Expert Review: Tiny Easel Traveler

Portable Painting Adventures Await!

  • Designed to imitate real watercoloring
  • Makes art easy and less messy for parents
  • Perfect for on-the-go creativity

The Tiny Easel Traveler is your child’s ticket to artistic adventures without the mess! Created by a mom, this innovative art kit brings watercoloring to kids in a convenient and approachable way. The set includes everything your little artist needs to create stunning mini masterpieces, whether at home or on the go. From the watercolor book and crayons to the activity guide and art papers, it ignites your child’s creativity.

Give budding artists pint-sized paint tools to create art pieces. | Source: Tiny Easel/The Toy Insider

Parents often shy away from arts and crafts at home due to dreading the inevitable mess that comes with it. Tiny Easel Traveler is designed to make art less messy with its mini-containers, splat mat, spill-proof cup, and a box to store all the supplies. Plus, the realistic watercolor effect, pint-size easel, and high-quality art papers adds an extra touch of realism to make it more art and less toy. You can take the watercoloring book and crayons on the go, come back, and add water, or use the tiny easel and watercolor paints to create canvas mini masterpieces at home.

The Tiny Easel Traveler is a game-changer for parents who want to foster their child’s creativity without the stress of a messy cleanup. However, it’s important to note that while the kit provides the tools and guidance for artistic expression, parental supervision is still recommended, especially for younger children. Additionally, with the nine included designs and the mini-art paper book, this kit is definitely not a one-and-done product.

Parents who want to encourage kids’ artistic development at home in a realistically elegant but mess-free way; parents looking for a unique party activity doubling as a take-home party memento for guests


TINY EASEL TRAVELER

This tiny easel set lets kids create canvas mini masterpieces

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $28.99
  • Age:
  • 3+

8 Toys and Activities to Make Life Fantastic on National Barbie Day

National Barbie Day is here — and since most of us can’t throw a giant blowout party with all the Barbies, planned choreography, and a bespoke song, we’ll be streaming Barbie: The Movie for the fifth time.

For those little Barbies, Kens, and even Allans who just *can’t* get enough, here are some of our favorite toys and activities to celebrate the doll that helps us believe we can be anything. From taking a drive in Barbie’s convertible to baking Barbie Fantasy Mermaid Mousse, there’s something for every Barbie fan — no matter their style or age!


BARBIE 65TH ANNIVERSARY DOLL

Celebrate Barbie's 65th birthday with this commemorative doll! This doll comes as both a blonde and a brunette and is wearing a gown inspired by Barbie's original black-and-white striped bathing suit!

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $60

BARBIE DREAMHOUSE PLAYSET

This deluxe doll house has a spiral slide and a spacious floor plan with three levels and 10 living areas. It includes more than 75 accessories and customizable spaces, plus pet-friendly touches including a puppy slide and pet pool.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $199.99
  • Age:
  • 3+

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BARBIE FASHIONISTAS

This diverse and inclusive line of Barbie dolls reflects the world kids see today. The Barbie and Ken dolls feature a variety of skin tones, hairstyles, body types, and fashion styles.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $10.99
  • Age:
  • 3+

Buy Now

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BARBIE POP UP CONVERTIBLE WITH MUSICAL KEY FOB

Engage in active, imaginative play with this 4-foot-long convertible pop-up tent that features Barbie-inspired decals. It comes with a key fob with sound effects and Barbie phrases.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $29.99
  • Age:
  • 3+

Buy Now

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BARBIE CAREER OF THE YEAR WOMEN IN FILM SET OF 4 DOLLS

Four new Barbie dolls celebrate the careers of women in film, with a Studio Executive, Director, Movie Star, and Cinematographer. The dolls are available for preorder now and are expected to ship next month.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $49.99
  • Age:
  • 3+

BARBIE SWEET SHOP LIP GLOSS

Create 12 strawberry-scented glosses with the Barbie Sweet Shop Lip Gloss set! The innovative lip gloss maker tool makes creating lip glosses a breeze — it’s a one-stop fill station kids can use again and again! Just insert the empty lip gloss tube, press to fill, then mix in clay beads and a variety of…

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $29.99
  • Age:
  • 8+

BARBIE INSPIRING WOMEN COLLECTIBLE DOLL — WILMA MANKILLER IN TURQUOISE DRESS

A new doll, inspired by former Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation Wilma Mankiller, joins the Barbie Inspiring Women series. The doll resembles Wilma Mankiller's likeness, carrying a woven basket and wearing a turquoise dress.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $35
  • Age:
  • 6+

I’M THE CHEF TOO! X MATTEL BARBIE BAKING KITS

These three baking kits include adventure recipes, dry ingredients, specialty supplies, and an activity guide card! Choose from Barbie Pet Vet Cake Pops, Barbie Fantasy Mermaid Mousse, and Barbie Dress Up Cookies.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $34.95
  • Age:
  • 3+

Celebrate Barbie’s 65th Anniversary This Summer with a Barbie Bahamas Beach Vacation

In honor of Barbie’s 65th anniversary on March 9, Mattel revealed a partnership that could be considered paradise — literally. 

Collaborating with Atlantis Paradise Island, the company will develop Barbie Bahamas Beach Vacation: Where Atlantis Dreams Come True. This immersive, Barbie-themed experience will debut Memorial Day weekend and last through the summer. From guest rooms and suites adorned with all things Barbie to activations, bespoke retail, and more, this will be Barbie’s first time in history in the Caribbean. 

Besides lounging on the beautiful beaches of the Bahamas, there will be plenty of things to do and see for Barbies and Kens of all ages. Guests will be able to book Barbie-themed beachside guest rooms and cabanas that will incorporate elements and details that are iconic to all things Barbie. These include pink pillows, throw blankets, customized lounge chair cushions, and Cabana accessories. 

The attraction itself is in The Royal, which is an icon of Atlantis and set against a backdrop of the largest open-air marine habitat in the world. There will be immersive playsets filled with vignettes perfect for Instagram ops, activity stations, portholes with mermaids, and Barbie boxes guests can pose in. There will even be a pink carpet and a Barbie ball pit. 

The Sun & Ice cafe will join the attraction, complete with an exclusive Barbie-inspired menu. Guests can find desserts, cocktails, mocktails, and themed decor. For the little Barbie fans, Atlantis Kids Adventures will offer themed experiences such as cooking classes and activations. 


Of course, the attraction wouldn’t be complete without the complimentary Barbie movie night programming both poolside and in the Atlantis Theater. 

For more information about booking this once-in-a-lifetime paradise experience, visit www.atlantisbahamas.com.

Unplugged Toys for Unbelievably Fun Play on FOX Chicago

Toy Insider Senior Editor/Toy Book Editor-in-Chief James Zahn joined FOX 32 in Chicago to show off great toys that are loads of fun with zero screen time. For more on the items featured in this segment, check out the product notes below.


VOLLEYSHOT

Each player operates a paddle, knocking the ball back and forth until somebody misses. All it takes is a single hiccup to miss, and every miss is a point for the opponent. Stay focused, stay steady. The first to 10 points wins.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $34.95
  • Age:
  • 8+

TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES: MUTANT MAYHEM MONOPOLY

This righteously cool edition of the Monopoly game is inspired by the film, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem. Play as one of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to take down the evil mutants and save New York City from their very not rad mutant-y powers. Players earn points by collecting pizza, buying property, and…

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $21.99
  • Age:
  • 8+

Buy Now

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PLAYMOBIL HORSES OF WATERFALL: WATERFALL RANCH

This playset has 264 pieces, including figures, animals, and accessories. It comes with a ranch, a residence, and a paddock for kids to enjoy and use during their imaginative adventures. Made with recycled and bio-based materials, the pieces are very durable and will last for animal lovers to enjoy for years to come.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • 149.99
  • Age:
  • 5+

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RETRO MAGNADOODLE

Use this pad to practice math facts, work on spelling or draw out worries about going back to school. The ultimate unisex retro magnetic drawing toy for creating fun artwork that erases like magic. Can be used to work on spelling, math, playing games, draw pictures, write messages (secret erasable messages too!), and so much…

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $14.99
  • Age:
  • 3+

EASTPOINT SPORTS PREMIUM AXE THROW TARGET GAME

Grab your safety axe, take aim at the target, and go for the bullseye! This heavy-duty axe throwing target can be set up in the grass, sand, or pavement and is perfect for playing at the beach, park, or in the backyard. STURDY STEEL FRAME: The target frame stands over 5 feet tall and is…

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $99.99
  • Age:
  • 8+

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Kids Can Enter Care-A-Lot with Six New Care Bears Specials Airing on Max

What better way to show you care a lot than by traveling to Care-A-Lot with new Care Bears specials? 

Throughout 2024, Cloudco Entertainment expands the Care Bears: Unlock the Magic series with six all-new animated specials. Every mini-movie will be available for kids’ viewing pleasure on Warner Bros. Discovery’s Max. 

Continuing the animated series, Max will launch new content during the first week of July, September, October, and November. The upcoming Care Bears specials are titled “The Star of a Thousand Wishes,” “The Bad Crowd Strikes Back,” “The Mystery of the Snickering Ghost,” and “The No Heart Games.”

Following the February release of “The Quest for The Rainbow Stone,” kids can now watch “Grumpy’s Ginormous Adventure,” which follows Grumpy Bear who grows bigger with every mad moment. Kids can discover if the Care Bears can tame Grumpy’s temper in this mini-movie adventure with surprises lurking around every corner. 

Care Bears: Unlock the Magic follows the Care Bears as they go on missions to spread love and care around the world. The show features well-known characters, like Tenderheart Bear, Wish Bear, Cheer Bear, Grumpy Bear, Funshine Bear, and more. 

To learn more about the Care Bears and the upcoming animated specials, visit cloudcoentertainment.com

Sesame Workshop Has Free Resources for National Reading Month

March is National Reading Month, and while some kids love to open a book, others might need a little more encouragement. 

With support from the Dollar General Literacy Foundation, Sesame Workshop has designed new resources to help your little one establish — or continue — a love for reading with the help of Sesame Street characters Elmo, Abby Cadabby, Tamir, Wes, Rudy, and their parents.  

Tamir and his mother work together on a hard word in A Star Reader. | Source: Sesame Workshop

Finding joy in books and reading can lay the foundation for academic success. Reading with your kids and discussing the stories afterward can build a kid’s enthusiasm for books and develop their lifelong literary skills, which helps boost their vocabulary, comprehension, and oral language. Reading together and discussing the content can also positively impact your kid’s ability to identify words, letter-sound recognition, and print awareness. 

There are several videos, printables, articles, and interactive storybooks for both you and your kid. Available in English and Spanish, you can use these to further solidify your relationship with your kid as well as their relationship with reading! You can also use the resources that celebrate reading to prepare your kid for overall success. 

The videos feature your kid’s favorite characters from the TV series. | Source: Sesame Workshop

In the video One More Time, Wes and his father Elijah find fun, new ways to read his favorite books. In Buzzing About Books, Elena implements different strategies to hold Elmo, Wes, and Abby’s interest and encourage excitement about the story they read. 

There’s also the video A Star Reader, where Tamir receives encouragement from his mother Kayla as he sounds out a challenging word. Grow, Grow, Grow, an interactive digital storybook, is available as well and features Elmo and his father Louie as they discover what it takes for a plant to bloom. This comes in three reading levels, from beginner to advanced.  

This printable features three different bookmarks for you and your family to color! | Source: Sesame Workshop

You can also introduce your kid to printable activity books like My Favorite Part, Read With Me, and The Perfect Book, which include coloring pages, act-along stories, and templates to create bookmarks. These printables also indicate what age they are designed for (really, all of them can be used by kids ages 1-6). 

Sesame Workshop included articles for parents, caregivers, and educators as well. These articles include tips on how to share the love of reading with kids at different ages, including their most formative years — birth through five years old. 

You can head to sesameworkshop.org/reading to find the perfect resource for your little reader (and you!). There are also videos from a different reading initiative at the Sesame Workshop YouTube channel. 

Kick Back and Snuggle Up with PUMA’s Squishmallows Collection

Kids can add one of the hottest toy brands to their closets with PUMA’s latest collection for kids, which features the most iconic Squishmallows

PUMA’s Squishmallows collection includes three styles of sneakers, each themed around a different Squishmallows. The RS-X Cam sneakers are the most low-key of the bunch, featuring a white-and-tan color scheme, a special Cam the Cat charm, and a PUMA x Squishmallows logo on the tongue. The Suede XL Winston sneakers fully embody Winston the Owl’s fun personality, with his signature teal color and feathers and a nod to his love of mac and cheese on the heel. The Cali Lola sneakers are full of color, as any set of sneakers inspired by Lola the unicorn should be. This set of kicks features lots of pink and purple and has tufts of faux fur at the heel and on the sides along with a custom Lola charm.

Kids can add even more Squishmallows flair to their outfits with the T-shirts, T-shirt dresses, matching sets, and other apparel available in infant, preschool, and kids sizes. They will love their Squishmallows outfits so much, they’ll *almost* be as comfortable as they are curled up in bed with all of their Squishmallows plush.

PUMA does tons of collaborations with popular kids brands including the Trolls franchise, L.O.L. Surprise, Miraculous, PAW Patrol, and more. PUMA’s Squishmallows collection will be available starting March 15.


PUMA X SQUISHMALLOWS COLLECTION

PUMA's latest licensed collection is softer than ever. This Squishmallows-themed collection includes three pairs of sneakers inspired by Cam the Cat, Winston the Owl, and Lola the Unicorn along with apparel in infant, toddler, and youth sizes.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $25-85

Expert Review: Milestone’s ‘Hot Wheels Unleashed 2: Turbocharged’

Speed racers can enjoy their Hot Wheels cars on a Switch, PS5, and more platforms

  • Race 130 of favorite Hot Wheels vehicles
  • Sharp graphics bring the cars to life
  • Comes with new classes of vehicles, like Rocket, Drifter, Heavy Duty, and more

This video game from Milestone takes Mattel’s iconic toy cars, Hot Wheels, into high-octane virtual racing sphere. It is the follow-up to 2021’s Hot Wheels Unleashed, and offers players classic racing gameplay, different vehicles, and 130 vehicle combinations and customizations.

While Hot Wheels Unleashed 2: Turbocharged boasts similar appeal to the first iteration — and that is not a negative. The racing video game gives players a classic arcade-style experience, as well as a story mode, all executed in detailed graphics. The new vehicles and maneuvers (jump and lateral dash among them), plus the commitment to faithfully representing the Hot Wheels brand, makes this sequel anything but a sophomore slump.

Though the game is rated for ages 3 and up, some of the gameplay will prove too challenging for very young kids. The good news is that the varying difficulty level makes it fun for older and younger siblings alike.

Gamer families; Hot Wheels super fans; kids with a need for speed; parents who want a modern taste of their arcade racing days


HOT WHEELS UNLEASHED 2: TURBOCHARGED

The world’s raddest Hot Wheels cars are back and taking the fun to the next level. Race more than 130 vehicles with crazy new mechanics and even more vehicle types. Plus, kids can build tracks with stunning new environments and different game modes to have fun off and online.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $49.99

Must-Have Games for Family Game Night on Afternoon Live

Toy Insider Senior Editor/Toy Book Editor-in-Chief James Zahn joined Afternoon Live on KATU in Portland to show off fun games that the whole family can enjoy. For more on the items featured in this segment, check out the product notes below.


PICKLEBALL BLAST

Pickleball Blast puts a new spin on the sport with a board game-size tabletop court and a net with an attached Screamin’ Pickle launcher. Using the thumb-powered pickleball paddles, players send the Pickle play piece soaring and try to flip the pickle lids at the other end of the court.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $19.99
  • Age:
  • 8+

Buy Now

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BUNNY BRUNCH

In this game, kids will race to complete patterns on the plates to feed the bunnies before the mouse eats the bunny food.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $19.99
  • Age:
  • 3+

Buy Now

The Toy Insider participates in affiliate programs that may generate revenue for the site when a purchase is made through the links below.

TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES: MUTANT MAYHEM MONOPOLY

This righteously cool edition of the Monopoly game is inspired by the film, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem. Play as one of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to take down the evil mutants and save New York City from their very not rad mutant-y powers. Players earn points by collecting pizza, buying property, and…

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $21.99
  • Age:
  • 8+

Buy Now

The Toy Insider participates in affiliate programs that may generate revenue for the site when a purchase is made through the links below.

RUBIK’S 50TH ANNIVERSARY RETRO CUBE

Displayed in a replica of the 1980s issue packaging, this blast to the past is decorated with the original Rubik’s Logo and classic-colored stickers. The yellow side of the cube has been replaced with a deep gold in celebration of this momentous occasion.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $14.99
  • Age:
  • 8+

Buy Now

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RACK-O JR.

In this junior version of Rack-O, the goal is to be the first player to fill your rack with cards, from lowest to highest. Number cards are color-coded to match the colors of the rainbow (and colors on the racks). Special cards add excitement to this game designed for 2-4 players.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $12.95
  • Age:
  • 4+

Buy Now

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GIANT CONNECT 4

The Giant Connect 4 Set is the classic gameplay that kids know and love only now in jumbo size for outdoor parties and for group gatherings. The Connect 4 game set is designed for both adults and kids, making it a versatile option for family fun in the backyard. This yard game set takes just…

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $199.99
  • Age:
  • 8+

Spring Just Got Spookier Thanks to a New Season of ‘Monster High’

The boo crew is here for another spooktacular season! 

Mattel’s Monster High brand is known for its fashion dolls sporting fangtastic ‘fits. The characters are all high schoolers based on beloved monsters from movies and myths, from Dracula’s daughter Draculaura to the mummy Cleo de Nile. Now, the Nickelodeon Monster High animated series will see those characters on new adventures as a second season premieres this March 11. 

Favorite characters return for a new semester at Monster High! | Source: Monster High YouTube

The half-hour season premiere, “Rule School,” features Clawdeen Wolf struggling to find the balance between school and her role as Were-Ruler. Things only get more exciting from there, with 20 new episodes of the boo crew dealing with a whole pile of challenges. Whether they’re discovering a mystery at the Scare-adise Resort, hosting a game night, or battling it out at a music festival, the group of friends will need to work together.

The second season will welcome some new members to the cast. Anna Cathcart will voice Jinafire Long, a Chinese dragon with weather powers, and Rutina Wesley will voice Venus, the owner of a beachfront smoothie hut at the Scare-adise Resort. Fan favorites will also return to voice the characters kids already know and love.

The new season of Monster High will premiere March 11 at 2 p.m. ET on Nickelodeon. Kids can catch their favorite supernatural high schoolers as they navigate familiar troubles with a mythical twist!

The Dragon Warrior Unleashes Ninja Fury at Build-A-Bear Workshop

DreamWorks’ noodle-loving panda is leaving the dojo and entering the workshop as a new Build-A-Bear plush. With Kung Fu Panda 4 coming to theaters, kids can kick off the adventure by watching the movie with their very own Po. 

Kids can unleash their inner warriors with Build-A-Bear’s Kung Fu Panda 4 collection that brings kung fu mania to their iconic workshop. The collection features everything kids need for the movie premiere, including a Po plush, a gift set, and two accessories

The Kung Fu Panda 4 Po Plush resembles the beloved Dragon Warrior, complete with his signature shorts. Kids can prepare for adventure with the beloved character and personalize the panda with action-packed sounds and accessories. 

Every furry friend can become a ninja warrior with these kung fu accessories! Kids can personalize their plush warriors with the Kung Fu Panda 4 shirt and the staff wristie. 

The Dragon Warrior and his kung fu accessories are now available at Build-A-Bear Workshop, both online and in store. Kids (and the kids young at heart) can learn more about their new panda friend at buildabear.com.


BUILD-A-BEAR KUNG FU PANDA 4 COLLECTION

Kids can unleash their inner warriors with Build-A-Bear's Kung Fu Panda 4 collection, which features a Po plush, a gift set, and two accessories. The Kung Fu Panda 4 Po Plush resembles the beloved Dragon Warrior, complete with his signature shorts. Kids can prepare for adventure with the beloved character and personalize the panda with…

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $6.50-46.50

LEGO’s Free Creativity Workshops Will Inspire Young Creators

If your kid wants to tap into their creative side without any limitations, activities included in LEGO’s free creativity workshops can be a great place to start! 

The LEGO Group, the creators behind the LEGO pieces that might be scattered across your play room, is focusing on helping kids — especially young girls — feel confident in their art and desire to create. The More Than Perfect campaign, designed to help girls break free from the societal pressures of perfection and lean into their creativity, includes the free creativity workshops. 

Every kid can participate in the workshops at select LEGO stores or online. The current themes include Space, Entertainment, Imagination, and Gaming, and each workshop is aimed at creators ages 6-12. 

Create a LEGO picture frame! | Source: The LEGO Group

If you’re near a LEGO store, you might have the opportunity to attend a workshop in person. The first workshop will have an entertainment theme and will be on April 20 and April 21. Kids can build a photo frame that they can use to display a picture of their choosing! Store associates will be available to help your kids as they build. The in-store workshops will run from April to October. Each one is free, but you should book a place in advance online.

If your kid prefers to harness the power of creativity in their own space, they can attend an online workshop hosted by different innovators. The first host, dancer Dianne Buswell, will show viewers how to build a photo frame, name sign, and jewelry stand. This workshop is available now at lego.com. 

Other online hosts include Space Communicator Alexandra Doten (known as Astro Alexandra) and gaming pioneer Kennedy (AKA Cozy K). These workshops, and the in-store workshops, are created to inspire girls to build and nurture creative confidence

Visit lego.com to book a spot at an in-store workshop. For more information about the More Than Perfect campaign, visit toybook.com.

You Can Add Stranger Things Characters to Your Squishmallow Squad This Summer

They’re spooky, they’re squishy, and they’re coming to shelves near you this summer!

As part of the company’s Squishmallows Day celebrations, Jazwares the company behind the squishy plush, teamed up with Netflix for a Squishmallows x Stranger Things collaboration, set to begin roll out globally this summer.

The Squishmallows x Stranger Things squad will build on both brand’s pop-culture appeal for a squishy, sci-fi collaboration. Fan-favorite characters from the show will soon be available as ultra-soft Squishmallows ranging from 3.5-10 inches in size.

What is sure to be a highly anticipated squad will be released in celebration of the fifth and final season of Stranger Things, which currently has no official release date from its streamer. If you’re feeling sad about the upcoming season of Stranger Things being the last, stock up on these new squishy friends for some cuddly solace.

20 Musical Toys for Babies and Preschoolers

Music is an essential part of child development, so no matter how annoying the same four songs in a row might become, filling your toy box with musical toys can have a positive impact on your kid.

Even if your kid isn’t Baby Beethoven quite yet, toys with musical elements inspire creativity and can help tune fine motor skills. Plus, it’s fun to watch your kids dance to music they create or just love to hear!

Whether your little one wants to make the music themselves or sit back, relax, and listen to some tunes emit from their favorite toy, here are 20 options that will satisfy their ears.


VTECH 3-IN-1 TUMMY TIME TO TODDLER PIANO

This three-in-one set keeps babies engaged while they build muscle strength. When babies learn to sit up, they can explore the piano by pressing the keys and turning the page to hear songs and words. When babies begin to walk, they can use the handle to take the piano on the go.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $19.99
  • Age:
  • 3 MOS+

FISHER-PRICE TAMBOURINE & MARACAS GIFT SET

This set includes two maracas with colorful rattle beads and soft pom-poms, as well as a tambourine. The tambourine has colorful clackers and a mirror so kids can watch as they shake it!

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $14.99
  • Age:
  • 3MOS+

COCOMELON TINY TUNES MUSIC MELON

This musical toy for toddlers includes six magnetic musical activators that each play a different song when kids place them on the platform. Toddlers can sing along to their favorite CoComelon songs using the included wired microphone. When playtime is over, it doubles as a night light and has a timer to play built-in lullabies…

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $69.99
  • Age:
  • 18 MOS+

MELODY MANSION

Little ones can engage in multifunctional play with this playset. As toddlers pound the wooden balls through the chimney at the top to send them down the winding tack and over the xylophone’s colorful notes, they can discover basic musical concepts. The set comes with two balls, a removable xylophone, and a mallet.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $37.99
  • Age:
  • 1+

Buy Now

Available: Spring 2024

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SING-IT-OUT LITTLE MICROPHONE

Kids can make music with sing-along songs and 15 different melodies while the lights change colors as they sing. They can also interact with Puppy, Kitten, Horse, and Sheep and hear what noises they make. Theres more than 65 different songs, phrases, melodies, and sounds.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $11.99
  • Age:
  • 9MOS+

BLUE’S CLUES & YOU! WOODEN SOUND PUZZLE — MUSICAL FARM

Kids can remove different puzzle pieces to hear sections of the song "Old MacDonald Had a Farm!" There are six wooden pieces featuring familiar Blues Clues & You! characters.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $19.99
  • Age:
  • 2+

FISHER-PRICE LAUGH & LEARN MIX & LEARN DJ TABLE

This interactive, educational activity table features a piano with three ways to play, plus 12 fine motor activities and three Smart Stages learning levels to keep babies engaged as they grow.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $44.99
  • Age:
  • 9 MOS+

Buy Now

The Toy Insider participates in affiliate programs that may generate revenue for the site when a purchase is made through the links below.

MUSICAL TABLE

This wooden table includes a colorful xylophone, mushroom bell tops, tree trunk drums, acorn sticks, birdie whistle, and wood chime. Kids can also clack the butterfly wings and run the acorn stick along the hedgehog back!

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $129.99
  • Age:
  • 3+

EXPLORE & MORE DINOSAUR 3-IN-1 BABY MUSICAL PULL TOY

Kids can remove the tambourine from the dinosaur and shake it, push the toy animal to watch the spikes spin, or pull the handle and walk with a dino friend!

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $18
  • Age:
  • 1+

MUSICAL RAINBOW TEA PARTY DELUXE

Throw a music-filled pretend tea party! This 25-piece set includes a teapot, four teacups, forks, plates, four cupcakes, a cupcake box, six slices of plastic cake, and a cake plate. The teapot plays different songs as kids play.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $40.20
  • Age:
  • 1+

MONTI KIDS MUSIC APPRECIATION KIT

This set includes five high-quality, wooden instruments, including sound cylinders, a drum, a glockenspiel, a harmonica, and a tambourine. Parents can learn how to help little ones use the instruments through online educational videos, sing-a-longs, songs, and more. Designed for babies who are a bit older, this beautiful musical set boasts natural textures and each…

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $125
  • Age:
  • 19 MOS+

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TAKE ALONG TUNES

This handheld toy features 10 different melodies. Kids just press the large button to move through different re-created classical songs. There are also colorful lights that appear according to the beat and rhythm.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $10.49
  • Age:
  • 3MOS+

DANCE & PLAY BLUEY

This interactive plush Bluey moves her arms and legs and invites kids to play with more than 55 phrases, four songs, dance mode, and three different games, including the freeze game “Statues” from the show.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $49.99
  • Age:
  • 3+

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The Toy Insider participates in affiliate programs that may generate revenue for the site when a purchase is made through the links below.

SING-ALONG SONG BOT

Kids can listen to classical melodies or their favorite nursery rhymes and songs like "Old MacDonald Had a Farm." There are also sing-along songs that will make your kid want to dance and learn their numbers and ABCs. When you hit the record button, kids can talk or sing and hear their voice played back…

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $10.99
  • Age:
  • 6MOS+

SINGING ASHA WITH VALENTINO & STAR

Journey to the kingdom of Rosas with this musical and magical doll. Asha speaks 20 phrases and features her traditional braided hairstyle and beautiful purple outfit from the film. This doll comes with Asha’s two pals, Star and Valentino.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $39.99
  • Age:
  • 3+

POUND & PLAY MUSIC MAKER

Kids can use the hammer to move the colorful balls through matching holes — when the balls fall, they will roll down a xylophone and create music. You can also remove the xylophone and and use the attached mallet to make music!

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $32.99
  • Age:
  • 1+

DISNEY BABY MUSICAL DISCOVERY PLUSH MICKEY MOUSE

Press the icons on Mickey's hands and feet to listen to songs about colors, shapes, and more! The interactive plush also has crinkles in the ears and says iconic Mickey Mouse phrases.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $20.99
  • Age:
  • 9MOS+

FISHER-PRICE DJ BOUNCIN’ BEATS

This musical toy features lights; motorized spring action; and more than 75 songs, songs, sounds, and phrases that teach kids the alphabet, counting, and more. Kids can record a phrase that DJ Bouncin' Beats will remix into a song.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $44.99
  • Age:
  • 9 MOS+

Buy Now

The Toy Insider participates in affiliate programs that may generate revenue for the site when a purchase is made through the links below.

MAGIC MOVES ELECTRONIC WAND

There are 90 commands such as "lets dance," "stomp like an elephant" and "soar like an eagle," as well as 26 twinkling light shows and a large variety of musical styles.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $21.99
  • Age:
  • 3+

EXPLORE & MORE FOX XYLOPHONE

Kids can use the attached mallet to make music by hitting eight colorful keys displayed by a friendly fox.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $17.99
  • Age:
  • 1+

Celebrate 65 Years of Barbie with New Dolls, Toys

Barbie has been inspiring kids with her outfits and varying careers for 65 years now. Following last year’s record-breaking movie rollout, Barbie is already having her big moment, so why not make it bigger?

Barbie’s official birthday is March 9, and Mattel is kicking off the celebrations by debuting one-of-a-kind dolls featuring role models from around the world, including EGOT-winning actress, producer, and author Viola Davis; Canadian singer and songwriter Shania Twain; iconic actress and narrator of Barbie: The Movie Dame Helen Mirren; Australian pop star Kylie Minogue; Brazilian content creator Maira Gomez; Mexican director, producer, and screenwriter Lila Avilés; Japanese model and TV personality Nicole Fujita; and German comedian and activist Enissa Amani.

Barbie 65th Anniversary Doll | Source: Mattel

While you can’t buy the role model dolls, Mattel is launching a full collection of anniversary dolls, toys, and other merchandise to celebrate. The crown jewel of this collection is the Signature 65th Anniversary doll, whose black-and-white striped gown and horn-rimmed sunglasses are themed after Barbie’s first appearance in an iconic black-and-white bathing suit.

Of course, Barbie is best known for her various jobs and careers she has taken on to prove that women can do anything. Mattel is spotlighting some of the most iconic careers Barbie has taken on with three more anniversary dolls, including Vet Barbie, Pop Star Barbie, and Astronaut Barbie. The 2024 Fashionistas dolls take classic Barbie looks through the years and revamp them to create a modern touch. The upcoming dolls in this collection include the original Barbie from 1959, the 1977 Superstar Barbie, the 1985 Peaches ‘n’ Cream Barbie, and more.

Mattel is launching more than dolls in their 65th anniversary Barbie toy collection. The Barbie Cuutopia Plush collection features a series of Barbie dolls reimagined as adorable, round plush. If games are more kids’ speed, you can grab the UNO Canvas Barbie set, which features a collectible deck that spotlights iconic Barbie dolls and artwork. The Hot Wheels brand is also getting in on the action, launching a 65th-anniversary Corvette C8.R.

Kids and adults alike can also experience special Barbie events around the world, including Barbie: A Cultural Icon, World of Barbie, and Malibu Barbie Café in the U.S.; Barbie Dream Lounge in Mexico; Barbie: The Exhibition in the U.K.; and Barbie Bahamas Beach Vacation at Atlantis.

With so much accomplished in 65 years, Mattel has cemented the Barbie brand as one of the most expansive toy brands of all time.


BARBIE 65TH ANNIVERSARY DOLL

Celebrate Barbie's 65th birthday with this commemorative doll! This doll comes as both a blonde and a brunette and is wearing a gown inspired by Barbie's original black-and-white striped bathing suit!

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $60

BARBIE 65TH ANNIVERSARY FASHIONISTAS

Mattel is celebrating Barbie's birthday by giving her some new looks! Each of the six dolls in this collection is wearing an outfit that is inspired by a classic Barbie 'fit, including her original outfit from 1959.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $10.99
  • Age:
  • 3+

BARBIE 65TH ANNIVERSARY CAREERS DOLLS

Pop Star Barbie | Source: Mattel

Vet Barbie | Source: Mattel

Astronaut Barbie | Source: Mattel

Mattel is celebrating three of Barbie's iconic careers with this new collection of dolls! This lineup includes a vet, an astronaut, and a pop star. Each Barbie is ready for work and comes with plenty of accessories to get the job done.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $14.99
  • Age:
  • 3+

BARBIE CUUTOPIA PLUSH

Barbie Cuutopia Plush | Source: Mattel

Cowboy Barbie Cuutopia Plush | Source: Mattel

Original Barbie Cuutopia Plush | Source: Mattel

President Barbie Cuutopia Plush | Source: Mattel

Barbie Cuutopia Plush | Source: Mattel

Ken Cuutopia Plush | Source: Mattel

A normal Barbie doll isn't very snuggly, but these plush versions of Barbie and Ken are! This collection of Cuutopia plush includes tons of Barbie outfits and one Ken plush.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $14.99
  • Age:
  • 3+

UNO CANVAS BARBIE

UNO is pinker than ever! This special edition of the classic game features designs and artwork featuring Barbie and some of her most iconic outfits throughout the years.

Product Facts

  • Age:
  • 7+

Join Your Favorite Turtles in Battle with ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutants Unleashed’

If your kid loved Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, they’ll love this new game based on the film!

Although it’s based on the movie, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutants Unleashed has a new, original storyline that follows the pizza-obsessed characters Leonardo, Raphael, Donatello, and Michelangelo. In the 3D Brawler/Platformer game, the Turtles must handle a new wave of mutants in New York City. 

Fans can play as one of the four turtles (each with their own playstyle) and travel through the five iconic boroughs on a solo mission or with a friend in the two-player, local co-op mode. 

Players in the U.S. will have the opportunity to purchase an exclusive version of the video game at Walmart — this version includes an outfit code to unlock a late-game collectible early. The Standard Edition and the Walmart Edition will both be $39.99. There’s no set release date yet, but you have plenty of TMNT movies and shows to keep your family occupied until then.

Fans will be able to play the game on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox X|S, Windows and Steam.

Super Mario Superfans Can Look Forward to New Fun This MAR10 Day

Wahoo! New Mario content is on the way for this year’s MAR10 Day!

Beloved by little gamers and nostalgic adults alike, Nintendo is readying to celebrate the iconic Italian plumber and hero of the Mushroom Kingdom. With a day fully dedicated to all things Mario, this March 10 will be one to remember!

Mario has a long history. From his start all the way back in the 1981 arcade classic Donkey Kong, to the newest iteration of Nintendo Switch games, the princess-rescuing plumber has seen a huge collection of video games, multiple TV series, and even a recent hit movie. Nintendo is celebrating the character’s rich history with returns to the classics, deals, sweepstakes, and more.

This year’s MAR10 Day will celebrate the iconic character’s long history. | Source: Nintendo

Kids can get in on the nostalgia of old Mario with Super Mario World on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System, available on Nintendo Switch Online. Running until April 1, players with a paid Nintendo Switch Online membership can earn Platinum Points by playing Super Mario World, redeeming them for digital as well as physical Mario-themed rewards. Kids can also get deals on the video games they’ve been wishing for, with the Nintendo eShop offering discounts on Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Mario Party Superstars, and more. 

Kids can also experience the joy of The Super Mario Bros. Movie all over again thanks to the newly released free digital guidebook. The guidebook reveals a number of hidden game references within the movie, sure to make any kid an expert at Mario trivia. 

Mario has warp-piped his way beyond the world of entertainment, and into the world of toys! The My Nintendo LEGO Super Mario Sweepstakes offers lucky winners the chance to get their hands on three LEGO Super Mario sets, with popular characters Bowser, Dorrie, and Yoshi. The sweepstakes is available to enter now on the official webpage and will run until April 16.

There are plenty of opportunities for kids to celebrate their favorite game character in person as well. The Nintendo New York store will host a meet-and-greet with Mario and Luigi on MAR10 Day itself, with free giveaways and a screening of The Super Mario Bros. Movie. Participating GameStop locations will also offer demos of Mario games, as well as giveaways on March 16.

MAR10 Day is full of fun plans fit for one of the most well-known video game characters! With sweepstakes, activities, and more, Nintendo is making sure this year’s will be one to remember. More information about additional MAR10 Day plans is available on the official Mario website.

These Target-Exclusive Gigglescape Plush Are Cute as Can Be

Target has new plushies for little animal lovers who need a cuddly-cute friend!

Kids already know Target for its full collection of toys, with a trip to the retail big almost always including a dip into the toy section. A new brand is joining in on the fun, this time made by Target itself. Gigglescape stuffed animals and board books are affordably priced for parents, and adorably designed for kids.

Gigglescape stuffed animals have already launched on the Target online store. The plush collection includes everything from a shark to a mythical unicorn, with more than 20 plush to choose from. Kids can get a giraffe, a dinosaur, a hermit crab, a bunny, and more. The stuffed animals range in size from 9-19 inches and are designed for kids ages 1 and up. 

The current Gigglescape offerings include plush and board books, all priced at $20 and under, with the majority of plush $10 and under. Target isn’t stopping there with this new brand, as the company has already revealed that toys, puzzles, and games are on the way. 

The new Gigglescape stuffed animals are available now in-store as well as online. The plush as well as upcoming Gigglescape releases are covered under Target’s owned brand promise, offering returns within one year with a receipt, so families can shop without worry. Get the perfect plush for the young people in your life, and keep your eyes open for more Gigglescape releases!


GIGGLESCAPE PLUSH

These new stuffed animals from Target are adorably designed and affordably priced. Kids can get a plush bunny, a lamb, a shark, a hippo, and more, with more than 20 plush to choose from.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $9.99-19.99
  • Age:
  • 1+

Expert Review: Thames & Kosmos’s EXIT: Kids – Jungle of Riddles

Kids can solve the mysteries of the jungle in this puzzle-based game

  • Kids can improve developmental skills like communication and collaboration.
  • The game contains interesting, easy-to-solve riddles.
  • Kids can enjoy screen-free gameplay.

In EXIT: Kids – Jungle of Riddles, kids must solve picture-based puzzles to unlock animal-guarded treasure chests. The game contains an answer disk, 36 riddle cards, nine treasure chest tokens, six key tokens, and seven strange items. Players must draw one riddle card per color and solve their puzzles one card at a time. If the answer disk says their solution is correct, kids take a key token to unlock a treasure chest. The adventure ends when players solve the six riddles and claim their treasures.

The game features significant developmental benefits, challenging kids to work on collaboration, problem-solving, and communication. Parents may expand their kids’ educational toolbox by having them recognize unique jungle animals, including toucans, lemurs, cockatoos, and more. Jungle of Riddles features interesting interactive puzzle types, including mazes, find-and-searches, and animal identification. The game includes multiple combinations of riddles and treasures with every round, affording it great replayability. The puzzles are fun and suitable for young adventurers, plus the game’s packaging features hints for solving the puzzles.

Parents must remove the token pieces and unwrap the cards when first opening the game, which takes a few quick minutes.

Curious kids looking for adventures to complete solo or with friends. Parents who want their kids to enjoy screen-free gameplay that stimulates their minds. Families with young kids looking for a challenging adventure to enjoy together.


EXIT: KIDS – JUNGLE OF RIDDLES

This new EXIT experience is packed full of fun riddles especially designed for kids. Kids must crack the riddles together and win the treasure! In each round, six different types of puzzles, which are shown on 36 illustrated, large-format cards, are combined in new ways. The game is best for 1 to 4 players and…

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $17.95
  • Age:
  • 5+

Spring Is in the Air with Jellycat’s Easter Collection

Jellycat, the beloved plush maker for kids and adults alike, is launching an Easter collection that is packed with so much springtime goodness that you can almost smell the flowers that are to come.

The highlight of this collection is the lineup of hard-boiled egg plush, which includes a smiling egg, a geeky egg with glasses, an egg with sunglasses, and a “deviled” egg, complete with red devil horns. Other adorable plush in the lineup include the green Dainty Dessert Bunny Macaron, which combines an Easter bunny with a yummy cookie; the Dainty Dessert Bunny Cupcake; and Fergus the Frog, who is an olive green color and full of personality.

An Easter plush collection wouldn’t be complete without lots of bunnies! Jellycat’s bunny plush includes different sizes and colors, including customizable options with sweaters featuring kids’ names embroidered on. 

Jellycat’s Easter plush collection embodies the Easter season. Who could complain about lots of adorable animals and fun new characters?


BASHFUL MOSS BUNNY WITH PERSONALIZED JUMPER

This plush bunny is bound to win any best dressed contests. This moss-green friedn comes in a cream-colored sweater that can be personalized to feature a kids name!

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $38
  • Age:
  • 0+

BASHFUL BUNNY WITH CARROT PLUSH

This plush bunny is ready for a snack. At 7 inches tall, this little guy is holding a big carrot in his arms.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $28
  • Age:
  • 0+

DAINTY DESSERT BUNNY PLUSH

The new Jellycat plush look good enough to eat! These two plush combine Easter bunnies with yummy treats, including cupcakes and macarons.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $28
  • Age:
  • 0+

FERGUS FROG PLUSH

Fergus Frog is a grumpy-looking sweetheart that kids of all ages are bound to love. This moss-colored frog has a beany base and toes along with hooded eyes and a pouty mouth.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $50

AMUSABLE BOILED EGG PLUSH

Source: Jellycat

Source: Jellycat

Don't worry, kids won't be able to break these plush. This set of four egg-themed plush includes a smiling egg, a geeky egg with glasses, an egg with sunglasses, and a “deviled” egg, complete with red devil horns.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $22
  • Age:
  • 0+

The Toy Insider Little Library: February 2024

Creating your library, whether it’s on your own bookshelf or through weekly library rentals, is important for a kid’s growth and development. Kids can learn about empathy and diversity through fun stories, all while refining different skills!

The Toy Insider’s Little Library series will highlight five books at the end of each month that will fill your home with laughter, love, and learning

If you’re looking for a bedtime read or a new go-to story, these might be a good fit!


TIME TO MAKE ART

In this story, a young girl learns that art can be anything she wants it to be! Each page features a different artist and art style as the girl learns that creativity is endless.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $19.99
  • Age:
  • 4+

WE SHARE THIS EARTH

The rhyming book celebrates different communities and highlights how we must all play our part as global citizens. Kids will understand how important it is to care about each other and the Earth, and how practicing empathy, compassion, and collective responsibility will result in a more harmonious life. Each page features a different culture and part of the…

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $8.99
  • Age:
  • 0+

PIE-RATS!

Join a group of pirate rats as they search for their favorite pies in this rhyming, hysterical children's book.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $18.99
  • Age:
  • 3+

SLEEPY SHEEPY AND THE SHEEPOVER

Readers can follow along as Sleepy Sheepy goes to his grandparents house for his first sleepover! Kids will relate to the main character's nervous feelings when he's away from home and learn how the adorable animal and his family solve the issue.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $18.99
  • Age:
  • 3+

BABY ELEPHANT’S BIG DAY

Explore the African savanna with Baby Elephant and his family! Readers will follow the animal as it learns how to complete several basic tasks while having fun. The book also comes with a wooden elephant toy.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $12.99
  • Age:
  • 3+

Expert Review: hand2mind’s Numberblocks Rainbow Counting Bus

Count on Educational Playtime with This Vehicle

  • Includes Numberland Bus and Numberblock Seven figure
  • Features sounds and songs
  • Embedded with learning features to encourage educational play

This educational playset features the Numberland Bus and a Numberblock Seven figure for kids to go on colorful adventures through Numberland. The bus is packed with play value, including sliders where kids can choose their destination, sounds and songs, stickers, and more.

The bus itself is packed with interactive play features: Aside from having rolling wheels, the back folds out to create a rainbow and reveal a hopscotch board for kids to count. There’s enough space for kids to tote around any additional Numberblocks figures they have, as well as any action figures they’d like to join in on the fun.

It only includes the Numberblock Seven figure, so kids will need to collect other figures for this playset separately. There are two AAA batteries included, but it’s good to have extra on hand in case you need to refresh.

Little Numberblocks fans; preschoolers learning to count; families with small storage options; parents looking for early STEM learning options for playtime.


NUMBERBLOCKS RAINBOW COUNTING BUS

This bud playset is equipped with songs and sounds, this interactive bus is perfect for creating original Numberblocks stories. It's designed with shapes, numbers, and embedded features to encourage number fun. Kids can use the slider on the front of the bus to choose their destination and enjoy the ride. Includes a Numberblock Seven figure.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $24.99
  • Age:
  • 3+

Ms. Rachel Will Debut Children’s Books Including ‘Ms. Rachel and the Special Surprise!’

If your kid loves watching Ms. Rachel on YouTube — and if you love using her channel as a trusty learning resource — you’ll enjoy a new way to interact with her lessons! Rachel Accurso, known as Ms. Rachel, will release various children’s books this year through Penguin Random House

Ms. Rachel’s videos feature different songs and toys. | Source: Ms. Rachel

If your family is unfamiliar with Accurso, she is an educator that creates YouTube content that helps kids reach key milestones and often focuses on speech development. She has dual master’s degrees in early childhood development and music education, so her videos often feature catchy songs that support the video’s lesson. 

Her first book, titled Ms. Rachel and the Special Surprise!: Encouraging Speech and Learning Through Play and Music, will be available on Sept. 24, but you can preorder it now!

Kids will recognize Ms. Rachel on the book’s cover. | Source: Ms. Rachel/Penguin Random House

The debut picture book features an illustrated Ms. Rachel, complete with her pink shirt, blue overalls, and pink headband. The story, crafted from Accurso’s educational expertise, will incorporate key lessons from her YouTube channel and exercises like pointing and call and response. Kids will also recognize characters and music from their favorite videos. 

You can pair the story with Ms. Rachel’s collection of developmental, early learning toys, including Ms. Rachel’s Surprise Learning Box, which will be available this fall from Spin Master. Kids can develop their sensory, motor, social/emotional, cognitive, and communication skills through her published stories and toys.  

Keep an eye and ear open for upcoming Ms. Rachel books! Until Sept. 24, you can watch Ms. Rachel videos at ms.rachel.com


MS. RACHEL AND THE SPECIAL SURPRISE!: ENCOURAGING SPEECH AND LEARNING THROUGH PLAY AND MUSIC

In this picture book, readers will recognize Ms. Rachel in her iconic pink shirt, blue overalls, and pink headband. Kids will also notice characters from the Ms. Rachel YouTube channel. The picture book features key lessons from the channel and exercises like call and response and pointing. The book will be available on Sept. 24.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $19.99
  • Age:
  • 3+

Peppa Pig Wedding Special to Feature Guest Stars Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom

Peppa Pig Wedding Week is coming, and with it a pair of firework-worthy guest stars!

The three-part program will welcome real-life power couple Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom to the Peppa Pig cast. Perry will lend her golden pipes to the character Ms. Leopard, a dress maker, while Bloom will voice the jeweler Mr. Raccoon. The special will feature the first wedding ever featured on Peppa Pig, and is a part of the larger celebration of Peppa Pig‘s 20th anniversary.

“Peppa is so relatable and warm, and her stories teach lessons of good values and integrity that I am modeling for my daughter,” Perry says. “It feels like a warm cup of tea all the time! How could I say no? Peppa is an icon, and I thought I should give my KatyCats the collab they’ve been asking for!”

Orlando Bloom will voice jeweler Mr. Raccoon. | Source: Hasbro/Bianca Nicdao

Bloom adds: “The fact that I get to be Mr. Raccoon and I can run around the kitchen pretending to be Mr. Raccoon when she’s watching it, she will just be so delighted.”

Kids and KatyCats alike won’t have to wait much longer for the special wedding episodes, which air at 9:00 AM EST/PST from March 25-28 on Nickelodeon and Paramount+.

‘Stumble Guys’ Brings the Power in a New Masters of the Universe Collab

I’ve got the power … to win the next race!

Stumble Guys is ready to knock out the competition with a new collab featuring everyone’s favorite ‘80s hero! He-Man and other Masters of the Universe icons are coming to the popular video game, bringing with them new content for little gamers. 

He-Man continues his fight for Eternia in Stumble Guys! | Source: Stumble Guys

The collaboration brings fan-favorite Masters of the Universe characters to the world of Stumble Guys, including He-Man, Skeletor, the Sorceress, Evil-Lyn, and more. Castle Grayskull inspires a new racing map that will challenge players with fresh obstacles and features, with portals and secret paths guiding players around the iconic MOTU location. The mash-up also includes new cosmetics, a limited-time collection event, and daily missions.

Stumble Guys is a multiplayer battle royale game, offering a variety of events, tournaments, levels, and gameplay modes. The central gameplay focuses on competing with up to 32 other players to be the last one standing. Masters of the Universe isn’t the game’s first partnership with Mattel — previous brand collaborations include Hot Wheels and Barbie. The game has also partnered with Monopoly, Youtuber MrBeast, and more.  

The new Stumble Guys x Masters of the Universe content is available to players now. Stumble Guys is free to play and available on Xbox, iOS, Android, and Steam, with plans to launch on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch later this year.

Experience Neurodivergent-Friendly Fun in the Latest Thomas & Friends Mobile App

All Aboard! Everyone’s favorite tank engine is off to new adventures in Thomas & Friends: Let’s Roll. 

Mattel and StoryToys are bringing thrilling adventures to the Thomas & Friends franchise with a mobile app that fosters creativity and problem-solving through fun challenges. Kids ages 4 and up can experience an autism-friendly experience with a preschool game designed under the guidance of neurodiversity consultants. 

Thomas & Friends: Let’s Roll features kids’ favorite characters as they go on exciting adventures across the Island of Sodor. While playing, kids can design tracks and tunnels, solve fun challenges, and discover new destinations.

While reuniting with old friends, kids will see a familiar face in the mobile game. As Thomas & Friends first autistic character, Bruno the Brake Car will be available for free from launch. The game will later feature new characters, locations, and seasonal content to expand kids’ learning opportunities. 

Thomas & Friends: Let’s Roll will be available during Autism Acceptance Month in April. Pre-orders are available now via Google Play and the App Store.

Sweeten Your Collection with These Rainbow Brite and Strawberry Shortcake Dolls

The legacy of the beloved Strawberry Shortcake and Rainbow Brite dolls lives on for another generation.

The Loyal Subjects is bringing back that strawberry sweetness and those familiar bright colors from childhoods around the globe. The company’s new Strawberry Shortcake and Rainbow Brite dolls include classic stylings and characteristics, such as scented and threaded hair. However, the new Rainbow Brite collection introduces an innovative concept to the beloved franchise, and includes the first-ever fashion dolls for Rainbow Brite.

This line will be sure to warm hearts of all ages. Whether you’re looking to pass down a key piece of your past to your children or to add to your own personal collection, there is truly something to be found for everyone in these nostalgic dolls.


RAINBOW BRITE AND STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE 5.5″ FASHION DOLLS

The Rainbow Brite and Strawberry Shortcake 5.5" Fashion Dolls are the perfect addition to any doll collection! These stylish dolls have 29 points of articulation and include four surprises for fans to reveal. Their outfits are interchangeable and Strawberry Shortcake's hair even has a sweet scent.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $17.99
  • Age:
  • 3+

14-INCH STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE RAGDOLL

This 14-inch plush Strawberry Shortcake doll features an embroidered face, looped yarn hair, a shiny/glittery fabric outfit, a silky bonnet, and gold shoes with heart accents. The huggable doll smells like sweet strawberries.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $20
  • Age:
  • 3+

Buy Now

The Toy Insider participates in affiliate programs that may generate revenue for the site when a purchase is made through the links below.

12-INCH RAINBOW BRITE DOLL

This soft-body Rainbow Brite doll features yarn hair and comes with a sticker pack. Celebrating 40 years of Rainbow Brite, this doll comes packaged in a vintage-inspired yellow window box with rainbow accents.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $19.99
  • Age:
  • 3+

Buy Now

The Toy Insider participates in affiliate programs that may generate revenue for the site when a purchase is made through the links below.

STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE BAKE SHOPPE PLAYSET

This 32-piece set includes a 5.5-inch, scented Strawberry Shortcake doll dressed in a baking outfit. It comes complete with a play oven with three opening doors that reveal play molds and pretend baking ingredients.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $24.99
  • Age:
  • 3+

Buy Now

The Toy Insider participates in affiliate programs that may generate revenue for the site when a purchase is made through the links below.

Expert Review: Droyd’s Zypster

THIS ELECTRIC GO-KART IS FUN ON WHEELS

  • Features a smooth-launch control pedal and parental speed controls
  • Adjustable seat and steering wheel
  • Comes in teal and pink

The Droyd Zypster is an electric go-kart ride-on toy for kids ages 3 and up. It’s both a super fun AND safe way for kids to enjoy playing outside. It includes several safety features that parents will appreciate such as a smooth-launch control pedal (which makes for a slow and steady start) and an electromechanical brake that rolls to a stop when the pedal is released.

The Zypster arrives partially assembled and it’s very easy to complete the set up. It takes about 5 minutes to install the steering wheel (tools are included) and snap the seat in. The Forward/Reverse switch makes driving easy for toddlers, and there is a key that parents can use to lock in the speed at 3 or 6 mph. The LED light shows how much battery life is left so you don’t get stuck having to carry the go-kart down the block back to your house. The steel frame is durable and sturdy, which makes for a great outdoor toy that will last. With the adjustable seat and steering wheel, the go-kart even grows with your kids year after year. There is even an included flag to stick on the back of the go-kart so parents can keep an eye on their kids while they cruise around!

We recommend kids a wear a helmet when riding the go-kart, which is not included. It takes 5 hours to charge, and the battery life lasts for up to 30 minutes. The speed-control key for parents should be kept somewhere safe!

Little riders ages 3 and up; any adventurous kids who like to play outside; kids who like cars or enjoy riding in them; families who like outdoor activities; parents looking for summer gifts!


DROYD ZYPSTER

This electric ride-on features parent-controlled speeds and a rechargeable battery. Kids can use the smooth-launch control pedal and the electromechanical brake to control the cart and to help prevent accidental launches.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $249.00
  • Age:
  • 3+

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The Toy Insider on The Tamron Hall Show

The Tamron Hall Show, a national daytime talk show on ABC, hosted Levi and Larry Farrish Jr., whose story went viral for showing the importance of community support!  In the segment, Tamron surprises the group by sharing how Levi and his brothers can now enjoy $1,000 worth of toys, set up by The Toy Insider.

For more on the items featured in this segment, check out the product notes below.


CRAYOLA HD COLORING KIT

This kit comes with 20 premium pages of pre-shaded, HD, black-and-white photos that tweens can color using the 30 included colored pencils. The end result is a professional-looking art piece that they can display.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $19.99
  • Age:
  • 8+

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SHIMMER ‘N SPARKLE DIY ABC FASHION BEADS

Thanks to Taylor Swift’s ERAS tour, friendship bracelets are hotter than ever! Kids can design and create fashion friendship bracelets in bold and bright colors. The ultimate bestie wristwear for kids to wear and share! Show off unique styles by mixing and matching all the chic accessories. Kids can personalize bracelets with sayings using the…

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $12.60
  • Age:
  • 6+

LITTLEST PET SHOP LINE – SURPRISE SINGLES, PET PAIRS, PET TRIOS

Pet Trios: Seagull, dog, iguana, and so many more friends are waiting to play! There are three themed sets to collect. Join the City Vibes and Wild Vibes exclusively available at Target. Or, enjoy Island Vibes pets available at Cracker Barrel on their quest to find new pet friends to join their crew. Each LPS…

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $3.99-9.99
  • Age:
  • 4+

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L.O.L. SURPRISE! SQUISH SAND MAGIC HOUSE WITH TOT

Dig through kinetic sand to discover hidden surprises inside this playset, which is sized for L.O.L. Surprise! Tots. Kids will uncover a doll and a variety of furniture and accessories for the house.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $59.99
  • Age:
  • 4+

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3DOODLER START+ MAKER BUNDLE

This 3D printing pen engages kids’ imagination with the press of a button! Kids can make 3D figures with this bundle which includes more than 20 design projects, a kid-friendly printing pen, and colorful filaments.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $59.99
  • Age:
  • 6+

ILY DIY 3D STICKER MAKER AND REFILL PACKS

Kids can make their own custom 3D stickers with sprinkles, glitter, and gem mix-ins. Includes one 3D sticker maker, 30 sticker blisters, 30 sticker backgrounds, 30 double-sided sticker adhesives, one sprinkle packet, two glitter packets, and 250 gems.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $14.99
  • Age:
  • 6+

HATCHIMALS MAKE A SPLASH PLAYSET

Experience a colorful surprise with the Hatchimals Alive Make a Splash Playset. With kids’ love and care kids can hatch the eggs! Fill the tub with water and place the two eggs inside; watch as the water shimmers with changing colors and the two Hatchimals Alive characters magically crack from their egg. With 15 included…

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $14.99
  • Age:
  • 3+

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MIRACULOUS HEROEZ FASHION DOLLS – COSMOBUG & UBIQUITY

Source: Target

Source: Target

Source: Target

Source: Target

Source: Target

Source: Target

Source: Target

Suit up to save the city with Playmates Toys' Miraculous fashion dolls! Fly with Cosmobug and shine with Ubiquity. Each doll comes with its own superhero accessory.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $16.99
  • Age:
  • 4+

THE FRESH BEATS COLLECTION

Standing 10 inches tall, Fresh Beats dolls have custom-blended skin tones, rooted hair, and authentic hairstyles. The dolls have diverse personalities, stage-ready fashions, and unique styles.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $17.99
  • Age:
  • 4+

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DISNEY PRINCESS BLUETOOTH KARAOKE WITH WIRELESS MIC AND EZ LINK+ TECHNOLOGY

This device can store up to 20 Disney playlists, wirelessly stream audio from any compatible device, and displays a multi-colored LED light show! Parents can download a free app to their preferred streaming service for quick and easy setup. Kids can sing along and record; one wireless microphone is included with optional echo effect. It…

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $69.99
  • Age:
  • 6+

PASTELS CRAYONS AND COLORED PENCILS

Crayola Pastel Crayons include 24 soft, pearlescent colors, 20 markers or 12 colored pencils. These art tools are a must-have coloring essential for a tiny Van Gogh – with a uniquely styled hue assortment that makes them perfect for playful coloring projects. Pastels can pair with Crayola Construction Paper to create Valentine's Day cards as…

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $1.99-3.99
  • Age:
  • 3+

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HONEY BEE ACRES RAINBOW RIDGE CRYSTAL’S ICE CREAM SHOP

Welcome to Rainbow Ridge! Rainbow Ridge friends love satisfying their sweet tooth at Crystal’s Ice Cream Shop. Crystal is a poseable flocked figure dressed in her brightly colored outfit and is happy to scoop her delicious ice cream flavors into cones, dishes, or banana splits! And don’t forget to add toppings from the spinning toppings…

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $19.97
  • Age:
  • 3+

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SONIC DEATH EGG PLAYSET

Inspired by the Sonic the Hedgehog video games, this playset features two running tracks for Sonic. Kids can slide the exclusive, 2.5-inch Sonic figure along the tracks and then launch it at Dr. Eggman's heart.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $44.99
  • Age:
  • 7+

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FACTION SKYFIRE TACTICAL TARGET DRONE

This drone flies on autopilot so kids can use it for target practice with Faction Gel Blasters (not included) or any other blasters. It also detects hits, which kids can track on the Faction Battle app.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $34.99
  • Age:
  • 8+

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JURASSIC PARK REAL FX BABY T. REX

Jurassic Park fans can bring this T. rex to life in multiple ways. The movie-scale baby dinosaur features an internal special FX pistol-grip controller mechanism concealed by an authentic Ranger's faux leather handling glove.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $79
  • Age:
  • 7+

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JURASSIC WORLD REALFX BABY BLUE DINOSAUR

This baby blue dino is hyper realistic with protect, lunge, and bite actions and striking real-life movement and sounds! Realistic size from the Jurassic World movies — Baby blue looks real, sounds real, and feels real. It’s simple to operate! Activated by movement or touch, slip your hand inside the protective Rangers glove, activate the…

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $59
  • Age:
  • 8+

RTR BLAZE RC ROCK CRAWLER

This ready-to-run, remote-control rock crawler comes in the form of Blaze from Blaze and the Monster Machines, complete with flames on its sides. It features full-function radio control and a range of 100-150 feet.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $38.99
  • Age:
  • 6+

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MARVEL SPIDER-MAN SUPER WEB SLINGER ROLE-PLAY TOY

Kids can imagine defending the world like a superhero with this Spider-Man Super Web Slinger inspired by the Marvel Cinematic Universe that includes the newest Spider-Man movie Pressing a button on the Web Slinger releases the web so kids can imagine they are Spider-Man blasting villains and saving the world! Web slinger includes a can…

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $29.47
  • Age:
  • 3+

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TRANSFORMERS: RISE OF THE BEASTS BEAST-MODE BUMBLEBEE

Kids can convert this 10-inch action figure from a robot to a Camaro in 19 steps before squeezing the figure's legs together to reveal the eagle beast mode. It features lights and 15 sound effects.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $49.99
  • Age:
  • 6+

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PAW PATROL MIGHTY MOVIE AIRCRAFT CARRIER HQ

Play out all the mighty missions from the film PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie. This set offers dual vehicle launchers, two projectiles, lights, sounds, music, and pup phrases. It comes with a Chase vehicle and pup figure.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $129.99
  • Age:
  • 3+

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BLAZE & THE MONSTER MACHINES RC TRANSPORTER WITH MONSTER MACHINE

These monster trucks not only race, but they creatively introduce the worlds of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). The RC Transporter carries 4 of Axle City’s greatest and most popular monster trucks: Blaze, Pickle, Stripes, and Crusher. Each Monster Machines character vehicle is freewheeled for battery-free simple play. They also have high quality rubber…

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $32.99
  • Age:
  • 6+

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SPIN & CHANGE APPLE SHAPE SORTER

Unlike the static slots of traditional shape sorters, the Spin & Change Apple Shape Sorter shape slots change with each press of the apple stem. This is the first non-electronic toy for the LeapFrog brand and is part of the environmentally friendly line of toys using 85% reclaimed plastic. The apple comes with 10 blocks…

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $12.99
  • Age:
  • 18 MOS+

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SPIDER-MAN 6V TECHNO RACER

Kids can pretend to save the day on this quad inspired by Marvel Spidey and His Amazing Friends. It has light-up eyes and rides up to 2 mph with push-button acceleration.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $74
  • Age:
  • 18 MOS+

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COCOMELON MY FIRST SING-ALONG BOOMBOX

Press play to hear 24 built-in CoComelon songs, including “The Wheels on the Bus,” “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star,” and more. Kid-friendly buttons make it easy for little ones to control and sing into the working microphone.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $59.99
  • Age:
  • 18 MOS+

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GUND SUSTAINABLY SOFT PLUSH

Each friend in this line is crafted with recycled plush, fiber fill, thread, and pre-consumer recycled beads. They are also adorned with baby-safe accessories, such as cream-colored bows and soft bandanas.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $20
  • Age:
  • 0+

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PICKLEBALL BLAST

Pickleball Blast puts a new spin on the sport with a board game-size tabletop court and a net with an attached Screamin’ Pickle launcher. Using the thumb-powered pickleball paddles, players send the Pickle play piece soaring and try to flip the pickle lids at the other end of the court.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $19.99
  • Age:
  • 8+

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Expert Review: Cra-Z-Art’s Retro MagnaDoodle

A CLASSIC FOR 50 YEARS AND COUNTING

  • It’s a tool for unlimited creativity on the go!
  • Kids can draw or play games like tic-tac-toe.
  • It’s art with no mess.

This magnetic drawing pad is a portable, self-contained art station that kids can use at home, at school, or on the go. It comes with a Magna Pen, 2 magnetic stamps, and a doodle board with a built-in magnetic eraser.

MagnaDoodle is a classic toy that kids have been using to get creative for 50 years! The original MagnaDoodle was released in 1974 by the Pilot Corp. — the pen company — and it’s been released in countless variations under license to several toymakers over the years. With the Retro MagaDoodle, Cra-Z-Art captures nostalgic vibes by bringing back the classic blue drawing board and red pen. Kids simply draw whatever they’d like and then slide the eraser to go back to a blank slate. It’s travel-friendly, easy to store, and most importantly, fun!

There are no batteries required.

Kids who love to draw and express themselves. Adults looking to keep kids busy on the go. At under $20, the Retro MagnaDoodle is an affordable option for gift-givers seeking a great toy for the little artists in their lives.


RETRO MAGNADOODLE

Use this pad to practice math facts, work on spelling or draw out worries about going back to school. The ultimate unisex retro magnetic drawing toy for creating fun artwork that erases like magic. Can be used to work on spelling, math, playing games, draw pictures, write messages (secret erasable messages too!), and so much…

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $14.99
  • Age:
  • 3+

Expert Review: Spin Master’s Hatchimals Alive! Make a Splash Playset

SPARKLY SURPRISES AWAIT WITH SPIN MASTER’S LATEST HATCHIMALS INNOVATION

  • This simple, affordable playset comes with two color-changing baby Hatchimals
  • It features several layers of reveals, including surprise accessories
  • The one-and-done reveal results in a pocket-size playset and figures for itty bitty role-play fun

This spa-themed set from Spin Master includes two Hatchimals Alive! eggs, 15 accessories, and a plastic, miniature bathtub. Kids can start by unboxing everything, then fill the tub with water and place one of the eggs in the tub to watch their Hatchimals collectible magically hatch. The paint on the egg releases into the water, giving it a vibrant, sparkly hue. Once both Hatchimals are hatched, the eggs get discarded but there is plenty of fun still in store, including a cool color-chang effect on the Hatchimals themselves. The accessories allow kids to play out a spa day, letting their Hatchimals relax in the tub with cucumber masks, towels, loofahs, and more.

This Hatichmals set is simple, but at $14.99 there is a lot of play value for kids to enjoy. The surprise reveal is over in a flash, but it’s a magical, memorable experience kids will love. Miniature toys are mega popular, and this playset features tons of adorable, tiny pieces for kids to play with. The sparkly water is a really nice touch, and because the eggs are pink and blue, kids can mix the paints together in the tub to make purple! A fun bonus: The tub is also the perfect size for a dollhouse.

This set is packed with extremely small pieces and is best for households with older kids.

Kids who love mini everything. Creative grade-schoolers who can’t get enough imaginative play. Anyone who is impressed by a good surprise.


HATCHIMALS MAKE A SPLASH PLAYSET

Experience a colorful surprise with the Hatchimals Alive Make a Splash Playset. With kids’ love and care kids can hatch the eggs! Fill the tub with water and place the two eggs inside; watch as the water shimmers with changing colors and the two Hatchimals Alive characters magically crack from their egg. With 15 included…

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $14.99
  • Age:
  • 3+

Buy Now

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Blippi Comes to the Toniebox

Blippi is joining Tonies‘ lineup of iconic storytelling figures.

Designed for kids ages 3 and up, Tonies are figures of animals kids’ favorite characters, now including Blippi from the preschool series of the same name. When kids put Tonies on a Toniebox, they can listen to screen-free stories that include engaging songs and sound effects. 

The Blippi figure features the character in his iconic blue-and-orange outfit along with Tabbs, Blippi’s faithful cat sidekick. The figure features more than an hour of stories, including adventures to a construction site, a farm, the moon, a pirate ship, the East African savanna, and the outback. On each adventure, Blippi plays interactive songs and games, including “What’s that Sound?” and “Follow Your Ears.” Throughout each story, Blippi shares fun facts and discoveries with kids.

Moonbug Entertainment also recently collaborated with Build-A-Bear for a Blippi plush costume featuring Blippi’s blue-and-orange outfit, glasses, and a hat. In Blippi, Blippi takes kids on adventures to real-life places and teaches them fun facts. Blippi also encourages kids to learn through play and explore their curiosities.

The Blippi tonies figure will be available for $17.99 at specialty retailers, Amazon, Walmart, and us.tonies.com starting Monday, March 4.

Cepia’s Decora Girlz Bring a Splash of Color to the Toy Box

Cepia’s Decora Girlz are packed with bright colors and loaded with accessories, drawing inspiration from the Japanese aesthetic Decora Kei, which features similar elements. Not to mention, they’re totally cute.

Designed for kids ages 4 and up, the Decora Girlz line features diverse styles, vibrant outfits, and customizable accessories. There are three products in the collection: the Decora Girlz 5-inch Collectible Mystery Dolls, which include eight surprises in each unboxing; the 11-inch Fashion Girlz, which have fully poseable bodies and mix-and-match outfits; and the Decora Girlz Sticker Store Playset, which comes with an exclusive 5-inch Art doll, reusable stickers, a shopping bag, a cash register, and a trash can for kids to act out shopping scenes.

The brand will also debut at FAO Schwarz in New York City — starting tomorrow, March 2 — with a window takeover and a dedicated Decora Girlz section in the store along with in-store activations each weekend this month. Decora Girlz will be more widely available at Walmart and Amazon later this month.

The Decora Girlz are a fun introduction to Decora Kei, even if kids aren’t already superfans of Japanese culture.


DECORA GIRLZ DOLL COLLECTION

Source: Cepia

The collection features 5- and 11-inch dolls dressed in Decora Kei-styled clothing. Kids can customize their dolls with brushes, combs, stickers, and accessories. The collection also includes the Decora Sticker Store Play Set, which offers on-the-go play and stores the 5-inch doll and its accessories.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $9.97-24.99
  • Age:
  • 4+

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Screen-Free Toys for the National Day of Unplugging on Fox News

Toy Insider Editor-in-Chief Ali Mierzejewski joined Fox News to talk about some great toys to encourage kids to play and connect without screens. For more on the items featured in this segment, check out the product notes below.


TINY PLANTS

Grow creativity with this LEGO Icons Tiny Plants (10329) building project for adults. Craft nine model plants based on arid, tropical and carnivorous species, each nestled in a buildable, terracotta-colored plant pot. Choose different models for easy, medium, and advanced levels of building complexity, and enhance your space with a colorful contemporary display.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $49.99
  • Age:
  • 18+

PICKLEBALL BLAST

Pickleball Blast puts a new spin on the sport with a board game-size tabletop court and a net with an attached Screamin’ Pickle launcher. Using the thumb-powered pickleball paddles, players send the Pickle play piece soaring and try to flip the pickle lids at the other end of the court.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $19.99
  • Age:
  • 8+

Buy Now

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CRAYOLA COLOR WONDER

Color Wonder offers a mess free, magic reveal coloring experience that keeps kids busy and engaged by the freedom to be creative, choose their colors, and design their own unique way. The new Color Wonder Foldalopes include Cocomelon and Spidey & His Amazing Friends. Holds everything in one place and features 18 themed coloring pages…

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $4.99-7.99
  • Age:
  • 3+

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COCOMELON 10-INCH BALANCE BIKE

This bike features a vibrant teal, purple, and red color scheme with CoComelon-inspired original graphics on the frame and a confetti print on the seat. It has a removable handlebar bag kids can use to store their possessions while on the go.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $79.00
  • Age:
  • 2+

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What’s Coming to Netflix for Families in March

Today is March 1, meaning it’s time to grab the remote and see what’s coming to Netflix. From preschoolers to teenagers, this month’s lineup has a collection of new and returning titles perfect for the whole family.  

Families should suit up for action because these heroes are kicking off the March lineup with style. Starting March 1, Spider-Man fights The Lizard and Electro in The Amazing Spider-Man and The Amazing Spider-Man 2. Kids can join Young Dai on an epic journey in the animated series Dragon Quest: The Adventure of Dai. 

Preschoolers love making new friends, and now these friendships can extend to their screens. Coming March 4, Hot Wheels Let’s Race is a new Netflix series featuring six kids on a mission to become the next generation of amazing racers. More friendships lie under the sea in Gabby’s Dollhouse, and the show’s ninth season will air on Netflix starting March 25. 

Young girls can celebrate Women’s History Month with movies and series featuring strong female leads. On March 14, kids can watch Barbie and her sister go on a hot-air balloon adventure in Barbie & Stacie to the Rescue. Kids can also enjoy adventures in Paris on March 12 with the sixth season of Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir. 

Kids aren’t the only ones having fun. Teens ages 13 and up can watch Damsel, a film starring Millie Bobby Brown as a princess who saves herself when sacrificed to a fire-breathing dragon. Teens can expand their binge-watch list by watching a new season of Blown Away. These Netflix Originals will be available for teens’ viewing pleasure on March 8.

Whether it’s family movie night or a time to relax, everyone can enjoy their spring breaks with this new list of Netflix releases.

Starlight Children’s Foundation Launches Power of Play Campaign

Starlight Children’s Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to delivering happiness to hospitalized kids, has launched its Power of Play campaign. The month-long campaign starts today and aims to raise $225,000 for its programs through different activations, including its annual Stream for Starlight Spring Steam event, and bring awareness to the healing power of play for kids in hospitals.

Starlight Children’s Foundation strives to implement play through vital programs made possible with partners such as Nintendo of America, Radio Flyer, and more. The Foundation offers toy deliveries and programs like Starlight Gaming, Starlight Radio Flyer Hero Wagons, Starlight Hospital Gowns, and Starlight Virtual Reality to children’s hospitals and healthcare facilities for free. Funds raised through the Power of Play campaign will help place Starlight programs at numerous partner hospitals.

Starlight Virtual Reality provides VR sets to kids in hospitals. | Source: Starlight Children’s Foundation

There are several key dates for the Power of Play campaign. A 50-hour raid train streaming event will kick off on March 8 at 4 p.m. ET to raise $50,000 in support of Starlight Gaming by Mario Day on March 10. The kick-off event on Starlight’s Twitch channel will feature popular creators like TheHungerService, Smirky, Amish_Ace, and more.

From March 10-31, Starlight will host its annual Spring Stream fundraising event on Twitch with more than 120 content creators. Throughout the entire month of March, Child Life Specialist Month, child life specialists are invited to share play techniques for healing and recovery on social media.

On March 27, Little Red Wagon Day, kids of all ages can use their favorite Radio Flyer wheels, including the Starlight Radio Flyer Hero Wagon.

Starlight Gaming provides video games to hospitalized kids. | Source: Starlight Children’s Foundation

According to the Foundation, when play is a core part of a kid’s treatment, it can have a positive effect by helping kids comply with treatments and reducing pain levels. With play at the center of medical treatment, kids have an outlet for processing and expressing emotions, which can help them heal faster.

Starlight Children’s Foundation invites the community, individuals, and companies to support the campaign and make an impact on kids facing illness. For more information, or to make a contribution, visit starlight.org/play.

The First-Ever School Bus Joins Hess Truck Lineup

Hess is adding the iconic yellow school bus to its lineup of plush trucks. This is the first time that Hess has launched a school bus vehicle.

Designed for kids ages 0 and up, the My Plush Hess Truck 2024 School Bus features a vehicle full of personality, including bright eyes and a smile on its face. The plush features squeeze-activated, flashing LED lights and music, including the Hess-original song “Get on the Bus,” the classic “Wheels on the Bus,” and the new “Hess Bus.” The plush also features a mute mode, so kids can enjoy the lights without all of the music. Night-light mode also has a 15-minute automatic shut-off timer. The plush comes with a 2024 commemorative license plate, a customizable keepsake gift tag, and batteries. 

My Plush Hess Truck 2024 School Bus | Source: Hess

The limited-edition plush school bus is the first installment in this year’s 60th anniversary celebration of the Hess Toy Truck. Hess will also launch a miniature collection of Hess Toy Trucks in June and its annual holiday truck in October.

The My Plush Hess Truck 2024 School Bus will be sold exclusively at hesstoytruck.com for $35.99 starting today, March 1.

Expert Review: Fuggler’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Collection

You’ve Never Seen Anything Like These TMNT Plush Before

  • A new, quirky take on kids’ favorite ninja turtles
  • Each features fur, shiny eyes, and human-like teeth
  • Comes in pizza box-inspired packaging

This collection of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles-themed plush features Leonardo, Raphael, Donatello, and Michelangelo as kids have never seen them before. These “fuggly” (funny and ugly) plush feature turtle shells and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ iconic masks with the unique styling of Fuggler monsters. All four plush come in pizza box packaging, just like the turtles’ fave snack!

These goofy looking plush are the most unique piece of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles merch we’ve ever seen. Each of the four plush features a different, bizarre style. They may be fuggly, but they’re also totally snuggly. The Leo plush is designed to look like a weird, toothy take on a fox. The Michelangelo Fuggler could be a teddy bear, if you squint. The Donatello plush looks *almost* like a turtle, but his arms are way too long! Finally, Raphael’s Fuggler may be the fugg-liest of them all, featuring a gaping maw of a mouth, bugged-out crazy eyes, and long, shaggy fur. The TMNT Fugglers also come in pizza box-style packaging, which brings all of the iconic weirdness together.

Some younger kids may find these plush a bit scary or off-putting because of the out-of-the-box styling, so this is a gift best reserved for more seasoned TMNT fans.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles fans. Anyone looking for a more obscure gift. Proponents of all things weird and goofy.


TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES X FUGGLER LEONARDO

Leonardo from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles has a new look. This funny, ugly plush features Leonardo as a green fox-like creature complete with human-like teeth, slitted eyes, a bushy green tail, a BUTT-on hole, a blue mask, and his turtle shell, complete with a katana sword printed on.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $7.97
  • Age:
  • 4+

TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES X FUGGLER DONATELLO

Donatello from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles has a new look. This funny, ugly plush features Donatello as a unique-looking creature complete with human-like teeth, long green arms, wide-gazing eyes, a BUTT-on hole, a purple mask, and his turtle shell, complete with his bo staff printed on.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $7.97
  • Age:
  • 4+

TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES X FUGGLER MICHELANGELO

Michelangelo from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles has a new look. This funny, ugly plush features Mikey as a green bear-like creature complete with human-like teeth, slitted eyes, a BUTT-on hole, an orange mask, and his turtle shell, complete with printed-on nunchaku.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $7.97
  • Age:
  • 4+

TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES X FUGGLER RAPHAEL

Raphael from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles has a new look. This funny, ugly plush features Raph as a furry, wild creature complete with human-like teeth, a gaping mouth, slitted eyes, a BUTT-on hole, a red mask, and his turtle shell, complete with printed-on sai swords.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $7.97
  • Age:
  • 4+

36 Toys and Gifts for a Bright and Hoppy Easter Basket

As Sunday, March 31 approaches, the Easter bunny (and his devoted assistants, AKA parents) are gathering gifts and goodies for Easter baskets. When putting together an Easter basket, it’s important to find products that are fairly mess-free, entertaining, and — after hunting for eggs — have zero grams of sugar. We’ve rounded up some products that check all the boxes!

These spring and Easter-inspired toys are perfect for kids of all ages and interests. You’ll find arts and crafts kits, educational toys, outdoor toys, must-have springtime dolls, Easter card games, water balloons, bubbles, and plush toys that fit the season. If you want to decorate eggs without the smell and mess of liquid dye, there’s also a PEEPS egg decorator.

Scroll for 35 spring-themed toys and gifts that your kids will love, without the additional sugar high.


GABBERS

Gabbers talk, sing, and tweet! Kids can place the magnetic, fabric-covered egg under their shoulder sleeve and the Gabber will perch on top. Press the tummy to hear it repeat and tweet what you say in a fun voice. Choose from Jay Blue, Finch Pink, and Owl White.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $14.99
  • Age:
  • 4+

Buy Now

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HORSES OF WATERFALL ASSORTMENT

Choose from several play sets to make the perfect horse farm. Feeding Time with Ellie and Sawdust includes an Ellie figure, a Sawdust the horse, and several accessories like a riding helmet, and apples. The Three Horses with Saddles set includes three toy horses, a lasso, curry comb set, and more. This collection is eco-friendly.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $9.99-149.99
  • Age:
  • 5+

LEGO CHERRY BLOSSOMS

This 430-piece LEGO set is perfect for spring! Kids can build two cherry blossom twigs and combine the colors of the buds for unique stems.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $14.97
  • Age:
  • 8+

GUND SUSTAINABLY SOFT PLUSH

Each friend in this line is crafted with recycled plush, fiber fill, thread, and pre-consumer recycled beads. They are also adorned with baby-safe accessories, such as cream-colored bows and soft bandanas.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $20
  • Age:
  • 0+

Buy Now

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STAR WARS DOORABLES GALAXY PEEK

Discover 25 figures inspired by content from the Star Wars universe. Chase after characters like Darth Vader, Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, Han Solo, C-3PO, Grogu, and the Mandalorian. The Death Star-inspired capsule doubles as a display and includes four characters. Each mini figure stands approximately 1.5 inches tall and has the signature Doorables glittery eyes.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $9.99
  • Age:
  • 5+

Buy Now

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CRAYOLA COLOR WONDER MINI BOX SETS

Kids can color their favorite characters using the specially formulated markers and paper — the markers only color on the paper, so walls, skin, and clothes are safe. Each set includes 12 coloring pages and four Wonder Color markers. Choose from PAW Patrol, Disney Princess, Spidey & His Amazing Friends, and Bluey!

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $7.97
  • Age:
  • 3+

HIDE & SEEK VEGETABLE GARDEN

Kids can learn how to count and how to identify colors with a cute toy bunny! The 10-piece set includes five garden pots, four plastic vegetables, a funny bunny, and an activity guide with Earth-friendly facts and learning opportunities.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $19.99
  • Age:
  • 18MOS+

SKETCH PALS DOODLE BOARD AXOLOTL & DRAGON

Kids can draw with the stylus or their finger, then press the animal's nose to clear the board and start again. Each animal board features the tethered stylus and clips to backpacks or car seats for screen-free entertainment on the go.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $19.99
  • Age:
  • 4+

COOKEEZ MAKERY TOASTY TREATZ

Put the bread in the colorful toaster and watch a surprise breakfast treat-themed plush pop up. Each of the squishy plush — Pnutty & Jam Tiger, Pan Kitty, Panda Au Chocolat, Unicorn Tart, Strudel Poodle, and more — has a distinct smell.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $9.99
  • Age:
  • 5+

Buy Now

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EASTER COLORING TABLECLOTH

This tablecloth has Easter and spring-themed designs for kids to color! Use markers, crayons, colored pencils, or paint to color the tablecloth then hang it up as a poster.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $34.99
  • Age:
  • 18MOS+

DECORA GIRLZ 5-INCH DOLLS

Meet the nine colorful, themed Decora Girlz 5-inch dolls! Each comes with eight surprises: fantastic hair, adorable fashions, and stickers.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $9.97
  • Age:
  • 4+

Buy Now

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DANCING CRAB BUBBLE MACHINE

This self-walking crab bubble machine moves side-to-side on its eight moving legs. Listen to fun underwater music as the machine dances back and forth, emitting a continuous stream of bubbles blowing from its mouth. The machine comes with a 4-oz bottle of bubble solution.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $19.99
  • Age:
  • 3+

FOIL FUN — BUGS AND BUTTERFLIES

Kids can use 10 picture canvases, more than 250 foam stickers, googly eyes, and 100 colored foil sheets to create sparkly spring pictures. They just peel the sticker and press the foil sheet to their canvas!

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $19.97
  • Age:
  • 4+

STUMBLE GUYS COLLECTIBLE FIGURE BLIND BOX

Kids can unbox one of 24 Stumble Guys characters with this surprise toy. The inner package of each box is designed to look like a real game map that can be used as a playing platform.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $2.99
  • Age:
  • 8+

Buy Now

Available: Spring 2024

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FINGERLINGS SWEET TWEETS

This bird comes in pink and blue and features more than 40 sounds and reactions. When kids put the bird on their finger, they can record and play back secret messages or the bird can listen to and repeat what kids say.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $9.99
  • Age:
  • 5+

Buy Now

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KANOODLE GAME

Kids can challenge their noggins with this brain-twisting solo game. Kanoodle is a 2D and 3D brain teaser puzzle game that includes 12 puzzle pieces, 200 puzzle challenges, and a carrying case. Perfect for enhancing problem-solving, critical thinking, and strategic thinking skills.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $13.99; $19.99 CAD
  • Age:
  • 7+

Buy Now

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DINO SMASH N SQUISH

Kids can break into these squishy dinos with these crack and reveal eggs. They can use the prehistoric bone to smash and crack the egg and reveal one of four squishy dinos.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $9.99
  • Age:
  • 4+

SOPPYCID 8-PACK REUSABLE WATER BALLOONS

These reusable water balloons are self-sealing and splash quickly on contact. Made from a silicone material and featuring a magnetic suction automatic closing, these eco-friendly reusable water balloons are also safe to use in the pool.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $27.99
  • Age:
  • 3+

NEEDOH MAGIC COLOR EGGS

Once you remove the eggshell and squeeze the dough, the white egg turns into a colorful rainbow! The soft, stretchy dough will return to the original egg shape afterwards.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $4.99
  • Age:
  • 3+

FRESH INSPIRATIONS COLORING BOOKS

This collection of coloring books was created with designs to reduce anxiety and encourage creativity. Each contains 64 pages of diverse artwork and intricate designs.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $7.99
  • Age:
  • 8+

Buy Now

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EASTER EGG STEM LIGHT UP KIT

This kit includes three Easter eggs, four colorful paper baskets, and a Snap Circuits LED circuit. Kids just decorate the eggs, assemble the LED circuit, and watch their Easter design light up!

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $9.99
  • Age:
  • 8+

RUBIK’S 50TH ANNIVERSARY RETRO CUBE

Displayed in a replica of the 1980s issue packaging, this blast to the past is decorated with the original Rubik’s Logo and classic-colored stickers. The yellow side of the cube has been replaced with a deep gold in celebration of this momentous occasion.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $14.99
  • Age:
  • 8+

Buy Now

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PLAY-DOH EASTER BAG

There are nine egg-shaped Play-Doh containers in one bag! Kids can have Easter fun with red, orange, yellow, green, blue, teal, pastel purple, and neon pink Play-Doh.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $9.99
  • Age:
  • 3+

BUMBUMZ SPRINGBUMZ PLUSH COLLECTION

This spring-themed collection of BumBumz plush includes Carson Carrot, Cammie Yellow Chick, Ethan Hard Boiled Egg, Cosimo Watering Can, and Blair Bird House (sold separately or in a 5-pack).

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $4.99-7.99
  • Age:
  • 3+

Buy Now

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MAKE IT MINI FOOD SPRING SERIES

Create mini versions of your favorite spring dishes! Using resin and tweezers, kids can create Easter-themed mini toy cupcakes and more.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $9.96
  • Age:
  • 8+

KOOSH SLINGSHOT

With a simple load, pull, and launch, kids can use this easy-to-use slingshot to send the three included mini Koosh balls soaring up to 50 feet or more. It features an easy-to-grip-and-aim handle that also stores the Koosh balls when playtime is over.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $17.99
  • Age:
  • 6+

Buy Now

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PEEPS EGGMAZING EGG DECORATOR

Decorate eggs without dye using this PEEPS-themed egg decorator! Add the egg to the decorator, press the button, and watch it spin as you use the included markets to make different designs. It is available as a yellow, pink, or blue PEEP.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $29.99
  • Age:
  • 3+

HOPPY SALMON

This version of the card game Happy Salmon includes Easter-themed cards and actions! The 90-second card game is made for 3-6 players. Each card has an action that requires a partner. Players must shout their actions and find their match, complete the action, then discard and repeat. Remove all cards to win.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $9.99
  • Age:
  • 6+

BARBIE POP REVEAL — FRUIT SERIES

Put the lid on and pop the top with a straw-like piece for slime to release over ice cubes! The posable Barbie doll is scented and fruit-themed, and some of the doll's features change with water. A squishy, scented pet and accessories are also included. Choose from Fruit Punch, Grape, Strawberry Lemonade, and Watermelon.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $16.99
  • Age:
  • 3+

FARM WORLD 8 PIECE RABBIT HUTCH SET

This set includes two baby rabbits, a mama rabbit, a hutch, and accessories! Animal-lovers will enjoy the realistic figurines and details.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $24.99
  • Age:
  • 3+

HELLO KITTY & FRIENDS COLORING ACTIVITY KIT

This Easter-themed activity kit includes four mini markers, four crayons, two die-cut coloring shapes, two paper dolls, two doll stands, a sketchbook with 15 sheets of paper, and two sticker sheets. Sanrio characters are featured in bunny costumers with Easter eggs and more, and the case fits the tools.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $4.98
  • Age:
  • 3+

STICKER WOW!

Each kit features a different animal-themed sticker stamper that kids can use to stamp through 24 pages of counting, matching, and search-and-find activities. The refillable sticker stamper comes pre-loaded with 300 easy-to-remove assorted stickers with 100 unique designs in every stack.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $11.99
  • Age:
  • 3+

Buy Now

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COUNTING CARROTS

Kids can work on counting skills and color recognition with the wooden carrot stacker.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $27.99
  • Age:
  • 18MOS+

LITE-BRITE MINI SPRING EDITION

This lime-green Lite-Brite comes with 85 mini pegs and six spring-themed templates: bee, chick, worm, butterfly, egg, and flower! The mini screen measures 3 by 3 inches.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $7.99
  • Age:
  • 4+

Buy Now

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RAINBOW BRITE AND STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE 5.5″ FASHION DOLLS

The Rainbow Brite and Strawberry Shortcake 5.5" Fashion Dolls are the perfect addition to any doll collection! These stylish dolls have 29 points of articulation and include four surprises for fans to reveal. Their outfits are interchangeable and Strawberry Shortcake's hair even has a sweet scent.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $17.99
  • Age:
  • 3+

BUNNY BRUNCH

In this game, kids will race to complete patterns on the plates to feed the bunnies before the mouse eats the bunny food.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $19.99
  • Age:
  • 3+

Buy Now

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Unplugged Family Fun on WGN Chicago

Toy Insider Senior Editor/Toy Book Editor-in-Chief James Zahn joined WGN in Chicago to show screen-free toys that kids and parents will love. For more on the items featured in this segment, check out the product notes below.


LITE-BRITE SUPER BRIGHT HD POKÉMON EDITION

Kids can unleash their inner Pokémon Trainers with the Lite-Brite Super Bright HD. This retro toy features six high-definition Pokémon templates with eye-popping designs like Pikachu, Great Ball, and Poke Ball. With 1000 mini pegs and four light modes, kids can create colorful artwork to bring Pokemon to life!

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $24.88
  • Age:
  • 6+
  • Battery Requirements:
  • 3 AA

AIR TOOBZ

This STEM-based set features a kid-safe turbine that sends foam balls flying through a network of modular tubes and connectors that kids can arrange however they'd like for fun and educational experimentation.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $139.95
  • Age:
  • 3+

Buy Now

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LEGO STAR WARS R2-D2

Invite the most beloved droid in the Star Wars universe into your home with this playful, buildable model. Rotate R2-D2’s head and attach his third leg when it’s time to move. You can also connect his iconic radar and tools. Showcase the creation with the R2-D2 information plaque, an R2-D2 LEGO figure and a special…

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $99.99
  • Age:
  • 10+

Buy Now

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PICKLEBALL BLAST

Pickleball Blast puts a new spin on the sport with a board game-size tabletop court and a net with an attached Screamin’ Pickle launcher. Using the thumb-powered pickleball paddles, players send the Pickle play piece soaring and try to flip the pickle lids at the other end of the court.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $19.99
  • Age:
  • 8+

Buy Now

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CONNETIX 50-PIECE RAINBOW TRANSPORT PACK

This magnetic building set includes motion bases with real rubber wheels that kids can use to build trucks, trains, aircraft, ambulances, fire engines, forklifts, and more. This STEAM toy helps kids explore and identify shapes, colors, and more.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $75.00
  • Age:
  • 3+

Buy Now

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Expert Review: Learning Resources’ Hide & Seek Vegetable Garden

Go green! This eco-friendly playset is made from recycled materials.

  • This 10-piece playset encourages open-ended roleplay while also reinforcing healthy habits.
  • Includes play vegetables, pots, and a bunny figure.
  • Practice counting, object permanence, fine motor skills, and more!

The Hide and Seek Vegetable Garden is a 10-piece playset that challenges kids to practice counting, stacking, and sorting. There are five pastel, numbered pots and rubber vegetables including a clove of garlic, a carrot, a beet, and a radish. Kids can even search for a friend hiding in the fifth pot: Funny Bunny!

This set helps develop counting, memory, and fine motor skills. With a plethora of creative ways to play, the playset is definitely worth its price. It’s also made with durable recycled plastic and promotes environmental education. The included pamphlet features kid-friendly sustainability facts, so caregivers can teach their little ones about bunnies, carrots, and gardening galore! The miniature vegetables are well designed and stand out from plastic foods commonly found in kitchen sets.

The entire playset is waterproof and can be put in the tub! This would make a great bonus toy for bathtime.

Preschoolers, teething toddlers, and curious kids with green thumbs. With Spring right around the corner, this set is timely and makes for a perfect Easter gift!


HIDE & SEEK VEGETABLE GARDEN

Kids can learn how to count and how to identify colors with a cute toy bunny! The 10-piece set includes five garden pots, four plastic vegetables, a funny bunny, and an activity guide with Earth-friendly facts and learning opportunities.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $19.99
  • Age:
  • 18MOS+

Kids Can Explore a Post-Apocalyptic World in Life in Reterra

Kids can visit the end of the world in Hasbro’s new game.

Designed for kids ages 10 and up, Life in Reterra is a community-building board game that takes place in a post-apocalyptic world in which players have to build a new way of living. To start, players choose one of three ready-to-play themed building sets and take turns laying tiles to be filled with buildings and inhabitants. The more a player’s community thrives, the more points they get.

Building cards can unlock powers to help players earn more points, but the game changes each time players create their own sets of buildings. As the game goes on, players can interact with other players and even interfere with their progress. At the end of the game, the player with the highest score wins.

Life in Reterra is the perfect addition to a family game night lineup. The game is also made with FSC-certified paper and wood and the rays are made with 30% recycled plastic, so you can feel good about the environment and a fun night. Life in Reterra is available for preorder now at Target and is expected to ship at the end of March. 


LIFE IN RETERRA

Life in Reterra is a community-building board game that takes place in a post-apocalyptic world in which players have to build a new way of living. To start, players choose one of three ready-to-play themed building sets and take turns laying tiles to be filled with buildings and inhabitants. The more a player's community thrives,…

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $29.99
  • Age:
  • 10+

Kids Can Catch Them All with New Pokémon Video Game and App

Little trainers can look forward to a new video game and app!

Pokémon is readying for the next two years of reveals and releases, sure to have any young fan ready to catch their favorites. On Pokémon Day yesterday, a Pokémon Presents event highlighted all that’s on the way, from a series premiere to content for existing apps. Maybe the most exciting of the new sneak previews include the upcoming entry into the game series, Pokémon: Legends Z-A, and an app for fans of the Pokémon trading card game (TCG).

Pokémon Legends Z-A will be released next year. | Source: The Pokémon Co.

In Pokémon: Legends Z-A, players will return to the Kalso Region, last visited in Pokémon X and Pokémon Y. The game takes place in the vibrant Lumiose City, where a new urban redevelopment plan is underway to make a space designed for both people and Pokémon. The game will be released next year.

Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket will be available this year on iOS and Android. This new app will invite players to open booster packs, collect cards, and engage in quick battles with streamlined rules inspired by the classic Pokémon TCG battle system. The free-to-start app is being developed in collaboration with Creatures, the makers of the Pokémon TCG, and DeNA.

Pokémon remains ever-popular with fans across age groups. Since its introduction in 1996, nostalgic adults and young fans have enjoyed everything the franchise has to offer. A new video game as well as a new way to engage with the popular TCG aims to continue that trend. 

Watch the full Pokémon Presents event below to get a full picture of what’s upcoming for the brand:

A Pokémon Presents event revealed future plans for the brand. | Source: The Pokémon Co.

Escape the Playtime Co. Store in the New ‘Poppy Playtime Forever’ ‘Roblox’ Experience

Kids can enter Playtime Co. Store again — this time on Roblox! A new Roblox experience based on the Poppy Playtime video game is joining the gaming platform. 

The trailer shows how users can build their own levels. | Source: Mob Entertainment

In Poppy Playtime Forever, up to 10 Roblox users can unite as they search the abandoned toy factory, unlock new environments, and overcome challenges. Gamers can also create their own levels and play other user-generated levels.

Kids will see their favorite, creepy characters like Huggy Wuggy and Kissy Missy in the experience. Roblox users can also customize their avatar exclusive Poppy Playtime-themed accessories and earn skins, characters, and more.

The game will be available online at roblox.com tomorrow, so players can start warming up their gaming skills now. 

Build-a-Bear’s Easter Shop Is Open for Bunny Business

Hop ‘til you drop! The Build-A-Bear Easter shop is back and bunnier than ever!

Thanks to Build-A-Bear, kids may be finding even more than eggs in their Easter baskets this Spring season. The company has opened its full Easter shop, so as kids ready for their next egg hunt, they can find the perfect furry friend to join them. 

The shop page features the iconic Build-A-Bear plush with an Easter twist. Beloved animal characters are now dressed as bunnies and splashed with Easter pastels. Kids can also get their hands on their favorite sweet treat in plush form thanks to the Peeps Plush Collection. If more egg hunt options are needed, Build-A-Bear has the Golden Egg, an Easter egg with a surprise mini plush inside. Build-A-Bear even has options for Easter baskets, with plush baskets ready to be filled with any finds. 

Build-A-Bear will also be celebrating the Spring season in its stores. On March 16, 23, and 30, participating Build-A-Bear Workshops will host a meet-and-greet with Pawlette the bunny from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Pawlette will be giving bunny ears to guests, so the whole store can get in on the Easter cheer! 

The newly opened Easter shop is live now on the Build-A-Bear website. For kids that want even more Build-A-Bear-based fun, the company’s Mini Beans plush are perfectly sized for basket-carrying. Whether kids love hedgehogs, frogs, or the iconic Easter bunnies, they can grab a basket and be Easter-ready with a new plush friend!

New ‘Alma’s Way’ Episodes to Showcase Bronx Culture

Alma’s Way, the educational children’s show, will air a week of new episodes highlighting Bronx culture, voting, and sustainability.

There will be five new episodes of the show, which was created by Sonia Manzano of Sesame Street, with two stories in each episode. Alma’s Way centers around 6-year-old Alma, a curious and kind Puerto Rican girl living in the Bronx. One of the notable new episodes is “Howard Brings the Beat.” The episode will showcase the work of Khalid Freeman, a body percussionist who has contributed to major events like Super Bowl halftime shows and Cirque du Soleil performances, and will see Alma join a neighborhood drum circle. 

In a new episode, Alma will join a drum circle. | Source: Fred Rogers Productions

There will also be an episode called “Alma the B Girl,” in which Alma will learn the art of breakdancing from Ana “Rokafella” Garcia, a celebrated breakdancer from Spanish Harlem. To accompany this episode, Alma’s Way will also release a live-action short, highlighting the skills of young talents in the breakdancing world. 

The new Alma’s Way episodes will begin airing Monday, March 4th. The PBS KIDS series from Fred Rogers Productions is available to stream on the PBS KIDS website.

Expert Review: Creative Crayons Workshop Party Bundles

Make your next party colorfully Fun!

  • This creative bundle includes a vibrant and spacious non-personalized coloring tablecloth, a table runner, and six placemats
  • Comes complete with a bonus surprise coloring item
  • Does double-duty at parties and gatherings as a table cover and a creative experience

Transform your next celebration into a colorful extravaganza with a Party Bundle from Creative Crayons Workshop! This specially curated set includes a vibrant, non-personalized coloring tablecloth measuring 3 feet by 6 feet, a charming coloring table runner measuring 17 inches by 60 inches, and a set of six coloring placemats. Each item features whimsical illustrations that set the stage for a fun and interactive experience for guests of all ages.

We adore the Party Bundle for its versatility and creativity! Not only does it add a flair to your festivities, but it also provides endless entertainment for guests. Plus, you have the option to use them as wall decorations to add an extra layer of versatility to your playroom activities or a kid’s bedroom!

These tablecloths, runners, and placemats are paper-based. Additionally, parents can submit their images for customization or work with the brand to create a personalized design for approval. Just allow for extra processing time if you are planning an event. The site also carries coloring puzzles, pajamas, stationery, and crayons!

Families looking to add a creative and interactive element to their celebration. Anyone looking for more screen-free activities. Families looking to keep kids busy at restaurants.


CREATIVE CRAYONS WORKSHOP PARTY BUNDLE

Families can make memories by coloring these holiday-themed tablecloths, table runners, or placemats. Each coloring sheet features images everyone can color. Kids can use markers, crayons, and colored pencils to decorate their paper tablecloths however they'd like. Families can add personal touches to their coloring sheets by adding a personalized message. 

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $49.99

New LEGO Games Are Coming to ‘Fortnite’

Since the launch of LEGO Fortnite last year, kids have had more fun than ever building (and destroying) in one of their favorite video games! The LEGO Group is once again teaming up with Epic Games for two new play experiences within Fortnite, including LEGO Raft Survival and LEGO Obby Fun, which together make up LEGO Islands. 

LEGO Raft Survival features a LEGO Pirates theme. During the game, Blackbeard challenges players to stay afloat on their rafts as cannonballs are shot. Players must collect wood and treasure along the way to build more rafts. LEGO Obby Fun is a LEGO-themed obstacle course that features climbing and problem solving. Each section of the LEGO obstacle course features a different theme, including LEGO Friends, LEGO City, LEGO Ninjago, and LEGO Dreamzzz. The game designers created LEGO Raft Survival and LEGO Obby Fun using Unreal Editor for Fortnite (UEFN).

LEGO Obby Fun | Source: The LEGO Group

Players can wear some of their favorite LEGO styles in LEGO Islands and LEGO Fortnite, including new styles available this year. New games and experiences from LEGO and Fortnite will continue to be released throughout the year.

Whether kids are already addicted to LEGO Fortnite or are looking for a new way to interact in one of their favorite video games, they can dive right into the new LEGO Islands games, available now in Fortnite.

The ‘Thomas & Friends: All Engines Go’ Season 27 Trailer Features Friends, Festivities, and Fun

Thomas the Train is back for a new season — and you can watch the new trailer!

Season 27 of Thomas & Friends: All Engines Go, the children’s TV series featuring Thomas the Train, will premiere on Netflix next month. Your little train-lover can watch their favorite characters in 26 11-minute episodes. If that’s not enough, the brand’s first-ever holiday movie, Thomas & Friends: The Christmas Letter Express, will premiere this fall.

Season 27 will feature new, original music. The first installment of 13 episodes will premiere in March, while the second installment of 13 episodes will be available for streaming on Sept. 19. 

The trailer features all of your favorite characters! | Source: Mattel

The new season follows Thomas and his automotive friends as they celebrate a new bakery-cafe that connects farm-to-table routes and stay busy by bringing ingredients and treats to festive tables. Thomas and other characters like Percy, Kana, Nia, Brunco, and Diesel work together to complete deliveries and accomplish the tasks at hand. 

The new 60-minute holiday special, premiering on Netflix Nov. 21, will feature three original holiday songs. In Thomas & Friends: The Christmas Letter Express, Percy finds a letter to Santa Claus on the bottom of his mail cart on Christmas Eve. Enlisting the help of his friends, Percy travels through parades, gingerbread bakes, and the snow to deliver the letter and make the kid’s Christmas wish come true. 

Mattel’s Thomas & Friends: All Engines Go will premiere on Netflix on March 7, so brush up on your train facts now!

New Claymates Figures Encourage Kids’ Creativity

Kids can play with clay in a new way!

A new brand is here to bring all the fun of clay to kids, backed by sustainability and inspired by Montessori teachings. Claymates wooden figures are designed to encourage child autonomy and hands-on learning.

Claymates kits come with wooden figures as well as clay. | Source: Claymates

The new brand has several different human figure offerings, all hand-turned in Maine. They are made with sustainable wood and come in Tall and Little sizes. Kids can decorate the figures with the included clay, giving them hairstyles, outfits, and more. The clay is non-hardening and doesn’t dry out, so it’s easy to reuse for new play sessions.

The company has a variety of kits with different Claymates. The cornerstone set is the Family of Six kit, which comes with 12 blocks of non-hardening clay as well as six figures, two Talls and four Littles, with brown walnut, light maple, or mixed wood tones. Other kits include the Family of Four set, sets of six figures, and the Claymates Classmates kit. Kids can also get individual figures, additional clay, and a wood rolling pin. 

The new Claymates kits are available to purchase now on the official website. They’re designed for kids ages 3 and up, encouraging creativity, imagination, and individual expression in kids across various ages. 

Claymates will also attend the Montessori Event in Orlando, Florida, from March 7-10. The company will offer guests free items, as well as the chance to play with Claymates in person.


CLAYMATES KITS

These sustainable wooden figures come in two sizes (Tall and Little) as well as light maple, brown walnut, and mixed wood tones. Kids can decorate them with the included non-hardening clay to give them hairstyles, outfits, and more. Choose from packaged sets or individual figures.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $33-120
  • Age:
  • 3+

Celebrate Pokémon Day with 18 Toys and Games

On this day in 1996, the most historic thing to ever happen in the history of history happened: the first Pokémon games entered our lives.

A lot of things have changed for the franchise since Pokémon Red, Blue, and Yellow were released, but fans’ love of Pikachu and all of his friends remains as electric(-type) as ever. In celebration of Pokémon Day, we rounded up 18 of our favorite toys and games for any type of fan. Catch ’em all below!


POKÉMON SYLVEON PLUSH BUNDLE

Kids can expand their Pokémon plush collection with the newest addition to Build-A-Bear Workshop. Sylveon is a fairy-type Pokémon with sky blue eyes, pink and white fur, and ribbonlike feelers. The bundle includes a Sylveon plush, cape, sleeper, and a 5-in-1 Sylveon sound chip.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $72
  • Age:
  • 3+

POKÉMON TCG: FIRST PARTNER POWER DOUBLE DECK BOX

Kids can prepare for any battle with this double-deck box. The box features a rainbow design starring the first partner Pokémon from numerous regions. Kids can store two decks of 60-sleeved cards and use the box's dividers to keep their collection organized.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $12.99
  • Age:
  • 6+

POKÉMON: THE OFFICIAL STICKER BOOK OF THE PALDEA REGION

This sticker activity book features the friendliest faces from all over Paldea. The 126-page book features over 500 stickers, information about all types of Pokémon, and their name pronunciations. The book also includes over 20 vinyl clings and a double-sided reusable art scene.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $14.99
  • Age:
  • 4+

LITE-BRITE SUPER BRIGHT HD POKÉMON EDITION

Kids can unleash their inner Pokémon Trainers with the Lite-Brite Super Bright HD. This retro toy features six high-definition Pokémon templates with eye-popping designs like Pikachu, Great Ball, and Poke Ball. With 1000 mini pegs and four light modes, kids can create colorful artwork to bring Pokemon to life!

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $24.88
  • Age:
  • 6+
  • Battery Requirements:
  • 3 AA

MINI POKÉBALL

Display the Pokéball on your desk, shelves, or cabinets! The officially-licensed miniature size Pokéball allows for compact display of an authentic Pokéball. Its built-in, touch-sensing, light-up feature illuminates white, green, or red when the censor is activated. It comes with a unique collectible silver-plated token that features different Pokémon silhouettes for each variant.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $59.99
  • Age:
  • Ages 12+

POKÉMON PRIMERS: BOX SET COLLECTION VOLUME 2

Source: Pokémon Center

Source: Pokémon Center

Source: Pokémon Center

Source: Pokémon Center

Early Pokémon players can join Pikachu, Eevee, and all their friends on an educational adventure. This book collection, best suited for younger children and early learners, features over 100 flaps to lift and reveal, a captivating storyline, and each Pokémon named in the books include their pronunciations to help both kids and parents alike. There are…

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $27.90 – $49.99
  • Age:
  • 3+

POKÉMON TRAINER MISSION

Kids can jump, climb, and crawl to find Pokémon with this electronic screen-free game. The handheld gaming device is packed with voices, music, lights, and movement to help kids power through 40 missions, find up to 65 Pokémon, and win the game.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $35.00
  • Age:
  • 5+

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POKÉMON WALKIE TALKIES — PIKACHU

These Pikachu-inspired two-way radio walkie talkies feature a 500-foot range so kids can share static-free messages. Designed for Pokémon Trainers ages 3 and up, these battery-operated walkies are durable, brightly colored, and lightweight for indoor and outdoor use.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $24.99
  • Age:
  • 3+
  • Battery Requirements:
  • 4 AAA

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CRAYOLA POKÉMON IMAGINATION ART SET

Source: Target

Source: Amazon

Source: Amazon

Source: Amazon

Take friends like Pikachu, Bulbasaur, Larvitar, Meowth, and Psyduck on the go! This packable Pokémon art set features 115 art pieces including: 56 Crayons, 15 Short Colored Pencils, 28 Washable Markers, and 15 Coloring Pages. Designed for kids ages 5 and up, it has safe and non-toxic ingredients you can trust.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $21.49
  • Age:
  • 5+

ROWLET POKÉMON NANOBLOCK POKÉMON SERIES

Expand your Pokémon collection by catching this Grass/Flying-type Pokémon. This easy-to-build entry-level kit has 170 pieces and is approximately 1.8 inches tall.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $12
  • Age:
  • 8+

CLEFAIRY SQUISHMALLOWS PLUSH

This 12-inch Squishmallows plush features the pink Pokémon Clefairy with a curly tail and embroidered Pokémon Center Poké Ball logo. The plush is available for preorder now and will ship mid-December.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $29.99
  • Age:
  • 3+

TEDDIURSA SQUISHMALLOWS PLUSH

This 12-inch Squishmallows plush features the Pokémon Teddiursa with soft fabric and an embroidered Pokémon Center Poké Ball logo. The plush is available for preorder now and will ship mid-December.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $29.99
  • Age:
  • 3+

DETECTIVE PIKACHU RETURNS

Kids can now join Detective Pikachu on a mystery-solving video game adventure across Ryme City in Detective Pikachu Returns for the Nintendo Switch. This game builds on the previous title in the series and includes new and exciting ways to investigate mysteries.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $49.99
  • Age:
  • E for Everyone

MEGA POKÉMON CENTER

Create the Pokémon Center with this 648-piece building set, which comes with four buildable Pokémon figures: Pikachu, Chansey, Eevee, and Togepi. Once the set is built, kids can turn a crank to see the characters move.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $79.99
  • Age:
  • 8+

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POKÉMON DREAMS PLUSH

This Pokémon plush collection is inspired by the new app Pokémon Sleep. Trainers can enjoy a restful night's sleep with their favorite pocket monster, while discovering Pokémon with rare sleep styles in-game.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $29.99
  • Age:
  • 4+

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POKÉMON SCARLET AND POKÉMON VIOLET

Explore an open world and encounter the Legendary Pokémon Koraidon and Miraidon in Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet, the newest games in the Pokémon franchise. The games are sold separately and made for the Nintendo Switch family of systems.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $59.99 each
  • Age:
  • 8+

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POKÉMON STAINED GLASS ART

Use the included, double-tipped markers to color in 18 pieces of Pokémon art that look like stained glass. Then, hang the art in a window to see light pass through it.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $22.99
  • Age:
  • 7+

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POKÉMON TRADING CARD GAME BATTLE ACADEMY

The latest version of Battle Academy introduces the Pokémon V gameplay mechanic and comes with an updated lineup of Pokémon, including Pikachu, Eevee, and Cinderace.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $19.99
  • Age:
  • 6+

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POKÉMON TRAIN & PLAY DELUXE PIKACHU

Featuring more than 50 unique reactions, this 4.5-inch Pikachu comes with two interactive berries that trigger reactions when kids hold it to Pikachu’s nose. The figure features light-up cheeks; makes sounds; and has movement in its arms, ears, and tail.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $29.99
  • Age:
  • 4+

Screen-Free Family Fun on NECN Boston

Toy Insider Parent and Contributing Editor Charlene DeLoach joined NECN in Boston to show off the best toys for families looking to unplug and have fun. For more on the items featured in this segment, check out the product notes below.


PLAYMOBIL CAMPSITE

This set contains everything kids need for a fun vacation under the open sky. The campsite features the joys of camping without ever leaving the house. Kids can create the camping trip of their dreams with the 100-piece set's three Playmobil figures, a kiosk, a table, chairs, and more camp-related accessories.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $54.99
  • Age:
  • 4+

KINETIC SAND SOFT SERVE STATION PLAYSET

Source: Spin Master

Source: Spin Master

With three color choices, kids can swirl, scoop, and shave Kinetic Sand into their very own ice cream treats. This six-piece playset encourages kids to foster creativity and practice fine motor skills.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $14.99

TINY PLANTS

Grow creativity with this LEGO Icons Tiny Plants (10329) building project for adults. Craft nine model plants based on arid, tropical and carnivorous species, each nestled in a buildable, terracotta-colored plant pot. Choose different models for easy, medium, and advanced levels of building complexity, and enhance your space with a colorful contemporary display.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $49.99
  • Age:
  • 18+

GECKO RUN MARBLE RUN

The set takes classic marble runs to the next level with creative challenges and pieces that attach to any smooth surface. Kids can create hills and jumps, and even turn corners to create tricks and stunts.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $34.95
  • Age:
  • 8+

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PICKLEBALL BLAST

Pickleball Blast puts a new spin on the sport with a board game-size tabletop court and a net with an attached Screamin’ Pickle launcher. Using the thumb-powered pickleball paddles, players send the Pickle play piece soaring and try to flip the pickle lids at the other end of the court.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $19.99
  • Age:
  • 8+

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The Heeler Family Enters Spring with Two New Episodes of ‘Bluey’

For real life, Bluey will return to the screens in April with two new episodes that will have your family screaming, “Wackadoo!” 

“The Sign” is Bluey’s first-ever, 28-minute feature episode, making its global premiere on Sunday, April 17. According to the Bluey website, the episode will feature the return of the Heeler family and their friends, including Uncle Rad, Frisky, Calypso, Trixie, and Brandy.

Bluey and Bingo will become Janet and Rita in the episode ‘Ghostbasket.’ | Source: Disney

Here come the grannies! Before the grand premiere, kids can expect a surprise visit from Janet and Rita (played by Bluey and Bingo) in a brand-new episode called ‘Ghostbasket’. The standard-length episode will set the stage for the anticipated special during its debut on April 7.

Kids can see more of the Heeler family and their crazy adventures by watching the latest episodes of Bluey.  Ten new episodes premiered on Disney+ in January and will air on Disney Channel and Disney Junior starting March 25. 

“The Sign” and “Ghostbasket” will be available on Disney+, Disney Junior, and Disney Channel after first airing on ABC Kids in Australia. To “keepy uppy” with the latest Bluey news, updates, and adventures, families can visit bluey.tv.

Explore Rainboville in the New Rainbocorn ‘Roblox’ Experience

If your kid loves their plush Rainbocorns and the webisodes featuring the furry friends, the new Roblox experience will be a perfect addition to their Rainbocorn play time!

There are several different Rainbocorns, and more than 30 characters will be available on Roblox. | Source: ZURU

In the Rainbocorn experience on the online gaming platform Roblox, kids can discover six unlockable areas in the Rainboville map and interact with Rainbocorns in a new way. There are 30 different Rainbocorns that players can watch hatch and grow, feed rainbow berries to, and accessorize! Matching outfits are also available for your kid’s avatar and their Rainbocorn. 

Players can go on quests with special reward items, grow their Rainbocorn offline by taking them to daycare, and climb the leaderboards to have their avatar and Rainbocorn featured in-game.

Before the launch next month, the game is being tested in demo mode to make sure it’s a fun, exciting online space for all Rainbocorn fans. Until then, fans can watch their favorite characters in webisodes on YouTube.

Expert Review: Rainbow Brite and Strawberry Shortcake 5.5-Inch Fashion Dolls from TLS Toy

Rainbow brite and strawberry shortcake make a fashionable comeback with these dolls

  • These dolls are inspired by those from the ’80s, but with modern fashion doll components for today’s kids and collectors.
  • They are fully poseable for role-play fun.
  • Each doll comes with four surprise accessories, elevating the play experience.

The 5.5-inch fashion dolls from TLS Toy bring two ’80s icons to today’s toyboxes. The Strawberry Shortcake and Rainbow Brite dolls have 29 points of articulation and are designed with high-quality materials to make them poseable and durable. Each one comes with four surprises in the box for kids to collect, including a comb, a purse, fashion accessories, lunchboxes, and some super-rare finds.

These Strawberry Shortcake and Rainbow Brite dolls can be collected and loved by all ages. They include the classic components of the dolls for adults to soak in all the nostalgia, but they’re also fun for kids to collect and make new memories with during playtime. Plus, Strawberry Shortcake’s hair smells sweet — just like you remember.

The dolls are sold separately from each other.

Kids who love fashion, dolls, or anything sweet. Collectors and adults who want a little taste of their childhood. An upcoming Mother’s Day present!


RAINBOW BRITE AND STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE 5.5″ FASHION DOLLS

The Rainbow Brite and Strawberry Shortcake 5.5" Fashion Dolls are the perfect addition to any doll collection! These stylish dolls have 29 points of articulation and include four surprises for fans to reveal. Their outfits are interchangeable and Strawberry Shortcake's hair even has a sweet scent.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $17.99
  • Age:
  • 3+

Expert Review: Upbounders’ Mommy’s Shadow Inspiring Careers Stacking and Building Cubes

Build belonging and foster dreams with these toy cubes

  • These cubes help kids learn occupations that different mothers have
  • Approachable illustrations highlight diverse mother-and-child dynamics
  • A lightweight construction and carrying handle mean on-the-go fun

Comprised of 10 cubes that stack to about 3 feet tall, this educational toy explains the different jobs moms can have — from movie star to meteorologist — and provides prompts and corresponding vocabulary words.

These stacking cubes represent diversity in so many ways, from the varied occupations mothers can have to the diverse appearances of mothers and their children. The cubes offer straightforward questions, like “What animals have you seen at the zoo?” and more challenging ones, like “Name the most important thing you own. Could you ever give it away?” These reaffirming yet thought-provoking cubes are a great way to explore family, careers, vocab, and belonging. The company itself has a lot to love as well: Upbounders is minority- and mother-owned, and creates products with eco-friendly packaging.

Although these cubes are intended for kids ages 2 and up, a lot of the vocabulary and concepts will be tricky for kids under 5 to grasp, so kids younger than that will mostly be building motor skills via play.

Socially and environmentally conscious households. Single mother households. Big families. Those looking to promote diversity and inclusion.


INSPIRING CAREERS MOMMY’S SHADOW STACKING AND NESTING BUILDING CUBES

This set comes with 10 stacking blocks in descending sizes featuring a diverse group of women in various family and career roles. Each cube also features a conversational prompt to inspire the next generation.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $19.99
  • Age:
  • 2+

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Expert Review: Craft HappiToys’ Do-It-Yourself Unicorn & Cloud Paint Kit

DECORATe AND RELAX WITH THIS ADORABLE DIY PAINTING SET

  • Kids can explore their creative sides with this stress-free activity kit.
  • The kit includes everything kids need to create magical masterpieces.
  • This painting set is perfect for on-the-go fun.

The Do-It-Yourself Unicorn & Cloud Paint Kit has everything kids need to create magical masterpieces, including two unicorn dioramas, 12 nontoxic color paints, and two paint brushes – one flat and one detail. Kids can add unique touches to their unicorns by following the kit’s three easy-to-follow steps. First, young artists decorate their sets with any color they like. The next step is waiting for the paint to dry, which takes no longer than 15 minutes. Lastly, kids assemble the unicorn, cloud, and rainbow pieces to form the diorama – no glue is required!

This arts and crafts activity set is perfect for on-the-go travels as kids can carry all their supplies inside the packaging. With the easy-to-blend paints, artists can explore their problem-solving skills by combining colors to make new ones. Perfect for mental relaxation, this kit includes a two-in-one feature, acting as a painting set and a decor piece once kids decorate it. When art time is over, parents will appreciate the cleaning process as it’s easy to wash split paint from most surfaces. The best part is how kids can continue their artistic journey by decorating papers, canvases, and more with the remaining paint and brushes.

Before playtime, parents should prep by setting out paper towels and a cup of water. Parents may lay a barrier between the paint and their surfaces to minimize the cleaning process.

This activity set is perfect for parents looking for screen-free and stress-free fun. Kids looking to explore their creative slides by mixing paints, building magical dioramas, and displaying a cute keepsake will enjoy this DIY unicorn kit. Perfect for indoor and outdoor fun, this kit is great for kids ages 3 and up. 


DO-IT-YOURSELF UNICORN & CLOUD PAINT KIT

This activity kit has everything kids need to create magical masterpieces, including two unicorn dioramas, 12 non-toxic color paints, and two paint brushes – one flat and one detail. Kids can decorate their unicorns and display cute decor pieces with this stress-free, screen-free paint set.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $9.90
  • Age:
  • 3+

The Dr. Lisa Co.’s New Doll Collections Are Full of Fun

More diverse dolls are on the way from The Dr. Lisa Co., and we can’t wait! The company is dropping two new doll collections in different sizes, which are perfect for dressing up and styling.

The Positively Perfect Baby Dolls are designed for toddlers ages 18 months and up. These multicultural dolls reflect different world ethnicities, including African American, Afro-Latina, Latino and HIspanic, Caucasian, Asian, and mixed race dolls. The dolls are 14.5 inches tall and have soft, washable hair in a variety of hair textures. 

The Positively Perfect Fresh Dreamers collection features all of the multicultural and diverse love that the Positively Perfect Baby Dolls have, but in an 18-inch doll. There are four dolls in the collection, each with their own relatable hobbies and interests that kids will love. Willow is an outdoorsy girl who wants to travel the world to find new kinds of edible plants. Cheyenne visits the elderly in her neighborhood to listen to their stories about their lives. Mira spends her Saturdays at the beach picking up litter from tide pools. Finally, Sable volunteers at an animal shelter playing with kittens.

The dolls in these new lineups are perfect ways to introduce kids to all different kinds of beauty.


POSITIVELY PERFECT BABY DOLLS

These multicultural dolls reflect different world ethnicities, including African American, Afro-Latina, Latino and Hispanic, Caucasian, Asian, and more. The dolls are 14.5 inches tall and have soft, washable hair in various textures.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $29.99
  • Age:
  • 18 MOS+

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POSITIVELY PERFECT FRESH DREAMERS DOLLS

These multicultural dolls reflect different world ethnicities, including African American, Afro-Latina, Latino and Hispanic, Caucasian, Asian, and mixed race dolls. The dolls are 18 inches tall and have soft, washable hair in a variety of hair textures along with their own unique personalities and interests.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $39.99
  • Age:
  • 18 MOS+

Join an Adorable Group of Rats Looking for Sweet Victory in ‘Pie-Rats!’

Next month, your family can join pirate rats on an exciting adventure for delicious pies — through the magic of storytelling, of course.

Pie-Rats! is a new children’s book by author Lisa Frenkel Riddiough and illustrator David Mottram. You’ll recognize her writing in Elvis and the World as It Stands and his drawings in stories like The New Kitten. Now, the duo has created an exciting tale featuring animals, pie, and an important journey.

The story, written for kids ages 3 and up, follows a group of rats on a quest to find their favorite pies. These pie-rats travel through harsh seas, battle scallywags, and search for different flavors of pies. It features hilarious rhyming text, adorable characters, and mouth-watering pies. Pie-Rats! showcases pirates in a fresh view of pirates and has strong read-aloud quality.

Kids will enjoy the puns, rhymes, colorful details, and (maybe above all) the pies!

You can add the story to your home library on March 12.


PIE-RATS!

Join a group of pirate rats as they search for their favorite pies in this rhyming, hysterical children's book.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $18.99
  • Age:
  • 3+

The Wiggles Launched New Series ‘Wiggle and Learn’ on YouTube

The Wiggles have a treat up those colorful sleeves for kids of a new generation to learn and enjoy. 

The entertainment group is launching a new series called Wiggle and Learn, designed exclusively for YouTube. It will explore themes including language development, basic math, social skills, health, and world understanding. 

The first episode, called Let’s Learn about Animals! is launched now on The Wiggles YouTube Channel. New episodes will be released there every two weeks, each lasting 30 minutes. One season will include 40 episodes. 

Each episode will feature one of The Wiggles alongside of other series characters, such as Dorothy the Dinosaur and Wags the Dog, who will serve as hosts with the remaining Wiggles joining throughout the episode. 

Wiggle and Learn has been produced with primarily close-up shots, so kids watching feel like The Wiggles are speaking directly to them. The series’ content will be designed to foster active participation and engagement for kids to have the best learning experience. 

Other episodes in this season will feature themes such as transportation, food, exercise, bedtime, preschool, emotions, space, dolls, and more for kids to learn about.

Expert Review: Funphix’s All-In-1 Construction Set — STEM Learning Indoor/Outdoor

Building up ENDLESS PLAY POSSIBILITIES

  • It can be assembled into several different structures.
  • Parents should double-check that the screws are secure and the set is stable before play time.
  • It is designed for indoor and outdoor play.

The All-In-1 Construction Set — STEM Learning Indoor/Outdoor is a create and play structure. The set includes 113 plastic tubes, nine colored plastic panels, various plastic connectors, wheels, and screws. Families can use the instruction booklet to assemble different play sets such as an automobile, slide, cottage, and escalator. The instructions provide step-by-step images to construct different forts, playhouses, jungle gyms, and more. Young engineers also have the opportunity to be creative and make tables with built-in shade and other structures with the included parts.

Kids will incorporate STEM subjects into play time if they help a family member assemble their desired structure; creating the play set also requires patience and team work! With numerous tubes and different types of connectors to work with, the construction possibilities are endless. Parents can use the versatile set in different ways as a kid grows, and order different pieces if they want to expand further. It’s also colorful and will brighten a playroom or outdoor space.

The construction set has a varying weight limit depending on what is designed, but staying under 150 lbs is ideal — parents should adhere to this weight limit and watch their kids closely as they play. Since provided screws are both secured and removed by using a key and turning it 90 degrees, double-checked all screws to confirm that they are appropriately locked in before play time begins. If kids are building a structure without parental guidance, parents should also confirm that it is stable and can support their kid. The set includes 467 pieces, so families should have an area to store the tubes, screws, and connectors when not in use. If possible, build out rather than up for a more stable play set.

Families looking to spend quality time working on a project that is functional after assembly; kids can exhaust their energy through building and playing. This construction set could also be a good fit for parents that want to teach their kids how to follow instructions or how to expand their imagination.


ALL-IN-1 CONSTRUCTION SET — STEM LEARNING INDOOR/OUTDOOR TOY

With numerous plastic tubes, connectors, screws, and colorful panels, you can create endless designs! Assemble a slide, scooter, table, and more from the instructions or your imagination. This construction set includes all the pieces young engineers need to complete their structure.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $599
  • Age:
  • 2+

30 Screen-Free Toys and Games to Entertain Kids on National Day of Unplugging

It’s everyone’s favorite holiday: National Day of Unplugging. Right?

With how much we depend on our technology to give us everything we need at the tap of a finger, maybe not so much. But with the right entertainment, it might just get there eventually.

The holiday, which falls on March 1 this year, is meant to encourage us to unplug, unwind, relax, and focus on things other than doom scrolling on social media. While your kids may not be Instagram-obsessed like the adults in your household, this can still be an opportunity to turn off the TV and the tablets and re-introduce them to the joys of screen-free play.

However, you will need to equip your household accordingly with plenty of toys to keep the temptations away. We’ve curated a list of crafts, games, and other activities that kids of all ages love to play with for hours on end. These toys will not only spark creativity and childlike wonder, but also might even make them forget about the tablet for the day.

Not to mention, these fun activities will have you playing a round of cards or making a bracelet alongside of little ones. While the benefits of unplugging for 24 hours are endless for adults and will lead to better sleep, more productive time, and more, you might just find that setting up these games and crafts for your kids will allow you to connect with your own inner child that may have been lost in the hours of social media. What could be more magical than that?


SHIMMER ‘N SPARKLE DIY ABC FASHION BEADS

Thanks to Taylor Swift’s ERAS tour, friendship bracelets are hotter than ever! Kids can design and create fashion friendship bracelets in bold and bright colors. The ultimate bestie wristwear for kids to wear and share! Show off unique styles by mixing and matching all the chic accessories. Kids can personalize bracelets with sayings using the…

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $12.60
  • Age:
  • 6+

CRAFT YOUR OWN MOSAIC FRAME

Create a colorful photo frame to display your favorite photographs with this craft kit.. Includes one wooden photo frame, shiny mosaic pieces, and plaster powder.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $14.99
  • Age:
  • 8+

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CONSERVATION CREW TONIES

Meet the Conservation Crew, the special group of animal helpers tasked to save the Earth! With the help of Mother Nature's mystical powers, these unique friends adventure across the world to save wild places and the animals who live there. Kids can place Bobby the Sea Turtle or Nina the Red Panda on top of…

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $19.99 EACH
  • Age:
  • 3+

TACO CAT GOAT CHEESE PIZZA

Race against other players to slap the pile first when the card matches the spoken word in the "Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza" sequence. It only takes a minute to learn before gameplay can get started, which lasts about 10-15 minutes.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $9.99
  • Age:
  • 8+

PLAYMOBIL COLOR

PLAYMOBIL is celebrating the comeback of its classic PLAYMOBIL Color series after a 45-year hiatus with five new sets released in collaboration with creativity powerhouse, CRAYOLA. The sets include basic white figures and a variety of accessories that can be customized and easily washed off. Kids’ imaginations will come to life as they personalize and…

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $16.99-34.99
  • Age:
  • 5+

SKETCH PALS FOREST FRIENDS

Choose from three clippable doodle buddies: Felix the Fox, Morris the Moose, or Izzy the Owl. Each features a tethered stylus and clips to backpacks or car seats for screen-free entertainment on the go.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $19.99
  • Age:
  • 4+

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SNARKAS CARD GAME

Snarkas is a card game that combines educational and fun elements. This addicting family game is played with two to four players with the goal to collect cards and earn the most gems.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $14.99
  • Age:
  • 8+

LEGO ICONS BOUQUET OF ROSES

Create an elegant display with flowers that will never wilt. The 822-piece LEGO set features a dozen roses and four sprigs of baby breath. You can decorate your home with LEGO roses, each depicting one of the three flowering stages, including bud, blooming, and full bloom.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $59.99
  • Age:
  • 18+

SORTING SNACKS MINI FRIDGE

Kids can open this fridge-shaped playset to discover 30 miniature foods in five colors, along with five shopping baskets. Kids can use these to practice counting, sorting, identifying patterns, and other learning skills.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $25
  • Age:
  • 3+

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106-PIECE PASTEL BALL RUN PACK

With this set, kids can design and build their own ball run systems. This pack comes with clear fluted tubes, eight colorful wooden balls, and pastel connector tiles. Different pieces in the set include soundscape staircases, S-bend tubes, split tubes, and other twists and turns that pack play full of potential. The Ball Run Pack…

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $125
  • Age:
  • 3+

PICKLEBALL BLAST

Pickleball Blast puts a new spin on the sport with a board game-size tabletop court and a net with an attached Screamin’ Pickle launcher. Using the thumb-powered pickleball paddles, players send the Pickle play piece soaring and try to flip the pickle lids at the other end of the court.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $19.99
  • Age:
  • 8+

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SCATTERGORIES STACKAGORIES

In this new twist on the iconic game, each player controls their own set of colored stacking pieces, and whoever has their piece on the top of the stack scores for that card. As players stack higher, they score more points.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $17.95
  • Age:
  • 12+

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CRAYOLA HD COLORING KIT

This kit comes with 20 premium pages of pre-shaded, HD, black-and-white photos that tweens can color using the 30 included colored pencils. The end result is a professional-looking art piece that they can display.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $19.99
  • Age:
  • 8+

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GECKO RUN MARBLE RUN

The set takes classic marble runs to the next level with creative challenges and pieces that attach to any smooth surface. Kids can create hills and jumps, and even turn corners to create tricks and stunts.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $34.95
  • Age:
  • 8+

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KINETIC SAND SOFT SERVE STATION PLAYSET

Source: Spin Master

Source: Spin Master

With three color choices, kids can swirl, scoop, and shave Kinetic Sand into their very own ice cream treats. This six-piece playset encourages kids to foster creativity and practice fine motor skills.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $14.99

MR. BENDY

Prompt cards inspire players to craft quickly to transform Mr. Bendy using wax sticks. Is he a golfer? An astronaut? Players score points by guessing correctly, and the player with the most points after four rounds wins the game.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $19.95
  • Age:
  • 8+

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STICKER WOW!

Each kit features a different animal-themed sticker stamper that kids can use to stamp through 24 pages of counting, matching, and search-and-find activities. The refillable sticker stamper comes pre-loaded with 300 easy-to-remove assorted stickers with 100 unique designs in every stack.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $11.99
  • Age:
  • 3+

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5 SECOND RULE RELAY

5 Second Rule just became more unpredictable with the new relay baton. Each player names one item in their given category and then passes the electronic baton. Here's the catch: You only have five seconds!

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $29.99
  • Age:
  • 8+

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ZHU ZHU AQUARIUM

From the makers of Zhu Zhu Pets, the Zhu Zhu Aquarium playset offers a mess-free pet experience. Build customized sea tunnels and watch the robotic, tropical fish scurry and swim through them in unexpected ways.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $29.97
  • Age:
  • 4+

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MONOPOLY GIANT EDITION

Trading property has never been more fun in this oversized and speedy take on the iconic Hasbro board game Monopoly. Players roll the Giant Die and move their Giant Token that number of spaces on the Giant Gameboard! If a player lands on an empty property space, they MUST buy it. Players mark the space…

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $34.99
  • Age:
  • 6+

LITE-BRITE SUPER BRIGHT HD POKEMON AND BARBIE EDITIONS

Light up creativity with the all-new Lite-Brite Super Brite HD Pokémon and Barbie Editions! Kids to kidults can now unleash their inner Pokemon Trainer or Barbie sparkle with double the LEDs, snap-on high- definition grid for and 1,000 colorful mini-pegs. Use the six HD templates included in each set or create masterpieces with light.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $24.99
  • Age:
  • 6+

WAFFLES VS PANCAKES

It’s a breakfast battle this holiday season with Waffles vs. Pancakes! Players choose a side, grab a spatula, and put on a blindfold. Then players race to fill their plate with waffles or pancakes! Collect bonus Food Fighter Cards, and avoid the Totally Toast Card! It’s a fan-flipping-tastic battle packed with fun for the whole…

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $14.99
  • Age:
  • 6+

MGA’S MINIVERSE MAKE IT MINI LIFESTYLE

Make and display mini lifestyle collectibles, ranging from mini aquariums with little fish to a mini cactus with tiny bags of soil. There are more than 100 lifestyle materials, packages, and accessories to collect and create.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $9.99
  • Age:
  • 8+

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KANOODLE GAME

Kids can challenge their noggins with this brain-twisting solo game. Kanoodle is a 2D and 3D brain teaser puzzle game that includes 12 puzzle pieces, 200 puzzle challenges, and a carrying case. Perfect for enhancing problem-solving, critical thinking, and strategic thinking skills.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $13.99; $19.99 CAD
  • Age:
  • 7+

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GIANT UNO NFL

This classic game of UNO is played on giant, oversized cards with images of NFL teams. The special 'Ice the Kicker' rule forces players to kick a field goal with a folded paper football through a goalpost of another player's hands.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $21.99
  • Age:
  • 7+

PEPPA PIG PEPPA’S CRUISE SHIP

This three-level playset features a jungle-themed dining room and theater, a cafeteria, a ball pit play space, a working elevator, and sleeping quarters with fold-out bunk beds. It comes with three character figures and 13 accessories.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $49.99
  • Age:
  • 3+

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ALPHABET LEARNING MAILBOX

Practice tracing skills, letter recognition, and beginning sounds with this mail-themed playset. Kids can use alphabet puzzle cards; puffy sticker “stamps”; and write-and-wipe, double-sided postcards to learn the alphabet and new vocabulary words before sliding their work into the mailbox.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $19.99
  • Age:
  • 4+

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KODAK PREMIUM PUZZLES 1000-PIECE

Kodak Premium Puzzles feature richer, truer, brighter colors. Mounted on a premium European puzzle board, these puzzles feature 1,000 pieces and are 20 inches by 27 inches when complete. The Kodak 50's Diner Jigsaw Puzzle pays tribute to the classic diner that parents remember. The ?Kodak New Hampshire Jigsaw Puzzle features a photograph taken in…

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $9.99 each
  • Age:
  • 8+

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TINKERTAR

Created by musicians Brian Calhoun, Dave Matthews, and John Alagia, this one-string melody maker is made of sustainable, responsibly sourced wood. Use the included 15-song songbook and colored and numbered finger positions to learn beginner guitar.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $24.99 EACH
  • Age:
  • 3+

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STMT INFINITY JEWELRY

This jewelry-making kit comes with infinity charms, waterproof chains, a protective cover, and pliers that kids can use to create 10 custom-fit infinity bracelets with no clasps or tools required.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $29.99
  • Age:
  • 8+

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Kids Can Adopt a New Bestie *Fur* Life with furReal

Is there a parent out there that hasn’t been asked to adopt a dog 700 times a week by their kiddos? Adopting a real pet isn’t always feasible, but parents can find kids the animal bestie of their dreams with furReal from Just Play.

furReal is a line of toys designed to bring kids as close to a real pet as they can get. The toys feature realistic sounds, soft fur, and, yes, some of them even have to “go” like a real pet does. Kids can explore their nurturing side, but also gain a companion for life.

Check out some of our favorites in the furReal line below!


FURREAL POOP-A-LOTS CORGI INTERACTIVE TOY

This soft, life-like pet poops! Feed the puppy some plastic food, attach the leash to the collar, walk, then watch it poop! It also comes with a hand-held poop scoop to clean the poop and store the food.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $19.99
  • Age:
  • 4+

FURREAL NEWBORNS INTERACTIVE TOY PETS

Kids can get ready to snuggle an adorable pal with either a puppy or kitten. They can nurture their new pets with a swaddle, brush their fur, and feed them with a bottle. These 6-inch cuties make sweet sounds and close their eyes when eating.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $14.99
  • Age:
  • 4+

FURREAL MY MINIS INTERACTIVE TOY

These pets can fit in your pocket! Kids can choose between a kitty, puppy, or piglet (or adopt all three!), each at 5 inches long. Their heads bobble up and down and their tails wag.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $9.99
  • Age:
  • 4+

FURREAL WALK-A-LOTS BERNEDOODLE INTERACTIVE TOY

Go for a stroll with this interactive pet. With a gentle push motion, kids can take this adorable pup for a walk around their house. The 8-inch toy barks, howls, and makes other puppy sounds.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $19.99
  • Age:
  • 4+

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Screen-Free Toys for Unplugged Fun on CBS Los Angeles

Toy Insider Media Correspondent Deborah Stallings Stumm KCAL in Los Angeles to show off the best new toys for kids whose parents are looking to unplug from screens and have some old-fashioned playtime. For more on the items featured in this segment, check out the product notes below.


RACK-O JR.

In this junior version of Rack-O, the goal is to be the first player to fill your rack with cards, from lowest to highest. Number cards are color-coded to match the colors of the rainbow (and colors on the racks). Special cards add excitement to this game designed for 2-4 players.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $12.95
  • Age:
  • 4+

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STICKER WOW!

Each kit features a different animal-themed sticker stamper that kids can use to stamp through 24 pages of counting, matching, and search-and-find activities. The refillable sticker stamper comes pre-loaded with 300 easy-to-remove assorted stickers with 100 unique designs in every stack.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $11.99
  • Age:
  • 3+

Buy Now

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106-PIECE PASTEL BALL RUN PACK

With this set, kids can design and build their own ball run systems. This pack comes with clear fluted tubes, eight colorful wooden balls, and pastel connector tiles. Different pieces in the set include soundscape staircases, S-bend tubes, split tubes, and other twists and turns that pack play full of potential. The Ball Run Pack…

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $125
  • Age:
  • 3+

KINETIC SAND SOFT SERVE STATION PLAYSET

Source: Spin Master

Source: Spin Master

With three color choices, kids can swirl, scoop, and shave Kinetic Sand into their very own ice cream treats. This six-piece playset encourages kids to foster creativity and practice fine motor skills.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $14.99

BOOGIE BOARD DASH KIDS DRAWING KIT

This reusable LCD kids drawing kit comes with four game templates: tic-tac-toe, dots and boxes, five in a row, and search and find. This toy is ideal for holiday travel – whether in a car or up in the air – and is just as much fun to play at home with family and friends.…

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $19.99
  • Age:
  • 4+

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Kids Can Deck Their Build-A-Bear Plush Out in a New Blippi Costume

Kids can give their Build-A-Bear plushes the Blippi treatment with a new costume based on the preschool icon.

The costume includes all aspects of Blippi’s iconic outfit, including a blue top, gray pants, an orange bow tie and suspenders, orange glasses, and a blue and orange cap. The Blippi outfit works with any Build-A-Bear plush, so kids can put the costume on all of their bears, bunnies, and other animals. 

Blippi will also head to Build-A-Bear Workshop in a new episode, which will premiere on the Blippi YouTube channel on Saturday, Feb. 24. Blippi has almost 20 million subscribers on YouTube and more than 12 billion views over the course of 10 years. In each video, Blippi dances, plays, explores, and answers kids’ questions as they learn about the world around them. 

When kids put the new Blippi costume on their favorite Build-A-Bear plush, they’ll have a brand new bestie to binge watch Blippi with!


BUILD-A-BEAR BLIPPI COSTUME

The costume includes all aspects of Blippi’s iconic outfit, including a blue top, gray pants, an orange bow tie and suspenders, orange glasses, and a blue and orange cap. The Blippi outfit works with any Build-A-Bear plush, so kids can put the costume on all of their bears, bunnies, and other animals. 

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $20
  • Age:
  • 0+

Expert Review: Stumble Guys Collectible Figures 1-Pack In Blind Box from PMI Kids’ World

Kids can discover 24 stumblers in this new line of collectibles

  • Features fan-favorite characters known as Stumblers from the game Stumble Guys
  • There are 24 figures to collect
  • Each comes with a hidden map inside

This line of Stumble Guys collectible figures for kids ages 8 and up is inspired by the multiplayer battle royale obstacle course game Stumble Guys. Each collectible comes in a mystery box that doubles as a map after it’s been opened. There are 24 characters to collect that kids will recognize from the game such as Golden Banana or Amethyst Nyx.

Source: PMI Kids’ World

We love toys that are an extension of kids’ favorite characters, and in this case, this line of collectibles allows kids to take a break from the screens and interact with the Stumblers they already know and love in a whole new way. The box unfolds and can be flattened out so kids can use it as an obstacle-course-style game board for the figures. I was also able to connect a few maps together, so kids can make an expanded course with multiple figures and race their friends to the finish line. We also like the fact that there are a lot of play elements, from unboxing a surprise and discovering rare figures to finding the hidden map and actually role-playing with the characters.

Although it’s not difficult at all to unfold the box and unveil the hidden map, you do have to be a tad gentle. Even if kids don’t know the game, they can still enjoy the collectibility of the figures and the fun roleplay.

Fans of the Stumble Guys game or older kids who like to collect figures.


STUMBLE GUYS COLLECTIBLE FIGURES 1-PACK IN BLIND BOX

Each mystery box includes one figure featuring a character from the Stumble Guys game. There are 24 characters to collect — including rare, mythic, legendary, and more. The inner package of each box is designed to look like a real game map that can be used as a playing platform for the figures.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $2.99
  • Age:
  • 8+

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New Baby Bullseye WubbaNub Is Perfect for the Littlest Target Shoppers

This new plush pacifier features everyone’s favorite retail mascot!

WubbaNub is well-known for its adorable pacifier plush of the same name. WubbaNubs feature a whole pile of animals and critters, everything from turtles to dragons. Now, the company is partnering with Target for a new Baby Bullseye WubbaNub, available exclusively on the Target online store.

The new WubbaNub features a baby version of Target’s mascot. | Source: WubbaNub

The new pacifier plush features Target’s Bull Terrier mascot, complete with the red Target circle over its eye. The WubbaNub is retailing for $15.99 and is free of BPA, PVC, and phthalate. The pacifier is made from 100% silicone and the combined plush and pacifier are machine washable for easy cleaning. 

Target isn’t the first company WubbaNub has collaborated with. Based on late-night host Jimmy Fallon’s children’s books Everything is Mama and Your Baby’s First Word Will Be DADA, the Mama Penguin and Dada Moo Cow WubbaNubs launched in 2020. The company also offers a number of WubbaNubs inspired by Major League Baseball teams, such as the New York Yankees, the Houston Astros, and more.

The new Baby Bullseye WubbaNub sold out in just three minutes when it first hit the Target website earlier this month. It has since been restocked online, with plans to launch in-store down the line. WubbaNub has a long history of offering unique baby toys, with its patented pacifier plush design seeing success since 1999. Get your baby an adorable plush that doubles as a convenient pacifier!


WUBBANUB PACIFIER — BULLSEYE

This silicone pacifier features an attached plush of Target's iconic mascot. The pacifier is free of BPA, PVC, and phthalate, as well as machine washable.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $15.99
  • Age:
  • 0+

These Pups Are Ready to Race with ‘PAW Patrol: Grand Prix — Complete Edition’

If your family loved PAW Patrol: Grand Prix when it was first released in 2022, this new Complete Edition will be an instant hit. With the Complete Edition, up to four players can race as Chase, Marshall, and other PAW Patrol pups in more arenas and up-approved tracks. 

Racers can compete on tracks similar to locations in the show. | Source: Outright Games

The bundle includes the characters, tracks, and karts from the original racing video game, plus features from the downloadable content packs (DLC) Race in Barkingburg and Pup Treat Arena! Get ready for new tracks and new karts!

You and your PAW Patrol-lover can play three new tracks, drive six vehicles, enjoy medieval castle racing, and enter the Barkingburg Cup tournament with Race in Barkingburg. In Pup Treat Arena, players can collect treats, use power-ups, battle in three different arenas, and interact with the Golden Pup Treat. 

Racing and battle locations featured in the Complete Edition include Adventure Bay, the Jungle, and Jake’s Snowboarding Resort. Players can also customize their kart with topper items inspired by the show. As you race, you unlock new items!

PAW Patrol: Grand Prix — Complete Edition will be available on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox One, and more. Racers can start their engines on March 8!

Toys for a Super Snow Day on NBC Connecticut

Toy Insider Parent and Contributing Editor Charlene DeLoach joined NBC in Connecticut to show off the best toys to turn your backyard into a winter wonderland. For more on the items featured in this segment, check out the product notes below.


OOZE LABS: INSTANT SNOW STATION

The ultimate make-your-own instant snow chemistry set and experiment station! Includes a lab setup, scientific tools, and ingredients to make an avalanche of super-expanding instant snow — no mittens required! Make snowmen, a snow globe, colorful snow, snowballs, and more! Conduct experiments with your DIY snow to learn about super-absorbent polymers and their scientific properties.…

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $29.95
  • Age:
  • 6+

BUILD A YETI CRAFT KIT

Kids can construct a cuddly Yeti from their own two hands with this craft kit! Includes all of the essential materials kids need to turn your creativity into a fun, huggable monster — no experience necessary.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $9.99
  • Age:
  • 5+

LED DIY SNOW CANDLES KIT

Kids can add colorful lights to their snowy nights with this DIY kit. Kids will pack the mold with snow and use the space maker to make a hole for the LED candle. After inserting the waterproof LED light, kids can light up their yards, backyards, and neighborhoods with flameless LED-changing lights.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $29.99
  • Age:
  • 5+
  • Battery Requirements:
  • 3 AAA

YETI SNOWBRAWL

Players draw cards and race be the first to stack 10 snowballs to win the game. But beware: If you draw the Snowbrawl card, it's time for an all-out snowball fight against your opponents who can knock down your stack.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $31.99
  • Age:
  • 6+

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INFLATABLE SNOW GLOBE FORT

Get ready for the winter bliss with this cute inflatable fort. Available in a transparent globe design with sparkles, it will thaw even the frostiest of moods during the cold days of winter. This fancy inflatable fort for kids stimulates imaginative play to spend quality time with your family and keep everyone entertained during chilly…

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $104.98
  • Age:
  • 3+

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Talkative Tykes Won’t Be Able to Put Down These New Fingerlings Sweet Tweets Birds

More than monkeys are grabbing fingers this March!

WowWee’s Fingerlings toys are already popular with kids who want an interactive buddy that can always hang around. The original Fingerlings were released in 2017, with a relaunch just last year, featuring incredibly cute baby monkeys. Now, birds are flying in to join the flock of Fingerlings, with two colorful friends releasing this March.

The new Fingerlings feature a glowing heart and flip-up feathers. | Source: WowWee

Much like the baby monkeys, these new Fingerlings can sense when they’re on or off a kid’s finger. They feature more than 40 sounds and reactions — plenty of interaction to keep kids entertained. Kids can press the wing buttons to see the rainbow feather crest flip up, or hold them down to record secret messages that the bird will play back. There are two color options for kids to choose from: Debbie the pink bird and Lionel the blue bird.

While kids eagerly wait for the March release, they can get their hands on a favorite Fingerling monkey. The re-launch of the original Fingerlings introduced four new baby monkey characters, fuzzy fur on the Fingerlings’ heads, and a posable tail so kids can have their Fingerlings hang down or sit up.

The new Fingerlings Sweet Tweets Interactive Birds are designed for kids ages 5 and up and are available for preorder now on Amazon. The birds are also coming soon to Toys “R” Us and Walmart, and will make their show debut at The Toy Insider’s Spring Fling event on March 14.

Get the littlest bird-lover in your life a buddy that won’t have all the maintenance of a real pet bird, but will have all the joy of a little finger-sitting friend!


FINGERLINGS SWEET TWEETS

This bird comes in pink and blue and features more than 40 sounds and reactions. When kids put the bird on their finger, they can record and play back secret messages or the bird can listen to and repeat what kids say.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $9.99
  • Age:
  • 5+

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FINGERLINGS

These baby monkeys know when they're on kids' fingers. They feature glowing hearts, poseable tails, flocked hair, unique personalities, and more than 70 sounds and reactions. Collect four new characters: Charli, Leo, Ava, and Harmony.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $15
  • Age:
  • 5+

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FINGERLINGS — LULU BABY UNICORN

Lulu is an interactive baby unicorn with more than 70 sounds and reactions! You can pet, feed, and sing with the posable Fingerling both on and off your finger. Lulu also has sensors that will react to your touch and fuzzy hair.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $14.99
  • Age:
  • 5+

Catch Your Favorite Cereal Mascot in Lucky’s Leprechaun Trap

If your family has been following the Lucky Charms mascot Lucky through wacky adventures on social media, you know that Lucky has been missing!

Lucky escaped from the Turns Milk Green Lucky Charms box, but don’t worry: There’s a new game from Hasbro to help you practice your trapping skills, just in case you see him.

The game features your favorite marshmallows from the cereal. | Source: Hasbro

Lucky’s Leprechaun Trap features the cereal’s mascot in a new version of the board game Mouse Trap. Players will aim to capture the leprechaun in the limited-edition action and chain reaction game. The cards feature images of the different marshmallows, and the pieces feature Lucky in different poses. 

Lucky was recently spotted in Miami. | Source: General Mills

The Turns Milk Green Lucky Charms cereal features a “leprechaun trap” on the back of the box that kids can cut out and use to trap the mascot after practicing their skills through the game. Apparently, Lucky is a big American Idol fan and might be on set Feb. 25 and March 3 on ABC (and the next day on Hulu), so make sure your kids are on the lookout for something green!

Lucky’s Leprechaun Trap is available now — hopefully Lucky will be caught before St. Patrick’s Day on March 17!


LUCKY’S LEPRECHAUN TRAP

Trap the Lucky Charms mascot in a new edition of Mouse Trap! The board and cards feature Lucky and the marshmallows from the cereal.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $14.99
  • Age:
  • 6+

12 Toys & Games from Women-Owned Companies to Celebrate International Women’s Day

March 8 is International Women’s Day, and it’s a timely reminder that girl power is stronger than ever!

I, for one, am grateful to be raising my daughter in a time where she knows she can grow up to be anything. She can be a doctor, a teacher, a scientist, and yes, even a toymaker. Women are taking over the traditionally male-dominated toy industry with inspiring and empowering products. Find 12 toys and games we love from women-owned companies below!


THE FRESH DOLLS CAREER COLLECTION

This set includes three 11.5-inch fashion dolls with custom blended skin tones that celebrate women of color. Mia is one of the world's finest surgeons, Navaeh is the President of the U.S., and Luna is a teacher preparing to inspire students with next week's lesson plans.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $29.99
  • Age:
  • 3+

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SOLAR LANTERN BOOK BUNDLE

Kids can build a wooden lantern with a solar-powered tea light and then the accompanying story Hello, Star! This bundle makes science fun and tangible for young learners.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $35.95
  • Age:
  • 5+

INSPIRING CAREERS, MOMMY’S SHADOW 72 PIECE KIDS PUZZLE

Parents and kids can bond as they work together to create this artistic puzzle. It features a range of moms hard at work in various careers.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $19.99
  • Age:
  • 5+

SURPRISE POWERZ DOLLS

Each 16-inch doll has a different STEM theme and can make more than 75 phrases and sound effects. The collection includes Astro the Astronaut, Codie the Coder, Maria the Mathemagician, and Vera the Vet.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $49.99
  • Age:
  • 2+

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EXPLORER’S LEARNING KIT

This set features a double-sided magnetic dry-erase board, 120 magnetic letters, 26 magnetic tiles with images drawn by kids, a dry-erase marker, and a container to store it all in.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $19.99
  • Age:
  • 3+

LATINISTAS FASHION DOLLS

Meet aspiring author Dani, art student Julianna, talented singer Liv, and design student Lola. Designed as a celebration of Latina culture, the 11.5-inch fashion dolls feature varying skin tones and hair textures.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $12.99
  • Age:
  • 3+

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HEALTH CARE HERO DOCTOR’S UNIFORM

Healthy Roots Dolls represent the diversity of the world with a variety of dolls with different features and skin tones. Kids can dress their dolls in this doctor's uniform that comes in either blue or pink. It includes shoe covers, a lab coat, a face mask, a stethescope, and more.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $18.99
  • Age:
  • 6+

TINY NIBBLE STORMY BLUE BUNNY BOOK BUNDLE

Kids can snuggle with a soft blue bunny while they learn about colors from the My Book of Colors. The book features adorable illustrations and the bunny can be personalized with embroidery.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $37.95
  • Age:
  • 0+

ALPHABET HEXAGON PAIRS

Designed for pre-readers, this set features letters and illustrations that kids can piece together. It is made with sustainably sourced materials and helps build confidence with reading.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $21.99
  • Age:
  • 3+

FEMALE FIREFIGHTERS PLUSH DOLLS

Meet Ember, Molly, and Ash — plush dolls designed by a female firefighter. Each 15.5-inch doll comes with removable gear, including a jacket, hood, gloves, and an axe. They’re soft for cuddling and have brushable, styleable hair. Ash and Ember are fire references, while Molly is named after Molly Williams, the first known female firefighter…

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $45.00
  • Age:
  • 3+

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MALALA YOUSAFZAI INTERACTIVE PLUSH

This plush introduces kids to the story of Malala Yousafzai, the youngest Nobel Prize laureate. It can be paired with the Little Rebels app to further learn about her inspiring story.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $24.99
  • Age:
  • 3+

CREATIVE CRAYONS WORKSHOP PARTY BUNDLE

Families can make memories by coloring these holiday-themed tablecloths, table runners, or placemats. Each coloring sheet features images everyone can color. Kids can use markers, crayons, and colored pencils to decorate their paper tablecloths however they'd like. Families can add personal touches to their coloring sheets by adding a personalized message. 

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $49.99

Expert Review: Cepia’s Zhu Zhu Aquarium Fish and Playsets

MODERN NOSTALGIA SWIMS INTO THE PLAYROOM

  • Zhu Zhu Aquarium fish are collectible and fun
  • The aquarium world is expandable and customizable
  • They’re pets without the mess

This collectible range of battery-operated plush fish toys and playsets from Cepia is inspired by the original Zhu Zhu Pets brand that gained popularity back in 2009. It features land-swimming tropical fish and an assortment of connect-together tunnel pieces, ramps, and vehicles. There are six tropical fish to collect in the first “school,” with more on the way.

The original Zhu Zhu Pets were a massive hit upon their launch in 2009. While the brand already relaunched once back in 2017, it’s been off the market just long enough to conjure up some neo-stalgic feelings thanks to the pairing of a new, aquatic theme with the classic Zhu Zhu play pattern.

When we first went hands-on with this line at Toy Fair in New York last fall, we loved seeing the colorful fish zoom through an endless array of connecting tubes and playful accessories that kids can reconfigure for a unique “underwater” experience without getting wet. Since each fish has a built-in bump sensor, they can quickly back up and change direction when they meet an obstacle.

While the interactive fish are sold separately in single packs, kids can also collect the Bubble Ball and Surf Board Set, Speedboat and Dock Set, and Submarine Set.

Each Zhu Zhu Aquarium fish requires 2 AA batteries (not included). Grown-ups should keep in mind that fish are not included with the playsets and vehicles, so gift-givers will want to make sure that they pick up at least one fish if they’re not buying for a kid with an existing collection. There is no word yet on whether or not the original, hamster-style Zhu Zhu Pets will return.

Kids and families who want an aquarium but don’t have the time or space to deal with real-life fresh or saltwater fish. Zhu Zhu Aquarium fish are also sized right for travel and can run on just about any flat surface with or without their track tunnels or vehicles.


ZHU ZHU AQUARIUM

From the makers of Zhu Zhu Pets, the Zhu Zhu Aquarium playset offers a mess-free pet experience. Build customized sea tunnels and watch the robotic, tropical fish scurry and swim through them in unexpected ways.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $29.97
  • Age:
  • 4+

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Toys to Bust the Mid-Winter Blues on CBS 2 New York

Toy Insider Editor-in-Chief Marissa Silva joined CBS 2 in New York to show off the best toys to keep kids entertained during the cold winter months. For more on the items featured in this segment, check out the product notes below.


SHAPES & SHARING PICNIC BASKET

Learn about colors, shapes, manners and more while on a pretend picnic with the Shapes & Sharing Picnic Basket. Lift the lid to hear cheerful phrases and unpack the 15 play pieces, including colorful plates, forks, cups and food. The interactive shape sorter on the lid recognizes the food pieces and says the shape and…

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $24.99; $29.99 CAD
  • Age:
  • 6 MOS.+

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BUILDABLE PEOPLE WITH BIG EMOTIONS

Encourage toddlers’ creativity and help them explore their emotions with this 71-piece LEGO Duplo Buildable People with Big Emotions set. Preschoolers build and rebuild the five characters to reflect the diverse world they see around them. There are 10 expressive faces that help them share their feelings.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $49.99
  • Age:
  • 3+

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LITE-BRITE SUPER BRIGHT HD POKEMON AND BARBIE EDITIONS

Light up creativity with the all-new Lite-Brite Super Brite HD Pokémon and Barbie Editions! Kids to kidults can now unleash their inner Pokemon Trainer or Barbie sparkle with double the LEDs, snap-on high- definition grid for and 1,000 colorful mini-pegs. Use the six HD templates included in each set or create masterpieces with light.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $24.99
  • Age:
  • 6+

KANOODLE GAME

Kids can challenge their noggins with this brain-twisting solo game. Kanoodle is a 2D and 3D brain teaser puzzle game that includes 12 puzzle pieces, 200 puzzle challenges, and a carrying case. Perfect for enhancing problem-solving, critical thinking, and strategic thinking skills.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $13.99; $19.99 CAD
  • Age:
  • 7+

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YAHTZEE WORDS

Players roll seven dice and spell words with the letters they’ve rolled. Follow the score sheet and fill in the scoring blocks, just like in regular Yahtzee. Create words of different lengths, multiple words, a seven-letter Yahtzee word, and more.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $15.70
  • Age:
  • 8+

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PRISMIC LED 3D PUZZLES

These DIY puzzles transform into shimmering, 3D, LED lanterns. Styles new to the line include a heart, a unicorn, and a dog. Once kids build up their puzzle, they can light it up with the LED lights and feature it as a piece of room decor.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • 24.99
  • Age:
  • 12+

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‘I Am Book’ Teaches Young Readers to Accept Themselves the Way They Are

Get a book about a book for the little bookworm in your life!

Penguin Workshop has a new book that stars a book itself! From author, illustrator, and animator Joren Cull, I Am Book follows protagonist Book as it tries to impress kids at its new library. Soon Book will learn that it might just be better to embrace who you are instead of trying to change for others.

The main character of I Am Book assumes it will be popular in its new school. | Source: Penguin Workshop

Book was always popular at its home in Rufus Elementary. But when the library closes, Book will need to find its footing at a new school. The children’s book follows our protagonist as it deals with kids who aren’t interested in its torn pages and dusty jacket. Book tries everything it can to change, from changing its pages to trying a new jacket, before it learns to accept itself just the way it is.

Cull is known for their work in The New York Times, National Geographic, Bloomberg Businessweek, The Guardian, Reader’s Digest, and The Globe. They boast awards from American Illustration, Applied Arts, and The National Magazine Awards, as well as a Webby Award for best animation

I Am Book is available for preorder now, and will be released on March 5. Young readers will learn to love Book (and maybe learn a thing or two about loving themselves as well!).


I AM BOOK

A new meta picture book from Joren Cull follows a book main character as it tries to impress kids at its new school library. Eventually, Book will need to learn to accept itself the way it is.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $18.99
  • Age:
  • 5+

Discover Universal Studios Through a New Minecraft Map

If you can’t easily visit a Universal park in real life, use the new Minecraft adventure map! The Universal Studios Experience DLC features attractions and experiences from Universal properties for your little Minecraft-lover to explore. 

Players will start the adventure at the Universal Studios’ gates and run into Woody Woodpecker, who needs help restoring the letters on the iconic Universal globe. Afterwards, Minecraft players have rides, souvenir shops, minigames, and characters to interact with!

You’ll find attractions inspired by Universal Studios Florida’s Skull Island: Reign of Kong and Revenge of the Mummy,  Universal Beijing Resort’s Jurassic World Innovation Center, and Universal Studios Hollywood’s Jurassic World — The Ride within the game

Take a totally relaxing cruise! | Source: Minecrafts

Players can also venture towards rides inspired by Universal Studios Japan’s JAWS attraction, Back to the Future — The Ride, and E.T. Adventure. 

When players take a break from the rides, they can complete quests inspired by popular films featured in the park. They can even receive help from characters like Puss in Boots, Shrek, Frankenstein’s Monster, King Kong, E.T., and more!

Minecraft and the Universal Experience DLC are available on Windows, Mac, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and more. You can add the DLC and finally visit Universal properties without packing a suitcase — or walking miles and miles!


MINECRAFT UNIVERSAL STUDIOS EXPERIENCE

Enter Universal Studios — through Minecraft! This DLC features attractions inspired by actual Universal rides, characters like Shrek and Woody Woodpecker, quests, and minigames.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $8 (1510 Minecraft Coins)
  • Age:
  • 7+

Toy and Game Gift Ideas for Leap Year Birthdays

What do you get a 32 year old when they finally turn 8? 

Feb. 29 is quickly approaching, which means people born on leap day finally get to celebrate. Below we share some gift ideas for the leap birthdays in your life, whether they’re celebrating for the 16th time or for the first. 

What to Get…

The 63 Year Old Turning 16

Sweet 16! While those born the day after or before anyone born on Feb. 29, 1960 are probably celebrating their birthdays with an AARP Membership, the lucky almost-16 year old in your life can celebrate with something a little more their speed.


STAR WARS THE VINTAGE COLLECTION LUKE SKYWALKER

The Vintage Collection features 3.75-inch figures in classic Kenner packaging. Luke Skywalker comes with a lightsaber accessory and unlit hilt accessory.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $16.99
  • Age:
  • 4+

LEGO IDEAS ORIENT EXPRESS

The iconic train that ran for almost 100 years has been immortalized in LEGO form! This set has more than 2,500 pieces and eight minifigures. The LEGO Ideas Orient Express will be available starting Dec. 1, 2023.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $299.99
  • Age:
  • 18+

THOMAS KINKADE DISNEY PUZZLE 4-IN-1 MULTIPACK

What's better than one puzzle? Four in one! This set features four 500-piece Disney puzzles inspired by Cinderella, The Lion King, Mickey and Minnie, and The Little Mermaid.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $17.99
  • Age:
  • 12+

The 47 Year Old Turning 12

TBH, life is not easy when you’re a middle-aged preteen. Twelve can be a tough age, so we recommend toys that help your loved one hold onto their childhood a little longer with lovable characters and crafts.


MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE ORIGINS PLAYSET SNAKE MOUNTAIN

This detailed Masters of the Universe Origins playset is inspired by the Snake Mountain lair in the Dark Hemisphere of Eternia. It was created as an homage to the '80s, but with a bigger and better modern design. The huge snake dominates the top. Story options abound with extensive features including a trap door, dungeon,…

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $79.99
  • Age:
  • 6+

SPIROGRAPH DELUXE SET

The classic way to make countless designs! This set is true to the original but updated for today. It features a carrying case with built-in storage, Spirograph gears, design pens, a guide book, paper, and more.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $29.99
  • Age:
  • 8+

RAINBOW BRITE 3-INCH FIGURES

This collection features several characters from the Rainbow Brite universe, with limited-edition figures such as the metallic Rainbow Brite and the glow-in-the-dark Twink to bolster any true or new Rainbow Brite fan's collection.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $4.99
  • Age:
  • 4+

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The 31 Year Old Turning 8

Eight, great, and thriving. To answer our own question above, when a 32 year old turns 8, you get them something that is both timeless and that reminds them of simpler times.


CAM THE CALICO CAT SQUISHMALLOWS HEATING PAD

The Cam the Calico Cat Squishmallows Heating Pad is like a real Squishmallows plush, with the added comfort of microwaveable heat and a relaxing lavender scent. Simply remove the heating pad pouch from the Cam slipcover, place in the microwave for one minute, let it cool, and then reinsert and enjoy for maximum comfort.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $27.99

CHUCK E. CHEESE & FRIENDS PARTY COOKBOOK

This cookbook features recipes inspired by Chuck E. Cheese characters, from Ronnie's Ice Cream Pizza to Chuck E.'s Mummy Dogs. Kids can craft meals designed for the holidays, slumber parties, and more. The book is available for preorder now and is expected to ship this March.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $22.99

PBS KIDS ARTHUR – ARTHUR CLUBHOUSE AND FRIENDS – 60 PIECE JIGSAW PUZZLE

This 10-inch-by-13-inch puzzle evokes big nostalgia with 60 pieces. It is made from premium puzzle board.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $3.99
  • Age:
  • 6+

The 15 Year Old Turning 4

Their peers may be getting new cars, but they’re only 4 so they get some colored pencils (but we’re talking about some really cool colored pencils!).


CRAYOLA HD COLORING KIT

This kit comes with 20 premium pages of pre-shaded, HD, black-and-white photos that tweens can color using the 30 included colored pencils. The end result is a professional-looking art piece that they can display.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $19.99
  • Age:
  • 8+

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POP IT PRO

This electronic Pop It game features LED lights in the bubbles. Players can race to pop the light-up bubbles as fast as they can.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $19.99
  • Age:
  • 5+

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CARE BEARS MICRO PLUSH

Get ready for big Care Bears fun in a micro scale! The Care Bears kids know and love are tinier and more magical than ever. Play with besties like Cheer Bear, Grumpy Bear, Good Luck Bear, Harmony Bear, and Laugh-a-Lot Bear in their adorable micro size. Each bear comes with their own unique look and…

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $3.97
  • Age:
  • 4+

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The 3 Year Old Turning 1

Most parents do not have to wait four years to celebrate their kids first birthday, so this is a time to go big! What do 4 year olds and 1 year olds both love? Stickers. Lots of stickers. We also recommend plush and open-ended play.


NATIONAL PARKS REUSABLE STICKERS — ANIMALS

Kids can place 101 cling-style reusable stickers and 20 Denali-themed reusable puffy stickers onto five different scenes based on National Parks (Denali, Everglades, Biscayne, Yellowstone, Grand Canyon). The stickers feature animals and plants and are color coded in English and Spanish for kids to identify.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $9.99
  • Age:
  • 4+

BABY GUND SUSTAINABLY SOFT PLUSH

Sourced from 100% recycled materials, each of these plush friends is crafted with recycled plush and fill and comes in sustainable packaging. Choose from Roise Bunny, Clove Bear, and Bay Puppy.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $20
  • Age:
  • 0+

STAPELSTEIN RAINBOW SET

This set features six Original play elements in rainbow hues, accompanied by a confetti-inspired Balance Board. Kids can balance, stack, swirl, spin, and more. Each element is 100% recyclable and crafted using a climate-neutralized production process.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $239.00
  • Age:
  • 0+

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Expert Review: Playmates Toys’ Miraculous Dolls — Ubiquity and Cosmobug

Playtime Just Got Kamikotized with New Miraculous Dolls

  • Collect each doll to complete the Miraculous team.
  • Help Cosmobug save the city and soar with detachable wings.
  • Transform Ubiquity into a superhero with magical purple visor.

Two new characters from the popular TV show Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir, are available as fashion dolls. In the show, Ladybug, Cat Noir, and friends such as Ubiquity transform from average teenagers to superheroes who fight crime. Now, this fierce group of friends can unite off-screen. The dolls measure 10 inches tall and come with a kamikotized accessory, (an object used in the TV show that helps create their hero transformation.) Ubiquity stuns in a sparkly cape and matching headset, while Cosmobug can soar with her own set of wings.

Kids can bond over their favorite TV show while interacting with friends and learning the value of teamwork. Ultimately, these dolls help strengthen social and emotional intelligence as little ones play with them and either role play social interactions on their own, or create scenarios with their friends and siblings.

The dolls are designed for kids ages 4 and up because of the smaller accessories. If there are little ones or pets running around the house, be mindful of the dolls’ smaller accessories.

Miraculers, and any doll lover who might be interested in suiting up to join the Re-verse.


MIRACULOUS HEROEZ FASHION DOLLS – COSMOBUG & UBIQUITY

Source: Target

Source: Target

Source: Target

Source: Target

Source: Target

Source: Target

Source: Target

Suit up to save the city with Playmates Toys' Miraculous fashion dolls! Fly with Cosmobug and shine with Ubiquity. Each doll comes with its own superhero accessory.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $16.99
  • Age:
  • 4+

A Look Inside the “Plush Toy Wars” on Scripps News

Toy Insider Senior Editor/Toy Book Editor-in-Chief James Zahn joined Scripps News to talk about the legal battles surrounding the Squishmallows craze. For more on the items featured in this segment, check out the product notes below.


SQUISHMALLOWS

Kids can collect a growing assortment of ultra-soft Squishmallows characters, each with its own name and personality. New characters join the Squishmallows squad each month, ranging in size from 2-24 inches.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $5.99-39.99
  • Age:
  • 3+

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Toys for Unplugged Family Fun on L.A.’s FOX 11

Toy Insider Media Correspondent Deborah Stallings Stumm joined FOX 11 in Los Angeles to show off the best new screen-free toys for kids to enjoy in real life. For more on the items featured in this segment, check out the product notes below.


COCOMELON 10-INCH BALANCE BIKE

This bike features a vibrant teal, purple, and red color scheme with CoComelon-inspired original graphics on the frame and a confetti print on the seat. It has a removable handlebar bag kids can use to store their possessions while on the go.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $79.00
  • Age:
  • 2+

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BLUEY AND GABBY’S DOLLHOUSE COLOR WONDER KITS

Introducing new characters kids know and love, Bluey and Gabby’s Dollhouse to the Color Wonder kits. Kids can color their favorite characters while staying magically mess-free with the specially formulated markers and paper. Each envelope can double as a unique storage solution for creativity on-the-go or nice and tidy at home. They each include 18…

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $8.99
  • Age:
  • 3+

ZHU ZHU AQUARIUM

From the makers of Zhu Zhu Pets, the Zhu Zhu Aquarium playset offers a mess-free pet experience. Build customized sea tunnels and watch the robotic, tropical fish scurry and swim through them in unexpected ways.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $29.97
  • Age:
  • 4+

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SHIMMER ‘N SPARKLE DIY ABC FASHION BEADS

Thanks to Taylor Swift’s ERAS tour, friendship bracelets are hotter than ever! Kids can design and create fashion friendship bracelets in bold and bright colors. The ultimate bestie wristwear for kids to wear and share! Show off unique styles by mixing and matching all the chic accessories. Kids can personalize bracelets with sayings using the…

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $12.60
  • Age:
  • 6+

TINY PLANTS

Grow creativity with this LEGO Icons Tiny Plants (10329) building project for adults. Craft nine model plants based on arid, tropical and carnivorous species, each nestled in a buildable, terracotta-colored plant pot. Choose different models for easy, medium, and advanced levels of building complexity, and enhance your space with a colorful contemporary display.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $49.99
  • Age:
  • 18+

Fun Games for a Cozy Game Night on L.A.’s FOX 11

Toy Insider Media Correspondent Deborah Stallings Stumm joined FOX 11 in Los Angeles to show off the best games that the whole family can enjoy on a cozy evening at home. For more on the items featured in this segment, check out the product notes below.


BUNNY BRUNCH

In this game, kids will race to complete patterns on the plates to feed the bunnies before the mouse eats the bunny food.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $19.99
  • Age:
  • 3+

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MONOPOLY: BARBIE EDITION

Life's fantastic in the Monopoly: Barbie Edition board game. The game includes six Barbie-inspired tokens: a dog, a speedboat, a sportscar, a shoe, a roller skate, and Barbie herself. Players can purchase famous locations in Barbie's Dreamworld and build their dreamhouses. The game features a new mechanic called Be Anything cards that players can use…

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $24.99
  • Age:
  • 8+

PICKLEBALL BLAST

Pickleball Blast puts a new spin on the sport with a board game-size tabletop court and a net with an attached Screamin’ Pickle launcher. Using the thumb-powered pickleball paddles, players send the Pickle play piece soaring and try to flip the pickle lids at the other end of the court.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $19.99
  • Age:
  • 8+

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GIANT UNO NFL

This classic game of UNO is played on giant, oversized cards with images of NFL teams. The special 'Ice the Kicker' rule forces players to kick a field goal with a folded paper football through a goalpost of another player's hands.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $21.99
  • Age:
  • 7+

EXIT: KIDS – JUNGLE OF RIDDLES

This new EXIT experience is packed full of fun riddles especially designed for kids. Kids must crack the riddles together and win the treasure! In each round, six different types of puzzles, which are shown on 36 illustrated, large-format cards, are combined in new ways. The game is best for 1 to 4 players and…

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $17.95
  • Age:
  • 5+

Kids Can Stay Warm in Sesame Street Beanies from Love Your Melon

Even a beautiful, sunny day can be a little chilly. Keep the families ears warm this winter with Love Your Melon’s new collection of knit hats inspired by four beloved Sesame Street characters: Elmo, Big Bird, Oscar the Grouch, and Cookie Monster.

There are two types of designs in the collection. The first design features characters’ color schemes as base colors — blue, red, and orange for Elmo; silver, green, and yellow for Oscar; pink, yellow, and orange for Big Bird; and tan, blue, and purple for Cookie Monster — and heads as a pom pom. The other designs in the collection are striped with two shades of color and feature fuzzy brown pom poms and Sesame Street patches on the band. 

These hats come in multiple sizes, so everyone in the family can keep their heads warm with the help of our fuzzy friends from Sesame Street. A portion of the proceeds from every beanie sold goes to donations to nonprofits that focus on research, therapy, and family support for kids and families who are dealing with pediatric cancer. 

Even though spring is (hopefully) on the way, the whole family can keep their ears warm year round with this collection.


THE LOVE YOUR MELON X SESAME STREET COLLECTION

This collection features four color-blocked styles featuring Big Bird, Oscar, Elmo, and Cookie monster in Love Your Melon’s knit style with a signature leather patch with detachable character pom poms. A portion of the proceeds are given to nonprofit organizations that are fighting against pediatric cancer. (Bonus: They’re also available in adult sizes that have…

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $45 (kids' sizes); $55 (adult sizes)

Chuck E. Cheese Enters the Racing World with New Hendrick Motorsports Merch and Content

On your mark, get set, cheese!

Chuck E. Cheese is revving its engines with Hendrick Motorsports to bring new surprises to kids everywhere. Racing World is an innovative program that celebrates the start of the 2024 racing season by introducing new products, rewards, and content to families looking for the thrill of a lifetime. 

Kids may be too young to sit behind the wheel, but that doesn’t mean they can’t get big rewards. With the “They Win, You Win” promotion, aspiring races can win E-tickets based on the performance of Kyle Larson, Chase Elliott, William Byron, and Alex Bowman. Families can win big every week until Nov. 11 if the team gets in the top 3. 

Families can sign up and tune into the races at chuckecheese.com/theywinyouwin

Kids can support these talented racers with the merchandise collection, which features apparel that combines the charm of Chuck E. Cheese and the high-speed spirit of Hendrick Motorsports. The collection features tees, caps, shoes, and more items in classic, retro, and current styles.

The excitement doesn’t stop here! Kids can win even more prizes with the Racing World Sweepstakes, which will run for the entire racing season. The monthly rewards include VIP race experiences, ultimate birthday parties at Chuck E. Cheese, opportunities to be part of the racing action, and more.

Young racers can experience the ride of a lifetime with the Chuck E. Cheese Racing World mobile app, available on iOS and Android. This free app features an immersive racing experience where kids choose their drivers and race against tough opponents. 

Want to learn more about racing from Chuck E. Cheese and the Hendrick Motorsports pit crew? The Chuck E. Cheese YouTube channel will release new content throughout the season that offers kid-friendly facts and a behind-the-scenes look into the racing world.  

Families can race to the nearest Chuck E. Cheese and receive these great benefits by learning more at chuckecheese.com/racingworld.


CHUCK E. CHEESE x HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS RACING WORLD COLLECTION

Kids can prepare for the racing season with a new line of merchandise from Chuck E. Cheese and Hendrick Motorsports. The collection features a line of tees, caps, shoes, and more in classic, retro, and current styles.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $16.95-216.95

Kids Can Sport Their Favorite ‘Trolls’ Characters with New PUMA Collaboration

Little Trolls fans can now dance around to their favorite songs on the movie soundtrack in comfort and style!

DreamWorks Animation’s Trolls films and sports gear brand PUMA collaborated to create a new collection of gear for kids to get active in.

The line features vibrant colors, playful graphics, and details such as pops of colors that are inspired by the Trolls characters’ hair. The prices range from $23-75. 

The shoes in the collaboration are highlighted by PUMA’s Myze, Suede, and RS-X silhouettes. They have Trolls characters like Tiny Diamond and Queen Poppy personified throughout, such as images of the characters on the laces, as well as fuzzy tongues to look like the Trolls’ hairdos. 

But the fun doesn’t stop at shoes. This collection also graphic shirts, track jackets, track pants, and crewneck sweaters that adorn the Trolls iconic themes. 

The PUMA x Trolls is available now on puma.com, PUMA flagship stores, and selected PUMA retailers.

Expert Review: Moose Toys’ Pickeball Blast

THIS Pickleball GAME IS indoor fun FOr the whole family

  • Two players compete to whack the pickle into their opponents’ jars.
  • Setup is astoundingly quick and easy,
  • Multiple ways to play offers several difficulty levels

This two-player game is a competition to swat the goofy pickle into the other player’s pickle jars. Players score a point when they flip two lids, and the first player to reach four points wins. The set contains the tabletop game board and two handheld pickle ball paddles.

Capitalizing on the popularity of pickleball, this fast-paced game is a simple recipe for fun at a multitude of ages. The box also comes with instructions on how to modify the game for a higher difficultly level, and having tested this out with a colleague, I can attest that the suggestions do, in fact, make for an adult-friendly challenge. Pickleball Blast is loads of fun one-on-one, or for a big group round-robin style. And perhaps the best of all is just how easy this game was to set up and take apart.

As the board measures about 23 inches long, this game is best for at-home action and not on-the-go fun.

Families who are all-in on the pickle ball craze and want new ways to enjoy the sport. Two-child households. Sleepovers and birthday parties.


PICKLEBALL BLAST

Pickleball Blast puts a new spin on the sport with a board game-size tabletop court and a net with an attached Screamin’ Pickle launcher. Using the thumb-powered pickleball paddles, players send the Pickle play piece soaring and try to flip the pickle lids at the other end of the court.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $19.99
  • Age:
  • 8+

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Play Pickleball in Your Living Room with Pickleball Blast

Prepare to join a very competitive game of pickleball — inside your home!

Pickleball Blast is a new board game that combines pickleball, pickles, and, of course, friendly competition. The tabletop game from Moose Games is a two-player game based on the popular sport, and it’s designed for players ages 8 and up.

During the game, players use thumb-action pickleball paddles to serve, slam, and swat the Screamin’ Pickle across a board game-sized tabletop court and net. The goal is to smash the opposing player by flipping the pickle lids at the other end of the courts. Players can defend their jars by blasting the Screamin’ Pickle back. When a player flips two of the opponent’s lids, they earn one point and the first to earn four points wins.  

Pickleball Blast will be available at Target stores and online on Feb. 18, so start brushing up on your sporty skills!


PICKLEBALL BLAST

Pickleball Blast puts a new spin on the sport with a board game-size tabletop court and a net with an attached Screamin’ Pickle launcher. Using the thumb-powered pickleball paddles, players send the Pickle play piece soaring and try to flip the pickle lids at the other end of the court.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $19.99
  • Age:
  • 8+

Buy Now

The Toy Insider participates in affiliate programs that may generate revenue for the site when a purchase is made through the links below.

Why You Should Not Buy Toys on Temu on Good Morning Arizona

Toy Insider Editor-in-Chief Marissa Silva joined Good Morning Arizona to talk about the discount online retailer Temu and why parents, grandparents, and gift-givers should not buy toys on Temu.

Winter Boredom Busters on PIX 11 New York

Toy Insider Editor-in-Chief Marissa Silva joined PIX 11 in New York to show off the best new toys to help kids kick the wintertime blues. For more on the items featured in this segment, check out the product notes below.


STAPELSTEIN

Stapelstein is a toddler toy disruptor. In addition to stacking, these sustainable and durable elements can be used in endless ways and are strong enough for sitting, climbing, and tossing, safely holding up to 220 pounds. Kids can use each element inside or out; they can be enjoyed in the snow, sand, and water. Use…

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $34.95 each
  • Age:
  • 1+

SNOW SECTOR SNOW MARKERS 4-PACK

The snow is kids' canvas with snow markers! This four pack has red, blue, green, and pink markers for kids to doodle in fresh snow!

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $17.99
  • Age:
  • 5+

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CRAYOLA HD COLORING KIT

This kit comes with 20 premium pages of pre-shaded, HD, black-and-white photos that tweens can color using the 30 included colored pencils. The end result is a professional-looking art piece that they can display.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $19.99
  • Age:
  • 8+

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CREATE-A-CASTLE PRO TOWER KIT

These split molds allow kids to build beautiful sand or snow structures in a short amount of time. Just buckle it, fill it and Create A Castle. The premium pro tower kit includes a 10 inch split cylinder, a stackable 6 inch split system cylinder for additional height, a corbel to add stabilization and a…

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $49.99
  • Age:
  • 6+

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LEGO ICONS BOUQUET OF ROSES

Create an elegant display with flowers that will never wilt. The 822-piece LEGO set features a dozen roses and four sprigs of baby breath. You can decorate your home with LEGO roses, each depicting one of the three flowering stages, including bud, blooming, and full bloom.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $59.99
  • Age:
  • 18+

CRAZY ICE BUBBLES 2-PACK

Kids can blow long-lasting ice bubbles that fly far in the cold. These crazy ice bubbles freeze like snow globes when temperatures are below 18 degrees Fahrenheit. Kids can have exciting outdoor fun in the winter, fall, and spring with bubbles designed with the cold weather in mind.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $8.59
  • Age:
  • 5+

106-PIECE PASTEL BALL RUN PACK

With this set, kids can design and build their own ball run systems. This pack comes with clear fluted tubes, eight colorful wooden balls, and pastel connector tiles. Different pieces in the set include soundscape staircases, S-bend tubes, split tubes, and other twists and turns that pack play full of potential. The Ball Run Pack…

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $125
  • Age:
  • 3+

BIGMOUTH x SQUISHMALLOWS WINSTON THE OWL SNOW TUBE

Bring on the snowy fun with the BigMouth x Squishmallows Winston the Owl Snow Tube. The kids’ snow tube slides across a winter wonderland in style with Winston the Owl winking back in his adorable red beanie. With two sturdy handles on either side and an inlay seat for extra comfort, the inflatable sled is…

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $39.99
  • Age:
  • 8+

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Expert Review: Sunny Days Entertainment’s Hopscotch Lane Stepping Stones

hop INTO fun WITH THESE AFFORDABLE STEPPING STONES

  • Six bright stepping stones in modern colors
  • Features a textured surface and rubber bottom for secure footing
  • Versatile for indoor and outdoor use

This set includes six vibrant stepping stones in two sizes and modern colors – yellow, red, light blue, green, orange, and dark blue. Each stone is designed with a textured surface and a rubber bottom to ensure secure footing, making every step a safe and enjoyable one. Plus, these stepping stones are versatile, allowing kids to create different paths to walk and hop on without touching the floor.

We adore Hopscotch Lane Stepping Stones for their versatility and developmental benefits! Not only do they help children build balance and agility, but they also encourage imaginative play and outdoor exploration. The open-ended play pattern makes it a toy from which various ages will benefit. Younger children can stack and move them around to make patterns on the floor. Other children can use them for obstacle courses or gameplay like the floor is lava! Older kids can use them as a fitness tool, such as lunging to the red or crawling to the blue.

These stepping stones are designed for indoor and outdoor use, making them perfect for all kinds of play environments. Additionally, their stackable design makes them easy to store when not in use, minimizing clutter and maximizing space.

Hopscotch Lane Stepping Stones are ideal for families with active little ones who love to explore and play. Whether your child enjoys indoor obstacle courses or outdoor adventures in the backyard, these stepping stones can spark their imagination and keep them moving and engaged for hours on end.


HOPSCOTCH LANE STEPPING STONES

Taking little steps to big adventures with Hopscotch Lane Stepping Stones! Help kids build balance and agility with six bright stepping stones in different modern colors and sizes – yellow, red, light blue, green, orange, and dark blue. The versatile stepping stones are made in different sizes with each side varying in steepness and difficulty.…

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $19.97
  • Age:
  • 2+

Valentine’s Day Toys Kids Will Love on CT Live

Toy Insider Parent and Contributing Editor Charlene DeLoach joined CT Live on NBC in Connecticut to show off some of the sweetest toys for kids this Valentine’s Day. For more on the items featured in this segment, check out the product notes below.


VALENTINE’S COLORING TABLECLOTH

Families can make memories by coloring this Valentine's Day-themed tablecloth. The jumbo coloring sheet covers an entire table and features images everyone can color. Kids can use markers, crayons, and colored pencils to decorate their paper tablecloths however they'd like. Families can add personal touches to their coloring sheets by adding a personalized message. 

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $34.99

LEGO ROSES

Mark a special occasion with these 120-piece LEGO Roses. They’re the perfect gift for Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day or just to let someone know how much they’re cherished – and they’ll bring a beautiful burst of color when displayed in a vase. This easy-to-assemble set comes with two red blooms, green leaves, and length-adjustable stems.…

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $14.99
  • Age:
  • 8+

FLUFFIE STUFFIEZ MINI HEARTS AND CANDY PLUSH

3-in-1 Collectible Plush that combines the joys of unboxing, collectability, ASMR, and fidget. Patented fur provides a fun and soothing tactile experience as kids remove the outer layer of fur to discover what is hiding underneath. Squishy pouch packaging doubles as storage for fluff and becomes a second friend. These heart and candy plushes are…

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $9.99
  • Age:
  • 4+

NINTENDO SWITCH LITE — ANIMAL CROSSING: NEW HORIZONS BUNDLE

Available in two versions, Isabelle’s Aloha Edition and Timmy & Tommy’s Aloha Edition, this special edition Nintendo Switch Lite comes complete with a digital edition of Animal Crossing: New Horizons. Fans will love the leaf accents inspired by the game, and each system’s coral (Isabelle) or turquoise (Timmy & Tommy) color.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $199.99 each
  • Age:
  • All Ages

BUMBUMZ

Kids can collect these 7.5-inch, super-soft, collectible plush in different themes, including retro, sports, food, and more.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $8.99 EACH
  • Age:
  • 3+

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MONOPOLY: BARBIE EDITION

Life's fantastic in the Monopoly: Barbie Edition board game. The game includes six Barbie-inspired tokens: a dog, a speedboat, a sportscar, a shoe, a roller skate, and Barbie herself. Players can purchase famous locations in Barbie's Dreamworld and build their dreamhouses. The game features a new mechanic called Be Anything cards that players can use…

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $24.99
  • Age:
  • 8+

Pikachu Visits the Empire State Building on Pokémon Day

Celebrate Pokémon Day in style in New York City — or from your playroom!

Each year on Pokémon Day, Pokémon fans — aka trainers — celebrate the original launch of the video game in Japan. This year, Pokémon Day will take place Feb. 27, marking 28 years since the launch, with an especially bright event in NYC.

Between sunset and 2 a.m. ET on Pokémon Day, the Empire State Building will light up the skyline in blue and yellow, inspired by the Pokémon logo and in celebration of the upcoming Pokémon Horizons: The Series, which will premiere on Netflix on March 7.

Captain Pikachu will make an appearance at the Empire State Building. | Source: The Pokémon Co. International

Those who visit the Empire State Building on Feb. 27 can also complete exclusive Timed Research tasks in Pokémon Go and earn special rewards including Incense, Lure Modules, and an encounter with a party hat-wearing Pikachu. There will also be additional themed PokéStops near the Empire State Building. Lure Modules used on PokéStops will have a higher chance of attracting the Symbol Pokémon Unown as well.

If you’re not located near the Empire State Building, you can still enjoy the fun. Trainers are invited to look for a special appearance by Pokémon Horizons: The Series star Captain Pikachu on the Empire State Building’s social media during Pokémon Day! You can follow Captain Pikachu as he explores the landmark.

The Pokémon Co. International will also donate $10,000 to The Toy Foundation in celebration of Pokémon Day. The donation to the New York-based charity aims to provide philanthropic support to families and children in New York and other locations. 

For more information about the series, visit horizons.pokemon.com. You can purchase tickets to the Empire State Building at esbnyc.com.

Barney Is Back and Wishing Us All a Happy Love Day

It’s been 14 years since we last heard from Barney. Our favorite purple dinosaur hasn’t been on screens since 2010, when the last episode of Barney and Friends hit screens. A lot has changed since then, but Barney is still as lovable as ever! 

As a special Love Day present from Mattel, Barney made a video telling the world how much he loves us.

“I haven’t seen some of you in a long time, but I always make sure to check in on my friends,” Barney says. “And it seems like, maybe, we could all use a little reminder right now. A reminder of the super-dee-duper ability we all have to love one another. And how important it is to show love towards yourself too. After a long day on the playground of life I want you to know, you are seen, you are special, you are loved.”

In the video, Barney also says that he has a feeling he’ll be seeing us again soon. Barney is coming back to screens later this year with Barney’s World, an animated kids series that is headed to Max later this year. A live-action Barney movie with Daniel Kaluuya is also in development alongside Barney toys, books, and clothing.

This is just the start of a big year for Barney. Even if the kids in your life have never been introduced to the lovable purple dinosaur, there’s no time like the present to introduce them!

Expert Review: Playmobil’s Horses of Waterfall: Waterfall Ranch

PLAYMOBIL’S LATEST SET lets imaginations gallop wild

  • Kids can unbox a set that includes 264 pieces to keep playtime going for hours.
  • This set encourages imaginative play and creative storytelling.
  • The pieces are age-appropriate in size and rounded, so they fit well in children’s small hands.

Kids can join riding instructor Muriel Thompson, her mare Sparkles, the adorable foal Domino, and other figures and animals at the Waterfall Ranch. The playset comes with a residence, a horse stable, and a paddock to play with. It’s high-quality and durable, and includes easy-to-follow instructions that make assembly a breeze. The setting is Waterfall Ranch in the White Mountains, so playtime is connected to nature even during indoor play!

With three figures, eight animals, and 253 additional accessories, this set will have kids entertained for hours on end. The story is in their hands to create to encourage imaginations to be strong and creative. Not to mention, the buildings in the set are beautiful!

There are many small parts to this set, so make sure to keep that in mind for choking hazards or having all the parts accounted for.

Kids with big imaginations and animal lovers alike; playdates or families with multiple kids; kids who love roleplay and large-scale playsets.


PLAYMOBIL HORSES OF WATERFALL: WATERFALL RANCH

This playset has 264 pieces, including figures, animals, and accessories. It comes with a ranch, a residence, and a paddock for kids to enjoy and use during their imaginative adventures. Made with recycled and bio-based materials, the pieces are very durable and will last for animal lovers to enjoy for years to come.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • 149.99
  • Age:
  • 5+

Buy Now

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These Barbie-Themed Baking Kits Combine STEM, Art, and Cooking

There are new cooking activities to add to your after-school schedule!

I’m The Chef Too! and Mattel have created Barbie-inspired baking kits. Each Barbie Baking Kit will explore a different theme and celebrate the brand’s slogan of “You Can Be Anything.” The kits are colorful and have various components to capture your kid’s attention.

The kits will range from motivating girls to follow their passion in STEM to designing an edible fashion line. It will include Barbie Pet Vet Cake Pops, Barbie Fantasy Mermaid Mousse, and Barbie Dress Up Cookies. 

Each kit incorporates food, STEM subjects, art, and fun. They all include an adventure recipe, pre-measured dry ingredients, specialty supplies, and an activity guide card. They are currently available to preorder as individual kits or in a bundle.


I’M THE CHEF TOO! X MATTEL BARBIE BAKING KITS

These three baking kits include adventure recipes, dry ingredients, specialty supplies, and an activity guide card! Choose from Barbie Pet Vet Cake Pops, Barbie Fantasy Mermaid Mousse, and Barbie Dress Up Cookies.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $34.95
  • Age:
  • 3+

MGA Entertainment and Crayola’s L.O.L. Surprise! Collab Is Finally Here

MGA Entertainment and Crayola are combining two of kids’ favorite types of toys in their new collaboration: arts and crafts and surprise toys.

Kids can get L.O.L. Surprise! Loves Crayola dolls in the L.O.L. Surprise! Loves Crayola Tots line or in the L.O.L. Surprise! Loves Crayola Color Me Studio. The Tots line features nine characters, each paired with an iconic Crayola color including Crayellow, Sky Blue, Jazzberry Jam, and more. Each tot comes with seven surprises including a Crayola accessory and drink! 

The L.O.L. Surprise! Loves Crayola Color Me Studio comes packaged in a giant crayon. Inside, kids can find an art studio, complete with four Crayola crayons, a doll, accessories, 20 paper outfits for kids to design for their dolls, and a rubbing plate to add textured patterns to the outfits. There are eight Color Me Studios that kids can collect, each with a different color scheme.

The two companies are also planning on collaborating for accessories, apparel, home decor, and more, which are set to come out this spring. After playing with this collection, kids will definitely be taking up fashion designing as a hobby.


L.O.L. SURPRISE LOVES CRAYOLA TOTS

These classic L.O.L. Surprise toys are full of color! Each of the nine dolls in this collection is inspired by a Crayola crayon color and comes with seven colorful accessories!

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $9.99
  • Age:
  • 3+

L.O.L. SURPRISE! LOVES CRAYOLA COLOR ME STUDIO

There are nine L.O.L. Surprise! tots inspired by a Crayola crayon color — each one comes with seven colorful accessories, including crayons and 20 paper fashions to design.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $14.99 each
  • Age:
  • 3+

Buy Now

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Expert Review: Educational Insight’s Playfoam Combo 8-Pack

A CREATIVE learning and development tool for hours of playtime

  • Playfoam doesn’t dry out, so kids can play with it often.
  • Kids can express creativity and use their imagination while shaping it.
  • Parents can use Playfoam to teach kids about new textures, colors, shapes, and more.

The Educational Insights’ set comes with Playfoam compound in eight different colors; orange, blue, green, purple, sparkle orange, sparkle yellow, sparkle green, and sparkle pink! Playfoam is composed of small foam circles — and glitter, if they are designated as a sparkle color — that kids can squeeze, shape, and smash.

Playfoam doesn’t dry out and can be constantly molded into something new, so there’s no limit to what kids can create. They can flex their creative muscles while refining their fine motor skills as they pull the foam, shape it into something new, smash it, and squeeze it. It’s not sticky enough to leave residue on hands, floors, or walls, but it easily sticks together when molded with itself. The small foam beads also provide a sensory experience that could captivate a kids interest for hours, even if they aren’t interested in creating something new.

The Playfoam comes in packaging that might make it difficult to use as a storage option, but can easily be kept in plastic bags or containers. Since the Playfoam is made from smaller beads that could look appetizing, and smaller chunks could be pulled off, parents should closely watch over younger kids as they play.

Parents looking to introduce kids to a new texture and provide another sensory experience or fidget toy. It’s also a great teaching tool: Parents and kids could sculpt the Playfoam to teach about shapes, size, color, quantity, letters, numbers, and how to share.


PLAYFOAM COMBO 8-PACK

Kids can use orange, blue, green, purple, sparkle orange, sparkle yellow, sparkle green, and sparkle pink Playfoam to create everything they desire! Made from small foam circles, the Playfoam doesn't dry out, so kids can smash, squeeze, mold, and squish it again and again.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $9.99
  • Age:
  • 3+

22 Toys and Activities to Celebrate Black History Month

February honors the many Black men and women who’ve contributed to society. Whether it’s uncovering scientific discoveries, transforming the music industry, or even leading freedom marches, African Americans have positively contributed to the world we know today.

Kids can support Black history this month by playing with products that combine diversity, inclusivity, and fun. From beautiful diverse dolls to engaging activity kits, we’ve collected 22 of the best toys and games for kids to enjoy this Black History Month and every month moving forward.


A DAY AT THE BARBERSHOP 48-PIECE JUMBO PUZZLE

The puzzle features an image of a barbershop, complete with chairs, a barber, and different hair products. Kids can gain comfort with regular haircuts by putting 48 pieces together to create a beautiful neighborhood barbershop scene.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $18.99
  • Age:
  • 4+

ADA TWIST, SCIENTIST SINGING ADA PLUSH

This 18-inch, interactive, plush doll is inspired by the Netflix show Ada Twist, Scientist. Press Ada's left hand to hear “The Scientific Method Song” and see her dress light up to the beat. Ada also says some of her signature phrases and comes dressed in her outfit from the show.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $19.99
  • Age:
  • 3+

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BARBIE SIGNATURE INSPIRING WOMEN BESSIE COLEMAN DOLL

Bessie Coleman became the first Black and Native American female aviator and the first Black person to earn an international pilot's license. The doll features a traditional olive-green aviator suit and a "BC"-initialed cap. The doll includes a doll stand and a Certificate of Authenticity.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $35
  • Age:
  • 6+

BROWN TOY BOX ASSORTMENT

Specifically designed to empower young, diverse kids, Brown Toy Box STEAM kits feature relatable characters and fun activities. Six themed kits are available for kids to learn the logic of coding, explore the periodic table, dive into marine biology, curate a museum exhibit, build a wooden robot recreation, and construct a telescope to explore constellations.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $29.99
  • Age:
  • 5+

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FRESH INSPIRATIONS COLORING BOOKS

This collection of coloring books was created with designs to reduce anxiety and encourage creativity. Each contains 64 pages of diverse artwork and intricate designs.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $7.99
  • Age:
  • 8+

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THE FRESH BEATS COLLECTION

Standing 10 inches tall, Fresh Beats dolls have custom-blended skin tones, rooted hair, and authentic hairstyles. The dolls have diverse personalities, stage-ready fashions, and unique styles.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $17.99
  • Age:
  • 4+

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FRESH DOLLS CAREER COLLECTION FASHION DOLL

Mia, Nevaeh, and Luna are three women of color who mean business. Mia is one of the world's finest surgeons, Navaeh is the President of the United States, and Luna is a teacher. These 11-inch dolls are ready to inspire the next generation with blended skin tones, different hair textures, and successful professions.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $29.99
  • Age:
  • 3+

HAIR LOVE

Hair Love is an illustrated kids' book about a girl named Zuri whose hair has a mind of its own. Daddy steps in to style her hair but quickly discovers it's not an easy task. Despite the trouble, he loves Zuri and will do anything to make her and her hair happy. This book is…

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $17.99
  • Age:
  • 4+

LITTLELISTAS LENA

Kids can play with Baby Lena, a doll featuring 4A textured hair and a pretty medium brown skin tone. The 14-inch Baby Lena doll includes two matching Wear-and-Share Crowns, perfect for playing dress-up.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $24.99
  • Age:
  • 3+

LYRICALLY CORRECT 90’s & 2000’s HIP HOP AND R&B EDITION

Lyrically Correct is a music trivia card game that tests how well you know the lyrics to some of the hottest songs. Designed for two or more players, everyone takes turns answering questions about Hip Hop and R&B hits from the '90s and 2000s. The game includes 140 playing cards and 10 challenge cards.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $24.99
  • Age:
  • 14+

BARBIE SIGNATURE INSPIRING WOMEN MADAM C. J. WALKER DOLL

Madam Walker was born Sarah Breedlove in 1867 on a Delta, Louisiana cotton plantation. This doll honors the successful entrepreneur and the nation's first documented self-made female millionaire. The Barbie doll honors her likeness with a unique historical dress and a "Madam C. J. Walker's Wonderful Hair Grower" accessory. The doll includes a doll stand…

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $34.99
  • Age:
  • 6+

MAYA CODING BUNDLE

The set features the STEAM Kit and the 3-ft Puzzle in a single bundle. The puzzle features Dadisi Academy Crew Scholar Maya surrounded by graphics of coding. The Coding and App Development STEAM kit explores the wonders of coding with a hands-on activity box that inspires curious minds to play and learn.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $55
  • Age:
  • 5+

NATURALISTAS FADE COLLECTION GREG FASHION DOLL

Greg is a former hair academy classmate of Naturalistas Dayna and owns the "Fade Collective" Barbershop. Greg features seven points of articulation, a medium brown skin tone, and flocked hair.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $9.99
  • Age:
  • 3+

NATURALISTA SINGLE DOLL – DAYNA

Dayna is a businesswoman who owns the Naturalistas Luxury Hair Salon. With the nickname "The Coil Whisperer," Dayna features five points of articulation, curly 3C textured hair, and a medium brown skin tone. The 11-inch comes with a removable outfit and accessories.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $12.99
  • Age:
  • 3+

POSITIVELY PERFECT ABRIELLE 18-INCH FASHION DOLL

Abrielle is a happy girl who loves shopping, hanging out with friends, and texting with emojis. The 18-inch doll comes in cute pink shorts, a striped top, sparkly shoes, a pretty hair accessory, and a furry vest.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $19.59
  • Age:
  • 3+

AFRO UNICORN MAGIC ACTIVITY BOOK

Kids can embrace their inner unicorns with this colorful activity book. The book features crafts, friendship quizzes, and more with over 80 puffy stickers.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $9.99
  • Age:
  • 6+

QAI QAI BY SERENA WILLIAMS DOLL WITH COLORING BOX HOUSE

Qai Qai features five points of articulation, a two-piece removable outfit, and a bow. The 14.5-inch doll comes packaged in a coloring box house, perfect for art projects and storing the doll.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $16.34
  • Age:
  • 3+

TEAM GENIUS SQUAD: ALTERNATIVE ENERGY BUNDLE

Kids can engage in fun STEM-based activities with the Alternative Energy Bundle. The bundle features three certified genius starter kits from Team Genius Squad: Lemon Electricity Experiment Kit, Solar Electricity Experiment Kit, and Wind Power Electricity Experiment Kit.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $34.99
  • Age:
  • 5+

THE DREAM BIG, LITTLE ONE COLLECTION

Kids can read these books to introduce themselves to inspiring leaders, thinkers, and dreamers in Black history. The collection features three board books, including Dream Big, Little One, Think Big, Little One, and Follow Your Dreams Little One. The books highlight trailblazing Black women leaders, visionary Black creators, and exceptional Black men who changed the…

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $27
  • Age:
  • 0+

AFRO UNICORN 11-INCH STUFFED PLUSH TOY – UNIQUE

This unicorn friend is perfect for every occasion. The 11-inch plush features a gold crown, a blue horn, gold earrings, and blue eyeshadow.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $11.88
  • Age:
  • 3+

ADA TWIST, SCIENTIST AND FRIENDS JIGSAW PUZZLE

Puzzle Huddle products were created to inspire and affirm kids from diverse backgrounds. The Ada Twist puzzles feature characters from the Ada Twist, Scientist book series and animated Netflix series. The puzzle is available in a 15-piece version or a 54-piece version.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $11.95-17.95
  • Age:
  • 4+

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HBCYOU MAJORETTE AUTUMN 18-INCH DOLL & ACCESSORIES

This HBCU Majorette (Historically Black College and University) is ready for her next performance. Autumn has curly hair and a medium brown skin tone. She sports a removable uniform with fringe, white boots, and a silver baton.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $34.99
  • Age:
  • 3+

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PBS Kids Launches Civics Initiative to Get Kids Involved

As election year activities kick into high gear, PBS Kids is launching a civics content program for kids to learn about social studies and get involved in their communities. The program will include content from new and existing series, including a second series of City Island, live-action shorts, and more.

City Island is a series of animated shorts for early elementary school kids in which every object is a character. The series features local organizations and government institutions and highlights topics including cooperation, conflict resolution, and city planning. The second season of City Island will have 20 episodes that release every Friday starting July 5 and will feature topics including media literacy, fact-based reporting, advertising, and the flow of information online. PBS Kids is also launching a spinoff of the series, City Island Sings, which features 10 music videos that will launch on streaming platforms every Wednesday and Friday starting on May 29. 

Sesame Workshop also created and produced Together We Can, a series of 20 live-action music videos that cover topics like what it means to be a member of a community, the importance of rules and rights, and concepts like voting and democracy. The first 10 episodes of Together We Can will launch on July 3, with the second wave launching on Aug. 7.

Other additions to the program include new episodes of Rosie’s Rules, Arthur, Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, Molly of Denali, Alma’s Way, Peg + Cat, and Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum. 

Kids may not be old enough to vote, but it’s never too early to help them get excited about civics and community involvement!

Toys to Beat the Wintertime Blues on FOX 61 Connecticut

Toy Insider Parent and Contributing Editor Charlene DeLoach joined Fox 61 in Connecticut to show off the best toys to keep kids entertained through the long winter months. For more on the items featured in this segment, check out the product notes below.


HOPSCOTCH LANE STEPPING STONES

Taking little steps to big adventures with Hopscotch Lane Stepping Stones! Help kids build balance and agility with six bright stepping stones in different modern colors and sizes – yellow, red, light blue, green, orange, and dark blue. The versatile stepping stones are made in different sizes with each side varying in steepness and difficulty.…

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $19.97
  • Age:
  • 2+

106-PIECE PASTEL BALL RUN PACK

With this set, kids can design and build their own ball run systems. This pack comes with clear fluted tubes, eight colorful wooden balls, and pastel connector tiles. Different pieces in the set include soundscape staircases, S-bend tubes, split tubes, and other twists and turns that pack play full of potential. The Ball Run Pack…

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $125
  • Age:
  • 3+

TINY PLANTS

Grow creativity with this LEGO Icons Tiny Plants (10329) building project for adults. Craft nine model plants based on arid, tropical and carnivorous species, each nestled in a buildable, terracotta-colored plant pot. Choose different models for easy, medium, and advanced levels of building complexity, and enhance your space with a colorful contemporary display.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $49.99
  • Age:
  • 18+

EXIT: KIDS – JUNGLE OF RIDDLES

This new EXIT experience is packed full of fun riddles especially designed for kids. Kids must crack the riddles together and win the treasure! In each round, six different types of puzzles, which are shown on 36 illustrated, large-format cards, are combined in new ways. The game is best for 1 to 4 players and…

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $17.95
  • Age:
  • 5+

PLAYMOBIL CAMPSITE

This set contains everything kids need for a fun vacation under the open sky. The campsite features the joys of camping without ever leaving the house. Kids can create the camping trip of their dreams with the 100-piece set's three Playmobil figures, a kiosk, a table, chairs, and more camp-related accessories.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $54.99
  • Age:
  • 4+

GOSPORTS 30-INCH TABLE TOP AIR HOCKEY GAME

Kids can bring the fun and thrills of air hockey wherever they go with this portable tabletop game. The 30-inch table fits on top of almost any desk or table and is perfect for playing anytime and anywhere. The game features a pre-installed fan that provides strong airflow for smooth gameplay. The set includes an…

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $39.99
  • Age:
  • 6+
  • Battery Requirements:
  • 4 AA

Expert Review: Crayola’s Colors of Kindness

THIS NEW LINE ENCOURAGES CREATIVITY AND KINDNESS

  • Includes four new colors: Cool Mint, Crayellow, Powder Blue, and Oatmeal
  • Features encouraging words of kindness on each item
  • Available in coloring books, crayons, colored pencils, and markers

The Colors of Kindness line includes crayons, fine line washable markers, and colored pencils. Each item features a special kind phrase like Shamrock’s “lucky to know you” or Crayellow’s “hello sunshine” in three languages: English, Spanish, and French. The collection also includes three coloring books with more messages of love and kindness.

Little artists can express themselves with brand new colors while spreading positivity and helping to make the world a better place. We love that kids can read the kinds words to themselves and practice self love, or learn to treat others with kindness by sharing their toys and art tools. Making art can be a solo activity or group activity and these coloring tools help with developing social and emotional skills either way, building upon the MESH (mental, emotional, social health) movement.

This line is great for kids ages 3 and up however, little ones who aren’t able to read yet could use the help of an adult.

Young artists or families of all ages who love to express their creativity with arts & crafts.


COLORS OF KINDNESS

The Colors of Kindness line encourages creativity with an extra friendly sentiment. Features a 40-, 48-, and 96-page coloring book, a pack of 24 crayons, a pack of 12 colored pencils, and 10 fine-line washable markers. Each product includes four new colors: Cool Mint, Crayellow, Powder Blue, and Oatmeal. Each color comes with a kind…

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $1.49-10.84
  • Age:
  • 3+

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Expert Review: GoSports’ 30-inch Table Top Air Hockey Game

This TableTop Air Hockey Game Brings Arcade Fun To Your Home

  • It’s all the fun of the arcade game without any major assembly requirements.
  • Kids can improve their fine motor skills while developing their social skills.
  • The tabletop air hockey game is perfect for on-the-go fun.

The 30-inch Table Top Air Hockey Game converts the classic game into a tabletop activity that’s perfect for the whole family. The rules of air hockey stay the same as two players go head-to-head to score the puck into their respective goals. The set includes an air hockey table with a built-in score tracker, two pushers, and three pucks.

The game features an ice rink design on the tabletop, a pre-installed fan for smooth gameplay, and easy-to-grip pushers. Kids ages 6 and up can improve their fine motor skills and develop their social skills by playing this classic game with friends and family. The pre-assembled tabletop is perfect for on-the-go fun and is playable on any flat surface.

Parents need to attach the goal boxes with the included screws and Allen wrench before gameplay. The preassembled fan makes loud noises when turned on and requires four AA batteries, which are not included.

This game is ideal for kids who adore sports but can’t play them for a variety of reasons, from a rainy day to personal disabilities. The 30-inch Table Top Air Hockey Game is also great for family game nights or for kids looking for a fun indoor activity to pass the time. Also great for families looking for arcade fun that doesn’t take up a lot of space.


GOSPORTS 30-INCH TABLE TOP AIR HOCKEY GAME

Kids can bring the fun and thrills of air hockey wherever they go with this portable tabletop game. The 30-inch table fits on top of almost any desk or table and is perfect for playing anytime and anywhere. The game features a pre-installed fan that provides strong airflow for smooth gameplay. The set includes an…

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $39.99
  • Age:
  • 6+
  • Battery Requirements:
  • 4 AA

New Wave of Pudgy Penguins Toys to Hit Shelves

Kids and parents: Prepare for a Pudgy Penguin Party! The highly popular online game Pudgy Penguins is dropping its second line of toys and collectibles from PMI Kids’ World.

Pudgy Penguins is an Web3 gaming “community,” powered by blockchain. The penguins in the game are, essentially, online collectibles. But the brand got its first crop of physical products in 2023, which included figures and plush toys that topped Amazon’s hot list chart. 

Series 2 will bring new styles and more to fan-favorite Pudgy Penguins to life. There will also continue to be a digital component to the physical toys: redeemable codes with the figures and plush will unlock customization options. There will be four penguins to collect, 22 penguins in the Igloo Pack product line, six clip-on plush, and four plush buddies. Products from series 1 ranged in price from $2.99 to $19.99. 

Fans can expect more favorite characters in the series 2 drop. | Source: PMI Kids’ World

Your little one’s collection is about to get much pudgier: the drop will land at Walmart in February and Target in March. For updates, keep an eye on the PMI Kids’ World website, and check out some of our favorite Pudgy Penguins products below.


PUDGY PENGUINS NFT COLLECTIBLE FIGURES

Kids can adopt their mystery Igloo Pudgy Penguins forever friend, a figure that includes a unique NFT digital experience. There are 12 total characters kids can collect.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $2.99-3.99
  • Age:
  • 8+

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PUDGY PENGUINS FIGURES 1 PACK WINDOW BOX (S1) + DIGITAL EXPERIENCE REDEMPTION CODE

Adopt your Pudgy Penguins forever friend! Each of these 4.5 inch collectible figures come with interchangeable accessories and a redeemable code, unlocking digital penguin customization using trait boxes. You can obtain rare traits, have a unique Pudgy Penguin registered to your name on the blockchain, and trade traits on the Pudgy Penguin marketplace!

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $12.99
  • Age:
  • 3+

PUDGY PENGUINS WALMART COLLECTION

Pudgy Penguins are now at Walmart! Fans can find penguin friends in figurine, plush, and clip-on form at 2,000 stores and online. Pick your favorite penguin and use the adoption certificate to play games and customize your style online in Pudgy World.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $2.99-$11.97
  • Age:
  • 8+

Winter’s Hottest New Toys on ABC Hartford

Toy Insider Editor-in-Chief Ali Mierzejewski joined ABC in Hartford to show off the hottest toys for kids to enjoy during the chilly winter months. For more on the items featured in this segment, check out the product notes below.


BIGMOUTH x SQUISHMALLOWS WINSTON THE OWL SNOW TUBE

Bring on the snowy fun with the BigMouth x Squishmallows Winston the Owl Snow Tube. The kids’ snow tube slides across a winter wonderland in style with Winston the Owl winking back in his adorable red beanie. With two sturdy handles on either side and an inlay seat for extra comfort, the inflatable sled is…

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $39.99
  • Age:
  • 8+

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PICKLEBALL BLAST

Pickleball Blast puts a new spin on the sport with a board game-size tabletop court and a net with an attached Screamin’ Pickle launcher. Using the thumb-powered pickleball paddles, players send the Pickle play piece soaring and try to flip the pickle lids at the other end of the court.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $19.99
  • Age:
  • 8+

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YAHTZEE WORDS

Players roll seven dice and spell words with the letters they’ve rolled. Follow the score sheet and fill in the scoring blocks, just like in regular Yahtzee. Create words of different lengths, multiple words, a seven-letter Yahtzee word, and more.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $15.70
  • Age:
  • 8+

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SHIMMER ‘N SPARKLE DIY ABC FASHION BEADS

Thanks to Taylor Swift’s ERAS tour, friendship bracelets are hotter than ever! Kids can design and create fashion friendship bracelets in bold and bright colors. The ultimate bestie wristwear for kids to wear and share! Show off unique styles by mixing and matching all the chic accessories. Kids can personalize bracelets with sayings using the…

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $12.60
  • Age:
  • 6+

MGA’S MINIVERSE MAKE IT MINI DINER VALENTINE’S DAY SERIES MINI COLLECTIBLES

You can make, set, and display realistic mini Valentine's Day-themed "ingredients" and accessories, each packaged in a surprise ball. To make replicas of Cupid's favorite snacks, follow the recipe card and set it in any UV light until the resin has hardened. Each ball includes a one-of-a-kind rose gold mini table you can only get…

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $9.99
  • Age:
  • 8+

Expert Review: Winning Moves Games’ Yahtzee Words

Game Night’s About to Get Lit-erate with This New Favorite

  • Has all the traditional Yahtzee gameplay, except with letter dice instead of numbers
  • Provides a new challenge to form words in addition to patterns to help build vocabulary
  • Offers a fun, new twist on a family game night staple to keep things fresh

It’s the classic game of Yahtzee that your family knows and loves — but instead of number combos, you’re searching for words! The game comes with seven dice, a dice cup, and a scorecard that will look familiar to Yahtzee lovers, but instead of four-of-a-kind and full houses, you’re searching for all vowels, four-letter words, two-word combos, and more. Players can score a Yahtzee by creating a seven-letter word with all the dice.

This game is even more challenging than typical Yahtzee. Having to form words in a specific order steps up the strategy a little bit and leaves more up to chance! We found that this makes the scorecard a little bit more of a challenge to fill out and really amps up the strategic thinking. If you’re already familiar with Yahtzee, the gameplay is second-nature, so it’s easy to learn. Just like regular Yahtzee, this is a great game to challenge the whole family, from your newer readers to seasoned adults.

Because of the added challenge of having to plan for and roll for specific words, this game isn’t for brand-new readers and spellers. It’s designed for kids ages 8 and up and requires a pretty strong foundation in letters and word building, and is a great tool to do so through play.

Families with older kids who are looking to bulk up their reading and vocabulary skills. Your next game night with friends to switch up a classic game you already love. Wordle lovers of all ages.


YAHTZEE WORDS

Players roll seven dice and spell words with the letters they’ve rolled. Follow the score sheet and fill in the scoring blocks, just like in regular Yahtzee. Create words of different lengths, multiple words, a seven-letter Yahtzee word, and more.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $15.70
  • Age:
  • 8+

Buy Now

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Expert Review: Mukola Drive 1:16 Offroad R/C Monster Truck

AN AFFORDABLE ENTRY INTO THE WORLD OF HOBBY-GRADE R/C RACING

  • It’s durable and customizable
  • It comes with three batteries and three chargers
  • It’s super fast with a top speed of nearly 50 mph

This 1:16-scale all-wheel-drive R/C truck is designed to handle rugged terrain with ease and can drift, spin, and jump. The brushless motor powers it to a top speed of 47 mph. It has a 2.4 GHz trigger-style controller and comes with sand tires that can also run on snow. It comes complete with three batteries and three chargers, allowing the truck to run for up to an hour of playtime (20 minutes per battery). It comes with a miniature screwdriver, a wrench, and additional parts.

Kids who love vehicles and racing eventually reach a point when some of the more toyetic R/C offerings might feel a little underwhelming. However, making the jump into the world of hobby-grade R/C can be expensive and complicated. This is an option that doesn’t break the bank and is easy to use. It has a nice weight to it and the flexible body deters the impact cracking that more kid-focused R/Cs may experience upon crashing.

This R/C truck is manufactured by Su Chi Yu and is sold under a variety of brand names, including Mukola, ScharkSpark, and SunBaby. We recommend purchasing through a reputable seller, such as Amazon. Since this is designed for teens ages 14 and up, it’s not suitable for younger kids. While it’s water resistant, it’s not waterproof, so don’t crash it into the pool. The controller requires 3 AA batteries (not included) and the USB chargers do not include a power brick, so families will need to plug in with what they have at home.

Kids and kidults (grown-ups!) who want to enjoy the high-octane fun of R/C racing and take their first step into the larger world of customizable, high-speed vehicles that are a step above a “toy.”


Mukola DRIVE 1:16 Offroad R/C Monster Truck

Teens ages 14 and up can take a step into the world of hobby-grade R/C racing with this 1:16-scale Offroad Monster Truck. It's customizable with special tires for different terrains and comes with three rechargeable batteries and USB chargers for more than an hour of runtime.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $129.99
  • Age:
  • 14+

Sweet Toys for Valentine’s Day on KATU Portland

Toy Insider Senior Editor/Toy Book Editor-in-Chief James Zahn joined KATU in Portland to show off great toys that parents can give to kids this year instead of candy. For more on the items featured in this segment, check out the product notes below.


MGA’S MINIVERSE MAKE IT MINI DINER VALENTINE’S DAY SERIES MINI COLLECTIBLES

You can make, set, and display realistic mini Valentine's Day-themed "ingredients" and accessories, each packaged in a surprise ball. To make replicas of Cupid's favorite snacks, follow the recipe card and set it in any UV light until the resin has hardened. Each ball includes a one-of-a-kind rose gold mini table you can only get…

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $9.99
  • Age:
  • 8+

GOOBER PLUSH

| Goober is an eccentric 11" bear longing for hugs with its charming hunched pose & sweet expression! This two-toned bear has an extra-plump & squishy round belly that's perfect for cuddlers. Surface-washable.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $40
  • Age:
  • 1+

VALENTINE’S DAY SQUISHMALLOWS

Bring the fun home with Squishmallows, made with ultrasoft, high-quality materials! These Valentine’s Day Squishmallows feature hearts and other themed elements. Squishmallows come in a variety of fun personalities, sizes, and colors. Kids and adults can collect them! Super viral toys are collected by kids (and even adults) of all ages! Hundreds of different characters,…

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $25
  • Age:
  • 0+

NEEDOH SQUEEZE HEART

These heart-shaped stress balls / fidget toys come in a variety of Valentine’s Day-themed varieties. The hearts have lines such as “Squishy 4 U,” and “Main Squeeze” across the front. Kids can relieve stress while improving grip strength.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $5.99
  • Age:
  • 3+

LEGO ICONS BOUQUET OF ROSES

Create an elegant display with flowers that will never wilt. The 822-piece LEGO set features a dozen roses and four sprigs of baby breath. You can decorate your home with LEGO roses, each depicting one of the three flowering stages, including bud, blooming, and full bloom.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $59.99
  • Age:
  • 18+

FUNKO VALENTINE’S POP! BOXES

These special Valentine’s Day-themed Funko figures come from favorite franchises like Star Wars, Marvel, The Nightmare Before Christmas, and DC. The figures show characters like Jack Skellington, the Scarlet Witch, and Obi-Wan holding hearts, candy, and other V-Day props.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $12-15
  • Age:
  • 3+

Fun Family Games on Great Day Connecticut

Toy Insider Parent and Contributing Editor Charlene DeLoach joined CBS in Hartford to show off the best games for the family to enjoy on a cozy game night this winter. For more on the items featured in this segment, check out the product notes below.


RACK-O JR.

In this junior version of Rack-O, the goal is to be the first player to fill your rack with cards, from lowest to highest. Number cards are color-coded to match the colors of the rainbow (and colors on the racks). Special cards add excitement to this game designed for 2-4 players.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $12.95
  • Age:
  • 4+

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HANSEL & GRETEL

Designed for 2-4 players, this game features a 3D gameboard complete with Baba Yaga’s Gingerbread house. Players take turns selecting a candy tile and connecting it to the grid, then moving the pawns along the edge while avoiding Baba Yaga at all costs.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $19.95
  • Age:
  • 6+

BRAINBOLT GENIUS

Kids can supercharge their memory with the Genius version of the mind-melting light-up game, BrainBolt! Watch carefully as up to 21 lights flash at random, then kids can challenge their brain to repeat the patterns without missing a beat. Includes five new genius levels, randomized patterns in addition to solo, and head-to-head modes make this…

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $26.99; $30.83 CAD
  • Age:
  • 7+

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CLUE: SQUISHMALLOWS

Clue has never been so snuggly! In this version of the classic mystery game, kids must solve the crime of the eaten mac and cheese!

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $44.99
  • Age:
  • 8+

STREAKS

Can you keep the fire alive? Players are challenged to count to 21 before the fire dies out. Go around in a circle taking turns counting but follow the rules for each number. If anyone messes up, the round starts back at one. The unique flame on the gameboard will act as the timer, dimming…

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $24.99
  • Age:
  • 17+

Stomp Rocket’s New Space Collection Soars into the Galaxy

The STEM toy you know and love — Stomp Rocket — is launching into space! The new Stomp Rocket Space Collection features space-themed rockets and learning opportunities. 

The spacecrafts showcase the NASA logo! | Source: Stomp Rocket

The Stomp Rocket Space Collection includes three different spacecrafts and a launcher. Your kid can learn about — and launch — the Saturn V Rocket, Space Shuttle Atlantis, and Space Launch System (SLS).

The toy is 100% kid powered: Just run, jump, and stomp to watch the spacecraft take flight. While playing, kids will learn about gravity, trajectory, and force, making it a screen-free introduction to STEM subjects. 

Each spacecraft is fairly large, so you won’t have any trouble finding the foam toy once it’s hit the air or ground. The toy is designed for kids ages 5 and up, and is available at the link below!


SPACE COLLECTION BY STOMP ROCKET

This edition of the classic Stomp Rocket includes a launcher and three space crafts inspired by real vehicles: the Saturn V Rocket, Space Shuttle Atlantis, and Space Launch System. Kids can learn about force, gravity, and other STEM subjects while they run, jump, stomp, and launch the rocket.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $24.99
  • Age:
  • 5+

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Join the World’s Craftiest Babies in ‘Rugrats: Adventures in Gameland’

Get ready for diaper-tastic fun because the Rugrats are back with adventures you won’t want to miss! 

In Rugrats: Adventures in Gameland, a baby’s gotta do what a baby’s gotta do! Developed by Media Indie Exchange, Wallride, and Limited Run Games, this game combines level-based co-op, a Nickelodeon classic, and imaginative adventures that only ‘90s babies will truly adore. 

This retro-inspired puzzle platforming adventure includes six stand-alone levels inspired by the make-believe interpretations of the Rugrats. Players can toggle between 8-bit and HD graphic modes to experience unbelievable features, including high-speed chases, powerful bosses, and unexpected challenges. You can also create the most destructive paths by playing as everyone’s favorite green T. Rex, Reptaur! 

Join Tommy, Chuckie, and the twins Phil and Lil as they team up and stick together to win. Players can swap between the babies to use their unique powers, like Chuckie’s high-jumping skills or Phil’s speedy hole-digging abilities. 

This video game is designed for up to two players and features nostalgic elements from the beloved cartoon show. With each level, you will recognize iconic locations from the Pickle’s residence, like the sandbox, the attic, and the kitchen. Players can also encounter familiar faces like Cynthia, Spike, and Mr. Boppo as they travel throughout the game.

Players can immerse in the beloved ‘90s franchise with Rugrats: Adventures in Gameland, available for Nintendo Switch, Playstation, Xbox, and PC this March. You can explore the imagination-fueled levels before release by playing the demo, available now until Steam Next Fest at steam.com.


RUGRATS: ADVENTURES IN GAMELAND

Join Tommy, Chuckie, and the twins Phil and Lil on diaper-tastic adventures in this retro-inspired puzzle platforming video game. This game is designed for up to two players and features nostalgic elements from the beloved cartoon show. The game includes six stand-alone levels inspired by the make-believe interpretations of the Rugrats. Players can toggle between…

Product Facts

Kids Can Now Play with Ariel, Tiana, and Cinderella in American Girl Form

Kids’ American Girl doll collections are about to get a magical expansion.

Last year, American Girl and Disney launched the first wave of the American Girl Disney Princess Collector Doll series with Jasmine, Rapunzel, and Belle. This year, the two brands are coming together to release more dolls, starting with Ariel, Tiana, and Cinderella before more dolls come out later this year. 

Each of the new dolls will bring back moments from childhood, featuring iconic looks as seen in their respective movies. The Ariel doll features aqua-colored eyes and her iconic red hair and comes dressed in a mermaid-style dress. The Tiana doll looks stunning with her hair styled in a high bun and wearing her iconic green-and-yellow dress. Cinderella looks more elegant than ever in her blue ball gown and glittery glass slippers.

If these dolls’ most iconic outfits aren’t enough to satisfy a fan’s inner child, they can also get bundles featuring additional outfits and accessories. The Ariel bundle includes her pink ball gown, her blue day dress, and Sebastian and Flounder. The Tiana bundle includes her blue costume dress, her work dress, a plate of beignets, and more. The Cinderella bundle comes with her pink ball gown, her day dress, Jacques and Gus, and more. 

Kids have always loved American Girl dolls for their iconic look and bountiful accessories. Now, they get to see some of their favorite Disney princesses in the middle of all of that fun!


AMERICAN GIRL X DISNEY PRINCESSES

American Girl has turned Ariel, Tiana, and Cinderella into 18-inch dolls! These dolls feature the characters most iconic looks from their movies, but there are also other outfits and accessories available in bundles.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $55-235
  • Age:
  • 6+

Make-A-Wish North Texas and Hey Buddy Hey Pal Will Make Wishes Come True with New Sweeps

Get a wish granted thanks to Hey Buddy Hey Pal and Make-A-Wish North Texas!

Teaming up with Make-A-Wish North Texas, Hey Buddy Hey Pal — and its EggMazing Egg Decorator line — are readying to make wishes come true with a new sweepstakes. The My True Wish sweepstakes is running from Feb. 15-March 25, with $10,000 offered to grant one lucky winner’s wish. 

The EggMazing line includes markers for easy egg coloring. | Source: Hey Buddy Hey Pal

The EggMazing Egg Decorator line from Hey Buddy Hey Pal is the perfect thematic choice of partner for the Easter season. The line offers crafty kids a new way to decorate eggs — kids can use non-toxic markers to color eggs to their content, without the mess of dyes. 

Hey Buddy Hey Pal is also no stranger to charity, having previously donated $50,000 to Make-A-Wish North Texas in 2019. Founders Scott Houdashell and Curtis McGill have a special connection to the organization, as McGill’s 7-year-old nephew was granted his wish to visit Disney World during his battle with Leukemia. 

Even those who don’t win can get in on the fun, as the sweepstakes finishes with a huge egg hunt at Omni PGA Frisco Resort. The event will take place on March 30, the same day the sweepstakes winner will be revealed. More information about the My True Wish sweepstakes will be available on the official webpage and info about tickets to the egg hunt event will be available on the Omni PGA Frisco website.


THE EGGMAZING EASTER EGGS MINI DECORATOR KIT

Kids can decorate their own eggs! No dyes and no smells means no messy clean up. The self-contained design of the EggMazing keeps all the colors in one spot. Create endless exciting designs with the unique spinning action and the touch of a marker. Includes one mini Eggmazing spinner and six colorful non-toxic markers.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $24.99
  • Age:
  • 3+

PEEPS EGGMAZING EGG DECORATOR

This bunny-shaped decorator holds and spins hard-boiled eggs. Kids can decorate and create custom Easter eggs with multi-colored stripes, lines, and other fun designs. Available in Peeps Bunny Pink and Bunny Yellow. Each decorator comes with six non-toxic markers for kids to use.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $27.99
  • Age:
  • 3+

Transformers’ 40th Anniversary Rolls Out with New Toys and Entertainment

Autobots, roll out to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Transformers!

From 1984’s original figures to the newest blockbuster movies, Hasbro’s Transformers has been delighting fans young and old for four decades. Now, it’s time to celebrate that long history with new toys, entertainment, and more!

Jada Toys has plans for a mash-up between Transformers and another beloved ‘80s franchise, with two Ghostbusters and Transformers 1:24-scale, die-cast vehicles. The HWR Ghostbusters Ecto-1 with Optimus Prime G1 graphics and the HWR G1 Optimus Prime with Ghostbusters Ecto-1 graphics will launch this fall.

Other toy and collectible offerings on their way include the launch of new character figures in the Blind Box, ReAction, and Super Cyborg lines from Super7 this fall, as well as new Transformers x Pop! figures from Funko this Summer. 

A new season of Transformers: Earthspark is dropping this year. | Source: Paramount Plus YouTube

The world of entertainment will also celebrating the anniversary. Paramount will see new animated releases, including the movie Transformers One as well as the second season of Transformers: Earthspark. The Masked Singer will also feature a Transformers-themed episode.

Hasbro’s Transformers brand has 40 years of history behind it and is ready to celebrate that legacy with a full lineup of new offerings kids are sure to love. Nostalgic adults and fresh young fans alike will have something to enjoy! 

The ‘Barbie and Stacie to the Rescue’ Trailer Features Old and New Friends

A new story about Barbie and friends is almost here — and you can have a sneak peak! The trailer for Barbie and Stacie to the Rescue is now available.

The hour-long Netflix special will follow Stacie, Barbie’s middle sister, as she comes to Barbie and Skipper’s aid. This marks the first time Stacie will be featured in a lead role! The special, airing March 14, will also include five new, original songs and friends.

Official trailer for Barbie and Stacie to the Rescue. | Source: Mattel

In the special, Stacie is uncertain of her place when the Roberts family attends a hot air balloon festival in Wisconsin — she is too young for adult activities, but is too old to play with little kids. However, Stacie has the right skills and the ability to help when her older sisters Barbie and Skipper are in trouble. 

Key art for the special! | Source: Mattel

The new content follows several new, fan-favorite series such as Barbie: A Touch of Magic. Mattel Television Studios’s series and specials aim to instill messages of friendship, kindness, and discovery with the fun of Barbie!

Barbie and Stacie to the Rescue, written by Kay Donmyer, will be available on Netflix in the U.S., Canada, the Asia Pacific region (excluding China) and certain European, Middle East, and African countries on March 14. The special will debut in Latin America, the UK, Germany, France, Italy, Poland, Romanic, and other Middle East and Northern Africa countries on Sept. 5. 

The five-song album for the special will be available on all major streaming platforms on March 14 as well, so you’ll have new music for roadtrips and dance parties.

Little Ones Can Have a Party with Infantino’s New Doorway Jumper

Doorway jumpers are a classic baby toy in parents’ repertoires. Infantino’s new take on the baby jumper looks like the doorway jumpers that came before, but also features a new element, a musical fox toy! 

The musical fox toy latches to the front of the baby jumper and features green, red, and blue lights on the top. The fox is motion-activated, bursting into music as kids start to bounce. As kids listen to the music, they can bounce and bop around to the beat! However, the play doesn’t end when kids are done jumping. The fox detaches from the jumper and can be taken on the go.

The baby jumper also features tons of bright colors to stimulate babies, but it also has qualities that parents will love. The baby jumper can easily clamp on any doorway, whether you’re in your bedroom folding laundry or watching TV in the living room. The jumper features adjustable, wide-set straps that can shorten as kids grow and allow parents easy access. The seat is also machine washable, so any messy moments are easily rectified.

Whether you need an easy way to know where your baby is or they just really love jumping to the beat, Infantino’s latest baby jumper is a great new take on a classic.


2-IN-1 MUSIC AND LIGHTS FOX DOORWAY JUMPER

Babies can bounce around to music while parents take care of things around the house in this doorway jumper, which features a detachable music toy shaped like a fox. The jumper features adjustable straps that grow with kids and fun colors to stimulate them.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $39.99
  • Age:
  • 4MOS+

Toys that Celebrate Diversity and Inclusion on Fox News

Toy Insider Senior Editor/Toy Book Editor-in-Chief James Zahn joined Fox News Edge to talk about some great new toys that promote diversity and inclusivity. For more on the items featured in this segment, check out the product notes below.


GUND SUSTAINABLY SOFT DOLLS

GUND’s first sustainable collection of baby dolls. Each doll is sourced from 100% recycled materials, crafted with luxe, ultra-soft recycled plush, fill, and sustainable packaging. Choose from six dolls, each with embroidered facial details, different hair and skin tones. Encourages inclusive, safe, and eco-friendly play. Machine washable.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $20
  • Age:
  • 0+

HBCYOU 18-INCH DOLLS

Just as Historically Black colleges and universities inspire future generations, these 18-inch dolls will encourage kids of color to dream big, work hard, and achieve their goals. The goal of HBCyoU dolls is to empower and encourage young girls through introducing the concept of higher education interwoven with early play. Features interchangeable outfits with other…

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $34.99
  • Age:
  • 3+

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INSPIRING CAREERS MOMMY’S SHADOW STACKING AND NESTING BUILDING CUBES

This set comes with 10 stacking blocks in descending sizes featuring a diverse group of women in various family and career roles. Each cube also features a conversational prompt to inspire the next generation.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $19.99
  • Age:
  • 2+

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G.I. JOE CLASSIFIED SERIES

The G.I. Joe Classified Series evolves the characters fans know and love into a highly articulated 6-inch scale with premium deco and detailing. The collectible packaging features custom art from Frank Morrison and adds a unique style to each character. These highly poseable figures come with premium detailing and articulation for dramatic action poseability. Choose…

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $24.99+
  • Age:
  • 4+

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COLORS OF THE WORLD SKIN TONE CRAYONS — 24 COUNT

Kids can represent themselves and the world around them with newly formulated colors that reflect more than 40 global skin tone shades with authentic color names. Skin tone colors range from “extra light” to “deepest” and encompass three undertones: rose, almond, and golden. Kids can represent themselves and the world around them with newly formulated…

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $2.49
  • Age:
  • 3+

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Boredom-Busting Winter Toys on Great Day Connecticut

Toy Insider Parent and Contributing Editor Charlene DeLoach joined Great Day Connecticut on CBS in Hartford to show off the best toys to fend off the boredom blues when winter weather keeps kids indoors. For more on the items featured in this segment, check out the product notes below.


FISHER-PRICE LAUGH & LEARN MIX & LEARN DJ TABLE

This interactive, educational activity table features a piano with three ways to play, plus 12 fine motor activities and three Smart Stages learning levels to keep babies engaged as they grow.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $44.99
  • Age:
  • 9 MOS+

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SQUAREGLES STARTER SET

Building possibilities are endless with this ultimate, 105-piece building set! The Starter set includes all the interchangeable, colorful magnetic frames and 3D panels needed for kids to create different structures and stories every time they play. Set includes square and triangle magnetic frames, paperboard panels for drawing, jumps, tracks, and tubes to watch Oggs race…

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $124.99
  • Age:
  • 4+

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VOLLEYSHOT

Each player operates a paddle, knocking the ball back and forth until somebody misses. All it takes is a single hiccup to miss, and every miss is a point for the opponent. Stay focused, stay steady. The first to 10 points wins.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $34.95
  • Age:
  • 8+

SNAP FM RADIO

With this entry-level Snap Circuits kit, kids can participate in four hands-on projects to build a working FM radio. The project will teach kids about the science of radio waves, amplifiers, circuits, and electricity.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $19.99
  • Age:
  • 8+

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GECKO RUN MARBLE RUN

The set takes classic marble runs to the next level with creative challenges and pieces that attach to any smooth surface. Kids can create hills and jumps, and even turn corners to create tricks and stunts.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $34.95
  • Age:
  • 8+

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New Lakeshore Learning Toys Offer Sensory Joys

You don’t need a full classroom to make your home into a learning space!

Lakeshore Learning is well-known for its classroom furniture and other early learning products, with offerings that help transform any room into one where kids can be their true inquisitive selves. Now, the company’s 2024 Sensory Play Materials are here, with new toys that encourage imagination, exploration, and more. 


OUT OF THIS WORLD FIDGET BOARD

This rocket-shaped fidget board features a full collection of space-themed sensory experiences. The board has an astronaut slider, rotating satellite, and more.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $39.99
  • Age:
  • 3+

The Out of This World Fidget Board is rocketing kids ages 3-6 to a world of sensory play. The rocket-shaped board features a whole pile of attached accessories, with everything from an astronaut slider to a rotating satellite. 


MAGNETIC WONDER TILES — VEHICLE BUILDER

Kids can hone their fine motor skills by using this set of magnetic tiles to build trucks, trolleys, and other vehicles. It includes 50 pieces and four chassis, all in seven translucent colors.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $69.99
  • Age:
  • 3+

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For kids who can’t get enough of the power of magnets, the Magnetic Wonder Tiles – Vehicle Builder kit includes plastic tiles with magnets embedded on every side. Kids can make trucks, trolleys, and more, all ready to roll thanks to the magnetic chassis.


EXPLORE & MATCH SENSORY HEDGEHOG

This hedgehog-shaped puzzle board features "quills" with colors that match the circles on the board. The quills have embedded textures and visual elements for a sensory experience.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $24.99
  • Age:
  • 18MOS+

The little animal lovers in your life can find some unique sensory fun in the Explore & Match Sensory Hedgehog. This hedgehog-shaped hardwood puzzle includes a ton of textures, with “quills” that are smooth, bumpy, mirror, and tinted. Kids can solve the puzzle by grabbing a quill and matching it to the same color on the board.

This is just a small sample of what Lakeshore Learning has in its Sensory Play Materials. The full collection is available to browse on the official online store, and includes shakers, beads, and much more!

11 Sports Toys to Keep Everyone Entertained at the Super Bowl Party

Even if your team didn’t make it to the Super Bowl this year, it’s still fun to celebrate the annual event — but this time around, don’t exclude your little ones!

While everyone is indulging in appetizers galore and gearing up for the anticipation of the game, the kids — or even some adults — may not be as into what’s happening on the screen. But we have everyone covered with alternate forms of entertainment that will keep the football-themed spirit going strong. 

Whether your tween needs games to play at their first Super Bowl gathering or you’re looking for ways to entertain your toddler during the party, we found some products that will keep everyone happy this Sunday evening. 


MATTEL CREATIONS SUPER BOWL COLLECTION

This collection of products features Barbies, Fisher-Price Little People, and UNO games, all themed around Super Bowl LVIII. They're available for preorder now, with only the winning team's orders fulfilled.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $12-30
  • Age:
  • 3+

ALL-PRO PASSER

The All-Pro Passer is programmed to throw accurate football spirals like a quarterback. It features nine different passing zones to launch the ball more than 25 yards. Kids can select their play and press hike, slant, post, short, or long. Players can practice alone or with others.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $49.99
  • Age:
  • 14+

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AEROBIE SONIC FIN FOOTBALL

Throw like a pro with the Aerobie Sonic Fin High Performance Football. Officially endorsed by Russell Wilson, the quarterback for the Seattle Seahawks, this aerodynamic football puts the power of a pro in kids' hands. The innovative design creates ultimate lift and max distance in the air so kids can go long with throws up…

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $14.99; $19.99 CAD
  • Age:
  • 5+

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FOCO SUPER BOWL 58 TEAM BEANS BEARS

Source: FOCO

Source: FOCO

Source: FOCO

Source: FOCO

Collect officially licensed bears for Super Bowl 58! Choose between bears inspired by top players from the San Francisco 49ers and the Kansas City Chiefs.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $30

GIANT UNO NFL

This classic game of UNO is played on giant, oversized cards with images of NFL teams. The special 'Ice the Kicker' rule forces players to kick a field goal with a folded paper football through a goalpost of another player's hands.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $21.99
  • Age:
  • 7+

SPORTS DICE FOOTBALL

Roll into the action in this easy to learn and quick to play dice game. Includes all the drama of a real game. Go for it on fourth down and reach the end zone to score a touchdown. Then try to stop the opposing team by sacking their quarterback.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $19.95
  • Age:
  • 7+

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WICKED BIG SPORTS INFLATABLE BASKET HEADS

Set includes two inflatable baskets with straps and eight ball pit style balls. Straps are designed to make these baskets one size fits all. Play 1v1, 2v2, or kids can grab all their family and friends and create their own rules. Designed to be portable so kids can play anywhere, either indoors or outdoors.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $19.99
  • Age:
  • 8+

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BUMBUMZ 4.5-INCH FUNDAYBUMZ PLUSH 5-PACK

There are five FundayBumz plushes included in this collection, including Tortilla Chip, Jar of Nacho Cheese, Pig in A Blanket, Fan Finger, and Football. These beanbag cuties from the makers of Squishmallows are the perfect way to kick back and enjoy the day with festive friends.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $15.57

TOTALLY HUGE FOOTBALL

Go big — literally — or go home! Kids can be the star scorer as they kick their own field goals. This totally Huge Football includes an inflatable goal post, an inflatable football, a kicking tee, a foot pump, four stakes, and a patch kit.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $49.99
  • Age:
  • 2+

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BARBIE CAREER OF THE YEAR WOMEN IN SPORTS DOLLS

These dolls each feature a different career in the sports industry, including general manager, coach, referee, and sports reporter. Each doll comes with accessories and an outfit themed after the chosen career.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $49.99
  • Age:
  • 3+

FUTURE FANS FOOTBALL

In just a couple of weeks, young kids can unlock the ability to learn the basic rules of football. This storybook-led experience follows the campers of Camp Rallyhoo as they learn football in unexpected ways, such as playing a ring toss game, doing a scavenger hunt, and even eating cookies.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $59.99
  • Age:
  • 4+

Valentine’s Day Toys Kids Will Love on CBS Hartford

Toy Insider Parent and Contributing Editor Charlene DeLoach joined CBS in Hartford to show off some great toys that kids will love this Valentine’s Day. For more on the items featured in this segment, check out the product notes below.


BUMPAS

These 2.5-pound weighted plush create deep pressure stimulation to help promote a sense of security, reduce stress and anxiety, improve sleep quality, and create a calming effect.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $34.99
  • Age:
  • 3+

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DECORATE YOUR OWN GEMSTONE JEWELRY BOX

Kids can create their own gemstone jewlery box with this craft kit. It includes a wood, jewelry-style box with a clasp; strong PVA glue; and many sparkling gemstones in three colors.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $15.99
  • Age:
  • 6+

LEGO ROSES

Mark a special occasion with these 120-piece LEGO Roses. They’re the perfect gift for Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day or just to let someone know how much they’re cherished – and they’ll bring a beautiful burst of color when displayed in a vase. This easy-to-assemble set comes with two red blooms, green leaves, and length-adjustable stems.…

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $14.99
  • Age:
  • 8+

FUNKO VALENTINE’S POP! BOXES

These special Valentine’s Day-themed Funko figures come from favorite franchises like Star Wars, Marvel, The Nightmare Before Christmas, and DC. The figures show characters like Jack Skellington, the Scarlet Witch, and Obi-Wan holding hearts, candy, and other V-Day props.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $12-15
  • Age:
  • 3+

EMOTIONAL SUPPORT LINE DUMPLINGS, STRAWBERRIES AND NUGGETS

The universal comfort meal, now in plush! These adorable food plushies look just like the real thing. They're squishy, shaggy, and downright cute. From happy and sad to flirty and mad, Emotional Support plush are now available as Chicken Nuggets, Dumplings and Strawberries.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $14.99
  • Age:
  • 8+

Nex and Sesame Workshop Team Up for Active Learning Games

New Sesame Street video games are on the way! Kids’ favorite Sesame Street characters are coming to the Nex Playground active entertainment console as Sesame Workshop partners with Nex to launch a new wave of active educational games featuring Elmo, Cookie Monster, Abby Cadabby, and more. 

Nex Playground doesn’t have a controller. Kids control the game using whole body movements and arm gestures to actively learn using Nex’s motion capture and image processing tech. As kids play, Sesame Street characters will guide them, present challenges, and encourage kids through tons of family friendly games. 

Kids control the Nex Playground using their body movements! | Source: Nex

The Sesame Street games will launch on the Nex Playground starting this spring in the U.S. These games will be included in the Playground’s Play Pass content subscription bundle. TIME Magazine named the Nex Playground one of the Best Inventions of 2023 and Parent.com named it the Best Entertainment System for families. 

Even if kids are used to playing classic video games, the new Sesame Street video games from Nex are sure to get kids excited and physically active while they are learning!

Chuck E. Cheese Will Have You Jumping for Joy This Leap Day

If you can only celebrate Leap Day with one activity, why not spend it soaring in the air? Kids can leap into Leap Day at Chuck E. Cheese, which celebrates this once-every-four-year occasion by offering free all-day jumps at their Trampoline Zone locations.

Kids under 52 inches tall can jump all day long on Feb. 29. | Source: Chuck E. Cheese

Trampoline Zones are just one part of Chuck E. Cheese’s ongoing initiative to encourage kids to meet their active play needs in a safe and secure space. Kids under 52 inches tall can improve their cognitive, physical, social, and emotional states for free by jumping at any Trampoline Zone in more than 100 fun centers nationwide.

If this doesn’t have you jumping for joy, maybe this offer will: Starting Feb. 5, Chuck E. Cheese will gift 1,000 bonus E-tickets with any purchase of 60 minutes or more of All You Can Play Games. 

The fun doesn’t stop here: On top of these leap day bonuses, families can experience the fun center’s extra upgrades, which include new games, merchandise, technology, birthday party packages, prizes, and grow-up menu items.  

Families can leap into action by presenting their one-day coupon at a Chuck E. Cheese Trampoline Zone location on Feb 29. All coupons for Leap Day and All You Can Play Games are only available at chuckecheese.com.

Free-O Turns a Card Game into Hide and Seek

Growing up, who didn’t love to play hide and seek? Finding the best spots was always such a thrill as people went right by you and never knew you were there. Of course, as we all got bigger, fitting in those hard to find spots isn’t as easy as it used to be, which is why Foley Games put a new twist on the game. Designed for kids ages 12 and up, Free-O turns that classic game you used to love into a card game

To start off the game, each player gets six cards with four types of cards in the game. The first type of card is the Seek and Match card. These cards feature different places where players might be able to hide, including fences, bushes, trees, garages, and more. Free-O Wilds can be used to match Seek and Match cards or offset the You Are Captured card. Finally, players can add cards to their opponents’ decks with Draw a Card cards. 

Free-O is the perfect camping trip game! | Source: Foley Games

Each card can only be played during certain parts of the game. For example, players can only play You are Captured cards in response to Seek and Match cards, and the Draw a Card cards can only after a previous match has been made. As the players go around the circle, their hands should shrink until a player runs out of cards and ends the round. At the end of the round, the players who still have cards in their hands add up their points. A You Are Captured card is worth 10 points, a Seek and Match card is worth two points, a Draw a Card card is worth one point, and a Free-O Wild Card subtracts a point from your total score. The rounds continue until a player hits 60 points, but the player with the least amount of points at the end of the game wins. 

Free-O seemed confusing at first, but it is easy to pick up on with simple card designs and rules. In fact, the game went pretty quickly once we got the hang of it. In all, each game takes around 20-30 minutes, but the rounds in the game can be just a few minutes, especially if someone gets really lucky and gets a lot of Free-O wild cards. Free-O is a great game to bring along on a camping trip or to play a few quick matches to round out family game night

No matter how long it’s been since you last played hide and seek, you’re in for a whirlwind of fun when you play Free-O.


FREE-O

This game combines hide and seek with a matching card game. Players must try to get rid of their hands without being captured or drawing extra cards. After one player runs out of cards, the remaining players add up the total value of their cards. Once a player's score reaches 60, the game ends with…

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $24.49
  • Age:
  • 12+

I Scream, You Scream for Kinetic Sand Soft Serve Station

Playing with sand has never been sweeter. With Spin Master’s Kinetic Sand Soft Serve Station playset, kids can channel their inner ice cream man and serve up sandy treats without ever taking a trip to the beach.

Designed for kids ages 5 and up, this playset is full of possibilities to create customizable ice cream treats over and over again.

The simple, easy-to-use playset features a dispenser that kids can use to create that iconic soft-serve swirl effect. It also comes complete with an ice cream-inspired scoop, plastic cones, and kinetic sand in three colors: pink, blue, and soft white. 

Kinetic Sand soft serve cones | Source: Spin Master

And of course, no ice cream treat is complete without some finishing touches. Kids can use the molds in the handle of the ice cream scoop to press sand into little chips, or push sand through the sprinkle grater to add a confetti-like touch.

Kinetic sand is full of sensory stimulation, from the bright colors to the gooey, gritty texture. Kids can develop their fine motor skills by forming the sand into different shapes, while working on their communication skills when serving up swirls with friends.

Made with natural sand, the contents of this playset are safe and easy to use. The sand may get messy, but is easy to clean up with a damp cloth. 

Spin Master’s Kinetic Sand Soft Serve Station is available now for $14.99. Great for indoor or outdoor use, this playset is sure to be a favorite in any season.


KINETIC SAND SOFT SERVE STATION PLAYSET

Source: Spin Master

Source: Spin Master

With three color choices, kids can swirl, scoop, and shave Kinetic Sand into their very own ice cream treats. This six-piece playset encourages kids to foster creativity and practice fine motor skills.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $14.99

Celebrate Relationship Rivalry This Valentine’s Day with ‘Mario vs. Donkey Kong’

As a nod to the adversarial yet strangely satisfying relationships in our lives, this Valentine’s Day Nintendo is celebrating its most iconic frenemy duo: Mario and Donkey Kong!

In anticipation of the upcoming release of Mario vs. Donkey Kong, which remasters the Game Boy Advance Classic version, Nintendo is allowing fans to download a free demo of four levels of the first world from the game. The demo will give gamers a first look at the new Two Player mode, which allows pals, enemies, and everyone in-between to team up as Mario and Toad using one Joy-Con. 

Besides the new Two-Player mode, the game features other updated or entirely original components, like challenging new levels and a fully re-orchestrated soundtrack. And in Single Player mode, kids can now choose a difficulty level. Those who haven’t dabbled in the original video game can select Classic Style to experience the same difficulty level as the Game Boy Advance version. For those who have lived through the frustration of certain levels and want to take a more leisurely approach, Casual Style offers no time limit and the ability to restart from checkpoints. 

Mario vs. Donkey Kong releases Feb. 16 and will be available both physically and digitally for $49.99 on the Nintendo Store. Until then, the young subjects of Mushroom Kingdom can still get in on the fun downloading the demo now and reaching out to their rivalrous other-half with these downloadable Mario vs. Donkey Kong Valentine’s Day eCards.

Add ‘Sleepy Sheepy and the Sheepover’ to Your Nightly Routine

If your little one has trouble sleeping without you, there’s a new book that might make them feel better about their first night away: Sleepy Sheepy and the Sheepover

The story comes from author Lucy Ruth Cummins and illustrator Pete Oswald — you might recognize Cummins’ work in Our Pool or Oswald’s art in The Sour Grape

The book features Sleepy Sheepy and his extended family. | Source: Penguin Random House

In Sleepy Sheepy and the Sheepover, the main character heads to his grandparents house for his first sleepover! It’s all fun and games until Sleepy Sheepy heads to bed. He can’t seem to fall asleep, his blankets scratch, and his pajamas don’t match. 

He also misses home, something that readers might be able to relate to during their own sleepovers. Families can follow along as Grammy and Grampy try to comfort their favorite little sheep and get him to sleep. 

The story includes colorful artwork, love, and laughs for kids ages 3 and up. You can add the tale to your nightly routine starting on Feb. 27. 

New ‘Onyx the Octopus’ Laurie Berkner Single Is Tenta*cool*

Who has two arms and is ready to sing about eight arms? Laurie Berkner!

Laurie Berkner is well-known for her catchy tunes that cover everything from Halloween witches to adorable bumblebees. Now, a new animal is joining The Laurie Berkner Band with Onyx the Octopus ready to help teach counting, octopus facts, and even the word cephalopod. The new single from Laurie is out now for all the kids who dream of diving deep into the ocean.

The “Onyx the Octopus” single is on YouTube and other music platforms. | Source: The Laurie Berkner Band

In “Onyx the Octopus,” Laurie sings fun octopus facts like how “Onyx the Octopus has nine brains and three hearts.” Kids can count along as Laurie sings about all eight of Onyx’s arms. Onyx’s arms can shake, run, straighten, bend, and, best of all, hug.

For even more musical magic, kids can find Laurie Berkner’s 15 albums of fun music. Laurie has been singing for more than 25 years, and has songs about dinosaurs, rocket ships, and more.

The new “Onyx the Octopus” single is out now and available on Apple Music, Spotify, The Laurie Berkner Band website, and other music platforms. Take a trip with Laurie into the ocean and meet what is sure to be every kid’s favorite creature!

Lovevery Recalls a Part of the Babbler Play Kit

If your kid loves Lovevery’s play kits, you may need to check their toys as the company voluntarily recalls more than 40,000 Slide & Seek Ball Runs sold last year. 

These wooden toys with a plastic ball ramp were included in Lovevery’s Babbler Play Kits, which are designed for kids ages 13 months and up. The recalled Ball Run toys have a wooden knob on the door, do not have a Lovevery logo on the bottom, and do not have a green sticker on the inside wall of the door with the wooden knob. The recalled product was sold online at lovevery.com from June-November 2023 for around $120 per kit.

The wooden knob on the Slide & Seek Ball Run can become detached during shipping. | Source: Lo