Every
Fall I attend the Time to Play (TTPM) Showcase in New York and get to see what
is new and hot for the holiday season. For this post I have selected items to highlight that I think will
have a particular appeal for grandparents. Next month I’ll publish my annual
Holiday Gift Guide and more will be included. It isn’t your typical Top 10
list. I have tried to cover a range of ages and types. Some are what is
really hot and may sell out so if a grandchild is asking for it, don’t
delay. Some will bring back memories of
our own or our children’s childhood.
There are the grandparent splurge items and the yes I can afford that
items.
All
of the pictures were taken by me so they aren’t perfect and may have other items
in the background. I keep working on taking better pictures and my husband helps by cropping. I still have a way to go but at least you know they are accurate and not souped up in any way.
In
no particular order…..
Happy Dance Snoopy from Just Play
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Happy Dance Snoopy |
There
is a new Peanuts movie premiering on November 6th and there will be
lots of Peanuts themed merchandise associated with the movie. Peanuts Movie “stuff” will be hot this
season. Here is a premier Peanuts Movie item – the Happy Dance Snoopy plush
from Just Play. If you squeeze his paw he “boogies to the “Linus and Lucy”
theme song. Give him a kisss and he will
return the kiss, laugh and howl. The
demo for this at the show drew a crowd. Adults will be as engaged as the kids. This is a TTPM Most Wanted List winner.
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Girl Scout Cookie Oven |
Girl Scouts Cookie Oven from Wicked
Cool Toys
I first wrote about this in February in my
favorites at Toy Fair NY blog post. It wasn’t
on the market yet, but it is now and it is selling very well. This also was on the TTPM Most Wanted list. The Girl Scouts Cookie Oven has a new modern, eye catching
look and new technology to half the time needed to bake cookies in an oven for
children. You can get cookie mix in all of your favorite Girl Scout kinds
- thin mints, trefoil, etc. Best of all, a share of the price will go the
Girl Scouts of USA.
Barbie Fashionistas Dolls $9.99
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Barbie Fashionistas Dolls |
Little girls still love Barbie and have collections of them. This fashionistas line is very popular and
you probably can’t go wrong with one of these as a gift if your granddaughter
likes Barbie.
Now for some
nostalgia favorites….
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Lionel Trains |
Lionel
Trains
This was the first time I saw Lionel
trains at a TTPM event and it brought back a flood of wonderful memories for
me. My uncle worked in the Lionel train
factory in Newark, NJ until it closed and every year we got a new train to add
to our set at Christmas. I am sorry that I don’t
have good pictures of the sets on the tracks - they looked great on display. This year Lionel celebrates its 115th year in
business.
The
Polar Express $149.95
This
set features a steam locomotive with working headlight and train sounds (whistle
and bell), coal tender, passenger coach with two opening doors, observation car
with “disappearing hobo” feature and opening door; and 3 Polar Express figures
(conductor, boy and hobo). The tracks and
remote controller are also included.
Uses c batteries. Will be something that the family looks forward to being under the Christmas tree every year.
The
Imagination Express $49.99
This year, Lionel is introducing an all-new
toy line for preschoolers called Imagineering™. There are four differently-themed sets - Crayola, Batman, John Deere and The Polar Express. Each
set includes a train that’s not powered and has an engine, gondola, caboose, train station set and 6
feet of quick connect track. This is an excellent way to introduce the fun of playing with trains to young children.
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Slinky |
Slinky
from Alex Brands $3.99 - $12.99
When I was a kid – and perhaps you
too – Slinky was all the rage and everyone had one. This year Slinky celebrates its 70th
birthday. Today Slinkys come in
different sizes, materials, colors and “Collector’s Versions. They all do the famous Slinky walk down the
stairs. Priced right for a small gift,
these make for great intergenerational fun.
And… no batteries!!!
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Colorforms Create a Story Board |
Colorforms by Colorforms $2.99 - $24.99
These
aren’t your squares/rectangles/triangle sets anymore, but they have those too
just in case grandpa wants a set to play with.
Priced right, there are various sized themed sets with all the popular
characters featured. My favorite was the
$9.99 Create a Story set which includes an easel, 4 background sheets and 48
colorforms. A wide age range of kids will enjoy these – especially if
one of their favorite themes is featured.
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Colorforms Take Along and On the Go sets |
The Take Along and On the Go small sets are versatile and make excellent small presents. I know many of you grandparents have these often for visits. I see these as excellent tooth fairy gifts and long ride in the car items.
I’ll be featuring a lot more items in my
Holiday Gift Guide coming soon. All from
a grandparent perspective. Stay tuned.
If you’d like to see
what “The Toy Guy” from TTPM old ABC News about his favorites click here. If you watch it to almost at the end you can
see me in the background having this picture taken as they walk by during the
interview.