The Care Bears are getting a new pal! Say hello to Togetherness Bear.
The rainbow-colored bear is all about inclusivity, acceptance and togetherness and she is the first new addition to the Care Bear crew in years. Togetherness Bear has a heart-shaped belly badge and a multi-colored fur pattern that is unique to each bear!
With her motto to “Love All,” the new Care Bear member helps children to love what is unique abut themselves, while appreciating the differences we see in others.
You can also join in on the #TogethernessChallenge where fans can share what togetherness means to them. Stay tuned for more details on the social media event which starts this June.
You can pick up your own Care Bears Togetherness Bear at Walmart for $12.88.
Get ready for a blast from your past—MONOPOLY style! The Care Bears are back with a brand-new edition of the beloved game.
Nostalgia alert. The 80’s are here and they’ve brought Cheer Bear, Wish Bear, Funshine Bear, and the whole gang with them. MONOPOLY: Care Bears Edition is available now (for players ages eight and up). The game play is everything you expect from MONOMPOLY, but with a Care Bear flair.
Instead of the traditional Community Chest and Chance cards, this fun-filled family-friendly edition comes with Sharing and Caring cards. The game also features six collectible tokens, including Rainbow Roller, Cloud Boat, Wheelbarrow, Cloud Car, Hot Air Balloon, and Bicycle.
Buy, sell, and trade the Bears and their Cousins as you collect Star Buddies from your opponents. Spread love and joy through acts of kindness found in the Sharing and Caring cards. Up the 80’s themed fun and add on a Care Bears Dice Set for $7.99.
Not only can you relive your own childhood, but this cute, caring game brings the Bears to a whole new generation! Get your MONOPOLY: Care Bears Edition game from national retailers or online at The Op. This nostalgic stroll through Care-a-lot is for two to six players and sells for $39.99.
Radical! Today, American Girl announced the launch of its first historical character in three years, Courtney Moore. She is a total ‘80s girl whose big, bright and bold ideas inspire today’s girls to find their inner hero to accomplish great things.
Growing up in 1986, Courtney’s story reflects the pop culture of the decade from sky-high hair, neon-colored fashions, music television and video gaming to major historical moments surrounding women in government and space exploration, as well as larger cultural shifts around blended families and emerging technology.
Courtney comes to life via an 18-inch doll with curly sandy-blonde hair that can be worn in a high side pony with scrunchie, plus accessories like a pretend cassette player and tape, colorful bangle bracelets, and pretend Lip Smacker lip balm. The Courtney doll arrives wearing a high-waisted denim skirt, a bright blue off the shoulder crop top, plus white faux-leather slouchy boots. Girls can add tons of new looks with Courtney’s 13-piece mix-and-match ‘80s fashion collection and spend hours playing with Courtney’s Bedroom Set with over 25 pieces—including a hot pink bunk bed, two rainbow comforters and pillows, and a see-through phone that lights up and rings.
Courtney’s world also includes several licensed products of ‘80s classics—including Courtney’s Caboodles and Hair Accessories Kit with a real mini Caboodle, plus Courtney’s Care Bears Pajamas for both girls and dolls and Courtney’s Care Bears Sleeping Bag Set. Fans can also level up with Courtney’s doll-sized PAC-MAN Arcade Game that plays like the real thing with multiple levels.
Any 80s girl can tell you how obsessed they were when American Girl launched in 1986. Courtney is no different. She has her own mini American Girl Molly doll, one of the first three historical characters released by the then newly-founded Pleasant Company. Molly comes in a replica of a Pleasant Company doll box, a mini version of the original Meet Molly book, and even a mini 1980s Pleasant Company catalog.
“The ‘80s are back, and we’re thrilled to celebrate this pop culture-defining decade with girls and their parents through Courtney,” says Jamie Cygielman, General Manager of American Girl. “For nearly 35 years, American Girl’s historical characters have helped to bridge the past and present, while providing inspiring role models through immersive storytelling and imaginative play. Likewise, Courtney’s story illustrates how to create positive change by standing up to fear, finding strength in every challenge, and developing empathy for others—qualities that are timeless and more important than ever. And to further our mission to help build girls of strong character and confidence, we’re partnering with Girls Who Code to help change the game when it comes to influencing female leadership in the fields of computer science and technology.”
Written by Kellen Hertz, the two-book series introduces girls to Courtney Moore, an avid gamer growing up with her blended family in the fictional town of Orange Valley, CA. Courtney loves going to the mall, especially the arcade, where she’s one of the top-scoring PAC-MAN players. But Courtney doesn’t only play video games, she’d like to create them and bring more girl characters to the forefront. When given a chance to create her own video game, Courtney looks to real-life heroes—like her mom, who’s running for mayor, as well as the astronauts on the Space Shuttle Challenger—as inspiration to invent a female superhero who’s bold, brave, and gives Courtney the courage to speak up for the people and ideas she believes in.
American Girl is partnering with Girls Who Code, a leading nonprofit that’s on a mission to close the gender gap in technology and change the image of what a computer programmer looks like and does. From now through Dec. 31, 2020, American Girl is matching customer donations dollar for dollar up to a maximum of $50,000 to support the organization’s programming and outreach to girls, including those from historically underrepresented minority groups. In addition, American Girl is providing a $5,000 scholarship to four deserving Girls Who Code members to help further their education in computer science or a related field. To learn more about how American Girl is helping Girls Who Code, visit americangirl.com/gwc.
“Girls are constantly online, using apps, playing games and more, that’s why it’s so important that they also see themselves on the other side of those products, actually building them,” says Reshma Saujani, CEO of Girls Who Code. “It’s our goal to show girls the power of learning this skill set so that they can code the future they want to live in and, ultimately, change the world.”
Other Courtney-themed activities and events include the following:
A 25-minute stop-motion “Meet Courtney: An American Girl Movie;” a new Courtney ‘80s-inspired music video; new Dolled Up episodes—featuring all the big hair fun Courtney and friends can handle; plus rad ‘80s DIY crafts on the brand’s popular YouTube and YouTube Kids Channel.
Visitors to American Girl retail stores on September 25 will receive a free Courtney craft and giveaway. And in early October, fans can “relax to the max” in an all-new ‘80s-themed immersive experience at American Girl Place-New York, featuring a Courtney-inspired bedroom with bunk beds and a revolving closet that mixes-and-matches her outfits, plus an ‘80s arcade with two real PAC-MAN video games to play.
A dedicated Courtney play site, goes live on Oct. 1, and includes free games and activities, like Courtney’s Mall Madness interactive experience; an ‘80s-inspired dance challenge tutorial; Courtney wallpapers and much more.
The Courtney collection is available Sept. 15, 2020, at americangirl.com, and starting Sept. 25, 2020, at all American Girl retail locations nationwide. Courtney products will be available on Oct. 1, 2020, at American Girl specialty boutiques at select Indigo and Chapters locations in Canada and online at Indigo.ca. The Courtney doll and book retails for $110 and the Courtney books ($7.99 each) can also be purchased through retail and online booksellers.
Some of your fave actresses, performers, influencers and artists are coming together to celebrate International Day of the Girl. The 30 plus celebs are joining the humanitarian organization CARE and the iconic children’s brand Care Bears for a life-changing auction.
Superstars such as Hilary Duff, Sia, Kacey Musgraves, Meghan Trainor, Michelle Williams, Sophia Bush and more will each create their own Care Bear inspired by CARE’s work with women and girls. CARE will auction the bears on eBay, with the proceeds benefiting charities.
So what types of bears are the stars creating? Actress Sophia Bush said, in a press release, “This International Day of the Girl, I’m proud to team up with CARE and Care Bears to celebrate women and shine a light on all that we can achieve when we raise our voices and demand change.” Bush continued, “I created Justice Bear—well, because RBG is my hero!—and to remind the world that while we’ve come a long way, our fight for civil rights is far from over. With women and girls leading the charge, I believe a world in which everyone is equal under the law is achievable.”
CARE President & CEO, Michelle Nunn, said, about the cause and the auction, “If we’re going to help solve the biggest challenges we face as a global community, we’re going to need the power of the next generation of changemakers–powerful girls from around the world.” Nunn went on to say, “When women and girls have the right tools, like access to clean water, education, and economic opportunities they are better placed to succeed. Bidding on a Care Bear will help us bring more of these tools to girls around the world.”
The list of celeb-designed bears includes:
Alexandra Daddario, Safety Bear
Ashlee Simpson, Equality Bear
Bellamy Young, Women In Agriculture Bear
Bianca Lawson, Heart Chakra Bear
Haylie Duff, Girl Power Bear
Hilary Duff, Clean Water Bear
Holland Roden, Refugee Bear
Iman, Diversity Bear
Kacey Musgraves, Earth Magic Bear
Katharine McPhee, Give Girls a Voice Bear
Meghan Trainor, Youth Are The Future Bear
Michelle Williams, Health For All Bear
Paisley Family (Brad, Kimberly, Jasper, and Huck), World Hunger Bear
Paris Jackson, Global Feminist Bear
Sia, Youth Empowerment Bear
Skai Jackson, Climate Justice Bear
Sophia Bush, Justice Bear
Sunnyside Up Cast, WASH Bear
Zac Posen, Living Blue Bear
The Care Bears will make their grand debut on Oct. 10 at the Van Ness Elementary School in Los Angeles at a special learning event hosted by CARE and Care Bears. The International Day of the Girl bears will then travel to Showfields in New York City on Oct. 12. The activities will continue with actress Holland Roden and a conversation, sponsored by Olivela, about her experience in Jordan with CARE.
Free-streaming service The Roku Channel has just expanded its popular platform to include kids and family-friendly content, but you’ll have to sit through ads.
The Roku Channel is one of the most popular streaming services thanks to the fact that it doesn’t cost viewers a dime to watch shows. Instead, like broadcast television you have to sit through a handful of ads to enjoy free programming.
photo: Courtesy of Roku
Now Roku has added new offerings with the addition of a section called Kids & Family. Roku is also rolling out Parental Control features for The Roku Channel giving parents tools to control what kids have access to on the platform.
The new category includes over 7,000 movies and episodes from more than 20 partners including All Spark, A Hasbro Company, Mattel, Nelvana and Happy Kids TV, with shows and characters like Bob the Builder, Care Bears, Leapfrog, Little Baby Bum, Super Mario Bros., My Little Pony and Thomas & Friends.
Like the rest of The Roku Channel, young viewers will need to sit through ads to watch. However, the platform promises that compared to network television, the ads will be fewer and they will only be age-appropriate. The Kids & Family category isn’t on a separate app and can be accessed from the main landing page.
Subscribers who use The Roku Channel to access paid premium content, like Nickelodeon and HBO will be able to see the kids content offered by those providers under the Kids & Family section. The new category is available as of now on Roku Streamers and Roku TVs, but for the moment it will not be available via the digital app, which means it can’t be viewed on smartphones or tablets.
A recent study of adults ranging from 22 to 37 discusses the toys millennials grew up with, and we are totally taking a trip down memory lane. While times have changed over the last generation, it’s reassuring to see that most of the top toys from the ’80s and ’90s are still alive and kicking today.
Despite having more toys than any previous generation, about 35 percent of parents polled in the study believe their children spend less time playing with toys than they did at the same age––a shame!
Curious as to what the most popular toys for millennials are? Keep reading to find out!
Barbie made her debut in March of 1959 and has been a mainstay for toy dolls ever since. Mattel has sold over a billion dolls since her birth and continues to reinvent herself with inclusive sizes, ethnicities and more. You don't have to look far to find a Barbie, and we tend to love the styles from the '90s best because they speak to our inner millennial. The stylish doll with thousands of shoes, clothes and professions inspired a generation—and continues to do so today.
The Fisher Price Chatter Phone is a staple in toddler toys. Made for youngsters 12 to 36 months old, this toy first hit store shelves in 1962. The pull-along toy started out with a rotary dial but in 2000 it was changed to push buttons––because hello 21st century. Kids loved having their own phone and having long-distance phone convos on their own time and it paved the way for a generation of smart phone lovers.
Remember the Beanie Babies fad in the late '90s? It made such a fuss that it's still widely regarded as one of the world's first internet sensations! The plush collectibles were the only "toys" that kids were somehow okay not playing with. We learned the hard way that cutting off that heart-shaped tag had devastating consequences.
Whether you lived in North America, Australia or Europe growing up, you probably played with a Sylvanian Families doll. The flocked mini-woodland creatures hold jobs, have hobbies and come usually in sets of four family members. In the early 1990s, the toy's distribution company lost it's rights in Canada and the United States, so they were reintroduced as Calico Critters. Ever since, kids have been collecting the whimsical animals and trying not to knock over all those adorably tiny accessories while playing.
The My Little Pony brand originated in 1981––prime millennial age. We literally grew up with the brightly colored plastic ponies and even though they have gone through four reboots, it hasn't stopped generations of pony lovers, and even bronies from staying true. The newest update, My Little Pony Friendship is Magic has inspired an entire new generation with the Mane 6 and, dare we say it, might be the best incarnation of MLP yet.
If you've never accidentally killed a Tamagotchi digital pet, are you even a millennial? But seriously, the handheld Japanese toy took the '90s and early 2000s by storm and required more attention than most toys of the day and age. It went through 44 different versions between 1996 and 2009, but you can actually still purchase the original on Amazon for a mere $20. Or, you could always just snag the Tamagotchi app, since you're more likely to carry around your phone than your pocket pet.
In 1981 Care Bears hit the scene—but on American Greetings cards! In wasn't until 1983 they made their way into plush form—and then three made-for-TV movies—when our hearts fell in love. Now, there are more than 210 Care Bears and the lovable bears have gone through relaunches in 1991, 2002, 2007, 2012 and now 2018 where it was announced they would get their own show on the streaming service, Boomerang. You'll soon be able to visit Care-a-lot and the Kingdom of Caring with your own kiddos!
If you had a Nintendo Game Boy, you had it MADE. The first 8-bit handheld video game debuted in 1989, and if you were super cool, you got the transparent version. The Game Boy was rugged and had tons of games that drew in boys, girls and even grownups alike. It was a pioneer to all the future handheld devices kids have at their disposal now and while you can't buy the original, you can definitely get your fix with the Nintendo DS or the Nintendo Switch.
I'll trade you my slammer for 10 of your pogs! Ahh, the ramblings of '90s millennials. The milk cap game that originated in Hawaii started a craze on the mainland and beyond. While there were just as many kids who simply collected the colorful and unique caps as those who actually played the POGS game, there was simply the fact that you could never have enough in your collection.
The goal of Hungry Hungry Hippos it to be the player to collect the most marbles––or is it? While kids loved playing this fun and exhilarating game, there were equal amounts of parents who felt the object was to drive them crazy because this game is LOUD. But never fear, now our own kids can terrorize us because this game is still around today and you can find it on Amazon for under $20.
Oh the never-ending drawings you could make with a Spirograph! Grab your colored pens and sit back for hours of fun. Nobody knew the frustration more of a Spirograph that jumped the track more than a nineties kid. The toy was relaunched back in 2012 so you can still give your kiddos the gift of spirals!
As kids, millennials dreamed of being Double Dutch stars and we had the jump ropes to prove it! While most us ended up jumping solo, the jump rope was a constant friend, along with the tones of jumping songs to go with it.
Netflix can be a huge blessing when you have kids that love to watch the same shows over and over again. That is, until the time comes for those shows to say goodbye! Several kid-favorites, including Disney’s Finding Dory, are leaving Netflix in August. Luckily we’ve got the cure for those “gone-from-Netflix” blues.
In a similar vein as Finding Dory, this road-trip style storyline has one delusional pup trying to find his way back home. It's one of Disney’s lesser-known titles, but the whole family will instantly fall in love with it. If you really need a Pixar fix though, check out Coco.
If You Liked Care Bears & My Little Pony, Watch True and the Rainbow Kingdom
Rainbows, cuteness and a focus on kindness and empathy makes True and the Rainbow Kingdom the perfect replacement for those lovable, colorful bears and ponies. Trolls: The Beat Goes On! is also a great choice, with its second season debuting in August.
If You Liked Clifford, Pound Puppies & Littlest Pet Shop, Watch Octonauts
This crew of animals lending under sea creatures a helping hand—with plenty of learning and fun—is the perfect pick for animal lovers. Beat Bugs is another great series where friendship among critters takes centerstage.
These metallic dinosaurs will fulfill that love of walking, talking robots. Voltron: Legendary Defender is another good option; the show's seventh season debuts Aug. 10.
A happy little jet and his winged friends like to solve problems as they deliver packages to kids around the world. Tayo the Little Bus is another helpful vehicle with smiling pals worth checking out.
The 1980s arguably produced some of the best toys ever invented. Nintendo anyone? How about My Little Pony and Transformers? And that’s just scratching the surface. The good ol’ days before screens took over meant playing with your toys from the moment you woke up til you heard your mom shout “dinner!” Read on for the best retro toys to hit the market in the 80s and smile as you reminisce about your childhood!
Sweet and wholesome Teddy Ruxpin was a groundbreaking technological advancement on the typical teddy bear. He could actually read you books and talk to you! Mind. Blown.
Whether you were 'allowed' to play doctor or not, this Medical Kit was a quintessential playroom item. Giving shots was your fave thing to do, until you realized that actual shots really did hurt.
Remember making sure your Cabbage Patch doll was legit by checking for Xavier Roberts' signature on its butt cheek? You also tried to master your braiding skills on their yarn hair that always ended up being too short to braid. Most of all, we loved these sweet dolls and their adorable dimples.
Mr. Gameshow would be creepy by today's standards, but as kids we thought he was the coolest cat with the funniest jokes and laugh. Again, a toy that could talk to you? It was earth shattering in the 80s.
You couldn't get enough of these cheery, colorful ponies with rad names like Moondancer and awesome designs tattooed on their sides. You no doubt collected as many as possible and even asked for the carryall stable to tote them to and from playdates.
The 80s gave us plush toys that even taught us values. The Care Bears were character trait toting, huggable teddies that spread goodwill teaching kids about bravery, harmony and sharing.
When Nintendo became portable in the form of the Game Boy and you could take Super Mario Land anywhere... it was the dawn of a new era and the beginning of on-the-go screentime entertainment. Road trips were no longer your worst nightmare, as long as you had plenty of batteries.
You staged many an incredible battle between your He-Man action figure and his archenemy Skeletor. Playtime was otherworldly with these Masters of the Universe.
We didn't know what we liked better, playing with our dolls from the Strawberry Shortcake collection or smelling their dessert-inspired fragrant scents! Bonus points if you also had their nemesis, the Peculiar Purple Pie Man doll!
These pizza eating, sewer dwelling, crime fighting turtles put an entirely new spin on heroism and we loved their clever antics in their cartoon too. If you had a real pet turtle in the 80s, we're pretty sure you named him Leonardo, Donatello, Michelangelo or Raphael.
Transformers: more than meets the eye! Heroes in disguise! How cool was it that Transformers were literally two toys in one? Optimus Prime and Kickback may have been the coolest toys you ever owned.
Who can forget the commercial for Monchhichi dolls with that sugary sweet song: "Monchhichi, Monchhichi, oh so soft and cuddly!" You couldn't wait to get your hands on one!
Parents wouldn't get you a dog? That's what Pound Puppies were for! You were obsessed with rescuing these pooches that needed a home. Puppy love at its finest.
What’s your favorite toy from the 80s? Share in the comments below!
Want to know what your kids will be coveting this year? We hightailed it to New York for the 115th Annual Toy Fair in order to get the scoop on the latest and greatest on toys and playtime. From more collectibles than you can count to dinosaur everything, here’s what play looks like in 2018.
The Biggest Trends in Toys
Dinosaurs Jurassic World premieres this spring, so it’s no surprise we spotted new and cool dinosaur toys and games everywhere. We especially loved the Roarivores (Spring 2018) and the Gyrosphere (Spring 2018) from Mattel’s brand-new Jurrasic World. Hasbro recently introduced the Chomp Squad (check out the new YouTube show that premiered in Jan. 2018)—a group of dinosaurs that are not, in fact, extinct, but instead, geared up to help in emergencies.
Playmobil premiered The Explorers world, which includes dinos, hidden temples, enemy airboats and more (May 2018), and HABA has a new card game—Dino World—that’ll be available soon. Even the world of stop-gap animation is in on the dino craze. Cult-hit StickBot will release its new StikBot Dino Movie Set in June.
Millenium Nostalgia
Some of the toys and games you loved as a kid are back! Polly Pocket will return Fall 2018, Spin Master will re-introduce Erector sets in the fall, and Goliath Games has a new Saved by the Bell board game hitting stores soon. Alex Toys is bringing the Big Wheel back in a big way, and Funko’s new Pop Vinyl collection includes Care Bears and Thundercats!
Potty Humor Yes, potty humor is alive and well. Flushin’ Frenzy is a new game from Mattel (Fall 2018), the next season of Flush Force collectibles from Spin Master will be available Spring 2018, Hasbro introduced Don’t Step In It, (Fall 2018) and Plunge It from Alex Toys will be available Fall 2018.
Play with a Purpose
It’s clear that toys that teach haven’t lost their STEAM. Mattel’s Roctopus (hot toy alert!) features 15 different instrument sounds across five different genres of music for kid-powered compositions (Fall 2018). DUPLO’s new Steam Train, which comes with five action bricks, allows kids as young as two to learn the basics of coding (August 2018).
Crayola introduced the Color Chemistry Lab Set, which has everything little scientists need to explore color in over 50 experiments (Fall 2018), and The Scientific Explorers line from Alex Toys will release a new Beeology kit later this year. In addition, Learning Resources recently released Botley the Coding Robot, a screen-free introduction to coding for kids ages 5 & up (available now). Pet Care
Pet care and rescue was a recurring theme at Toy Fair this year. Get ready for Scruff-a-Luvs—adorable pets kids can “rescue” and care for—and Fur Babies (June 2018), two brand-new lines from Moose Toys. Ricky the Trick Lovin’ Pup is the latest member of Hasbro’s Fur Real line (Fall 2018). See Meez, the uber-cool hologram pet from Redwood Ventures is a modern take on the ‘90s craze for Tamagotchi (August 2018), and Melissa & Doug debuted a whole new line of pet care, including the Examine & Treat Pet Vet Play and Track & Rescue playsets.
Licensing
The characters and storylines you know are everywhere in 2018, from Mighty Mugs and Bumkins’ adorable line of superhero and gaming bibs to Green Toys announcing their very first licensing deal with Sesame Street (look out for Cookie Monster’s playdough set!). LEGO has new Harry Potter, Disney, Marvel and Star Wars sets for 2018, and Playmobil has new How to Train Your Dragon and Spirit sets being released later this year.
3D Art
It’s all about taking art off the page in 2018. The 3Doodler pen introduced Start STEM Series Kits and Make Your Own HEXBUG Pen Set & Activity Kit (May 2018), and Alex Toys offers up Paper Swirls, which allow kids to make 3D versions of unicorns and other animals. Other 3D toys include Doh Vinci on-the-go from Play-Doh (Fall 2018) and IDO3D from Redwood Ventures (July 2018).
The Element of Surprise (Again)
The big reveal and the element of surprise is still a runaway hit with kids. Shopkins Season 10 will not only re-introduce favorite characters from previous seasons, but the actual unwrapping will be even more fun with the packaging newly designed to look like mini bags of treats and sweets.
Hasbro will introduce the Cutie Marks Crew in the fall, Alex looks to bring the element of surprise to outdoor fun in the spring of 2018 with their new Breakaway Ballz (a puzzle ball that breaks to reveal another ball inside), and the Beaker Creatures from Learning Resources combine the element of surprise with science (June 2018).
Toys That Caught Our Eye
Marvel Hero Vision Kids can battle evil like Iron Man with the new Marvel Hero Vision AR experience. With the HERO VISION app, AR goggles and markers, kids will see digital images from the world of Avengers. There are various levels of difficulty and an open play option. Ages 8 & up, $59.99, available Spring 2018.
Smart Sketcher
It kinda looks like the projector you might remember that from high school or middle school! The Smart Sketcher teaches kids how to sketch with line-by-line directions. There are over 50 activities and things to draw, plus, the optional app allows users to take pictures and convert them into sketches. Ages 5 & up, $59.95, available now at barnesandnoble.com
History Makers Puzzle Block Set (Bevy & Dave) This unique toy was nominated as a 2018 Toy of the Year Finalist in the Rookie of the Year category. The 30-piece wooden block set has six sides of play that includes not just numbers and the alphabet, but also historical notes about iconic African-American figures and events. It also introduces self-leadership concepts to kids and comes with a tiny history book. Available now, with new toys to be released in Fall 2018. For ages 3 & up, $24.99, available now at bevyanddave.com
Air Hogs SuperNova
We got to test out this drone that combines technology with coordination and even teamwork! It’s got motion sensors and an interactive LED light core that actually responds and reacts to the user’s actions. Simply wave your hand to send it across the room, or to another player. With over 30 moves and 9 Super Tricks, we think this will be a big hit when released in the fall. Ages 6 & up. $39.99 Fall 2018.
GraviTrax
Ravensburger will give the classic marble run a modern makeover when they release GraviTrax in April 2018. The interactive track system gives kids countless STEM challenges, from experimenting with gravity and magnetism to engineering and even kinetics. The starter pack comes not only with enough pieces to build and re-build different runs, but there’s also an optional app that lets players test their runs in a digital AR world, too. Ages 8 & up. $59.99. Available April 2018.
What do you think of the Toy Trends for 2018? Share with us in a comment below.
The ’80s may have been all about feathered bangs and neon socks, but it was also a great time for TV! Whether you were a Care Bear kid or a Punky peep, now’s the time to get your brood on board with all your childhood favorites. Read on for our roundup of great ’80s shows to watch with your kids.
Besides tuning in to see the Olsen Twins spring into the spotlight, watching an episode or two of this corny but lovable show is still a great choice for family TV night. After all, the Seaver family is a wholesome lot, and the show often wraps up with a Dad-to-kid talk about kindness, honesty, and the importance of family.
This girl power-infused 1985 classic originated as a spinoff of He-Man and the Masters of the Universe and features a heroine named Adora (she's He-Man's twin sister!) who turns into a powerful and magical princess when she raises her sword up to the sky. Featuring elements of magic and fantasy—and with a tad less violence than the He-Man series—Wonder Woman-loving kiddos will love it.
Why not give the kids of today a chance to "Meet George Jetson!"? While it's a tad disappointing to know that more than 50 years after the show was created we're still not flying around in space cars, at least your littles will get a chance to live the dream, too.
Why wouldn't you want to let your kids watch a show about adorable rainbow-colored bears who travel the world in the name of kindness? And don't forget to enter to win a year's worth of bears delivered to your front door!
Recommended age: 3 & up
Where to watch: Some episodes are on Youtube, or buy the complete series on Amazon.
This show debuted in 1983 and features LeVar Burton as he journeys through classic children's books. Books and bigger concepts are told through vignettes, book reviews and talks with real kids about various social issues. It's basically a 30-minute storytime for your kids that, hopefully, will inspire them to be better readers and better people.
Sure, today's kids have Daniel Tiger (which is, FYI, inspired by Mister Roger's Neighborhood) but anyone who hopes to teach their kids Fred Rogers' timeless lessons of caring and kindness should sit their kids in front of the original good neighbor himself. The classic show's slow pace and gentle tone is a reminder that little kids don't need (and probably shouldn't have) a lot of stimulation to learn important things.
First, there were muppets. Then there were Fraggles. Fraggle Rock was created in 1983 by Jim Henson and is, basically, another romp with charming puppets who seek to entertain via silly jokes and musical numbers.
Recommended age: 6 & up
Where to watch:HBO Go (subscription required); or buy single episodes on Google Play
Between 1983 and 1991, a grandfatherly genius named Mr. Wizard performed all sorts of cool science experiments in this fave that was all about STEM before STEM was even a thing. Whether he was teaching us how to make homemade record players (remember those?) or showing how we can condense steam back into water, Mr. Wizard made science fun for everyone.
What kid didn't wish they could run in the giant hamster wheel featured at the end of this Nickelodeon game show? The show put real teams of two kids against each other to answer trivia questions and, ultimately, compete in a messy, whipped-cream and feathers-filled obstacle course that earned them all sorts of prizes. It's like a smart kid's American Ninja Warrior ... and today's little ninjas will love it.
Recommended age: 7 & up
Where to watch: Single episodes are available for purchase Amazon; or find various clips on Youtube.
Move over, Alexa! Today's tiny techies will still get a kick out of this show about a family who adopts a 10-year-old girl named "Vicky" who's actually a robot. Silly antics follow as the family tries to hide Vicky's true nature from prying neighbors.
Recommended age: 6 & up
Where to watch: Watch single (random) episodes on Youtube or buy from Amazon
What happens when a furry and wise-cracking alien crash lands in your garage? He becomes a beloved part of the family, of course! ALF (an acronym for Alien Life Form) debuted in 1986 and ran for four years, during which it won both a People's Choice award and a Kid's Choice award.
Recommended age: 8 & up
Where to watch: Stream the first three episodes for free on Tubi; or buy individual episodes for $.99 on iTunes.
This show may have started in 1976, but we can bet that almost every kid of the '80s knew (and probably loved) Kermit and his charmingly bossy girlfriend, Miss Piggy. The Muppet Show features cute puppets performing with a slew of celebrity guests. Jim Henson originally created the prime-time series to entertain kids and their parents, and we bet today's parents will be just as happy to share the Emmy-award winning show with their littles.
Recommended age: 4 & up
Where to watch: Buy a special edition DVD set on Amazon; or rent DVDs of the show from Netflix.
This show was co-created by Muppets designer Kermit Love and featured a cast of shaggy puppets alongside actors who performed a variety of songs and skits as well as animated vignettes. The (trippy!) premise: Francine, Danny, and Roy, are singers who live on an asteroid called Coasterville with a clown named Baxter who pilots a "space coaster" through space. It'd be creepy if it weren't so cute.
The theme song alone will bring you back! This classic showed debuted in 1982 and ran for seven seasons. It most notably launched the career of actor Michael J. Fox (Admit it: You collected posters of him from Teen Beat!), and chronicled the trials and tribulations of an upper middle-class American family.Watching the Keaton kids wrestle over (wired!) telephone time or fight over who gets to watch the house's one TV will make you realize how simple those times really were. On a more serious note: The show does hold important lessons for tweens and teens, touching on topics including dating, teen pregnancy, sexual harassment, alcoholism, and death.
Long before American Idol whet the appetites of aspiring rock stars everywhere, Kids Incorporated made us all want to tease our hair and get on stage to the beat of Belinda Carlisle orDebbie Gibson. The show featured a gaggle of musically-talented kids who had their own band and a huge following of fans. The hair, fashion and music is reason enough to watch. If you're lucky, your kids will like the tunes as much as you do.
Recommended age: 6 & up
Where to watch: Watch clips on this dedicated Youtube channel
C'mon, you know you want your kids to be able to properly quip, "What you talkin' bout, Willis?" This groundbreaking show (1978-1985) is about a white man who adopts the two black children (Willis and Arnold) of his housekeeper after she dies. Lessons of racial acceptance, bi-racial adoption, and family bonds make it a worthwhile addition to your kids' screen time. Note: While it is a comedy, some shows tackle tough issues including pedophilia, sexual assault, drugs and bulimia.
Recommended age: 11 & up
Where to watch: Available as DVD rental from Netflix
This short-lived series enchanted any kid who loved watching the mighty He-Man defeat the evil Skeletor, again and again. Sure, it was basically a ploy to sell Mattel action figures (you can find these relics today on eBay), but kids who love a classic good-versus-evil romp will be thoroughly entertained.
Recommended age: 6 & up
Where to watch: Netflix (subscription required); or buy single episodes on Google Play
What’s your favorite 80s TV show? Tell us in the comments below!
