Reporter's Diary: New York expo sells Christmas in Feb.

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In New York we have Midtown, Downtown and now Toy Town!

I'm standing in the middle of millions of brand-new kiddies’ play things – teddy bears, dolls, train sets, go-karts, model kits, and LEGO bricks – which, by the way, Americans insist on calling LEGOS even though there's not an "S" in sight. But that's Americans for you!

It's said there are enough toys here to fill seven football fields – though who did the math I can't say.

Just as well then that we're in the enormous Jacob Javits Convention Center on Manhattan's West Side where every year 30,000 people crowd in for a sneak peek at what will most likely be flying off the shelves at Christmas time.

Wait, didn't we just have Christmas? Yes, we did but in the toy game Christmas comes early – very early – and everyone's thinking December 25 now.

In the crowd today are small toy makers hoping to get picked up by the big guys and big toy makers desperately trying to avoid eye contact with the small guys so they don't have to talk to them.

The North American International Toy Fair runs in New York til Feb. 20. /CGTN Photo

There are salesmen – distribution reps in ill-fitting suits, entrepreneurs, analysts, toy fanatics and me.

It's a great atmosphere actually – a bit like walking into Santa's grotto while he's away on vacation.

In fact, come to think of it, he really should get Rudolph and the guys to drop him off for a couple of days because the North American International Toy Fair is the largest event of its kind in the Western Hemisphere – anyone who is anyone in toys is here.

So what caught my eye?

Rescue Runts

I fell in love with the Rescue Runts.

They're aimed at kids who'd just love to rescue an abandoned animal but can't because they live on the 38th floor of a tower block.

Rescue Runts /CGTN Photo

A matted puppy comes out of a toy crate looking miserable.

Eric Levin of France-based KD Group that makes these "Runts" told me what happens next. "You clean its paws, you take off its bandages, you wipe the tears from its eyes, comb it and it becomes absolutely beautiful."

How cute is that! I want one – or even two!

SmartGurlzs

SmartGurlzs is a nifty idea from a New York-based company that has an educational twist behind the fun.

The "gurls" are Maria, Jen, Jun, Emma and Zara and they run around on brightly colored radio-controlled scooters. Neat enough.

They're all into different "smart" things like chemistry, DIY and mathematics.

They come with an app that allows a youngster to draw a map on the screen with their finger so the scooter follows the exact same pattern on mom's kitchen or basement floor.

But the really cool thing is that all this is just cover for what's really going on here – teaching girls as young as six to understand computer coding.

How great is that?

When my daughters were growing up nothing like this existed. Getting them hooked on the idea of computer coding while barely out of diapers has to be a good move, no?

Rainbow Colours

When I tripped over a large, brightly colored piano keyboard on the ground I heard the opening notes of that Christmas favorite "Jingle Bells" ring out.

This is Rainbow Colours – with a "U" if you don't mind – because it's a UK-based firm from the town of Bedford.

Rainbow Colours /CGTN Photo

The keyboard is played with your feet, and Steve Hurst, who is as English as I am – actually even more so as I've been in America for fifteen years now, told me "on Christmas morning they can play Jingle Bells, birthday morning Happy Birthday" with no boring music lessons.

It's fun for all the family. By following a series of colored notes on a large card, you step on the keys with your socks on and the music plays.

I stepped up to have a go and Steve was very complimentary. "Yesterday, you couldn't play the piano. Today, you're a virtuoso."

Christmas is coming

The North American International Toy Fair continues in New York until close of business on Tuesday, February 20.

Then it's back to the factories to knock out all those orders in time for stocking the shelves in the run-up to Christmas – gulp – just 10 months away.

May I be the first to wish you a very happy holiday!