PlaSmart is proud to announce that PlasmaCar is among the American Specialty Toy Retailing Association’s (ASTRA) “Best-For-Kids” Toy List for 2007

Ottawa, ON (PRWEB) October 31, 2007 — The American Specialty Toy Retailing Association’s (ASTRA) “Best-For-Kids” is an annual list compiled based on input and recommendations from independent toy store owners across the U.S. Having met the members; high quality, safety and lasting play value standards and guidelines, PlasmaCar was selected as a top toy within the Active Play category.

PlasmaCar is the pure energy, pure fun ride-on toy. A multi-award winner, PlasmaCar requires no batteries, gears or pedals - it runs on the most inexhaustible energy on earth: kid-power. Turn the steering wheel and away you go. PlasmaCar harnesses inertia, centrifugal force and friction to propel kids of all ages to fun. Just rotate the steering wheel from side to side to go forward and flip the wheel 180 degrees to steer backwards. The smoother the driving surface, the faster you go: up to an exhilarating but kid-safe 6MPH. To stop, cease rotating the steering wheel and put your feet onto the ground. Great exercise indoors and out.

PlaSmart’s PLASMACAR , the toy industry’s leading ride-on Kid-powered toy, is nominated for both the Outdoor Toy of the Year and Specialty Toy of the Year awards by the Toy Industry Association, Inc. (TIA). The Sixth Annual T.O.T.Y.s (Toy Of The Year) are the “Oscars” of the Toy Industry.

“The PLASMACAR creates an environment of imagination for ages 3 and up” says Tim Kimber, President of PlaSmart.

“The innovative design uses a child’s own strength to power the PLASMACAR by simply turning the steering wheel right and left”.

“Pretending finally becomes reality with attractive colors and comfortable design” says Kimber.

A child controls his own world on a PLASMACAR. Speeding down his own freeway, flying through his own sky, safely stopping without effort, a child builds confidence in his own actions, builds muscle and strength, and improves his coordination and sense of responsibility.

Natural and Creative Toys Alternatives to Plastic

Plastic toys seem to be the most popular choice for the consumer these days as the shelves of stores are filled with them. Maybe it is time to consider some alternatives. There are many natural and creative ‘toys’ that can be found in your home and nature.

Here are some alternatives to the toxic, sometimes noisy, plastic toys that you and the kids might enjoy more:

1. Small kids like to mimic what we do. Do you ever notice how they like to play in the cabinets and explore what is in there? Why not give them a cabinet and drawer in the kitchen filled with a wooden spoon, colander, wooden bowl, pot, lid, rolling pin, towel, washcloth, broom, dustpan and a fabric shopping bag. My one year old son spends so much time playing in this space and I always put in a few surprises for him to enjoy.

Mossworld Enterprises, Inc. of Troy, Michigan has been awarded the prestigious 2003 Seal of Approval by The National Parenting Center for their revolutionary children’s snack-cup. The Snack-Trap™ allows infants and toddlers to feed themselves finger snacks without the normal mess and spills usually left for parents, grandparents, and caregivers to clean up. The compact, handled cup is ideal for use at home, in the car, at the restaurant, in Church, or on the go. Parent reviews and additional information can be accessed at www.snacktrap.com.

The National Parenting Center’s Seal of Approval program is an independent testing procedure conducted to judge a variety of products introduced and marketed to the parent/child consumer market. Testing involves a multi-step process conducted over an eight-week period. Staffed by volunteers, the testing facility of The National Parenting Center gives parents, children, and educators the opportunity to examine a variety of submitted products. The testers are encouraged to play with, build, read about, and judge by the reactions of the children, each product’s quality. Evaluated are each product’s level of desirability, sturdiness, interactive stimulation and other ingredients essential in the make-up of a quality product. Test results are based on both statistical averaging and comments received from the parent/testers.

Check out this great video on baby proofing your kitchen and bath. It is surprising how many everyday items can be hazardous to a growing child. Toddlers are naturally curious. Tasting, touching and feeling are how infants learn about the world around them. Take a moment to look at your surroundings from a youngster’s point of view. Then make any necessary adjustments to babyproof your home. Watch this video for a number of great tips to get yourself started.

VideoJug: Childproofing The Kitchen And BathroomFor a great all natural laundry soap that is safe for washing children’s clothes try the Wash It Laundry Ball. It is totally safe and hypoallergenic, and so easy to use. Just toss it in the washer and forget about it. Lasts for up to 100 loads!

Best-selling food writer David Goldbeck, coauthor of the newly published The ABC’s of Fruits and Vegetables and Beyond: Delicious Alphabet Poems Plus Food, Facts, and Fun for Everyone (Ceres Press, June 2007, $16.95), says that he is tired of the “eat your vegetables” scolding. A former elementary school teacher he created this book to help kids develop a broad, easy-going relationship with these foods.

The ABC’s of Fruits and Vegetables and Beyond is noteworthy in that it is really two books in one. The first part, the ABC’s, consists of coauthor Steve Charney’s clever and zany poems about twenty-six common and unusual fruits and vegetables. Charney is a noted children’s entertainer, songwriter, author and literacy promoter. He brings the same genius to the poems as in the songs he wrote for “The Bear in the Big Blue House,” Jim Henson’s Emmy-nominated show.