Do the kids on your holiday shopping list know what they want to be when they grow up? Toy Insider Associate Editor Maddie Michalik stopped by Indy Style in Indianapolis to show off some great toys that go perfectly with their dream careers. For more on the items featured in this segment, check out the product notes below, and for the complete rundown of the best toys of the holiday season, be sure to check our complete Toy Insider Holiday Gift Guide.


DESIGN & DRILL MY FIRST WORKBENCH (EDUCATIONAL INSIGHTS)

  • Little builders can get busy with a workbench and tool set designed just for them!
  • Kids can hammer nails and drill bolts directly into the bench to create colorful patterns for hours of unplugged play.
  • It helps develop fine motor skills, practices patterning (a key early learning skill) encourages creativity, supports STEM, introduces tools, and promotes interest in engineering.
  • Includes a workbench with storage drawer, 120 colorful bolts and nails, a guide with 10 patterns, and a motorized mini-drill and kid friendly hammer.
  • Ages: 3+
  • MSRP: $49.99
  • Available: Amazon

STIKBOT STUDIO PRO (ZING)

  • Create, Animate, and Share!
  • Stikbot Studio Pro one sets include 1 tripod , 2 stikbots (solid red and solid orange color) , 2-in-1 stage green and blue screen.
  • With green screen, you can capture the best photo and video and save time editing.
  • Easily cut and edit footage to create the sequence you need by using green screen.
  • You can digitally recreate the background of your scene.
  • Ages: 4+
  • MSRP: $13.99
  • Available: Amazon, Target

SCIENTIFIC EXPLORER VETERINARY SCIENCE (ALEX)

  • What makes your pet tick? Find out what it takes to become a veterinary physician and the work that they perform for animals.
  • Simulate veterinary X-ray and sonograms with red and blue Lenses that reveal the insides of animals on four different posters.
  • Close up wounds and cuts with the soft plastic suture training skin, plastic surgical tweezers, needle, and thread.
  • Create a cat anatomy poster with paper parts, mold a plaster pup, and learn how to make casts for broken bones.
  • Mix and make gelly ticks and learn about the four common types of ticks and which ones can cause illness.
  • The kit includes four animal posters, a red x-ray lens, a blue sonogram lens, suture skin, a plastic curved needle, plastic tweezer scissors, a black nylon thread, a cat anatomy poster with fold out sheets, a dog blister mold, plaster powder, muslin fabric, a gelly tick blister mold, gelatin, a beaker, a stir stick, and instructions.
  • Ages: 6+
  • MSRP: $19.99
  • Available: Target, Amazon

LUCIANA VEGA, 2018 GIRL OF THE YEAR (MATTEL)

  • Luciana, American Girl’s 2018 Girl of the Year, is a creative, confident 11-year-old girl and aspiring astronaut who launches her dream of being the first person to go to Mars after winning a scholarship to Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama.
  • The Luciana collection includes an 18-inch Luciana doll featuring medium skin, warm brown eyes, and dark brown hair with a distinctive purple streak to show off her creative side, plus several outfits, accessories, and toys that reflect her Space Camp experience.
  • Ages: 8+
  • MSRP: $115
  • Available: Now through American Girl channels

FIRST ACT DISCOVERY 30-INCH ACOUSTIC GUITAR (JAZWARES)

  • Make real music with the First Act Discovery Acoustic Guitar!
  • This beginner guitar is designed and sized especially for young players.
  • Featuring great tone, comfort & playability. It’s tunable with accurate fret spacing, and low string action means easy playing for beginners.
  • Patented string post covers protect little fingers.
  • Ages: 8+
  • MSRP: $39.99
  • Available: Target, Walmart

DISCOVERY EXTREME CHEMISTRY LAB (HORIZON GROUP)

  • Conduct over 20 fun experiments and simple chemical reactions for a fun, hands-on, interactive learning experience with the Discovery Extreme Chemistry Lab!
  • From fizzing and foaming eruptions, to glowing worms and galactic spheres, kids will love the opportunity to experiment and make their own crazy concoctions!
  • Along with the easy-to-follow instruction booklet is a colorful fun-fact illustrated poster that offers children additional insight into the science behind their creations
  • Ages: 12+
  • MSRP: $19.99
  • Available: Amazon, Walmart

About the author

Bill Reese

Bill Reese

Bill Reese is Business Operations Manager at Adventure Media & Events, where he's worked since 2014. A former editor at Playbill and graduate of SUNY–Purchase, he spends most weekends rooting for the New York Red Bulls pro soccer team and making subway systems out of Brio trains with his little boy Jonah.

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