Editor’s Note: Esther Koo also attended the Toy Fair last month as a part of the WellConnectedMom.com team.
Toy Fair is generally a bi-colored experience of blue and pink gender-specific toys. I have to tell you though, whenever I see the sea of pink and sparkles that generally pervades a “girls’ toy” manufacturer’s booth, I get hit with a wave a nausea and it feels like I’m looking directly into the sun. It’s some kind of visceral reaction to Toy Fair-pink that makes me want to chuck my lunch. I think it’s less about the color and more about the imposition on girls of how they should like pink and just pink and are only allowed to entertain yellow and purple if pink is out of stock. Never ever blue. Blue is for boys.
Don’t tell me or my children (though yet unborn) what color we should like or what kinds of toys to play with! I grew up playing with laser guns and Legos just as much as I did with plastic ponies and princess costumes. That diversity has led me to become a woman who can enjoy beers over March Madness and just as much as a perfect pair of overpriced impractical shoes, pink or otherwise. Chilling over brews is not necessarily aspirational, but my point is this: Let kids grow up to be open to enjoying experiences without being hampered by gender-related expectations. No more limits.
So this is going to be a review of some of the coolest things I saw at Toy Fair this year that didn’t make me want to hurl–things liked by a girl that weren’t pink (it’s possible!).
Marshmallow Fun Company
These are Power Soaker-inspired propellants of marshmallows that turn those mysterious yet tasty little bits of fluff into conduits of painless attack. They come in all shapes and sizes, including designs with pink, blue, peace signs, zebra print, and classic red and blue, with edgier designs in camo and chrome. There are targets that you can use for shooting practice, which one could potentially wear as a vest for a makeshift game of paintball without the pain. That’s something I can get behind.
For the more battle-inclined, there are versions that have an automated pump that emits a scary ticking noise that builds more fear of the pending assault than the actual shot in a very Hitchcockian vein. These shoot the marshmallows with such force the guy demoing the gun for me (and on me) looked a little worried about if he’d hurt me. It didn’t but I could definitely feel it. Thanks for the fun demo, Johnny–next time, I get to shoot at you.
Cool crossbows, bows and arrows and rocket launcher-style marshmallow hurlers are new for 2011 so keep your eyes peeled. MSRP’s ranging from $5 to $50. They can be purchased directly from the site and retailers like Dick’s, Toys”R”Us, Target, and other retailers. 
Schoenhut Toy Pianos
I almost had a fit when I got to this booth. It was one of those booths that drew out my inner child and made me want to jump up and down. Schoenhut makes miniature functional pianos, both uprights and grands ranging from 18-49 keys, as well as itty bitty table top pianos. They also had drums, harps and guitars. Having been forced to play the piano and violin throughout my childhood, I would have been enchanted with these child-sized versions instead of trying to fit my tiny little hands over adult-sized instruments. An added bonus is that they’re supposed to never go out of tune. Magical.
Regular pricing ranges from $60 all the way up to over $600, so I’d definitely try to catch the next flash sale of these beautiful pieces (I’ve seen them on Gilt). At the booth, they had pianists playing throughout the show. The pianos sounded great but weren’t comparable to high quality instruments, so they’re definitely toys. Interestingly enough, there is a list of professional musicians who compose and perform on these instruments due to the distinct sound.
Puppies, elephants and adorable babies not included.
TEDCO Toys
While wandering the endless aisles of Toy Fair, I wanted to find a green toy. Not just a toy made with green or environmentally friendly materials but something that actually made it fun to be green and helped educate kids about the advantages and specifics about how to be green. I really wanted to like the the old man selling tree slices as “eco-friendly blocks,” but they just didn’t cut the mustard.
Then some sort of cosmic force brought me to find the very thing for which I was searching–it was a game called Renewable Energy that helps lead kids through experiments that help them learn about sustainable ways of harnessing energy.
Unfortunately, this cosmic force forgot to make sure TEDCO had a publicist so I couldn’t get a sample or any specifics but I do know the MSRP is $40.00 and it can be purchased on the website, along with a large collection of toys that help kids explore the sciences. COOL! [Fidgets and nudges glasses] So what if I like science and Star Trek TNG…
Ages 8+.
Aance…nd for the piece de resist 
Razor Scooters
Out of all the booths, this one was my favorite. Not only did they have a line up of the coolest scooters I’ve ever seen, they are also rolling out new lines that have attachments in the back for chalk to make sidewalk art as you move and some that make sparks on cement (not the kind that start fires)! There are ones that are powered with feet and electric scooters as well. I would bundle up my kids with helmets and padding up the wazoo before putting them on one but safety levels look akin to a bike and possibly safer than rollerblades as they allow for more control. These would be perfect for park outings and rolling around the cul de sac, all under supervision of course.
Is it just me or does the guy in the picture look like a dad who stole his kid’s scooter? Not a bad idea.
The line of Electric Ride Ons are fantastic, shaped like ATVs, dune buggies, dirt bikes and mopeds. Love it! Another great thing about these rides is that they sell replacement parts so you don’t have to buy a completely new product because of wear and tear.
Scooters start at about $30 and can go up into the hundreds for the electric powered rides, with lots of different retailers including Babies”R”Us, Sam’s Club, Kmart, Wal-Mart, Dick’s and Kohl’s.
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