New Toys for 2012
Ranked #5,433 in Hobbies, Games & Toys, #65,584 overall | Donates to Room to Read
Hot New Toys for 2012 Include "Toy of the Year" & Trends To Engage Kids' Attention
I've had fun finding the Best new toys for 2012 that are stirring excitement among retailers and their wee customers. I thought I'd share on this page some of my poking around at the new releases during the New York International Toy Fair (February 2012).
Among featured manufacturers at the conference & exhibition, SmartLab is introducing new science toys and art kits. The company promises for fall 2012: Squishy T.Rex, an "anatomically correct model featuring 5 squishy parts: tongue, two connected stomachs, intestines, lungs, and heart" for 8 years and older. Also, for the fall, DJ Rock Doc, a do-it-yourself speaker dock for iPods, iTouch or MP3 players. Be expecting "GrossArt" Stinky feet! and "Wallscapes Bugs" for cute-as-a-bug decor.
If you are like me and like to know what the retailers know, or if you want to see what I've found, the "Toy of the Year Award" is a great way to start out by looking at toys that got the most votes. Awards are given out in various categories. My favorite is the "activity toys" category.
Contents at a Glance
What You Find Here
ACTIVITY TOYS
from SmartLab, Green-Toys, Lego, Fisher Price, Crayola, Wowwee and more
& (drum roll, please)
The Toy of the Year Award-Winner
SmartLab Is All About Science and Art
Can you guess which of these is nominated for 2012 Toy of the Year at the International Toy Show?
One of the Nominees for Toy Industry Association's 2012 "Toy of the Year Award"
Crayola's "Glow Book"
Crayola Glow Book
Amazon Price: $11.51 (as of 06/03/2012)
The clear drawing surfaces cleans easily for unlimited drawing and coloring.
Another Nominee for the Toy Industry's 2012 "Toy of the Year
An "Activity" Toy
Wowwee Paper Jamz Pro Mic Series - Style 2
Amazon Price: $8.50 (as of 06/03/2012)
* Auto mode adjusts effects on the fly to recreate original sound
* 2 built-in songs put you on the road to stardom
* Perfect pitch, correct your pitch to be automatically in tune
* Auto harmony sound like part of a perfectly harmonized duo
* Chorus Multiply your voice to add depth
Little Girls Who Love Trinkets Will Be Busy for Hours
A 2012 "Toy of the Year" Nominee made by Spinmaster
* Transform accessories into hot collectibles* Over 15,000+ Bizu combinations
* Rotating tower for easy bead selection
* Link 3 bracelets together to form a necklace
* 1 Ultimate Design Studio 40 Beads (makes 4 characters + 8 extra beads for mixing/matching) 4 Elastics 1 Beading Tool 4 Character Templates 2 Key-Chain/Backpack Attachments
Bizu Style Studio
"See Yourself" Camera is Designed for Self Portraits ~ Plus!
A "Toy of the Year" Nominee made by Fisher Price
Fisher-Price Kid-Tough See Yourself Camera - Black (Frustration-Free Packaging)
Amazon Price: (as of 06/03/2012)
* Child-friendly controls
* Also features: 4X digital zoom, 1.8 TFT colored screen, 256 MB memory, SD slot and more
* Add fun special effects with downloadable software
* Ships in Certified Frustration-Free Packaging
Hexbug Nano Game
What fun!
Innovation First Hexbug Hive Playset
Amazon Price: $19.49 (as of 06/03/2012)
* Platform has interactive pieces that spin and bend, so your nanos will skitter and ricochet around the two levels
* Folds up for easy transport and storage
* Includes 2 hexbug nanos
* Interchangeable with other track pieces, sold separately
LEGO's 2012 "Activity Toy of the Year" Award Nominee
LEGO Ninjago Fire Temple Set (1174 pieces), 7 mini-figures, fire dragon, 18 weapons, and three instruction booklets.
Lego's superb activity toy - Battle for control of the four Spinjitzu weapons. Sensei Wu, Kai, Zane and Nya need help to keep Lord Garmadon and his evil skeleton army from taking the ultimate Spinjitzu weapon - the Dragon Sword of Fire. As the temple splits into two, the fearsome Fire Dragon emerges to protect the sword by spitting fire at Lord Garmadon. Set also includes Samukai and Kruncha figures, all four golden weapons and 14 other weapons.
Click this link for >>
Whatever Your Interpretation of Good & Evil ~ It's Not New! But, Lego Is New To Ninja: "Ice Dragon" Has A New Charge!
Ninja toys give kids over three the chance to try out the dynamics of bad, good, better, best
See how children interact while they unleash the power of this ancient creature with LEGO's Ninjago Ice Dragon Attack.
On a quest to retrieve the Shurikens of Ice, Zane, the Spinjitzu Master of Ice must fly through the perilous Underworld. But Krazi, Skeleton of Lightning, is hot on his heels!
Complete with bendable wings and live-action spit fire, this 11-inch-long dragon lets ninjas 7 through 14 create a battle of good versus evil. LEGO Ninjago Ice Dragon Attack 2260
Lego's "Creator" Series Is Loved For Its Basics Approach to Building
Have a blossoming architect in the family? Whether he/she builds houses or other projects...
* 3 models in 1: Rebuilds into a country retreat or a river hut
* Features removable, unique dark red roof and hinging wall section for greater access
* Also features open fire with chicken, wooden logs, tree, opening doors and windows and horn ornament
* Minifigure with backpack, paddle and canoe included
* 355 elements
LEGO Creator Log Cabin 5766
"Pharoah's Quest" Toy Sets from Lego on Amazon
Introduce Kids to World Events in North Africa Through Best of New Toys
Few events have brought home the universality of the love of freedom like the current goings on in Egypt and the Middle East in 2011.
Falcon Knights Castle by Playmobil May Be The Best "Let's Pretend" Imagination Builder of 2011
Fantasy Play For children four to 10 years old
For more information or to buy >>Falcon Knights' Castle by Playmobil
Has a draw-bridge, trap, foldaway stairs and wall breakthrough.
~ ~
Another terrific new pretend (fantasy play) toy for "munchkins" over three years old is Creativity For Kids Shrinky Dinks Fairy Garden
Includes Faber-Castell colored EcoPencils and a sharpener.
Tegu's Original Set Is "There" Waiting If Your Kids Want To Add To This New Starter Version of 2011
Perfect for open-ended and unscripted CONSTRUCTIVE play
~ Premium, heirloom-quality toy that will last for generations
~ Safe: no lead, no plastic, non-toxic, water-based lacquer finish
Tegu Discovery Set - Natural - Magnetic Wooden Building Blocks
Amazon Price: $70.00 (as of 06/03/2012)
Tegu provides for tree planting, child education, and holistic employment in Honduras
If You Love Seeing Your Child Play
You're part of a large community
Business is good in the toy industry!: This, according to the gist of reports I've come across from the Toy Fair of international wholesalers and retailers for 2012. "And, getting better!"
Will new toys for 2012 lead the way to an economic recovery?
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Games For Kids 3-7
Wonderful! A game my 3-year-old and his big brother can both have fun with.
Fastrack: Ready, Aim, Score!
Amazon Price: $6.99 (as of 06/03/2012)
With Fastrack, the action is non-stop and the fun is plentiful. Using the elastic cord, be quick and aim well to be the first to send all of the disks zooming across to the other side. WARNING: you may find it difficult to stop playing.
More Games for 3- to 7- Year-olds
Games teach children how to have fun with competition while they improve their self-confidence.
Perplexus Rookie will introduce you to the three dimensional, gravity defying world of Perplexus challenges. Flip, twist and turn the sphere to navigate the steel ball along the numbered tracks through 75 barriers of varying difficulty. Perplexus Rookie is easy to play but still challenging to complete. A domed finish keeps the ball in place at the end to secure your success! Fun for the whole family. 6 1/2" in diameter.
Perplexus Rookie
Amazon Price: $15.10 (as of 06/03/2012)
* Flip, twist and turn the sphere to solve the puzzle
* Easy to play but challenging to complete
* Improves hand-eye coordination and spatial relations
* Develops motor and dexterity skills
* Great for travel - no loose pieces
Best Games Fire Up Imaginations & Open Minds
Creative Arts Play
A brand new creative arts approach that will let your child get a head start in filling up the self-designed jewelry box shown below is Safety Pin Bracelets: Turn Ordinary Safety Pins into Extraordinary Bracelets (Klutz)
Comes With: 325 safety pins, 1100 beads, 6 feet of metallic elastic cord, customizable bracelet grids.
~~
One jewelry box with 750+ sparkling tiles and jewel pieces to decorate a complete jewelry box ~ design with all the ease of Sticky Mosaics. Great for play dates and birthday parties. The award winning line of Sticky Mosaic craft kits will delight all ages and all skill levels.
The Orb Factory Sticky Mosaics Happily Ever After Jewelry Box
Amazon Price: $15.73 (as of 06/03/2012)
Adorn with shimmering jewels and foam tiles to help your Prince and Princess have their Happily Ever After. New for 2011.
* * Winner * * Toy Of The Year - 2012 * *
The Biggest Show Of the Year Awards LeapPad Explorer the Top Award
LeapFrog LeapPad Explorer (Green)
Amazon Price: $80.00 (as of 06/03/2012)
* 100+ games, apps, digital books, videos and flash cards (sold separately, works with all Leapster Explorer games and apps)
* Includes a built-in camera and video recorder, 5" touch screen and 4 apps (Pet Pad, Story Studio, Art Studio and one of your choice)
* 2GB of memory, enabling it to host a robust suite of apps including: ultra eBooks, Story Studio, Art, Animation and Photo studios
* A broad curriculum, with skill levels that automatically adjust to match each child's pace and remember progress
Nostalgia Grabs Trends for New Toys in 2012
Not to say the latest in technology hasn't changed the scene of popular toys, but as ABC News reports there's also a huge comeback for Big Wheels and other mainstays for kids in the 60s, 70s and 80s.
2010 The Original Big Wheel 16" - HOT CYCLE
Timely New Toy Topics
- New Movies To Sell Toys Bomb in 2011
- A movie is a movie is NOT an advertisement for new toys. When will they ever learn? In 2011, movies made to sell toys are box office failures.
- Washington Post Offers Advice for Holiday-2011 Toy Shoppers
- Where do I start? Ask what puts a gleam in a child's eye.
- MarketWatch, a trusted reviewer, spotlights "Leapfrog"
- The Public Relations Newswire places learning toys by Leapfrog in a favorable light.
- Linus & Friends of "The Blanket" Unite!
- Thumb suckers make news
- What To Leave Off Your Christmas List
- Dangerous Toys
2012 Calendars for Youngsters Focus On Events
Green Toys Inc.'s New Toys for 2012
These include more mini cars, a salad set & a new toy for would-be florists
Green Toys has unveiled 2012 pint-sized line of Mini Fastbacks and Mini Vehicles, the latter of which includes an ambulance, police car, fastback and taxi. The company's 20-piece Salad Set features a number of utensils and tableware, along with a variety of salad "vegetables."
Mini-vehicles include classic eco-cars at an "impulse price point," and, complete sets. A Salad Set to encourage healthy eating and food-safe play food.
A Green-Toys 44-piece Build-A-Bouquet means pre-schoolers build floral arrangements including 24 flower pieces, 16 stem and leaf pieces, and 4 bases.
Green Toys are made from food-safe, 100 percent recycled milk containers and contain no BPA, PVC, phthalates or external coatings and are dishwasher safe.
Indoor Winter Toys
Time Out Can Be Encouraging, Educational and Exceptional!
When I had to discipline my kids with a time out, I felt their out-of-step behavior often signalled a real need for personal attention
Cool Kids Want Cool Toys
More New Green Toys and Boys for 2011 ~ OK, well maybe not green boys, but you know how it goes
The popular blog Inhabitots, for parents who want "green parenting" toys and activities, says 2011 will be better than ever.
"In 2011 I predict that crafty parenting and a DIY ethos in child-rearing will gain huge momentum," says Jill Fehrenbacher, Founder & Editor-in-chief of Inhabitots.
"There has been a burgeoning movement afoot in the green parenting community for years to make your own toys, grow your own food, make your own cleaning supplies, and fashion your own clothes for years now, but economic downturn and a growing distaste for rampant consumerism has added fuel to the fire of resourceful creativity in today's parents."
Image courtesy photos8.com
Dracula's Daughter Draculaura Is Made To Order For Modern Girls
Let's Play GOTHIC!
Girls today know how to scream as chillingly as their mothers did. They are more likely, however, to create a few screams of their own.
Let's play Gothic. Let's play "how silly it is to be scared." Little girls who love their dolls have Draculaura - a new Monster High Girl, who is freakishly fabulous
* Coolest ghouls in school with their trendy fashions, and scary cute pets
* Daughter of the infamous Dracula
* Dolls is fully articulated so they can be posed in many different ways
* Includes doll, pet, accessory, diary, brush, and doll stand. Here's the link >>
Monster High Draculaura Doll
Donate To Kids Who Need Room to Read and Play
Room to Read partner with local communities throughout the developing world to provide quality educational opportunities by establishing libraries, creating local language children's literature, constructing schools, providing education to girls and estab
About the Toy Industry Foundation (TIF)
The Toy Industry Foundation is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to bring joy, comfort, and learning to children in need through toys and play. While other organizations provide food, shelter and support services to children and their families, TIF sees to it that these children have toys and opportunities to play in an attempt to restore both fun and a sense of normalcy to their lives. The Foundation currently fulfills its mission through core programs including The Toy Bank and grants.
Thank You For Your Visit
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Duane_Jackson
Dec 20, 2011 @ 11:11 am | delete
- The Falcon Knight's castle is super-cool
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naheedahsan
Dec 18, 2011 @ 12:07 pm | delete
- good lens
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baby-strollers
Dec 8, 2011 @ 9:11 pm | delete
- Very nice - life with little kids means I use every tip like this I can get!
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billybraveheart
Dec 7, 2011 @ 11:52 pm | delete
- Great lens, thanks for sharing
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spartakct
Nov 11, 2011 @ 7:21 pm | delete
- Good suggestions! thanks for sharing!
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MintySea
Nov 2, 2011 @ 3:56 pm | delete
- I think I want to get kid cameras
I would love green toys for children older than 4
That don't cost an arm and a leg
theres not a lot out there
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robinsonketty
Oct 29, 2011 @ 12:53 am | delete
- That's really lovely green toy collection. I loved the baby doll a lot. I would love to buy it.
Green Toys
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Runnn
Sep 11, 2011 @ 6:58 pm | delete
- LEGO always my all time favorite.
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livefamilylife Apr 17, 2011 @ 12:02 pm | delete
- Thanks for suggestions, you have a squidlike
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hlkljgk Apr 15, 2011 @ 7:26 am | delete
- thanks for the suggestions
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TamaraKajari
Mar 8, 2011 @ 12:34 pm | delete
- Great lens! Lensrolled it to my Lego lens :)
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Bea_Gabrielle Mar 4, 2011 @ 3:09 am | delete
- Nice collection of toys! Squidliked and lensrolled to my kids gift ideas lenses.
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scss Feb 10, 2011 @ 1:00 am | delete
- cool kids toys lens - hope it does really well for you!
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hayleylou
Jan 20, 2011 @ 3:52 pm | delete
- I love toys ! **Blessed** and featured on My Time as a Squid Angel
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