STREETSBORO, OHIO — May 5, 2009 — The Step2® Company has earned yet another prestigious award for the company's line of products. The National Parenting Center has honored Step2's Sand & Water Transportation Station and Thinkativity's Feed & Learn Singing Croc with a seal of approval for price, packaging, design, stimulation, desirability, age appropriateness and creativity.

The Step2® Company, LLC is a family company with toy brands including Step2®, Infantino®, and Thinkativity® that foster learning and development through creative play in children from birth to school-age years. The company designs and produces new toys that receive recognition every year for their durability, creative play value, and fun designs.

The Thinkativity Feed & Learn Singing Croc is an interactive crocodile that sings 26 different songs about letters and words. It includes letters A-Z that store in the croc's tummy to help children learn the alphabet. The Step2 Sand & Water Transportation Station allows children to jump on board the transportation station of fun. It promotes hours of creative play with two compartments for both sand and water with drain plugs for easy clean-up.

"We greatly appreciate this award from such a highly regarded organization," said Step2 CEO Scott Levin. "We take pride in providing families creative toys that are safe, fun, and provide hours of imaginative play for kids."

The National Parenting Center's Seal of Approval is a peer-to-peer parent review program that recognizes products and services that have been met with a "thumbs up" by parents. Since 1989, The National Parenting Center has been a leading parent advocacy organization, offering advice and information to parents on issues ranging from pregnancy through adolescence.

The Step2 Company not only designs and produces innovative toys, it also provides parents and child care professionals access to learn and share information about the importance of creative play. CreativePlayPlus.com is a ground breaking blog launched from an alliance between the Step2 Company and the renowned Schubert Center for Child Studies. The site offers a variety of topics related to play and provides visitors with relevant news stories, expert research, articles and other blogs that center around the topic of play.

For more information on Step2 products visit www.step2.com. For more information on the National Parenting Center visit www.tnpc.com/.

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About The Step2 Company:
Step2, based in Streetsboro, Ohio, is the largest American manufacturer of preschool and toddler toys and the world's largest rotational molder of children's and home products, including children's play kitchens, playhouses, outdoor toys and ride on toys, as well as home products such as mailboxes, gardening aids and trash cans. Infantino, headquartered in San Diego, Calif. is a leading designer and international distributor of innovative and original infant, toddler, and preschool products. Featuring fashion-forward designs, the popular product lines include classic creative baby toys and puzzles, innovative soft baby carriers, and simple, no-fuss baby travel systems. New Jersey-based Thinkativity is a leading innovator of electronic and early learning toys promoting inventive play patterns through original musical compositions and stories that inspire children to explore, play and learn.

CONTACT:
Dotti Franks, Vice President Marketing Communications
dfranks@step2.net; 330-656-0440

Alexis Black, Current Lifestyle Marketing
ablack@currentlm.com; 312-929-0504

(STREETSBORO, OHIO) — May 6, 2009 — Let the outdoor fun begin! As more families keep close to home this spring and summer, America's largest toy manufacturer is turning up the heat on creative play with new products designed for fun in the sun. With new outdoor toy introductions like the Sand & Water Transportation Station™, Nature Station Playhouse™ and Water Rush Quarry™, Step2® is helping turn the backyard or patio into the new destination for family fun.

"We have stepped up our offering of outdoor toys this year to help families have hours of fun right in their own backyard," said Scott Levin CEO of the Step2 Company. "Because many are putting travel plans on hold this year, parents told us they wanted more ways to promote creative play in their own homes and we are fitting the bill with fun, safe toys designed for everything from big backyards to apartment building patios."

The Step2 Company is known for durable and stylish children's toys that promote role playing, motor skills, creative play development and most importantly, fun for children. Best loved for its high-quality outdoor toys, playhouses, play kitchens, sand and water play, ride on toys, and swing sets, Step2 is an American toy company, and 90 percent of Step2 toys are made in the U.S.A. and headquartered in Streetsboro, Ohio.

Take It Outside for a Welcome Change of Pace

Here are new toys from Step2 designed to promote creative, self-directed play for kids:

• Sand & Water Transportation Station™ — Jump on board the transportation station of fun! Set comes complete with toy train and rake. The sturdy table contains two compartments for both sand and water with drain plugs for easy clean-up. Funnels atop table legs act as "loading stations" for creative play and the raised table helps keep feet and the home clean and dry. 15-piece accessory set includes 3 train cards, 2 boats, 3 funnels, 1 spinner, 1 paddle wheel, 1 see-saw scoop, 3 track pieces, and removable cover with elastic straps. The cart also comes equipped to hold a 42" umbrella (sold separately) to provide shade during hours of outdoor enjoyment. Durable poly construction. Ages 2+
• Nature Station Playhouse™ — Ready for the great outdoors? This airy, open playhouse encourages children's interest in nature and let's their imagination run wild. Features shelf for examining flowers, bugs, and other natural wonders found outside. Also included are a shovel, bug collector, butterfly net, lantern, microscope with two slides, tweezers, bug trap shovel and binoculars for hours of discovery and play. Periscope pivots to allow 180° viewing. This nature station has round windows for peek-a-boo fun and storage bins that double as planters to grow flowers, herbs and small vegetables. Durable poly construction. Ages 2+
• Water Rush Quarry™ — Getting to work has never been so much fun! This multi-level design allows water to cascade from top to bottom like a flowing river. Set includes one crane, two bridges, a tunnel, a dam, a ramp, a bucket, a shovel and two construction vehicles. This quarry is flexible and easily converted into a small, single level play table. Minimal adult assembly required. Durable poly construction. Ages 3+
• Arctic Splash™ — Children will stay cool throughout summer when they chill-out exploring glacier mountain. Glacier Mountain complete with ice slide, tunnel and dumping bucket. Raised design helps keep feet clean and dry. Multi-level water wells for aquatic fun. Includes a polar bear, walrus and penguin squirt toys. Ages 1.5 +

Step2's spring and summer 2009 products are currently available at toy stores and retailers nationwide. For more information on the full line of Step2 toys and products, please visit www.step2.com.

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About The Step2 Company:
The Step2® Company is a family company with brands including Step2®, Infantino®, and Thinkativity® that foster learning and development through creative play in children from birth to school-age years. Step2, based in Streetsboro, Ohio, is the largest American manufacturer of preschool and toddler toys and the world's largest rotational molder of children's and home products, including children's play kitchens, playhouses, outdoor toys and ride on toys, as well as home products such as mailboxes, gardening aids and trash cans. Infantino, headquartered in San Diego, Calif. is a leading designer and international distributor of innovative and original infant, toddler, and preschool products. Featuring fashion-forward designs, the popular product lines include classic creative baby toys and puzzles, innovative soft baby carriers, and simple, no-fuss baby travel systems. New Jersey-based Thinkativity is a leading innovator of electronic and early learning toys promoting inventive play patterns through original musical compositions and stories that inspire children to explore, play and learn. Step2, in partnership with Case Western Reserve University's Schubert Center for Child Studies, sponsors CreativePlayPlus.com, an online resource to provide parents with the latest research on creative play and child development. Visit www.creativeplayplus.com for more information on this partnered initiative. Visit www.step2.com, www.infantino.com and www.thinkativity.com to learn more about The Step2 Company brands.

CONTACT:
Dotti Franks, Vice President Marketing Communications
dfranks@step2.net; 330-656-0440

Margaux Vega, Current
mvega@currentlm.com; 415-449-0126

Consumers Choose America's Largest Toy Maker for Best Toys for Families

STREETSBORO, OHIO - April 1, 2009 — Step2 children's toys are the favorite brand for fun toys that foster creative play, according to hundreds of grandparents, working parents and families across the country taking part in the Buzzillions Reviewers' Choice Awards. Receiving an unprecedented 55 honors, the Step2 toys were noted for their high-quality, creativity and innovation.

The Step2 Company, LLC, is the nation's largest preschool and toddler toy manufacturer, famous for its signature play kitchens, outdoor and ride-on toys, and craft tables and easels. With headquarters in Streetsboro, Ohio, Step2 is an American toy company making 90 percent of its toys in three US-based factories. Step2 is the largest rotational molder of plastics in the world and distributes its toys in 70 countries worldwide.

Winners of the Buzzillions Reviewers' Choice™ Awards are selected based on the opinions of real consumers who have purchased and used the product and posted their opinions on Buzzillions.com, the Web's premier hub for customer reviews. Buzzillions is the only product review site that categorizes its reviews by "user personality" so that consumers can get ratings and reviews from people just like them.

"Most product awards are judged by a small group of industry experts," said Andy Chen, CEO of Buzzillions. "The Buzzillions Reviewers' Choice Awards are unique in that they are judged by the people, for the people. It speaks volumes for Step2 to be recognized by the toughest judges of all — their customers."

The Step2 Company was honored with 21 2008 Buzzillions Reviewers' Choice Award Winners and 34 2008 Buzzillions Reviewer's Choice Award Finalists for their toddler toys and children's furniture. Additionally, 23 of these awards were for the best "overall" product in their nominated category.

"At Step2, we pride ourselves on making innovative toys that foster creativity for children and are a good value for families. We care about what our consumers are saying about our products and take all feedback into consideration," said Scott Levin, CEO for The Step2 Company. "We think it's fantastic that Buzzillions.com offers such a unique venue for people to share their opinion online and are grateful to be honored with these awards."

The Step2 Company received the following Buzzillions Reviewers' Choice Awards:

Art Master Activity Desk: Art Storage & Tables - Best Overall
Soft & Sturdy Blocks: Building Sets, Blocks & Materials - Best Overall
Soft & Sturdy Deluxe Blocks: Building Sets, Blocks & Materials — Best for Parents of Two or More Children
Lift & Hide Bookcase Storage Chest: Children's Bedroom Furniture - for Budget Shoppers, Mid-range Shoppers and Best Overall
Pirate Ship: Doll Accessories - for Parents of Two or More Children
Flip Doodle Easel Desk: Learning & Activities - for Grandparents
24" Playmats - 1 pack (4 Total Playmats): Learning & Activities - for Working Parents
Outdoor Storage Bench: Patio Benches - Best Overall
Naturally Playful Welcome Home Playhouse: Play Houses & Furniture - for First-Time Parents, Grandparents, Parents of Two or More Children, Stay-at-Home Parents, Working Parents and Best Overall
Naturally Playful Adventure Lodge Play Center: Playsets - Best Overall
Par 3 Mini Golf Course: Toy Sports - Best Overall
Deluxe Canyon Road Train Track Table: Toy Trains - for Parents of Two or More Children and Best Overall
Naturally Playful Sand & Water Activity Center: Water Toys - Best Overall
Up & Down Roller Coaster: Youth Push Ride-on Toys — Best Overall

The following products are Buzzillions Reviewers' Choice Award Finalists:

Creative Projects Table: Art Storage & Tables - Overall
Dream Castle Convertible Bed: Children's Bedroom Furniture - Overall
Racing Room Combo: Children's Bedroom Furniture — Overall and Mid-range Shoppers
Dream Castle Convertible Bed: Children's Bedroom Furniture - for Mid-range and Budget Shoppers
Fire Engine Toddler Bed: Children's Bedroom Furniture - for Mid-range Shoppers and Budget Shoppers Pirate Ship: Doll Accessories — Overall and Stay-At-Home-Parents
Sand & Water Cart: Floats, Toys & Games - Overall
Flip & Doodle Easel Desk: Learning & Activities — Overall and for Stay-At Home-Parents 24" Playmats — 1 pack (4 Total Playmats): Learning Activities, for First-Time Parents and Parents of Two or More Children
Naturally Playful Picnic Table: Play Houses & Furniture — Overall and Stay-at-Home Parents
Naturally Playful Storybook Cottage Playhouse: Play Houses & Furniture — Overall, Stay-at-Home and Parents of Two or More Children and First time Parents
Naturally Playful Neat and Tidy Cottage: Play Houses & Furniture — For Working Parents, Stay-At-Home-Parents, and First-Time Parents
Play Shade Deluxe Bouncer: Play Houses & Furniture - For Parents of Two or More Children
Fold & Store Slide: Playsets - Overall
Naturally Playful Big Folding Slide: Playsets - Overall
Naturally Playful Look-out Treehouse: Playsets - Overall
Deluxe Canyon Road Train Track Table: Toy Trains - for Stay-at-Home Parents
WaterWheel Play Table: Water Toys - Overall
Push-Around Buggy: Youth Push Ride-On Toys - Overall

In addition to providing innovative toys, The Step2 Company is also dedicated to providing parents and child care professionals access to learn and share information about the importance of creative play. CreativePlayPlus.com is a ground breaking blog launched from an alliance between the Step2 Company and the renowned Schubert Center for Child Studies. The site offers a variety of topics related to play and provides visitors with relevant news stories, expert research, articles and other blogs that center around the topic of play.

For more information on Step2 products visit www.step2.com. For a full list of winners visit Buzzillions Reviewers' Choice Award Announcement.

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About The Step2 Company:
The Step2® Company is a family company with brands including Step2®, Infantino®, and Thinkativity® that foster learning and development through creative play in children from birth to school-age years. Step2, based in Streetsboro, Ohio, is the largest American manufacturer of preschool and toddler toys and the world's largest rotational molder of children's and home products, including children's play kitchens, playhouses, outdoor toys and ride on toys, as well as home products such as mailboxes, gardening aids and trash cans. Infantino, headquartered in San Diego, Calif. is a leading designer and international distributor of innovative and original infant, toddler, and preschool products. Featuring fashion-forward designs, the popular product lines include classic creative baby toys and puzzles, innovative soft baby carriers, and simple, no-fuss baby travel systems. New Jersey-based Thinkativity is a leading innovator of electronic and early learning toys promoting inventive play patterns through original musical compositions and stories that inspire children to explore, play and learn. Step2, in partnership with Case Western Reserve University's Schubert Center for Child Studies, sponsors CreativePlayPlus.com, an online resource to provide parents with the latest research on creative play and child development. Visit www.creativeplayplus.com for more information on this partnered initiative. Visit www.step2.com, www.infantino.com and www.thinkativity.com to learn more about The Step2 Company brands.

About the Buzzillions® Reviewers' Choice™ Awards
Buzzillions Reviewers' Choice Awards are selected utilizing a special algorithm that ranks products reviewed by consumers in the calendar year of 2008. This algorithm incorporates star ratings, number of reviews and the reliability of the reviewers (reviews by "Verified Buyers" are given more weight). The #1-ranked product is awarded "Reviewers' Choice Winner" status. The #2 - #5-ranked products are awarded "Reviewers' Choice Finalist" status. Buzzillions.com, which has nearly five million reviews, is a one-stop product research site for consumers, providing reviews and recommendations from real product users for more than 700,000 products in thousands of categories, including consumer electronics, apparel, sporting goods, health & beauty and home & garden.

CONTACT:Dotti Franks, Vice President Marketing Communications
dfranks@step2.net; 330-656-0440

Lisa Brogan, CURRENT
lbrogan@currentlm.com; 310-854-8278

America's Largest Toy Manufacturer Is Honored by the British Toy & Hobby Association's UK Toy Fair

STREETSBORO, OHIO — February 10, 2009 — The Step2 Company®, the nation's largest preschool and toddler toy manufacturer, famous for its signature play kitchens, houses, ride on toys and outdoor toys, has earned yet another prestigious award — this time from outside the United States. At last month's UK Toy Fair, the British Toy & Hobby Association recognized Step2's Skyward Summit as the Best New Toy of 2009 in the Outdoor/Sports category.

The British Toy & Hobby Association considers its most important duty to promote the highest possible standards of safety in design and manufacture of toys. The Association also runs the only dedicated toy trade event in the UK — its Toy Fair — which takes place each year in January. The 33rd annual toy fair showcased Step2 as well as other top toy brands such as Hasbro and Lego.

Step2's Skyward Summit allows little adventurers to explore and discover from the peak of the summit. Its authentic design reaches 80 inches in height, creating the appearance of a real rock climbing wall and giving children over 100 square feet of outer climbing area.

"We value the feedback of our industry peers and truly appreciate the recognition that comes with this award," said The Step2 Company CEO Scott Levin. "The British Toy & Hobby Association Award represents the standards of innovation, safety and quality that we uphold at Step2, so receiving this acknowledgement from them confirms that we are doing our job well."

Step2 makes durable, well-made, stylish children's toys that promote role-modeling, motor skills, creative play development and, most importantly, fun for children. Step2 puts all of their toys through rigorous safety testing and produces the highest quality products for families.

With around 200 exhibitors launching thousands of new toys at the UK Toy Fair this year, the Best New Toy Awards were introduced by organizers of the British Toy & Hobby Association to pinpoint those considered most likely to top children's wish lists in the forthcoming year.

For more information, visit step2.com or btha.co.uk.

Toy Experts Deem Retro Play Kitchen & Infant Activity Center Hot Picks for the Holidays

STREETSBORO, OHIO (November 12, 2008) — Holiday shopping season is here, and the nation's toy experts have made their top-toy list and parents are checking them twice. For The Step2® Family of Companies, more Step2, Infantino and Thinkativity toys are featured on premiere toy lists than ever before making hot prospects for parents and grandparents.

Step2 50's Diner Wins Unprecedented 11 Awards... and Counting

The Step2 50's Diner play kitchen was honored early on as a holiday favorite, rocking its way to the top of the Toys "R" Us "Fabulous 15 of 2008" holiday toy list, ranking among Parenting magazine's "Toys of the Year," and receiving an Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award. Adding to the list of accolades, the retro diner play kitchen has now been "Recommended" by the Parents' Choice Foundation, awarded three stars from the Canadian Toy Testing Council (their highest honor), as well as being named one of iParenting Media Awards "Greatest Products of 2008" and Today's Parent "Top Toys of 2008."

Similarly, the Step2 Creative Projects Table also recently received three stars from the Canadian Toy Testing Council, and was named an iParenting Media Awards "Greatest Products of 2008."

Infantino and Thinkativity Take Top Honors

The Infantino PlayTime Activity Center and Infantino Lil' Chef Set made the iParenting Media Awards list as well, while the Infantino PlayTime Activity Center garnered an additional honor of being deemed Parents' Choice Foundation "Approved." Thinkativity's Pretend & Play Storyteller was also honored as one of the one of iParenting Media Awards "Greatest Products of 2008," making it a sweep for The Step2 Company brands.

"We appreciate this recognition from such important industry and retail leaders," said Step2 President and CEO Scott Levin. "We pride ourselves on creating toys that are safe, fun and provide hours of imaginative play for kids. Across our brands, Step2, Infantino and Thinkativity, our products stand-out because they take a fresh look at multi-dimensional play and foster creativity for children from infancy to elementary school-age."

Award-Winning Products from the Step2 Family:

Step2 50's Diner — This new retro style 50's play kitchen will have toddlers boppin' to the oldies from the tabletop jukebox! Whether they're the waitress, fry-cook or customer, the Diner's 2-sided design offers numerous pretend play options while the realistic sounds made by the grill and coffee pot make it all the more fun. Ages 2+.

Step2 Creative Projects Table — Creative fun never ends with this art project table built for two. The large surface is big enough for friends and siblings to create masterpieces together. The cup holders and side storage keep supplies organized and ready. Ages 3+.

Infantino Play Time Activity Center — Great for tummy time and seated play, this activity center includes four action-packed sides with a large peek-a-boo mirror, put-and-take bird's nest and a textured fish tank. A great, compact and portable product that grows with baby! Ages: 3 Months.

Infantino Lil Chef Set — It's never too early to start testing out baby's culinary skills! Three piece cooking set with textured clacker spoons, rattling peek-and-see pot and a bouncing bead "salt shaker" rattle makes the perfect gift for your new chef. Ages: 3 Months+.

Pretend & Play Storyteller — This princess castle allows children to create their own fairytale complete with a fairy godmother all while promoting creative storytelling and language development. Ages: 2 years+.

For more information about Step2, Infantino, and Thinkativity brand toys, visit: www.step2.com, www.infantino.com and www.thinkativity.com.