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; 97 years ago (1928-07-26)
Founder	Lucille King
Defunct	1984; 41 years ago (1984) (as a company)
Headquarters	Pawtucket, Rhode Island , United States
Key people	Manuel Fink
Products	Educational toys Games
Brands	(see below)
Net income	$23 million (1965)
Owner	Hasbro (1984–present)
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 an American brand that makes educational toys and games for young children, especially preschoolers. The original Playskool company used to be a subsidiary of the Milton Bradley Company. Its main office was in Chicago, Illinois.

Playskool's last factory in Chicago closed in 1984. That same year, Playskool became a brand of Hasbro, a much larger toy company. In 2023, Hasbro decided to focus on other areas like digital games. Because of this, Hasbro started working with other toy companies. They made agreements with PlayMonster and Just Play Products. These companies now help make Playskool toys.

History of Playskool

Early Years and Founding

The "Playskool Institute" started in 1928. Lucille King created it as a part of the John Schroeder Lumber Company in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Lucille King worked for the company. She designed wooden toys to help teachers in classrooms.

In 1935, Playskool Institute became part of Thorncraft, Inc. They opened offices in Chicago, Illinois. The Joseph Lumber Company bought Playskool in 1938. Manuel Fink was put in charge of how Playskool operated. In 1940, Manuel Fink and Robert Meythaler bought Playskool. They then created the "Playskool Manufacturing Company."

Growth and Acquisitions

Playskool grew by buying other toy companies. In 1943, Playskool bought the J.L. Wright Company. This company made Lincoln Logs, a popular building toy. Playskool joined with Holgate Toys, Inc. in 1958. Holgate Toys made wooden products in Kane, Pennsylvania.

In 1962, Playskool bought the Halsam Company. Halsam made wooden blocks, checkers, dominoes, and building sets. In 1968, Playskool became a part of Milton Bradley. Later, in 1984, Hasbro, Inc. bought both Milton Bradley and Playskool.

Playskool as a Hasbro Brand

After Hasbro bought Playskool, Playskool started working from Pawtucket, Rhode Island. It became a division of Hasbro. In 1985, Playskool launched a line of baby products. These products were sold under the Tommee Tippee brand. They included items like bibs and bottles.

Many Hasbro products for young children were later given the Playskool name. This included popular brands like Play-Doh and Tonka. Playskool also started making toys based on popular characters. They made agreements to produce toys for Teddy Ruxpin, Barney, Arthur, Teletubbies, and Nickelodeon shows.

Hasbro also allowed other companies to use the Playskool brand name. This led to Playskool-branded books, baby care items, video games, and children's clothes. In 2023, Hasbro made an agreement with PlayMonster. PlayMonster took over making many Playskool toys starting in 2024. In 2025, it was announced that Hasbro also signed an agreement with Just Play Products to make Playskool products.

Playskool Products

Playskool has created many types of educational toys and games for children. Some of Playskool's most famous toys and brands include Mr. Potato Head, Tonka, Alphie, Weebles, Play-Doh, Sesame Street toys, and Gloworm.

Playskool makes products for babies and preschoolers. Toys like the Kick Start Gym and Step Start Walk 'n Ride help babies develop their motor skills. Other toys, such as Playskool's Pipeworks and Busy Basics, help children be creative. Playskool also makes dolls and action figures. Examples include Dolly Surprise and Kota the Triceratops.

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

Playskool has also made toys based on popular TV shows for young children. These include Sesame Street, Top Wing, In the Night Garden..., Boohbah, Bob the Builder, and Rubbadubbers. Playskool Heroes toys feature characters from different stories. These figures are made for younger children. They are similar to Fisher-Price's Imaginext toys.

Playskool Brands

Playskool has had many different brands under its name. Here are some of them:

Notes

Playskool Slogans

Playskool has used many different slogans over the years to advertise its toys:

See also

In Spanish: Playskool para niños

• LEGO Duplo
• Fisher-Price
• Little Tikes