View.... CLICK... View... repeat

We are so excited to bring these to our site and to our shop! Nostalgic, fun, simple, entertaining, and inexpensive. What else could one want??

The View-Master is back! One of the original reliably fun & battery-free toys from my childhood! If you can't find YOUR old one, $4.99 will get you started with our RED View Master and a DEMO reel. Then, you can start collecting some of the many 3-reel sets available! Happy 'viewing'.

The Little Experience (just in time for EASTER!)

(the Knit-It Monkey Kit)

Another line of products that sticks out in my mind from the NY Toy Fair, is a craft kit company called The Little Experience. They have just arrived at KidsTravelHappy.com, and we feel they will be very popular.

Here are a few things that we really like:

• The kits are complete, meaning, buy a kit, and you won't need anything else to assemble it. For example, if scissors are needed, they are included.
• There are many different levels of kits, from kits for the the 3-8 year olds, to kits for those 8-12, and some in between.
• There are things to stitch, glue, create, and knit.
• They are great for girls and boys.
• The packaging is irresistibly cute, economically priced, and recyclable.
• When the project is completed, there's a new friend to take along.
  
• Most importantly, for our site, they are perfect to take along! They are also perfect for a rainy day, to give as a gift, or for homeschooling families.

Here are a few of the kits (click on the image or kit name for more details and pricing)

• the CHICK Stitch-It Kit

(finished "Chick", and the "parts" as they come in the kit)

(Dolly with 'handbag' - the 3 Robots made from the Robot Create it Kit, Flowery Create it Kit, Example Packaging for Create It Kits )

With 12 different Kits, we're confident you can find one to bring out the creativity in your child!

Toy Fair Memorable Encounters

I must say, there were many fun people that I met at the Toy Fair, and I frequently find that it's the smaller companies that i'm generally attracted to, as I feel as though they are much like me (or, at least what we strive to be at KidsTravelHappy.com). Ideally, I want to conduct business the Old Fashioned way - provide innovative products, fast/fair shipping, and extraordinary customer service. Through the next few posts, I want to highlight some companies that took extra time to show/explain their product, and made me want to support their businesses even more (hopefully, you will want to also!).

First I would like to thank the Happy Kid Company, a company that is committed to the Specialty Toy Market. They perfer to produce locally, have a top quality product in smaller quantities (and smaller markets), and are not yet tempted by the idea of rapid growth/distribution.

What does the Happy Kid Company produce? Only the coolest 'fort' components imaginable.

ALL of their 'fort' options are great because they can be used indoors or out, promote creativity and imagination, are very high quality, washable, and we love that they are easily portable. More specifically, these are the offerings....

• The Original Fortamajig Single Layer: this is an 8x8 foot square of durable material. With a built in window and door, it's easy for kids to make custom playspaces (nearly anywhere!)
  

• The Original Fortamajig Reversible: same as above but is a double layer/double color construction, for even more durability and fort making color options
  
• The Original Fortamajig Connectables
  This is the ultimate in travel fun, comes in it's own ready to go backpack with 6 colorful squares, the Connectables allow you to have fort-making tools anywhere - for sunny days, or rainy ones.

Best of all, for 2010, the prices for each of the items has gone down, further proof that this company is determined to provide a high quality product for a fair price.

One of our top picks for "imaginary journeys", yet easy enough to take along on any "real" one.