Mattel saw its toy sales and earnings fall, but expects to see growth in 2023 along with the wider toy market. “Our fourth quarter results were below our expectations, as the macro-economic environment was more challenging than anticipated,” Ynon Kreiz, chairman and CEO of Mattel, said in a statement. During the fourth quarter, Mattel posted overall revenues from holiday season sales at $1.4b, down 22% from $1.79b a year-earlier. This meant the company failed to meet an analyst estimate of $1.68b revenue. CFO Anthony DiSilvestro attributed the low performance to fewer orders from retailers and higher costs to manage inventory.

If knowledge is power then little ones will never be bothered by monsters under the bed after a playing a round of My First Castle Panic. Preschoolers are introduced to Goblins, Orcs and Trolls who wish to storm the castle they erect atop a sturdy board game. In this not-too-scary round of play, tots meet monsters and strategize to dump them in the dungeon (aka bottom of the game box) in this colorful coop board game that runs about 20 minutes. Parent company Fireside Games offers this preschool version of its best-selling Castle Panic created for tweens and teens and adults. With no reading required, kids can play this junior edition independently or as a family game night adventure. With illustrated preschool graphics and game pieces, kids are asked to defend the castle from goblins or trolls emerging from the forest. Taking their cues from game cards, players match the color and shape on the card to the board game space of the monster. They could be lurking in one of five rings around the castle. Players can ask for help from each other as they team up to place Orcs, Trolls and Goblins in the dungeon. To win the game, players send monsters to the dungeon with the castle still standing. But the game ends if the monsters knock through all the castle walls.

As Crazy Aaron’s embarks on its 25th anniversary in 2023, the company takes dough and putty play to a whole new level thanks to “Crazy Creator,” a brand-new play experience at the world-famous FAO Schwarz toy store at Rockefeller Center in New York City. This unique hands-on experience allows kids and “kidults” to create their very own unique Thinking Putty tin or customized Land of Dough cup. With various compounds, colors, and add-ons to choose from, the Crazy Aaron’s Crazy Creator experience has quickly become a smash hit with plans to expand throughout this fun anniversary year!