Playskool facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Playskool Inc.

Formerly	The Playskool Institute (1928–1938)
Former type	Division (1928–68) Subsidiary (1968–84) Brand (1984–present)
Fate	Acquired by Milton Bradley in 1968, last factory closed in 1984, becoming a brand of Hasbro.
Founded	July 26, 1928 (1928-07-26)
Founder	Lucille King
Defunct	1984; 41 years ago (1984)
Headquarters	Pawtucket, RI , United States
Key people	Manuel Fink
Products	Educational toys Games
Brands	(see below)
Net income	$23 million (1965)
Owner	Hasbro
Number of employees	700 (1984)
Parent	John Lumber (1928–35) Thorncraft, Inc. (1935–68) Milton Bradley (1968–84)
Subsidiaries	J.L. Wright Co. Halsam Co.

Playskool is a well-known American brand that makes educational toys and games for kids. It started as a company that made toys. Later, it became part of the Milton Bradley Company. Today, Playskool is a big brand owned by Hasbro, a famous toy company.

The Story of Playskool

Playskool began in 1928 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It was first called the "Playskool Institute." A woman named Lucille King started it. She worked for a lumber company and created wooden toys. These toys were designed to help children learn in classrooms.

Early Growth and New Owners

In 1935, Playskool became part of another company called Thorncraft, Inc. They opened offices in Chicago, Illinois. A few years later, in 1938, the Joseph Lumber Company bought Playskool. Manuel Fink took charge of the toy-making business.

In 1940, Manuel Fink and Robert Meythaler bought Playskool themselves. They officially named it the "Playskool Manufacturing Company."

Joining Other Toy Makers

Playskool grew by buying other toy companies.

• In 1943, they bought the J.L. Wright Company. This company made the popular Lincoln Logs building sets.
• In 1958, Playskool joined with Holgate Toys, Inc. This company also made wooden products.
• In 1962, they bought the Halsam Company. Halsam made wooden blocks, checkers, and dominoes.

Becoming Part of Hasbro

In 1968, Playskool became a part of the Milton Bradley Company. Then, in 1984, Hasbro bought Milton Bradley. This meant Playskool also became a brand under Hasbro.

After this, Playskool started working from Pawtucket, Rhode Island. Hasbro began putting the Playskool name on many of its toys for young children. This included famous brands like Play-Doh and Tonka. Playskool also started making toys based on popular characters. These included Teddy Ruxpin, Barney, Arthur, Teletubbies, and Nickelodeon characters. Hasbro also let other companies use the Playskool name for products like books, baby items, and video games.

Playskool Toys

Playskool makes many different kinds of educational toys and games. These toys help children learn and grow.

Popular Toy Lines

Some of Playskool's most famous toys and brands are:

• Mr. Potato Head
• Tonka (some lines)
• Alphie
• Weebles
• Elefun
• Sesame Street toys
• Gloworm

Playskool creates toys for babies and preschool-aged children. Toys like the Kick Start Gym help babies develop their motor skills. Other toys, like Pipeworks and Busy Basics, let kids be creative. Playskool also makes dolls and action figures, such as Dolly Surprise and Kota the Triceratops.

In the 1970s, Playskool made a toy series called "Familiar Places." This series included toy buildings, vehicles, and people. Some of these were a McDonald's restaurant and a Holiday Inn hotel.

Toys from TV Shows

Playskool has made toys based on many popular children's TV shows. These include:

• Sesame Street
• Top Wing
• In the Night Garden...
• Boohbah
• Bob the Builder
• Rubbadubbers

Playskool Heroes toys feature characters from different stories. These figures are made for younger children. They are similar to Imaginext toys.

Playskool Brands

Here are some of the brands and characters that Playskool has made toys for:

Slogans Over Time

Playskool has used many different slogans over the years. These short phrases help people remember the brand.

Images for kids

• 

  The official Playskool logo.

See also

In Spanish: Playskool para niños