our kids the importance of staying fit, healthy, and active.  The more I can get them up off the couch, the better it is for them and motivation is now even easier because all I have to say is "Wanna go outside and ride your scooter?" and dare devil boy is out the door before I can finish the sentence.

Novelty Factor: 5 Stars,  I love that this is a versatile product.  If I were to have given in and bought my son a skateboard, I have a feeling it would have ridden it twice, and then fallen, and then it would be in the back of the garage collecting dust for a few more years.  With the ability to serve him now as a scooter and later as a beginner skateboard, I am sure it will be in use for many years to come.

Overall Score: 4.5 stars- Very highly recommended for the versatility in use, the sturdy build of the product, and the years of use a child will get out of it.

Editor's Note: Amazon provides our toy testing families with free samples of toys that have been provided by our vendors. Amazon does not influence the opinions of our toy testers or their parents.

--Laura M.

Toy Fair 2010 (Part One): Guest Blogger Wendy Smolen

New York Toy Fair is the largest international toy trade show in the Western Hemisphere. Think of the congested street fair you’ve ever been to. Vendors are hawking products every 10 feet. Chocolate kisses, eco-friendly tote bags and Purell lure you into the booths. Costumed critters like a giant Elf on the Shelf roam the fringes. And the nicest mom-and-pop storeowners are vying for time against mass-merchant buyers, pushy press, and a smattering of celebs.  Now move that image indoors where there’s feverish pitch of sound and not enough bars on your iPhone. Welcome to Toy Fair.  I’ve just spent 5 days skating up and down the aisles of Javits Center looking at and playing with thousands of new toys. My next couple of blogs will break them down into specific categories, but I like to remember each Toy Fair by what I consider the standout products. I have a tried and true method of measurement: Each day I see an average of about 500 toys. I take copious notes in each showroom. If I like something, I put an asterisk (*) next to it in my notebook. Two asterisks means I really like it.  I probably have about 50 picks when I leave Javits each night. On my train ride home, I re-read my notes and highlight any asterisked toys that I still like at the end of the day. Now I’m down to 20. Then I have dinner with my family. Over takeout (no cooking during Toy Fair), I describe the toys I saw and loved.  If a toy still stands out in my mind after 10 hours on my feet, 9 hours of smiling, asking intelligent questions, making upbeat conversation, and 3 hours of commuting from one end of NYC to the outer suburbs, then that toy is probably going to be a winner.  Not only does it get two asterisks and a highlight, I now bold it and put it on my “test this” list. Best case scenario: 3 to 6 greats a day. Enough to dream about while I steel myself for the next day of hard play.
So here are my 12 best and brightest "**'s" from Toy Fair 2010. (Unfortunately, some of the products won’t be on shelves until the fall, but it’s always fun to know what’s coming.)

Perplexus by PlaSmart. A colorful, imaginatively engineered maze housed in a clear plastic ball. Think labyrinth 3.0. I couldn’t put it down.

Washable Dry-Erase Crayons by Crayola. Why didn’t someone think of this sooner? Bright colors, no odor, no caps to lose and they don’t dry out. Bring on the whiteboards!
 

Air Hogs Vectron Wave by Spinmaster. Keep this small but mighty UFO in the air by using your hands as the guide. A state-of-the-art level sensor senses objects beneath it and rises to the occasion. Seems like magic.

Spy Video Trackr by Wild Planet.  This app-enabled r/c vehicle taps into an inner Einstein. Program it to roam from room to room, record, take pictures, even detect motion. Are kids are getting smarter or are toys getting smarter?

Create a Marionette by ALEX. Just when I thought I’d seen every kind of craft kit imaginable, this small surprise jumped out of the box. Three sets let you create and color either a dino, a giraffe, or a princess. Great play…and then more play.

Scrabble Flash by Hasbro. How many words can you create in 60 seconds using just 5 letters? This fast-paced game uses high tech tiles to keep your time and score. A modern take on classic Scrabble.
 

iXL by Fisher Price. This is what the future looks like. The IPad/e-reader-look-alike has a tough, kid-sturdy cover and six functions that let kids read, play, draw, listen to music or stories, write and keep photos. PC and Mac compatible, too.
 
Rory’s Story Cubes by Gamewright. Take nine dice, each with pictures on every side, toss them, and then tell a story using the images. A win-win imagination builder.

 
Lights, Barbie®, Action!  by Mattel. See and shoot the world from Barbie’s point-of-view with a real video camera inside Barbie’s bod and a lens peeking out from her necklace. Edit with music and special effects using downloadable software.

Why Do I Need A Jacket? by Patch. Part of the Sid the Science Kid line, this simple kit makes science accessible with experiments about weather and temperature that answer questions kids really want to know.

Monopoly Revolution by Hasbro. This 75-year old, best-selling board game has gotten the ultimate makeover. Round is the new square; credit is the new cash. And $200 doesn’t go as far as it used to.


Rubik’s Slide by TechnoSource makes the challenge of Rubik’s Cube doable…sometimes. Working puzzles from easy to harder (10,000 in all!), it uses lights, a timer, and a slip-slide movement to change the game for the better.

Minotaurus and Ramses by LEGO.  These if-you-build-it-they-will-play games let kids use LEGO pieces to create a game board and dice. Both versions have great gaming concepts. The first games are due in stores March 1st and more in the series are coming!   -- Wendy Smolen

Guest Blogger Wendy Smolen is co-founder of Sandbox Summit®.  She has been professionally evaluating toys for over 15 years. Her three children have literally gone from crib to college proving ---or dis-proving--- her theories on play.

Great Vacation Toys - Because Play Never Takes a Holiday

I don't consider myself an expert mother, but I do consider myself a bit of an expert when it comes to toys. As the mother to two kids, a former teacher, and a toy/children's product blogger for 3+ years, I do know a bit about what works and what doesn't.  My family also loves to travel- by car, by plane, camping, in hotels, and everything in between.  Just last week we returned from a week's vacation to Hawaii and I think I have finally hit the jackpot on the perfect toys for travel.  The flight to Honolulu, Hawaii from Seattle was 6.5 hours there and 5.5 hours on the way back.  My kids are 3 and 5, so I knew that the flight time was going to be a challenge.  I also did not want to over-pack (a little habit of mine) since we had two big suitcases, two car seats, and we each had a carry-on.  The kids each had a small backpack and I was determined that I would not pack more toys/snacks/books than they could carry themselves.  So what did I pack? 

My kids love to color, so these mini coloring pages with mini markers from Crayola worked really well.  They were small enough that I could also put them in my purse for dinner's out while on vacation.  I am sure we will still use them now that we are home.  Having 80 pages insured that we never ran out, and having a little place to store the markers inside the case was great and made sure we didn't lose any markers.

Any travel case where you can keep all the supplies together, and fit nicely in a small bag would optimal- here are some more suggestions:

1. Are We There Yet Travel Activity Book

2. Alex Toys Desk to Go

3. Disney's Mickey Mouse Magic Pen Painting Book

4. Marvel Heroes Magic Pen Painting Book

5. Color Wonder Travel Tote

I also took two small containers of toys for my kids.  One was a Snapware Snap n' Stack Craft organizer (I just took the top layer and it slid right into the backpack sideways- perfect size for travel). I love the handles on these because they are perfect for kids to pick up a lot of small toys and carry them around the house or (even better) put them away in the toy closet.

For my son, who just turned three, I took a combination of small toys that he loves.  First, we took four of his Super Hero Squad toys.  These were perfect for the pool and the hotel room.  I could also easily store a couple in my purse for excursions and eating out.  They were also great for me to hand him a couple when we had a longish car ride or two. These super toys are about three inches tall and do not have removable pieces.  They are perfect for beginning super hero fans.

There are also Star Wars themed Galactic Heroes!

Here is a picture of my little guy in the pool with his Super Hero Squad toys. 

He had a great time with these in the pool and also made a bunch of little pals who had a good time saving the day together. 

For my daughter, I packed some perfect little favorites. I had a small metal lunch box container that worked well for her backpack. First, I packed a few of her collection of Polly Pocket toys and clothes.  She loves dressing these little dolls over and over.  Be warned that these are VERY small - my daughter is five, but these are not toys for kids under the appropriate age.

The other small toys that I packed for my kids were Playmobil toys.  I love these toys because of the great pretend play potential.  Again, Playmobil toys are very small and should never be give to young children because of the choking hazard.  They do have Playmobil 123 which are great if you have smaller children under the age of 3. 

The sets we took along all had water themes.  We took the boy with seals, a woman on a pool float, the Deep Sea Diver, a dolphin rescue set, and mermaids.

Here are some pictures we took of the toys at the pool.  The woman on the pool float was great because she really could float along in the pool, as was the deep sea diver who would gently float to the bottom of the pool when you snapped on his metal boots.  The mermaids were also fun for my daughter who loves anything princess-ey. 

OH NO!!!

Deep Sea Diver will SAVE YOU!

The Playmobil toys went down the waterfall, played in the pools, played in the bath and on the plane.  I am sure we lost a few of the smaller accessories but the people survived nicely.  

The last toy that we took on vacation, and that I am not sure Mom and Dad would have gotten any quiet time without, were two Leapster2 learning systems from LeapFrog.  I packed four games in a ziplock bag and put them in the backpack- and each child carried a Leapster2 in their own pack.  They do add a bit of weight but they were great for the plane, and for the hotel room when mom and dad needed a little down time.  I do allow (if all chores are done and the kids get into bed at the correct bedtime) 15 min of Leapster play at bed time while we are home. It turned out that this was a good wind-down activity even on vacation since it was hard for my kids to relax in a strange bed and when so excited on vacation. 

What are your go-to toys on vacation with kids?  Do you have some to share with us? Leave a comment in the comments section below!

--Laura M.

The Best Holiday Toys You've Never Heard Of

We are all over-exposed to the big name toys out there, and that is just fine- nothing wrong with the classics (they are classics for a reason right?) but some of my favorite toys are from smaller companies, companies from overseas, and companies that specialize in just one type of toy.  I love these "unknown" toys and I am happy to bring you a list of unique, specialty toys that are perfect for gift giving this holiday season.

1. Kid-O: I love the Bilibo (in blue but available in many colors, below). A super creative toy, this plaything really helps a child's imagination take off.  It can also be played with indoors our out, as a big helmet, a chair, a rocking toy...it's all up to your child.  Kid-O also makes some great wooden puzzles, and other creative toys (and simple- simple is so good!) that kids love.

2. Tolo - Tolo makes chunky toys that are great for the small (adorable) chubby hands of toddlers and preschoolers.  These toys are great for children who love sounds too as the little people and animals all have a clicking sound when the joints are moved. I love the First Friends Playset beause it is just the right size for a first dollhouse, and it is very portable.

3. Djeco - A French company, Djeco makes simply beautiful toys of a very high quality.  I fell in love with the classic pull-toys and my kids just love the fun and colorful games.

4. Beleduc- A Belgian toy company, Beleduc makes cute puzzles, games, and other classic toys that have beautiful artistry and high quality.

5. Sevi - Sevi is an Italian company that was founded and 1831. When a brand is around that long, you know children love them and parents love to give them as gifts. I adore the guitar- it is so colorful and fun!

6. Bruder - If huge play trucks are something you think your kids would love, Bruder is your kind of company.  Not only are the trucks huge, they are super accurate and have all the bells and whistles. They also have just about every kind of truck out there.

Check out the fire engine in the video below. 

Bruder Fire Engine...

Here are a couple more that are sure to please any kid who is fascinated by trucks and construction vehicles.

7. Calafant- If you have a little artist on your list, Calfant is a great company that makes cardboar models that you can paint and decorate yourself.

8. Time to Play- Every kid needs a place to themselves, and forts, tents, and playhouses give them a way to express themselves in a whole new way.  I love the cafe- I can see my kids having a ball serving imaginary lattes (but hey, we live in Seattle so this isn't abnormal at all!).

9. Aquaplay - The winter months are hard on kids for many reasons, but the biggest seems to be that they can't get outside to do a lot of the things they love doing over the warmer months.  Aquaplay  makes some genius toys that lets you bring the water play indoors!  Check out the portable sets that are expandable and fun for inside and out.

10. ZipBin- Toy storage is a problem in most homes.  My kids have tons of toy storage in thier room but the toys always seem to drift out into the living room.  That is why I love these great solutions by ZipBin.  These storage bins unfold to become playmats and then zip together to make a portable storage bin for the toys.  They also come in great themes like LEGO, Dinosaurs, Town, Unicorn, and Farm.

Happy Holiday Shopping everyone!  Don't forget to keep checking our top holiday deals page for more toy deals everyday!

--Laura M.

Amazon Frustration Free Packaging - Just How Easy Is It, Really?

Let me paint a picture for you, and if you are a parent, or have helped a young child with opening a present, I think you will be able to relate:

Little Sally just got a present!  Boy is she happy!  She is begging you to open it, she can't wait to play with the pink-princess-pony-rainbow-sparkle-extravaganza that she just unwrapped.  She is bouncing up and down, she starts to get a little higher pitched in her requests.  She says "Please?  Please?  PLEASE!".  You say "yes, yes, I will open your little present now, settle down."

Then you say the fateful words you will soon regret.

"This will only take a minute."

Thirty minutes later, you are still undoing twist ties, cutting through plastic, and trying to understand why each little piece is tied down so tight you would think they were made of crystal and not plastic.  You have used about 15 tools, 2 pair of scissors, your teeth, and a box cutter.  You now have three bandages on your hands, and you have had to tell little Sally you are very sorry for using "that bad word" five times already.  In between begging Sally to stop crying, you are trying to stop the bleeding on your fourth hand wound, and you are slowly adding to the huge pile of waste packaging from just this one toy. 

Shouldn't there be a better way?

Lucky for you, there is.  Amazon Frustration Free Packaging is here to help. 

But just how easy is it?  We here at Toy Whimsy decided to find out.

First up was the Fisher-Price Imaginext Ocean Boat:

Fisher-Price Imaginext Ocean Boat...

next up, the Fisher-Price Camera Kid-Tough Digital Camera

Fisher-Price Kid Tough Camera...

So what did we learn? With Amazon Frustration Free Packaging, when you say, "This will only take a minute.", you mean it.  It took us 45 seconds with the Ocean Boat and even less, 18.29 for the Kid-Tough Camera.  And as a bonus, the only packaging is a fully recyclable box that is easy to break down and put out at the curb.

To see more Frustration Free Packaging toys you can click here, and to see the full list Amazon.com offerings for Frustration Free, you can click here.

--Laura McMullan

Toy Tips with Marianne Szymanski - Preschool Toys

Editor's Note: Marianne Szymanski is a leading expert in toy reviews, and the founder of the Toy Tips Research Institute.  She is the author of Toy Tips: A Parent's Essential Guide to Smart Toy Choices and also the editor of Toy Tips and Parenting Hints Magazine.

The toddler years  are age 1-3. Some argue these years start at age 2 but as preschool programs are focusing younger and younger these days, I think it is important to introduce new toys  because there is so much exploration. Don't expect much sharing though. It rarely happens. They have not fully developed that part of the brain yet so toys that encourage following instructions are not easy to do with toddlers.  Let them explore and learn on their own.

 

Children who have learned to identify their five senses now find an interest to use all of them. Learning to walk, speak and imitate sounds and words are the  skills to emphasize the most. Toys to choose include simple manipulatives that allow for interaction and self discovery. Musical toys that allow a child to repeat a number, letter and eventually words with sequencing are great choices. Push-pull toys enhance walking and puzzles, nesting blocks and other chunky building sets strengthen spatial relations and hand-eye coordination. Be aware that children at this age put mostly everything in their mouth so the toys should be LARGE in size.

Here are a few suggestions:



LeapFrog Scribble and Write
Radio Flyer Classic Rock and Bounce Pony with Sound
The Original Rollercoaster by Anatex
Fisher-Price World of Little People Spin and Crash Raceway
Playskool Chuck My Talking Truck
Green Sprouts Stacking Cup Set
Classic Embossed Alphabet Blocks ABC
LEGO Duplo My First Set
LeapFrog Fridge Farm Magnetic Animal Set

 

For new toy ideas, visit toytips.com and follow me on twitter.com/toytips for a daily toy tip!.

Happy Toy Shopping,

--Marianne Szymanski

Amazon.com Holiday Toy List 2009 - Great Gifts for the Entire Family!

For me, the holidays don't start at Thanksgiving, they start with the launch of our yearly Holiday Toy List. This year's list is back and bigger and better than ever.  The list couldn't be easier to navigate- you just pick the age, and what type of toy, and you are off to the races with tons of great suggestions to choose from.
So everyone I know is always asking me what my favorite toys of the season are.  While it is very hard to narrow down without actually knowing the child, I have a few picks for each age group that I am especially excited about this holiday season.  The reason I know these are good picks?  I'll post more about this later, but this year Amazon Toys held it's first ever toy testing event called Days of Play.  We took over a hundred kids and tested all the toys on the holiday toy list.  It was an outstanding test, and let us bring you the coolest, most fun, and exciting toys of the year.  Here are some of the stand outs from our "Days of Play" testing event.

 
 
Preschoolers:
Fisher-Price GeoTrax Transportation System
KidKraft Large Kitchen
Playskool Explore and Grow Busy Ball Popper 
Fisher-Price Imaginext Ocean Boat- available in Frustration Free Packaging
Melissa and Doug Deluxe Ice Cream Parlor Set
Corelle Classic Baby Doll

School Age Kids
Barbie Pink 3-Story Townhouse
Savannah Dollhouse
D-Rex Interactive Dinosaur 2009
Glo-Doodle
Star Wars Duel Action Lightsaber

Tweens -
Paperoni Deluxe Studio
Transfomers Movie 2 Combiner- Construction Devastator
Star Wars Venator-class Republic Attack Cruiser
Micro RC Terrain Titians
Tech Deck Build a Park with Plan B Board Pack

 
Teens and Adults-
Mindflex Game
Bop-it
Tyco R/C Stunt Psycho
Eyeclops Mini Projector
Nerf N-Strike Raider Rapid Fire
Amazon Exclusive Tonner "Turn Me" Bella
Amazon Exclusive Tonner Twilight Edward

As I said, I will post more, and Video(!) of the awesome kids and the event that helped us really check out the great toys on the Holiday Toy List first hand.  This is coming soon- and I can't wait for you to see how much fun our little testers had checking out the toys.  Until then, enjoy the Holiday Toy List and let us know what toys you are most excited about this holiday season!

--Laura McMullan

Sprig Eco Recycling Truck - An Amazon Exclusive in Frustration Free Packaging

The Sprig Eco Recycling Truck might be my favorite toy of the holiday season, but admittedly, I have a soft spot for eco-friendly toys and the fantastic people over at Sprig Toys.  Today, as a special treat, I'll be introducing you to the Amazon Exclusive Sprig Eco Recycling Truck. Not only is it an exclusive, it comes in Amazon Frustration Free Packaging!  And who better to talk about this fun truck than some of the great people over at Sprig, Chris and Steve.  They both have some really good insight into the toy industry at the holidays, why frustration free packaging is important, and why getting kids to "be the batteries" is better for kids and the envirornment. My favorite part of the interview? Chris's quote:"5 million pounds of paper packaging waste is thrown out every holiday season on top of our regular waste load in the US."  That is a little stomach turning, and I am glad Amazon can be part of the solution to this huge problem with our Frustration Free Packaging. Keep reading below for more of this great interview where Chris and Steve tell us about the Eco Recycling Truck and Sprig's plans for the future.

First, introductions- who are you, what do you do for Sprig?

Chris Clemmer, one of the designers and a co-founder of Sprig. I work on toy design, marketing, packaging; sales…we all wear 20 hats here at Sprig.

My name is Steve Markey; I’m the VP of Sales here at Sprig. I work with retailers, sales reps and international distributors to make sure as many people as possible around the world have the opportunity to buy our fantastic toys.

What is Sprig core philosophy in a few sentences?
(Chris) Sprig was born from our desire to create toys that energize children with active, engaging play using smart sustainable design solutions. We want to let kids fill in the blanks instead of paint. We want them to be the batteries. We want to get them off the couch. Ultimately we want kids to play like we used to.

What are the holidays like around Sprig HQ?
(Steve) Holiday time is busy here at Sprig Shedquarters. We’re getting ready for the International Toyfair which is held every February in New York, as well as a trade show in Hong Kong where many of our international customers will be seeing the 2010 products for the first time. But we also find time for fun, including a party for the whole team and their families.

(Chris) BUSY BUSY BUSY. The toy industry is unique in that every holiday season you find yourself out on the trail talking about Sprig’s exciting new toys like Captain Owen’s Dolphin Explorer Boat, while back in our top secret headquarters we are busy engineering toys for the future….Toy Fair is coming!!

What are the holidays like for you and your family?
(Steve) I have three children, so we’re all about playing games (we’re huge board game fans), watching movies and just being together. My wife and I travel a lot for our jobs, so just being at home with no trips on the horizon is a blessing. And, of course, being in Colorado, we get out to the mountains for some skiing and snowboarding.

(Chris) We take the holiday time to visit family. This year we will spend time in New Mexico enjoying quiet time in mountains. It’s always fun for our daughter to get some quality family time in during the holidays. Santa Claus always seems to find us to the surprise of our daughter. Although she still wonders why I make toys and how that works with Santa’s agenda…

I have noticed that much of your “shelf packaging” for your toys is minimal, why did you make this kind of decision about how to display toys?
(Chris) We want our toys to play right out of the box. As a child, the thrill of getting a toy in a box that you can open and instantly play with is rare these days. With our toys, if the little ones can get past the security sticker they will be able to open the box and start to play. No little screwdrivers, no knives, no blister packs, no twist ties…just plain simple fun.
The benefit of not using twist ties and packaging blisters is we eliminate tons of material that usually ends up in landfills. During the holiday season, 5 million pounds of paper packaging waste is thrown out every holiday season on top of our regular waste load in the US. We wanted to be part of the solution and are always looking for ways to improve our packaging to make it as lean as possible.

(Steve) For me, there are two main reasons. Firstly, as an eco-conscious company, we try to reduce the amount of materials we use in our packaging, whether it be the amount of cardboard, or those really annoying twist ties that hold so many toys in place.
Secondly, as parents, we are often frustrated by large boxes with very little in them. We just don’t feel good about shipping vast quantities of air around the world.

Did you have to sacrifice anything else to make these kind of packages work?
(Chris) We are learning and experimenting with our packaging with each generation of toys we produce. With our Eco-Trucks we actually see a sales benefit to using minimal packaging. The Eco-Trucks are very accessible and lightweight allowing children to pick them up on shelf. In some cases we have used closed boxes in order to eliminate twist ties, but we are working on some great new open packaging that will still play right out of the box.
(Steve) Less packaging means less space to tell people about our products, to explain what is actually inside the box, so we have learned to tell our story in the most concise way possible. For example, using graphic icons to show that our toys are paint-free rather than actually spelling it out in words.

Why did you decide to partner with Amazon on Frustration Free Packaging?
(Chris) It makes perfect sense for to partner with Amazon on this, as “Frustration Free” packaging is what we call the “new normal” for Sprig. Designing a package that serves as a shipper is a great way to reduce our impact on raw material usage, as it’s one package for all. No Twist ties and reduced printing were things we do and we especially love it when retailers share the same vision as Sprig.

Tell us a little about the new Amazon Exclusive Eco Recycling Truck.  Where was it made? Why did you decide on a recycling truck?  What makes it different than other toy trucks out there?
(Chris) The Eco-Recycling truck is made in the beautiful Czech Republic (our toys are made in North America and Europe). We decided on a recycling truck as it really fits the message behind the toys. We make our toys out of Sprigwood, which utilizes bits of recycled plastic and sawdust. This bio-composite material is a great alternative to using virgin oil based plastics. Our eco-recycling truck smells like WOOD, is very lightweight, and has fantastic play value. What makes this toy different is its play value. The recycling truck features a great carry/push handle, 2 distinct dump mechanisms, a recycling garbage can, and a fold open truck cab. These features make this toy rich in play and smart in design. We don’t use any paints on our toys and they are also dishwasher safe on the top rack which is great for toys that are shared by lots of kids.

One of the first trucks my son recognized was our local recycling truck.  Do you think kids are more aware of recycling than we were at this age?
(Steve) Absolutely – maybe I’m showing my age here, but I don’t think I even saw a recycling truck as a kid, whereas now, my own kids would not dream of throwing away a bottle or a can into a regular trash can. My 5 year old daughter Ella says it best - “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle”.

(Chris) Definitely. When we were kids curbside recycling was very rare so we only had the garbage truck coming by our house in the mornings. It’s great to see curbside recycling become the “new normal” to our youngest generation.  It’s also a focus for a lot of elementary schools around the world as well. We find it refreshing when we hear kids telling their parents about the benefits and need to recycle. They are great little police officers for the planet.

What other plans does Sprig have for the future? Do you see Sprig heading into other directions in toys?
(Chris) While we have primarily focused on preschool toys, Sprig is excited to announce that we will be introducing a line of toddler toys for this upcoming spring. Just in time for earth day, our new Safe and Smart toddler toys will feature stacking, shape sorting, and active push around play. These toys will be made from our exclusive Sprigwood material, will use NO PAINT, and will be made in North America (closer to our material source).

That’s just  a snippet of what is to come from Sprig in 2010. We will leave the rest for another surprise.

(Steve) I’m especially excited about the toddler line Chris just told you about. We’ve taken classic toddler toys and “Sprigified” them. (We don’t just invent toys here, we invent words, too.)
Additionally, we will be introducing new toys to our boys and girls preschool product lines throughout next year, so keep checking back on Amazon.com to see our latest releases.

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Thanks to Chris and Steve.  You can see the whole Sprig line here, as well as the awesome new Amazon Exclusive Eco-Recycling Tuck in Frustration Free Packaging.

--Laura McMullan