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High-tech, traditional hot holiday toys
Tuesday, 4 November 2008 - 3:23pm
More than 60 Canadian toy distributors and manufacturers displayed the toys, games, and activities which they anticipate will be the season’s hot sellers based on retail demand.
Association spokesman Harold Chizick said while there hasn’t been one particular toy designated as the hot item in recent years, the one generating top buzz now is “Bakugan Battle Brawlers.”
The skill and action game, based on an animated TV series shown in Canada on Teletoon, combines classic marble play with the strategic gameplay of cards.
“If you think about classic marbles meets the gameplay and strategy of like Pokemon cards, it’s sort of like this marriage between the two that create this new game,” Chizick said.
“Basically it’s good versus evil, you versus me, and we roll our marbles,” he noted, adding that where they land on the special Bakugan cards will help determine who wins the battle.
Chizick said multi-person or community play, whether it’s peer-to-peer or child with adult, also is popular among products featured, and that doesn’t extend solely to board games and puzzles but also to arts and crafts activities, and particularly the trend towards construction.
In addition to standard building blocks and Lego, the event also showcased large-scale construction toys with added motorized and electronic capabilities to up the tech factor.
“Legends: King Arthur Battle Action Castle,” which comes armed with cannon shooters, allows kids to control the action with special controllers while the Struxx Robotrixx allows kids to bring their creations to life with special effects like motion detection and automatic movement.
Other items for the tech-savvy were night-vision goggles, as well as a buildable roller-coaster that allows kids to turn on the music player to create their own mix of tunes and effects, or plug in their own MP3s for music selections.
As for girls, Chizick said toys are tending to stick to the more traditional gender patterns with a variety of dolls for classic baby play for younger ones. But girls are involved in construction, as well—the Canadian company Bloco Toys displayed a set allowing children to build ponies and unicorns that was particularly popular with the young girls on hand.
There also was a contemporary twist on arts and crafts, with Crayola offering a paint set in which clear paint changes colour, and another where a light wand allows children to create glow-in-the-dark art.
At a separate event yesterday, Today’s Parent Magazine held its Top Toys news conference, which included items tested and reviewed by some 125 families.
One product tested was a tea set from Green Toys made entirely from recycled milk jugs.
Toy editor Marcia MacQuarrie said what makes it effective, in addition to the play value, is it allows parents to open dialogue with their children about the environment.
THE CANADIAN PRESS
TORONTO—Parents on the hunt for the buzz-worthy children’s toys for the holidays will find both high-tech and traditional items on the list heading into the busiest shopping season of the year.
A select group of children—from crawling infants to rambunctious toddlers and pre-teens—got to indulge in a taste of toy heaven yesterday as the Canadian Toy Association showcased more than 120 products at its “Hot Toys for the Holidays” media event at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.
Association spokesman Harold Chizick said while there hasn’t been one particular toy designated as the hot item in recent years, the one generating top buzz now is “Bakugan Battle Brawlers.”
The skill and action game, based on an animated TV series shown in Canada on Teletoon, combines classic marble play with the strategic gameplay of cards.
“If you think about classic marbles meets the gameplay and strategy of like Pokemon cards, it’s sort of like this marriage between the two that create this new game,” Chizick said.
“Basically it’s good versus evil, you versus me, and we roll our marbles,” he noted, adding that where they land on the special Bakugan cards will help determine who wins the battle.
Chizick said multi-person or community play, whether it’s peer-to-peer or child with adult, also is popular among products featured, and that doesn’t extend solely to board games and puzzles but also to arts and crafts activities, and particularly the trend towards construction.
In addition to standard building blocks and Lego, the event also showcased large-scale construction toys with added motorized and electronic capabilities to up the tech factor.
“Legends: King Arthur Battle Action Castle,” which comes armed with cannon shooters, allows kids to control the action with special controllers while the Struxx Robotrixx allows kids to bring their creations to life with special effects like motion detection and automatic movement.
Other items for the tech-savvy were night-vision goggles, as well as a buildable roller-coaster that allows kids to turn on the music player to create their own mix of tunes and effects, or plug in their own MP3s for music selections.
As for girls, Chizick said toys are tending to stick to the more traditional gender patterns with a variety of dolls for classic baby play for younger ones. But girls are involved in construction, as well—the Canadian company Bloco Toys displayed a set allowing children to build ponies and unicorns that was particularly popular with the young girls on hand.
There also was a contemporary twist on arts and crafts, with Crayola offering a paint set in which clear paint changes colour, and another where a light wand allows children to create glow-in-the-dark art.
At a separate event yesterday, Today’s Parent Magazine held its Top Toys news conference, which included items tested and reviewed by some 125 families.
One product tested was a tea set from Green Toys made entirely from recycled milk jugs.
Toy editor Marcia MacQuarrie said what makes it effective, in addition to the play value, is it allows parents to open dialogue with their children about the environment.
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