HT G I L T O SP by Marissa DiBartolo
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NEW TAKES ON CLASSIC TOYS
ech toys that make you feel cooler than Marty McFly are taking over toy store shelves, but not all of the coolest new toys are reminiscent of what Captain Kirk probably played with as a child. Classic play is not dead, and not all quality toys require a microchip. Some of the most innovative new products for kids feature little to no tech at all. Here’s a handful of my favorite new low-tech toys that promote classic tech-free play with exciting new twists.
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1. Bunchems, from Spin Master, are tiny little spore-like plastic spheres that easily cling together, allowing kids to create vibrant 3-D models. They are flexible so kids can move and pose their creations. This new line is entirely unique, fusing creative construction with arts and crafts. 2. While action figures have been marketed toward boys since G.I. Joe’s combat boots hit toy store shelves in 1964, I Am Elemental is a new line of amazingly detailed 4-inch articulated figures designed to empower girls. And no—these ladies are not sparkly princesses that turn into superheroes. On the contrary, they are strong and vibrant examples of superpowers personified, including Courage, Enthusiam, Industry, and more. 3. With Crayola’s new Cling Creator, kids can make their own sticky little window clings using the included molds—but that’s not all. This new activity set also allows kids to mix their own gel colors and even create their own unique molds using clay and a smoother tool. It’s the best of Crayola for the last three years all rolled up into one set. 4. Now kids can blast away the competition with K-Force: Build and Blast, from K’NEX. The line includes eight different kinds of buildable foam dart blasters that each shoot up to 75 feet, fusing STEM learning with the excitement of blaster play. 5. Tomy’s Chuggington Wooden Railway line gets a makeover this year with the new 1-2-3 Track System, which allows kids to flip and flop track pieces without ever taking them apart. Each track piece is connected by hinges that flip, flex, and rotate 360 degrees. Kids don’t need to worry about track pieces coming apart, and the design allows kids ages 2 and up to creatively design tracks with ease. ■
20 • THE TOY BOOK
MAY/JUNE 2015