Hottest Toys for Holiday Season
Zhu-Zhu pets were last year's hottest toy. But they're so 2009!
So, parenting expert Shannon Eis, a contributor to Time to Play magazine, showcased several kids will probably want most this year - kids of all ages!
Learning products are still a hot category for gift-givers and scaled down versions of grown-up gadgets are all the rage...especially as parents look for alternatives that spare their own gadgets the abuse. Even the littlest kids can get in on the laptop craze with this product that can be personalized with your child's name...which is incorporated into (faux) emails, games and song.
$24.99, ages 18mon+ (boy/girl) by LeapFrog
Quirky little plush characters that features three modes of play. When you press the tummy it will chatter, press again to hear it sing a song...put more than one Sing-a-ma-jig! together and squeeze their tummies and they erupt into a harmonic chorus.
$12.99 each, ages 3+ with huge appeal across all ages (boy/girl) by Fisher-Price
Chuggington Loop Playset
This is a new, hot Disney show...akin to Thomas the Tank Engine...with the first-ever line of toys this holiday season. The products will be in limited distribution (early shipment and limited supply) so they're expected to fly off store shelves early.
$39.99, ages 3+ (boys) by Learning Curve
U-Command Buzz Lightyear, from "Toy Story 3"
Toy Story 3 was one of the biggest movies of the year and the toys are primed to be big sellers this holiday season. U-Command Buzz comes with a wireless remote control for instant commands and nearly 1,000 action sequences. Buzz moves forward, backward, or spins 360 degrees in either direction. Kids can activate his laser, make him talk, or program him to speak Spanish (like in the movie).
$79.99; ages 6+ (girls) by Thinkway Toys
Nerf-N-Strike Stampede Blaster
The latest introduction from Nerf, this fully-automatic blaster includes a protective shield and a 60-dart clip capacity. Boys like "projectile" play...it's as simple as that.
$49.99; ages 8+ (boys) by Hasbro
Mix Pups
Collectible, pocket-size dolls are a big trend with girls looking to personalize and expand their doll play (it's no longer just about brushing hair). These mini doll playsets allow girls to mix and match the parts to make their own breed of dogs.
$4.99 each; ages 4+ (girls) by Jazzwares
Crayola Glow Explosion (sheets and markers)
Craft and creativity kits are big sellers over the cold winter months...and this is a great way to spend the longer nights indoors. These markers pack the "awe factor" of a glowstick into a pen that works with special paper and an "igniter" marker to make the color glow in the dark.
$12.99; ages 6+ (boys/girls) by Crayola