Toy Fair 2019: The Coolest Toys & Games

L.A. Parent team at Toy Fair New York

Our L.A. Parent team just came back from Toy Fair in New York and one thing we learned for sure is that you are never too old to play with toys.

The International Toy Fair, produced by The Toy Association, is an annual gathering of more than 1,000 toy and game manufacturers, big and small, that takes over the Jacob K. Javits Center in New York City during President’s Day weekend.

What’s new and exciting for 2019? Lots! The fascination with surprise toys and unboxing will take on a whole new level as kids must now dig through or unwrap several layers to find the treasure. Better slime, putty and sand are coming to enhance imaginative play. The trend for STEM and STEAM-related toys continues to grow to help prepare and inspire kids for the future.

And many nostalgic toys of the 90s, such as Pretty Pretty Princess and Playmate’s Aladdin Genie featuring phrases from Disney’s classic 1993 release, are making a comeback. 2019 will also see beloved characters tied to much anticipated movie releases such as Toy Story 4 and Frozen.

Llamas are the it animal of the year. We saw them everywhere.

BearWear by Little Kids, Inc.
Wild Republic Llamas and Llama Pegacorn
Boppi, ‘The Booty Shakin’ Llama
from ZURU Pets Alive
Pikmi Pops Pajama Llama

“Parents and kids today are looking for toys and games that are fun, engaging, and keep them coming back for more, but that also enrich the play value to help build lifelong skills,” said Ken Seiter, executive vice president of marketing communications at The Toy Association.

We also noticed a lot of products that could be enjoyed as a family. Kimberly Mosley, President of the American Specialty Toy Retailing Association (ASTRA), says that there is a growing trend towards products that encourage play across the lifespan such as board games and puzzles. Another trend Mosley highlights is toys that encourage movement and activity in kids.

Here are just a few samples of the many fun things coming in 2019! We’ll be showcasing the best of the best throughout the year in our We Love It column and for even more reviews of award-winning toys and games, check out NAPPAawards.com.

Unboxing Craze Continues

Even the youngest ones will enjoy “unboxing” surprise with this adorable Dolce Safari Elephant
Peel the surprise with Bunches of Color
Love Em’s from KESS
Luvi Pups from Redwood Ventures
Dig to uncover the treasures with Moose Toys Treasure X Aliens
DoMis by Pikmi Pops
Form your own orchestra with these quirky monsters
Rainbow Butterfly Unicorn Kitty by Fun Rise
Calico Critters Baby Shopping Series