School is back in session, but that doesn’t mean kids can’t stop having fun. Toy Insider’s Chief Toy Officer Laurie Schacht stopped by FOX 32 in Chicago to show off some great new toys that are both fun and educational. For more on the items featured in this segment, check out the product notes below.


AMAZING RESCUE 50-PIECE SET (MAGFORMERS)

  • Click and create your own adventure with Magformers AMAZING Rescue 50-piece set! 
  • Design and create your own fire adventure. 
  • Build a fire station and fire truck, add wheels and fire accessories. 
  • This 50-piece set comes with 24 magnetic pieces, two characters, emergency vehicle accessories, and so much more to keep the city safe. 
  • Ages: 3+
  •  MSRP: $59.99
  • Available: magformers.com, specialty retailers

SPLASH AND PLAY MERMAID (MADAME ALEXANDER)

  • Splash and Play Mermaid is designed for time in the tub! 
  • Doll is fully submersible and comes dressed in a mermaid swim set with a hooded towel ‘tail.’ 
  • Splash and Play Mermaid also comes with a bottle and fish toy.  
  • Ages: 2+
  • MSRP: $49.94
  • Available: Specialty, Amazon

ABC BUTTON ART (ALEX DISCOVER)

  • Kids can match and snap to spell the words.
  • The set helps kids develop hand-eye coordination, fine motor skills, creative thinking, and spelling.
  • It comes in a convenient storage tray holds all pieces.
  • The set includes 46 colorful button letters, 10 pictures (9.6in/24.3cm square), and a storage tray with a lid.
  • Ages: 3+
  • MSRP: $24
  • Available: Amazon

ARCADE1UP COUNTERCADES (TASTEMAKERS)

  • Arcade1Up machines each house different classic arcade games, which come with immersive full-color hi-resolution displays and sounds.
  • They come with an original joystick and control buttons. 
  • The countercades launch with three titles and feature two games. 
  • Starting off with Centipede, Space Invaders and PAC-Man, these cabinets are the ideal table top arcades for your bar or coffee table.
  • Ages: 14+
  • MSRP: $199
  • Available: Walmart, Best Buy, GameStop

TRAPPER KEEPER GAME (BIG G CREATIVE)

  • Do you rule the school? Find out when you play the Trapper Keeper Game! Players zoom back in time to the 80’s and 90’s and strategically stash cards in their Trapper Keeper folders. 
  • Collect Homework, Quizzes, Signatures, Report Cards, Notes from Classmates, and Field Trip Slips to see who can score the most points. You can also collect doodles to increase your score. 
  • The player with the most points at the end of the school day will be crowned the Coolest Kid in School!  
  • Players take turns collecting cards in their Trapper Keeper folders to see who can score the most points. 
  • Ages: 8+
  • MSRP: $16.99
  • Available: Target

what's in the box

WHAT’S IN THE BOX (BLIP TOYS)

  • The game, based on the viral YouTube sensation, has been translated to retail so now everyone can easily play this in their home.
  • The game includes a deck of score cards and 4 black blind bags (to hide items found throughout the house so other players can’t see what one another found to place inside).
  • There is a 10 second timer built into the box, so once someone’s hands go inside, they will have 10 second to feel and guess what it is.
  • Doors can be shut, so if there’s more than 2 players, everyone will have an opportunity to guess what they think is inside and write it down on the scorecard before the “challenger” reveals to everyone what’s inside the box.
  • Ages: 4+
  • MSRP: $21.99
  • Available: Amazon, Walmart, and Target

INCHIMALS (FAT BRAIN TOYS)

  • Beautifully crafted & thoughtfully designed, Inchimals are 12 wooden blocks measuring 1” (the tiny ladybug) to 12” high (the towering giraffe).  
  • It’s an ideal measurement learning device for kids of all ages!
  • Ages: 3+
  • MSRP: $34.95
  • Available: fatbraintoys.com, Amazon

GEARS! GEARS! GEARS! WRECKER GEARS  (LEARNING RESOURCES) 

  • Develop early engineering and other essential STEM skills with this
  • building set inspired by the world of construction.
  • Kids can build their own bulldozers, wrecking balls, and more, or use their engineering skills to come up with their own designs!
  • Ages: 4+
  • MSRP: $19.99
  • Available: Amazon

About the author

Bill Reese

Bill Reese

Bill Reese is Director of Operations at Adventure Media & Events, where he's worked since 2014. A former editor at Playbill and graduate of SUNY–Purchase, he spends most weekends rooting for the New York Red Bulls pro soccer team and making subway systems out of Brio trains with his little boy Jonah.

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