Looking for some great toys for back-to-school season? Toy Insider Mom Laurie Schacht stopped by The Morning Show on Canada’s Global News to talk about the best toys for getting kids ready to head back to class. 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 season, check out our Spring and Summer gift guide.
FISHER-PRICE POWER WHEELS FORD F-150 (MATTEL)
- Kids will get revved up for a real driving experience with a real working lights and accent lights and even pretend seat belts!
- The Power Wheels Ford F-150 is a real driving machine with two forward speeds plus reverse, and rugged tires that perform on hard surfaces and grass.
- Driver-friendly features include Power-Lock brakes, high-speed lockout for beginners (controlled by parents), a battery charge indicator, and a comfortable interior with a roomy truck bed that’s perfect for bringing extra toys along for the ride!
- Drives 2 speeds forward (2.5 and 5 mph max.), plus reverse, on grass, hard surfaces and rough terrain.
- MSRP: CAD $537.00
- Available: Amazon
IMPULSE SCIENCE OOZE LABS (THAMES & KOSMOS)
- Ooze Labs are fun and simple science experiments in big chunky plastic test tubes!
- Each Ooze Lab tube contains a safe material that is both fun to play with and chemically interesting.
- Available in Sunshine Slime, Glitter Slime, Magnetic Slime, Hot Ice Crystals, Magic Sand, Hypercolor Slime, and Glow-in-the-Dark Slime.
- Age: 7+
- MSRP: CAD $6.50 each
- Available: Indigo, Mastermind
LEGO FRIENDS STEPHANIE’S SPORTS ARENA (LEGO)
- Meet up with Stephanie to keep fit and play some of her favorite sports.
- Head through the main entrance to the basketball arena.
- Practice your aim by pressing the button to shoot basketballs into the net.
- Take a seat in the stand to watch Stephanie take on her biggest rival in a tennis match.
- Grab a taco after the match and buy a souvenir in your team’s colors from the shop upstairs.
- Age: 6-12
- MSRP: CAD $49.99
- Available: Amazon
CUPCAKE SURPRISE (SUNNY DAYS ENTERTAINMENT)
- With a little sweet magic and infinite imagination, decadent desserts transform into princesses with every Cupcake Surprise!
- Every princess doll will be the belle of the ball and all the bakeries of the land in her sparkly gown and decorative bonnet, or indulge in a sugary treat and serve these charming cupcakes fresh from the oven.
- Expect endless playtime and never-ending wonderment in each Cupcake Surprise – discover deliciously scented fragrances with every doll!
- Whether in the bakery, kitchen, or castle, the sweet-smelling two-in-one toy will surely inspire imaginative play.
- Each doll comes with her own styling hairbrush.
- Packaged in 12 different styles with six available scents: strawberry, vanilla, grape, chocolate, lemon, and peanut butter.
- Age: 3+
- MSRP: CAD $9.99 each
- Available: Amazon, Walmart, Target, Meijers and K-Mart
DIGIART COLOR BY LIGHTS (VTECH)
- Let lights guide the way as you create your next masterpiece with DigiArt Color by Lights. Color and create with light!
- The light-up board identifies each of the 50 included coloring pages and responds by showing what color to use in each section.
- Download more pages online for unlimited printing and play.
- Connect the light-up dots to draw shapes, objects and animals.
- The art board features a dry-erase surface and a stencil card for more creative play, plus a variety of melodies to enjoy while creating your work of art.
- Age: 3-6 years
- MSRP: CAD $27.99
- Available: All major retailers
TOUCH & DISCOVER SENSORY TURTLE (VTECH)
- When the Touch & Discover Sensory Turtle comes out of his shell, he’s sure to entertain your little one!
- This cuddly plush turtle features a variety of textures, colors and patterns to stimulate your baby’s senses and encourage fine motor skills.
- Play peek-a-boo with the cute and cuddly turtle by tucking in his head and legs to change him into a soft, wobbly ball for two-in-one play.
- The chunky button on the top of the shell is easy for little ones to press and lights up in a variety of colors as it responds with sounds, music and cute phrases. T
- he shell includes a baby-safe mirror, rattle and ring.
- Age: 3 months+
- MSRP:CAD $24.99
- Available: All major retailers
HIDDEN TEMPLE WITH T-REX SET (PLAYMOBIL)
- Join the Explorers as they embark on a new adventure on Dino Island with the Hidden Temple with T-Rex. Once you discover the temple, use the ancient structure as your research base before heading out to explore the island with the help of the secret map. Simply rub the map to reveal a hidden path where X marks the spot!
- When back at the base, protect the team from the unfriendly T-Rex or enemy explorers with the functioning laser gun (batteries included)! The working temple gate also helps keep unwanted visitors out. Beware of that T-Rex! His movable arms, legs, and jaw allow for realistic motion and make him one intimidating dino!
- Use the functioning pulley to bring needed equipment up to the top floor.
- Kids can also use the included UV flashlight (1 x AAA battery required) to reveal cool glow-in-the-dark features, such as with the ruin’s crystal eyes, jungle plant, and more!
- Set also includes the full Explorers team – Nick, Emma, and Will, their pet dog Sammy, T-Rex, laptop, camera, gold statue, microscope, backpacks, storage containers, hiking equipment, and lots of other accessories.
- Age: 4+
- MSRP: CAD $79.99
- Available: Mastermind, Independent Specialty Toy Retailers
- 2 to 4 player game.
- BELLZ! is the fun and challenging magnetic game you won’t want to put down!
- Just unzip the storage pouch to open up the game arena. Inside you’ll find 40 bells in four different colors and a magnetic wand. The wand has a big end with a strong magnet, and a smaller end with a weaker magnet.
- Your challenge is to use the wand to pick up 10 bells of the same color WITHOUT picking up any other color bells. If you pick up a wrong color bell, you have to return all the bells you’ve collected that turn.
- BELLZ! is the suspenseful game that’s as easy to play and easy to take along wherever you go!
- Age: 6+
- MSRP: CAD $26.24
- Available: Amazon, Toy Sense
- Bubbleezz live in a squeezy world of wonder and fun called Bubbleverse. Each Bubbleezz contain charms and secret messages.
- Each Bubbleezz has hundreds of Bubbleezz Beadz inside that move around as you squeeze and transform them.
- Each Bubbleezz has a special power charm buried within the Bubbleezz Beadz. These charms represent the unique power that help the Bubbleezz during their adventures in the Bubbleverse.
- There are currently 24 Bubbleezz to collect, ranging in size from Super to Jumbo.
- Age: 8+
- MSRP: CAD $16.99
