These toys are a blast from the past! Toy Insider Senior Editor Ali Mierzejewski stopped by NBC in Cleveland to talk about the retro toys that kids will enjoy as much as their parents did a generation ago. For more on the items featured in this segment, check out the product notes below, and for our complete rundown of the best gifts for the holidays, check out our complete holiday gift guide.
DISNEY CHARACTER PUPPETS (FOLKMANIS)
- These full body hand puppets come to life when you animate mouth and hands through the access point in the back. Find pockets in the gloves to wave, clap, and blow kisses.
- The Mickey puppet is the essence of all things Disney, with his iconic red shorts, yellow-gold shoes, and white gloves.
- The Minnie puppet is adorned in her classic vintage style, with polka-dot skirt over bloomers, over-sized high heeled pumps, white gloves, and flower in hat.
- Also available are Donald, Pluto, and Goofy.
- Ages: 3+
- MSRP: $73.99
- Available: Amazon
TEDDY RUXPIN (WICKED COOL TOYS)
- Parents and grandparents will remember everyone’s favorite storytelling bear from the 1980s.
- Introducing the new 14-inch Teddy Ruxpin animatronic bear. He’s totally lovable, and brings magic and friendship to storytime with oodles of interactive technologies and features.
- Teddy Ruxpin enjoys telling tales and singing songs with friends, making him the perfect companion for both little ones who love hearing stories, as well as older children just starting out on their reading journey.
- He has colored LCD eyes with more than 40 different animations, and an animatronic mouth that syncs to Teddy’s speech.
- Touch sensors allow kids to control the story and songs.
- Teddy features three original pre-loaded stories, including seven sing-along songs.
- There are two Modes of Play: with or without the free Teddy Ruxpin app (app is secondary). View the digital books to read along with Teddy using the storytime app, or kids can enjoy listening to TR’s stories without the app, anytime anywhere.
- Ages: 3+
- MSRP: $99.99
- Available: Amazon, Target, Toys “R” Us, Walmart
CUPCAKE SURPRISE DOLLS (SUNNY DAYS ENTERTAINMENT)
- Children will love this pretty Cupcake Surprise Princess Candy Doll. The colorfully decorated and scented cupcake transforms into a pretty princess.
- Dolls come in six different sweet scents: Strawberry, Vanilla, Grape, Chocolate, Lemon, and Caramel. Multiple styles and colors are available; collect them all!
- Ages: 3+
- MSRP: $9.99
- Available: Amazon, Walmart
CLASSIC BOARD GAMES (WINNING MOVES GAMES)
- Have a game night with the newest rollouts of classic games, like the dice game of Yahtzee, with the famous aluminum dice cup, The Game of Life, where you take risks to get rewards much like real life, Aggravation, where you compete to race around the board, and Guess Who, the mystery face game of elimination.
- Ages: 6+
- MSRP: $14.50 – $38.95
- Available: Amazon, Calendar Club, Toys R Us, Barnes & Noble, and Specialty Toy & Game Stores Nationwide
FASHION PRESS PAPER FASHION MAKER (KAHOOTZ)
- The Fashion Press Paper Fashion Maker is a new from Fashion Plates.
- The unique Fashion Press roller tool is easy to use and lets kids press and punch out countless combinations from almost any kind of paper, without tracing or cutting.
- Kids can get started with the included paper sheets, then add to their collection. Use magazine pages, wrapping paper, construction paper, or even their own drawing.
- Kids simply place their paper into any of the eight Fashion Press punch plates and roll through the roller tool to easily punch out tops, bottoms, boots, and more.
- Create chic collections, then layer, embellish, and glue to the included model sheets to display in a portfolio.
- Ages: 6+
- MSRP: $34.99
- Available: Amazon
