Nini Amici Wooden Toy Set lets you make your own animals

Nini Amici Toy Details

Wooden toys are way better than the plastic ones that are widely available. Design-wise, such wooden toy sets are more visually appealing with their classic look and feel.

The fact that wooden toys are sustainable and environmentally safe is a plus. They are more durable and are also safer for children. They say wooden toys are best for your child but remember that not all toys are made equal. Quality toys are hard to come by, so the search for them won’t be over until you no longer have a young kid at home.

Designer: Dingwerkstatt

Nini Amici Toys

NINI AMICI is a new set of small toys made of elmwood. There are only ten pieces, but the toy set is modular, so you can make more toys. It uses a magnetic connector system to attach different parts to make different animals.

Three base bodies can work as the tail, head, or hump. Kids can make most of the known animals, but you can also create new ones depending on the children’s imaginative play. You can call the pieces that connect with magnets as NINIs.

Nini Amici Wooden Toys

What’s more remarkable about the NINIs are the people who make them. The toys are made in Upper Franconia, Germany in a workshop for people with mental and physical disabilities. They are fairly produced and special because of the special people who make them.

The wooden toy set is ideal for people ages three and above. Even the adults will find joy in creating and playing with the NINIs. Make sure kids under 36 months don’t play with them as there are small parts that can be swallowed. The wooden parts have magnets, so you should also keep them away from people who wear defibrillators or pacemakers.

Nini Amici Wooden Toy Set

These wooden toys are very appealing with a minimalist aesthetic. We can consider them as user-configurable as it is up to the kids what animals they want to make. Looking at the suggestions in the booklet, we can see you can make a cat, a dinosaur, an alpaca, a goat, a camel, a dog, a giraffe, an elephant, and a goat.

Wooden Toys Nini Amici Set

A NINI AMICI WOODEN ANIMAL SET costs €85.00 which is about $93. Each wooden toy set contains three basic bodies in different sizes, seven body parts with magnets, one storage bag, and one booklet that shows examples. You can purchase from HERE. The only limit is your imagination, so go on and be creative.

Nini Amici Set

Nini Amici Set Design

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Floof for People is a fluffy cave you can snuggle into to escape the world

No one is too old to have a comfortable place to escape worries and anxieties, even if you sometimes need to be a contortionist to fit inside.

Most of us had something like a fortress of solitude when we were kids, whether they were made from stacked boxes, piles of pillows, or sheets held up by ropes. As we grew older, we gave up those sacred places in exchange for a simple blanket and pillow. There is no reason not to have that comfortable and comforting space again, no matter how young or old you are. That’s the very tempting proposition that these “cuddle caves” are making if you don’t mind looking like a human inari sushi in the process. Then again, you’re trying to escape from the world’s judging eyes anyway.

Designer: Rose (Floofcouture)

There is almost nothing more comforting than being wrapped with something soft and warm, be it a hug or smooth fabric with soft, thick filling inside. That’s why we dive into our beds or duck under covers after especially exhausting days. Our bodies and brains seem to be hardwired to find such physical sensations soothing and relaxing, perhaps reminding us of human companionship and love.

Of course, we don’t always have access to hugs, even from our pets, but we can always have access to a Floof. Initially designed for our furred friends, the designer has created two human-sized Floofs for the perfect at-home getaway, even for just a few hours. Simply dive in, alone or with a friend or a snack, and curl up into a hopefully comfortable position to while the day away.

Made from high-end faux fur and stuffed with thick filling inside, these “escape dens” offer a safe and comfortable zone to chill after a day’s work or even get rid of a hangover during the weekend. Handsewn with Brazilian waxed cord, each Floof for People comes out as a unique work of art that doubles as a floor pillow, whether you’re inside or out. It’s also made to vegan specifications so that it can be used by any and all people.

The Floofs are actually made with kids in mind, but the product seems to be more popular with adults. It only goes to show that you’re never too old for a cuddle, and now you don’t have to feel embarrassed about it because you can have your cuddle completely on your own.

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TOYNIA Toybox lets kids play independently and teach them how to organize

TOYNIA Toy Storage Box

Only parents of young kids will know the challenge of having an organized home. No, we’re not just talking about the need for an organized playroom but the whole house. Toys are everywhere, whether in the living room, bedroom, kitchen, or even the bathroom.

Young kids can be a reason for a disorganized home, but parents have no excuse because there are available solutions. Keeping a tidy home is essential, especially during these stressful days brought upon by the pandemic. The TOYNIA is an intelligent solution as it doesn’t only help organize toys, it also serves as a station for kids to play.

Designers: Yeonhong Kim, Joohyung Park, Seoyeoung Kim, and Minsu Kim

TOYNIA

The TOYNIA TOYBOX is a toy storage box for children to play and organize with. Kids can learn how to manage their toys and trinkets on their own with this furniture item. It’s not too early for the children to develop the habit of organizing. But, as early as now, it’s the parents’ responsibility to teach them.

Of course, adults need to model the proper behavior, but we understand that when things are messy, parents tend to stash things away. With the TOYNIA, even you or the kid’s caretaker will be inspired to keep things organized. The Toynia toy organizer offers a unique experience for the kids to learn effective organizing habits. There are no set rules for organization as the kids can organize their stuff intuitively on the Toynia.TOYNIA Toy Storage Box Design Details

Product design for children appears easy, but it’s actually complicated because we don’t know how kids think these days. We just know kids need to feel satisfied and their physical and cognitive needs and abilities change. In many ways, children are like adults, but we need to deal with them differently. Make them feel happy, confident, and satisfied with their skills by letting them decide on how to keep their things and space.

You can model values and teach habits but not impose. With the Toynia, kids will also be inspired to tidy up their space because it appears to be a play station. Toynia can be for the kids to play games and create games. It is a safe space where they can explore and be on their own. Children’s imagination is expansive and can go wild, so kids’ product design must be able to adapt to their needs.

TOYNIA Toy Storage Concept

TOYNIA Toy Storage

This TOYNIA toy storage box for children includes a pull-out chair that also functions as storage. It features a handle that also works as a backrest. You can store it under the desk when not in use. The desk features a shelf on top where kids can put their toys. Children are free to play on the desk and put their toys and let their imagination work.

TOYNIA Toy Storage Box Design Sample

​​​​​​​TOYNIA lets the children tidy up without realizing it is part of play. It can be an interesting and exciting organizing experience because it doesn’t feel like a chore. Children are smart so we must not underestimate them. You will be surprised at how kids process organization, play, and learning, and this TOYNIA will show you how.

TOYNIA Toy Storage Concept Sketch

TOYNIA Toy Storage Box Design

TOYNIA Toy Storage Box Design Images

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Hot Wheels Car Rolling Suitcase Is Road Trip Ready

Because why not get your child actually excited to pack and tote their luggage around on vacation, MaxToy teamed up with Mattel to create this officially licensed Hot Wheels Night Shifter rolling suitcase (affiliate link). The case features a hard shell in the form of a Hot Wheels car, complete with wheels, exposed engine, and – what are those coming out the back – jet engines?

The suitcase also has a durable aluminum frame, retractable handle, and 3-wheel rollers so kids can push or pull the bag with ease, even over curbs or up stairs. That’s a good thing, too, because I’m not pulling my children’s luggage for them. They didn’t even offer to chip in to help pay for this vacation!

Honestly, I kind of want one for myself. Sure, it’s children’s sized, but I pack light for vacation anyways. I usually just bring enough underwear for ten days and buy any other clothes I need when I get where I’m going. What can I say? I’m a carefree spirit. Hey, can I borrow a clean shirt?

[via DudeIWantThat]

Shengguo Kindergarten school concept design is based on a pretty flower that sheds

Shengguo Kindergarten Guangzhou China DIKA Architectural Design Center

When you take nature as inspiration for art or architecture, you can be certain it will evoke many feelings, ideas, and thoughts. Such is the case with the Shengguo Kindergarten concept design. The proposal by Dika Design is based on a dandelion flower but not in its blooming state.

A dandelion losing its seeds is the inspiration for this kindergarten complex but the result is one beautiful creation. As a dandelion symbolizes love, hope, and happiness, the Shengguo Kindergarten is expected to offer the same. The design team worked on the school’s architectural plan for a 7,300 sqm establishment and it’s worth a look.

Designer: Dika Design

Shengguo Kindergarten Guangzhou China DIKA Architectural Design Center

The Shengguo Kindergarten is set to be a full-time bilingual private school in China. Specifically, it will be built in Guangzhou, Yushan. Looking at the photos, we see a circular complex that stands as a memorable landmark in the future on this side of the world. It looks as if a flower peeling off or losing seeds and flowing with the wind.

The school is mainly for preschoolers’ mental and physical development. It is aimed to be a place for children to be on their own and be able to release their nature. The place is meant to be an environment for the kids to enhance self-growth. There are plenty of spaces both indoor and outdoor for children to explore.

Shengguo Kindergarten Guangzhou China DIKA Architectural Design Center

The kids will get to “flourish” at the Shengguo Kindergarten. A great curriculum isn’t just enough. It’s also important the children are in a place where they can be free, safe, and secure. The learning complex is meant to be everything to the kids, teachers, and parents. It will be one flexible establishment that will teach children how to be more curious and learn to challenge themselves.

Kids will be encouraged to think outside the box. It’s not just like any ordinary school with boring corridors, hallways, and classrooms. Every part of the complex is meant to spark genuine interest and curiosity. It’s designed to break away from the usual monotonous elements of common schools. It will have recreational areas and classrooms alternating or scattered throughout the complex.

Shengguo Kindergarten Guangzhou China DIKA Architectural Design Center

Shengguo Kindergarten Guangzhou China DIKA Architectural Design Center

The children will get to have authentic spatial experiences. They are offered flexibility when it comes to the mental, cognitive, and physical with every part of the Shengguo Kindergarten that is well-thought of. You will see several flexible curves all over but you can be assured of durability. The use of dandelion as inspiration goes beyond aesthetics. The flower shows vitality but time will come it will need to let go of its wings or seeds. Like the flower, the school will someday let go of children into the world after years of nurturing.

Shengguo Kindergarten Guangzhou China DIKA Architectural Design Center

Led by architect Wang Junbao of Dika Design, his team is composed of several designers that focus on landscape architecture, construction drawings, rendering, photography, and brand design. The proposal mentioned implementing reinforced concrete for the main structure. It’s supported by a steel structure frame, producing flexible curves. There are proper areas to meet several requirements including sun protection, moisture resistance, typhoon resilience, and good ventilation. The Shengguo Kindergarten’s building area is 5,580 sqm.

Shengguo Kindergarten Guangzhou China DIKA Architectural Design Center

Shengguo Kindergarten Guangzhou China DIKA Architectural Design Center

Shengguo Kindergarten Guangzhou China DIKA Architectural Design Center

Shengguo Kindergarten Guangzhou China DIKA Architectural Design Center

Shengguo Kindergarten Guangzhou China DIKA Architectural Design Center

Shengguo Kindergarten Guangzhou China DIKA Architectural Design Center

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SEGA Genesis plushie lets you throw your controller without feeling guilty

Gamer tantrums are well-known, especially when they get destructive, but this plush toy recreation of a popular console offers a safer outlet when lashing out.

Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo might be the last remaining contenders in the console wars, but there was a time when they weren’t the only ones in that arena. Before Sega was reduced to being a game publisher, it was also making consoles that eventually became icons in gaming history. The SEGA Genesis is one of those historical gaming machines, and one shop is creating a lovable and huggable version that recreates more than just the console’s form.

Designer: kidrobot

You probably wouldn’t be hugging this console-shaped plush toy in bed or on the couch. Or probably you would if you were feeling a bit melancholic and pining for the good old days of gaming. Or you might want this soft and cushy SEGA Genesis beside you when you’re mashing buttons on your Xbox, PlayStation, or Switch. That way, when you get the urge to throw the controller in frustration, you can simply grab this plush and throw that instead. It’s therapeutic and safe to boot!

This SEGA Genesis Interactive Plush tries to recreate the iconic console faithfully in both shape and size, though it’s admittedly a bit larger than the actual machine. That does mean it’s not exactly fit for comfy hugging, but it won’t take up too much space on your couch or bed either. The plushie also tries to be as faithful to the small design details, from the buttons and indicators to the warning labels at the bottom.

The “interactive” part comes from the pieces that you can remove or “plug” into the console. Rather than just a single plushie, this SEGA Genesis comfort toy is actually made up of three parts. There’s a game cartridge that has Sonic the Hedgehog’s face emblazoned on it. There’s also a controller that can connect and disconnect at will. That could come in handy when you want to throw the controller without the console flying along with it.

This 12-inch SEGA Genesis Interactive Plush is a cute and fun nod to an age long gone. Of course, even those who never even held a SEGA Genesis might still appreciate having something of a reminder of that past, especially one that you only have to wash to keep it clean and usable.

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Yoto Mini Player can be your kids’ darling companion for every adventure

Kids shouldn’t be given screens whenever they have tantrums. Meltdowns are a parent’s nightmare so to avoid such, more often than not, most parents just bring out their phones or tablets to play videos for the kids to watch. Perhaps you have promised yourself you’d never let your baby use a gadget before he’s two but like many parents we know, you’ve already given into the temptation which can very well be a convenience for some adults.

For a change, why not do something different. Instead of screen time, set a music time where the children can be on their own to just listen to music. Kids are visual but they can also be looking for sensory activities. The Yoto Mini is a small audio player that gives kids the experience of having something like a CD player from your youth. This device offers audio playback of kid-friendly tunes to entertain the youngsters.

Designer: Pentagram

Yoto Mini Design

Sure, there’s Spotify and YouTube but before the world gets really modernized and taken over by robots and computers, let’s allow the children experience regular things like we used to. The Yoto Mini is a little companion for your little one that will be useful, especially during long trips or boring hours. It looks like a toy but it packs a powerful audio experience the children can appreciate.

The Yoto Mini is a follow-up to the Yoto Player introduced by Pentagram. The latter is a design studio that offers more personalized service as the company owners are also the designers themselves. Pentagram has worked on the Yoto Play to be smaller and more affordable. The device also uses the Yoto platform that is now more accessible by a wider audience, specifically, the kids.

Yoto Mini Player Packaging

Yoto Mini Yoto Player Price

This Yoto Mini appears to be the same shape and color as an older iPhone charger—the square one. It can be protected by a colored silicone jacket with a lanyard so the kids can bring them anywhere. With the cover, the Yoto Mini is protected, safe, and made more portable as it is easier to carry.

Yoto Mini Features

In front, there are two kid-friendly knobs, speaker holes, plus a small round screen called a pixel display that shows the time and icons. It offers Bluetooth connectivity, USB-C, and a clock. This one doesn’t take voice commands as there are no mics or a camera. It’s purely an audio player so you are guaranteed less distraction.

Yoto Mini

No ads will be served so there really is no unnecessary airtime. Kids will simply hear songs or audiobooks that are age-appropriate. The children can also use the Yoto Mini to meditate, relax, learn, or get to sleep. Just insert a card of your choice to listen to as there are plenty of choices. The icons on the pixel display will change.  You can choose the track from an album by turning on the right knob. The left button changes the volume level.

Yoto Mini Player

If we had the Walkman and the CD players from decades ago, your kids have the Yoto Mini. They can also listen to the Yoto Daily podcast where they can learn new facts, hear jokes, and play games. Just press on the right knob to change the settings.

Yoto Mini Yoto Player

Yoto Mini Concept Design Parts

Yoto Mini Player Design

Yoto Mini Concept Design

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This concept smart reading board brings physical books with “digital” components

The running joke that even babies know how to operate gadgets is actually not just a joke anymore. We’ve seen really young kids use smartphones and tablets intuitively (even as their grandparents or even parents struggle at times). And there are also those that try to swipe when you place an actual book in their hands.

Even with the advances in technology when it comes to books and learning, there are still a lot of studies that say that the actual, physical book is the best way for younger kids to learn. Whether you still believe that or not depends most likely on how you yourself started to learn to read when you were young or how you prefer reading now. But a designer from China has created a concept design that somehow tries to combine the idea of digital but with a paper-based device.

Designer: DaPengPeng

The design is called Genie Books, which is a bit of a generic name that you’ll find out when you Google it. It is dubbed as a “smart reading board” as it is paper-based as previously mentioned but also comes with a few digital components and content. So basically it’s kind of a tablet that looks like a book or rather a book that looks like a tablet, depending on how you look at it. You’re supposed to click on the paper card and the other, additional content will be triggered.

Based on the design idea, you can read the book on its own as the cards have illustrations and text already. But when you insert it into the device, it will most likely get things like a storyteller to read with the child, sound effects, maybe even some animation. It looks like you can swap different boards into the device so what you will probably buy more of later on are the different storybooks. It’s not really clear what other additional things the soundboard can bring other than it has things like a sound card, a “thinking logic card”, and a 20×12 LED light to bring additional brightness to the device and maybe capture the children’s interest more.

The design seems to be simple and basic enough, just like a tablet but with a wider size and it will not be able to do tablet things. The renders also show bright, interesting colors as they would appeal to children. It’s designed for kids from 0-6 years old but it’s most likely the younger ones that will be able to use it as the older ones may prefer to use actual tablets that can do other things.

I’m not a parent myself but I do collect a lot of children’s books and read them to my friends’ kids (okay, mostly I read them to myself) so it’s something that may interest me. It really depends on what kind of story and what other goodies it can bring, aside from the actual story itself.

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This Tamagotchi-like virtual pet is a fun and gross stress reliever (or life lesson for kids)

If you say the word “tamagotchi” to a room full of people, the way they react to it an indicator of which generation they belong to. Those with a blank or confused look are probably born in the 2000s while those who give nostalgic sighs were already kids (or adults) in the late 90s. Countless brands are trying to replicate the success of this virtual pet phenomenon (including its maker Bandai itself) and we have the latest and maybe grossest contender yet.

The Punirunes Touchable Digital Pet is the latest in the line of those trying to create virtual pets for a generation that is already very familiar with the idea of taking care of digital creatures. But what makes it different from all the others that are currently in the market is also what makes it a bit more interesting and also creepy. It has a hole where you can put a finger in and touch your pet or make sure it’s still not dead or something. On paper it already sounds yucky but if you like more tactile kinds of toys or stress relievers, then it’s something that probably sparked your interest.

Deisgner: Takara Tomy

Your Punirune is a pet within an electronic case and you will need to take care of it like you would any virtual pet by feeding it, giving it a bath, changing its diapers, playing with it, etc. You can actually get them through three different stages: baby puni, kids puni, and adult puni. With the third stage, that’s when it probably gets the creepiest. That’s because the toy lets you stick your finger into the whole and pet your puni. It translates it into an animated finger shown on the LCD screen.

Some people enjoy touching squishy things as their tactile stress relievers like stress balls and other small toys while some are grossed out by it. If you’re the former then this may be something you’ll enjoy. And what you touch actually is reflected by the status of your pet. For example, if what you touch is kind of hot, then it means your baby may be sick and if it’s wet, it may be sweating. And if what you touch seems like a dead pet, then maybe you haven’t been taking care of it for the past weeks.

Would you really want to be touching an adult puni though? The goal for these virtual pets is not just to keep them clean and well-fed but to actually grow them so it can be cute when they’re a baby or even a kid but a grown-up creature that you’re squishing with your finger? That may be something else. Whether it’s funny or disgusting depends on where your mind takes you. Oh, and since these Tamagotchi-like pets go through a life cycle, expect the pet to eventually die and then get reborn as a baby. Good luck trying to explain that to your kid. Or maybe that’s part of the lesson that’s why you’re getting them a Punirine.

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Tesla’s Kid-Size Cyberquad ATV: For Your Mini Musk

Released just in time for Christmas (but not guaranteed for Christmas delivery), Tesla is selling a child-sized version of the Cyberquad it introduced alongside the Cybertruck’s November 2019 unveiling. You know, because why should adults get to have all the fun? Wait – I’m supposed to be having fun? Something has gone horribly wrong.

Built by Radio Flyer for Tesla, the pint-sized ATV costs $1,900 and features a full steel frame, cushioned seat, adjustable suspension with rear disk brakes, and LED light bars. Powered by a lithium-ion battery, the Cyberquad has a 15-mile range at speeds up to 10 MPH or restricted to 5 MPH if you don’t trust your kids like me. I swear, I can’t turn my back for one second without another fire getting started.

Unfortunately for anybody hoping to catch a ride on their kid’s new Cyberquad, the max weight capacity is 150 lbs., meaning my kids won’t be getting one, just like I never got the Power Wheels Jeep I always wanted growing up. Which, just for the record, wasn’t the character-building exercise my dad led me to believe it would be.

[via Engadget]