Toy show’s hints for letters to Santa

JUST 55 more sleeps until Christmas, so little wonder that more than 10,000 people are expected to attend the Toy Show Experience in Dublin this weekend.

Letters to Santa have yet to be written (probably), but parents and children alike are expected to descend in huge numbers to the Convention Centre in the capital this Saturday and Sunday in what organisers are claiming is the country’s first interactive toy show.

Exhibitors will include Lego, Hasbro, VTech, Eurobaby, Mattel and others, while everything from bicycles to games consoles will be on display.

In all, 3,000 sq ft will be given over to toys of all shapes and sizes. Among the new toys on display will be the new Irish edition of Monopoly featuring electronic banking, which was made in Waterford, and features landmarks such as the Convention Centre and the RDS.

Another item on display is the 10.2 ounce Amazon Kindle book reader, pitched primarily at parents and retailing from €59 to €149.

According to organisers, parents are increasingly on the lookout for toys that are affordable and durable, as well as safe and educational. The show is geared towards allowing children to play with as many of the toys as they can while allowing parents to buy and pre-book toys in time for Christmas.

Organisers have predicted the toys they believe will be the most popular this Christmas, which include interactive Fijit Friends robots; Transformers’ Optimus Prime; a Lego Police Station; the latest Sylvanian Families and newest Elmo, and the new Irish edition of Monopoly.

There will also be a sensory room for children with special needs, and 10% of the entrance fee will go to Temple Street Children’s Hospital. Adult tickets cost €12 with children’s tickets costing €5 and those under three are free.

A family ticket costs €26 and can be bought online.

* toyshowexperience.com