We have  represented Chelona here  in the USA for almost 10 years.  In that time I have been impressed with a number of aspects of their toys.  One thing in particular  that stands out is the graphics and  subtle twists that they give ordinary games to make them  more interesting.

They have 2 Lotto games are excellent examples of this. The first is based on the theme "Have A Nice Day" which depicts four scenes from a child’s day.  The other (Four Seasons) depicts scenes from each season.

The game is played in the same way that lotto or bingo would be played.  Distribute the 4 wooden boards among up to 4 players.  Turn all the tiles upside-down and mix them up.  A designated player selects a wooden tile which should be matched with an object on one player’s board.

Instead of matching a picture on the board with the identical image on a tile, the player must match the object on the board with something from the picture tile.  In the image to the left, you can see that the sun matches the tile with the blonde boy and the sun outside.  When the board is filled it creates a complete picture.   The first person to collect all 6 tiles for their board wins.

So, is that all?  Of course, not.  These games can be played in many ways.  If a child isn’t ready for the lotto game they can work one card at at time to fill the board by recognizing the common object between the board and tiles.

It is also possible to simply use this game as a set of 4 puzzles…with illustrative hints (pictures on the boards) to help as necessary.

This item is Made In Greece.  It is available at online and offline across the country.  You can also purchase it on our retail website.

The recent controversy over the effectiveness of baby videos lead me to write a posting about my views on these videos.  One of my main arguments against them was that young children learn best by interaction with others, not by passively sitting in front of the television.

These flashcards by TJ Whitneys’ Toys are a wonderful example of an educational activity that parent and child can play together.  These cards combine vintage images from the 1950s as a visual reminder of each letter, with a complete sentence
using the key word for that letter. The reverse side shows the bold capital letter on a neutral background.

These cards can be used for more than regular flash card letter identification.  Turn the cards over to the letter-only side to create words, or to put the alphabet in order.  Or read the cards together, since the sentences are appropriate for early learners.

The cards are made from recycled inner "grayboard" and new outer paper and come in a nicely decorated gift box.   The cards are  6 3/4 x 5 1/4" .  They are available in toy stores, gift stores, and in many online stores.  They are also available from our website www.challengeandfun.com.

(Mouse, Pig, Rabbit, Dog, Bear)

Sometimes a full size teddy bear or other stuffed animal is a little too much for a young toddler.  Usually they need a little friend more their size. 

These 10" stuffed animals are just the right size be carried around the house, snuggled with at nap time, and played with during playtime. 

They contain small rattles in their body to added sensory and rhythmic development.  They are made in Germany by home workers and each doll is inspected, and the faces lovingly finished, by Brigitte Schultz herself (owner of Kallisto).  The cotton is 100% organic, and the bodies are colored with color grown cotton.  Dyes used for the heads, hands, and feet are certified for use with organic products to ensure the cleanest possible product.

We have identified one possible problem with this range of animal rattles—how to choose between the available styles!  If you can figure out which one (or two) you like best, you can order online today.

The Toy Memories Match by TJ Whitneys’ Toys is a great addition to any toy collection.  It is one my son’s favorite toys to play as a family.  He is not quite 4 years old so he is still learning the rules and learning patience with other players finding matching pairs that he would like; in any case it is a game that he enjoys and will learn to appreciate more as he gets a little older (it is rated for 4+).

Winner of a Creative Child Magazine Award
in 2005, this game comes with 48 2" carded tiles (24 matching pairs).  The cards are made with grayboard which  is a recycled product (the paper is new).  The 24 pairs are illustrations of classic toys, by Canadian artist Carrie Kendall, such as a baby doll, ABC Blocks, a spinning top, a fire truck, a play cash register, and more.

The Toy Memories Match game can be played in the classic manner, by turning the pieces upside down and taking turns to turn over 2 pieces to see if they match.  If they do, the player can keep them—and go again— if not, the player turns them back over and another player chooses 2 tiles to turn over.  However there are other ways to approach this game.  It can be used as a teaching tool in many ways such as simply finding the matching pairs (without playing the game), or matching toys of the same color, or discussing each toy, or sorting by favorite toy, etc.  The important thing is that parents or caregivers are interacting and having a discussion with the child, and using the toy as a teaching tool.

The game is attractively packaged in decorative box (10 1/4” x 9” x 2”) and makes a wonderful gift.  It is available on our website and in stores and websites across the country.

Aprons by Furnis Spielwelt

Children naturally want to imitate grown-ups. They especially like helping in the kitchen.  These aprons are available in adult and children’s sizes so that children can look like mom or dad in the kitchen.  When it is my day to cook, my son always right by my side in his matching apron, asking questions and helping when he is able. 

These colorful aprons are made by the Austrian company, Furnis Spielwelt.  They are made of  hand woven cotton and have adjustable straps to accommodate different heights of children or adults.

They are available in 4 styles: Egg, Goose, Cheese, and Mushroom (not shown). They can be purchased on our website, and at other fine online and offline retailers.

Kallisto Organic Stuffed Teddy Bear

Every child should have at least one stuffed animal that they love and remember for the rest of their lives.  More often than not, that stuffed animal is a simple teddy bear.  Even when a child has more than one stuffed animal, that bear seems to make a connection that the others don’t.

The stuffed bear from Kallisto is a wonderful candidate for the job of #1 stuffed animal in any child’s life.  This bear is 12" tall and made from 100% certified organic cotton and filled with pure wool.  He (or she) was designed with love by Brigitte Schulz, owner of Kallisto, in Germany.  The Kallisto stuffed animals are sewn by home workers in Europe and the faces are finished personally by Brigitte, who lovingly refers to her stuffed animals as her "babies."

One thing that most people comment on when they see any of the Kallisto animals, is the face.  The final stiches by Brigitte, coupled with the safety eyes which give it "life" are the finishing touches to a well made stuffed animal.

Another thing that I have noticed with all of the Kallisto stuffed animals is that the cotton fabric feels both soft and durable.  It is a very well stitched toy which earns top marks for materials and workmanship.

So, when it comes to finding that special teddy bear for your special someone, the Teddy Bears from Kallisto are excellent candidates.  If you want to make it extra special, you can also order these bears with a pull cord music box inside, for just a little extra.  You can find these bears and other wonderful organic cotton Kallisto animals on our website.   As always, be sure to tell your favorite store about these wonderful stuffed animals so that they can help others find them too!
 

Rattle Ring "Zmooz" by Keptin-Jr

Do you want your baby to snooze?  More than likely baby needs a "Zmooz" by Keptin-Jr. 

This particular cuddle doll has a few features which has made it our #1 selling Keptin-Jr doll.

1. Organic: It is made with 100% organic cotton and filled with pure wool. This is important because baby will be chewing on it and holding it tight, so you want to make sure the cotton is extra clean.

2. No Dyes: This doll uses "color grown cotton" to give it the color in the hat.  We do sell dolls with Oko-Tex dyes which are extremely clean, but in the end no dyes are better than clean dyes (unless you like blue, red, or some other color—in which case go for the Oko-Tex certified dyes).

3. Rattle:  The head has a soft rattle which can entertain, but won’t distract at bed-time or awaken baby if the doll should shift in the night.

4. Wooden Teether: The wooden teether is a natural alternative to plastic.  Some have asked if wood can hold up to the teething.  The short answer is YES.  The longer answer is, this is hardwood and also remember that most of the time babies teeth, they have few (if any) teeth. The teether is also a very nice ring for young hands to grasp.

5. Knots: Babies love knots.  This doll has 4 knots to choose from.  This is another part of the doll which babies will teeth on, chew, and grasp.

Some have asked….where’s the face?  The concept for this doll is that the child can use their imagination to create the face…which will change from day to day.  If you prefer your dolls to have faces, other Keptin-Jr dolls are available in the "Toddels" style with faces.  The Toddels are also available in natural brown cotton.

These dolls have been quite scarce over the past few months due to their popularity.  However, we have a large order arriving this week so they will begin to be available at your favorite store soon.  If your favorite store doesn’t have this wonderful product, please tell them about it, we would be happy to supply them.  You can also order from our website.