GOLDEN VALLEY, Minn. — Manhattan Toy Company, located in the downtown Minneapolis’ North Loop, designs inspired toys for early childhood -- from infant to 5 years old. They believe the kids learn through the experience of play by imagining, talking out loud, making up stories and going on wild adventures and they want to help fuel that exploration.
Founded in 1978, Manhattan Toy Company was one of the pioneers of developmental toys. The company’s award-winning portfolio of 500+ toys promotes the right challenge at the right time with products ranging from beloved dolls to wood activity toys to stuffed animals. The toys are sold at Target and Amazon.
Amanda Molstad from Manhattan Toy Company stopped by KARE 4 pm to give some holiday gift ideas, which included:
B A B Y
- Winkel – Rattle and Teether – $15
- Soft, pliable loops are great for helping baby develop grasping abilities; rattle can be used to entice baby to turn their head from side to side to develop neck strength and can be used to encourage crawling by putting it just outside of babies reach.
- Baby Whoozit – Travel Toy – $16
- Baby’s favorite friend that grows with them – start with simple, high contrast graphics and hidden mirror to help with eye development and move to hidden noise makers (rattles, squeakers and crinkle paper) to teach cause and effect
- Llama Teether – Teething – $15
- All-natural rubber llama teether – stimulation for sore teething gums. Air-filled, plump llama to promote graping abilities. Completely sealed, so no opportunity for liquid to be trapped inside.
1 - 2 Y E A R O L D
- Tree Top Adventure – Activity Toy – $104
- Hones motor skills, builds understanding of cause and effect, builds critical and logical thinking skills
- Sleepy Time Wee Baby Stella – Soft Doll - $30
- Builds social skills – nurturing, empathy and compassion; promotes language development, sparks imaginative play.
3+ Y E A R O L D
- Lili Llama – Musical Toy – $50
- Hones motor skills, builds understanding of cause and effect, builds critical and logical thinking skills
- Natural Historian Camera – Wood Camera - $16
- Hones fine motor skills and sparks imaginative play
- Books & Stuffed Animal Combinations – $10-$14 books and $14-$22 stuffed animals
- Builds social skills – nurturing, empathy and compassion; promotes language development, sparks imaginative play