Here are product details of toys designed by Step2 of Streetsboro and Little Tikes of Hudson.
Toys highlighted are made locally or in Ohio, unless otherwise noted. Most are rotational plastic molded items and might contain smaller parts that are imported from China or elsewhere.
All toys can be seen online with descriptions, prices, retailer lists and Beacon Journal videos at www.ohio.com/betty .
All toys can be purchased at retailers listed and directly from the companies online at www.step2.com and www.littletikes.com .
Little Tikes
• Cook ‘n Grow Kitchen: This is a two-in-one kitchen with working sounds that grows with the child. The first stage introduces preschoolers to a height and the second provides growing kids with added kitchen role play. At: Toys R Us, Walmart, walmart.com and amazon.com for $109.99.
• Pirate Ship Toddler Bed: Comes with a ship’s wheel, built-in toybox with a removable lid, headboard with cubby holes and working night lights, cannons and a main mast with fabric sail and crow’s nest. Mattress and bedding not included. At: walmart.com and amazon.com for $299.99.
• Princess Cozy Coupe with Glitter: The popular Cozy Coupe is pink with sparkle glitter. It includes an electronic horn and removable floor and has a handle for parents. At: walmart.com for $76.99.
• Activity Garden: This all-around play center, for infants to toddlers, grows with babies by encouraging them to explore and use fine motor skills. Made in China, this is available at Walmart, Toys R Us, BJ’s, walmart.com and amazon.com for $79.99.
• Big Adventures Action Fliers: The newest item in the Big Adventures line, this toy allows kids to launch airplanes off a tower and spiral planes down a ramp. This product, which is made in China, comes with two foam planes, a helicopter, truck and landing pad. Connects to other Big Adventure playsets. At: Walmart, Toys R Us, Kohl’s, walmart.com and amazon.com for $39.99.
Step2
• Creative Cooks Kitchen: This kitchen includes an electronic microwave, bubbling stove top and ringing phone, lazy susan spice rack that turns and a pet station. At: Toys R Us and www.toyrus.com for $199.99.
• Create & Play Kitchen: This pink kitchen can be personalized with a photo. Write a to-do list on the whiteboard. Stove top makes bubbling noises and the pet center comes with 28 pieces. At: Target for $89.99.
• Big Builders Workshop: Co-branded with Home Depot, this has an authentic particle board work surface with a working vise, parts holder, hard building surface, drill and screw storage pockets. It also comes with a 54-piece accessory pack. At: stores and online at Toys R Us for $119.99.
• All Around Easel: This vertical writing surface encourages development of proper writing skills and creativity. Comes in red or pink, features a chalk board on one side and magnetized dry erase board on the other. Comes with 94-piece foam magnet letters. At: Target and most online retailers for $39.99.
• Easy Steer Sportster: This push-around buggy has a caster wheel for cornering and steering. There is also a cup holder and phone holder. At: most online retailers and Toys R Us stores for $69.99.
— Betty Lin-Fisher