"The toy industry continues to do an incredible job of keeping pace with
innovation and trends seen beyond the toy aisle in order to bring kids
and families exactly what they are looking for: play that is engaging,
enriching, addictive, and fun," says Adrienne Appell, leading trend
specialist at The Toy Association. "The top trends announced today
reflect a continued demand for collectibles, family games, creative
toys, and tech-infused products that allow kids to create and explore
new worlds and build lifelong skills through play."

The Toy Association's team of trend experts predicts that 2018 will
see some of the best new products to hit store shelves in recent years.
The team meets with hundreds of global toy companies throughout the year
to track the latest developments in toys and youth entertainment. At
New York Toy Fair, the team combs through thousands of products on the
show floor before making an official announcement of the year’s hottest
trends at a "Toy Trends Briefing" for media, buyers, and other show
guests. The briefing was held this afternoon at the Jacob K. Javits
Convention Center; products shown during the presentation will be
hitting stores in time for holiday '18.

A summary of the top six trends follows:

• The "Big Reveal" The obsession with "unboxing" a
  much-anticipated toy on social media is having a real influence on the
  toy aisle. Now, the act of removing a surprise toy from a blind bag is
  just as exciting as the toy itself and all part of the fun. The toy
  industry has capitalized on this social phenomenon and the mounting
  popularity of collectible toys (sales for collectible playthings grew 14
  percent globally in 2017), by introducing a variety of toys across
  several different categories that focus on the act of unboxing. Some are
  mini "surprise" collectibles in blind bags (which have the added bonus
  of being affordable, making them attractive to parents and easy for kids
  to buy with their own pocket money); others are larger toys that focus
  on the tactile aspect of opening and putting together the toy as part of
  the play experience. The one thing these toys all have in common: they
  get kids excited about opening the box to see what they got, how it
  feels in their hands, and what the toy can do.

• Millennial Nostalgia Millennial moms and dads –
  defined as those born between 1981 and 1997 – make up the majority of
  young parents in the U.S. today. Though the generation has been defined
  by its obsession with technology, millennial parents believe it’s
  important to engage with their kids on an unplugged level in today's
  world and are turning to classic toys and retro brands that are the
  equivalent of "mom's chicken soup" and harken back to a simpler time.
  This year we expect to see an influx of toys that are nostalgic and
  offer tried-and-true play value for a new generation of kids to enjoy
  with their parents. This trend is supported by the fact that classic toy
  categories continue to perform very well – in 2017, U.S. plush sales
  grew 8 percent and doll sales were up 4 percent.

• Games Galore Growing interest in board games
  over the past few years has led to phenomenal growth in the games &
  puzzles category, with U.S. sales up 23 percent and 3 percent in 2016
  and 2017, respectively. From kids and teens to young adults to
  grandparents, game play is appealing to all ages and a variety of
  interests, thanks to niche games, licensed games, cooperative games,
  quick games, new takes on old classics, and innovative board games.
  Social media is also giving game sales a boost, as laugh-out-loud,
  silly, and gross-out games continue to inspire social media sharing by
  teens and adults, with some videos even going viral.Most importantly,
  games of all kinds are fostering face-to-face play and getting families
  excited about playing together.

• Pet Play Playing with pretend pets – whether
  they are furry plush or interactive digital pets – is a growing trend
  for children who are eager to care for their own pets, but not yet ready
  for the responsibility of a real, live animal. Pet toys run the gamut
  from fantastical creatures (like unicorns, dinosaurs, or other made-up
  animals) to cats, dogs, horses, and other pet toys that feature
  realistic details, grooming and food accessories, and online worlds that
  bring toy pets to life. Parents love these toys because they prepare
  kids for the real thing by teaching them how to be empathetic and
  nurturing. Included in this trend are “anti-virtual pets” that interact
  with kids in a funny way by being grumpy or gross, and collectible or
  wearable pets that are fun for kids to trade and display.

• Inspiring Imaginations There is something to
  be said for good, old-fashioned imaginative play that inspires children
  to picture themselves in adult roles or future careers, create new
  worlds, and explore their talents. According to The Toy Association's Genius of Play
  initiative, studies show that kids who play make-believe games are
  better able to self-regulate their emotions, develop a problem-solving
  approach to learning, have better language abilities, and much more.
  From role play and dress-up items, to open-ended building kits and
  larger-than-life playsets, to arts & crafts and food play
  activities, toymakers have been developing imaginative toys for decades
  and have perfected these playthings for kids today, offering so many
  options for the creative child … and endless opportunities for building
  lifelong skills through play.

• Toys that Teach "Play with a purpose" is a
  buzz-phrase among educators and parents … and the toy industry has
  stepped up to the plate to create teaching toys in a major way. Though
  STEM/STEAM toys have been a mainstay the past few years, these toys are
  now engaging kids in several different ways and often incorporating new
  technologies and licenses to get kids excited about learning. Today
  we’re seeing toys that teach toddlers everything, including counting,
  the alphabet, opposites, and even coding … and toys for school-age kids
  that teach high-level topics once reserved only for the classroom. With
  the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicting that STEM jobs will
  increase to more than 9 million by 2022, parents are eager to get their
  children interested in these topics at a very young age. It's important
  to note that this trend also encompasses toys that teach kids how to
  make the world a better place – by being responsible citizens, kind to
  their friends, and open-minded about different cultures.

• Tech & Entertainment – What's New The Toy
  Association is always asked about the latest tech toys and hottest
  properties on the market, so the trends team continually tracks
  innovative technologies and new licenses. 2018 will see the release of
  Aquaman, A Wrinkle in Time, The Incredibles 2, Wreck-It Ralph 2, Duck
  Duck Goose, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, How the Grinch Stole
  Christmas, Madagascar 4, and many more family-friendly blockbusters that
  will influence the toy aisle, as well as new TV shows that will spawn
  creative new toy lines. In terms of tech, the team expects to see more
  affordable and user-friendly virtual and augmented reality toys,
  interactive and buildable robots with new features, and RC flyers (like
  drones) that are easier to handle and fly.

Source: the toy association