2014 Toy Fair - Toys for 12 yo boy and 9 yo girl
Toy Fair Opening Festivities
I attended the 2014 Toy Fair this year. It was my first show after staring up Get Well Games in mid-2013. I made a lot of good connections, and learned a lot that will help my business. I also got to see some amazing toys! However, when I ran into the owners of Sparkhouse in South Orange on Monday, and they asked what I liked, I had trouble remembering all of the great toys and games. There were just so many! So I doubled back and made a list of items that I would want to buy for my kids (12 year-old son and 9 year-old daughter) or family for upcoming birthdays and holidays.
The list is very subjective, it is just based on their personalities and mine too (for example there were marshmallow guns that the kids would love, but what a mess!). It was also based on what I could see as a Trade Guest. Some of the larger companies have closed booths only open to buyers. Finally, there were plenty of cool toys and games that they already had! So by no means comprehensive. Anyway, here is my list (luckily the kids don't read my blog, so hopefully still some surprises at Christmas!).
Large crowd gathered to get in
For 12 year-old boy:
- Metal Earth - Amazing magnetic toy where object is floating over platform; metal models made out of diecut metal sheets of Star Wars, including X-Wing, R2D2, other ships https://www.fascinations.com/metalearth
- Smartphone Science (SmartLab Toys) - turn your phone into a microscope, then conduct experiments with it http://www.smartlabtoys.com/
- Bright Buzz (Wham-O/Nowstalgic Toys) - Magic lights on your fingertips https://nowstalgictoys.com/index.cfm
- Star Wars Lego Carry Case Zip Bin (Neat-Oh! International) - Cases for legos, some of which designed to fit the larger models. And it unzips into a play mat. http://neat-oh.com/wpccategories/star_wars/
- Laser Pegs - light up interlocking bricks compatible with Legos. My son loves the light up bricks that come with some sets, this is a whole set of them! http://laserpegs.com/
- Hobbit - Defeat of Smaug (game) - walk through the story of the Hobbit (book) http://www.shop.playroomentertainment.com/The-Hobbit-The-Defeat-of-Smaug-PLE83300.htm
- Crystal Growing Kit http://www.scientificsonline.com/science-kits/crystal-growing-kits.html
- Lego Movie Kits http://shop.lego.com/en-US/THE-LEGO-MOVIE-ByTheme
- Brick Stix - stickers that use static to cling to legos and other bricks. They stay on, but can be removed easily, can also get book for storing them. https://www.brickstix.com/
- Roomarang - soft foam boomerang that worked really well! http://zingtoys.com/ozwest/roomarang
- ZCurve Bow and arrow - this was a little difficult to use, but added to the appeal as it felt like a real bow and arrow. You really had to pull back on the strings. Would need a target! http://zingtoys.com/zing-air/z-curve-bow
- Skytrix Stunt Glider - a little kite on a string that flies when you move string in a circle. Can also toss it to fly pretty far. http://www.mastermindtoys.com/SkyTrix-Stunt-Glider.aspx
- Bild + Animate - Posable figures with stop motion animation software included http://www.ogosport.com/main/ogostore?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage_ogo.tpl&product_id=32&category_id=8
- Poppers (Hogwild) - very cool popping sound when you shoot the soft balls http://www.hogwildtoys.com/
- Color clix - organic connectors work more like molecules, so you can duplicate mother nature with curves http://www.toystogrowon.com/sku397
- Sick Science - cool experiments. One was a coke bottle with mesh on top. Bottle was filled with water, but could flip it over and air pressure would stop it from coming out. And could insert toothpick and see it float to bottom of bottle http://www.stevespanglerscience.com/sick-science-dvd-volume-1.html
- Build-on brick mug (Think Geek) - Usable mug with lego-like connectors, so you can build onto the mug http://www.thinkgeek.com/product/ee3c/
- Makey-makey - circuit board and clips, so you can turn ordinary objects into musical instruments. They had wired 8 bananas to play a musical scale, and a small ornamental tree sounded like wind chime when you brushed the branches http://www.makeymakey.com/
- FlexDex - Light up skateboard (uses battery) with flexible material that allows rider to carve https://www.flexdex.com/
- Mimopower battery bot - External power source for phone, in shape of Darth Vader and R2D2 https://www.mimoco.com/default.aspx
- http://www.realinsect.net/ - Real Insects, Vampire bats in acrylic display cases
- Astrojax - 3 balls on a string which operate a little like a yo-yo, but moving in many directions and easier to control. MX Sport (soft foam) best for beginners http://www.usastrojax.com/Default.asp
- Some cool remote control devices:
- Sphero - Remote control balls and tube that you control with smart phone, drew a big crowd! http://www.gosphero.com/
- MicroDrones - extreme fliers http://www.extremefliers.com/
- XDrone Pro http://webrc.co/
- Sneekums - programmable furry creature that attached to back of something and can pop out to surprise someone by remote control, timer or wire.
- Escher Puzzles - puzzle pieces like the Escher lizard that you can fit together to create your own masterpiece http://www.familygamesamerica.com/mainsite/consumers/productview.php?pro_id=705
Opening Parade of Toys!
9 year-old girl
- Hearts of Attraction (R&R games) - game where you try to pick up magnets with other magnets. Uses laws of magnetic attraction http://www.gnomegames.com/new-from-rr-games-hearts-of-attraction/
- Top Trumps - Wonders of the world, animals, play war-like game, where you pick which attribute you think would beat everyone else's http://www.toptrumps.com/usa/
- Wits & Wagers Family Edition - similar to grown up game, but with questions geared towards kids. And you bet for moves instead of chips, goal is to get to end based on winning bets http://northstargames.com/North_Star_Games/Wits_%26_Wagers_Family.html
- Crazy Aaron's Thinking Putty - Putty that looks cool to start out with (kind of metallic shiny), then changes based on body heat, magnetism, or glow-in-the-dark based on which one you buy. http://www.puttyworld.com/
- Magic Stix - uses static levitation to make foil objects float over a wand-like stick http://www.scientificsonline.com/fun-flystick.html
- National Geographic Lunchboxes (Travelpro) - Nice lunchboxes with animal pictures on them
- Digipals - These are smart phone holders that also clean your screen. My daughter would like the owl or penguin http://www.digipalsusa.com/
- Furt - kids game from makers of Quelf, with similar funny play, but geared towards younger set http://www.wiggitybang.com/furt/
- Glow Crazy - Distance Doodler and other items allow you to make temporary glowing lines on the provided reusable paper. The distance one is a little like a laser pointer, can draw from 10 feet away. (from Beverly Hills Teddy Bear company) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdAgn7K3z40
- Bo-Po - Nail polish that peels off when you are done with it http://bo-po.com/
- Tattoos Alive - when you position your smart phone over the tattoo, you get animated character triggered by the tattoo http://www.tattoosalive.com/
- Glitter Glue Tattoos - Kits include stencils, body glue and glitter to make your own cool tattoos http://glittertoos.com/
- Spot It - actually played with a friend just before toy fair. Cards have lots of different objects and you can play different games. On one, you try to find a match on the card to the one you are holding befor your opponent does, harder than it sounds! http://www.blueorangegames.com/index.php/spot-it
- NDW - Face Decorating (stick on jewels, temporary tattoos, etc.)
- Superball Factory (Wham-O) - make your own bouncing superball http://www.whamo.com/product.html
- Sugar Candy Art - has kit to make your own sugar candy in whatever colors you choose (Squire Boone Village) http://www.squireboone.com/
- Orbeez - gel balls that get bigger in water, use in spa with warm water, or lava lamp to make cool designs on ceiling http://www.orbeezone.com/
- EarZings - earrings that use coil to attach, no piercing needed (the owner was concerned that my daughter would not like these since ears already pierced. But we both struggle to get earrings on and off!) http://www.earzings.com/
Everyone (including me) trying to get pic of Alicia Keys
Family/Grown Up Games- Lightuptoys.com - some very cool light up toys, including finger tip gloves with different sequences http://lightuptoys.com/
- Water Dancing Speakers (Leading Edge Novelty) - I've actually seen these at Sparkhouse already. They have a new one that is a little like a fountain! http://www.leadingedgenovelty.com/items/water-dancing-speakers.php
- Ring Stix - interesting game where you have to catch a ring using two sticks http://www.ringstix.com/
- Ghost-A-House - Hang ghost on friend's doors, they look up code to see who did it and who to ghost next http://www.ghost-a-house.com/what-is-ghosting
- Davis connection (Notjustanoodle.com) - Pool noodles that connect together and have other connectors so you can build with them (they had made a house out of them) http://notjustanoodle.com/
- Collapse a Pail - nice silicone beach buckets that collapse flat for carrying, but very sturdy when opened http://collapseapail.com/
- Planet Plates (Unemployed Philosopher's Guild) - Plates that look like each of the planets http://www.philosophersguild.com/
- Uncle Bubble - incredibly strong bubble solution. They had one that made bubbles you could stand in (unfortunately not available for retail). Also bubbles you could bounce on a gloved hand http://www.unclebubble.us/
- Mountain boy sledworks - nice wooden toboggans http://www.mountainboysleds.com/
- SmakABall - Players each have ring used to catch a ball that is about the size of a beach ball. After catching, you smack the ball to send it back. Looks like a lot of fun for the pool, and one even my mom could enjoy! http://www.smakaball.com/
- Grown Up Games that I want to play!
- Dealbreaker - list of awful behavior, you decide if you would put up with situation on card or break up with someone, everyone else votes on what they think you would do (Zobmundo!) http://www.zobmondo.com/products/deal-breaker-coaster-card-game
- Killer Bunnies - I've heard from friends this one is a lot of fun! http://killerbunnies.com/
- Mad Quao - new game from makers of Quelf, card game where different people gain control of group http://www.wiggitybang.com/madquao/madquao.html
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