Kid Craze

 

In the last several months, our editors have combed the aisles of specialty food, gift, and housewares shows across the country and internationally. One of the biggest trends we have seen on both the food and hard goods sides of the biz has been products catering to kids--like the products featured here:

Kids in the Kitchen

 

Give 'em a Head Start

Head Chefs are fun kitchen tools for kids. Available from Harold Import Company, these whimsical whisks, fun spoons, colorful spatulas and more are made of food-grade silicone, and feature bendable arms and legs. Each piece has a suggested retail price of $9.99. The collection is dishwasher safe. For more information, visit www.haroldimport.com.

 

Curious Kids Get Cooking

 

Tailor Made Products, Inc. will launch its first national brand at the IH +HS, when it unveils its Curious Chef line of kitchen utensils created for children ages 3 to 10 years old. The line, which consists of both hard and soft goods, includes more than 100 kitchen items—like the cookie cutter featured here. Functional, fun and colorful, the entire Curious Chef line was developed with the child in mind. The kitchen tools are scaled back in size, dishwasher safe, and offer unique safety features, as well as playful soft-touch button designs on the handles. The suggested retail price for the Curious Chef line ranges from $3.00 to $50.00 and is available in open stock, in gift sets, and in a series of modular sets. For more information, visit www.curious-chef.com.

 

Kids Cook With Kinderkitchen   

Kuhn Rikon presents KinderKitchen, its first collection of kitchen tools designed specifically for children. From the Bluebird Spatula to the Cockatiel Whisk with one bright pink silicone wire in its plumage, this innovative line lets children discover the joy of cooking. Designed for little hands and curious minds, the colorful collection of kitchen tools marries high-quality construction with ease of use. Special safety features make the collection ideal for children, like those found in the Duck Snippers—mini kitchen shears that are sharp enough to cut veggies but not sharp enough to hurt people. The collection also includes a washable tote bag for tool storage. The tools are available for shipment April 2009, with suggested retail prices of $6 to $18. For more information, call 800-662-5882, or visit www.kuhnrikon.com.

 

Kids World Collection

WMF has introduced its Kids World Collection, made especially for mommy’s little helpers. The collection features kid-sized utensils that will stir up excitement as children prepare and enjoy their favorite foods. Among the new Kids World Collection items are the Kid’s Cooking Utensil Set (featured here) that helps pint-sized cooks slice, dice and peel under their parents’ supervision. The set includes a stainless steel and plastic knife and peeler. The set is dishwasher-safe and recommended for children ages 6 and up. The MSRP is $19.90. For more information, visit www.wmf-usa.com.

 

Cheery Chomping

Pitting cherries can be one of the messiest kitchen chores, and unsafe for adults and children alike. Talisman Designs has developed a solution that will change pitting cherries forever -- the Cherry Chomper. This fun and easy-to-use kitchen tool provides a safe, manageable and clean way to pit cherries. Katherine Waymire, creator of the Cherry Chomper and president of Talisman Designs has designed this product to be compact, fun to use, mess free and kid friendly. The Cherry Chomper features a plunger-type action that pushes the cherry pit and residual juice into the bottom container of the pitter. The protective “tooth” ensures that hands and fingers won’t be touched by any of the components. “It’s really an interesting, almost mysterious, tool for kids to interact with,” says Waymire. “A whole cherry goes in; a whole cherry comes out but without the pit. It gives them a sense of accomplishment and independence, while having fun. But equally important -- it's 'mom approved' thanks to its safety features and its ability to contain the mess!” The MSRP is $12.99. For more information, visit www.talismandesigns.com.

 

Tikes at the Table

Let's Play House

Rosanna presents this pretty, yet sturdy, stoneware baking set. The meticulous miniatures of Rosanna’s stoneware baking collection can be used in the oven to create pint-sized treats. The nine piece child’s baking set includes a child’s size mixing bowl, cake pedestal, cupcake tray, pie dish and four snack plates packed in an irresistible doll house shaped box with handle. The set is microwave and dishwasher safe. For more information, visit www.rosannainc.com.

 

Bambu Babes

The Bamdino collection from bambu features utensils and plates specially designed for babies and children that are made from certified-organic renewable bamboo. The Bamdino set of natural utensils is sized and shaped for small hands and tender mouths and features friendly dinosaur profiles at the head of each spoon, fork and knife for easy hold grips. Food-safe, durable, and lightweight, these utensils wash up easily by hand.

The Bamdino Veneerware completes the look, with specially designed, single-use plates for kids. The Bamdino line of Veneerware is also made from certified-organic bamboo and designed with dinosaur characters naturally etched onto the base of the 9” plate. Two different characters accompany a message to remind kids to care for the earth. A fun alternative to paper or plastic, these plates are perfect for parties, picnics, at home, or on the go. A package of eight plates retails for $9.50. For more information, visit http://bambuhome.com.

 

Retro Dining

Check out the latest Kiddie Diner collection from Sugar Booger by o.r.e. This kitchy, retro-inspired collection features a melamine children’s dish set that includes a dishwasher-safe tray, cup, fork and spoon. The line also includes a kid placemat; lunch sack; and kiddie apron. For more information, visit www.oreoriginals or www.sugar-booger.com.

 

 

 

 

Little Trekkers

At the New York International Gift Fair (NYIGF) in January, The Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) introduced eight Japanese design companies, including Shinzi Katoh’s colorful creations. Katoh started working as a commercial designer in the 1970s. Many of his works became popular in Japan and abroad. His design work included picture book illustration, for which he received a prestigious children’s book award. Among Shinzi Katoh’s tableware, bags, stationery and fabrics featured at the NYIGF, were stylish selections for children, like this Trekking Bottle—a double-wall stainless water bottle for every day adventures. The MSRP is $19.00. For more information, visit www.edg.jp.

Thirsty Kids

Specialty foods and beverages for the next generation of consumers was all the rage at the 2009 Winter Fancy Food Show in San Francisco, where a slew of new product introductions catering to kids were on display. One timely and tasty product that fit this bill was the new Little Citizen’s Herb Teas from The Republic of Tea. Meant to be enjoyed hot or iced, the new line of naturally caffeine-free, organic Rooibos-based, Fair Trade Certified herbal teas for children are available in three flavors: Strawberry Vanilla Tea, Tangerine Tea, and Apple Cherry Tea.

For every tin of Little Citizen’s Herb Teas sold, The Republic of Tea will contribute $1 to Room to Read, an organization committed to educating children in developing countries. Through this partnership, The Republic of Tea will provide funding to establish a bi-lingual library for underprivileged children in South Africa—the country from which Rooibos tea is sourced—as well as help Room to Read establish libraries in other countries in need.

Little Citizen’s Herb Teas are sold separately and have a suggested retail price of $10.50 for a tin that contains 36 round tea bags. For more information, visit www.republicoftea.com.

 

Hint Essence Water

HINT Essence Water is the brainchild of CEO and Founder Kara Goldin, a San Francisco mother of four. With a built-in test market of youngsters at home, it makes perfect sense that HINT would introduce a new line: HINT Kids at the 2009 Winter Fancy Food Show. The line, available next month, comes in three signature HINT flavors—strawberry-kiwi, tropical, and watermelon—is packaged in grab-and-go, 11-ounce Tetra Paks, and contains fluoride and no sugar or artificial additives. HINT, whose mantra is “Drink Water, Not Sugar,” is calorie-free.  For more information, visit www.drinkhint.com.

Honest Kids

Honest Tea has created a line of organic, low-sugar, fruit-flavored thirst quenchers for kids. Honest Kids is available in three varieties: Berry Berry Good Lemonade, Goodness Grapeness, and Tropical Tango Punch. Each contains less than half the sugar of most other pouch drinks. All are USDA-certified organic and certified Kosher. Honest Kids are packaged in ready-to-go, single-serve pouches that can be sold eight to a carton or individually. For more information, visit www.honest-kids.com.