Scott Traylor

Scott Traylor: Honoring Mike Wood: Tributes to the LeapFrog Founder and Toy Industry Visionary Mike Wood, Rest in Play September 1st 1952 - April 10th, 2025 Scott Traylor reached out to me following Mike’s passing, and I asked if he would consider putting together a tribute in Mike’s honor. He graciously and immediately agreed. The outpouring of reflections Scott gathered in just a few days is a powerful testament to the impact Mike Wood had on so many of us in the toy industry.

We're finally in the homestretch, with just hours left before a new year begins! And what a year it was. Venturing out much more than the year before. Reconnecting in-person with friends and colleagues. Experiencing the thrill (or trepidation) of a future AI world. Barbie's resurgence.

Another year, another collection of memories to think back on and grow from. When working in the kids space that means looking back on another year of product launches, thoughts from conference speakers, and insights gleaned from industry articles. Once we’re in the waning days of December, I like to take stock of experiences that moved me in the children’s product and media world. That includes the many articles, magazines, blog posts, and research reports I’ve read along the way.