Archive for the ‘Construction Toys for Kids’ Category
Tuesday, January 24th, 2012
Like Santa Claus no one really wants to talk with us in January. Most parents have spent nearly 60% of their toy dollars during the holidays. Time to take a break. We do too. Both Joanne and I take the time to write and work on other topics. Joanne is working on a great civil war story and I’m having fun working on a new screenplay. It’s nice to change gears.
This week, the toy-related emails and phone calls have started again. All in in anticipation of Toy Fair that will take place in New York in mid-February. The UPS delivery guy has resumed delivering boxes to our office of toys that are ready for Spring. In other words, toy season will be here any minute.
I’m often asked about how you get into the toy business. Since we only review toys, I’m of very little help in this regard. I know it can be a daunting prospect. For example, if you have a great idea but little capital, how do you move forward? This morning I got a twitter message (more about that in a moment) about a new construction company called Qubits. We haven’t tested them yet. They are taking an interesting path by using kickstarter.com to get on their feet. Here’s their page if you’d like to read more about their product. We look forward to testing their sets with our testers.
Twitter. Finally took the plunge in a meaningful way this month. I’ve been enjoying the process of connecting with companies, moms, dads about play and toys – not to mention my non-professional interest in sporting events and award programs. Much like my first few weeks on facebook, I found twitter can be all consuming. There’s always some interesting link someone has pointed me to– articles that I might not otherwise have read. Then there’s the fun of connecting with people about the daily things (in case your counting, I’m approaching nearly a week without a Diet Coke). So if you’re on twitter, let me know. My twitter name is…toyportfolio.
Tags: Facebook, qubits, Santa Claus, toyportfolio, Twitter
Posted in Construction Toys for Kids, Toy Fair, Uncategorized | No Comments »
Monday, December 12th, 2011
While there is certainly room for novelty this time of year, it’s also important to bring home toys that have lasting play value. The toys that make the cut tend to be the classics–and often more open-ended. These toys place your child at the center of the play experience. So instead of dolls that do all the talking, dolls that say nothing will be enjoyed for a longer period of time because they will say whatever your child wants them to say! (The doll to the left is from Corolle Doll’s Calin line). We’ll be talking balls, blocks, trains, art supplies and games!
Take a toy inventory:
1. Does your child have a variety of playthings? Having a lot of one type of toy (whether it’s dolls or trucks) will often lead to a chorus of “I have nothing to play with.”
2. Gender Free- Is your child’s play experience only pink? only blue? We want boys to know how to be nurturing parents–so dolls are an important part of role playing “dad”. On the flip side, we want our daughters to excel in math– so blocks and construction toys should be part of their play world as well.
3. Art supplies - Encourage their creative side. With budgets being cut in many schools, kids have fewer opportunities for painting, using clay, and drawing. Whether it’s a juicy box of new Crayola crayons or an interesting set of watercolor pencils from Faber Castell or eeBoo– find a way to bring them back to the arts.
4. Games- One of the best ways to unplug your family is to play a game together. We have dozens of great suggestions on our list. Find a couple that become part of your family’s entertainment. I’m personally really a fan of Connect Four Launchers and Joanne’s favorite is almost anything with letters. She’s a beast at Upwords. (Never quite referred to my mother that way–but you know what I mean).
Posted in Best Toys for Babies, Best Toys for Kids with ADHD, Best Toys for Kids with Special Needs, Best Toys for Preschoolers, Best Toys for School Aged Kids, Best Toys for Toddlers, classic toys, Construction Toys for Kids, Crayola, dolls, International Playthings, multi-cultural toys, Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Award Winners, preschoolers, pretend play, Retro Toys, Today Show, Toys for Kids with ADHD, Toys for Kids with Special Needs, Wooden Toys | No Comments »
Tuesday, November 8th, 2011
This morning my mother and I headed uptown to do a segment on the Today Show about the season’s hot toys. Let’s Rock Elmo is one of the toys we’re going to talk about. My overriding concern going uptown was the massive zit on my face. Don’t you think at a certain age that you should get a pass on acne? My hitting the Halloween candy hard last week probably didn’t help the situation…but still, I do believe that there should be a time limit on the whole adult acne thing.
The good news is that the AMAZING makeup artist Christine waved her magic brushes over my face (in other words spackle was used) and the zit was gone. Seriously–it’s pretty magical. My hair is done–all is good. The kids started arriving for the segment.
The Duggars graciously agreed to let two of their daughters join us. The Duggars were on the Today Show to announce that they were expecting baby #20! Michelle Duggar and I had a conversation about our respective cravings during pregnancy. I wondered if they changed over time. I take my hat off to her–I can’t imagine twenty trips down that road. She has a very calm core– also necessary to run a household with that many kids! 
Our segment was bumped so we were scheduled to post-tape. So we had the kids in the studio, turning the toys on…but then it was decided to have us back live on Thursday instead-so off we go.
So before we left, I went to the ladies room. And then Lisa VanderPump joined me as I was waiting my turn. She was very friendly.
I’ll own up to it, I am a RHWBH watcher. I don’t want to – but then I can’t stop myself. It’s the sheer genius of Bravo programming. That’s probably a whole other blog posting. Anyway, I marveled at the seriously high Brian Atwood leopard print pumps she was wearing. I’ve tried them on (not in the leopard print) –and while I think I look pretty silly in them, they looked great on her. 
They make my Jimmy Choo’s look like they’re from the children’s department. For the record, most of these shoes are not in keeping with my feminist roots or my desire not to be crippled, but I also do enjoy being taller. So maybe I’m more a height-ist than a feminist. I just always wonder whether anyone finds these shoes comfortable? In any case, Lisa looked terrific and was on the show to discuss her new book about entertaining.
We then went to visit the wonderful Richard Davies at ABC Radio to talk toys!
So even though I didn’t get to discuss the hot toys of the season on the Today Show yet, it was still a fun day. The nexus of Michelle Duggar and Lisa Vanderpump–now that’s pretty intense. Tune in Thursday morning in the 9 o’clock hour to see our segment!
Tags: ABC Radio, big families, Brain Atwood, Bravo TV, Duggars, high heels, Lisa Vanderpump, Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, Richard Davies
Posted in Best Music Toys for Kids, Best Plush Toys for Kids, Best Toys for Babies, Best Toys for Preschoolers, Best Toys for School Aged Kids, Best Toys for Tweens, Construction Toys for Kids, dolls, Elmo, Flying Toys, Hasbro, High Tech toys, hot toys, Leapfrog, Lego, Mattel, Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Award Winners, Play Time, Playskool, preschoolers, pretend play, Today Show, Uncategorized | No Comments »
Monday, November 7th, 2011
Tomorrow morning I’ll be sharing some of our award winners that are what the media calls “hot toys.” These toys are often the ones your kids see again and again on tv commercials. Hot toys tend to be more about novelty than anything else, and while there’s absolutely nothing wrong with some novelty, it shouldn’t be the only type of toy your child receives for the holiday. A playroom full of novelty toys will invariably result in a chorus of “I have nothing to play with” before the Christmas tree is removed from your house.
That said, we always look at the toys that we know will get a great deal of hype. Do they work as well as they do on the commercials? I remember one year a doll that was supposed to flip and flip — but only really did one flip and that was with a great deal of assistance. Not exactly what the commercial promised. The toys on our “hot” list are products that our toy testers really enjoyed. 
Hot toys can take on a life of their own during the holiday season. Many lists are generated by toy retailers – this tends to be more about marketing than full reviews about the toys themselves. Hot toys provide the perfect “toy story” and is often the first question we’re asked this time of year, “so what’s the hot toy of the season?”
This type of toy frenzy doesn’t always mean the toy is right for your child. Furby, for example, got so much buzz from a Wired Magazine piece even before it hit a single toy store in this country. And while it was the toy to get, it certainly wasn’t the ideal toy for toddlers who would have been a little frightened by the gremlin-like nature of the toy. Grown-up collectors can also fan the fire of a toy- this can also lead to ridiculous prices on-line.
While no one toy seems to have taken on the mantel of the “it” toy of the season, there are several that are getting lots of buzz – from the latest Elmo (he now wants to be a rock star) to amazing Star Wars LEGO builds or a remote control flying Shark. If any of these toys are on your child’s wish list, our suggestion is to buy them early. As was the case last year, inventories are not particularly deep.
For full reviews of those we recommend, please visit our website at www.toyportfolio.com.
And be sure to check out our full list of Platinum, Gold, Blue Chip and SNAP (Special Needs Adaptable Product) Award winners.
Posted in Best Plush Toys for Kids, Best Toys for Preschoolers, Best Toys for School Aged Kids, Best Toys for Tweens, Construction Toys for Kids, dolls, Elmo, Flying Toys, Hasbro, High Tech toys, hot toys, Leapfrog, Lego, Licensed Toys, Mattel, Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Award Winners, Playskool, preschoolers, pretend play, Star Wars, Today Show, toy trends, toys | 1 Comment »
Monday, July 25th, 2011
LEGO Alien Conquest Mothership
LEGO Systems has a brand new Alien Mothership that offers builders a really unusual build. The addition of a new gear at the middle allows the center of the spaceship to spin. LEGO has also added an alien sound piece to the mix. Great fun! Watch our video.
Tags: Alien, Alien Conquest, Construction Toys, Lego, toyportfolio.com
Posted in Best Toys for School Aged Kids, Construction Toys for Kids, Lego, Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Award Winners, pretend play, toy trends, toys | No Comments »
Wednesday, July 20th, 2011
As the gang from LEGO heads out to Comic Con, they released BIG news. Starting in January 2012, there will be new LEGO DC Universe SUPER HEROES. The collection will include 13 of their iconic characters: Batman™, Robin™, Catwoman™, The Joker, The Riddler™, Two-Face, Poison Ivy, Harley Quinn™, Bane, Bruce Wayne, Superman™, Lex Luthor™ and Wonder Woman™. Buildable characters will include Batman, The Joker and Green Lantern.
But wait, there’s more…a really fun contest (intended to drive you to the website–you know you’ll look anyway).
According to the LEGO press release…
At San Diego Comic-Con, 3,000 exclusive Batman and Green Lantern LEGO minifigures will be distributed to kick off a promotion that will take place from August to December in advance of the launch. Fans are encouraged to use their collectible minifigures and existing LEGO collections to create original LEGO DC Universe SUPER HEROES adventures through video, photography or illustration, then share their submissions on www.LEGOSUPERHEROES.com. Entrants have a chance to win monthly prizes or a grand prize trip to California for exclusive tours of Warner Bros. Studios, WB Animation and LEGOLAND® California.
I hope they send us one of the miniatures…2012 is a long time to wait! I especially can’t wait to see how Wonder Woman translates to LEGO.
Tags: Comic Con, DC Comics, Lego, LEGOLAND
Posted in Action Figures, Best Toys for Tweens, Construction Toys for Kids, Lego | No Comments »
Monday, February 7th, 2011
For me it was clearly a combo of hating practicing asbestos litigation and my mother having a really great time writing about toys and play. I left her after a segment she did at the Today Show to go back to my office and thought–that just seems like a better way to spend the day. I’m always curious how other people find their way to the toy industry. It is a business — and not all warm and fuzzy as you might think–but still it is different.
So I started a series called Meet the Toymakers. This gave me an opportunity to find out how other people joined the ranks of toy industry insiders. And since most people seem to have a desire to also be in toys, I thought it would be interesting to hear how other people fulfilled their dreams.
This week- we have an interview with Robert Pasin of Radio Flyer. Unlike most of the people I’ve interviewed, Robert is third generation in his family’s toy business. That’s hard core and brings it’s own set of challenges even when you are in charge of an established and iconic American brand.
I also interview Chris and Will Haughey of TEGU. These brothers both left their Wall Street jobs to start TEGU. Besides making a lovely product (wooden blocks with built in magnets) they are also finding a way for their business to give back to the people of Honduras by creating jobs. 
Both interviews are posted on our website at www.toyportfolio.com
Tags: Asbestos Litigation, Chris Haughey, Construction Toys, Honduras, Joanne Oppenheim, Radio Flyer, Robert Pasin, Tegu, Today Show, Toymakers, Wall Street, Wheel Toys, Will Haughey
Posted in classic toys, Construction Toys for Kids, Outdoor toys, Play Time, toys, Uncategorized, Wooden Toys | No Comments »
Monday, November 22nd, 2010
Here’s my semi-annual plea to buy building sets for girls. While I don’t 
really see the need to color code such building sets, if pink is what will do it for you or the girls in your life…go for it. You can buy CitiBlocs new Hot Colors set. LEGO also offers a bucket of pink bricks (read our review here). If we want our girls to excel in math and on their standardized math tests…part of that comes from playing with blocks. Spatial relations, visual discrimination and other essential skills that are key to success in math, engineering and architecture all begin with being exposed to construction toys as kids. Not to mention that such open-ended sets are great for developing your child’s sense of what can be. For a full review of CitiBlocs, click here.
Posted in Best Toys for Preschoolers, Best Toys for School Aged Kids, Construction Toys for Kids, Gender Specific Toys, Lego, Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Award Winners, Play Time, toy trends, Uncategorized | No Comments »
Wednesday, November 10th, 2010
One of my new favorite construction sets comes from TEGU. These are beautifully crafted wooden magnetic blocks. If I were going to buy a toy that I know everyone would play with if I put it out on the coffee table for the holidays–it would be these blocks. (Except of course if you have very small kids in the house).
Starting today, you can challenge their builder to build something specific. Right now I’m watching them put together a Chilean Miner! Take a look and tweet in your own requests at TEGU.com
Read our review.
Tags: Best Constructions Toys, live demostration of tegu blocks, Tegu, www.toyportfolio.com
Posted in Best Toys for Kids with Special Needs, Best Toys for Tweens, Construction Toys for Kids, Gender Free Toys, Green toys, Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Award Winners, Play Time, Wooden Toys | No Comments »
I’m often asked about how you get into the toy business. Since we only review toys, I’m of very little help in this regard. I know it can be a daunting prospect. For example, if you have a great idea but little capital, how do you move forward? This morning I got a twitter message (more about that in a moment) about a new construction company called Qubits. We haven’t tested them yet. They are taking an interesting path by using kickstarter.com to get on their feet. Here’s their page if you’d like to read more about their product. We look forward to testing their sets with our testers.
