My Favorite Toys at Toy Insider’s Holiday of Play

On Wednesday I attended the Holiday of Play press event in New York sponsored by Toy Insider.  It was a very classy event held in the Manhattan Penthouse overlooking Fifth Avenue.  Each company featured their new toys for this holiday season and we were able to get an up close “out of the box” look at many of the new toys. It is always fun to speculate on which toys will be “hot” this season.  I also saw a bunch that appealed to my “grandma’s eye" – whether or not they become hot.  My experience is that the most loved toys don’t have to be on the hot list.

Here are some of my favorites.  I wasn’t able to get a good picture of everything so I apologize for some of the picture quality.

Remote-Control Machines: Construction Vehicles by Thames & Kosmos

Remote-Control Machines: Construction Vehicles by Thames & Kosmos

You can build 8 different models of construction vehicles that are controlled with a remote-control unit with this set.  There is a step by step guide for building the machines and the process has been simplified so that younger children can build them with some help.  The set comes with a 64 page manual to guide you through the building process and it also provides a learning opportunity with information about how they work and physics concepts of force, torque and simple machine principles.  This is an excellent grandparent/grandchild project to work on together.

Doc McStuffins All-in-One Nursery  by Just Play

Doc McStuffins All-in-One Nursery  by Just Play

Doc McStuffins is still going strong and this new playset looks like it will be a lot of fun for a pre-schooler fan. The center features a cradle that rocks for the baby’s doctor’s visit and all sorts of equipment. Some of the items included are  a portable patient diagnostic laptop, stethoscope (with light and sound), scale and other nursery tools.  It is stand up play size for a pre-schooler.

Hexbug Space Nano Discovery Station by Hexbug

Hexbug Space Nano Discovery Station by Hexbug

Calling all Hexbug fans – you will love the nano discovery station.  Who doesn’t love hexbugs.  I think this is a great toy that grandparents will also enjoy playing with their grandchildren.  It comes with 2 nanos and of course you can use your own hexbug nanos with it.  Lots of details and places for the nanos to scurry off too.  All five star reviews at Amazon.

Uno Emoji by Mattel 

Uno Emoji by Mattel 

My grandson, husband and I love to play Uno and have spent many a rainy or babysitting day playing Uno as time flies by.  This is a classic card game where luck and strategy meet to create surprise winners.  My grandson is also a big emoji fan and has many emoji featured items.  I flipped when I saw this Uno Emoji game display.  Priced under $10 it is a perfect stocking stuffer, travel game or grandchild visiting game to have on hand.  Definitely a must have.

Shopkins Cutie Cars by Moose

Shopkins Cutie Cars by Moose

These shopkins cars are sooooo cute – no wonder they are called cutie cars.  The tops pop off and they become convertibles.  Priced at $5 at ToysRUs, these are perfect stocking stuffers or grandparent visit gifts for shopkins lovers.  I usually have a link to Amazon for most items but right now they are way overpriced at Amazon so I am sending you to ToysRUs for this one.

LEGO DUPLO Town Santa’s Winter Holiday

This is a cute DUPLO set with a Santa theme.  It has 45 pieces and you may want to put it away after Christmas and take it out next year and the year after that….

And before I left I took a picture of the view of Fifth avenue from the Manhattan Penthouse venue:

You can order these items at Amazon today: