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Vol. LXV, No. 28
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Wednesday, July 13, 2011
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Vol. LXV, No. 28
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Wednesday, July 13, 2011
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 TREASURE TROVE: “Our tie-dyed products are very popular, especially with girls six to 12,” reports John Sherman. “However, recently, three ladies were having lunch outside the store, and kept noticing the tie-dyed bags in the window. After lunch, they came in, and each lady bought a bag!” Mr. Sherman, owner of Learning Express, is shown with a sampling of tie-dyed items, including messenger bag, lunch bag, back pack, and shoulder bag. |
Imaginative toys, magic toys, learning toys, artistic toys, friendly toys, innovative toys, funny toys, puzzling toys — just plain fun toys! These — and more — are all available at Learning Express in the Princeton Shopping Center.
Opened in 1998, the store is an independently owned franchise, one of more than 100 in the U.S., explains owner John Sherman, formerly a marketing executive for Johnson & Johnson.
“The toys are focused on learning and development,” he explains. “We have the latest in toys, games, and crafts, all geared to a wide range of interests: the arts, science, engineering, and outdoors.”
The place is really a treasure trove of fun and fancy. Items are available for babies on up, and many “young at heart” adults find fun things for their own enjoyment. There is a super selection of the most innovative and quality playtoys that can be imagined — all in a child-friendly environment that kids of all ages love to visit. The friendly, knowledgeable staff is always available for information and advice.
Favorite Store
“I really enjoy spending time with customers and helping people find just the right things for their child,” says Mr. Sherman. “It’s great when they come in and say ‘I love this store!’”
And, they certainly do. Two eight-year-old twin girls recently came in with their mother, and had a great time selecting a favorite item. “We love everything here!” they said enthusiastically. A little later, a nine-year-old boy, also a Princeton resident, reported, “This is one of my favorite stores, and I especially like the baseball toss game.”
Many items appeal to a wide age range, notes Mr. Sherman. “The Voodoo doll key rings are hugely popular at $7.99, and are for all ages, including adults.” They’re little ‘mummified’ figures, including ‘Zombie Boy’, ‘Judo Kid’, ‘Prince’, ‘Kung-Fu Kid’, ‘Exam Passer’, ‘Friendship’, and ‘Ultimate Mummy’, among many others.
Other big sellers are the Magnetic Cubes, he adds. “Both kids and adults love them. You can make all kinds of designs and patterns with the multi-colored cubes. They are great for a car, train, or plane trip.”
Somewhat similar are Magna Tiles, magnetic tiles, which can be used to create whatever structure the child’s imagination can envision. They are suitable for ages three and up.
Also popular for travel time — or anytime — are the Scratch & Sketch Art Activity books. Kids can draw and learn at the same time by “scratching” the image with a special wooden stylus. A variety of them include “Under the Sea”, “Fashion Show”, “Batman”, “Rain Forest”, “Glamour Girls”, etc., priced at $12.99.
Colorful Prints
Everyone from babies to teens has fun with the Print Pizazz soft animals, including dog, cat, owl, and elephant. All in a variety of colorful prints, they are safe, even for babies, since the eyes are sewn in.
Ugly Dolls in different sizes continue to be popular, and young children have fun with “Prancers”, a variation of the traditional stick horse, and now including a unicorn.
A large selection of Melissa & Doug items is on display, and these are in great demand now, says Mr. Sherman. The wide range of mostly wooden toys includes dolls, doll houses, cars, trains, “Princess Castle”, barns, Horse Family Farm Train, and “Knight in Shining Armor”; also, drawing pads, finger paints, construction paper, art set and easel, and Bug Catching Game.
“One thing that has changed over the years is that toys for babies and toddlers are much softer now,” points out Mr. Sherman. “There’s not as much wood for the very little ones.”
So, plush toys are everywhere! Wonderful teddy bears, but also little Calico Critters, including diminutive hedge hogs, guinea pigs, and hamsters. Also available are plush hand puppets, little finger puppets, and plush animal bookmarks.
If you prefer the real thing, how about an aquarium with two frisky miniature frogs living within?
There truly is something for every taste at this remarkable store.
Magic Sets
Interest in science can be stimulated by the Wind Power Set, Nature’s Volcano, Fuel Cell, chemistry and water power sets, solar powered vehicles, and human body set, all of which can be constucted for educational fun.
Magic sets never fail to appeal, and sports fans will not be disappointed at Learning Express either. Numerous sports related crafts, games, and equipment are available. “’Baseball Guys’, ‘Football Guys’, ‘Soccer Guys’, and ‘Hockey Guys’ are very popular now,” reports Mr. Sherman. “Everything is in a plastic case, and the kids re-enact the game.”
Dolls never go out of style, and there are dolls of all kinds, as well as doll houses, furniture, and clothing.
While kids will certainly find all of today’s favorite toys (no guns, however, with the exception of the marshmallow shooter!), there is the inevitable “blast from the past”. Yo-yos, hula hoops, marbles, clay, chalk, balls of every kind, Slinkies, kaleidoscopes, beach toys — pail and shovel and sand cupcake and cookie sets — and bubble pipes entrance the kids today, and bring back memories for the parents.
Jewelry Kits
“Some things are very hot for a while, but then fade in popularity, while others stand the test of time” points out Mr. Sherman.
Girls love the jewelry, the jewelry-making kits, and the jewelry boxes. Boys still go for Playmobile and Lego.
And who can resist some of the fun new things? “Smencils” — gourmet-scented pencils made from recycled newspapers in flavors of black cherry and tropic blast. Or Magic Milk Straws, which, when added to regular milk miraculously produce chocolate milk.
The list goes on and on — dart boards, trampolines, puzzles, “bananagrams”, miniature dinosaurs and insect figures, knights and dragons, journals and books ….
In addition, toys can be stored in a special “Birthday Box” set aside for a particular child. Parents or the child make a selection, and the items are kept in the box until the day of the big event.
Prices at Learning Express range from $2 to $100, with everything in between, says Mr. Sherman, who clearly enjoys his role as overseer of all this fun. “I really look forward to the holidays. I’ll soon be going to a toy convention in Nashville, where I’ll select all the holiday items.”
Gift cards and gift wrapping are available, and the store is open Monday through Wednesday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Thursday and Friday until 8, Saturday 10 to 6, Sunday 11 to 5. (609) 921-9110. Website: www.learningexpress.com.