Toymaker Spotlight: Mellisa and Doug

One of our favorite Toymakers is Melissa and Doug. We carry a ton of their toys. Actually I think we carry several tons! They have some of the coolest wooden toys and puzzles; the toys you remember as a kid, those all-time, classic toys. They really believe in the toys that they make and produce, and they are a great group of people to work with.

-Brian

Here is a little bit more about Melissa and Doug from their website:

Twenty years ago, we started our company in the garage of the home where Doug grew up — we had to be careful not to disturb Doug's parents who were still living there! Thanks to your support, we've been able to move into a real office down the road, a building that actually has separate ladies and men's bathrooms! Our philosophy has remained the same over the years–to make each and every customer a happy and permanent member of the Melissa & Doug family, while offering products with tremendous value, quality and design. We've always welcomed customer suggestions, and we continually strive to make improvements to our products. We're honored by the faith you place in us and view it as our responsibility to continue to earn your trust in the years to come!

The ABC's of Magnets

If you are looking for an innovative way to get your kids to practice spelling, then you need some ABC magnets. If you are an educator and you are looking for a new and fun way to get your kids involved in the classroom, then you need some magnetic letters too. Smethport Toys makes a great set of magnetic letters. Each letter is about 1 3/4 inch tall and there are 120 letters included in the reusable storage bucket. Unused letters can simply be placed back in the plastic tub and stored for later use. There are multiples of popular letters so several words can be spelled at once. The bright colors and great larger size makes them easy to use for little hands. The same manufacturer also makes magnetic numbers - so even math can be fun too!

- Steph

Cake Pops!

I got a call from a customer today saying she had ordered our mini cookie cutters to make cake pops. I didn't even know what cake pops were but after a little googling, I am now educated on the adorable new treat! If you are interested in trying them, then you need some mini cookie cutters. This cute little Bella Bistro set includes 12 stainless steel cutters ranging in size from 1/2" - 2" inches wide. They are perfect for cake pops or for mini cookies!

For more info on cake pops, click here!

They are truly adorable.

- Steph

Shape and Color Sorter Toy by Lauri Toys

My 4 year old daughter loves to draw. However, occasionally she tears herself away from the coloring books and crayons to do something else. We got her the Lauri Toys Shape and Color sorter and she has had alot of fun with it. When she was a little younger, she used to make piles of the different colors: red, yellow, green and blue. She would them switch it up and make piles of the different shapes: heart, stars, squares and triangles. This toy has small pegs that the child can stack their sorted piles onto. The sorter builds color recognition, sorting skills, shape identification and develops hand eye coordination. She loved to mix and match the shapes to make multi colored stacks and create her own combinations. If you are a fan of toys made in the USA, Lauri manufacturers about 99% of their items in Smethport, PA.

Steph

50% off SALE!

Get active with a play ball! This entire category is on sale – 50% OFF!!! There are many styles to choose from; including animals, flowers, flying things, dots and bugs. There are big and small play balls so no matter what age you are shopping for, we have the perfect ball for them.

Toy Sale: Spring has Sprung!

Spring has sprung and everyone, kids and parents alike, are ready for some fun! Make their outside play time even more fun with our Bugs and Butterflies category. We have put everything in the store that features bugs and butterflies in a special place so it is easy to find exactly what you are looking for. This category includes butterfly nets, picnic tea sets, bug catchers, craft kits, balls, games and so much more! Stock up so you are ready when they are!

Corolle Dolls are In!!!

At Toy Fair this year, we added the Corolle doll line to our store. We love them and know that you will too!

From their website: Corolle is located in the Loire Valley , the storybook region of France that is famous for its scenic beauty and magnificent chateaux.The Corolle design team aims to create dolls that look and feel as real as possible with faces that are often inspired by real children.And just as you would find in a haute couture fashion house, Corolle’s design studio is where a staff of professionals works to develop the Corolle look, sketching their designs and choosing the fabrics that will make them come to life.Since its founding in 1979, Corolle has won more than 30 international awards for design and play excellence, including two DOTY awards (Doll of the Year) as well as awards from the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio, Dr. Toy and National Parenting Publications (NAPPA), among others.

- Steph

Rubik's Twist

I think this toy is a great enjoyable way to pass time. My family decided we were going on a trip and me and my brother wanted something to do in the car. My brother saw this toy and bought it with his money. Now we are playing with it like crazy. It is so cool to make creations like ball, cat, cobra, triangle, rooster, wolf, terrier, and more (these creations are way harder than you think). My brother and I made the ball in less than 21 seconds each after five days! My dad says he had lots of fun with it when he was little and now we have a great time with it too. This toy is fun and enjoyable for all ages! Hope you have fun making new creations.

-Micah, age 11

Etch a Sketch a Trip Down Memory Lane

Ah, the classic of classics: the wonderful, magical Etch a Sketch. How many hours did I wile away as a child, trying to make the perfect square, or the straightest diagonal line? How many times did I get confused going left or right or up or down? Did I ever make anything truly resembling a circle?
There was just something cool and mysterious about the Etch a Sketch. All of its wonderment was contained in an elegantly simple device. Two knobs and you could, theoretically, create a masterpiece. (I never did.) But I always enjoyed drawing and erasing and drawing again. And, trying to understand what made it work!
Well, if you want to ruin the mystery, you can get some amazing information about the Etch a Sketch, how it works and when it was invented, by checking out this Wikipedia article, here.
You can also go here to check out some amazing Etch a Sketch art, yes I said art.
When you are done with that, come to Town Square Toys and then get yourself your very own classic of classics. You can even pick up a pocket size version if you want to.
-Brian

Octopus A Plenty

Earlier in the blog, Steph mentioned that we went to Sea World. Even earlier in the blog, I talked about the Giant Pacific Octopus. Well, worlds did indeed collide. While at Sea World, the family and I saw a Giant Pacific Octopus, for real, in the aquarium. It was totally cool. I am a big fan of octopi. If you are a big fan, check out the octopi we have at Town Square Toys. I hope you find something that you like!

-Brian