My favorite time of the year is here and with it comes the traditional list of the year’s latest and most coveted gifts.
The supremely delightful thing about constructing this reward list is getting to try them all out! All categories for kids are divided by age, going from adorable tiny kiddie toys (18+ months) to preteens.
These are the ones that most kids I interviewed desired, they are flying off the shelves both virtually and from brick and mortar stores.
I’ll try to give you the inside scoop, right from the mouths of the babes on the hottest ticket items this holiday season.
Stock up before they sell out everywhere and you’ll be paying premium prices just to avoid tantrums.
1. Fingerlings Untamed Raptors (approx. $23, ages 5+) – Theyre baaaack!!!! These new Fingerlings are not as sweet and cuddly as their 2017 monkey and sloth predecessors, these Dino Fingerlings are truly deserving of their moniker of untamed raptors. They are Dinosaurs who hiss, roar, chomp and complain when left in untamed mode.
2. Don’t Step in It (approx. $14, ages 4+) – Hasbro has 2018s biggest toy trends for the little ones. Like it or not, psychologists tell us that fascination with poop is the most natural human instinct in kids. The game, which is blindfolded social laughter-filled marathaon is all about the plastic poop pile. Kids are going crazy for it!
3. Grumblies by Skyrocket (approx. $20, ages 4+) – Plush toys are getting rougher at the edges and instead of sugar and spice they are a bit cranky, but still cute. Shake them and toss them around they have a quasi-meltdown. Nothing that can’t be fixed by a loving touch and some tender words. A prep for the real world? Could be useful, I think.
4. Skoolzy Peg Board Set (approx. $19.95, ages 1-2) – Montessori Material Color recognition, this is a brilliant fine motor skills development tool for infants. It uses the Montessori method for building towers and stacking pegboards.
5. Hatchimals – Interestingly, these little interactive magical eggs are super popular. Develops the imagination, story-telling, interaction, the ability to nurture and patience to wait out the hatching of your animal. The incredible surprise of which animal comes out and the ability of the child to accept and love the creature are great features of this toy. To teach it to speak, tell it stories, interact, play and work with are so important for kids this age. They are deeply and profoundly effective in teaching future life skills. Hatchi babies come with a new buzz – there is a gender surprise, aside from the color and type of the hatched animal, your kid will be surprised by the gender of the animal – is it a boy or a girl??
6. Matchbook Trucks (ages 3+) – The following are the ultimate dream toys for kids+. The fun and feature-packed design is perfect for keeping your little cutie entertained for hours on end. It’s your turn to keep the city clean with this amazingly fun Garbage Truck! This 16-inch long truck features button operated blinking lights and various sound effects. A motorized arm lifts the garbage can and it comes with an additional garbage container. 2 AA batteries are included so it’s ready for play right out of the box!
7. Matchbox Stinky Dump-truck (approx. $50, ages 4-10) – Incredible funky little robot truck with a sensor, working amid interactive ability. There is a buddy relationship with this truck. He gobbles up the garbage, cracks jokes, tells tales and is loads of fun. Both girls and boys will be considering him a best friend who eats, sings, talks and is not embarrassed to be called stinky!
8. Morf Board – Incredibly innovated interchangeable wheels on a super scooter. Glide on your board, brand new from the latest toy fair.
9. L.O.L. Surprise Series – A massive load of toys filled with surprises, dolls and highly coveted gifts. The price ranges and goes up to $189 to satisfy kids who have had enough of Barbie and wish to play with something more fun and unusual.
10. Examine & Treat Pet Vet Play Set by Melissa & Doug (approx. $25, ages 3+) – Just in time to curb your kid’s appetite for a real furry friend, animal and pet play is making a comeback in a big way. We especially love this 24-piece Examine & Treat Pet Vet Play Set from Melissa & Doug that includes everything an inspiring veterinarian needs — right down to the examination checklist!
11. Scruff-a-Luvs (approx. $20, ages 4+) – Seriously, these little guys are so cute, we kind of want one for ourselves. Each Scruff-a-Luv comes as a matted ball of fur with only its eyes showing. Once kids wash, dry, and style the hair, their new pet is revealed!
12. Pomskies (approx. $35, ages 4+) – We’re dubbing these little pets the next Fingerlings. The interactive plush toy clips on to arm, backpack, or clothes so kids can carry it with them. Our toy pros at the Good Housekeeping Institute, expect Pomskies to be tough to get around the holidays thanks to their affordable price tag.
13. Baby Alive Potty Dance Baby Doll (approx. $38, ages 3+) -Because your kid’s Baby Alive didn’t do enough already: now she pees! The doll does a little dance to let Mommy or Daddy know she needs to use the bathroom. Once she’s placed on the potty, she’ll tinkle and they can add a sticker to her reward chart. “Kids seem to be fascinated with all things potty,” says Selena Tedesco, a toy expert in the Good Housekeeping Institute, and that trend clearly isn’t letting up any time soon.
14. Imaginext Jurassic World Jurassic Rex (approx. $99, ages 3-8) – Unicorns were so 2017. Our experts in the Good Housekeeping Institute say that thanks to the Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom sequel, dinosaurs are going to take over the later part of the year. The hottest ticket item? This dino from Mattel that eats race cars for breakfast!
15. Polly Pocket (approx. $15, ages 4+) – No, you didn’t just time travel back to 1991. Polly Pocket is just one of many toys from the past that got a revamp in 2018 (the original My Little Pony came back, too!). “Nostalgia is having a major moment and gives parents the chance to connect over toys they loved,” said Emily Grusse, a toy expert in the Good Housekeeping Institute.
16. Teddy Ruxpin and Grubby Collection (approx. $20, ages 2+) – After he pulled on parents’ heartstrings following his 2017 reboot, Teddy Ruxpin is back in three collectible styles with his best friend Hug ‘N Sing Grubby. If you balked at the first remake’s $100+ price tag, you’ll like that this collection is much more budget-friendly.