By Allison Watkinson
TLL Reporter
Fans of Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood will have a lot of new ways to engage with the Emmy-award-winning PBS Kids Series.
Fred Rogers Productions and 9 Story Brands, the worldwide licensing agent for the series, have collaborated with more than 25 new and existing licensees on a wide assortment of products.
The lineup includes items with sensory and accessibility needs in mind as well as new budget-friendly merchandise to help ensure that Daniel Tiger can be part of everyone’s world.
Fred Rogers Productions says the new products will continue to align with the core messages of empathy, imagination, and emotional empowerment for which Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood is known.
“We are thrilled to be able to work with such a wide-ranging group of innovative and exceptional licensees,” said Matt Shiels, vice president of business and legal affairs, Fred Rogers Productions. “We look forward to the arrival of the newest Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood offerings, which are designed to support preschoolers at their own ability levels and stages of development as the brand has strived to do over the last 12 years.”
Upcoming products from new and existing Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood licensees span multiple categories, including apparel and accessories, baby, first aid, food, party, publishing, toys, and beyond. The offerings include a number of inventive items to assist with emotional support, sensory development, and more. These include:
- Gifts of Joy –Daniel Tiger Calming Corner Kit (a sensory and fidget developmental product featuring social-emotional learning activities designed to help children effectively recognize and manage their emotions);
- Glo Pals – Water-activated light-up cubes and character figures to support sensory development, cause and effect, cognitive and fine motor skills, and color recognition;
- Kinder Cloth – Cloth diapering products;
- Meemzy Magic: Sensory play kits;
- Soulbaby – Bamboo clothing offerings, including medically accessible apparel for toddlers and babies.
Other Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood licensed products coming to retail include:
- ACI International – Footwear;
- Good2Grow – Drinks and snacks;
- Impact Merchandising – Apparel and accessories, including Daniel Tiger Ears;
- Jakks Pacific – Toys, including Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood Bungalow Shape Sorter (selected for both the Clamour Influencer Guide and The Toy Insider’s Holiday Gift Guide) and Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood Trolley Seek and Find;
- JK2 Apparel – Kids fashion apparel;
- Keep Going First Aid – Travel-friendly first aid kits;
- Kidstir – Cooking kits;
- Simon & Schuster – New books, including “A Bandage for Miss Elaina,” (selected for the Seal of Approval from The National Parenting Center) “Things That Go in the Neighborhood,” and “Daniel Tiger’s Delightful Tales”;
- Souvenir Source – Magnets, key chains, drinkware, and other souvenir items;
- Tonies: New audio story toys;
- Vapor Apparel – Sun protective shirts (that have earned The Skin Cancer Foundation’s Seal of Recommendation);
- Yoto – Audio player system, with such introductions as “Potty Time” (audio card) and “Goodbye Blue Fish” (digital audio card).
In addition, Fred Rogers Productions and 9 Story Brands have renewed partnerships with Skip Hop (toddler products and gear) and Mighty Mojo Toys (toys, games, party goods/stationery, and more) for their existing Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood product ranges as well as licensing partnerships with companies, including:
- Hybrid – Apparel, expanding into adult sizes;
- Carter Joey – Backpacks and patches;
- Weatherman Umbrella – Umbrellas;
- Cottage Door Press – Novelty publishing;
- PAPP International – Specialty publishing, expanding to activity books;
- HGP – Toys, expanding to water toys.
Fred Rogers Productions is also continuing its experiential and merchandise collaborations, including a deal withPalace Entertainment, an operator of amusement, water, and animal parks; Amazon, via a curated assortment of licensed products; Toys “R” Us shops in Macy’s, now in its second year; and licensed food items, available in-store at Fred Meyer, Meijer, Walgreens, and Walmart as well as online at Amazon, Thrive Market, Walgreens, and Walmart.