March 2, 2020
One of the most fun things I get to do as founder of Savvy Auntie is tour the annual Toy Fair New York where toy brands showcase their latest toys and games to come that year. I tour the largest, medium and small toy companies looking for the coolest toys and games. And my twelfth annual Toy Fair experience was once again filled with thousands and thousands of cool toys to choose from!
But which toys are the coolest? And how are aunts supposed to know which toys your nieces, nephews and godchildren will have on their wish lists this year? That’s why you’ve got me. While some of the most exciting toys of the year are still undercover for the public until later in the year, I’ve culled my list of the 10 coolest toys and games coming out in 2020 that I can share. These 10 toys and games we presented with a SAVVY AUNTIE COOLEST TOY AWARD – TOY FAIR 2020 on Monday, February 24, 2020.
The toys and games that made the 2020 Savvy Auntie Coolest Toy Awards list were real standouts at the show. These were the toys and games that made me say:
“Wow!” These toys and games are among the most innovative and fun and toys that require a child to stretch their imagination while developing their social, emotional and cognitive skills.
Since Savvy Aunties are as generous as they can be with their nieces and nephews by relation and/or by choice, they are often the primary gift-givers in their family village - especially the tribe of aunts without children of their own I dubbed PANKs – Professional Aunts No Kids.
And if you’re going to buy toys and games, they should be the ones that also make the children you love say: “Wow!” too!
Here are the
10 SAVVY AUNTIE COOLEST TOY AWARD WINNERS – TOY FAIR 2020
MegaBloks Peek A Blocks Animals and Playsets
Ages 1+
$4.99 - $9.99. Available Spring 2020
Why SAVVY AUNTIE Loves It:
Here’s a new way to play peek-a-boo with your baby niece or nephew! These sweet animals have a big peek-a-boo surprise when placed on a block. You can add to your little builder’s play experience with adorable animal and building block. Or, go for an even bigger surprise with the
Mega Bloks Peek A Blocks Launch n’ Roll playset includes one rolling animal and 13 pieces to build. Little ones can place their Peek A Blocks animal on the launcher, press on the lever, and send the animal rolling down the slide.
Kid Trax Premium Collection Land Rover Range Rover VelarAges 3-5
$399. Available April 2020
Why SAVVY AUNTIE Loves It:
Kid Trax has upped the “Auntie” with their new Kid Trax Premium Collection of ride-on cars. The Kid Trax Premium Collection 6-volt Land Rover Range Rover Velar ride-on is a premium gift for any preschooler who appreciates the finer things in life. Zooming along at 2.5 MPH, forward and reverse, is made easy with real foot pedal acceleration made for just for drivers their size. This ride-on has doors that open and close, working LED headlights, realistic horn and engine sounds, and even a working FM radio, MP3 auxiliary input and Bluetooth capabilities for customizable road trip tunes. The 6-volt battery charges in any household outlet so your niece or nephew is always ready to go!
The Range Rover Velar comes standard with vinyl-covered seat and an option to control the vehicle with an adult-operated remote control.
KidKraft Designed by Me: Color Décor Dollhouse Ages 3+
$59.99. Available Fall 2020
Why SAVVY AUNTIE Loves It: Imagine a great, big dollhouse that a child can style again and again! The KidKraft Deigned by Me: Color Décor Dollhouse comes with an over-sized spiral-bound coloring book a child can color in as they like, then drop it into the back of the dollhouse to create a new background for their home. From rustic to modern to glam and more, kids can use the markers (conveniently stored in the chimney!) to create the living spaces they imagine. The dollhouse also comes with furniture and pet accessories.
PJ Masks 2-in-1 Mobile HQ by Just Play
Ages 3+
$79.99. Available Fall 2020
Why SAVVY AUNTIE Loves It:
We love toys and playsets that enable children to take their favorite shows and role-play the characters, recreating episodes they love or better yet, creating their own stories with the characters they’ve come to know well. The PJ Masks 2-in-1 Mobile HQ is a great example of a playset that does just that. At 3-feet tall with five levels of play, kids can use the lights and sounds control board, vehicle lift, drop-down ramp, and more to capture the villains and experience what it feels like to be a hero. And we’re not done. The Mobile HQ’s wheels can actually roll so your little Gekko, Owlette or Catboy can drive off to save the night! (Poseable Catboy and Cat-Car are included.)
Luvabella Mealtime Magic Mia and Mealtime Magic Maya DollsAges 4+
$59.99. Available Fall 2020
Why SAVVY AUNTIE Loves It:
I’ve seen many baby dolls in my day so when I spot one that combines nurturing skills development with innovation, it will catch my attention. The Luvabella Mealtime Magic Mia and Maya dolls enable mini-mamas (and little-aunties!) have what feels like a magical mealtime experience with their baby doll. These new Luvabella dolls are the most expressive we’ve seen, when being fed. Mealtime Magic includes five little bowls with ten big food flavors that the little mama (or Auntie!) can mix and match to make over 50 food combinations for her Mealtime Magic Mia or Mealtime Magic Maya to try. With each taste, the baby doll will react with distinct facial expressions like: yum, yuck, sour and more. Our favorite? Well, as you can see, Mealtime Magic Mia knows how to make a raspberry expression! For me, it’s the cutest expression of all!
MGAE L.O.L SURPRISE! Degradable packagingAges 4-8
Various prices. Available spring 2020
Why SAVVY AUNTIE Loves It:
For the third year in a row, the incredibly popular MGAE’s L.O.L. Surprise! Doll series won the Toy Industry Associations Toy of the Year award. We can’t wait until you see what’s coming this year, but MGAE has asked us to keep their 2020 releases top-secret. Still, we could not pass up the opportunity to award MGAE L.O.L Surprise with a SAVVY AUNTIE COOLEST TOY AWARD – TOY FAIR 2020 not for a new product, but for their commitment to sustainability. For 2020, MGAE is manufacturing products and packaging with a new patent-pending compound that facilitates the degradation of plastic in landfill conditions, including a degradable L.O.L. Surprise! ball coming soon. This summer, all L.O.L Surprise! accessory bags will be paper based, and any packaging made from resin will be degradable and include new compound. And beginning 2021, the entire L.O.L Surprise! packaging line will be completely degradable.
PlayMonster Drone Home2 to 4 players, ages 6+.
$19.99 Available Fall 2020
Why SAVVY AUNTIE Loves It: Board games and the like are trending up for 2020. As families and friends find ways to spend more social together and off the screens, games are making a comeback. There were a few cool games at Toy Fair 2020 but the one that really made up stop in our tracks is PlayMonster’s Drone Home. Drone Home is the first-ever game with a real drone, adding a whole other level to game play! Players are tasked with getting their aliens down the ramps and into the drone. The first one there triggers the drone to start up and fly but wait! There’s a delay that allows other players to try to get their aliens to sabotage the flight by knocking the first alien out! The winner is the first player to get all their aliens “home” on the drone but truth is, like in any great game, the fun is in the suspense and action on the journey there!
Watch this video to see how cool it is to play Drone Home!
Alex Brands Brielle-iant Science Mr. Bones Anatomy
Ages 8+ Available Fall 2020
Why SAVVY AUNTIE Loves It: I was completely wowed by Alex Brands’ collaboration with Brielle Milla, the eight-year-old science genius who is a regular guest on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. The three Brielle-iant Science kits coming in 2020 are engaging, challenging – and fun! In Brielle-iant Science Mr. Bones Anatomy, kids will learn anatomy facts with Mr. Bones Anatomy. Kids will learn the “ins” of a body by building a skeleton model, plastering a femur bone, and a folding together functioning grabber arm with string tendons. Young scientists can test their knowledge with peel & place anatomy sheets about bones, muscles and organs. The two other kits are: Brielle-iant Science Mr. Brain Neuroscience and Brielle-iant Science Science of DogsTM.
Snapsies by Funko
Price varies. Ages 6-9. Available in 2020
Why SAVVY AUNTIE Loves It:
Snapsies by Funko is a new engaging series of character figures with a patent pending snap-and-match technology that allows kids to personalize an already diverse lineup of characters. But the real innovation with Snapsies is the innovative delivery system that can add a whole new surprise twist to any "Auntventure" day.
Snapsies are not just another collectible; Snapsies are an experience! With a touchscreen-display kiosk-style machine soon to be found at retailers nationwide, nieces and nephews can immerse themselves in the world of Snapsies through cool video shorts created by Funko Animation Studios. Once the child selects a few preferences, the machine dispenses a toy capsule for instant unwrap, snap, and play!
Star Wars: The Child Animatronic
Ages 4+
$59.99 Available Fall 2020
Why SAVVY AUNTIE Loves It:
And last, but certainly not least, comes one the most popular pop-culture characters coming to "life" in toys and games that were seen at Toy Fair: The Child from The Mandalorian on Disney+. When a child touches his sweet little head, over 25 sound and motion combinations are activated, giggles, babbles, and more while The Child's head and ears move and his eyes open and close. Kids can "harness the power of the Force" as The Child closes his eyes, raises its arm, and sighs like he is using all his might... until the little guy has tired himself out and needs a nap. And yes, he's even cute when he's sleeping.
There are a few "The Child" toys coming out this year, but to me, the Hasbro version was my favorite. (Just don't tell the other "The Childs!")
Stay tuned to Savvy Auntie for when the toys are released onto store shelves and online later this year!