ReyneRice.com

Global Trend Hunter & Toys/Tech Expert!

Follow Me!

twitterlinkedin

Greetings from New York in 2017!

By Leave a Comment

Facebooktwittergoogle_pluspinterestlinkedintumblrmail

 

Greetings Toy, Games & Toy Tech fans! Thanks for visiting my newly updated website!

So what’s new with me? I’m excited to bring you the latest news on what’s happening at Key ToyFairs and events in North America, and across the global world of Toys & Games, Kids & Family technology, Entertainment & Licensing. I am constantly on the lookout for new trends and products that affect kids and families with the “Trickle Down Effect” (What is happening now in adult products, will trickle down to kids products within the next 12 to 18 months, or before!) Kids toys have never been more fun, interactive or engaging.

I spent the New Year at the International CES in Las Vegas in January 2017, & previewed the latest technology products for kids and families. Live from the Kids at Play Summit, I reported live news and clips of hot new tech trends, worked with the other KAPI Jurors to judge and award the Best of the Best in KAPi (Kids at Play Innovations) Awards, and got to see, and play with the latest drones, robots, electronic pets, STEM to STEAM to STREAM products, and just be a big kid in the world of technology. Yup, I do LOVE my career!

Then, I flew over to Germany to play in the biggest playground in the world at the Spielwarenmesse 2017 ToyFair in Nuremberg, Germany, where 18 halls of toys, games, kids tech, baby and infant products, costumes and more were waiting to be discovered. (See my blog posts from that Fair, here on my blog page, as well as connections to articles where I was recently quoted). As their lead Global Trend Hunter and a part of the Trend Committee, I was busy reporting on the news, meeting with other journalists from around the world, providing daily Trend Gallery 2017 Speeches, providing journalist overviews at the new Tech2Play Pavillion and presenting then latest innovations in Future Emerging Tech, in the Toy Business Forum.

In mid-February, I returned to New York City for the American International ToyFair and the Digital Kids Conference for more trend sleuthing, digital toy trend presentations , media coverage and playing with games, toys and kids technology! Saw more amazing products, and met so many new manufacturers, in the Innovation Zones, Creative Factor areas and in the show floor exhibits.

Then back to Europe, in late February, to provide a Keynote speech at the Eastern European Kids Time Toy and Baby Fair in Kielce, Poland. This trade show focuses on sales to and between many European, Eastern European, Russian and other countries (17 counties in all, attended this year), My coverage will be appearing in April 2017 issues of the ToyBook and other international publications. 

In early April, I travel to Bologna Italy, where I will be one of the KeyNote Speakers for the Bologna Licensing Trade Fair, which is running concurrently with the Digital Media Hall and the Bologna International Book Fair. There, I will be featuring a presentation on the latest Digital Trends in Toys and their impact on the kids toys & licensing business. I will share the stage with Kidz Global Research Kids & Digital study results and the power of Spin Master in new technology product arenas. More news to follow.

Living with Passion,

Reyne

Black Friday Toys and Games 2015

By Leave a Comment

Facebooktwittergoogle_pluspinterestlinkedintumblrmail

Originally posted on DailyLounge.com.

Black Friday weekend is quickly approaching and we have some great Holiday gifts for all the kids on your shopping list!

LEGO DUPLO Batman Adventure

This LEGO DUPLO Batman Adventure set is designed for young builders 2 – 5 years old. Kids can play with Batman™, Superman™ and Wonder Woman to save the day and create endless adventures with these iconic super-heroes. This set includes an easy-to-build opening bridge, Batman’s Batboat, Wonder Woman’s motorbike, and a cat. These Duplo bricks are over-sized and created to be fun and safe for small hands. As your little builder grows up, they will be able to use Duplos with other Lego sets as they are 100% compatible. Learn more here.

Activision Skylanders SuperChargers

Activision just launched Skylander SuperChargers introducing “vehicles-to-life” that are playable in the real world and virtually come to life in the video game. Now, kids can play in the air, under the sea or on land with NEW Super-Charged characters and vehicles, including race cars, jets, submarines and more!  ALL of the existing 300+ characters can be used in this new game and NOW, they all can drive! Get it here.

VTech Kidizoom Action Cam

Kids can capture digital photos or videos of their active lifestyle with the VTech Kidizoom Action Cam.  It is designed to be durable for kids as young as 4 years old, with different mounts to attach to their helmets, bikes, skateboards and scooters, plus a case that is waterproof up to 6 feet and will protect from splashes. An affordable way to introduce kids to photography. Parents or older siblings can help them download and share their images. Get it at VTechKids.com!

R.E.V. by Wowwee

R.E.V. are super-fast Robotic Enhanced Vehicles from WowWee that are app-enabled remote control battle cars. The starter pack includes 2 cars AND 2 ways to play: One player can play versus the Artificial Intelligence controlled drone car OR battle against their friends. Simply download the free app, connect your device to sync with the vehicle, and start playing right out of the box! These cars are super-fast AND do NOT require a special track or surface to race, or battle on. Play anywhere! Learn more here.

ArcKit Architectural Model Building Kit

For the Maker in your life, the ArcKit Architectural model building kit is a great hands-on way to teach practical STEM concepts with architectural design. The award-winning model kit comes with re-usable construction pieces like walls, windows, and floors. You can customize your design with printable adhesives like solar panels, wood textures, and terracotta tile. Easily put the set together using quick-click assembly and then re-construct something completely different. The sets include access to the digital materials library and the Sketch Up 3D Warehouse. Developed by a real architect in Ireland, Damien Murtagh, and available exclusively at Barnes & Noble this Holiday Season! Winner of multiple awards such as, The Parents Choice Gold Award, Irish Design 2015 Award, and the Red Dot Design Award! Learn more at ArcKit.com!

Black Friday Toys 2014

By Leave a Comment

Facebooktwittergoogle_pluspinterestlinkedintumblrmail

Originally posted on DailyLounge.com.

Written and Produced By: Amelia Floyd

As we all know, Black Friday is right around the corner! Do you have kids on your holiday shopping lists? Sure you do! We have picked some of the best toys and tech for kids this holiday season to make shopping a little easier for you!

LEGO Friends Jungle Rescue Base

The popular LEGO Friends collection takes kids on an adventure into the jungle with the LEGO Friends Jungle Rescue Base. This deluxe set includes living quarters, a boat, zip line, slide, 2 mini figures and 4 animals. They combine building, imagination and storytelling adventures for hours of fun! Compatible with sets from the jungle series, or even existing LEGO pieces, based on the freinds from Heartlake City. Available at the LEGO shop.

VTech Bronco the RC Triceratops

For younger kids, VTech has Bronco the RC Triceratops, their first remote control dino, a new addition to their Switch & Go Turbo line. See how it easily transforms from a fierce dinosaur to a sleek race car with the push of a button! Using the remote, you can move it around and charge the turbo boost lever to give it a burst of speed! Learn dino facts and hear wild sound effects too! Get it at VtechKids.com!

Moff Band

Get your kids off the couch and active with the Moff Band, a smart wearable toy! Powered by motion sensors and kids’ creativity, everyday objects can be made into a toy – a stick becomes a knight’s sword, a banana turns into a laser, the broom is an air guitar, and a whisk becomes a magic wand – and their imagination is the only thing a kid needs to play. With regular free app updates, there are always new sounds and activities so kids will never get bored. Simple to set up and easy to play with, grab 2 bands and kids can play together for even more fun! Watch a video and learn more about this awesome toy here. 

Tiggly Counts

Kids love playing with tablets, and from the makers of Tiggly Shapes, we introduce Tiggly Counts. It is the first hands-on math toy that interacts with your tablet to make learning math fun! By physically moving the Tiggly Counts pieces, children can see, touch and connect with the math concepts. It comes with three award winning apps that help teach counting, addition and number lines in a fun and engaging way. Perfect for children aged 3 and up. Learn more and order yours here.

Back to School 2014

By Leave a Comment

Facebooktwittergoogle_pluspinterestlinkedintumblrmail

Originally posted on DailyLounge.com.

It’s that time of year again, those dreaded words, BACK TO SCHOOL! That doesn’t mean the fun has to stop, kids can learn AND have fun with these neat items our Toy Trend Expert Reyne Rice has found.

LEGO DUPLO Deluxe Box of Fun

Give your pre-schooler hours of entertainment with the LEGO DUPLO Deluxe Box of Fun! This set makes the perfect introduction to building with pieces designed specifically for little hands and can be built by the kids themselves. With 95 pieces of classic and special DUPLO bricks, this set can teach counting with the decorated number blocks and inspire role play with the DUPLO figures, opening up a world of imagination and creativity for your child. Learn more about LEGO DUPLO here.

LEGO Juniors

LEGO Juniors are tailor-made to transition young builders to classic LEGO brick building. This Easy to Build set, LEGO Junior Batman: Defend the Batcave, includes modular pieces such as walls and archways for quick brick builds, a vehicle and three mini-figures: Batman, Robin and the Joker. Kids develop math and logic learning PLUS storytelling for developing language skills. Step-by-step storybook instructions and photo inspiration get young builders started. Learn more about LEGO Juniors here.

ABCmouse.com

Kids love being active and keeping their brains engaged also prevents them from getting bored. ABCmouse.com Early Learning Academy is an award-winning educational website for kids ages 2 to 6. Developed by teachers and learning experts, this site has over 5,000 skill-building activities to provide hundreds of hours of fun .. that means kids will actually WANT to use it! The Step by Step Learning Path customizes the experience for each child, allowing them to build self confidence by learning at their own pace. It can be accessed from computers and most mobile devices, anytime – anywhere. It’s a 100% educational and safe online environment, with no advertising or links to other websites. Find out more about enrolling your child at ABCmouse.com! 

Oregon Scientific SmartGlobe Infinity

Becoming a global citizen is important and Oregon Scientific is a leader in creating global learning tools. The SmartGlobe Infinity opens up the world with the touch of the Smart Pen. Kids will learn history, fascinating facts and global knowledge using the Bluetooth wireless talking Smart Pen to guide their experiences with dozens of fun interactive games and challenges. This SmartGlobe is constantly updated online, providing an ever current view of world content. Learn more about the SmartGlobe Infinity here.

Black Friday for Kids 2013

By Leave a Comment

Facebooktwittergoogle_pluspinterestlinkedintumblrmail

Originally posted on DailyLounge.com.

Written and Produced By: Amelia Floyd

Reyne Rice is showcasing the absolute must-haves this holiday season. From tablets to dinos, you’re sure to find the perfect gift for any kid. Check out our list below, get your lists ready and gear up for Black Friday!!

Kurio 7S

Here’s a tablet for everyone! The Kurio 7S is a real Android 4.2 Wi-Fi enabled family tablet with all the features kids want! (And the parental controls mom & dad love.) Create up to eight profiles and manage internet access, set daily time limits and select age-appropriate games. It even comes pre-loaded with over 60 family-friendly apps, like Angry Birds! Learn more about the Kurio 7S here.

LEGO Winter Village Market

Just in time for the holidays, LEGO is releasing their Winter Village Market! Continuing with their popular collectible Winter Village series, the Winter Village Market comes with a rotating carousel and over 1200 pieces. It also includes nine mini figures to really make this Winter Village Market come to life. Check it out here.

Skylanders – SWAP Force

The award-winning, top-selling Skylanders franchise have just released the much anticipated new title, SWAP Force. With 16 new swapable figures, players can mix & match the top and bottom halves of their figures to create more than 250 unique characters. What’s even better is that all 100+ characters from the previous two Skylanders games can now be played in the new version. PLUS, they are cross-platform compatible which allows you to play them on almost all of the gaming systems, including the PS4 and Xbox One. Learn more about SWAP Force here. 

Xbox One

This needs no introduction. The HIGHLY anticipated Xbox One has been released and is better than ever! It’s an all-in-one game and entertainment system that brings your TV, movies, games, music and apps together. It has some of the best games including, Forza Motorsport 5, the family-friendly Zoo Tycoon, Ryse: Son of Rome, and more. Plug your cable box right into it and use your voice as your remote to find your favorite shows. The Skype app allows you to use the included Kinect camera to video chat with your friends & family … right there on your big screen. There is so much more to say about the Xbox One, why don’t you check it out for yourself, here.

VTech Switch & Go Dinos

Kids love dinosaurs and vehicles. Wouldn’t it be neat if there was a toy that combined the two? Yeah, we think so too. Well, we’re in luck … VTech has released the super popular Switch & Go Dinos! Allow us to introduce you to one of the Dinos now. Jagger, the T-Rex, has new voice recognition technology that recognizes and responds to 20 different voice commands. He easily transforms from a fierce T-Rex into a cool construction vehicle with movable crane. Awesome. Want more fun? This guy comes with over 90 realistic dinosaur sounds and phrases that teach some interesting dinosaur facts. Learn more here.

Summer Travel 2013

By Leave a Comment

Facebooktwittergoogle_pluspinterestlinkedintumblrmail

Originally posted on DailyLounge.com.

Summer and Travel time is dedicated to family fun so here are some of the hottest toys and devices to keep families engaged and happy throughout the summer.

 Sifteo Cubes

Portable digital gaming cubes with games and activities for the whole family, and they’re wireless! Play solo or with multiple players, these games will keep young minds fresh until the next school year with Intelligent Play.

 VTech InnoTab 2S

A Wi-Fi Learning App Tablet for kids! Keep kids occupied throughout the summer with their very own tablet computer designed to keep them on a fast track for learning.

 Kajeet

The smart phone for kids! Families can have access to each other with peace of mind knowing Kajeet offers free, unlimited, award-winning parental controls that allow parents to set time limits on phones, block unwanted calls and more!

 Disney Club Penguin

The #1 virtual world for kids! The new free My Penguin App allows kids to access their favorite Club Penguin games and activities on-the-go.

 Stache Tats

Another fun way to keep everyone laughing throughout the hot summer months. Check out The Original Temporary Mustache Tattoo!