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Inside Out

Seen and heard…

By Staff -- Gifts and Dec, 3/1/2005 12:00:00 AM

Innovation was what the Toy Fair was all about. There are plenty of small, first timers, some probably betting their last dollar and a dream on being the next great hit. Here are but a few:

Deflexion, which bills itself as strategy at the speed of light. It's a chess-like board game that utilizes built in laser and movable Egyptian-themed, game piece mirrors to bounce light around the board to eliminate their opponent's pieces.

A childhood development professional and a pair of kid physical fitness coaches, all sisters, have Gym Time, a board game meant to stimulate healthy play and exercise.

The Average Family from Zora Toys is a game designed to teach healthy and nutritional lifestyles to kids.

The Piano Wizard, from Allegro Rainbow, offers to take the pain out of practice. It's a three-step software and keyboard product that teaches the piano in a sort of upside down Tetris kind of onscreen game.

And, the Stock Rush, another monopoly-style game, gets them ready for day (or insider) trading young.

CleverKits' Under the Sea and Safari Adventure, a mom-inventor duo is promoting “directive play” with the use of finger puppets and a CD: no pictures, no TV, no computer.

Meanwhile … the innovation doesn't stop with the new-bees:

Educational Insights is introducing Travel Blokus. An entire line of Let's Pretend Cookware and small appliances is also debuting.

Play Along has redone the Doodle Bear and made Magic Glow Doodle Bear. A kid can write a message on the bear that will glow in the dark—again and again. The “glow” wears off so the bear can be used again. The regular Doodle Bear is back too.

Playmobil: in addition to some cool new playsets, including another “self-contained”—the company is tapping into the girl market with a cool Unicorn Fantasy Playland.

Binney & Smith: a new line called Girlfitti. Geared toward tweens, the line includes a Digital Scrap Book kit, which includes many accessories.

“Youth” electronics: Video cameras for the young—Mattel's offering, including cool software to create special effects, is called U-Flix; Oregon Scientific's, which offers unique portability, is called Helmet Cam.

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Toy Fair Buzz for Wednesday, February 23

Feb 23, 2005

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