Live from the Javits Center in New York City, it’s the Toy Insider at the North American International Toy Fair! In today’s segment, Toy Insider’s Associate Editor Maddie Michalik and Assistant Editor Kristen Nelson talk about the best new STEM toys that are as educational as they are fun.
For more information on the products featured, check out the notes below. Want to see more great new products from the show floor? Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
BEAKER CREATURES (LEARNING RESOURCES)
- Beaker Creatures is a new line of science-themed collectibles from Learning Resources that combines the thrill of collecting with hands-on science experiments that build skills and spark curiosity.
- Beaker Creatures is the only collectible line that incorporates hands- on learning through science experiments.
- Includes 35 collectible characters from five different families for children to discover, classify, and explore.
- Beaker Creatures is founded in real science, from the fizzing Reactor Pods that reveal the creatures to the classification cards that help children identify their creatures.
- Beaker Creatures sets also double as working lab sets, complete with included science experiments that encourage hands-on learning.
- Each Beaker Creature also comes with facts and quizzes about real- world creatures and phenomena that sparks curiosity in the world around us.
- Age: 5+
- MSRP: $24.99 for the complete Science Lab which includes two dissolvable collectible eggs / $4.99 for individual eggs
- Available: Fall 2018
PEPPER MINT (THAMES & KOSMOS)
- Mint STEM kit line from Thames & Kosmos! The Pepper Mint line offers experiments and activities that follow the adventures of Pepper Mint, a curious, skillful and creative young engineer.
- The activities are presented in storybook manuals with beautiful illustrations and step-by-step instructions. As you read the stories of Pepper Mint’s adventures, you build the projects and conduct the experiments that appear.
- After assembly, the large wooden models of a treehouse and boat double as playsets where kids can continue to act out stories about Pepper Mint with the scale figure included.
- The two new Pepper Mint sets include Pepper Mint in the Great Treehouse Engineering Adventure and Pepper Mint in the Fantastic Underwater Science Voyage.
- Age: 8+
- MSRP:$39.95
- Availability:
3DOODLER START HEXBUG MAKE YOUR OWN MICRO ROBOTIC CREATURES PEN SET (3DOODLER)
- Kids love HEXBUG! Kids love creating with 3Doodler Start! Now kids can make their own eccentric-looking HEXBUG creatures that behave like real bugs. Doodle your bug’s body and legs using the insect themed DoodleMold to create your very own pet insectoid, then let it crawl around to explore its environment, conquer obstacles or race your friends.
- This set fosters STEM learning by allowing kids to design and experiment with different robotic structures.
- Age: 6+
- Pen Set MSRP: US $59.99 / Activity Kit MSRP (without pen): US$24.99
- Available: Spring 2018
BEASTS OF BALANCE BATTLES (BEASTS OF BALANCE)
- Sensible Object brings the first expansion for award-winning augmented reality stacking game Beasts of Balance.
- BATTLES adds new levels of excitement and competition to the traditionally cooperative board game. In BATTLES, two to three players each take on the role of a Divine Creator of a single region: Land, Sea or Sky.
- The aim is to fill your region with powerful beasts while stealing and destroying those of your opponents. The BATTLES expansion pack contains 16 augmented reality BATTLE cards – containing the same NFC technology as the physical game pieces.
- Each player wields a hand of these cards, enabling them to invoke a whole host of weird and wonderful effects on the digital realm. Some are focused on attack, some will aid in defense, and some will manifest in much more surprising ways!
- The BATTLES pack also contains a new Legendary Beast ‘Magmaaargh The Cantankerous’ that introduces some wild and hilarious action into the mix.
- Age: 7+
SKYTRACK SET (MAGFORMERS)
- Build the ultimate theme park roller coaster. With 35 non-magnetic pieces, the skytrack set is perfect for an advanced builder! Put your imagination to the test and see how tall your coaster will go!
- There are 13 different non-magnetic shape types, compatable with all Magformers shapes and accessories.
- Follow along with the step-by-step idea booklet and watch your roller coaster come to life.
- The SkyTrack set includes battery operated rider and space ship accessory.
- Age: TBD
- MSRP: TBD
- Available: TBD
