Today’s busy parents are always looking for innovative solutions to make life easier, more convenient, and definitely less stressful. And these are certainly some of the concerns driving new products and innovation at the 2016 ABC Kids Expo in Las Vegas. Get ready to find some great solution! Every parent knows that not every product […]
New 2017 Baby Products Make Life Easier for Parents Read More »
Everyone wants the best of the best baby gear for their baby. But just because some baby products are basic doesn’t mean they can’t be beautiful. Luckily, as we made our way through the million or so square feet of exhibit space at the 2016 ABC Kids Expo in Las Vegas looking for the best selection
Back to the Basics: Beautiful Baby Gear for 2017 Read More »
Continuing our story on baby trends to look out for in 2017, design-driven baby products were everywhere you looked at the 2016 ABC Kids Expo! Today’s millennial parents are completely design-savvy, and while they want products that work really well, they also want great design. If you’re going to have to look at something every day,
ABC Kids Expo: Design Makes Statement in 2017 Baby Gear Read More »
Hey, kids (of all ages), time to snuggle up to your favorite teddy bear…or remember a favorite one from your childhood. National Teddy Bear Day is September 9, 2016, and what better way to celebrate than with a cuddle or maybe just a memory? For many children, their teddy bear was one of their first
Celebrate 2016 National Teddy Bear Day, September 9 Read More »
It’s no secret that Pokémon Go is the most popular game since Candy Crush, Farmville or Angry Birds. Seems like everywhere you go someone is playing it. Here in New York City, it’s not as if the sidewalks weren’t crowded enough to begin with, people are already on their phones not paying attention to
The Common Sense Guide to Pokémon Go, Kids and Safety Read More »
The dog days of summer are here! And what better way to stay cool in the shade or the a/c than with a book? It’s a chance to go on an imaginative adventure, to be sure, and the value of summer reading can’t be understated. In addition to the entertainment value, summer reading helps kids maintain
TTPM’s Summer Reading Tips Read More »
Happy National Scrabble Day! How did April 13 become this holiday? Well, it’s the birthday of Alfred Mosher Butts, creator of the game. It seems like as good a reason as any to create a special day for one of the most popular games of all time. In fact, more than 150 million Scrabble sets
Celebrate National Scrabble Day Read More »
Today we’re celebrating an iconic American Real Estate Mogul, a man who has touched many lives and built a steady stream of successes, all featuring his internationally known name. Of course, we’re talking about Mr. Monopoly. And we thought it might be interesting on the official birthday of the game, March 19th, to look back
Monopoly’s Birthday—Passing Go for the Eighty-First Time Read More »
Gender-neutral toys and play are hot topics right now, and one that’s surprisingly polarizing. On the one side are the conservatives who, as always, feel that the entire social order is being thrown into crisis by not clearly delineating gender in toys. On the other hand, the more liberal voices, as always, blame the piece
Superhero Play & Gender-Neutral Toys Read More »
In the toy business, which often seems to live only for what’s new, bubble toys are nothing new. But they’re still lots of fun for kids of all ages. And you can’t argue with their popularity. More than 200 million bottles of bubble solution are sold every year worldwide. Not bad for a toy that’s
Bubble Toys for Kids of All Ages Read More »
Happy Birthday, Barbie! In case you didn’t know, Barbie Millicent Roberts’ birthday is March 9, and it’s always a favorite day on our calendar at TTPM. We’re celebrating 56 years of fun and friendship with the teen-age fashion model from Willows, Wisconsin who’s grown up to become an international superstar. But even after all those
Barbie Birthday Giveaway! Read More »
Does the idea of as many as 28 kids in your house playing video games and getting excited seem a little much? Well, we found the perfect solution: Game Truck. This all-inclusive entertainment vehicle has all the latest games and game platforms, and it keeps kids excited and active, and away from your furniture. Check it
Game Truck: All-Inclusive Video Game Party Idea! Read More »
Given how much time and money is spent on kids’ birthday parties—not to mention how it can sometimes be frustrating for parents—over the next several weeks, we’ll be looking at some solutions and tips for keeping the focus on the fun and celebration.
The Best Ways to Stockpile Birthday Gifts Read More »
Yeah, I know. A kid probably thinks there’s no such thing as “too many toys.” Parents, though, well that’s another matter. We often hear about moms who bemoan the fact that their kids have so much stuff that they can’t play with it all—and they end up tripping over the toys, or some version of that.
I’m just back from the Toys & Games Fair in Hong Kong, the “official” start of the toy year and an exciting time in our business where new products are on display and we get a first look at things that may (emphasis on “may”) take off later in the year.
OMG!!! Traditional Toys Are Disappearing!! Read More »
“Family Game Night” has become a buzzword in our culture, thanks to a successful advertising program. But how many families really do it? Not very many from our unscientific interviews, but the desire is there. Playing games with the family seems to be on many a to-do list, but not always possible to do. And
I know it seems like school just started and you’re starting to think about that perfect Halloween pumpkin. The toy biz, though, is already in full holiday mode. If you’ve been in a store recently, you’ll see expanded space for toys, new items everywhere and the buzz starting to build for what’s going to be
Here Come the Hot Toys! Read More »
School is starting, dusk is coming earlier, and people are starting to move inside. But don’t let these warm evenings get away too soon. There’s still plenty of time to get outdoors and be active at the end of the day. Especially for that time between school and homework, letting kids burn off a little steam can also help them concentrate better when it’s time to do homework. It can also help them sleep better. All of this can help improve overall performance in school. As the Latin expression goes: mens sane in corpore sano—a sound mind in a sound body.
Last Flings of Summer–Get Out and Play Read More »
Virtually any time I go to a gathering and people find out what I do, I get the same question. “I have an old [fill in toy name here]. What is it worth?” Really, it never fails. While I know a lot about toy history, our focus here at Time to Play is on new
We were as shocked as the nation was to wake up on Friday morning and hear of the attack on moviegoers at a midnight screening of “The Dark Knight Rises.” This senseless, random horror makes no sense to us – or anyone – and our hearts and thoughts go out to the families and friends of all those affected.
Tragedy in Colorado: How It Affects Younger Kids Read More »
Here in New York, we’re into our fourth heat wave of the summer, and nothing could seem more distant than going back to school. Not so for retailers and shoppers, however. The back-to-school sales period is getting earlier every year, but that’s because schools are opening earlier than previously. Some states begin the school year
Say It’s Not So! Back to School Already!? Read More »
My good friend Lenore Skenazy over at Free Range Kids tipped me off to a story in the New York Times about an alarming new product—food pouches for kids. The basic idea seems to be that when the young ‘uns are hungry, you just strap on the feedbag. Or in this case, hand them an expensive pouch with some processed foodstuff that lets the little tikes suck out a meal, rather than eating. The inventor says this helps busy parents keep their kids fed without the fuss of having to prepare a meal. He also confuses Lenore’s concept of being “free range”—learning to be responsible for one’s life without a parent hovering over every second—with being so over-schedued that there’s never time to eat.
The End of Civilization—No Really, I Mean it This Time Read More »
Over the past few weeks, I’ve had the pleasure of talking to a lot of moms about a wide variety of products from child development to education to politics. I feel incredibly lucky to be able to have this level of face-to-face dialogue in an often exclusively virtual world.
Making Messy Messes Read More »
Anyone who loves children’s literature is sad this week learning of the death of Maurice Sendak. I know I am.
Remembering Maurice Sendak Read More »
