The toy industry has always been the producers of joy and glee.
Holding with it the happiness and future creativity of the children it touches on a daily basis around the world.
Toys are always fun and any child, no matter the age, will attest to that.
Toys have the potential to teach in many ways as well as play a positive role in a child’s educational, social, emotional and physical development.
A known fact is that playing is the mechanism by which children learn how they experience their world, practice new skills, and internalize new ideas and is therefore the essential work of children.
In the early years of life, children learn through play and interaction with family and friends. Children are like sponges, ready to absorb any bit of knowledge that comes their way.
With that in mind, the toy industry has doubled down on carrying more toys, games and plush animals that promote not just basic learning, but, more specifically, items that convey the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle and caring for the environment.
It is here, in London’s 2024 Toy Fair where the birth of happiness and early learning happens.
The fair, which goes on from Tuesday 23rd of January till Thursday the 25th, will be held at the Olympia London in Kensington from 9am till 6pm; The venue is merely a 10-minute drive away from The Presidential Serviced Apartments’ location in Kensington.
The Toy Fair is the largest dedicated toy, game and hobby trade exhibition in the UK. Three packed days of business, with more than 260 exhibiting companies ranging from the large renowned brands right through to the new start-up companies and one-man bands.
The Toy Fair is a showcase, providing visitors with a real overview and insight into a fun, innovative and exciting industry.
The Demo Zone will return with hands-on demonstrations and expert-led talks whilst the Relaxation Garden will offer complimentary reflexology and massages so attendees can take a break from the hustle and bustle of the busy show floor.
This is a chance to explore a world of exciting and inventive products that the toy industry has to offer as well network with colleagues and build new and lasting business relationships.
What’s also returning this year is the partnership between The British Toy and Hobby Association and KidsOut. The Charity works with Women’s Aid Federation refuges across the UK. It provides support, organises positive experiences, and gives toys to vulnerable children who have escaped domestic abuse.
KidsOut for the fifth year, KidsOut will run the Trolley Dash donation drive on the last day of the Toy Fair. Last year’s show saw over 60 volunteers take to the show floor with empty shopping trolleys, collecting more than 4,000 toys kindly donated by exhibiting companies.
The toys collected at Toy Fair play a major role in KidsOut’s toy outreach programmes throughout the year. Supported by the huge collection from the Trolley Dash 2019, the charity was able to launch a brand-new service this year – the ‘Safe House Toy Box’ scheme.
Safe House Toy Box delivered toy boxes to more than 600 children in outreach and safe houses this year-to-date, increasing the charity’s outreach by 20%.
The service is an extension to the charity’s existing Toy Box initiative, which distributes thousands of toy boxes to children in Women’s Aid refuges across the country. Both schemes combined have reached more than 3,000 children so far this year.
London’s 2024 Toy Fair offers an unrivalled opportunity to meet the toy industry, network with peers, allowing attendees to be the first to see the new lines as they are launched for the year ahead and to plan product range for the next 12 months- a great opportunity to touch, feel and experiment with the products of the future.
The event is considered the trend setter for the toys industry.
We at The Presidential Hotel know what’s going on, when it’s happening, and where it all happens. We have the latest and greatest list of things to do in London ready for all our guests.