7 things you should know about fidget spinners

1. A fidget spinner is a type of stress-relieving toy. A basic fidget spinner consists of a bearing in the center of a design made from any of a variety of materials including brass, stainless steel, titanium, copper and plastic. 

2. The toy has been advertised as helping people who have trouble focusing or fidgeting (such as those with ADHD, autism, or anxiety) by acting as a release mechanism for nervous energy or stress. Responses from experts have been mixed. 

3. Although they were invented in the 1990s, fidget spinners became a popular toy in 2017. 

4. Catherine Hettinger, a chemical engineer by training, was initially credited by some news stories to have been the inventor of the fidget spinner. Hettinger applied for a patent on May 28, 1993 for a one-piece round device made of "soft plastic" with a "dome" and a "skirt" then pitched her spinner device to toy manufacturers. However, Hasbro declined to pursue a deal after market-testing it. Hettinger decided not to renew the patent as she did not have the cash to do so in 2005, letting it lapse instead.

5. On December 23, 2016, James Plafke of Forbes published an article describing fidget spinners as the "must-have office toy for 2017."

6. In late March, users on social media websites such as YouTube and Reddit began uploading videos reviewing and performing tricks with fidget spinners.

7. Some schools all over the world have banned students from bringing the toy to classes. Although banning has happened on a case-by-case basis, many teachers are united in their annoyance.

"Charity and Cheer" Holiday Shopping Party

Crazy Good News: Crazy Aaron is back in stock!

People are crazy about Crazy Aaron's Thinking Putty so we went crazy and just ordered a ton of it!
Liquid Glass, Magnetic, Heat Sensitives, Super Illusions, Phantoms, Glow in the Dark... you name it, we have it.

So why wait? Grab some stress relieving, hand exercising, mind expanding, totally fun and addicting Thinking Putty!

Forget World's Biggest: Try World's Smallest!

BIG is boring, small is fun!
Introducing our new Super Impulse line:

"The World’s Smallest toys are designed with the same working functions as the originals, but in the smallest sizes ever created! They are as amazing as the originals!   Brands include: Rubik’s Cube, Perplexus, Duncan Imperial Yo-Yo, Etch A Sketch and Little Green Army Men"

Cute review from one of our happy customers: "My girls like it a lot, and their Corolle baby dolls love it too!"

Toy Essay Writing Contest Winner #1 Amadi, Age 12!

PLAYMOBILS

FUN, FUN, FUN, FUN.

I have been playing with playmobils since I was 2. My friends say 

“ Ha, Ha, she still plays with little dolls!” I say that there are endless possibilities with them. There is always a new storyline. Personally, I like to write, so I use stories to base characters off of and homes. I love to make cities and towns and create positions. I love playmobils because they are so detailed and perfected. I have a giant collection and what is shown in the pictures is barely half of it. I have sets from the hotel expansion and the pool to sets like the church, the hospital, the take-along  hospital and the hospital stuff pack. When I was little, my friend and I drew pictures of sets that we wanted the playmobil company to make, and sent them in. I don't know if they ever made them, but they called us to say thanks and gave us free playmobil person keychains.
 

 Essay and pictures by Amadi, age 12.


You can find more info about submitting an essay here.

Plasma On The Brain!

PlasmaCars from PlaSmart have taken over the roads of Hancock Park! (Or at very least, the sidewalks and yards.) We can barely put them together fast enough before a customer rides one out the door. Great for toddlers on up, these cars come in a number of color combinations, the newest one of which is Pink and Purple. We also have Blue and Red as well as Black with Red, Green, Blue, and Purple. Come in and try out the floor model at our 144 N Larchmont storefront before taking yours home!

Favorite Toy Essay Contest

Toys are an important part of a child's life. Whether it be a beloved teddy bear, an inspiring art project, a well pummeled football, or a doll who acts out your child's wildest dreams, we at Landis' Labyrinth love supplying catalysts for skill building, imagination, and love.

In honor of this, we introduce the "Favorite Toy Essay Contest."

If you are 12 years old or under we invite you, with your parents permission, to write anywhere between one paragraph and one page describing your favorite toy. Some of the topics you may want to cover include how you got it, what it looks like, and what you like to do with the toy.

To submit your essay, have your parent or guardian e mail your essay, along with your first name and age to rose@landislabyrinth.com with "Favorite Toy Essay Contest" in the subject line. As many as possible of the the submitted essays will be posted on our blog along with the authors first name and age.

Happy Writing!

Suggestions!

 Did you know? We are on twitter and our absolute favorite thing about it is hearing from you! We have always done our product ordering based on what we think you want and that means that we love to hear any and all suggestions of products you would like us to carry. From mommy and baby products to the coolest toys, even housewares and accessories for the the general store, we know you out there find the best new stuff and we want you to help us bring it to you.

Leave suggestions in the comment section of any blog post or find us on twitter @LandisLabyrinth and tell us what you're dying to see for sale in any of our three shops!

Playmobil Add Ons!

Playmobil is awesome, there's no question about that. One thing we love about them is that on every box it shows just exactly which pieces come inside. There are also kits of all sizes based in all different kinds of worlds. Ancient knights, modern malls, dark jungles, mysterious crime scenes, picturesque farms and even dinosaurs are among the choices.

One cool option that Playmobil has that not everyone may know about is the wide selection of add-ons they provide for each theme. Do you need more fencing so your horse can have more space to run? Does your man eating Alligator need a mate and baby? Maybe that pool needs a stylish umbrella table to keep your characters out of the sun. 

The unusal thing about these add-ons is that they don't come in boxes but instead clear plastic bags. This means you don't just get to see a picture of the product, you actually get to see exactly what you're getting!

Landis' Labyrinth has recently stocked up on a selection of these awesome add-ons so don't be afraid to dream big and play even bigger with Playmobil!

Royal Wedding Couple With Cake

Pirate Treasure

Blue Dragon

Beanie Ballz And Beanie Boos Means Big Round Eyes And Snuggles Too!

When it comes to plush Ty knows how to make you swoon. Round fuzz balls in every animal known to man but just a little cuter and eyes so big and expressive you have to be careful... you might just get lost. Here are just a few examples of the ones we have waiting to find a home!

 

Ollie Octopus

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Waddles Penguin