Step2

(STREETSBORO, OHIO) — May 6, 2009 — Let the outdoor fun begin! As more families keep close to home this spring and summer, America’s largest toy manufacturer is turning up the heat on creative play with new products designed for fun in the sun. With new outdoor toy introductions like the Sand & Water Transportation Station™, Nature Station Playhouse™ and Water Rush Quarry™, Step2® is helping turn the backyard or patio into the new destination for family fun.

“We have stepped up our offering of outdoor toys this year to help families have hours of fun right in their own backyard,” said Scott Levin CEO of the Step2 Company. “Because many are putting travel plans on hold this year, parents told us they wanted more ways to promote creative play in their own homes and we are fitting the bill with fun, safe toys designed for everything from big backyards to apartment building patios.”

The Step2 Company is known for durable and stylish children’s toys that promote role playing, motor skills, creative play development and most importantly, fun for children. Best loved for its high-quality outdoor toys, playhouses, play kitchens, sand and water play, ride on toys, and swing sets, Step2 is an American toy company, and 90 percent of Step2 toys are made in the U.S.A. and headquartered in Streetsboro, Ohio.

Take It Outside for a Welcome Change of Pace

Here are new toys from Step2 designed to promote creative, self-directed play for kids:

• Sand & Water Transportation Station™ — Jump on board the transportation station of fun! Set comes complete with toy train and rake. The sturdy table contains two compartments for both sand and water with drain plugs for easy clean-up. Funnels atop table legs act as “loading stations” for creative play and the raised table helps keep feet and the home clean and dry. 15-piece accessory set includes 3 train cards, 2 boats, 3 funnels, 1 spinner, 1 paddle wheel, 1 see-saw scoop, 3 track pieces, and removable cover with elastic straps. The cart also comes equipped to hold a 42″ umbrella (sold separately) to provide shade during hours of outdoor enjoyment. Durable poly construction. Ages 2+
• Nature Station Playhouse™ — Ready for the great outdoors? This airy, open playhouse encourages children’s interest in nature and let’s their imagination run wild. Features shelf for examining flowers, bugs, and other natural wonders found outside. Also included are a shovel, bug collector, butterfly net, lantern, microscope with two slides, tweezers, bug trap shovel and binoculars for hours of discovery and play. Periscope pivots to allow 180° viewing. This nature station has round windows for peek-a-boo fun and storage bins that double as planters to grow flowers, herbs and small vegetables. Durable poly construction. Ages 2+
• Water Rush Quarry™ — Getting to work has never been so much fun! This multi-level design allows water to cascade from top to bottom like a flowing river. Set includes one crane, two bridges, a tunnel, a dam, a ramp, a bucket, a shovel and two construction vehicles. This quarry is flexible and easily converted into a small, single level play table. Minimal adult assembly required. Durable poly construction. Ages 3+
• Arctic Splash™ — Children will stay cool throughout summer when they chill-out exploring glacier mountain. Glacier Mountain complete with ice slide, tunnel and dumping bucket. Raised design helps keep feet clean and dry. Multi-level water wells for aquatic fun. Includes a polar bear, walrus and penguin squirt toys. Ages 1.5 +

Step2′s spring and summer 2009 products are currently available at toy stores and retailers nationwide. For more information on the full line of Step2 toys and products, please visit www.step2.com.

About The Step2 Company:
The Step2® Company is a family company with brands including Step2®, Infantino®, and Thinkativity® that foster learning and development through creative play in children from birth to school-age years. Step2, based in Streetsboro, Ohio, is the largest American manufacturer of preschool and toddler toys and the world’s largest rotational molder of children’s and home products, including children’s play kitchens, playhouses, outdoor toys and ride on toys, as well as home products such as mailboxes, gardening aids and trash cans. Infantino, headquartered in San Diego, Calif. is a leading designer and international distributor of innovative and original infant, toddler, and preschool products. Featuring fashion-forward designs, the popular product lines include classic creative baby toys and puzzles, innovative soft baby carriers, and simple, no-fuss baby travel systems. New Jersey-based Thinkativity is a leading innovator of electronic and early learning toys promoting inventive play patterns through original musical compositions and stories that inspire children to explore, play and learn. Step2, in partnership with Case Western Reserve University’s Schubert Center for Child Studies, sponsors CreativePlayPlus.com, an online resource to provide parents with the latest research on creative play and child development. Visit www.creativeplayplus.com for more information on this partnered initiative. Visit www.step2.com, www.infantino.com and www.thinkativity.com to learn more about The Step2 Company brands.

CONTACT:
Dotti Franks, Vice President Marketing Communications
dfranks@step2.net; 330-656-0440

Margaux Vega, Current
mvega@currentlm.com; 415-449-0126

America’s Largest Toy Manufacturer Is Honored by the British Toy & Hobby Association’s UK Toy Fair

STREETSBORO, OHIO — February 10, 2009 — The Step2 Company®, the nation’s largest preschool and toddler toy manufacturer, famous for its signature play kitchens, houses, ride on toys and outdoor toys, has earned yet another prestigious award — this time from outside the United States. At last month’s UK Toy Fair, the British Toy & Hobby Association recognized Step2′s Skyward Summit as the Best New Toy of 2009 in the Outdoor/Sports category.

The British Toy & Hobby Association considers its most important duty to promote the highest possible standards of safety in design and manufacture of toys. The Association also runs the only dedicated toy trade event in the UK — its Toy Fair — which takes place each year in January. The 33rd annual toy fair showcased Step2 as well as other top toy brands such as Hasbro and Lego.

Step2′s Skyward Summit allows little adventurers to explore and discover from the peak of the summit. Its authentic design reaches 80 inches in height, creating the appearance of a real rock climbing wall and giving children over 100 square feet of outer climbing area.

“We value the feedback of our industry peers and truly appreciate the recognition that comes with this award,” said The Step2 Company CEO Scott Levin. “The British Toy & Hobby Association Award represents the standards of innovation, safety and quality that we uphold at Step2, so receiving this acknowledgement from them confirms that we are doing our job well.”

Step2 makes durable, well-made, stylish children’s toys that promote role-modeling, motor skills, creative play development and, most importantly, fun for children. Step2 puts all of their toys through rigorous safety testing and produces the highest quality products for families.

With around 200 exhibitors launching thousands of new toys at the UK Toy Fair this year, the Best New Toy Awards were introduced by organizers of the British Toy & Hobby Association to pinpoint those considered most likely to top children’s wish lists in the forthcoming year.

For more information, visit step2.com or btha.co.uk.

iVillage “Chief Toy Officer” Elizabeth Werner Offers Advice for Outdoor Play

Parents and kids are ready to head to the backyard for outdoor fun, but according to Elizabeth Werner, after a few weeks it takes unique toys to keep kids happy and having fun in the sun for the entire summer. As the Chief Toy Officer for online parenting community iVillage.com and a toy industry expert, she offers these top tips for choosing outdoor toys and equipment for kids.

• Let Kids be Kids — The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends spontaneous “kid play” for healthy physical and social development. Take advantage of the weather and find toys that lend themselves to unstructured play outdoors — like play houses or ride on vehicles.
• Role Play Promotes Creativity — Play houses and make-believe cottages offer creative environments for neighborhood kids to play together and create story lines in their own fantasy worlds. Role playing is an important way children practice decision making skills and express their own interests and personalities.
• Just Add WaterAs the temperature heats up, take the fun outside and spray, splash and soak the hot weather away. Find toys that circulate or pump water to allow for increased child interaction and products that allow for easy drying and storage.
• Kick It — Outdoor exercise is one of the best ways to entertain kids and promote their health at the same time. Sports-related toys can help teach kids how to aim, jump, kick and toss — keeping them active while helping develop gross motor skills.
• Classics in Plastic — Easy to clean, sturdy and durable, plastic toys can last a lifetime without a splinter or chip of paint. For example, Step2′s Naturally Playful Adventure Lodge Play Center looks like a wooden classic, but it’s made with plastic and much more convenient to care for and store.
• Portability Makes Play Easier — Pull handles and wheels on heavy toys like sandboxes and water tables let you easily move them around the yard — in and out of the sun and shade. Look for sturdy wheels and handle construction, and plugs that allow draining water or rinsing out sand.
• Better Safe than Sorry — Buy brands you trust, and make sure you read the labels. Quality toys are well-tested, and many are made in the USA. Be sure that toys are properly labeled with easy to understand sales and manufacturing information, and include a customer service email or hotline to contact for help.
• Block the Rays — Toys with umbrellas or canopies are helpful in preventing sun exposure that can leave tots with unhealthy sun rashes and burns. Always use sunscreen on yourself and little ones.

iVillage’s Elizabeth Werner Spotlights Latest Backyard Toys

(STREETSBORO, OHIO) — April 30, 2008 — Let the outdoor fun begin! Reeling from the wicked winter of 2007, the backyard is a welcome oasis for outdoor creative play and an important outlet for kids who’ve been cooped up inside for months.

Elizabeth Werner is “Chief Toy Officer” for online parenting community iVillage and offers advice for parents picking outdoor toys for kids. She predicts that with rising travel costs, many families may forgo the annual road trip vacation and stick close to home this summer. “With so many new outdoor toys on the market, parents can turn their outdoor space into a safe playground of fun,” Werner said. “This year the hot new toys are updated twists on classic fun — like sand and water carts, playhouses with running water, and jungle gyms turned into sports centers.”

Werner recommends parents check the labels, pick familiar brands and look for toys that can foster different kinds of play throughout the season. The Step2 Company, famous for its signature play kitchens, ride on toys and playhouses, offers new outdoor toys that transform an ordinary yard into a magical cottage, silly funhouse or haven of water toys with no landscaper or contractor required. The majority of Step2′s toys (90%) are made in the USA and all are free of phthalates.

New Toys for Fun in the Sun
Here are new toys from Step2 designed to promote creative, self-directed play for kids this summer:

• All Star Sports Climber: Outfitted with a basketball hoop, rock wall, football toss, soccer and slide, kids will keep active as they learn how to toss, shoot, and kick on target at a young age. Keep score with the built in score keeper. Rock wall provides a safe and easy challenge for children.
• Neighborhood Fun Center: Unique design features multiple activities so there is something for everyone. Activity stations include a hook & loop target board, two balls, ring toss, crawl-thru rotating door and wavy slide. Ring toss comes with four rings. Crawl-thru hole leads to slide and playhouse. Playhouse design has a working Dutch door, window and doggy door.
• Fun Flow Play Sink: A battery-powered pump keeps the water and fun times flowing through the Fun Flow Play Sink’s gooseneck faucet. Faucet rotates to allow children to direct water flow and play with the included accessory play pieces: cup, strainer, spinning waterwheel and funnel.
• Naturally Playful® Magic Fountain Cottage: Imaginations can run wild with this magic cottage that hides surprises around every corner. The old-world inspired design features stone cottage-look with shale roof and battery-powered wall fountain. Full size door and working shutters for peek-a-boo fun. Detailed interior features a secret crawl-thru door, stone fireplace, and a kitchenette with sink, swivel faucet, burner and clicking knob.
• Sand & Water Cart: No beach? No problem with the Sand & Water Cart, the new raised sandbox and water table which offers elevated play. Two front wheels and handle help easily move sand cart from one place to another. Durable protective lid helps keep debris and water out. Underneath storage shelf allows toys to dry after use. Comes with a 42″ tilting umbrella to help shade children from sunlight.

Step2′s spring and summer 2008 products are currently available at toy stores and retailers nationwide. For more information on the full line of Step2 toys and products, please visit www.step2.com.

About Step2
Step2 is the world’s largest rotational molding manufacturer, designer and marketer of children’s and home products sold under the Step2 brand. Known for providing durable, imaginative and active fun, Step2 is a market leader in outdoor toys, playhouses, play kitchens, sand and water play, ride on toys, swing sets, wagons and kid’s furniture; as well as mailboxes, home & garden outdoor furniture and trash cans. Some of the company’s most popular brands are Naturally Playful®, LifeStyle®, MainStreet Village® and MailMaster®. Step2 is based in Streetsboro, Ohio, and distributes its toy and home & garden products through multiple retail channels including toy retailers, mass merchants, home centers, and the Internet. www.step2.com

CONTACT:
Dotti Foltz, Vice President Marketing Communications
dfoltz@step2.net; 330-656-0440

Margaux Vega, Current Lifestyle Marketing
mvega@currentlm.com; 415-449-0126

Kid-Tested Research Shows American-Made Step 2 Toddler Toys Are Earning High Marks for What Kids Really Want This Holiday Shopping Season

STREETSBORO, Ohio · November 8, 2007 — The Step 2 Company, the largest toddler toy manufacturer in the United States, knows that if you’re like most people, you haven’t given much thought to toddler toy awards — if you even knew they existed.

But when you’re searching online or stuck in a toy store faced with shelves full of choices and perhaps fewer dollars in your wallet this holiday shopping season, enlisting the help of some independent “expert testers” may just be what you need to make your job easier.

Toddler toy awards, based on competitions judged in real-world settings such as kindergartens and child care centers, are earned by allowing kids to play and adults to monitor and judge the toys on criteria such as role-playing experience, imaginative play, durability and value. Therefore, with awards as a guideline, you can improve the odds that the toys you buy this holiday shopping season are those your kids want and those that will last.

A total of 17 different Step 2 toddler toys have won a stocking full of distinctions this year with many appearing on several different lists as best picks for the 2007 Holiday Shopping Season. Step 2 play kitchens, art easel & desks, blocks, ride on toys and pretend play toddler toy items are among the items receiving awards, endorsements and accolades from industry experts and national media such as the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio, National Association of Parenting Publications, Parents’ Choice Foundation, Canadian Toy Testing Council, Dr. Toy, and parenthood magazines including American Baby, Parents, Family Fun, Baby Talk and Toy Wishes.

Take the Step 2 LifeStyle Grand Walk-in Kitchen™, a Parents’ Choice Recommended Award Winner. With a full menu of electronic features this unique kitchen playhouse, complete with “hardwood floor” and granite-look counter tops, includes a burner that makes frying pan and boiling water sounds. The Step 2 LifeStyle Grand Walk-in Kitchen also garnered a Canadian Toy Testing Council “3-Star” Award – their highest rating!

For parents in search of outdoor toys like climbers and riding toys, Step 2 offers a wonderland of options that keeps kids physically active while developing their motor skills. The Step 2 Naturally Playful Look-out Treehouse, winner of the prestigious Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Award, challenges toddlers ages 18 months and older to climb, slide and explore in an elevated treehouse. If your child is a thrill seeker, there’s no greater treat than to offer them amusement park fun right in their own backyard. Step 2′s Extreme Coaster, was named a Toy of the Year Award Winner by Disney’s Family Fun Magazine, placing in the top 10 for toddlers ages 3-5 years. Your children can easily climb the 9 foot ramp on its built-in steps to experience an extreme ride for hours of active fun.

The gift of imaginative play is priceless indeed this holiday shopping season. Step 2 always uses just the right mix of electronics to enhance the playtime experience without leading or directing the child’s imagination. New toddler toy products such as the Doorway Playhouse, the Magical Shoe Fairy Cottage and the Main Street Village Community Helpers Collection are perfect examples of this well- thought-out blend and have all earned top marks from leading magazines such as Parents, American Baby, and Baby Talk.

You can learn more about these and other hot holiday toddler toys made by the Step 2 Company at www.step2.com. In the meantime, remember: the best toddler toy values still combine playtime fun with long-lasting durability. And that’s a point kids of all ages can agree on.

Contact Info:
Dotti Foltz
Vice President, Marketing Communications
330-656-0440

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Dotti Foltz, Director, Marketing Communications
330-656-0440 dfoltz@step2.net

STREETSBORO, Ohio, March 29, 2007 — With summer soon to be here your little ones are probably more than ready to get outdoors and play. Step2®, a children’s products manufacturer, has been hard at work to design and produce play products that meet the needs of today’s young families. So after listening to loads of moms and conducting extensive kid testing, Step2 is proud to offer some exciting new choices to keep young bodies moving and imaginations growing.

The Step2® award-winning Naturally Playful® line, praised for its natural good looks and maintenance-free plastic construction, welcomes three new items to this category.

–The Naturally Playful® Lookout Treehouse has large easy-to-climb steps to a shaded platform with pivoting 180° periscope and fun slide to get your toddlers up and exploring the great outdoors.

–The Naturally Playful® Victorian Gazebo provides endless hours of imaginative play in this roomy hexagon structure with decorative railings and working double door. A durable, weather-resistant fabric roof offers protective shaded play in the cozy interior with drop-leaf table and two attached seats for snacks and mealtime.

–For all around fun and good healthy exercise, the Naturally Playful® Adventure Lodge Play Center with Glider is a giant all-in-one playground with large clubhouse, wave slide, rope ladder, two swings, two-person glider, and backboard hoop. This is sure to be a neighborhood favorite so let the adventures begin!

–Sports: Your golf enthusiasts will enjoy the new Par 3 Mini Golf Course from Step2®. It’s easy to create a custom course with the snap-lock track, three greens and challenging kid-friendly obstacles. Two putters, two balls, and three flags complete your very own miniature golf course.

– Water Play: How about a trip to the water park right in your own backyard? The River Run Waterpark will encourage safe water exploration while your toddlers sit in comfort under a large shade umbrella (optional). Just fill the trough with water, push the button and let the fun begin. A large battery-powered pump in a colorful water tower circulates up to 4.5 gallons of water through the troughs to the splash pool below. A paddle wheel, dam, sailboats and three inner tube swimmers will keep your children creating new summertime memories.

– Riding Toys: For your littlest tots, the Whisper Ride Buggy is the perfect vehicle for those trips to the zoo, amusement park or just around the block. Extra-large silent ride tires, seat belt and optional canopy provide a safe, comfortable ride. And did we mention the pretend steering wheel with sounds, cup holder and storage compartment for snacks? All the right accessories in one sweet ride!

–The Extreme Roller Coaster, a child-operated, gravity powered thrill ride brings amusement park fun right to your home. Its extreme styling and colors add to the excitement and offer your child endless hours of active play as they climb the track and push off the ramp over and over again.

–Playhouses: Last but not least, is the LifeStyle® Grand Walk-in Kitchen, the ultimate kitchen playhouse. This unique playhouse accommodates several children and offers loads of interactive play enhanced by just the right mix of electronics. It comes complete with a 103-piece accessory set and 11″ wood stool, ‘oak-look’ foam floor all combining to provide role play experiences as vast as your child’s imagination.

Step2® products are available in toy stores nationwide and through online retailers. For more information on the full line-up, visit www.step2.com.

The privately held Step2® Company, LLC established in 1991 and headquartered in Ohio, is the world’s largest rotational molder of plastics. Step2 is a multinational manufacturer and marketer of children’s play and furniture products with global distribution in the United States, Canada, Mexico and more than 70 other countries.