Name of Product: BigBox Hockey Sets

Units: About 580

Importer: Sportime, of Norcross, Ga.

Hazard: The surface coating on the boards, which are assembled together to form the floor hockey playing-field, contain excessive levels of lead violating the federal lead paint standard.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported.

Description and Models: This recall involves all sets of BigBox Hockey, each consisting of six boards, measuring 6’ long by 10” tall. The boards come in six colors: red, orange, yellow, green, blue and violet. The boards can be assembled together to create a contained playing area for children’s floor hockey.

Sold through: Sportime’s catalog and online at www.sportime.com from November 2006 through October 2009 for between $147 and $269.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should immediately take the recalled product away from children and contact Sportime to obtain a full refund.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Sportime toll-free at (888) 388-3224 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or visit the firm’s Web site at www.schoolspecialty.com
Picture of Recalled Hockey Set

butterfly-garden

Any 5 year old girl will love learning about the lifecycle of a butterfly with her very own butterfly garden. Girls love collecting flowers for and feeding the caterpillar.  They spend days anticipating the change to butterfly. A butterfly garden creates an up close and personal opportunity to learn about life cycles. Being a participant in the transformation from caterpillar to cocoon to butterfly is an exciting early glimpse into biology. A butterfly garden can be used again and again providing hours and years of educational enjoyment.

Another truly classical toy is the artist easel for children. 5 year old girls can explore textures and create with paints, pastels, and crayons to their hearts delight. Artistic expression is important at any stage of life, especially for young children.

An easel at a young girl’s fingertips gives her the fuel she needs to let her imagination run wild. Drawing, doodling, and painting allows young girls to recreate their imaginative and expressive sides onto paper. An easel gives them freedom to paint and draw with ease. A double-sided easel will allow two children to work together as they express themselves and learn through their creativity. Girls and boys alike will enjoy this durable and educational toy.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada, in cooperation with Manhattan Group LLC,  announced a voluntary recall of Pull Toys on Wednesday, February 10, 2010. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Pull-A-Long Friends Toucan™, Pull-A-Long Friends Alligator™, and Pull-A-Long Friends Sharky™

Units: About 2,400 in the United States and 400 in Canada

Manufacturer: Manhattan Group LLC, of Minneapolis, Minn.

Hazard: The toy has wooden components that can break or come loose, posing a choking/aspiration hazard to young children.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported.

Description: This recall involves three types of pull-toys: Pull-A-Long Friends Toucan™ with lot code 210720GB, Pull-A-Long Friends Alligator™ with lot code 210750GB, and Pull-A-Long Friends Sharky™ with lot code 210530GB. The Toucan has a large yellow and black beak and blue striped wings. The crocodile is green and has a red ridge on its back and red wheels with yellow polka dots. The shark has blue swirls painted on its wheels and an orange wooden fish on the pull string. The lot code is printed on the bottom of the toy.

Sold at: Gift and specialty stores nationwide, online and through catalogs from September 2009 through January 2010 for about $22.

Manufactured in: Thailand

Remedy: Consumers should take the toys away from young children immediately and return them to the store where purchased for a refund or a replacement toy.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Manhattan Group at (800) 541-1345 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. CT Monday through Friday or visit the firm’s Web site at www.manhattantoy.com

Note: Health Canada’s press release is available at http://cpsr-rspc.hc-sc.gc.ca/PR-RP/recall-retrait-eng.jsp?re_id=973

Pull-A-Long Friends Toucan™

Pull-A-Long Friends Alligator™

Pull-A-Long Friends Sharky™

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada, in cooperation with Tiny Love Inc, announced on Wednesday, February 10, 2010, a voluntary recall of their Wind Chime Toys. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Wind Chime Toys

Units: About 600,000 in the United States and 200,000 in Canada

Distributor: Tiny Love Inc., of New York, N.Y. and the Maya Group Inc., of Huntington Beach, Calif.

Hazard: The wind chime toy can be pulled apart exposing sharp metal rods, posing puncture and laceration hazards to the baby.

Incidents/Injuries: The firm has received five reports of babies pulling apart the wind chimes exposing the sharp metal rods, including a report of a minor injury to a 24-month-old baby who punctured his cheek with the rods.

Description: This recall involves wind chime toys sold separately, with the Gymini Kick & Play Activity Gym and Tiny Smarts Gift Sets. The toy produces the sound of a wind chime. “Tiny Love” is printed on a tag on the toy. The following names and item numbers are included in this recall:

Note: clicking on some of the images below will allow you to view a larger version.

Picture	Name	Item Number
	Baby Wind Chime	# 493
	Baby Wind Chime – Ocean	# 593
	Tiny Smarts – Baby Bunny	# 512
	Wind Chime – Duck *The Wind Chime – Duck is sold with the Gymini Kick and Play Activity Gym. Only the Wind Chime is affected by this Recall.	# 811
	Wind Chime – Louie	# 516
	Wind Chime – Ella	# 517
	Tiny Smarts Gift Set *Bunny Wind Chime is the only product affected by this Recall.	# 539

Wind chimes sold with other Tiny Love Activity Gyms are not included in this recall.

Sold at: Toys R Us, Walmart, Target, Buy Buy Baby and TJ Maxx stores nationwide from February 2002 through February 2010 for about $8 separately, $22 for the Tiny Smarts Gift Sets and $70 with the Gymini Kick & Play Activity Gym.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should immediately take the recalled wind chimes from babies and contact Tiny Love to receive a free replacement toy.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Tiny Love toll-free at (888) 791-8166 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.tinylove.com

Note: Health Canada’s press release is available at http://cpsr-rspc.hc-sc.gc.ca/PR-RP/recall-retrait-eng.jsp?re_id=974

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Toy Fair 2010

The Toy Fair is the largest international toy trade show in the Western Hemisphere where the newest and hottest products in the children’s entertainment marketplace are exhibited. It is the premier meeting place for manufacturers, retailers, importers and reps from around the world. Over 20,000 attendees come to see over 100,000 of the latest toy innovations. In addition to the hottest trends, attendees will also receive the latest news on Safety legislation for not only your family, but toy manufacturers.

Chris is the content director for TimetoPlayMag.com aka The Toy Guy®. Time to Play is the leading online resource for the latest information on what’s hot for this season’s toys. The toys featured in the tour have been selected by the Time to Play editorial team. They review thousands of toys every year, and only the best make it onto the TimetoPlaymag.com site. Chris receives no compensation from toy manufacturers for the use of their products in these segments.

Chris has more than 28 years experience in the toy industry and for the past 15 has been at the forefront of identifying trends and hot products. His media appearances reached more than 130 million consumers in 2008 in just a three-month period (October through December). He has appeared on Oprah, LIVE!, Soap Talk, Today, Good Morning America, The CBS Evening News with Dan Rather, ABC Nightly News, FOX News, CBS This Morning, Good Day New York, CNBC, CNNfn, MSNBC, ABC, The Motley Fool, National Public Radio, Bloomberg Television and Radio, and on countless other national and local market business and consumer programs around the country and internationally.

So, he’s going to have a lot of great information BEFORE Toy Fair 2010 and also a great wrap-up AFTER Toy Fair 2010.

Scrabble Slam Card Game

This card game based on the popular classic board game Scrabble is great for a rainy day or game night if you have that in your house. The game is different than the original in that everyone plays at THE SAME TIME. As you might imagine, this adds a totally different dynamic to the game.

If you’re a fan of four letter words (the GOOD KIND THAT is) then you’re going to love the Scrabble Slam Card Game. Whether you’re 6 years old or 66 years old, you’re going to get something out of this game. It’s not for everyone, but don’t think it’s for the traditional type of people who play Scrabble – not that that’s stereotyping or anything!

But seriously, this game is fun as is, but many people mix it up a little by coming up with their own “house rules” for Scrabble Slam Card Game. If you have any special house rules for the Scrabble Cards, let us know by leaving a comment below. If you ask nicely, we may pull out some of our own house rules and/or ways to use the Scrabble Slam Cards in other creative ways.

The rules that do come with the game are really simple to pick up, but at the same time they offer pretty good game play. If you’re a fan of Scrabble or other word games but want a change of pace, you might check out the Scrabble Slam Card Game.

Name of Product: Tiny Tink and Friends Children’s Toy Jewelry Sets

Units: About 252,000

Importer: Playmates Toys, of Costa Mesa, Calif.

Hazard: A cylindrical metal connector on a charm can contain levels of total lead in excess of 300 ppm, which is prohibited under federal law.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported.

Description: This recall involves charms sold with the Tiny Tink and Friends toy jewelry sets. The charm is attached to a cord using a metal ring and cylinder and included with the sets as a separate accessory that children can attach to the toy necklace, bracelet or key chain. The toy jewelry sets containing the charm accessory were sold in a variety of styles:

Charms that have plastic tabs instead of metal rings and cylinders are not included in this recall.

Sold at: Retailers nationwide from November 2008 through November 2009 for between $6 and $8.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should immediately take the charm and cord away from children, discard the items, and contact Playmates Toys for a replacement charm accessory.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Playmates toys at (888) 810-1133 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. PT Monday through Friday or visit the firm’s Web site at www.playmatestoys.com

Note: Health Canada’s press release is available at http://cpsr-rspc.hc-sc.gc.ca/PR-RP/recall-retrait-eng.jsp?re_id=954

Note: CPSC was alerted to this hazard by the State Attorney General of California

Name of Product: Special Forces and Police SWAT Toy Gun Sets

Units: About 9,600

Retailer: Dollar General, of Goodlettsville, Tenn.

Importer: Dolgencorp LLC, of Goodlettsville, Tenn.

Hazard: The orange tips located at the end of the toy guns’ barrels, which are designed to distinguish them from real guns, can easily be removed from the barrels, posing a choking hazard to children.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported.

Description: This recall includes a Special Forces Weapons and Accessories Set and a SWAT Police Play Equipment Set. Each set includes two toy guns and related accessories. The number 48JQH09 is printed on the right side of the larger gun included in the recalled sets.

Sold at: Dollar General stores in 35 states from September 2009 through October 2009 for about $5.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should immediately take the recalled toy guns away from children and return them to any Dollar General for a full refund or a replacement product.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Dollar General Corp. at (800) 678-9258 between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.dollargeneral.com

Finally, they also have information on who to get ahold of if you have problems with Mattel toys for any reason. For English, choose…

Mattel Canada

Mattel Canada Inc.
Mississauga, Ontario L5R 3W2

1-800-524-8697

service.mattel.com

For product recall information, please click here.

Mattel Consumer Relations Answer Center

For general recall information on any consumer product, and for earlier Mattel recalls, please visit www.recalls.gov

Name of Product: Nature Wonders HD Pinto Horse Toy Figures

Units: About 15,000

Importer: Blip Toys, of Minneapolis, Minn.

Hazard: The surface paint coating on the horse contains excessive levels of lead, violating the federal lead paint standard.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported.

Description: This recall involves the Nature Wonders HD pinto horse toy figures with model number 92093. The plastic horse is white with brown spots and measures about 4 inches tall. The model number and “Nature Wonders HD” are printed on the retail tag wrapped around the horse’s leg.

Sold by: Walmart stores nationwide from January 2009 through July 2009 for about $4.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should immediately take the recalled toys away from children and contact Blip Toys to receive a free replacement toy.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, please contact Blip Toys toll-free at (888) 405-7696 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. CT Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.bliptoys.com/recall

Nature Wonders HD Pinto Horse Toy Figures