such as gummies, chocolate, and hard candy. The newest addition, the Rainbow Gummy Candy Lab, features a gelatin mixture kids can use to personalize unicorn-, cloud-, and rainbow-shaped gummies while learning about the scientific properties of natural polymers. “It’s a fun, yummy activity that sneaks in some science lessons as well,” says Andrew Quartin, CEO of Thames & Kosmos. “The idea of making your own candy is very appealing to kids, while the educational factor appeals to parents.” There’s a fair amount of customization that goes into making the candy. Kids can choose which flavors they want to make, which colors they want to use, and which molds to use to shape the gummies. They can even add citric acid to turn the gummies sour. “It’s also important to us that we continue to offer enriching scientific content with each kit,” Quartin says. “Our goal is to continue to make science relatable and fun for kids.” NUTRITION AMBITION Parents who are concerned about nutrition don’t need to worry; not all edible toys revolve around sweets and candy. Linda York launched StickyLickits last October as a way to encourage her grandkids to eat healthier snacks. StickyLickits are edible stickers that kids can stick on food and then eat. The nonGMO, vegan, and kosher stickers are free of sugar, peanuts, tree nuts, gluten, soy, and dairy. To use them, kids peel a sticker off the backing, lick it, and stick it on fruits, veggies, or anything edible. They have a slight marshmallow taste when
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you eat them on their own, but when you stick them on food, they basically take on the taste of the fruit or vegetable. StickyLickits melt in your mouth and are meant to promote healthy eating habits. “Kids love stickers. They love peeling them off the backing and they love the satisfaction of placing them on something and having them stick,” says York, CEO of StickyLickits. “Studies from the Cornell Food Lab have shown that a child will choose a piece of fruit with a paper sticker of a favorite animated character on it over a sweet dessert, so the opportunity was there to make edible stickers.” SitckyLickits are available online at stickylickits.com in several themes, including SpongeBob SquarePants, Paw Patrol, and StickyLickits originals featuring silly faces and fun doodles. Each pack contains 30 unique, edible stickers for $4.99. SAFETY FIRST Because kids are ingesting the toys, do parents need to worry more about safety? In short, no, not if it’s from a trusted brand. “Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) testing does a great job covering this, and parents need to look for those labels,” says Christine Osborne, founder of specialty toy store chain Wonder Works. All toys designed for kids ages 12 or younger are subject to a set of federal safety rules and
THE TOY BOOK | MARCH/APRIL 2019 | toybook.com
still need to pass the CPSC’s standards. The Toy Association’s Adrienne Appell says, “As with all toys, parents should follow the age grading on the toy box, read all instructions carefully, and teach their kids how to properly and safely use the toy.” Whether kids are more of an Alton Brown or a Duff Goldman, a Rachael Ray or a Giada De Laurentiis, there are so many different recipes for them to spice up their toy rooms this year. And the next time someone lectures you on playing with your food, or your toys for that matter, you can tell them to eat it. »