Looking for the coolest back-to-school toys for your young scholars? Toy Insider Senior Editor Ali Mierzejewski stopped by CBS in Philadelphia to talk about the best toys for the new semester. For more on the products featured in this segment, check out the notes below, and for more on the hottest new toys of the season be sure to view our Spring and Summer Toy Guide.
- With the roomy, rugged Lunch Box Buddy, kids’ food will stay cool and their sandwiches will be safe from getting smushed.
- Easy to assemble/reassemble, easy to clean, few parts and no weak points like zippers or hinges. The box is big enough to accommodate a variety of reusable containers, individually wrapped snacks and drink containers.
- An adjustable ice pack offers three ways to organize, which allows for more flexibility in packing. All while keeping contents at the right temperature.
- Easy to open lid flips into a plate for the school lunchroom keeping food away from germy or allergen-contaminated surfaces. When lunch is over, the lid snaps back into place!
- The Lunch Box Buddy goes from dirty to squeaky clean in no time flat. Run through the dishwasher (top rack) or hand wash. No more scrubbing yogurt or apple bits out of fabric seams!
- Comes in three different color combinations
- MSRP: $24.99
- Available: Toys “R” Us, Amazon, Target
- The Sparkalicious Butterflyer dazzles and shines, letting kids spread their wings and fly! Each bag is as roomy as it is fun with space for everything they need for school or travel.
- Perfectly sized for kids, this backpack features a patented horizontal design that keeps supplies within easy reach. The cover flap pocket opens to a main compartment with plenty of space for a folder, storybook, small blanket or sweater.
- Two interior slip pockets hold small necessities like pencils, and crayons. Even when it’s packed to the brim, this backpack rests comfortably on kid shoulders, thanks to contoured shoulder straps with cushy padding. Four exterior pockets plus an ID holder under flap to keep kids organized.
- Bixbee’s unique backpacks and accessories have helped create a movement with their “One Here. One There.” social mission. For every backpack purchase, Bixbee donates a backpack with school supplies to a child in need.
- MSRP: $29.99
- Available: bixbee.com, Amazon, Nordstrom
Crayola Silly Scents Assortment (Crayola)
- Crayola Silly Scents are essential creative tools for school projects and detailed artwork. The line includes Twistable Colored Pencils, Mini Twistables Crayons, and Markers.
- Each pack contains a range of bright, vibrant colors and juicy scents to inspire children’s self-expression and imagination, at an incredible value.
- Age: 5+
- MSRP: $4.99-$7.99
- Available: Amazon, Target, Toys “R” Us, Walmart
Crayola Kids@Work 2-in-1 Activity Table (Amloid)
- Get your aspiring artists and budding builders ready for back-to-school with the Crayola Kids@Work 2-in-1 Activity Table from Amloid!
- The multi-functional 2-in-1 design provides reversible activity play with a two-sided tray that features a writing surface on one side and a building-block base on the other – offering a world of creative activities at kids’ fingertips for hours of learn-and-play fun
- Kids can build, color, create and learn with a complete set of essential art supplies including bright Crayola crayons, sturdy building blocks, educational decals, stickers and more – truly a great value!
- Convenient compartments help keep workspaces neat while the folding design makes for easy portability and compact storage
- The 40-piece set includes: 1 four-piece activity table, 20 building blocks, 8 Crayola crayons, 2 ABC and 123 DIY decal sheets, construction paper, 2 triangles, 1 T-square/ruler and stencil accessories
- Ages: 3 and up
- MSRP: $69.99
- Available now at ToysRus.com
Tad’s Get Ready for School Book (LeapFrog)
- Get ready for school with Tad’s Get Ready for School Book. This book contains twelve pages of fun learning and introduces ABCs, numbers 1-10, colors, animals, shapes, community, emotions and music.
- Press the music button to hear six lyrical learning songs and watch the light flash along. Then, practice telling time by turning the hour hand on the clock.
- The Get Ready for School Book covers core learning skills that expose kids to common topics they will learn as they enter preschool.
- Age: 2+
- MSRP: $21.99
- Available: Amazon, Target, Toys R Us, Walmart
LeapFrog LeapStart Learning system (LeapFrog)
- Jam-packed with school and life skills for curious 2-7 year olds, the LeapStart activity books are designed to help build key skills and challenge kids to get ready for their next step in learning.
- The system works with a library of 16 re-playable activity books that get kids excited about a multitude of concepts from the ABCs, numbers, shapes and colors to reading, writing, social skills, science, technology, engineering, math and many more.
- Both LeapStart platforms work with all four levels of activity books for complete interchangeability and ability to find just the right level for each set of skills.
- The LeapStart interactive learning systems include a portable kid-tough device with a downloadable Parent Guide that fosters the development of kids ages 2-7 with tips, tricks, and activities that parents and kids can do together.
- Each system comes with a sampler book: Preschool and Pre-Kindergarten designed for the younger platform and Kindergarten and 1st Grade designed for the older platform.
- MSRP: $39.99
- Age: 2-7
- Availability: Toys “R” Us, Walmart
Mechanical Engineering: Robotic Arms (Thames & Kosmos)
- Build six mechanical models of the types of arms, grabber claws and legs found on robotic machines. Explore mechanical engineering principles firsthand as you assemble and play with the working models.
- The robotic arms use a pneumatic system, which uses air pressure to activate the models. Pump air and flick the switch to operate the model.
- Construct a pivoting robotic laboratory arm with gripper claw or build a vertical three-fingered claw that can lift a cup off the table!
- Learn how pneumatic and hydraulic systems are used in industrial robots to enable the robots to manipulate heavy objects such as automobile components.
- Age: 7-14
- MSRP: $59.95
- Available: Amazon, Toys “R” Us, Barnes & Noble
iHome Over the Ear Headphones (eKids)
- Sleek and contemporary designed headphones that deliver detailed and rich audio.
- Padded and adjustable headband allow for a custom fit. The headphones also include in-line microphone compatible with most mobile phones.
- Available in Minnie Mouse, Super Mario Bros, Minion and many more!
- MSRP: $24.99
- Available: Walmart, Best Buy, Amazon
