The Grandma Chronicles: A Grandmother's Favorites at TTPM Showcase

Last week I attended the Fall Time to Play (TTPM) Showcase in New York and got to see new and hot toys for this holiday season. My favorites will be included in my first annual Holiday Gift Guide planned to be published later this month and stay tuned for some expanded coverage and giveaways. For this post I have just selected my top favorites and believe me this wasn’t easy because I saw so many things that were great. I have tried to cover a range of ages and types of toys/crafts. All of the pictures were taken by me so they aren’t perfect but they are real. I prefer to show the pictures as I actually see the toys rather that stock photos.

This list is different than many other top toy lists you will see because it is from a grandparent perspective. It includes things a grandparent may enjoy doing with a grandchild and also some big splurge items that are often from grandparents. You’ll see something that will make you nostalgic and something a little out of the ordinary……Enjoy!

For Little Ones….

Twilight Noah’s Ark from cloud b

Twilight Noah's Ark from cloud b

This multifaceted ark will be enjoyed by kids and adults and make for a peaceful bedtime transition. The top detaches and inside are soft plush finger puppet animals. Perfect for quiet bedtime play. Then the top is put on the ark and the
nightlight projects a starry night scene on the ceiling. Battery operated with automatic shutoff after 45 minutes. I fell in love with this and can picture a child using this for years. In my picture also get a glimpse of one of the sports nightlights for older kids.

Grandparent Biggies

Ok – All of these items are pricey and qualify for my “Biggie Present from Grandparents” category. However, they are guaranteed to be a big hit with the grandkids and appreciated by parents that you are springing for the big item.

Paw Patrol Lookout Headquarter Playset from SpinMaster

Paw Patrol Lookout Headquarter Playset from SpinMaster

The Lookout Tower is featured in every episode of the popular Nickelodeon series, Paw Patrol. The playset includes Chase and his vehicle and has a working elevator, slide, lights and sounds. Based on my grandson’s fun with this type of toy I think this will be a big hit with Paw Patrol fans.

Frozen Castle and Ice Palace Playset from Mattel

Frozen continues to be the top brand character for young girls. Every little girl wants a doll house at some point. This is two dollhouses in one. One side is the castle where Anna lives and the other side is the Ice Palace for Elsa from Frozen. It includes furniture and accessories but no dolls. It is designed for the standard 12 inch dolls. It closes up for easy storage and transport. It has a whopping price tag but is going to be a big seller this holiday season…so are you in, Grandma? Shop the sales.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Interactive Talking Raphael and Donatello from Playmates

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Interactive Talking Raphael and Donatello from Playmates

TNMT fans will go gaga for this – two Turtles that talk to each other and have a Turtle like conversation. You can also buy each character separately. All four turtles can be bought separately but you need two of them to talk to each other so I recommend this package of Raphael and Donatello. Little boys will just be fascinated by these guys.

Crafts

Crafts are wonderful gifts from grandparents – especially if they are something you can do together. Without being sexist, I have one that may interest grandfathers and one for grandmothers. But please don’t feel limited by this generality – dive in any combination you may enjoy.

Minecraft Papercraft by Jazwares

Minecraft Deluxe Set by Jazwares

If you have a grandchild who is into the virtual world of minecraft – or you secretly are – consider pairing working with the papercraft set to bring the virtual and real world together. In addition to the building blocks for the overworld there are action figures new this year and new limited edition plush. Check this out – it is addictive! And priced reasonably for grandparents on a budget.

Alex Toys Neon Glow Friends4Ever and Infinity Jewelry by Alex Brands

Alex Toys Neon Glow Friends4Ever

Bracelets made with Alex Toys Infinity Jewelry Set

My daughter loved making friendship bracelets and jewelry as a child and these sets by Alex will provide hours of enjoyment and opportunities to work together with a grandchild. Recently my daughter resurrected her friendship bracelet threads and was making bracelets for my grandson (superhero colors) and his female playmate (pinks and purples). The kids were so excited to have these custom made bracelets. The Friends4Ever set has neon and glow in the dark threads. The Infinity Jewelry set includes a wide variety of charms and other materials for custom making jewelry.

Brings Back Memories Category

There really are quite a number of toys featuring brands that were popular with my kids. I am not going to choose a favorite - it is way to hard - just showing some pictures with a caption to stimulate memories and gift ideas.