Summer Toy Season Kicks Into High Gear

June 5, 2008

Source: The Merchandise Group


Summertime means sunshine, fun and no school. And that leaves kids everywhere with far too much time on their hands, which promptly motivates parents to find fun and educational ways to keep their children entertained. In that spirit, Wayne, N.J.-based Toys 'R' Us recently released its top picks for this summer's toy season. The mega toy retailer identified four specific trends that seem to most appeal to kids today.

"These summer play trends reflect a growing fascination with home-grown artistic and musical talent, things good for the earth, the importance of physical activity opportunities, and making learning an exciting, fun-filled experience," said Bob Giampietro, senior vice president of trend and innovation for Toys 'R' Us.

When choosing toys to offer your customers, be sure to follow the trend guidelines below:

Talent Shows
With the success of shows like American Idol, kids more than ever before are totally music crazy. Popular bands such as the Jonas Brothers, the Naked Brothers Band and Hannah Montana have sent kids into fame-mode, eager to start up their own music careers. To feed this desire, kids can try out a variety of instruments such as the Hannah Montana Electric Guitar from U.S. Music Corp., the LK-100 Keyboard from Casio or the 5-piece drum set from First Act. In addition, Nintendo games like Guitar Hero are also good pick's for this musical fanaticism.

Protect The Environment
Kids today are more environmentally conscious than at any other time in history. Even Crayola is cashing in on this popular trend, with the recent addition of their newest shade of green, "Giving Tree." Toys such as The Bugville Live Butterfly Treehouse from Spin Master, Grow Your Own Tomato Plant one-pack from Buzzy Inc. and the Disney Fairies and Pooh Gardening Accessories from Brass Key all appeal to kids who are passionate about protecting the Earth. Another good option for kids who care about nature is the Astro-Gazer 70 Telescope from Edu Science.

Electronic Exercise
With an abundant amount of energy and a love of video games, Nintendo's Wii has been a huge hit with kids. Today, Wii has taken the concept to a whole new level with Wii Fit where kids can create a personalized workout, filled with everything from yoga, balancing exercises, to hoola-hoop and soccer. For kids who actually want to get their exercise fix outdoors, The Pulse Kick 'N Go from Bravo Sports, the Banzai Skimboard Surfer and the Banzai Pipeline Twist Aqua Park from ToyQuest are great options.

Read it!
Summer reading is a time-worn trend that never goes out of style. Only in today's world, summer reading now includes the use of technology. Items such as Tag from LeapFrog read the entire story aloud as each word is scrolled over, while the Leapster 2 from LeapFrog uses USB capabilities and a tracking system so parents can check in to see how their kids are progressing. Other favorites include an 18-volume library featuring classics like, "The Little Engine That Could" and "Olivia." There's also the portable Pig E Bank, or the handheld Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? from Techno Source that appeal to those kids that love information and technology.

Adding the above mentioned trends to your store offerings can ensure that your business is a big hit with the kids this summer.

Summer Toy Season Kicks Into High Gear

June 5, 2008


Source: The Merchandise Group

Summertime means sunshine, fun and no school. And that leaves kids everywhere with far too much time on their hands, which promptly motivates parents to find fun and educational ways to keep their children entertained. In that spirit, Wayne, N.J.-based Toys 'R' Us recently released its top picks for this summer's toy season. The mega toy retailer identified four specific trends that seem to most appeal to kids today.

"These summer play trends reflect a growing fascination with home-grown artistic and musical talent, things good for the earth, the importance of physical activity opportunities, and making learning an exciting, fun-filled experience," said Bob Giampietro, senior vice president of trend and innovation for Toys 'R' Us.

When choosing toys to offer your customers, be sure to follow the trend guidelines below:

Talent Shows
With the success of shows like American Idol, kids more than ever before are totally music crazy. Popular bands such as the Jonas Brothers, the Naked Brothers Band and Hannah Montana have sent kids into fame-mode, eager to start up their own music careers. To feed this desire, kids can try out a variety of instruments such as the Hannah Montana Electric Guitar from U.S. Music Corp., the LK-100 Keyboard from Casio or the 5-piece drum set from First Act. In addition, Nintendo games like Guitar Hero are also good pick's for this musical fanaticism.

Protect The Environment
Kids today are more environmentally conscious than at any other time in history. Even Crayola is cashing in on this popular trend, with the recent addition of their newest shade of green, "Giving Tree." Toys such as The Bugville Live Butterfly Treehouse from Spin Master, Grow Your Own Tomato Plant one-pack from Buzzy Inc. and the Disney Fairies and Pooh Gardening Accessories from Brass Key all appeal to kids who are passionate about protecting the Earth. Another good option for kids who care about nature is the Astro-Gazer 70 Telescope from Edu Science.

Electronic Exercise
With an abundant amount of energy and a love of video games, Nintendo's Wii has been a huge hit with kids. Today, Wii has taken the concept to a whole new level with Wii Fit where kids can create a personalized workout, filled with everything from yoga, balancing exercises, to hoola-hoop and soccer. For kids who actually want to get their exercise fix outdoors, The Pulse Kick 'N Go from Bravo Sports, the Banzai Skimboard Surfer and the Banzai Pipeline Twist Aqua Park from ToyQuest are great options.

Read it!
Summer reading is a time-worn trend that never goes out of style. Only in today's world, summer reading now includes the use of technology. Items such as Tag from LeapFrog read the entire story aloud as each word is scrolled over, while the Leapster 2 from LeapFrog uses USB capabilities and a tracking system so parents can check in to see how their kids are progressing. Other favorites include an 18-volume library featuring classics like, "The Little Engine That Could" and "Olivia." There's also the portable Pig E Bank, or the handheld Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? from Techno Source that appeal to those kids that love information and technology.

Adding the above mentioned trends to your store offerings can ensure that your business is a big hit with the kids this summer.