Fat Brain Toys

What doesn't one do for children? You could, for example, start one of the most popular online toy stores in the US. That's what Mark and Caren Carson of Elkhorn, Nebraska, did, inspired by their 10-year-old son Adam. In 2002, Adam received a Geomag magnetic puzzle for his birthday, and liked it so much that he decided to reach into his piggy bank and buy a larger set. He agonized before tracking the set down on the Internet and complaining about it to his father, a web developer. Fat Brain Toys' first command base was located in the Carsons' garage, and in 2006 the company began producing its own proprietary educational and logical thinking toys.

And although they have long since moved from the garage to a real headquarters they are still guided by the same principles - they produce and sell only toys that they could in good conscience give to their own children.

They have as many hits as the biggest pop stars. Greatly popular, for example, is the Tobbles pyramid - six well-balanced balls made of pleasant-to-touch plastic that can be set up into a tower, taken with them to the bath or used to teach them to name colors. The suction cups will appeal to slightly older, three-year-old children and will stay for a long time, as the possibilities for playing with these flexible blocks are endless. Of course, Fat Brain Toys also includes a variety of puzzles that are great not only at home, but - due to their small size - also on the go. Fat Brain Toys are great toys for toddlers, older kids and teens.