Train Sets by Lionel

 Nothing says the holidays to me more than a train set. I spent hours under the Christmas tree with my grandfather and his collection. Every year they added new accessories, like houses and people, and my siblings and I would exercise our creativity as we made up all sorts of adventures. The little passengers took epic journeys, even though they were really just traveling an endless loop.

The only thing more exciting than the track coming out for the holidays was the time we got to visit the neighbor that had a permanent installation in his basement. His train didn’t just go in a simple loop; it went around hills and bends and over bridges. This guy had sections that were town and sections that were grass and tress. It was such a treat for our imaginations.

We learned at a young age that these weren’t for kids to play with alone, that they were breakable and if we did something wrong the line could stop running! We were never allowed to operate them without an adult watching us, and so we grew up knowing that these were a cross-generational family item. This thought is reiterated today just as strongly as it was back then, when even one of the main characters on the hit TV series The Big Bang Theory, loves them. Sheldon Cooper collects them, and even has his own conductor hat! Train sets will continue to be a  classic and awe-inspiring gift.

Classic Learning Resources Toys

Growing up, one of my favorite toys was my play cash register. I spent hours “selling” everything in the house to my parents and brothers, from food out of the market set set to my brother’s own plastic farm animals. It is exciting to see that sets like these that meant so much to me over 20 years ago are still popular today. Clearly the learning skills that are involved in these items are universal. The cash register helps children to not only learn how to count and sort money, but it also helps kids to understand that money is a limited resource, and once they have spent all of their “play” money they lose their purchasing power unless they can earn more! Early economics!

Of course, technology has advanced and the toys today have more features, such as voice recordings, other sounds, and interactive lights. They are also made bigger, so the money is the same size as real cash and coins. Many shoppers use coupons and credit cards today, and these devices accommodate both (something my decades old one did not). Don’t even get me started on how awesome the built-in scanner and scales are! These kids will be ready for their first retail job at the age of 4!

In addition to engaging the imagination and group play, these modern play cash registers also have built-in games, so children can be entertained for hours on end. Watch for many of these play cash registers to be featured Black Friday Toy Deals this year!

The Snow Glow Elsa Doll

Parents of little girls everywhere are on the lookout for the best Black Friday toy deals that include Frozen merchandise! Frozen has taken the world by storm since its release before Thanksgiving last year, 2013. This holiday season Disney has released the Sing-Along version of the DVD as well as plenty of dolls to satisfy the needs of all parents of Elsa, Ana, and Olaf fans.

The most popular Frozen doll (as well as one of the most popular toys out there this year) is the Disney Frozen Snow Glow Elsa Doll. It is in so much demand that there have already been news reports of parents getting into fights over this item in stores. This interactive doll speaks movie phrases and sings the most favorite song, making it no wonder that she has claimed so much attention. Elsa has a magical snowflake necklace that, when touched, will illuminate and prompt her to speak one of 15 movie quotes. Lifting her arm will get her to sing “Let It Go”, the megahit song from the film, while her dress sparkles and her necklace lights up.

Elsa’s crown is included, as is her little snowman friend, Olaf. Elsa can speak and sing in English or Spanish, and requires three AAA batteries that are not included. The doll is 15” tall. The dress is covered in screen printed snowflakes with glitter outer layer, and an inner satin layer printed with a teal snowflake pattern. The glitter may flake off, but the design will remain, as will toddlers love for the Frozen characters, quotes, and songs.

The LeapFrog Activity Band

The latest trend in technology is the smart watch, and LeapFrog, ever known to create children’s technology that spares parents the pain of having their own devices smashed by little hands, has created a new smart watch toy that integrates gameplay with physical activity encouragement. This device is high on holiday wish lists, and is one of the Black Friday toy deals that everyone is hoping for.

On first glance, the gadget consists of a mini-video game featuring a “Pet Pal” that harkens back to the Tamagotchi toys that were so popular in the mid-to-late 1990s. Of course, the Pet Pal in this band features full color attractive animation, and has many more interactive gameplay options than its predecessor. Kids can choose a cat, dog, dragon, monkey, panda, penguin, robot, or unicorn pet, and then customize their color and name before taking them onto games such as Pet Boogie and Pet Chef.

The main thing that makes the LeapBand innovative is the fact that it integrates the same motion technology used in high-priced adult activity bands, and uses it to encourage children to get active to win game challenges. Kids can earn medals and unlock accessories for their pet while they play games that teach them about staying active and living healthy lives.

The toy comes loaded with 10 active challenges and 4 cool-down challenges, and parents can add 36 more through the LeapFrog Connect. The band comes in green, blue or pink with a 1.44” shatter resistant and LCD hi-res color screen. It is water resistant with a battery that lasts 3-4 days before needing to be recharged with the USB cord. Parents can easily set Silent mode on the device or program School and Night mode through LeapFrog Connect.

Magformers: Magic Magnetic Building Sets

One of the most talked about toys in recent years are Magformers, and they are sure to be scooped up as Black Friday toy deals this year. These early engineering sets work like magic, with magnets that easily attach pieces to each other across all the sets. They make building various structures easier for young builders, and the quick-attaching magnetic panels allow more creativity to build whatever their imagination designs. These sets use all the same ingenuity that blocks, Legos, or Erector sets demanded, and they make it incredibly easy for kids to be able to construct anything their imagination can create.

Magformers work because of the magnets that are in each colorful piece. Kids can easily make 3D towers, bridges, or even just simple geometric shapes. The packages do come with an idea booklet to follow along with recommended shapes and figures, so kids can get used to both making items by imagination or following directions.

Magformers are recommended for ages 5 and up, due to the small size of the pieces. However, the tiles connect no matter which way they are facing, which means that even younger builders will be able to play, frustration free. They are made from safe and high-quality ABS plastic and they come in many vibrant colors and shapes such as square, triangle, pentagons and hexagons. Sets are mix-and-match, and can be purchased in basic piece sets, or specialty sets, such as the cruiser set (which comes with wheels for making vehicles) or the carnival set (which comes with a turning base, squares with chairs, and little people to ride the rides). Magformers are super simple and intuitive, so kids can start building the second they have their hands on the tiles.

Click here to learn more or buy Magformers at Amazon

The Batcave Fortress of Awesome

Nothing is more fun than a playset, no matter if it is a pink house meant for Barbie dolls, or a grey-toned fortress for Bruce Wayne’s alter-ego, Batman. The Fisher-Price Imaginext DC Super Friends Batcave Playset is perfect for kids of both genders. The action figures included in the box are Batman and his sidekick, Robin, but other super hero or villain sets can be purchased separately. In my family the Disney Princesses are known to hang out in the Batcave along with the DC characters, and we take advantage of Black Friday toy deals to stock up on our cast of characters!

This Batcave is ready for action. Kids can put their least favorite characters in a “time-out” in the jail, while their favorite characters ride around on the Batcycle and man the cannons and computers. The cannons actually launch plastic projectiles (3 included) at the touch of a button. Figures can be clipped into the elevator to move up and down levels, and they can be placed on activation disks that turn to extend walkways, open doors, and access the Batcomputer.

The Batcave measures 4 inches deep by 14 inches tall by 20 inches wide and is not recommended for kids under 36 months old. It is sturdy and durable and will last for years of playtime. There is no assembly required, so kids can play with it right out of the box. In addition to the physical playset, there is also an Imaginext Batcave app that can be downloaded to add a virtual level of excitement to the game. Kids just point their phone or tablet at certain areas of the Batcave to launch different minigames!


Click here to learn more or buy the Fisher-Price Imaginext DC Super Friends Batcave Playset at Amazon

All New Batman Forever Stamps Now Available at Amazon, Buy today, Valid for 1 oz Domestic First Class Mail Forever! 

Nerf Marksman Toy for Adventurous Kids

Between Katniss of the Hunger Games, and Hawkeye of the Avengers, kids are enjoying learning new bow skills while you are out looking for Black Friday toy deals! If you don’t want to arm your kids with a dangerous weapon or pay for them to take up the sport, you can still allow them to play that they are their favorite hero with the Nerf Mega Thunder Bow Blaster this year!

Your little one can work on their marksmanship long-range, as this bow shoots from very far back, 100 feet or more! The blaster launches five Mega Darts before having to be reloaded (it comes packaged with 10 darts), and the actual flexing bow arms help develop archer skills. The darts are large and bright (so they are easy to find), and body of the darts are made of foam and the tips of soft flexible plastic. The darts make a whistling noise when shooting through the air due to little slits at the end.

This device is recommended for children ages 8 and up. It weighs 4 pounds and measures 31.6 inches x 16.5 inches. It is very well made and shoots darts well over the 100 feet that is advertised with great power and accuracy. The string is easy to pull back and overall the device is simple for children to use, and the best version of a bow that Nerf has yet to release. Be sure to note that this bow is meant for outside use only and should NOT be aimed toward living beings or fragile items!


Click here to learn more or buy the Nerf Mega Thunder Bow Blastert at Amazon

The Elmo

I can’t believe that it’s been almost 20 years since the original crazy “Tickle Me Elmo” craze! It was one of the original Black Friday toy deals that launched a thousand tales of people being trampled or getting into fights. Since then, manufacturers have been better about anticipating popularity (and stocking stores with enough product to meet demands), but the legend of Elmo will continue for years to come.

Elmo has remained popular among kids, and a new version of the puppet is usually released each holiday season. This year, the Playskool Sesame Street Let’s Imagine Elmo is getting rave reviews from parents and kids alike. This version of Elmo goes along with his “Elmo the Musical” segment on the show, Sesame Street. This Elmo encourages kids to trade out his cowboy, crown, and sea captain hats to enjoy hours of imaginative play. Each hat activates a new mode and prompt for new activities, with the “Prince Elmo Says” activity that prompts kids to tickle, bounce, or pinch his nose, the cowboy hat activates a counting game, and the sea captain sings a song and gets kids to guess animal noises.

He has soft arms and feet, but is more of an interactive plaything than a cuddly doll. He is meant to be durable, and can take drops without damage or malfunctioning. His mouth does move when he speaks, and users should remember to switch Elmo off to ensure slight noises do not reactivate any of his play modes during quiet times. 

Click here to learn more or buy Playskool Sesame Street Let’s Imagine Elmo at Amazon

2014 Black Friday Expected to Have Sales Start Early!

It is the last day of October and that means the start of Black November!

That’s right, this year shoppers should be aware that retailers are taking advantage of the shopping season by starting their sales early, with many releasing discounts as soon as November 1st. This is in response to the fact that market research has shown that consumers are looking at items 7-12 times online before they commit to making their purchase. Many products will have reviews and video descriptions for consumers to have more information to make choices off of.

In preparation for the increased traffic, retailers are working hard to ensure their websites and mobile versions are able to handle everyone, 24 hours a day. There is expected to be a 9% increase in spending this year due to increased consumer confidence. The retailers that have stores online, mobile, and in-store will likely entice their customers to spend 66% more than in-store only.

For the stores that are sticking to the more traditional Black Friday Deals, they may be starting as soon as 5:00pm on Thanksgiving Thursday. Reports are showing that sales on Thursday tend to have 24% discounts , just 1% more than the 23% discounts the following day, versus the smaller 20% discounts that are the average for Cyber Monday

The best deals are still poised to be in electronics, such as televisions, laptops and tablets, and in children’s toys. These are the most in-demand items for the holiday season, and consumers are always excited to get great prices on the products their loved ones want the most.