“I’m so excited; It is loopy how excited I’m,” Rachel Accurso (aka Ms. Rachel) exclaims as we start our interview about her brand-new toy line. Saying she seems like Santa Claus, Accurso goes on to say, “I hold having visions of myself simply giving them out to individuals. I am so excited to share them.”
Teaming up with SpinMaster and Melissa & Doug, Accurso has answered followers’ calls with this toy line.
Spin Grasp Corp. / Mother and father
“We have put a variety of care and thought and love and a lot element into the toys to make them actually particular,” Accurso says.
These toys are particular, created with each youngsters and fogeys in thoughts. Mother and father acquired a sneak peek at a few of the toys heading to retailer cabinets and on-line retailers this fall. Learn on to be taught extra about them and discover out which one is Ms. Rachel’s favourite.
What Ought to Mother and father Look For in a Toy?
There are such a lot of toys available on the market that it could be onerous for folks, caregivers, or anybody shopping for a present to determine which toy is finest.
“One thing that grows with a toddler; one thing they don’t seem to be going to play with for 2 days after which not wish to play with anymore; one thing that conjures up creativeness and creativity; one thing that you should utilize in a number of methods,” describes Accurso.
It is with these tentpoles that Accurso helped develop her personal line of toys. However that does not imply there aren’t different kinds of toys she says are priceless for kids.
“I really like Play-Doh, kinetic sand, issues that children may be inventive with, and it by no means will get previous, identical to traditional, toy dolls,” Accurso says. “Dolls are so great. You are able to do a lot with a doll.”
All About Ms. Rachel’s New Toys
There are 10 brand-new toys that embrace blocks, plushies, puzzles, and a rattle. They’re all designed by Accurso herself, together with developmental specialists.
“She’s really like one other toy designer,” explains Laura Henderson, Government Vice President and World Head of Early Studying at Spin Grasp. “She has sat alongside our designers and sat via each element.”
The objective of the entire toys is to assist littles all through their ages and levels, from 3 months to three+ years. In fact, they’re all tied again to songs, characters, and themes from Ms. Rachel’s wildly in style Songs for Littles YouTube Channel.
“It is so vital to me that the toys be inexpensive, and so they’re very open-ended. They will develop with the kid,” Accurso explains. “We all the time need all the things with Ms. Rachel to be useful, and that is one of many whys we return to love, is this useful for kids? Is it going to encourage studying and creativity?”
Wooden Studying Blocks
Spin Grasp Corp.
The primary toy Accurso highlights are the wooden studying blocks.
“There are such a lot of methods to play with them—it isn’t simply blocks,” Accurso says.
These blocks embrace letters, numbers, photos, and colours. However additionally they embrace 4 recreation blocks that present animals, physique elements, feelings, and actions. That, Accurso says, was one in all her concepts.
“A number of the blocks you’ll be able to play a primary recreation with. So that you roll the block after which it says to wiggle, and also you wiggle. You are getting some gross motor expertise,” she explains as she demonstrates play with the blocks. “This [block] teaches the place totally different elements of your physique are. So you’ll be able to contact your eyes. There is a feeling block, and it is so vital that children can establish their feelings. Figuring out them is without doubt one of the first steps to being in a position to regulate them and say what is going on on.”
Ms. Rachel Shock Studying Field
Spin Grasp Corp.
One other toy Accurso personally had a hand in is the Shock Studying Field. There are 4 totally different interactive scenes on the edges of the field, one thing Accurso considered herself. It additionally comes with six equipment that infants can play with together with a bear, bunny, carrot, bus, bubble gum, and a shawl. Mother and father can use the equipment to create scenes.
“Bunny can encourage a variety of language. [Bunny can go] up, up, up and down the slide, and Bunny’s so soiled she must take a shower, and you set Bunny within the tub,” Accurso demonstrates.
The toys are multi-functional as nicely. Take the peekaboo scarf that comes with the Shock Studying Field. Accurso exhibits us how not solely are you able to play peekaboo with it, however then it will also be a washcloth to scrub the bear with.
“So, we’re serving to the youngsters think about that one thing is a number of issues, and simply extending the play,” Accurso explains.
Accurso and her workforce will probably be incorporating the Shock Studying Field into episodes of her present as nicely. On October 1, they’re going to be releasing the primary play-along episode so littles and their households can do precisely as Ms. Rachel is doing.
Ms. Rachel Communicate & Sing Doll
Once I spoke with Accurso final December, she stated they’d gotten so many requests for a Ms. Rachel doll. That is now a actuality.
“It is simply a kind of pinch-me moments the place you are like, it is a doll,” Accurso exclaims. “It is simply actually cool.”
The Ms. Rachel doll sings all of the songs that kiddos know and love. However the doll can be inspirational for teenagers and adults with what it says.
“She says, ‘You are able to do onerous issues,’ which is one thing I take into consideration on daily basis,” Accurso explains. “She says to take a deep breath. One time I used to be simply enjoying with it, and I used to be like, oh my god, I do must take a deep breath. So I really like that. And she or he says, You are so beloved—issues that I would like youngsters to listen to.”
Accurso admits the Ms. Rachel doll is her favourite among the many new toys, “They did such a pleasant job.”
She highlights the standard of the sound that makes it her favourite.
“I hope she brings some consolation to youngsters,” Accurso says. “I do know there are a variety of moments the place youngsters have struggles and [trouble] sleeping alone at evening. So, I simply hope the doll is useful.”
The Different Toys
Spin Grasp Corp.
Accurso additionally confirmed us the six-piece Picket Tune Puzzle, developed with in style toy model Melissa & Canine. It performs a few of Ms. Rachel’s in style songs.
“Once I was searching for my son, I simply put in Melissa & Doug to the search and see what got here up, as a result of I knew I trusted their model. I beloved all of the fake play the model conjures up. And so to have Melissa and Doug puzzle, it is simply so cool,” Accurso says.
A number of the different toys embrace a Herbie Huggable Lovey, Hop Little Bunnies Gentle Rattle, a Herbie Doll, a Sensory Take-Alongside Toy, a Sensory Studying Farm, and a Tummy Time Exercise Bus.
These Toys Are for Mother and father Too
A giant a part of Ms. Rachel’s toys is for folks or caregivers to work together and play together with the kid. However typically, mother and father and caregivers might discover it tough to be taught play with their youngsters—particularly when they’re new to elevating a toddler.
Nonetheless, every of Ms. Rachel’s toys comes with a studying card for inspiration.
“They will lay out for folks what expertise their youngsters develop by enjoying with the toys. Then they provide play prompts on the again, that are like just a little blueprint for folks, concepts on use the toy, and get began. Every card has a QR code that hyperlinks to a video that Rachel and Aron have created that helps encourage mother and father,” Henderson explains.
When and How Can I Get Ms. Rachel Toys?
You will get a primary take a look at Ms. Rachel’s line of toys proper now on Ms. Rachel’s web site. They are going to be accessible for presale on-line on the main retailers (Walmart, Goal, and Amazon) beginning September 15.
You will not have to attend very lengthy after that to get your littles’ palms on them. The toys will probably be accessible throughout the nation each in shops and on-line on September 29.