Imagine a figure - a horse, a clown, a Pinocchio type puppet - on a small pedestal (the whole thing is 3" to 5") All of the joints have elastic threaded through them. When the holder of the toy pushes up the bottom of the pedestal the elastic goes slack, and the figure flops over. Release the button and the figure stands right up.
When my sister and I were kids we’d get plastic ones from the dentist, and about 10 years ago a shop I worked in bought wooden ones as a giveaway for when parents dragged their kids along.
Our merchants’ association is planning an event and I’d like to find some. So far "
bendy toy" “floppy toy” and “push pedestal toy” have yielded less than ideal results.
I’m not married to this particular variety of toy if any of you have another suggestion. What I’d like is something kids will enjoy that won’t irk parents (by falling apart or making noise or mess), that I can buy in smallish (50 to 144) quantities.
What about finger puppets?
I always go to Oriental trading company for these sorts of things.
www.orientaltrading.com for the more tongue-in-cheek www.accoutrements.com is good.
As for search terms, I think the ones you need are “novelty” and “collapsing.” http://www.ustoy.com/cgi-bin/u.sh/2.0/product.htm?parent_id=Farm%20Animals&dept_id=Farm%20Animal%20Novelties&pf_id=7654
Good luck!
Those bendy toys are good for only about 2 seconds’ worth of play, at best. I don’t have any other suggestions for you, though.
Only if you get the junky cheap plastic ones. I got some from a real toy store, and they’re much more expressive. I like making that little blue elephant dance. It’s more fun if they have goofy facial expressions. I got one for a Secret Santa gift for a co-worker, and she loved it.
Thanks, all.
Push Puppets were indeed what I was describing. Feeling pressure to get something ordered speedily I ended up with finger puppets, but also some good ideas that I can order when there isn’t a rush.