02/02/2026
The first month or two of the year is a very special time. The new year offers us a chance to reflect on the challenges and accomplishments of the past 12 months and look ahead (hopefully with more anticipation than trepidation).
This year is full of milestones, providing an excellent opportunity to celebrate triumphs, learn and recalibrate from past pitfalls and prepare for what’s to come. Not only is our nation celebrating its bisesquicentennial, but it just so happens that there are a couple members of the specialty toy industry who are marking special anniversaries.
Growing Tree Toys, a retailer in State College, PA, is celebrating its 50th anniversary. The store welcomes kids of all ages through its doors and seeks to “preserve innocence … and to help our communities build productive, bright, happy children.” While noting the balance between preserving history and embracing current technologies, Owner Lindsay Jones eloquently observed that one thing remains constant: “at the end of the day, every kid plays the same.”
Klutz is also preparing for its golden anniversary. I had the privilege of talking with Hannah Rogge, executive director of product development and learning how Klutz meets people where they’re at and gives them the tools needed for a variety of activities. Rogge emphasized how Klutz is all about embracing the imperfect and encouraging learning. These stories are just a small selection of what awaits in this issue of edplay.
On New Year’s Day, I received my regular newsletter from The New York Times. Lauren Jackson outlined ways to cultivate hope and shared input from readers on what gave them hope. One person shared, “Have you heard a kid really laugh? From their gut? That sound could end all wars.”
This was a wonderful reminder of how sharing and reveling in joy with others can boost moods and outlooks. How fortunate are we that the specialty toy industry can be a vehicle of delight, educating and entertaining kids of all ages – often for multiple generations!
As we enter 2026, my hope is that while we mark milestones and set our sights on the horizon, we may experience the same delight that we provide to young learners and players.
Happy reading!
You can e-mail Victoria at victoria@fwpi.com.
