A recent study indicates that the toy industry has dramatically improved the play value of their products over the last 10 years, highlighted opportunities for improvement both overall and in specific toy categories, and probed parents’ experiences with holiday supply chain issues. Titled “US Toy Industry Play Value Report Card: After the Toys Come Home”, the survey was fielded by play expert and founder of Funosophy, Nancy Zwiers, and the Michael Cohen Group, a prominent New York-based research firm. The Michael Cohen Group also conducted the original 2011 study of the same name. Respondents to both studies include a statistically valid, nationally representative sample of parents of children between the ages of two and six years old. Participants were asked to share their thoughts on the amount of time their children played with different types of toys in the two weeks following Christmas.

Premium pet specialty brand Natural Balance Pet Foods, Inc. (Natural Balance), a pioneer in natural pet food and Limited Ingredient Diets, will showcase their most significant revitalization of the brand at Global Pet Expo in Orlando.

Dr. Seuss Enterprises (DSE) and Random House Children’s Books (RHCB) will launch Seuss Studios, a line of books for early readers by new and emerging authors and illustrators who will create original stories inspired by Ted Geisel’s (aka Dr. Seuss) unpublished sketches and illustrations. The news was announced on, Dr. Seuss’s birthday, by DSE and RHCB.

Preschoolers across the U.S. and Canada can now “unwrap” a world of surprise and adventure as toys inspired by the hit series Pikwik Pack launch today at mass retailers Walmart, Target and Amazon. Produced by animation powerhouse Guru Studio, Pikwik Pack follows four adorable animal friends as they work together to deliver magical surprises to the kind citizens of their bustling town.

JAKKS Pacific, Inc. (NASDAQ: JAKK) has revealed a partnership with European based toy innovation company Wow! Stuff, to launch “the first kid creator movie making toys brand, MovieMates”.” The announcement was made by JAKKS SVP of Marketing, Craig Drobis.

The Toy Foundation (TTF) is calling on the global play community to bring comfort and aid to the thousands of children and families impacted by the large-scale humanitarian crisis currently unfolding in the Ukraine. In response, TTF has partnered with toy industry veteran Alan Hassenfeld and the Hassenfeld Family Foundation to spearhead an industry-wide relief effort. Hassenfeld has pledged to donate $1 million and is challenging others throughout the play industry to join him in making an impactful contribution.