Toy of the Month

Look out! Summer is quickly approaching, and it is getting HOT outside! We all know that going swimming is one of the best and most popular ways to cool off, and it is incredibly fun. But, what if I told you there’s a way to make playing in the water MORE FUN?!?! Allow me to introduce the SkimBe by Waterline Toys! 

This super cool frisbee-like toy doesn’t just fly through the air - it flies across any surface of  water! And we mean ANY surface of water - even SNOW! Find a wide, flat surface of snow or ice and launch the SkimBe! No water in sight? No problem, because the SkimBe will even glide across fields of grass! Whether it be at the pool, the snowy mountains, or your front yard - you can skim the SkimBe with your friends any time of the year! 

Gliding the SkimBe from person to person is fun, but it’s even more fun to get creative with the SkimBe! Glide it up ramps, across icy driveways, through hoops, your choice! If you wanna get really crazy, you can even use it as a jumbo hockey puck. 

Waterline Toys even released a thrilling game for those who want an extra challenge: Skim to the Pin! Skim to the Pin includes two SkimBes and a floating pin in one package. The goal of the game is for the players to toss their SkimBe as close to the pin as possible! Not only is this game incredibly fun, it adds a whole new dimension of play to this innovative outdoor toy!

We think that the SkimBe is a great choice for outdoor play, and it seems many others agree! The SkimBe has won several toy awards including ASTRA’s Best Toy of 2021, the Mom’s Choice Award Honoring Excellence, and many more! If you’re looking for a fun, safe, and creative way to get active this summer - or any other season - grab a SkimBe! #howdoyouskimbe #wheredoyouskimbe

Let me tell you a little bit about one of the best fidget toys out there: Tangles! We love toys here at The Red Balloon and we’ve been huge fans of fidget toys lately. At times when you just need a good toy to twist, snap or fidget with - the Tangle has got you covered! 

Tangles are twisty, turny, squirmy toys that are perfect for fidgeting. Each Tangle is made up of 18 multicolored segments that all snap together. Just move the segments around, and they move fluidly in your hand! You can even take the segments apart, and rearrange them in any color order you want; if you want to get REALLY twisted, you can even combine multiple Tangles together! 

The Tangle was invented in the year 1981 by sculptor, inventor, and CEO of Tangle Creations, Richard X Zawitz. His first Tangle prototype was originally meant to be an art puzzle, not a fidget toy. Some of his users reported feeling calm while playing with the puzzle, and that it helped them stay focused; this inspired Zawitz to switch gears!

For the next 40 years, Zawitz would work to refine and perfect the Tangle so that it could help relax, entertain, focus, and spark creativity in those who played with it. Tangles have been and remain some of the most popular fidget toys on the market for kids, adults, and individuals with sensory challenges.

The Tangle team is always innovating and pushing the boundaries of the Tangle! Just recently, they released new Aquatic Pet Tangles, as well as Tangles covered in Fuzz! We’re so excited to have them back in stock - and just in time for Easter too! So if you’re looking for a fun & inexpensive toy for an Easter gift, check out Tangles!

Here at The Red Balloon Toy Store, we love unique toys that really stand out from the rest; and let me tell you, Love Pearls really stand out! With these kits, you get to assemble a necklace by harvesting your very own pearl from a real oyster! 

The Love Pearl kits come with the necklace pendant of your choice and a can containing a freshwater oyster; inside the oyster, a beautiful treasure waiting to be uncovered. The pearls come in many different shapes and colors, making each precious pearl, one-of-a-kind. Fun Fact: The different colors of pearls have different meanings attached to them.

Did you know that pearls are one of the most scarce materials in our universe - even more than diamonds?!? That’s because pearls can only be made here on earth, by our very own mollusks! 

But how DO oysters make pearls?  

Well, the creation of a pearl begins when a little piece of material - an irritant - slips in-between an oyster’s shell and mantle. It’s a lot like getting a splinter, but for mollusks. As this irritant stays within the oyster, it begins to collect coats of nacre. (Nacre is the shiny material that lines the inside of an oyster’s shell.) As these layers build up and up, the pearl grows bigger and bigger! After a few months - or YEARS - the pearl is ready to be harvested!

If you want to see this process up close, grab a Love Pearl kit! There’s a unique pearl waiting for you or a loved one to discover and adorn!

We’ve always been big fans of toys that keep our minds and hands busy, and no toy does that better than Crazy Aaron’s Thinking Putty! Don’t be mistaken, Thinking Putty is not slime or play-doh, it’s so much more! Stretchy, bouncy, silicone-based, and beaming with bright colors, Thinking Putty provides hours of fun putty play and fidgeting. And best of all - it never dries out!

So, why do we love Crazy Aaron’s Thinking Putty so much? We love fidget toys, and this putty is perfect for keeping your hands and senses busy while working or relaxing. Thinking Putty doesn’t leave a sticky or slimy residue on your hands, which is a nice bonus! Plus, Crazy Aaron’s products aren’t just for kids; adults, teens, and kids over 3 years can all enjoy the putty’s fidget fun.   

And who could forget all the crazy colors and types of putty? Thanks to his creativity and passion, Crazy Aaron always pushes the boundaries of what putty can do. From putty that changes color, to putty that gets tougher as you play, each kind of Thinking Putty is guaranteed to provide a unique play experience. What else can Crazy Aaron’s Thinking Putty do? Glow, sparkle, shift color, smell, stick to magnets and more! (My personal favorite are the putties that double as fun hide-and-seek games!)

Aaron “Crazy Aaron” Muderick is the wonderful kid-at-heart behind Crazy Aaron’s Thinking Putty. Aaron’s putty journey began when he got his first desk job, where he fidgeted as he worked. He amassed many small toys during this time, including putty. This inspired Aaron to create his own little putty side-hustle; he started selling his own putty to his coworkers, then selling it out of his car at craft shows, eventually leading him to form his own company! 

Nowadays, Crazy Aaron’s Thinking Putty remains one of the most beloved and well-known U.S. fidget toy companies. They proudly employ over 800 individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities, providing a creative and wholesome work environment for all. Aaron’s putty has been winning various awards from the year 2013 to now; just last year, Crazy Aaron’s Thinking Putty was named ASTRA's 2021 Best Fidget Toys for Kids! We’re honored to have such a great brand and great toy in our store!

 Be sure to check out Crazy Aaron's on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok!