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Archive for the ‘Product Updates & Discussion’ Category
'I Cherish Planet Earth' Combo Voted Best Green Toy
Wednesday, September 9th, 2009 by Challenge and Fun Inc
Press Release
Sept. 9, 2009
Dr. Toy taps memory game
and children’s book by FocusBloom for top honors in this year’s eco-friendly toy
awards.
ASHLAND, Ma. – (Sept.
4, 2009) Little minds are fertile ground, and FocusBloom has been given industry kudos
for creating a toy that seeks to grow something vibrant and green in the
psyche of children.
The “I Cherish Planet Earth”
memory game and book set have been given Dr. Toy’s “Best Green Toy of 2009”
award, a distinction that sets it apart from the mass of other playthings manufactured
around the globe each year. The annual award gives recognition to novel green toys
produced and marketed in an eco-friendly way with safe and natural materials.
The awards showcase high-quality options available to green-minded consumers, encouraging
sustainable living practices.
“These 40 green products
constitute a small number among all the choices of play products available, but
we need to start somewhere,” says Stevanne Auerbach, the nationally recognized child
play expert known as ‘Dr. Toy.’ “As awareness grows, more families are thinking
and considering new directions that are safer, more balanced and healthier.”
The authors of “I Cherish
Planet Earth” – Margot Losa and Emily Kea – consider their picture book a “love
letter to Mother Earth.” In it they have paired beautiful artwork with text
that imparts green-living concepts to encourage children (ages 4-10) to be good
stewards of their environment and to appreciate the earth’s inhabitants.
These eco-friendly principles
are echoed in a matching game that comes with the book. Artful memory tiles feature
inspiring visuals and green affirmations such as “I love the forest,” “I recycle
and dispose with care,” “I celebrate peace” and “I pass things on.” To preview
illustrations from “I Cherish Planet Earth,” watch and listen to the YouTube music video clip by
children’s singer Charlie Hope.
“How our children see the
world in which they live is of ultimate importance. It’s vital to their growth
and future,” said Rob Wilson, vice president of Challenge & Fun Inc, a
natural toy wholesaler that distributes the award-winning eco-toy set. “That’s
why ‘I Cherish Planet Earth’ is so much more than your run-of-the-mill memory
exercise. The game reinforces the ideas introduced in the companion book, which
helps kids assimilate a love for nature, our planet and one another. Learning
and fun…it can’t get much better than that!”
Half a dozen activity
suggestions have been included with the book-game set to expand its educational
value. These application exercises allow children to respond to core ideas, helping
them retain the concepts long term.
This is the third year
DrToy.com has honored eco-minded companies and children’s products made from
sustainable materials and sold with minimized packaging. Products like “I
Cherish Planet Earth” are evaluated on toy safety, the messages they teach
children about Planet Earth, their use of natural resources, and other green
principles. The 48-piece matching game and book set is printed on recycled
paper, uses vegetable oil-based inks, and comes with a cotton drawstring pouch
– all made in the USA.
I Cherish Planet Earth is available online at:
Amazon
Three Sisters
MyToysMart.com
Tree Hollow Toys
My Little Green Room
About FocusBloom
FocusBloom,
the producer of “I Cherish Planet Earth,” is a privately owned small business
based in Rainier, WA, dedicated to creating products with meaningful
content, detailed artwork and affordable pricing. The company strives to
manufacture its products locally, using recycled materials, vegetable inks and
minimal packaging. FocusBloom is part of a “1% for the Planet,” a global group of
companies that donate a percent of their sales to a network of more than 1,500
environmental organizations worldwide.
About Challenge & Fun Inc.
Challenge
& Fun, Inc. was established in 1998 and is headquartered in Ashland, MA. This wholesaler
of natural children’s products markets safe eco-friendly toys and other beautiful
merchandise often not readily available in the United States. Although “I Cherish
Planet Earth” is a USA-made item, many of Challenge & Fun’s products are
made in Europe of natural, organic, Fair
Trade-certified materials. Most of the company’s soft toys are either certified by
Oko-Tex or by GOTS. Challenge & Fun is a member of the Toy Industry Association , ASTRA and the Organic Trade Association.
About Dr. Toy
Dr. Auerbach, who has a PhD
in child development, is one of the nation's leading experts on children's
play, toys and products. She has more than 30 years of professional experience
in this arena. To see a full list of Dr. Toy’s top green products for 2009, go
to: http://www.drtoy.com/awards/2009-green-products-list.php
Contact:
Do you have questions about the
“I Cherish Planet Earth” book and game set, or wish to set up an interview with
book author Margot Losa or illustrator Emily Kea? Go to http://www.focusbloom.com/contact.asp
and leave a message, or call Rob Wilson at the Challenge & Fun Inc. office
at 1-888-384-6200 or 1-508-881-7500.
Challenge & Fun Inc.
Rob Wilson, vice president
PO Box 222
Ashland, MA 01721
Email: info (AT) Challengeandfun.com
Toll Free: 888-384-6200
FocusBloom
P.O. Box 1220
Rainier, WA 98576
www.focusbloom.com
###
2009 Catalog Is Ready!
Thursday, May 28th, 2009 by Challenge and Fun Inc At long last, our 2009 wholesale catalog is back from the printers, and will be in the mail next week. Can't wait to receive your copy of the catalog? Download a copy today. (If you need the password, you can request it here.
Here are a few of the interesting new products in this catalog:
– Children’s Musical CD’s by Charlie Hope (listen and become a facebook fan!)
– Natural bathwater colors by Tinti
-I Cherish Planet Earth book & game set
-Matchbox nature puzzles by Baerenpresse
Additionally, we are confident you will enjoy seeing the new animals by Lana and color styles by Keptin-Jr. We are particularly charmed by the Mini Toy Memories Match from TJ Whitneys.
We have also introduced more Living Cards, which originally came onto the market last summer. These have been a big hit; just turn to page 26 and you will see why.
Since our last catalog we have taken on Holztiger in the states east of the Mississippi river. This company is handled separately from our main product line, so it isn’t found in this catalog. Please visit our website for more information on these popular, natural wooden toys.
While on our website you will find products that are not in the current catalog, but still available, and information about product launches, and more.
We are looking forward to working with you as we continue to make unique, creative, innovative products available to your your store.
Anyone Want To Play Store?
Tuesday, August 26th, 2008 by Challenge and Fun Inc I had the opportunity to drift back into my childhood last week as I set up our booth at the NY Gift Fair last week. I remembered the fun times I had "playing store" with my siblings, as I handled the nicely carved wooden fruits & vegetables and placed them neatly in each wooden crate.
I remembered how I would line up the play food in rows on the shelves, or how I would take my basket and fill it with groceries.
Play is an important part of making sense of the world. I see it in my own children, and I remember how I loved to role play for hours as a young child myself.
Our new hand carved fruits & vegetables are wonderful. They are made in Germany. The paints meet the strictest standards. Because of the hand carved nature of the fruits & vegetables, each piece is a little different from the others…just as nature intended. While that is all well and good…I am most excited about the play value.
In particular, at Challenge & Fun, we have always felt that toys are a medium for learning about the world around us. To the degree that toys are cheap and disposable, or garish and loud, children will in some ways view their world that way. On the other hand, if their toys are natural & beautiful, this will likewise reflect in their view of the world around them.
They are also simple toys that provide the opportunity for creativity and interaction with others.
Finally, my mind then wandered to the cooperative farm that we recently joined (see my previous post). As I put out the wooden veggies I have seen so often now at our CSA…eggplants, cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, etc. I thought about how important it is to expose young children to the farm & nature, to encourage appreciation for where food comes from, and also to encourage good eating habits.
The hand carved wooden fruits & vegetables from the German company, Estia, will be available online soon. If you would like to see close up pictures in the meantime, you can view our photo album on flickr.
Challenge & Fun Introduces "Lift A Child" Greeting Cards
Friday, August 8th, 2008 by Challenge and Fun Inc On a recent trip to Thailand, I happened across some greeting cards in my hotel lobby that were illustrated by chldren and produced by the Duang Prateep Foundation in Bangkok, Thailand. I had heard about this organization from previous experiences in Thailand. I knew about their excellent work in the slums of Bangkok.
I proceeded to contact them about bringing their cards to the USA, and including them as part of our product line. They agreed, and so we have introduced them in our Fall Supplemental catalog (wholesale only). We hope that they will begin to be available in stores near you (and online). We will have them up on our website in the coming weeks.
Here is a little history of the Duang Prateep Foundation, and some of the worthy projects that they are actively engaged in.
The founder, Prateep Ungsongtham, grew up in the Klong Toey slum of Bangkok. She worked very hard to save money to put herself through school. She became a teacher, but eventually found she was spending more time dealing with life in the slums, than teaching. She also began doing more advocacy work for the slum dwellers that didn't have a voice.
Eventually the Duang Prateep Foundation was established in 1978, with 5 staff members. It has now grown to over 100 staff (most of whom are from the slum) and 20 volunteers. The core program of the DPF is to establish kindergartens, and provide educational sponsorships. They have also expanded into other areas including micro-credit, HIV/AIDS programs, drug rehabilitation programs, and more.
We are starting with 3 styles of the greeting cards, and hope to add more products from this organization (and other community organizations that make high quality products) in the future. When you purchase these cards, you will not only be supporting the DPF, but we will be putting $0.15 from every card sale into a fund to support children's programs around the world. Want to do more? You can also make donations directly to this organization. Want to do more? Perhaps you have a blog, you can write about them and the many things they are doing to give children a chance through education.
FAQ: All About TJ Whitneys
Monday, June 16th, 2008 by Challenge and Fun Inc- What
are the T.J. Whitney's SpringLacing Cards made of?
- Our
spring lacing cards are made from 100% recycled paper products exclusive of
surface papers which are new.
- Our
- What
type of colorings are used on the T.J. Whitney's products?- Our
paints are tested for both ASTM (American Safety Testing Measurements) and the
more stringent EU (European) measurements.
- Our
- What
can you tell me about the T.J. Whitney's factory in China?-
We
do not outsource our products and have a consistent working relationship with
our manufacturer in Hong Kong (for our paper products). -
Our
wooden toys are made from a farm forested hardwood (renewable) called
“basswood”. -
We
have visited and found the staffing, wages and work conditions
professional.
-
Product of the Week: Lana Minis
Tuesday, May 27th, 2008 by Challenge and Fun IncThe first stuffed animal I remember was "Snoopy." He was my best friend. He would follow me around the house, and comfort me when I had to go to bed before I thought I should, cheer me up when I was down, and generally brighten my day.
I am sure most of you can think of your favorite stuffed friend from your childhood. Many of you probably have a child whose little friend is made by Lana.
The dilemma for parents soon becomes, do you let the stuffed toy leave the house? I don't mean, does it go on vacations, or on overnight visits to Grandma's house. I am talking about regular trips to the store, or on that visit to the doctor, or to the local playgroup.
Now there is a great solution. Lana has developed the Lana Minis. These miniature versions are 7" and small enough to fit into a purse or small bag. They are a great size to keep in the glove compartment (but we prefer to see them visible hanging from the mirror) to be pulled out for a fussy child, or kept in a purse to entertain a child in a waiting room or comfort a child after a scraped knee.
These are made with the same quality you expect from the full-size Lana animals–just smaller. They are made in Lithuania with organic cotton, and typically cost $25.
FAQ: What songs come with your music boxes?
Saturday, September 1st, 2007 by Challenge and Fun Inc 
It seems we have left some important information out of our websites and wholesale catalog….the tunes that our stuffed animal music boxes play. So, here is the list of songs for each animal. You can click on the links to learn more about each song and hear the melody (NOT the actual music from the animal).
Brahm’s Lullaby: (lullaby, and goodnight….)
Kallisto Moose #K3580S
Small Duck #K5091S
Kallisto Horse #K3575S
Kallisto Fox #K3581S
Kallisto Elephant #K3545S
Sandmann Lieber Sandman (Sandman, Dear Sandman)
Kallisto Large Duck #K5090S
Kallisto Goose #K5086S
Kallisto Rabbit (Benni) #K3556S
Kallisto Bear #K3525S
Kallisto Star Music Box #K45
Kallisto Pig #3572B
LaLeLu (I don’t like the music on this link too much but it gives the general idea).
Kallisto Heart Music Box #K454
Kallisto White Bear #K5095S
Guter Mond (good link–has some history, the lyrics and a link to the music)
Kallisto Rabbit (Emma) #K3504S
Kallisto Donkey #K3570S
Kallisto Sheep #3534S
Lana Sheep Music Box #L402174
Weißt du wie viel Sternlein stehen
Kallisto Dragon #K3582S
Kallisto Dog #K3559
Kallisto Cow #3538
FAQ: TJ Whitney's Eco-Friendliness
Tuesday, July 17th, 2007 by Challenge and Fun IncQuestion: Please provide information about the eco-friendliness of the TJ Whitneys’ Products.
Answer: The hardwood toys are made from farm forested basswood and the carded toys are made from grayboard which is a recycled product. The surface paper is new.
Product of the Week June 10th
Sunday, June 10th, 2007 by Challenge and Fun Inc
Ring Mobile by Furnis Spielwelt
Mobiles…what are they good for? They hang from the ceiling and fill space, right? Of course not. They have typically filled two purposes: 1. Look beautiful to help decorate a room and create ambiance, and 2. entertain or distract a baby, usually when they are going to sleep or during a diaper change.
The mobiles by Furnis Spielwelt do both of these things very well. However, these mobiles have a "secret" feature that make them especially good at the latter. The rings can easily be removed for baby to play with or chew on.
Just today I was changing our daughter’s diaper and she was a little fidgety. She wanted to play with the diaper cream tube. Feeling that this wasn’t the best toy for her, I reached above her changing table and grabbed a "crab" ring and she readily obliged to the trade. This mobile has been a life saver for us since my mother-in-law bought it for us when our daughter was just a few months old (yes, I gave her a good deal).
The mobile is made in Sri Lanka from hand-woven cotton, filled with the natural material "kapok." It is available from our website, and other fine retailers. If your local store or favorite online store doesn’t have it, please give them our name…we’d be happy to supply them with this wonderful mobile from Furnis Spielwelt.
TD Monthly Product Review
Sunday, April 29th, 2007 by Challenge and Fun Inc
PRODUCT REVIEW FROM TD MONTHLY: Written by Dennis Furlan
This is a review of our bath mitts in the May 2007 TD Monthly Online Toy Publication
Description: Kids can get hopping clean with this 6” x 8-3/4” terrycloth puppet bath mitt. The mitt comes in two sizes: one for adult hands and one for kids to make bath-time extra fun. Other Challenge & Fun Furnis Puppets include the duck, the elephant, the horse, and the bear.
— "We just recently got hand puppets/bath mitts from Challenge and Fun. … They have a lot of organic and basic stuff. We did really well with the bath mitts," said Sarah Green, manager of Kids At Heart in Portland, Ore.
— Kids at Heart sells three to four wash cloth puppets per week, which accounts for 40 percent of their bath-toy sales, added Green.
— "The design is quite fun and the quality of the cotton is thicker than most on the market, so it has a nicer feel to it," said Rob Wilson, director of marketing for Challenge & Fun. He added that the cotton is OKO-TEX-certified, which means it’s "extremely clean" and "the next best thing to organic." 4/10/2007 (Price: $5.90) [Add to my Inquiry Basket]