16 Teen and Tween Products from Toy Fair NYC 2010

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After attending the Toy Fair 2010 in NYC recently, I realized that there are many more fun activities for teens and tweens than just playing video games. Families might not even realize how many fun and/or educational toys and games are out there because they are so inundated with video game advertisements. I already covered board games in 12 Games for Teens and Tweens from NYC Toy Fair 2010. Below are all the other interesting products I saw:

Science
1. Wild Science - The Wild Science product line from International Playthings has many science kits for ages 10 and up. These are kits that kids that don't even like science will enjoy. Products include Practical Joke Soap, Weird Slime Laboratory, Bath Bomb Factory, Perfect Perfume Laboratory and Magical Crystal Oasis. There are many more science kits for both girls and boys.

2. Thames & Kosmos Science Kits - Over 60 science kits in a variety of categories from this award winning publisher of science and technology related educational products. Most of these science sets are perfect for budding scientists at any level. Fun activities to get teens interested in science are the Candy Factory, Perfume Science, Creative Cosmetics and Optical Science and Art. They were a 2010 Specialty Toy of the Year nominee for their Dangerous Book for Boys Chemistry set.

3. Science Wiz - Science kits and thinking games for tweens. Fun with rocks, crystals, candle making, light, magnets and DNA.

4. Ollo Kids Robotic Action Kit - An inexpensive build a robot kit, with easy directions, for ages 8 and up.

Sports games
1. The Original Knotball - For all ages, the Knotball is a short rope attached to a ball about the size of a golf ball. The goal is to create a knot in the rope using only one hand. Definitely fun and challenging for the whole family.

2.  Xtreme Fit - Have you and your family wanted to exercise with all the great Wii fitness video games, but don't have a Wii? Xtreme Fit works the same way except you don't need a video game system. You just plug it directly into your television set. It includes many pre-set fitness programs, a personal trainer to guide you, a motion sensor mat to detect your moves and interact with you, yoga, aerobics and more. An extra bonus is a Dance Mat game similar to DDR and dozens of other video type games.

3. Franklin Sports Bounce-A-Bucket - Remember the skee-ball arcade games? The Franklin Sports ball games are similar, except instead of rolling the ball, you bounce it instead to try to get the ball into the baskets. For ages 6 and up, I saw the adults at the Toy Fair having a ball with this. Fun for the entire family.

Puzzles
1. DBOX - The puzzle to make you "think outside dbox". Very challenging cubes that you put together to solve existing 3D puzzles and create new ones.

2. Rubik's electronic game cubes - Have you seen the Rubik's TouchCube and the Rubik's Revolution (2007 winner of game of the year) electronic games? Get ready for an even better, newer Rubik's electronics game to come out in fall 2010 - The Rubik's Slide. Unlike the older versions which feature only a few games, the Slide will contain more than 10,000 puzzles and two different types of play.

3. Pop Culture Jigsaw Puzzles - Although many kids might tire of jigsaw puzzles by the time they become teens, The White Mountain Jigsaw Puzzles line includes many pop culture puzzles that they might enjoy. Included are a Rock N Roll, Television History, the Sixties, Hollywood and Baseball History puzzles. This could also be a good activity for parents and teens to connect over. (My sons and I had a great time doing a Lost puzzle while they were in their late teens).

Money
1. My Smart Budget - An innovative budgeting program that empowers kids to become financially savvy adults. Winner of many awards and professionally designed and manufactured by Day-Timers, these products and tools are a great way to teach your kids about money and budgeting. (See also: Talk To Your Teens about Money).

2. A Princess Loves to Save - A fun way to teach tween girls how to save, spend wisely and share. The product is an adorable bank with three compartments, spend, save and share which empowers the user to make decisions about money.

Miscellaneous

1. FRESHEES - Freshees are an adorable scented collection of small plushies available as a magnet or keychain. Available in many designs and scents your teen and tween girls will want them all. Scented in bubble gum, root beer, fruity rings, grape or best friends (my favorite), they are inexpensive and great for gift giving. Moms will want their own.

2. Fast Finger Keyboards - A keyboard that can be used in both the standard QWERTY layout as well as in alphabetical order. Includes the ability to insert instant messaging acronyms (LOL, BRB) with one button. With todays kids using computers way before they get any formal typing instruction, the alphabetical order keyboard might make the hunt and peck approach much easier.

3. ChessCubed 3 Player Chess - A revolutionary new chess game. A promethean design and a new playing piece, transform chess into a 3 player game. Mostly the same rules, with just a few changes. It comes in a sturdy traveling case for fun on the go.

4. Basic Fun handheld electronic games - Newly sized Bop It Carabiner, Catch Phrase Carabiner and Simon Carabiner games that are easy to carry anywhere.

See also: Pictures from Toy Fair 2013