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Toy Fair New York Sneak Peek 2016

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Originally posted on DailyLounge.com.

Toy Fair New York kicks off this weekend and I’ve got a sneak peek at some of the coolest toys and games for 2016.

LEGO DUPLO

LEGO continues to be a leader in the construction category and are expanding the LEGO DUPLO line with “My Firsts” sets, like My First Catepillar and My First Rocket. These DUPLO bricks are four times the size of classic LEGO bricks, and are sized for little hands to introduce children as young as 18 months old to the world of building. They make learning fun by encouraging early counting skills with special decorated bricks and come with building cards for more inspiration. Learn more here.

Rocket Fishing Rod

Parents are always looking for ways to get kids outdoors. The Rocket Fishing Rod from Goliath makes fishing fun and more enjoyable for both parents and kids. Kids pump, launch and reel in the fish all by themselves! This fishing pole shoots the bait 25 feet so no casting is needed. The included safety bobber protects the hook safely until it hits the water, so all kids catch are fish. Ready to use right out of the box. Click here to learn more.

Middle School Moguls

This new collection of dolls and books introduces the Middle School Moguls. It follows the story of five unconventional girls who attend Mogul Academy, a school for the brightest kidpreneurers of today. The books, entitled “You Be the Boss”, lets them choose their own adventure, with four different endings. It teaches kids about entrepreneurership and technology. These dolls encourage girls to explore modern careers. In stores this August, and is available for preorder here.

Aurora World

Aurora World is a global leader in plush toys, with over 3,500 original creations from alligators to dolls to zebras. These adorable guys are called Gnomlins. They come with colorful oversized hats, noticeable noses and fluffy white beards. This summer, children will love making friends with the Sea Sparkles mermaids. These six adorable sirens of the sea feature hair colors from blonde to pink to turquoise with sparkly matching or contrasting tails. Click here to learn more.

GameStop is THE PLACE to help find and purchase your favorite gaming and tech items affordably and simply. They have deals on games of all kinds and for all systems for everyone in the family including the best-selling LEGO Marvel Avengers video game! Play as Captain America! Also, add Captain America to your collection with this Pop Vinyl bobblehead figure! Visit the GameStop mobile app, website or stop in at over 4,200 locations. Click here to learn more.

Hoverkraft Levitating Construction Challenge

From ThinkGeek, a ThinkGeek creation and exclusive, it’s the Hoverkraft Levitating Construction Challenge. Hoverkraft is an old-school building game with a twist: Players take turns stacking pieces on a platform… that levitates! Click here to learn more.

Last Minute Gifts for Kids 2015

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Originally posted on DailyLounge.com.

Christmas is next week, are you ready? Yeah, we’re not either. Good thing we have Toy Trend Expert, Reyne Rice, to give us a heads up on some of the hottest Last Minute Gifts for kids this holiday season!

GameStop

GameStop is THE PLACE to help holiday shoppers find the gaming and tech items on their lists. With the LEGO Dimensions starter pack, you’ve got the classic LEGO building bricks, mini-figures, and the added magic of video gaming in the newest toys to life creation. It features Batman fighting side by side with Gandalf and Wyldstyle! GameStop has ALL the games that feature interactive figures like Skylanders, Disney Infinity, and Nintendo’s amiibo. Now you and your kids can play together with the characters you remember from YOUR childhood, too! They have deals on games for the whole family on ANY gaming system. Visit GameStop.com to learn more!

Bunchems by Spin Master

The award-winning Bunchems by Spin Master are the latest creation for kids. Bunchems are soft plastic spheres that squish, connect and stick together for hours of fun. Kids can pull them apart and start fresh. With over 400 pieces in the MegaPack, kids can start playing right out of the box. Accessories like eyes, wings, hats, and feet personalize kids’ creations. For children who may want some idea-starters, there are easy-to-follow instructions for creating owls, bears, cars, monkeys and more! The smaller Creation Packs have 60 pieces to create things like bugs and pets which are great stocking stuffers. Click here to learn more.

Laser Pegs

The original light-up brick construction toy is Laser Pegs which combine lights and building, two things every kids loves! Children will have fun constructing illuminated helicopters, jets, cars and more. Laser Pegs come with a patented “Slide, Stack and Spin” feature. These translucent colored blocks foster STEM concepts using technology, engineering, and math skills. They also encourage hand-eye coordination, creativity, and language learning. They offer a great value becauase you can build multiple models and they are compatible with other “leading” brick sets. Visit LaserPegs.com to learn more!

Mastermind Game

A fast, simple strategy game to continue your kids’ STEM education in a fun way is Matermind from Pressman Toy. It is one of the  best-selling games of all time for kids ages 8 and up. The Codemaker sets a secret code, then the Codebreaker tries to match the code using logic, deduction, and a little bit of luck. It’s an easy-to-learn quick moving game with more than 2,000 possible code combinations. It makes the game different every time it’s played! Parents will love that all of the game’s pieces can be stored in the game board. No mess! Click here to learn more.

Black Friday Toys and Games 2015

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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!

Easter Toys and Games 2015

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Originally posted on DailyLounge.com.

Easter is right around the corner and many families are looking for alternatives to candy to fill those baskets! We’ve picked some of the best last minute gifts to finish off the perfect Easter basket, including toys and video games!

LEGO Bionicle

The re-launch of the classic favorite, LEGO Bionicle, is a different kind of LEGO experience called the “Constr-action” or constructible action figures. Kids get all the pieces they need to build heroes and villains. Each set includes 2 masks, cool translucent accessories, and a creature sidekick. Six of the original Bionicle characters from 2001 are available, with 18 new sets to collect, trade and combine by year’s end. A completely new series of animated Webisodes explore the storyline with lots of upgrades that inspire kids to use their imagination. Learn more at www.shop.lego.com.

Elektrokidz

Dance to the beat with the new Music Series of Elektrokidz by Wow Wee. There are six collectible figures with fantastic new looks and they are sound-activated. They are THE only figures whose hair “dance” to the beat of the music you are listening to. Each character has its own special hair dance, activated by music and together the Elektrokidz are United by the Beat. They come with their own pair of stylized shades and 2 sets of batteries so the fun will definitely last! Available exclusively at Target and at www.elektrokidz.com.

GameStop

Most families love playing video games and GameStop is THE PLACE to help you find your favorite gaming and tech items, at affordable prices. GameStop offers great deals on new and pre-owned video games, consoles, accessories and consumer electronics. Some of Spring’s most popular new releases for the whole family include Mario Party 10, MLB 15, and games with interactive figures like Activision Skylanders, Disney Infinity, and Nintendo amiibo. With their buy-back program and PowerUp Rewards credit card, gift-givers get a boost to purchase gifts for their family’s Easter baskets and Spring wish lists! Learn more at GameStop.com.

Toy Fair New York 2015

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Originally posted on DailyLounge.com.

Our Toy Trend Expert Reyne Rice is at the New York Toy Fair showing us some of her favorite finds this year. 

Large LEGO Creative Brick Box

Celebrating imagination, LEGO offers a creative building experience for the entire family. This Large LEGO Creative Brick Box features bricks in 33 different colos, along with doors, windows, wheels, eyes and more to create anything a child can imagine. There are six sets available, no instructions, but lots of visuals to get kids started with building, right out of the box! The package provides built-in storage, making cleanup easy. Learn more at www.shop.lego.com and follow them on Facebook & Twitter!

Disney Imagicademy

From Disney Imagicademy, we have Mickey’s Magical Arts World. With five inter-connected apps, children use learning-based tools to create their own Disney-inspired neighborhood. Kids can explore drawing, music, drama, cartooning and building skills. The Disney Imagicademy Parents companion app lets parents take an active part in their children’s progess. By year-end, Apps for Math, Science, Reading and Social Skills will be included; for kids ages 3 – 8. Learn more at www.DisneyImagicademy.com and be sure to follow them on Facebook!

Princess Power: Super Sparkle Barbie

Mattel found that 9 out of 10 girls wanted to be BOTH a SuperHero and a Princess, so they combined the two! The Barbie in Princess Power: Super Sparkle easily transforms from her pink princess gown to her Hero alter-ego. The DVD introduces Barbie as Kara the Princess that turns frenemies into friends using her magical SuperHero powers, special gadgets and everyday acts of “Being Super”! Visit www.BeSuper.com to learn more and definitely visit their Facebook and Twitter pages for more info!

Ozobot

Ozobot is the world’s smallest programmable robot and makes learning fun! Kids can program Ozobot to move and play on any surface. Using thick markers, kids can draw paths and instructions for this mini robot to follow on paper, OR use a tablet to unlock additional free apps. Using the new OzoGroove App, kids can teach their robot to dance and play other games as well! Visit www.Ozobot.com to learn more. Want one? Click here to get it at Brookstone right now! Visit them on Facebook and Twitter too!

Carrera Digital 1:32 Hybrid Power Race Set

Let’s put the pedal to the metal with the Carrera Digital 1:32 Hybrid Power Race Set! It includes 27 feet of reconfigurable track with two exclusive cars, the retro-look Porsche RS Spyder and the sleek LaFerrari by Ferrari. With a 50-year heritage, the retro Carrera racing system adds digital technology by combining physical race-cars with a unique digital wireless 2.4 GHz controller system. Beginners and more advanced driving enthusiasts can enjoy racing together! Learn more here. Check them out on Facebook and Twitter too!

More Pop Culture News Focus on Music and Sports Licensing

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By Reyne Rice, Trend Analyst and Trend-Spotter, Toys, Games, Tech, and Youth Marketing
First posted on the YourToyCom.com blog forum and community website serving the toys, games and childrens’ technology industries, on behalf of the Spielwarenmesse. Spielwarenmesse is the leading and largest International ToyFair in the world, held annually in Nuremberg, Germany in early February.
Following up on my Pop Culture blog last week, here is a spotlight focus on two more lucrative and growing categories of licensing that have tie-ins with toys and games for both the youth market and the youth-at-heart market.
Music Licensing Captures a share of the Pop Culture Wallet
Music continues to be a bonding element across generations. One Direction (Global Merchandising) is expanding globally as the leading blockbuster teen and tween heart-throb group for live concerts worldwide. As of June 2013, their debut album Up All Night has sold over 5 million units.  Their second album, Take Me Home launched in November 2012 and has already achieved over 5 million unit sales and topped the charts in over 37 countries. A sampling of the licensed products associated with this lucrative One Direction brand includes music accessories, posters, electronic device covers , greeting cards, apparel, beach towels, dolls, musical instruments, publishing, books, puzzles and games, bakery goods, hosiery, riding sports, frames, bedding and room décor, jewelry, and so much more. Their movie This Is It debuts in theaters in August 2013.

Pop Culture Appeals to an Avid and Targeted Fan Base. Are you On-Trend?

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By Reyne Rice, Trend Analyst and Trend-Spotter/ Consultant, New York, New York. July 2013

First posted on the YourToyCom.com blog forum and community website serving the toys, games and childrens’ technology industries, on behalf of the Spielwarenmesse. Spielwarenmesse is the leading and largest International ToyFair in the world, held annually in Nuremberg, Germany in early February.

Pop Culture, as a trend factor, influences many categories of goods, including toys and games. Some areas where Pop Culture plays a significant influencing role are Blockbuster in-theater movies, character licenses from TV entertainment or publishing, music & musicians, celebrities, fashion brands & icons, sports franchises, comic books, etc. Let’s review some of the latest new licenses and entertainment properties for second-half 2013 and as we approach 2014. Are you on-board?

In Theater Movie Entertainment is on the Upswing

Just-released statistics reveal that the blockbuster movie summer slate in 2013 boosted theater ticket sales through the beginning of July 2013, and is projected to increase the summer box-office dollars to over 18 percent this year, in North America (Source: Box Office MoJo). 2012 Summer movies captured 4.3 Billion US dollars. The 2013 summer box-office take is expected to surpass the best-ever US summer box-office record of .4 Billion US dollars, achieved in Summer 2011. This prediction was made even BEFORE Despicable Me 2 and Smurfs 2 hits the big screens! Internationally, many of the same movies are also creating Box office increases for global markets, so we may be in for a worldwide record breaking summer season at the movie theaters.

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