Educational Products

Denise Richards loves the Ba


Actress and author Denise Richards signs on to endorse The Original Baby.

Denise Richards may be a popular actress and author, but first, she’s a mother of three. And she discovered the Ba –made by The Original Baby– about a year ago, when she adopted baby Eloise.

I couldn’t help but be drawn to the design. It was this color-popping, cool and easy-to-grip addition to Eloise’s standard bottle that made it fun for her, and easy for me because she is in control -as a baby.

Denise and Eloise appear with the Ba in a recent video and pictures shot by renowned photographer Yu Tsai for The Original Baby. “Working with Yu Tsai was a very real experience. He captured us -Eloise and me and the way we interact, our relationship,” Denise says. “It was an experience with my baby, and it was captured, beautifully.”

Compatible with most baby bottle brands, the Ba’s design encourages the simple steps of grasping and feeding as early as three months old. It is also designed affordably, retailing at just $14.99.

Founded in 2011, Portland, OR-based The Original Baby makes the Ba, which was initially invented by rock-n-roll dad Travis Hendricks, who wanted something to help his daughter better hold her own bottle. Travis sought the help of three other dads –a designer, a lawyer and a single father- in producing The Original Ba, recipient of multiple awards including the 2012 RedDot Design Award -one of the world’s largest and most distinguished design competitions- as well as the Bronze IDEA 2012 Award.

Committed to designing unique, functional products, this innovative company is now working to improve other important baby accessories including utensils, pacifiers, bottles and others.

These self-proclaimed dad-preneurs are creating products to make life a little easier, and a lot more fun, for both parent and child.

Thanks Lisa Orman, for introducing me to The Original Baby!

  • Children’s Retail Today publishes new posts on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. If you want to get the word out about your innovative, imaginative and inspiring products for children, contact me today!

Huggalo – Small Business with a Big Mission


From apprehensive toddlers to courageous pre-schoolers, one mom is transforming the way children handle life’s transitions with her inspiring company.

Though she’s never worn the inventor’s cap before, Donna Broder‘s choice to become a mompreneur has not only enriched her own life, but that of her son … and those of both parents and children nationwide.

Let me explain.

When Donna’s son Noah first started pre-school, he had a little trouble adjusting to days away from home. When his first-day jitters extended to weeks, Donna was inspired to create a product that would help Noah through this transition, and help her leave the school yard without both of them in tears.

She gave Noah a photo to take with him to school … but soon, the photo got torn. So she put on her thinking cap and came up with an award-winning idea.

No parent wants to watch their children suffer when they should be having the time of their lives.

From its huggable feel to its adorable hip look, Huggalo is what the company calls “a best buddy with a surprise on his tummy.” The keepsake soft doll has a clear plastic frame to hold favorite photos, so kids can take their memories with them on their greatest adventures –and know they’re loved, even far from home. Once Donna introduced Noah to Huggsley – the first Huggalo – he went to pre-school with a smile.

Huggalo is a great transitional toy for any situation. From a military parent’s deployment to the grandparents living cross country, to the first day of school or the passing on of a beloved pet or friend, Huggalo succeeds by pairing something tangible with pictures of those who can’t be around every minute of the day. By sticking a photo of their dad, mom, sibling or a grandparent in the frame, kids can see the people they miss.  But Huggalo lets kids do more than that.

“By  letting our son or daughter adapt to new situations we are helping our kids become more resilient and confident, too,” Donna says. She believes that kids are empowered when they are given tools to comfort themselves.

Winner of the Parents’ Choice Recommended Award. In fact, Noah’s Huggsley has made such a huge impact on children’s lives, that he was recognized and commended by the Parents’ Choice Foundation for his heroic ability to teach life lessons with care.

Huggalo is brought to you by Donna’s Redorb Concepts, her California-based company that supports  several philanthropic organizations, including The Soldiers Project and Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.

Thank you, ChicExecs PR, for introducing me to Huggalo!

  • Children’s Retail Today publishes new posts on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. If you want to get the word out about your innovative, imaginative and inspiring products for children, contact me today!

Friendship Bracelets – BFF’s and More


The award-winning My Friendship Bracelet Maker® by Choose Friendship Company has been flying off the shelves lately.

The friendship bracelet – an international symbol of camaraderie – is a wonderful reminder to youngsters that they can count on their best friends no matter what, especially in this era of bullying and hurtful words. Invented for his granddaughters by David Crorey, a retired auto industry exec, the portable My Friendship Bracelet Maker helps kids make their own designs neatly and with ease.

Michigan-based Choose Friendship Company has established quarterly campaigns encouraging support networks between kids across the country. For instance, they collaborated with Mad Habit Media to launch an anti-bully, pro-friendship campaign revolving around the song/video, Inside Out, sung by Michigan teen Marisa Nahas – and proceeds from the song’s sales are donated to non-profit organizations that support this cause.

Because children carry burdens often overlooked or misunderstood by others, we want them to feel welcomed into their own exclusive club. Our mission is to let them know they’re not alone; not only are others living with the same fear and uncertainty, but that these special children are loved and supported by a larger community.

-Julie Crorey, mom to the granddaughters

This year, Choose Friendship also introduces two new craft kits. The My Friendship Bracelet Maker Traveler™ is great for backpacks and carry-ons and the nifty slide-out storage drawer features 20 pre-cut Prism® embroidery threads in 10 different colors. With The Image Bracelet Maker™, kids can express their favorite likes of the moment on their wrist – just like Pinterest! It uses photos, magazine pictures, internet images or the included art starter sheets to assemble bracelets that are totally unique and awesome.

Choose Friendship is not only the craft kit family business’ new name (the company was once known as Crorey Creations) but also its mantra. The joy of the product line is its ability to engage impressionable kids of the importance of friends and self-expression. Plus, it’s gone global in two short years. QVC sold out its entire load of more than 55,000 kits during the 4th quarter, 2011. National and specialty retailers alike had to restock their shelves in-store and online. My Friendship Bracelet Maker® and My Ribbon Barrette Maker® have earned kudos from Tillywig Toy Awards, Parents’ Choice, Dr. Toy, Creative Child Magazine, NAPPA Awards and Brilliant Sky.

Log on to ChooseFriendship.com for instructional videos, charitable causes, store locations, to watch Inside Out and more. The Friendship Bracelet Blog is authored by the inventor’s granddaughter.

  • Children’s Retail Today publishes new posts on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. If you want to get the word out about your innovative, imaginative and inspiring products for children, contact me today!

Introducing Zooligans


Available in stores later this month, Zooligans™ by Roc-A-Bouts® have plenty of animal magnetism.

 

This brand new line of footwear for kids ages one through five can prove to be irresistible, as each little shoe looks just like an animal, complete with molded eyes and stitched on details. Each pair is tagged with the animal’s name, and kids can learn about its personality and quirky habits from reading the fun, educational story that’s included.

Zooligans animals –oh, I mean shoes- come in a nifty shoebox that’s reusable and recyclable. Like a fun toy, the box looks and acts like a pet carrier, so kids can use it to carry their Zooligans shoes or to carry their favorite stuffed animal. And when it’s time, it can be thrown right in the recycle bin.

Who can resist a shoe that looks you in the eye and smiles?

The Zooligans line is created by long time children’s shoe designer and former toy designer Joel Rusnak and his wife and marketer Cheryl Andonian. The team partnered with popular shoe company Roc-A-Bouts to manufacture a high-function, quality shoe featuring a unique Paw-Flex bottom, which looks like a paw and flexes like one, too. Made with soft leather uppers for natural breathability and comfort,  the designers utilize an athletic shoe construction for excellent stability.

Later this April, look for eight characters of Zooligans in stores, including a kitty, monkey, bunny, gator, panda, koala, puppy and raccoon in either a Mary Jane style for girls or a fisherman sandal style for boys and girls.

I’m putting my request in for a shoe that looks like a goat (my favorite animal – and they’re feisty, too!).

  • Children’s Retail Today publishes new posts on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. If you want to get the word out about your innovative, imaginative and inspiring products for children, contact me today!

Zomsters Brings Friendly Monsters to Life


Mom-owned Zomsters sustainable children’s fashion and museum-quality art collections are invading kids closets and rooms nationwide.

Leap Year Zaniness! Zomsters is based in Snoqualmie, WA (just up the mountain from me!) and offers a full line of earth-friendly art and clothing designed for kids featuring zany characters called Zomsters. Meet Wally, Harold, Stanley and the growing family of friendly characters here!

Zomsters are designed to make kids smile and to spark their imaginations. We create characters rich with unique traits, interests and backgrounds to teach kids about far-off cultures and places, and about career choices that aren’t as common.

-founder/designer Ronda Bergman

Ronda also designs to create awareness about how making small green changes in our lives can make big differences in the world. The company is committed to sustainable business practices, choosing environmentally-conscious materials like organic cotton, recycled paper and recycled aluminum cans. Zomsters minimizes its impact by using water-based, azo-free inks for non-toxic printing and selecting local manufacturers and suppliers to reduce shipping and materials waste.

Parents choose from a plethora of adorable products including one-pieces, knot hats, toddler tees … art blocks, cards and prints, water bottles and more. Coming soon: coloring pages, wall papers and more.

This Leap Year, find your inner Zomster and spread the word! Available online and select retail locations. Also wholesale.

  • Children’s Retail Today publishes new posts on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. If you want to get the word out about your innovative, imaginative and inspiring products for children, contact me today!

826 National T-shirt Design Challenge


Threadless challenges its community to create an inspirational t-shirt design around the mission of exploring students’ creativity and improving their writing skills.

Since its founding in San Francisco in 2002 by award-winning author Dave Eggers and educator Ninive Calegari, 826 National has sparked students’ imaginations. The nonprofit, which runs centers in Ann Arbor, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Seattle and Washington, DC, offers a variety of inventive programs that provide under-resourced students ages six to 18 with opportunities to explore their creativity and improve their writing skills.

Each of the centers operates a street-front retail store filled with unusual products, entertaining signage and books for sale. The organization believes every future superhero, secret agent, space traveler and pirate has something in common: a good education and strong writing skills. To create awareness of its mission, 826 National is partnering with international community-driven company Threadless to challenge the public and Threadless’ community of 1.5 million artists to design a t-shirt for the organization.

For the design challenge, artists are asked to create a design inspired by 826 National’s mission of exploring students’ creativity and improving their writing skills with type-based tees encouraged. For inspiration, artists can check out the organization’s gallery featuring the best student writing from workshops, field trips and tutoring sessions from 826 centers across the country.

Continue reading →

Safe in the Arms of Love


“The perfect gift for the families of newborns. A timeless classic!”

-DEEPAK CHOPRA, M.D.

For the over four million babies that are born in the United States each year, nothing is more important than creating a strong bond with their parent. Yet with demands of modern life, many of today’s parents are not sure just how to create that bond.

Safe in the Arms of Love combines beautiful, intentionally designed music, heartwarming lyrics and an accompanying book full of essential and easy to understand information on the importance of how healthy attachment builds a secure emotional foundation for a child’s entire life.

Endorsed by leading authorities such as Deepak Chopra, M.D., Christiane Northrup, M.D., Dean Ornish, M.D., Marshall Klaus, M.D. and Phyllis Klaus, MFT, LMSW, the music and book package is the first release from producers Resonant Sounds, LLC, which creates products utilizing Positive Intention Music™ to help parents experience healthy bonding with their baby.

Developed by sound healer and songwriter Lisa Rafel, Emmy-winning composer Gary Malkin and clinical psychologist Dr. David Surrenda, the book and CD are designed to relax both parent and child, allowing them to form the deep heart connection that is the essence of the bonding experience.

“The music is intended for use during pregnancy and after the baby is born, while nursing, putting the baby to sleep, or to create a moment in the day that is just between the parent and the child,” Lisa, who is also founder of Resonant Sounds. “The lyrics were written from a place of deep love and connection, and are meant to evoke those emotions within the parent as she or he interacts with their infant.”

The music in Safe in the Arms of Love was intentionally composed to facilitate bonding using Positive Intention Music™.  “By utilizing psychoacoustics and sound healing principles, we are helping to create a peaceful, attentive, heart filled atmosphere where both parent and baby can become emotionally connected,” says Gary Malkin.

FYI – Dr. David Surrenda is also CEO of Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health -the largest retreat center in the US- and one of my favorite places for learning and growing.

-Janet Muniz

Real Kids Shades


Real Kids Shades honored by Prevent Blindness America.

Prevent Blindness America, the nation’s oldest volunteer eye health and safety organization, honors Real Kids Shades™ (RKS) with the Star Pupils™ Inaugural Partner Award, presented in recognition of the outstanding support the company provided to launch the organization’s new children’s eye health program, Star Pupils.

“We know that many parents are not well-informed about how critical quality UV protection is relative to their children’s vision,” says VP of marketing Lisa Medora. “We are now able to help educate parents on the importance of UV protection as well as provide much-needed funds to support such an important program.”

RKS designed a pair of Star Pupils-branded infant sunglasses and pledged 20% of the proceeds from every purchase to the Star Pupils’ efforts.  A main component of the program is education on eye safety, including UV protection.

Even though every parent has been warned about the harmful effects of UV rays, and 82% of parents use sunscreen to protect their children’s skin, only 32% take action to protect their children’s eyes. This is especially dangerous because children’s eyes are

more vulnerable to sun damage than those of adults.  Long-term UVA/UVB exposure is linked to adverse effects such as the development of cataracts, sun burning of the eyes, known as photokeratitis and macular degeneration, which scientists now believe is a leading cause of blindness in adults.

Real Kids Shades products make it easier than ever for parents to quickly and thoroughly shield their children’s eyes from what could turn into a lifetime of disease.  With a complete line of sunshades that feature 100% protection against UVA/UVB rays along with shatterproof, impact-resistant polycarbonate lenses, parents now can have the protection without the hassle. The company meets the strictest American, European and Australian standards in eye protection and are CPSIA compliant. Products are also CE Certified and FDA approved for protecting children’s eyes.

Prevent Blindness America also honors The Abbott Fund, Transitions, Healthy Sight for Life Fund and VisionDirect.com with the award as well.

-Janet Muniz

 

Wett Giggles


What’s the definition of soapy fun? Wett Giggles.

Encouraging good hygiene at a young age begins with a fun strategy. “Incorporating toys, suds and laughs is a sure-fire way to teach hand-washing and good hygiene,” Karen St. Clair tells HCRSourceBook. “Young children often enjoy playing in water and washing their hands.” Karen developed her playful approach to teaching soap strategy through her company, Wett Giggles, a brand of  handmade, natural glycerin soaps. Nine different 3D-shaped soaps are shaped like children’s favorite animals – ducks, puppies and frogs. Featuring Shakespearean-themed names, Karen designs her soaps in the brightest colors and the fruitiest scents, like watermelon, blackberry and coconut. Yum!

Wett Giggles soaps come with nail brushes so that kids can have fun washing their hands and get them squeaky clean. Very cute!

-Janet Muniz

Like reading HCRSourceBook? Sign up for an email subscription! Just enter your email address in the email window in the right column and you’re set – don’t forget to confirm your subscription when you see the confirmation message in your mailbox!