*The Toy Insider's Sweet Suite at Home is just a few days away, so let's take a look back at 2020's event and the FUN new toys and goodies I discovered there! * The Toy Insider's Sweet Suite is an event that I look forward to every year. As a proud Toy Insider Parent Panelist, I am always excited to see and share all of the new, fun toys for the upcoming year. And nobody throws an event like The Toy Insider, I assure you. 2020 proved to be a *unique* year, and as the world decided to cancel...well...everything, The Toy Insider rose to the occasion and built an awesome virtual event that was truly a bright spot on a gloomy calendar. So, without further delay, here are some of my favorite finds from Sweet Suite at Home, 2020!
Disclosure: I attended Sweet Suite at Home as a member of the media. A swag box of samples was sent to me in return for my coverage and participation, but all opinions are my own (and not all items featured here were in the swag box).
A Note About Sweet Suite at Home
One thing I can really appreciate is someone (anyone) who rises to the occasion during tough times. I am whole-heartedly grateful to the team behind Sweet Suite (especially you, Charlene of Charlene Chronicles!) for putting together an event to remember. If you're wondering what it was all about, in a nutshell, it was truly a virtual "show." There was a check-in lobby and virtual "booths." There were Zoom meetings with toy companies, contests, live unboxings, demos, and so much more. There was even a "photo booth" where you could take some fun selfies. All you had to do was click on where you wanted to go in the event space or follow the pop-up leads that invited you to various events going on throughout the day.
Tippies and Charaction Cubes
Tippies were my absolute favorite find at Sweet Suite at Home. New from Bandai, these little collectibles have a throwback vibe (they remind me a little of Weebles). The first wave coming this August is the Peanuts line, and you can find them at Target stores (in the collectors section- where they sell Pokemon cards and such, near the registers). Disney lines will soon follow!
Charaction Cubes (also from Bandai) were another favorite from the show. They're a cross between a character and a Rubik's cube! These are in stores now and come in a variety of characters (Dragonball Z, Sanrio's Gudetama, just to name a few). So you can rearrange the character's body and try to put it back together like a puzzle. (Tippies and Charaction Cubes will make great Stocking Stuffer ideas down the line, so just keep them in mind!).
Playful Pandas
Playful Pandas hit stores this Fall. They're fun, interactive pets that wiggle, giggle and sing. Playful Pandas will respond to your voice and sing to you for some amazing harmonies. The more you sing with them, the better they’ll perform. Choose play mode to tickle your panda so they laugh. If you collect multiple Pandas, they can sing together in their own panda language. I received a Playful Panda myself from Far Out Toys and it sure does like to sing! Playful Pandas come in six different styles and are for kids ages 4 and up. Look for them from Far Out Toys, Fall 2020.
Pound Puppies Newborns
Basic Fun never fails to disappoint. I love all of their cool throwback toys (Pound Puppies, Speak n' Spell, My Little Pony - just to name a few!). I was excited to attend their virtual 'Yappy Hour' during Sweet Suite at Home, where they were going to have a live performance of "Who Let the Dogs Out" by The Baha Men. All I had to do was bring my Pound Puppy and my dog, so we could dance along with them in a virtual ZOOM dog party! But there was a thunderstorm during Yappy Hour (for real) and Baby Spot wanted nothing to do with Yappy Hour and decided to hide under the bed instead. I couldn't get him out for the life of me. So no Baha Men for us! Baby Spot missed his chance to dance. Sigh. Anyway, who doesn't love a Pound Puppy? Even better, how can you not love these Pound Puppies Newborns? They're so cute and soft and fit in the palm of your hand. They include an adoption certificate that allows you to write in the name you choose for your puppy. They are an authentic reproduction of the original Pound Puppies Newborns from the 1980s, and come in a variety of colors. And P.S: thinking ahead, these would make amazing stocking stuffers. You can check them all out here.
Brite Brush
Brite Brush Game Brush from WowWee is so fun, I wish they made one for adults! Kids can learn to brush right with smart sensors, side change recognition and a vibrating handle. Handy options like the Parent Check Light gives parents peace of mind, allowing you to confirm if your child brushed well. No joke, there are seven fun games in this toothbrush. GameBrush contains 7 games to unlock, including Space Attack, Soccer Pinball, Dance Star, Punch Master, Race Car Rally, Arcade and Rockstar Jam! Plus a tutorial brushing mode. Check out this video of how it works here:
Shoulderkins
Sometimes you just need a buddy on your shoulder, and Aurora World has made a plush friend to join you in all of your escapades. The little magnet inside of Shoulderkins allows them to sit comfortably on your shoulder like a little plush buddy. Teachers, I think these guys are perfect for classroom fun (there is a Dr. Seuss set, too). Metal plate is removable (in case you don't want them to be magnetic) and they come in so many different styles (tiger, unicorn, flamingo, turtle, just to name a few!).
Trinity & Beyond Toys
YouTube fans will love these cute blind bags and toy sets from Bonkers Toys based on the hit YouTube channel, Trinity & Beyond. Stay tuned for more info about all of the fun YouTube inspired toys coming from Bonkers this year, including Ryan's World, FGTeeV, and Braille Skateboarding, too! Trinity & Beyond toys will be available soon from your local retailers. In all honesty, I know very little about the actual Trinity & Beyond channel, but I LOVE these figurines and I buy them anyway because they make cute display pieces in my house. Truth!!
Playmobil Back to the Future and Scooby Doo
Playmobil tugs at my heartstrings with some throwback 80's classics this year! Look for their awesome Scooby Doo sets as well as Back to the Future sets, too!
Chocolate Pen
Chocolate Pen from Skyrocket (makers of Blume Dolls) is a new "baking toy" on the market this August! Here's a little blurb from Skyrocket: "Write, draw and create in delicious chocolate with the better-than-ever Chocolate Pen! New kid-friendly design automatically loads the pen with chocolate while the warming tray keeps your chocolate candy melted and ready to go. At the touch of a button you can write words, draw one-of-a-kind designs, or use the 40 molds to make rainbows, hearts and other fun shapes, including bonus molds inspired by Blume Dolls. Kid chefs will love adding their chocolatey touches to fruit, cookies, cupcakes, or anything else their sweet tooth desires! Your DIY creations will magically harden in minutes and make a perfect gift for friends and family to enjoy. Craft kit includes 1 Chocolate Pen, Drawing Tip, Warming Tray with Lid, 4 Tasty Colors, Stirring Stick, 40 Mold Designs, Charging Cable and Instructions." Chocolate Pen will be available this August at Target, Walmart and Amazon.
Pop It! Take Anywhere Bubble Popping Game
This was actually my favorite item in Sweet Suite's Swag Box. New from Chuckle and Roar, this handheld game is so simple- it simulates bubble wrap and you can just continuously pop it over and over again. I think it's great for any age (even adults) and it fairly priced around $7.99. Find it at Target!
See my favorite toy picks from previous toy shows here (including Sweet Suite 2019 and HoliDAY of Play!)
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Or find a locally owned toy shop and support them, too!
