Top 16 Most-Wanted Kids Toys This Year: Don’t Miss Out

Whenever an occasion comes around that you need to secure one of the best kids’ toys for a special child in your life, you may feel like you are utterly clueless about what to buy.

This year, there are many new items and old favorites with updated twists making it on all the top toys lists. There’s something fun in every category.

Electronic Kids Toys

It’s hard to go wrong with an electronic toy because kids these days are so well-versed in high-tech things. They are usually a winning choice if you can’t figure out what to buy.

Nintendo Switch

For ages six and up

The Nintendo Switch is the latest offering from this game giant. It offers three ways to play: TV, tabletop, and handheld. You’ll get the screen with two attached controllers and a dock.

The screen measures 6.2-inches and features touchscreen technology. The system has up to nine hours of battery life. Do note that the second generation systems have much better battery life than the first generation ones.

You connect to wi-fi to play, and there are multiplayer options, allowing you to connect to up to eight other consoles.

Pros:

• Portable
• Multiple playing options
• Parental controls available

Cons:

• Does not include a game
• Lacking in memory space

Tobi Robot Smartwatch

For ages four and up

The Tobi Robot Smartwatch has a design made for children. It looks and acts much like a real smartwatch, but instead of allowing messaging and internet access, it provides games and other fun activities. It does fully function as a watch, stopwatch, timer, and alarm clock.

The child can set reminders using it as well. There is also a pedometer and motor sensor included.

It is a functioning robot with moving arms and legs. It interacts with the child and has a playful personality. There are rewards to unlock and customizable features.

The watch has two built-in cameras for pictures or video. It can store up to 3,000 photos or 30 minutes of video. You’ll get the watch, watchband, and a clip that also serves as a stand.

Pros:

• Encourages dancing and moving
• A variety of functional uses

Cons:

• Can only communicate with other Tobi watches

Squeakee the Balloon Dog

For ages five and up

Squeakee the Balloon Dog is a unique toy idea. This interactive robot dog looks just like a balloon dog. Kids can even “deflate” and “inflate” him. Squeakee comes with a pin, pump, and squeaker toy.

Squeakee is a lot of fun as he is responsive and does tricks. He even will pee and fart on command. He’s highly trainable. He’ll move and make sounds in response to the person operating him.

Pros:

• Nothing else like it on the market
• Easy to train

Cons:

• No volume control and is loud

Crafty Kids Toys

Part of the challenge with kids is keeping them busy. Crafty toys are a great way to engage them while also encouraging their creative side.

Play-Doh Compounds

For ages three and up

Play-Doh Compounds is a set of various substances that go beyond the traditional dough. It comes as a variety six-pack.

The options include a gooey slime, fluffy and soft cloud, hard-beaded crackle, firm and squishy foam, stretchy putty, and grainy sand.

The various textures provide an engaging tactile experience, encouraging kids to squeeze, stretch, squish, and ooze the compounds. They are fun to touch and come in various colors.

Pros:

• Play-Doh quality product
• Washable

Cons:

• Some versions are messy

Crayola Paper Flower Science Kit

For ages seven and up

The Crayola Paper Flower Science Kit allows children to make their own paper flowers that bloom and change colors right before their eyes. It includes everything needed to make 12 flowers, but you can use coffee filters to make more with the kit.

The kit features wicking paper, which forms the flower. When put in colored water, it soaks up the color and changes instantly.

Pros:

• Provide hands-on science lesson
• Encourages creativity

Cons:

• Flowers do not stay on the stems

Building Kids Toys

It’s hard to go wrong when choosing a toy that a kid can build on his or her own. There are options for small and big kids in this category.

Mega Bloks Peek-a-Block

For ages 12 months and up

The Peek-a-Block set from Mega Bloks is a fun way to introduce little ones to building blocks. They feature three round animal figures: cow, tiger, and whale. The shape is a perfect design for small hands.

These blocks will play peek-a-boo with the child when he or she puts them on another Mega Blok. The animal’s ears or arms fold to cover its eyes and open again when placed on a block. They are compatible with all other Peek-a-Block sets and other Mega Bloks.

Pros:

• Help with gross motor skills
• Develop imagination

Cons:

• Need other blocks for full experience

Lego Dots Rainbow Jewelry Stand

For ages six and up

The Lego Dots Rainbow Jewelry Stand creates a functional stand to hold a child’s jewelry. It features a large cloud with five hanging hooks and a rainbow stand. It also has a tray for smaller items.

The child can design it in a range of ways. It comes with instructions for various designs. The kit has 213 pieces. The finished project stands about seven inches high.

Pros:

• Packaging is sorting and storage tray
• Encourages creativity

Cons:

• Not very functional for hanging necklaces

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Games and Learning Kids Toys

Children are at a critical stage of life where their minds are rich with potential. To help them be the best they can be, you can offer up games and learning toys that stimulate their minds while offering them a ton of fun.

Osmo Math Wizards Magical Workshop

For ages six and up

The Osmo Math Wizards Magical Workshop teaches first- and second-grade math. It’s a self-paced hybrid game that works using an iPad or Amazon Fire and encourages experimental learning.

The magic theme features a village called Wyverndell and a cat named Mumbles. As they play, children work with Mumbles and brew potions to help dragons fly.

The games teach addition, subtraction, place value, regrouping, and mental calculations. It does not require internet to play and comes with the number board playmat, sticker sheets, spellbook, counting cubes, and counting rods. It doesn’t include the required Osmo base or tablet.

Pros:

• Adjustable difficulty
• Builds math confidence

Cons:

• Require extra purchases to play

Disney Jungle Cruise Adventure Game

For ages eight and up

The Disney Jungle Cruise Adventure Game treats you to an experience based on the Jungle Cruise ride from Disney theme parks.

It includes a game board, navigation cards, dice, boat movers and placards, specialty cards, waring shot tiles, passenger tokens, river tokens, clue tokens, outpost tokens, tip tokens, and a rule book.

Playtime is about 45 to 60 minutes for two to four players. The mission in the game is to transport passengers and cargo to the Jungle Navigation Company Headquarters. Once you reach Headquarters, one family of passengers will become the caretakers.

The challenge is that you will lose and gain cargo and passengers along the way as you face dangers. Whoever brings the most valuable boat to Headquarters wins.

Pros:

• Easy to understand instructions
• High on nostalgia for Disney fans
• High-quality components

Cons:

• Luck, not strategy, determines who wins
• Too much repetition in gameplay that becomes boring

LeapFrog Pick Up and Count Vacuum

For ages two and up

The LeapFrog Pick Up and Count Vacuum allows a child to pretend clean. The vacuum comes with 10 “dust bunny” discs that it picks up as the child sweeps over them.

The vacuum recognizes the discs’ colors. It includes counting and color recognition games. This toy encourages imagination and pretend play.

It is engaging with a light-up panel, bouncing balls inside the toy, sounds, and songs. It includes six educational games and three learning modes: number, color, and play.

Pros:

• Tiltable and height-adjustable handle
• Attached dust bin that holds disks

Cons:

• Dust bin comes off easily

Active Kids Toys

Making exercise fun is the best way to get kids moving. These active toys will encourage them to get up and have fun through physical activities.

Schwinn Krate EVO Bike

For ages three and up

The Schwinn Krate EVO Bike is a throwback design to the 1970s classic bikes. It has complete ’70s styling with Sting Ray inspiration featuring an adjustable banana seat, Slik rear tire, and steel frame.

The bike measures in at 38 to 48 inches tall and has 16-inch wheels. It comes in red, blue, black, and pink. There is optimization to the frame specifically for smaller children and more stability. It has removable training wheels and coaster brakes.

Pros:

• Lifetime limited warranty
• Geared for an easy start

Cons:

• May not work for larger children due to the design

Nerf Halo MA40 Motorized Dart Blaster

For ages eight and up

The Nerf Halo MA40 Motorized Dart Blaster by Hasbro features everything we love about Nerf products. It comes with soft darts that fit in the included clip that shoots 10 darts. It also has a rail riser for adding accessories.

The styling for this toy is from the Halo Infinite MA40 blaster from the Halo game. It features battery operation, making it simple to shoot, even for younger users. It’s also simple to load the clip and uses standard-sized darts.

Pros:

• Compatible with all Nerf clips
• Look is authentic

Cons:

• Requires 4 C batteries, not included
• Not much power

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Vehicle Kids Toys

Kids love to pretend they are driving, so vehicle toys are always an excellent buy.

The Animal Unboxing Truck

For ages four and up

The Animal Unboxing Truck allows a child to have fun before he or she even opens the box. In fact, opening the toy is part of the fun.

By using a key, the child can unlock the crate. Then, he or she can yell and shake about to make the truck mad. It will then burst out of its box. Children can recreate the unboxing as many times as they want.

Usable indoors and outdoors, the monster truck features retractable claws, sounds, and lights. It can climb up to three-inch obstacles. It also includes a tow strap for pulling and towing.

Pros:

• Interactive
• Can turn sound off

Cons:

• Requires batteries, not included

Playmobil Scooby-Doo! Mystery Machin

For ages five and up

The Playmobil Scooby-Doo! Mystery Machine is a classic. It allows a child to recreate the adventures of the gang using the included Fred, Velma, and Daphne figures.

The van looks just like it does in the cartoons. All the doors open, and the roof and cab remove for easy access to inside. It also features an illuminated monitor that allows for viewing ghost cards.

The toy includes various accessories, such as a map, flashlight, spyglass, and Scooby snacks. It requires two AAA batteries, which do not come with it.

Pros:

• Durable design
• Authentic look

Cons:

• Scooby and Shaggy sold separate
• Ghost cards not included

Dolls and Figurines Kids Toys

Dolls and figurines are a common choice in kids toys, and there are many from which to choose.

Jurassic World Epic Roarin’ Tyrannosaurus Rex

For ages four and up

The Jurassic World Epic Roarin’ Tyrannosaurus Rex is a figure from the Jurassic World animated series, Camp Cretaceous. It has a super realistic look with a tail that moves and a mouth that chomps.

It also roars and has movable joints. A standout feature is the soft, squishy tongue that brings together the realism of the dino.

When you move its tail up and down and side to side, it will thrash its head in the primal attack move. Push the button, and it will roar and shake. If you hold the button, it gives a mega roar. It takes three AA batteries, which are not in the package.

Pros:

• Incredibly durable
• Very realistic

Cons:

• Very loud

Blume Rainbow Sparkle Surprise Playset

For ages three and up

For an out-of-the-box doll experience, try the Blume Rainbow Sparkle Surprise Playset. This unique toy is a set of three dolls that grow out of their flower pots when you water them.

You get three dolls, three water pots, and a watering cloud. What dolls you get is always a surprise, but you can count on big and sparkly hair no matter which one grows for you. You’ll also get a range of surprises, including accessories, mini friends, fashions, and stickers.

Pros:

• Easy to use
• Watering cloud can water real plants, too

Cons:

• May get duplicate dolls

So Many Great Kids Toys This Year

There are fantastic kids’ toys in every category this year. And there is something for every age group too.

Even for the kid that seems to already have everything, you’re sure to find the perfect give for them. Shopping has never been this much fun before.

Did we miss the toy your kids say they can’t live without? Let us know what it is in the comments.

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